By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 21 seconds ago

In the world of Obsession, the One Wish Willow is an obscenely powerful artifact that you can buy over the counter. With a single wish, you can achieve fabulous wealth, get your crush to obsess with you…anything you want, really, though your desires are likely to backfire. Despite its fantastic premise, Obsession is relatively grounded, so we never see the One Wish Willow grant anyone kung-fu fighting skills, a la The Matrix. Despite this, however, Obsession just managed to inexplicably defeat the greatest martial arts master who ever lived: Bruce Lee!

Recently, Curry Barker’s horror film, which was made for a measly $750,000, reached an astounding new record by earning over $400 million worldwide. For context, that’s far more than The Mandalorian and Grogu, which has earned $334 million against a budget of $165 million. Now, Obsession is officially the highest-grossing movie that was made for less than a million dollars. To achieve that record, it had to earn more than the most beloved kung-fu film in Hollywood history: Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon.

A Bloody Great Achievement

It’s kind of astounding to think that Obsession came out eight weeks ago. It only took this horror film two months to become the biggest film of the summer (at least, until Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes out), despite some heavy competition. Like, who could have imagined a micro-budget spooky film from a virtually unknown director could trounce everyone from Supergirl to He-Man? Now, eight months after its release, Obsession has passed an important landmark, earning $400 million worldwide against a budget of $750,000. Now, it’s officially the highest-grossing movie ever made for under a million dollars.

Previously, that record was held by the Bruce Lee kung-fu classic Enter the Dragon. That martial arts masterpiece was made for $850,000; after it came out in 1973, it earned a total of $400 million at the box office before it left theaters for good. For over half a century, no film managed to beat this ratio of low budget and high box office earnings, though a few movies deserve honorable mention. For example, Rocky earned $225 million against a $1 million budget, and The Blair Witch Project earned $248.6 million against the same budget Obsession had: $750,000.

Bruce All Fighty

At the risk of glazing Curry Barker too much, the comparison to Blair Witch really highlights what a cinematic achievement Obsession is. Back in 1999, $750,000 was enough to create a found footage horror movie with amateur actors and bad cameras. Now, that same budget can be used to create a polished film with amazing cinematography and professional acting. Does that make breakout star Inde Navarette the new Bruce Lee, though? It depends on your perspective. Obsession earned more than what Enter the Dragon earned pre-inflation; if we account for inflation, Lee’s own breakout film earned over $2 billion in today’s dollars.

Regardless of inflation, however, surpassing a beloved ‘70s Bruce Lee movie is another amazing accomplishment for Obsession. The little horror film that could continues to prove that you don’t need a huge budget in order to make a successful movie: you just need a good script, talented actors, and a director with a genuine vision. Those have always been the ingredients for great movies, and as Barker recently reminded The Hollywood Reporter, younger audiences in particular are “tired of slop” and are “hungry for movies that are original.” Now, if only the studios pumping out endless sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots would get the freaking memo!

Nolan Xavier Wells‘ mother, Christine Wonsley, is sharing memories of her son with family and friends following his body being found on Horn Island in Jackson County, Mississippi. 

The 18-year-old college student was reported missing following a Fourth of July celebration with friends after the group returned without him. His body was found two days later, and Nolan’s heartbroken mother shared a message on TikTok the same day.

RELATED: Nolan Xavier Wells’ Death Ignites Social Media Conversation About Being The Only Black Person In Non-Black Spaces & Friend Groups

Nolan Xavier Wells’ Mother Shares Heartbreaking Message

Christine Wonsley shared a message on TikTok after his body was discovered. Wonsley also included several snapshots of her son with family and friends. Several pictures show Nolan at his high school graduation. He is also seen playing basketball and posing with his friends, family, and the family dog.

The first photograph featured Nolan wearing his football uniform as he posed with an apparent family member with angel wings added to the picture.

“Our hearts are absolutely broken,” she wrote. “Nolan was the kindest soul. He never met a stranger. He was respectful to all and he always saw the best in others. May your soul rest in peace baby. Just know it was an honor and a blessing for me and your father to be chosen as your parents. GoFund Me Account: https://gofund.me/0aet7773a. Please do not feel obligated to donate. I know times are hard.”

Click here to see her post.

More On Nolan’s Disappearance And Death

Nolan’s body was found on Monday near the Western tip of Horn Island in Jackson County, Mississippi. The college student was found two days after he disappeared following a Fourth of July celebration on Saturday.

The student was one of the only Black people on the trip, and he was reported missing by his family when he did not return with the rest of the group.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter revealed that the group claimed Nolan wanted to stay on the island and that they “went back without” him, per ABC News.

“From what we understand, he chose to stay there,” said Ledbetter.

His Mother Also Shared One Of The Last Pictures Taken Of Her Son

The grieving mother also shared a picture of Nolan on the same day of his disappearance on Instagram. In the photograph, the teen is posing with three alleged friends and wearing blue swim trunks.

The Shade Room previously reported that a video was shot from a boat at a distance. It appears to shows the crowd on Horn Island on July 4 — the last day Nolan was seen alive. The clip began circulating shortly after his body was found.

RELATED: Nolan Xavier Wells’ Friends Reportedly Speak Out As His Remains Are Recovered On Horn Island (UPDATE)

Brianna LaPaglia is nipping the dating whispers about her and West Wilson in the bud!

The social media influencer did not hold back as she shut down the recent claims about her dating life. This comes shortly after she called the former “Summer House” star out on the timeline of his relationship with Amanda Batula.

Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia previously made it clear that she was steering clear of men for a while following her last heartbreak from musician boyfriend of almost one year, Zach Bryan.

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LaPaglia stitched a video on social media where a creator explicitly stated that “West Wilson is now an item with Brianna Chickenfry,” and her reaction was pure humor.

The social media influencer immediately moved to clarify that the statement was nothing more than a rumor, calling out for credible sources of the widespread information.

“Says Who?” she questioned in her 21-second TikTok video, and then proceeded to remind fans about the podcast episodes she has made about Wilson over time.

“I’ve humiliated myself enough with men, not going down that path again,” she sharply added before making a joke saying the Bravo star may be with a “Brianna Chickenwing”

LaPaglia ended her remark by questioning the source of the rumor yet again before stating that she has not seen Wilson in months. Seemingly as a backbone to her stance that she and the TV personality are not an item, fans couldn’t help but laugh in the comments amid praising LaPaglia for her response.

The Podcaster Said The Lines Are Blurred In Wilson And Batula’s Relationship Timeline 

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Wilson and his beau confirmed their relationship in a joint statement released on March 31 following weeks of speculation from fans.

The pair were co-stars on the Bravo show “Summer House” and insist that they were just friends for the longest time, only shared their first kiss in late February, and had their sexual debut after releasing the statement.

LaPaglia kicked back against the couple’s claims about their relationship timeline. “I know that they said they didn’t hook up until after the joint statement; I don’t know for sho, but I’m throwing a f-cking bulls-it,” she said on the May 31 episode of her “Plan Bri” podcast. 

The podcaster went on to reveal that Wilson allegedly told her during the 2026 Super Bowl on February 8 that he and Batula were “a thing.”

She, however, highlighted that he did not give her the specifics of their relationship at the time. In her words, LaPaglia noted that Wilson did not say, “‘I had s-x with her last night, or I kissed her or whatever.’ He just said they’re a thing.” 

Brianna LaPaglia Was Not In Support Of The Bravo Star’s Relationship

Wilson and Batula announced they had gotten together just three months after the latter announced her separation from her soon-to-be ex-husband, Kyle Cooke. This raised dust, but Wilson previously stated that there was no overlap between their relationships.

LaPaglia also questioned the lovebirds’ decision to share and clarify the timeline for the first time they slept together, stating that it should not matter since it did not cross Batula’s relationship with Cooke.

The podcaster disclosed that she was open with the pair about addressing their relationship on her podcast, adding that she did not “agree with the whole situation”

While she does not stand by their choices, the influencer acknowledged that the “Summer House” stars have been nothing but kind to her. “I just have to be completely transparent and honest with you. I go in on you both tomorrow in the podcast episode. I don’t agree with the whole situation,” she reportedly told Wilson at the time.

LaPaglia reportedly then highlighted that her reason for addressing the situation was because she wanted to be completely transparent and honest.

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West Wilson Had To Say Goodbye To The ‘Summer House’ Set

Besides the fact that Wilson’s relationship with Batula came within months of her separation from Cooke, another major bone of contention was that the TV personality previously dated Batula’s former best friend, Ciara Miller.

The love quad did not go over well with fellow “Summer House” co-stars and fans of the show, as many frowned at their messy relationship dynamic.

The Blast reported that Wilson was taken off the cast of the Bravo hit show just ahead of season 11, though there are claims that he would still make a cameo appearance.

Rather than part ways in bitter spirits, Wilson respected the network’s decision, admitting that it was for the best. He explained that due to his budding romance with Batula, it was best that he be taken off the show.

“In [Bravo’s] defense, I don’t think it would have been a fun summer,” Wilson said on the “Broadcast Boys” show last month. He joined the show during season 8 and began filming in June 2023, officially filming three seasons before his contract was terminated.

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Brianna LaPaglia Decided To Switch Things Up After Her Last Heartbreak

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LaPaglia came out of her last publicly known romantic relationship with her country musician ex-boyfriend, Zach Bryan, in October 2024. She wore her heart on her sleeve at the time about the emotional toll the relationship and breakup took on her. 

A few months after the breakup, she made a shocking revelation when she declared that she was strongly considering exploring romantic relationships with a lady instead.

As reported by The Blast, the podcaster also revealed that she was not treading in new waters, as she had tried her hand at same-sex dating before; however, the content creator stressed that she was content with remaining single at the time.

“I think that they’re better, so maybe I really am fully a lesbian, so maybe that’s why none of my relationships with men have worked out,” LaPaglia said before noting that she was not in a rush to find a partner just yet as she discussed with Josh Richards, her co-host on her “BFFs” podcast.

Are Brianna LaPaglia’s words going to put an end to the West Wilson raging whispers?

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Allison Jones thought she landed a job in tech through an “Easy Apply” job application on LinkedIn. Instead, she received an email containing racist language from an individual claiming to represent the company’s Human Resources team.

Was the business legitimate? And what should everyone know when applying to jobs online?

The Shade Room’s Justin Carter is delving in and sharing answers on ‘TSR Investigates.’

Allison Jones Received Racist “Dear Chimp” Email After Applying For Apparent Job

According to Carter, Allison Jones reportedly scored a job interview with the tech company Nexesh. Per Jones, her interview started peculiarly, with the interviewer allegedly asking to push back their sit-down by an hour. When Jones communicated that the suggested time wouldn’t work for her, and she would reschedule the interview herself, the interview allegedly “abruptly” hung up.

“Like hangs up in my face,” she told Carter. “So I’m kind of like, ‘Okay…’ And to be honest, at that point, I was like, I’m probably not going to reschedule this interview.”

Per Jones, an hour later, she received an email from the recruiter.

“‘Dear Chimp, You showed up to the interview just to say you’re not interested? What a clown. Impressive waste of everyone’s time. Next time you feel like playing these games, don’t. Never reach out to us again. Ever,” the email reportedly read.

More On The Email & The Alleged Company’s Reported Response

According to Jones, she was “floored.” But she replied to the message and received a follow-up email that explained the company doesn’t hire “walking diversity chimps.”

“… and we’d personally escort their asses straight into the f*****g dumpster before they slither through our doors and poison the entire goddamn environment,” the return email reportedly read.

Scroll above to watch as Carter recounts the entire alleged ordeal. Additionally, Carter shares how Nexesh allegedly responded to the viral incident and to the alleged employee’s apparent discrimination. Furthermore, Allison Jones shares why she believes the company still harassed her despite its apparent public apology. Ultimately, Jones shares that Nexesh’s alleged CEO reached out to her directly, and how she and a lawyer discovered the company may not even be a legitimate business.

RELATED: Knicks Fan Speaks Out After Viral Light Pole Brawl | TSR Investigates

It feels like viewers have been waiting forever, but this month finally brought a major update for the highly anticipated fourth season of Reacher as well as the franchise’s first-ever spin-off. While Reacher has been confirmed to return on August 12, its upcoming spin-off, Neagley, will premiere on September 16, the same day that Reacher Season 4 concludes. This back-to-back release strategy introduces a new formula for the action-thriller franchise that should be incredibly exciting for any Reacher fans.

‘Neagley’ Is Taking a Page From ‘Reacher’s First Season With Its Release Strategy

Neagley, which stars Maria Sten reprising her role as the private investigator Frances Neagley, is taking an interesting approach with the premiere of its first season. Prime Video has confirmed that all episodes will drop on the show’s September 16 release date. In other words, Neagley is taking a cue from Reacher‘s playbook, as the flagship series’ first season also released its eight episodes in an all-at-once drop. Subsequent seasons, including Season 4, have adopted a weekly release schedule.

This launch strategy for Neagley’s first season suggests that Prime Video wants the spin-off to follow in Reacher‘s footsteps. There are pros and cons to a streaming series releasing a full season at launch versus dropping new episodes weekly. However, the confirmation that Reacher Season 4 will wrap up on the same date that an entire season of Neagley is made ready to binge should only raise excitement for the new series. Ideally, Reacher Season 4 will keep viewers tuned in before Neagley’s spin-off premieres, making the first season a must-watch event.

2026 Is the First Time That Two ‘Reacher’ Shows Will Premiere

Another great aspect of this upcoming launch strategy is that viewers will now have two Reacher shows to watch in the same year, which represents a major historic milestone for the franchise. With Alan Ritchson confirmed to appear in Neagley, fans will also get a double dose of Reacher in 2026. Ritchson’s appearance in the spin-off isn’t just a form of fan service, though; it represents the opportunity for his character to take on a brand-new role.

Sten’s Neagley has been a recurring presence throughout the first three seasons of Reacher, but here, Reacher will act as Neagley’s sidekick, lending a helping hand to his colleague while she investigates the suspicious death of a beloved friend. It will also be interesting to see whether the events of Reacher Season 4 will lead into the first season of Neagley, given the shows’ back-to-back release strategy, similar to how Ballard Season 1 unfolded after Bosch: Legacy Season 3.

‘Neagley’ Marks a Major Test for the ‘Reacher’ Franchise

Image via Prime Video

Neagley‘s fall premiere does introduce a major test for the Reacher franchise, as it will answer whether viewers want to watch a series set in the same universe that doesn’t star Ritchson’s Jack Reacher. Neagley has been a staple of the flagship series’ supporting cast and has established herself as one of Reacher’s most skilled allies. Sten’s time in the role has also been outstanding, so she’s definitely ready for the challenge of headlining her own series.

If the Neagley experiment pays off, hopefully the creative team will explore other potential spin-offs for the Reacher universe. After his guest-starring appearance in Reacher Season 2, a series starring Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin), now that he’s back on the detective beat in Boston, wouldn’t be unwelcome. Regardless, Neagley already represents a new and exciting change for the formula of Prime Video’s best iconic action-thriller franchise. With Reacher Season 4 and Neagley now confirmed to premiere back-to-back, 2026 will be the biggest and boldest year yet for longtime devotees.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, bringing beloved IP from Marvel Comics to the big screen and television. But there is perhaps no more hyped character to enter the MCU later this year than Robert Downey Jr.‘s iteration of Doctor Doom. After shocking the world that he would be returning to the MCU following his run as Iron Man, Doom will be a central player in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. So, is there anyone in the MCU or beyond with enough strength to defeat him?

We are going to discuss 10 individual heroes, allies, or teams strong enough to stop Doom. We will examine mystical, intellectual, and brute strength, as strength comes in various forms. This list is not entirely a predictor of what might come in Avengers: Doomsday. In fact, not all of these characters will be featured in the film. We are looking at precedents from previous films, comics, and series, as well as their potential given their resumes and powers. If anything does come true, well, then it just means we were right all along!

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Captain Marvel

Image via Marvel Studios

For a long time, the MCU lacked female-forward solo projects. That is, until Carol Danvers arrived, introducing the world to Captain Marvel on the big screen. A former United States Air Force pilot, she gained superhuman abilities after absorbing the Tesseract’s energy from a destroyed light-speed engine. As a Human-Kree hybrid, she protects the cosmos, having already been a key player in the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the threat of Doom looming, her previous resume is likely to be a reason why the villain might fear her.

The best way to describe her powers is as a living battery. When she absorbs an immense, overwhelming amount of energy, she enters her Binary state, which allows her to manipulate stellar and cosmic energies. With flight at the speed of light on her ability card, Captain Marvel is a formidable opponent. Because she possesses vastly superior speed, flight capabilities, durability, and raw energy projection, she might have the upper hand in a no-prep battle. If he has time to prepare, she might have to defeat Doombots before she gets to final boss mode. He has a history of neutralizing heavy-hitting heroes through magical preparations, but Captain Marvel could swoop in with a blitz without warning. Though Brie Larson’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday is unconfirmed for now, the epic team-up would be in great hands if she’s on the roster.

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Doctor Strange

Image via Marvel Studios

Let’s face it, we’d kill to see a Doctor versus Doctor showdown. But who would prevail? A former world-renowned neurosurgeon, Stephen Strange became the Sorcerer Supreme and Earth’s primary protector against mystical threats. A major player in the multiverse, which made some fans mad, Doctor Strange ultimately unlocked new magical abilities, such as dream-walking, and developed a third eye while protecting America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from the corrupted Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now with Doctor Doom as the next immediate threat, Doctor Strange emerges as an even more powerful player. Despite not appearing in the epic cast rollout, Benedict Cumberbatch will be returning for Avengers: Doomsday.

With genius intellect and a strong ability to master the mystic arts, Strange’s encyclopedic knowledge and disciplined combat style give him the decisive edge in a direct, magic-focused confrontation. And let’s face it, with Strange as the leader of the roster, magic is very likely on the table. Strange has a history of success, which will work well to his advantage. Especially in duels of sorcery. Strange may have his studies on his side, but Doom has a penchant for hacking magic, which could throw Strange off kilter. Doom’s ego and determination are legendary. The intrigue of a Doom and Strange showdown is a potential draw from the comic source material, the Time Runs Out and Secret Wars comicstorylines. If those come to fruition, the biggest shock will be that in those storylines, Strange becomes one of Doctor Doom’s most trusted allies. It’s the MCU, so anything is possible!

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Fantastic Four

Image via Marvel Studios

OK, this might be a bit of a cheat since Doctor Doom is the most notorious primary villain of The Fantastic Four. Plus, we’ve seen them defeat him in both film iterations before they entered into MCU. So, the answer is an obvious yes, but let’s dissect the MCU quartet of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) on their strength against Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. No matter the iteration, The Fantastic Four is one of the strongest super teams in Marvel. Their unmatched teamwork, unparalleled intellect, and deep, unbreakable family bond make them unstoppable. They each bring a specific, highly tactical power — stretch and reform a body, invisibility, engulf a body in flame, and superhuman strength — that make them become a unified force.

As seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed’s unmatched intellect is stronger than ever. Leading the team, with a now-not-pregnant Sue, they are as formidable as ever. They now have to take Doom down by exploiting his massive hubris and obsession with proving his superiority. The only massive cog in the plan is the now-famous mid-credit scene in which Doom interacts with Franklin. We’re all waiting with bated breath to know how that will affect the future. Perhaps it’ll be baby Franklin who will take down Doom one day in the MCU. Doom might need him to save a dying universe. Nevertheless, in a show of force, The Fantastic Four have the ultimate advantage as a team. Reed might defeat him in a battle of the brains, but the quartet as a whole would need to unite for victory.

4

Hulk

Image via Marvel Studios

There is literally no one on the MCU roster who is stronger than Bruce Banner, better known as the Hulk. One of the more intriguing characters in the MCU, given his cinematic history beginning with Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk, only for Mark Ruffalo to save the day as the character, despite never receiving another solo film. Regardless, whereas the Hulk is extraordinarily strong, Banner is extraordinarily brilliant. Following an accidental exposure to high levels of gamma radiation, Banner is a physicist with the ability to transform into a massive, green-skinned rage monster. His journey in the MCU has showcased Banner’s ability to control his rage, but as seen in the trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, something or someone is tampering with that control. Unfortunately, Ruffalo has confirmed that the Hulk will not be back in Avengers: Doomsday, so we’re left to speculate how he might fare against Doctor Doom.

The Hulk remains one of the most unique heroes in Marvel. The adrenaline and psychological stress caused by anger act as a trigger, and Doom is quite a triggering individual. But without a top-out, the Hulk’s potential can be limitless. At maximum fury, his physical blows generate shockwaves that retain his status as the strongest one there is. Even in advanced armor, Doctor Doom is touchable against the mean, green fighting machine. Doom is a mortal human who is penetrable. Even with extraordinary prep, nothing will wear down the Hulk in a drawn-out physical battle of attrition. In the comics, there have been times in which Doom is victorious in battle, including Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 in 2011. But once Hulk gets his hands on Doom’s technology and smashes it, it’s all over. Though, wouldn’t it be a coup if it’s Doom controlling Hulk in the Spider-Man movie to set up the December flick?

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Iron Man

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Maybe the Doctor vs. Doctor isn’t the battle we want; it’s Downey Jr. vs Downey Jr. Rather, Iron Man vs. Doctor Doom. The MCU wouldn’t be what it is today had it not been for the first Iron Man film. Beginning as a billionaire playboy, Tony Stark’s near-death experience led him to become the armored superhero. He wasn’t just a solo entity — he was a leader and mentor, shaping the future of the Avengers forever. At this point, it’s no longer a spoiler; Stark wielded the Infinity Stones to erase Thanos and his invading army, an action that successfully saved the universe but resulted in his own death from severe gamma radiation. So, unless we get something super twisty, we won’t see a Downey Jr. double-trouble moment.

Now, to the hypothetical. Iron Man was always a force to be reckoned with, but in the MCU, he grew even stronger. At the heart of the suit is a miniature, self-sustaining nuclear fusion reactor that directly powers the suit’s life support, weapons, and mobility. His supersuits have enhanced over time, evolving to defeat the enemy of the moment. So, as Iron Man leverages his raw engineering capabilities, technology will overpower mystic powers. His suits have also served as perfect vessels for greater flight maneuverability and stealth capabilities, so agility is an advantage for Iron Man compared to Doom’s bulky suit. Doom is adaptable, but Iron Man is famous for anticipating threats. Had it not been for a personal sacrifice, Stark would be the man who could never be killed. And he would be strong enough to take down Doom.

6

Jean Grey

Image via 20th Century Studios

There are many beloved characters in the X-Men, but constantly at the top of that list is Jean Grey. Why? Her story is simply incredible, often serving as a central storyline in comics, TV series, and films. While the entire X-Men team could defeat Doom together, Jean Grey likely could do it on her own. Jean Grey tapped into her mutant powers as a teen before being brought to Professor Xavier (James McAvoy/Patrick Stewart). He honed her skills until she went all Dark Phoenix, exposing just how vast and powerful her abilities were. Her powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and cosmic pyrokinesis. She is an Omega-level mutant and serves as the primary host for the god-like cosmic entity. Her innate psionic mastery allows her to harness cosmic energy effortlessly, making her the quintessential and most formidable host for the Phoenix Force. Jean Grey was first portrayed on the big screen by Famke Janssen in the original X-Men films, before Sophie Turner portrayed the role in the prequel films.

The truth is, there are very few individuals that Jean Grey cannot take down. Just with her simple skills, she can bypass Doom’s armor and anything he might throw her way. Tapping into Phoenix, he’d be completely dismantled. When you can control life, death, and cosmic energy, there’s no denying her unstoppable force. There will be quite a few X-Men arriving in the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday, including Cyclops (James Marsden), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming). Jean Grey is not on that roster. Janssen has stated Marvel “made a mistake” not bringing her back for the film, but as disappointing as it is, she might just be too strong for a plausible story.

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Loki

Image via Marvel Studios

Once upon a time, Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) brother was known as the God of Mischief. After the second season of Loki, he’s ascended to the role of God of Stories. Needless to say, Loki’s arc within the MCU was utterly fascinating. From villain to anti-hero to savior of the timelines, Loki has run the full gamut. He is highly trained in illusion casting, projection, duplication, and telekinesis. He can shapeshift. His combat prowess is stronger than his stature. Whether in his villain era or during his multiverse adventures, Loki’s skill set has been on full display. His hybrid physiology is one of the lesser-reported assets, but it’s why he is the way he is. His magical toolkit is icing on the cake.

A Loki versus Doctor Doom battle would be a top-tier fight night. Loki possesses god-level magical reality-warping and time manipulation that would give Doom a headache. By mastering time-slipping, Loki can jump across time and space to navigate the multiverse at will, giving him traversal capabilities that even powerful beings can’t pursue without technology. The truth is, no one is more deceptive than Loki. He can fight Doom in the shadows, taking on any shape he wishes, driving Doom into a vulnerable position. After a triumphant finale, it appeared that Tom Hiddleston’s tenure was finite. That’s not the case, as his Loki will be back and likely play a crucial multiversal role against Doom. Though his screen time may be minimal, that doesn’t mean it can’t be monumental.

8

Scarlet Witch

Image via Marvel Studios

Fans loved Wanda Maximoff during the Infinity Saga. They adore her post-WandaVision, even when her dark side emerged as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. With one of the most fascinating journeys of any MCU character, the character now known as Scarlet Witch remains one of the strongest individuals across any timeline. Originally a HYDRA test subject from Sokovia, her latent witchcraft was amplified by the Mind Stone, leading her to become a grieving Avenger who reshaped reality and eventually succumbed to the corrupting influence of the Darkhold. Scarlet Witch is a Nexus Being capable of spontaneous alterations to reality. From chaos magic to reality warping, with energy manipulation in between, her powers are deeply tied to her mental state. Whether grief, trauma, or desperation, once those emotions are activated, she’s unmovable. Doom is destined to tap into one of those.

Now that Scarlet Witch’s powers are fully unlocked, her limitless, unstructured power can overwhelm even Doom’s greatest defenses. Her primary advantage is the ability to manipulate reality instantaneously. At her peak, she doesn’t just fight; she breaks and rewrites the fundamental rules of the universe. Since they’re both magic users, she may have a match with Doom, but Chaos Magic is something difficult to defend. The only locale in which Doom would have an upper hand, with the employment of magical wards, an army of Doombots, and planetary-scale weaponry, is his home nation of Latveria. As much as we’re eager to see who would be victorious in this showdown, whether Elizabeth Olsen will appear in Avengers: Doomsday is still uncertain. There had been rumors that if Scarlet Witch does appear, she’d be on Doom’s side, but given her history, she always finds her way back to the light.

9

The Defenders

Image via Marvel Studios

Once upon a time, the quartet of Netflix Marvel shows lived in their own world. Now that they’re canonically part of the MCU, why not speculate on how The Defenders could handle Doctor Doom? Like other superteams, they’re each strong on their own, but together, they’re simply unstoppable. Comprised of Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Jones), this quartet tends to battle it out from a more street-level perspective. That’s not to say that mystics and magic haven’t opposed them; by strength alone, they each could likely toss anyone across a room. Murdock is the master tactician, Cage is the invulnerable tank, Jones is the brute force, and Rand is the heavy hitter. Initially working as solo vigilantes, their four heroes were brought together by necessity; a gritty “non-team” united to protect New York City from the ancient ninja cult, The Hand. The quartet is much rawer than The Avengers, and thus, that grit is why they might make Doom shake in his mask.

By leveraging a combination of raw, unstoppable physical power, unpredictable mystical arts, and street-level stealth, The Defenders can be victorious. How? Exploiting his fatal flaw of overconfidence. Daredevil’s radar sense would allow him to see through illusions, detect Doombots, and read Doom’s heartbeat to anticipate his physical and magical attacks. Cage’s titanium-like, unbreakable skin can absorb massive concussive blasts from Doom’s gauntlets, keeping the villain occupied in close-quarters combat. Iron Fist’s Chi-infused punch is capable of shattering mystical barriers and high-tech armor alike, directly damaging Doom where he is most vulnerable. Jones’s deductive detective skills would allow her to uncover Doom’s tactical vulnerabilities while navigating past his ego. Though we only had one full season of The Defenders, they have been popping up now that Daredevil: Born Again is a massive success on Disney+. As of now, the quartet is not going to be on the roster for Avengers: Doomsday. There’s a better chance to see them in 2027 in Avengers: Secret Wars. ​​​​​​​

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Thor

Though his movies may have given us a range of emotions, the God of Thunder remains one of the strongest heroes in the MCU. Thor evolved from an arrogant, war-hungry prince into a compassionate king, defending both Asgard and Earth. Thor may still be a prominent figure, but, as seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, he has since adopted a child, Gorr the God Butcher’s (Christian Bale) orphaned daughter, Love. With divine biology, Thor’s skin and bones are significantly more durable than a human’s. With enchanted weaponry, Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, in hand, Thor has proven that his strength is unmatched. Beyond raw muscle, Thor has over a thousand years of combat and battlefield experience against some of the universe’s most formidable threats. Now a “Dad God,” pulling him out of that role and back into action might be Doom himself.

Thor possesses superior raw physical strength, divine invulnerability, and cosmic magical abilities that bypass Doom’s technological defenses. That said, Thor’s full capacity might depend on the cosmic storyline. Where Doom might overperform Thor is knowing how volatile the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) can be. We’ve seen Emo Thor. He’s not a warrior by any means. Doctor Doom is cunning, which Thor is not. Doom frequently invents devices to siphon Thor’s divine energy, turning the Asgardian’s own strength into a liability. On some occasions, it’s true, it’s a toss-up, but history has proven Thor tends to come out on top. With Hemsworth back for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s been teased that the softer, vulnerable Dad God will be preparing for strength to defeat one final enemy. With that tease as well as Avengers: Secret Wars to come, Thor might be the one to make the ultimate sacrifice. What a way to go, to watch Hemsworth beat Downey Jr., the last Avenger to make a massive sacrifice!

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Avengers: Doomsday

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Release Date

December 18, 2026

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Writers

Stephen McFeely, Michael Waldron, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee

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General Hospital has Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) back to Port Charles this week. Unfortunately, her mental health is not as restored as everybody thinks, and that is because Peter August (Wes Ramsey) is living rent-free in her head. So, Anna is essentially hallucinating his ghost and Faison’s worst son has a diabolical agenda that could cause Anna to do something deadly.

We’re going to talk about Peter pushing Anna to kill somebody according to official spoilers.

General Hospital: Anna’s Dangerous Delusions

So, this week, Anna’s family welcomes her home. Mac Scorpio (John J. York) and Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) are thrilled she’s back and Emma Scorpio Drake (Brayden Bruner) and Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) are ready to welcome her home. So things seem great for Anna except for one big thing.

She’s hallucinating Peter and lying about it. So, right away Anna gets back into the hustle and flow of her old life. She’s back in her apartment with Emma. And soon Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) is more than happy to give Anna back her job as police commissioner. Dante is going to be thrilled to be back as a detective without all the pressure of being the boss at the PCPD.

And official General Hospital spoilers say Anna comes home with deadly intentions. And at first, I wondered if she was going to come back and kill Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) for gaslighting her, but no, he’s already pushing up daisies thanks to WSB agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). So, the deadly intentions are clearly aimed at somebody else entirely. And I’m thinking that Peter wants Anna to kill somebody that he hates, that he’s got a grudge against.

So, Peter may advise Anna to settle a score that’s more about him, somebody who he thinks wronged him. But of course, this Peter thing ties back to the spoiler about Anna getting counsel from a less than reliable source. So, let’s talk about who Peter wants dead, or at least this twisted version of him that’s living inside Anna’s head.

Peter’s Potential Targets on GH

First and foremost, I’m thinking that it could be Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) that Peter wants dead. And of course, Anna knows that Peter hates Valentin because when Peter was a defenseless little kid, a baby, Valentin gave Peter to Cesar Faison (Anders Hove). And by all accounts, his childhood was terrible. Want to hear something odd? I don’t recall Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) ever mentioning Peter yet.

They were both raised by Faison, and their childhoods should have overlapped. There’s a roughly five-to-ten-year age gap between them. Madeline Reeves (Donna Mills) handed Cassius to Faison and Valentin handed over Peter and Faison raised them both. Yet that never came up. We know Peter had a miserable childhood.

Some of it spent in boarding school and Cassius talked a little about his childhood, but we have to assume it was also awful. So Peter may want revenge on Valentin for him being raised by awful Faison. And Valentin already felt guilty about this. So, that’s why he watched over Peter and tried to help and protect him as best he could whenever he could.

And this week, spoilers say Anna and Valentin reconnect. And I think after that, we’re going to get to hear Peter’s thoughts on Valentin after he and Anna have that reunion. So, we’ll see if Peter says right away that he wants her to kill Valentin.

General Hospital: Peter May Target Felicia

Another obvious option as a revenge target for Peter is Felicia, who is Anna’s best friend. No doubt, Ghost Peter should hate Felicia for killing him. She whacked Peter in the head with a tire iron to save her daughter Maxie Jones, (Kirsten Storms) and then he fell down an embankment.

There was time to save him, but Anna didn’t call an ambulance. And instead, while everybody else walked away from Peter and left him bleeding out, she stayed. Anna sat there and she held Peter’s hand all the way till he drew his last breath so he didn’t die alone. So, this could be some manifestation of Anna’s guilt over his death, you know, because she sat there and let Peter die.

Another option for revenge could be one or both of the Quartermaine brothers, Drew Cain Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison) and Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), primarily because Peter targeted them before. If you remember, he tried to kill Jason and Drew separately on multiple occasions. They didn’t start stuff with Peter. It was him coming after them. And if you remember, he had Jason locked in that Russian clinic for years under the name Patient Six. And Peter did a memory transfer between Jason and Drew for Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers). Plus, Peter faked Drew’s death in that plane crash. So, Jason’s back soon, and Drew is about to recover from being locked in, so could be one of them.

Anna’s Connection to Jason on GH

And don’t forget, Anna had gotten really close to Jason. They even shared a kiss when they thought they were going to die in Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) camp in Africa. So, Anna might have Jason on her mind, and the Peter that lives in her head might be bothered by it. I tend to think that Drew would be less of a target, though.

Next, we could see Peter having Anna target Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) or Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). We know Anna gets in touch with both of these women from Faison’s life soon. Peter hates that Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) had a good life and that people loved him, including Britt and Liesl.

So, Peter might want Anna to punish them. Summer spoilers say that Britt faces tough questions from Anna. And those questions could be about her brother, Cassius, you know, he’s also Faison’s kid and related to Peter. So, Peter might want to find out more about how Cassius infiltrated General Hospital and pretended to be Nathan.

And don’t forget, Liesl kidnapped and tortured Peter before. And then Liesl actually tried to burn him alive in revenge for his role in her precious Nathan’s death. So, Peter might have some sort of attachment to Cassius that we’ve not heard of because they grew up together. And maybe he wants to punish Britt and Liesl for Cassius’ assumed death, we know he’s not dead. And since Cullum is dead and can’t be punished for killing him, maybe he’s going to go after one of them.

General Hospital: Liz Targeted for Payback

One last option that might be interesting as a target for Peter is nurse Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst). If you remember, Dr. Hamilton Finn (Michael Easton) thought he killed Peter when they had a confrontation in the stairwell of General Hospital and then Peter went tumbling down all those flights of stairs to his apparent death.

That was insane because Finn checked his pulse. A doctor said he was dead. Liz checked it, too. A nurse also confirmed Peter’s death. And then Liz helped Finn cover up Peter’s presumed death by shoving him in a freezer in the basement of General Hospital. But Liz and Finn can’t check a pulse properly, I guess, because Peter was alive and escaped. And with Finn gone, I could see Peter wanting to punish Liz for both of them.

General Hospital: Peter Drama Amps Up This Week

And you know, Peter might be mad that she helped cover up his death and made him into a human popsicle. However, I think Peter targeting Liz is a really long shot. I tend to lean towards it being somebody whom Peter and Anna both had much more involvement with, somebody like Valentin or Felicia. But we’ll find out more once we see Anna back in her apartment and having sketchy private conversations with ghost Peter. And then we’ll also hear what he says to Anna after her reunions with Felicia and Valentin and others that are close to Anna.

I will say this, I did not have Wes Ramsey returning to General Hospital as Peter August on my bingo card for summer and I see a lot of fans on soap social media saying no one asked for this. So, I’ll tell you this. Wes was back on Days of Our Lives. He was playing this villain that he had played gosh almost like twenty years ago and he was a kidnapping creep back then and he came back as a kidnapping creep again and I thought he did an okay job. A little more subtle than he had been on General Hospital. So, I’m going to give it a chance. I’m going to wait and see.

That’s your General Hospital analysis on Peter’s deadly agenda.

Ariana Grande has been spending time with ex Ricky Alvarez.

“They’ve always shared a close bond,” an insider exclusively tells Us Weekly of Grande, 33, and Alvarez, 34, after they were seen leaving a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, on Saturday, July 4. “There was a period in time where they weren’t close — while she was with Ethan [Slater] — so she is happy to reconnect with him again.”

The source concludes, “Ariana is grateful to have him in her life right now, and he’s been a huge source of support.”

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Related: Inside Ariana Grande’s Split From Ethan Slater: What Went Wrong

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s private split was far from dramatic. “After their press tour [for Wicked: For Good] died down, they had been spending more time apart than usual,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly of what led to the demise of the pair’s relationship. “They both agreed they wanted different things and […]

Us reached out to reps for Grande and Alvarez for comment.

Grande met Alvarez when he joined her team as a backup dancer on her Honeymoon Tour in February 2015. The pair began dating that April and later called it quits in July 2016.

Grande famously name-dropped Alvarez in her 2018 hit “Thank U, Next,” singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.” The track also featured nods to other exes, including Big Sean, Pete Davidson and the late Mac Miller, who died in 2018 of an accidental overdose at age 26.

Grande shared Alvarez’s reaction to being featured in the song while discussing her Thank U, Next album in 2019.

“Ricky loved it. He was proud. But Ricky was like, ‘Why did I get the worst line?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Everyone else’s line is so nice, and mine is like, ‘Man, f*** him, he’s trash.’ I was like I could have said that,” Grande recalled during her appearance on the Zach Sang Show at the time. “I could’ve said, ‘Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he’s trash.’ … But I didn’t. I said, ‘Now I listen and laugh.’”

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Related: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Relationship Timeline

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance isn’t defying gravity, but it has turned heads from the start. Us Weekly confirmed in July 2023 that Wicked costars Grande and Slater were in a “fairly new” relationship following their respective breakups. News broke that same month that Grande and Dalton Gomez called it quits after two years […]

Grande recently hinted at her rekindled connection with Alvarez by changing the lyric during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Austin, Texas, on June 26.

“Wrote some songs about Ricky, I know he still got my back,” she sang.

After her romance with Alvarez ended, Grande dated Miller from 2016 to 2018. She was also briefly engaged to Pete Davidson in 2018 and married to ex-husband Dalton Gomez from 2020 to 2024. Grande moved on with Wicked costar Slater, 34, following her separation from Gomez in 2023.

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A source confirmed Grande and Slater’s split to Us in June.

“It’s amicable. They gave lots of time and careful consideration and decided to go their separate ways,” the insider shared. “They are still friends and very supportive of one another. They have been quietly broken up for several months.”

Alvarez’s dating history beyond Grande is not publicly known.

Bold and the Beautiful saw Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) throwing a whiny little tantrum and throwing her necklace right in Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) face. But if you ask me and a pile of B&B fans, Electra did Will a favor by walking out on him with R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti). And Will honestly shouldn’t fight to get Electra back.

We’re going to talk about five reasons why Will should never ever reunite with Electra despite Will doing that weird Streetcar Named Desire scream of Electra’s name at the end of the most recent episode. Now, unfortunately, I think it’s pretty easy to predict that Will is going to go grovel at Electra’s feet and beg her to move back in with him. But come on, that is the absolute worst thing for Will.

And most fans seem to hope that he never ever gives Electra a second look. But it’s probably what Brad Bell has written, the groveling. But let’s talk about why Will should never give Electra a second look and he should just date Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) instead. I mean, heck, date anybody else. Even drag Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada) out of the grave to date her. That would be preferable to Electra at this point. So, let’s talk about why Will needs to run the other way and never look back.

Bold and the Beautiful: Five Reasons Will Should Move on From Electra

First of all, it seemed pretty clear to me that if Will had told Electra about Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) being at Logan, about the Blue Diamond, about the jewelry line, that Electra probably would have blabbed their plans to the Forresters. She told Will that the Forresters must think she’s an idiot because he didn’t tip her off. But Electra made it sound like she would have warned the Forresters.

So, it sounds to me like she was upset at Will that she didn’t get the chance to betray the Spencer family and Will and the Logan Corporation. Basically, Electra wanted Will to betray his family so she could betray them to the Forresters. Electra’s wrong. So, to me, it’s very clear that Will was right not to tell her a thing.

And Electra used the phrase “trade secrets” or whatever. Like, it was dismissive. It’s not whatever. It’s important. And her pitching a fit to Will because Forrester Creations can’t handle a tiny bit of competition is outright insane. He just needs to forget Electra.

Electra Still Keeping a Secret from Will on B&B

Another reason that Will needs to pack her stuff and ship it to the Forrester mansion and never look back is because Electra betrayed him and she lied to his face. Remember when they were broken up and Will kissed Dylan? Technically, she kissed him.

When Electra asked if anything happened, Will was honest with her. And at the same exact time, Electra had been kissing R.J. And in fact, Electra was kissing R.J. behind Will’s back while Electra and Will were actively discussing reuniting. But was Electra honest with Will? No. She basically lied to his face while demanding absolute truth from him.

Electra sits on a throne of lies and sticks out her lips and pouts when things don’t go her way. She said Will should cherish her, but Electra doesn’t cherish or respect Will. Why would she make such a huge deal about Will kissing Dylan when she did the same thing? It’s hypocrisy.

Bold and Beautiful: Electra Choose RJ over Will

Another big issue is that Electra sided with R.J. over Will. This is why he should never reunite with her. Electra never said one thing to R.J. about all the times he tried to get Will fired and then when he finally succeeded. She didn’t call him out at all. And I’m betting that Will would still be at Forrester if not for R.J.

But Electra never criticizes R.J. for anything, but she’s always got her manipulative little hand on Will’s neck. This is extremely problematic. Electra continues to side with R.J. at every turn. And I think that’s partly because all he does is kiss Electra’s backside and sing her praises.

And R.J. basically treats Electra like she’s the perpetual victim that he needs to protect. And R.J. acting like that feeds into Electra’s spoiled princess vibe. R.J. is a creep. And he keeps inserting himself in Electra and Will’s relationship. And Electra not only lets him do it, but she seems to encourage it.

It was one thing when Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) was in town and manipulating things, but she’s long gone and Electra is still letting R.J. come between her and Will. Honestly, Electra keeps choosing R.J. over Will. So he should just let R.J. have her on Bold and the Beautiful.

I think Will could do a lot better than her. As for R.J., he walked right into Will’s house, didn’t knock, started nonsense, acting like Electra is a damsel in distress, and at the end of the day, R.J. and Electra are both too entitled for words.

Electra is Never Going to Change on Bold

So, another reason Will should think about not getting back with her is the fact it has to be exhausting to date Electra. She is always with the whiny pouty drama. She will always be a spoiled brat, always think that if everything doesn’t go 100% her way, then she gets to pitch a fit at Will or whoever else she feels has wronged her.

Electra’s default mode is “poor me,” like when she wanted Will to toss Dylan out to live in her car. Electra was acting like she was a victim because Will was nice to her friend. And if he talks Electra into coming back to him, I think it’ll just restart the same cycle and he will spend the rest of his life groveling.

The Family Factor on B&B

All right, the last thing I think Will being with Electra is going to be a big problem for Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Katie Logan (Heather Tom). Will’s mom is at his place this week and he’s going to tell Katie what happened with Electra and how upset she was, you know, that she was ranting at Will for not telling her all of Logan’s secret plans.

And I’m sure Katie is going to say that Will did the right thing. Electra is not entitled to know what Logan is planning, girlfriend or not. As Will told Electra, they work for rival companies. Is she going to tell Will everything the Forresters are planning? I seriously doubt it.

And Bill’s going to find out about Electra’s issues. And I’m guessing that his parents are going to tell Will that if he’s with Electra, then they may not be able to let him know what is going on with Logan, what their future private plans are. It’s one thing for Bill and Katie to trust their son, Will, with company secrets. It’s another to trust this Forrester girl that he’s dating with their secrets.

Bold and the Beautiful: Electra is a Problem for Bill & Katie

I think Bill is going to apply some pressure to Will about this because if he reunites with Electra, then Katie and Bill will always have to have their guard up. And with good reason. Bill and Katie will always be wondering if Electra is trying to manipulate company secrets out of Will so she can feed them to Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) because that seemed to be what Electra would have done if she had known about the launch plans.

Bottom line, I think Will should cut his losses with Electra and so do a ton of fans on soap social media. Honestly, Will would be better off dating Dylan. I bet she would be loyal to Will. I mean, heck, Dylan might even leave Forrester and go over and take a job working with the Spencers at Logan to be with Will. I think she would be so loyal.

Also, if you haven’t seen it, Crew Morrow, who plays Will, recently posted a photo on his social media of him and Sydney Bullock, who plays Dylan. They look super cute together. And Crew asked if fans are ready for more Will and Dylan. And I think the answer is yes. And Electra can go whine to R.J. about all of her little issues.