Sydney Sweeney is looking back on Cassie’s OnlyFans storyline and her now-controversial Euphoria season 3 nude scenes.

“From the very beginning, you can see that Cassie has this need to be loved. “She has a need to be validated by other people,” the actress, 28, said of her character’s obsession with being OnlyFans famous in an interview with Vanity Fair published on Tuesday, June 9. “She doesn’t know how to love herself unless someone else loves her. So I understand how Kaitlin Simpson Sam [Levinson] got her to where she was in season three. I think she was more excited by the idea of all these people loving her and knowing who she is and feeling like her world isn’t small.”

Sweeney explained that before filming began Levinson spoke to her about his plans for Cassie.

“He actually, as we were finishing up season two, started hinting at different ideas that he was putting together for season three. And it was very similar to season one and season two, he would call me, usually a few weeks after we wrapped, and he pitched me the entire idea,” she recalled. “So I knew years before we started filming season three that I would be married to Nate, we’d be living in a suburban neighborhood, and Cassie would be crazier than ever.”

Related: ‘Euphoria’ Shows Sydney Sweeney Masturbating and Topless on OnlyFans

After receiving backlash for Cassie’s OnlyFans story line, Euphoria pushed it further with more scenes where Sydney Sweeney is topless — and others where she is masturbating on camera. During the Sunday, May 10, episode of the hit HBO series, Cassie grew her subscribers on OnlyFans with Maddie’s (Alexa Demie) help by filming graphic content. […]

Sweeney added that she only has “the gist” about what Levinson was cooking up until she got her hands on the final scripts. She and Levinson also checked in on her emotional health to see how she felt about doing nude scenes.

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“He sent me all the scripts and it already had all of Cassie’s scenes in it, the OnlyFan scenes, and he called me afterwards, and he was talking about it, and we [talked] through it all,” she said. “He asked me how I felt about it, and I told him, ‘Look, I’m playing a character.’ Do I agree with all of Cassie’s decisions? Would I personally make these choices? No, of course not. But I’m an actor and that’s my job and this is Cassie’s life and to be able to do her justice and play her how she’s to be played is to bring Sam’s vision to life and to play Cassie in the most vulnerable and insane way possible.”

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Related: Sydney Sweeney Marks ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Finale With Near-Total Nude Photo

Sydney Sweeney is seemingly saying goodbye to Euphoria season 3 much like her on-screen character, Cassie Howard — with a bang. “It’s called… acting,” Sweeney, 28, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 31, alongside several behind-the-scenes and on-screen photos of the actress during what many believe to be the final season of the hit HBO […]

In season 3, Cassie is married to high school sweetheart Nate (Jacob Elordi) and the pair settled down in the suburbs. While Nate worked during the day, Cassie decided she wanted to pursue a career as an OnlyFans model. Throughout the season, Cassie’s career goals became a hot topic as many NSFW creators slammed the show’s portrayal of their industry, However, Levinson has stood by his story and Sweeney’s commitment to the character.

“I think she’s a totally fearless actor. She’s also just wonderfully professional, and shows up just game every day,” Levinson said during a June episode of The New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast. . “I adore working with her, because there’s such a flexibility in terms of the performance.”

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: Reports surrounding a leaked Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer 2 have surfaced online. While none of the details have been officially confirmed by Sony Pictures or Marvel Studios, the following article discusses rumored footage and potential story elements that some fans may consider spoilers. Proceed with caution.

Sony Pictures may be preparing to release the second trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day much sooner than fans expected.

Over the past several days, reports of a leaked Trailer 2 description, audio, and even low-quality footage have spread across social media. While none of the leaked material has been officially confirmed by Sony or Marvel Studios, the growing number of reports has fueled speculation that a new trailer could be right around the corner.

Adding fuel to the fire, a second Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer was recently age-rated in Canada. The trailer reportedly runs approximately two minutes and thirty seconds, marking the first major batch of new footage since the film’s debut trailer premiered earlier this year. Historically, trailers often arrive online shortly after receiving ratings approval, leading many fans to believe an official release could happen within days.

According to various leak reports circulating online, the trailer may feature additional footage of Peter Parker’s latest adventure, including more action sequences and a closer look at several supporting characters. Rumors have also pointed to expanded appearances from Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, though those claims remain unverified.

Some of the more surprising leak descriptions suggest the trailer includes a confrontation between Spider-Man and Hulk. If true, it would mark one of the film’s biggest reveals yet. However, fans should approach these claims with caution until Sony officially releases the trailer.

Sony has already dealt with multiple Brand New Day leaks throughout the film’s marketing campaign. Earlier footage and images reportedly surfaced online before the first trailer debuted, making it possible that the studio could accelerate its marketing plans if additional material continues to spread across social media.

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026, the timing would make sense for Sony to begin its next major promotional push. Whether the recent leaks are accurate or not, the appearance of a newly rated trailer and the increasing volume of online chatter suggest that Trailer 2 may arrive sooner rather than later.

For now, fans eager for another look at the next chapter in Peter Parker’s story may not have to wait much longer.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 26 seconds ago

It’s been a pretty weird decade to be a Ghostbusters fan. Paul Feige’s all-female movie was supposed to reboot the franchise for modern audiences and make the franchise mainstream again. Instead, it became a firestorm of controversy, and we eventually got Ghostbusters: Afterlife. While it was more about Spielbergian wonder than cynical wisecracks, Afterlife appealed to the old-school fans, earning enough money to warrant a sequel: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. However, Frozen Empire was a crowded, somewhat sloppy film that cost more and made less than Afterlife, leaving the future of the franchise uncertain.

Now, the latest iteration of Ghostbusters will be on the small screen rather than the big screen. A new, animated show is launching on Netflix in 2027, and fans have been eager to hear more about what this cartoon will be about. Recently, Sony unveiled the show’s logo as well as its provocative new name, Ghostbusters: Night Shift. Many are buzzing with excitement, but some can’t help but ask the obvious question: “wait, that’s it?” This cartoon has been in the works for several years now, and the fact that it is still so shrouded in mystery is starting to feel like a very, very bad sign.

A New Take On A Classic Logo

When Sony unveiled the logo for Ghostubers: Night Shift, fans were divided. On the one hand, it’s nice that this logo shares so much in common with the original film logo; most reboots and revivals change so much that we love, so it’s nice to know that this upcoming cartoon isn’t shaking things up too much. On the other hand, the new logo is so close to the original logo that it seems almost odd that they changed it. The changes are also so odd and minimalist (like yellowed teeth and a beastly claw on the ghost) that it seems like a borderline AI creation. The prompt? “Make the Ghostbusters logo look scary.”

Additionally, the subtitle “Night Shift” has caused speculation about who the core Ghostbusters team will be and what the show will be about. The name implies that the cartoon likely won’t follow the original Ghostbusters, who (in addition to being very old) didn’t answer many calls in the wee hours. The show is also unlikely to follow the core crew of Aferlife and Frozen Empire. It’s possible that the new show will go full meta and feature the Ghostbusters as an in-universe franchise. Therefore, we might be following a new team of a local Ghostbusters branch, one that covers the titular night shift.

Trusted Names And Plenty Of Secrets

Aside from the new name and new logo, we know very little about Ghostbusters: Night Shift. The show will be a Netflix exclusive and is set to premiere in 2027, though an exact release date remains unknown. It’s not entirely clear what kind of animation style we are likely to see, either. While the smart money is on the show having the uncanny, CGI-animated look of Netflix’s Stranger Things cartoon, the show may end up with a more traditional 2D style, like the streamer’s steadily-growing list of exclusive anime titles. One thing we do know about Ghostbusters: Night Shift, though, is that it is being made by some names we can trust.

The show is being executive-produced by Dan Aykroyd, the franchise star who originally came up with the idea of the Ghostbusters in the first place. Other EPs include Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, both of whom co-wrote Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Finally, Elliott Kalan is serving as writer and co-showrunner of this new cartoon; if his name doesn’t ring a bell, Kalan has written for The Daily Show and Mystery Science Theater 3000, and he’s the motormouthed, show-stealing cohost of the hit podcast The Flophouse. Kalan is also a comics writer who gave us the often-memed scene where the villainous Sauron tells Spider-Man he’d rather turn people into dinosaurs than cure cancer.

Akyroyd is the OG talent, Reitman is the shepherd of the modern movies, and Kalan is the passionate fan working on his dream franchise. Together, they might just have what it takes to make Ghostbusters: Night Shift into Netflix’s latest killer cartoon. Otherwise, this beloved franchise may fade away and become the worst kind of ghost: one that nobody even cares about watching, much less busting.

We all know it, and we all love it; Starship Troopers is one of the best films of the 1990s. However, it wasn’t always seen that way. Upon release, the sci-fi classic faced pretty scathing reviews, with an overwhelmingly negative reaction rumbling through Hollywood. Incredibly, this anti-fascist satire of war — directed by a man who grew up in Nazi-occupied territory — was seen as pro-fascist, with critics tearing down its supposed military-glorifying propaganda. Thankfully, time has been kind to Starship Troopers, and its true intent has shone through in the years since.

Now it has taken its place as one of the best of its kind from that era, Starship Troopers is, of course, the subject of much reboot and remake speculation. In fact, it was confirmed in 2025 that District 9 director Neill Blomkamp would be taking on a new interpretation of the 1959 book by Robert A. Heinlein, instead of reworking the 1997 movie, which is likely to remove much of the biting satire. This comes after two direct sequels to Paul Verhoeven‘s film have already been produced, including the most recent in 2017.

None has quite lived up to the genius, campy standard of the 1997 edition, with fans still waiting for news of a specific reboot of that movie. In an interview with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt at the Indiana Comic Convention, Amy Smart, who portrays a pilot cadet in the movie, was asked if she would return if a long-rumored TV reboot got the green light. “I mean, if they decide to do it well, yeah,” she responded, giving fans hope that a revival could be on the cards. She also shed some light on her experience working on the film, saying:

“I didn’t get the script. I just got my character, and we were filming on stage. I mean, I only have a few scenes in it, but Paul Verhoeven was such a big director, meaning he was very energetic, and we were on the sound stage with nothing around us, and he was yelling, so loud, so animated, and fun. So he got everyone going. I took it very seriously. I thought it was a very serious movie. Then I went to the theater, and I was like, ‘Everyone’s laughing. Oh.’ It was fun.”

‘Starship Troopers’ Was a Box Office Bomb

Perhaps unsurprisingly, thanks to the wild misinterpretation of the movie that took place upon its release, Starship Troopers was an undeniable box office bomb. The film boasted a bloated production budget of over $100 million, according to reports, and could only return $121 million at the global box office, split between a domestic haul of $55 million and a further $66 million from overseas markets. The film did open at #1 in the U.S., but quickly dropped to second-place in weekend #2.

For more of the latest movie news, stay tuned to Collider.

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Release Date

November 7, 1997

Runtime

129 minutes

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Director

Paul Verhoeven

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Writers

Edward Neumeier

Sequel(s)

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Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, Starship Troopers: Invasion, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

I spend a lot of time dunking on Star Wars. Accordingly, many people think I’m just a hater who loves to see this iconic franchise fail. In reality, the opposite is true: I have loved Star Wars for almost my entire life, and I’d love nothing more than to see it succeed. However, under Disney’s stewardship, the franchise has had quite a few critical and commercial missteps, so now I love Star Wars the same way you love the drunk uncle that slurs his way through Thanksgiving get-togethers. You know, the one who’s fun to talk to, but you’d secretly like him to put down the sauce and get his life together.

Your uncle is deeply unlikely to put himself together anytime soon, but it might not be too late for Star Wars. You see, Disney doesn’t need to reinvent the franchise from the ground up; instead, they just need to release one really great movie to remind audiences how great this franchise can be. Unfortunately, The Mandalorian and Grogu didn’t scratch that particular itch, and many fans decided they wanted something more from Star Wars than a spinoff of an outdated show. That’s why the House of Mouse needs to bring back the one canceled movie that can finally save this franchise: Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron.

Going Rogue

In The Empire Strikes Back, we learn that Luke Skywalker is the commander of Rogue Squadron. The exploits of these pilots (who are basically the best X-Wing pilots in the galaxy) and their new leader, Wedge Antilles, were recorded in some excellent Legends books by Michael Stackpole. In December 2020, Lucasfilm revealed that Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins would be directing a Rogue Squadron movie. Eventually, Jenkins left the project because she wanted to focus on other films, and the project seemingly died, though Jenkins later revealed that she signed a new deal to write the script for this X-Wing movie. However, there have been no real updates since then.

Given its name and its post-The Rise of Skywalker setting (something Jenkins’ film was supposed to have), most fans assume that Disney dropped Rogue Squadron in favor of Star Wars: Starfighter. However, it’s unclear how well Starfighter will go over with audiences because its rumored plot (about a grizzled pilot escorting a Force-sensitive child through dangerous space) is so similar to The Mandalorian and Grogu, a movie that is (by Star Wars standards) flailing at the box office. Fortunately, it’s not too late for this franchise to get back its former glory. All Disney has to do is bring Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film (which now has a completed script) to life.

You’re All Clear, Kid

Why am I convinced that Rogue Squadron would be a hit Star Wars film for Disney? While its exact plot details have been kept secret, it’s clear that in commissioning a movie about starfighter pilots, Disney wanted to have their own Top Gun in space. As it turns out, that was a fairly good instinct. When Tom Cruise returned for the belated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, it earned over $1.5 billion, which is why Top Gun 3 is now in development. As it turns out, general audiences love the combination of sexy pilots and cool dogfights, and Rogue Squadron would be an easy way for Disney to get a piece of the action.

If done well, a Rogue Squadron movie would also help channel what originally made The Mandalorian so cool. Remember how hyped everyone was for that show when it first came out? A big part of the show’s early appeal is that it was free of Jedi and Sith drama and generally untethered from the various Star Wars trilogies. Eventually, it got bogged down with connections to other franchise shows and films, and the hype for Baby Yoda died, which is part of why The Mandalorian and Grogu fizzled at the box office. But a Rogue Squadron movie could deliver what The Mandalorian used to have: entirely new characters and adventures set in a galaxy far, far away.

Stay On Target

Finally, Rogue Squadron would be the perfect way to bring the franchise back to its roots. If you ask people what their favorite part of the first Star Wars movie is, it’s a safe bet they’ll say the attack on the Death Star. Pilots saving the galaxy through death-defying maneuvers is, quite frankly, what made the entire world fall in love with A New Hope, and one of the only weaknesses of that film is that we hardly knew any of the pilots. Rogue Squadron could finally shine a spotlight on these lesser-known heroes of the rebellion while giving us more of the coolest dogfights in the galaxy.

Unless the Force is with us, it’s unlikely that Rogue Squadron will see the light of day, and it might go down as the only Star Wars movie that got canceled twice. But the script is written, and Patty Jenkins still seems enthusiastic about directing it. All Disney has to do is give the green light to the most exciting franchise film idea of the last decade. If they wait until Starfighter bombs, though, they might have to send the director a personalized holographic message: “Help me, Patty Jenkins, you’re my only hope!” 

Eva Longoria had a sweet reunion with ex-husband Tony Parker more than a decade after their divorce.

“Look who came to visit,” Longoria, 51, wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, June 8. “The one and only TP! @tonyparker09.”

Parker, 44, seemingly visited Longoria while she filmed her CNN series Searching for France. The actress donned an apron, while the former basketball player rocked a blue sweatsuit. The exes were all smiles as they posed alongside two of Longoria’s colleagues.

Longoria and Parker tied the knot in 2007. The couple called it quits three years later after rumors swirled that Parker had an affair. The athlete denied the allegations at the time.

“I am so secure in who I am. I really am! And I’m not conceited. I just think, ‘Wow, OK, that’s the life you want to live.’ It wasn’t about who he chose,” Longoria recalled of the split during a 2012 appearance on Lifetime’s The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet. “I mean, I had moments [where I wondered], ‘Am I not sexy enough? Am I not pretty enough? Am I not smart enough?’ But in so many of those questions, I immediately stopped and said, ‘No, don’t start doing that.’ Because you can get stuck in that cycle and you can carry on to other things.”

Following their divorce, which was finalized in 2011, Parker moved on with French journalist Axelle Francine. The pair tied the knot in 2014 and went on to welcome sons Josh, 12, and Liam, 9. Francine and Parker split in 2020.

Longoria, for her part, fell in love with businessman José “Pepe” Bastón. They wed in 2016 and welcomed son Santiago, 8, two years later. (Longoria is also a stepmom to Bastón’s three children from a previous relationship.)

The Desperate Housewives actress previously opened up about her decision to become a mom later in life.

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Related: Jessica Simpson Reveals Recent Bizarre Interaction With Ex Tony Romo

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Jessica Simpson is revealing that she and ex Tony Romo recently reconnected — but not romantically. “A couple weeks ago, my mom got a phone call,” Simpson, 45, said onstage at the 2025 Women Who Rock Benefit Concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, per fan footage. “He’s calling my mom, saying, ‘Well, Tina, I’m selling the boat.’ […]

“You have so much more wisdom and patience when you become a mother in your forties,” she told The Sunday Times in a November 2025 interview. “It was all about me for so long. Forty years of me was enough time, so I was really blessed to have my child later in life because I had traveled, I’d done everything I needed to do for my career. Now everything I do is just icing on the cake and I get to do that with my son.”

Longoria added that her family is her top “priority” and only takes on specific projects if they spark joy.

“My family is my priority, so if I’m saying yes to something and it’s taking time away from them, it’s got to be something I’m really going to enjoy and people I really want to work with,” she explained.

Young and the Restless is about to see some major fallout from Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) getting her hands on Chancellor and handing it to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) to run. This is about to infuriate some big and powerful people in Genoa City. And of course, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) didn’t give anybody a heads up that he was handing it over and now there’s going to be heck to pay.

Y&R: Lily’s Shocking Chancellor Ownership

First off, I have say I was stunned that Lily actually wound up with Chancellor. Remember that was the deal she made with Victor. If she and her twins pretended to be kidnapped to force Cane to back down, then she would get Chancellor. And if you dial it back before that, you might remember this. Victor made that deal to give Chancellor to Lily. This was even before he tossed Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) out of the house.

And Victor had been lying to Nikki and everybody else in the family about Chancellor before and since. All the Newmans were certain that Chancellor was going to be back in their hands once they got Newman Enterprises back from Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford).

They thought it was all coming back. And then once Victor tossed Nikki out, she told Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) she didn’t think she would be running Chancellor ever again, even when they got it back. But at that point, Nikki and the other Newmans all thought it would still be back under the family control. She just thought because of her split with Victor that Nikki wasn’t going to be in charge.

Young and the Restless: Victor Makes Good on His Promise

So this past Friday, Victor summoned Lily over to the new ranch and did the documents, delivered Chancellor to her as promised. And if you recall, she had asked Victor about it since he got Chancellor back first. But he put Lily off and Victor said he couldn’t give it to her until he got Newman Enterprises back because till then he needed it. And I’m sure Lily thought Victor would back out of the deal.

So, after he did officially sign it over to Lily, of course, we know Victor still didn’t tell everybody. Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) knows because he was there in the room when Victor gave it to Lily. And Nick was super upset, saying this would kill Nikki.

Y&R: Victoria’s Fury and the Newman Family Fallout

More importantly, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) has been running Chancellor and Victor didn’t tell his daughter. And Victoria found out in the worst possible way when Lily gloated about it. She told Victoria, “I guess Victor didn’t tell you.” this happens at the Shadow Room launch. Then Victoria is griping that she’ll run to her dad. And Victoria said, “It can’t be true because Victor wouldn’t have done it without telling her because she’s been running it.” And Victoria told Lily, “Don’t get comfortable. That company belongs to my mom.” And she insisted Victor will reconsider.

But Lily clapped back, “Oh no, it’s a done deal.” And then Victoria had the bravado to say, “You would do that to my mother?” And Lily laughed right in Victoria’s face and asked, “Do you know what your mother did to me?” I remember Nikki and Victor both lied to Lily right in her face over a period of months and screwed her on Chancellor when she’s the one who helped them buy it out and promised she’d be running it.

And then Victoria actually tried to offer her something else in place of Chancellor. Lily said no, she’s got big plans. Told Victoria Nikki can find something else to do. She’s going to be in a health crisis. She didn’t have time for this anyway. But I also thought it was funny because Lily gave her the bye-bye and then just walked off. So, I’m sure Victoria is going to go tear into Victor. He’s not going to listen. But I think what will get his attention is that Lily gave it to Cane to run.

Y&R: Cane’s New Role and Victor’s Reaction

That hasn’t been spread around a lot yet, but it’s going to become common knowledge very soon. Lily is still the owner, but I think Victor is going to be furious that Cane is in charge of it. But if the papers are signed, Victor’s going to have to kick rocks, which I think is pretty funny.

Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) will obviously side with whatever Victor says. And plus, Adam really doesn’t have skin in the game. You know, Nikki’s not his mom. So, Nick is annoyed. And Victoria is outraged. And I don’t know if Nikki herself will be annoyed for a couple of reasons. First, she’s given up on the idea of running Chancellor because she’s estranged from Victor. And second, she has this health crisis coming. So Victoria is probably going to be a lot angrier than her mom.

Y&R: Billy Abbott’s Opposition to the Deal

But another huge negative reaction is going to come from an enemy of the Newmans, Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson). We know how badly he has always wanted Chancellor. He’s been on fire ever since his mom Jill Abbott (Lauren Coslo) sold Chancellor to Victor snatched it right out from under Billy.

We know that Lauren Coslo is going to be playing recast Jill for five episodes of Young and the Restless in just a couple of weeks right as July Sweeps kicks off. So, it might tie back to some of this Chancellor stuff. I do think Billy will be glad that Victor no longer owns Chancellor and it’s out of Newman hands, but he might be bothered that Lily owns it. You know, maybe, maybe not.

But I definitely could see Billy being irritated that his sort of brother Cane is running it. Now, I fully expect for Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) to wind up working for Lily and Cane at Chancellor. And I think from there, other powerful people like Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) are going to be on fire. They are probably going to complain and make accusations about Holden trying to cash in on being Lily’s brother. But I bet that she’s going to tell Devon and Nate to stow it. She wants Cane and Holden both in her life.

Y&R: Billy’s Potential Countermove

But if Billy turns around and asks Cane to hire him at Chancellor, that’s where Lily’s probably going to draw the line because Billy’s been such a colossal jerk to Lily. And of course, Billy and Lily have been at it since she was involved with the deal for Jill to sell it to Victor. So, if Cane’s at Chancellor and Billy can’t be, we might see him ranting and whining about it. And I’m sure that Billy will complain to Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) about all this.

Plus, there’s a June spoiler that says Billy finds out a powerful piece of information and it makes him go after something he desperately wants and Cane and Lily are working together to stop him. So, I wonder if Billy finds out why Victor gave Lily to Chancellor. If Billy finds out that Lily faked her kidnapping to dupe Cane because Victor promised her Chancellor, you know, Billy might be able to use that against them, especially if Jill comes to town and gets involved.

Young and the Restless: What will Jill Do?

You know, maybe there’s some way for Billy to bring this to the attention of law enforcement, like Federal Trade Commission or something. Or maybe Jill sides with Billy and against Victor. I’m sure Jill won’t like that Victor was tormenting Cane with a fake kidnapping. We know Jill adores Cane. So, you know, we’ll see.

Jill may think Lily doesn’t deserve Chancellor, and neither does Victor once she really finds out what went on because she really wasn’t listening before. So maybe Jill can go back and claim fraud on her initial deal with Victor since Jill was grossly lied to and misled by both Lily and Victor so that she would think the worst of Billy and be willing to snatch it out from under him.

Y&R: The Battle Ahead for Chancellor

But clearly whatever happens, Lily and Cane are going to be working together to thwart Billy. And in the end at this point, I’d almost like to see Billy get it just to infuriate Victor. If not, I’m happy with Lily having it, just as long as Victoria doesn’t have it. Although, I do think that Victor is already going to be furious once he finds out Lily is going to have Cane running it.

He might even come and try to make some threats about it. And with Victor targeting Cane, using his new pet, Matt Clark (Roger Howarth), to do it, we could see Victor also having him take aim at Lily for her getting close to Cane again and daring to let him run Chancellor. However, Lily’s new outlook on Cane is understandable since he just saved her biological father Malcolm Winters’ (Shemar Moore) life. We’ll see, but things are going to get explosive all over Genoa City once word spreads about Chancellor changing hands again and who is running it.

In the MCU, the name Tony Stark commands considerable respect. Within the franchise’s context, the now-deceased, self-described “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” was the former co-leader of the Avengers and the ultimate savior of the universe, sacrificing his life to wipe Thanos (Josh Brolin) from existence. In real life, Tony is an icon of superhero cinema, resuscitating Robert Downey Jr.‘s career and becoming the MCU’s face for all intents and purposes. The character’s eventual death in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame marked the end of an era for the franchise and, arguably, superhero cinema as a whole.

One of the reasons for Tony’s popularity is his intelligence. Widely considered one of the smartest characters in the MCU, Tony is behind many of the franchise’s most important breakthroughs. For starters, he single-handedly provides the tech that makes the Avengers work, including the suits of many superheroes, including Spider-Man (Tom Holland). He also discovered how to travel through time using the Quantum Realm, thus allowing the time heist that eventually saved the universe from Thanos’ plans. Yes, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say Tony is the smartest character in the Marvel Universe, except it’s maybe not exactly true. Indeed, at least five characters in the MCU are smarter than Tony, which is no small feat. Moreover, two of those are still quite young, meaning they have their whole lives ahead to further surpass Mr. Stark in the intellectual department.

Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo)

Image via Marvel Studios

Let’s kick off this list with a divisive entry that revives the age-old MCU debate: is Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) smarter than Tony Stark? Well, it depends, but for the purposes of this list, we’ll go with “yes.” Bruce is the world’s leading authority on gamma radiation and biochemistry, holding seven (!) PhDs and participating in many of the series’ most influential events. Notably, he’s one of the few characters who could match Tony in the MCU’s early days, with the two collaborating in several projects, most notably the creation of the android Vision (Paul Bettany).

In the MCU, Bruce’s most notable feats apart from Vision include co-designing the Hulkbuster armor and perfecting the time machine alongside Tony. He also has a mind for problem-solving — for example, he’s the one who suggests separating Vision from the Mind Stone, and he’ll also help Peter Parker in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Bruce also cracked the code to “solve” his own dilemma, combining his intellect with The Hulk’s sheer strength to create the controversial but no less impressive Professor Hulk persona. Sure, the answer as to who is smarter between Bruce and Tony is less straightforward than it might seem, but there’s no denying that Banner is at the very least on the same level.

Riri Williams, AKA Ironheart (Dominique Thorne)

Image via Marvel Studios

An intellectual prodigy and MIT student who became a superhero on merit alone, Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) is among the newest additions to the MCU. Introduced in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri is recruited by Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) to fight in Wakanda. Later, following her expulsion from MIT, she returns to her Chicago home, where she finds herself in the middle of a battle between science and magic.

Riri’s intelligence allowed her to build a suit of armor that rivals Tony’s in her college dorm room using only scraps and basic tools. Moreover, her suit has a vibranium detector, a powerful tool that made both Talokan and Wakanda take interest in her. Tony was considerably older when he built his suit, so Riri already has a head start. Furthermore, her suit doesn’t have the same energy issues as Tony’s original design because it runs on batteries powered by solar and wind energy. Ironheart’s suit is literally eco-friendly, meaning she’s both smart and socially conscious. It’s a shame her solo show didn’t quite work, but here’s hoping we see her again in the MCU, sooner rather than later.

Shuri (Letitia Wright)

Image via Marvel Studios

Shuri is the princess of Wakanda and the current Black Panther, protecting her country from outside threats while also leading the Wakandan Design Group. She was first introduced in 2018’s Black Panther, immediately making a strong impression thanks to her mighty intellect and spirited personality. In Wakanda Forever, she’s far physically stronger and more resilient, relying on both her intelligence and mental fortitude to lead her people.

There really is no argument here: Shuri is more intelligent than Tony. A master of nanotechnology and biomechanics, she’s the main driving force behind Wakanda’s impressive technology, leading many of the country’s modern and more experimental inventions, including the powerful Black Panther nanotech suits she and her late brother used. Shuri also understands and is capable of weaponizing vibranium far better than anyone else in the MCU, making her a key player on the geopolitical stage and possibly the only person in the world capable of exploiting the rare metal. There’s also the fact that she’s been officially declared the smartest character in the MCU, so there’s that.

Reed Richards, AKA Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal)

Fans had eagerly been awaiting the debut of Marvel’s First Family since the MCU first started expanding. However, they had to wait nearly two decades since the franchise began to finally see the Fantastic Four on the big screen. The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces the titular family in all their swinging ’60s glory, focusing on Reed Richards, AKA Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and his efforts to defend his world from the threat of the planet eater, Galactus (Ralph Ineson).

In the comic book lore, Reed and Tony are considered equals, but in the MCU, the former arguably surpasses the latter. Tony might’ve cracked the secret to time travel, but Reed managed to find a way to transport an entire freaking planet to another solar system. He then built the teleportation devices to make it happen, and his plan actually worked. That takes some serious mental prowess, since we’re talking about moving millions of people light-years away from their point of origin. Based on the post-credits scene in Thunderbolts*, Reed also cracked the secret to interdimensional travel, another feather in his already considerable cap.

Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / © Marvel Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

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Some of you might object to including Phastos in this list, but the fact of the matter is, he arguably has more knowledge than most other characters in the MCU. As an Eternal on Earth since the dawn of humanity, he has been alive for millennia, accumulating knowledge and sharing it with humanity, contributing to their technological development and directly influencing most of the most important breakthroughs in the species’ history.

In his first appearance in Eternals, Phastos is seen helping humans develop their civilization. He eventually comes to regret his influence after humans find a way to turn technology into something destructive, building bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. In a way, everything that Tony ever did was only possible because of Phastos. Sadly, Eternals flopped quite spectacularly, so the chances of ever seeing this character again are slim to none. It’s a shame, because it would’ve been great to see him interacting with the other characters on this list and realizing his technology could also be applied for the greater good.

The most well-known franchise Vin Diesel is attached to is probably Fast and Furious, unless you want to count Guardians of the Galaxy, which he has a voice role in (albeit a humorously limited one). In any event, Fast and Furious has more movies that make up the overall series, started further back in time (2001, specifically), and also has Diesel at the center of things. He’s absent from 2 Fast 2 Furious, and only has a cameo in Tokyo Drift, but is in all the other main films (not the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw) as a central character. But there is one film series of his that technically kicked off before even the first Fast and Furious movie: The Chronicles of Riddick.

Now, the first movie was called Pitch Black, which makes it a bit of an unusual series, since the other two movies feature the word “Riddick,” so it’s kind of the Riddick series, or The Chronicles of Riddick series, rather than, like, the Pitch Black series. Diesel, playing Richard B. Riddick, is a constant throughout, as is David Twohy, who’s directed all the movies to date. They’re all science fiction films, but they differ a little in terms of what they go for tonally, and also regarding what other genres they cross over into, and choose to emphasize. They’ve become available on Netflix, as of June 1, and are worth exploring if you like sci-fi thrillers, haven’t seen them before, and want to get a sense of why they’ve picked up something of a cult following over the years.

What Happens Throughout the ‘Riddick’ Trilogy

Image via Focus Features

To spend a little time on the narrative (but only a little, because it’s not always the most important or consistent of things), the Riddick series begins with introducing its titular character as a mysterious criminal with a shady past. He’s on board a commercial cargo ship in Pitch Black, being transported to a prison, but then the ship has to make a crash landing, which results in his escape. It lands on a planet where survival seems pretty much impossible, though, so Riddick reluctantly teams up with the others who are stranded, and transitions into a bit of an antihero by the time it’s over.

Then, The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) gets a good deal more expansive, with its premise involving Riddick escaping bounty hunters, getting captured again, and then finding himself wrapped up in a surprisingly large-scale war. There’s a very intriguing way it ultimately ends, but then that direction is kind of abandoned for Riddick (2013), which gets a little more intimate again, leaning more toward the sort of thing Pitch Black was going for. He’s once more on a harsh and unforgiving planet, and he has to team up with others he initially doesn’t trust if he wants to survive. It is a bit of a retread, but could also be a step in the right direction, if you preferred the sci-fi/horror angle of the first movie.

How the ‘Riddick’ Movies Mix Things Up Genre-Wise

It is technically a trilogy. The Riddick series is, for now, three movies. The first is modestly budgeted in a way that feels like it’s really going for an Aliens kind of thing, and then the second movie is more of a blockbuster, with its grand conflict feeling more than a little Dune-ish. Riddick (2013) is then easiest to compare to Pitch Black, and in line with the sorts of movies you might’ve been reminded of when watching that original film in the trilogy.

There’s some whiplash for sure, just because the ambition of The Chronicles of Riddick is on a whole other level, and it’s quite removed from the horror genre, which is perhaps most evident by the fact that it’s the only PG-13 movie of the bunch. They were going for more of a broadly appealing thing, and you really get the sense that The Chronicles of Riddick wanted to kick-start the franchise on a whole other level, and it’s a bit of a missed opportunity it couldn’t really keep going with the massive world-building. Riddick himself is in a position of immense power at the end of that second film, and your mind starts racing with where he could go, from there, and then it turns out, he kind of just goes back to being stuck on another planet, Pitch Black-style. It’s another action/horror/sci-fi/survival movie, and not a bad one, but it feels extra familiar, by that point.

The Future of the ‘Riddick’ Series

Image via Universal Pictures

This series is a bit all over the place, and so clearly isn’t perfect. There is fun to be had with the way it keeps shaking things up, though. Diesel does make an impression in the lead role, and it’s the kind he was pretty much always made to play. There is a sincerity that comes through, and you can feel a level of interest on the part of both him and Twohy in making this character work. The Riddick movies are sometimes goofy and a bit confused, but there’s a passion and an odd sort of confidence to them that’s admirable… the kind you do often find in the Fast and Furious movies, too, even when they get a bit out of control.

Those movies might’ve jumped the shark, in either F9 or Fast X, but Riddick hasn’t done it yet. There is a fourth movie that’s in production, at the time of writing, called Riddick: Furya, so time will tell whether that’s the one that gets a bit too weird, wild, or messy, potentially possible if they try and go back to the sort of thing the second film went for. But for now, it’s a decently fun trilogy that gets the job done if you’re after science fiction movies that also play around with the action, thriller, and horror genres.