Entertainment
Stephen King’s Forgotten 5-Part Sci-Fi Fantasy Series Is Making a Surprise Comeback
There has been no shortage of Stephen King adaptations in recent years, but some have been more successful than others. Most fans would agree that the best adaptation of one of King’s novels to come in 2025 was The Long Walk, which earned widespread acclaim from critics and audiences while also finding success at the box office. The harrowing horror movie stars up-and-comers Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, and it was directed by Hunger Games helmer Francis Lawrence. The most anticipated King adaptation of 2025 came at the end of the year with The Running Man, the second retelling of the story after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 action classic. Unfortunately, the collective star power of Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, and Colman Domingo wasn’t enough to get The Running Man off the ground, and it ran out of stamina quickly before scattering to Paramount Plus.
Stephen King has written hundreds of novels, many of which, such as The Running Man and Carrie have been adapted more than once. Carrie was told as a feature film back in the 70s, and now Mike Flanagan is telling the story through the lens of a Prime Video original TV show. Carrie won’t be the first time that one of King’s books unfolds over the course of a show on Prime Video, though. King’s famous short story, The Colorado Kid, was previously adapted into a series on Prime Video, Haven, which ran for five seasons between 2010 and 2015. Over 10 years after Haven went off the air, the show has resurfaced as the #10 most popular horror show in the world on Prime Video.
What Is ‘Haven’ About?
The official synopsis for Haven, which was written and created for TV by Jim Dunn and Sam Ernst, reads as follows: “FBI agent Audrey Parker arrives in the coastal town of Haven, Maine, expecting a routine case. Instead, she uncovers “The Troubles” — a wave of supernatural afflictions haunting the town’s residents. Teaming with local detective Nathan Wuornos and smuggler Duke Crocker, Audrey digs deeper into the mysteries plaguing Haven, only to find her own hidden past is tied to its darkest secrets.” Haven stars Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, and Eric Balfour in leading roles. The show earned a solid 63% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes to pair with a strong 84% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter.
Check out all five seasons of Haven on Prime Video with ads and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of King’s work.
- Release Date
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2010 – 2015-00-00
- Directors
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Tim Southam, Fred Gerber, Jason Priestley, Rob Lieberman, T. W. Peacocke, Adam Kane, Keith Samples, Ken Girotti, Lynne Stopkewich, Rachel Talalay, Rick Rosenthal, Stephen Reynolds, Mairzee Almas
- Writers
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Sam Ernst, Jim Dunn
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Adam Copeland
Dwight Hendrickson
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Brenda Bazinet
Gwen Glendower
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Christian Murray
Chet Lawson
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Christine Taylor
Cathy the Caterer
Entertainment
Kristin Cavallari Gave Jay Cutler Half of Her Company in Divorce
Kristin Cavallari opened up about the division of monetary assets in her divorce from Jay Cutler, saying he walked away with “half the value” of her company Uncommon James.
“I will tell you that what ultimately gave me the confidence to leave my marriage was the success of Uncommon James,” Cavallari, 39, shared on the Tuesday, July 7, episode of the “Aspire” podcast.
Cavallari recalled finding “confidence” from having her own business, adding, “Which is interesting because if I didn’t have Uncommon James, I could have taken half of his money, right?”
Uncommon James was ultimately “a really large asset” on their balance sheet.
“I didn’t get anything, which I’m so happy about now. But I don’t get any money from my ex-husband,” she continued. “I had to give him half the value of Uncommon James in cash and properties and everything else.”
Cavallari admitted she was “really pissed” at the time, but her feelings have since changed.
“Now, I’m so thankful, because I think — for me — I’ve needed these things in my life to keep going,” she explained. “I have found that that is an instance where I was like, ‘I’m going to fight harder.’ Those little moments push me, and I actually come out the other side stronger.”

Cavallari and Cutler, 43, began dating in 2010 and got married three years later. They expanded their family with sons Camden, 13, and Jaxon, 12, and daughter Saylor, 10, before announcing their divorce in 2020 after seven years of marriage.
Cavallari has since shut down the assumption that Cutler funded her jewelry brand Uncommon James — and insisted she got nothing after they separated.
“I would say that’s one of the bigger misconceptions I see about me,” Cavallari exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2025, referring to claims that Cutler helped her finance her brand. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished on my own.”
Cutler, however, has disagreed with Cavallari’s version of events when it comes to their finances.
“Let’s think about this logically. ‘Not a penny,’ OK. Married for, I don’t know, seven years or so, three kids,” Cutler said during an August 2025 episode of his “Take It Outside” podcast. “You can go and see how much I made in the NFL. It’s online. You can see the contract from year to year and the total amount at the end of 12 years. So, you go to divorce and each side gets a lawyer and then you go to court and there’s a judge.”
Cutler argued there’s “not a judge in the state of Tennessee” that would have signed an agreement stating that he would “keep every single dollar” he made throughout their marriage.
The former professional football player referred to Uncommon James as a “marital asset” because Cavallari funded the company while they were together. He also called Cavallari’s comments “irresponsible” and said the Laguna Beach alum “didn’t get a penny” — but got “a lot of bills” — during the divorce.
“I think it’s reckless. I think it’s borderline slander to insinuate that there was zero dollars split during the marriage that each side got,” he added. “It’s insanity. It’s completely false, completely untrue. It is, it just is. I’ve got a divorce decree. I’ve got something that’s signed by the judge — it’s, like, 67 pages — it says the number breakdown.”
Entertainment
Marvel Is About To Ruin Hollywood’s Best New Actress
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Obsession is an amazing film for many reasons. This includes director Curry Barker, who parlayed his experience as a YouTube filmmaker into becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest new directors. It also includes Michael Johnston, whose performance as Bear helps him fully straddle the line between sympathetic protagonist and not-so-secret villain. However, it’s an open secret that the best part of Obsession is breakout star Inde Navarette, who plays Nikki. She can delight and terrify with a single change of her facial expression in a performance that might as well be a magic trick. One moment, she’s the cute girl next door; the next moment, she’s the scariest thing you’ve ever seen.
After Obsession became a massive hit (one that beat heavy hitters like The Mandalorian and Grogu and Supergirl at the box office), everyone had the same question: “what will Navarette do next?” Now, we may have the answer, and it’s more frightening than anything in her hit horror film. In a recent interview, she indicated that she’d like to star in a Marvel movie, and she even met with Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier, who is working on his upcoming X-Men film. For a young actor, becoming a Marvel mainstay is the opportunity of a lifetime. Realistically, though, this would ruin her career by tying her to a decade or more of making superhero slop.
A Scar Is Born

Recently, Obsession star Inde Navarette gave an interview to Nylon, one which covered much of the actor’s career. Eventually, they spoke about her future ambitions, and the outlet asked the actor if she’d like to star in a Marvel film. Her response? “I would.” When the outlet asked about dream directors she’d love to work with, Navarette mentioned Jake Schreier, who is poised to become one of Marvel’s biggest movers and shakers. He has already made the critically beloved The Thunderbolts, and he’s going to be directing the first X-Men movie for the MCU.
To be clear, Inde Navarette has not been officially offered any contract with Marvel, and it may simply be a coincidence that she wants to star in this cinematic universe and met one of its biggest directors. However, nobody can deny that getting this Obsession star into his X-Men movie would be a major coup for Schreier. Previously, MCU guru Kevin Feige confirmed that the X-Men movie will have a young cast to appeal to “a younger demographic.” At 25 years old and insanely popular, Navarrette would be the perfect addition to this upcoming mutant movie. Unfortunately, that might very well sabotage her career in the long term.
Marvel’s Latest Heroine?

Why is that? In that same Nylon interview, she discussed her desire to prove that she’s not some one-hit wonder. “I really want to prove that Obsession wasn’t just lightning in a bottle,” she said. “This is something that I really love and want to continue doing, but of course that’s going to take time. I want people to take that time to trust that I have that capability.” In other words, she wants to take on more challenging roles and prove she can keep rising to the occasion. But that will never happen if she signs a contract with Marvel.
That’s because, for bigger actors taking on bigger roles, Marvel Studios notoriously makes these performers sign 10-year contracts. That’s enough time, the thinking goes, to have them headline at least three of their own films and appear in any number of Avengers-style crossovers. Right now, Inde Navarrette is riding high from the insane success of Obsession, and she’s eager to take on meatier roles (case in point, she also met recently with Heat director Michael Mann). But she won’t really have time to star in other breakout indie hits or explosive dramas if she is tied down to at least a decade of making superhero slop.
Be Careful What You Wish For

Even if you’re a huge Marvel fan (got your tickets for Spider-Man: Brand New Day yet, true believer?), it’s an open secret that audiences will always see these tights-and-flights actors as their characters, keeping them from landing great future gigs. For example, the biggest thing Chris Evans has been in since Avengers: Endgame is Knives Out, and the only notable thing Robert Downey Jr. has been in since then is Oppenheimer. Sure, they’re both richer than God, but they’re not getting very many good roles, forcing them to reluctantly crawl back to the franchise that turned them into the most popular actors of the modern age.
That’s my big message to Inde Navarrette (you are reading this, right?): for all intents and purposes, you now have a One Wish Willow in your hand, and you’re in danger of experiencing how bad this monkey’s paw can get. Yes, becoming a Marvel star will make you richer and more famous than ever before, but it comes at the expense of ever acting in anything remotely interesting ever again. Navarrette became an internationally cherished actor thanks to a movie about a toy purchase gone wrong; only time will tell if she’s going to throw all that away just so she can become an action figure.
Entertainment
Inside Model Heidi Klum’s Wellness Routine
Heidi Klum is revealing her secret tips and tricks for looking and feeling her best.
“I love cooking and eating healthy,” Klum, 53, shared in the latest Us Weekly cover story. “And I like that my children are seeing that. I mean, they’ve seen it over the years and some practice it more than others.”
Klum — a mom of four — shared that she and her eldest daughter are similar when it comes to their palate. (Klum welcomed Leni with ex Flavio Briatore after she had moved on with Seal, who adopted her daughter. Klum and Seal, who split in 2012, are also the parents of kids Henry, 20, Johan, 19, and Lou, 16. Klum is now married to Tom Kaulitz.)
“We always say we have garlic with salad instead of salad with garlic,” she said of Leni. “She’s very much like me in that sense. She just loves healthy things. We don’t love everything overcooked and fried and dead and killed.”
Klum also explained that she stays away from raw foods, sharing that it’s “harder for your body to digest.”
“If you want to have fruit, blanch them in the frying pan with a bit of water,” she said, noting that she believes digestion begins when you take a bite of food. “Chew enough and don’t drink too many fluids while you eat because the stomach acids can’t break it all down.”
Klum shared that she spent time at Lanserhof Lans health spa in Austria.
“It’s kind of a very chic hospital, where they feed you, they take your blood and you can do colonoscopies,” she explained. “I mean, it’s like a whole thing where they turn you upside down, inside out. I think it is definitely something worth doing, because you want to make sure your body is in tip top shape and especially when you get older we need to know, is there something that’s missing? Like, what do I need to eat more of?”
Klum shared that she maintains an active lifestyle, noting that she’s “always schlepped my own bags up and down the stairs, and I had four kids so I’ve always been mobile.” Klum also believes that people can get what they need via food and lifestyle choices, sharing that she limits supplements.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense to eat badly and then shove 50 pills inside of you,” she said. “To me this doesn’t make sense. I think that’s important, bringing it back to the basics and trying to be as natural with everything as you possibly can, I think is the way to go.”
For more on Klum, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly – on newsstands now.
Entertainment
Jennifer Grey’s Mom Dead at 94 After Cancer Diagnosis
Jennifer Grey announced that her mom, Jo Wilder, died at age 94 on Saturday, July 4.
In an emotional Instagram tribute shared Wednesday, July 8, Grey, 66, wrote that Wilder died “by her own choosing, on her own terms, exactly as she lived,” one week after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis.
“True to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy,” Grey continued. “She was gorgeous and talented — a promising young actress on the New York stage in her youth. She used to say she never fully answered that calling; she became a mother instead.”
Wilder shared kids Jennifer and James Katz with ex-husband Joel Grey.
“If she’d chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had,” Jennifer’s caption continued. “Her passion found other outlets: she was a lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong. And for years, many people discovered her extraordinary eye through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose.”
The Dirty Dancing star concluded, “She was brave and deep. I love you, Mom. Thank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace.”
Wilder was a singer and actress, known for her role as Polly in The Threepenny Opera national tour, which took place in 1960. Wilder also snagged stage roles in Peter Pan and Gypsy during her time as a regional theater actress.
Several stars took to the comments section of Jennifer’s post to share their condolences.
“I have been thinking of you so much. I am lucky to have known your beautiful mother through the years of our friendship,” Maggie Wheeler, known for her role as Janice on Friends, wrote. “She was fierce and kind and curious.. and .. she was deeply blessed with a daughter who showed her the most unwavering love [and] unwavering support.”

Julianne Moore and Josh Gad were among other notable names who shared their love. Rachel Zegler also commented with a red heart emoji.
“So sorry for your loss,” Moore wrote. Gad added, “Sending you so much love.”
Lea Thompson also remembered Jennifer’s mom, writing, “A beautiful tribute. I love you so much. Your mom was the best.”
Jennifer’s ex-husband, Clark Gregg, commented three red heart emojis as well. They were married for 19 years before finalizing their divorce in February 2021. The former couple share daughter Stella, 24.
Entertainment
Josh Allen Talks Super Bowl Pressure in Buffalo After Changes
After an offseason of major change in Buffalo, quarterback Josh Allen isn’t getting distracted by any outside noise.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Allen, 30, was asked how much weight he feels on his shoulders to finally get the Bills to a Super Bowl in his ninth season with the franchise.
“Not a whole lot of pressure,” Allen said, while promoting his partnership with Natrol, the No. 1 drug-free sleep aid brand. “It’s always been my dream. It’s been my goal from day one, since I set foot in Buffalo, to bring a Lombardi Trophy to western New York. And that’s not going to change. But again, just making sure I’m falling in love with the process of what it takes to get there, enjoying the game that I love and being the best person, player, father that I can be while doing it.”
Allen and his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, welcomed their first child, daughter Harper, in April.
Prior to the 2026 season, the Bills made four consecutive Super Bowls between 1991 to 1994, but lost all four times.
In January, the Bills hired the team’s former offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, to take over as head coach after parting ways with Sean McDermott after nine seasons.
“I’ve had Joe in the room with me for the last couple years, so you know it’s not anything new,” Allen said of their relationship. “We’re very much in lockstep and aligned in what we want to accomplish and what it’s going to take to get there. So, obviously, very excited for this year, new stadium. A lot of firsts.”
The Bills will christen the brand-new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park when the NFL season opens this fall. The fancy new digs cost over $2.1 billion and, amongst other amenities, features the world’s largest stadium snow-melt system.
Allen and the Bills welcome the Detroit Lions for the Highmark home opener on September 17.
In the meantime, the quarterback has been utilizing Natrol’s new Ultra Sleep and Ultra Energy supplements into his daily routine. Together, the products help him fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and maintain sustained energy throughout the demanding offseason.
“It’’s been life-changing because I understand what it’s like to have good sleep, and now what it’s like to not have such great sleep,” Allen explained.
The NFL superstar said the Natrol supplements help “in falling asleep and keeping you asleep, so you can wake up feeling refreshed, and then on top of that, you have the energy that fills your body with what it needs and really good nutrients to keep you feeling great throughout the day.”

Allen added, “Sleep happens throughout the entire day too, so right when you wake up determines what you’re going to sleep like that night.”
For more information about Natrol’s new Ultra Sleep and Ultra Energy supplements, click here.
Entertainment
Netflix Officially Brings Back Fan-Favorite Feature After 6 Years, But There’s a Big Catch
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Netflix for free? It’s not as impossible as you might think, but don’t get too excited; the world’s biggest streamer isn’t turning into Tubi any time soon. Instead, they’re re-introducing one of the service’s most popular past features…but not for everyone.
According to reports, Netflix has reintroduced the 30-day free trial that was a hallmark of the streaming service in its early years. However, if you’re in the United States or the United Kingdom, don’t get too excited, because the free trial will not be available in either country. It is being re-introduced only in select regions, and will only be available to customers who have never subscribed to the service before. The free trial was previously available to new subscribers worldwide before being phased out in 2019 and 2020. When asked about the re-introduction, a Netflix representative commented, “We regularly test promotions to help prospective members experience the value of Netflix.”
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Entertainment
Lisa Rinna Fuels Viral Mitch McConnell Conspiracy Theory
Former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Rinna has inserted herself into one of the internet’s most controversial political conversations, publicly suggesting that Senator Mitch McConnell is secretly dead despite repeated assurances from Republican leaders that he remains alive and engaged in Senate business.

The actress and reality television personality made the eyebrow-raising claim in a TikTok video Tuesday night as speculation surrounding McConnell’s health continues to intensify following his hospitalization last month. “I mean, come on, Mitch McConnell’s dead. He’s dead,” Rinna said in the clip. “They’re keeping him alive like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s.’”
McConnell has been hospitalized for more than three weeks after suffering a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C., home on June 14. According to CBS, emergency responders were dispatched after receiving a call regarding an unconscious individual who may have suffered a cardiac arrest. A medic reportedly noted that CPR was in progress when first responders arrived.
Since then, McConnell’s office has released only limited information about his condition, saying he is receiving “excellent care” while recovering in the hospital. The lack of detailed updates has fueled widespread speculation about the Kentucky senator’s health and future in office.
Rinna’s TikTok came just hours after GOP strategist Scott Jennings attempted to push back against the growing rumors by publicly revealing that he had spoken directly with McConnell. “I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky,” Jennings wrote on X. “He’s still recovering in the hospital.”
Jennings added that the pair discussed topics including Iran, Ukraine, developments in Maine, and Senate history during a conversation that lasted nearly 20 minutes.
Republican Leaders Continue To Insist McConnell Is Working

Rinna’s comments also arrived shortly after Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly held what was described as a “lengthy and substantive” phone call with McConnell. According to NOTUS, the two discussed national security matters and other Senate business while McConnell remains hospitalized.
A spokesman for the longtime senator similarly attempted to quell the speculation in a statement provided to the Daily Mail. “Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” the spokesman said. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
Despite those assurances, questions continue to circulate online as critics demand more concrete proof of McConnell’s condition.
Why The Mitch McConnell Rumors Have Grown So Quickly

Rinna’s remarks are notable because they reflect how speculation surrounding McConnell’s health has expanded far beyond Washington political circles. What began as questions about the senator’s condition after his June hospitalization has evolved into a full-blown online conspiracy theory fueled by influencers, political commentators, independent journalists, and now celebrities.
The lack of detailed public updates from McConnell’s office has created an information vacuum that supporters and critics alike have attempted to fill with their own theories. Far-right activist Laura Loomer recently claimed that an unnamed White House source told her McConnell was either in a vegetative state or brain dead and would not return to work. Independent journalist Desiréee Townsend later claimed she had heard similar information from her own sources.
Meanwhile, several prominent conservative voices have publicly called for McConnell’s staff to provide additional evidence that he is capable of returning to the Senate, including Breitbart editor Matthew Boyle, who wrote on X that McConnell’s aides should “produce proof of the senator’s condition one way or another right now.”

The rumors gained additional momentum after The Hill accidentally published what appeared to be an obituary-style retrospective examining McConnell’s political career.
Although the article was quickly deleted, screenshots circulated widely online and became further ammunition for conspiracy theorists already questioning the senator’s condition. At the same time, McConnell’s eldest daughter, Porter McConnell, quietly deactivated her X account.
There is no evidence connecting the move to her father’s hospitalization, and it remains unclear when exactly the account was deleted. Nevertheless, the timing quickly became another subject of speculation among social media users.
Why McConnell’s Health Matters Beyond The Rumors

The intense interest in McConnell’s condition is not solely driven by political gossip. As one of the most influential Republicans of the modern era, McConnell’s future carries significant implications for the balance of power in Washington.
The Kentucky Republican served as Senate Majority Leader from 2015 until 2021 and remains one of the GOP’s most powerful voices in Congress. Republicans currently hold a narrow Senate majority, meaning any prolonged absence could complicate legislative efforts heading into a crucial election cycle.
If McConnell were unable to resume his duties or vacate his seat before August 3, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear would be required to call a special election to fill the vacancy.
Entertainment
Prime Video’s Best Sci-Fi Detective Series Is Officially One of Marvel’s Most Acclaimed Shows Ever
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Marvel is having quite the day in terms of Emmy nominations. After a strong recent run, including the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and animated event series Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies, the MCU is officially back in the win column thanks to Wonder Man. Series lead Yahya Abdul-Mateen II earned a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the superhero showbiz satire, marking Marvel Television’s first acting Emmy nomination in five years. However, that only accounted for one of 12 awards the comic giant’s shows are up for, with the other 11 going towards a title that isn’t even on Disney+.
In the end, the real big winner was Spider-Noir, from the trio of Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and Marvel Studios. The Nicolas Cage-led superhero crime hit premiered on Prime Video to rave reviews back in May, and that’s now been reflected in the 78th Emmy Award nominations, with recognition for everything from production design and music to prosthetic makeup, cinematography, stunt performance, and more. While none of the performances received nominations, nor did the show make the cut for Outstanding Drama, the awards the show is up for recognize its greatest strength — the campy, gorgeously crafted classic noir presentation. The series now has the second-most nominations of any Marvel television title to date, behind only WandaVision‘s staggering 23 in 2021.
Created by Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, Spider-Noir‘s first season introduced Ben Reilly (Cage), a familiarly black-clad superhero detective who’s a bit different from his Spider-Verse counterpart. Living in 1930s New York, he’s haunted by a personal tragedy and his own past as The Spider, the city’s only superhero. Soon, however, the drunken, down-on-his-luck private eye is pulled back into business when a new case comes across his desk that he can’t ignore, forcing him to suit up once more and stop the villains plaguing the Big Apple. He’s not alone in his fight, joined by his friend and journalist Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris), his ever-loyal assistant Janet Ruiz (Karen Rodriguez), and femme fatale nightclub singer Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li).
- Release Date
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May 27, 2026
- Network
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MGM+
- Showrunner
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Oren Uziel, Steve Lightfoot
- Directors
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Harry Bradbeer
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Entertainment
X-Men ‘97 Is Going To Kill The MCU
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Right now, X-Men ‘97 Season 2 is absolutely killing it, maintaining the almost impossibly high standard created by Season 1. Understandably, fans are wondering exactly how much of this awesome animated revival we are going to get. The exact answer to that question is something of a moving target. Previously, executive producer Larry Houston said that Marvel Animation is currently working on Seasons 3 and 4 and that the goal is to hit at least five seasons, which would match the original X-Men: The Animated Series. While that’s already an ambitious goal, one power player at Marvel is dreaming even bigger.
In a recent interview with POC Culture, Houston confirmed that Brad Winderbaum, the Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, would love to do 10 seasons. Unsurprisingly, the writers, producers, and voice actors support this goal, as that means we’d be getting more of this hit series for the better part of a decade. However, there’s one potential downside that none of the movers and shakers at Marvel have considered. If X-Men ‘97 can maintain this same level of quality for 10 seasons, it may effectively kill the MCU by forcing fans to ask the obvious question about live-action Marvel movies: “why can’t they be as good as the cartoon?”
Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy

It’s an open secret that, after Avengers: Endgame, Marvel really fell off, both creatively and commercially. Once, this franchise regularly pumped out billion-dollar movies; however, that became a rarity (last year, neither The Thunderbolts nor The Fantastic Four: First Steps came anywhere close). Major warning bells began to sound when The Marvels, a direct sequel to one of those billion-dollar films, actually lost the studio money. Because of this, MCU guru Kevin Feige created a daring strategy. With Avengers: Doomsday and the return of Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., he hopes to channel Endgame. And with Avengers: Secret Wars, he’d reboot the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
That reboot will allow for recasting popular characters like Captain America and Iron Man while adding some major players (like the X-Men) to the MCU. Because the mutants are headed to the big screen, you might think that X-Men ‘97 lasting for a decade would be a good thing because it creates synergy across multiple platforms and media. However, this cartoon knocking it out of the park year after year could be a problem because it naturally invites fan comparisons to the MCU. No matter how good the X-Men movie is, its two hours will be compared to entire seasons of X-Men ‘97. If the movie is bad, fans may cry for yet another cinematic reboot.
It’s Not Just In Our Heads

The decline of the MCU had already happened long before the premiere of X-Men ‘97 Season 1. Media outlets began tossing around the term “superhero fatigue” to pretend this decline was out of Marvel’s control and that millions of people suddenly lost their appetite for tights-and-flights movies overnight. In reality, these movies stopped making as much money because so many of them weren’t as good as earlier films. All it took was a handful of lukewarm Marvel movies to nearly destroy the franchise because all of us remembered how, not that many years ago (there were only four years between Endgame and The Marvels!), the studio knew how to make good films.
Now, maybe Kevin Feige’s dream comes true and both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars provide Endgame-level quality and revive major public interest in the franchise. But what happens if the subsequent movies suffer a major dip in quality like so many of the post-Endgame movies? We’ll just be in for “superhero fatigue” 2.0, which will be accelerated because X-Men ‘97 will constantly remind us how good these films could be. It was bad enough when we were simply comparing new, mediocre movies to excellent ones from the past. How much worse will future flops be when we know Marvel has killer writers and they are simply working on another project?
When You’re Destined To Die

Obviously, this isn’t to blame X-Men ‘97; the show is perfect, and if we get eight more seasons after this, this ‘80s kid’s heart will fill with joy. But as far back as Season 1, fans were comparing this show to the live-action films and actively questioning why Marvel could create a consistently awesome series but kept dropping the ball with feature films. If the MCU experiences a similar post-Secret Wars decline in film quality while X-Men ‘97 keeps knocking it out of the park, the box office for these movies will shrivel up and die. Why spend a small fortune to see a mediocre movie when better superhero stories are streaming on demand?
In the end, the perfect cartoon might kill the most ambitious cinematic franchise ever created. Should the MCU die, though, they could always take their cue from X-Men ‘97: just wait nearly three decades and pick up right where they left off!
Entertainment
Bad Bunny scores Emmy nomination for Super Bowl halftime show after sparking conservative outrage
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The Grammy winner is in the running to add another accolade to his long list of accomplishments.
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