Entertainment
‘Verity’ Cast Opens Up on Favorite Reads as Colleen Hoover’s Book-to-Screen Adaptation Tops Charts
The latest Colleen Hoover book-to-screen adaptation has done exactly what Hollywood hoped it would: send readers scrambling back to the source material while putting fresh names atop the box office charts. “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, has been drawing crowds since its release, and now the film’s stars are using their newfound spotlight to talk about the books that shaped them as readers.
In an exclusive clip shared with Variety from Amazon News, the trio sat down for a rapid-fire Q&A designed to tease out what makes a story impossible to put down. Hathaway framed the exercise neatly, noting that since “Verity” revolves around the act of finishing a story, the cast would spend the segment completing sentences about the books that keep them hooked.
Inside the Twisted World Driving the Book-to-Screen Adaptation
“Verity” centers on Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer played by Johnson, who is hired by Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett) to finish a manuscript left unfinished by his comatose wife, bestselling novelist Verity Crawford, played by Hathaway. What begins as a professional arrangement spirals into a tangled, unsettling love triangle layered with secrets, suspicion and manipulation — the kind of psychological hook that made Hoover’s 2018 novel a sleeper hit years before cameras ever rolled.
That slow-burn dread carried directly into the cast’s answers during the Amazon segment. Asked what qualities make a great villain on the page, Hathaway pointed to interiority above all else. “It has to be somebody even if you’re not agreeing with what they’re saying, you want to listen to them,” she said, adding that a compelling antagonist needs “a great inner monologue” to keep readers — or viewers — leaning in rather than tuning out.
Johnson, for her part, was asked what “Verity” might leave audiences questioning. Her blunt response — “your sexuality” — drew attention as a nod to the film’s more provocative undercurrents, while Hartnett’s answer skewed toward the story’s central tension: trust. He suggested the film could leave viewers questioning “your partner,” predicting plenty of post-credits debate once audiences reach the twist-heavy ending.
A Novel’s Second Life Thanks to the Film
Originally published in 2018, Hoover’s novel spent years as a word-of-mouth favorite before this latest book-to-screen adaptation sent it rocketing back up bestseller lists. The surge mirrors a now-familiar pattern in publishing and entertainment: a strong film or streaming release doesn’t just draw new viewers, it resurrects backlist titles, often propelling them higher than their original release ever managed.
It’s a dynamic that has become central to how studios market literary properties in 2026. Rather than treating the book and the film as separate products, studios and retailers increasingly lean into the overlap — pairing premiere buzz with curated reading lists, author tie-ins, and cast-driven content like the Amazon segment, which doubles as both promotion and a genuine glimpse into what these actors read for pleasure.
Hathaway, when asked which recommendations she trusts most, pointed straight to the Man Booker Prize shortlist, signaling a taste for literary fiction well outside the thriller genre she was there to promote. Hartnett took a more personal route, crediting a longtime friend whose taste he trusts because, as he put it, that friend simply “knows me” and “knows things” — a reminder that even amid a glossy studio rollout, reading recommendations often come down to something as old-fashioned as a trusted friend’s opinion.
What the Cast’s Picks Reveal About the Genre
The books suggested alongside the cast’s answers trace a clear through-line connecting “Verity” to the broader psychological thriller boom currently reshaping both publishing and film. Ashley Elston’s “First Lie Wins,” a Reese’s Book Club pick about a woman living under a false identity, was offered as the answer to Hathaway’s villain prompt. Freida McFadden’s BookTok sensation “The Housemaid” — itself already adapted into a 2025 feature starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney — matched Hartnett’s “question your partner” theme, reinforcing just how thoroughly domestic-suspense thrillers have colonized the pipeline from page to screen.
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Atmosphere,” a GMA Book Club selection about a NASA engineer navigating forbidden romance and identity, was tied to Johnson’s answer, while two Booker Prize shortlisted titles — Susan Choi’s “Flashlight” and “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” — rounded out Hathaway’s literary-fiction leanings.
Taken together, the recommendations underline why “Verity” landed as it did: the novel sits at the intersection of soapy, binge-worthy suspense and the kind of morally ambiguous character work that keeps serious readers engaged, a combination that has made Hoover one of the most adapted authors of her generation. With streaming platforms and studios still hungry for the next twisty bestseller, this particular book-to-screen adaptation likely won’t be the last time audiences see a Hoover title make the jump from paperback to premiere.
For now, “Verity” remains in theaters, with its box office momentum and the novel’s resurgent sales suggesting that whatever Hollywood is doing to court bookish audiences in 2026, it’s working.
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White kicks had many moments (read: years) in the sun, but this season, rich moms are turning to colorful sneakers — and we couldn’t be more excited. The fall-ready styles look richer, classier and much more original than white, and even though our favorites appear expensive, they start at $11!
Whether you’re scouting comfy shoes for errands, date nights, travel days or anything in between, you’ll find an equally fun and luxe pair below. We included top brands like Adidas, Veja, Brooks, Tory Burch and more, so you’re in for a treat! Scroll on to see what Us fashion girls are wearing this fall and join the crew!
13 Colorful Sneakers for Fall 2026 — From $11
1. Our Favorite: Channel boutique vibes with lace-embellished sneakers that come in this season’s hottest color: red.
2. Dreamy Pick: Ribbon shoelaces, buttery suede and lace detailing are just a few highlights of these mint-green kicks.
3. Bestselling Adidas: Over 7,500 fashionistas give these low-profile Adidas sneakers five stars. We’re obsessed with the dainty floral print.
4. Celeb Style: Look like Jennifer Garner in some chunky Brooks sneakers that double as trail running shoes.
5. Center of Attention: Yes, these saturated floral sneakers are bold, and that’s the point. The print gives them designer energy.
6. Sleek Pick: The search for sleek, sporty sneakers that elevate anything ends here! This pick even amps up a simple tee and jeans.
7. Secret Support: Shh! Cushioning and arch support are tucked inside these darling platform sneakers from Dr. Scholl’s.
8. Go for Gola: With dozens of color pairings to choose from, these Gola sneakers are worth grabbing in at least two colors. At 40% off, we can do so guilt-free!
9. Ballet Babe: Give your outfits some romantic flair with sophisticated ballet sneakers. The sleek silhouette will have you ditching chunky soles for good.
10. Cute Canvas: Solid-color canvas sneakers are the retro staple you didn’t know you needed. This $11 pair is a no-brainer.
11. Luxe Alert: People will think you dropped hundreds on Lucky Step’s elegant sneakers, thanks to the ribbons, intricate stitching and frilly lace.
12. Royal Status: Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton both wear Veja sneakers, so naturally, we’re snagging this sky-blue pair for ourselves. Bonus: it’s on sale!
13. Pretty Puma: Puma sneakers usually lean sporty, but these cushiony wonders come in classy colors and include ultra-soft suede material.
UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping
Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Real talk: we’re not here to hate on Chelsea boots. They have their place as a timeless wardrobe staple. However, we will say that rich girls are reaching for sleeker, classier alternatives that make Chelsea boots seem, well. . . basic. And these elevated boots are replacing ours. With elements like slouchy suede, intricate stitching, […]
Entertainment
Russell T Davies Opens Up: Fierce Fandom, Grief, Love and the Threats Behind His Front Door
Russell T Davies has spent a quarter of a century turning British television inside out, from the taboo-busting Queer As Folk to his triumphant revival of Doctor Who. But in a new interview tied to the release of his memoir, The Queerest of Folk, the celebrated writer reveals a darker undercurrent to his success: a level of online hatred and real-world intimidation so severe that he now keeps a kitchen knife by his front door.
Speaking ahead of the memoir’s publication, Russell T Davies described how years of being branded a “paedophile” and “groomer” online — much of it stemming from his vocal support for trans rights — have curdled from abstract digital abuse into something far more frightening. “People have worked out my address, and one person turned up at my house,” he said. “If you believe a paedophile lives here, it’s not the maddest thing in the world to come and get me.”
Fierce fandom turns personal for Russell T Davies
It’s a jarring image for a man often described as one of the most affable figures in television. Davies, 63, built his reputation not just on storytelling but on warmth — a writer willing to laugh off being assaulted by a gang of homophobic bus conductors decades ago, or to find solace in work during the darkest days following his husband’s death. Yet the same passionate audiences who made him a cultural touchstone — first through groundbreaking queer drama, later through his stewardship of one of Britain’s most beloved sci-fi franchises — have also produced a fringe capable of real menace.
“The online world is becoming the real world,” Davies said, describing how accusations spread by figures such as anti-trans campaigner Graham Linehan have taken root among people who “believe it when they’re told the Earth is flat.” He added: “What scares me is that I can’t see an end to it. Nothing is going to unseat these tech barons — it will require some sort of revolution to stop them. So for the first time in history, hatred is being monetised by an algorithm.”
From Queer As Folk to Doctor Who
Long before he became a lightning rod for culture-war hostility, Davies was already courting controversy. His 1999 series Queer As Folk — a frank, unapologetic portrait of gay life in Manchester — scandalised tabloids on release, with the Daily Mail declaring that any nation permitting such content was “hell-bent on destruction.” A storyline involving a sexual relationship between a 29-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy remains, by his own admission, one of the show’s most provocative elements.
Asked whether he would write the same storyline today, given how “grooming” accusations are now routinely weaponised against gay men, Davies didn’t flinch. “I would,” he said, pointing out that in 1999 the fictional teenager would have grown up under Section 28, the law banning schools from “promoting” homosexuality, leaving him with no one to confide in. “People say: ‘Oh my God, he was 15, that’s illegal.’ It’s a drama!”
That same appetite for nuance over neat moral lessons runs through his most recent work. His drama Tip Toe, centred on a political feud between neighbours that spirals into violence, included a gender-critical character — a choice that unsettled some viewers but which Davies defends as essential to honest storytelling. “I think it’s important to hear all voices,” he said, noting that earlier hits like Years and Years and It’s a Sin also featured gay characters who voted Conservative. “If you watch most dramas you’d think those people don’t exist.”
A career built on risk
Davies has previously criticised a newer generation of television writers for prioritising “positive representation” over genuine storytelling, arguing that drama thrives on complexity rather than comfort. It’s a philosophy that has defined his career — one that revived Doctor Who from cancellation, reshaped perceptions of queer life on British screens, and repeatedly placed him at odds with audiences expecting simpler narratives.
That willingness to court discomfort has made Russell T Davies both a beloved figure and, increasingly, a target. Yet even as he describes keeping a knife “ready to use” by his door, his tone remains one of weary resolve rather than despair — a writer who has spent his life refusing to flinch from uncomfortable truths, even when those truths now follow him home.
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These ghost stories still haunt us to this day.
The second episode of Celebrity Traitors has claimed its first casualty, and it wasn’t pretty for anyone involved, least of all Richard E Grant, whose rookie performance as a traitor nearly blew the whole game wide open before a single body had hit the floor.
Friday’s instalment of the BBC hit saw broadcaster Amol Rajan become the inaugural victim of this year’s series, murdered in the night by traitors Grant and Maya Jama after a tense recruitment twist brought comedian James Acaster into their ranks. Rajan, the University Challenge host, was whisked away in a coffin before he even had the chance to take part in a banishment vote. “It’s gutting to be the first out,” he admitted afterwards, suggesting his downfall may have stemmed from being “a bit bullish with Richard” earlier in the day.
The episode pulled in a peak audience of 8.6 million viewers, just shy of the 8.9 million who tuned in for the series opener, confirming that the celebrity edition of the format has lost none of its addictive pull on the British public.
A shaky start for the Celebrity Traitors newcomers
If Jama has taken to deception like a natural, Grant has had a far bumpier induction. The Oscar-nominated actor spent much of the episode in full damage-control mode after accidentally confessing his traitor status to Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett and several other faithfuls during an earlier bar conversation. Rather than sinking his game immediately, the blunder seems to have worked in his favour, with many of his fellow players assuming a man capable of playing a Spice Girls manager in Spice World: The Movie would surely attempt something craftier than simply announcing the truth.
“I am quite shocked at my ability to just lie to everyone,” Jama confessed in the diary room, calling herself “an all-or-nothing kind of honey.” Her composure stands in stark contrast to Grant’s frantic backpedalling, and it’s clear which of the two traitors viewers should be watching most closely as the series progresses.
Acaster, newly recruited into the murderous trio, voiced the moral unease that has become a hallmark of the show’s best traitor storylines. “I’m gutted to not be a faithful anymore, I don’t like lying,” he said. “But if I don’t join them, they’ll kill me.” It’s a logic few could argue with, and one that has defined many a Celebrity Traitors recruitment twist in previous runs of the format.
Suspicions swirl among the faithful
Among the remaining faithful, theories began circulating almost immediately. Mathematician Hannah Fry claimed she’d spotted Leigh-Anne Pinnock applying make-up suspiciously late in the evening, hinting at a possible trip to the turret. Model Jerry Hall, meanwhile, briefly raised hopes that this year’s cast might prove sharper detectives than last year’s by declaring “I think it’s James” — before clarifying she meant singer James Blunt rather than the newly turned Acaster.
The day’s mission added its own layer of jeopardy. Players were buried alive in pairs, with Ross Kemp and Romesh Ranganathan pre-selected by the traitors to be spared the ordeal. The pair were given the choice of unearthing gold graves to boost the prize pot or freeing their buried castmates, and chose the latter, prompting a muddy, good-natured scramble as fellow contestants clawed their way out of the dirt.
Not everyone made it out so calmly. Fry and Hall were the last two left underground, with Hall eventually invoking the emergency word “Haggis” to be released early, visibly rattled by the experience. The decision guarantees that one of the pair will now face the traitors’ blade next, unless a new recruitment changes the equation. “Just you and me up for murder,” Fry told Hall afterwards. “You’d better not be a traitor or I’m really screwed!”
What’s next for Celebrity Traitors
Behind the scenes, a flashback revealed the traitors’ reasoning for sparing Kemp from burial. “I think if we give it to Ross, he’ll overthink it, and behave in a way that would draw suspicion,” Acaster explained to his new partners in crime, earning praise from Grant, who called him “a wonderful traitor” — a compliment that, given his own fumbling start, carries a certain irony.
With one murder claimed, a near-confession survived, and two faithful players now facing the prospect of banishment, the stakes for Celebrity Traitors are only intensifying. If the opening fortnight is any indication, this year’s cast may lack the sharp instincts of past winners, but they are making up for it with chaos, charm and the occasional accidental confession that somehow still works in their favour.
Entertainment
David Corenswet Reportedly Expected to Remain Superman for Years After Warner Bros. Merger
David Corenswet’s future as Superman reportedly looks secure even as major changes are coming to Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios.
According to a new report from insider Jeff Sneider, Corenswet is expected to remain the DC Universe’s Superman for years following the merger involving Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The report indicates that Corenswet’s position as the Man of Steel is not expected to be affected by potential changes surrounding DC Studios once the merger is completed. One source reportedly suggested Corenswet could remain in the red cape for as long as the next decade.
While that should not be treated as an official commitment from DC Studios or the incoming company, it is an encouraging sign for the future of the current Superman.
Corenswet made his debut as Clark Kent/Superman in James Gunn’s Superman, officially launching the theatrical side of Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe.
He is already set to return in Man of Tomorrow, continuing the story established in Superman. The film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027.
David Corenswet as Superman [Warner Bros.]
The timing of the report is particularly interesting because Warner Bros. Discovery is preparing for another major change in ownership. Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced that their merger is expected to close on October 6, bringing Warner Bros., DC and Paramount under the same corporate umbrella.
Major ownership changes frequently lead to questions about existing franchises, executives and long-term creative plans. DC fans experienced exactly that during the transition from the previous DC film universe to Gunn and Safran’s DCU, which ultimately resulted in Henry Cavill departing the Superman role shortly after announcing his return.
Corenswet, however, reportedly isn’t facing the same uncertainty.
David Corenswet as Superman [Warner Bros.]
There is also an existing connection between Corenswet and the incoming Paramount leadership. The actor stars in Paramount’s upcoming Mr. Irrelevant, giving the studio another major project with the actor outside of his Superman role.
Exactly what the merger means for the leadership and long-term structure of DC Studios remains to be seen. Gunn and Safran currently oversee the DC Universe, but the new ownership structure could eventually bring changes throughout Warner Bros. and its major franchises.
For now, though, one of the biggest pieces of the DCU reportedly appears to be staying in place.
David Corenswet is Superman — and if the latest report proves accurate, he could be wearing the cape for a long time.
FILM RATING
The post David Corenswet Reportedly Expected to Remain Superman for Years After Warner Bros. Merger appeared first on Coastal House Media.
For the first time in its nearly five-decade history, the Kennedy Center Honors will not be held inside the Kennedy Center. Organizers announced the annual celebration of American arts and culture will instead take place at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, after the institution’s namesake building was shuttered amid fears over its structural safety.
The move marks an extraordinary disruption for an event that has become a fixture of the capital’s cultural calendar since its 1978 debut, and it underscores just how precarious conditions have become at the performing arts complex perched on the Potomac. Officials have not yet named this year’s honorees, nor have they announced which network or streaming service will broadcast the ceremony. CBS, the Honors’ broadcast home for its entire run, let its contract lapse last year, leaving the show without a television partner for the first time.
The decision to relocate comes after part of the Kennedy Center’s ceiling collapsed, prompting officials to close the main building while engineers evaluate the structure on a week-by-week basis. The center has described the shutdown as temporary, but the episode has only added to a mounting list of problems that have plagued the institution since President Trump moved to overhaul its leadership and board earlier this year.
That overhaul has landed the center in court. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who sits on the board in an ex officio capacity, sued after the board pushed forward with plans to close the complex for a sweeping two-year renovation and moved to attach Trump’s name to the building. A federal judge sided with Beatty on both fronts, ruling that only Congress has the authority to rename the center and ordering Trump’s name stripped from the facade and related materials. The judge separately blocked the board from pursuing workaround branding schemes and barred a full two-year closure unless its impact was more thoroughly studied. He has since required the center to give the court 30 days’ notice before any demolition work begins, after Trump raised the possibility the building could simply be “ripped down.”
Behind the legal wrangling lies a financial picture that Justice Department attorneys representing the center have described in stark terms. In court filings last month, they warned the institution was barreling toward “certain financial collapse within weeks” and suggested that affixing Trump’s name to the building might be the only way to persuade him to personally spearhead a rescue effort. Attorneys later told an appeals court that Trump had already helped raise $17 million to keep operations running, though they cautioned that the money is “fast being expended” and that without continued involvement from the administration, “the accounts will dry up and Center will continue its deterioration into an unsafe structure that will eventually collapse.”
The numbers mark a sharp reversal from last December’s ceremony, which Trump hosted at the Kennedy Center itself and which then-president Ric Grenell said brought in $23 million. Honorees that night included Sylvester Stallone and George Strait. Since Trump’s allies took control of the board and ousted appointees of previous administrations, however, the center has struggled to hold onto its audience: ticket sales have slumped and a string of artists have pulled out of scheduled performances. Recent investigations by The Washington Post and CNN have chronicled the center’s deteriorating finances in detail, painting a picture of an institution in far rougher shape than its public image suggests.
The main building’s major programming effectively wound down in July, which had originally been pitched as the starting point for the long-planned renovation closure. Whether that renovation now proceeds on any fixed timeline remains unclear, tangled up as it is in ongoing litigation and the unresolved question of who ultimately controls the center’s future.
For now, the Honors will go on — just not where audiences have come to expect them. Moving the ceremony to the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Capitals and Wizards, gives organizers a working venue while the fate of the Kennedy Center’s own building remains an open and increasingly contentious question. Whether this year’s relocation proves to be a one-time fix or a sign of a more permanent shift in how Washington’s biggest night in the arts gets staged may depend on how quickly — and in whose hands — the center’s long-term future gets settled.
Sources:
Entertainment
Star Sightings: Johnny Knoxville Attends a ‘Tiny Fugitives’ Screening in L.A., Rihanna Grabs Dinner in Paris
Here’s a look at what celebrities have been up to as of late!
Johnny Knoxville attended a special screening of Tiny Fugitives at The Grove in Los Angeles, California.
Rihanna enjoyed dinner at César in Paris, France wearing the Vans Premium Super LowPro Trainers in Tomato. The singer also stepped out in Paris, France wearing the Citizens of Humanity Ayla Baggy in Dynasty and wore the same pair while out in Barbados.
Sofia Vergara appeared on America’s Got Talent wearing the PORTIA Floral Corset Top paired with the matching PORTIA Floral Pants by NADINE MERABI.
Nicole Kidman attended a special screening of Practical Magic 2 wearing the AGOLDE Low Curve Flyweight Jean in Reset.
Joey King appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Los Angeles, California wearing the Songlark Golden Woven Heels.
Millie Bobby Brown posted an Instagram photo wearing the ISA “MOM” Ring by designer Isabela Grutman.
Charli XCX performed in Brooklyn, New York wearing the Arnette Raven Chrome Limited Edition sunglasses.
Harry Styles and Zöe Kravitz stepped out in New York City wearing matching KEEN Jasper Zionic Sneakers in the Black/Alloy colorway.
Anna Kendrick was out and about in Toronto, Canada wearing Sézane Maha Jumper in Chestnut Brown. The actress also attended the Zurich Film Festival in Zürich, Switzerland wearing the SIMKHAI Kristen Midi Dress and on another day, in the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2026 Sleeveless Mini Dress with Floral Appliqué in Black & White.
Kylie Minogue performed in Melbourne, Australia wearing custom shoes from Bared Footwear.
Sienna Miller appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City wearing RE/DONE’s loose vintage Levi’s from the brand’s denim marketplace. The actress also strolled in New York City wearing RE/DONE’s 1990’s Jean in Light Fiction.
Sandra Bullock rocked the Simone Pérèle’s Karma Sheer Demi Bra in Adventure Green for an interview with Hoda Kotb. The actress also wore the Citizens of Humanity Lace Trimmed Cami in black for an interview with Andy Cohen for SiriusXM’s Front Row.
Katie Holmes was out in New York City wearing VIVAIA’s AIDA Knee High Boot in Dark Chocolate.
Kim Petras performed in New York City after getting glam with ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr.
Bruno Mars performed at E11EVEN Miami in Miami, Florida.
Chace Crawford celebrated the launch of THE RÓSE by Sami Miró with Pacsun at Barr Seco in Los Angeles, California.
Kristin Cavallari starred in a campaign for Uncommon James wearing One Teaspoon’s Dukes Low Waist Mini Denim Shorts in Rodeo Blue.
H.E.R. carried Hammitt’s Meredith Small in Black/Gunmetal out in New York City.
Linda Cardellini attended The 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California wearing the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2026 Strapless Draped Mikado Gown with Slit in Mango.
Stassie Karanikolaou enjoyed dinner at Sushi Park in West Hollywood, California wearing The Weekender in Backstage Pass by MOTHER.
Joe Keery, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lily Rabe, and Ed Harris laughed during rehearsals for their new Broadway production, Other Desert Cities, ahead of opening night on Oct. 18.
Jenna Dewan changed into the OOFOS OOahh PLUS Women’s Slide in white after competing on Dancing with the Stars in Los Angeles, California.
Lili Reinhart wore a custom recreation of a look from Betsey Johnson’s Fall 1997 runway collection during her interview with Brittany Broski and posed in archival Betsey Johnson look for Interview Magazine. The actress also appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show in New York City wearing a custom Rebecca Taylor dress.
Taylor Swift stepped out in New York City wearing Jennifer Meyer’s Bezel Tennis Bracelet with Illusion Set Diamond Center.
Miley Cyrus celebrated the launch of her album Bass Persuades in Los Angeles, California wearing Frank Darling’s Emerald Lowrider and Emerald Plutch tennis bracelets, alongside a pair of diamond earrings, and a variety of rings from the brand.
Selena Gomez stepped out in New York City wearing Mejuri’s Dôme Figure Hoops.
Bebe Rexha celebrated the latest issue of Flaunt Magazine with MCM at The Abbey in West Hollywood, California.
Anne Hathaway stepped out in New York City wearing the Cult Gaia Kadimah Knit Dress and then again in the Cult Gaia Maude Knit Pant and Doja Knit Top.
Adam Brody wore the Octobre Éditions Checked Flannel Charlie Shirt in Green/Pink in a sneak peek of Season 3 of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.
Julianne Moore attended the Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado wearing wore the AGOLDE Coulson Jacket in khaki.
Kacey Musgraves performed in St. Louis, Missouri wearing The Kick It in Shooting Stars jeans with a Custom Matching Denim Vest by MOTHER.
Jessica Alba stepped out in Los Angeles, California wearing Sézane’s Bilma Shirt.
LeBron James and Savannah James celebrated her 40th birthday at SUSHISAMBA in West Hollywood, California.
Noah Wyle attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California after getting his skin touched up by Rachel Burney using MERIT products.
Hannah Godwin celebrated the launch of the Hudson Jeans Fall Collection at the Nobody Dances Anymore concert event in Los Angeles, California, where Sunrose Band performed live.
Brad Pitt arrived at JFK airport in New York City wearing the AGOLDE Marshall Windbreaker in Millstone and the Whitcomb Pant in Millstone.
Keri Russell attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California after getting her hair done by Anthony Campbell, who completed the look with Parfums de Marly Valaya Hair Perfume.
Charli D’Amelio appeared on an episode of Quenlin Blackwell’s Feeding Starving Celebrities podcast.
Madison Beer attended the Los Angeles Chargers vs. the Arizona Cardinals game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California wearing a custom I.AM.GIA jersey inspired by the brand’s GIA Sport collection.
Greta Gerwig attended a special screening of The Invite in London, England wearing Sézane’s Albin Crop Trousers in black.
Olivia Rodrigo performed at the BMI Troubadour Awards in Nashville, Tennessee wearing a vintage Rebecca Taylor pink lace dress.
Sarah Snook attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing Alexandre Birman Amy 120 shoes in Eggshell.
Abby Elliott attended the premiere of Purgatory at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada wearing the Alexandre Birman Pamela 85 shoes in black satin.
Claire Danes, Paul Downs, and more enjoyed The Method by Augustinus Bader facials by Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine ahead of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Dwyane Wade appeared on the Conversations with Cam podcast wearing the AGOLDE Pavilion Sweatshirt in Trail and the Whitcomb Pant in Millstone.
Brendan Sklenar attended the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing ALDO’s Amur Boot.
Cara Delevingne appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City wearing the Alexandre Birman Tita Wrap 85 shoes in burgundy.
Lauren Jauregui attended the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Ysabel 100 shoes in Nero Silver.
Kyle MacLachlan celebrated the release of his memoir, FICTIONAL SELVES, with an intimate launch party at Casa Tua New York in New York City.
Khloé Kardashian premiered Season 4 of her Khloé in Wonder Land podcast with Paige DeSorbo as the first guest.
Meg Stalter stepped out in New York City wearing Betsey’s Fruit Dress Black Multi by Betsey Johnson.
Connor Storrie was out and about in Toronto, Canada wearing the AGOLDE Asha Mock Neck Tee in black.
Jessica Williams attended Apple TV’s Primetime Emmys afterparty in Los Angeles, California wearing the Le Seul Primrose Black Satin with Rhinestone Heart shoes.
Jackie Tohn attended The Hollywood Reporter x SAG-AFTRA Emmy Nominees Night at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Cacau Sandal 100 and attended the 2026 BAFTA TV Tea Party in Beverly Hills, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Tropicana 85 Caribbean shoes.
Stella Lefty attended the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Amy Sandal 110 in silver.
Daniela and Yoonchae carried Hammitt’s Meredith Small in Black/Gunmetal, Lara carried the Charlotte Medium in Noir Diamond/Suede/Gunmetal, and Megan carried the Tom Medium in Black/Gunmetal while out in New York City.
Sara Foster attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2026 Strapless Asymmetric Draped Iridescent Chiffon Gown with Scarf in Sweetpea.
Patrick Ball attended 2026 BAFTA TV Tea Party in Beverly Hills, California wearing ALDO’s Nik Boot.
Molly McNearney attended The 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Madeline 100 shoes in Golden.
Kaya Scodelario was out in New York City wearing Maje’s Short Wool Jacket, Pleated Back with the Wide-Leg Leather Buckle Jeans, Square-Neck Ribbed Jumper, Embossed Leather Wedge Mules, Leather Belt with Oval Buckle, and Twisted Rhinestone Hoop Earrings, all from the brand’s AW26 collection.
Alexa Chung arrived at London City Airport in London, England carrying the STAUD Maude handbag.
Shannon Beador went bra shopping on The Real Housewives of Orange County and loved the Simone Pérèle Singuliere Sheer Demi.
Tessa Brooks attended the launch for the KILLIAN PARIS cocktails collection at BOOM at The Standard in New York City wearing wore the Lanta Drop Earrings in gold by Dean Davidson.
Jaclyn Smith attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2022 Mint Embroidery Degrade Feather Capelet Gown.
Lena Hall attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing Le Seul Aleuria Pump in Black Grosgrain.
Karolina Wydra attended the 2026 BAFTA TV Tea Party in Beverly Hills, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Serena 100 shoes in black.
Rei Ami attended the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing ALDO’s Leonniah Heel.
Jesse Solomon attended the Rowing Blazers and Basil Hayden collaboration celebration at The Manner Rooftop in New York City.
Hassie Harrison attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California wearing the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2025 Off-The-Shoulder Draped Bodice Column Gown in Siren.
Kaylor Martin, Riley Burruss, and Emily Men starred in the DSW Influencer Edit featuring a curated a selection of their favorite DSW picks.
Gretchen Rossi and DJ Lindsay Luv celebrated Luv’s 18-piece limited-edition capsule with KERISMA at Signal Shops in Los Angeles, California.
Lisa Barlow attended the American Horror Story Season 13 premiere in New York City wearing the Simone Pérèle Précieuse Demi Bra.
Jamie Campbell Bower posed on Instagram wearing the Nayah Sunglasses in black by MELLER.
Sosie Bacon attended the premiere of The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada wearing the Alexandre Birman Amy Sandal 110 in gold.
Ashe celebrated the opening of Tiffany & Co.’s South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California wearing the Alexandre Birman Tita Wrap Cap Toe 85 shoes in black and the Serena Pump 100 Oro.
Krys Marshall attended The Walt Disney Emmy Awards afterparty in Los Angeles, California Monique Lhuillier Fall 2026 Strapless Sequin Floral Embroidered Column Gown in Chrome Multi.
Tierra Davis attended the premiere of Why Did I Get Married Again? in Los Angeles, California wearing the Nanette Pearl Drop Earrings in silver by Ariel Taub.
Melissa Odabash debuted her new Pre-Cruise 2027 collection with pieces designed to go beyond the beach, including pool-to-party pieces statement one-pieces, sheer layers, and more.
Celebrity groomer Aika Flores hosted a dinner with Toppik at Frevo in New York City.
Isaac Mizrahi hosted a screening of Unzipped and a live taping of Real Talk with The RealReal in New York City.
BIRKENSTOCK hosted a Knotty Rope customization workshop with Ariel Gordon and HONESTLYWTF at the brand’s store in Venice, California.
Richard Christiansen and Flamingo Estate celebrated the launch of his new book, Pleasure Principles, at Farmshop in Brentwood, California as part of the Pleasure Principles World Tour 2026.
Marya Khalil-Otto and Dr. Obioha teamed up with Vitality Institute, creator of the VI Peel, to celebrate The Brown Skin Agenda in Los Angeles, California, where guests enjoyed a conversation on the science and culture of caring for melanin-rich skin, a VI Peel demo, bouquet making, a charm bar, and more.
Wendy Goodman released her book, Very Bergdorf, with Assouline to celebrate the iconic store and fashion.
Celebrity facialist Sofie Pavitt prepped models’ skin with her Sofie Pavitt Face line for the Sandy Liang SS2027 New York Fashion Week show in New York City.
eos hosted the Smooth Night Out Dinner at Alba in West Hollywood, California, where guests enjoyed food and drinks, immersive moments, and opportunities to experience the latest in eos body and lip.
Dr. Jason B. Diamond teamed up with Dermstore for Best of Dermstore: Signature Edit with Dr. Jason B. Diamond filled with beauty, skin, hair, and wellness essentials, including the LipLift Hyaluron Peptide-6 BioFill and InstaFacial® Plasma from Dr. Diamond’s Metacine. Dr. Diamond’s Metacine also prepped models’ skin for the Heirlome and Thom Browne shows in New York City during New York Fashion Week.
ghd celebrated the launch of ghd Sculpt, the brand’s first interactive styler, in Los Angeles, California, where guests experienced the innovation and enjoyed cocktails and bites.
Kemo Sabe previewed an upcoming collaboration with TWP at the ready-to-wear brand’s Spring/Summer 2027 runway show in New York City during New York Fashion Week.
DRMTLGY partnered with Formula Fig for a month-long residency in Los Angeles, California to celebrate the FacialRX™ collection, where they offered 30-minute LED + Lymphatic Facials.
Chanel celebrated the launch of Coco Mademoiselle Crish Absolu in an immersive café-inspired setting in New York City.
LILYSILK hosted an elevated sound bath experience at Olea Terrace in Santa Monica, California to celebrate their new activewear line, SilkAiry.
Pink Palm Puff hosted a traveling activation with a giant replica of its Everything Comes in Waves Hoodie on top of a vintage pink pickup truck wrapped in the brand’s palm print in New York City during New York Fashion Week to celebrate the line’s latest loungewear and ready-to-wear offerings.
cocokind celebrated the launch of the Soft-Glow Illuminator in Los Angeles, California with an interactive light studio, a portrait session, light bites, sips, and more.
Tyler McGillivary hosted its New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026 show in New York City, where models got their skin prepped by makeup artists from New York Makeup Academy using products from banu skin.
Frederic Malle launched Northern Love, an ambery woody perfume with nutmeg, cinnamon, jasmine absolute, and vanilla, crafted by Bruno Jovanovic, his third creation for the house.
Lee teamed up with Nigel Cabourn for the Lee x Nigel Cabourn OX’ed Silver collection inspired by pieces worn by American railway and rodeo workers and ranchers in the 1920s to 1940s.
Le Labo Fragrances launched its SHIU 25 scent, Beijing’s City Exclusive, available to shop for the month of September.
MERIT teamed up with ERDEM to launch the MERIT x ERDEM collaboration featuring three sets with new shades and bespoke packaging designed with the fashion house.
Sand + Fog launched the Back to the Library collection filled with eight perfume oils, including Berry Silk, Sugared Almond, Cotton Musk, Mandarin & Vanilla, Citrus Musk, Sweet Thing, Midnight Tulip, and Bergamot & Iris.
Commbi and TWP teamed up to launch the TWP x Commbi Pony Clog Collaboration to create a shoe that moves from city streets to weekend escapes in Rosen and Blonde colorways.
Cleanlogic launched the Infusions Collection made with biodegradable technology and infused with collagen or magnesium for smoother, more hydrated, and radiant-looking skin.
ZO® Skin Health launched three new retinol innovations, the Wrinkle + Texture Repair 0.3 for visible lines, wrinkles and rough texture, the Retinol Skin Brightener 0.3 for uneven tone and discoloration, and the Clear Renewal for blemish-prone skin, congestion, and post-blemish discoloration, all made with the ZO-RDS™ retinol delivery technology.
Mizawe launched its 11-piece collection made with silk, cashmere, and cotton, including The Silk Jean, in three silhouettes.
Lenox & Sixteenth launched The Prep Pads designed to prepare the skin without stripping it with ingredients including Saccharide Isomerate to bind moisture, Trehalose, Urea, and Serine to hydrate and condition the skin’s natural water balance, and Beta Glucan to attract and retain moisture.
KBB by Kahlana launched its Anniversary Collection. which includes the return of the sold-out cardigan.
B-Low The Belt teamed up with Pistola to launch an exclusive Fall 2026 collaboration designed to be worn with denim and ready-to-wear.
BEARPAW celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching the 2026 Solstice Collection filled with revamped versions of the brand’s beloved designs with premium materials, rugged outsoles, and elegant design details, including side panels, fringe, and delicate stitching accents, in neutrals like Morel, Black, Stone, Iced Coffee, and Hickory, and a new Toffee.
La Bonne Brosse launched its limited-edition Pink Collection with five of the brand’s signature brushes reimagined in a bright pink in support of breast cancer research, where each Pink October brush will directly contribute to research funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
COMFRT launched the Inflate Hoodie designed for travel featuring removable inflatable neck and lumbar pillows, a built-in eye mask, and concealed storage, in a premium heavyweight fleece and fully lined with soft jersey in Powder Pink, Pistachio Cream, Onyx Black, Blackberry, Shell, and Espresso. The brand also launched the Lavender Ember Heated Blanket featuring ultra-plush faux fur, six adjustable heat settings, and a removable panel filled with 100% natural dried lavender in Lavender, Bear, Dark Grey, Cotton Candy, Frost, and Sea Glass.
La Monique in Santa Monica, California expanded its offerings by launching La Petit Monique, an outdoor dining concept, alongside a reinvented seasonal menu from Executive Chef David Fricaud, a special late-night offering, and a live jazz series from 8:30 P.M. PST to close, where guests can enjoy a Croque Monsieur topped with caviar paired with a martini for $35.
Augustinus Bader and L/UNIFORM teamed up to launch The Vanity Case as part of their collaboration to store everything from daily essentials to a complete skincare wardrobe.
Pair Eyewear launched its new Nightmare Before Christmas collaboration with Disney featuring 22 frames with characters including Jack Skellington, Sally, Dr. Finkelstein, and more.
INERTIA launched the Professional Forte Silk Protein Bond Shampoo to reduce hair fall by 79% by gently cleansing sensitive, weakened scalps without stripping, and the Professional Forte Silk Protein Bond to repair damaged hair and strengthen against breakage with patented Spider Silk Protein Technology and a proprietary MCB Formula™.
Papa Johns launched The Works with seven premium toppings to bring together pepperoni, julienne-cut Canadian bacon, spicy Italian sausage, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and black olives, starting at $10.99 for a medium and $13.99 for a large.
Pacsun is set to host a double feature movie event where viewers can watch Beetlejuice and Halloween on Oct. 2 at Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California to celebrate its Halloween storefront with costumes, apparel, and accessories with prices ranging from $17 to $111.
Paula’s Choice launched its Quick Rescue Blemish Patches with patent-pending brush-on technology, where each patch is coated with a blend of microbiome-supporting actives and botanical extract to maximize ingredient contact with skin for superior efficacy and to visibly reduce blemish size and redness in 1 hour.
Levain Bakery is bringing back its Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie, featuring peanut butter with dark chocolate chips, along with a new limited-edition Peanut Butter Cookie Milk Latte, made with steeped in oat milk cookies, espresso, chocolate cold foam, and peanut butter cookie crumbs from Oct. 2 through Oct. 4 at locations nationwide.
Jack in the Box teamed up with The Simpsons for a Treehouse of Horror Halloween menu, the Munchie Meal of Horror, featuring a Double Krusty Burger of Terror or Double Chicken Sandwich of Terror with a new Spooky Simpsons Sauce, served in exclusive Treehouse of Horror packaging with one of six glow-in-the-dark collectible cups, and Forbidden D’oh!nut Holes. If the Jack in the Box location is out of cups, customers will receive a voucher for one and can return to the location starting Oct. 6 to claim it and get free two tacos.
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Entertainment
Alison Hammond Reassures Fans She’s “Fine” After Mid-Air Hospital Dash From This Morning
Alison Hammond has told fans she is “fine” after an alarming live-television moment on Friday, when the This Morning presenter was helped off set mid-broadcast appearing to clutch her chest, before being taken to hospital for a heart check-up.
The 51-year-old was presenting the ITV daytime show alongside her regular Friday co-host Dermot O’Leary when she left abruptly at around 11:30 BST during a segment about pets. The broadcast had begun at 10:00, with no early indication of trouble until Hammond exited the set and did not return.
O’Leary addressed her absence as soon as the show came back from its next ad break, telling viewers simply that “Alison is feeling a little unwell, so she’s just had to duck out. Hopefully she’ll be back.” Moments later, he confirmed she would not be returning for the remainder of the episode, adding, “so I’ll be here for the rest of the show.”
Hours later, Hammond posted a video to her Instagram Stories from a hospital bed, still dressed in a gown, to put concerned fans at ease. “Hello, my lovelies,” she began. “I know you’re all worried about me. Honestly, I am fine, first of all. But I’m getting my old ticker checked out. I had a little bit of a palpitation, and now I’m getting it all checked out. But I think I’m OK. I’m hoping it was just a little panic attack or something like that.”
True to her famously warm, self-deprecating on-screen persona, Hammond couldn’t resist a joke even from her hospital bed — the clip was overlaid with the caption “Anything to have a day off.” She also pointed out, laughing, that she still had her television make-up on from earlier in the day. “Everything is fine, look. I’m rocking it. Look how good I look,” she said.
She was keen to apologise to viewers and colleagues for cutting the broadcast short. “I’m so sorry I left you. I would never normally do that. I would never leave a TV show, so you know I wasn’t very well,” she said. “But hopefully I’m going to be all right. The doctors are so lovely, and they’re checking me out, and hopefully everything’s going to be fine.” She also thanked fans for the “lovely messages” that flooded in once news of her exit spread.
Hammond has become one of British television’s most recognisable faces over the past two decades. She first found fame as a contestant on Channel 4’s Big Brother before going on to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Strictly Come Dancing. She joined This Morning as a permanent co-host in 2021 and was part of the presenting team that won a National Television Award for best daytime programme the following year.
She has since broadened her presenting portfolio considerably, taking over as co-host of The Great British Bake Off in 2023 to widespread praise for what critics called a “joyous” debut, and stepping into the hosting role on For the Love of Dogs in 2024 following the death of Paul O’Grady.
No further details have been released about the results of her hospital tests, and ITV has not issued a separate statement beyond O’Leary’s on-air comments. For now, Hammond’s own message — delivered with her trademark humour from a hospital bed — appears to be the final word: she is resting, under observation, and, by her own account, very much “fine.”
Entertainment
Thirty Years On, ‘Brassed Off’ Still Hits the Right Note — and Its Writer Fears the Film Industry Has Lost the Plot
When Mark Herman sat down to write a film about a colliery brass band fighting to survive the death of Britain’s mining industry, he had modest ambitions. “I thought it might be popular within a 10 mile radius of Barnsley for about two weeks,” he recalls with a laugh. Thirty years later, Brassed Off is being celebrated with a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall, has a place in the BFI’s Top 100 British Films, and has just been named one of the Prime Minister’s favourite films of all time.
The film, released in 1996, follows the fictional Grimley Colliery Band as they prepare for Britain’s biggest brass band competition while their pit’s future hangs in the balance. Starring Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and a young Ewan McGregor, it is both a comedy and a quietly furious political statement about the human cost of the Thatcher government’s dismantling of the coal industry.
“I think the people who went expecting a political film got the bonus of a bit of comedy,” Herman says. “And the people who went expecting comedy got the bonus of the political message. Anybody who went got a sort of bonus they might not have expected.”
That balance is, he believes, why the film has refused to fade. Teenagers and twenty-somethings who weren’t alive when it was released still respond to it, he says, because its real subject isn’t a brass band in a made-up South Yorkshire town — it’s the experience of being downtrodden by forces beyond your control. “It’s still relevant and still plays,” he says.
The anniversary arrives with a neat piece of symmetry: Grimethorpe Colliery Band, the real-life ensemble that inspired the film and performed much of its music, will play live at the Royal Albert Hall alongside a special screening — bringing fiction back to the very venue where Grimley’s story reaches its climax.
It also arrives with an unexpected celebrity endorsement. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently named Brassed Off among his four favourite films, a choice Herman takes as something of a compliment. “How do I feel about that? It’s good! It’s very flattering, but I’d have been more surprised if he’d have chosen Notting Hill.”
Beneath the nostalgia, though, Herman is sounding a warning about the industry that made his film possible in the first place. Despite Brassed Off’s commercial and critical success — a film that started as what he calls “not an easy pitch” before word of mouth carried it through cinemas for months — he says he has spent the past decade struggling to get similar projects off the ground.
“It seems to be blockbusters or micro-budget at the moment and there’s no space for mid-budget British films like those, films like I want to make,” he says. “The studios are not as brave as they were. They’d stick their neck out, in what I call the old days. It was quite a risky film to make, Brassed Off, but now they seem to only want to put money behind dead certs.”
It’s a sobering assessment from a filmmaker whose biggest success was, by his own admission, a gamble nobody expected to pay off. Herman says he remains “fairly pessimistic” about the state of British cinema, even as he points to recent bright spots — citing I Swear, a biographical drama about a man living with severe Tourette syndrome, and The Ballad of Wallis Island, the offbeat comedy written by and starring Tim Key and Tom Basden, as among his favourite films of the past year. Both, notably, are the kind of modestly budgeted, character-driven British films he fears are becoming endangered.
For now, though, the anniversary is a chance to celebrate rather than mourn. Three decades after a small film about a struggling brass band found an audience far beyond the ten-mile radius of Barnsley its writer once imagined, Grimethorpe’s musicians will once again take to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall — proof, perhaps, that stories about ordinary people fighting to be heard never really go out of tune.
Ben Affleck‘s latest film, “Animals,” arrives on Netflix on October 9 and will also be shown in select theaters. He also directs the crime thriller and stars alongside Kerry Washington. Recently, after admitting the new movie used artificial intelligence, the Hollywood icon shed more light on how the technology was used while also addressing problems beyond AI that the movie business has suffered from.
Ben Affleck Discusses His Use Of AI In ‘Animals’
The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Affleck on the red carpet at the premiere of “Animals.” During the conversation, he was asked about his earlier statements about the film in which he revealed that artificial intelligence was used in the production. Notably, many have since wondered how extensively it was used.
Regarding his approach to the technology, he said, “I wouldn’t use something that trains on or has learned from any work that is copywritten, or that is an intelligence created by a peer of mine or somebody that I look up to.”
The 54-year-old continued, “That was why we created a dataset that was proprietary, so that it wouldn’t have to be extractive.” After that, Afflect stated that he has no interest in making a film “where you just type things and things come out.”
From there, he cast doubt that Hollywood would ever come to a place where movies were created from prompts. According to him, “I don’t think that’s ever going to happen in a way that anyone’s going to give a sh-t enough to want to see it. I wouldn’t want to be part of it if it was.”
The ‘Argo’ Star Explained His Goals With Using AI In Filmmaking
Affleck started his AI filmmaking company, InterPositive, in 2022. Since then, he’s been fairly open about his belief that the technology can benefit the movie industry, especially regarding budgets. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he discussed his goals for implementing artificial intelligence in film.
He said, “What I’m trying to do is actually bring this technology into our business, into a place where these companies who are guild signatories, who have relationships with the creative community, who aren’t going to just go ahead and put you in a movie without your permission and without paying you.”
Affleck continued, “That can’t be said for a lot of tech platforms and other spaces where we don’t just abjure this technology and allow others to take it and dominate it, and then weaken ourselves.” He went on to say that he’s “uncomfortable” with how “some of the ways some tech companies behave around image and likeness.”
In describing how he used AI on the upcoming Netflix movie, he explained, “This is a discrete set of tools. It’s not about making fake people or replacing anybody, ever. It’s about another interesting post tool, and if you can see it or if you can tell what it is, like, you’ve ruined it. Just like a bad visual effect, just like a bad performance.”
He Sold His AI Company To Netflix In March
As mentioned, Affleck quietly owned InterPositve for several years before most of the public learned it existed. However, according to Variety, he sold it to Netflix in March for $587 million in cash.
The deal meant the streamer would own the technology, and the team of 16 engineers, researchers, and creatives would continue their work. Regarding Affleck’s role with InterPositive, he now serves as a senior advisor.
The “Animals” star released a statement amid the acquisition. He said, “From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it. Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step, in addition to Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.”
Ben Affleck First Revealed ‘Animals’ Used AI At An Event
Affleck took part in Bloomberg’s Screentime event on September 30. While discussing “Animals,” the Oscar-winning actor admitted, “I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie.”
He continued, “I’m a little bit hesitant to point out what they are — or even talk about it — because in my business, we’re trying to foster the illusion of reality, right?” The director then drew a comparison, saying, “It’s sort of like if you went to a magic show and the magician walked out and said, ‘Just before I start, I want you to know there’s another bunny under here.’”
He’s Producing Multiple Upcoming Projects
“Animals” will be released on October 9 on Netflix and will also play in select movie theaters. In the near future, Affleck will executive produce two movies with his close friend Matt Damon. First, there’s the upcoming documentary “Turbalance: The Greatest Mind in Formula One.”
The other project is “Flash Before the Bang,” a sports drama about a deaf high school track team. Neither project has an announced release date.
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