The battle between Paris Jackson and the management of Michael Jackson’s legendary legacy rages on, with no end in sight. 

Years after the pop icon’s passing, internal tensions over financial transparency and creative control have spilled into the public eye through explosive court filings.

In her most recent attack, Paris criticized the estate’s decisions concerning her late father’s biopic, which is set to be released in April, 2026. 

Paris Jackson Criticizes Michael Jackson’s Estate Executors’ Biopic Decisions

Paris has launched a scathing attack against John Branca and John McClain, the executors who have managed her father’s estate since 2009.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Paris is particularly critical of the upcoming biopic, “Michael,” and the financial decisions surrounding its production. 

Paris questioned the “peculiar and presumably costly” choice to cast A-list actor Miles Teller to play Branca himself, doubting whether such an expensive move would actually translate into higher box office returns.

Furthermore, she expressed concern over reports that the estate has been forced to spend tens of millions of dollars on reshoots. 

The actress suggested that Branca’s lack of film production experience might be the reason the film has faced such significant hurdles, especially since the estate has reportedly invested most of the $150 million budget.

The executors’ legal team dismissed these claims as “without merit,” arguing that Paris and her lawyers are simply playing “media games.” Regarding claims of inexperience, the estate highlighted the massive success of the Cirque du Soleil shows and the Broadway musical as proof of their capability. 

They argued that it would be irresponsible not to produce a major motion picture about the King of Pop, especially given the success of other musical biopics like “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Paris Jackson Wanted Nothing To Do With The Biopic

The tension between Paris and the estate executors clearly extended to the creative team behind the upcoming biopic, “Michael.” In September 2025, Paris officially distanced herself from the project after actor Colman Domingo, who plays her grandfather Joe Jackson, suggested she had been “helpful” on set. 

According to The Blast, the model was quick to set the record straight on Instagram, tagging Domingo and telling him not to claim she was involved in a production where she had “0% involvement.” 

Paris described his remarks as “weird” and made it clear that she is not a part of the film’s team. She admitted to reading one of the early drafts and providing detailed feedback on parts of the narrative she found dishonest or uncomfortable. 

However, once she realized that the filmmakers had no intention of addressing her notes or correcting the inaccuracies she highlighted, she decided to step away.

The Jackson Family Continues To Feud Ahead Of The Biopic’s Release 

Amid disputes over the estate’s management, there is also a fierce divide within the Jackson family as the premiere of the biopic draws near. Set to hit theaters on April 24, 2026, the film “Michael” has faced three major release delays. 

While much of the family has praised the project, especially the performance of Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, a massive rift has formed between Janet Jackson and her brother Jermaine. 

Sources report that the siblings engaged in a heated phone call following a private family screening in Los Angeles, exposing deep-seated frustrations and long-standing rivalries, per The Blast. 

According to insiders, the conflict stems from a “seed of envy” that has reportedly poisoned the relationship between the Jackson siblings. While Jermaine and the rest of the clan, including Katherine Jackson, were thrilled with the preview, Janet was reportedly the sole voice of criticism.

How Fans Reacted To Jafaar Jackson’s Resemblance To Michael Jackson 

While the Jackson family remains divided over the film’s narrative, public opinion has been significantly more unified when it comes to the lead actor’s performance. 

Jaafar, making his professional acting debut as his famous uncle, drew widespread praise across social media following the release of the film’s first full trailer.

According to The Blast, one mesmerized viewer on X described the experience of watching him as witnessing a “resurrection,” specifically highlighting his precision and movement. The user went as far as to call it “genetic memory,” arguing that the level of detail in his performance is something that simply cannot be taught. 

Paris Jackson Remains Confident After Her Most Recent Court Hearing 

As the family remains divided over the creative direction of the biopic, Paris continues to face off against the estate executors in the legal battle over their financial management. 

The Blast reported that in March, 2026, the 27-year-old appeared in a Los Angeles court for a hearing centered on her demands for greater transparency and accountability. 

Despite previous setbacks, Paris and her legal team remain optimistic that they are uncovering significant financial irregularities. While the judge has yet to deliver a final ruling on the matter, she reportedly left the hearing appearing unshaken and focused on ensuring her family is treated fairly.

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Days of Our Lives 2-week spoilers for March 30 – April 03, 2026 suggest Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) stuns someone and Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) interfering.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Monday, March 23rd: Leo Returns to Salem

On Monday, March 23rd, we’ve got Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) returning to Salem. He needs to get that concussion treated and he’s going to talk to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) about Javi Hernandez and Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte). So, you know, Javi said he’s done with Leo and Dimitri is in trouble with ISA over the whole Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) going missing thing, even though I don’t think he did that.

And a matter of fact, we know he didn’t because EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) pretty much confessed. Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) is healthy enough to be released from University Hospital and he goes to check in on Stephanie before he heads home. As Alex Kiriakis eavesdrops from outside the door, Stephanie’s going to tell Jeremy that she could not have gotten through the kidnapping ordeal without him.

Stephanie has two important conversations on Monday because she speaks with EJ and really hopes he’s telling the truth and he was not involved in her recent kidnapping even though he was behind her last Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey) kidnapping. And by the way, Wes Ramsey has wrapped his run as Owen.

DOOL Spoilers: Paulina Under EJ’s Thumb

Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) welcomes Jeremy back home from the hospital, but I do wonder if Julie is going to own up to doubting Jeremy. So, we’ve got some tea and sympathy over at the Horton House on Monday.

Also, Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) is under EJ’s control right now. He is manipulating her over the Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) situation. Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) look over their cases.

There’s some overlapping crimes for various jurisdictions. There’s the Stephanie, Jeremy, and Owen situation. Then we’ve got Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop) and Klaus Mueller (Bassel Alzaro) and the DiMera kidnappings.

And of course, Leo is still going to have to answer to the Salem PD for his role in Dimitri’s case and him helping him go rogue. Even though Dimitri has been exonerated, it seems in the kidnappings, that doesn’t erase Leo’s crime of aiding and abetting.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers Tuesday, March 24th: Gabi Comforts Philip

Tuesday, March 24th, we’ve got Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) comforting Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). He appreciates it and tells Gabi that’s one of the things he loves about Gabi. And she is stunned to hear the L word out of Philip’s mouth and of course Gabi’s guilt is growing by the day.

Tate Black (Leo Howard) has more issues with Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis). They are struggling to reconnect and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) tells Maggie Kiriakis (Suzanne Rogers) how she feels about Xander Kiriakis Cook (Paul Telfer).

They did share some very tender moments when Victoria Kiriakis had pneumonia, but then Sarah ended up mad at him yet again. Also this week, Maggie is going to talk to Xander and ask if he heard the happy news that Vivian Alamain has gone missing. I think there’s going to be parties all over Salem.

Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) gets Rachel Black‘s (Lorelei Olivia Mote) blessing and I wonder if she says that she won’t interfere if he wants to date Sarah. And Liam tells a big fat lie to Arianna Horton so he could minimize the situation with Klaus and his role in the DiMera kidnappings that got him grazed in the arm.

Days Spoilers Wednesday, March 25th: Kristen and Rachel’s Hearing Begins

Wednesday, March 25th, Arianna has good news for Liam. And by the way, March 25th is Marissa Reyes last air date as Arianna. And we are going to meet the recast Arianna in a week or two. Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) and Leo take turns insulting each other.

And I’m sure it’s about Dimitri because Leo now seems to believe Gwen is guilty of kidnapping Dimitri, but she may throw the past cheating in his face. Meanwhile, Marlena finds out something that is downright chilling. And it may be about Rachel and the skin supplements.

Despite the tension, Holly and Tate are going to be a united front during a doctor’s appointment with Sarah this week after the drug test comes back and shows that Holly has antipsychotic meds in her system.

Tate tells Sarah they know why. And they have a bottle of the skin care supplements with them. And I do wonder if Rachel may be blamed.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Sarah Confronts EJ

Sarah confronts EJ and I wonder what’s that about now. Is it the lab? Is it about Stephanie’s kidnapping? And Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) and Rachel’s hearing begins.

They’re in front of the same judge that oversaw Johnny DiMera‘s (Carson Boatman) trial where Kristen burst in and falsely confessed to shooting EJ. And it looks like they are in the judge’s chambers, not in a courtroom.

So Brady and Kristen are there with Rachel, who is very nervous. And of course, Belle Brady (Martha Madison) is also on hand as the district attorney on Days of our Lives.

Thursday, March 26th on Days of Our Lives: JJ Opens Up to Theo

Thursday, March 26th, we’ve got Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) listening as JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) opens up to him. So, I think he may tell Theo that he froze up and that led to Shawn-Douglas Brady (Brandon Beemer) and Liam getting shot one more seriously than the other and Klaus getting shot dead.

You know, Shawn killed Klaus and he has now put his future at the SPD on the line by covering for JJ. Marlena finds common ground with EJ and it could be about Rachel’s sentencing and Jada offers Shawn to move in with her while he recuperates.

But the question is, how will Belle react to this? And how will Jada’s—I don’t know if I would call him a boyfriend at this point, but we’ll see how Theo reacts. He may be looking for an excuse to dump her so he can go chase Gabi.

DOOL Spoilers: Kristen Ruins Everything

As expected, Kristen is going to act up in the hearing. And Belle has to scramble to protect Rachel from being hit with criminal charges and her risking being sent to juvie. And this could be more than just Rachel’s fate on the line.

They may revisit custody given Kristen’s false confession, her yanking Rachel out of Bayview when she was getting help. And the past CPS issues because the judge mentions there is a second motion on the table.

Friday, March 27th Days of Our Lives: Sophia Crashes the Adoption Meeting

Friday, March 27th, Kristen is furious with Marlena and actually threatens her. So, the shrink may suggest that Rachel needs to go to Bayview or someplace else for inpatient psychiatric care for a good long time out. Marlena may know a little something about Rachel and the supplements.

And Kristen’s daughter is devastated. The judge hands down a verdict that could be really bad for Rachel. EJ steps up, but is that for Johnny with the adoption case? Because Chanel Dupree DiMera (Raven Bowens) and Johnny head into their appointment to finalize the adoption on Friday.

And Melinda Trask (Tina Huang) interrupts the adoption meeting and says that they can’t finalize the adoption until they hear from one more person and it’s Sophia. She’s there. And she’s dressed nice. She’s looking sane, but you know she’s going to make some crazy trouble.

Week Two on DOOL: March 30th-April 3rd Spoilers

The week of March 30th through April 3rd, we’ve got Stephanie and Jeremy continuing to have this trauma bond. And they may have another heart-to-heart talk about what happened. You know, Jeremy did help save Stephanie’s life.

Jeremy even let her dislocate his finger to save her, and Stephanie may not fall for Jeremy again, but this bond may frustrate Alex. Also, Rachel may rat out Sophia based on the ruling that comes in because let’s face it, she’s totally unhinged. Sophia’s just rotten.

And Rachel may want Tate and Holly to know that she had no idea Sophia was messing with the supplements, but once the judge’s ruling comes down, it’s probably going to stick.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Jada & Shawn Reunion Coming Up

Jada and Shawn could rekindle during his recuperation because he and Belle are in the friend zone as she confirmed the other day. And if EJ manages to shut down Sophia at the adoption hearing, that could be a real gamechanger for his relationship with Johnny.

We’re going to see fallout from Rachel and Kristen’s hearing. And we’ll find out if Rachel’s going to have to go to Bayview or another psychiatric institution, hopefully far away from Sophia.

Sarah and Brady are getting closer now that Rachel’s situation is sorted, but I don’t think it’s going to turn into too much on her side. She’s still hung up on Xander, but Brady is already falling.

Lexie wakes up soon. And the impact on Salem is going to be life-changing. Lani Price (Sal Stowers) and Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) are back with the twins soon. And we’ll find out more about EJ and Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord).

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 35 seconds ago

While Deep Space Nine is the best Star Trek show, the ambitious spinoff needed some time to really find its identity. As such, many of the earlier episodes aren’t all that memorable, including “Cardassians,” which increased our understanding of the titular aliens. The episode has a solid enough rating (currently 7.5 on IMDB), but let’s face it: nobody is putting “Cardassians” down as one of their favorite episodes of the franchise.

However, this largely forgotten tale is actually one of the most important episodes of Deep Space Nine because it fleshed out the character of Garak, who makes only his second appearance on the show. Garak actor Andy Robinson did a killer job, impressing both the fans and the staff. He also impressed future DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr, who confirmed this was the episode that convinced producers to keep bringing Garak back to the show.

Plain, Simple Garak

To put it mildly, Garak is a character absolutely beloved by Star Trek fans, and for good reason. As a former spy turned tailor, he has one of the coolest backstories of anyone in the franchise. He also plays an increasingly prominent role in Deep Space Nine, like when he helps Sisko convince the Romulans to start fighting the Dominion. In this way, he might have helped to save billions of lives. Because he is so important to the show, many DS9 fans are shocked to discover that he only appears in 37 episodes. However, he would have appeared in far fewer episodes if not for the forgotten episode “Cardassians.”

In case you need a refresher, “Cardassians” is a Season 2 episode where the DS9 crew must deal with the strange case of a Cardassian boy who has been raised by Bajoran parents. Gul Dukat shows up to try to reunite the boy with his biological father, resulting in a tribunal to determine who should get custody. Garak quietly investigates the case and eventually uncovers evidence that Dukat himself had the boy abandoned on Bajor years ago in a ploy to eventually humiliate his father, a political rival.

A Performance That Snuck Up On Everyone

“Cardassians” was only Garak’s second appearance on the show. Previously, he appeared in the Season 1 episode “Past Prologue.” Played by Hellraiser icon Andrew Robinson, Garak was a popular character with Deep Space Nine’s writers, but he didn’t become a mainstay until “Cardassians.” That’s largely because, according to The Deep Space Nine Log Book: A First Season Companion, his appearance in this episode really impressed future showrunner Ira Steven Behr. 

Behr admitted that “I didn’t have a lot of faith in this show at first. It was such an issue-oriented show that I thought it would oversimplify a complicated issue.” However, he eventually realized that “Cardassians” was “not only a chance to bring back Garak but to do this whole weird little number with what is going on between him and Dukat.” He thought this helped Deep Space Nine finally “[nail] the character” of Garak. Furthermore, Behr claimed, “I knew after that happened we were going to see a lot of Andy Robinson, who’s become quite popular on staff.”

Back By Popular Demand

In Season 1, Garak was a one-off DS9 character who it seemed like we would never see again. However, Andrew Robinson was so good in his second appearance that he impressed the entirety of the show’s staff, including future showrunner Ira Steven Behr. Because of that, he began appearing more and more throughout the rest of the show, eventually becoming pivotal to the development of several characters and the show’s popular Dominion War arc.

Did Andrew Robinson secretly plan to woo the staff with his second appearance, securing himself years of episode appearances and a lifetime of fame as one of Star Trek’s best characters? Of course not. After all, my dear doctor, he’s just a plain, simple actor!

Chrissy Lampkin‘s recent ‘fit check has social media users sharing mixed reactions.

RELATED: Still That Girl! Chrissy Lampkin Trends After Poppin’ Out To Celebrate Her 54th Birthday (VIDEOS)

More On Chrissy Lampkin’s Recent ‘Fit Check

On Sunday, March 22, Chrissy Lampkin took to Instagram to share a two-slide carousel with her more than two million followers. Furthermore, the first photo in the carousel showed Lampkin sitting down at a restaurant’s dinner table while looking at her phone. Additionally, she donned sunglasses, a black-and-white blazer, ripped jeans, and black-and-white loafer shoes.

To note, the second photo in the carousel featured a full-body shot and showed that she was also wearing an Hermès belt bag.

“365 days in a year , don’t play with me on none of them .😉,” she captioned the shots.

Social Media Users Sharing Mixed Reactions

Social media users entered TSR’s comment section, sharing mixed reactions to Chrissy Lampkin’s ‘fit.

Before Chrissy Lampkin’s Recent ‘Fit Check, She Had Social Media Talkin’ With Footage Of Her Night Out

Before her recent ‘fit check, Chrissy Lamp turned heads with footage of her night out. As The Shade Room previously reported, in February, Lampkin took to Instagram to share a reel from her time at Madison Square Garden for an apparent New York Knicks Game. Additionally, Lampkin shared a clip of herself heading inside rocking a black leather jacket, corset-style denim, and a pricey Hermès Birkin HAC Rock 40 handbag.

At the time, Instagram user @star79dreams slid in TSR’s comment section, writing, “She really is the one stay dresses to impress “

RELATED: There She Is! Chrissy Lampkin Stuns In Rare Footage Of Her Recent Night Out (WATCH)

Tommie Lee has the internet yapping about her latest link-up with Solange’s son, Julez Smith.  Multiple videos were posted to Snapchat and it looks like she had a ball with the 21-year-old. According to the clips, it ended with a friend’s arrest, a piggyback ride, and major flirty energy! As the videos circulated on social media, people didn’t hold back on dating speculations — and drags.

RELATED: Tommie Lee Responds After ‘Baddies’ Fan Calls Her Out For Allegedly Injuring Him With Shot Glass (VIDEOS)

What’s Going On Between Tommie Lee & Julez Smith?

One video reposted by Live Bitez shows Tommie, who’s 41, riding on Julez’s back while recording. “The type of sh*t you do when you like somebody,” Smith says as Lee records them. She giggled and continued to show off how the 21-year-old was carrying her, shoeless, on his body. When she brought the camera close to her face, she called him her “baby” before calling him “so fine.” He joked that “it’s hard to be fine” while carrying someone, but she disagreed, saying he was fine regardless! A lil’ after that, she hopped off his back as they laughed about him “struggling” to carry her.

More footage shows her laughing about their “crazy weekend” while her arm was linked with Julez’s. In that clip, it sounds like Smith also refers to Tommie Lee as “baby.”

Social Media Is Going IN On This Link-Up

Roommates, were Tommie Lee and Julez Smith on your 2026 bingo card? ‘Cause chile, from the looks of Live Bitez’s comment sections, the link-up has left folks scratching their heads and looking for answers. Some have called out the 20-year age difference between Tommie (41) and Julez (21), others are mentioning Lee’s daughter, who is in her 20s. To put it simple, the ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’ star is getting the Draya Michele treatment, meaning heavy side-eye and shade for dating younger!

RELATED: Awww! Draya Michele Shares Footage Of Jalen Green Playing Alongside Their Daughter Lyght (VIDEO)

At this time, it’s unclear how Lee and Smith met in the first place or how long they’ve been kicking it, but their cozy energy in the Snapchat footage is already proving to be more than the internet was expecting!

Under LB’s first repost of Tommie Lee and Julez, IG user @the_realnelli wrote, “Have that same energy y’all have for Draya.” Meanwhile, @__jamiedee added, “Oh hell naw!!! I thought I was robbing the cradle 🫠🥴 THIS TEW MUCH.”

@carringtonexplainsitall said, “Imma pray for everyone involved.” 

“Solange, where you at?” @arionie asked, but @thapaperprincess warned, “Lmfaooooo she can play with Solange if she want too😂😂.” 

@tinyaquarius wrote, “I just know his Mom and grandmother going off right now 😂😂.”

“If Solange allegedly Brooklyn rocked JayZ for her sister I wonder what she’ll do her son,” @ugly_iz_myname commented.

“Letting people and their weird energy touch you, nah. He’s young he’ll learn,” @handsoffvicky wrote.

@thesecretlifeofkaeeee__ added, “This is weird, she has children his age.” 

@realmrsj2 commented, “She’s gonna be eating Ms Tina’s Gumbo soon watch. 😂.” 

“Come on tommie this ain’t it,” @ni.__gera said.

RELATED: Pop It! Keyanna Joseph Shows Off Her Curves As Social Media Questions Her Relationship Status With 21 Savage (PHOTO)

Madonna and Julia Garner have once again sparked a grand, scroll-stopping reunion online.

The Queen of Pop and the actress have had fans talking for years as anticipation continues to build around Madonna’s unconfirmed biopic, in which Garner is expected to portray her.

While excitement has been buzzing online, Madonna has also been open about her struggles regarding the film’s release. 

Madonna And Julia Reunited in a Stunning Italy Moment

It was a joyful moment for fans as Madonna’s recent post on X showed her enjoying a gondola ride with Garner. The pair were seen singing along to Madonna’s song, “Like a Virgin,” as they shared a lighthearted moment together.

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According to the Daily Mail, the reunion took place while they were filming season two of the Apple TV+ series “The Studio” in the romantic city of Venice. 

The stars coordinated in black-and-white horizontally striped shirts paired with black blazers. They also wore blue jeans while being flanked by a film crew as they filmed on location along the famed Grand Canal.

Madonna’s blonde hair was parted down the middle and styled in face-framing curls that fell over her chest, while Garner rocked a pixie cut. Garner accessorized with a wide-brimmed hat featuring a red ribbon and trim. Meanwhile, Madonna completed her look with fingerless baby blue gloves and a black handbag. 

Madonna And Julia Garner’s Reunion Got Fans Talking Again

The video shared on X quickly gained traction, with fans flooding the comment section as anticipation for Madonna’s biopic continues to grow.

“Julia is absolutely the perfect choice to play you in this role. Omg, can’t wait,” one fan commented, while another added, “This is already looking perfect. I can’t really wait for this; don’t disappoint my enthusiasm.”

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The striking resemblance between the duo did not go unnoticed, as another fan wrote, “Madonna and her twin sister, I see.”

Some fans also interpreted the moment as something deeper, with one noting, “Madonna handpicking Julia Garner for the biopic, then taking her on a Venice gondola, is the most Madonna thing ever. She’s not casting an actress, she’s building a successor.”

One fan predicted, “Oscar-winning biopic incoming,” while another added, “Calling it now: an Oscar nomination for Ms. Garner.”

A fan also reflected on the uniqueness of the process, adding, “For me, this is the beauty of this biopic about Madonna, is that she gets to see the work about HER LIFE being done and be close to the person who will embody her. What better way to prepare for a role than spending time with the person you are acting about?”

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Madonna And Julia Garner Reignited Biopic Talks

The excitement surrounding the reunion is hardly surprising, as it is not the first time the duo has been spotted together, subtly reminding fans of the unconfirmed biopic, which has been in development for years.

As reported by The Blast, in May 2023, Madonna and Garner previously turned heads at Klein’s party, appearing in striking fashion. While the “4 Minutes” hitmaker stunned in a sheer black outfit paired with leather gloves and minimal makeup, the “Ozark” star made a statement in a cut-out black dress with chain detailing around the waist.

The pair posed for photos, which Madonna later shared on her Instagram Story. In one playful shot, they held a plate of fries, each holding a single chip to their lips while facing the camera. Across the image, the pop icon wrote, “B-tch, we’re Madonna,” referencing the possible return of her self-directed biopic titled Little Sparrow.

Julia Garner Revealed How She Landed The Coveted Biopic 

The highly anticipated biopic saw Garner undergo preparation before securing the role, as she previously shared, according to The Blast.

The Primetime Emmy Award winner recalled hearing about the project and deciding to audition, but not before taking dance lessons to better embody the Queen of Pop.

Beyond physical preparation, Garner, who has long been a fan of Madonna, also approached the role mentally. She considered how the pop icon would think and act, channeling that energy into her audition, which ultimately earned her the role of portraying the “Like a Prayer” singer.

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Madonna Revealed Challenges Delaying Her Biopic 

While anticipation for the biopic continues to rise, The Blast previously reported on the obstacles Madonna has faced in bringing the project to life.

In a social media rant, the singer reflected on her scrapped biopic, revealing that she reached an epiphany after “struggling for days in LA, listening to producers and agents tell me why I couldn’t make my film.”

Despite working on the project for four years, she said producers and agents repeatedly urged her to “downsize” and “think smaller.”

Although the experience was difficult, Madonna chose to view it positively, explaining that it helped her realize that every aspect of her life would come with challenges, even as she continues to explore new ways to tell her story on screen.

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 19 seconds ago

Original sci-fi is nearly extinct in movie theaters. Dune and Project Hail Mary are adapting best-selling novels, Avatar: Fire and Ash and Predator: Badlands are franchise films, which is why back in 2023, sci-fi fans were excited over visionary director Gareth Edwards bringing The Creator to the big screen. From the moment it was announced, the film was heralded as the savior of cinematic sci-fi. Weeks after release, it was largely forgotten, but now it’s available on Netflix waiting to be discovered by sci-fi fans craving another tale about sympathetic artificial intelligence and evil humans. Wait, what? 

Don’t Watch The Creator For The Plot

In the near-future of The Creator, the world is divided between those who want to exterminate A.I. following the nuclear devastation of Los Angeles (the majority of the planet), and those who choose to embrace it (a unified New Asia). Sergeant Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) is sent into New Asia to steal the latest superweapon, Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles, in her first movie role), a supercomputer simulant in the form of a young girl. With a hole in the side of her head that marks her immediately as an A.I., one of many examples of how the film looks amazing, but the plot falls apart with the slightest bit of critical thinking. 

Sergeant Taylot finds himself at the center of a new battleground between New Asia and the United States that goes from a coastal village to space, and his dead wife, Maya (Gemma Chan, star of the British A.I.-centric series Humans), was entangled in the origins of the latest conflict. It’s best if you don’t think too hard about who’s fighting and why when watching The Creator. Instead, let the amazing visuals and unique robotic designs wash over you. 

The Creator Is Visually Stunning But Hollow

Shot for a reported $80 million, The Creator is the rare film where it doesn’t look like every cent can be seen on the screen; it looks better than the budget would make you think. Edwards unique style is a perfect fit for science fiction. There are simulants that have amazing moving parts to them, and then there are the American bomb robots, which look like running trash cans. The careful thought and design that went into the aesthetics of the world, combined with the excellent acting from both Washington and Voyles, is let down by the flimsy plot. 

It’s a running joke at this point that the majority of the plot holes complained about online are from viewers playing on their phones while watching a movie, but if you watch The Creator, you can’t help but notice the logical fallacies. Soldiers using huge suit-mounted lights for a nighttime operation, a weapon system that scans the entire target area so far in advance it might as well send a warning via snail mail, advanced hover boats that only move at boat speeds even though they are, again, hovering over the water, and somehow, advanced A.I. robots have an airplane mode. 

The Creator may not be the savior of original sci-fi that it was marketed as, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie. It’s a throwback sci-fi of the early 2000’s. Gorgeous visuals, beautifully shot, but hollow. It’s sci-fi junk food in the best way possible. If you missed it in theaters, you can do worse than immersing yourself in the near-future A.I. apocalypse. 

The Creator is currently streaming on Netflix.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 21 seconds ago

When I first heard that Peacock had ordered a prequel series based on Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 movie Ted, I thought it was the worst idea ever. Sure, I remember enjoying Ted upon release as a teenager, but then again, I also enjoyed Family Guy and The Master of Disguise back in the day. Now that I’ve consumed both seasons of the Ted series, I can wholeheartedly say that I was dead wrong, and that this is one of the funniest shows I’ve watched in years.

While the core characters of Ted and his owner John are played hilariously by MacFarlane and Max Burkholder, the real show stealers are John’s middle-aged parents, Matty and Susan (Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach.) No matter what happens to the Ted franchise over the course of the next few years, I must insist that we get more of these two characters, even if Ted himself is not involved.

Isn’t This Show About A Teddy Bear?

Let’s back things up just a little bit. For those unaware, Ted is the story of John Bennett, who wished upon a shooting star that his teddy bear would come to life in the 1980s. Once this scientific anomaly came to pass, the bear underwent a brief period of fame and fortune, only to be forgotten by pop culture and sent back to the Bennett household to live a relatively normal post-fame life. The two Ted movies, starring Mark Wahlberg, follow Ted and John as burnout thirty-somethings with no career goals or ambitions, while the Ted series highlights the pair during their high school years.

In the series, John and Ted live under the roof of Matty Bennett (Scott Grimes) and his wife, Susan (Alanna Ubach). Matty is a Nixon super-fan, Vietnam veteran, and proudly ignorant tradesman, who reminds me of every old-school Boston dirtbag I knew growing up. Susan takes on the role of stay-at-home mom and homemaker while offering chipper, cutesy replies to the insanity her family brings. Some of the biggest laughs I’ve ever experienced in my life have come from Matty’s insistence that eating an egg at night will turn you homosexual, or Susan’s very European-inspired pronunciation of words like “porno” or “Cosmopolitan.”

Ted Is Too Expensive, But Doesn’t Have To Be

As Seth MacFarlane has candidly described in the past, the Ted series is prohibitively expensive to make, clocking in at roughly $8 million per episode. That may explain why Peacock has ordered an animated spinoff series to effectively replace the live-action show, with Wahlberg returning to the leading role. While Ted hasn’t officially been cancelled yet, the season 2 finale effectively bridges the gap between the show and the first movie, leaving very little room for more Matty and Susan stories.

Sure, the couple might appear in the new Ted cartoon, but that would mean aging the couple up to their late 70s. It would also mean that Matty and Susan would only appear as tertiary side characters, if at all, since their kids are grown and out of the house. That doesn’t work for me. I need a whole show of just Matty and Susan hijinks, with maybe an occasional CGI teddy bear thrown in for yuks.

Matty & Susan Vs. The World

Basically, my proposal is to copy the blueprint of another very successful sitcom universe, and make a Matty and Susan equivalent of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. In case you haven’t been following, Georgie & Mandy is a spinoff of Young Sheldon, which is itself a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory. The show became a must-watch for fans of the franchise after Montana Jordan’s George Jr. completely stole the show with his wicked charm and plucky attitude.

Surely Peacock could spare the money to produce a series under a working title like Matty & Susan Vs. The World, or The Bennetts And the Bees. Without Ted, the series could even be shot like an old-school sitcom, with a soundstage and a live studio audience.

This would give Seth MacFarlane an opportunity to expand into yet another television arena, which he seems to love doing, and it would give me more time with some of my favorite characters. I’d also get to keep doing the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme every time the characters go to the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Massachusetts, my childhood mall.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 16 seconds ago

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the last show that anyone would describe as particularly Christian. That’s partially because it was created by Joss Whedon, who is a devout atheist. The show also went out of its way to make certain demons (primarily Angel and Spike) sexy, something that didn’t always go over well with religious audiences. Throw in the prominent gay relationships and the constant violence, and you have a ‘90s show that often set conservative Christians on edge.

With that being said, there is an almost shocking level of Christian influence embedded in Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s storytelling. One great example of this is the fan-favorite Season 3 episode “Faith, Hope, and Trick,” which is a reference to a very popular biblical verse. Interestingly enough, the verse itself helps to foreshadow years of storytelling, all while emphasizing what makes Buffy so special in the first place.

You Gotta Have Faith

“Faith, Hope, and Trick” is the episode that introduces Faith (Eliza Dushku), a new Slayer who was called into service when Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) died for the first time (don’t worry, she got better). While the two Slayers clash at first, they overcome their differences to defeat Kakistos, the ancient vampire who brutally killed Faith’s Watcher. However, one of that villain’s cronies gets away: Mr. Trick, who will become a servant of Season 3’s Big Bad, Mayor Wilerson.

Now, in case you need a Sunday school lesson (better brush up if you want to get admitted into Sunday college!), this Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode’s name is an allusion to the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13. The verse describes how it doesn’t matter what abilities you have (including a silver tongue, a wise mind, powerful faith, or even the gift of prophecy), if you don’t have love. This Bible verse famously ends with these words: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 

O Come, All Ye Faithful

At first glance, the episode title “Faith, Hope, and Trick” just seems like a fun allusion to this biblical verse. After all, there’s nothing explicitly Christian about this story. However, a deeper analysis of the verse in question reveals how the episode foreshadows the fate of Faith as well as what makes Buffy so special as a Slayer.

You see, 1 Corinthians 13 really hammers home that it’s not enough for Christians to have faith; if they have faith without love, the Bible insists they are “nothing.” A big part of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s third season is Faith realizing that she isn’t as good as Buffy. It’s not because she lacks vampire-fighting skills; when the chips are down, she can throw fists and slam stakes with the best of them. But she is a very selfish character, and her inability to see beyond her own needs leads her down a dark path. She kills a human, and shortly after that, she becomes the evil mayor’s most lethal lieutenant. 

The Downfall Of Faith

Therefore, the name of this very early Season 3 episode foreshadows the downfall of Faith, a character who has all of Buffy’s skills and special abilities but none of her love for others. Without that love, she is, as the Bible warns, “nothing” compared to Buffy. Faith seems to realize this on a kind of subconscious level, which is likely why she embraces the mayor as a surrogate father figure: he offers her the kind of love she craves but that she has been unable to offer others.

Beyond Season 3, however, the message of 1 Corinthians 13 eerily foreshadows Buffy’s own journey, including what separates her from other Slayers. In the dreamy Season 4 finale “Restless,” Buffy confronts a frightening, primitive girl who is eventually revealed to be the First Slayer. This early demon hunter tells Buffy that she can’t have friends and must always work alone. Buffy rejects this idea and continues to fight alongside her friends for the rest of the series. In flashbacks to other Slayers’ lives (and deaths), we learn that Buffy really is an anomaly: every other Slayer fought and died without any allies by their side.

By embracing her love for her friends, Buffy found a greater strength than previous Slayers or Watchers had ever dreamed of. This eventually led to a show-stopping series finale where she shared her power with every potential Slayer around the world. In embracing love over everything else, Buffy effectively embraced the wisdom of the Bible’s greatest lesson. Maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising, though: after all, as someone who died to save the world and was resurrected to lead humanity out of darkness, Buffy is one of television’s most surprisingly Christ-like characters.