The Vampire Diaries alum Candice King married her fiancé, Steven Krueger, while preparing to welcome their first baby together.

King, 38, and Krueger, 36, tied the knot on February 28 in an intimate wedding ceremony in Nashville in the presence of just 15 guests, including King’s daughters from a past relationship. (Candice shares Florence, 10, and Josephine, 5, with her ex-husband, Joe King.)

“We decided to have a small elopement-style weekend in Nashville with just our immediate families, and save the bigger celebration for sometime next year,” Krueger told Vogue in a profile published on Saturday, April 4, noting they initially planned to say “I do” in fall 2026 before King found out she is pregnant. “We were ecstatic with how it all came together. We focused on the essential trifecta: photos, flowers and food.”

King and Krueger, who both appeared in the Vampire Diaries franchise, exchanged vows at Nashville’s The Chapel at High Point Farm.

Related: Candice King and Steven Krueger‘s Relationship Timeline

Fans didn’t expect to see Candice King and Steven Krueger find love years after finding fame in The Vampire Diaries universe. King rose to fame playing Caroline Forbes on TVD from 2009 to 2017. Krueger, meanwhile, played the role of Josh Rosza in The Vampire Diaries spinoff, The Originals. During her time on The CW series, […]

“The cherry on top was one of our mutual best friends, Carina [Adly] MacKenzie, flying in to officiate for us!” Krueger told the outlet, referring to the The Originals and We Were Liars TV writer. “We had 15 people in total, including Candice’s daughters and my two nieces. It was perfect.”

King walked down the aisle in a billowing Grace Loves Lace gown with a Claire Pettibone veil.

“Shockingly, there’s not a huge market for wedding dresses that fit over a baby bump,” Candice quipped to the magazine. “I was quite nervous to find a dress that would make me feel bridal and maternal — and not like the ‘Stay Puft Marshmallow Man’ from Ghostbusters bouncing down the aisle. [It] was the third dress I tried on, and I felt like it was perfect. Enough structure to feel romantic and enough stretch to grow with my belly, even though my belly still outgrew the dress!”

King and Krueger, who started dating in 2023, announced in December 2025 that they are expecting their first baby together.

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“It’s such a joy,” King exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “It’s something that we’re not only excited about right now. This is something we’ve been daydreaming about so it’s lovely to be here right now celebrating it.”

Related: Celeb Weddings of 2026: See Who Got Married This Year

Many stars went to the chapel and said “I do” in 2026. Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White rang in the new year with a wedding to her now-husband, John Donaldson. White wasn’t the only star to walk down the aisle this year. Love Is Blind season 2 alum Iyanna McNeely, for her part, married […]

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King, who is due in May, is expecting a baby boy.

“I love being a mother, it’s my favorite role,” she gushed to Us. “There’s so many things that Steven does as a partner and as [my daughters’] stepfather on a daily basis that he already shows me how wonderful of a father he is and will be.”

Science fiction has always been one of the most popular and prolific genres in all of cinema, and the ’80s weren’t an exception to the rule. Several of the best sci-fi movies of all time — the best of them perhaps even among the greatest films ever made, period — came out at some point during the ’80s, a decade characterized by the rise of escapist high-concept blockbusters.

Whether it was an auteur-driven arthouse movie like Mauvais Sang or a crowd-pleasing blockbuster like Aliens, you could always rely on filmmakers during the ’80s to deliver strong sci-fi work. Imaginative, original, and taking full advantage of the technological capabilities afforded by the times, the decade’s best sci-fi masterpieces see the genre at its peak.

10

‘Mauvais Sang’ (1986)

Image via AAA Classics

Mauvais Sang, which translates to Bad Blood, was the famous French cult auteur Leos Carax‘s second feature film. It’s set in a Paris where a deadly virus has come to infect people who have loveless sex, and in it, a lonely pariah tries to steal a potent antidote but falls for the mistress of his partner-in-crime. It’s one of the most underappreciated sci-fi gems of the 20th century as a whole, made when Carax was only 25 years of age.

Like the rest of Carax’s divisive work, Mauvais Sang may prove a bit too exotic for some, but its romantic tone, poetic story, and unforgettable visuals make it a must-see for diehard fans of science fiction. Moody, bizarre, and masterfully Godardian (a quality that has defined pretty much all of Carax’s filmography), it’s a movie that deserves far more love than it typically gets.

9

‘Brazil’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

There are plenty of movie masterpieces that feel like being in a nightmare, but few push that feeling to the extent that Brazil does. Directed and co-written by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, this Kafkaesque, absurdist, dystopian dark comedy has been compared to George Orwell‘s 1984 many times. It’s a well-earned comparison.

The movie’s sense of satire is brilliant in how it pokes fun at bureaucracy, technocracy, and mass government surveillance, themes that are still as relevant today as they were back in the ’80s. It’s a cult classic unlike any other, filled with audacious camerawork and supported by a wild sense of humor. It’s a social farce, the likes of which only a Monty Python alum could have possibly pulled off.

Image via Universal Pictures

Steven Spielberg has been the master of modern popcorn movies ever since he pretty much invented the concept of a summer blockbuster with 1975’s Jaws. That movie was the highest-grossing film of all time until Star Wars took its record just two years later, but in 1982, Spielberg reclaimed the record with the timeless alien invasion classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

It’s one of the best crowd-pleasing sci-fi movies ever, a family-friendly gem often recognized among the greatest and most influential American films of the ’80s. It’s a touching coming-of-age tale, a delightfully sweet alien film, and unapologetically Spielbergian. With a marvelous cast and an exciting story, this unparalleled portrait of childlike innocence is pure ’80s Hollywood magic.

7

‘Akira’ (1988)

Image via Toho

Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and based on Otomo’s own 1982 manga of the same name, Akira is one of the most groundbreaking anime films ever made. Set in a dystopian metropolis, this cyberpunk masterpiece has a story that differs greatly from that of its source material, but in tone and in what made the manga appealing, it nails every element.

It’s also one of the most important movies that changed modern animation forever, as it is largely credited not just as a hugely influential work, but as one of the movies that helped popularize anime and Japanese culture in the West. Violent, fast-paced, and endlessly imaginative, this tour-de-force cult classic is a must-see for all those who appreciate the art of anime filmmaking.

6

‘The Fly’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Canadian auteur David Cronenberg is one of the most important horror filmmakers of all time, the father of the body horror subgenre as a whole. And as far as Cronenberg’s body horror goes, it doesn’t get much more iconic, influential, or better than The Fly. Jeff Goldblum slowly transforming into a fly-man mutation doesn’t exactly sound like an appealing premise on paper, but Cronenberg’s execution is so faultless that the movie ends up being an absolute masterpiece.

The Fly is thematically profound and has well-written characters and story beats, but of course, the majority of its charm lies in the execution of what’s on the page. It’s the jaw-dropping special effects and makeup work, Goldlum and Geena Davis‘ potent performances, and Cronenberg’s relentlessly grotesque and violent direction that make this one of the most intense movies of the ’80s.

5

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

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John Carpenter is another filmmaker who has been crucial to the history of horror. In fact, if there were a Mount Rushmore of horror movie directors, Carpenter’s face would perhaps be the most essential to carve on the side of that mountain. To understand why, people could watch his entire filmography and have a hell of a good experience; but if they didn’t have that sort of time, a single masterpiece would suffice: The Thing, a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World, sticking closer to the novella that inspired both movies, John W. Campbell Jr.‘s Who Goes There?

Where the 1951 film was much more overtly about Cold War paranoia thematically, Carpenter went for a broader thematic study of the kind of distrust and public psychosis that characterized the era. Full of revolutionary visual effects and exceptional performances, The Thing is still absolutely terrifying all these many years later.

4

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

With 1979’s Alien, Ridley Scott revolutionized sci-fi horror forever. Seven years later, visionary Canadian filmmaker James Cameron came out with a sequel, this time focusing more on the action-driven storytelling that he has always specialized in. Thus, Aliens came into being, one of the few sci-fi sequels that many people consider even better than their predecessors.

It’s one of the best horror blockbusters ever, bolstered by a tour-de-force performance by the marvelous Sigourney Weaver. It works as well as it does because it first takes the time to build up the complex, entertaining dynamics between its characters. Once those have been established, Cameron jumps headfirst into the action, delivering one of the most enthralling sci-fi flicks of not just the ’80s, but the 20th century as a whole.

3

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

It wasn’t just Alien that Ridley Scott revolutionized science fiction with. There was also, of course, Blade Runner. Quite famously, this adaptation of Philip K. Dick‘s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was a failure in every sense of the word upon release. Over time, though, it started growing a dedicated cult following. Eventually, that following grew so tremendously large, and retroactive praise for the movie grew so universal, that cinephiles today consider it a sci-fi classic as mainstream as any other.

It’s one of those classic sci-fi movies that are still masterpieces today, a richly philosophical and detailed study of what makes us human that has aged like fine wine. The villains are amazing, the dialogue is genius, Harrison Ford‘s lead performance is one of the best of his career, and the brilliant world-building makes this not only one of the best sci-fi movies ever, but also one of the best neo-noirs of all time.

2

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

Sci-fi movies don’t need to be artsy to be absolutely perfect, and Robert Zemeckis proved that in 1985 with Back to the Future. This is a popcorn blockbuster through and through, but one so impeccably made in virtually every single department that it’s difficult to find any fault in it. That makes it one of the best sci-fi movies to watch over and over again.

Where can one even begin singing Back to the Future‘s praises? Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd‘s timeless performances, the script’s perfect sense of structure and pacing, the thrilling third act, Alan Silvestri‘s iconic score — it’s all some of the best work that has ever gone into any sci-fi film. In more ways than one, Back to the Future is the poster boy of ’80s science fiction.

1

‘Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

Image via 20th Century Studios

The Star Wars franchise is by no means pure science fiction. If anything, it perhaps belongs even more strongly to the fantasy category. But this legendary space opera has become the face of sci-fi across all of pop culture for a reason — several great reasons, in fact. Among those reasons, one stands out as the best piece of Star Wars media ever made: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back.

It’s far and away one of the best movie masterpieces of the last 50 years, a perfect example of a sci-fi epic that does things right in every single department. The visuals, the music, the acting, the characters, the story — the whole thing feels engineered in a lab for maximum entertainment, and it works wonderfully. The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most iconic Hollywood movies of all time, and it’s certainly the peak of ’80s sci-fi.

There are many series premiering in 2026, but few have been as widely discussed as HBO’s Harry Potter. The popularity of the IP instantly gives the series an advantage, but it also comes with several pitfalls. After the release of the first trailer, the series is already facing its biggest challenge. While it doesn’t help that anything related to this franchise is immediately impacted by the discourse surrounding author J. K. Rowling and her personal views, this series, like any reboot, already has an uphill battle to justify its existence.

Many adaptations mishandle their source material, but the Harry Potter films successfully honored the original story while providing all the magic that fans could ask for. The undeniable success of the movies means that HBO’s adaptation must take extra care to differentiate itself. With only a few minutes of footage courtesy of the new trailer, the side-by-side comparisons have begun. It’s especially glaring because another major franchise is releasing a new series this year, demonstrating that there is a simple way to avoid unnecessary comparison. Though they are far from identical in story, Harry Potter should have taken a cue from Stranger Things in how to build on its franchise without repeating itself.

‘Stranger Things’ New Spin-off Establishes a New Look for the Story

Though it hasn’t been around as long as Harry Potter, Stranger Things has a huge following, growing over time into one of the biggest shows of the decade. While the original series recently concluded, Netflix is continuing the story through tie-in novels and graphic novels, as well as a new show. The first spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, will take a different approach to the world. The series will follow the same characters, filling in the gap between seasons and focusing on Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max (played by a new voice cast) as they face new monsters from the Upside Down. Although it will be a major change, the choice to animate this spin-off series instantly sets it apart even as it capitalizes on the nostalgia for the original show.

Tales from ’85 is admittedly a different situation from HBO’s Harry Potter, as it isn’t a reboot, but another story set between Seasons 2 and 3. Yet it faces a similar issue, especially after the mixed reception to the final season of Stranger Things. This spin-off can lean into viewers’ love for the early seasons of the original show, much like HBO’s new Harry Potter series hopes to draw in longtime fans of the films and books, but in Stranger Things’ case, the spin-off will provide something noticeably different. There will be no issue telling these two shows apart thanks to their divergent styles. HBO could have done the same, but instead, the Harry Potter series is being released in the same format as the movies, making comparisons unavoidable.

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Season 2 of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Will Follow in ‘The Pitt’s Footsteps in One Key Way

Season 1 of the new series arrives in December.

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HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Hasn’t Done Enough to Set Itself Apart From the Movies

The trailer for the new Harry Potter series proves that making more distinct visual changes may have been the better way to go. Had HBO followed Stranger Things‘ example and chosen an animated format, its new adaptation could have instantly differentiated itself in style while opening up story possibilities from the books that are too challenging to render on film. Animation’s most obvious benefit is the advantage of time, since longer gaps between releasing new seasons wouldn’t impact the age of the young actors (which, as seen in Stranger Things, can become distracting for viewers). Additionally, the magic in Harry Potter requires many special effects, and animation wouldn’t force these moments to be more reliant on a small-screen budget.

Admittedly, animation isn’t the only way for Harry Potter to distinguish itself from the films, and it still might succeed at doing so, but visually, it’s too similar to what has come before. The biggest difference is a darker color palette that detracts from the whimsy of the original movies. Ultimately, HBO’s Harry Potter series hopes to benefit from nostalgia, but the trailer is so similar that it’s already made fans want to rewatch what’s been released instead of waiting for the new version.

Harry Potter will premiere December 25 on HBO Max in the U.S.

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Release Date

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2026 – 2026

Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

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Directors

Mark Mylod

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Sci-fi is a super popular genre, and has remained popular for decades and decades. This is because speculative fiction, especially when it comes to imagining the future of humanity, is a very entertaining prospect for many viewers. But with all the sci-fi TV shows that have come out over the years, not every single one is going to get their chance in the spotlight.

Indeed, many science fiction TV shows have been completely lost in the sands of time, even with on-demand viewing and streaming services making these shows more accessible. This is honestly kind of a tragedy, because many of these shows are absolutely excellent, and deserve more attention. These sci-fi TV shows are nearly perfect, but they have been completely or almost forgotten.

‘Rocket Robin Hood’ (1966–1969)

Image via CBC

Rocket Robin Hood is a series that you probably missed out on if you weren’t living in Canada, as that was where it was primarily broadcast. It was animated in a style similar to a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and was later broadcast on the Teletoon Retro block in the 2000s. This series took a classic and timeless tale and reinvented it, which made it so much more exciting.

Basically, this series is about Robin Hood (Len Birman) and the mythos surrounding him, only this time, it takes place on Earth in the year 3000. Sherwood Forest is not a forest at all, but actually, an asteroid, with many creatures and locations from the myth appearing as planets or aliens. It was a really imaginative and inventive series, not to mention one that was pretty popular for its time. Unfortunately, its name is seldom spoken anymore. Even though it was geared towards kids, its creative premise provides an exciting experience for adults, too.

‘Voyagers!’ (1982–1983)

Image via NBC

Voyagers! was a really fun action-adventure series with a promising premise. The story revolved around a society of time travelers called the Voyagers. The society is dedicated to traveling back in time whenever something in history unfolds incorrectly, with the Voyagers aiming to ensure everything works out the way it is supposed to, preventing the modern world from being altered too drastically.

Because the show is about time travel, almost every episode featured a brand new historical period or event, ranging from ancient civilizations in Egypt and Greece to major wars like the American Revolution. In just 20 episodes, Voyagers! takes the viewers right along with the time travelers, depicting some of the most amazing eras in history in vivid detail. It even covers some more obscure parts of history, like the Spanish-American war of 1898. It’s absolutely awesome, perfect for both sci-fi freaks and history geeks with its boundless adventure.

‘Earth 2’ (1994–1995)

Image via NBC

Earth 2 was way ahead of its time, centering on post-apocalyptic themes long before the late 2000s and 2010s made the genre super popular. Earth 2 is set in the year 2192, a bleak time when Earth is entirely uninhabitable. The remnants of humanity have long since fled to space stations orbiting their home planet, with the planet’s surface only having a few scattered groups of human survivors. The series opens with a man whose son comes down with a rare condition that is becoming prevalent among the youth on the space station. Doctors believe it to be caused by the lack of an Earth-like environment. Unfortunately, the disease is always fatal, with those afflicted never living to the age of 10.

Desperate to save his son, the father leads a group of other parents in a similar predicament to an Earth-like planet 22 lightyears away, in an effort to colonize it. However, the current Earth government does not approve of this, and intends to stop them. With only one season and 21 episodes, this show managed to really pack a punch with its storytelling. It’s unique, interesting, and heartbreaking all at once. Unfortunately, it suffered poor ratings despite an Emmy nomination, and was abruptly cancelled. Despite this, it is an underrated gem that is desperate to be rediscovered.

‘Quartermass and the Pit’ (1958–1959)

Image via BBC

Quartermass and the Pit is the third miniseries in the Quartermass collection, a trilogy of TV shows made by the BBC. Though, this third one outdoes the other two by a mile. The series once again features Professor Quartermass, this time played by André Morell. Previously, the actors had changed for every series, meaning this was Morell’s first time in the role. The six-part TV serial follows the Professor as he finds a peculiar device in an archaeological dig site. Weirder still, it’s found at a dig site with the remains of primitive humans from millions of years ago. Intrigued, Quartermass begins to search for the origin of the device.

This series was actually rebooted less than 10 years later, in the form of a 1967 movie. The movie had the same title in the UK, but was called Five Million Years to Earth in the US. In any event, the original TV series reigns supreme, and immediately hooks the viewer’s interest with its plotline and memorable characters. Yet, it’s been almost 70 years, and it would seem that this show would not make the history books, as very few people remember its existence today.

‘The Outer Limits’ (1963–1965)

The Outer Limits is a series that might have been doomed from the start. It’s an anthology series, which meant it was constantly living in the shadow of The Twilight Zone, one of the most popular TV shows at the time. While the latter is widely remembered today, The Outer Limits is rarely spoken about anymore. The series had a much narrower scope than The Twilight Zone. Whereas The Twilight Zone covered a wide variety of concepts and genres, The Outer Limits was almost exclusively about aliens and science fiction.

Today, while The Outer Limits is considered a cult classic, it never outgrew its comparisons to other popular series of the time, and it eventually passed into obscurity. There was even an attempted reboot in the ’90s, but this didn’t go over very well. Ultimately, this is an absolute masterpiece about aliens, and it was way ahead of TV trends. It even used the “monster of the week” format that became super popular in the late ’90s and 2000s. The problem is, it came out at a bad time, and wasn’t ever able to cement itself in the history books as well as it could’ve.

‘Thunderbirds’ (1965–1966)

Image via ITV

Thunderbirds is another all-time classic that was well-renowned for years. Unfortunately, it’s rarely, if ever talked about anymore. The British television series focused on a group of international pilots, who flew specialized aircraft to stop villains and rescue those in need. The aircraft ranged from unique hovering planes to attack and rescue helicopters, and even to spacecraft. It was action-packed and adventurous, as well as fun for the whole family. Thunderbirds also bolstered a unique cast of characters in the form of its team of heroes.

Unfortunately, a 2000s live-action movie likely contributed to its downfall. This movie was truly abysmal with some of the worst CGI ever created by a major studio, and is barely remembered by anybody who saw it. By association, the same thing happened to the show. To be fair, the show does feel a bit dated. The stop-motion animation combined with the marionettes and puppets give a kind of uncanny valley feel to the series, which is off-putting to a lot of people. This is understandable. However, it doesn’t change the fact that this once-great television series is only whispered about now, and is unlikely to see a comeback anytime soon.

‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)

Image via SYFY

Farscape really had something special going on, yet it’s another one of those forgotten cult classics that barely anybody remembers. The show had a massive ensemble cast, and told the story of a human astronaut who accidentally gets caught in a wormhole which spits him out in the far corners of the universe, far from home. There, he joins up with the Peacekeepers, a group of convicts and government escapees from diverse alien planets aboard a living biomechanical spaceship.

Puppetry and production was handled by none other than the Jim Henson Company, who used the series as one of their odd, but creative passion projects. Sadly, these projects rarely get the attention they deserve. Farscape lasted four seasons and 88 episodes, and was very well-received. Yet, just two and a half decades later, most people haven’t seen it, don’t remember it, or don’t talk about it at all. This is a shabby treatment that the series definitely did not deserve.

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Farscape

Release Date

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1999 – 2003-00-00

Writers

Rockne S. O’Bannon, David Kemper, Justin Monjo, Richard Manning

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LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson is being recognized in a major way by the city she’s helped represent on and off the court.

Related: Okay, Sis! Flau’Jae Johnson & Boyfriend Chris Hilton Jr. Channel THIS Iconic 2000s Movie While Teasing New Track (PHOTOS)

Flau’jae Johnson Receives Key To The City Of Baton Rouge

On Saturday, April 4, LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson received the Key to the City from East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards. The honor recognizes her impact both on and off the court, celebrating her contributions to the university and the local community, according to WBRZ. The city also officially proclaimed April 4 as “Flau’jae ‘Big 4’ Johnson Day.” The day reflects Johnson’s nickname and jersey number while playing for the LSU Tigers women’s basketball.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users quickly shared mixed reactions following the announcement.

Instagram user @dezexual wrote “Love this for her”

Another Instagram user @_d3sir33._ wrote, “I know her daddy proud fr 💜”

While Instagram user @jaleahkeon wrote, “A key?! wtf they got bigger ppl that’s actually from here 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @niyaa_marie wrote, “They just handing out keys fr”

Another Instagram user @kimbowle wrote, “Congratulations 🎈🎉🍾❤️”

While Instagram user @justmoe2.0_ wrote, “Y’all so mad in these comments lord bless yall why does someone success bother y’all this much no shes not from Louisiana but she damn sure made a name for herself there and put on for LSU she deserves stop taking people’s accomplishments and hard work away from them yall so mad yall should work on that.”

Instagram user @es1nam wrote,  “As she deserves”

Another Instagram user @thaarealplayyaaa.k wrote, “ATP I want a key”

While Instagram user @yaagirllky._ wrote, “I wanna know what shawt did fa my city ???”

Another Rapper Finds A Home At LSU

Johnson isn’t the only artist-athlete making headlines at LSU. Recently, Baton Rouge officials, including Mayor-President Sid Edwards, welcomed rapper Toosii to the city after he enrolled at Louisiana State University. He is now listed as a freshman wide receiver for the school’s football team. In an Instagram post, Edwards wrote, “We’re thrilled to welcome nationally acclaimed artist Toosii to Baton Rouge as he begins an exciting new chapter playing football at Louisiana State University.”

 Most recently, fans noted that Toosii was not featured on the school’s football roster.

Related: Congrats! Toosii Joins LSU Football Team As Freshman Wide Receiver After Stepping Away From Syracuse University (PHOTOS)

There are a lot of movies that get buried in an actor’s career once bigger hits start piling up. The Eagle is definitely one of those for Channing Tatum. It came out early enough that a lot of people either missed it or forgot it even existed, but streaming has a funny way of dragging these half-lost titles back into the light. That’s exactly what’s happening here.

The historical adventure has been charting high on HBO Max globally, giving the 2011 film a very sudden and very unexpected comeback. It’s a strong example of how quickly an older movie can catch on once it lands in front of the right audience.

The cast includes Tatum as Marcus Aquila and Jamie Bell — who recently made headlines with his new Peaky Blinders spin-off series — as Esca. Set in Roman Britain, the movie follows a dangerous mission beyond Hadrian’s Wall in search of a lost legion’s honor. It’s serious, physical, and much moodier than a lot of viewers may expect from a forgotten Tatum title. HBO Max has clearly helped it find new life.

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Is ‘The Eagle’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert’s review stated that The Eagle feels like the kind of adventure movie Hollywood does not make much anymore. It is a sword-and-sandals story built around a clear mission, rugged locations, and two leads who carry the film without needing huge spectacle. The movie keeps things grounded, and that helps it stand out. What works here is the scale. The fights feel physical and human instead of bloated with effects, and the movie shows real interest in its setting and time period. It is less about flashy action and more about survival, loyalty, and pride. Donald Sutherland also adds some welcome presence in a smaller supporting role.

“The Eagle is rated PG-13, and that’s about right. The blood and gore is kept to a reasonable level, and the battle scenes are about heroism and strategy, not special effects. The Eagle attempts to create characters with some dimension and complexity. During Donald Sutherland’s interlude as the wise uncle, it provides some notion of the function of empire, then and later. And Tatum and Bell do a good job of sculpting the heroes to a fairly human scale and not indulging in foolish poses against the horizon. The movie goes a little over the top in finally showing us the Eagle, but what can you expect?”

The Eagle is streaming now.

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Release Date

February 8, 2011

Runtime

114 Minutes

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Writers

Rosemary Sutcliff, Jeremy Brock

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It looks like Michael Blackson is fully in his soft dad era, and we’re here for it. The comedian recently gave fans a glimpse into a special moment that had folks cheesing. And let’s just say, it’s giving pure joy and family vibes.

RELATED: Congrats! Michael Blackson & His Fiancée Rada Darling Welcome Their First Child Together (VIDEO)

Michael Blackson Shares Sweet Video With His Baby Boys

Blackson took to Instagram to share a heartwarming compilation video of himself spending quality time with his infant baby boys. In the clip, he’s seen watching them play together for the first time, clearly soaking in the moment. He captioned the post, “What a beautiful day, for the first time I got to see my boys play together… I have no idea how this happened but it’s the best feeling in the world and I won’t trade it for anything. Thank you God for two new healthy boys.” Keeping things on brand, Michael also added a little humor, joking, “I did not kidnap them, according to Maury this Tiger Woods and this confused looking Drake are mine…” And, the internet couldn’t get enough of the mix of love and laughs.

Folks Are SPLIT In Them Comments

Folks ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section and had a whole field day with this one. Some couldn’t get over the fact that his baby boys aren’t actually twins. While a few were side-eyeing his caption like, “What you mean you don’t know how this happened… sir?!” Meanwhile, plenty of others were just here for the love, saying it’s beautiful to see his baby boys being cared for and celebrated.

One Instagram user @jaedubayou added, “I’m glad the mothers are letting the boys bond! ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

This Instagram user @therealdominiqueyoung commented, “May this love AND babies never find me 😂🙏🏾”

And, Instagram user @itsquooo shared, “Having hood twins at his big age is insane 😂😂😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @marianlouiseeee joked, “‘i have no idea how this happened’ 😂 now mr.blackson you know exactly how that happened“

While Instagram user @i_am_mizpurrfect said, “I haven’t took him seriously since i found out his accent was fake.“

Lastly, Instagram user @flygigi0807 claimed, “A man will really do you so dirty while you pregnant then turn around and thank God for it 😂😂😂”

Why Are Folks So Pressed Over Blackson’s Video?

Y’all… why are folks so pressed over a proud dad moment? Michael Blackson first shared footage of his newborn son “Lil Mikey” in the delivery room—calling him his “king” and celebrating alongside Rada. But things took a turn after Michael later revealed he actually welcomed two baby boys by two different women. And, of course, it sparked a whole lot of opinions online. Now, instead of just soaking in the sweet moments he’s sharing with his sons, some critics are side-eyeing the situation, while others are defending him and saying at the end of the day, he’s just embracing fatherhood and showing love to his kids.

RELATED: Not Done Yet! Michael Blackson Goes OFF On Katt Williams Over “Fake African Accent” Remark

It’s been a tough decade for fans of fantasy television. Despite the early, world-shattering success of Game of Thrones and the prestige fantasy boom that followed, the last few years have seen a severe drop-off in quality for many promising projects. After the abrupt cancellation of The Wheel of Time, the disappointment of Season 2 of both The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, fantasy television hasn’t hit another peak yet. Thankfully, fantasy fans don’t need to look too far for a more reliable television experience, as there’s one series that has never released a single bad season: The Magicians.

Based on the book trilogy of the same name written by Lev Grossman and created for television by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, The Magicians is often described as Harry Potter, but in college. It’s a subversive take on high fantasy that infuses the awe of learning magic on Earth with all the hilarious misadventures of maturity. The series follows Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph), an awkward fantasy fan himself, whose dreams come true when he learns that magic is real and is invited to attend Brakebills, a college for the magically gifted, as a graduate student. Over the course of five seasons, Quentin subsequently realizes his favorite fantasy series is real, becomes schooled in the true meaning of magic, and goes on all sorts of hilarious adventures alongside an equally unhinged supporting cast.

‘The Magicians’ Is a Masterclass in the Art of Television Adaptation

Image via SYFY

We’d be here all day if we were to list everything there is to love about The Magicians. Not only does the series feature a talented cast of performers who consistently nail their roles, impressive special effects, and a unique message about the origins of magic, but by and large, The Magicians is an excellent example of how to adapt rich source material for the screen. Grossman’s novels are already engrossing and filled with relatable characters, lore, and tragic backstories, but Gamble and McNamara take advantage of their long-form format to flesh out the trilogy’s supporting players and make the world their own in a way that still honors the wayward spirit of the original. The result is a strong foundation for a series that only finds new ways to entertain, devastate, and enthrall you over time.

Which Hogwarts House Are You?

Some of The Magicians‘ best changes involve its main cast. Not only does the series greatly expand on characters like Margo (Summer Bishil) and Kady (Jade Tailor) — both of whom are based on characters who go by different names in the novels — but it also upgrades Fen (Brittany Curran) from a sidenote in the books to one of the show’s most hilariously chaotic mainstays. Furthermore, the series honors the queerness of characters like Eliot (Hale Appleman) and Quentin with heartbreaking storylines that go beyond the teases and more ambiguous circumstances of the original trilogy. This earnest focus is what allowed The Magicians to release its most beloved and iconic episode, Season 3’s “A Day in the Life,” and also consistently deliver some of the show’s most beautiful moments between the two in later seasons.

‘The Magicians’ Makes the Source Material Its Own

Aside from expanding Grossman’s world and honoring his characters, these additions are also what allow The Magicians to sustain its level of high quality across all five seasons. Although the series stretches its source material to more or less encompass its full run, the reality is that the show could have wrapped things up in at least three seasons if its creators had opted for a more straightforward adaptation. The reason The Magicians never experiences a sudden shift in quality or narrative drop-off is because the show’s storytelling never becomes dependent on the books. Unlike Game of Thrones, which found itself in serious trouble once the show caught up to George R.R. Martin‘s series, The Magicians developed so many fresh takes on Quentin and his friends that it had plenty of additional material to explore, allowing The Magicians show to come into its own over time rather than stray from the conventions of someone else’s world.

Between the show’s exploration of the underworld, multidimensional antics, and depiction of morally disturbed gods, The Magicians partially maintains its narrative momentum through largely original storylines, but it also keeps things refreshing for fans of the show and books alike. With constant pop culture references dropped by one of television’s most underrated duos, it’s no exaggeration to say Margo and Eliot’s mere presence makes every one of their scenes better, and The Magicians‘ spontaneous musical numbers are another great example of how the series takes full advantage of its talented cast while also honoring the irreverent tone of the novels. Featuring creative episode formats involving split perspectives, alternate universes, and time loops, The Magicians also takes a page out of the narrative playbook of less fantastical shows like Community, allowing innovative approaches to the show’s unique medium to complement the self-sustaining power of its adaptation.

‘The Magicians’ Success Should Serve as a Lesson for the Future of Fantasy on Television

Image via SyFy

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As with any fantasy series, there are some changes The Magicians makes that don’t quite land. Despite the power of Julia’s (Stella Maeve) journey and some welcome tweaks the showrunners introduce to her character, her short-lived ending in the series is conflicting, to say the least. Nevertheless, the heights The Magicians hit are far more memorable than its misses, and it is through the show’s strengths that it manages to remain compelling throughout all five of its seasons. A decision to kill one of the main characters, for instance, exemplifies how Gamble and McNamara were willing to deviate dramatically from their source material to move their story forward in a refreshing way. This absence allowed The Magicians to double down on its changes without relying on the novels’ original protagonist, opening the door for new heroes and villains to literally steal the show.

It’s not for nothing that The Magicians still feels like it has even more story to tell after its Season 6 cancellation, and it’s this level of success that makes the series the perfect roadmap for the future of fantasy television. At a time when series are either buckling under the weight of their source material or making changes that undermine the underlying narrative, The Magicians‘ ability to both respect and surpass its inspiration should be studied by streamers and other creatives in the industry. By keeping what works, expanding ideas that deserve more screentime, and being willing to kill someone else’s darlings to do what’s best for the story, The Magicians delivers five seasons of phenomenal television that never misses a beat.