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“You ever wanted anything so badly you’d do anything for it?”

What would you do for your chance at fame? Some young women with stars in their eyes spend years rehearsing a specialized skill. Some agonize over aspects of their physical appearance while others take exhaustive acting lessons. But the most ambitious—or most depraved—will kill anyone who stands in their way. Richard Ciupka’s Curtains examines the cutthroat world of stardom and the lengths women will go to achieve their dreams. But who is the true villain in a patriarchal system and will any woman ever come out on top?

Patti O’Connor (Lynne Griffin) has always dreamed of being a star. After years struggling as a standup comedian, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Patti heads to the lavish home of famed director Jonathan Stryker (John Vernon) to audition for the coveted role of Audra. But...

A lot of children’s stories and beloved characters from children’s stories have been getting the horror treatment lately. Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Popeye the Sailor Man, Bambi, Peter Pan, and more have all become bloodthirsty maniacs. A few months ago, we heard that director Bradley Stryker was about to go into production on a horror film called Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw – and now, our friends at Bloody Disgusting have learned that two more Aladdin horror films, completely separate from Stryker’s project, are in the works! Writer/director Brett Bentman is gearing up to tell a two-part horror story with the films Aladdin and Aladdin’s Revenge, which have scream queen Devanny Pinn on board to star in them!

Aladdin and Aladdin’s Revenge will be filming back-to-back, with production scheduled to begin in Oklahoma this month. They’re aiming for 2026 release dates. Coming our way from B22 Films,...

Dune: Awakening launched with a simple promise: build wherever you want on Arrakis. Funcom’s survival Mmo gives players incredible freedom to construct bases across the desert planet’s harsh terrain.

But what they probably didn’t anticipate was just how quickly players would weaponize that freedom.

The game’s most frustrating issue, as it turns out, isn’t a coding error or server instability. It’s players using completely legitimate game mechanics to ruin everyone else’s experience, and there’s almost nothing anyone can do about it.

Dune: Awakening’s wall problem makes Rust look civilized

The strategy is brutally simple and devastatingly effective. Scout the natural mountain passes that connect different regions of Arrakis. Claim the land. Build a wall. Congratulations, you’ve just turned Dune: Awakening‘s public highways into private property and made cargo hauling a logistical nightmare for hundreds of players.

Related: How to...

Just Kids, Gianna Toboni’s commanding documentary, follows a handful of trans children and their families as they navigate a United States increasingly hostile to trans rights and gender-affirming care. The film, which premiered at Tribeca, is an informative and emotionally potent take on a politically salient issue.

Toboni spent an early part of her career as a producer for Vice, the documentary series that ran from 2013 until 2021, and elements of Just Kids bear a resemblance to the now sunsetted program. The director’s mostly fly-on-the-wall approach to filming these families (cinematography by Daniel Hollis, Love on the Spectrum) lends the doc a gritty realism and an unexpected propulsiveness.

But these aesthetic choices never sensationalize the realities of these participants, instead underscoring the harrowing stakes of their experiences. Crucially, Just Kids has a tender core: Its heart lies not in the trauma faced by trans kids trying to get gender-affirming care,...

Arguably, one of the most recognizable and popular Marvel comic book franchises is the X-Men. The world can be complicated, add to it the existence of both good and bad people with special abilities a.k.a. the mutants, and you have a story that continues to thrill, enamor, and entertain audiences.

The X-Men comprised of two sides: Charles Xavier / Professor X's team of mutants who seek to protect humanity, and Magneto's acolytes hellbent on controlling the human race. Each mutant had a unique name, ability, personality, and design.

As popular as these characters were, they wouldn't arrive on the big screen until the 2000 film X-Men. Regardless of the differences in the story from the original source material, including costume changes, this film put X-Men in a whole new light, perhaps becoming the catalyst for the superhero films that followed. Starring Hugh Jackman, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen,...

When X-Men arrived on the big screen in 2000, the comic book world was very different. DC Comics had been successful in movies until 1997's infamous Batman & Robin ended that trend. Marvel was much worse, though, with rough projects until 1998's Blade became a hit and changed things forever.

So when Bryan Singer brought X-Men to the big screen, hopes were high he could reverse this trend. He more than succeeded as the movie was a smash hit that pleased not just comic book fans but general audiences as well. It would begin an epic franchise that would see various ups and downs over the next two decades.

The movies are unique, with a "prequel" series coming after the original trilogy that links back to the older films, along with some good spinoffs. Sadly, not every entry is top-notch. When the films are good, they're great, but when they're bad,...

Marion Morrison belongs on the Mount Rushmore of movie stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Never heard of him? We bet you have. He went by John Wayne. The American Film Institute inexplicably put him at number 13 on their list of 100 Biggest Stars (what were they smoking and where can we get some?). Sure, we love Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, and Cary Grant too, but you won't see their mugs at highway gas stations nationwide splattered on every sort of memorabilia you can imagine. John Wayne, and John Wayne alone, was more than a movie star. He was a symbol of the country he called home, with all of its greatness and contradictions. These roles are the reason why.

This is not "John Wayne's Best Movies," though naturally there's considerable overlap. Sure, these are great movies, but we're not ranking the film's overall quality. This is about Wayne's work.

“Liver is king.”

This statement is the central belief that took 47-year-old Brian Johnson from an awkward father of two to a social media superstar, 6 million followers deep. Johnson, better known online by the moniker Liver King, built a digital empire, lifestyle brand, and supplement company based on living an “ancestral lifestyle,” a return to a caveman style of eating with ancient grains, minimal cooking, and a reliance on raw protein. Johnson preached following nine key ancestral tenets in order to achieve maximum health: sleep, eat, move, shield, connect, cold,...

In one of the most bizarre presentations in the Netflix sports documentary series, Untold: The Liver King brings us the story of Brian ‘Liver King’ Johnson, an American social media influencer and businessman who claimed to have built one of the most desirable bodies only through a strict diet. While there are many who try to center their lives around certain diets and lifestyle choices, Johnson set himself apart by following what he calls a primal way of living. The Liver King goes on to cover his sudden fall from grace and also sees Johnson describe his next plans in life.

How did Brian become the Liver King?

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Brian Johnson always felt the absence of a strong father figure in his life from a very young age. His father, Philip, was a veterinarian who was practicing with the Air Force, and although the...

A lot of children’s stories and beloved characters from children’s stories have been getting the horror treatment lately. Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Popeye the Sailor Man, Bambi, Peter Pan, and more have all become bloodthirsty maniacs… and the latest children’s story to get turned into a horror movie is Aladdin. Deadline reports that Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, “a dark, supernatural reimagining of the Aladdin story,” is scheduled to begin filming in the UK next month.

Coming our way from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures, Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw has the following synopsis: A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price. As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made.

Allan Dwan was one of Hollywood’s most prolific directors, working from the silent era through the golden age of the studio system. The Toronto-born filmmaker made somewhere north of 400 films—many of them woefully obscure, unavailable, or lost—during his career, and in a variety of genres and registers. As a proverbial gun-for-hire, he could have turned his productions around with anonymous influence, with little or no authorial voice to distinguish his work from the myriad other filmmakers tasked with nominally similar projects.

And yet, the best of Dwan’s films—among them Frontier Marshall, Brewster’s Millions, Silver Lode, and Slightly Scarlet—evince a psychological complexity and stylistic self-sufficiency rare for such genre-oriented fare. If Dwan’s films can be categorized by their conventions, they likewise refuse to be reduced to caricature, often recalibrating symbols of American mythology—the cowboy, the criminal, the solider, the entertainer—as vessels for vocational,...

Midway was riding high on Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II by the mid 90s, with more success on the way with a film adaptation set to release in July 1995. However, even before that, creators Ed Boon and John Tobias were prepping for the release of the series’ third entry with Mortal Kombat 3, which once again was aiming to take the series further. Couple that with a massive promotional campaign, Mortal Kombat 3 seemed like a sure-fire success, which it was. However, along with the success, the cracks were also starting to show for the franchise from a technical standpoint, and from some bizarre decisions for the game itself.

Outworld ruler Shao Kahn, frustrated with losses in the Outworld tournament, decides to enact a 10,000-year-old plan. Khan’s Shadow Priests, led by Shang Tsung, revive his former Queen Sindel, who unexpectedly died at a young age. Instead of being revived in the Outworld,...

A whole new world… of nightmare fuel is coming, as Aladdinis the latest Disney classic to get the horror movie treatment. According to Deadline, Terrifier 3 star Bradley Stryker is attached to direct a "dark, supernatural reimagining" of the Arabic folktale from One Thousand and One Nights that Disney famously turned into an animated movie, telling the story of a street urchin who discovers a magic lamp containing a larger-than-life genie. Anyone wanting to see a twisted take on this children's favorite is now about to have their wish granted because Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw is officially heading into production next month in the UK.

Stryker is both directing and starring in the movie, which hails from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures. The cast also features Nick Sagar, Ricky Norwood, and Montana Manning, though their roles are undisclosed at this time. The story is expected to feature many...

'Aladdin' is getting the horror treatment with a "dark, supernatural reimagining".The classic story - which was famously made into an animated musical by Disney in 1992, which in turn got a live action adaptation in 2019 - is the latest family film to be given a terrifying twist.As reported by Deadline, the synopsis for 'Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw' reads: "A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price."As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made."The movie - which comes from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment and 8th Law Pictures - is set to start filming next month in the UK.The cast will include 'Queen of the South' star Nick Sagar, former...

Aladdin is officially receiving the horror movie treatment from Terrifier 3 star Bradley Stryker, and it begins filming next month.

Per Deadline,Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw, a "dark, supernatural reimagining" of the classic folk tale, is set to begin production in the United Kingdom in May. Stryker, who recently starred in the horror hit sequel Terrifier 3, is both starring in and directing the movie. Nick Sagar, Ricky Norwood, and Montana Manning are set to join him in the film. The official synopsis for Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw reads: "A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price. As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made."

Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw is produced by Stryker, Sagar, Jamie McLeod-Ross, and Charley McDougall,...

It looks like we haven't seen the last of beloved children’s properties receiving dark and twisted reimaginings. Recently, we've seen horror reimaginings of Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan, Bambi, Mickey Mouse and Steamboat Willie. This time it's Aladdin, reimagined as a nightmarish fable where every wish comes with a deadly cost. If you're looking forward to a haunting take on a classic fairytale, this eerie version of Aladdin is about to make your wishes darker than ever before!

It's a horror film titled Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, and it's coming from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures. Bradley Stryker, who is best known for starring in Terrifier 3, is signed on as director and producer, and will also star. He will direct from a screenplay written by Charley McDougall, who is also a producer on the film. Other producers include Jamie McLeod-Ross and Nick Sagar, while Rustin Matthew,...

If you're anything like horror queen Jamie Lee Curtis, nothing quite gets your hair standing on end like the Disney classic Aladdin and, in particular, the evil Jafar. After the Oscar winner announced her fear of the film, and given the current slate of warped horror adaptations of children's classics, it was only a matter of time until Prince Ali was given the gory treatment. Subtitled The Monkey's Paw, this horror reimagining of John Musker and Ron Clements' Disney classic is yet another in a long line of similar examples, from Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey to Mickey's Mouse Trap.

Now, via Deadline, the biggest update yet for Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw has been released, with it announced that production will officially begin across the pond in the UK next month. Led by Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures, the sinister street rat tale will feature a...

The latest film to turn a popular children’s property into a twisted nightmare is the upcoming Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, which was announced this morning over on Deadline.

Bradley Stryker (Terrifier 3) is both directing and starring in the film.

From Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures, the upcoming Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw is said to be a “dark, supernatural reimagining” of the Aladdin story.

In the film, “A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price.

“As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made.”

Nick Sagar (Queen of the South), Ricky Norwood (EastEnders), and Montana Manning (Tell Me Everything) star alongside Bradley Stryker. Charley McDougall wrote the script.

Stryker said in a statement,...

On X (formerly Twitter), Marvel Studios revealed the impressive lead cast of Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release in 2026. The new movie will mark the first time the titular team has assembled since 2019's Avengers: Endgame. With several of Earth's mightiest heroes now either deceased or retired, the new movie will feature a new Avengers roster, presumably led by Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the McU's new Captain America. However, the Avengers aren't the only heroes set to appear in Doomsday, as they will be crossing paths with other teams of heroes from their universe and beyond.

In addition to those cast members expected to reprise their MCU roles to join the new Avengers lineup, the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement included the names of several stars from other Marvel movies. All four leads of The Fantastic Four: First Steps were among the Doomsday cast, as were the majority of the...

Alan Cumming is ready to revisit his greatest hits following Avengers: Doomsday's massive casting news.

In the wake of Marvel confirming his return as Nightcrawler, Cumming shared a video to Instagram of him running and jumping in poses similar to his X2: X-Men United character's iconic intro scene, even dressing in a blue scarf matching Nightcrawler's skin color. Amongst those who responded positively to the post included X2 co-star Rebecca Romijn -- who played fellow blue-skinned Mutant and, in the comics, Nightcrawler's biological mother, Mystique -- who wrote, "Can't wait to see blue!"

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Alan Cumming (@alancummingreally)

In X2, Cumming's Nightcrawler was rescued by the X-Men after William Stryker brainwashed him into attacking the White House, ultimately helping them thwart Stryker's plan to kill all Mutants on Earth. He and Romijn will be among several original X-Men stars to return for Marvel's latest crossover film,...

While not exactly known for making sequels, John Wayne played the same character a whopping eight times in a classic 1930s Western franchise. John Wayne fronted around 80 Westerns in his career, and despite starting in every other kind of genre, he was forever (and happily) typecast as a cowboy; even Wayne's final film, The Shootist, was a Western. Hollywood was very different when Wayne became a star, with sequels and franchises generally frowned upon. In fact, outside of reprising the role of Rooster Cooburn, Wayne himself tended to avoid sequels.

There was once talk of a follow-up to his hit war movie Sands of Iwo Jima called Devil Birds, though that film ultimately went unmade; how it would have explained the survival of Wayne's very deceased Stryker is another question. Sequels to even major hits were fairly uncommon during Hollywood's so-called "Golden Age," so it's not surprising Wayne went almost...

John Wayne was nominated for an Oscar three times across his 50-year career, but he only walked home with one. Wayne starred in around 80 Westerns, so his defining image in pop culture is as a macho, no-nonsense cowboy. This gives a limited view of his range because while he often played variations on the same character, he delivered some layered performances too. The Searchers is Wayne's best and darkest work, while he's genuinely charming in the romantic drama The Quiet Man. Still, Wayne rarely got much respect from the Academy Awards.

Many of the John Wayne/John Ford movie collaborations received great reviews, but somehow, none of the star's Oscar nods came from those films. Wayne also picked up several awards on behalf of other performers, including Gary Cooper for High Noon; this is a little bizarre in hindsight, as Wayne deeply hated High Noon and its moral message. The...

The X-Men have a long and turbulent movie history, and many decisions made in the films starring the characters have aged poorly. First adapted into live-action in Fox’s X-Men movie franchise, Marvel’s eponymous mutants have proven to be some of its most prolific protagonists. Appearing first in 2000’s X-Men, they have remained a staple of the superhero genre ever since, making regular appearances in Marvel movies spanning three separate decades.

Considering the length of the X-Men's movie timeline on the big screen, it only follows that some decisions might not have aged all that well. Some of these are behind-the-scenes decisions relating to how the films themselves were made, while others pertain more to specific character choices that later backfired. Regardless of the specifics of each example, they each came to be considered poor in hindsight, aging badly as a result. With that in mind, here...

Quick Links Lex Luthor Is Defeated and Sent to Stryker's Prison Lana Lang and John Henry Irons Get Married Chrissy Beppo and Kyle Cushing Stick Around Smallville Sarah Cushing Finally Leaves Smallville Jordan and Jonathan Kent Follow In Their Father's Footsteps Lois Lane Lives a Long Life That Ends Tragically Clark Kent Grows Old With Lois and Eventually Dies a Second Time

Superman and Lois has finally ended with its fourth season. The series pits the Kent family against the villainous Lex Luthor, who returns for revenge after serving over a decade in prison. The series finale features the final battle between Superman and Lex Luthor, who utilizes John Henry Irons's repurposed supersuit and the resurrected Doomsday to defeat the Kryptonian. However, with help from his family and friends, Superman manages to overcome his worst enemy.

The series finale, "It Went by So Fast," features an extended sequence in...

CW’s Superman and Lois has been creating a ruckus due to its high-intensity pacing. And quite rightfully so, as even with season 4 almost ending, the show’s penchant for dramatic cliffhangers is still going strong. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch’s performances are just as enchanting as ever, if not more, due to the turmoil they are currently going through due to Lex Luthor’s slander campaign against Lois Lane.

Bitsie Tulloch and Tyler Hoechlin as Lois Lane and Clark Kent in Superman & Lois | Credit: The CW

Luthor has shaken hands with Gordon Godfrey to paint her as an unscrupulous journalist who is out to frame him in a bid to stop her pursuit of justice against him. However, Lane continues gathering evidence against him, and in a rare moment during this process, CW ends up highlighting a side of Superman that has been grossly ignored till now. Even...

The legendary actor John Wayne turned down a role in Robert Rossen's 1949 film All the King's Men, and he even missed out on an Oscar because of it. There are eight John Wayne movies that defined his career, but he could have had a ninth. For most of his decades-long career, Wayne played cowboys and soldiers, and more often than not he played the unambiguous hero. All the King's Men, however, gave him a chance to play a role completely out of his comfort zone, and John Wayne turned it down.

Though he was mostly known for the long list of the best John Wayne Westerns, the Duke was offered a chance to play an Oscar-winning role as a politician. All the King's Men director Robert Rossen originally offered Wayne the role of Willie Stark, but he turned it down and Broderick Crawford took the part instead (via Hollywood's...

Wolverine Scene In X2: X-Men United Showcased Jackman’s Iconic Performance ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Undoubtedly, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is one of the most iconic superhero performances and is unbeatable. Across 17 years and nine Wolverine films, Jackman brought depth and swag to the clawed mutant. Not to mention his unforgettable six-minute scene from X2: X-Men United, which solidified the superhero as a cinematic icon, this intense, adrenaline-pumping sequence didn’t just show off Logan’s brutal fighting skills; it made us love everything about Jackman’s portrayal. Jackman’s Wolverine character arc evolved like no other superhero, from a rugged loner to a hero. And well, it all started with that scene; let’s dive into it.

Hugh Jackman’s X2: X-Men United Mansion Scene Explained

Few can top the unforgettable mansion attack scene in X2: X-Men United when it comes to gushing about Wolverine’s moments. I’m not...

The X-Men film franchise has introduced audiences to some of the most formidable and skilled fighters in the Marvel universe. Over the years, these movies have portrayed a diverse lineup of mutants and other characters, each with their unique fighting styles and abilities. While some rely on using their abilities to overwhelm opponents, others demonstrate exceptional technique, agility, and hand-to-hand combat prowess. Whether wielding claws, tactically harnessing powers, or using weapons, these fighters have shaped the franchises most intense and memorable battles, displaying not only physical skill but also strategic mastery on the battlefield.

Beyond their mutant abilities, many of these characters have honed their fighting skills through years of training, and experience in the heat of battle for mutant rights. From disciplined warriors to calculating powerhouses, these fighters have proven themselves as the franchises elite, pushing their limits against dangerous enemies from within and outside mutant-kind. Their fights often...

The best moment in Hugh Jackmans long, celebrated Wolverine career is the intense, six-minute scene in X2: X-Men United. Hugh Jackmans Wolverine is one of the most revered Marvel movie performances ever, as one of the very few actors to have transcended his original franchise while never being recast. However, none of this would have been possible without one scene from X2, which cemented Jackmans Wolverine as an icon.

Hugh Jackmans journey as Wolverine began with X-Men (2000), where he was introduced as a rugged, mysterious figure still coming to grips with his identity and his place among the X-Men. Over the next 17 years, Jackman played the clawed mutant nine times, consistently evolving the character from a reluctant hero to a fierce protector and finally, a weary, haunted warrior in Logan (2017). Though Jackman has delivered incredible performances as Wolverine across multiple films, one X2 scene remains a standout, establishing the essential...

New York, NY – Lazarus Rising Games has initiated its campaign to return the legendary 1990s collectible card game OverPower to its original glory, signing licensing deals with Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. to include the likes of Top Cow’s Witchblade, Darkness and Cyberforce, as well as Burroughs’ iconic Tarzan of the Apes® and John Carter of Mars®. OverPower is set to formally relaunch in late 2024.

Formerly known as BMG & Associates, Lazarus Rising Games’ core ownership is comprised of a group of successful professionals who spent their youth playing OverPower – and continue to this day. Their passion for the game is the driving force of the company, and their experience ensures the game’s authenticity to its roots while relentlessly seeking new assets to infuse the game’s resurgence. As the collectible card game market has continued to once again blossom, the Lrg team has sought...

Deadpool & Wolverine Concept Art Reveals Scrapped Weapon X Look - Main Image

Deadpool & Wolverine had so much great variants of Logan from his Age of Apocalypse look to his brown costume, but there were some versions that were left on the cutting room floor.

Either way, concept art has been slowly trickling out online, and it’s been revealed that Weapon X Logan could have made an appearance.

Weapon X Logan Scrapped From Deadpool & Wolverine

As shared by Phil Saunders on Ig, there was a Logan variant that would have been inspired by Wolverine’s Weapon X look, complete with helmet and cable box belt. Check this out:

No reason has been revealed why they decided to scrap this look for the movie, but it was likely that they already had too many different kinds of Logans appear in the movie. Plus, a version of this costume had already...

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has proven himself time and time again as one of the greatest live-action superhero characters ever, with excellent scenes in all ten of his movie appearances. Easily one of the greatest superhero castings of all time, Hugh Jackman's performance as Wolverine has carried many scenes throughout the Fox X-Men movies. In fact, every one of the ten movie appearances Jackman's Wolverine has had thus far has a single standout scene worthy of commendation.

Not all the Fox X-Men movies are created equally, with some being leagues ahead of others in terms of quality. However, each one manages to have at least one standout showing for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, whether it's an intriguing bit of character development, an important narrative moment, or simply an exciting fight scene. There's a reason the Australian actor's return to the role in Deadpool & Wolverine was so hotly anticipated.

The X-Mansion Attack...

Brian Cox is sharing his two cents about the state of cinema and it is coming just as Marvel’s ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ surpassed DC’s ‘The Joker’ to become the most successful R-rated movie of all time.

Are Marvel and DC’s “grandiose element” ruining cinema? ‘Succession’ star Brian Cox is here with answers.

Brian Cox – Says You Can’t Knock System That Makes A Lot of Money

Brian Cox believes cinema is “in a very bad way.” After spending decades thrilling audiences on the big and small screens alike, Cox is finally sharing his thoughts about the current state of cinema.

It may not be an apocalyptic tale, but Cox actually believes cinema may be on life support thanks to DC and Marvel.

“What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do,” Cox told the audience of television’s originality. “I think cinema is in a very bad way.

Everybody loves and hates a good villain in a superhero movie as they have an innate knack for being both magnetic in personality and utterly terrifying in their actions. Villains like The Joker or Thanos always come to mind, but they aren't the only ones that have reeled in audiences with their evil rhetoric and nefarious plans. But depending on the enemy, their motivations could even sway those who root for the hero.

Although there are many parameters that make up why a viewer will like a villain, sometimes, one comes along and blows away the audience with their master plan. Despite how outrageously preposterous they seem, some evil schemes end up making sense, which comes as a complete shocker to the audience. From galactic annihilation to exposing the dark side of humanity, these evil plans have left the fans speechless.

Strykers Plan to Cull All Mutants

Rotten Tomatoes

85%

IMDb...

In the realm of comic book and superhero films, the MCU remains the dominant force. Meanwhile, Warner’s Dcu is just beginning to take shape, and it’s uncertain if James Gunn can introduce a fresh approach that rivals the MCU’s success.

At the same time, MCU films have been experiencing a decline in performance, with Deadpool & Wolverine being a notable exception, though this was anticipated. The term “superhero fatigue” is gaining traction, despite industry figures like Kevin Feige dismissing it—possibly a case of wishful thinking.

What was once seen as untouchable is now facing increasing criticism, not only from fans but also from industry insiders. Martin Scorsese’s critique of superhero films, supported by many peers, is well-known, and now X-Men actor Brian Cox has added his voice to the chorus of criticism, although his comments were made in a separate context from Scorsese’s.

Scottish...

While speaking at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday, Brian Cox, prolific film actor and star of HBO’s “Succession,” said the state of cinema is “in a very bad way,” pointing the finger at blockbuster powerhouses like Marvel and DC.

“What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do,” Cox said when asked about the state of popular film and TV. “I think cinema is in a very bad way. I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.”

Cox went on to cite the MCU’s latest box office sensation “Deadpool and Wolverine” as an example, saying that, although superhero movies are “making a lot of money,” from an actor’s perspective, the work becomes “diluted...

There have been multiple conversations about superhero films, mainly from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and their contribution to cinema. Following Deadpool & Wolverine's massive success at the box office, one Succession star weighed in on the state of cinema and the film's implications.

During the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday, Succession star Brian Cox noted the cinema is "in a very bad way," and cited Deadpool & Wolverine as an example of cinematic "party time" (via The Hollywood Reporter). The film received huge praise from the fans but Cox thinks that in terms of quality, it becomes "diluted." He also highlighted how television has now replaced cinema.

Related Joker Director Congratulates Deadpool & Wolverine Team for Breaking R-Rated Movie Record

Joker director Todd Phillips congratulates the Deadpool & Wolverine team for breaking the record as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Deadpool & Wolverine, the last film from Marvel Studios and...

As far as the comic book and superhero movie market is concerned, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is still the biggest player there. Warner’s Dcu is slowly starting, and we have yet to see how it will play out in the future, but it is a question of whether even James Gunn can bring something new to the genre that will launch something similar to the MCU.

At the same time, the MCU movies have been doing worse than before, and more and more people are talking about “superhero fatigue,” despite the fact that the industry people (especially Kevin Feige) are denying it, but that might just be wishful thinking.

What was once untouchable is now often being criticized, not just by fans but also by people from within the industry. Everyone knows how Martin Scorcese slammed superhero movies – and was supported by many of his colleagues – with X-Men...

Brian Cox is no stranger to blockbuster fare, though much of the acclaim he's earned has been for his work on the stage and in HBO's Succession.

In 2004, he joined the Marvel Universe as the villainous William Stryker in X2: X-Men United. Cox was praised for his performance and, for many of you, it will likely be the movie you know him best for. However, the actor isn't the biggest fan of the genre.

Appearing at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this weekend, Cox told attendees (via The Hollywood Reporter), "What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do. I think cinema is in a very bad way."

"I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that," he continued. "And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.

Brian Cox thinks cinema is “in a very bad way,” with the Marvel and DC Universes partly to blame.

The legendary actor of stage and screen — who most recently garnered critical acclaim for his award-winning role in HBO’s Succession — spoke at an Edinburgh International Film Festival panel on Saturday. When asked about the recent critical success of globally popular TV shows, Cox cited the latest MCU installment Deadpool & Wolverine as a great example of cinematic “party time.”

“What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do,” Cox told the audience of television’s originality. “I think cinema is in a very bad way. I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.”

He discussed Ryan Reynolds and...

Ryan Reynolds initially portrayed Wade Wilson's Deadpool in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The actor played a more comic-accurate version in 2016's Deadpool and 2018's Deadpool 2. Deadpool & Wolverine brings Fox's X-Men Universe into the MCU.

Ryan Reynolds has portrayed various iterations of Deadpool since 2009, and joined the MCU following Deadpool & Wolverine's release in July 2024. As far back as 2004, Ryan Reynolds had expressed interest in bringing Marvel Comics' Merc-with-a-Mouth to the big screen, originally in a planned New Line Cinema film adaptation that would have been directed by David S. Goyer. This came following Marvel Comics' Deadpool referring to his appearance as "Ryan Reynolds crossed with a shar-pei" in 2004's Cable & Deadpool #2, and Reynolds' Deadpool dreams finally came true in Fox's 2009 project X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine's Deadpool deviated massively from the Marvel Comics character, but Ryan Reynolds' popularity in the role led to 20th Century Fox...

Top 5 Best Wolverine Fight Scenes That Will Leave You (Literally) Breathless - Main Image

Wolverine is a mutant beast with adamantium claws, superhuman strength, and a healing factor that resists death. His fights are legendary, brutal, and bloody, as Logan takes on all in his heart-stopping fight scenes. In this article, we list down some of the best Wolverine fight scenes that probably left you breathless.

Wolverine Vs. Sabertooth

In the first X-Men (2000), Wolverine meets Professor Charles Xavier and other X-Men members for the first time. This was when Wolverine met Rogue, the mutant able to absorb others' life force. It was a life-changing moment for Wolverine as he learned more about the world of mutants and the threat of Magneto.

When Rogue was captured, the X-Men tried to rescue her. In this, Wolverine and Sabertooth get into a fight. This fight was a brutal display of strength and agility...

Hugh Jackman is back as Wolverine and he's better than ever! The iconic actor returned to the role to introduce the legendary character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Deadpool and Wolverine and, man oh man, are fans happy that he did.

The actor first brought Logan to the big screen in 2000's X-Men, which was such a resounding success that it kickstarted a long-running phenomenon of a franchise. Jackman's performance was praised, with many hailing it as the greatest aspect of the Fox film series, and honestly you'd have a hard time arguing against that. He was so popular, in fact, that he even starred in his own spin-off trilogy of Wolverine movies.

His tenure as the character came to an end in 2017's Logan, which provided a thrilling, heartfelt, and emotional conclusion to both Wolverine's arc and the present-day X-Men movies. Or, at least we thought that...

Meet the Forgotten X-Men You Never Knew Existed (But Totally Should) - Main Image

Besides iconic characters like Wolverine, Deadpool, and Professor X, many X-Men are still in the mutant universe with untapped potential. Countless mutants have fought for their rights, battled with dark forces, and shaped the history of X-Men and chances are, you're not even aware of their existence.

The story of these mutants deserves to be told. Continue with this post to learn about these X-Men you never knew existed.

Sarah Rushman (Earth-616)

Sarah Rushman, also known as the Marrow, was one of the underground-dwelling Morlocks. When the Morlock leader kidnaps the X-Man angel to be her husband, Sarah comes across the captive angel. Her mutant ability is generating bones from her body. While this was initially a survival mechanism, she somehow made it a defining characteristic.

Her journey is filled with constant struggle, as she...

X-Men movies showcase grittier violence compared to MCU, with brutal deaths and darker themes. Wolverine's gruesome powers lead to graphic deaths in PG-13 films like Lady Deathstrike's adamantium injection. Superheroes like Professor X and Iceman meet brutal ends in haunting and violent ways in Fox's X-Men universe.

The X-Men movies features some pretty gratuitous violence for a largely PG-13 series, with some surprisingly gory deaths scattered throughout its 20-year run. Created in the wake of 2000's X-Men, a one of the earliest examples of a successful superhero team-up movie, Fox's X-Men universe has come a long way. Compared to similar franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world of Fox's mutants is decidedly darker and grittier, with a great deal of disturbing death sequences.

Much of this blood and gore can be attributed to the gruesome powers of the franchise's flagship character, Wolverine, whose claws and powers of rapid...

The latest film adaptation from one of the most, if not the most, acclaimed authors of all time just got an exciting new look. The first trailer for Across the River and Into the Trees, the adaptation based on the novel of the same name by Ernest Hemingway, has been officially released. The trailer sees former X-Men costars Liev Schreiber and Danny Huston, who played Victor Creed and Stryker respectively in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, reunite for a new film now 15 years later. Across the River and Into the Trees is described as capturing the fleeting moment of immortality where time stands still. The book is the last full-length novel that Hemingway published in his distinguished life.

Superboy's tactile telekinesis power is now more powerful than ever, putting him ahead of every Kryptonian, even Superman. Brainiac's scheme to use the Super-Family as a power source goes awry, leading Conner Kent to save the day with his unique ability. Superboy's newfound power has unlocked a new level of strength and potential, making him a force to be reckoned with in Action Comics #1066.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #1066!A new twist to Superboy's classic power is putting him in a league above his fellow Kryptonians. As Brainiac's scheme to use the Super-Family to power the Brainiac Queen goes off the rails, Conner Kent digs deep and applies his infamous tactile telekinesis like never before to save the day.

In Action Comics #1066 by Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval, and Miguel Mendonca, the Brainiac Queen is tearing her way through the Super-Family. Meanwhile, Brainiac takes Lena Luthor away, preparing...

The latest game in the Mortal Kombat series, Mortal Kombat 1, introduced the concept of Kameo Fighters. This gameplay mechanic allows players to select an additional character who will provide an assist during fights. There is a long list of Kameo characters that players can choose from but there is one character that the community hates: Kano.

A popular Mortal Kombat streamer, LOSTyGIRL, recently shared a clip from an online Mortal Kombat 1 game where a toxic player used Kano as a Kameo character, clearly proving that only cheap players like to pick this character. Kano has made an appearance in almost every major Mortal Kombat video game and it’s safe to say that many players are tired of seeing his face.

A Toxic Mortal Kombat 1 Player Proved That Only Cheap Players Use Kano As A Kameo Character Kano isn’t very popular in the Mortal Kombat community (Image via NetherRealm Studios...

Batman's first comic appearance in "Detective Comics #27" (1939) introduced the character and laid the foundation for his stories. The Golden Age Batman had notable differences from his modern counterpart, including a more dated costume and a willingness to kill. Controversy surrounds Batman's creation, with accusations of plagiarism of The Shadow, and misplaced credit between creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

The hero called Batman has established himself as the leading property of DC Comics, as well as an icon of modern pop culture around the world. This has been achieved through outstanding comic book stories, blockbuster films, endless merchandise, and other multimedia success stories. But how did Bruce Wayne's first comic appearance as Batman start his journey?

The 1930s were a key period in comic book history, with Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman bridging the gap between the preceding pulp heroes and the superhero explosion on the way. Batman is a legend today,...

The X-Men movie franchise has adapted many iconic moments from the pages of X-Men comics. From "Days of Future Past" to "The Phoenix Saga," many classic X-Men narratives have been adapted. These adaptations brought the dramatic events to life on screen, highlighting Jean's transition from a beloved team member to an entity of unimaginable power.

The X-Men movies frequently took inspiration from the numerous X-Men titles released by Marvel, and in some cases adapted moments and scenes almost identically. The X-Men movie timeline is littered with references to the source material, neatly capturing many characters' motivations and origin stories. While many of these were altered to fit into the franchise's tone and overarching narrative, some scenes were taken directly from the pages of X-Men comics.

The early X-Men movies attempted to foster a realistic appearance, toning down the typically vibrant costumes and characters. As such, very little from the...