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Smallville and Wednesday creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have revealed that they worked on an Iron Man script for Marvel Studios years before Robert Downey Jr. suited up as the Armored Avenger in Jon Favreau's 2008 movie.

Talking to Josh Horowitz, the filmmakers reflected on their time working on the version of Iron Man that Marvel Studios was developing in the mid-2000s. They also confirmed that this was the iteration that Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise was circling.

"[Marvel Studios founder] Avi Arad had come to us after [we wrote the story on] Spider-Man 2," Gough explained, prompting Millar to add, "After Spider-Man 2, they say, 'guys, we've got another crown jewel – which is Iron Man."

Noting that they visited Marvel Studios' modest offices in Arad's Toy Biz company, Gough said, "To be honest with you, I hadn't heard of Iron Man. Avi said, 'Perfect. Here's what he is: he's a billionaire who sells weapons,...

Star Wars villain actor Giancarlo Esposito responds to his apparent death in The Mandalorian. Appearing across all three seasons of the show, Esposito played the menacing Moff Gideon. His character would go up against Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) multiple times in his pursuit of Grogu before seemingly dying in a fiery explosion in The Mandalorian season 3 finale.

While answering a question during a panel at Fan Expo Boston, in which ScreenRant was in attendance, Esposito responded to a question about whether he thinks Moff Gideon is really dead. He responds by saying that "if you don't see it, it didn't happen," and notes how many times he has died on screen. Check out his quote below:

If you don’t see it… I’ve died a lot. I’ve died many times in television and film, and I say, if you don’t see it, it didn’t happen.

What...

The second episode of “South Park” Season 27 once again eviscerated President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet — this time sinking its teeth into Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her management of the administration’s ongoing Ice raids around the country.

But much like the Trey Parker and Matt Stone-led series did with Trump and what’s been colloquially dubbed his “micropenis” in Episode 1, the series went after more than just the administration’s policies and made their barbs personally cutting.

Episode 2 tackled Noem’s apparent plastic surgery, employing a running gag where her face, pumped with filers, botox and more, would melt off of her body and need to be hurriedly reattached by her team.

The guys behind the popular “Pod Save America” podcast didn’t know how to take it.

“I don’t know if we’re allowed to talk about it,” co-host Jon Lovett said.

Tony Gilroy may be about to reunite with a fellow Star Wars veteran for his next film. A new report from Deadline revealed that Pedro Pascal, fresh off his turn as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is in talks to lead Behemoth! from the writer-director. A deal has not been finalized, though all indications are that there should be no problems bringing the Mandalorian star aboard despite his very busy schedule. Searchlight Pictures recently joined the exciting new project as well, which is ramping up quickly as principal photography aims to begin this fall in Los Angeles.

Plot details are being kept well under wraps at this time, though the director has teased that Behemoth! will follow a cellist. Whatever the case, Gilroy's next project will have a lot of eyes on it. The two-time Oscar nominee hasn't directed anything since 2012's The Bourne Legacy. However, he's proven to be quite adept,...

The future of Star Wars might be coming into place, and it could be good news to some, while worrisome to others. The franchise has several feature-length projects in the pipeline, with The Mandalorian & Grogu set for release in May 2026, followed by Starfighter in May 2027. While The Mandalorian & Grogu takes place in the period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens in a series of interconnected stories fans call the Mandoverse, Starfighter will be the first Star Wars film set after The Rise of Skywalker. However, it seems another upcoming project will take fans into the future of a galaxy far, far away.

A new rumor, from scooper Daniel Ritchman (via Sff Gazette), suggests that the Daisy Ridley-led New Jedi Order film will jumpstart a new slate of movies for Lucasfilm. Disney reportedly is looking to tell a series of stories set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker,...

Last weekend, the latest MCU entry, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, led by Pedro Pascal, might've finished as the highest-grossing film, but it severely underperformed on its second weekend as signs of weakness began to show. That left the door open for impressive debuts for both The Bad Guys 2 and Liam Neeson's reboot of The Naked Gun, as well as other current theatrical mainstays performing positively.

One such positive performer on its fourth weekend was Superman, directed by James Gunn, which had its lowest weekend-to-weekend percentage drop of its theatrical run so far. Now, this coming weekend, the David Corenswet-led movie is predicted to perform well yet again, with a particular milestone on the movie's mind. At the domestic box office, Superman currently has a $322 million haul, which places it just $8 million behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 2016 superhero movie that saw Henry Cavill's...

While he also has a dramatic side, Jason Bateman has been in many iconic comedies over the course of his career. This includes playing lead Michael Bluth in the TV series Arrested Development, which earned him two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

On the film side of things, Bateman is one of the leads in the 2011 movie Horrible Bosses. The dark comedy is heralded as one of the genre classics of the early 2010s, and its success led to a sequel three years later. Other Bateman films include Bad Words and Juno.

With these titles, it is clear that the late 2000s and early 2010s were really Bateman's comedy sweet spot. While more recent years have been consumed with shows like Ozark, Bateman's comedy career was the most vibrant in this era. Now, his 2009 hidden gem is trending on streaming.

Couples Retreat Is Trending On...

Superman Reboot Outpaces Iron Man In US, Eyes Worldwide Gap ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

James Gunn’s Superman has earned 322 million dollars in under a month, moving ahead of Iron Man’s 319 million domestic total from 2008 (per Box Office Mojo). The Marvel film, directed by Jon Favreau, marked Robert Downey Jr.’s significant return to major studio work after personal troubles had stalled his career.

Superman (2025) dir. James Gunn pic.twitter.com/BSW9f5p5ry

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Nearly five years after she was originally fired from the Star Wars series, Gina Carano may be returning to the franchise as The Mandalorian's Cara Dune. Carano first debuted as the Rebel shock-trooper-turned-mercenary in season 1 of the Disney+ show, becoming a recurring player with appearances in the final two episodes of season 1 and three episodes of season 2.

Though initially intended to lead the Rangers of the New Republic spinoff from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, Carano would become a point of controversy as she was fired from the Star Wars franchise altogether in February 2021 following a series of controversial social media posts. She was subsequently written out of The Mandalorian season 3 and the spinoff quietly cancelled.

However, after years of division and some support from her co-stars, including Bill Burr, Carano would respond by filing a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm for her firing. The Mandalorian star alleged wrongful...

Disney and Lucasfilm have settled a lawsuit from Gina Carano, who accused the studios of discrimination and wrongful termination over her firing from The Mandalorian.

In a statement, a Lucasfilm spokesperson said, “With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”

“We have reached an agreement with Gina Carano to resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies,” it added. “Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect.”

Carano said in a statement that the deal is the “best outcome for all parties involved” and “my desires remain in the arts.”

Terms of the settlement, announced on Thursday, weren’t disclosed.

In a lawsuit filed last year, Carano alleged she was fired for voicing right-wing opinions on...

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters in less than a year, and without an official trailer, fans have little information on the movie's plot. Recently, Mando's body double, Brendan Wayne, revealed what he believes fans can expect from the film.

Wayne says, “I think we go to the storytelling originally that we loved with The Mandalorian. We’re with the kid and Mando quite a bit, and their journey is forefront.”

This description aligns with what most fans predicted based on the finale of The Mandalorian Season 3. When the season ended, Din Djarin and Grogu were shown departing from Mandalore and settling down in a new home on Nevarro. At the time, some thought this might be the end, but it was the end of only one chapter of the duo's lives. With Grogu officially adopted by his Mandalorian father, they've officially become a family.

Before the show's finale,...

Back in the year 2008, the superhero genre was changed forever with the back-to-back success of DC's The Dark Knight and Marvel's Iron Man. Both movies transcended their core audiences and emerged as major mainstream hits, announcing a new era in superhero cinema. While The Dark Knight inspired a wave of grounded movies featuring masked heroes, Iron Man kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an ambitious series of interconnected movies that has gone on to become the highest-grossing film franchise in history. This week, the long-time rivals DC and Marvel faced off at the domestic box office, with the recently released Superman soaring past Iron Man on the all-time charts.

Directed by James Gunn, Supermanhas grossed $320 million in less than a month of release. Iron Man concluded its theatrical run with $318 million in 2008. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film famously reintroduced the Oscar-winning star Robert Downey Jr. to mainstream studio filmmaking, not...

For years, Star Wars shows on Disney+ have mostly followed the same pattern, strong starts, followed by drops in viewership by the time the season ends. But one show has done the exact opposite.

Andor, the Star Wars series that focuses on the early days of the Rebellion and the journey of Cassian Andor, actually gained more viewers in its second season. According to an analysis from The Wrap, viewership for Andor went up nearly 40% from the end of season one to the end of season two. That makes it the only Star Wars series on Disney+ to grow in audience over time instead of losing it.

The first season of Andor premiered on September 21, 2022, and ended in November that year. Its second and final season came out on April 22, 2025, releasing three episodes per week until May 13. While most other Star Wars shows struggled to hold viewers, Andor quietly built...

You may have heard that actor Matt Smith has recently been cast as a villain in Star Wars: Starfighter, starring opposite Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth. Starfighter will be released on May 28, 2027. This marks the second theatrical release after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, following director Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is planned for May 22, 2026.

Smith is no stranger to playing the villain, and with a multitude of alien races in the Star Wars universe, it’s hard to know how he'll show up as he faces off against Gosling. So, who is Matt Smith? Here are some of the actor's most well-known roles, pulled from his IMDb page.

Doctor Who

In the long-running BBC science fiction series, a relatively unknown Smith landed the coveted title role as the Eleventh Doctor after David Tennant's exit from the show in 2010. His primary run as Doctor Who spanned Seasons 5, 6, and 7.

The Crown

In 2018, Smith earned his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Prince Philip in the Netflix series "The Crown."

House of the Dragon

Smith is most recently known for embodying the ruthless Prince Daemon Targaryen on HBO’s "Game of Thrones" spin-off "House of the Dragon." He is slated to return for Season 3 of the series, which is currently in production.

Last Night in Soho

Director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) cast Smith in his psychological horror film Last Night in Soho, also starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie.

Morbius

As part of Sony's extended Spider-Man universe, Smith took another villain role in 2022's Morbius, playing opposite Jared Leto.

See Matt Smith's entire filmography on IMDb...

There are some big movies waiting for James Mangold to make some availability in his schedule, with Dcu’s Swamp Thing and Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi movies being two of the most prominent – and already delayed – on the list. However, according to Deadline, fans will have to wait even longer to see either of these movies begin production as Mangold is reportedly eyeing another movie with Timothée Chalamet first.

Mangold and Chalamet scored a hit with the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown last year, and now it looks like they will be collaborating again on High Side, a motocross-themed heist thriller drawn from an unpublished Jaime Oliveira short story and now being shopped by Chernin Entertainment. The reports, which are still only suggested at this point, describe the story as being centered on a fallen MotoGP prodigy named Billy who is lured into a string of bank robberies by his estranged brother,...

The Mandalorian is about to move from Disney+ to the big screen next year with the premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Even then, its impact on television is enduring, and the show has received numerous awards and cultivated a loyal fan base.

Although The Mandalorian has been part of Star Wars canon since 2019, certain questions about the series remain unanswered, and we hope Jon Favreau will answer them in the movie.

Here are 5 questions we have about The Mandalorian 5 years after its premiere.

Darth Maul in Sdcc 2025 first look at Star Wars Maul: Shadow Lord starring Sam Witwer. | Image Credit: StarWars.com 1. Why did Grogu trust Din?

The Child had no reason to trust Din Djarin when they met each other at the end of The Mandalorian Chapter 1. It seemed obvious Din was there to capture Grogu and take him back to Nevarro. For many fans, the only reasonable...

Production on "Star Wars: Starfighter" is set to begin this fall. "Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy will direct the film from a script written by Jonathan Tropper. Academy Award-nominee Ryan Gosling will headline the film, with Mia Goth also set to star. This film will be set five years after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker," and will be the next film in Lucasfilm's marquee franchise following Jon Favreau's "The Mandalorian and Grogu," which will hit theaters on May 22, 2026.

As principal photography nears, more actors are being cast in what appears to be a much-needed new direction for big-screen "Star Wars" adventures, given that the franchise has mainly been a television fixture thanks to its several shows on Disney+. Now, Emmy-nominated actor Matt Smith has joined the cast of "Starfighter," and fascinatingly enough, he was originally cast in the Sequel Trilogy, but his role was ultimately axed.

Matt Smith's Infinity Gauntlet of nerdy IP is about to add another stone — and this one's coming from a galaxy far, far away. Yes, having made bow ties cool with his stint as Doctor Who's Eleventh Doctor, donned the blonde as Daemon Targaryen in House Of The Dragon, thrown some shapes as bloodsucker Milo in Spumc's Morbius, and been a T-5000 in Terminator Genisys, Smith is getting ready to make the jump to lightspeed for Shawn Levy's upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter. Per Deadline's reporting, Smith has landed a villainous role opposite Ryan Gosling's heroic lead in the Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker's first Star Wars feature.

As we learned at this year's Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Starfighter — described specifically and repeatedly by Levy as "a standalone adventure with all-new characters" — is the first Star Wars film set after the events of The Rise Of Skywalker, with...

Cobb Vanth became a popular new addition to live-action Star Wars after his debut in the premiere of The Mandalorian season 2, but he hasn't been seen again since the finale of The Book of Boba Fett.

Vanth was put on life support after he was shot by the dangerous Cad Bane, but a scene in the finale shows him recovering inside Boba Fett's bacta tank. Since the show ended, fans have been curious to know what the main characters, including Cad Bane, have been up to.

While Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison and his co-star, Ming-Na Wen, have denied speculation of a possible return to Star Wars, Timothy Olyphant's latest reply to a question about Cobb Vanth has led to speculation that a return is imminent. Olyphant was interviewed by ScreenRant's Joe Deckelmeier at San Diego Comic-Con regarding his upcoming project and was asked whether Cobb Vanth will be seen again.

The 16-year hiatus between Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Episode I - Phantom Menace (1999)—and again after Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) until Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015))—became known to fans as the Dark Times. That is, stretches when Star Wars went more-or-less silent. Now, in 2025, we might be living through another one.

At age 81, George Lucas finally took the Comic-Con stage—his first-ever visit—and talked Star Wars only to remind everyone he’s moved on. Focusing on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, he spoke passionately about collecting comic and narrative art, not specifically the future of the galaxy far, far away.

Granted, Lucas sold his empire (pun intended) in 2012, handing over all creative direction to The Walt Disney Company. While he hasn’t played an official role in the future of the galaxy in well over a decade,...

There were two big-name new arrivals at the box office this past weekend, with Liam Neeson's reboot of The Naked Gunand the hotly anticipated animated sequel, The Bad Guys 2, debuting to good effect. Finishing in spots #2 and #3 in the domestic weekend rankings, both proved popular despite strong competition. Although beaten by the new arrivals, the fourth-placed Superman, directed by James Gunn, won't feel too hard done by with a stellar fourth weekend that returned just shy of $14 million in the US alone.

Thanks to this sustained success, Superman has punched into an impressive new box office list as milestones continue to be hit. Starring David Corenswet, the 2025 Superman is now officially one of the 50 highest-grossing superhero movies of all time, against the backdrop of the past fifteen years financially dominated by the genre. Currently at #50, Superman knocked 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse out of the top 50 and into position #51. Next...

Jeremy Strong may soon be getting a perm and rocking a gold chain.

The Oscar nominee and Emmy winner is the top choice to play Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Network Part II,” another hyper-literate examination of the dark side of Silicon Valley. Strong would be taking over the role of the Facebook founder from Jesse Eisenberg, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in 2010’s “The Social Network,” which Sorkin wrote and David Fincher directed. Sorkin will direct the sequel in addition to handling screenplay duties.

Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White are circling other lead roles in the follow-up. No formal offers have been made.

“The Social Network” followed the creation of Facebook and the metamorphosis of Zuckerberg from nerdy Harvard student to driven tech mogul. The sequel is based on “The Facebook Files” from Jeff Horwitz. Published by the Wall Street Journal...

Robert Downey Jr. & Scarlett Johansson In MCU(Photo Credit –Facebook/Instagram)

Marvel has been a huge part of our childhood. We grew up watching Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Avengers movies. While Robert Downey Jr. cemented the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his movie Iron Man (2008), in which he played the superhero character, Scarlett Johansson made her mark as Black Widow when she was introduced in Iron Man 2. Both of the actors tasted success in different ways while having their stint in the MCU.

Even though Scarlett Johansson’s salary didn’t come close to what Rdj earned during their MCU days, she is still considered one of the highest-paid actresses. Reportedly, Robert has bagged a $100 million contract for the new Marvel film, Avengers: Doomsday. So, was there a pay difference between an actor and an actress? Scroll ahead to find out.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Paychecks In MCU...

Over the course of a decade and ten appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. has reportedly earned between $500 million and $600 million across seven Marvel blockbusters and three high-priced cameos (per Variety). And now, he’s about to earn significantly more than $80 million to swap out his arc reactor and step into a villain’s armor, as Doctor Doom.

Yes, the actor who breathed life into Tony Stark, who gave the MCU its emotional core and commercial fuel, is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027): this time as Marvel’s infamous antagonist Victor Von Doom.

This casting move, announced at Cinema-Con and later confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, ignited a civil war of its own among fans. While many welcomed Downey’s return, others criticized Marvel’s decision to cast the same actor in a new role after killing off Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame.

Apple TV+ is set to return with its answer to Planet Earth, season 3 of Prehistoric Planet. As it evolves into a new chapter, it promises a richer scope and ambition than ever before because it will offer expert insight into the Pleistocene epoch of the Ice Age.

It is set to cover everything from dinosaurs to saber-toothed cats, mammoths, to dwarf elephants, and everything in between. The show is produced by BBC Studios and will feature narration by Tom Hiddleston. The previous seasons were narrated by Sir David Attenborough. The show will air globally on November 26, 2025, following the franchise’s rich scientific grounding and acclaimed visual realism.

Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet Season 3 Will Break New Ground

Season 3 of Prehistoric Planet will mark a major temporal and thematic leap for the show. While the first two seasons showed us the Cretaceous life phase, from the coastal ecosystems to the ice worlds,...

MCU Phase Openers Ranked by Worldwide Box Office: From Iron Man to Quantumania ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is famously divided into phases, each ushered in by a new era-defining film that sets the tone for years of interconnected storytelling. With Fantastic Four launching Phase Six, fans are gearing up for a multiversal threat – a return to the era of Avengers teaming up to take on the biggest threats. The stakes have never been higher, and the expectations are massive.

Historically, Marvel has used these phase openers to both introduce new characters and evolve fan favorites. From Iron Man, which kicked off the entire saga back in 2008, to the ambitious but polarizing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, these films not only shaped Marvel’s direction but also raked in significant global revenue, although not all equally. Some soared past the billion-dollar mark with ease, while others stumbled under...

Check out first-look images from Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age, which picks up where the Apple TV+ docuseries Prehistoric Planet season 2 left off, give or take a few million years and the planetwide extinction of the dinosaurs. The first season of Prehistoric Planet was released in 2022, with its followup hitting screens the following year.

Executive produced by Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian) and Mike Gunton (Planet Earth III), the series pairs cutting-edge visual technology with the latest scientific research to present plausible life stories of long-extinct animals.

ScreenRant is able to offer an exclusive look at five images from Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age which highlight a number of species that will be seen in the series. Rendered in 4K, the images show a woolly rhino, a glyptotherium, an African scimitar toothed cat, a rock-climbing sloth, and an American scimitar toothed cat. For information about how the looks and behaviors of the creatures in Prehistoric Planet are decided,...

Apple TV+ has announced Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age, a sweeping new installment of the award-winning natural history series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton.

The series is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Planet Earth) and narrated by Golden Globe Award and Olivier Award winner Tom Hiddleston (Earthsounds).

The five-part docuseries, set to premiere globally on November 26, 2025, invites viewers into a dramatic new era of prehistoric life, millions of years after the extinction of the dinosaurs — an era shaped by ice, the intense fight to survive and the rise of a new cast of giants: the iconic megafauna.

Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age uses the latest scientific research and cutting-edge visual effects to bring this frozen world to life like never before, unveiling the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient Earth for a one-of-a-kind experience.

From towering woolly mammoths to elusive snow sloths, terrifying saber-toothed tigers to resilient...

Crooked Media, the company behind Pod Save America and other progressive podcasts, is expanding its live events with Crooked Con, two days of podcast tapings, panels and workshops scheduled for November 6 and 7 in Washington, D.C.

The event, which just started ticket sales, “is a chance to hear from and connect with smart people inside and outside the Crooked universe about how to galvanize that movement,” organizers said.

Crooked Con will kick off on the evening of the 6th with a live taping of Pod Save America at Warner Theatre. The following day will be a full slate of programming at The Wharf across a number of stages, with topics including “Does The Democratic Party Stand A Chance?” and “How Can Progressives Win The Attention War?” Also on site will be a content studio for content creators as well as partner organizations, which include Vote Save America and Americans United...

X-Men star Rebecca Romijn is due to feel blue once again as she returns as the mutant Mystique in the upcoming MCU sequel, Avengers: Doomsday. While fans are eager to see her return alongside a whole host of former X-Men stars, the actress’ recent update about the Marvel outing has fans worried.

During a recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, Romijn was asked whether she had finished filming her scenes for Avengers: Doomsday, and her reply will shock you. Or, perhaps it won’t, depending on how familiar you are with Marvel’s modus operandi. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Romijn said that she couldn’t reveal whether she’d finished filming...but not because it’s a secret. No, it’s because the script isn’t even finished yet.

“[I’m] not quite sure. The script hasn’t — they haven’t finished writing it.”

Principal photography for Avengers: Doomsday began back in April,...

The upcoming Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, promises to bring back what fans loved most about the original show, according to Brendan Wayne, one of the actors who plays Din Djarin.

Since the Star Wars sequel trilogy ended with mixed reactions, The Mandalorian became a huge hit, creating a whole new story within the Star Wars universe.

This new movie will end Star Wars’ seven-year break from theaters and continues right after The Mandalorian season 3. In that season, Din Djarin officially adopts Grogu, and they set up a home on Nevarro, working as bounty hunters for the New Republic.

Season 3, however, received a lot of criticism. Fans were unhappy about Din and Grogu’s reunion happening off-screen, and they felt the show didn’t focus enough on their bond. Some episodes like “The Convert” and “Guns For Hire” felt out of place.

But Brendan Wayne wants to reassure...

One of the stars of the upcoming Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, has given fans a hopeful message about what to expect from the film. Brendan Wayne, who has played Din Djarin on screen, said the movie will focus on what made the original show so popular, the close bond and adventures of Din and Grogu.

Since the Star Wars sequel trilogy ended with mixed reactions, The Mandalorian has been a bright spot for fans. The series started a fresh new era in the Star Wars universe and created a popular sub-franchise.

Now, the new film will bring Star Wars back to theaters after seven years. It picks up right where Season 3 of The Mandalorian left off. Din Djarin has officially adopted Grogu, and the two are making a life on Nevarro while working as bounty hunters for the New Republic.

Even though Season 3 ended on a sweet note,...

Ryan Meinerding is having a full-circle moment.

When he was in high school, one of his favorite characters was The Thing — so he sketched him. That artwork is featured in “Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding.” Meinerding has been with the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the very beginning, brought on to help Jon Favreau with “Iron Man.”

He is now a character designer, creative director and the head of visual development at Marvel Studios. He is also an associate producer, and has spent the last five years helping bring The Thing to life for Marvel’s latest, “Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic; Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman; Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, aka the Thing. The cast also includes Ralph Ineson as the planet-devouring villain...

Get to your bunkers because Lucasfilm has just opened up a can of worms so big it is probably hiding a Rankor in it. As part of the franchise’s Sdcc display, the creators of the Star Warss franchise have categorically stated that Anakin Skywalker was not the greatest Jedi – a topic that has often been hotly debated among fans and has been stirred up with this latest update.

It is no secret that the Star Wars fanbase has some very strong opinions on…well, everything. Many fans would die on a hill declaring Anakin Skywalker is the greatest Jedi of all-time, which means Lucasfilm’s new short biography of the character is going to cause a few arguments. The statement, which has also now been added to the official Star Wars website, reads:

"Discovered as a slave on Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker had the...

Most of Marvel Studios’s films are the cinematic equivalent of breadcrumbs, which have been dropped into theaters strategically so as to keep one looking for the next sequel or crossover, when the endless televisual exposition will eventually, theoretically yield an event of actual consequence. Occasionally, however, a Marvel film transcends this impersonality and justifies one’s patience. Weird, stylish, and surprisingly lyrical, Ant-Man, Iron Man 3, and Doctor Strange attest to the benefits of the old Hollywood-style studio system that Marvel has resurrected: Under the umbrella of structure and quota is security, which can bequeath qualified freedom. On the occasion of the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, here’s a ranking of every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to date. Chuck Bowen

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on April 25, 2018.

37. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

The aesthetic dexterity and psychological depth of Ang Lee’s...

One of Star Wars' next projects, which will replace The Mandalorian Season 4, will bring a handful of exciting alien species back to the story. Kicking off Star Wars' new era of storytelling in 2019, The Mandalorian's impact on the galaxy far, far away is still tangible six years later. While the show itself is confirmed to be finished on Disney+, its legacy will live on in other forms.

The Mandalorian & Grogu will feature five species of creatures from Star Wars lore originally included in Disney+'s The Mandalorian. Star Wars is already confirmed to bring back multiple fan-favorite heroes from The Mandalorian in this movie, which will be a replacement for the Disney+ show after its four-year/three-season run on Disney+. This includes multiple different species from across Star Wars' long history, expanding the boundaries of the universe to new levels.

The Mandalorian & Grogu will continue the duo's adventures...

Whenever you work within an industry, you can’t help but scrutinize the depiction of it in the movies. That’s especially so when you’re so immersed in it that it is your life. Take the late Anthony Bourdain, for example. He – better than most, also being a film buff – had authority to blast a flick if it didn’t capture the essence of or overly romanticized a kitchen, restaurant or bar. But there were some true winners in his eyes: Ratatouille and Road House.

For Anthony Bourdain, Pixar’s 2007 film takes the cake for the movie that is surprisingly the most accurate of portraying a restaurant. “I thought — Ratatouille probably came as close to being perfect as any film ever in portraying the industry. Again, little things. The burn scars on the woman chef’s arm. It was pretty, pretty good.” Also joining the list of Bourdain-approved restaurant...

One Academy Award-winning MCU actor wants to be Marvel's version of DC's Lex Luthor fifteen years after his debut in Iron Man 2. Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor provides a standout performance in James Gunn's Superman. Fueled by hatred for Superman, Hoult's Luthor cements himself as one of the best portrayals of the Man of Steel's archnemesis.

Speaking to ScreenRant's Liam Crowley at The Bad Guys 2's press junket, Justin Hammer actor Sam Rockwell voiced his interest in reprising his Iron Man 2 role. Rockwell compared Justin Hammer to Lex Luthor, and stated that "it'd be fun" to play Tony Stark's CEO rival in the MCU. Read Sam Rockwell's full comments below:

Liam Crowley: Sam, it's cool to see you back in a sequel because there's been so many roles of yours over the years that I would have loved to see you reprise. The...

Following three dismal Fantastic Four movies from 20th Century Fox, it looked like the best place for Marvel’s First Family might be on the shelf. However, when the Disney/Fox merger happened, it meant Marvel Studios regained the rights to the franchise, and fans have been waiting for a reboot ever since. Directed by WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman and boasting an all-star cast led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Fantastic Four: First Steps proves to have been worth the wait and gives the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine one of the world’s greatest comic book movies.

While fast-paced with a runtime of less than two hours, The Fantastic Four: First Steps mostly benefits from trimming any potential fat, making it hard to figure out where an extended fight scene with Red Ghost, for example, might have fit or how necessary it would’ve been.

Almost a year to the day since his father dropped out of the 2024 presidential primary, Hunter Biden has embarked on a no-holds-barred interview tour that is loaded with criticism of the Democratic Party.

In a more than three-hour-long interview with independent journalist and social media personality Andrew Callaghan of Channel 5, Biden dove into his anger over Democrats’ treatment of his father during the 2024 primary; his struggles with addiction, trauma, and grief; and his views on the first months of the Trump administration.

The former president has remained out of...

The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks, on NBC. [Stanley] Tucci in Italy on National Geographic. Walking With Dinosaurs, narrated by Bertie Carvel (The Crown, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series), on PBS. These series are just the latest star-studded factual offerings from BBC Studios Productions, one of the British and global media industry’s most respected production outfits that is part of BBC Studios, the main commercial arm of U.K. public broadcaster BBC, that have taken the U.S. by storm.

Of course, there has also been Prehistoric Planet, executive produced by Jon Favreau, and OceanXplorers with James Cameron. And there is more to come involving big names, as Disney has unveiled that National Geographic has greenlit a new documentary series under the working title Meet the Planets, that is being developed by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and BBC Studios.

Bottom line: Shows from BBC Studios Productions, which includes the world-renowned Natural History Unit,...

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Have you ever watched a film or television show where you saw an actor in a role and thought it was so perfectly cast that you couldn't imagine anyone else in the part? Hollywood doesn't care, though, as no one is deemed indispensable in the entertainment industry. If there's money to be made, and the actor plays hardball for a return, they will be replaced -- heck, studios are already trying to figure out the loopholes around using AI for digital likenesses.

There's a rare breed of actors who own pivotal roles, though. It's to the point where they have become intrinsically linked to the characters they play. If they were ever replaced, let's just say that the audience wouldn't react well to the recasting news. This isn't to say that studios and networks won't try, but everyone knows in...

James Gunn’s Superman has become a major turning point for DC Studios, and I’d like the momentum to keep going, even after its release. David Corenswet emerged as our new Man of Steel, effortlessly, despite the hate. And this rebooted universe, which is currently in its Phase 1, ‘Gods and Monsters’ arc, signals a strong start ahead.

The positive early buzz and huge box office numbers have all materialized due to Gunn’s creative vision. I am hoping that he returns for a sequel, but assuming he steps away to focus on other Dcu projects, I believe these five directors could absolutely take his spot to direct Superman’s next flight.

1. Matthew Vaughn Matthew Vaughn on the Happy Sad Confused podcast | Credits: Josh Horowitz / YouTube

Matthew Vaughn, in a way, revitalized the superhero genre with Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. He’s already proven that he knows how to...

What if you are told that your favourite dramedy on Hulu, The Bear, was an idea for a movie? Yes, you heard it right. In an interview with Esquire, the Emmy-winning show’s creator, Christopher Storer, opened up about how turning the show into a movie almost doomed him. He said,

I was writing this thing as a movie at one point, but every time I would take five steps, some chef would be like, ‘Don’t do it, because it’s gonna f*in’ suck.

The visionary further emphasized the show’s creation and the casting, and looked out for the themes that could justify the Hulu show in the best possible way. Furthermore, the show is set to be revived for its fifth season.

Why the Big Screen Couldn’t Bear the Kitchen’s Reality Jeremy Allen White in The Bear | Credits: Hulu

The Bear is a show...

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Iron Man is still one of the most popular Marvel heroes in the public consciousness despite not appearing on screen in a movie since "Spider-Man: Far From Home," and that popularity doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The dream team of director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. defined the earliest days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but their partnership as filmmaker and star actually concluded after "Iron Man 2," and some fans are surprised by that when they revisit the Avenger's first trilogy of movies. Well, Favreau had a good reason to step away from the Marvel movie scene after his second outing with Tony Stark, and it has everything to do with the break-neck pace the MCU movies had in those days.

2008's "Iron Man" changed the course of the superhero movie genre along with...

Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008 with the release of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" starring Robert Downey Jr., True Believers have met hundreds of characters in both film and TV shows. And we're not just talking about the marquee names like Captain America, Spider-Man, or Wolverine either. As the multiverse expanded and expanded, this epic franchise began to introduce Defenders, Eternals, and Inhumans. And no one could have predicted that one of the most beloved corners of the MCU would belong to the Guardians of the Galaxy. But with "Avengers: Doomsday" on the horizon, this expansive ensemble is only about to get larger.

With so many characters currently inhabiting the House of Ideas, there is only enough screen time to go around. As much as we'd love to see some of our favorite characters all the time, they sometimes need to fade into the background a bit to serve the larger narrative.

Clint Eastwood and his Dollars trilogy inspired Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian, but in its later seasons lost that connection to the classic Westerns. Played by Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian is an intergalactic bounty hunter who is tasked with protecting a child named Grogu, who is force-sensitive, and is pursued by remnants of the Empire, especially Moff Gideon. The show was positioned as a neo-Western in Star Wars.

Pedro Pascal, on multiple occasions, described Din Djarin as a mix between Han Solo and Clint Eastwood’s classic Man with No Name character from Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy. Even the makers mentioned that they wanted to introduce a similar, morally ambiguous hero to the Star Wars universe (via Men’s Health).

The character is very much built on the iconic presence of The Man With No Name in Sergio Leone’s movies, played by Clint Eastwood, and The Lone Samurai in Akira Kurosawa.

Next month's 'Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney' takes place from August 29-31 in Orlando, Florida. According to D23.com, this event is slated as "The Biggest Disney Fan Event of the year", meaning there's something for everyone.

Now that Andor is over, Lucasfilm will likely use D23 as an opportunity to turn the focus to their future projects, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, Ahsoka season 2, Star Wars: Starfighter, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, the Rey Skywalker movie, and James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi.

Bits of information about all these projects can be expected, but it's unlikely there will be any footage from most of them. With that said, Lucasfilm won't leave Star Wars fans entirely disappointed, so we can expect to see new content.

Here are the five most probable Star Wars updates fans can expect at D23 next month!

1. A...

With the big screen debut of Din Djarin and Grogu set for next year, it's obvious that these characters are important to Star Wars' future. Yet, five years after the show began, its main character has seen his ups and downs.

At one point, it seemed like he would be stuck in his corner of the galaxy and remain a bounty hunter for life. Djarin's importance in Star Wars began to increase as he came in contact with people like Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker, and adopted a Force-sensitive child.

Recently, The Mandalorian season 3 threw Din's story into limbo, as the previous seasons seemed to hint that Din would have an important choice to make. With the Darksaber in his possession, the show had an opportunity to change direction and focus on Din Djarin's growth into a leader. Season 3 made it clear that he has no interest in leading the Mandalorians,...

One exciting droid tradition is alive and well in Star Wars' next movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu. After more than half a decade away from theaters, Jon Favreau's MandoVerse movie will mark Star Wars' grand return to film in May 2026, debuting a new adventure across the cosmos alongside Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and the adorable Grogu. 

While Mando and his cutesy copilot will be at the center of the new movie (which will kick off a whole new theatrical slate for the Star Wars brand), they are far from the only characters set to hit the screen in the epic adventure. The Bear star Jeremy Allen-White has been attached to the project, playing a grown-up version of Rotta the Hutt, Jabba's son, who was last seen in the animated Clone Wars series, as well as several familiar droid characters from across canon. 

According to Walt Disney Imagineering Vice-President Kyle Laughlin,...