Inside Robert Redford's Family Tragedies: What He Said About the Deaths of His Two Sons

The late actor's sons, Scott and James, whom he shared with ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen, predeceased him.

NEED TO KNOW

• Robert Redford, who died at 89 on Tuesday, September 16, was a father to four children, whom he shared with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen.
• Redford's two sons, Scott and James, preceded him in death; Scott died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at 2½ months old in 1959, while James died of cancer at 58 in 2020.
• "Something like that doesn't get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you're not even aware of," Redford said about Scott's death in 2017.

Robert Redford , who died On Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 89 years old, he was a father to four children in his lifetime. Two of his children - sons Scott and James - died before the celebrated actor and filmmaker, in 1959 and 2020, respectively.

Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, welcomed four children together: Scott, Shauna, James and Amy Redford. The former couple's firstborn, Scott, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at 2 ½ months old. James, who was the third eldest, died of cancer in October 2020. (Robert divorced Van Wagenen in 1985. Decades later, in 2009, he married again with Sibylle Szaggars after their first meeting in 1996, when the actor invited her and a group of friends to dinner at his Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah.

Robert rarely spoke about Scott, who was born on Sept. 1, 1959 and unexpectedly died of SIDS on Nov. 19. In 2017, though, the All the President's Men Star spoke out about Scott's death in an interview with Esquire United Kingdom .

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"I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York. Of course it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don't know," Robert said at the time. "We had to deal with it. You have to move on. And we had other children who came. But something like that doesn't get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you're not even aware of."

"I'm sure there's a lot of this stuff that's subconscious. But it's pretty traumatic when it happens, particularly when you're that young. You're not equipped to deal with it," he added. When Esquire asked if he ever spent time in therapy to unpack the loss, Robert said, "Sure I did. But it never worked out. I tried a while back, two or three times. I found myself trying to psychoanalyze the analyst."

James, meanwhile, was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that affects the liver and bile ducts, as an adult. He received two liver transplants in 1993 and founded a nonprofit called the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness following those surgeries. In 1999, James also released a documentary, The Kindness of Strangers , which followed organ donors and recipients.

James' wife, Kyle, announced His death at 58 in an X (previously known as Twitter) post on Oct. 16, 2020. At the time, she told The Salt Lake Tribune That James died from bile-duct cancer in his liver. Kyle said her husband's liver disease had returned in 2018, and that the cancer was discovered in November 2019 while he was awaiting a liver transplant.

Following James' death, a representative for the actor told newsrealtimethat Robert was "mourning with his family during this difficult time and asks for privacy." The representative added, " The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child Jamie was a loving son, husband and father. His legacy lives on through his children, art, filmmaking and devoted passion to conservation and the environment.

Robert himself spoke about the importance of parenting in his life when he talked with newsrealtimefor a 1998 cover story .

Newsrealtime, think it's been easy for me. That's hard to live with. It's so untrue. The hardest thing in the world is when your children have problems," he said at the time. "There have been so many hits on our family that no one knows about, and I don't want them to, for my family's sake. I've made some interesting movies, and I've been very satisfied with the work, but if someone wrapped it all up and said to me, 'What's your greatest achievement?' I'd say, 'The children. They're the best thing in my life.'

Read the original article on newsrealtime

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"I Should've Been Run Out of Town": John Cena Reveals One Thing He Did Wrong Early in His Movie Career

If you spend any time on the set of a major studio movie, you recognize that one key ingredient in the whole filmmaking process is patience. There is a lot of repetition, with multiple takes respectively executed from different angles, and there is a whole lot of time in between setups as different departments perform a variety of different tasks to ensure that everything on camera looks perfect. It's not what you might expect from an outside perspective, and for John Cena first entering the business after becoming a star in the big and flashy world of WWE , it required a huge adjustment that made him question his future as an actor.

Cena is now well-known as a multi-faceted and talented performer (recently dubbed the GOAT of wrestlers-turned-actors by his The Suicide Squad / Heads Of State co-star Idris Elba ), but in a new career retrospective interview from Vanity Fair , he explains that his first experience in movies - namely making 2006's The Marine – was a deeply unsatisfying time. During that point in his career, he wasn't familiar with the "hurry up and wait" nature of Hollywood, and it led to frustration:

When I went down to film The Marine in 2004 or [2005], gosh, I'd just gotten a fiery start in the WWE, I'm world champion, I'm going to a different town a night, 320 days a year, audiences just going nuts. And then I fly all the way to Australia to library silence to shoot one explosion a day. I hated it, and I hated it because I just wasn't ready for it. I didn't appreciate the patience of it.

In the video, John Cena's reflection comes from discussion of his time making F9 , in which he plays the brother of Vin Diesel's Dom Torretto. Watching a clip from the blockbuster that sees his character get tackled by his co-star while he is flying on a zipline, he notes the precision that went into the construction of the action. It was something he understood and could appreciate as a veteran of the silver screen, but it evidently drove him a bit nuts early in his career.

The Peacemaker The star doesn't stop there, though. He makes a direct link between being patient and expressing gratitude, and he feels that he didn't have enough of either in the mid-aughts. Rather than making films because he wanted to make films, he was just trying to boost his personal image as a wrestler, and he understands now that he wasn't the best version of himself at the time. He continues,

When I look back on my career, I didn't appreciate those opportunities. By the way, I did a lot of bad movies, and that's why I didn't do movies for a while. I should have been run out of town. I didn't appreciate it, I wanted to be somewhere else, and I was making movies as a way to sell more tickets for wrestling. That's okay, but I wasn't putting my heart where it needed to be, which was in the character on set and appreciating everyone's role in the process.

This story obviously has a happy ending. Around 2015, he started to turn some heads with his skills, with a scene-stealing supporting role in Judd Apatow's Trainwreck being a big standout, and that was followed a few years later as he demonstrated range both with comedy (like 2018's Blockers ) and action-centric blockbusters (like 2018's Bumblebee ) . His career has only gotten better and more exciting - his greatest work to date being in his collaboration with James Gunn playing Christopher Smith a.k.a. Peacemaker.

Speaking of which, the brand new Season 2 of Peacemaker has now launched, with the premiere debuting for HBO Max subscribers last week. The story promises a whole lot of insanity to come, and new episodes drop on the streaming service on Thursdays.

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Here's when you can expect The Fantastic Four: First Steps to be released on digital

Superheroes, dinosaurs and nostalgia took the world of Hollywood by storm this summer, with the likes of Superman , Jurassic World Rebirth , Freakier Friday , and I Know What You Did Last Summer all thrilling audiences around the world. Of course, Marvel Studios got in the fun - twice in fact, with the critically-acclaimed Thunderbolts* arriving in May and the larger-than-life The Fantastic Four: First Steps making its presence felt as one of July's big releases.

The film, led by the heroic quartet of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing, proved to be a fan-favorite of the summer season, earning around $500 million at the box office.

There's still time to see it in movie theaters before it completes its theatrical run, but fans have noticed that July's other two big blockbuster movies ( Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth ) have already made their digital debut - leaving everyone to wonder when Fantastic Four will be available to watch at home on VOD services?

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" digital streaming release is expected to be before the end of September.

We should expect to see Marvel's First Family's big adventure released digitally between mid and late September. Marvel hasn't pinned down an exact day as yet, but Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have a two-month wait between their theatrical and digital releases. Moreover, a new report claims that the film will be available for purchase or rental on digital platforms on September 27. That would also coincide with the release timeframe of previous releases. Even looking at the franchise's most recent digital release, Thunderbolts* was released to buy / rent on digital services on July 1, exactly two months after its theatrical release date, so F4 His rumored September 27 date would match that (as it would see the movie released on VOD platforms two months and two days after its theatrical release).

No, it doesn't look like that. The Fantastic Four will be joining Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth in grabbing early digital releases. Both films arrived on VOD services (such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV) just over a month after their respective theatrical releases, which is frankly shocking considering that both were still making a lot of money at the box office. But hey, it allows the films to dominate the download charts too!

Naturally, fans were hoping that First Steps might join its fellow July blockbusters in doing so, but that won't be the case it seems. Marvel often holds its theatrical titles for around two months before releasing them digitally, and with The Fantastic Four Suffering from a sharp second-week box office drop, it's probably wise that the studio tries to make up for that by ensuring that all MCU fans continue to see it while it is still in theaters.

Speaking of the movie's box office gross, it has performed well for Marvel overall, posting stronger numbers than the vast majority of the franchise's recent films. Even with a slightly sharp second-week drop, it's still expected to finish its box office run just north of $500 million worldwide, making it the most successful Marvel movie of the year (and one of the strongest-performing ones in recent years). It's also the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie of all time, so this one has really been a winner all around.

Taking all of that into account, it would make total sense that Marvel would prefer to focus on getting the film over the $500 million mark (it's currently sitting at $490 million) and then allowing it to push a bit further before the end of its theatrical run - especially if the studio is planning on making that sequel happen. And with that in mind, the end-of-September digital release is looking extremely likely right now.

After it becomes available for purchase and rent on digital services, its streaming debut will come this autumn when it arrives on Disney Plus.

Needless to say, fans are ready to catch up with Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben in the not-too-distant future.

This article was originally published on newsrealtimeas Here's when you can expect The Fantastic Four: First Steps to release on digital .

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Brandon Routh, Former Superman, Moved to Tears by New Film's Powerful Legacy

In a world teetering between existential dread and overpriced coffee, the new Superman film has flown in like a ray of sunshine wearing a cape. With themes of redemption, resilience, and responsibility (the holy trinity of superhero wisdom), this cinematic reboot has reminded viewers that not all hope wears spandex, but it sure helps. Audiences have praised the touching father-son subplot, the earnest dialogue free of irony fatigue, and a finale that trades explosions for emotional closure. Even former caped crusaders felt the impact.

Brandon Routh, once the blue-eyed beacon of Metropolis himself, was spotted dabbing tears, proof that no one is krypton-proof from feelings.

Brandon Routh finds hope again in a new Superman

Brandon Routh, who played the titular superhero in Superman Returns , shared with Variety that James Gunn's Superman left him emotionally moved . "I cried no less than three times," Routh admitted while promoting his latest film Ugh . He praised David Corenswet's portrayal of the DC icon, saying, I really enjoyed it... David is fantastic. Routh was particularly connected with the family elements and the emotionally layered scenes, including the early apartment conversation between Lois and Clark.

Routh had previously posted on Instagram about his excitement for the film, encouraging fans to see it in theaters. At Fanboy Expo in Nashville, he expressed joy over meeting fellow Superman fans who had already watched the movie. Reflecting on his own experience, Routh said, It is a big movie. There is a lot in there. He concluded that he intends to watch it again, perhaps with a stronger tissue game the second time around.

Read More: 'Superman Returns' Star Brandon Routh Has a Hilarious Response to Henry Cavill Replacement Rumors

Brandon Routh's reaction perfectly mirrors the collective sentiment toward Superman, leaving many wondering what extraordinary ingredient was added to make the film so emotionally magnificent and full of hope.

What makes this Superman truly super

James Gunn's Superman redefines heroism by anchoring it in empathy. David Corenswet, who has discussed the hilarious struggles of the Superman suit, portrays the character in such a way that bridges the gap between Christopher Reeve's unshakable optimism and Henry Cavill His realism, offering a Superman who is sincere, grounded, and deeply human. Inspired by All-Star Superman, the film embraces themes of identity, morality, and hope. In a genre crowded with angst and detachment, Gunn makes a bold, sincere statement: being kind is the new punk rock, and this Superman lives by it.

The film emphasizes Clark Kent's human upbringing by the Kents and his moral clarity as a reporter navigating modern complexity. Corenswet's Kent is humble but observant, unassuming but unwavering, with even the comic book classic " hypnotic glasses Making a smart return. Gunn's narrative avoids self-seriousness, favoring emotional sincerity and hopeful storytelling over cynicism. The result is a Superman film that radiates joy, subtly addresses real-world tensions, and ultimately reminds audiences why the world still needs heroes who believe in good.

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Movies: 'Shoshana,' 'Oh, Hi!, 'Life of M.F.K. Fisher,' Roxie news

New releases include two very different indies - a serious-minded political drama and a wildly over-the-top romcom. Also this week: a celebration of 20th-century food writer and Northern California resident M.F.K. Fisher.

Shoshana Prolific and chameleonic Michael Winterbottom, whose films have ranged from Steve Coogan comedies to realistic stories of conflict and strife, returns to this terrain with this fact-based thriller set in Tel Aviv during the British Mandate for Palestine.

In a 1930s climate where there is much disagreement over how the Jewish state of Israel should be established, British police officer Tom Wilkin (Douglas Booth) and his more brutal boss, Geoffrey Morton (Harry Melling), are part of an anti-terrorism unit aiming to suppress the militant Zionist group Irgun, which strongly advocates violence as a political means.

Zionists who oppose Irgun include Shoshana Borochov (Irina Starshenbaum), a progressive journalist who dreams of living in a country where Jews and Arabs live together peacefully.

Shoshana and Wilkin fall in love, but the intensifying conflict, which includes bombings and assassinations, puts their relationship, and their lives, at risk.

In different directorial hands, the film might have delivered more romantic heat. Winterbottom, however, is more interested in grittier things.

While there are nearly overwhelming historical details, Winterbottom presents the Jewish-Arab-British situation with a welcome complexity. He depicts the chaos in the streets compellingly. His actors' faces convey anxiety resonantly.

This is a solid thriller, still relevant today, that intelligently illustrates how violence and extremism destroy lives.

Opens Friday at the Smith Rafael Film Center , San Rafael; not rated.

Hello! Filmmaker Sophie Brooks depicts the confusing world of modern relationships in this psychocomedy. It delivers some wild, juicy fun before simply going too crazy.

The story involves a romantic getaway gone insanely wrong.

Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman), who have been dating for four months, are the picture of romantic bliss as they drive through a picturesque countryside, stop at a roadside strawberry stand, and settle into a quaint lake house. They enjoy a home-cooked dinner (scallops!). They have lots of hot sex. At one point, this involves kinky bondage devices Isaac finds in the closet.

Trouble begins when Iris learns that Isaac doesn't share her expectations regarding openness and commitment. Thinking he's just confused, she refuses to uncuff him from the bed until he agrees that the two of them belong together.

Disaster occurs when two friends (Geraldine Viswanathan; John Reynolds) try to help Iris troubleshoot the legally problematic situation.

Brooks is an original and colorful storyteller, and for a while, we are happy to be on board as she outrageously captures the miscommunication that dating can involve.

Gordon and Lerman have substantial chemistry. Gordon, operating on Brooks' over-the-top wavelength, gives a terrifically deranged performance.

But the plot, which takes on a witchcraft element, becomes ridiculous and implausible, and Iris begins acting like Kathy Bates in "Misery." A real kick at first, the movie loses its charm and relatability.

Opens Friday in Bay Area theaters. Rated R.

Celebrating M.F.K. Fisher: On Thursday, at Mill Valley's Sequoia Cinema, CAFILM hosts a screening of "The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher," a 2022 documentary by Gregory Bezat.

Through archival footage, photos, and interviews with food-world and local figures such as Alice Waters from Chez Panisse, food writer Ruth Reichl, and novelist Anne Lamott, the film profiles Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher (1908-1992), from her youth in Southern California to her career-blooming years in France, to her final decades in Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Fisher wrote 27 books and co-founded the Napa Valley Wine Library. Known for her personal and sensual essays and her passionate appreciation for food and eating, she is credited with transforming food writing into an art form and inspiring women to savor life and be independent.

Thursday's presentation coincides with a Fisher-inspired art exhibition, "Consider the Oyster" (titled for Fisher's first book), on view at the Anthony Meier Gallery (next to the Sequoia). Works by 14 female artists (Ruth Asawa, Tabitha Soren, Yayoi Kusama and Rosie Lee Tompkins, among them) are on view.

A 5 p.m. gallery walk-through precedes the 6:30 p.m. screening. A live conversation with Bezat, Kennedy Golden (Fisher's daughter), and others follows the film.

July 24 at the Sequoia Cinema and Anthony Meier gallery, Mill Valley. Tickets are $10-$15 at sequoiafilm.org/art-of-eating/ .

Roxie news: The Roxie Theater released some exciting news last week: The theater, founded in 1912, has officially bought its building thanks to early donations.

This is a major development in the mission of the Roxie — an oasis of independent cinema in San Francisco — to ensure the Roxie's survival into the future.

At the same time, the Roxie still needs to raise about $700,000 in order to reach its $7 million fundraising goal, according to the theater’s website.

These remaining funds will go toward expanded programming, technology upgrades, structural renovations, and other essentials.

To learn more or to donate, visit roxie.com/forever/ .

The Ride Ahead: Twenty-one-year-old Samuel Habib, who has a rare genetic disorder that causes epilepsy and impairs movement and speech, tells his story and sets a course for himself in this engaging and informative documentary about disability and pride. Samuel and Dan Habib (Samuel's father) co-directed the film. It premieres today, July 21, on PBS stations and pbs.org.

The post Movies: 'Shoshana', 'Oh, Hi!', 'Life of M.F.K. Fisher', Roxie news appeared first on Local News Matters .

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"The Legend of Zelda" movie: Everything we know about the live-action adaptation's release date, cast, and more

The popular video game series is coming to theaters.

Key Points

• The Legend of Zelda video game series is being adapted into a live-action film.
• Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will star as Princess Zelda and Link, respectively.
• The Legend of Zelda is currently slated to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.

Get ready to journey through Hyrule, because The Legend of Zelda is headed to the big screen.

After years of speculation, Nintendo confirmed in November 2023 a live-action adaptation of its legendary video game series in partnership with Sony Pictures. The film is being produced by Zelda co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, with Wes Ball scheduled to direct.

Now that casting news is finally rolling out, anticipation for the film is only growing. Here's everything we know about the live-action Zelda Legend movie so far, including who is playing Link and Zelda.

What is The Legend of Zelda about?

Plot details for the live-action The Legend of Zelda Movies are still being kept under wraps, but fans can likely expect a faithful take on the beloved game series.

Director Wes Ball has teased his vision to Entertainment Weekly as "this awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn't like Lord of the Rings it's its own thing." He added, "I've always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that.

Ball, a lifelong Zelda fan is not shy about what the project means to him. "It's going to be awesome," he continued. "My whole life has led up to this moment. I grew up on Zelda , and it is the most important property, I think, that's untapped IP, if you will. So we very much are working hard to do something. We're not just trying to do it because we can. We want to make something really special.

Though Ball once floated the idea of a fully motion-captured Zelda film inspired by James Cameron 's Avatar franchise (2009–present), he has since scaled back on that concept. After working closely with Weta FX on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), his concept has completely shifted.

Speaking to Polygon In April 2024, Ball laughed off the idea of a fully mo-capped version, saying it's "probably isn't his choice." Instead, he hinted that the project will aim to feel more "grounded" and "real."

When is The Legend of Zelda movie coming out?

The Legend of Zelda was originally set to hit theaters on March 26, 2027. However, on June 9, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto announced on X that the movie's release date has been pushed back to May 7, 2027.

For production reasons, we are changing the release date of the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda," Miyamoto shared on Nintendo's official X account. "It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced, and we will take the extra time to make the film as good as it can be. Thank you for your patience.

Is there a trailer for The Legend of Zelda ?

As of writing, there is no teaser or official trailer for the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie.

Who's in The Legend of Zelda cast?

On July 16, Miyamoto revealed that the movie has found its Princess Zelda and Link — and no, the former will not be played by Euphoria star Hunter Schafer , whom many fans had been hoping would play the title character.

Instead, young actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will take on the iconic roles, Miyamoto announced via Nintendo's official social media accounts.

"This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san," he wrote in a statement. "I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen."

Nintendo also seemingly shared the first official photos of the duo in costume, giving fans their earliest glimpse of the film's look and feel.

British star Bragason may be a fresh face to many, but she's already building a pretty impressive career. She appeared in The Radleys (2024) and popped up on both The Jetty and the Disney+ series Renegade Nell that same year. Next up, she'll star in the BBC One historical drama King and Conqueror (2025), as well as the upcoming YA series Sterling Point on Amazon Prime Video .

Her costar, on the other hand, is a bit more familiar to audiences. Genre fans may recognize Ainsworth from Mike Flanagan 's The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) and from season 1 of The Sandman (2022). He also voiced Pinocchio in Disney+'s 2022 live-action remake .

Ainsworth has stayed busy since then, most recently sharing the big screen with acting powerhouses Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney in the dramedy Everything's Going to Be Great (2025). He currently stars as Mark Critch on the comedy series Son of a Critch (2022–present).

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly

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Stream It or Skip It: 'Leviathan' on Netflix, an Anime Adaptation of Scott Westerfield's YA Steampunk Novel

Author Scott Westerfeld's award-winning YA novel Leviathan gets the anime treatment courtesy of Netflix, which also adapted his Uglies book series into a maddeningly mediocre movie last year. One episode of Leviathan Confirms that his work gets better treatment this time around, which isn't saying much, but hey, at least it has a high ceiling. The steampunk saga spans 10 episodes, exploring a teenage romance against the backdrop of an alternate universe World War I – an intriguing concept, but will it work in serialized anime form?

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LEVIATHAN : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A chessboard. A hand moves knight to something something.

The Gist: It turns out Alek (Dor Gvirtsman) has something something'd himself. He seems to have no one to play chess with. It's after midnight. He lives in a castle. He's the son of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary. And he has handlers, or assistants, maybe tutors, but mostly babysitters it seems? Volger (Rob Nagle) and Klopp (Gregory Cupoli) wake up their young mentee as he pretends to be asleep. It's the middle of the night and they tell him to quickly get dressed for an impromptu training mission. Alek is royalty in Europe's Central Powers, here called Clankers because of their use of large mechanical machines. He's confused but happy to pilot a massive mechanical walker, which looks like ED-209 crossed with, I don't know, Robotech? Does that date me? And then he learns his parents are dead. Assassinated. It's the eve of World War I. And Alek is confused about whether he's being kidnapped by his adult friends or taken to safety.

Elsewhere: Edinburgh, Scotland. It's a gorgeous, sunny day. Deryn Sharp (Broghanne Jessamine) looks in the mirror. Her hair is short and she's wearing pants, which is not the norm in these parts. She is going to pass as a boy named Dylan Sharp so she can enlist in the military air force for the Allies, known as Darwinists because they handle genetically engineered animals. For example, massive aerial jellyfish called Huxleys, which float through the skies like hot air balloons. Nobody notices she's not a he – or maybe they don't care? – so "Dylan" soon finds herself tied to a Huxley, several hundred feet above the earth. And she loves it.

Destiny is apparently arranging a meeting for these two teenagers, although it doesn't happen in the debut episode. While Alek gets into a skirmish with German forces while making his way to Switzerland, a storm over Scotland whisks Dylan far, far away. She bumps her head and dreams of a hot-air balloon ride with her father. When she awakens, she sees a massive air whale ahead of her. I think this is the story's version of a dirigible. I also think it's the thing in the title of the show.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The steampunk aerial action makes me wish Netflix had ordered more seasons of Drifting Dragons .

Our Take: Be patient – you're going to need more than one 25-ish-minute episode for Leviathan to fully set its hook. We have a pair of parallel stories to develop before they intersect, and a world to be built, one that resembles our own in some ways but is fascinatingly alt-historical – a narrative conceit that lures us in with familiarity and delights us with its creative deviations from fact.

So conceptually and visually, Leviathan is grounded at the same time it's fantastical. I'm compelled to see how the series handles the weightiness of World War I; I'm less thrilled that our emotional entry into this world is through a pair of teenage twits. Dylan is deeply Gee whiz and Alek veers toward whiny sad-sackdom, their outlooks on life pointing toward a yin-yang balance that points toward an opposites-attract-style romance with Romeo and Juliet dynamic of opposite sides of the greater conflict

So far, the series looks, well, just fine, the relatively inspired vehicle and animal design rendered with middle-of-the-road animation that tells us Netflix isn’t quite sure if Leviathan will take off, so its monetary investment was likely modest. Thus far, it skews a bit younger – teens and tweens – and toward the middle of the road, and even if it doesn’t inspire too many superlatives, it’s squarely watchable, maybe watchable-plus. The promise of higher-drama action and star-crossed romance seem likely to keep us on the hook to see how the story plays out.

Sex and Skin: None in the pilot episode.

Final Shot: Enjoy a good long look at the Leviathan as it fills your screen.

Sleeper Star: Here's hoping the Darwinists' massive purple tiger (!) does more than look cool in upcoming episodes.

Most Pilot-y Line: Klopp tries to sell Alek on a pseudo-kidnapping that the kid doesn't yet realize is a pseudo-kidnapping: "Don't think of these surprises as a bad thing, master. They say Mozart himself was given these kinds of shock training exercises."

Our Call: The popularity of Westerfeld's work will fuel Leviathan , luring in devotees, so why stretch the boundaries of anime for an adaptation? So far, so above-average. STREAM IT.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Official title of Dune 3 revealed -- and fans are not happy

The third installment in Denis Villeneuve His adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune trilogy is officially titled Dune: Part Three , and fans are not thrilled.

Many hoped it would adopt the name of the second book in the series, Dune Messiah , as it is expected to follow that storyline.

Earlier reports had referred to the movie as Dune Messiah , assuming it would have the same title as the 1969 novel.

However, it seems the director has opted to stick with the naming convention established by the first two films — Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) — which together covered the contents of the first book.

I am sorry, but that is a terrible title," one fan wrote on X. A second agreed: "Ngl [not gonna lie] hate the title. Messiah is so much better.

Is WB drunk or what?" a third asked, arguing that Messiah is about to be the hardest subtitle ever for a film. The second film was titled Part Two because it was still adapting the first book, but now the third film is adapting a new book and they still went with Part Three .”

"How long did it take them to come up with that name?" a fourth one quipped.

Others speculated that the name change came because "it's probably because it's gonna be different from" Dune Messiah .”

Makes sense. No need to confuse new viewers with the Messiah "title," one suggested, with another commenting: "Title likely suggest it may mix some parts of Children of Dune in Messiah . Very curious if it will set up a Children of Dune movie in a few years.

Dune: Part Three will see Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya reprise their roles as lovers Paul Atreides and Chani, respectively. Jason Momoa, who appeared in the first Dune but not the second, has confirmed he will make his return as Duncan Idaho in Part Three

Filming has reportedly started in Budapest, where Zendaya recently arrived. for what will be an "extensive, multi-location, multi-month shoot," according to World of Reel .

Meanwhile, Chalamet has been spotted in St. Tropez, France, with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, apparently sporting a shaved head in preparation for his return to Arrakis.

Scheduled to release December 18, 2026 Dune: Part Three comes after the second film in the series earned more than $700 million worldwide and five Oscar nominations .

Villeneuve has previously insisted that the next Dune adaptation "will not be the completion of a trilogy."

Instead, he told Deadline in October 2024 that he sees the first two films as "one entity. It's a movie made in two parts. It's finished, it's done."

Like Herbert did with Dune Messiah , I think it'll be a great idea to do something completely different," he revealed. "The story takes place about 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two Their journey, their story is different this time, and that's why I always say that while it's the same world, it's a new film with new circumstances.

Dune: Part Three is expected to be released December 18, 2026.

The Independent is the world's most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

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Tubi to Release Sci-Fi Series 'Demascus' After Show Was Shelved at AMC (TV News Roundup)

AMC Networks has announced a partnership with Tubi to premiere "Demascus," a new six-episode half-hour comedy sci-fi series from Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm. The series stars Okieriete Onaodowan and Janet Hubert. The series will premiere exclusively on Tubi starting Thursday, Aug. 7th.

The series follows Demascus (Onaodowan), a 33-year-old black man who begins a journey of self-discovery as he starts to use "experimental reality-bending" technology.

Additional cast members for "Demascus" include Caleb Eberhardt ("Judas and the Black Messiah," "The Post") Shakira Ja'nai Paye ("Single Drunk Female," "black-ish") " ) and Martin Lawrence ("Bad Boys.")

After "Damascus was" previously shelved In 2023, as a result of cost-cutting throughout AMC Networks, the series had already completed production in 2022. In AMC's SEC filing released in 2023, the prospects of "Demascus" being moved to a new platform seemed possible, with the company stating that the shelved series "may realize some future licensing and other revenue associated with some of the owned titles."

Through his titular character Demascus, Tearrance Chisholm asks one of life's simplest questions: What does it take to be a good man? And he answers it with some of the most surprising and nuanced revelations one could expect," reveals executive producer Mark Johnson. "We thank AMC Studios for sharing our belief in this seriocomic series and Tubi for its steadfast conviction that it belongs on the air.

"We're excited to introduce audiences to 'Demascus' " A bold, genre-bending blend of comedy and sci-fi that challenges conventions as much as it entertains," said Samuel Harowitz, SVP of Content Acquisition and Partnerships at Tubi. "At Tubi, we champion stories that surprise, provoke, delight and resonate deeply with engaged fandoms, and 'Demascus' is exactly the kind of original storytelling we're proud to spotlight.

Kirk A. Moore ("American Crime," "For Life") and Chisholm serve as the series showrunners. "Demascus" is executive produced by Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul") ") and Myki Bajaj of Gran Via Productions.

FIRST LOOKS/TRAILERS

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for the final season of "Acapulco." The fourth and final season will consist of 10 episodes and will premiere with two episodes on July 23, 2025.

Season four will follow Máximo in the present day as he works tirelessly to restore Las Colinas to its former glory before the grand reopening of the resort. In 1986, when a competitor claims the number one spot in the annual ranking of Acapulco's "Best Hotels," young Máximo will do whatever it takes to get back on top.

"Acapulco" stars Eugenio Derbez, Enrique Arrizon, Fernando Carsa, Rafael Cebrián, Vanessa Bauche, Camila Perez, Carlos Corona, Chord Overstreet, Regina Reynoso, Jessica Collins and Regina Orozco.

"Acapulco" is created by Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman. Winsberg also executive produces with Sam Laybourne, who serves as the series showrunner. Additional executive producers include Kim and Eric Tannenbaum, as well as Jason Wang on behalf of The Tannenbaum Company. Jaime Eliezer Karas also serves as an executive producer and director, with Sonia Gambaro co-executive producing for 3Pas Studios.

The show is inspired by 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films' "How to Be A Latin Lover," and is produced for Apple by Lionsgate Television, 3Pas Studios, Zihuatanejo Productions and The Tannenbaum Company. In addition to starring in the series, Derbez serves as executive producer alongside Ben Odell.

Watch the trailer for "Acapulco" below.

*

The official teaser for Peacock's "Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" has been revealed. The series will premiere on Oct. 16.

Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" follows the killer from 1972 to 1978, when thirty-three men were kidnapped, murdered, and found buried in a crawl space beneath their killer's house. The show explores and "peels back the layers of Gacy's life while weaving in heartrending stories of his victims; exploring the grief, guilt, and trauma of their families and friends; and exposing the systemic failures, missed opportunities and societal prejudices that fueled his reign of terror.

Cast members include Michael Chernus, Gabriel Luna, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan, Marin Ireland, and James Badge Dale.

"Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" is created and executive produced by Patrick Macmanus. Liz Cole for NBC News Studios serves as an executive producer, with Ashley Michel Hoban, Ahmadu Garba, and Kelly Funke for Littleton Road Productions.

Watch the trailer for "Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" below.

More from newsrealtime

• 'Demascus' at AMC Adds 'Oklahoma!' Star Sasha Hutchings to Cast (EXCLUSIVE)
• "Demascus" at AMC Completes Cast with Janet Hubert, Caleb Eberhardt and Shakira Ja'nai Paye

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"The Old Guard 2": Netflix sequel has more lore, more laws, less fun

Whoever said that death is easy, life is hard, has not met Andromache the Scythian.

For millennia, this immortal warrior has protected humanity, even when humanity doesn't seem to deserve it. Living is, quite literally, her superpower. (I'll spare you the blasé, millennial-core joke here.)

Now Andy (Charlize Theron) is back in "The Old Guard 2," still leading her team of fellow immortal fighters: Nicky and Joe (Luca Marinelli and Marwan Kenzari), two warring Crusaders who fell in love; Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), who fought for Napoleon; and Nile (KiKi Layne), the cohort's newest addition, a U.S. Marine plucked from service in Afghanistan.

Victoria Mahoney directs this sequel, now streaming on Netflix, a follow-up to the 2020 fun and complex superhero film "The Old Guard," directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

After all these centuries, what keeps these heroes in the fight?

It's Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an ex-CIA agent who betrays the immortals in "The Old Guard" only to become an ally in the sequel, who discovers the team's ripple effect. A life saved in one generation can result in a Nobel Peace Prize four generations later (though this logic escapes me — surely evil can ripple out as easily as goodness? Surely a henchman killed is as likely to have saintly offspring as anyone else?). But no matter; this realization keeps the world-weary Andy going.

Because there's always evil to fight. The "Old Guard" villain was a Martin Shkreli-style pharma bro who wanted to mine the immortals for science. This time, the call is coming from inside the house.

"The Old Guard 2" introduces not one but three new ancient immortals: Quynh (Veronica Ngo), Andy's longtime companion and moral compass, who was drowned in an iron cage for witchcraft 500 years ago; Tuah (Henry Golding), a dedicated archivist who seems to exist just to explain immortal lore; and finally, an immortal so old she doesn't even have a name, known instead as an abstract concept, Discord (Uma Thurman).

After eons of secrecy, Discord reveals herself for reasons her fellow immortals will soon find out.

The first "Old Guard" threads an impressive blockbuster needle, blending the action and body count of a "Mission: Impossible" with the warm appeal of historical fiction and the ineffable thrills of legends and magic.

Despite excellent performances all around, that balance is off in this follow-up, which has more characters but is less character-driven. Prince-Bythewood's tenderness with these immortals — still fragile and human, bonded by love and isolation — felt intimate and special, highlighting the time-worn charm of centuries-old friendships, as well as Nicky and Joe's 1,000-year love story.

This sequel manages to capture some of that historical appeal in one small, lovely scene, as Andy walks through a street in Rome and through her own memories of that place, which flash before our eyes.

But the action feels less successful, as the incredible combination of fighting styles — aided by some fun weapons, new and ancient — gets swallowed in a flurry of quick cuts. (This sequel significantly increases the gross factor in its action to show us these characters' healing abilities — watching Nicky's foot get ripped off as he's dragged from a speeding car wasn't my favorite visual.)

Greg Rucka, who adapted "The Old Guard" from the comic he created with Leandro Fernandez, also co-wrote this screenplay with Sarah L. Walker. Unfortunately, the sequel lacks the emotional finesse and logical complexity of its predecessor, and keeps characters unnecessarily withholding information from each other for no discernible reason other than that their ignorance is necessary for the plot to continue.

Thanks to resident librarian Tuah, "Old Guard 2" adds layers of lore explaining how and when an immortal can lose their immortality — but adding new rules to a universe can create logical inconsistencies that didn't exist before, and that's never a good distraction.

It's also too obviously one piece in a franchise. We lose one immortal for good, but we lose others as they're vacuum-sealed and shipped off to who-knows-where at Discord's instruction, teeing us up for another adventure. Hopefully, that one will be a bit more fun.

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'The Old Guard 2': Netflix sequel has more lore, more laws, less fun

Whoever said death is easy, living is hard hasn't met Andromache the Scythian.

For millennia, this immortal warrior has protected humanity, even when humanity doesn't seem to deserve it. Living is, quite literally, her superpower. (I'll spare you the blasé, millennial-core joke here.)

Now Andy (Charlize Theron) is back in "The Old Guard 2," still leading her team of fellow immortal fighters: Nicky and Joe (Luca Marinelli and Marwan Kenzari), two warring Crusaders who fell in love; Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), who fought for Napoleon; and Nile (KiKi Layne), the cohort's newest addition, a U.S. Marine plucked from service in Afghanistan.

Victoria Mahoney directs this sequel, now streaming on Netflix, a follow-up to 2020's fun and complex superhero film "The Old Guard," directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

After all these centuries, what keeps these heroes in the fight?

It's Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an ex-CIA agent who betrays the immortals in "The Old Guard" only to become an ally in the sequel, who discovers the team's ripple effect. A life saved in one generation can result in a Nobel Peace Prize four generations later (though this logic escapes me—surely evil can ripple out as easily as goodness? Surely a henchman killed is as likely to have saintly offspring as anyone else?). But no matter; this realization keeps the world-weary Andy going.

Because there's always evil to fight. "The Old Guard" villain was a Martin Shkreli-style pharma bro who wanted to exploit the immortals for science. This time, the threat is coming from within the house itself.

“The Old Guard 2” introduces not one but three new ancient immortals: Quynh (Veronica Ngô), Andy’s longtime companion and moral compass, who was drowned in an iron cage for witchcraft 500 years ago; Tuah (Henry Golding), a dedicated archivist who seems to exist just to explain immortal lore; and finally, an immortal so old she doesn’t even have a name, known instead as an abstract concept, Discord (Uma Thurman).

After eons of secrecy, Discord reveals herself for reasons her fellow immortals will soon discover.

The first “Old Guard” threads an impressive blockbuster needle, blending the action and body count of a “Mission: Impossible” with the warm appeal of historical fiction and the ineffable thrills of legends and magic.

Despite excellent performances all around, that balance is off in this follow-up, which has more characters but is less character-driven. Prince-Bythewood's tenderness with these immortals — still fragile and human, bonded by love and isolation — felt intimate and special, highlighting the timeworn charm of centuries-old friendships, as well as Nicky and Joe's 1,000-year love story.

This sequel manages to capture some of that historical appeal in one small, lovely scene, as Andy walks through a street in Rome and through her own memories of that place, which flash before our eyes.

But the action feels less successful, as the incredible combination of fighting styles — aided by some fun weapons, new and ancient — gets swallowed in a flurry of quick cuts. (This sequel does up the gross factor in its action significantly, to show us these characters' healing abilities — watching Nicky's foot get ripped off as he's dragged from a speeding car wasn't my favorite visual.)

Greg Rucka, who adapted "The Old Guard" from the comic he created with Leandro Fernandez, also co-wrote this screenplay with Sarah L. Walker. Unfortunately, the sequel lacks the emotional deftness and logical density of its predecessor, and keeps characters pointlessly withholding information from one another for no discernible reason other than that their ignorance is necessary for the plot to continue.

Thanks to resident librarian Tuah, “Old Guard 2” adds layers of lore explaining how and when an immortal can lose their immortality—but introducing new rules to a universe can create logical inconsistencies that didn’t exist before, and that’s never a good distraction.

It's also too obviously one piece in a franchise. We lose one immortal for good, but we lose others as they're vacuum-sealed and shipped off to who-knows-where at Discord's instruction, teeing us up for another adventure. Hopefully, that one will be a bit more fun.

Read More

Critics Have Seen Heads Of State, And They’re Saying The Same Thing About John Cena And Idris Elba’s ‘Dumb Comedy’

There are plenty of action movies we’ve been excited to see this year, and as we wait for blockbusters like Superman and slasher sequels like I Know What You Did Last Summer John Cena and Idris Elba are hoping to provide audiences with some humor to go with their hijinks. Heads of State will be available to stream with a Prime Video subscription when it hits the 2025 movie premiere calendar just in time for July Fourth, and critics mostly agree it's the best kind of dumb comedy.

In Heads of State , Idris Elba and John Cena team up the name of action, playing the British prime minister and the U.S. president, respectively. After an assassination attempt, the bickering world leaders are forced to work together to keep each other alive and thwart a global conspiracy. In newsrealtime’s review of Heads of State , our own Nick Venable says he "had a blast," giving the movie 4 out of 5 stars and saying:

[When] John Cena and Idris Elba are removed from the bulk of the other main characters, that's when things get cooking. Without anyone else yapping in their ears, Will and Sam are forced to meet in the middle and work together, which is the foundation of any great buddy action movie. The movie never loses sight of that kinship, either, throughout all the other bone-breaking brawls, bullet-hell gunfights, and twisty plot machinations.

Nate Richard of Collider agrees, giving Heads of State a 7 out of 10 for being "stupid in all the right ways." Idris Elba and John Cena are so great together that they overshadow a lot of the film's other shortcomings, Richard says, writing:

Right from the start, Heads of State knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be, fully embracing all the goofiness and silliness in a way that feels endearing rather than careless. [Director Ilya Naishuller] continues to establish himself as one of the most dependable action directors working today... It's unapologetic, goofy, and self-aware, while still delivering flashy action sequences that look surprisingly impressive. It's the perfect movie to watch on the 4th of July after you return from watching the fireworks.

IndieWire’s Siddhant Adlakha gives the movie a B and calls it "a hoot," writing:

Torn between action and comedy, irony and sentiment, and rah-rah jingoism and genuine self-reflection, Heads of State is a surprisingly entertaining romp. From a distance, the star-studded Prime Video romp feels like a fake movie-within-a-movie — which is ironic, given how many of these it features in its running time — but the stylings of director Ilya Naishuller help rescue it from the algorithmic abyss of films like Red Notice, which feel more like star-driven pyramid schemes than works of popcorn cinema.

Olly Richards of Empire rates the upcoming Idris Elba movie 4 out of 5 stars, writing that this "really good, dumb comedy" has no ambitions to be anything other than a thoroughly good time, allowing it to hit that undemanding but entertaining sweet spot that many action-comedies lack. The critic continues:

After the uncertain start, director Ilya Naishuller develops a strong handle on the tone, building the absurdity gradually, so it never lurches. He piles up touches of goofiness bit by bit, like a game of Buckaroo!, careful never to do too much too quickly and send the whole thing skittering. By the time it reaches its highly improbable conclusion, you could reasonably be rolling your eyes at how mad it all is, but you'll probably be having such a blast that you won't feel any need to.

If dumb humor is what Heads of State is going for, Justin Kim of Loud and Clear thinks it perhaps didn’t go far enough. The critic left the theater not fully satisfied but still rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars, writing that it provided too much entertainment to warrant a low score. In Kim’s words:

Heads of State needed to choose a clear path. It could have either doubled down on the silliness of the premise and gone full 80s style camp with its tone and action, or been a bit more original about its drama and spy thriller plot. When the film tries to take the middle road, it ends up flatlining, and we're left with a movie that's neither memorably silly nor memorably serious.

It sounds like the critics are mostly in agreement that Heads of State is great for a dose of stupid summer fun. Go ahead and add me to that list, as I also attended an early screening and was highly amused by the banter between John Cena and Idris Elba. You won't have to wait long or go far for this one. Heads of State hits Amazon's Prime Video on Wednesday, July 2.

Like this article? For more stories like this, follow us on MSN by clicking the +Follow button at the top of this page.

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Marin native stars alongside himself in horror movie 'The Twin'

June 30—In the new horror film "The Twin," Logan Donovan, who grew up in San Anselmo, has found his most challenging and satisfying acting partner yet: himself.

Directed by J.C. Doler in his feature film debut and co-produced by Donovan, who graduated from then-Drake High School in 2003, "The Twin" focuses on a man named Nicholas who experiences horrifying visions of his doppelgänger while dealing with the death of his son and the fraying of his marriage. Originally titled "The Speck" after a folkloric Irish spirit whose presence foretells impending death, "The Twin" won best screenplay at 2021's Screamfest and made it to the Black List, an annual survey of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood, that same year. After being picked up by Vertical, it's available to purchase or rent on Apple TV+ on Tuesday, and a limited theatrical release will come on Friday in theaters in Brooklyn, Chicago, Detroit and Long Beach.

It's a powerful leading role for Donovan, who is best known so far for appearing in TV dramas such as "Grey's Anatomy" and the recent reboot of "Magnum, P.I." The role required him not only to play two characters but also to immerse himself in the extreme emotional state of a man grappling not only with the breakdown of his family but also with the collapse of his own reality.

The Marin IJ spoke to Donovan, who has lived in Los Angeles since 2008 after studying acting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, about the challenges of the performances and the experience of stepping into such a demanding role.

Q What about the script stood out to you when you first read it?

I've read a lot of horror scripts, and generally you get the blood and the guts and the jump scares and all of that. This script stood out because it was so character-driven. It lived in relationships and not in the gimmicks of horror. It's horror with heart, and when I first read it, it had my heart pounding the whole time. It was a real page-turner, and reading for this role of Nicholas, it was pretty terrifying just because of the journey the character goes on. Stepping into this character's shoes felt daunting. It deals heavily with grief, the loss of a child, and the strains in a marriage, and also the psychological breakdown of reality.

It's a very emotionally demanding role, on top of having to play Nicholas and his doppelgänger, the Fetch. The lucky part was that by the time we shot, I had already been working on the role for three years and helping develop the character and the story with the writers and producers. By the time we got on set, it was a harmonious, coherent team who all had the same vision and supported each other.

A: Tell me about the challenges of playing a dual role.

For this film, the big question for me was how we were going to match the tone of what we were going for. If we get really cartoony with the character, do we lose touch with the relationship and the grounded reality we're trying to introduce to the audience? We're making a horror film that needs to be entertaining, but not so far that it looks cheesy or gimmicky.

It was also important to all of us that we represent mental illness in a different way. The movie is based on a schizophrenic condition, so the writers consulted with psychiatrists and wanted to accurately portray the experience of this character based on the circumstances and what he's going through.

A: Did you draw on any personal experiences from your life in this role?

I didn't have anything to do with the conception of the story, but as an actor, I find that all my life experiences have given me a broader toolkit. I haven't lost a child, but I understand the feeling of loss from relatives or friends passing away, and I've personally had a battle with cancer. It's that fundamental fear of not being in control of what happens, to a certain extent, in this life. We don't really have a culture that looks at these things closely. I think the writers did a beautiful job portraying the gray areas of the grieving process and loss.

As an actor, I live in a context where I need to think about these aspects of life — what is it about these things that are terrifying? How do I relate to that? I've been lucky in that I went to a great drama school in North Carolina and had great acting coaches in Marin and people saying, "You need to look deeper into what this is." At a certain point, it's not about acting techniques, it's about relating to yourself, the world and people around you. That's what you really draw from.

A: There have been many movies featuring dual roles lately — "Sinners," "Mickey 17," "The Monkey," and "The Alto Knights." What do you think draws people to the concept of doppelgängers and doubles?

I do think it's so interesting to see how when there's one project coming out like that, inevitably there's going to be a handful of others. No one's really aware of what other people are doing. I can relate to it in that we live in a world where people want to put you in a box and they say, "Well, what do you do?" I'm an actor, but I'm also a portrait photographer. It feels like we're so multifaceted and we have so many sides. There's an evil side of me and a good side of me. It speaks to the fact that we're not all one thing.

© 2025 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.). Visit www.marinij.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Lisa Jewell on writing bad guys, those twist endings, and when her books will hit Netflix

Closed-door affairs. Manipulative protagonists. Eerie disappearances. Gruesome murders.

These are the unsettling hallmarks of a Lisa Jewell novel, but not by the woman behind the books. The "None of This is True" author may write some of the darkest stories on your bookshelf , but unlike her characters, she's notoriously optimistic and a "terrible liar," she says.

It's surprising, given how sinister her books are. Jewell has a cult following of thriller readers, writing some of the genre's best twist endings. But her sunny outlook on life is exactly why she loves writing. psychological thrillers "She loves to get inside the head of someone completely different from her," she tells USA TODAY.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need delivered to your inbox each morning.

Jewell pitched her first novel, "Ralph's Party," as a psychological thriller, but, being young and in love in London, it manifested as a romance. Through her next few pastel-book-covered romances, readers kept remarking how surprisingly dark the material was.

"I was really pushing a little bit against the genre, not wanting it to be too saccharine and too feel good and too sweet. I was tucking quite a lot of dark stuff away in those books," Jewell says. "Then I got older, my career changed, my editor changed and I just sort of thought, 'OK, it's time, I think, to start killing people.'"

Readers can expect plenty of that in her latest, "Don't Let Him In" (out now from Simon & Schuster ).

New Lisa Jewell inspired by 'Who TF Did I Marry?,' social media sleuthing

In "Don't Let Him In," several women clash over one shady yet seemingly perfect man. At the center of the story is Nina Swann and her adult daughter, Ash, both mourning the recent murder of their husband and father, Paddy. Nina receives condolences from one of his old friends, unexpectedly finding herself swept off her feet by this new, captivating man. Nina feels drawn to him, but Ash grows worried. Meanwhile, in a neighboring town, florist and young mother Martha tries to unravel the mystery of her vanishing husband, whose absences for "work" grow longer each week.

"Don't Let Him In" reads like a cautionary "Who TF Did I Marry" clip or a post from a cheater-exposing Facebook page , but with more secrets, bodies, and beachside ruminations. True crime and TikTok sleuthing inspired Jewell, who is fascinated by toxic "flighty and nonexistent" men who "float away in the slightest gusts of wind and just leave no trace." Jewell thought it high time for some consequences.

Where are these men in these stories and these podcasts and these documentaries? Where are they? They never find them, they never talk to them, and I know that's why I just wanted to pin one down," Jewell says. "I just wanted to pin one down on the page and just get him down there and get into his head and find out what made him tick.

As emotionally abusive partners do, Jewell had to spin a web of lies and excuses to gaslight her female characters. Though she admits she's not a good liar, Jewell said it was easier to come up with plausible explanations for shady behavior than she expected.

Part of it comes from personal experience.

Jewell has spoken publicly about her ex-husband, whom she described as a "coercive controller," in 2024. interview with the Telegraph And while she tells USA TODAY that no character is based on her ex-husband, her experience being in a relationship involving "low-level gaslighting" and "control" gave her empathy for her female characters.

"Five years of my life ... really gave me an understanding of what it's like to take the wrong turn and let the wrong person in, so I'm always writing about that," Jewell says.

How Lisa Jewell creates those shocking endings

Another hallmark of a Lisa Jewell novel? It'll keep you guessing right up until the very end.

"Getting that ending right" is key, says Jewell, who wants her books to be accessible and still leave you feeling breathless. Jewell is a big thriller reader herself, and it gives her a healthy sense of competition.

(It) makes me feel very, very ambitious about my endings, makes me want my endings to be better than other people's endings," Jewell says. "Those closing moments of reading a thriller can sometimes just slip away, because it's all about ticking boxes and explaining this, explaining that, and then you get to the end. ... I want my readers to finish the book and feel something. I want them to either feel uncomfortable or to feel emotional.

The ending of "Don't Let Him In" took her a few tries to get right, but she hopes it'll leave her readers feeling both.

Is she ever as haunted by her books as her readers are? Never, she says, until recently. Her next book is "really weird" and "creepy," and she was battling what she thought was the end of a summer cold while writing it. But the second she finished the book, she felt better.

"This book was having an effect on me, it was making me feel uncomfortable," Jewell says, and both of us grimace, partly out of excitement for future twists in store. "That's never happened to me writing a book before, and it's affected my mood, it's affected my psyche."

'None of This is True,' 'Then She Was Gone' movie updates

Yes – as well as "Then She Was Gone." Netflix will develop a movie version of "None of This is True," Deadline first reported In 2024. It's moving the fastest of any other planned adaptations, Jewell says, though it's still in early stages.

I want to get excited, but experience has taught me that it's better just to be patient and wait, and it will happen," Jewell says. "At one point in my very, very long career, I will get to see something that I've written appear on a screen. When that will happen, I don't know, but currently we're quite close.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back: After a hiatus, the author surprised herself with 'Atmosphere'

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers highly anticipated releases, interviews authors, and explores the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram , subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@newsrealtime .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lisa Jewell on writing bad guys, those twist endings, and when her books will hit Netflix

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Police evaluating Kneecap and Bob Vylan Glastonbury performances

Police say they are assessing footage from Kneecap and Bob Vylan's Saturday performances at Glastonbury to determine if any 'criminal investigation' is required.

It comes as Rapper Bobby Vylan, of the rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds at the festival’s West Holts Stage in chants of: "Free, free Palestine" and: "Death, death to the IDF."

Earlier on the same stage, Kneecap member Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Caireallain) suggested fans “start a riot” outside his bandmate’s upcoming court appearance, before clarifying, “No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine”.

More: Who are Kneecap and why is their Glastonbury appearance so controversial?

In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.

Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.

Reacting to the news, the Israeli Embassy said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival."

The Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described Vylan's comments as "grotesque," while a BBC spokesperson said that some of the comments made during his set were "deeply offensive."

During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.

A UK government spokesperson said that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan’s performance and that she “welcomes” the decision not to make it available for viewing on iPlayer.

They added that they "strongly condemn the threatening comments" made during his set.

The BBC did not broadcast rap trio Kneecap's performance live but have since made the set available to view on demand.

It was understood that the broadcaster needed to 'consider' the performance before making a final decision.

However, thousands tuned in as a member of the crowd live-streamed the full set on social media platform TikTok.

The band reached out to the woman, known as Helen from Wales, calling her a “legend”.

"Tickets to any show just give us a shout! GRMA," the band commented.

The residents of west Belfast and Derry have been in the headlines after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offense.

In the lead-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the lineup, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be "appropriate."

During their set on Saturday, member Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Caireallain) said: “The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.”

He also said a "big thank you to the Eavis family" and said "they stood strong" amid calls for the organizers to drop them from the lineup.

The band also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine,” with Mo Chara commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival.

The 27-year-old wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Próvaí, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: “We are all Palestine Action” in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group.

News broadcasts criticizing the hip hop trio that played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience.

The trio opened with the song "Better Way to Live" from their 2024 album "Fine Art" and also performed tracks including "Get Your Brits Out" and "Hood."

Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organization Hezbollah and saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November last year.

On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with his bandmates at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts.

He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20.

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