Roland Emmerich's 1996 movie Independence Day is a truly iconic movie and is arguably one of the best sci-fi movies from the '90s. That film (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription) is regularly re-watched to this day, particularly during the Fourth of July season. I recently did just that over the Holiday Weekend, and was shocked when my Gen Z sister-in-law was not only not a fan... but actively made fun of the movie throughout our watch.

Independence Day just turned 30, and remains a vital part of the pop culture landscape despite how many years have passed. So when it rained one morning during the Fourth of July weekend at a friend's lake house, I made the suggestion that we put on the beloved blockbuster. And while the millennials and Gen X-ers in the room loved re-watching that acclaimed movie, my Zoomer sister-in-law did not have the same reaction.

I Was Shocked My Sister-In-Law Made Fun Of Independence Day

While I unironically decided to re-watch Independence Day, my sister-in-law started poking fun at it pretty immediately. She picked apart some of the movie's logic, such as the way Vivica A. Fox's Jasmine was able to save herself (and her son and dog) by hiding in a tunnel inspection alcove as Los Angeles was destroyed. She also laughed at how many cars were shown flying through the air as a result of the UFO's destructive beams.

I got defensive when she started making fun of Bill Pullman's performance as President Thomas J. Whitmore. He's typically a fan favorite character, with Whitmore's titular speech being one of the most iconic moments in the entire movie. But she thought he kept mogging throughout his scenes, whether or not he was actually the focus. It's not the actor's fault that he was so handsome during the movie! I mean, I could say the same for Jeff Goldblum, who looks truly incredible as David Levinson.

While I could understand some of my sister-in-law's points, I also found myself defending Emmerich's movie throughout the re-watch on Hulu. The title was universally acclaimed upon its release, and I maintain that it holds up well all these years later. What's more, BTS information about Independence Day is still trickling out to this day.

Now if she wanted to poke holes in the sequel Resurgence, that would have been a different story entirely. The long-awaited Independence Day sequel's reviews were poor upon its release, mostly because it failed to reach the same level as its predecessor. Although clearly the 1996 original isn't for everyone. Regardless, I can't stop, won't stop defending its quality.

Both Independence Day and Resurgence are streaming now on Hulu. We'll just have to wait and see if more Zoomers feel similarly when it's annually rewatched next year.

This weekend is not just any Fourth of July. The U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday, so I would be remiss if I didn't dedicate this week's movie quiz entirely to a movie that is, well, somewhat connected to the annual holiday. I mean, it's less about the nation's independence as it is about humans trying to survive a global alien invasion, but the days the event takes place and the title of the movie line up, so it counts.

I know I'm not alone in having seen Independence Day countless times since its release in 1996. With that in mind, I tried to make this puzzle just a little bit harder than the usual movie quizzes I do. See how many clues you can solve! And if it's too hard, maybe it's time to revisit the movie. Independence Day is streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The Duffer Brothers don’t seem to have taken much time off to bask in the end of Stranger Things, continuing their working relationship with Netflix as the executive producers of Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 (the animated spinoff that they also created) and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Now, a third series is hitting the 2026 TV schedule that boasts Matt and Ross Duffer as EPs — The Boroughs —, and while it has a high Rotten Tomatoes score, there's one thing viewers should keep in mind regarding the new horror series.

The Boroughs stars Alfred Molina as the recently widowed Sam Cooper, who moves into the titular retirement home and must team up with his fellow residents to stop an otherworldly threat. The show has garnered 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is impressive, but most of these positive scores seem to come from critics who think the show is pretty good but not great. David Opie of Empire, for instance, rates it 3 out of 5 stars and says:

The Boroughs’ cast is certainly outstanding, with Hollywood vets like Alfre Woodard, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman and Denis O'Hare. In fact, Saloni Gajjar of AV Club says the show benefits from centering on aging adults who challenge authority, rather than angsty pre-teens. Alfred Molina, in particular, is “so gosh darn adorable,” Gajjar says. The critic gives the series a B, writing:

Cheryl Eddy of Gizmodo says the new series created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews fits right in with A Man on the Inside and The Thursday Murder Club (both of which can also be streamed with a Netflix subscription), and even if you’ve got a good idea of where the story is going, getting there is an “absolute pleasure.” Eddy continues:

Aimee Hart of Polygon notes how refreshing it is that The Boroughs treats aging as something to be celebrated amongst its characters rather than reducing them to punchlines and eyeroll-worthy stereotypes. So while comparisons to Stranger Things are inevitable, it’s actually what’s different from that series that makes this one so special. Hart writes:

Angie Han of THR thinks the cast of The Boroughs is done a disservice by the series’ dull plot. That said, however, the critic still encourages Netflix subscribers to give it a chance, writing:

That high Rotten Tomatoes score probably deserves an asterisk due to the reviews noting its clunky and predictable elements, but even with those issues, critics are charmed with Alfred Molina and his co-stars enough to recommend The Boroughs anyway.

If you want to check it out, all eight episodes of The Boroughs are available to stream now.

I’ve always struggled to picture a Spaceballs sequel without John Candy. His role as Barf was the heart of the movie, and recasting that energy feels impossible. So when I heard about the upcoming Spaceballs: The New One, I wasn’t sold. After hearing Bill Pullman’s recent reassuring Josh Gad comments, I’m feeling a bit better about it.

In a recent interview clip shared by Fandango, Bill Pullman weighed in on Josh Gad and how he fits into this new version of the story. The way he framed it isn’t about replacing Candy, but about carrying something forward. He shared:

The biggest concern with something like a Spaceballs sequel isn’t just whether it can be funny. It's not just whether it can follow up one of the greatest parody movies of all time. Instead, it’s whether it can feel like it's still a Spaceballs film 40 years after the original's release, and without some of the people who made it what it was. Candy, in particular, brought a warmth that balanced out all the absurdity. He wasn’t just there for the jokes, but he grounded them. That’s where Gad becomes an interesting choice.

If you look at his past work, especially in comedies, there’s a similar kind of energy there. Not identical, and it shouldn’t be, but adjacent. He’s someone who can lean into the ridiculous while still making the character feel like a person you want to root for or hang out with. That’s not easy to pull off, especially in something as intentionally over-the-top as Spaceballs. Still, it sounds like the Olaf voice star has the best intentions, which is probably good considering he co-wrote the Spaceballs 2 screenplay.

Pullman’s comments also tap into something many reboots struggle with. You don’t need to recreate what came before beat for beat, but you do need a similar tone and feel. A lot of the sense of fun in original rested on John Candy’s comedic shoulders.

If Josh Gad really does bring that same kind of Candy joy to the set, that might be the closest thing you can get to honoring the late actor and what he brought to the big screen, without trying to imitate it. There’s still a lot we don’t know about Spaceballs: The New One. Details are pretty limited, and there’s always a risk when you revisit something this beloved. Comedy, especially, is tricky. What worked decades ago doesn’t always land the same way now, and the balance between nostalgia and something fresh is hard to get right.

This is the first time the project feels like it might truly grasp what made the original special. I suppose I’ll have to give the film a chance when it finally reaches theaters, not on the 2026 movie calendar, but on April 23, 2027. While we wait for the follow-up release, you can revisit the OG flick with an Amazon Prime Video Subscription.

There are oh so many reasons to be stoked about the release of Spaceballs 2. It’s the long-awaited sequel to one of the best parody movies ever, it will see a lot of the original cast return (including Rick Moranis), and it’s co-written by Josh Gad. However, one of the reasons I’m the most excited for this project is because it will star both Bill and Lewis Pullman. Now, the Independence Day actor has shared his sweet take on working with his son, which has made me even more thrilled that they’re both in this movie.

Now, before they started filming Spaceballs 2, Lewis Pullman said he was “excited as hell” to work with Bill, and noted that it’s “pretty monumental” to be doing something like this with his father. They’re done filming the comedy now, and while at the premiere for his son’s latest movie, The Testament of Ann Lee, Bill was asked about working with him on the parody sequel. In response, he told Us Weekly:

First of all, it’s amazing and hilarious that Lewis will be playing Bill’s son in Spaceballs 2. Considering the Casper actor’s character Lone Starr is a whole lot like Han Solo, it would track if the Top Gun: Maverick actor’s character, Starburst, was kind of like Kylo Ren. That’s not confirmed; however, people are guessing that the last Star Wars trilogy will serve as inspiration for this comedy, and it would be unsurprising if this is the case.

Now, back to the Pullmans working together. Bill noted that it was special for more reasons than one. That’s because Lewis is actually the same age now that his dad was when he played Lone Starr for the first time. Speaking to that point, the While You Were Sleeping actor said:

It must be kind of a trip to return to a project like Spaceballs for Bill Pullman. That’s because it was his second movie ever (his first was 1986’s Ruthless People), and it helped kickstart his career in a big way. To this day, Spaceballs, which you can stream with an HBO Max subscription, is one of his most beloved films. However, adding your son to the cast has to make it all the more surreal.

Then, it gets wilder because Lewis, who looks a whole lot like his dad, is the same age now as Bill was back in 1987. Now, notably, Lewis has done a bunch of work before this, as he’s starred in Top Gun: Maverick, Lesson in Chemistry, Outer Range, Thunderbolts* and more. However, he’s still very much in the early years of his career and is growing as a star, just like his father did.

Hopefully, Spaceballs 2 can be added to our list of the iconic parent-child duos, and it makes it even better that said duo will be played by an actual parent and child. Based on Bill and Lewis Pullman’s enthusiasm about this project and collaborating together, I’m feeling pretty good about it, and now I really can’t wait to travel back to this silly galaxy far, far away in 2027.

I love watching all the best horror movies during the month of October, but I also love to treat myself to one of the most fun Halloween movies of my childhood during this time of the year, too. My most recent pick: 1995’s Casper. I can remember having it on VHS growing up, but I realized I hadn’t revisited it in a long time when I noticed it among the titles available with my Netflix subscription. When I clicked play, I was not expecting such a twisted storyline about the beloved cartoon character. SPOILERS are ahead.

What Happens At The End Of 1995’s Casper

Casper revolves around the friendly ghost as he lives in a house that’s been deemed haunted by its new owner, Carrigan, who's determined to rid the property of any supernatural entities after inheriting it from her late father. In a last ditch attempt to save her property, and acquire the hidden treasure located in the home, she hires Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), a ghost therapist, to help her out. The psychologist brings along his 13-year-old daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) to access the house, and it’s not long before they come across Casper and the Ghostly Trio.

Toward the end of the movie, Kat has befriended Casper and Dr. Harvey has become unexpectedly close with the Ghostly Trio. When Kat asks around about how Casper died, she jogs his memory. Casper died of pneumonia and began haunting his own father, who was declared legally insane for his constant talk of seeing his dead son.

Casper’s dad decided to build a machine called the Lazarus to bring Casper back to life, but he died before he could reunite with him. Casper unveils the machine to Kat, and they decide to use it to bring him to life – that is until a drunk Dr. Harvey falls to his death while getting drunk at a karaoke bar while hanging out with the Ghostly Trio.

Casper sacrifices his one chance to be resurrected to Dr. Harvey, and the Lazarus works. Dr. Harvey’s late wife and Kat’s mom then pays Casper a visit to commend him for his selfless act, and awards him like 45 minutes as a human to dance with Kat at her Halloween party, occurring on the premises of the house, before he becomes a ghost again.

I Can’t Stop Thinking About How Brutal The Whole Storyline Is

Oh, I have so many thoughts about how this movie plays out. For one, in the original cartoon, Casper isn’t supposed to be an actual child ghost, he’s the child of two ghost parents. The whole dark backstory the movie gives him (and fails to tell us about the Ghostly Trio) is absolutely tragic, especially because he’s basically been the slave of the trio for who knows how long. There’s also a not-so-subtle flirtation he has with Kat, because he’s stuck as the ghost of a pre-teen boy, who must be constantly thinking about all the naughty things middle school boys are known for.

But, what really irks me about the Casper ending, is how things shake out for the child ghost after all that. Kat’s mom is characterized as an angel, who decides to grant Casper the ability to be a human for a short time, but I think it’s such a mean consolation prize for using the machine his father literally made for him after Dr. Harvey was careless. At least make Casper human for a few days, or allow him to live out his human life? Instead, he simply gets a taste of having a pulse before having to share the space with the family that kept him from using a massive gift his late father slaved over to allow him to live a full life.

Look, there’s a lot that doesn’t make sense about Casper, but I actually can’t believe this movie from my childhood was so messed up!

If you’ve been keeping up with the hype around the upcoming Spaceballs 2, you probably know a few exciting things about the sequel. First off, it's actually happening! Mel Brooks is returning as Yogurt, and Josh Gad is on board as a co-writer and star. Plus, Bill Pullman is returning as Lone Starr, but this time he’s got some company—his real-life son, Lewis Pullman, is joining the cast, too. Lewis just shared a humorously sweet take on getting to suit up for the sequel to one of the best parody movies of all time alongside his dad.

In a recent interview with IMDbPro, shared via a clip on the platform’s official Instagram account, Lewis Pullman opened up about the surreal and special experience of acting alongside his father who, famously, along with the late John Candy, starred in the original 1987 Mel Brooks comedy. He told the outlet:

It’s a charmingly humble take from the younger Pullman, who’s been carving out a solid filmography of his own with hits like Top Gun: Maverick, Bad Times at the El Royale, and of course the 2025 movie release, Thunderbolts*. Pullman is certainly on the rise as he steps into the orbit of a cult classic that helped launch his dad’s career nearly four decades ago. So, in other words, he’s not trying to be Lone Starr Jr., but instead is bringing his own flavor to the party, with dad still holding the keys to the Winnebago.

Lewis Pullman was honored with the IMDb ‘Fan Favorite’ STARmeter Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, where he also debuted his latest project, The Testament of Ann Lee. And while he may be dancing in a different pair of shoes, fans are all in—especially after the hilarious teaser trailer dropped, teasing the generational team-up we've all been waiting for. Spaceballs 2 was once a mythic maybe in the Mel Brooks universe. So I'm really enthused that it's not only real now but also has some family power behind it.

Plot details remain tightly under wraps (possibly locked in a galaxy very, very, very, very far away). But here’s what we do know: Rick Moranis is back as Dark Helmet, Daphne Zuniga is returning as Princess Vespa, and Keke Palmer is joining the cast in a brand-new role. Also, Josh Greenbaum has been tapped to direct.

The real-life father-son duo adds a perfect layer of meta commentary to Spaceballs 2. Think about it—Lewis Pullman, who proved he can be seriously intimidating as Sentry in Thunderbolts*, could totally lean into that energy and play a Kylo Ren-style villain. The parody potential is off the charts. But, hey, I’ll leave the jokes to the pros.

With Mel Brooks returning, Josh Gad co-writing and starring, and the Pullmans front and center, Spaceballs 2 isn’t just a sequel—it’s a full-on passing of the Schwartz. I don't know about anyone else, I’m all in.

Spaceballs 2 is set to open in theaters sometime in 2027. Until then, you can revisit the original film, as its streaming with an HBO Max subscription.

Here’s what I knew about Independence Day before watching it for the first time: Bill Pullman gave an iconic speech as the president and the story involved aliens. That’s it; that’s all I knew. So, you better believe that when I watched this movie with my Hulu subscription for the 4th of July, I was shell-shocked. Now, while I loved that epic presidential speech I’d heard so much about, there’s another moment that really made the movie for me that I need to talk about.

All I Knew About Independence Day Was Bill Pullman Gave A Great Speech, And He Did

Now, before we dive into the scene I want to focus on, I need to give flowers where flowers are due. Bill Pullman’s Thomas J. Whitmore is an excellent disaster movie president, and he was exceptional throughout the film which was, apparently, almost called Doomsday. But his speech was the most remarkable moment.

Seeing the fighter pilot-turned-president hop up in the back of that truck with a megaphone and give such a rousing speech was applause-worthy. I mean, I was ready to stand, salute, and go into battle when Pullman’s president said:

And then, this guy hopped off that truck and into a plane to go fight off the aliens. Talk about a hero.

However, there are a lot of heroes involved in this story, and while that speech left a mark, the moment I keep thinking about involves Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith’s trip to space.

It's Will Smith And Jeff Goldblum Flying That Alien Spaceship That Really Got Me

Now, Bill Pullman’s speech was rousing and great motivation to go into battle. However, the real action came from Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum as their characters flew an alien spaceship into the bigger ship that was trying to destroy them.

Throughout the movie, we see Smith’s Captain Steve Hiller (who Ethan Hawke could have played) prove how good he is at his job, and then he takes on the ultimate mission to fly into space. Meanwhile, Goldblum’s scientist, David Levinson, is sent to assist him. They’re an odd couple pairing, however, they worked together so well as they executed an equal parts hilarious and badass alien-destroying sequence.

So, as we’ll discuss in more detail, the moment where these two blow up the enemy is the scene from Independence Day that I can’t stop thinking about.

They're The Ones Who Really Defeated The Big Bad In One Big, Giant, Action-Packed And Funny Sequence

While all the pilots work together to ultimately take down the alien spaceship, the entire reason it’s possible comes down to Steven and David’s actions. They’re the ones who are sent to infect the big ship and fly a literal alien spaceship.

It feels like the most impossible mission; however, they hang on to whatever courage they have and execute the plan. And it works! After hitting the alien, they manage to fly out and effectively blow up the bigger spacecraft that was trying to kill all the humans.

The moment was so victorious that I was clapping on my couch, and I honestly wanted to scream along with Will Smith as he flew that ship out of the bigger ship before it exploded. Plus, the acting going on in the ship mixed with the, honestly, impressive special and practical effects used for the aliens and the explosion left my jaw on the floor.

However, it wasn’t just the epic nature of the moment that made this so memorable; it was also the immaculate comedic chemistry between Smith and Goldblum.

Will Smith And Jeff Goldblum Are The Dynamic Duo I Never Knew I Needed

I’ve seen many of Jeff Goldblum’s best movies, and I’ve also witnessed some of Will Smith’s finest performances, so I’m not sure why I didn’t realize how iconic their work in Independence Day is.

Throughout the film, their individual storylines had me on the edge of my seat and laughing. I mean, Smith dragging that alien through the desert was A+ stuff. However, the real magic started happening when they came together.

Their nervously talking about the “checkmate” and lighting those cigars was a nice vulnerable moment that served as the calm before the big storm. Seeing them share the scene was heartwarming, and I appreciated how they banded together to accomplish this. Then, things got funny.

After Goldblum’s David activated the infection, I got such a kick out of seeing the two through the windshield as they quipped:

• David: Hey, alright, look at us, take a look at the Earthlings. Goodbye!
• Steve: Y’all take care, all right. Nothing but love for you.

Throughout the movie, they both showed off their sense of humor on many occasions; however, there is no better example of it than the way they bicker while getting out of the ship. From quibbling over whether the fat lady has sung, to Goldblum’s backseat driving, to Elvis quotes and impressions, I couldn’t stop giggling while also being in awe of the action.

It was the most entertaining part of the movie, and it served as a major climax that brought everything together. For a lot of the film, the main characters were separate and moving toward each other. To see them all come together to fight off the aliens, and specifically to watch Goldblum and Smith be the ones to really get them in such an epic and funny way, was so satisfying.

Well, all this considered, I know I’ll be rewatching Independence Day next year when the 4th of July rolls around. It’s such a well-done disaster flick that’s full of memorable moments and brilliant performances. However, when I think about what will stick with me the most, it will be this bicker-filled, funny and heroic scene between Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.

If you felt a disturbance in the Schwartz yesterday, that was millions of Spaceballs fans losing their minds over the news that Spaceballs 2 has a release window set for 2027 and Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis may even return for the new movie, penned by Josh Gad. But the fun doesn’t stop there, as another actor is reportedly in talks to join the film, and fans have already cast him.

Alongside the news that Pullman and Moranis had reportedly signed on to this sequel came the news that Keke Palmer was on board to play a new character as well. Now THR reports that Lewis Pullman, son of Bill, is in talks to join his father in the sequel. To say fans are on board with the casting of one of the stars of the recent Thunderbolts* movie would be an understatement, and they’ve already cast him as the film’s version of Kylo Ren. Comments include:

• no other option than for lewis to parody ben solo - @balancedpadawan
• BEN SOLO PARODY I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THESE - @theres_a_bea
• If this ends up true and he plays the parody of Ben Solo you’ll never hear me shut up about it - @isacchili
• WELCOME BACK KYLO REN - @hxwkes_
• omg is he gonna be the kylo ren knock off?? if so, i will be obsessed - @anxious_kitty

Once somebody says it, it’s difficult to see anything else. If we assume that Spaceballs 2 is going to take more than a little inspiration from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, then creating a character who is a take on Kylo Ren makes sense. And since that character should be the son of Lone Starr, Bill Pullman’s Han Solo-esque character from the first film, casting his actual son makes all the sense in the world.

Now I’m envisioning Lewis Pullman as an extra winy goth kid throwing a temper tantrum, and I’m already laughing. The Top Gun: Maverick actor won’t just look the part because he’s the son of Bill Pullman either; he would simply be an inspired choice to be a parody of Adam Driver. I am fully on board with this entire idea.

And if the reports of Rick Moranis being back turn out to be accurate, then things could get really exciting. Kylo Ren never got to actually interact with Darth Vader. One can only imagine how hilarious it will be if their parody versions cross paths.

With the film still two years away, there’s a lot that could still happen, but the fact that the sequel is on the way with a fantastic reported cast is glorious. Now we can focus on the important debate of whether it should be called Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money or if they should title it Spaceballs 3: The Search For Spaceballs 2.

Mel Brooks is one of the great comedy geniuses of the 20th century. He has so many fantastic films that it's hard to pick a favorite, but Spaceballs has to be near the top of any list. His Star Wars spoof is so spot on that it even makes fun of franchises and sequels. Well, soon it will be one.

Spaceballs 2 Has The Perfect Announcement Teaser

Josh Gad had previously revealed that he had written a sequel to Spaceballs, but beyond the fact that it existed, what we know about Spaceballs 2, like what it will be about or when we might see it, was limited at best. That just changed as an official Spaceballs 2 announcement just dropped that confirmed the movie is coming and set for a 2027 release. Check out the hilarious announcement above.

The teaser is perfect. The original Spaceballs included a Star Wars-style opening crawl that was as funny as anything else in the movie. This one is focused on poking fun at the absolutely massive number of sequels and reboots that have been released over the last four decades.

Rick Moranis And Bill Pullman Are Set To Return For Spaceballs 2

However, the best part of the Spaceballs 2 news isn't the jokes, it's the news of who will be in the movie. Deadline reports Bill Pullman, who starred in the first film as Lone Starr, will be back, as will Dark Helmet himself, Rick Moranis.

The Rick Moranis return is especially noteworthy, as the actor has been largely retired from acting for quite some time. He did not return for either of the recent Ghostbusters sequels, even though there were apparently attempts to get him back. So it's worth calling out how his return for this sequel is a big deal.

As a huge Rick Moranis fan in general, and an equally big Dark Helmet fan specifically, this has me quite happy. Any attempt to make another Spaceballs would be handicapped from the outset if Moranis wasn't involved. Nobody else is quite as capable of being as funny, even while being covered by a giant metal facemask.

It seems that Josh Gad and Rick Moranis were simply destined to work together at some point. Gad spent several years trying to get a legacy sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids off the ground. There were reports at one time that Moranis would return for the sequel, and while those rumors were never confirmed, the whole project eventually fell apart anyway.

Mel Brooks will also be back in the new Spaceballs. Brooks played two parts in the original film: as the leader of the Spaceballs, President Skroob, and as the Yoda parody, Yogurt. Brooks is confirmed to be playing Yogurt again. No word on if he'll also play Skroob, but considering Skroob ends the original movie with Dark Helmet on the Planet of the Apes, it's at least possible.

The Venn diagram of horror fans and Netflix subscribers anxiously awaiting Stranger Things Season 5 is basically just a circle at this point, but it looks like creators Matt and Ross Duffer aren’t waiting around to continue building their career outside of Hawkins and the Upside Down. While it won’t be one of Netflix’s 2024 shows, the streaming giant’s latest collab with the brothers will be a wild doomsday tale that’ll pair them with one of Winona Ryder’s Beetlejuice co-stars.

On top of the Stranger Things spinoff that’s on the way, the Duffers will be producing a brand new series that seemingly isn’t related to any of their other projects, and won’t be directly adapting any other works. (They have the Stephen King Talisman series and the live-action Death Note as well.) The new series will be called The Boroughs, and will center on the following plotline, per Netflix:

For all that I don’t think this show is related to any of their other projects, it wouldn’t be too far outside the ordinary for The Boroughs to be revealed as a stealth Stranger Things sequel featuring grown up versions of all the teens. Speaking of the grown-ups, check out the stellar cast of sci-fi and horror vets that has been rounded up so far.

For the moment, character details for any of the new cast members are slight, so let’s check out each of their memorable genre projects from over the years.

Geena Davis: Having learned the acting ropes on the small screen, Geena Davis became an '80s sci-fi/horror queen thanks to the 1-2 punch of The Fly and Beetlejuice, with Earth Girls are Easy worthy of an honorable mention. Upon becoming a Hollywood starlet, Davis largely left genre projects behind until starring in the Exorcist TV show in 2016. She most recently popped up in Zoë Kravitz's thriller Blink Twice.

Bill Pullman: The first three movies in Bill Pullman's career were Ruthless People, Spaceballs and The Serpent and the Rainbow, exemplifying his multi-genre appeal and talents. He achieved another such streak in the mid-'90s with Independence Day, Lost Highway and Lake Placid, with later projects such as The Grudge, Alien Autopsy, and ID4: Resurgence keeping him a go-to fave.

Alfre Woodard: While mostly known for traditional TV and film projects such as Desperate Housewives, State of Affairs and Memphis Beat, Alfre Woodard has certainly dipped her toes into horror and sci-fi waters with projects such as Star Trek: First Contact, True Blood, and Annabelle, among others.

Alfred Molina: Having portrayed one of comic book cinema's best villains in Spider-Man foe Dr. Octopus, Alfred Molina has enough geek cred to last a lifetime, and doesn't have all that many live-action genre roles for such a prolific actor. But he's lent his voice to a slew of sci-fi/fantasy animated projects such as Gravity Falls, Solar Opposites, Infinity Train, Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, Justice League Dark and more.

Denis O'Hare: Even if he never took on another role again, Denis O'Hare would still be a horror TV king/queen for his recurring presence within Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's American Horror Story universe, where he's brought characters like Liz Taylor, Spalding and Holden Vaughn. Not that roles in True Blood or Quarantine hurt.

Clarke Peters: Perhaps best known for working on David Simon's The Wire and Treme, as well as John Wick, Clarke Peters tapped into science fiction early on opposite Sean Connery in 1980's Outland, but it took nearly 30 years to get him into another genre project: the animated Doctor Who: Dreamland miniseries in 2009. More recently, he's embraced more such series such as His Dark Materials, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Foundation, as well as Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods.

While the Duffer brothers will be producing, the creative team behind The Boroughs will be Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, co-creators behind the puppet-driven spinoff The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. The pair also co-created the upcoming animated epic The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

At this time, it's unclear when production will be starting up on The Boroughs, but there's more than enough content hitting the upcoming TV schedule to keep everyone busy while waiting for updates.

Some time ago, in theaters not too far from you, Spaceballs sent up the Star Wars legacy as only comedy legend Mel Brooks could. And as the man behind History of the World Part I was known to do from time to time, he joked about how one of the best ‘80s movies would have a pre-planned, but unrealized sequel. 37 years later, and with rumors of a Josh Gad-involved sequel floating around, it sounds like The Schwartz is going to hit the fans. Spaceballs 2 is in development, and I’m willing to bet fans have the same question as me in mind. 

What’s New With Spaceballs 2?

Let’s start with what we do know. Which, I’m sorry to say, doesn’t specify if this new film is going to be Spaceballs II: The Search for More Money or Rick Moranis’ inventive sequel pitch, Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II. However, the good news reported by Variety is that Josh Gad is starring in this untitled mystery plot, and he pretty much confirmed it in this social media post: 

What’s more, the writing team of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’s Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez will be collaborating with the Frozen star on the script. Topping this cinematic sundae are the further details that Mel Brooks will be producing, and Barb and Star go to Vista del Mar director Josh Greenbaum will be helming the Amazon MGM Studios production. 

Now that we’ve gotten the short, short version of what we know out of the way, it’s time to discuss the huge Spaceballs 2 question we’re all pondering right now. And no, it’s not, ‘Where can I stream Spaceballs?’, as that answer is clearly through the Instant Video library that’s included with a Max subscription. 

The Spaceballs 2 Question We’re All Thinking About

The big question at the heart of this Spaceballs 2 endeavor is, of course, will the surviving cast return for this new sequel? While we’ve lost fellow legends John Candy, Joan Rivers and Dom DeLuise, we’ve still got quite a few of the major figures from the original ready to jump back in. 

At the very least, it would be amazing to see Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga return, as catching up with Lone Star and Princess Vespa in the present day feels like step one for the new sequel. Although while we’re discussing Spaceballs 2’s potential casting coups, it’s time to wonder if this could be the movie that could be Rick Moranis’s return to the big screen? 

Save for appearances on Disney+’s Prop Culture and Ryan Reynolds’ hysterical Mint Mobile ad, Moranis has mostly been pulling voice roles whenever he feels up to the job. Which, honestly, is totally deserved; as the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids legend not only scaled back his career to take care of his family, but he’s also happy at his current pace.

Previous rumblings of Rick Moranis and Josh Gad collaborating on the now in-limbo Honey I Shrunk The Kids legacy-quel certainly feel like the fuel to this speculative fire. In fact, that previous association could be a fun way into this new story, with The Book of Mormon co-star playing the Kylo Ren analog to Moranis’ Dark Helmet. Don’t worry about him not looking too much like Bill Pullman or Daphne Zuniga, though, because as we remember from Spaceballs’ climactic Schwartz fight, the relationship between Prince Lone Star and Dark Helmet is… absolutely nothing. 

As we have no clue when then will be now when it comes to Spaceballs 2's potential production and release schedule, we're one step closer to seeing it become a reality. For now, you'll just have to settle for perusing the 2024 movie schedule in the search for more entertainment. 

If you can read this, the magnification on your browser is perfect. 

There are some great Bill Pullman movies, many of which are still enjoyed by audiences today. But none are quite like the 1995 supernatural family classic, Casper. The film follows the eponymous friendly ghost, who haunts a mansion in Maine and befriends the young teen (Christina Ricci) that moves there. In the film, Pullman played the young lady's dad, who is doubtful of the ghostly presence in their abode until he encounters it himself. The movie was experimental at the time, as it utilized early technology we now know as CGI to create the ghosts. And, due to the tech being new and underdeveloped, Steven Spielberg gave Pullman a warning about watching his movements on the film. 

A specific scene in Casper sees Bill Pullman on a staircase, sword fighting with the ghosts. The scene was quite tricky to film, as the While You Were Sleeping actor was expected to execute fight choreography without a battle partner present. The plan was to put the ghosts into the film in post production. This is common practice now and is frequently used in films that require a less-than-human character. However, at the time, it was very difficult and incredibly expensive to pull off. Steven Spielberg, who was an executive producer on the film, warned Pullman about costing the movie excess money. Pullman told Variety: 

That’s a lot of pressure, especially for an actor who hadn’t performed opposite CGI before. With the advanced technology used for movies now, there’s a lot more room for error. A lot can be corrected in post production, so a star can more so focus on their performance. However, the classic '90s flick was somewhat of a testing ground, with the cast having to essentially adapt on the fly. Despite Casper’s occasionally nonsensical plot, the movie was a box office hit, grossing over $250 million. So, ultimately, one would think that Steven Spielberg and co.'s risky investment paid off.

Having the Jaws director on as an EP was surely invaluable for the Brad Silberling-helmed production. The auteur was a pioneer of visual effects, helping to facilitate one of its first ever large-scale uses in Jurassic Park. The dinosaur epic was a turning point  for filmmaking of this kind, and it naturally led to directors wanting to experiment with it themselves. The staircase scene alone used more CGI than the entirety of JP. Steven Spielberg’s knowledge was crucial on a logistical level, as well as financial, as he was abundantly aware of how costly it could be. Hence, the warning to Bill Pullman. 

All in all, the team was able to make it work and the Sleepless in Seattle star's movements are spot on. The scene still holds up today, and you can’t even tell the Spaceballs actor was worried about his footwork and the production cost. In the modern days of Avatar and Marvel movies, it’s hard to imagine a world in a producer would have to worry about the placement of a sword so much as to send a warning to an actor. I’d love to hear Bill Pullman compare Casper to the CGI-heavy Independence Day: Resurgence, in which he also starred. Chances are there probably wasn’t a $100,000 production budget concern. 

You can revisit Bill Pullman’s performance in Casper, which is currently available to rent on Amazon. 

A lot of great speeches come from sports movies, but that's not the only genre that can make us want to run through walls. Some speeches are so good it has us rooting for the bad guys. Most are by the good guys though, and we'll follow those good guys anywhere. Here is our list of the most inspiring speeches in film history. 

Independence Day - President Witmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore's (Bill Pullman) speech in Independence Day has become one of the most iconic film moments of the last 50 years. While the movie can be polarizing, some people can't get enough of it, others hope to never see it again. Still, it's hard to find anyone who truly hates the speech and that moment in the film. If you ever find yourself fighting against annihilation by a bunch of E.T.s, this is the speech for you. 

The Hunt For Red October - Captain Ramius

If you thought you could never get fired up about the Soviet Union picking a fight on the United States during the Cold War, check it out. When Captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) tells his crew that the salad days of the Cold War are not behind them, and the United States will "tremble again - at the sound of our silence," it makes you want to stand up and fight for communism. At least for a brief moment. 

Any Given Sunday (Coach D'Amato)

It's used at almost every professional football game in America, almost every Sunday, because in Any Given Sunday, Coach D'Amato implores his team and the rest of us to claw for every inch we can. It might not be Pacino's most award-winning role, but that scene... that scene is some of his finest and most enduring work. 

Gladiator (Maximus)

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius." If those words don't immediately fire you up, it's time to check for a pulse. Audiences spend most of Gladiator waiting for Maximus (Russell Crowe) to finally get his revenge on that conniving Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and finally we get it. Maximus will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

Friday Night Lights (Coach Gaines)

In Friday Night Lights, Coach Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) tells us how to be perfect. It has nothing to do with the final score, or winning. It's about how we treat each other and ourselves. It's about telling the truth and not letting anyone down. Live in the moment, "with joy in your heart." That's what makes us perfect. The swelling music by Explosions in the Sky only adds to the drama of the moment. 

While he doesn't say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose," (that comes from the TV show), he does mention his clear eyes and his full heart and afterward, none of us lose. 

Henry V (Henry V)

It's not just one of the most inspiring speeches in film history, it's one of the most famous speeches in human history. When William Shakespeare wrote the words to the famous St. Crispin's Day Speech in Henry V, he could not have known that it would be used for centuries afterward to inspire men. For we few, we lucky few, we can watch the speech brilliantly delivered by Kenneth Branagh in one of his finest roles, in his film version from 1989. 

Animal House (Bluto)

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" Of course it wasn't! Bluto (John Belushi) does a lot to inspire the brothers of the Delta house in Animal House but nothing more so than his speech after "Wormer dropped the big one" and suspended the fraternity. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the men of Delta are inspired to have the best time of their lives, and Wormer? He's a dead man! Marmalard? Dead! Niedermeyer...

Gone With The Wind (Scarlett O'Hara)

Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is not the most sympathetic movie character of all time. In fact, she ranks close to the bottom in that category, but you can't deny the power of her speech just before the end of the first part of the movie. Her family's plantation, Tara, is in shambles, her mother is dead, and her father has lost his mind. When all hope is lost, she promises herself she will fix it, and she will "never be hungry again."

Barbie (Gloria)

It's truly a show-stopping moment in Barbie when Gloria (America Ferrera) lays out what it's like to be a woman in today's world. The entire essence of the movie's message is summed up in that brilliant speech. It makes everyone want to jump up on their feet and applaud. It's a moment that will forever live in cinema history. 

Good Will Hunting (Sean Maguire)

It's not just the words that matter. It takes a special actor to deliver a speech like Sean Maguire's in Good Will Hunting. Thankfully there was the great Robin Williams. In a speech that is meant to devastate and inspire Will (Matt Damon), Williams tells him everything he is doing wrong but manages to show him how he can fix it, and open up an entirely new world for himself. It's cutting and loving. And brilliant. "Your move, chief."

Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Aragorn)

Like so many other battle scenes in movies, Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) speech at the Black Gates in Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King has us willing to fight to the death with our fellow soldiers. There is nothing like a leader riding back and forth on horse inspiring his troops. 

Braveheart (William Wallace)

Always remember, that no matter how badly you are treated by a tyrannical English king, he can never take your freedom! William Wallace (Mel Gibson) brilliantly reminds us of that in Braveheart. While it's easy to mock the poor history telling in the movie (and we argue if it was really one of the best movies of 1995), you can never say that the speech Wallace gives before the biggest battle in the movie won't have you ready to take on the entire British Empire. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Elizabeth)

Speeches made by leaders to inspire men in battle aren't unique in movies. What makes the speech unique in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is that the speech is made by a woman. Elizabeth's (Keira Knightly) speech isn't a lot different than a lot of its ilk, but it's more inspiring to hear it from a woman because we've never heard that before. So hoist the colors! 

Stripes (John Winger)

John Winger (Bill Murray) is the biggest misfit in a platoon filled with them in Stripes. He's the least likely to inspire the rest with a razzle-dazzle speech firing them up, yet that's exactly what he does before their graduation from boot camp. Bill Murray has some of the best lines in movie history, and this speech is near the top of them. 

Miracle (Herb Brooks)

"Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is something we can all stand to remember. In Miracle, Herb Brooks inspires his rag-tag team of college kids to defeat maybe the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The movie is based on a true story and while it's impossible to know exactly with the real Brooks said, if it was anywhere close to what Russell delivers, it's no surprise we all believe in miracles today. 

Rocky IV (Rocky Balboa)

The Cold War inspired a lot of movies, even sports movies like Rocky IV. Early in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) wasn't a man of many words, but at the end of Rocky IV, he finds some of the most inspiring words of the whole series, imploring all of us to get along, despite our differences. 

Swingers (Trent)

What's a good friend if not someone to pep you up when you're feeling low? That's exactly who Trent (Vince Vaughn) is to Mike (Jon Favreau) in Swingers. Not only does he take him to Vegas for a night of fun, on the way home, after the trip doesn't pep Mike up as much as it should, Trent explains exactly why Mike is so money, and he doesn't even know it. 

Network (Howard Beale)

It's scary just how much a movie like Network, released almost 50 years ago is still so relevant. We don't need Howard Beale (Peter Finch) to tell us just how bad things are, we just need to him to inspire us to go to the window, open the window and yell to the world that we're not going to take it anymore! 

The Goonies (Mikey)

"The Goonies never say die!" When all seems lost in the Goonies quest to rescue their neighborhood from developers, Mikey (Sean Astin) reminds them all exactly how far they've come in the quest for One-Eyed Willie's gold. We don't get a lot of inspirational speeches from kids, but when we do, we love them. 

Clueless (Cher)

When Cher (Alicia Silverstone) compares her garden party to a refugee crisis, your inclination is to think she's an airhead. But like so many before and after her, there is kind of a subtle brilliance to her thought process. She takes what she knows and uses that to find the emotion we should all feel for her side of the argument. 

Milk (Harvey Milk)

Milk, based on the true story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is inspiring in and of itself, but Milk's speech on the steps of San Fransisco City Hall at the Gay Pride Rally is a masterpiece. 

Troy (Achilles)

In another classic example of a military leader inspiring his troops, Achilles' (Brad Pitt) speech reminding his men that they are lions, is enough to get anyone to storm the beaches of Troy. There's a reason the story has been told for thousands of years. 

Norma Rae (Norma Rae)

The best thing about Norma Rae's (Sally Field, in one of her best roles) speech in Norma Rae is that the most important word isn't spoken at all. She simply holds up a sign that says "Union" in the middle of her sweatshop. That's all she needs to "say" to get everyone in the textile mill to agree. It's brilliant. 

We Are Marshall (Jack Lengyel)

We Are Marshall tells the tragic and heroic story of the 1971 Marshall University football team. At the end of the 1970 season, a plane carrying most of the team and its coaches crashed in North Carolina. Before the start of the next season, the new coach, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) makes a speech at a memorial for some of the lost players and what he says about never forgetting the past but looking to the future will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)

More than 20 years after the first Legally Blonde movie was released Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) continues to inspire us. With an address like the one she makes at the end of the movie, as she's graduating, it's easy to see why. "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

Avengers: Endgame (Captain America)

In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame, that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the cadre up for their mission to reverse the Snap. "Whatever it takes."

Hoosiers (Norman Dale)

When tiny Hickman High School makes it to the Indiana State Basketball Finals, they are facing a huge school, in a huge arena. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes only a minute or so to lay out what will make them successful, and a minute is all he needs. It's why Hoosiers one of the best sports movies ever made. 

Rudy (Rudy)

The speech in Rudy is a little different. Rudy really has no audience, save for one person, but that doesn't stop him from delivering a first-rate speech that any Notre Dame alum gets goosebumps when they hear it, including the parts he lifted from the great Knute Rockne.

Juno (Mac MacGuff)

When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is wondering what her future holds, her father Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) explains simply and succinctly, "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. 

Stand And Deliver (Jaime Escalante) 

Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is a no-nonsense math teacher who is determined to get the most from his students. He decides he needs to raise the level of expectations inside and outside of the classroom and he starts by breaking down when he is going to be so hard on his students, to get the most out of them. All they need is ganas – motivation. 

Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Leave it to Rocky to make a speech in 2006's Rocky Balboa meant to inspire his son to inspire all of us together. It's pure Rocky, leave it all out, don't accept things you don't like, and never make excuses, no matter how hard it is. And it seems like this was advice he took to heart when it became a struggle to make the film. 

300 (Dilios)

Dilios (David Wenham) fires up the Spartans like no other person could. It's truly one of the great hype speeches in film history. It's exactly what you would expect from a civilization of warriors. Whether it really happened or not is irrelevant. The message is the same, "Remember us."

From sports to war, love to education, and beyond, a great speech raises goosebumps like nothing else in film can. These examples are some of the best speeches we've used to inspire us. 

The events of Top Gun: Maverick see Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell training a group of young pilots for a dangerous mission. One of those pilots is the quiet, but extremely capable Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Floyd, played by Lewis Pullman, the son of Bill Pullman, who got some time in the cockpit playing President Thomas Whitmore in Independence Day (a title he’s partly responsible for). In fact, the elder Pullman gave his son some advice related to the 1996 sci-fi action movie upon learning Lewis would appear in Maverick.

It’s been a long wait for Top Gun: Maverick as the movie was once set to come out in summer 2019, but due to a variety of factors (including the COVID-19 pandemic), it wasn’t widely released until May 27. But now the public is able to take in the sequel that arrived 36 years after its predecessor, although when Lewis Pullman, star of the upcoming Salem’s Lot remake, spoke with THR, his father wasn’t one of those people yet. In the Maverick star’s words:

In case you didn’t follow along with Top Gun: Maverick’s development, Lewis Pullman and the other actors who played pilots in the movie learned how to actually fly fighter planes with Tom Cruise. That’s quite a step up from simulating flying a plane with a green screen behind you, but presumably at the time, Lewis Pullman informed Bill Pullman he’d be in Maverick, he hadn’t started flight training yet. So his movement advice was likely quite welcome, as were his words about paying attention to the Top Gun pilots and making sure Bob felt real and grounded. Now we need to know when Bill Pullman (whose Independence Day character helped thwart alien invasions in that movie and 2016’s Resurgence) has seen Maverick so we can hear his thoughts about it.

While his callsign might not have been impressive as his fellow pilots’, Lewis Pullman’s Bob proved himself to be a skilled aviator as the WSO for Monica Barbaro’s Natasha “Phoenix” Trace in Top Gun: Maverick. Their fellow pilots, besides Tom Cruise’s Maverick as their instructor, included Miles Teller’s Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (the son of the late Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Maverick’s RIO and best friend), Glen Powell’s Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Jay Ellis’ Reuben “Payback” Fitch and Danny Ramirez’s Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia. Maverick’s other cast members include Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, Charles Parnell and Val Kilmer. Tron: Legacy’s Joseph Kosinski directed the sequel, and Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie all worked on the script.

Two weeks into its theatrical run, Top Gun: Maverick sits as the fourth highest-grossing movie of 2022 so far, and among its box office accomplishments are snagging the highest opening Memorial Day weekend and becoming Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing movie domestically. Additionally, Maverick has been met with critical acclaim, including CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg giving it 4 out of 5 stars in his review. Anthony Edwards, who played Goose in the original Top Gun, expressed his approval for the sequel by telling Cruise, “Mission accomplished.”

There’s still plenty of time to check out Top Gun: Maverick in theaters, but Paramount+ subscribers will also be able to stream it later this year. If you’re wondering what movies are slotted for the rest of the year, scan through our 2022 release schedule.

From time to time, a movie comes around and catches lightening in a bottle when it comes to its cast, and there are few movies that are a better example of this than Penny Marshall’s 1992 baseball drama A League of Their Own. With a lineup that is led by Geena Davis, just one year after the game-changer that was Thelma and Louise, and Tom Hanks right before his career reached the next level, A League of Their Own’s cast had a lot going for it and each member made the most of their time both on and off the baseball field.

It has been nearly 30 years since we first learned of the names of Jimmy Dugan, Dottie Hinson, Kit Keller, Marla Hooch (what a hitter), and the rest of the Rockford Peaches, and you are probably wondering what they’ve been up to lately. Well, look no further, as we have put together a comprehensive list of the A League of Their Own cast and what they’re up to these days…

Tom Hanks (Jimmy Dugan)

Tom Hanks, though already an established star with more than a few successful movies under his belt, became one of the biggest stars of the 1990s in the years following his turn as the Rockford Peaches’ alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own. Within three years of the film’s release, Hanks would have two Oscars (Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) and become the voice of one of the most groundbreaking animated franchises in Toy Story.

In recent years, Tom Hanks, who hasn’t really slowed down all that much, has continued to contribute to the Toy Story franchise while also portraying Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, to name only a few films. Hanks will soon appear in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

Geena Davis (Dottie Hinson)

Geena Davis’ Dottie Hinson was the heart (and oftentimes the brains) behind the Rockford Peaches throughout A League of Their Own, and it’s hard to think of a better actress to fill her shoes. Since leaving the diamond, Davis has continued to lead a successful on-screen career which has seen her lead the Stuart Little franchise and even star in her own sitcom, The Geena Davis Show.

In the past few years, the Academy Award winner (The Accidental Tourist), has provided her talents to movies like Ava and television shows like GLOW on Netflix, where she portrayed the wrestling promotion’s benefactor, Sandy Devereaux St. Clair, in the third and unfortunately final season.

Lori Petty (Kit Keller)

In the nearly 30 years since providing audiences with one of the best representations of overlooked younger siblings in A League of Their Own’s Kit Keller (which was only her fourth film role), Lori Petty has gone on to lead cult classics like Tank Girl and appear in celebrated series like Orange is the New Black, where she portrayed Lolly Whitehill off and on throughout the show’s run. Petty has a few projects in the work right now, including a film with the title You’re All Gonna Die and a HBO Max original called Station Eleven.

Madonna (Mae Mordabito)

It is hard to imagine a world in which anyone but Madonna played “All the Way” Mae Mordabito in A League of Their Own, and thankfully that’s something we’ll never have to do. The singer-turned-actress would go on to have her biggest film hit four years later with Evita, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. And, while her acting career slowed down over the years, Madonna has continued to be an inventive and driving force in the music industry, with her most recent album — Madame X — being released in 2019.

Rosie O’Donnell (Doris Murphy)

Rosie O’Donnell, who made her film debut as Doris Murphy in A League of Their Own, went on to appear in a few of the most beloved movies of the 1990s including Sleepless in Seattle and Tarzan, but the comedian-turned-actress really made her mark in the realm of television. Since getting her daytime talk show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she has gone on to host The View and on multiple occasions and appeared in scripted shows like Queer as Folk, The View, Nip/Tuck, and, more recently, SMILF. O’Donnell, who famously came out on television following 9/11, is an outspoken supporter for LGTBQ rights.

Tracy Reiner (Betty Horn)

Tracy Reiner, the daughter of A League of Their Own’s director Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner, became one of a few members of the original cast to reprise their roles in the 1993 television program of the same name, portraying Betty “Spaghetti” Horn. Following the movie and show (which only lasted six episodes), Reiner went on to appear in Apollo 13 and That Thing You Do!, later showing up in The Princess Diaries and Valentine’s Day (both directed by her uncle Garry Marshall). Since her mother’s death in 2018, Reiner has continued Marshall’s legacy and contributions to various causes.

Anne Ramsay (Helen Haley)

Anne Ramsay was just coming up in the industry when she joined A League of Their Own’s cast in 1992 as Helen Haley, the same year her most famous show, Mad About You, debuted. Over the years, Ramsay has played recurring roles on a number of iconic series like The L Word and Six Feet Under, with one-off appearances on shows like Castle, House, and Animal Kingdom. One of her most prominent roles as of late was in 2019’s Bombshell, in which she portrayed former Fox News personality Greta Van Susteren.

Megan Cavanagh (Marla Hooch)

Marla Hooch, who was quite a hitter in A League of Their Own, was portrayed by Megan Cavanagh. In the years since playing the Rockford Peaches’ best batter, Cavanagh has gone on to show up on a number of shows including Roseanne, ER, The West Wing, and Drunk History, where she portrayed Penny Marshall in a 2019 episode about the history of baseball. You may also even recognize Cavanagh’s voice from the various Jimmy Neutron movies and television programs.

Bitty Schram (Evelyn Gardner)

To some, Bitty Schram will always be Evelyn Gardner, the Rockford Peach on the receiving end of the famous “There’s no crying in baseball” line in A League of Their Own, but others will remember her from her performance as Sharona Fleming from the first three seasons of the USA Network mystery-comedy series, Monk. Outside of those two famous roles, Schram has appeared on Felicity, The Ghost Whisperer, and Kitchen Confidential over the years.

Ann Cusack (Shirley Baker)

Ann Cusack (yes, she’s the sister of Joan and John Cusack), has come a long way since playing the shy and illiterate Rockford Peach in A League of Their Own, with roles in movies like Gross Pointe Blanke, America’s Sweethearts, and Nightcrawler over the years. Where Cusack really shines, however, is in television, where she has appeared on everything from Frasier to Fargo. She has also had prominent roles recently with shows like The Boys, Castle Rock, and Station 19.

Freddie Simpson (Ellen Sue Gotlander)

Freddie Simpson, who played Ellen Sue Gotlander in A League of Their Own, only has a few more acting credits to her name following the 1992 baseball movie. After leaving acting behind, Simpson spent years teaching drama to underprivileged children before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, where she owns and operates an acupuncture company.

Renée Coleman (Alice Gasper)

Renée Coleman appeared as Alice Gasper in A League of Their Own, but would leave acting behind a few years later and entered the field of Mythological Studies, and specializes in the art of DreamTending. She even published a book on the subject titled Icons of a Dreaming Heart in 2012.

Garry Marshall (Walter Harvey)

Garry Marshall, the acclaimed film and television legend who was also Penny Marshall’s older brother, portrayed AAGPBL founder Walter Harvey in A League of Their Own. Already an icon by the time he appeared in his sister’s 1992 baseball movie, Marshall went on to appear in countless films, shows, and specials over the years while also writing and directing his fair share of projects. In the years leading up to his death in 2016, Marshall released movies like The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, and its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

David Strathairn (Ira Lowenstein)

David Strathairn, who appears in A League of Their Own as AAGPBL general manager Ira Lowenstein, has gone on to have a remarkable career including a turn as Edward R. Murrow in 2005’s Good Night, and Good Luck, which netted him nearly a dozen nominations. Strathairn most recently appeared in the Academy Award-winning drama Nomadland.

Jon Lovitz (Ernie Capadino)

Jon Lovitz only appears in the first few minutes of A League of Their Own, but his portrayal of the physically and mentally exhausted scout known as Ernie Capadino is one of his best performances. Over the years, Lovitz has lent his voice to the underrated animated series The Critic, appeared on The Goldbergs, and has even showed up on A.P. Bio.

Bill Pullman (Bob Hinson)

And then there is Bill Pullman, who shows up as Dottie’s G.I. husband, Bob Hinson, in A League of Their Own. Already a star by the time he took on the small yet important role, Pullman went on to appear in everything from a small summer movie called Independence Day, to the 2019 legal drama Dark Waters and oh so much more in between. Pullman generated a ton of buzz in the summer of 2021 when he led Budweiser’s amazing commercial.

These are just the major players from the A League of Their Own cast and doesn’t even touch on the dreaded Racine Belles. Maybe next season…

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Has there ever been a more memorable and commendable depiction of a United States president than Bill Pullman as Thomas J. Whitmore? His performance in Independence Day as a former Gulf War pilot with a penchant for giving damn good speeches made the 1996 sci-fi blockbuster the most iconic film of the actor’s career thus far, outside of other notable roles such as Lone Star in Spaceballs or in While You Were Sleeping as Sandra Bullock’s love interest. Lest we forget, there have been many other Bill Pullman movies and TV shows in more recent years, such as the following 12 titles we have collected below - starting with another epic about defending the Earth from aliens.

Titan A.E. (2000)

Years after the human race has failed to defend the Earth from aliens (resulting in the planet’s devastating destruction in the 31st Century), one brave survivor (Matt Damon) learns that he holds the key to ensuring humanity’s survival if he can find a powerful ship missing somewhere in outer space.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman lends his voice to a character who is, essentially, the opposite of his Independence Day role in Titan A.E. - one of the best space movies (especially of animated kind) co-directed by the legendary Don Bluth.

Stream Titan A.E. on Starz.

Rent Titan A.E. on Amazon.

The Grudge (2004)

An American woman (Scream Queen Sarah Michelle Gellar) working as a nurse in Tokyo, Japan, falls prey to a mysterious curse with deadly consequences passed down to each person who enters a house with a horrifying history.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman would later appear in Scary Movie 4 to poke fun at his role as an American teacher with a direct tie to the titular curse of The Grudge, director Takashi Shimizu’s hit English-language remake of his own 2002 film and one of the most acclaimed Japanese horror movies of all time.

Stream The Grudge on Amazon Prime.

Rent The Grudge on Amazon.

Bottle Shock (2008)

A renowned, British sommelier (the late Alan Rickman) organizes a blind taste test that pits a California wine seller (Bill Pullman) against products from France that were assumed to be superior in 1976.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman stars as winemaker Jim Barrett (opposite a young Chris Pine as his son, Bo) in Bottle Shock - director Randall Miller’s fun, comedic take on the legendary real-life wine competition which came to be known as the Judgment of Paris and changed the world’s understanding of quality wine forever.

Stream Bottle Shock on Amazon Prime.

Stream Bottle Shock on Tubi.

Stream Bottle Shock on IMDb TV.

Stream Bottle Shock on Pluto TV.

Stream Bottle Shock on Vudu.

Rent Bottle Shock on Amazon.

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

An affair between a deputy sheriff (Academy Award winner Casey Affleck) and a sex worker he was supposed to arrest (Jessica Alba) evolves into a vengeful get rich quick scheme that quickly turns deadly in 1950s Texas.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman steals the show as a southern lawyer who comes to the aid of Casey Affleck’s antagonistic protagonist in The Killer Inside Me, a chilling noir from the point of view of a sociopath from director Michael Winterbottom and based on Jim Thompson’s novel.

Rent The Killer Inside Me on Amazon.

Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011)

A disbanded team of paranormal investigators regroup with new members to figure why every living being on Earth has suddenly become unable to die.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman absolutely stole the show and earned rave reviews for his performance as a convicted sex offender and child murderer later seen as a messianic figure after surviving lethal injection in Torchwood: Miracle Day - a unique and engrossing eight-part sci-fi miniseries that is meant to be the fourth season of the UK-based Doctor Who spin-off.

Stream Torchwood: Miracle Day on HBO Max.

Buy Torchwood: Miracle Day on Amazon.

1600 Penn (2012-2013)

The President of the United States struggles to put up with the complications that come with running the country and raising a family, especially when it comes to his eldest son - an underachieving man-child (Josh Gad).

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman returned to his spot in the Oval Office for a more humorous take on the presidency than he portrayed in Independence Day on 1600 Penn - a short-lived but well-received NBC original from star and co-creator Josh Gad that essentially reimagines The West Wing as a single-camera family sitcom.

Buy 1600 Penn on Amazon.

The Equalizer (2014)

A former special services operative is compelled to put his quiet life hiding in plain sight on hold when he meets a young sex worker (Chloë Grace Moretz) targeted by a vicious Russian mob.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman makes an appearance as Brian, the husband of Denzel Washington’s friend and former CIA colleague Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), in both The Equalizer and 2018’s The Equalizer 2 - director Antoine Fuqua’s big screen adaptations of the hit ’80s TV show that was rebooted as a Paramount+ original series starring Queen Latifah more recently.

Rent The Equalizer on Amazon.

Rent The Equalizer 2 on Amazon.

American Ultra (2015)

A stoned convenience store clerk (Jesse Eisenberg) and his supportive girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) go on the run when he accidentally kills two thieves, which begins to unravel a mystery about his forgotten past.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman plays a CIA superior with questionable motives in American Ultra - a comedy that feels a little bit like the Jason Bourne movies and a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall had those action thrillers been written by Cheech and Chong.

Stream American Ultra on Netflix.

Rent American Ultra on Amazon.

LBJ (2016)

After assuming the role of the United States President by tragic means, Lyndon B. Johnson (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson) fights to see the passing of the Civil Rights Act.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman assumes a political position a bit lower than that of Thomas J. Whitmore as Senator Ralph Yarborough in LBJ - director Rob Reiner’s revealing and inspiring biopic about John F. Kennedy’s Vice President-turned-successor to the presidency.

Stream LBJ on Kanopy.

Stream LBJ on Hoopla.

Rent LBJ on Amazon.

Battle Of The Sexes (2017)

Feminist trailblazer Billie Jean King (Academy Award winner Emma Stone) accepts an invitation from notorious chauvinist Bobby Riggs (Academy Award nominee Steve Carell) to compete against each other in a tennis match that would become a cultural milestone in 1973.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Bill Pullman stars as real-life former tennis champion Jack Kramer, who comes under fire for his sexist approach to dictating how male and female athletes are paid Battle of the Sexes - one of the best sports movies in recent memory for its grand performances and timely social commentary.

Rent Battle of the Sexes on Amazon.

Dark Waters (2019)

A corporate defense lawyer for chemical companies (Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo) is compelled to change his tune when he uncovers a health crisis of which one of his clients, DuPont, is to blame.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman movie worth checking out: Harry Dietzler, Bill Pullman’s character in director Todd Haynes’ fact-based legal drama Dark Waters, is, thankfully, on the right side of history by assisting Mark Ruffalo’s Robert Billot in the fight to expose DuPont for its lengthy history of consciously polluting the drinking water in West Virginia.

Stream Dark Waters on Showtime.

Rent Dark Waters on Amazon.

The Sinner (2017-Present)

A seemingly meek housewife and mother who is unable to explain her motive for committing a horrifying murder (Jessica Biel) is only the first story involving unusual criminals in this intense, seasonal anthology original proposed as a limited series.

Why it’s a Bill Pullman TV show worth checking out: Bill Pullman received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his performance as Detective Harry Ambrose, who would become the main character of The Sinner, which will enter its fourth season on USA in 2021.

Stream The Sinner on Netflix.

Buy The Sinner on Amazon.

Whether or not you believe that Bill Pullman has ever or will ever top his rousing performance in 1996’s Independence Day as President Thomas J. Whitmore, you cannot say that he has not done a great job trying. Enjoy a nice binge of the movies and TV shows above if you need more proof. If you already have been a close follower of the actor’s career up to this point, is there a title from the list above which you believe should be considered as his strongest career highlight?

This poll is no longer available.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

On this day in 1996, alien invaders destroyed the major cities of the world; however, they also made Independence Day a bonafide classic in the process. Now, 25 years later, Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi blockbuster is still talked about whenever the holiday roles around in America, and on this special anniversary, Budweiser has done something movie fans are going to love. The brand has resurrected the character of President Thomas Whitmore, and Bill Pullman has returned to the role he made famous once again.

Spinning President Whitmore’s big Independence Day speech as a call for unity in 2021’s America, Budweiser obviously picked the best time to drop this inspiring ad. It also helps that in addition to the actual holiday being upon us, this year is the 25th anniversary of a time when the world declared in one voice that it wouldn’t go quietly into the night. Watch the ad below, and try not to get too emotional:

Instead of rallying the troops to fly into battle against extraterrestrial foes, this 4th of July sees Bill Pullman’s character reaching out to a fractured nation. The solution to such little divides like hybrids vs combustion engines, meat or veggie patties, and of course choice in beer, is naturally a rousing speech from a commanding fictional leader. When that leader is the president who saved Independence Day, it's easy to buy in.

There’s just something about Bill Pullman falling back into the character of President Thomas Whitmore that truly feels wonderful. To think that he almost lost out on this role to Kevin Spacey, the original candidate for Independence Day’s commander-in-chief, who was ultimately turned down because in the mid-’90s he just wasn’t a big enough star. His loss was the world’s gain, and a quarter of a century later, Pullman can still prove just why his casting was as important as landing Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and the rest of that film’s epic ensemble.

Watching Independence Day’s influence on this beer ad shows just how memorable this movie still is after all this time. Even as time may pass, and audiences may find new angles to debate the film’s merits, certain aspects are just unimpeachable. One of those moments that can never be taken away by the ravages of time and internet commentary is Bill Pullman’s grand speech before the movie’s climactic battle.

Dear readers, the Fourth of July may be known primarily as a national holiday in the United States, but that shouldn’t stop us all from celebrating. July 2nd, 1996 gave us all a movie that has lived on, survived, and not gone quietly into the night for two and a half decades. So today, and throughout the weekend that saw a fictional world fighting against extinction and oppression, let’s celebrate our Independence Day, and the part that Bill Pullman played in making it happen.

If you’re a subscriber to HBO Max, you can make that celebration a little more special by streaming Independence Day. But if you’re still waiting for the right excuse to jump aboard, check out the current subscription offer. After which, you can kick the tires and light the fires, in fitting tribute to the day we fought back.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

“Today, we celebrate our Doomsday.” Ok, so maybe the alternate title to Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich’s classic blockbuster Independence Day would have inspired a more fitting tweak to the speech given by Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore. But could it have been any more fitting than when he roars the actual line, “Today, we celebrate our Independence Day”?

We almost didn’t get one of the greatest pump-up speeches of the 20th century, as there was a disagreement between 20th Century Fox and the creative team of Devlin/Emmerich. Everything stood on the line, and as Bill Pullman himself told me during our press day for The High Note, it all came down to that fateful speech’s filming. The actor himself told me how it all came together, in the following story:

It's a scenario that sounds like a nerve-wracking time crunch. Production was already underway on the major studio blockbuster of the ‘90s, with a practically shot scene scheduled late at night. Adding to the pressure of either delivering that line or forgetting Independence Day as a title, Bill Pullman basically needed to knock that scene out of the park. Not to put too fine a point on the matter, but part of the intrigue that saw audiences flock to Independence Day was the mysterious nature of the title. Doomsday would have not only given away the store from round one, but it also wouldn’t have sounded as good.

Try and imagine the iconic teaser trailer below, with Doomsday as the title:

It’s hard to grasp, isn’t it? What’s even harder still is to imagine Bill Pullman’s speech winding up to something like “Today, we’re cancelling Doomsday,” or whatever the alternate version may have been. Even with cutting edge effects that folks were saying made Star Wars look like a B-movie, and a cast so stacked it further cemented Pullman’s status as a staple of many movie libraries ‘90s kids would frequently return to, Independence Day being titled what it was really nailed it home.

Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens when you make a movie for all to hold and cherish. As my conversation with Bill Pullman continued on the subject of the fickle nature of titles, there was another tale he had to tell; one where the originally marketed title of the 1990 film Brain Dead unfortunately found itself swapped out.

Produced by Roger Corman’s wife, Julie, Brain Dead was a script written by The Twilight Zone’s Charles Beaumont for Roger in the 1960s. Revived under his wife’s efforts, the story of Bill Pullman’s Dr. Rex Martin, and his mind-bending quest to determine if threats to his person are real or imagined, almost went out to the world known as Paranoia. History saw events turn towards the other direction, and while Bill Pullman still loves the end result, Brain Dead was, and continues to be, the name of the game.

Still, with the talk of titles in the air, we found ourselves winding back to the relevant issue at hand, as The High Note wasn’t the original title of writer Flora Greerson’s film. When the script found its way on 2018’s Black List, it was known simply as Covers; which does tie into a monologue that Bill Pullman’s character, Max, delivers to Dakota Johnson’s protagonist/his daughter, Maggie.

Some discussion of what the title means in a wider context, as well as the more intimate purposes of the film, helped make a case that in this particular scenario, the right title won out. Bill Pullman himself even agreed, which only highlights his expertise at titling films all the more sharply. He may not have been able to save Paranoia from becoming Brain Dead, but with a rousing speech for the ages, Bill Pullman helped Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich prevent Independence Day’s title from going quietly into the night.

To think that if the scene itself hadn’t been pulled off with the expert level of showmanship and bravado we saw in the clip below, we might have been talking about the cult classic Doomsday, rather than the A-list success that was this particular film:

The next time you find yourself trying to work out a title to a project you’re working on, if you have the chance to speak to Bill Pullman about what you’re mulling over, take that opportunity. You never know what’s going to come out of that discussion, or how it could help your project hit the right notes.

Speaking of which, you can catch Bill Pullman in the ensemble that makes The High Note a welcome distraction from current events, as the film is now available for rental on VOD. Pullman fans can also watch his work as Detective Harry Ambrose on USA’s The Sinner, which is currently available on USA on Demand, Netflix and Hulu’s Live TV plan.

This poll is no longer available.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

With audiences currently in isolation, content providers have had to get creative in how and when they choose to deliver their product to the masses. Focus Features has been pretty adroit with its release model in recent months, as the studio has used the opportunity to debut movies like director Nisha Ganatra’s The High Note as premium VOD rentals for those who want to see something new while stuck at home.

I recently had an opportunity to speak with actors Ice Cube, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Bill Pullman, as well as Nisha Ganatra herself, on behalf of their respective roles in making The High Note. As you’ll see in the video below, studio executives aren’t the only ones who have embraced the situation with much positivity.

There are quite a few reasons to be excited about The High Note’s VOD release during the current health crisis that has swept the world. While the situation has increased pressure between theater chains and the studios that have engaged in such business practices, the aim has never been to stir the pot or start a war of words.

Rather, judging by the feelings that people like Nisha Ganatra have about the film, The High Note is one of those movies that aims to entertain its audience as if it was another Friday night at the movies. Ganatra in particular likens her film to the following experience:

While The High Note sees Dakota Johnson’s Maggie and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Grace trying to navigate the perils and pitfalls of either making it or keeping it together in “the industry," it’s not a dour affair. There’s nothing wrong with films like A Star Is Born, where the story of a rising talent is told against the backdrop of bittersweet decline, but it’s not the only variant to this sort of story.

It’s the crux of what makes writer Flora Greeson’s Black List honored script, originally titled Covers, different from most films of its ilk. Audiences are probably used to a version of the story where Maggie’s beleaguered assistant character would be pressured by Grace’s high-powered diva, and eventually the two would split under less-than-ideal circumstances. Yet, if there’s a greater source of conflict in The High Note, it’s not the relationship between assistant and talent. Rather, Ice Cube’s character, Jack, is the catalyst for the headbutting that goes on in the film.

Even then, Ice Cube’s performance as Jack allows him to engage in creating and releasing pressure, as the improv and comedy skills he’s honed during his career were known to break many a participant during a take on The High Note’s set. That helpful dynamic comes from his own personal understanding of why the film makes for a perfect summer/quarantine movie, as he described its charms as such:

Comedy, drama, and the drive to succeed all help fuel The High Note’s quest to serve as an entertainment during harder times in the world. But there’s always room for a bit of romance in this sort of movie, and that’s where Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s David comes into play. A random acquaintance in the life of Dakota Johnson’s character, David bonds with Maggie over the love of music. This only strengthens itself when the aspiring producer realizes she’s also stumbled upon a fresh, raw musical talent.

It’s a role that’s allowed Harrison to hone and debut musical aspirations he’s held onto since he was a child. And with a lot of hard work and prep, the role of David has allowed Kelvin Harrison Jr., much like his The High Note co-star Tracee Ellis Ross, to debut his singing voice to the public.

Focusing on the development of both David’s talents as a singer/songwriter and Maggie’s skills as a music producer, The High Note is a picture of young talent on the rise, but also a story of connecting as people. Which perfectly fuels the reasons behind why Kelvin Harrison Jr. feels the film is a perfect debut for the moment:

While Kelvin Harrison Jr. was talking about the fact that The High Note was dropping during current global events, I can’t help but hope the entertaining escapism the film provides can provide some solace for people during the current climate of unrest as well. Like any project, The High Note is something meant to hit audiences no matter when it would have been sent into the world. Rounding out the reactions of the cast I was able to gather is that of legendary character actor Bill Pullman, who summed up his thoughts on the matter thusly:

With an ear for music, and a passion for the personal stories that make it a medium vital to the human experience, The High Note couldn’t have picked a better time to find an audience. As world events have been more emotionally wearing than usual, it’s still nice to know that for a moment of our choosing, we can escape into a story that has something beautiful to say. It might not be much, but it’s something that can help keep people sane in uncertain times. The High Note is now available for rental on VOD.

USA had one of the hottest series in primetime last summer with The Sinner, starring Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman. The Sinner was based on a book of the same name and originally produced as a limited series, so there was no guarantee that it would be back. Fans of the show got some good news in March with the announcement that The Sinner would indeed return for a second chapter that takes Pullman's Detective Harry Ambrose in some brand new and very creepy directions. The first trailer has hit the web, and it showcases Pullman along with new costar Carrie Coon. Take a look!

Well, if you were worried that The Sinner wouldn't be able to recreate the creepiness and aura of unsettling mystery that so defined the first season, this trailer should lay those worries to rest! While the 30 seconds of footage aren't enough fill viewers in on what exactly is going to happen, it's already clear that Harry Ambrose is in for a case that's at least as unnerving as Cora's case in Season 1. Carrie Coon's character doesn't have much to do in the trailer other than look super creepy, but she does a killer job of it.

Fortunately, USA has already revealed some tantalizing details about Season 2 that fill in some blanks left by the trailer. In the second season of The Sinner, Harry Ambrose will be pulled back to his hometown in rural New York following a disturbing crime. At the heart of the case seems to be an 11-year-old boy who has murdered his parents with no discernible motive. The trailer does show a young boy, so we can count on the kid playing an active role in the series.

While investigating the case, Ambrose will end up in dangerous territory due to a previously undiscovered darkness in his hometown, and the child isn't quite as ordinary as he seemed at first glance. When facing people who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets -- including an enigmatic woman who could be the key to the mystery -- Ambrose will undoubtedly have some big decisions to make. The Sinner will once again be a limited season and run for eight episodes.

Carrie Coon (Fargo) is on board to play a woman by the name of Vera, who is as formidable as she is mysterious as she is forced to choose between sticking with her community's ideals and doing what she truly desires. Coon and Bill Pullman are joined as regulars by Natalie Paul of The Deuce, who plays a woman training to become a detective in the New York town, and she's responsible for bringing Ambrose in for the case. Hannah Gross of Mindhunters will play Heather's high school best friend named Marin, who mysteriously disappeared from the town many years ago.

The Sinner will return for Season 2 on Wednesday, August 1 on USA. There are still a couple of months to kill before Bill Pullman is back in primetime as Detective Harry Ambrose, so be sure to check out our summer TV premiere guide. If you'd rather stream TV than watch live, we have a handy Netflix premiere schedule and Amazon Prime rundown as well. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV and Movies news.

In 2014's The Equalizer, Denzel Washington was surrounded by a very talented ensemble cast - and it looks like some of those who didn't wind up in the ground will be coming back for round two. The upcoming sequel is now in full development, and new reports are saying that Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman will be back to reprise their roles as Susan and Brian Plummer.

With cameras getting ready to start rolling on The Equalizer in a couple of weeks, the production is putting the various pieces of its cast together, and that, according to Deadline, includes reuniting two incredibly talented actors. Antoine Fuqua is back in the director's chair for the sequel, and while the plot of the movie is currently unknown, we do know that the writer of the first movie, Richard Wenk, has been working on drafts.

In the first Equalizer, audiences were introduced to Denzel Washington's Robert McCall, a retired CIA black ops operative who has the good quality of having a hard time ignoring calls for help. Over the course of the movie, we see that Susan and Brian Plummer wind up being a part of both parts of McCall's life. Not only were they previously CIA operatives themselves, but they're also more than happy to help their old friend collect information on dangerous Russian mob bosses so that he can complete his personal mission.

Since her Oscar-winning performance in David O. Russell's The Fighter, Melissa Leo has been starring in an endless stream of interesting projects, and The Equalizer 2 will actually be her third time working with Denzel Washington (after both the first Equalizer and Robert Zemeckis' Flight). Recently she's been a part of the Jim Carrey-produced television series I'm Dying Up Here, and also has a number of small independent projects in the works.

Bill Pullman is also having a nice busy year with smaller projects, having spent the last few summers in films like the unfortunate Independence: Day Resurgence and American Ultra. Like Leo, he is also moved to the small screen to be on the new show The Sinner, which features Jessica Biel in the lead role, but he is also featured alongside Steve Carell and Emma Stone in the upcoming historical comedy Battle of the Sexes.

The Equalizer made a shocking amount of money when it came out in 2014 - pulling in nearly $200 million worldwide - but the film is currently on track to be celebrating its fourth birthday with the release of The Equalizer 2. Sony Pictures has announced that the thriller will be in theaters everywhere on September 14, 2018 - and you can be sure that we will have all of the latest news and updates about the project for you here on CinemaBlend.

Just one quick glimpse at John Candy as Barf in Spaceballs is enough to immediately induce laughter. I mean, just look at the above. Literally every little thing about it is hilarious. It turns out that a lot of thought and effort went into making John Candy's Barf costume as hilarious as possible, too. So much so that he actually went through various discussions with Spaceballs' writer, producer, and director Mel Brooks to get it just right. Spaceballs lead Bill Pullman recently recalled that John Candy had an issue portraying Barf in the first few days of production, especially because of the ears and tail on his costume. Bill Pullman revealed,

Bill Pullman has recently been discussing Spaceballs to mark the 20th anniversary of the beloved comedy, which originally hit screens in June, 1987. As you'd expect, he had nothing but kind of words to say about John Candy, who he revealed was a consummate professional throughout the production even though he was obviously frustrated at not being in control of his ears and the tails. Bill Pullman told The Hollywood Reporter that John Candy still remained calm and collected throughout filming, and when he did become a little frustrated he'd just take a break to regain his focus. Bill Pullman remarked,

The relationship between Barf and Bill Pullman's Captain Lone Starr is obviously a riff on that of Chewbacca and Harrison Ford's Han Solo from the Star Wars franchise. Spaceballs didn't stop there, though, because it continued its hilarious assault on George Lucas' beloved sci-fi series by lampooning a hoard of its characters. My personal favorite is when it turned Jabba The Hutt into Pizza The Hut. Mostly because it is so hilariously stupid. You can check out a clip of this below.

Those of you that haven't seen Spaceballs should really mark its 20th anniversary by sitting down to do just that. There's actually increasing rumors that, in the wake of the recent rejuvenation of the Star Wars franchise, Mel Brooks will make a sequel. The fact that John Candy, Joan Rivers, Dick Van Patten, and Dom DeLuise are all dead would obviously be a hurdle for its production, but that hasn't stopped Mel Brooks from coming up with the perfect title for the possible follow-up, in the shape of Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money.

After 15 years away, Jessica Biel is returning for her first starring role on television since she exited 7th Heaven as a series regular back in 2002. People will find that her new show The Sinner doesn't share anything in common with 7th Heaven other than they both have Jessica Biel in them. The Sinner finds Biel kicking off events by committing a pretty grizzly act which you can check out for yourself in the trailer below.

As you can see from the trailer, The Sinner isn't pulling any punches. This season of the close-ended series follows a young mother, Cora, (Biel) who after being overcome with a fit of rage commits a terrible and very public act of violence on a man on the beach. Though it seems like an open and shut case, Cora -- to her horror -- has no idea why she attacked the man or felt such anger. As opposed to the "who" or "how", the series is obsessed with the "why" and that's a question that Biel's character just can't answer. A rogue investigator, Detective Harry Ambrose, (Bill Pullman) becomes obsessed with the case and her motives, and together with the mother, takes a trip into the "depths of her psyche and the violent secrets hidden in her past."

Jessica Biel stars and executive produces The Sinner, a new crime thriller airing on the USA Network. The anthology series was given a series order by the network in January and each season will focus on a different crime. The series is based on Petra Hammesfahr's book of the same name. The Sinner was written and created by Derek Simonds (When We Rise), who joins Biel, Michelle Purple, and Charlie Gogolak (This Is Us) in executive producing.

The Sinner is Jessica Biel's return to television; this is her first starring role since she left 7th Heaven at the end of Season 6 (though she did return off and on until the end of Season 10). Since then she's appeared in a number of movies such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, The A-Team, and The Illusionist. Biel hasn't disappeared from television entirely, though and has appeared in a guest role on the Season 4 premiere of New Girl and provided her voice to Bojack Horseman.

From the looks of the trailer, The Sinner could be an engrossing crime thriller, and you usually can't go wrong with Bill Pullman. This looks like its USA's answer to The Night Of and we'll find out how good the series is soon enough.

The pilot was directed by Antonio Campos (Christine). The Sinner does not yet have a release date, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all future updates. In the meantime, you can keep yourself busy with our 2017 midseason premiere guide!.

Bill Pullman hasn't been drawn to the small screen too regularly, but his televised ventures have been quite enjoyable, if extremely short. Hopefully that will change in the future, as the actor has signed on for a series regular role for the crime drama The Sinner, which is being developed as a pilot for USA. The Sinner is also the TV return of 7th Heaven star Jessica Biel.

Everything about this project sounds solid in the early stages. Bill Pullman will take on the role of Harry Ambrose, a detective who gets embroiled in a densely layered case that, for him, begins with Cora Tanner (Jessica Biel), a housewife who commits a serious and violent crime but has no idea why she did it, and offers up no further explanation about any of the details involved. There are all kinds of ways for that kind of story to go, and Harry will undoubtedly head down many of them as he finds himself sucked in by his fascination with Cora's psychological damage. Understandably, he is also disturbed by how intrigued he is, according to TVLine.

With Mr. Robot currently getting a lot of attention at USA, both from awards circuits and from the fan community, the network understandably wants to expand on that with more programming that skews darker than their normal programming. (Not that Suits is all bowls of cherries, but you know.) And The Sinner can only be helped by adding an actor of Pullman's caliber for this kind of role. I always enjoy him in thrillers, but those thrillers aren't always enjoyable as a whole, so The Sinner has my optimistic interest.

Bill Pullman will forever be known to everyone everywhere as Independence Day's President Whitmore (although not so much for the sequel), and he also happened to live in the White House the last time he was on primetime TV for the comedy 1600 Penn. Before that, he was in Torchwood for a bit and was a lead in the 2005 miniseries Revelations, and he also had a notable appearance on Law & Order: SVU some years back. (There are also some failed pilots in there, but we're not going to talk about those now.) On the feature side, he's currently got the biopic LBJ coming.

Based on the popular novel by German author Petra Hammesfahr, The Sinner was created by up-and-comer Derek Simonds, who wrote the pilot and will executive produce alongside Jessica Biel. There's no telling at this point just how far this drama could go, but with big name talent like this already on board, I'm betting USA has high hopes for its future. Stay tuned.

But while you're staying tuned into that, don't forget about everything else coming to the small screen, which you can find in our fall TV schedule.

It has been nearly three decades since Independence Day was released to the summer movie public. It was the instant classic alien invasion movie that turned writer/director Roland Emmerich into the big-budget spectacle filmmaker that we know him as today and, in 2016, spawned a sequel called Independence Day: Resurgence.

One of the most interesting things about the Independence Day cast is that, while the movie was chock-full of names and faces that the average movie fan would recognize today, there was no "movie star" in the mix. It was very much an ensemble cast where everybody pulled their weight to build the larger story together. This doesn't mean that the movie didn't produce at least one bonafide movie star, though. Let's start there.

Will Smith (Capt. Steven Hiller)

After successfully transitioning from rap musician (as The Fresh Prince) to TV star (leading The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast) to movie star (co-leading Michael Bay's Bad Boys), Will Smith led the defense against the alien invasion as fighter pilot, Captain Steven Hiller in Independence Day. Smith went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with hits like the Men in Black movies and won a Best Actor Oscar for King Richard in 2022 on a night that also saw his career take a strange turn when he slapped Chris Rock over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. As for Will Smith's upcoming projects, the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star continues to produce Bel-Air, which has a third season coming to Peacock in August 2024, has a sequel to I Am Legend in the works, and has signed on to star in a sci-fi thriller called Resistor for Sony.

Bill Pullman (President Thomas Whitmore)

After coming to prominence with his comedic work in films like Ruthless People and Spaceballs, Bill Pullman was cast in Independence Day as, arguably, his most famous role, Thomas J. Whitmore: one of the best movie presidents, mostly due to the epic speech he delivers near the finale. Some of Pullman’s most notable movie and TV credits since include playing the President again for NBC's short-lived comedy, 1600 Penn, reprising Whitmore in Independence Day: Resurgence, and playing the only recurring character of USA’s quasi-anthology crime drama, The Sinner. One of his more recent notable acting turns saw him go bad as Alex Murdaugh in Lifetime's two-part true crime drama, Murdaugh Murders: The Movie.

Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson)

An ID4 vet who would also reprise his role of David Levinson in Resurgence is Jeff Goldblum, who has starred in several other great sci-fi movies as an “overly educated nerd,” such as Seth Brundle in David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly or in the Jurassic Park movies as Ian Malcom. He would more recently become one of the usual suspects in Wes Anderson’s movies, starred in one of the best Marvel movies (Thor: Ragnarok) as the Grandmaster, and does ads for Apartments.com. He has an upcoming 2024 movie (namely the first half-of the two-part movie adaptation of Wicked as The Wizard) and an upcoming Netflix TV show called Kaos as a modern incarnation of Zeus.

Mary McDonnell (Marilyn Whitmore)

Starring in Independence Day as First Lady Marilyn Whitmore is Mary McDonnell, who probably came to your attention in the early ‘90s when she scored a pair of Oscar nominations – one in 1991 for Dances with Wolves, and then a second in 1993 for Passion Fish. She is probably best known today for another role that combines sci-fi with politics – President Laura Roslin in the Battlestar Galactica cast – and later found a home on TV with a role on The Closer and its spin-off, Major Crimes. She more recently lent her voice to Netflix’s animated The Witcher spin-off movie, Nightmare of the Wolf, and joined the cast of Mike Flanagan’s series adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher for the same platform.

Judd Hirsch (Julis Levinson)

Playing David's father, Julius, is Judd Hirsch, who has been acting since the early 1970s and is probably best known for playing Alex Reiger on the comedy series Taxi, or more recently, for his role on the CBS hit series Numbers. He later had regular roles on a few short-lived series – ABC's Forever and the CBS sitcom, Superior Donuts – but memorably recurred alongside the Goldbergs cast as “Pop-Pop.” Some of his recent big screen credits following Resurgence, include one of the best A24 movies, Uncut Gems, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical drama, The Fabelmans (for which he received his second Academy Award nomination after 1981’s Ordinary People), and an upcoming drama called Connescence, which is now in post-production.

Vivica A. Fox (Jasmine Dubrow)

Steven Hiller’s wife, Jasmine Dubrow, was one of the earliest major roles for Vivica A. Fox, who later went on to star in even more action films – most notably the 1996 crime drama, Set It Off, and Quentin Tarantino’s two-part revenge tale, Kill Bill, as Vernita Green. Since then, the Booty Call star has done a series of smaller films and TV guest spots, -- such as her recurring role on Fox's hit series, Empire, as Candace -- and returned to the role of Jasmine in Independence Day: Resurgence. The year 2024 saw Fox appear in the Tyler Perry parody, Not Another Church Movie, and she has several other projects in the works.

Adam Baldwin (Major Mitchell)

Unless you've watched Independence Day recently, you probably didn't even remember that Adam Baldwin was in it as Major Mitchell, unless you recognized him as the kid from My Bodyguard or Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket. It wasn't until 2002 that most people would come to know Baldwin from his role in the Firefly cast as Jayne Cobb. The fandom for that cult series outlived its single-season run, ensuring Baldwin would still have a strong following as he later starred on NBC's Chuck, TNT's The Last Ship, and in the Kurt Warner biopic, American Underdog, as Coach Allen. Baldwin has, more recently, made guest spots on procedural like S.W.A.T. and his war history drama, Love, Courage, and the Battle of Bushy Run, came out in 2024.

Mae Whitman (Patricia Whitmore)

President Whitmore’s daughter, Patricia, was played in ID4 by Mae Whitman the same year she played George Clooney’s daughter in the rom-com, One Fine Day. She went on to star opposite Alia Shawkat on the 1960s-set sitcom State of Grace and in the Arrested Development cast before joining the Parenthood cast, which she followed up with another NBC series called Good Girls. She is also an accomplished voice actor, with notable animated roles including Katara on Avatar: The Last Airbender,  several great DC TV shows as various characters, and reprising Roxy Richter in Netflix's Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. 

Harvey Fierstein (Marty Gilbert)

David Levinson’s ill-fated friend and employer, Marty Gilbert, was played by Harvey Fierstein, who is best known for his work on the stage, for which he's won four Tony Awards. However, you likely remember him from Mrs. Doubtfire as Robin Williams’ brother and the designer of his English nanny costume, recognize his gravelly voice as Yao in the original Mulan, or did not know he was on How I Met Your Mother as Lily’s smoker’s voice. After playing Edna Turnblad in NBC's live performance of Hairspray in 2016, Fierstein lent his voice to Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and appeared in the Bros cast most recently.

Harry Connick Jr. (Captain Jimmy Wilder)

While his character – Hiller’s wingman, Jimmy Wilder – didn’t survive the first act of Independence Day, Mae Whitman’s Hope Float’s co-star, Harry Connick Jr., was one of the cast’s better-known names, particularly for his music career, which included the When Harry Met Sally… soundtrack. His eclectic acting career also involved dealing with more extra-terrestrial visitors in The Iron Giant, playing a serial killer in Copycat, and a recurring role alongside the Will & Grace cast. He was also an American Idol judge at one time, played Daddy Warbucks in 2021's Annie Live! cast for NBC, and has a rom-com called Find Me Falliing due for a 2024 release on Netflix.

Randy Quaid (Russell Casse)

Russell Casse – an everyman whose sacrifice helped save the planet – was played by Randy Quaid, who is best known as Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Vacation movies, an Amish man with an astonishing bowling talent in Kingpin, and his Academy Award nominated performance in 1974’s The Last Detail. In more recent years, he began dealing with legal issues stemming from a 2010 burglary charge in Santa Barbara and, until 2015, resided in Canada seeking refugee status due to a conspiratorial fear of assassination in Hollywood, according to a Vanity Fair story. The Brokeback Mountain star’s last acting role was a 2018 comedy called All You Can Eat.

Robert Loggia (General William Grey)

Playing General Grey, the man who was in charge of the United States military response to the alien threat, was Robert Loggia, who – with over 200 acting credits on his resume – was an incredibly prolific actor. Outside of Independence Day, the actor was best known from Brian DePalma’s Scarface, the iconic piano scene opposite Tom Hanks in Big, his reunion with Bill Pullman in the 1997 David Lynch movie, Lost Highway, and his Academy Award nominated performance in 1986’s Jagged Edge. The actor was unable to reprise his role in the sequel, as he passed away in 2015.

Whether it is actually the Fourth of July or any other time of the year, those seeking a fun sci-fi flick cannot go wrong with rewatching this classic that was the most popular movie at the box office for 1996. However, amid the cutting edge special effects and explosive action sequences, I think many would agree that the talented, star-studded Independence Day cast deserves a great deal of the credit for its enduring success.

Almost immediately after Independence Day became the poster child for summer blockbusters back in 1996, the studio was clamoring for a sequel, and the audience was right behind them. Yet for years after a ragtag band of politicians and military strategists saved our planet from total annihilation, no movement was made on returning to the world Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin created as their follow-up to the immensely popular Stargate. With a 3D re-release originally scheduled for 2013 being the only chance of seeing some prime ET ass being whupped, the film's legacy looked to be relegated strictly to the halls of nostalgia.

Then, in a flurry of activity that took place mostly in the past couple of years, Independence Day: Resurgence was born! The franchise was given new life, and with some serious thought into not just one, but multiple entries. For now, though, we've only got one sequel to anticipate, but already there's enough information out there to have us asking questions about how the world has changed in the 20 years after defeating those "alien assholes," and whether we'll be celebrating out Independence Day, or mourning it. Here's what we know so far about Independence Day: Resurgence, starting with the first trailer as shown below.

So what information has been released about Independence Day: Resurgence so far, and what’s been rumored about the film? Read on to find out!

The Director

In the years since Independence Day, Roland Emmerich has become a bit of an infamous figure in Hollywood. This is mostly due to his immediately following up his 1996 sci-fi blockbuster with one of the most panned films of the 1990's: his remake of Godzilla. Most recently, Emmerich was the force behind such films as The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, and White House Down - so you could debate his reputation in Hollywood as falling on either side of the spectrum. Strangely enough, Roland Emmerich waited so long to make an Independence Day sequel because he was afraid that making the film during the Bush Administration would only serve to further glorify those in power, as he felt the series was about, "a king who leads his country into a fight against an outside invader." No word yet on if the White House will yet again be destroyed, but never say never.

The Story

Twenty years after what's been universally dubbed "The War of 1996," humanity is about to be visited by another wave of alien invaders. With David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) working closely with the Earth Space Defense (ESD) organization in the decades after the first invasion, our species has adapted our own lives and defenses with reverse engineered technology from the first round of hostilities. The world has formed one massive global alliance, and peace has reigned in the ensuing ground war to clear out the straggling alien inhabitants left over since initial invasion. Throughout those years, Levinson was always convinced that the extraterrestrial forces would be back, and sure enough – those strangers from the depths of space are re-emerging in our corner of space, ready for more hostilities. Originally planned as a multi-part sequel, entitled ID Forever, the film was renamed and consolidated into one entry - Independence Day: Resurgence.

Captain Steven Hiller And His Family

After serving as a fighter pilot during the massive air campaigns waged on the alien invaders during The War of 1996, Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) was promoted to the rank of Colonel and began working with the Earth Space Defense organization. With the ESD working heavily in enriching our existing technology with that of our would-be destroyers, Col. Hiller was at the front line of testing said technologies, which lead to his untimely demise during the test flight of a hybrid fighter in 2007.

He was survived by his wife Jasmine, played once again by Vivica A. Fox in Independence Day: Resurgence, who went on to become a hospital administrator in the ensuing years after the global crisis; as well as his step-son Dylan (now played by Jessie Usher,) who looks to have joined the ESD, just like his step-dad before him. The reason for killing off Will Smith’s iconic character from the original film has something to do with an agreement not being reached between himself and the studio, and the eventuality was prepared for with two separate drafts of the script. Needless to say, Smith was not too pleased when he found out his character was killed off, but if he changes his tune for any prospective sequels, it shouldn’t be too hard to re-write him into the picture.

President Whitmore And His Family

During the events of the War of 1996, President James Whitmore became a battle tested leader, despite his critics having no faith in his ability to lead pre-invasion. Unfortunately, President Whitmore also lost his wife, and encountered an event where for a brief moment, a previously captured alien created a telepathic link between itself and the world leader. After humanity won the day, President Whitmore and his daughter, Patricia, became a part of living history. In particular, the former Commander in Chief was instrumental to the global talks that eventually created the Earth Space Defense organization.

But the past has come calling for James Whitmore, as he apparently still has a mental link with the aliens that came 20 years ago. Not much is known about what's been going on in Patricia’s life by the time Independence Day: Resurgence rolls around, but we do know that It Follows star Maika Monroe is filling the role, after a heated casting process that somehow left out the original actor to play the role - The DUFF’s Mae Whitman. Returning to play President Whitmore is Bill Pullman, who was last seen in the R-rated comedy/thriller American Ultra.

David Levinson

When The War of 1996 hit, David Levinson was nothing more than a "cable repair man," working tech for a New York service provider. His genius exceeded what was needed for such a lowly position, and it showed when he was not only the singular person to isolate the alien signal, he also pointed out that it was a countdown to an eventual attack. Sealing humanity’s victory against the alien scourge by implanting a computer virus into one of the alien control ships, Levinson’s mind saved the world.

All of this paved the way for his eventual position as the director of the Earth Space Defense organization, which gave him free reign to design the future of human technology. This was mostly done through harnessing the weapons of destruction that were once used in an attempt to wipe us out. Bringing his legendary character to live once again for Independence Day: Resurgence is Jeff Goldblum, who has recently been seen in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Mortdecai.

Jake Morrison

The War of 1996 took its toll on the world, leaving cities devastated and families torn apart. One such victim of the alien invasion’s devastation was Jake Morrison, former fighter pilot / hot dog flying ace. Morrison lost his parents during the first incursion into Earth’s atmosphere, leaving him to grow up an orphan who would originally pursue a career in the military. Being the show-off that he is, Jake made a call so bad that he was banished to the Earth Science Defense’s Moon Base, where he drives a space forklift known as "The Moon Tug." Jake is a new character to the line-up of Independence Day: Resurgence, and is played by action star Liam Hemsworth, who we most recently star in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part II. Not only will we get to see Jake interacting with David Levinson in a particularly tense looking sequence, but it’s also been heavily suspected that Patricia Whitmore is pretty much Jake’s love interest in the long awaited sequel.

Dr. Brakish Okun

We’d always suspected that Area 51 held the greatest secrets when it came to the existence of alien life, and sure enough we were right. During the events of the War of 1996, President Whitmore and his party were made privy to the secrets of the top secret installation by the eccentric Dr. Brakish Okun. A lead researcher at the infamous military site, Dr. Okun was presumably killed after an alien he was dissecting became re-animated, using him as a mouthpiece to speak with humanity. As luck would have it, the good doctor did not die, rather he was in a coma for some time - leaving him to return to the aid of humanity in its darkest hour. Returning to play one of his craziest roles yet in Independence Day: Resurgence is venerated sci-fi actor Brent Spiner. Recently seen re-teaming with Patrick Stewart in the Starz comedy Blunt Talk, we can only imagine what Spiner’s character is going to be like after having an extremely close encounter with an alien, and living to tell the tale.

Julius Levinson

While his son David may be book smart, Julius Levinson doesn’t resist a chance to set his son straight when he needs to. A wise, if not cranky, old man, Julius loves playing chess and trying to help his son fix his life up a bit, and he’s not afraid to quote John Lennon for the cause. Julius evacuated New York with his son during the War of 1996, and stuck beside him throughout the journey - no matter how airsick his child had gotten. Julius may not be a warrior in the traditional sense, but he surely knows how to brighten the mood and calm a room that’s about to get out of control. Without Judd Hirsch playing the role of Julius, as he did in the previous film, Independence Day: Resurgence would have no business including his character in the proceedings. Thankfully, both Hirsch and his sage comedic relief will help us through another round of prayer.

The Aliens

When you bust in on an inferior race, guns blazing and your enemy confused, surely you think you’ve got the day won, right? Wrong, my extraterrestrial friend, as the aliens who sparked the War of 1996 not only failed to secure the planet they lusted after from afar, they lost almost their entire advance party in the process. We say almost because as the history of the world after their defeat will tell you, some aliens survived for around a decade after their initial attack - only to slowly be cleared out. Of course, when you lose a scouting team to a punk fighter pilot and an egghead computer whiz, you’re naturally going to send another team - which is what our unnamed alien race from Independence Day have done in the name of the story for Independence Day: Resurgence. With a bigger ship, and undoubtedly tougher, more advanced defenses - it’s going to be much harder to whoop ET’s ass this time around - especially since Earth has run out of Randy Quaids to throw at them.

President Lanford

In every Roland Emmerich film that features a president (and if you’re keeping score that’s a whole bunch of them), the world leader reflects a usually progressive viewpoint that either syncs up with the modern world, or puts it ahead of its time. President Lanford is the latest in Emmerich’s collection of Commanders in Chief, and she’s the first female United States president in history. Overseeing the United States in Independence Day: Resurgence’s version of 2016, President Lanford may be a leader in a brave new world, but she’s going to need some advice from heroes of the past in order to defeat this revisiting menace. Reuniting with Emmerich after her role in 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow, Sela Ward has gone from being a doctor to being president in 12 years, with a couple exciting stops along the way. Most notably, Ward played television personality Sharon Schieber in David Fincher’s adaptation of Gone Girl, as well as landing gigs on shows like House, M.D. and CSI: NY.

The aliens are back… and they looked super pissed. Twenty years after the citizens of Earth foiled the plans of an invading extraterrestrial force, a new battalion of conquering beings are coming back for revenge in Independence Day: Resurgence. The first full trailer for the upcoming sequel just dropped. Watch it now!

The aliens aren’t the only ones returning. Original Independence Day director Roland Emmerich is back in the chair for the sequel, which is set 20 years after the first movie took place. And he managed to bring most of his Independence Day cast back for the second chapter. Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are the towering leads. Judd Hirsch will bring comic relief, while Vivica A. Fox and Brent Spiner are a backbone of support. But you’ll notice that Will Smith isn’t back this time. Instead, he has been replaced by blasts of new blood in the form of Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe and the great Sela Ward.

The trailer, shared via Uproxx, puts a lot of emphasis on Jeff Goldblum's original character, David, who acknowledges that the our government used the alien technology acquired from the first movie to increase our defense systems and weaponry. But then he drops the ominous analysis that, after 20 years, it won't be enough.

The special effects in the new Independence Day: Resurgence trailer looks insanely good, a huge improvement over the previous movie... though they were good, for their time. The aliens are coming back with a much larger force this time, and the new trailer suggests a few of the ways that Roland Emmerich will look to increase the scope of this sequel. For example, we'll see Liam Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum ON THE MOON!

"It's definitely bigger than the last one." Great last line by Goldblum, with the perfect delivery by the ever-dry comedian.

Independence Day: Resurgence storms into theaters on June 24, 2016. What did you think of the trailer?

Bill Pullman may be back for Independence Day 2, but it’s not going to be as the leader of the free world. As it turns out, in the 20 years since Roland Emmerich’s original alien invasion disaster flick, the United States has elected a new President, and it’s Sela Ward.

Pullman will still play the same character, Thomas J. Whitmore, but according to Deadline, it’s Ward who resides in the White House, or whatever structure they construct to take the place of the building that was so memorably leveled by extraterrestrials in 1996. Ward will reportedly play President Lanford, no first name at the moment, who now sits in the big chair when the action commences on the long in development sequel.

This is not Ward’s first time in an epic scale disaster movie, nor is it her first time working with Emmerich. The two teamed up back in 2004 on the sudden ice age film, The Day After Tomorrow, which Emmerich both wrote and directed.

Independence Day 2 is set 20 years after the events of the first movie, which is a long time, so it makes sense that there would be a new POTUS in place. But given what we know of the plot, it also makes sense that Pullman’s character will play a role in the film. Since the events of Independence Day, humans have been preparing for another visit, and from what has been said, that finally comes to pass, as a new force has come after the advance scouting parting that caused so many problems last time. Pullman’s Whitmore played a prominent part in the human victory in the first film, so it is logical that the new President might seek to enlist his council in the matter. He’s an expert after all.

As for the rest of the cast, Jeff Golblum, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch, and Brent Spiner are all set to reprise their roles from the previous film, though franchise star Will Smith is not on board. Independence Day 2 has gone through a number of proposed incarnations over the years—at one point, two sequels were going to shoot back-to-back, and there have been reports that two scripts were commissioned, one for if Smith returned, one for if he didn’t. Guess which one they went with?

There are also a slew of newcomers this time around. Jessie Usher plays the now-grown stepson of Will Smith’s Captain Stephen Heller character, while Liam Hemsworth has also signed on in a lead role. The Guest and It Follows star Maika Monroe will play the daughter of Thomas Whitmore, and a potential love interest for Hemsworth’s character. The star of Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac, Charlotte Gainsbourg, has also joined what promises to be a very different movie from that one.

Production on Independence Day 2 should begin this summer, and 20th Century Fox has an eye on a June 24, 2016 release date.

After years of rumors and false starts and never really getting anywhere, Independence Day 2 has finally started rolling. They’ve already brought back some familiar faces, as well as added new cast members and characters to the alien invasion actioner, and director Roland Emmerich took to social media to confirm two more actors are coming back.

Using his Twitter account, Emmerich confirmed that both Bill Pullman…

…and Judd Hirsch will both officially be back to battle invaders from another world in the upcoming sequel.

Pullman, you’ll remember, plays American President Thomas J. Whitmore. He may be a politician, but as a former pilot he’s still a man of action, and leads the underdog human forces to victory in the big climactic battle in Emmerich’s 1996 original. Hirsh plays the crotchety, cigar-chomping Julius Levinson, the grumpy father of Jeff Goldblum’s David Levinson. Goldblum is also confirmed to be back, and hopefully, for humanity’s sake, he’ll be able to come up with another brilliant idea to save the day, like giving the alien ships a computer virus. Somehow I doubt the same trick will work twice.

We last saw Bill Pullman back in the fall in the Denzel Washington revenge thriller The Equalizer, and he showed up in the recent Shakespeare update Cymbeline. For his part, former Taxi star Hirsch has recently appeared on shows like Maron and Forever, and even had a part in last year’s schlock-fest Sharknado 2: The Second One. We’ve heard that both could and likely would be back, but if Emmerich is announcing it to the whole world, it seems pretty official, though it remains to be seen how big their roles will be in Independence Day 2.

They join other returning actors, including Jeff Goldblum, Brent Spiner, and Vivica A. Fox, as well as some new blood. Survivor’s Remorse star Jessie Usher has been enlisted to play the son of Will Smith’s Captain Steven Hiller (though there will be no Smith to be found here). Though there is no word on who he’ll play, Liam Hemsworth is also set to star, and you can bet he plays someone heroic. Charlotte Gainsbourg, star of Lars Von Trier’s two-part Nymphomaniac saga, also recently signed on, as did Joey King.

Over the years, the plan for Independence Day 2 has gone through some major changes. At one point it was envisioned as a two-part affair that would film back-to-back, and there were reports that two scripts were commissioned, one with Will Smith’s character, and one without. The latest screenplay been rewritten by Carter Blanchard and, reportedly set 20 years after the events of the first film, finds humanity preparing for another visit from our angry space neighbors, which, as you probably guessed, comes to pass. Wouldn’t be much of an alien invasion movie without invading aliens, would it? What would Roland Emmerich use to cause large-scale chaos and destruction?

Independence Day 2 is set to begin filming later this year and is scheduled to blow up theaters worldwide June 24, 2016, almost exactly 20 years after the release of the first film.

There has been a decent amount of movement on the announced sequel to Independence Day, from the sci-fi film landing a release date to director Roland Emmerich confirming various casting moves. We weren’t exactly sure what the movie was going to be about, though even those details now are snapping into place.

Insiders close to the production are telling Bloody Disgusting that the Independence Day sequel is going to go by the name of ID Forever, and will be about the following: 20 years after the events of the first film, a new wave of alien "reinforcements" arrive at our planet in response to a distress signal sent up by the "first wave" of extraterrestrial visitors. As expected, insanity ensues.

That plot synopsis, while simplified, makes sense. If we had just destroyed a series of ships sent to our planet to explore and possibly take over, then the overlords who commissioned that journey likely would want to find out what happened. Why wasn’t any data sent back from planet Earth? How come none of the ships returned safely from the voyage? Is this Pullman, or Paxton?

Setting the sequel 20 years after the initial events of the 1996 blockbuster also helps explain why certain cast members like Will Smith have chosen not to return for further alien adventures. Maybe arrogant but talented Captain Steven Hiller went down in flames on a previous mission. Or maybe he’s still so torched by the failure of After Earth that the idea of trying more science-fiction is terrifying.

There’s another bit of interesting information in the Bloody Disgusting report. The site claims that its sources are telling them that ID Forever (such a terrible name) is going into production as "Part 1 of a new series," meaning that 20th Century Fox might be trying to do what Sony, Warner Bros. and Disney are doing with Ghostbusters, DC Comics and Marvel superheroes, in general. Create a new world. Build a franchise. Milk multiple sequels for millions of dollars.

So far, we know that original Independence Day stars Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum are returning, and that they will be joined by Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher, who reportedly will be playing Hiller’s step-son in the film. Things are happening, and if reports are to be believed, this is the start of a long run of ID4 movies. Now, can we get to work about changing that title?

Gilbert Gottfried has made a career out of his unique voice and comedic time, creating some of memorable—and amusing—characters in film over the years. He’s probably best known for voicing Iago in Aladdin, but more recently, he decided to do redo a famous speech from another nineties hit, Independence Day. The result turns the rousing speech into a comedy goldmine, and is definitely worth a watch.

In the short, 2-minute video, the footage from Independence Day is exactly what you will remember, with Bill Pullman standing in front of a ragtag band of civilians willing to get into janky planes and give up their lives in order to potentially save humanity from the threat of an alien invasion. Pullman’s speech ties freedom and Independence Day together in ways that are not the least bit cornball and actually, understandably, gets a group of random assholes to want to put their lives on the line. Pullman’s treatment of the speech is definitely serviceable, but trust me when I say Gottfried adds a little more ’Merica to the mix.

It’s Gottfried’s screechy, fervent, strangely-accented speech that really sells the video and makes me wonder what the man has been up to since he became famous for his voicework in the nineties (let's just forget about his appearance in A Million Ways to Die in the West). Apparently, he's interested in podcasts. In fact, the video was first put together for Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, and eventually made it into the video format you now see, above.

If you are having a little trouble remembering how the Independence Day speech sounds when it is done the way Roland Emmerich wants it done, the fine folks over at Fox Home Entertainment also have made Pullman’s actual version available to revisit, time and time again.

I’m not sure if Gottfried plans to make this segment a regular thing on his podcast, but I for one can think of a whole list of inspirational speeches he could improve. I’m thinking Shawshank Redemption’s "Get Busy Living" speech or possibly Al Pacino’s "Game Of Inches" pep talk. Seriously. Don’t you want to hear Gilbert scream about making every wrong choice a middle-aged man can make? I certainly do, as long as it is done more than six inches from my face.

As production on the action-comedy American Ultra kicks off in New Orleans. Lionsgate is announcing some enticing new additions to the cast: Bill Pullman, Tony Hale and Sharon Stone. This trio joins an ensemble that already includes Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, John Leguizamo, and Walton Goggins.

Here's the official plot synopsis for American Ultra, which was just revealed in a press release announcing the start of principal photography

Eisenberg will front the action-packed and funny feature as Mike. Stewart, who has recently wrapped on a trio of dramas (Clouds of Sils Maria, Anethesia, and Still Alice) and previously co-starred with Eisenberg in Adventureland, will play Phoebe, while Stone is set for the role of sleeper agent wrangler Victoria Lasseter. For now, Lionsgate is currently keeping quiet on what roles the rest of the cast will play.

We first got word of American Ultra back in the fall of 2013, when Eisenberg and Stewart signed on to headline. At that time we learned the screenplay was penned by outspoken scribe and Superman aficionado Max Landis, best known for writing the 2012 super-powered thriller Chronicle.

Taking the helm of this action-comedy is Nima Nourizadeh, who made his directorial feature debut in 2012 with the party comedy Project X.

Development on American Ultra went below the radar through the winter, but just last month the movie made headlines with reports Uma Thurman was in talks to co-star. She will be playing a government agent who has deep ties to stoner/sleeper agent Mike. But with this latest press release, it is clear Thurman is out and Stone is in as Victoria Lasseter. I'll be honest: with the character description plus Stone in the role, I'm imagining Lasseter as a live-action Malory Archer. Which is awesome.

American Ultra is expected to hit theaters in 2015.

When it was reported yesterday that Will Smith would probably be absent from an Independence Day sequel, the overwhelming response across the Internet seemed to be split between people bashing Smith for pulling big paydays on expensive fluff like M. Night Shyamalan’s much-maligned After Earth and people bashing Smith for not willing to take a pay cut to return to one of the many summer blockbusters that gave his name its marquee presence in the first place. Not a lot of people seemed to think that Smith’s presence in Roland Emmerich’s sequel was absolutely necessary. Sure, he was one of the heroes, but we’ve essentially seen Smith pull of that same bravado-filled performance in nearly every film he's made since. Give Steven Hiller a celebratory statue and let’s focus on some of the film’s more nuanced characters, shall we?

Movies.com, whose Erik Davis recently moderated a Q&A with Emmerich in promotion for his upcoming action flick White House Down, reports Emmerich’s confirmation that both Jeff Goldblum, who played the nebbish genius David Levinson, and Bill Pullman, who played the always inspirational President Thomas Whitmore, will be returning to reprise their roles from the first film. To quote Levinson, adopting his best Elvis accent: "Oh, thank you very much."

Unfortunately, the director didn’t get into specifics on the roles that either of the characters will play in the sequel, but Emmerich’s previously revealed details about the plot sets the story 20 years after the first film’s events, and the global repercussions of the alien attacks. But if we use our brains and our common knowledge of the world as we already know it, chances are Levinson will still have an awkward relationship with his father – and we will be highly displeased if Judd Hirsch doesn’t come back for that role – and former President Whitmore will join forces with another past President in order to raise money for other global disasters.

Emmerich did go on to say he hasn’t shown Smith a final version of the film’s screenplay, and that he hopes that a cameo can be worked out to "pass the torch" to Hiller’s stepson, who was hinted at being a major player in the new film. You can’t tell me the guy who stops aliens from destroying the planet doesn’t get to be president one day, so maybe Hiller got to beat Obama to the punch as the first black head of state.

I watched the film just the other day for the first time in well over a decade and was surprised by how much fun I had watching it, even during its corniest moments. I’m usually against sequels ripping off their original films, but if this movie doesn’t feature Goldblum’s drunken nervousness and Whitmore giving a speech to end all speeches, then I hope the aliens win.

Independence Day 2 is already set for a July 3, 2015 release date. Check out the film’s original trailer below. Just picture everyone with a few more wrinkles now.

I wasn’t sure what I expected out of NBC’s new comedy, 1600 Penn, but I sat through half of last night’s episode of The Voice just to watch it, so at least that’s something. What I found was a comedy that is subtly smart, even within its most outrageous characters, and extremely charming, to boot. There may be too many kids in the package, but in NBC’s first episode of the series, the multitudes of White House children bothered me less than I expected. Now, if you’re willing to give the series a shot, NBC has the whole thing available online for potential fans.

The video is available on NBC’s site, but you can also check it out above. Once you click, you will be immersed into the world of the Gilchrists, an unconventional family living under extraordinary circumstances. Heading up the family is President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman), who just wants to focus on foreign affairs, and his wife, Emily Nash-Gilchrist (Jenna Elfman), the stepmom to his four children. Which brings us to the kids, including the delinquent Skip (Josh Gad) and the perfect Becca (Martha MacIsaac), but it is the latter child who is going through a bit of a predicament. Additionally, the family has two other, younger children who viewers haven’t seen too much of, yet.

This dysfunctional family unit hits most of the right notes and plenty of perfect crises. The set-up of the return of the bumbling son is perfect for Gad, whose character wreaks inadvertent havoc wherever he goes. In the first episode, Gad and his relationship with his leader of the free world father takes a prominent role, but we’ll see if the series manages to expand as it moves forward. Just don’t call it NBC’s take on Modern Family. It’s a totally different ballgame.

If you aren't feeling like watching some video, you can check out Kelly's take on the new show.

The cast of Torchwood and writer Jane Espenson sat down with the press yesterday to talk to us a little bit about Miracle Day. While they avoided giving up any major spoilers, we did learn some interesting things about what’s to come for the characters. Find out what they had to say about Gwen and Jack’s relationship, Rex’s fate, Oswald’s mindset and some upcoming fights involving the characters!

After attending the Torchwood: Miracle Day panel I knew these guys were a pretty animated group. John Barrowman is a true entertainer, who offered up comedy and even a song for the audience, while Eve Myles joked and showed some amusing facial expressions in reaction to John. The cast was still in good spirits when they met with us later at the press room.

Among the writers of the show is Jane Espenson, who’s written for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, and more recently, Game of Thrones. She talked about enjoying “making a meal out of appetizers” as she’s jumping from project to project, contributing her talent to various shows rather than focusing on on big project at a time. This includes Torchwood, the upcoming Once Upon A Time and a webseries about a newlywed male/male couple called Husbands. “I don’t see how a network doesn’t buy it and put it on TV,” Espenson says of the series.

On Torchwood Espenson spoke of the newly developing group dynamic in Miracle Day, saying “This group starts to refer to themselves as Torchwood and I think that’s really significant. If there was another year, I assume some version of this Torchwood is what would continue but that is Russell’s area.” So, we might be seeing the start of a new team, should Starz renew Torchwood for another season.

If you caught last night’s episode, you may have enjoyed the late-night phone conversation Jack had with Gwen, during which (spoiler alert!) they had a heart to heart, but then Gwen got distracted by a web-chat with her baby and left Jack talking to himself. Espenson was proud to have written that bit:

Considering all that’s happened since the start of Miracle Day, I’d say they were all overdue for a breath (and whatever else they decided to get that night).

Espenson spoke about finding the humor in dark moments and understanding the importance of that “glimmer of light” in the darkness. “One chuckle in a dark scene goes a long way,” she said. I think that’s a big part of what makes her writing stand out from other writers. There’s a range of emotions utilized that doesn’t detract from what’s going on or throw off the rhythm of the story.

John Barrowman, who plays Jack in the series, and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper) talked about Jack and Gwen’s relationship and they seem to universally agree that a romance between them is a bad idea, or at least, wouldn’t be as good as the relationship they have. “Jack and Gwen are not in love. They love each other for very different reasons,” Barrowman said. “It’s not a sexual love. It’s a love of the person he would do anything for as she would do anything for him.” Myles sees the sexiness in the non-sexual nature of Gwen’s relationship with Jack. “What they share is far sexier than sex,” she said. “It’s more psychological than that. It’s a very unique, respectful, loving friendship and they could easily [get together] but it’s because they choose not to, it’s more exciting.”

I’m going to agree with both of them on that. Earlier in the series, I expected Gwen and Jack to get together but I think that ship has sailed. The relationship they have isn’t perfect but the complexity of it stands on its own and really doesn’t need a romantic element to complete (or complicate) it.

Barrowman also talked about how frustrating it is for Jack to need to be taken care of. He’s used to being the one to protect other people, especially Gwen. But now the tables have turned, with everyone else being immortal and him being vulnerable. Gwen’s not only looking out for Jack. She has a daughter to think if. On being a mother, she said, “It’s a lioness with a cub. Everything is more heightened for that woman now. She’s got to save the world because she’s got a little girl in it, and that little girl is everything.”

John got to talking about Jack finding out what he really wants and it was at this point that he started to get nervous about giving too much away. There were references to his role on Doctor Who and that there are parallels to his life prior to what’s going on in Miracle Day, which plays a role in how everything turns out.

When Barrowman’s not playing Jack Harkness, he’s performing on a BBC show called Tonight’s The Night that makes people’s wishes and dreams come true through performance.

Another bit of Torchwood news that’s kind of spoilery: There’s an upcoming episode that’s going to feature an argument between Jack and Gwen. There seemed to be some confusion over whether this happens in Episode 5 or 7. Regardless, the two are going to have it out and from the sound of it, it’s going to be really good.

Eve Myles said the fight was her favorite day of shooting the show, ever, and that we’re going to find out things we didn’t know about Gwen. “It’s such a good episode. It’s so good. You get to the bottom of Gwen Cooper. You get to the bottom of Jack Harkness. You get to the bottom of their relationship, and they have it out, and it’s brutal.”

Myles doesn’t feel like there’s been a major shift from the transition to Starz. “It’s been so organic. It’s just worked.” It sounds as though the new cast-members are enjoying the experience as well. Mekhi Phifer (ER) talked about getting on board with a show with an established fanbase and wanting to honor the show, “The great thing is, there’s a great following. You have all these people that are going to watch and be tuned in. But at the same time, it’s a little nerve-racking because I’m the new kid on the block. I’m the FNG! I want to maintain the integrity of the show and what they’ve already established, so that is the challenge of that.”

If you’re concerned about Phifer’s character, rest assured that he is actually healing. According to Phifer, Rex is getting better, it’s just a slow process, which probably isn’t helped by all the running around he’s doing. He expressed apprecation for working on a sci-fi show. “When you suspend reality a bit, there’s no limit to where you can go.” “We’re playing it like it’s real, but obviously there’s an element of fantasy to it, which gives the writers, like Jane, free reign to have fun with it and right her heart out. Anything she’s ever dreamed about, she can put on paper and we can portray it.”

Bill Pullman talked a little bit about the mindset of convicted killer Oswald Danes and some of the questions going through his mind. “He’s no longer going to die and they can’t incarcerate him anymore. What is it? What is now? Where do I go? What is power? Why are the things I’m saying of interest to people? Do I have a motive? Would I know myself if I had a motive? Do I know anything about how I work as a human being? It felt like all of that was on the table.”

Pullman wasn’t giving anything away on where the man’s head is really at, but at least we know he’s wondering the same things we are! As for Esther, actress Alexa Havins is grateful for the cast of the show and is hitting it off rather well with Eve Myles. “We just had to found our rhythm and it was quite easy because Eve and I are absolutely in love. We’re out of our minds. We may leave our boys for each other,” she joked.

Esther apparently has a fight coming up and hair-pulling may be involved. “It’s raw,” she said of her upcoming fight-scene. “It’s a little wobbly and a little off. It looks like kind of a bar brawl, mixed with like chick-fight over a dude. There’s hair pulling because it’s with someone who’s not as experienced, so it’s kind of neat. We’re equally matched as far as experience level.” She also joked about the ridiculous high-heeled shoes she’s running around in and how they might come in handy in a fight. “It’s fun, but more than anything but I’m like, ‘can I use the heel as a weapon?’”

All in all, it seems like the cast is really enjoying Miracle Day and from the sound of it, we’re in for more big things. Barrowman put it best when he told us, “You’re in for the fucking ride of your life.”

Michael Lander's Peacock promises to be an interesting piece. Cillian Murphy plays John Skillpa, a quiet bank clerk living in the town of Peacock, Nebraska, and after a train crashes in his backyard, he can no longer hide the secret of his multiple personality, Emma, who takes care of him. If that's not weird enough, after he reveals his secret to the town, he has to convince them that his personalities are husband and wife. What?!

The movie is slated as a psychological thriller, and after that description the most intriguing part of the film seems like it would be just how they make that synopsis taught and suspenseful. The tag line is “If he only knew what she was doing,” so one might surmise that “she” starts doing a little murdering along with his laundry.

The first images from the film dropped today over at Shock Till You Drop and at least one will turn a few heads. We're getting not only our first look at the cast, but our first look at Emma, which turns out to be the Scarecrow in full drag. It's not RuPaul drag, he's just dressed as a nice lady you might see about town. It's an interesting look to be sure.

The cast is chock full of greats starting with Cillian Murphy, followed by Susan Sarandon, Ellen Page, Bill Pullman and Josh Lucas. This whole idea sounds like it's going to be incredibly fascinating whether it's a thriller or not. We'll be keeping a close look out for more information as well as a trailer which can't bee too far behind.