Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is officially set to premiere later this year on the 2026 TV schedule, and Demigods, we’re entering uncharted territories! The upcoming season marks the first time Rick Riordan’s The Titan’s Curse will be adapted, and this week we learned something big about it. As it turns out, a big change is being made from the source material, and I'm here for it.

The Big Change To Titan's Curse I'm Cool With

During Percy Jackson’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, which CinemaBlend attended, fans had a chance to catch up on what’s next for Camp Half Blood. Yes, the big news is that Season 3 officially has a release date, but I need to talk about something said by showrunner Dan Shotz. The EP's comments on the season really struck me like one of Zeus’s lightning bolts. In his words to Hall H:

I should put a bit of a SPOILER ALERT here for those who haven't read the novels but, in Book 3, Annabeth is kidnapped by the Manticore early on. It leads to her later being forced to hold up the sky in place of the god, Atlas. This admittedly isn't unlike Grover was kidnapped in Sea of Monsters last season, and our beloved trio were torn away from each other as a result.

While that meant Annabeth wasn’t in The Titan’s Curse book much, that’s not going to be the case in the series. And I’m so happy to hear that. Throughout the first two seasons of the show (which is executive produced by Riordan), there’s been a lot of talk about all the changes that have been made. I happen to be a fan of most of what’s been done, to be honest. It keeps us guessing and, hey, if you can get more Annabeth, you should have more Annabeth.

Leah Jeffries Is Sort Of Percy Jackson's Secret Weapon

Sure, one could say some time without Grover gave Percy and Annabeth’s relationship to strengthen. But I simply can’t go for missing out on Leah Jeffries’ Annabeth in the adaptation of The Titan’s Curse. I think this is a natural decision for the show, given the creative team gets to explore outside of Percy’s first-person perspective. Plus, I think Jeffries’ role is really one of the biggest strengths of this streaming series.

Jeffries couldn’t make it to the SDCC panel, because she’s currently shooting the new Cheetah Girls movie. And, honestly, the event was kind of weird without her. Walker Scobell ended up bringing a printout of Jeffries’ face to the panel, but she was missed. Check it out:

Rest assured, fans can look forward to seeing the real Jeffries and not a that printout when Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 premieres on November 20 for those with either a Disney+ subscription or Hulu subscription. I can’t wait to see what the show does with the next installment of the series!

We got some great news recently, as it was announced that “the definitive documentary” about Julie Andrews will be released for those with a Disney+ subscription in 2027. However, many assumed this was very bad news at first, because they thought the post was implying that the iconic actress had died.

To be clear, she’s alive. Fans simply misunderstood the documentary announcement, so let’s break it all down.

Disney+ Announced A New Documentary About Julie Andrews

The documentary about Julie Andrews was announced on July 22 across Disney+’s social media accounts. The post included an image of the actress as well as a statement about the legend she is. Here's what it said:

The project will premiere on the 2027 movie schedule; however, a specific date and title have not been revealed. It’s being produced and directed by R.J. Cutler, who has directed documentaries like Belushi, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and American High.

With this project, we’ll get a look into Andrews’ life as it covers everything from “her early days in British vaudeville to her meteoric rise as a global superstar.” Themes of “resilience, heartbreak, reinvention and enduring grace” will be explored, and the documentary will feature footage and interviews that haven’t been seen before.

Like many, I grew up on Julie Andrews' movies, like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and The Princess Diaries. So, I cannot wait to watch this next year. I’m also relieved that the news was about a documentary focused on her, not the much darker news some fans thought it was.

Fans Thought This Julie Andrews Died When They Saw This Post

Like I said, many didn’t get that this post was to announce a documentary at first. In fact, a lot of fans thought the 90-year-old actress had died, and this was a tribute to her. Here are some examples of people reacting to the nonexistent news:

• They cannot post a pic like this, I thought she was dead -@Shane_Monster
• If I see one more Disney+ ad about Julie Andrews that makes me think the worst happened -@SUNFLWRMAL
• DONT SCARE ME LIKE THST 😭 I thought she went to the kingdom above 😭-@melanwisegirl
• Bitch. I almost just started having the worst day -@R0SYLNS
• Don’t ever fucking scare me like that again -@wandasattorney

I do get why some thought Andrews had died and this post was a tribute to her. Tributes happen every time a well-known celebrity passes away. For example, right after news broke of Sam Neill’s death, fans, friends, and co-stars were posting tributes for the Jurassic Park star. If the Mary Poppins lead had died, her “courage, resilience, grace” would surely have been acknowledged in tributes.

But she’s not dead; she's alive and working.

She’s been the voice of Lady Whistledown on Bridgerton for four seasons, and I hope she’ll continue to be it for the new Lady Whistledown in Season 5. As showrunner Jess Brownell told CinemaBlend, they “didn’t want to squander the voice of Julie Andrews” after last season. So, I’d assume she’ll be back to tell us all the gossip going around the ton.

Along with that, The Princess Diaries 3 is in the works, and the author of the books said the script she read is “amazing.” So, hopefully said script includes Julie Andrews’ character. I mean, it’d be hard to have Princess Diaries without Clarisse Renaldi.

All this is to say, not only is Julie Andrews alive, there’s still opportunity to see her in new projects, including a documentary all about her life!

Have you ever noticed how often Walt Disney used to point with two fingers? If you look at enough archival photos from his lifetime, you’ll notice him gesturing this way a lot. Personally, I've wondered why that was a go-to pose of his. Now, because Tom Hanks played him in Saving Mr. Banks, he actually learned the reason why Disney did this and shared the story behind it.

While Hanks was playing Mr. Disney in the 2012 movie about the making of Mary Poppins, he learned the secret behind the pose. In his words:

Whoa! I don’t know about you, but I thought Disney just pointed that way. But the secret is Walt Disney was a heavy smoker and never gave up the addiction. So, the studio ended up hiding his habit by airbrushing his cigarettes from photos later on. Reportedly, Disney didn’t want to set the example for children. As Hanks also revealed in a throwback interview on The Ellen Show:

Disney died at the age of 65 in 1966 due to lung cancer. He was diagnosed just weeks before his death when doctors discovered a tumor in his left lung, per OncoDaily. He had surgery to remove the tumor, but the disease had already advanced too far, and he died on December 15, 1966. Nowadays, the outlook for patients with lung cancer is much better than it was at the time.

Interestingly enough, cast members also point with two fingers at Disney Parks. In some cultures, it's actually offensive to point with a single finger, and from a distance it's easier to see two fingers rather than one. But now I have to wonder if it was in part inspired by Walt Disney’s smoking addiction.

When Hanks played Walt Disney for Saving Mr. Banks, he thought it was important to portray him accurately, which included bringing attention to his heavy smoking. As he shared:

If you haven’t seen it already, in Saving Mr. Banks, you can see how Hanks implemented what he learned about Disney. You can check out Tom Hanks’ performance as Walt Disney right now with a Disney+ subscription, along with numerous documentaries featuring the man himself. Hanks is also the star of the most successful Disney movie of the year so far, reprising the role of Woody in Toy Story 5. It’s now playing in theaters.

The Princess Diaries’ Mia Thermopolis may not be an official Disney Princess, but she certainly shares one popular thing many of them sadly have: a dead parent. But I just learned that Mia’s dad is very much alive in The Princess Diaries books. When it came to Meg Cabot's novels being turned into a movie from Walt Disney Pictures, the producers had a big reason for why they felt Mia's dad needed to be dead, and what a revelation!

Why are the characters in Disney movies always without parents? When it came to Cabot’s The Princess Diaries books, she had no intention of following that trend and leaving Mia without a father. However, here's why the storyline changed for the 2001 movie, per Cabot:

If you’re a reader who follows along with all the book-to-screen adaptations, you know that changes between the book and movie are inevitable. A film script just doesn’t have the kind of time to get into as much detail as a novel can, and characters being combined into one role is common. As Cabot also said in a new interview with CBS Mornings:

So, I’m never looking at The Princess Diaries movies the same again whenever I watch them with my Disney+ subscription. While it’s kind of sad that the studio felt they needed to give Mia a darker backstory, they also had a really good reason for it: Julie Andrews. And all they had to say was her name for Cabot to get on board, too.

When Julie Andrews was approached for The Princess Diaries, it became her first Disney film since 1964’s Mary Poppins; it was also a big deal because she only worked on six projects during the '90s. And, four years prior to signing on for The Princess Diaries, Andrews actually had surgery to remove a non-cancerous lesion on her vocal cords that ended up leaving her without the four-octave soprano range she once had.

Ultimately, Walt Disney Pictures made a good decision to give Andrews the bigger role as Queen Clarisse rather than balancing the characters of Mia’s grandma and dad in one movie. But, wow!

Cabot just released a graphic novel version of her classic middle-grade novel as we look forward to the third Princess Diaries movie that's currently in development. Cabot also recently said The Princess Diaries 3 script is “amazing,” and she’s “so excited” for it.

I'm also hyped after hearing that it's going to be shot in Europe and be a “wish fulfillment movie for queens” per the director's most recent update about it in May. Right now, the star of The Princess Diaries movies, Anne Hathaway, is booked and busy on her third press tour of the year, The Odyssey. (She's the lead of five 2026 movies). So, it's unclear when exactly production will begin on The Princess Diaries 3. However, we do know that it's being actively worked on.

I felt like Mia Thermopolis when she learned she was a princess when coming across this story of Mia's dead dad's origins, and I will feel that way again when my burning questions about The Princess Diaries 3 are answered. While we wait, you can grab The Princess Diaries graphic novel on Amazon and see Hathaway in The Odyssey when it hits theaters on July 17.

We just passed the halfway point of the year, and I can confidently say that Toy Story 5 is definitely one of my favorite 2026 movies. Pixar’s latest gave me everything I wanted out of a sequel to a franchise I’ve grown up with my whole life, and seeing Jessie finally get her moment is a big reason why. Days after I walked out of the theater with a big smile on my face over the new animated film, I decided to give its predecessor, Toy Story 4, another shot, and I’m very happy I did! Let’s get into it.

What I Thought About Toy Story 4 When It First Came Out

While it took me a double-take to believe it, Toy Story 4 came out seven years ago. I remember going to see it in the theaters opening weekend just like I did for its newest installment – but I recall being very disappointed and feeling kind of icky about it. Given, for context – it was the first Toy Story movie that came out since I became an adult.

My most potent memory about the movie was the Toy Story 4 ending where Woody and Buzz say goodbye to each other with “To infinity and beyond”. I can recall the heavy sigh the scene incited from me like it was yesterday. To me, I think it felt like Pixar was trying to recreate the perfect ending of Toy Story 3 with another heartfelt goodbye between two major characters, and it just didn’t hit the same as last time, in what I would consider one of the best Pixar movies ever made.

Otherwise, I remember liking Forky and thinking Toy Story 4 was OK overall, but just kind of unnecessary. What a difference seven years makes!

What I Think After My Recent Rewatch After Seeing Toy Story 5

After loving Toy Story 5 as much as I did, I started to question my previous feelings about Toy Story 4. Was it really as bad as I thought it was? After my latest viewing, I can confirm that I was way too harsh on the sequel, and I think I know why. Toy Story 4 had to follow Toy Story 3, and even though it had been almost a decade since it had come out at that point, I wasn’t sold on the idea of Woody, Buzz and the gang coming back yet. Technically, I still think of Toy Story 4 as the weakest of the movies, but really not by much.

This time, I really appreciated Toy Story 4 for how it took some time to explore Woody’s life post-Andy. I kind of think of it as a metaphor for being an empty-nester parent who’s trying to find your purpose after your kid goes to college. I haven’t had that experience myself, but I’ve seen my parents struggle to redefine themselves since I went away to college and became an adult. With that in mind, I found Woody’s journey to be really meaningful, and his decision to “retire” (which becomes a hilarious gag in 5) and go after Bo Peep isn't sad, but a really beautiful start of a new chapter for him.

After watching Toy Story 5, I also was curious about seeing more of Bonnie from before and how the toys adjusted to being part of her room before. I really like how both 4 and 5 explore different ways that toys can be helpful to kids through Bonnie – who I realized now is very different from Andy and very much of her generation. And, I'm happy we have multiple kids in the Toy Story franchise.

The conclusion that I’ve come to is that every Toy Story movie has been made with complete love and care, and I’ll be happy to take more as long as there’s another good story to tell. And I like how each one has a few different main characters to come back to depending on how I feel the next time I want to go back and watch a Toy Story movie. If you felt similarly to me about Toy Story 4, I very much recommend a rewatch!

Heading into a holiday weekend, one can obviously make entertainment choices by seeing which 2026 movie releases are in theaters, or what new shows are premiering. But isn’t it better sometimes to just sit back and rely on the classics? That’s the American way, and the perfect approach to the States’ big 250th celebration for July 4. Avoid the heat and noisy fireworks by streaming a trio of movies that fully represent the idea of ‘90s action movies.

What’s more, they’re all streaming in one place, so you don’t even need to use a remote to change platforms. So take advantage of the deal below and then scroll down for movies filled with 'splosions, speeches and snazzy hairstyles.

Independence Day - No-Brainer Must-Watch

If you truly love America, you probably already own Independence Day on VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, digital and more. But there's no harm in putting it on one more time to witness some of cinema's biggest on-screen destruction for the era, as well as one of the most enduring ensemble casts of any '90s blockbuster.

This is the flick that turned Will Smith into a movie star, that cemented Jeff Goldblum as a nebbish-nerd hero, that gave us one of the most memorable Presidential speeches ever spoken, real or fictional. It's an all-time greatest '90s movie for a reason, or like 20 of them.

Air Force One - President Harrison Ford Is The Best

Speaking of increasingly memorable movie POTUSes, it's hard to think of a more ideal version than Air Force One's President James Marshall. It absolutely helps that he's portrayed by Harrison Ford, who'd already portrayed at least three all-time iconic characters in Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Jack Ryan. There's seemingly no threat the actor's characters can't stop.

Which obviously includes terrorists hijacking what's meant to be the most secure aircraft in the nation. It might feel weird to celebrate America with a movie about threats to the country's safety, but such is life in 2026.

Con Air - Cameron Poe Is America

The connective tissue here isn't a Presidential matter, but one of aircraft. It's wild to think that around 6 weeks before Air Force One hit theaters, they were taken over by the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced splendor of Simon West's Con Air. Nicolas Cage is in peak form physically and thespian-ically as Cameron Poe, whose Alabama accent is thicker than his biceps. To that end, key villain John Malkovich's Cyrus The Virus almost sounds more naturally American than Poe. It was a wild time.

The cast here is a who's-who of A+ actors beyond those named above. Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, Ving Rhames, Monica Potter, Mykelti Williamson, Dave Chappelle, Sons of Anarchy vets Danny Trejo and Emilio Rivera and many more. Everytime Con Air is on, it should be watched. And if it's on streaming, that means 24/7.

Still needing more to watch after the above? Here are some more on-theme offerings.

More Classic '90s Action Movies Streaming On Disney+

• Pearl Harbor
• Armageddon
• The Rock
• G.I. Jane
• Die Hard 2
• True Lies

Maybe next year, when the U.S.A. turns 251, we can find a bunch of on-theme horror movies to binge through. For now, though, reliving the '90s is the way.

Zoe Saldaña isn’t the queen of the worldwide box office by chance. The actress seriously worked for it, especially when it comes to portraying the iconic Neytiri for the Avatar movies. When CinemaBlend talked to the actress for Fire And Ash about playing the role for the past fifteen years, she flexed on all the things she can do now. And one really stands out.

The Skills Zoe Saldaña Learned For The Avatar Movies

Saldaña’s Na'vi role is done through performance capture, meaning that she actually does physically perform just about every moment in the film – she just looks very different from the final product we see on the big screen. Here’s what she told us about what she can do because of Neytiri:

What can’t she do? You can check out the interview moment in the clip below:

I’m pretty sure Saldaña could survive on her own in Pandora at this point. There’s one acquired skill she named that I want to talk about though.

I Love How One Of Her Skills Has A Neytiri Twist

As she said in our interview, she’s got solid archery proficiency, but it’s not the normal way one would shoot a bow and arrow. Zoe Saldaña knows how to be an archer “the Na’vi way”, which is sideways. What’s interesting about this little fun fact is that apparently shooting a bow and arrow this way is actually way harder and less precise than the typical way people do archery. So when she says she has good aim it's a really awesome flex. Especially, since she probably doesn’t have to target anything on set well if she doesn’t want to.

Zoe Saldaña has been playing Neytiri since she was 28 years old, and by her estimation she’ll be well into her fifties once the last one comes out. The Oscar winner just turned 48 last week, and the trilogy of movies has helped her become the highest-grossing actor of all time with her name on $15.46 billion across her lifetime so far.

Following Fire And Ash’s release during the holiday season, we’re not sure which direction Avatar will go next or if the franchise will “put on the brakes” after earning less money. Currently Avatar 4 and 5 are on the Disney movie release calendar for 2029 and 2031.

Right now you can see Zoe Saldaña’s Neytiri in the entire Avatar trilogy at home – on Disney+, digital or physical media.

The best streaming services have become so instrumental in many of our lives that sometimes it’s hard to imagine living without them. So, when those with a Disney+ subscription turned on the service at one point this week and couldn’t watch their favorite TV show or next movie on their watchlist, a little bit of chaos ensued. Fans of Bluey will be particularly amused by some of the comments about the alleged worldwide outage.

A Disney+ Outage Left Subscribers Annoyed

If you noticed that you couldn’t watch what you wanted on Disney+ on Thursday night (Pacific Time), you absolutely weren’t alone. The streaming site seemed to be completely down for over an hour, and lots of people weren't happy about it. Check out this comment:

Disney+ clocked the issue and posted on Twitter that they were “investigating issues affecting login for some users” as subscribers got frustrated over the inconvenience. It wasn’t too long before Disney+ announced that the issue had been “resolved” and directed those who were still dealing with problems to the site’s “Help Center”.

Before it got resolved, for those who use Disney+ all the time, it was certainly an interruption to their routine. As one subscriber wrote:

But not everyone was feeling helpless over the short outage. One subscriber decided to take the opportunity to dig out their DVD copy of a movie they already had and watch it instead. As you can see:

The Toy Story movies have been particularly popular on Disney+ as of late since Toy Story 5 just hit theaters this weekend. Funny enough, the new film itself explores how technology can disrupt our lives. Ironic, right?

But, The Bluey Jokes We’re Pretty Great

But for many subscribers with kids, Bluey is the main draw of Disney+, and it feels like the internet immediately thought about the sudden drought of the children’s TV show as soon as the outage went viral. Here’s one comment:

Bluey is one of those shows that’s constantly playing for countless families, and for a couple of hours earlier this week, there suddenly were no talking cartoon dogs in sight! As one parent joked:

You've got to love how the outage reminded the internet of how integral Bluey has become! While Bluey is not a Disney show, the animated series does have an ongoing licensing and distribution deal with the House of Mouse that has proved successful for the pair.

Earlier this year, Disneyland opened a Bluey attraction, and it was extremely popular. Additionally, a Bluey movie is on the upcoming Disney movie schedule for next summer, and we expect that to be a big hit.

Thankfully, Disney+’s outage didn’t last too long. But without it, we wouldn’t have time to think about what happens when the world suddenly doesn't have Bluey.

The hype surrounding Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is growing as its arrival on the 2026 TV schedule gets closer, at least theoretically. A date has not been revealed yet, but it is confirmed to be airing this fall on ABC, with celebrity contestants already being announced, and with a new pro on the way. The Disney-owned network will be airing DWTS: The Next Pro in July, but that new series likely isn't enough to prepare for the insanity, at least according to a Ezar Sosa.

For the first time ever, DWTS is recruiting a new pro via reality comeptition, and The Next Pro will be hosted by Season 34 Mirrorball champ Robert Irwin, with judging from Mark and Shirley Ballas. Fans can expect an intense training and audition process from the 12 hopefuls vying for a single DWTS spot, but that’s only the beginning. While being on the long-runing series is definitely a dream for dancers, it can also be grueling. Sosa, a Season 34 finalist, told Parade just how crazy being a pro truly is, no matter the preparation, saying:

DWTS has had a variety of celebrities grace the ballroom over its 34-season run, and you never know who could be next, or who they will be paired with. A lot of pros start on the troupe, and while that does get them somewhat prepared, especially when they have to step in for a pro, you can’t really truly prepare for what’s to come until you get assigned your celebrity partner. Then it depends on their skill level, how much they really want the mirrorball, and how much they’re willing to work. A reality show to find the next pro can’t exactly prep you for that.

It’s not surprising that Sosa, who became a pro with Season 33, was pretty disappointed with the hand he was dealt with his first partner. They were one of the first couples eliminated, but he managed to make it all the way to the finals last season with Jordan Chiles. So it really just depends on who your celebrity partner is.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare to be a pro, because all of that rehearsing does help. It does sound like the wide variety of celebrity contestants does not help, though, and unfortunately, the pros usually don’t know who they’re paired with until later in the summer. It’s possible some of them start rehearsing long before then to get into shape and back into the groove of things, and the fact that a lot of that can be undone depending on who they’re paired with is pretty insane.

DWTS: The Next Pro will be entertaining to watch, but whoever wins will definitely be in for an even more intense ride. The new series premieres on July 13 on ABC, with Season 35 premiering this fall. Fans can catch up on DWTS with recent seasons streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

As a cartoon-loving gent who may or may not be on the wrong side of 40, I love when a Disney original can catch both my eye and my full attention. (See: Gravity Falls, The Owl House, Darkwing Duck.) So I had pretty sizeable (though measured) expectations for the studio's first big push into anime-style storytelling with Dragon Striker hitting the 2026 TV schedule. Thankfully, those expectations were met and sated with ease.

Dragon Striker's core story isn't so different from arcs that one might find in other shows like Owl House, in that it takes place within a special academy that advances its students skills with sports and magic, centering on a super-powerful protagonist who doesn't quite have what it takes to utilize his talents. At least until he's befriended by a group of underdogs who discover sinister secrets that go far beyond the playing field.

From top to bottom, Dragon Striker embodies anime's style and substance, though obviously within the scope of what would entertain Disney XD audiences. Animators and series co-creators Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre spoke with CinemaBlend ahead of the series' premiere to discuss how pleased and proud they are to bridge the gap between Disney animation and classic anime.

Dragon Striker truly is bringing worlds together, as both Lefebvre and Dos Santos are French animators bringing this Japanese-influenced series to U.S. audiences, voiced by British and Irish actors. Gotta love it. (To say nothing of the hundreds of people who worked on the show behind the scenes.

It doesn't sound like Disney balked at all at leaning harder into the anime style that Dragon Striker delivers, and instead wanted to make sure that the studio would be releasing the best looking version possible. To that end, Lefebvre told me that Disney execs were very specific about not letting the team get away with shortcuts commonly seen in anime, such as reusing pieces of animation.

Anyone who watches Dragon Striker probably won't readily mistake the action happening in the show to any real-world fútbol (or soccer) games. But I still had to ask, since I'm sure there are some athletes in the audience who will have something to say about how Key plays.

Aside from that, though, it's actually great to hear that the execs from Disney didn't want to take half-measures with anything, and required the animators to deliver original footage with every shot. We've all made fun of cartoons from the '60s and '70s (and later) where repeated backgrounds and character animations are laughably obvious. None of that here.

The project was first announced back in the summer of 2022, so this release is the culmination of not just a four-year professional journey, but full lifetimes of fandoms within the creative team. And it wasn't solely anime series and movies that inspired Dragon Striker's creation, but also the stories and environments from video games.

Here's hoping this show is a big enough hit that we get a video game adaptation where the game is adapting the show, instead of the other way around. I'm picking Milo every time.

So for anyone out there in need of finding more family-friendly anime to compete with all of the adult-geared fare available, you can find all eight episodes of Dragon Striker Season 1 streaming on Disney+ starting on Wednesday, June 10. But if you have Disney XD, the episodes are already airing, so what are you doing still listening to me?

Pixar Animation movies famously go through a lot of changes from the moment they are greenlighted. It's no surprise, as it's a long process to even make the movies, ranging from anywhere from four to seven years. The studio's latest, Hoppers, was a six-year passion project for director Daniel Chong before it became one of the most successful 2026 movie releases. When CinemaBlend sat down with a couple of the movie’s filmmakers, they revealed one memorable scene that (shockingly) wasn’t even in Hoppers until late in its development. And they can thank Pixar fans for the assist.

Hoppers revolves around Mabel, a teenage Japanese-American college student who’s passionate about nature and animals. It’s certainly not the norm for a Pixar film to follow a human near-adult, but that was part of the movie from the jump. As Hoppers’ lead story artist Margaret Spencer told us ahead of the movie's streaming release:

OK, so Mabel pretty much stayed the same age and personality from the inception of Hoppers. That's cool and all, but here's the juicier bit the film’s story supervisor John Cody Kim told us.

I mean, can you believe we almost didn't see little Mabel? The scene we're talking about is at the very top of the movie--but minimal spoilers are in the next couple of sentences. We see Mabel steal all the class pets in her school before getting caught. Her parents then lecture her about her behavior. The scene transitions into a cute moment between Mabel and her grandma where she asks her to listen to the sound of nature. It's the perfect introduction to the character, and it's hard to believe it only came at the last minute.

Even more important for context? The scene was added after screening early versions of the film. The audience had thoughts about Mabel, and the scene was added after the animators took feedback. The screening thing is not unusual. Pixar is known to screen its films while they are in the middle of working on them via a peer review forum called the Braintrust, which is in and of itself, very cool.

There were plenty of other ways Hoppers changed throughout its lengthy production period. Chong first pitched it as more of a “Mission: Impossible spy thriller” and the character of Jerry was more of a “cold cut” antagonist before the filmmakers made some changes to Jon Hamm’s character later on. But this tidbit is the perfect morsel as the movie heads to streaming.

Hoppers just leaped its way onto TV screens for those with a Disney+ subscription, it’s the perfect time for a rewatch. I know I’m definitely going to appreciate the opening scene even more knowing that it was a late addition to the movie.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds’ faux feud-slash-bromance remains one of Hollywood’s most reliable bits, and apparently, it is now heading out onto the water. After Deadpool & Wolverine turned their long-running public friendship into a box-office hit, the two stars are re-teaming for a very different kind of project coming to the streaming schedule for folks with a Disney+ subscription.

Jackman shared the update on Instagram (see below), posting photos of himself with the BONDS Flying Roos, the Australian SailGP team that the two actors co-own. The post teases a behind-the-scenes series with Jackman joking that one of them is “sure to end up in the water.” Disney+ has also announced the untitled docuseries, which will follow the Flying Roos through a global SailGP season.

Hugh Jackman’s caption is exactly the kind of fun tease that makes me sit up. Jackman and Reynolds learning high-speed sailing sounds like the spiritual cousin of the hit FX series Welcome to Wrexham, except instead of soccer heartbreak in Wales, we’re getting expensive boats, Australian pride and the very real possibility of Ryan Reynolds bobbing in the water.

According to Deadline, the untitled docuseries will follow the BONDS Flying Roos as Australia’s fastest sailors travel the globe to compete against elite rivals. The team is led on the water by driver and CEO Tom Slingsby, who is an Olympic gold medalist, America’s Cup winner and a three-time SailGP champion.

The series also has a real sports hook. SailGP is a stadium-style championship featuring identical 50-foot catamarans racing close to shore at speeds of up to 100 km/h, which sounds less like a relaxing day on the water and more like Formula 1 on the high seas.

The project will come from Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and Eureka Productions in partnership with SailGP and the BONDS Flying Roos. Brent Hodge is serving as director and showrunner, while Rob Mac, Reynolds’ Welcome to Wrexham partner and executive producer, will also executive produce through More Better Productions. The series will stream on Disney+ internationally and on Disney+ and in the U.S. for viewers with a Hulu subscription.

That Welcome to Wrexham connection, the series is now in its fifth season, is probably the most interesting piece here. Reynolds has already shown he knows how to turn a sports ownership story into something accessible, funny and genuinely emotional. That show works because it is not just about celebrity owners, but focuses on community, pressure, history and people who care deeply about the sport.

This new sailing series has a chance to do something similar, especially with Jackman involved. He brings the Australian connection, Reynolds brings the documentary-sports-business track record, and together they bring the exact level of affectionate nonsense that makes their partnership weirdly durable.

Jackman and Reynolds joked in a joint statement that this is their first collaboration since Deadpool & Wolverine and that they expect “action, comedy, heart” with “a lot more water.” They also said they hope there are pirates in SailGP, because of course they did.

There is no Disney+ premiere date yet, but I’m already in. Give me elite athletes, fast boats, actual stakes and Jackman and Reynolds trying not to look completely out of their depth. And yes, I absolutely want to know which one ends up in the water first.

Oh, let me count the ways The Punisher: One Last Kill was a rough watch. The Marvel special, which you can check out with your Disney+ subscription, was a huge bummer. Not just in the story it told, but how the story was told, too. It picks up with Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) at the end of his rope. Like a lot of Punisher stories, there is no happy ending for Frank, but as this special is clearly meant to set up the character’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we know this isn’t the ending. I’m glad that’s the case, because the…show?...movie?...special presentation didn’t really work for me on a few different levels.

If you haven’t seen The Punisher: One Last Kill or Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and don’t want to be spoiled, you'd better stop here, because I’m going to be spoiling a lot.

First, The Dog

I have to start with the dog at the beginning. Broadway legend John Douglas Thompson plays the homeless vet with a cute dog who is brutally attacked in the street by a gang of thugs. The beating ends with one of the taking the dog and throwing the poor thing into traffic. This was probably the moment that many TVs turned off the show. I get it. No one likes to see dogs get hurt. Me included.

However, what upsets me even more is that this kind of action is completely unnecessary. It would have been enough to have the gang beat the guy up and steal his Marine Corps hat. The added brutality of killing a dog is, in my opinion, a cheap way to garner sympathy for a character and show how bad another can be. It’s a trope that I can’t stand because it’s manipulative when it’s not needed. I didn’t turn it off, but I was immediately wary of what would come.

The Story Is Obviously A Bummer, But So Was The Experience

The story of Frank finding purpose is, as I said, like most Punisher stories, a bummer. Everything with Frank Castle is hard to watch, and Berthal nails this aspect of the character. Every time he relives the death of his family is sad, and once again, we see some of that here. Every time we see Frank break down and find himself reeling (again) from their murders, it is hard. I expected all that, but what I didn’t expect, as I generally really love this portion of the MCU, is how much of a bummer the show would be outside of the plot.

The timeline is confusing, at best. It never really establishes where it fits in with the Daredevil corner of the MCU, much less the bigger MCU timeline. Presumably, this story takes place after the events of Daredevil: Born Again, but it gives no cues or clues that it is for sure. It also probably takes place before the events we’re going to see in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theaters in a couple of months as part of the 2026 movie schedule. Again, though, there is nothing in the show that confirms this.

Finally, the special was just too short. It ends right as it seems like it should be beginning. It’s like a pretty good season premiere, instead of a complete story. It reminds me of a 50-minute version of those shorts they used to do early on in the MCU that helped bridge a gap between movies and superheroes. I guess this is bridging the gap between The Punisher TV show from almost a decade ago and Brand New Day, which makes sense, but it still feels a little hollow.

This doesn’t mean I’m less excited for Bernthal’s Punisher in the MCU. I’m still psyched about that.

After being away for almost a year, the modern back catalog of Doctor Who is headed back to streaming. AMC+ has snagged the rights to 176 episodes of the beloved sci-fi series, and it'll be available as the summer arrives.

AMC+ announced it obtained the back catalog of the Time Lord's adventures from 2005 to 2022. Beginning June 11th, those looking to see the best Doctor Who episodes from those years can subscribe and stream these episodes and specials as much as they like for only $29.99 a year. As a fan, I'm happy to hear I'll be able to watch this in between other shows on the 2026 TV schedule, but I do have more questions.

Will AMC+ Eventually Get Access To Disney+'s Collection Of Episodes?

As impressive as this collection of episodes is, it's still missing some pivotal entries in the Doctor Who library. Notably, there's no mention of the 60th anniversary specials featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate, or any of Ncuti Gatwa's run as The Doctor. Presumably, AMC+ didn't get the rights to those yet, and they'll remain available with a Disney+ subscription until we hear otherwise.

I'm hoping eventually the rights will expire, and AMC+ can pick it up, but we'll have to wait and enjoy the runs of Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker in the meantime.

Where Will People In The United States Watch The Upcoming Christmas Special?

AMC+'s announcement says nothing of the 2026 Christmas special, or other new episodes of Doctor Who to come. We already know that the BBC parted ways with Disney+, so the episodes won't be airing there. Is it possible another announcement is on the way, or is another player in the mix?

That's the million-dollar question I have, and a major factor in whether I'd want to subscribe to AMC+ long-term. I do love old episodes of Doctor Who, but I ultimately am going to sign up for whatever service gives me the new episodes.

I'm optimistic that, maybe, the BBC will ultimately partner with AMC+ to be its first-run partner for Doctor Who, and that an announcement will come closer to the release of the Christmas episode. With so many unanswered questions about what's in store for the future of the franchise, it would be nice to get some confirmation that we'll have an official way to watch the Christmas special.

Doctor Who will return with a new episode around Christmas 2026, but we still don't have any solid details on it just yet. I'm hoping that changes by the time summer arrives, because I'd love at least a trailer to help give us some clarity on what to expect.

MCU fans have been looking forward to seeing Jon Bernthal reunite with Tom Holland on Spider-Man: Brand New Day for the last year, since it was announced that The Punisher was joining the superhero flick. However, fans of Frank Castle don’t have to wait that long to see the iconic antihero’s next moves. The Punisher: One Last Kill is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule, and critics have strong (and not all positive) opinions about the new Marvel offering.

Jon Bernthal, naturally, leads The Punisher standalone special (streaming with a Disney+ subscription), where we’ll see Frank Castle’s attempt to live a life without the need for vigilante justice. After that brutal One Last Kill trailer, though, we can assume that plan doesn't pan out. Zach Pope writes on X (Twitter) that fans of the character are going to love this:

@Klepcx of Critix Media says The Punisher: One Last Kill will leave MCU fans stunned by how brutal this Marvel Special Presentation is, saying there’s “nothing in the superhero genre right now quite like” it. The critic continues:

Leo Rydel also speaks to the violence of it all, saying the lead actor is at his best in the upcoming Marvel show. The critic tweets:

Dalton Burdette agrees the special is great, but rather than comment on the violence and bloody action, this critic seems moved by the “profound” quiet moments as well. Burdette writes on X:

The first reactions to the Disney+ show aren’t all so glowing. While everyone seems to agree that Jon Bernthal is doing his best work here, the material he’s working with is leaving some critics wanting. The Koalition’s @sagesurge posts:

Film Posers’ @gaby_burgos27 takes the criticism a step further, citing a lack of character development. She says:

Cody Leach, movie fan and critic, wonders why we need to be reintroduced to Jon Bernthal’s character in this way, especially if there’s nothing new to learn. He tweets:

If you’re tuning into The Punisher: One Last Kill for some violent fight sequences and to see that version of Jon Bernthal we love to hate, it sounds like you won’t be disappointed. However, nobody’s apparently going to glean any new morsels of information about the antihero.

The Punisher standalone special premieres at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 12, streaming on Disney+.

Josh D'Amaro took over Disney from Bob Iger in March after Iger's second retirement from the company. Today, he'll be looking back on the company's second quarter earnings for Fiscal Year 2026 and looking forward to the rest of the year, which includes some big releases on the 2026 movie schedule like Avengers: Doomsday in December.

On the financial side, Disney reported strong earnings this morning, but here at CinemaBlend, we're more interested in what is ahead for the entertainment division and, of course, what is in store for Disney World and their other parks around the world.

There were three core themes that D'Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston kept coming back to: storytelling, technology, and "One Disney." One Disney is the term that was talked about a lot in the call and in a letter from D'Amaro, which is, in business terms, the synergy between all of the company's divisions.

One notable exception from the call is that Jimmy Kimmel wasn't mentioned. That's not a huge surprise that Disney did not address it, but it will remain a big question for the company, with the political pressure growing.

Here's everything they talked about.

I expect Josh D'Amaro will talk about the company's two streaming platforms, Disney+ and Hulu. He laid out their success in his letter to investors on Disney's Q2 earnings report. He'll also likely get into the upcoming movies the company has on the schedule, especially The Mandalorian and Grogu, Toy Story 5, and the Moana live action movie starring Dwayne Johnson which hits theaters in July.

On the parks side, Disney has had a good year so far, but there is no doubt macroeconomic pressures could affect attendance this summer, something he'll no doubt mention as well.

It's been a good year for the House of Mouse, according to the top line of the earnings report. Revenues were up 7% for Q2 to $25.2billion, up from $23.6 billion in Q2 of 2025. That was helped along by the huge success of Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2, both of which brought in more than a billion dollars each.

Dan Swinbrune, Executive VP of Investor Relations, is kicking off the call, explaining how the report will be different.

Josh D'Amaro has begun speaking, first thanking Bob Iger for his work as CEO. His opening statement is pretty boilerplate, talking about how Disney is unique in how to reach fans and he's moved on to the numbers for last quarter.

He's talking about how he is pleased with the revenue subscription growth both through new subscribers and advertising.

D'Amaro mentions Paradise and Love Story as great successes at Hulu and is talking about the movies now, mentioning the four big movies the company has in 2026, in addition to two movies that have already been hits, Pixar's Hoppers and last weekend's The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Past calls with Iger have usually talked about each division separately, but this new era under D'Amaro is focused more on the company as a whole and how the division will interact with each other.

Swinburne is laying out the long-term vision, that includes leaning into existing IP, but encouragingly, he has mentioned new IP they would like to develop.

The call is really focused on three things: creative IP, connecting fans through all the divisions, and building out robust technology. Those have been mentioned multiple times.

D'Amaro is now talking about streaming services and how they want to broaden the way viewers can discover new shows and movies. That's not really a surprise. As for third-party distribution, they will be selective but will continue when the fit is right.

Now they are answering a question about Disney's partnership with Epic Games, the makers of Fortnight, and how that will fit in. D'Amaro sees the partnership as "feeding" the company with younger fans especially.

On the Disney Experiences. Disney is positive on the future of attendance in parks both domestically and internationally, though there are "head winds." Domestic attendance was down, but revenue was up. They are also looking grow their cruise ship fleet up to 13 ships by 2031. That's up from the current eight.

Disney World bookings are up domestically, but they are "mindful" of fuel prices and how that could effect bookings both at parks and on cruise ships this summer.

D'Amaro is excited about the capital investments made in the last quarter, like the World of Frozen attraction at Disneyland Paris and he has teased some more projects, saying there are more things in the works worldwide at parks than at another time in the company's history.

Two questions on the content front. D'Amaro is focused on original IP and "taking creative risk" to try out new IP. He cited Hoppers as an example of this, recently.

The second content-focused question is about short-form content and user-generated content. D'Amaro says they serious about building out both of these, as they have become more important to consumers with things like vertical video in Disney+ and how its shown "promise" with engagement. I'm not sure I love this idea, but I certainly understand why Disney is leaning in.

More personalized feeds in their streaming services, like SportsCenter for You, and more interactive content are things they are also focused on in their technology.

It's no surprise that AI has come up. Obviously, Disney is saying many of the same things other companies have discussed. They are exploring it on both the content-creation side and the business side, as well as how AI can help fans plan a Disney vacation. The Experiences side of the business seems to be where AI can be implemented the most effectively, on the front-facing side.

Disney is making more than double its earnings in streaming over linear cable networks, but they are not giving up on linear TV quite yet, as they see the networks as ways to produce content that the company can spread over all its content delivery systems.

Well, that's it. D'Amaro is making his closing statement. Nothing was specifically was announced in terms of new movies, shows, or attractions, as since it was the new CEO's first call, he explained he wanted things to be broader and that's what we got.

MCU fans hoping to see a lot of bone-crunching and bullet-whizzing action only have a little while longer to wait until the one-shot special The Punisher: One Last Kill punches a hole through the 2026 TV schedule. The upcoming Marvel TV release brings the skull-shaped spotlight back to Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle for his first (and maybe last) standalone MCU storyline. The actor’s been hyping fans up for his vigilante’s post-Daredevil: Born Again return, and his latest post drew fun comments from former Walking Dead co-star Sarah Wayne Callies and a DCU fave.

Bernthal took to Instagram to share a black-and-white pic of himself that could easily be a visual stand-in for the term “world-weary,” with this as his caption:

Though it wasn't an official still of Frank Cast, and he wasn't actually decked out in any Punisher gear, Bernthal's caption likely resonated with Daredevil fans. It's the way Frank explained to Matt that they're two sides of the same coin, with Punisher's willingness to kill being the line that Daredevil vows not to cross. But just as any given Sunday can give an underdog football team a win, one bad day could be all it takes to shatter Matt's moral compass.

But since the lawyer currently has his hands full with Wilson Fisk, there's no need to bring him further along in this story. Instead, here's a comment shared by Bernthal's former Walking Dead romantic interest, to put it in the least complicated way possible, Sarah Wayne Callies:

• SARAH WAYNE CALLIES: i sure hope not 😂❤️

The Lori Grimes actress likely wasn't playing into the Daredevil reference there, and it seems apaprent she was playfully poking fun at Jon Bernthal's mug. He does kind of look like the exact opposite of TWD's ever-popular quasi-villain Shane, whose head was nearly clean-shaven when he was taken out of the equation.

Another standout comment on the actor's post came from another machismo-centric action star who somewhat recently beat the dogsh-t out of a superhero, only on the DCU side of things. I'm referring to Peacemaker and Creature Commandos star Frank Grillo, who chimed in on Bernthal's post with:

• FRANK GRILLO: you wanted to be a tough guy. 😎🥊🥊🥊

The thought of Frank Grillo and Jon Bernthal facing off on-screen is the kind of thing that 1,000% needs to happen before either of them calls it quits on stunt-heavy action. It's legitimately shocking that there aren't already 12 examples of it across TV and cinema. (Or even a video game.) And you can imagine that the fans reacting to the above went straight to Grillo's MCU history, calling for a Crossbones Vs. Punisher fight. Does it matter that Crossbones is dead? Nope.

Check out the trailer for One Last Kill below, and there's no judgment if anyone wants to imagine a zombified Frank Grillo's Crossbones showing up in the middle of it.

If all it takes is one bad day to turn into Jon Bernthal, then I hope I have 100 of them in a row. But it definitely won't be a bad one on Tuesday, May 12, when The Punisher: One Last Kill is available to stream via Disney+ subscription. (And then don't forget he'll also be reteaming with Tom Holland for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.

Some spoilers below for the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched via Disney+ subscription.

Welp, another key Daredevil: Born Again character has bitten the metaphorical dust, with Michael Gandolfini’s Daniel Blake facing the lethal ire of Wilson Fisk’s most unhinged enforcer, Buck Cashman. But we’re not here to mourn would-be villains with last-second moral pangs. We’re here to question the existence of an official D:BA still that seemingly shatters all semblances of reality by having Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock in the same frame as an actual Daredevil comic collection.

It’s a concept that’s too nutty to believe was done on purpose, but also a detail that doesn’t seem like it could possibly make it into episodes or press materials without being clocked and removed by editors. Especially not sitting right in front of the lead actor’s face, blind though his character may be. Check it out below.

The courtroom shot is a still released by Disney that isn't marked as being a behind-the-scenes pic, and each of the actors' faces seem to play into the serious tone of Karen's skewed fight for justice. So why does Matt have the Marvel Premiere Collection for Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's Daredevil: Born Again on the desk in front of him instead of paperwork related to Karen's case?

More to the point, HOW DOES THIS BOOK EXIST IN THE MCU?!? And why hasn't Matt been showing it off to everyone he knows? Presumably, while saying, "Look at how cool and amazing this is that someone made a comic about our lives that is scarily accurate!"

Just in case anyone out there is skeptical about the book in the show being the same as the trade paperback, here's an easy comparison.

There are pens and what appears to be a Post-It note atop the book, but otherwise, it looks exactly the same, and now I'm forced to believe that this is some kind of multiverse nexus point that will inevitably shatter the reality of this Disney+ show in a way where all that's left on Earth is former Daredevil comic scribe Chip Zdarsky.

Admittedly, I didn't clock the Born Again TPB showing up within the episode itself, even when reskimming through, although it's entirely possible I just missed it a quick shot where it could be seen. But if it for sure wasn't in the final cut of the streamed episode, that kind of makes it even weirder if there were other images to go with.

This is probably the wildest thing I've witnessed so far from any 2026 TV shows, and I cannot imagine that we'll be seeing simliar instances in any upcoming Marvel TV Shows. Although I guess it could legitimately happen as an actual plot point in Season 2 of Wonder Man, even if that in-universe character isn't the same as the Marvel hero.

Disney+ is working on a live-action Casper series, and while I was excited to read that Hollywood finally found a way to bring the character back in a big way, I fear they've lost the plot. That's on the heels of the reveal that "the friendliest ghost you know" is getting an "edgy" remake.

The report comes from Deadline, which reads that Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston, who were also responsible for the newest Goosebumps series, are reteaming with Disney+ for this new project. The only detail so far is that it's believed to have a "dark edge" to it, and that it looks to replicate the success of Wednesday. I'm sorry, what?

I'm Not Sure Why We Need An "Edgy" Casper Series

The 1995 Casper is already pretty dark, but it walks the line well enough between humor and scares that it's still accessible to kids. That was the right tone for a franchise like Casper, which was always going to struggle eliciting true scares with its cartoony feel.

The reason Wednesday works so well is that The Addams Family already naturally leaned into darker themes from a comedic perspective, highlighting a family obsessed with violence and the macabre.

Casper is about a ghost who, first and foremost, identifes as "Friendly," and has a track record for being terrible at scaring humans. Making him edgy compromises what the franchise is about, and I'd argue his mysterious uncles, The Ghostly Trio, are already edgelord-y enough. I just don't see the vision for how this works, but fortunately, the EPs and writers have plenty of time to convince me to tune in before it'll be ready for streaming via Disney+ subscription.

Casper Is One Of The Few "Spooky" Franchises Accessible To Young Kids, And I'd Prefer It Stays That Way

I hate to pull the "Think of the children!" card, but I have a daughter who loves spooky stuff. She isn't quite ready for the best horror movies of all time, but she certainly enjoys getting into the Halloween spirit and watching creepy fare, as opposed to anything truly horrifying Casper hits those notes, and is indeed one of her favorites.

The only thing we have to go on regarding this Casper series is that Wednesday is allegedly an inspiration. My kid loves Wednesday Addams, and while she recognizes Jenna Ortega's version, she has only seen Christina Ricci's. Wednesday is just a little too mature for the average eight-year-old, and now I fear Casper is headed in the same direction.

When I think of the easy ways to make this franchise edgy, gory deaths and raunchy sex come to mind, even though I imagine this project wouldn't go quite so far with either subject. Still, skewing closer to those topics could alienate younger audiences from watching, and that's not the only risk.

There's also a generation of people who grew up with the '90s movie who will have expectations for what they think Casper should be. (Sound familiar?) I'm sure there will be some who approach it with an open mind, but obviously, I'm all sorts of skeptical and on high alert just from the implication that it'll be edgy. Here's hoping I'm surprised when I finally see a trailer, and it's not quite as wild as I'm imagining it could be.

We'll see what becomes of this Casper project and who may end up attached to it. I'll remain skeptical, but curious to see what this upcoming series could possibly be like.

Wonder Man is one of the best things Marvel has released in a while, and those who haven't watched it with a Disney+ subscription are missing out. Part of that is thanks to Yahya Abdul Mateen II, who recently revealed he wouldn't take the role as Simon Williams without speaking to Marvel's Kevin Feige first.

The actor spoke about the conversation during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, and how he insisted on speaking to Kevin Feige before accepting the role as the MCU hero. It may sound silly to think about, given the mass acclaim for the series and excitement for Season 2, but the Watchmen vet wanted assurance from Feige that this was THE MCU role he should be invested in, as opposed to other potential options. As he put it:

Yahya Abdul Mateen II wanted to make sure he was getting a quality role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I don't blame him. Even for as long as the comic book giant'smovie universe has been around, there are still plenty of Marvel heroes that need to make big-screen debuts. I, too, would be skeptical about taking on a character like Wonder Man, especially if the chance was available to possibly play one of the X-Men in the future.

Kevin Feige indeed took time from his busy schedule to meet with the actor and assure him that working on Wonder Man was the right call. Abdul Mateen II just gave an overview of the conversation:

In the end, I'm sure the actor has no regrets, considering how Wonder Man pulled in an audience who may have been suffering from Marvel fatigue. It also created one of the best bromances of the MCU we've seen yet, in Simon teaming up with disgraced actor Trevor Slattery. I'm excited to see how or if these two feature into the greater story being told in the universe.

It does have me wondering if Simon Williams factors into Avengers Doomsday at all, with conflicting information out there about whether he's involved. Simon has some devastating power that he has trouble controlling, and I have to think heroes or villains would love to exploit that to turn the tables in a big super showdown.

We'll just have to wait for more updates, keeping our fingers crossed that we'll see more of Trevor and Simon in upcoming Marvel movies and shows before Wonder Man Season 2 comes out. All this talk about the series has me eager to watch it again, so it's a good thing it's so bingeable.

Dancing With The Stars is returning to the 2026 TV schedule in a big way, with Season 35 bringing a trending reality star to the ballroom. Love Island UK's Maura Higgins debuted in front of an American audience on the latest season of The Traitors, so it's only fitting she'd want former co-star Mark Ballas as her pro for the season.

Ballas was the first DWTS pro to appear on The Traitors, and Higgins' first choice as her pro when Season 35 kicks off in the Fall. Bustle learned as much when talking to her about her casting, as one of the first celebrities announced:

Mark would be perfect, as he was duped along with the rest of The Traitors cast after Rob Rausch successfully won the game as a Traitor from the very start. Maura was right next to him at the end, and successfully managed to guilt him into buying her an expensive Birkin bag after lying to her so many times.

While I can't remember any standout moments between Mark Ballas and Maura Higgins on The Traitors, the latter confirmed they had a close relationship during the game. Maybe not as close as Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski were, but listening to Higgins, they weren't that far off:

Maura was notable on The Traitors for making it all the way to the final, despite never having seen a single episode of the series. Of course, the only people who often do that in the Peacock series are either people who are really good at manipulation, or have no clue what's going on, and I'll just leave the reader to draw their own conclusions as to which category I think she fell in.

When asked if having Mark Ballas as a partner on Dancing With The Stars would give her an advantage over other competitors, Maura Higgins didn't think so. She said she'll still have to figure out how to do the hardest part of the show, learn how to dance:

Higgins shouldn't sweat that part of the competition too much, as Andy Richter proved last season, dancing is secondary to being liked by the audience. Being popular can go a long way on Dancing With The Stars, though there does come a point where even the popular stars have to get some good scores to survive.

As far as partners go, however, Mark Ballas is a great choice. He's won DWTS three times and been in the finals many other times. His last win was in Season 31, in which he and partner Charli D'Amelio practically waltzed home with the trophy all season. We'll see who Maura Higgins ultimately ends up with, but I have a feeling she's going to get Mark.

Catch Higgins and Ciara Miller on Season 35 of Dancing With The Stars when it premieres on ABC and Disney+ in the fall. I can't wait to see what other celebrities are announced, and which pros get paired with them.

It feels like a Jedi mind trick to think about it, but The Mandalorian was actually one of the first new TV shows you could watch with a Disney+ subscription when the platform was launched in 2019. Since then, we’ve seen all sorts of other original shows from a galaxy far, far away, with more being announced all the time. So, why is The Mandalorian moving to the big screen for its next adventure?

Earlier this month, CinemaBlend and a handful of other press outlets had the chance to learn more about The Mandalorian & Grogu movie from director Jon Favreau on what’s left of the Los Angeles sets after seeing the first 18 minutes of the movie. Here’s what the filmmaker said when asked about why he decided to make the next installment of The Mandalorian into a movie rather than going with Season 4, which was well underway before the pivot was announced:

The Mandalorian & Grogu now serves as the first theatrical Star Wars movie since Rise of Skywalker back in 2019. Favreau communicated his interest in recapturing “the feeling” he had when he first saw Star Wars back in 1977. And, there are some things that the team on the TV show just couldn’t achieve at the pace of a TV show, that he was excited about exploring with an IMAX release. As he also shared:

Another inspiration? There’s now a whole new generation of kids who literally weren’t old enough to watch a Star Wars movie in theaters yet! The Mandalorian & Grogu will be their first experience, and Jon Favreau wants to make that special. He also said this:

The Mandalorian & Grogu production designer was also on hand at the Los Angeles sets that day to tell us that making a movie rather than a TV show allowed the team to move into “massive stages” they couldn’t before. Since the series moves at a faster pace, they wouldn’t have time to create the kind of sets they did on this feature, which he said sometimes took two to three months.

So, in short, Jon Favreau wanted to make a large-scale Star Wars movie with his established and beloved characters from The Mandalorian. And, can you blame him? We’re talking about the guy who literally helped start the MCU by helming Iron Man in 2008. We’re so curious how The Mandalorian & Grogu will stack up to the TV show and build on the universe when it comes out on May 22.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 episode “Gloves Off” are ahead!

The original Daredevil TV series and Daredevil: Born Again have delivered a lot of shocking twists over the years, but the one at the end of the latter show’s latest episode is among the few that have made me physically uncomfortable. A glass shard impaled Ayelet Zurer’s Vanessa Fisk in the head during the final moments of “Gloves Off,” leaving Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, with nothing to do but hold his wife and wait for medical assistance as she bled out. With Vanessa at death’s door, D’Onofrio shared how this twist will change his “devoted” character or the rest of Born Again Season 2’s run on the 2026 TV schedule.

I should clarify at first that while I was certainly surprised to see Vanessa get a glass shard to the head, it wasn’t the goriness that made me uncomfortable. It was thinking about how Kingpin will surely even become more unhinged if she dies. Sure enough, Vincent D’Onofrio indicated that is indeed what will happen in the latter half of the Disney+ subscription-exclusive Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, telling EW:

Now to be clear, it hasn’t been officially stated that Vanessa will die, but with a wound like that and now reading Vincent D’Onofrio’s comments, it feels like the writing is on the wall. While Wilson Fisk has been a ruthless, cold-blooded man his entire adult life, meeting and falling in love with Vanessa has resulted in some of his darker and more illogical impulses being curbed. Governor Marge McCaffrey straight up tells Vanessa in “Gloves Out” that Wilson Fisk being mayor of New York City concerns her, but if Vanessa remains by his side to keep him level headed, she’ll throw her support behind the couple.

With Vanessa dead (again, not confirmed), it’s no wonder Kingpin would become more of a loose cannon, and that can only mean bad things for the people of New York City. Despite his criminal past and the AVTF making life miserable for many of the Big Apple’s citizens, he’s managed to maintain an overall positive profile. If his grief drives him to become even more ruthless and kill even more people who stand in the way of getting whatever he wants, that’s makes it all the more necessary for Matt Murdock and his allies to remove him from office.

This new information also pairs nicely with the rumor that Kingpin will become an even more powerful crime lord in Daredevil: Born Again Season 3. We won’t learn if that is indeed the case until sometime in 2027, but there are four more episodes left to go in Born Again Season 2 to see how the tragic aftermath of Bullseye’s failed assassination attempt will drive Kingpin’s immediate actions. Now would be a good time for anyone in his inner circle to get their affairs in order.

The second season of Daredevil: Born Again is continuing the excellent story of the battle between Daredevil and Kingpin. A lot of people are watching not for either of the two main characters, but for the eventual return of Jessica Jones to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Krysten Ritter’s involvement has been known for months, and when we do eventually see her, she’ll be looking very familiar.

While Jessica Jones may not have a superhero costume like Daredevil, her outfit is no less iconic. The black leather jacket that the character wears is basically her cape. We’ve seen in the trailers for Daredevil: Born Again that the jacket is back, but it turns out it isn’t quite the same garment. In a video posted to Instagram, Ritter revealed…

It turns out a little petty larceny goes a long way. If Ritter hadn’t “kept” the jacket from the original Jessica Jones, then the costume designer would have had to rely on pictures of the outfit from the series in any attempt to remake it. While that likely would have gone a long way, it’s unlikely it would have resulted in a true recreation. Because the costume designer was able to use the actual original jacket, she could make one that was identical to the original in every way.

Honestly, if Krysten Ritter had to steal the Jessica Jones jacket from the set when the show ended, then somebody wasn’t thinking clearly. She played the role for three seasons of her show plus The Defenders crossover series. Netflix/Marvel should have gifted her the jacket. There was almost certainly more than one anyway, right? Of course, Ritter is in good company. A lot of actors in the MCU have taken parts of their costumes home. Check out the new version of the jacket below.

Krysten Ritter may need to wait a while before she gets a chance to steal this version of the jacket. Images from the production of Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 have confirmed that Jessica Jones will be back, and rumors of an eventual Jessica Jones spinoff persist. The other two Defenders, Mike Colter and Finn Jones who played Luke Cage and Iron Fist respectively, have also been seen on set. Hopefully, they kept some of their costumes too.

Most of the time, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Palpatine don’t have anything in common given… well, anyone who’s watched the Star Wars movies knows why. However, one thing they do share is Maul’s hatred. The former Sith Lord who killed Qui-Gon Jinn has drastically different reasons for holding them with as much contempt as possible. However, when it comes to Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord, which just premiered on the 2026 TV schedule, Sam Witwer, Maul’s voice actor, explained why he’s “obsessing over” Palpatine more than Obi-Wan in the Disney+ subscription-exclusive series.

The critically-acclaimed Shadow Lord takes place one year after the end of the Clone Wars and rise of the Empire, when Maul is attempting to rebuild his criminal syndicate that collapsed in The Clone Wars TV show’s final episodes. During my interview with Sam Witwer and Gideon Adlon, who voices Order 66 survivor Devon Izara, I asked Witwer whether Palpatine or Obi-Wan was his favorite antagonistic dynamic with Maul. The actor explained why the former is more important to him at this stage of his character’s life, saying:

Maul is well within his rights to hate Obi-Wan Kenobi given how he bisected him in The Phantom Menace, and the two would later clash a few times in The Clone Wars, where Obi-Wan was voiced by James Arnold Taylor. But it’s like Sam Witwer said, when Shadow Lord is happening, Maul understandably thinks that this particular enemy is dead, so there’s no reason to dwell on that particular hatred. Of course, we know Maul learns of Obi-Wan’s survival in Star Wars Rebels, though that knowledge leads to his permeant demise at the hands of the Jedi Master, voiced in this appearance by Stephen Stanton.

Meanwhile, with Palpatine now ruling the galaxy far, far away with an iron first, Maul has plenty of hatred to spare for him. First off, the man also known as Darth Sidious abuse and torture Maul for many years while training him to be his apprentice. Then in The Clone Wars Season 5, Sidious learned Maul was still alive and proceeded to easily defeat him and kill his brother, Savage Oppress. So during the events of Shadow Lord, Maul is certainly no fan of the Empire, and you know he’s take another stab at killing Palpatine (figuratively and literally) if the opportunity came along.

Since Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord has already been renewed for another season, perhaps the show will deliver just that. For now though, Maul is focused to resurrecting the Shadow Collective, but he’s also taken an interest in Devon Izara, whom he encounters on Janix in the Shadow Lord premiere. Two episodes will continue being released per week on Disney going to May 4, a.k.a. Star Wars Day.

It has to be said that some weeks not a tons gets released on the various streaming platforms. And then there are weeks where it seems all the streamers conspired to release all their biggest content at once. Some of the best series and movies streaming in April are coming out this week. It’s a good thing Daredevil: Born Again is only coming out weekly, so there’s time for everything else.

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord - April 6 (Disney+)

Despite relatively short screen time in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul is one of the more popular of Star Wars’ villains. The character has a long and deep history that you won’t be familiar with if you haven’t watched animated Star Wars shows like The Clone Wars, and now your Disney+ subscription will give you an untold chapter in Maul's life in the new animated series Shadow Lord.

The Testaments - April 8 (Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale was a critical and fan favorite, but don’t let the fact that it has come to an end lead you to end your Hulu subscription. Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel, The Testaments, is set to make its debut as a series this week, with One Battle After Another’s breakout star Chase Infiniti leading the cast.

The Boys, Season 5 - April 8 (Prime Video)

Of all the superhero content one can find on TV and in movies, The Boys, available with a Prime Video subscription, is truly unique. No other series is quite so violent or holds the same sort of lens up to the genre. The show has been incredibly successful, and hopefully, with this fifth and final season, it will be going out on top.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair - April 10 (Hulu)

Of all the series reboots that we have seen in the last few years, Malcolm in the Middle is one that maybe was not on anybody’s bingo card. And yet this week we get the limited series that, as the subtitle says, promises that Life’s Still Unfair. The show finds an adult Malcolm who has spent his life avoiding his crazy family, forced to deal with them.

Outcome - April 10 (Apple TV)

In Outcome, coming with an Apple TV subscription, the biggest movie star in the world, Keanu Reeves, plays the biggest movie star in the world. Reef Hawk. However, while Keanu is the actor everybody loves, Reef is an actor that seemingly nobody likes. It’s a fact that leads him on a journey of self-discovery after a viral video ruins his reputation. From director Jonah Hill, the new movie looks to be equal parts funny and life-affirming, and it has an incredible all-star cast.

While there’s a lot to love streaming this week, the month is only just getting started. A new season of Netflix’s critically praised Beef comes out next weekend, and reality fans will be able to jump into a new season of Love Island on Peacock. Get ready.

Star Wars has officially arrived on the 2026 TV schedule, though Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord may slide under the radar for a mainstream audience. While there are no doubt tons of fans of the sci-fi franchise worldwide, some may be waiting on The Mandalorian and Grogu rather than the latest animated series. I'll be honest, I felt that way at first, right up until I saw it broke the franchise's record for the highest Rotten Tomatoes score.

With the first two episodes available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, reviews are rolling out about Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord. Its current Rotten Tomatoes score sits at a franchise-high 100% Fresh. While that score may fall a bit while reviews continue to flood in, it's clear enough from Polygon's Aimee Hart that this animated series shouldn't be missed:

Set one year after the gruesome Jedi culling known as Order 66, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord chronicles the iconic villain from The Phantom Menace and his rise to prominence in the criminal underworld. If all that sounds foreign to the reader, they might need to do a bit of homework on the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars to get the answers behind why the character is alive.

Making a character as dark as Darth Maul a protagonist was admittedly a challenge according to the show's creators, but it's one that paid off according to IGN's Jesse Schedeen. The writer teased that the fight scenes are top-notch, though fans of the animated shows may expect that already:

I'm not surprised to read this, especially given it's a show about Darth Maul. In Star Wars canon, he's considered to be one of the best lightsaber duelists in the galaxy. The action scenes had to deliver to be true to the character, so I'm happy to hear that for many, they did.

Empire's Amon Warmann had great things to say as well, but not just for the fight scenes or the overall tone of the story. Special praise was given to the voice cast, including longtime voice actor for Darth Maul, Sam Witwer:

Witwer's performance helps move Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord along, and gives the vibe of iconic movies that influenced it, like Heat. It's a good thing Season 2 is already confirmed, because it looks like Lucasfilm may have another major animated Star Wars hit on its hands.

If there is anything negative to say about the latest series, it would be Variety's Alison Herman knocking Maul - Shadow Lord for not being the most accessible series for the casual Star Wars fan. As previously mentioned, fans coming in will need some background knowledge of events that occurred in The Clone Wars, which isn't ideal:

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that a vast majority of Star Wars fans haven't consumed every relevant piece of information needed for Maul - Shadow Lord. That said, I don't think readers need to experience the entire timeline of events to appreciate this show. Reading up on Maul's life after The Clone Wars would be helpful, but don't get into the Rebels stuff unless you want spoilers.

ScreenRant's Lewis Glazebrook also agreed that some bits are uneven, but ultimately loved that Star Wars has further tweaked its iconic animation style. This series is some of the best animation Lucasfilm has ever done, and it seems influenced by another popular animated feature:

The Rotten Tomatoes score may ultimately fall from the 100% mark, though I can't imagine it will by much. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord looks to be must-watch television, and as someone who watched the first two episodes, I can attest to that. I'm already hooked, and can't wait to see what's next for the villain.

Catch new episodes of Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord on Mondays, leading all the way up to the franchise's holday, May 4th. I can't wait to see what all is planned for that big day, and what else we'll have to look forward to.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is underway on the 2026 TV schedule, giving Disney+ subscription holders the next chapter of Matt Murdock’s continuing conflict with Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t go back and rewatch Season 1 at your leisure, be it alone or with friends/family. Just know that if Charlie Cox is part of your viewing party, he doesn’t think highly of Born Again Season 1’s fifth episode, titled “With Interest.”

The Daredevil actor shared his displeasure about how this particular episode, which saw Matt Murdock foiling a bank heist on St. Patrick’s Day without putting on his costume once, turned out while attending C2E2 (via ComicBookMovie). He started off telling the room of fans in Chicago this about why it’s “really dumb”:

This is one of those reminders that something being well received by the majority doesn’t mean everybody likes it. In Charlie Cox’s case, he’s never cared for “With Interest,” which was arguably the most self-contained Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 episode and also featured an appearance from Yusuf Khan, the father of Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. So what specifically rubs Cox the wrong way about “With Interest”? He noticed a significant issue with the story early on, explaining:

It’s worth remembering that Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 went through a massive overhaul well into principal photography, and most of the episodes were tweaked in one way or another during reshoots. However, “With Interest” is the one episode that went untouched, which would explain why it felt so out of place with the rest, though that clearly didn’t impact the overall critical reception.

This isn’t the first time that Charlie Cox has criticized “With Interest.” He previously shared that he didn’t think it was a good idea for Daredevil: Born Again to include a bank heist because it felt like a “‘70s game.” Whether share his negative feelings about the episode or not, I think we can all agree that it’s good that everyone was on the same page with Born Again Season 2 from the start, thus removing those issues of disjointedness. New episodes release Tuesday evenings on Disney+, and Born Again Season 3 has already begun filming.

There’s nothing like a good book-to-screen adaptation to recruit readers to new TV shows and movies, and news that an Animorphs series is in the works is sure to pique the interest of millennials everywhere with memories of Scholastic book fairs between 1996-2001. Years after the movie rumors that ultimately went nowhere and decades after the Nickelodeon adaptation is probably left back in 1998 where it belongs, K.A. Applegate’s book saga is in the works for a streaming platform.

The author opened up about some valid concerns to go with at least one reason to be optimistic. As a fan going back to the '90s, I have several hopes for the project if it becomes a full series, but there's only one thing I desperately want from it.

K.A. Applegate's "Concerns" About The Projects

An Animorphs TV series is in the early stages of development at Disney+ as of April in the 2026 TV schedule, according to Variety, which reports that The Testaments writer Bayan Wolcott is on board as writer and executive producer. As part of his production company, Proximity Media, Ryan Coogler is also on board as an EP, extending his reach back into ‘90s IPs beyond just his reboot of The X-Files for Hulu. Other EPs include Sev Ohanion and Zinzi Coogler from Proximity, and Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman from Scholastic.

The outlet reports that the premise is pretty close to the overall arc of the books, with the focus on a group of teens who discover a hidden threat underneath their normal daily lives, as another complication to the usual teen woes of curfews, relationships, and high school. Interestingly, that description doesn’t mention the parasitic aliens that are invading the planet or even the group of teens – comprised of Jake, Rachel, Tobias, Cassie, Marco, and eventually Ax – gaining the ability to morph into animals in the source material.

Shortly after the news broke, K.A. Applegate shared her thoughts on the project, along with those of her husband and writing partner MIchael Grant. She posted on Bluesky:

Considering that Ohanian is both an Anirmorphs fan, a collaborator with Ryan Coogler on projects like Sinners and The X-Files reboot, and a producer on other Disney+ shows including Eyes of Wakanda and Ironheart, hopefully Applegate’s faith in him is indeed a good sign about the project. As for being “under-resourced” as an adaptation… well, not to knock the ‘90s version, I’m pretty sure any modern version would be an improvement on what Nickelodeon could do back in the day.

What I Desperately Want After Devouring The Books As A Kid

I won’t lie – as somebody who voraciously read the Animorphs books as soon as I could get my hands on them in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, my wish list started coming together pretty quickly as soon as I saw the news about the Disney+ project. I’d love to see it set in the ‘90s, for example, not least because the whole premise will work much better without the conveniences of smart phones. I want to see castings that are as book-accurate as possible, especially for Cassie, Marco, and Rachel. A grander scale compared to the Nickelodeon show would be great.

But my biggest wish is probably also the one that’s the least likely to come true, considering that the project would be heading to the home of Percy Jackson & the Olympians, a.k.a. a pretty kid-friendly book adaptation. There’s nothing majorly wrong with Percy Jackson, as you can see for yourself with a Disney+ subscription. My ideal adaptation of Animorphs honestly just wouldn’t be 100% aimed at kids.

Bear with me, if you're not familiar with the source material, because I'm not saying that I want a dark and gritty take on a happy tale of animal-themed adventures! The books definitely aren't telling a bright and shiny story with happy endings all around. "Bright and shiny" are adjectives that really only apply to the iconic paperback covers.

On the other hand, if you, like me, are a millennial who checked out the books for the first time just because of those cool covers with kids turning into animals, then you learned from a young age that Animorphs is astonishingly dark as a series targeted – per Scholastic – at the age range of 8-12 and grades 3-7.

Sure, there are shenanigans to go along with the horrors of war, but even the fun book about dumping oatmeal onto the parasitic aliens (a.k.a. the Yeerks) also touched on claustrophobia, suicide, and biological warfare. (Fun fact: that was my gateway book of the saga.) There’s torture and war crimes and bloody battles, all involving kids without any adult supervision.

Could A Version Aimed At Millennials Actually Happen?

There’s not really any getting around some of the darkest elements, even if the show doesn’t adapt some of the later storylines from about Book 20 onward. I’d love if Animorphs was only technically a kids show in the same way that Stranger Things is a kids show: the main characters are youngsters, but they’re not necessarily who the series is made for. The project aging the kids up to high school could be a sign that I’ll get some of what I want.

In all seriousness, do I think that an Animorphs series will be aimed at an older audience than Percy Jackson or some of the other kid-friendly offerings on Disney+? Not really, but I do know that there’s an audience of 30-40-somethings out there who would definitely tune in for a faithful adaptation. If Stranger Things could tell a dark story with kids at the center, why not other shows?

Of course, at the time of writing, this project is only in the early stages of development, so it may be a while until more updates are available, let alone news of a pilot order that may or may not happen. For now… well, maybe I need to revisit the books as an adult and see for myself just how twisted it was that I was reading them before I was even in double digits.

Plus, until I know otherwise, I can at least enjoy the idea of a bunch of teens listening to ‘90s jams on their boom boxes, taping the news off the TV with their VCRs, idolizing (or not idolizing) Xena: Warrior Princess, hanging out at the mall, and then dabbling in sci-fi guerilla warfare against evil parasitic aliens. It could honestly be hard to watch a kid-friendly version, knowing how different the source material is.

But hey, the books were certainly educational! I wouldn’t have learned nearly as much as a kid about red-tailed hawks, grizzly bears, and the implications of violating the Geneva Convention if I wasn't digging into K.A. Applegate's series each month.

There’s a world where Darth Maul’s story ended in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace… you know, which is what usually happens when someone gets cut in half. In our world, though, Maul survived Obi-Wan Kenobi’s bisection and has continued to thrive in many other Star Wars stories. The latest of the bunch is the Disney+ subscription-exclusive series Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord, which premieres on the 2026 TV schedule next week. And yet, despite the popularity he’s enjoyed for nearly 30 years, the Shadow Lord executive producers opened up to CinemaBlend about why it’s difficult to give Maul his own upcoming Star Wars TV show.

During my interview with EPs Athena Yvette Portillo, Brad Rau and Matt Michnovetz, with the latter two serving as Supervising Director and Head Writer, respectively, I asked them if it’s challenging at all crafting a TV show around Maul to paint him a protagonist light without losing his core dark traits. Rau responded with the following:

Star Wars has been jumping back and forth along the franchise timeline with telling Maul’s story ever since he was brought back into play in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Shadow Lord picks up one year after previous show’s series finale, when the Empire is now ruling the galaxy far, far away with an iron fist. Maul is trying to rebuild his criminal syndicate that collapsed when he was overthrown by the Republic, Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze’s forces, so like Brad Rau said, he is very much not in the good guy category, nor does he ever go there.

But this is still a show where Maul is the main character, meaning it becomes a tricky balancing act of continuing to depict him as a ruthless former Sith Lord, yet not make him too unlikable since the audience has to remain invested in his journey. That style infusing influences like Heat and The Dark Knight proved to be just the solution for Athena Yvette Portillo, Brad Rau, Matt Michnovetz and the rest of Shadow Lord’s creative team.

Thanks to Star Wars Rebels, we know how Maul’s story ends, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord fills in some of the gaps between then and where The Clone Wars left off with him. I’m especially eager to learn how he becomes the head of Crimson Dawn, which was revealed when he cameoed in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Shadow Lord premieres Monday, April 6, and Disney+ has already renewed the show for another season, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of Maul slicing up anyone who stands in the way of achieving his illicit goals.

Selena Gomez surprised us all a couple of years back when she decided to return as Alex Russo in the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Now, we’ve just received word that the revival is already ending this year. However, I think there’s a good reason why three seasons is all we’ll see of the new Disney Channel show. SPOILERS ahead for the show so far!

Disney Channel Is Already Ending Wizards Beyond Waverly Place

It's almost time to say goodbye to Wizard Beyond Waverly Place. It’s just been announced that there will be just four more episodes of the sequel series to Wizards of Waverly Place, and it’s premiering this summer on Disney Channel and Disney+, per a press release from Disney Branded Television. You can check out the video announcement here:

It’s going to be a “four-part event” that will follow Janice LeAnn Brown’s Billie after the shocking Season 2 finale, where we learned two twists for Selena Gomez’s Alex Russo. The show revealed that Alex is actually Billie’s mom, and put a spell on herself to lock away her own memories of the fact in a locket around her neck to protect her from Lord Morsus. In a big cliffhanger ending, Billie and Alex learn the revelation just before Alex jumps into a portal to save her family from the evil wizard.

In Season 3, Billie will be focused on rescuing Alex by banding together with her family (including David Henrie’s Justin and his kids) and reuniting with her long-lost dad. Production is set to start next week!

Why I’m Not Mad At The Show’s Short Run

The most exciting part of the announcement that I haven’t mentioned yet is that Selena Gomez will be making her directorial debut in episode one of Season 3. She'll also reprise her role as Alex Russo in “multiple episodes” this time around.

As an OG fan of Wizards of Waverly Place, don’t get me wrong, I think the show did a really good job of recapturing the magic overall, and I love that a new generation of kids has Billie and the other young characters. But, there’s a sort of electricity that Selena Gomez brings to the show, and it’s just not the same without her always around. (For context: she's only been in four episodes of the 31 that have aired so far).

I like the idea of Season 3 acting as a legacy sequel for Alex Russo and her daughter, with a greater focus on the beloved original character, and the show ending things on a high note. I think across two seasons, it’s felt pretty clear that Alex Russo needs to be central to the franchise, and it just wouldn’t feel right for these ties to go away – especially considering Gomez probably didn't have time to return to the show full-time to begin with.

Disney Branded Television’s announcement came with them citing Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has “emerged as a top streaming series” for new and returning fans, so I hope its success leads to other Disney Channel shows being revived. There’s no official release date for the final Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, but we’ll update the 2026 TV schedule as soon as it’s revealed.

The entire premise of Hannah Montana featured Miley Cyrus playing a normal teenager (also named Miley) who lived a double life as a famous pop singer (named Hannah Montana). Miley was heavily involved in the character creation and music, so, imagine my surprise when former Disney Channel fan Katie Milesky announced her husband did not actually realize Miley Cyrus played Hannah Montana or that Hannah Montana is not actually a real person.

Even Miley Cyrus was surprised by these series of events. But first, let's take a look at this TikTok.

If you can’t watch the video, she says she filmed the story because her husband was getting tired of her teasing him about his utter and complete lack of awareness. Here’s what happened, and why she can't stop roasting him:

The story was so juicy that even Miley Cyrus saw it and commented, sharing her own take:

Honestly, if you weren’t watching Hannah Montana when it came out, I suppose I could see how you’d only have a vague awareness of what the show is or was as a concept. Obviously, it’s been a bit of a Hannah Montana love fest on the 2026 TV schedule in recent weeks, as Miley Cyrus approached the anniversary of the series that helped her break big. Thanks to a little advice from Dolly Parton, it was her idea to bring the show back to the forefront with a special, and she got it done for those with a Disney+ subscription.

So, in some ways, it is easy to see how an awareness of Hannah Montana could come to the forefront only recently. However, the piece I’m having trouble with is the fact that Miley Cyrus is practically synonymous with Hannah Montana. Most people have a general awareness that it was that role that made her famous, and she started making strides away from that Disney persona as soon as she could.

This led us to the infamous VMA foam finger moment, so it feels like most people should at least vaguely be looped in when it comes to Miley’s trajectory. Regardless, this post proves there are a lot of husbands and boyfriends out there who are not in the know. In fact, my favorite part about this post is not the story and probably not even Miley’s take! Instead, it’s the comments from fans about their own husbands’ wild takes:

• "My husband thought Lindsay Lohan actually has a twin!"
• "TRUE STORY. The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special commercial just came on and my husband says to, 'Wait, is Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana?'"
• "My husband thought that Hilary Duff was Hannah Montana until a week ago."
• "My bf thought the Jonas brothers were not just brothers but triplets."
• "Reminds me of the time I said, 'Kylie Jenner is pregnant' and my husband goes, 'Did she go to school with us?'"

I’m too old to have ever watched an episode of Hannah Montana, but all the main bullet points leading up to the release of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special Event are pretty much embedded in my brain somewhere. So, it’s wild to think someone of a similar age to me just does not have this same awareness. But y'all, try it on your husbands and boyfriends, because I think some of them may be more clueless than you'd guess.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 episode "The Northern Star." Stream the episode with a Disney+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Daredevil: Born Again is back on Disney+ for Season 2, and it was a thriller of an opener. I was captivated by Matthew Lillard's performance as Mr. Charles, and I'm eager to see what's ahead when Jessica Jones arrives, but there's something else on my mind after the Season 2 premiere.

"The Northern Star" ended with Matt Murdock looking like his run as Daredevil was at an end, until all of Fisk's task force men in the room were killed by projectiles from outside. While I initially assumed Matt received an assist from Frank Castle, a knife planted in front of the hero revealed it was actually Bullseye who saved him. As much as my head was spinning from the reveal that one of his enemies saved him, @BULLSEYESOLOS on X echoed my thoughts perfectly as I wondered the same as the credits rolled:

While Dex's message was helpful for revealing the twist to the viewers at home, I also wondered if Matt would catch on in between now and the next episode of Daredevil: Born Again. Did Cherry have to read it to him after he was untied? Did he leave the scene and have no idea it was there? Maybe he collected it and Karen told him later?

There are a lot of theories over on X, with some challenging the idea that Matt couldn't see the message Bullseye left on the knife. Others are more hung up with how he had a knife that said that in the first place, as well as other things:

• Yes, he can, it’s carved - @Nuuqpy
• “Did you see what I wrote on the knife? Who am I kidding, of course you didn’t” - @fabio_supesj
• He was carving the words in whilst Cherry was getting the crap beaten out of him 😭 @m1rdock
• He doesn't know DD is blind cause he didn't know Matt is DD - @gene_parkerrr
• So Dex is casually stalking Matt all the time??? #hmmm - @Seelenaire

These are all great questions, and I have to pose another one. If Bullseye had enough time to step in and save the day, why didn't he do it sooner? He could've saved Matt a good deal of pummeling, not to mention poor Cherry who seemed to be suffering some medical event with his spiked heart-rate. Or was it specifically the unmasking itself that made him act?

Jokes aside, there are some big questions I have about Bullseye in Daredevil: Born Again. As the comments mentioned above, he's clearly following Daredevil, but then again, that wouldn't be so weird if he were up to some villainous revenge plot. What makes it weird is that he just acted as Matt's guardian angel, which is a strange way to treat someone who threw you off a building for killing his friend.

I'm not sure why he'd be motivated to work with Daredevil, and if he'd even want his help. If Charlie Cox, the actor, is still emotional about Foggy's death, I think it's fair to say the character he's playing still hasn't forgiven the villain for what he's done. I assume we'll learn more as the season goes on, unless of course, Matt left the scene completely oblivious that he was helped by Bullseye.

Daredevil: Born Again drops new episodes on Disney+ on Tuesdays. Wilson Bethel did tease that Bullseye would be different in Season 2, so I'm eager to see what that means as the season continues.

Even though Dancing With the Stars Season 35 won’t be coming until later this year on the 2026 TV schedule, fans are continuing to speculate as to who will be competing in the ballroom for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Theories are including both celebrity contestants and pros, as viewers wonder who will be returning and who won’t be, especially now that DWTS is developing a new reality show to find the next pro. Rumors are floating around surrounding potential exits, and Emma Slater is responding.

Slater joined the reality dancing competition for Season 14 in 2012 as a troupe dancer before being promoted to pro for Season 17. She’s gone on to be a fan-favorite, winning Season 24 with former NFL player Rashad Jennings. While it’s unknown who will be returning in the fall, and pros usually don’t know until right before rehearsals start, Slater told her Season 34 partner Andy Richter how long she wants to keep doing the show for, while guesting on his podcast The Three Questions with Andy Richter. As she put it:

Considering Slater has 14 years of Dancing With the Stars under her belt, it’s a relief to know that she has no plans to step away. Of course, that’s only if the producers still like her as well, since it’s never a guarantee a pro will be back the next season, which is frustrating.

Slater remains a fan-favorite, and her partnership with Richter last season was arguably one of the best parts of the show. Not to mention the fact that she and fellow pro Alan Bersten have really cemented their romance. But for the time being, Slater is just going to go with the flow for as long as she can:

That’s the thing that sucks about doing a show like Dancing With the Stars. No matter how much you enjoy it, it’s always possible your last season is going to be your last. It sounds like Slater doesn’t seem too worried, at least for now, and doesn’t have any plans to walk away herself. We won’t know for sure which pros are returning until likely the fall, so it’s just a waiting game. At the very least, Slater knows what she’d want to do if producers decide they don’t want her back on the ballroom:

With the new DWTS spinoff about finding the next pro, it’s hard to predict what this means for the current pros, especially if the show sticks around for future seasons. Fans should be at least somewhat relieved knowing that, for now, Emma Slater isn’t going anywhere and that the rumors of her leaving or retiring are not true. Now we just have to wait and see if she’s truly coming back for Season 35.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently releases new content for fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again was recently released on the streaming service, and fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled to be back in Hell's Kitchen. In addition to returning characters, some newcomers have joined the fun such as Matthew Lillard's mysterious Mr. Charles. While I'm loving his presence in the show, Vincent D'Onofrio has another perspective entirely.

What we know about Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 has been limited, but fans were recently treated to its premiere episode on Disney+. Things are heating up with Fisk as Mayor, but he's got a new frienemy with Lillard's Mr. Charles. On the show's official podcast, D'Onofrio got real about working with the Scream icon, saying:

Sounds like there's a touch of method acting happening here. Because Fisk's disdain for Mr. Charles seemingly affected the way that D'Onofrio felt about Lillard while filming Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. And I can't wait to see how this dynamic plays out in future episodes of the Marvel series.

Vincent D'Onofrio keeps coming back to play Kingpin, and clearly the character means a great deal to him. Even if he's playing the show's villain, the actor has found a way to connect with Wilson Fisk. In the same podcast appearance he spoke more about how this colored his interactions with Matthew Lillard, saying:

While there's no actual beef between the two actors, it sounds like Fisk's POV was really sticking in D'Onofrio's brain in the midst of production for Born Again. As such, they needed to wrap before he could really enjoy Matthew Lillard's presence. And it should be fascinating to see how the relationship between Kingpin and Mr. Charles escalates throughout the eight-episode season.

Daredevil: Born Again releases new episodes Tuesdays on Disney+ as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to see what drama happens between these two characters as we get deeper into the season.

Spoilers below for those who haven't yet streamed Daredevil: Born Again's Season 2 opener via Disney+ subscription.

Bring out the Hell’s Kitchen Orchestra, or whatever the most applicable performance troupe would be to celebrate the arrival of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 in all its dark and gritty glory. (Dark, save for Wilson Fisk’s suit collection, naturally.) We’ve got all manner of anticipation and expectation for what’s to come from Matt Murdock’s return for the 2026 TV schedule, especially after all the critical acclaim that’s come thus far. As it often goes, I can think of few better ways to celebrate a long-awaited show than blabbing all about it as it’s happening.

So please join me in reacting to Daredevil: Born Again’s second-season premiere, "The Northern Star,” written by showrunner Dario Scardapane and directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, who helmed Episodes 1, 8 and 9 from Season 1. I expect good things tonight, my friends.

PLEASE NOTE: While the article is being updated live as the episode airs, the entries will appear in reverse-chronological order, and will revert to chronological order after the updates are complete. Thanks for reading!

Pre-Game Message From Charlie Cox And Vincent D'Onofrio

Who doesn't love seeing these two lovable actors chumming it up before they clash like animals in Season 2?

Now for a few more minutes of anguished thumb-twiddling while thinking about watching The Punisher's upcoming special. Errr, I mean thinking about Daredevil...in the episode that's about to come on. (Sorry, Matty baby!

"Did Mayor Fisk Fix It?"

This is my new favorite tongue twister. Which of the Pickwick triplets did Mayor Fisk fix first?

Boo on propaganda of any kind, but who in their right mind would go on camera and say, "Nope, Fisk didn't do nothin' good, no how." A death warrant.

Hell Yeah, Starting Off With That Black Suit And A Baton Beatdown

The textbook way to start a season of Daredevil is for our friendly neighborhood lawyer vigilante to show off just how well-trained he's been. The fact that he can do it on a boat rocking in the water is even more impressive, as just saying it makes me slightly queasy. Not quite as queasy as seeing a dude's arm break over Matt's shoulder, but close.

I also feel like that wall of water would have killed anything in its path, but props to our guy for surviving it.

Matt And Karen's First Scene

Oh, it was definitely a choice to have both Matt and Karen out of breath throughout their first conversation, right before they start smooching.

Sure, what they're saying is important, and what Matt did to botch that boat shipment is gonna piss WIlson Fisk off. But kissing in the dark cannot be held back for later.

Matthew Lillard Like A Mother

Not the best first scene, sure. But the blasé way he lets this line go is worth it after saying he'd fly up to handle things.

• "I need the miles."

Anyone who talks about airline miles in the first minute you meet them is probably a mega-turd. So I cannot wait to see Lillard at his turd-iest.

Okay, Mr. Charles Is A Boss Kinda Boss

People having the nerve to get in Wilson Fisk's face (rightfully or not) are quickly shut the f--k down as soon as Lillard's Mr. Charles enters the room and foreshadows an ominous but very clearly laid out phone call.

While Mr. Charles is around, nobody messes with Fisk. How will having a spook from Langley affect the more Kingpin-ish side of his agenda and the people who chose to work with him? I'd eff with Fisk specifically to hang out with Mr. Charles, I think.

Tony Dalton Rules, Dr. Glenn Does Not

As if I wasn't already disgusted enough by Margarita Levieva's Heather Glenn for everything that happened in Season 1, she's now suffering PTSD-related hallucinations and is blatantly lying on psychological evaluations. FOR SHAME, DR. GLENN.

John Benjamin Hickey's D.A. Is One More In An Ocean Of Sleazes

This episode is really hammering home how corrupt nearly everyone in positions of authority are, save for Counselor Karen McDuffie and retired detective Cherry.

Matt Almost Definitely Just Doomed Cherry

Anytime a character says something like, "I'll tell you all about it when I definitely see you tomorrow," you know they're gonna die. Matt telling Cherry "That's why I'm gonna keep coming to you" has the same effect to me. Hopefully he doesn't die in vain.

Loving This Fake Kingpin Mess

This telecast takeover by a masked Kingpin is one of the things I've been most excited to see, and I'm glad he's just as disruptive and lo-fi as expected. It's kind of stupid, and I adore it.

Ugh, Powell Sucks Worse Than Dr. Glenn / Anyone Ever

I'm not sure how much sympathy we're actually supposed to have for the pair of ship crew members who were aware of what they were shipping, but even if they were almost the worst people in the world, the worst person in the world would still be Hamish Allan-Headley's crooked-as-a-lightning-bolt "cop" Powell. Nothing against the actor, who makes it super easy to hate this hateful monster, but geez, what a waste of space.

I Want Mr. Charles To Have Dinner With The Fisks All The Time

The combination of Lillard's free-flowing energy and Vincent D'Onofrio's reserved menace, buoyed by Ayelet Zurer's calmer menace, is quite the elixir. I'd like to see this three commentating on Monday Night Football and juding on Top Chef as well.

Karen's Wig Game Is Still At Both A 10 And A 0.5 Simultaneously

I mean, sometimes you gotta go out in public and the only thing you have are your dirtiest pants. And then there's Karen's decision to go out in her wigs.

Foggy Sighting!

It was only in one of Matt and Karen's post-sparring memories, and isn't indicative of anything legitimate, but still.

Cherry Takes A Beating, But Keeps On Ticking

Dammit, Matt. (And probably others.) Cherry got his a-- handed to him until Matt shows up, but at least he didn't die. And he also rattled off a trio of solid "gruffy ol' bastard" lines with:

• "You hit like a kid."
• "No, I'm not okay!"
• "Sure could take a punch a lot better ten years ago."

He's gonna be sore for weeks though.

Matt's Identity Discovered! Until It Isn't!

I was legitimately shocked as could possibly be when Matt's hesitation got him pummeled to the point where his mask was pulled off of his face. My mind started to race, thinking about where this story could go if everyone knows that....

Wait, no, those guys are all dead now.

Bullseye Saves The Day, And So What, Was Everybody Just Hanging Out Outside Of Cherry's Place?

Just when it seemed like New York City's most prominent lawyer-vigilante could no longer keep both personas separate, Matt is saved in a most brutal fashion by an offscreen Wilson Bethel's Benjamin Poindexter, otherwise known as Bullseye.

Would Bullseye not have killed those cops if they hadn't unmasked him? Why was he creeping around out there to even be the hero in that moment? Was he watching Matt and Karen kiss earlier like we were? Ewww, Dex. (But I get it, I guess?)

Also, I get that this dude has impeccable accuracy and all, but how would he have thrown that knife from outside the building and still had it stick straight up and down like that?

ALSO also, does he just have a bunch of knives with different messages on them, or is it only about receiving thanks with this guy?

Woo, Bullseye!

Final Thoughts On The Episode

• I want to see more message-knives from Bullseye.
• I don't like how easy it is to root for Daniel and BB's burgeoning ship-ness, given Daniel's icky career path, but Michael Gandolfini and Genneya Walton look genuinely happy to be around each other.
• Tony Dalton better not get killed off in jail because of what Dr. Glenn did. (I know Jack Duquesne is the character's name, but it's Tony Dalton or nothing from here on out.)
• I can't wait to see the height of Mr. Charles' powers and influence. I want this guy to be able to make the ball drop in Times Square on June 22.
• Instead of getting Foggy back for real, we're just going to see him via Matt's trauma, which is...maybe not as good. Especially if the show tries to mirror Matt's with Dr. Glenn's Muse visions.
• I already need Karen's red wig back.

But the biggest final thought of all is THANKS FOR READING and for joining me on this return journey to Hell's Kitchen.

Find new episodes of Daredevil: Born Again streaming on Disney+ every Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Back in January, Wonder Man premiered on the 2026 TV schedule, arriving close to four full years after its existence was revealed to the public. Initially, this MCU offering starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley was conceived as a miniseries, but no longer. Marvel Studios has announced that Wonder Man Season 2 is in the works, and while that’s obviously good news for the fans who enjoyed those first eight episodes, there are others who are using this news to beg that other MCU shows be renewed as well.

As far as Wonder Man goes, Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley will, of course, reprising Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery, respectively, and creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest have also returned for scripting duties and more. Beyond that, no other details were revealed, though that’s hardly surprising for an upcoming Marvel TV show so far off. But then, if you go into the comments section of the Instagram post announcing Wonder Man Season 2, you’ll see plenty of fans going to bat for MCU shows whose fates still remain in limbo:

• "How does this happen but not Hawkeye?" - @snaps_by_hawkguy
• "Moon Knight deserved season 2 button 👉" - @theo.andrew8
• "What About The Punisher Season 3?" - @ojusticeirobr_
• "They're renewing this series, but not Moon Knight or Hawkeye 😑" - @edits_marvel_.and
• "It's fantastic but Moon knight S2 😢" - @the__beyonder_

To be fair, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is both appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day this July and has a Disney+ subscription-exclusive special coming out around the same time. So while I understand why some still want the Punisher series from the Marvel Netflix days to be revived, I would personally substitute that option with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. I want to see more of Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters breaking the fourth wall, even more so after hearing Maslany joke about turning down Avengers: Doomsday.

However, I also agree that Moon Knight and Hawkeye deserve second seasons, especially the former. I maintain Moon Knight is the most standalone MCU project yet, as you could easily watch it without any knowledge of this superhero franchise and not be lost. It would be great if Oscar Isaac not only reprised Marc Spector, Steven Grant and Jake Lockley, but also in a story that was more closely connected to the wider MCU.

As for Hawkeye Season 2, Jeremy Renner is optimistic it will eventually happen. But as things currently stand, we have no update on what’s happening with Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. At least in the latter’s case though, she was approached by Kamala Khan at the end of The Marvels about forming a tea, so hopefully that bodes well for seeing the Young Avengers someday.

For now, though, I’m delighted to hear that Wonder Man Season 2 is happening, and look forward to seeing how the events of the Season 1 finale are followed up on. But it’ll be a while until that curtain is pulled back, whereas the next MCU TV show, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, will premiere on Disney+ tomorrow. So see you in the future, Simon, but also welcome back, Matt Murdock!

One day, you’re watching the premiere of Hannah Montana and CowBelles on the same night, with Miley Cyrus and Aly & AJ hosting the festivities. Then one day, you’re getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana. Disney and Cyrus are going all out to celebrate the big milestone for the phenomenon that is the pop star with a brand-new special, complete with special guests. And I have some ideas as to who could join the fun.

Disney+ has been teasing the Hannah Montana 20^th Anniversary Special for quite some time. The newest trailer shows Cyrus, donning a blonde look like her alter ego, walking through recreated sets, performing, and joined by special guests. Billy Ray Cyrus, who starred alongside his daughter as Miley Stewart’s father, Robby Ray, is appearing in the special despite the two's estranged relationship. Tish Cyrus is also in the special, and that's not all. According to Variety, Selena Gomez, who portrayed Hannah’s rival Mikayla, is also making a surprise appearance, thanks to the special’s host, Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper, who arranged the surprise.

As of now, there has been no word on whether Cyrus’ other co-stars, such as Emily Osment and Jason Earles, both of whom have posted about the anniversary, will join in on the fun. It’s also unclear whether Moisés Arias or Mitchel Musso will appear, but all four, or even if it’s just one, would be a nice surprise considering it’s hard to imagine Hannah Montana without Miley’s best friends Lily (Osment) and Oliver (Musso), her annoying big brother Jackson (Earles) or Jackson’s annoying younger boss Rico (Arias).

Other possible special guests include Cyrus’ godmother, Dolly Parton, who portrayed Miley’s Aunt Dolly on Hannah Montana. The two superstars are still close, and Parton is partly responsible for the 20^th-anniversary special coming together. Cyrus’ on-screen on-again, off-again beau Cody Linley recently shared that he’ll be celebrating the anniversary with the cast, but did not make it clear whether he’ll be taking part in the special.

Hannah Montana has four seasons under its belt, meaning four seasons of beloved characters that aren’t just the main characters. The possibilities are endless as to who could be appearing in the special, if there are even going to be more guests in the special. Of course, the biggest question being if any more of the main cast will be in it, but it seems like Disney is keeping things pretty locked tight until the special drops.

As a Day 1 Hannah Montana fan, I could not be more excited for the 20^th anniversary special and to relive my childhood in a whole new way. Regardless of the special guests, I cannot wait to see what Cyrus has up her sleeve for it. The Hannah Montana 20^th Anniversary Special premieres on Tuesday with a Disney+ subscription.

Back when television was dominated by linear networks, deciding when certain shows would be released was important, as you didn’t want your best projects overshadowed by something else. But in an era where all TV is on demand, it’s less of a problem when multiple streamers release their highest-profile series or movies of the month all at the same time. This week is a prime example of that, as some of the best streaming content we’ve seen all month is hitting all at once.

Daredevil: Born Again, Season 2 March 24 (Disney+)

While the first season of Daredevil: Born Again might not have ended on a cliffhanger, fans have been waiting a year to see what happens next in the battle between Daredevil and Kingpin. Luckily, we already know that the Man Without Fear will get some help this season, as Krysten Ritter returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Jessica Jones.

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special - March 24 (Disney+)

Miley Cyrus became a household name thanks to Hannah Montana, but in the decades since, she has become a true rock star in her own right. 20 years later, Cyrus reunites with her alter ego for the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special. Right now, your Disney+ subscription will also give you access to a dedicated channel with all of the Hannah Montana episodes and films.

Pretty Lethel March 25 (Prime Video)

If you watched the recent John Wick spinoff Ballerina and thought, “This is great, but it would be better if there were more ballerinas violently murdering people,” then I have good news for you. This week, your Prime Video subscription gives you Pretty Lethal, a new film about a group of ballerinas who find themselves the target of killers and have to fight back.

MLB Opening Day 2026 LIVE March 25 (Netflix)

Netflix has been slowly growing as a home for live sports, and following the addition of football and boxing, starting this week, your Netflix subscription gets you baseball coverage with the opening day of the Major League Baseball season. In Netflix’s first game, the San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees in a battle that’s nearly as old as baseball itself.

For All Mankind Season 5 - Math 27 (Apple TV)

It’s a great time for fans of hard science fiction, as this past weekend saw the release of Project Hail Mary, and this week, your Apple TV subscription gets the fifth season of For All Mankind, a film that follows an alternate history of the space race that suggests what would have happened if the USSR had made it to the moon first. The new season will come very close to the modern day, being set in the 2010s.

Next week, we see March come to a close, and April gets started. A new month means the always fun content shuffle, but it will also bring a host of new original streaming shows and movies, including the animated Stranger Things spinoff, the final season of Prime Video’s The Boys, and returns for both Star Wars villain Darth Maul and Malcolm in the Middle.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Longtime fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when characters from the Netflix Marvel shows started popping back up, starting with Charlie Cox's Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. With these figures taking center stage in the shared universe, I think it's time that Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple gets the same honor. What's more, it doesn't even feel that impossible if you think about it.

What we know about Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 has been limited, but one thrilling detail is that it will include Krysten Ritter's return as Jessica Jones. And while some fans want to see Luke Cage and/or Iron Fist back on the screen, I'm more invested in seeing Claire Temple back first. Hear me out.

Claire Temple Was The Netflix Marvel Show's Connective Tissue, And She Deserves To Return

During their time airing for those with a Netflix subscription, the Marvel shows were kept on an island away from the movie characters/stories. But that's changed in recent years, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day's first trailer featuring Punisher and Daredevil: Born Again getting a second season on Disney+. It remains to be seen how Jessica Jones will factor into Season 2, but with the doors open for these characters to return, I think Rosario Dawson has more than earned another chance at Claire Temple.

Similarly to how Nick Fury recruited the OG Avengers throughout Phase One of the MCU, Claire served as the connective tissue between the Netflix Marvel shows. The nurse was a friend to New York's vigilante heroes, often coming to rescue when they needed medical help. Plus, there was her romantic connection first with Matt Murdock, and then with Luke Cage. She even trained in hand-to-hand combat in Iron Fist.

We're seeing the Marvel stories set in New York City becoming more and more connected, both on the small and big screens. Given how connected Claire was to so many characters, it only seems logical that she pop up eventually. It just feels right now that the former Netflix crew is part of the larger MCU family.

From a logistical perspective, Rosario Dawson's return to Marvel also makes sense. She clearly has a good relationship with Disney thanks to her role in The Haunted Mansion and ongoing tenure in Star Wars as a live-action Ahsoka Tano. So I have to assume the studio would be all too happy to continue this collaboration and help the MCU feel like a more interconnected place in the process.

Of course, there's been no indication that there are any plans for Claire Temple in the MCU. The last we saw her was in Luke Cage Season 2, but she famously appeared in all of those Netflix Marvel shows aside from The Punisher. Since Born Again is already filming Season 3, so it feels like just about anything could happen... particularly in Hell's Kitchen.

Rosario Dawson's tenure in the MCU can be streamed on Disney+, which will also be the home of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 starting March 24th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Fingers crossed that one day my girl Claire comes back to the screen for more adventures.

Since it was confirmed that a Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special would be on the 2026 TV schedule for those with a Disney+ subscription, I instantly got excited to relive all the nostalgia of the Disney Channel series alongside Miley Cyrus and the fans. However, there’s something about the marketing that’s leaving me bummed out. That qualm boils down to one question: Where’s Emily Osment? Let’s talk about it.

Sweet Niblets, Am I Excited For The Hannah Montana Anniversary Special

Miley Cyrus has been teasing that she was working on something special for the fans for Hannah Montana’s big anniversary for months. And, we just got a better idea of what this is going to look like, thanks to a trailer that came out on Tuesday morning. You can check it out below:

The new look at the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special has Miley Cyrus as her beloved Disney Channel character, driving around Los Angeles, all grown up. We see her taking the stage once again for a concert, revisiting some real sets, doing a juicy interview with Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper, and having sweet moments with both of her parents. But, there’s not a single tease that any of her cast members will be joining her.

What’s Going On With Emily Osment And Other Supporting Cast Joining In?

As someone who grew up loving Hannah Montana, obviously Miley Cyrus was a huge part of it, but the supporting cast really made it what it was, too. Emily Osment’s character of Lilly, in particular, was the character I always loved, and seeing Lilly and Hannah/Miley’s antics was really the heart of the show. Now, I’m really starting to wonder if she’ll be part of the special or not.

And, here’s the thing: I do think it’s very possible that the cast, like Osment -- who currently stars in her own sitcom called Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, and was recently shown an old Hannah Montana script on the set of it -- could appear in this special. But, there's literally zero hint at that happening as of now. Osment hasn’t been sharing the Hannah Montana trailers, and it’s getting me worried that she was shut out of the special completely.

Moisés Arias, who has been in Fallout recently, Mitchell Musso and Jason Earles also make up the main cast, and are notably not brought up in the trailer. Having seen this new trailer and seeing how Miley Cyrus is reacting to her old stomping grounds by herself, I’m already kind of disappointed that the other cast isn’t with her reacting too. They were part of the phenomenon alongside her and should be included, in my opinion. But, if I had one must for the special, it’s Emily Osment.

Either way, I’m sure the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special is going to be great, but I’m not going to lie, I’m going to be pretty disappointed if her cast isn’t part of this at all. The special is dropping on Disney+ on March 24!

It’s been nearly a year since we last saw Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock on a collision course with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, culminating in quite dour fashion to set up Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. This season is all about resistance, so snatch up that Disney+ and Hulu bundle now at a discounted price if you’re not a subscriber, because if these first reactions to early screenings are any indication, Marvel fans aren’t going to want to miss out on this.

In addition to the Daredevil and Kingpin actors reprising their roles with much of the Season 1 cast, Krysten Ritter will appear as Jessica Jones, Lili Taylor is joining as the New York governor, Matthew Lillard will clash with Kingpin as Mr. Charles, Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne/Swordsman and Jack Mulhern as simply “Philip.” Vincent D’Onofrio has been hyping Season 2 as “fucking brutal,” and that’s an opinion that’s shared by critic Christopher Gallardo who posted on social media:

Thomas Storai of Future of The Force agrees, writing that the sophomore season takes the upcoming Marvel series to new heights:

Darren Movie Reviews posts that after seeing half of the Season 2 episodes, they can confirm Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is Marvel’s “most compelling television series to date” with excellent writing, strong performances and “exhilarating” fight scenes. Here’s what they have to say:

Many passionate fans have seen all of the Marvel movies in order, so when they’re excited enough to say Daredevil: Born Again’s second season is among the best the franchise has to offer, that’s a pretty good sign. Daniel Baptista of The Movie Podcast certainly has high praise for the eight-episode season, posting:

The relevance to current events does make for a bit of a rough watch, according to Brandon Norwood of The Film Blerds, but that doesn’t take away from the quality of the story, which he says includes a great redemption arc for one character. Norwood writes:

Nexus Point News declares Season 2 an “upgrade,” writing that Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio give “powerhouse performances,” but don’t sleep on a show-stealing Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page. Their post reads:

Rohan Patel praises the action scenes, writing that Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is the “MCU at its finest.” More from Patel:

We can’t forget about Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye, either, as Aeron Eclarinal of The Direct calls him the MVP of this second season, while echoing the previous critic’s sentiments about the action sequences. Eclarinal’s post says:

The first reactions to Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 are full of words like “brutal” and “mayhem,” with many reporting that the series goes darker this season than the first. Marvel fans appear to have plenty to be excited about — especially with Season 3 already in development.

Tune in when the series hits the 2026 TV schedule on Tuesday, March 24, with episodes available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Every week brings great new movies to streaming and the beginning of brand new series. This week is certainly no exception. Whether you’re a fan of animation, serious drama, or ridiculous comedy, all the best streaming services have what you’re looking for. Here are some of the week’s highlights.

Invincible, Season 4 - March 18 (Prime Video)

Superhero shows and movies are everywhere, but four seasons in, there’s still nothing quite like Invincible. This animated series is certainly not for kids, but it’s a lot of fun. The new season will tell some stories completely original to the series, while still giving fans all the hilariously violent action they’ve come to expect.

Short Circuit Experimental Films: Maddie & The Test & Life Drawings March 18 (Disney+)

Disney got its start with animated shorts, and while they’re not quite as popular as they once were, they are still the place where many of today’s great animation directors got their start. The Short Circuit program at Walt Disney Animation gives anybody with an idea a chance to become a director, and this week, your Disney+ subscription gets you two new original and creative pieces of animation from fresh talent at Disney.

Imperfect Women - March 18 (Apple TV)

Any series that includes Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington is one that is going to get a lot of people to take notice. The new series, debuting with an Apple TV subscription, sees the two playing friends who become suspects, and investigators when the third member of their trio (Kate Mara) turns up dead.

Wicked: For Good - March 20 (Peacock)

The sequel may not have been quite as successful as the original, but in order to properly finish the epic story that is Wicked, you need Act II. Wicked: for Good continues the story of Elphaba, but the second half of the story is where Ariana Grande shines as Glinda. The movie is available with your Peacock subscription and includes a sing-along track as well as a commentary track from director Jon M. Chu.

Jury Duty Presents Company Retreat - March 20 (Prime Video)

Jury Duty was something of a surprise hit and is still one of the best reasons to have a Prime Video subscription. The reality series/comedy followed a fake trial where everybody was an actor except for one unsuspecting man on the jury. While recreating that scenario would have been difficult in a courtroom, Season 2 takes the show to the company retreat of a fictitious company, where once again, everybody is an actor, except the new hire.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man - March 20 (Netflix)

For many years, Peaky Blinders was one reason a lot of people had their Netflix subscription. This week, it is once again as the feature film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man debuts. The movie has already gotten solid reviews from critics, and so fans will likely be very happy to see Cillian Murphy return to the role that introduced him to many. Barry Keoghan and Rebecca Ferguson co-star.

The final week of March approaches, and it’s going to be a big one, as Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finally arrives. Check back here to see what else you won’t want to miss next week.

Toby Leonard Moore’s Wesley was killed by Karen Page in Daredevil Season 1, and last year, Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 introduced his long-awaited successor as Wilson Fisk’s right-hand man. Arty Froushan's Buck Cashman was frequently by Fisk’s side, helping him with both his mayoral work and illegal activities. Of course, people who are in Fisk’s close circle are known to die, but thankfully that’s not going to happen with Buck when Born Again Season 2 airs on the 2026 TV schedule, so let the comic theories commence.

Froushan confirmed as much while he was being interviewed by THR. While talking about his love of the theatre and how he would “love to make a movie next,” he then said this about the upcoming Marvel TV show:

It remains to be seen how the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 casualties list will compare to Season 1, but at least we know ahead of time that Buck Cashman won’t be one of the bodies dropped. He’s already lasted longer than Wesley did, and unless there’s a shocking turn of events, I think it’s safe to say Buck will continue working for Wilson Fisk in Born Again Season 3, where Fisk will allegedly become a more powerful Kingpin. But what if there’s more to Buck’s survival than meets the eye?

In the comics, Buck Cashman is a Daredevil supervillain by the name of Bullet who’s worked for Kingpin several times. Right now, the MCU’s Buck is just a normal guy who has all the necessary fixer skills to cover up Wilson Fisk’s crimes. However, could events in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 or Season 3 lead to Arty Froushan's Buck taking on the Bullet identity? Is it possible he already has the background as a mercenary and we just haven’t seen it yet? The mere mention of the actor filming Born Again Season 3 gets the mind speculating.

If there’s one thing that Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock doesn’t need, it’s another adversary. Wilson Fisk will be bad enough now that he’s imposed martial law in New York City and has his Anti-Vigilante Task Force hunting down his enemies. We’ll also get Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye causing trouble on his own, as he has a bone to pick with both Daredevil and Kingpin. Thankfully, Matt has plenty of allies to help him this season, including the returning Jessica Jones.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premieres March 24 on Disney+, and Season 3 is expected arrive around the same time in 2027. I’m not necessarily counting on Arty Froushan's Buck Cashman to suit up as Bullet in the MCU, but I will be interested to see if there’s a specific reason why Buck needs to stick around, or if it’s just because Fisk couldn’t get anything done without him.

Ever since it was confirmed that Jon Bernthal would return as Frank Castle for a standalone Punisher special in the MCU, fans have been wondering which familiar faces from Marvel's Netflix era might show up alongside him. Now, a recent social media post has sparked serious speculation that one of the most important characters from the original The Punisher series could be making a comeback.

The Social Media Post That Started Speculation

Actress Amber Rose Revah shared a still image of her character, Dinah Madani, aiming a gun from the Netflix-era series in a recent Instagram post, and fans wasted absolutely no time jumping to conclusions. The post itself didn’t come with any confirmation of a return, but the timing raised plenty of eyebrows.

Madani played a major role throughout The Punisher’s two-season run, and her complicated dynamic with Frank Castle became one of the emotional backbones of the show. If Marvel is bringing the character back into the MCU alongside Bernthal, it would make a lot of sense to include her in whatever story they’re building.

Of course, nothing official has been confirmed yet. But judging by how quickly fans connected the dots, plenty of people are already convinced something is happening.

Who Dinah Madani Is In The Punisher Story

For anyone who might need a refresher, Dinah Madani was introduced in The Punisher as a Homeland Security agent investigating a massive military conspiracy tied to Frank Castle’s past.

Over the course of the series, Madani evolves from someone hunting Castle down to one of the few people who truly understands what drives him. Their relationship is complicated, tense, and often adversarial, but there’s also a deep sense of mutual respect.

By the end of Season 2, Madani had become one of the most important figures in Frank’s orbit. She wasn’t just a supporting character either. She frequently drove the larger investigation plots that shaped the series. Because of that, bringing Madani back for a Punisher special would feel like a natural continuation of the story that started on Netflix.

So, what are fans saying about this possibility? Let's take a look.

Fans React To Madani Possibly Returning

Unsurprisingly, fans flooded the post’s comments section with speculation almost immediately. Some people are cautiously hopeful, while others seem convinced the tease means Madani is already locked in for the special. Here’s a sampling of what people are saying:

• @shanush_03: “Return of dinah madani??!”
• @market_mane_mcintyre: “@shanush_03 I hope so”
• @aliimight: “madani please come back. the kids miss you.”
• @ignacio_lara_toy_photographer: “You do what you gotta do Madani”
• @lfc_adamhugh_: “We need madani back to reunite with frank”
• @delicateflower_: “Ahh I LOVE Agent Madani sooo much 💋🤌🏻”
• @agentredhood05: “Hope Madani returns in the Punisher one shot special 😱”
• @readycosplayerone: “COME BACK TO US”
• @tdewar1987: “Dinah Madani comeback? Please 😍”
• @chrismirancos: “WHAT DA HECK DOES THIS MEAN?! 👀👀👀👀👀”
• @jonnyblovers: “HEY HEY HEY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, DONT PLAY W ME EMOTIONS LIKE THIS 😭😩”

At this point, the speculation machine is fully running. Whether Revah’s post was meant as a tease or simply as a nostalgic throwback remains unclear. But judging by the reaction, plenty of fans are more than ready to see Agent Madani cross paths with Frank Castle again.

For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what’s revealed when the upcoming Punisher special eventually arrives on the 2026 TV schedule. In the meantime, fans can revisit Castle’s previous appearances—or even rewatch the entire MCU in order—with a Disney+ subscription.

As for The Punisher's next appearance, Bernthal is confirmed to return in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, swinging into theaters on July 31, 2026.

The Ides of March are nearly upon us, and with them comes this week’s fresh batch of streaming goodness. From highly anticipated brand new series to new seasons of already successful shows, we’re getting plenty of great stuff on all your favorite streaming platforms. Alongside that, one of the biggest movies streaming this month is one of the biggest box office hits in years. Here’s what you don’t want to miss this week.

One Piece, Season 2 - March 10 (Netflix)

The history of live-action adaptations of popular anime is spotty at best, and that’s just the ones produced by Netflix. Luckily, the incredibly successful One Piece anime was well-received by fans during its first season. And fans won’t need to wait for batched or even weekly episodes, as the entire second season will be available with your Netflix subscription on the same day.

Zootopia 2 - March 11 (Disney+)

The first Zootopia was billion dollar hit for Disney, so the eventual announcement of a sequel was little surprise. Still, I’m not sure anybody expected the sequel surpass the original and become one of the most successful animated movies ever made. If you somehow didn’t catch the film in theaters, or even if you did, your Disney+ subscription will bring you Zootopia 2 starting this week.

Scarpetta - March 11 (Prime Video)

Patricia Cornwell’s popular medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta, makes the jump from book to screen in the form of Nicole Kidman for this brand new series, available with a Prime Video subscription. Jamie Lee Curtis also stars in this series that could turn into a significantly long-running affair, considering there are nearly 30 books in the series.

It’s Dorothy - March 13 (Peacock)

The Wizard of Oz is arguably more popular now than it has been in decades, thanks to the success of the Wicked films. While the second movie, Wicked: For Good, is still a week away from its streaming debut, this week, your Peacock subscription will get you a brand new documentary on the life of a character who doesn’t feature much in those movies: Dorothy Gale.

The Madison - March 14 (Paramount+)

I have no idea how Taylor Sheridan has so many different television series on the air at once, as he seems to be adding new ones weekly. Fans of Sheridan’s dramatic character-focused storytelling really need a Paramount+ subscription because it’s the place to catch episodes of both the recently started CBS series Marshals and the brand new The Madison, starring Michele Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.

The Oscars - March 15 (Hulu)

There are so many award shows now that they can be tough to keep track of, but I think we can all agree that there is still only one that really matters. The Oscars are the night that movies celebrate themselves, and regardless of who wins, movie fans will be watching. Conan O’Brien returns as host, and the show airs on ABC but will also be available live with a Hulu subscription.

With the second half of march giving us movies like Wicked: For Good and series like Daredevil: Born Again, Season 2. It’s sure to continue to be a great month for streaming.

Charlie Cox’s Daredevil has gone through a long, strange trip in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and I’m not simply referring to the hero’s hardcore in-canon struggles with crime lords, ninjas, serial killers, and much more. Through three seasons of his own solo show and an underwhelming crossover event in the form of The Defenders, the character was viewed as the greatest success of the early MCU-on-Netflix experiment… and then for a period, it looked as though he had basically been erased from the canon.

He made an awesome return with his surprise cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, followed by quick but killer appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and Echo, and then finally, the Man Without Fear’s comeback was fully cemented with the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 in early 2025.

When you add it all together, Marvel fans have spent more time with Daredevil than we have with Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk in all of their movies combined – and having recently made the choice to rewatch his entire MCU journey, I can reaffirm that his full adventure to date has been one of the most compelling in the canon.

His battle with his inner-demons is ever fascinating, not to mention his stunning clashes with Vincent D’Onfrio’s scary powerful Kingpin and Wilson Bethel’s psychotic Bullseye. After my marathon, I’m feeling more amped than ever for DD’s return in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again Season 2… but I do have a couple of notes about things I need to see.

Why Do We See So Little Of How Daredevil Views The World? Bring On The World On Fire!

One doesn’t need to be a comic book expert to understand that one of the coolest aspects of Daredevil as a character is the special way he experiences the world. Blinded in an accident as a child but gifted extraordinary other senses in exchange, his immaculate understanding of his surroundings comes from hearing so powerful he can tell from your heartbeat if you’re lying, smell so strong he knows what you ate for dinner the previous night, and touch so sensitive that he can perceive changes in air density.

Seeing all that he does with that sensory input is phenomenal… but I also can’t help but feel mostly underwhelmed by how it’s been presented visually over the years. In Daredevil Season 1, all the way back in 2015, the idea was introduced that his “vision” consists of what he describes as a “world on fire,” and I’ve never understood why filmmakers haven’t done more to explore that idea visually.

We haven’t actually seen a director explore the “world on fire” since the episode with that title (shout out to filmmaker Farren Blackburn), and I don’t really understand why at all. Whenever he is specifically shown “using” his powers – which is to say while trying to listen for a specific noise or scanning an area for threats – it’s typically depicted with close-ups of the hero’s face, some head tilts, and some clever sound design. We never get the chance to see things as Daredevil sees things, and it feels like a massive missed opportunity for some killer visual style.

In Born Again Season 2, I wholly expect the continuation of a number of cinematic traditions that have been maintained for the character – chief among them being single-shot fight sequences that see DD brawling with a bunch of guys in a hallway and/or stairwell. As excited as I am to see slick martial arts choreography and cinematography to match, however, I’m going to feel let down if another run with the character plays out and we don’t get the chance to revisit the special way that Matt Murdock perceives his surroundings.

I Need Much Less Skirting Around Canon And At Least One Real Spider-Man Reference

Part of the reason why Daredevil’s journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date has been so weird is because of the strange relationship that has always existed between the character and the larger canon. During their original run, the Marvel Netflix shows were touted as being set within the larger continuity, but the stories always played on the fringes: Avengers tower was absent from the New York City skyline and it became a punchline that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes would be mentioned via reference instead of by name (i.e. Hulk is just “the green monster” and Thor is “the guy with the hammer”).

An improvement in this arena came about with Born Again Season 1 (supported by the run following in the wake of the aforementioned She-Hulk and Echo, as well as the Hawkeye limited series), but I’m ready for the show to quit with the pussyfooting in Season 2 and for the canon to more fully commit to the bigger MCU picture.

I’m not calling for any A-lister cameos or major crossover storylines; I just want some kind of authentic acknowledgement from the show that other MCU events are playing out in parallel. For example, we know that the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day is going to feature a significant time jump from when we last saw Tom Holland’s Peter Parker at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home – so what about having a character provide an off-handed comment about the wallcrawler coming to somebody’s rescue in Queens? (Something at least more significant than Kingpin mentioning someone in a “spider costume” during a televised press conference).

I'm also very much open to some kind of commentary on the series that references the third act of Thunderbolts a.k.a. The New Avengers, which saw residents of New York City abducted into a supernatural darkness courtesy of Lewis Pullman’s Sentry a.k.a. Void.

To date, I would qualify Daredevil’s run in the MCU as one of the franchise’s greatest accomplishments, even with all of the various ups and downs behind the scenes – and if the right choices are made, I’m hopeful that Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 can be the biggest success with the character yet when it debuts for Disney+ subscribers on March 24.

With streaming services getting more and more expensive every year or so, it’s always good news when some of the best platforms around start announcing major discounts. Well, you can add the Disney+ Hulu Bundle to that list, as the House of Mouse has just announced a consumer-friendly discount for new and returning subscribers. The timing couldn’t be any better, considering one of the biggest premieres on the 2026 TV schedule is only a few weeks away.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for the plan that bundles a Disney+ subscription with a Hulu subscription, but are also worried about the price, check out this much-welcomed discount that’s arrived just in time for the hotly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. Let’s break down one of the best streaming deals we’ve seen outside of Black Friday in a very long time.

You Can Get The Bundle For More Than 60 Percent Off In March

There have been some major Disney+ price hikes in recent years, but this new hefty discount is going to offer new and returning subscribers a brief reprieve if they act fast. The Disney+ Hulu Bundle usually costs $12.99 per month for the ad-supported model, but this new offer slashes more than 60 percent off, giving you three months of streaming for $4.99 per month. That’s $8 per month, or $24 through the duration of the deal.

However, there are some things to keep in mind. First, you have until March 24, 2026, to take advantage of this offer before it reverts to its standard price. Second, this is for the ad-supported version of the app, as there are currently no deals in place for the more expensive, ad-free option. If you don’t mind ads and love saving money, this deal is for you!

The Deal Lasts Three Months, Meaning You Can Watch All Of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Are you excited for the return of Jessica Jones? What about Matthew Lillard’s mysterious character facing off with Kingpin? If you answered both of those questions with “Yes,” then you’ll really dig this Disney+ Hulu Bundle deal. The discount that I broke down above may come to an end on March 24 (the day Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premieres), but even if you sign up the day new episodes drop, you’ll be able to watch each new episode as it drops.

Signing up now (or at least ahead of the show’s return) also comes with the benefit of being able to watch all of the adventures in Hell’s Kitchen up until this point, as Disney+ is the streaming home for Daredevil, Daredevil Born Again, and Jessica Jones. If you’re not caught, now’s your opportunity to make it happen.

Another reason to be excited about this deal is that it’s here just in time for Zootopia 2 landing on the list of new movies streaming on March 11. On top of that, you can also see what’s in store for all the Academy Award nominees when the Oscars stream live on Hulu on March 15. Just remember, this discount expires on March 24.

Like many other fans, I was pleasantly surprised by how good Daredevil: Born Again’s first season was, considering the entire shebang was a “cobbled-together Frankenstein” (per the showrunner) that had to be reconstructed with a set number of reshoots available. Regardless of how anyone felt about those eps, all involved are sharing abundant praise for the upcoming Season 2 and saying it’s what the show should have been from the start, and it looks like the pre-release surprises aren’t over just yet, with quite the interesting new bit of casting news.

Previous murmurings about Season 2 pointed to a new character joining the fray going by the name of Philip, with the idea that he would start off a series regular with the potential to return in future seasons. Now, Nexus Point News is reporting that actor Jack Mulhern will be bringing his skills to the Disney+ series to portray the aforementioned “Philip."

Mare Of Easttown And Boys In The Boat Vet Jack Mulhern Has Joined Daredevil: Born Again

Jack Mulhern got his start on Netflix’s The Society, and returned to the streaming service several years later for the miniseries Painkiller, while also popping up in Wu-Tang: An American Saga and for a series regular role in the award-winning HBO mystery drama Mare of Easttown. On the film side, Mulhern co-starred in the horror prequel Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, in George Clooney’s biographical drama The Boys in the Boat, and appeared in the Noah Segan’s 2026 movie release The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which hit theaters in January.

If the actor is indeed portraying the rumored Philip, he’ll be portraying a character who’s been described as a New Yorker who is intelligent and feisty. He’s someone who presents as charismatic and approachable, but harbors a deep-down rage that will no doubt rise to the surface in one way or another.

According to the outlet, Jack Mulhern’s contract for Daredevil: Born Again is said to feature the options for his character to possibly return in a future season, which implies he’ll be more important to the story than just a minor background character. So who could it be?

This New Character Is Likely The Son Of Wilson Fisk (Or One Of Them, At Least)

At this point, the two most promising theories regarding Jack Mulhern’s new character point to two of Wilson Fisk’s sons from the comics, or at least the villainous persona one of them took on. The first would be Richard Fisk, whose 1970s origin story involves him being sent to a school in Switzerland, where he grew to hate his criminal father and his seemingly limitless power.

While Richard Fisk initially took on the villainous alter ego of The Schemer, he rose up for a 1984 comic arc as The Rose, a mid-level criminal entity working on Kingpin’s turf at the manipulative behest of the Hobgoblin. For the most part, Richard opposed his father’s actions, but didn’t harbor any additional heroic elements to keep him out of the criminal underworld altogether.

The Rose alter ego was adopted comic characters beyond Richard, which is pretty much the norm across decades of existence for certain characters. But one later adopter that fits the purposes of this story is Rose IV’s Dr. Philip Hayes, who obviously shares the same first name as the character Mulhern was cast to play. So does this mean the actor will actually be playing this version of Rose, or was “Philip” indeed just a clever nod hinting at Richard Fisk?

Another potential character for Mulhern to portray is Butch Pharris, the Fisk offspring who was the creation of the creative team of Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto for 2019's Daredevil #13. Though if Born Again's showrunner did indeed opt to bring Butch into the show, I cannot imagine they would stick faithfully to the source material.

Butch Pharris' backstory includes being school-age friend with Mike Murdock, who's the imaginary-turned-real twin brother of Matt Murdock. And I just don't see the Disney+ series introducing magical, reality-breaking ideas like this into the fold so early on. That's like a Season 8 idea.

So I'm all in on Jack Mulhern taking on the role of The Rose, especially if it's true that Kingpin will be losing his mayoral duties in Season 3, which could pave the way for his offspring to either take over the city, or to challenge him in running the underworld.

Daredevil: Born Again is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule with its Disney+ premiere on March 24, 2026.

As a big fan of Disney’s theme parks, a significant use of my Disney+ subscription is watching content about the parks when I’m not inside them. There are several walkthrough videos of Disneyland rides and lands that give me a vicarious feeling of still being there. But the truly special shows on the service are those that look back at the history of Disney Parks.

One of the best things to be found on Disney+ today has been there since day one. It’s The Imagineering Story, a documentary series from Leslie Iwerks, granddaughter of Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, which traces the history of Disney Parks through Walt Disney Imagineering, the group responsible for creating the attractions. Her newest endeavor, the film Disneyland Handcrafted, is equally special.

I was invited by Disney Experiences to attend a recent screening of Disneyland Handcrafted at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. While I loved watching the movie at home, it was even better in a real theater environment, surrounded by like-minded fans. It’s a beautiful film made up entirely of footage captured while Disneyland was under construction, using largely footage that had never been seen before. It’s so good I couldn’t believe how hard it was to make the film. During a post-screening Q&A, director Leslie Iwerks explained that while everybody who saw her rough cut loved the movie, apparently nobody wanted to pay to finish it. She explained…

It’s wild that a documentary film about the building of Disneyland couldn’t generate enough interest at Disney to get finished. The final cut of Disneyland Handcrafted is only about 74 minutes, so the 60-minute cut was most of the way there. Whatever Leslie Iwerks needed to finish it wouldn’t have been much, at least not when it comes to the normal cost of making movies.

Of course, all the different corners of the Disney machine have other things they want to spend their money on. As much money as the company makes, budgets are not unlimited and spending money to finish the movie would have meant not having the money to do some other thing.

Somewhat ironically, while Disney has a side to its company that's entire job is making movies, it was the other side that eventually came to the rescue. Iwerks revealed that it was Jason Recher, a Vice President at Disney Experiences, who became the movie's champion, putting himself in charge of fundraising. Iwerks continued…

Disneyland Handcrafted ultimately became the first movie by Disney Experiences. It’s available with a Disney+ subscription but is also available entirely for free on YouTube, where it has currently amassed 1.6 million views. Clearly, there was an audience for this film.