There are major film franchises and then there's Star Wars. Generations grew up on the galaxy far, far away, which continues to expand with both movies and live-action TV shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those who have watched the Star Wars movies in order know that plenty of moments have gone viral over the years, including Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron telling everyone that "somehow Palpatine has returned" in The Rise of Skywalker. And now the actor has shared the original of that line, which has been turned into countless memes over the years.

Palpatine's return in The Rise of Skywalker resulted in some eye rolls, as he somehow became the Big Bad of the entire Skywalker Saga despite being absent for the first two entires in the sequel trilogy. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Isaac revealed how that infamous line of dialogue came together, saying:

There you have it. It turns out that line about Palpatine was a last-minute addition to The Rise of Skywalker that came together in reshoots. And while Oscar Isaac couldn't have predicted it going so viral, it sounds like he was using his real-life sense of exasperation to bring Poe's reaction to life. After re-watching the scene ahead of writing this story, I have to tip my hat to the actor for convincingly delivering the cringeworthy dialogue.

Despite its criticism, The Rise of Skywalker performed well at the box office. And even though things like Palpatine angered fans, there were some great moments in the blockbuster. And it should be fascinating to see how upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows continue with the narrative, especially in Daisy Ridley's developing Rey movie.

Star Wars took a few years away from theaters, but it'll return when The Mandalorian and Grogu is released May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if Oscar Isaac ever returns as Poe Dameron.

Beef is a dramedy anthology series, and each season centers on a different group of characters who somehow come into conflict with each other. The second season specifically focuses on two couples who have a spat while working at a country club.

• Vibe: This is a dark comedy, and it’ll make viewers laugh and cringe. While it’s funny and emotional in spots, there are also depictions of physical pain.
• Required: An appreciation for dark humor and messy characters, a high tolerance for adult language (TV-MA), a Netflix subscription and time to watch all 8 episodes (each between 42-54 minutes).

The details above sum up the second season of the Emmy-winning Beef quite well, yet there may still be some who aren’t totally convinced that they should tune in for a myriad of reasons. Well, don’t fret, because I can provide some thoughts on this new title from the 2026 TV schedule. (And don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything.)

Don’t Fret If You Haven’t Season The First Season

Anthology series can definitely vary in regard to the amount of interconnectivity there is between seasons. However, those who watch Beef don’t have to worry about being confused if they choose to jump into the second season without having checked out the first. So Danny Cho and Amy Lau’s road rage incident and their subsequent feud don’t factor into this latest story. In fact, while both seasons are set in California, even series director Jake Schreier won’t confirm with certainty if the seasons are set in the same universe.

Four Feuders Equals Stickier Dynamics

Season 2 focuses on struggling country club employees Ashley Miller (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin Davis (Charles Melton) and their bosses, well-to-do but financially unstable couple Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay Martin (Carey Mulligan). The main events of the season are set in motion when Austin and Ashley witness – and record – the Martins having a volatile fight at their home and decide to use it as leverage for professional gain. What transpires is a dangerous game that even tops the drama of Amy and Danny’s dispute in some ways.

Other Members Of The Cast Shine As Do Some Famous Guest Stars

Also part of the cast is Oscar-winning Youn Yuh-jung, who plays the enigmatic Chairwoman Park, the new owner of the aforementioned country club. There’s also married couple, Troy (William Fitchner) and Ava (Mikaela Hoover), who are friends of Josh and Lindsay and have their own quirks. Seoyeon Jang and BM also play the roles of Eunice and Woosh, respectively, who are subordinates of Park. And, given the country club setting, some real-life celebrities appear throughout the season, so keep your eyes peeled for them.

This Is A Story Of The Haves And The Have Nots

While the thought-provoking first season of Beef touches on a bit of social commentary involving economics, creator Lee Sung Jin and co. present a case study that showcases the differences between social classes. Something that’s particularly interesting is the way Jin shows the nuances and social conventions that come with being part of the upper crust. No matter what kind of background viewers have, there’s a fair chance they’ll relate to at least one aspect of what any of the characters are going through.

Bottom Line

Lee Sung Jin hoped a second season of Beef would be made, though I initially had mixed feelings given the strength of the original 10 episodes. Now, after having seen these latest installments, I can honestly say I’m glad this saga of bitter arguments is still going. The writing is still solid, and the cast is impeccable while playing out the series of petty shenanigans that ensue. In short, this season is definitely worth checking out, but just make sure you’re in a calm headspace when you finally sit down to watch it.

This week’s list of streaming highlights includes a bit of everything. Whether you subscribe to your favorite platforms for the best streaming movies, the best original series, or to get access to a library of Hollywood films and catch up on the ones you missed in theaters, this week has whatever you want.

Balls Up - April 15 (Prime Video)

Mark Wahlberg has made some insane comedies in his career, but Balls Up certainly has the most insane premise of them all. Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser star as marketing executives who find themselves at the World Cup as part of a condom sponsorship deal. However, the two get a bit more involved in the game than planned, leading to a country full of irate soccer fans out for blood.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles - April 15 (Apple TV)

Without question, the most star-studded addition to the streaming calendar this week is the new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, available with an Apple TV subscription. The movie stars Elle Fanning as the daughter of a Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and a professional wrestler (Nick Offerman) who finds herself a single mother trying to make ends meet. It looks to be a movie that is both heartwarming and hilarious. Nicole Kidman also appears and is producing the new series from David E. Kelley.

Beef, Season 2 - April 16 (Netflix)

The first season of Beef was a runaway hit on Netflix. Now the second season has the unenviable task of matching that success. The show will tell an entirely new story with an entirely new cast of characters. Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan lead the new story as a couple who get into a massive public fight, leading to a chain reaction of wild events.

Roommates - April 17 (Netflix)

Adam Sandler has had incredible success on Netflix, and now your Netflix subscription gives you access to even more members of the Sandler family. Roommates stars Sadie Sandler, daughter of the Happy Gilmore actor, has a woman who goes away to college to find that she might have the roommate from hell... or she may have just made a new best friend.

Dust Bunny - April 17 (HBO Max)

There’s a decent chance that you missed Dust Bunny when it was in theaters, but this fantastical film reunites writer/director Bryan Fuller with his Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen as a hitman hired to kill the monster under a girl’s bed, who she believes ate her family. It’s Fuller's feature film debut in a movie full of his trademark twisted whimsy. It’s the best reason this week to have an HBO Max subscription.

American Gladiators - April 17 (Prime Video)

A staple of syndicated TV in the early 1990s, American Gladiators combined the style and flash of professional wrestling with real athletic competition and a bit of reality TV. The show was already rebooted once with Hulk Hogan as the host, and now the show launches again with a Prime Video subscription, with another WWE star, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, hosting the show.

WrestleMania 42 - April 18 & 19 (ESPN App)

WWE programming has gone through a lot of changes over the last couple of years, so if you want to watch WrestleMania 42, you’ll need either the ESPN app or a Disney+ subscription with ESPN access.

April has been a great month for streaming content, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon, so after you’ve watched all this, come back next Monday for a new list of what’s not to miss.

In May 2016, just five months after first appearing as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars franchise, Oscar Isaac made his superhero movie debut bringing X-Men: Apocalypse’s titular antagonist to life. While it was certainly a big deal at the time to star in one of the X-Men movies, the actor didn’t exactly have the most pleasant experience working on it. I really feel for Isaac after he talked about how “overheated” he got while playing Apocalypse.

Not only is Apocalypse one of the stranger-looking mutants in X-Men lore, he also wears a particularly elaborate costume. That combination did not work in Oscar Isaac’s favor when it came to both comfort and getting to bond with his X-Men: Apocalypse co-stars. As he explained while visiting Hot Ones:

First off, let me say how fitting it is that Oscar Isaac recalled being overheated as he’s eating increasingly intense hot wings. Second, I’m sure that must have been an isolating experience for him. The cooling tent was necessary for him to sit in, but the downside was that he couldn’t really interact with the other actors aside from when they performed scenes together. Just think about how much fun Isaac could have had with Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy and the rest if he’d been cast in a different role!

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Oscar Isaac’s less-than-ideal time on X-Men: Apocalypse. In 2018, the actor described playing Apocalypse as “excruciating,” because he had no idea when he signed on for the movie that he would be “encased in glue and latex and in a 40-pound suit that I had to wear a cooling mechanism at all times.” Isaac was also not able to turn his head and sit in a “specially designed saddle” when not filming. Then in 2021, Cyclops actor Tye Sheridan said that he “felt so bad” for Isaac because he “just looked uncomfortable all the time.”

Fortunately for Oscar Isaac, he’s been able to leave his stamp on the superhero genre in two other, more comfortable ways by playing Moon Knight in the MCU and voicing Miguel O’Hara in the Spider-Verse movies. While it remains to be seen when we’ll see the former again, you can hear him reprising the latter when Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse releases on June 18, 2027. In the much nearer future, see Isaac starring opposite Carey Mulligan in Beef Season 2, which Netflix subscription holders can stream starting on April 6.

Somehow it’s been nearly three years since Ali Wong and Steven Yeun teamed up for Netflix’s dark comedy, Beef. While it was a limited series from A24 when it became one of the best shows to binge on Netflix in 2023, its popularity and shower of award-season wins led creator Lee Sung Jin to make the show an anthology, and we finally know more about what to expect.

Along with Beef Season 2 just finding its way on the 2026 Netflix release calendar for this spring, Lee Sung Jin has shared his inspirations for the story. If you’ve been following what we know about Beef Season 2 closely, you may have already been clued in on the plotline. The story will follow three sets of couples, each from different generations who all have ties to an exclusive Southern California country club. Here’s what Lee told Tudum:

There will be a Gen Z couple played by Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny, who both work at the country club in lower level roles. When they overhear their boss Josh (played by Oscar Isaac) and his wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) getting into a heated argument, they decide to record it, and use it against them to get ahead at work. Josh and Lindsay make up the Millennial couple of Beef Season 2. Lee said this about his decision to center the show on couples of multiple generations to Vanity Fair:

When Beef Season 2 was initially casting its leads, reportedly Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway were looked at for the roles. Interestingly enough, both pairs of actors have something in common. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway were both in Brokeback Mountain and Love, and Other Drugs together. When it comes to Isaac and Mulligan, the actors also worked together a couple times before in both Inside Llewyn Davis and Drive.

The creator said he felt their “inherent backstory” makes you “believe them a little bit more.” Josh and Lindsay will play a longtime couple who are dealing with aging and their lives going differently than they expected.

The final couple to know ahead of Beef Season 2 is a wealthy Korean couple, who are taking up ownership of the country club. It’s not clear right now which actors make up the couple specifically, but we know that there’s four Korean actors in Season 2: Minari’s Youn Yuh-jung plays Chairwoman Park, Parasite’s Song Kang-ho plays Dr. Kim, Butterfly actress Seoyeon Jang has the role of Eunice, and the musician BM will play a character named Woosh.

The Korean couple is inspired by Lee’s own experience with being invited into the upper echelon of Korean society following Beef’s success. Between the show being about a younger couple blackmailing their boss to it diving into passive aggression and love, it sounds like we’re getting another great season of Beef to watch and talk about.

You can catch Beef Season 1 with a Netflix subscription, and get ready for Season 2 dropping on the streaming service on April 16.

The streaming wars are showing no signs of slowing down, and one of the best Netflix movies to watch right now is Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. The book to screen adaptation recently dropped for those with a Netflix subscription, and it's been trending ever since. And while the internet has been obsessed with Jonathan Bailey's slutty little glasses from Jurassic World Rebirth, I think that they've got nothing on Oscar Isaac's sexy little Frankenstein gloves. Let's break it all down.

Some people think Frankenstein is Guillermo del Toro's best movie, despite his Oscar-winning success on previous projects. The movie is visually striking, from its sets, visual effects, and Jacob Elordi's Creature makeup. But one piece of Oscar Isaac's costume caught my attention throughout the movie's runtime.

Oscar Isaac's Frankenstein Gloves Are Everything

Frankenstein's ending is different from the book, and that's not the only way that del Toro's version of Mary Shelley's story that stands out. Isaac crushed it as the title character, bringing his good looks and charm to the beloved literary figure. But I was also taken by the red gloves he wore throughout a bunch of the movie, and don't understand why more people aren't talking about it.

The red gloves were first shown when Frankestein was attempting to bring life into The Creature for the first time. He wore them when climbing the tower of his house, presumably so he didn't slip, as well as some barrier from the electricity needed in the experiment. After that doesn't work, he ends up going to bed shirtless... and keeping the gloves on.

The red gloves are still on when Frankenstein wakes up, and realizes that Jacob Elordi's Creature is, in fact, alive. Isaac's ripped body is showing in this sequence, and the fact that he's still wearing those red gloves definitely caught my attention. I mean, I'd never be able to sleep while my hands were all clammy inside a pair of gloves.

Jonathan Bailey was fully clothed throughout Jurassic World Rebirth, but that didn't stop the internet from obsessing over his slutty little glasses. I'd argue that Isaac's shirtless Frankenstein scene was more steamy, especially combined with Elordi's barely clothed Creature. So why aren't Oscar Isaac's sexy little gloves getting the same love online?

While Jonathan Bailey is the internet's boyfriend, Oscar Isaac is also a sex symbol in his own right. He brought a ton of charm and good looks to his tenure playing Poe in the Star Wars franchise (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription), and went viral for kissing Jessica Chastain's arm on the red carpet. So why aren't his gloves going as viral as those slutty little glasses?

Frankenstein is streaming now on Netflix as part of the 2025 movie release list, and Jurassic World Rebirth is available over on Peacock. And I'm ready for a debate about who had the best accessories.

I feel like Oscar Isaac is always in the conversation when discussing important thespians. The versatile actor can play Moon Knight one moment, and then star in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein the next.

And, like, cool. I love that Isaac can be in a drama like In the Hand of Dante, but it’s not absurd to think of him in the Star Wars universe, either (which, I might add, he may return to one day…under certain conditions). However, there’s one movie of his that I don’t hear nearly enough people talking about, and it greatly upsets me, since it’s my absolute favorite of his.

2014’s A Most Violent Year is one of those brilliant films that, like The Lighthouse, or, even like another Oscar Isaac gem, Ex Machina, really should have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. But, why is it so good? Well, you’re about to find out.

Oscar Isaac's Moral Code Has Never Been Grayer In A Movie

Here’s some trivia. Did you know that Isaac wasn’t even the initial choice for A Most Violent Year? Nope, it was Javier Bardem (whom I actually just wrote about in another rather obscure film). Anyway, I honestly couldn’t imagine anybody else in this movie besides Isaac, since he’s the perfect blend of sympathetic and serious.

In this film, he plays a fuel supplier named Abel Morales who finds himself in a rather big predicament. You see, his shipments keep getting robbed. The setting is New York, and the year is 1981, which was apparently “a most violent year” for the city. Another problem Morales has is that his company is being investigated for various crimes by an assistant district attorney (David Oyelowo).

To add on even more stress, his attorney (played by Albert Brooks, who I’ll talk about later) is getting him a deal with Hasidic Jews to purchase a safer spot for his fuel, and his wife (Jessica Chastain, who I’ll also talk about soon), is the kind of woman who wants to fight fire with fire against the people who keep hijacking their fuel trucks. All of this is to say that Morales, who is a character with agency, has to make his own decisions to get the money necessary to get the job done, and some of these methods aren’t the most law-abiding.

It’s all very seedy and morally gray territory, but Isaac wades through it well. You feel sorry that he has to deal with all of this mess, but also that he isn’t making the best choices to get out of this, so it’s really fascinating stuff.

Jessica Chastain Does Not Mess Around In This Movie. Like, Not Even A Little

As I already mentioned, Jessica Chastain is a force to be reckoned with in this movie, and that’s saying something, since she was pretty intimidating in Zero Dark Thirty. But in this movie, where she plays a concerned wife to our protagonist, she doesn’t like the idea of their business being robbed. In fact, she’s very much of the opinion that they should bring the firepower to the doorstep of their competitors, since she believes they’re the ones messing with their business.

You can tell that Isaac’s character doesn’t want to go that route. Or, he’d rather go any other route possible to circumvent that grisly outcome, but Chastain’s character, Anna, is very persistent, to the point that she is even willing to speak to the Assistant District Attorney who’s hounding them herself. She comes from a crime family, and her moral code is even grayer than her husband’s.

I love this side of Chastain. She’s calm, but she’s got a determination in her eyes to get whatever she wants. And, she will get it, even if it means skimming money from their own business (which might be why they are under legal investigation in the first place).

Honestly, like the film itself, Chastain should have been nominated for an Academy Award (she was, however, nominated for several other awards, including a Golden Globe). Like Isaac, her performance is just that good.

And My God, Albert Brooks Should Have Also Been Nominated For This Movie

Similar to film legend Robin Williams, Albert Brooks is the kind of comedian who may actually be a better dramatic actor than a funny man. A while ago, I talked about the movie Drive, and how good Albert Brooks was in that film as a mobster.

Well, in A Most Violent Year, he plays a much more subtle - though, no less effective - character as Morales's lawyer, Andrew Walsh. He is the one who actually sets the deal in motion with the Hasidic Jews, and is trying to help find a solution to pay off the down payment. The thing is, given how corrupt the system is, his character is trying to operate within the framework of the law, which isn't easy, because everybody seems to have their hand in the pot.

Morales is trying to be a good man and work within legal means, but he gets so in over his head that he starts to make what might be seen as foolish decisions. Brooks’s character, however, is trying to help him stay the course. You can tell they have a good relationship, and Walsh knows the parameters that his client is willing to cross, and which he will stay firmly within.

It’s a really nuanced, if quiet, performance, and yet further proof that more people should still be talking about this movie.

New York City Has Never Felt So Threatening

Look, I’m from New Jersey, home of The Sopranos, Jersey Shore, and The Toxic Avenger (who is one of Jersey’s finest superheroes). So, I have very close ties to New York (I’m from the Northern side of Jersey. The Southern side are the Philadelphia lovers).

Anyway, I bring all this up since I frequently visit New York, and over the years, I’ve witnessed its transformation. As an adult, I’ve seen New York pre and post-9/11, and the changes have been quite substantial. I’ve witnessed mayors transform the city into a fairly safe place where I can take my kids to see Broadway shows and Comic Con events, and I always feel safe, even late at night.

However, I also remember New York when I was a kid back in the ‘90s, and the horror stories I heard about it in the ‘80s, and I think this movie captures that danger and intrigue. Because this is a New York where people can be hijacked in broad daylight, and criminals brandish guns with impunity. It’s a New York where crime is visible, and the law kind of dances around it.

A Most Violent Year is a film that does right by its namesake, and I can’t think of many other movies that do so, which brings me to my last point.

Overall, It's A Truly Harrowing Film That Should Be Talked About More

Very few films are as hard-hitting, but quiet, as A Most Violent Year. It’s a film that will stress you out, but unlike Uncut Gems (another film that should have been up for Best Picture), it will patiently get you to that point.

It’s a crime film, a thriller, a period piece, and a character study, all rolled into one, and it’s marvelous for that reason.

It’s also, in my opinion, Isaac’s finest work, and a performance that should be studied when it comes to gravitas.

What do you think? Have you seen this film? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

While Oscar Isaac is currently wowing audiences with his performance in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, it’s his work on major franchise movies, specifically those run by Disney, that has largely created his fanbase. Between playing Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and playing Moon Knight for Marvel, Isaac has a lot of fans who hope he returns to play those roles again.

It turns out the actor isn’t against it himself, though he dropped something of a sensitive response to note his condition, which speaks entirely to the timing of the interview.

What Oscar Isaac said About Working For Disney Again

Oscar Isaac frequently offers blunt responses to things in his interviews, such as having previously said he would only return to Star Wars again if he needed to buy a house. In a new interview with GQ, he suggested that he wouldn’t necessarily be against working with Disney again, though his then-current feelings about the studio were conflicted. He said…

Dropping the word “fascism” into an answer about Star Wars and Marvel characters amounts to an f-bomb of a different sort, and it’s a pretty aggressive statement to toss at one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world. Although when one looks into the situation, it at least becomes a bit more understandable why Isaac said this when he did.

How Disney’s Jimmy Kimmel Reaction Likely Influenced Isaac’s Response

While GQ only just published the interview with Isaac, it’s noted that the interview was conducted only two days after ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel and pre-empt his late-night show, when reactive hot takes were spreading throughout Hollywood. This decision was very likely what Oscar Isaac was referring to with his blunt comment. Tensions were likely high as the interview was being conducted when Kimmel's future was far from clear.

The issue goes back to comments that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr made following the monologue. It was Carr who originally suggested that ABC affiliates should refuse to carry Kimmel following comments the host made following the death of Charlie Kirk.

Following Carr’s statements, two major affiliate groups, Sinclair and Nexstar, announced they would cease carrying Jimmy Kimmel Live! While the affiliates claim they came to their own decision on whether or not to carry the show, many have suggested that benching Kimmel was the case of the government taking steps to silence a voice that had been critical of them, which is likely the fascism that Isaac was referring to.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was off the air for a week, and all of ABC’s affiliates are now carrying the show again. As such, it appears this particular issue is behind everybody. Perhaps it will smooth things over between Disney and Oscar Isaac as well.

We all react to fear differently. At least, that’s how I’m choosing to explain Oscar Isaac’s first reaction to seeing his Frankenstein co-star Jacob Elordi in full creature makeup. While I thought the Creature’s design in the 2025 movie release was hauntingly beautiful and strikingly macabre, Isaac’s response was… less poetic. The Moon Knight actor couldn’t help himself and completely burst out laughing, and there's a video of him playfully roasting Elordi.

Isaac recently joined Elordi and director Guillermo del Toro to reflect on that first on-set moment. During the trio's interview with Discussing Film (which was posted to its TikTok account), it was revealed that the laughter came fast the first time Isaac laid eyes on the fully transformed Creature. As you can see in the video below, the Doctor Frankenstein performer couldn’t help but jab his castmate:

Guillermo del Toro is quite the joker himself, and even he had to get in on the story. Del Toro, pretending to scribble, interrupted with a smirk:

Isaac always the constant professional, leaned right into the bit. Mimicking del Toro’s voice, he said:

Then the laughter gave way to something much deeper as the Dune alur shared what he’d captured in his journal. He continued:

It’s a contrast that defines the film: terrifying visuals paired with an emotional core that sneaks up on you. Guillermo del Toro’s beautiful Frankenstein adaptation doesn’t just reanimate a literary classic, but digs deep into grief, rage, love, and abandonment, using monster makeup that somehow makes you feel more, not less.

There has been plenty of debate about how much del Toro’s new book-to-screen adaptation strays from Mary Shelley’s original novel. And, yes, there are major changes. However, what stands out most to me is how much it gets right, and those are elements that, until now, no adaptation has fully captured on screen.

As a lifelong Frankenstein fan, not just of the novel (which happens to be my favorite book of all time), but of nearly every film version. I’ve seen it all. From James Whale’s 1930s classic to the Hammer horrors of the ’70s, and yes, even the De Niro-led version from the ’90s, (which has its moments). But what Guillermo del Toro nails here is giving Jacob Elordi the space to be terrifying when needed, while still revealing the Creature as something beautifully broken, achingly lonely in the quiet between the violence. And, most importantly, hauntingly human.

So, sure, Oscar Isaac might’ve laughed the first time he saw the Creature in full makeup, and the clip above is indeed funny. But, for a number of viewers like myself, I think Jacob Elordi’s portrayal is going to stay with them for a long, long time.

You can make up your own mind on whether the monster is laughable or terrifying by cueing up Frankenstein with your Netflix subscription and giving it a watch.

SPOILERS are ahead for the ending of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Making any one of the upcoming book-to-screen adaptations has to be a nail-biting process, because when you convert a piece of literature into a different medium, there’s always something lost along the way. But, once in a while, a creative team knocks it out of the park, and it feels like you actually got something new from a book. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is one of those rare movies to do so. Not only because it nails the spirit of Mary Shelley’s classic work, but in the way it builds on it, too.

Frankenstein is one of those books that will be adapted over and over for every generation. So while you can certainly try to nail it word-for-word, I’m overjoyed that Guillermo del Toro, a true master of horror and fantasy, found a poignant way to share his own reading of the iconic monster story by making some changes to the ending of the story. Let’s break it down.

What Happens At The End Of The Frankenstein Book

I’ll never forget the first time I read Frankenstein in high school. At the time, I had no idea one of the most famous monsters in pop culture started as a novel that was written by a 19-year-old woman in 1818. I was floored by the novel, and it has remained one of my favorite books of all time since.

In the book, Frankenstein ends with the death of Victor Frankenstein after his wife, Elizabeth, who was his childhood friend-turned-lover, is killed at the hands of the monster he created. A few days later, his father, whom he’s only just reunited with, dies as well, seemingly as a reaction to the horror of his son's tragedies. Victor is vengeful and decides not to rest until he’s killed his murderous creation. This leads Victor to the snowy North, where he meets a man named Walton, who captains a North Pole-bound ship. Victor tells him the story of how he created a monster out of the various limbs of cadavers stunned by electricity.

Victor dies not long after telling Walton his story. Several days later, Walton finds the monster on the ship crying over the dead body of Victor, before he laments about the regrets in his life. The book ends with the monster leaving Walton’s ship hopeless and fully intending to commit suicide because he has nothing left, and is truly alone in the world. The ending really drives home Shelley’s message that companionship is absolutely key to our survival, and how, when both Victor and the monster were cast out (in their ways) from society, they each met melancholic ends.

What Happens At The End Of Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein

Writer/director Guillermo del Toro's version frames the whole story around Victor in his final days, telling his story to Walton on his ship up North, like the book. However, before we get to Victor’s death, there are a few major changes to note. For one, in the movie, Elizabeth is the fiancée of his younger brother, William, and pretty much hates Victor’s guts from the beginning. The movie gives Elizabeth more to do because she actually bonds with the monster and wants to love and protect him. In Del Toro’s reading, I think she sees herself in the monster and wishes for them both to be free, rather than the possessions that they are treated like by Victor.

Jacob Elordi’s monster, who was originally going to be played by Andrew Garfield, is a much gentler creature than the monster in the book, with a much smaller kill count. In the movie, it’s Victor who actually kills Elizabeth by accident on her wedding night while trying to shoot his creation, and his brother dies soon after in the commotion. Following this incident, Victor is vengeful of the monster, but because he has nothing left to live for, he feels he must kill him. (But this version of the creature seems invincible). His creation is equally as angry at him and stalks him to the North.

When Victor and the monster reunite on the ship, Victor is not yet dead, and when they are together, he asks his creation for forgiveness. As Victor says in the movie:

The movie concludes with the creature forgiving Victor as he takes his last breath. He kisses him on the head, and leaves the ship, not without helping the crew get unstuck from an iceberg they’ve run into, and reveling in watching a sunrise as the score gorgeously wells (and I know I started tearing up).

Why I Think I Like The Movie's Ending Better

Obviously, between the two, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a lot more hopeful and perhaps not as realistic. But I absolutely love the sentiment behind it, because it frames Victor and his creation as father and son, and the message there is beautiful. By the end of the movie, we see Victor as this flawed father, who was traumatized by his own father’s inability to save his beloved mother (as shown at the beginning of the movie), and then took his trauma into his own “fatherhood” of sorts and created the creature. But, rather than holding the anger he had toward Victor for putting him into the world and treating him poorly, he’s able to set himself free by forgiving him in the end, and taking his advice to “live.”

Obviously, Mary Shelley’s original story is absolutely perfect –no notes, and I would never want to change the original vision she had for the story. But, when it comes to this adaptation by del Toro, I’m so happy he ended the movie at this place of optimism and the creature earning this sense of gratitude for what it means to be human from Victor. It made me think differently about Frankenstein’s themes about humanity in terms of family dynamics I’d never gathered before. This is one of those 2025 movie releases I won’t forget anytime soon.

The first full week of November brings a wide variety of movies and series to streaming. If you’re still in the mood for something spooky post-Halloween, Netflix has you covered. Disney+, however, is looking forward to a documentary look at what is sure to be one of the biggest movies of the year. And that’s just the beginning. Here’s a look at new movies streaming this week and new series worth checking out this week on streaming.

Frankenstein - November 7 (Netflix)

Following a brief theatrical run, one of the most anticipated movies of the year becomes available with your Netflix subscription. Sci-fi and fantasy maestro Guillermo del Toro puts his own touch on what’s called the original science fiction story, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. Oscar Issac plays the doctor and Jacob Elordi the monster in this tale of a man who attempts to control life and pays the price.

Fire And Water: Making The Avatar Films - November 7 (Disney+)

After waiting a decade for the second film in the Avatar franchise, the third movie will be here practically overnight by comparison. There are certainly a lot of people excited for Avatar: Fire and Ash, and those fans who can’t wait for the film’s December release will get a sneak peek via a behind-the-scenes documentary available this week with your Disney+ subscription.

Materialists HBO - November 7 (HBO Max)

The sexiest love triangle in a long time hit screens earlier this year with Celine Song’s Materialists. Dakota Johnson is torn between the rich and suave Pedro Pascal and the poor and suave Chris Evans. Everybody involved got solid reviews, but since the movie wasn’t a runaway hit at the box office, you likely haven’t seen it. So get your HBO Max subscription ready to check it out.

Pluribus - November 7 (Apple TV+)

Sometimes it may feel like you’re the only unhappy person in the world. In the new series Pluribus, available with your Apple TV+ subscription, from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn plays Carol, an author who is literally the only unhappy person in the world, which makes it clear there is something wrong with the rest of the world. Carol has to figure out what it is.

Maxton Hall — The World Between Us Season 2 -November 7 (Prime Video)

Making a hit TV show is hard enough, but making one that resonates with fans around the world is more difficult still. Maxton Hall: The World Between Us was a massive hit even among fans who don’t speak German. The series returns with its second season if you’ve got a Prime Video subscription, and fans need not worry as Season 3 is already on the way.

2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - November 8 (Disney+)

Disney+ is a great place to go for music fans with numerous documentaries and live concert performances to watch, from both classic and contemporary artists. For the second year in a row, Disney+ will also be the home for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year's inductees include such diverse talents as Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, and Soundgarden, and will almost certainly make for a fantastic show.

November has great material still on the way. Most notably, the final season of Stranger Things finally arrives later this month, but there’s so much more coming in November.

When it comes to upcoming horror movies on the way, I’ve been ecstatic for Guillermo Del Toro’s take on Frankenstein all year. So much so that the idea of buying a ticket to see it on the big screen is a lot more interesting to me than watching it with my Netflix subscription. But, when it came time to purchase my movie tickets to see the new film, I was sorely disappointed with how difficult it was to nab seats to a showing. Let’s talk about it.

Whoa, Finding Tickets To See Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein Is Rough

Now, I’m speaking as someone who lives in the movie capital of the world, Los Angeles, California, which often makes it easier to get tickets to movies not playing as widely in other markets, and I had a rough time. Right now, the movie is only playing at four theaters within ten miles of me, all of which are independent / arthouse cinemas. While I initially tried to get tickets for the first few days it was released (this past weekend), of course, many of the showings were already packed. I settled on getting tickets for this Monday evening.

I took a quick peek at a variety of locations across the United States, and it was confirmed to me how limited the engagement this movie is having in Cineplexes for the next few weeks before arriving on streaming on November 7. Whether you live in a city or a suburb, you’re probably going to have to get out of your way to a degree to see the latest book adaptation based on Mary Shelley’s masterpiece.

This is wild to me, not only because Del Toro is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of our time, but because it stars so many big-name actors and a beloved title that would be very marketable to wider audiences.

Why It’s So Hard To Get Tickets To See It Before It Hits Netflix

Now, this is not completely surprising. Netflix and movie theater exhibitors have had a pretty tumultuous history in recent years, since the streaming service won’t give them the 30 to 90-day exclusivity that theaters insist on. Most Netflix movies are lucky to get very small theatrical windows, and usually only do so if the studio is doing an awards season push.

Netflix’s own CEO, Ted Sarandos, called theatrical movie releases an “outdated concept” earlier this year, and the studio’s co-CEO, Reed Hastings, famously said the company left “lots” of money on the table when they put Knives Out sequel Glass Onion in cineplexes for just a week to great success. Recently, Netflix also put KPop Demon Hunters in a lot more theaters than Frankenstein is getting for a single weekend after its viral success, and it opened at No. 1.

It all seems to come down to the fact that Netflix wants its movies to drive up subscriber numbers and is not that interested in the theatrical experience. But, when it comes to a release like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, I simply wish that it were available to more audiences to catch it on the big screen.

Guillermo del Toro's best movies have a supernatural element to them, often featuring bright colors and fascinating creatures. That includes The Shape of Water, which won the Oscar for Best Picture back in 2018. Next is the upcoming book to screen adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The full trailer is here, including Jacob Elordi's transformation into The Creature. Well, sort of.

The public was previously treated to Frankenstein's teaser, but the clip shown above is the first full-length trailer. Guillermo del Toro called Elordi's creature beautiful, but one can't see why. Although we see him being stitched together and showing great feats of strength, his full appearance is being kept under wraps. Let's break down exactly what this footage is teasing for the upcoming horror movie, which will be heading to home in November for those with a Netflix subscription.

This trailer opens on narration from Elordi's Creature. While we still haven't seen a full look at his appearance, at least we can understand some of his POV. As we hear his voice, we're shown the ways in which Oscar Isaac's Victor Frankenstein put him together. There's a room full of cadavers, and we watch as he selects an eye ball and adds its to the being he's creating. He also watches in horror as it seemingly comes to life.

We're also introduced to Mia Goth's Elizabeth Lavenza, another famous character from Mary Shelley's beloved novel. The actress is a scream queen in her own right, and it should be interesting to see what she brings to this character. We can already see the soft spot she seemingly has for The Creature, as well as her stunning costumes.

There are some truly captivating shots in this trailer, including one where a fiery (alive) skeleton is shown. It looks like Victor might burn down his home in an attempt to kill The Creature. But I doubt that's going to work.

Speaking of Jacob Elordi's nameless character, he looks wildly powerful. While we'll have to wait to see more of his appearance, a clip shows him getting an action sequence, and even pushing a giant ship by hand. He's definitely not someone I'd like to meet in a dark alley.

This trailer arrived just in time for spooky season, and should help folks get into the spirit. Of course, I have to assume that I'm not the only one who expected to see a clearer version of Jacob Elordi's Creature in it. Alas, it looks like del Toro and the marketing team at Netflix are going to keep this under wraps until we get closer to Frankenstein's release. Hey, that's one way to help buoy excitement for the forthcoming horror flick.

All will be revealed when Frankenstein hits select theaters on October 17th, before coming to Netflix on November 7th as part of the 2025 movie release list.

The Venice Film Festival usually makes headlines every year for a variety of reasons. There's the fashion, the boat entrances, and (of course) the comically long standing ovations that occur at premieres. Last night also treated fans to a funny viral moment: Jason Momoa slapping Oscar Isaac's butt. And I can't get over just how loud the drive-by spanking was.

While these two A-listers worked together on Dune (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription), they're once again sharing the screen in Julian Schnabel's drama In the Hand of Dante. It's world premiere happened last night in Venice, and a clip on Twitter is making the rounds of Momoa (loudly) slapping his ass on the press line. Check it out below:

Now that's a serious love tap. Rather than a sneaky slap as he walked past Isaac, Jason Momoa wound up and gave him a serous spank. On top of how loud this was, the Star Wars icon can be shown saying "ow!" in response. I have to assume that he kept feeling that as he continued fans and doing signings while at the premiere.

Clearly there's a ton of love between these two actors, who helped lead the Dune cast list. While Leto Atreides and Duncan Idaho were close in Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic, I have to wonder how their characters will feel about each other during In the Hand of Dante. The make up only two parts of a cast full of stars, including Gerard Butler, Gal Gadot, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, and Martin Scorsese.

True to the festival, In the Hand of Dante received a whopping 9 and a half minutes of applause following its Venice premiere. You can see a clip pf that ovation below, courtesy of Variety:

Aside from his talents and general badassery, Jason Momoa is known for his gregarious personality. Whether Momoa is going viral for dancing or rocking a Hawaiian malo on late night shows, the 46 year-old actor has a habit of being unapologetically himself and charming fans in the process. So him (loudly) slapping Oscar Isaac's butt at the Venice Film Festival is very on brand.

I have to assume that filming a project like Dune is uniquely bonding for the cast and crew. Villeneuve filmed the planet of Arrakis in Jordan and Abu Dhabi, and those unique desert settings are unlike most filming conditions. Both Isaac and Momoa were already experienced with genre work, which might be why it was so easy for them to connect. While Momoa will reprise his role in Dune 3, it doesn't seem that Isaac will follow suit. Luckily they got to film and now promote their new movie together.

It's currently unclear when In the Hand of Dante will get its wide theatrical release, either on the 2025 movie release list or beyond. Hopefully these two actors can do interviews together and create more viral moments in the process.

It’s alive, my friends. It’s finally alive. After over a decade of starts, stops, and setbacks, we can finally see Guillermo del Toro’s spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is taking its place -- and on the 2025 movie schedule. While teases for del Toro’s “emotional” retelling may scare some, it’s been music to my ears. But, now, after seeing the teaser, I think we’re going to see Ms. Shelley’s creation do something we don’t typically see it do: fight.

One of the many gifts given to fans amid tonight’s live upfront event known as Tudum, this is the first official batch footage for this creature feature starring Oscar Isaac as the damned scientist and Jacob Elordi as his forsaken creation. Co-starring Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and a ton of other notables, this is a film that del Toro has been “actively pursuing" for "25 years.” And oh, baby is it worth it.

Even if you know all of the ins and outs of Frankenstein, The Creature typically is portrayed as a lumbering beast that hulks over humans with its power. But that last shot of Frankenstein’s Monster taking a pitchfork like a champ and pulling his potential assassin forward for a beat down is impressive.

Not to mention, Jacob Elordi's supposed affront to the natural order pretty much clears the deck of crew members who stand in his way. Which still has me wondering how Andrew Garfield's original casting would have shaken out, though I'm also all in on the Euphoria vet's portrayal. But we're not veering too far from tradition here, as there's only one thing on his mind: "VICTOR!" Damn, this is chilling and heartbreaking at the same time; with a side of nerd warmth from the world of reality.

To understand my excitement beyond this footage, I have to give you a small history lesson. You see, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein has been discussed for quite a while. In fact, one of our own archival reports from 2012 had “Frankenstein back on track at Universal.”

Much like At the Mountains of Madness, that project never materialized at that studio home; marking a period of time where we’d see connected pitches come and go. (Anyone else remember the Dark Universe pitch for Bride of Frankenstein?) But, now, the monster and his creator will return to haunt us all in this brand new tale. And Frankenstein's creation is going to show us his existential rage in a way we're not accustomed to - which only further intrigues me.

As you heard before, Guillermo del Toro has been wanting to make this movie for almost three decades. So he's had time to study up, and determine how and why that scene of physical prowess fit into this morbid and emotional mix. Frankenstein will descend upon us this November, only on Netflix. Pray he doesn't find you! Or do, it's your choice really.

Every time a new Elizabeth Olsen project is announced, it’s pretty much required at this point to wonder if or how that new project might impede any possibilities of the actress once again portraying the Scarlet Witch in the MCU post-Doctor Strange sequel. I’m highly invested in her creepy-sounding FX pilot with Cristin Milioti, but now she’s joined an upcoming horror that may soon become one of my most anticipated upcoming movies.

Elizabeth Olsen Is Joining A Fellow MCU Vet And A Twilight Megastar

For her newest big-screen commitment, Elizabeth Olsen has joined the growing cast of Flesh of the Gods, will be the biggest mindbending feature yet for director Panos Cosmatos (Mandy, Beyond the Black Rainbow). She's set to co-star with Marvel's Moon Knight lead Oscar Isaac and teen icon-turned-filmmaker Kristen Stewart. If threse three ended up being the only cast members in the entire movie, it'd still be a win.

She's Going From Playing A Superhero Witch To Playing An '80s Vampire (Presumably)

Get ready for a trip back to Los Angeles in the 1980s, which is where and when Flesh of the Gods will be set. Oscar Isaac's Raoul and Kristen Stewart's Alex are a married couple living it up in and around their luxury skyscraper condo, especially when it comes to the nightlife.

Their lives and nightly habits are changed after they meet Olsen's alluring and perplexing Nameless, who heads up a "hard partying cabal," according to Deadline. After which, Alex and Raoul find themselves thrust into party scene full of hedonists, violence and all the thrills one can handle.

Though the description of the film refers to it as a "vampire thriller," the logline synopsis apparently doesn't get too straightforward on that front. Sure, it's hard to imagine that Nameless and her squad are anything but bloodsuckers, but Panos Cosmatos might have some slightly more esoteric ideas than just a straight-up fang-banging massacre.

An Extra Reason To Be Excited: Se7en's Screenwriter Wrote It

So this is going to be just as subjective as everything else, but the fact that Andrew Kevin Walker penned the script for Flesh of the Gods is reason alone to get me into a theater, with the A+ trio of actors sprinkles on top. Se7en is one of my two favorite movies of all time, and the tight script has as much to do with that as David Fincher and that movie's A+ stars.

Even if you don't adore the 1995 classic, or agree with the argument that it's among the best horror movies of all time, Walker also penned equally slick scripts for not-as-well-directed movies like Brainscan, Hideaway and 8mm, while also writing Sleepy Hollow and Fincher's 2023 release The Killer among others. Beyond Tim Burton, Cosmatos might be the most visually macabre director to bring one of Walker's scripts to the screen, and I can't wait.

With Avengers: Doomsday currently in production without any hardcore concrete plans to bring Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff back, I'm still holding out hopes that she'll be a big part of Paul Bettany's return to the MCU for the Vision TV show, but until we know more, I'll be geeking out over the thought of her playing a vampire opposite Bella Swan herself.

Few people know the Star Wars franchise (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) quite like Anthony Daniels. He appeared in all nine movies of the Skywalker Saga, something nobody else can say. He was even in the ill-fated Star Wars Holiday Special. With that level of experience, his feelings on the franchise are something any fan is going to want to know. And as it turns out his favorite films in the Star Wars franchise could not be more different.

Anthony Daniels recently appeared at the FanX Salt Lake Pop Culture & Comic Convention and was asked about his favorite Star Wars movie. Daniels (via Popverse) named two movies, one that was his personal favorite film, and the one that he had the most fun making. Somewhat surprisingly, those two movies were about as different as they could be.

Anthony Daniels’ Favorite Star Wars Movie Is The First One

When discussing his favorite Star Wars movie, Daniels said it was the first one, the original Star Wars. At the time certainly nobody had any idea what the franchise could become, and the actor said that he appreciated the simplicity of the story, saying…

Alot of people who probably name the original Star Wars as their favorite of the series, if not their favorite movie ever. While The Empire Strikes Back tends to get named as the best Star Wars movie, there's something about that original film that can't be denied. It’s the movie that launched everything that came after and became the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Daniels Favorite Star Wars Movie To Film Was The Last One

One can imagine that considering how the original Star Wars was far from a sure thing, and George Lucas and his team were inventing various visual effects techniques at the time, making the original Star Wars might not have been too much fun. Daniels says the movie he actually enjoyed making the most was the last film of the sequel trilogy, specifically because he enjoyed working opposite Oscar Isaac. Daniels explained…

Oscar Isaac and Anthony Daniels certainly had a lot of interplay in the last film. Isaac and Daniels even wrapped shooting on The Rise of Skywalker on the same day. It's good that the pair enjoyed working together, and Daniels is nothing but complementary of Isaac as an actor.

Being “stuck with it” is certainly the way a lot of fans feel about The Rise of Skywalker if not the sequel trilogy more broadly. I'm among those that really didn't love the last Star Wars movie. Still, it’s nice to know that making the movie was a lot of fun. At least somebody got something out of it.

For over 15 years now, we’ve been witness to all the Marvel movies in order, and what a journey it has been! We’ve come a long way since Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man first took flight, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe introducing so many characters into its movies and TV shows, that some of our favorites just haven’t had enough of the limelight yet. Let’s talk about the MCU characters that could use more screen time than they’ve currently been given.

Valkyrie

After the dismal reaction to Thor: The Dark World, the God of Thunder had an awesome comeback in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. The third Thor movie was partially awesome due to the debut of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, who instantly became a fan favorite for her wit and all-around standout performance. Despite all the love for Valkyrie, she’s remained on the sidelines in every one of her appearances.

Captain Carter

OK, so technically Hayley Atwell had a television series on ABC in the early days of the MCU called Agent Carter, but watching that series only made me want to see the character more. Especially when Peggy Carter came back in the Multiverse Saga for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for a short cameo and in animated form for …What If? Captain America’s great love is one of the most interesting MCU characters who deserves to have her hero’s journey fleshed out more.

Maria Hill

Early in the MCU, Cobie Smulder’s Maria Hill was established as a key part of the universe in The Avengers as Nick Fury’s right hand, but over the years, she’s never really gotten any sort of major arc in either of the movies or TV shows yet, despite sharing she’d love to do more. She was barely in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and has mostly been used for a few jokes here and there over the years.

Morgan Stark

One of the most heartbreaking arcs in the MCU was the death of Tony Stark, especially after it was revealed that the character had a daughter with Pepper Potts, named Morgan Stark. (We’ll never forget the “I love you 3000” line). While it does make sense to wait a bit before we see Morgan Stark again, it would be interesting to catch up with the daughter of Iron Man, and see how her life progresses in the MCU following Endgame.

Jimmy Woo

Randall Park’s FBI agent character Jimmy Woo was first seen in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp as Scott Lang’s parole officer. Woo has since been seen in WandaVision and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in brief roles. Sure, Jimmy Woo isn’t a huge Marvel character or anything, but Park is so hilarious, I’d love it if he earned a larger role in the universe.

Okoye

One of the best Black Panther characters is definitely Danai Gurira’s Okoye, who has had somewhat of a central role in both of the movies, but when you look at the screen time she actually had (about 13 minutes in Black Panther and 16 minutes in Wakanda Forever), she’s still rather a minor character. The former general of the Dora Milaje and head of Wakandan armed forces isn’t just very impressive in her strength and power, but a magnetic character I’d watch a whole movie about.

M’Baku

Winston Duke got on the Hollywood map due to his role in Black Panther, and while he was only in the first movie for about six minutes, he left a lasting impression on fans that had us wanting to see more. Especially following the end of Wakanda Forever, where he actually assumes the role of King of Wakanda. Here’s hoping the next Black Panther project gives him more to do.

Adam Warlock

As soon as Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock was announced to be part of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Marvel fans were excited to see the cosmic being in live action. However, it felt like the third Guardians movie didn’t really know what to do with the character, and is admittedly filed under “the worst thing” in our list of best and worst parts of every Marvel movie. The character deserves some redemption!

Cosmo the Spacedog

In the final Guardians of the Galaxy movie, James Gunn decided to introduce one of the cutest Marvel characters, Cosmo, but she was barely in the film! The Labrador astronaut, who has enhanced intelligence and psychic powers is such a fun and hilarious character, especially as voiced by Maria Bakalova. While it seems like the Guardians movies have wrapped up, I would love to see more of Cosmo.

Lady Sif

In the original Thor movie, Jaimie Alexander’s Lady Sif was brought on board the MCU as an Asgardian warrior and good friend to the God of Thunder. However, the heroic character, who is based on the Norse goddess who is known as the wife of Thor, had an anticlimactic role in the franchise. After showing up for around eight minutes in the first movie, her only other big appearance was in an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She’d be a solid character to show up in the next Thor movie.

Moon Knight

Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight getting a TV show rather than a big-screen movie will always be a mystery to me. Sure, he’s not the most popular Marvel hero, but given the studio has sold us on all sorts of smaller characters over the years, I don’t see why an antihero with dissociative identity disorder with roots in Egyptian mythology would have pulled in a crowd.

Korg

Not only is Thor: Ragnarok a movie that is so much fun on its own, but it also introduces Taika Waititi’s hilarious character of Korg, a Kronan warrior who Thor meets on Sakaar. Korg has only had short supporting moments in the last two Thor movies, but because he’s so loveable, we’d happily catch his return.

Quicksilver

Aaron Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver, the brother to Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but had a hero’s death while shielding civilians from gunfire coming from Ultron. We have to wonder if the MCU would ever bring back the actor’s version of the character, especially after the multiverse was opened up. The actor has since jumped to playing another Marvel character for Sony’s Spider-Verse with the Kraven The Hunter movie.

Wong

When Doctor Strange came out in 2016, Benedict Wong’s role of Wong introduced the keeper of ancient books of the mystic arts. Since the MCU has progressed, Wong has been promoted to the Sorcerer Supreme. Following his title shift, we’re thinking about how the character could get a bigger spotlight that follows his own adventures.

America Chavez

When it was announced that America Chavez was coming to the MCU, we were excited to get to know the hero, also known as Miss America. Xochitl Gomez was highlighted in the key plot of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but she deserves a lot more attention in the MCU. Perhaps, she could be in the Young Avengers team we think the MCU is quietly setting up.

Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)

After Tobey Maguire was the first big-screen Spider-Man in a trilogy of blockbuster films, his Spider-Man joined the MCU in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. While we imagine his appearance was more for nostalgic purposes, we’d genuinely love to see Tobey’s Peter Parker be part of the MCU again, and perhaps see Sam Raimi do the Spider-Man 4 movie that was previously cancelled. Spider-Man 3 ended the character on such a sour note, and the actor makes for such an awesome version of the hero.

Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)

Andrew Garfield was such a Spider-Man in Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man movies, however, they came at the time right before Disney earned the rights to the character. So, the cord was pulled on Garfield’s version and Tom Holland was part of the reboot. Garfield’s version technically joined the MCU when he showed up in Spider-Man: No Way Home. We’d love to see Garfield return to the MCU with his Spidey brothers, and perhaps continue where his movies left off.

J. Jonah Jameson

In Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies, J.K. Simmons was perfectly cast as J. Jonah Jameson, so we were unsurprised when the MCU cast him as the character for short cameos in Tom Holland’s movies. Except in the version we’ve seen, he’s only been seen on TV screens across the city. We don’t have a lot of Spider-Man 4 details right now, but wouldn’t it be fun if Holland’s Peter Parker began working for him?

Ned Leeds

Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds has always been such a fun addition to the Spider-Man movies with Tom Holland. Ned is Spider-Man’s “guy in the chair”, but the comic book character has more of a backstory that can be explored in upcoming Spider-Man movies. In the Spider-Man comics, Edward Leeds becomes a supervillain called the Hobgoblin!!

MJ

Mary-Jane Watson has always been an iconic part of the Spider-Man universe, but the character herself has yet to ever get a larger role that surpasses simply being a love interest to Spider-Man. Zendaya’s MJ is a step in the right direction for the character, but we have to wonder if there’s more the MCU could do with her.

Dane Whitman

When it was announced Kit Harrington was joining the MCU in 2019 in the role of Dane Whitman/Black Knight, we thought it was going to be a much bigger deal than it turned out to be. Harrington ended up having a rather anticlimactic role in Eternals, and we’re not even sure if we’ll get the payoff for the awesome character who has been in teams like the Avengers and Defenders in the comics.

Kate Bishop

When it comes to the best Marvel TV shows, Hawkeye is definitely one of the good ones, especially for how perfectly it established the character of Kate Bishop. Hailee Steinfeld hit the bullseye when it comes to portraying the second generation of Hawkeye. After being in her own TV show, Kate showed up in The Marvels mid-credits scene with Kamala Khan, and we hope the MCU does promote her to an Avenger.

The Collector

In the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Benicio del Toro’s take on The Collector was brought into the MCU. He’s a villain in Marvel comics with a long history dating back to 1966 and tons of storylines with the Avengers and such, however, so far del Toro’s character has only had a few cameos.

Zeus

The king of the gods, Zeus, has even entered the MCU. In Thor: Love and Thunder, Russell Crowe had a small role as the Greek mythology legend. Since it’s such an epic character, and Crowe is an incredible talent, we’d be hyped for Zeus to have more screen time.

Luis

In Ant-Man, Michael Peña brought lots of laughs to the MCU as Luis. The character doesn’t have a comic backstory, and is really just a regular guy who used to be the cellmate of Scott Lang. However, Luis is so genuinely hilarious that we’ve missed him lately. We were especially bummed that he wasn’t in the third Ant-Man movie.

Namor

In the second Black Panther movie, audiences were introduced to the king of the underwater kingdom of Talokan, Namor. Tenoch Huerta did a fantastic job playing the villain of Wakanda Forever, and while he was technically defeated by Shuri in the movie, he’s very much alive, and is an interesting enough character to get more screen time, somehow.

Heimdall

It’s a shame that Idris Elba’s Heimdall died in Avengers: Infinity War, because the Asgardian gatekeeper was never really given much of a role in the MCU. The character could sustain a movie on his own considering what he does on Asgard, but here’s hoping he is still afforded the chance.

James “Rhodey” Rhodes

Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes was introduced in Iron Man 2, after Terrance Howard previously played the character in the first movie. Rhodes has become a member of the Avengers as War Machine / Iron Patriot, but he’s definitely been among the members of the team that’s not highlighted enough. At least the character is still reportedly set to front his own movie called Armor Wars, which would be very much deserved.

Madisynn King

In She-Hulk, a hilarious MCU character was born with Patty Guggenheim’s Madisynn (“with two n’s and one “y”, but it’s not where you think”). She was accidentally sent to a hellish dimension before crossing paths with Benedict Wong’s Wong, which she lovingly calls “Wongers.” She’s a laugh-out-loud addition to the universe that’d be so fun to see pop up again somewhere.

Sharon Carter

The niece of Peggy Carter, Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter has been in two Captain America movies, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and an episode of What If...? But still, it never fully feels like the MCU knows what to do with her. Perhaps if she was interwoven into the plotline more, she could have deeper ties to the universe.

Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’ Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the director of the CIA in the MCU, who has been sprinkled in recent chapters in the MCU and is set to be part of the Thunderbolts cast. Currently, she isn’t giving us a lot to care about her, so here’s hoping the MCU does her character right and gives her more screen time going forward.

Hulk

May we remind you that Hulk is the only member of the original Avengers who has never been given his own solo project? It’s so wild! Yes, he left a huge mark on the main Avengers saga, but Mark Ruffalo is so good as Bruce Banner, that he deserves his own arc without being part of a team.

Timothée Chalamet's chameleonic talent has made him a Hollywood darling, but even the most respected names in the industry weren’t initially sold on his latest ambitious project. Oscar Isaac, Chalamet’s fellow Dune cast member, admitted he was skeptical when the young actor revealed he would be portraying music legend Bob Dylan in James Mangold's upcoming film A Complete Unknown. The hesitation wasn’t rooted in a lack of confidence in the Call Me By Your Name star’s acting chops but rather in the daunting challenge of embodying an icon as revered—and singular—as Dylan.

Per People, Isaac, who presented Chalamet and Mangold with the Visionary Tribute Award at the 2024 Gotham Awards, reminisced about the moment he first learned of the project while on the set of one of the best sci-fi movies of recent memory. The revelation happened in the Wonka performer’s trailer, where cast mates like Josh Brolin and Steven McKinley Henderson also heard the news. As the Ex Machina actor tells it:

I mean, fair enough–taking on the role of such an iconic person would be a daunting, nearly herculean task. And, besides being a self-described Dylanologist, Isaac knows a thing or two about playing a folk singer roaming the scene in the 1960s, having played one in one of the best movies about a fake musician, Inside Llewyn Davis.

What followed, however, was a moment that turned Isaac’s skepticism into a kind of quiet reverence. The Moon Knight actor revealed that his young co-star pulled out a guitar in an effort to give his fellow actors a taste of what he was working on. Though the Star Wars veteran initially cringed at the sight, Chalamet began playing Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country.” Isaac continued:

If that doesn’t quail worried Dylan fans and Chalamet detractors alike, I’m not sure what will. If the Little Women actor can wow a room full of “grizzled” actors, I think he’s probably got this upcoming biopic in the bag. Based on his spot-on Dylan impression from the first trailer, I think it's almost certain the flick will pick up some Oscar nominations.

The Beautiful Boy actor’s preparation for the role of Dylan has been nothing short of meticulous. Reportedly, over five years, he’s honed his musical abilities, studied Dylan’s mannerisms, and immersed himself in the cultural backdrop of the 1960s. A Complete Unknown, which lands on the 2024 movie schedule on Dec. 25, chronicles Dylan’s early rise to fame, focusing on his arrival in New York and his groundbreaking decision to embrace electric guitar.

You’ll soon be able to see Timothée Chalamet and his pitch-perfect Bob Dylan impression in A Complete Unknown. Until then, you can catch up on him and Oscar Isaac sharing the screen in Dune, which is available to stream with a Max subscription.

When it comes to the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there are a number of developments that fans wish would’ve come to fruition. A hope that still persists even now is that a romance may be established between good buddies Poe Dameron and Finn, played by Oscar Isaac and John Boyega, respectively. Isaac long hyped up a romance between the two characters alongside fans, but to no avail. Now, years later, Boyega is keeping shippers' hopes alive and he’s done so in a truly sweet way.

The Breaking star recently appeared at New York Comic Con, where he chopped it up with the fans, took pictures and signed autographs. While at the annual convention, the 32-year-old British actor also shared some photos to social media. Among them was a snapshot of a bracelet he sported sometime during the festivities. The accessory conveys a brief, but clear, sentiment that you can see in the screenshot from his Instagram story down below:

At first glance, it may look like one of the bracelets that are handed out at Taylor Swift concerts, but this one has a Star Wars-infused twist. I can’t help but smile when seeing how John Boyega nodded at Finn and Poe. What I’d also want to know is how the actor obtained that trinket. On the one hand, I could see him having it made for himself. However, given the fan-oriented nature of Cons, it’s also possible that someone gifted him the item while he was making his way across the convention floor.

Since the two characters debuted in 2015’s The Force Awakens, Finn and Poe have been heavily shipped. The two became fast friends during the opening moments of the aforementioned film, during which they both escaped the clutches of the First Order. They eventually reunited at the Resistance’s base. It was there that they excitedly embraced, and Poe also allowed Finn to keep his jacket, which the latter picked up after they crashed on Jakku. By the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the pair remained close friends, but there was no sign of romantic sparks.

Oscar Isaac seemingly couldn’t stop teasing the idea of his character linking up with ex-Stormtrooper Finn. He even joked that it was “a little difficult” to see Finn lock lips with Rose Tico in The Last Jedi. Also getting in on the fun was Mark Hamill, who penned a poem about the two theoretical lovers, and John Boyega fanned the flames by sharing pics of himself and Isaac. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy weighed in as well years ago and, while she didn’t say the ship would happen, she didn’t say definitively that it wouldn’t.

Nevertheless, the Moon Knight star claimed that the “Disney overlords” weren’t ready for such a relationship to be highlighted in the galaxy far, far away. I do like the idea of Poe and Finn being platonic friends with a brother-like relationship, though I can certainly understand the appeal of them being together. LGBTQ+ Star Wars characters are gradually starting to come into the fold, though there’s still plenty of work to be done when it comes to representation on that front.

There’s no telling whether there might actually come a time at which John Boyega and Oscar Isaac’s characters will return. Given the franchise is headed in new directions, I’d say the chances of that are slim. Still, there’s always fan fiction, and those who feel strongly can continue to celebrate the big “what if” via bracelets like Boyega or in other ways.

You can check out the adventures of Poe and Finn by streaming the Star Wars movies using a Disney+ subscription.

If you know me, you know I love animation. I’ve always been a fan, from the latest animated movies coming out as part of the 2024 movie schedule to classics that I could rewatch again and again. I also love animation on television, something that I grew up on and have come to appreciate even more. But there are just some characters voiced by actors that I genuinely could not imagine another actor voicing them – and today, we’ll be going over them. 

Robin Williams As Genie (Aladdin)

This is the obvious answer. Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin was honestly one of Robin Williams' best roles, and he wasn’t even on screen. He was able to give so much energy, wit, and fun to a character that was drawn, and it almost made you feel like Genie was a friend rather than some random side character.

Tim Allen As Buzz (Toy Story Franchise)

Toy Story is hands down one of the best Pixar films, and a big reason for this is the natural partnership between Buzz and Woody. Of course, I had to put Tim Allen as Buzz here. I’m pretty sure we can barely think of Buzz in any other way aside from Allen doing it, even if Chris Evans did give it his all in the Lightyear cast. 

Dante Basco As Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

“Hello, Zuko here,” is a line that has lived in my brain since I was literally a child and will forever be there. Dante Basco as Zuko is iconic. Not only is Basco basically the biggest Avatar: The Last Airbender fan out there, but he’s also voiced not one but two characters in the ATLA universe. However, he, like Zuko, can’t be beaten, and we will always love him voicing one of the best redemption arcs on television. 

Bryce Papenbrook As Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)

Let me preface this by saying that yes, I know the primary voice roles for anime are the Japanese voice actors but have you ever heard an English dub actor who is just so good that it makes it almost impossible to watch it in Japanese? That’s Bryce Papenbrook with Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan. As one of my favorite anime, I started this series listening to Papenbrook, and I ended it with him, too, when I watched the finale again with the dub. He does Eren so well, and it’s hard to picture anyone else but him. 

Eddie Murphy As Mushu (Mulan)

Eddie Murphy is one of those actors where it feels like he plays himself in his voice roles, and he, as Mushu, is certainly one of them. I cannot tell you how often I quote this character. “Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” I mean, only Murphy could have that kind of delivery. 

Tara Strong As Timmy Turner (The Fairly Oddparents)

There are some voice actors out there who ultimately defined my childhood, and Tara Strong is one of them. I could put so many of her characters on here from multiple different TV shows, but I think the best one has to be Timmy Turner from The Fairly Oddparents. I couldn’t imagine Timmy having a distinct voice, and Strong brought so much character to his iconic kid. 

Seth MacFarlane As Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)

Family Guy has cemented itself as a show that just won’t stop, and the voice actors have pretty much stayed the same since the beginning. One that hasn’t changed is Stewie Griffin, who is voiced by the creator of the show, Seth MacFarlane, and obviously, he has to be here. I’m pretty sure Stewie is probably the most iconic character from the show, and it’s because of MacFarlane’s delivery and his hilarious lines. 

Tom Hanks As Woody (Toy Story Franchise)

Come on. You knew Tom Hanks would be here. Hanks is like the grandfather of our generation when it comes to voice roles, and his role as Woody will live on in our memories long after we’re all gone and Toy Story becomes a certified classic (if it isn’t already). Hanks is just that good, and I will listen to him voice Woody over and over again. 

Ellen DeGeneres As Dory (Finding Nemo)

Ellen DeGeneres isn’t exactly known for her movies, as she was mainly a daytime talk show host for many, many years, but her voice acting as Dory in Finding Nemo is top-notch. Dory wound up becoming just as big as the clown fishes that we followed in the movie and became a loveable character that children all around the world flocked to, and that’s because of DeGeneres and her voice skills. 

Jay Baruchel As Hiccup (How To Train Your Dragon)

Even though there’s a live-action How To Train Your Dragon set to release, you can’t beat the animated movies, and of course, Jay Baruchel is voicing Hiccup, the main character. Honestly, I think Hiccup would have been really tough to nail if the voice actor wasn’t right. Baruchel had to find the delicate balance between a surprisingly brave warrior and a kind of wimpy teenager and build on that for three movies straight – and he rocks it. 

Eddie Murphy As Donkey (Shrek)

Eddie Murphy as Donkey is everything. Look at me. Look at me and tell me you can picture someone else as Donkey because I surely can’t. This talking animal has cemented itself into pop culture with hilarious lines, memes, and so much more, and it’s because of Murphy’s delivery. Now I’m gonna go and make some waffles. 

Kaiji Tang As Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Kaiji Tang is an example of an English dub actor in anime who knocks it out of the park. I honestly love any version of Jujutsu Kaisen, and Season 2 was one of my favorite anime of 2023, but let me tell you, Tang, as Gojo, made it so much better. His line delivery is just phenomenal – it’s no wonder the character is, like, the anime community’s crush. With that smooth voice, it’d be hard not to crush on him.

Trey Parker As Eric Cartman (South Park)

There are so many outrageous episodes in South Park that make you squirm, and you want to know who’s behind most of them. Eric Cartman, because he’s a menace to society – so, of course, one of the creators is the voice behind him. Trey Parker is a naturally funny person, so he as Eric Cartman makes sense – only he could think of the most ridiculous and awful lines to say for a literal fourth-grader. 

Billy Crystal As Mike Wazowski (Monsters Inc.)

When making this list, I thought about putting maybe John Goodman as Sully, but then I really thought about it and realized that Mike is actually low-key more iconic. Mike, in general, is a great character with a good backstory and a hilarious sense of humor, but you want to know why he’s so funny? It’s because of Billy Crystal—I can almost feel him through Mike. Mike is Billy, Billy is Mike. 

Shameik Moore As Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

Miles Morales proved anyone can wear the mask in Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, a film that became a huge hit and spawned a sequel and another movie coming out soon enough. However, a big reason why Miles is such a great character is because of the voice behind him, Shameik Moore. Since the first film, Moore has brought humility to Miles, but also that kind of smooth swagger that we know only he could have. He’s excellent, and I can’t wait to hear more from him. 

Tom Kenny As Spongebob (SpongeBob SquarePants)

How could I not include Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants from the SpongeBob SquarePants series here? This man is my childhood. Sure, there are impressionists out there who believe they can impersonate SpongeBob, but no one can do it like Tom Kenny, and I stand by that. 

Kaley Cuoco As Harley Quinn (Harley Quinn)

There have been multiple people who have voiced Harley Quinn in Batman TV shows and animated movies, but I’m sorry. Kaley Cuoco takes the cake, and I want her to be the animated version of Harley Quinn from now on. Her take on Harley in the TV show Harley Quinn is hilarious, on-brand, and unforgettable, and if you haven’t had the chance to watch her voice the heck out of his classic DC villain/antihero, then you have to. 

Mike Myers As Shrek (Shrek)

Obviously, I had to put Mike Myers on this list. While I do think Donkey is a little more iconic, Mike Myers as Shrek is pretty much the same as butter and toast, or Oreos and milk, or popcorn and movies—you get my gist. Myers as Shrek is pretty much the standard for celebrities voicing animated characters, and he’s quite hard to beat. 

Dakota Fanning As Coraline (Coraline)

Coraline is one of the best stop-motion films out there, and surprisingly, no matter how creepy it might be to others, it’s a comfort film for me. And, of course, I can’t imagine anyone else voicing Coraline other than Dakota Fanning. She was so young at the time but still brought so much sass and wonder to the character, and it made me love Coraline for the explorer she was. 

Dan Castellaneta As Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)

Oh, you know he would be here. The Simpsons is hands down the most iconic TV series of all time and has been around since the 1980s. Dan Castellaneta has voiced the patriarch of the Simpsons family since the very beginning and has cemented himself in television just as much as the rest of the cast. But you can’t get more iconic than Homer freaking Simpson. 

Christy Carlson Romano As Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

Kim Possible was a show from my childhood on The Disney Channel that made me want to be a spy. It likely led to a few injuries when I jumped from trees to show how cool I was. Either way, it was mainly because of Kim and how kick-butt she was while also being a remarkable teenager, and thanks to Christy Carlson Romano’s voice acting, she was made all the better. 

Christian Bale As Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favourite Studio Ghibli movies, and I have to admit that for this, I do like the English dub better because, come on, you can’t beat Christian Bale as Howl! That man has a voice as smooth as butter, and you will find yourself falling for Howl so quickly because of how he voices the character. Ugh, I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it. 

Antonio Banderas As Puss (Shrek 2)

Shrek has plenty of iconic voices, but you want to know who has one of the best ones? Antonio Banderas didn’t even show up in the Shrek franchise until the second movie. But Banderas’ voice was so popular that he spawned not one but two spin-off films – the second of which featured one of the best DreamWorks Animation villains of all time, so you know he’s iconic. 

Jeff Bennett As Johnny Bravo (Johnny Bravo)

Okay, so, if we’re being honest, Johnny Bravo is actually a pretty lousy person and very misogynistic, but man, is it funny to get his butt handed to him in so many situations? It’s because of Jeff Bennett and the way he voices him. He’s just so funny in a messed-up way. I love it. 

Matthew Mercer As Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Attack on Titan is a case where I tend to lean more towards the English dub than the Japanese because of some of the voice-acting choices, and Matthew Mercer as Levi Ackerman is just *chef’s kiss.* Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese voice actor Hiroshi Kamiya does a great job, too, but when I think of Levi, I think of Matthew Mercer’s voice, and that just means I literally cannot imagine anything else.

Jack Black As Po (Kung Fu Panda)

Po the Panda is one of those characters that has become a pretty big name for DreamWorks Animation. In reality, it’s really just Jack Black behind a microphone in the sound booth voicing some of the most hilarious moments ever. Sometimes, it feels like I’m almost just watching Jack Black on screen because Po is as funny as him.

Helena Bonham Carter As Emily (The Corpse Bride)

The Corpse Bride is an excellent stop-motion animated film that certainly has a specific group of people who watch it every year (me included during Halloween). I could talk about Johnny Depp as Victor, but I have to point out Helene Bonham Carter as Emily. She voices the character so well and gives so much life to a literal corpse. It’s one of Carter’s best movies. 

Chris Rock As Marty (Madagascar)

Chris Rock as Marty makes sense. While there were only three Madagascar movies, Rock voiced the zebra in each of them and killed it every time. I could literally watch an entire spinoff film on just Marty. I want more, Marty. Please give me more hilarious lines like “Oh, sugar honey iced tea!”

Bill Fagerbakke As Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants)

You can’t have SpongeBob without his best friend, and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star is a match made in heaven. Since the show’s beginning, Fagerbakke has voiced the sea star, and he’s perfect for the role. Honestly, I almost want to watch him and Kenny voiceover the Super Bowl again next year because he as Patrick and them together is just perfect. 

Matthew Lillard As Shaggy (Scooby Doo)

There have been many voice actors who have come and gone to voice Shaggy, but let’s be honest here – Matthew Lillard has become Shaggy. Ever since he did the live-action version of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo films, we’ve loved seeing him as Shaggy, and then he began doing the animated version. He’s been voicing the character (except for Velma, but we don’t talk about that), and he’s fantastic. 

Oscar Isaac As Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse)

Oh, Miguel. TikTok’s boyfriend of Summer 2023. The man, the myth, the legend that somehow captured my heart and reminded me that I have a thing for fictional brooding men. Either way, Oscar Isaac voices Miguel, and yes, this man is Miguel, and I will not accept any other person voicing him. 

Idina Menzel As Elsa (Frozen)

I had to put Elsa here somehow. Frozen is one of the biggest animated franchises of all time, and it’s mainly because of Elsa, her ice powers, and the incredible force of Idina Menzel’s voice. There isn’t another singer/actress on the planet that could belt like that.

While there are plenty of other animated characters we could discuss, these were just some of the first ones that came to mind—and now I feel like having an animated movie marathon. 

Some actors are best known and even defined by a single character that has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world. However, in many cases, said iconic character does not necessarily reflect the performer’s strongest performance, which they often tend to save for the role that they hope will earn them an Academy Award nomination or, at least, challenges them the most. The following is our attempt to distinguish the most iconic roles from our choices picks for the absolute best roles of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Chris Evans

The role that skyrocketed Chris Evans to the A-list and the one he will always be most famous for is Steve "Captain America" Rogers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his talents are even better utilized in his scene-stealing performance in the Knives Out cast as the hilariously smug and conniving Ransom Drysdale.

Amy Adams

The world first fell in love with Amy Adams when she absolutely nailed the Disney Princess schtick as Giselle in 2007’s Enchanted. Yet, she is truly a captivating, commanding, and heartbreaking force to be reckoned with in Denis Villeneuve’s powerful 2016 alien invasion movie, Arrival, as linguistics expert Louise Banks — which, surprisingly, is not one of the six roles that earned her an Oscar nomination.

Kurt Russell

For many people, when they see Kurt Russell, they see the dystopian anti-hero Snake Plissken in Escape from New York from 1981 or helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in another great John Carpenter movie, 1982’s The Thing. Yet, even the actor’s biggest fans might agree that those performances pale in comparison to his acclaimed portrayal of Wyatt Earp in the 1993 Western movie classic, Tombstone.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie first captivated audiences everywhere as Naomi Lapaglia in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the DCEU immediately became one of the Batman villain’s most essential iterations. However, the Australian actor gave, arguably, her most captivating and essential performance as infamous figure skating champion Tonya Harding in the 2017 biopic, I, Tonya, which also earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Nicolas Cage 

Nicolas Cage is at his most iconic when he is at his most unhinged and few characters define that better than Castor Troy — a ruthless terrorist who switches faces with FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) in Face/Off. Of course, it is Cage's performance as severe alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas that earned him an Oscar win.

Julia Roberts 

Having been referred to as the Queen of rom-coms, it would make sense to call Julia Roberts’ strongest contribution to the genre — Vivian Ward from 1990’s Pretty Woman — the most iconic of her career. Yet, her strongest contribution to cinema might actually be her Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of 2000’s Erin Brockovich, which is based on the true story of a legal assistant’s crusade in a California water pollution scandal. 

Tom Hanks

Our choices for both the most iconic role and the best role of Tom Hanks’ career each earned him an Academy Award. While the lovable title hero of 1994’s Forrest Gump is easily the more famous, the actor is at his most gripping and moving as gay, HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia from the previous year.

Ryan Gosling

Playing Noah in 2004's romantic instant classic The Notebook broke Ryan Gosling into the mainstream and playing the nameless wheelman protagonist of 2011's Drive showed his action star potential. The first time critics and audiences truly began to notice his strengths as a versatile performer, however, was when he played a teacher wrestling with his vices in 2006's Half Nelson.

Robert Downey, Jr.

There was no better choice to play Tony "Iron Man" Stark — the role that effectively resurrected Robert Downey Jr.'s career — in what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, has the actor truly ever been better than when he played Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast in 2023? Just ask the Academy.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence breathed refreshing new life into the cinematic version of YA dystopian novel hero Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies. She especially breathed refreshing life into the already beautiful story of love and self-acceptance at the center of Silver Linings Playbook with her Oscar-winning performance as the widowed Tiffany Maxwell.

Jim Carrey

The one role that best represents Jim Carrey’s one-of-a kind erratic style of physical comedy is the ceaselessly goofy title hero of 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. There are certainly traces of that persona in unwitting TV star Truman Burbank from 1998’s The Truman Show, but the performance brought out a certain emotional depth and devastating earnestness we had not yet seen from the actor.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson was already a top A-lister when she was cast as Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff for the MCU — a role that, arguably, became bigger than the actor herself. Yet, her infectious, Oscar-nominated performance in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit as Rosie — the mother of a young aspiring Nazi who is secretly hiding a young Jewish woman — is the heart and soul of Taika Waititi’s dazzling World War II-era satire.

Matt Damon

Is there anything better than watching Matt Damon kick butt in the Jason Bourne movies as the titular amnesiac spy? How about watching him pour out his heart and soul as a young and brilliant, but emotionally troubled custodian in 1997’s Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Playing Laurie Strode in Halloween may have made her the ultimate horror Scream Queen and playing IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once may have finally earned her an Oscar, but neither reflect her absolute best work in our opinion. Her Golden Globe-winning role as Helen Tasker — a woman who discovers her husband (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a spy — shows the extent of her versatile range and is easily the performance from 1994’s True Lies.

Michael Keaton

When you think of Michael Keaton, the first character you picture could be Bruce Wayne from Tim Burton's live-action Batman movies or the title role of another Burton classic called Beetlejuice. Yet, the actor's defining role might really be the one that earned him his first Academy Award nomination: down-and-out actor Riggan Thomson in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).

Adam Driver

Typically, any Star Wars actor can call their role in the celebrated sci-fi franchise the most famous character they have ever played and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is certainly no exception. His performance as the Sith Lord is an essential highlight of the sequel trilogy, but his rich, emotionally devastating, and uniquely funny performance as Charlie Barber in 2019’s Marriage Story — his second Oscar-nominated role — really proved he was a force to behold.

Clint Eastwood

The Mount Rushmore of Western Movie Stars undeniably includes Clint Eastwood, whose own carving into the monument would probably be dressed like his three roles from Sergio Leone's "The Man with No Name" or "Dollars" Trilogy — made of up A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Well, forgive us, but we believe that coldblooded-killer turned mild-mannered family man William Munny from 1992’s Unforgiven — which he also directed — is his stronger and deeper contribution to the genre.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams is transcendent as the ultimate ruthless teen queen, Regina George, in the 2004 high school movie classic, Mean Girls. Yet, she is at her most grounded and most captivatingly understated in her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Boston Globe investigative journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in 2015’s Spotlight.

Tom Cruise 

Among Tom Cruise’s many iconic roles — especially Maverick in the Top Gun movies and Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies — we are not sure that we would include Ron Kovic in that least. Yet, we do believe the actor has never been better than in his impassioned, Academy Award-nominated portrayal of the real-life Vietnam vet-turned-war-protester in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July.

Emma Watson

Most people — especially Harry Potter fans — still see Hermione Graigner whenever they see Emma Watson. However, one role that came closest to replacing the talented wizard as the British actor’s most celebrated work is Sam Button from the tender 2012 coming-of-age drama, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is the face of two of cinema’s most iconic action movie heroes: Indiana Jones and Han Solo from the Star Wars movies. Yet, we have seen the legend give a performance as intense, grounded, and human as Detective Captain John Book in Witness, which also earned him his sole Academy Award nomination.

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges had already achieved a storied and widely acclaimed career by the time he landed his definitive role as freewheeling burnout, The Dude, in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 cult favorite comedy classic, The Big Lebowski. It would take another 12 years before he gave his definitive performance as disillusioned country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, which made him an Oscar winner.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jack Dawson from James Cameron’s high-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner, 1997’s Titanic, remains the one role Leonardo DiCaprio is most often associated with despite winning his Oscar for 2015’s The Revenant. However, it is his remarkable portrayal of Howard Hughes, from his rise as an inventive aristocrat to his falls as a disturbed recluse, that earns the highest praise from us. 

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has an extraordinary collection of unique characters under her belt, but none are quite as distinct or recognizable as Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 musical smash, Moulin Rouge! Yet, the following year saw her give a transformative, Oscar-winning performance in The Hours as renowned author Virginia Woolf during a dismal time in her life.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale had audiences floored by his performance as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which solidified him as one of the best Batman actors in cinematic history. However, we believe we already saw him at his best in 2000’s American Psycho, giving a brilliantly nuanced performance as a strangely compelling sociopath named Patrick Bateman.

Natalie Portman

Rewatching the Star Wars prequel trilogy is made easier for even its harshest critics by Natalie Portman’s empowering, grounding, and ultimately heartbreaking performance as Naboo’s queen-turned-senator, Padmé Amidala. Yet, we have it on good authority that even those fans of a galaxy far, far away would rather rewatch 2010’s Black Swan and experience her unsettling, bravura, Academy Award-winning turn as Nina Sayers — a ballerina driven mad by her devotion to the lead role of Swan Lake.

Daniel Radcliffe 

Daniel Radcliffe certainly made for a great “The Boy Who Lived” in the Harry Potter movies, but even some of the franchise’s biggest fans might agree that the English actor has only gotten better since exiting the Wizarding World. In fact, some might say he has gotten better as the roles got weirder, and none have been weirder than when he starred in 2022’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story as a hilariously exaggerated version of the legendary musical parodist.

Kate Winslet

Much like Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a star, starring in the blockbuster historical tragedy as Rose Bukater turned Kate Winslet into one of the top actors of her time. In spite of her wonderful performance there, many would agree the role mainly paved the way for even better opportunities, such as her Oscar-winning performance in 2008’s The Reader as Hanna Schmitz.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac was certainly on the path to achieving A-list status before joining the cast of 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but playing the charming resistance pilot was his one-way ticket across the bridge. That same year, however, he delivered a captivatingly complex and intriguingly layered performance as tech innovator Nathan Bateman in Alex Garland’s classic A24 sci-fi drama, Ex Machina

Reese Witherspoon

As Elle Woods in 2001’s Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon brings warmth, humor, and authenticity to a character who could have easily been an annoying, one-note stereotype. As June Carter Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line, she absolutely steals the show from Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash with her powerful, Oscar-winning portrayal of the legendary singer.

Henry Cavill

Being, essentially, the spitting image of Clark Kent made Henry Cavill an ideal choice to play Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, but not quite the perfect choice. The English actor’s signature charm, charisma, and sense of humor shine through much stronger as American secret agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which we think is gleaming proof of his 007 material.

Brie Larson

You could say that Carol Danvers has become such a popular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because Brie Larson is the one portraying her in Captain Marvel and subsequent films. For that, we can likely thank her magnificent, heart-wrenching, Oscar-winning performance in 2015’s Room as a single mother held captive with her son.

There are the characters we cherish and the performances we adore. Both are equally important reasons for why we love our favorite actors.

I don’t mind saying it out loud, Twilight is one of the best vampire movies out there, especially when it comes to how it captured teen angst and first love through Bella and Edward’s twisted romance. But after Kristen Stewart spent five years of her life in Stephanie Meyer’s gloomy fictional town of Forks, I never imagined she would sign on for another vampire movie - especially after saying she would dump Edward Cullen now. But K-Stew has just in fact put her name on a vampire movie, and I can’t wait. 

Even though I’m among a large and loyal fanbase of the Twilight franchise, I’m happy Kristen Stewart has branched out and away from the series rather than playing Bella for decade upon decade. Even though the movies are blasts to rewatch, it’s been amazing to see the actress make all sorts of movies outside the genre, whether that be her Oscar-nominated role in Spencer or her recent A24 flick, Love Lies Bleeding. It will be exciting to see her return to the world of bloodsuckers in a new way. Let’s talk about it. 

The Vampire Movie Kristen Stewart Just Signed On For 

Kristen Stewart has signed on for a movie called Flesh Of The Gods alongside Oscar Isaac, per The Hollywood Reporter. The movie is described as a “vampire thriller” that will have the two stars playing a married couple living in 1980s’ Los Angeles where they “cross paths with the mysterious and enigmatic woman and her hard-partying cabal” they get “seduced into a glamorous, surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills, and violence.” 

The movie is set to be helmed by Panos Cosmatos, who is best known for making 2018’s Mandy starring Nicolas Cage. Cosmatos thought up the story himself and described it as “a hot rod joy ride deep into the glittering heart of hell,” and Andrew Kevin Walker, who famously wrote the script for Se7en, has penned Flesh Of The Gods. The movie is already expected to begin production later this year. 

Why It Has Me Excited As A Twilight Stan 

Aside from seeing Kristen Stewart continue to make her film career her own with bold choices like this one, as a Twilight stan, I hope this means we’ll finally get to see her go full vampire mode. While we did get to see Bella turn into a vampire during Breaking Dawn Part 2, I always have wished there was more of the story devoted to the character as a vampire, because it would have been so fun. Obviously, this movie is a whole different concept and story, but I’m going to smile so hard if Stewart gets to turn into a vampire this time around in what seems to be a sultry, R-rated take on the fantastical nightstalkers. 

While there’s no release date set for Flesh Of The Gods, I’m excited for it to arrive among upcoming horror movies. While K-Stew is not coming back to the world of Twilight, now we’ll get to see her in a vampire flick and see the Twilight animated TV show that is in the works. It’s a win-win! 

Marvel Studios spent a good deal of its time in Phases Four and Five introducing new characters to its growing audience through shows that are available to Disney+ subscribers. Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, She-Hulk, and the Time Variance Authority were folded into the MCU via DIsney+ shows, and it will be interesting to see how these characters are used in upcoming Marvel stories, both on the small screen and in theaters. Marc Spector, aka Moon Knight, is one of those fascinating characters who received a six-episode arc that brought his corner of the MCU to life, and there are so many ways that Marvel can use this agent of vengeance moving forward. But now that the series is getting the steelbook treatment, let’s use the opportunity to look back.

Moon Knight, as a character, cycles through several different identities. Marc Spector suffers from dissociative identity disorder, and the show leaned into that for visual and dramatic affect. Oscar Isaac spent the bulk of Moon Knight fluctuating between the distinct personalities of the timid and cowardly Steven Grant, the aggressive and confident Marc Spector, and ever so briefly, the lethal Jake Lockley. And it was the costuming that often told the audience what personality that Isaac was portraying. There was the clean white suit of Mr. Knight. There was the Egyptian God influence that signifies the classic Moon Knight suit (photographed at the top of this story). And at the end of the series, we got our first official look at Jake Lockley as he drove a limousine and assassinated Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). 

Jake Lockley looked like this in the show:

During an exclusive interview with Moon Knight costume designer Meghan Kasperlik, we discussed the planning that went into the different costumes for each of Marc Spector’s identities. We chatted about the challenges that came with Mr. Knight having a pure-white suit, and Moon Knight sporting a massive cape. But when we got to the influences of Jake Lockley, a very important component of Marc’s identity, I was stunned to learn about this detail that Kasperlik and her team inserted. 

She told CinemaBlend:

And you see these symbols in the above photo, which is beyond cool. That had to mean the world to Oscar Isaac to have his heritage beautifully represented in the Jake Lockley costume, and it adds to the immense detail that is worked into all of the costumes that the actor got to wear in the Moon Knight series 

When might Oscar Isaac get to wear this costume again? That’s one of the major questions surrounding Moon Knight. It’s possible that the character gets used in an upcoming Marvel movie like Spider-Man 4, similar to the way that Kamala Khan leaped from her Ms. Marvel show into The Marvels. There also could be a Moon Knight Season 2, though that has not been confirmed to his point. There are things that fans really liked about the show, but plenty of issues that could be ironed out in future stories. For now, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, Andor, and Obi-Wan Kenobi all will release on 4K UHD and Blu-ray steelbook April 30.

As much as we like to see Hollywood as a dream factory, some projects can be total nightmares. Maybe people realize that fact during production, or maybe it’s a big case of hindsight providing 20/20 vision; but eventually there comes a time when an entertainer decides that their own movie is the enemy. For one reason or another, the list we’re about to share with you is a bunch of cases where that sort of takedown was warranted by the talent that had to endure making them in the first place. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Virus

No matter how many times the 1999 sci-fi horror movie Virus comes up, it seems that Jamie Lee Curtis has a colorful variety of responses that detail just how flat-out horrible the finished product was. And depending on which interview you read, the language can get just as cheeky, so reader discretion is definitely advised. 

Michael Caine - Jaws: The Revenge

If you ever want a lesson in destroying a cinematic turkey with great wit and class, look up Michael Caine’s remarks on Jaws: The Revenge. Simultaneously admitting he’d never watched the film, but loved the personal enrichment that came from it, it’s one of the best moments of Sir Michael’s legendary charm at work.

Charlize Theron - Reindeer Games

How bad is the perennial punchline Reindeer Games? Well, if you ask Charlize Theron like Esquire did back in 2008, the Ben Affleck co-starring film is "a bad, bad, bad movie." So that question's pretty much asked and answered. 

George Clooney - Batman and Robin

George Clooney’s continued Batman regrets will never stop being entertaining. Playing that very DC hero in 1997’s Batman & Robin, the infamously campy Joel Schumacher picture holds a very special place in the ER veteran’s heart; and it’s one of intensely self-deprecating comedy. 

Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up

The story about Katherine Heigl and her apparent lack of love for Knocked Up is one that’s circulated pretty much since Judd Apatow’s 2008 comedy mega-hit landed. However, it seems that years after the star seemed to slam her own movie, Heigl’s 2016 comments on the matter painted a different picture.

Christopher Plummer - The Sound of Music

How an actor like the late great Christopher Plummer could grow to despise a musical like The Sound of Music is still a mystery. Well, it’s puzzling in the sense that his apparent criticism of its sentimental and emotional nature feels a bit rough. Despite his misgivings, the Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation remains one of Christopher Plummer’s best roles. 

Sally Field - The Amazing Spider-Man

Comic book movies aren’t for everyone, and The Amazing Spider-Man’s Sally Field admitted just that when talking about her role as Andrew Garfield’s Aunt May. Field’s reason for taking the role as a favor to her friend, late producer Laura Ziskin, is still sweet. But digging into Sally’s comments about the Marvel role, it would seem that there isn’t enough money in the Multiverse to bring the Academy Award winner back for any hypothetical follow-ups.

Edward Norton - The Italian Job

One of the most infamous stories of modern movie feuds, Edward Norton’s reluctance to play the villain in The Italian Job remake came down to two words: contractual obligations. As Observer covered in the lead-up to the movie’s production, Norton fulfilled his duties; but did so while taking every chance to put the project down. 

Jessica Alba - Fantastic Four

When your director tells you that CGI tears are better than the actual waterworks you’re providing on set, to say things are problematic is a bit of an understatement. That’s the scenario that Jessica Alba faced on Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which she revealed to Elle Magazine (via Today) as the reason she almost quit acting. 

Bill Murray - Garfield: The Movie

Confusion is something that even a legendary comedian like Bill Murray can admit to falling into from time to time. It just so happens that one of those times saw the legacy cast member of Ghostbusters accidentally assume one of The Coen Bros. wrote Garfield: The Movie. Thankfully for Murray, he only had to make one sequel before the franchise shifted gears to another iteration.

Jennifer Lawrence - Passengers

When Adele tells you to skip a movie like Passengers, that’s a sign you should take to heart. Unfortunately, Jennifer Lawrence ignored this advice, and what resulted was a movie that is as questionable as it is baffling. On the plus side, hearing Ms. Lawrence trash that movie means that the project is technically a valuable source of entertainment.

Channing Tatum - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

We’ve all kind of known that Channing Tatum despises G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra; and rightfully so. But just how horrible was the man’s opinion of this past franchise starter? Well, not only did he pass on this project seven times, but when G.I. Joe: Retaliation came about, Tatum requested to be killed off in that very sequel. 

Viola Davis - The Help

Despite the contemporary hoopla that saw The Help become an Academy Awards darling at 2012’s Oscars, Viola Davis’ opinion on the movie is far from golden. Indeed, the project has become more and more scrutinized as time goes on, and Davis’ upset with the movie has only developed more nuance over time. 

Ryan Reynolds - Green Lantern

Even if you knew nothing about Ryan Reynolds starring in the much-maligned Green Lantern adaptation, his dislike for the picture is legendary. Especially when part of Deadpool 2’s wild time travel-correcting ending saw the Marvel anti-hero icing his reality-bound actor before even getting to make the film. 

Halle Berry - Catwoman

The downside to Halle Berry being in Catwoman is that she, unfortunately, had to actually make the movie. However, the upside to this painful experience is that Berry’s quips and jabs at her unfortunate DC Comics entry continue to show her impeccable sense of humor. 

Oscar Isaac - X-Men: Apocalypse

While Oscar Isaac doesn’t outright disown his X-Men movie, he does express serious regret for taking on the titular role in X-Men: Apocalypse. Though if you were cast to act up against James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, only to have your abilities hampered by an abundance of prosthetics, you’d probably be pretty steamed too. 

Dame Judi Dench - Cats

Not many actors would consider a Razzie nomination entertaining, or even valid. But then again, Cats' Dame Judi Dench isn't "most actors." Proud to have not seen the film, or read its reviews, the famed performer laughed off her own nomination, and even compared her character's final look to a bunch of foxes engaged in some not-so-family-friendly activity. 

Matt Damon - The Bourne Ultimatum

For as much cultural cache as the Jason Bourne movies still have in the world, it’s kind of astounding that the subpar reaction to some of the sequels doesn’t seem to have dampened that pedigree. That’s an especially good question after Matt Damon’s trashing of The Bourne Ultimatum script somehow didn’t prevent the worst sin that franchise has committed, 2016’s Jason Bourne. 

Megan Fox - Transformers

Megan Fox’s relationship with the Transformers franchise saw her putting the Hasbro toy franchise on blast after the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. More specifically, her comments comparing Michael Bay to Hitler allegedly helped distance her even further from the series that she apparently has no particular love for. 

Matthew Goode - Leap Year

In remarks to The Telegraph about his role in the rom-com Leap Year, Matthew Goode fully admitted that the Amy Adams starring vehicle wasn’t exactly ideal for his tastes. Taking a page out of Michael Caine’s proverbial book on silver linings, Goode did admit that one of the reasons he did enjoy being part of the project was the fact that he could go home easily on the weekends. 

Kate Winslet - Titanic

While the world fell in love with Kate Winslet after her role in Titanic, the actor herself didn’t exactly love watching herself put in, what she feels, was a performance full of errors. Even in a legacy interview with CNN, Winslet criticized everything, even her American accent.  

Mark Wahlberg - Boogie Nights

Boogie Nights was a star making performance for Mark Wahlberg, and to this day it’s a role that’s aged well on his resume. And yet, Wahlberg has asked God to forgive him for making the Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece, regarding it the biggest mistake of his career. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Grease 2

Allegedly, Michelle Pfeiffer was cited to have chalked up her experience with Grease 2 as a case of being young and not knowing how to pick a good script. While those stories persist, Pfieffer has apparently started to set the record straight, attributing her supposed Grease sequel bashing to misreported remarks that grew a life of their own.

Sir Alec Guinness - Star Wars

While Sir Alec Guinness’ reaction to watching Star Wars was one of being refreshed, his outlook on taking the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t as rosy. Actually making George Lucas’ sci-fi opus was a different story, with Guinness’ on-set feelings seeing the legendary actor less than pleased in the middle of production.

Miriam Margolyes - The Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter fans have been a frequent source of discussion for actor Miriam Margolyes. The performer who brought Madame Sprout to live in the film adaptation of the series not only has no personal connection with the franchise but she’s also shared some thoughts on adult Potter fans that have kicked up more dirt than one of her Herbology classes.

Sylvester Stallone - Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot!

The widely reported story of how Sylvester Stallone became the action lead in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! is thanks to his feud with action star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Apparently, Arnie tricked him into thinking he wanted the movie, which led Stallone to lobby for the part, and win it. His enduring torment can still be heard to this day, and Sly has even suggested the film as a form of interrogation enhancement. Yikes.

Dakota Johnson - Madame Web

Madame Web seems to be an experience that barely anyone enjoyed, even the actors who starred in the movie. Dakota Johnson’s skewering of the finished product, while extremely erudite and empathetic towards herself and the rest of the cast, cuts to the core problems that some feel superhero movies have possessed since day one. 

Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Out of all the Harry Potter movies Daniel Radcliffe has fronted, the one that comes in as his least favorite is the sixth entry, The Half Blood Prince. Radcliffe called his own performance “one-note,” especially when compared to his own personal favorite: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Jennifer Aniston - Leprechaun

Jennifer Aniston’s performance in Leprechaun makes her cringe to this day. So much so that in a 2019 interview on The Howard Stern Show, she mentioned that she tried and failed to stop her then-boyfriend Justin Theroux from watching the film; much to her dismay. 

Brad Pitt - The Devil’s Own

“20 pages of dog…” You can fill that phrase in for yourself, but Brad Pitt’s Newsweek interview about 1997’s The Devil’s Own said all that needed to be said about the actor’s feelings for the Harrison Ford co-starring drama. 

Sandra Bullock - Speed 2: Cruise Control

Some experience will stick with you, no matter how hard you try. Sandra Bullock’s no-sequel rule was an echo of such a trauma, thanks to her displeasure with Speed 2: Cruise Control. Admittedly, her concerns about a large cruise ship not being as perceptively speedy as a city bus were part of the equation as well, and can you blame her? 

Robert Pattinson - Twilight

Robert Pattinson’s hate affair with the Twilight Saga is as well-documented as the memes that have committed the franchise’s dialogue to memory. Thankfully, the man didn’t develop an aversion to bats, otherwise The Batman wouldn’t have happened; which is probably one of the best things that actually came out of Twilight when you think about it.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this trip in the trenches with stars who had to tell it like it is. Judging by some of the movies mentioned here, it might be safe to say that for the most part, these reactions were spot on. But if you’re ever wondering why a movie you're fond of might be slammed by an actor or entertainer involved, keep these tales of woe in mind, and try not to take it too personally.

When Avengers: Endgame came out in 2019, we were introduced to “America’s Ass” thanks to a hilarious line first coined by Paul Rudd's Scott Lang during the titular heroes' time heist. And, in CinemaBlend’s favorite movie of 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Oscar Isaac’s Miguel O’Hara gave Steve Rogers a run for the money, as the hero from the Sony Animation feature was a hit. Ultimately, the internet was thirsty for Spider-Man 2099. And, as the filmmaker’s recently revealed, they very much intended for O'Hara to be a "thirst trap."

When the Across The Spider-Verse team were awarded the Letterboxd trophy for the highest-rated movie of 2023, they sat down to read audience reviews from fans of the film. One of the reviews read. “Shout out to whoever made the decision to give the Oscar Isaac Spider-Man an absolutely ginormous ass.” Funny enough, Justin K. Thompson sharing some surprising sentiments on that front (or behind?):

That’s right. One doesn’t mistakenly make a character as attractive as Miguel O’Hara is in Across The Spider-Verse. Justin K. Thompson specifically took credit for being on “butt detail” during the movie’s production due to his aim to make Spider-Man 2099 an absolute hottie from the very beginning of production. To which we say, thank you for your service, king! Co-director Kemp Powers also chimed in, saying this: 

Truly, for years, so many female characters have been drawn for the male gaze, with a character like Roger Rabbit’s Jessica Rabbit being a prime example. It sounds like the filmmakers wanted to even the playing field and really focus on giving audiences some male characters to dream about. As writer/producer Phil Lord shared as well: 

Honestly, they knew what they were doing with the entire Across The Spider-Verse cast! You can check out the full video of the Spider-Verse filmmakers talking about Miguel O’Hara’s “ginormous ass” below, amidst the team winning the top spot on the Letterboxd 2023 highest rated films list: 

In addition to the acclaimed sequel earning the aforementioned honor, we also named it the best of all the Spider-Man movies, and it's also among the 2024 Oscar nominees that's up for Best Animated Feature. We certainly haven’t seen the last of Miguel O’Hara following the cliffhanger ending of Across The Spider-Verse. I'm curious as to how the creative team manages to maintain (or expand upon) his sexiness in the trilogy capper, Beyond The Spider-Verse, which is currently in production. While we wait, you can revisit Across or check it out for the first time using a Netflix subscription.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s post-Endgame era, a myriad of new heroes have been introduced without a real path forward for their futures in upcoming Marvel movies or TV shows. Among them is Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight, who had his own place on the Marvel TV show slate back in 2022. Amidst the uncertainty of what’s next for the cloaked hero, Isaac recently shared his thoughts on his return. He had some good ideas!

When Oscar Isaac was part of Middle East Film & Comic Con in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, the Moon Knight actor was asked about how he’d like to see the MCU character return. Here’s what he said: 

Isaac’s comments (via Twitter) express ongoing interest from the actor to continue to be part of the superhero universe should his arc continue! Following the ending of Moon Knight Season 1, he feels like the storyline really “set the groundwork” for the character to be developed further and even be part of a team. The team he specifically pointed to, after a fan brought it up to him is a comic book team called the Midnight Sons. 

Who are the Midnight Sons, you may ask? It’s a team of supernatural heroes who are brought together in the comics when Lilith, the Mother of Demons becomes a villain on Earth. The members of the team include Blade, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, Scarlet Spider and Moon Knight. 

The team first appeared in a 1992 volume of Ghost Rider and returned for a nine-issue anthology series called Midnight Sons Unlimited, which ran from 1993 to 1995. Many of the members of Midnight Sons have either already appeared in the MCU or could in the future. I’m looking at the upcoming Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali, which could be a great vehicle to set up the Midnight Suns, perhaps after the vampire hunter pisses off some underworld baddies. 

While it’s perhaps more likely that Moon Knight would join the next Avengers team, I’m almost more on board to see the Midnight Sons, especially to keep things fresh in the MCU. Let’s face it, between the start of the MCU and Avengers: Endgame, we saw a pretty perfect iteration of the World’s Mightiest Heroes, and it would be a blast to see this fantastical subsect of characters band together to fight off some demons.

When it comes to Oscar Isaac’s future in the MCU (or other superhero projects for that matter), the actor shared there’s no “hard fast rule” when it comes to his involvement in projects like Moon Knight or the greater Marvel world, but he’s always looking to do something “different” and “new” along with looking for a great story to be part of. 

Along with Moon Knight, Oscar Isaac has played two other characters prior in the Marvel Comic book world before, between his villain in X-Men: Apocalypse and his voice role of Miguel O’Hara in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. While I get attached to the formation of the Midnight Sons, you can catch up on Moon Knight right now with a Disney+ subscription. 

Yorgos Lathimos’ Poor Things is a movie that’s getting a lot of critic buzz right now. The performances of Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo are all in the Oscar conversation right now, but it turns out Ruffalo was far from sure about his performance, leading to Dafoe deciding to mess with his co-star by telling him he was going to get replaced by Oscar Isaac.

Speaking with Esquire, Willem Dafoe praises Ruffalo in Poor Things, but explains that Ruffalo himself wasn’t sure he was doing a great job. He looked to, and got, reassurance from his castmates, but Dafoe ultimately decided to play on the insecurities by playing a joke on Ruffalo…

It’s maybe not that surprising that Mark Ruffalo would be less than sure about his performance in Poor Things, as it's a weird movie. Ruffalo's character is unlike anything we’ve seen him play in quite some time, and he goes intentionally over the top with it, which fits perfectly with the tone of the film, but might not feel that way when performing it on set. 

It turns out that another star, Oscar Issac, was in Budapest at the same time filming a movie at the same studio where Poor Things was in production.  When Mark Ruffalo happened to see Isaac, he worried the actor might have been there to replace him. Dafoe, who had been in The Card Counter cast with Isaac, went to his former co-star and got him to play the part in a joke to make Ruffalo think his worst fears had come true. Dafoe continued… 

Mark Ruffalo is great in Poor Things, at least according to many critics and the people who hand out awards. Our own Poor Things review said Ruffalo nearly stole the show. He’s received nominations for Best Supporting Actor by several different critics organizations, and he made the list of 2024 Golden Globes nominees, alongside his co-star who played the joke on him. The film is likely to garner more than a couple of Oscar nominations, and Ruffalo may very well be one of them.

There are just as many great and popular Saturday Night Live sketches as there are segments that are not remembered quite as fondly. However, there also exists a strange middle ground of sketches that seem so one-note and infantile that we should feel like our time is wasted, but we don't. This is because the bizarre nature of the bit or even just one unique key component or moment makes it all feel enjoyable and worthwhile. We actually managed to come up with many examples of SNL sketches we believe you will enjoy while not quite understanding why.

Angelo (Season 47)

While he only made it one season on SNL, Aristotle Athari still had an ultra-memorable recurring character whose whole premise seemed like it would get old immediately after his Season 47 debut. Yet, somehow, international lounge singer Angelo’s improvisational songs — all nearly identical ramblings of gibberish — get big laughs every time. Maybe he truly is the genius they say he is.

SNL Digital Short: Anger Problem (Season 32) 

In their infancy, the SNL Digital Shorts were, dare we say, plagued by a shabbily random structure, like this one involving an unstable fast food manager (Fred Armisen), an exploding head mannequin, and a holiday greeting in the Lost font — supposedly in reference to host and Lost cast member Matthew Fox. Armisen’s commitment to every ludicrous threat at his employees — complete with an estimated time of attack — is what keeps this bit amusing.

Chandeliers (Season 31)

This sketch pokes fun at local ads for specialty shops from a few different angles — such as promoting the titular ceiling installation as the highway to a fancy lifestyle and an awkward attempt to include the store owners’ child (host Scarlett Johansson). Above all, however, the funniest part about the sketch might be Fred Armisen’s pronunciation of “chandelier” with a heavy Brooklyn accent.

SNL Digital Short: Daiquiri Girl (Season 33)

This Digital Short — framed as a creepy dude’s (Andy Samberg) poorly produced musical tribute to a woman who shares his love of daiquiris — kind of cheats its way onto this list. It apologetically acknowledges its own objective flaws with a cheeky text scroll explaining that musical guest Gnarls Barkley backed out of the original plan, forcing the creators to turn to alcohol for inspiration.

SNL Digital Short: The Date (Season 35) 

The joke here initially seems to be based on the unlikelihood of a woman, like host Megan Fox, dating a guy as strange as Will Forte’s character, until she appears to like him for being a S.W.A.T. team commander and his heart-wrenching confession about selling his pet lambs’ meat. The twist that even he would refuse to marry her is a bit predictable, but Forte’s unsettling manner of speaking and his tendency to turn his emotions on a dime at least keeps your attention.

Fart Face (Season 34)

When you establish the main idea of a sketch — in this case, a veteran office worker begrudgingly nicknamed “Fart Face” — and the audience responds with dead silence, you know you are in trouble, especially when this playground insult is repeated enough times to play a potentially fatal drinking game with. Leave it to host Josh Brolin to give the bit a slight boost by incorporating the same level of professionalism we have seen in all his best movies though to make it funny.

Haunted Elevator (Ft. David S. Pumpkins) (Season 42)

It is easy to understand why, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hanks was initially hesitant to play the very bewildering David S. Pumpkins. However, it is equally easy to see how the incomprehensibly charismatic goof instantly became one of Hanks’ most iconic SNL characters. After our first interaction with the silly character, he would also return with his skeleton friends (Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day) in an animated Halloween special and a Season 48 sequel sketch. 

The Herlihy Boy House-Sitting Service (Season 19)

Sometimes, just putting Chris Farley and Adam Sandler on stage together was enough to ensure comedy gold. I think with any two other SNL cast members, this sketch — starring Sandler as a house-sitter desperate for work and Farley as his extremely supportive boss (or father or rehab sponsor, maybe?) — would have crumbled underneath its thin concept.

SNL Digital Short: Hey! (Murray Hill) (Season 34)

In the history of SNL Digital Shorts sending up modern teen TV dramas, some have been refreshingly clever (i.e., “Dear Sister"), while others offer nothing of the sort. Like this one in which the only joke is that James Franco’s character has a “tiny ding-dong.” If not for the Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively’s rejuvenating cameo at the end, this Murray Hill episode would have been completely lost in obscurity.

Holes (Season 44)

This musical video in the style of a ‘90s power ballad is just a little too repetitive to earn the honor of being a classic, even with a guitar-shredding Adam Sander flashing some dirty, protrusive teeth for some reason. However, its concept about clothes technically counting as holes with the purpose of covering holes on the human anatomy is oddly fascinating.

I'll See You In Hell (Season 21)

By the end of this sketch — in which Joe (Jim Carrey) gets addicted to saying, “I’ll see you in Hell,” after its use on a thieving colleague earns him respect in the office — you’ll never want to hear the phrase again. That being said, Carrey keeps the one-joke bit somewhat fresh with a new take on the insult almost every time, and the final punchline is not bad either.

Joker Wedding (Season 48)

For the first half of this sketch — in which a Halloween wedding ceremony is nearly ruined by the best man (Andrew Dismukes) dressing as Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight — it seems like the only point is hearing “Joker” repeated ad nauseam. It takes a pretty fun turn, however, when the guests vote on his right to keep the costume Survivor-style, complete with a Jeff Probst cameo.

SNL Digital Short: Lettuce (Season 31)

While the legendary “Lazy Sunday” was The Lonely Island’s breakout SNL moment, their official, much-forgotten debut digital short was “Lettuce.” Honestly, we don’t blame anyone for subconsciously blocking out this bit — nothing more than Andy Samberg and Will Forte discussing a personal tragedy between big bites of leafy green vegetables — but if you can find it, you might find yourself unable to look away.

The Librarian (Season 42)

I imagine the pitch here was, “Let’s make Margot Robbie disgusting!” Well, we can’t say they didn’t nail it, and with some ideas that we truly did not see coming — eating a banana peel, “straight-up murder,” and the random appearance of Beck Bennett with a snake. Plus, setting the scenario to the iconic movie song, Yello’s “Oh Yeah,” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an inspired choice.

Meatballs (Season 47)

Maybe it is not entirely fair to call this pre-taped, partially musical bit “terrible” since the concept of a woman (Sarah Sherman) with singing meatballs on her skin is pretty inventive and heightened by the participation of host Oscar Isaac and musical guest Charlie XCX. It’s just that it’s pretty gross and, therefore, not the easiest thing to sit through for the more squeamish.

SNL Digital Short: My Testicles (Season 31)

The subject matter of this ‘90s dance music parody featuring a Right Said Fred-esque duo called Ariel (Andy Samberg) and Efrim (Tom Hanks) makes us thoroughly uncomfortable and their inability to rhyme a single lyric is cringeworthy. Yet, we cannot stop watching it and can’t help but chuckle every time.  

Rap Roundtable (Season 46)

Nunya Bizness (Ego Nwodim) hosts a panel of hip-hop artists including Queen Latifah (Punkie Johnson), Questlove (as himself), and a fresh, young duo (Pete Davidson and Timothée Chalamet) whose primary contribution to the conversation is the sounds “yeet” and “skirt.” Admittedly, some of their mindless ramblings earn a chuckle or two, but Questlove slapping Davidson and then striking Chalamet’s character with his hair pick are the most satisfying moments.

Ratatouille (Season 46)

In our opinion, the night John Krasinski hosted SNL for the first time was what we might call a “terrible, yet amazing” episode, especially with this sketch. It’s a far less kid-friendly take on one of the best Pixar movies, Ratatouille, and instead of a rat helping a man with his performance in the kitchen, this rat helps Krasinski’s character with his performance in bed.

SNL Digital Short: Roy Rules! (Season 32)

Early on, it’s easy to write off this musical short in which Andy Samberg professes his unhealthy attraction toward his sister’s husband, Roy, as an egregiously raunchy one-joke throwaway bit. However, you start to see the clip in a whole new light when Andy reveals the segment is a prank on his actual brother-in-law, as he confirmed in an IGN interview in 2012. 

Potato Chip (Season 35)

When choosing SNL sketches we believed were both terrible and amazing, the first one we thought of was this thoroughly peculiar bit in which an aspiring astronaut (Jason Sudeikis) blows his chance when he steals a potato chip from a NASA recruiter’s (Will Forte) desk. For one, everyone's commitment to this asinine concept — especially host Blake Lively — is legendary, but what really takes it over the edge is when Sudeikis physically returns the chip he ate.

Short Term Memory Loss Theater (Season 38)

This is one of those sketches that is actually enhanced — dare we say, saved — by someone who couldn't stop laughing during a sketch. In this case, it was Bill Hader as a doctor who must constantly assist his patients afflicted with short-term memory loss with their lines in a play. Otherwise, the joke might have gotten too old and too fast, leaving no bearing on our memory.

Spelling Bee (Season 31)

Will Forte plays a young spelling bee contestant so nervous that he spends well over a minute spouting random letters (mostly “q’s”) while attempting to spell the word “business.” It’s a very simple premise, but Forte’s stone-cold, deadpan delivery actually keeps it afloat, and the Tenacious D cameo is a perfect way to end it.

Suitcase Boy (Season 11)

In an otherwise forgettable moment from one of SNL’s most infamous seasons, Robert Downey Jr. performs a “confrontational monologue” while housed in a suitcase for no discernible reason. The one incoherent ramble we found unintentionally interesting was when the future MCU star mentioned that he learned why whales beach themselves from Spider-Man.

Technology Hump: Emma Stone (Season 37)

This sketch featuring Andy Samberg and host Emma Stone is actually just one edition of a recurring bit in which smartphones, cameras, and other forms of technology are used to simulate intimate romance scenarios. Why? We have no idea. Why do we find it entertaining? Still totally stumped.

Waking Up (Season 48)

Pedro Pascal could not help but laugh on SNL a few times during his hosting debut, including in this sketch in which he comes out of a coma with a strange new personality and an even stranger voice. While you could see the voice as a bit annoying, the dialogue maddeningly low-brow, and the entire concept pretty lifeless, it's honestly so hilarious, and that's because the Last of Us cast member makes it charming.

What The Hell Is That? (Season 5)

We have little interest in watching two brainless individuals take turns expressing their bewilderment over an unidentifiable object without any context. We do, however, love Bill Murray (seemingly debuting his Caddyshack character here) and Steve Martin (arguably the all-time greatest SNL host), whose collaboration saves this otherwise empty bit.

America's Funniest Pets (Season 42)

Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon play hosts of a French show presenting funny homemade clips of domestic animals who prove to have a dark sense of humor (or lack thereof) when visiting its American version. What makes the mostly one-joke premise particularly memorable, however, is that the American host is Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, portrayed with an overly-animated impersonation by a star of many Ron Howard movies, Tom Hanks.

Big Dumb Hat (Season 48)

This sketch, featuring host Amy Schumer, quickly begins to suffer from being as irritating as the titular fashion trend it is poking fun at. Luckily, it does earn some solid chuckles for a few jokes about the kind of people who do wear “Big Dumb Hats” that, as anyone who knows this kind of person can support, are pretty spot on.

Sarcasm 101 (Season 23)

Host Matthew Perry essentially plays Chandler Bing in this classroom sketch, technically making it one of three Friends parodies from this episode alone (including the monologue), for which we deduct points. Also, many of the funniest moments from this lesson in smart-alecky behavior come courtesy of the late Norm Macdonald, but in ways that almost seem unintentional from his broken cadence, giving the bit a thoroughly awkward aura.

Patrick Kelly and Gunther Kelly (Season 28)

This is actually one of several segments in which Patrick (Will Forte) and Gunther Kelly (Fred Armisen) appear on “Weekend Update” to inform people of a pressing topic with a song that actually offers no valuable information, save Forte’s ability to hit some crazy high notes. We chose to highlight this song asking viewers to “listen up” about SARS because, out of all their greatest hits, it is the weirdest and most irritating, but perhaps the biggest banger, too.

Steve's Beanie Babies (Season 47)

We’d call Lizzo a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig, especially in how her uncontrollable laughter likely enhanced this sketch in which she plays the wife of a man (Andrew Dismukes) who freaks out after learning his Beanie Babies collection is worthless. The ensuing revelation of how he quit his job (talking through his butt like Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura) and ludicrous aspiration to make a living drawing Nintendo’s Mario feel so half-heartedly wedged in, but its the ludicrousness of the situation that also earns laughs.

In retrospect, maybe being a little awkward and bizarre is exactly what makes an SNL a classic.

It’s no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. The genre continues to be powerful force in the entertainment industry, with various cinematic universes competing at the box office. While Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy was massively successful, Sony’s animated Spider-Verse is also acclaimed, with Into The Spider-Verse even earning an Academy Award. But will these characters ever get the live-action treatment? Some epic fan art transformed Oscar Isaac into a live-action Spider-Man 2099, and I’m so into it.

Prior to the release of Across the Spider-Verse earlier this year, Oscar Isaac made his debut as Spider-Man 2099 during the final moments of Into the Spider-Verse. That role was greatly expanded in the acclaimed sequel, although some fans want to see him as the futuristic web slinger in live-action. Fan art on Instagram brought that to life, check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? Oscar Isaac looks thoroughly badass as Spider-Man 2099, complete with a comic book accurate costume. It’s unclear if/when Sony and Marvel might bring this version of the wall crawler to live-action, but clearly the Star Wars icon can pull off the look. Now make it happen, you cowards!

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of digital artist Subi Özil. They’ve got over 16k followers on Instagram thanks to epic renderings of comic book heroes, especially those within Spider-Man lore. And while we wait to see if/when Tom Holland will return for a fourth Spider-Man movie, this type of fan art might help to satiate the appetite of the rabid fanbase. 

While Into the Spider-Verse was an Oscar winning adventure through the multiverse, the world of that franchise got much bigger with Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. The trio of directors added way more variations of the hero, including Daniel Kaluuya’s Spider-Punk. Poor protagonist Miles Morales had to face off against various version of Spider-Man, to dizzying results.

Of course, Spider-Man 2099 isn’t the only character from the animated Spider-Verse that fans want to see pop up in live-action, possibly within the MCU. Moviegoers want to see  live-action Miles Morales for the first time, following the animated series and Playstation’s Spider-Man video game. For his part, actor Shameik Moore seems interested in physically playing Miles after voicing the character for two projects. 

Unfortunately, fans are currently in the dark regarding what's next for the live-action Spider-Man franchise. Tom Holland has expressed interest in taking a break, after filming 6 movies as Peter Parker in quick succession. The twist ending of No Way Home saw the world forget who Peter was, including Ned and MJ. And now the story could seemingly go anywhere. 

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is available to rent now. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s no secret that Oscar Isaac and Pedro Pascal are real-life besties who go back nearly 20 years now. Many love their bromance more than they can take, and absolutely loved seeing them star in the same movie with 2019’s Triple Frontier, along with both playing major characters in the Star Wars universe. With Isaac being a Marvel actor on multiple fronts, he recently mentioned Pascal when imagining the possibilities of the Spider-Verse, because of course. 

After previously playing the villain in X-Men: Apocalypse and becoming Moon Knight, Oscar Isaac found yet another Marvel role recently as the voice of Miguel O'Hara in the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse cast. When asked if there is anyone he’d like to see join the animated universe in the upcoming sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Isaac had this to say:  

Yeah… this needs to happen now that Isaac mentions it. Oddly enough, Pedro Pascal has yet to find a role from that comic book world, even though we have a few Marvel character ideas for the actor. It would be so fun for Isaac and Pascal to reunite in the animated world somehow, even if Pascal only has a small cameo in Beyond the Spider-Verse. It sounds like Isaac had his way, he’d cast him as a “cranky, old Spider-Person,” which is obviously hilarious. 

Isaac has a great idea here for his longtime buddy Pedro Pascal, and given the indefinite delay of Beyond the Spider-Verse, perhaps there’s still time to pencil him into the film. The trilogy closer was initially dated to come out in early 2024, but after rumors pointed to the production not being even close to being ready, plus the WGA writers strike and SAG actors strike currently in place, it’s going to be a waiting game before we know when to expect the next animated Spider-Verse movie. 

In the meantime, Across The Spider-Verse recently became available to buy on digital and is heading to Blu-ray on September 5. In the highly-rated sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, Isaac played Miguel O’Hara, a Spider-Man variant who is the leader of the Spider Society, which is committed to protecting the multiverse from major threats. Miles Morales becomes the latest target for the society when a significant event in his life doesn’t happen. 

Since Across The Spider-Verse came out in June, the internet has been thirsting over his character, and undoubtedly the same would happen if Pedro Pascal would join the franchise. You can stay updated with upcoming Marvel movies here on CinemaBlend as we rack the comic book shelves for the perfect character for The Last of Us actor. 

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has finally arrived, and it’s making a serious impression on moviegoers. The animated sequel is receiving strong reviews and reportedly crushing at the box office during its opening weekend. On top of that, the long-awaited movie has also gone viral for a number of reasons. An element that’s proving to be one of the biggest draws is Miguel O’Hara a.k.a. Spider-Man 2099, who’s voiced by Oscar Isaac. To put it mildly, the Internet has become downright thirsty over the fan-favorite comic book hero. Because of course it would go wild over a character that Isaac’s playing. 

The sequel introduces a number of new characters (some of which have been comic book staples for a while), and they all seem to be amassing greater followings after the film’s premiere. Though based on Twitter, there seems to be a particularly significant amount of love for Miguel, who’s described by Gwen Stacy as a ninja vampire Spider-Man. Social media posts suggest that some people want O’Hara to do more than take a bite out of them: 

Let’s be honest, the character design is definitely fresh and, while O’Hara is presented as an incredibly serious individual, he also exudes a suave swagger. Another fan definitely took notice of that very thing, and it’s apparently caused them to react accordingly: 

Considering how visceral some of these messages are, you may be wondering just how people actually reacted in the theater when Spider-Man 2099 showed up on screen for the first time. I honestly didn’t see anyone fainting or hollering during my own showing. However, one user joked about being the sole person to get hot and bothered by his debut: 

Miguel O’Hara made his franchise debut during the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. In the sequel, he’s established as the leader of the Spider-Society, which was formed in order to protect the multiverse. Young Miles Morales eventually gets on Miguel’s radar, and let’s just say that he’s not too impressed by the vibrant, young web-slinger. Unlike Morales, O’Hara’s been around the block and has plenty of training under his belt. That's evident through his physique, which garnered the following response: 

“Slutty” may not have been the first word that comes to mind when I think about the design, but whatever floats your boat, I suppose? And that’s far from the steamiest joke that someone’s made about Oscar Isaac’s Spidey. One other fan humorously imagined being alone with him and another animated character: 

At this point, Oscar Isaac is definitely no stranger to being the object of the Internet’s affection (or obsession) in one form or another. He went viral for his Dune look, which even garnered a response from his Star Wars co-star, John Boyega. Isaac also caused a stir for calling himself a “cock tease,” and the resulting comments were interesting, to say the least. And let’s not forget his viral red carpet moment with good friend Jessica Chastain, who later addressed it. It’s honestly impressive how Isaac gives off swoon-worthy energy regardless of the role he takes on and, as far as we’ve seen, he handles all of the attention quite well.

It should also be noted, however, that the actor’s actual performance as Miguel O’Hara is incredibly compelling and is one of the highlights of the film. He makes the jaded and tragic O’Hara a Shakespearan figure. So I’d suggest that when you see the movie, make note of the nuances of Miguel as well. But of course, I’m not going to tell you to stop posting those thirst-related tweets at your leisure.

Hear Oscar Isaac give his A+ performance in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse by checking it out in theaters now. You can also take a look at CinemaBlend’s schedule of 2023 new movie releases to stay up on other big film titles that are arriving this year.

While he may not be the most prolific filmmaker in Hollywood and beyond, Guillermo Del Toro would easily be described as one of the most passionate, and it’s specifically that passion that has fueled his countless efforts to spearhead a classic Universal monster movie. That still hasn’t happened yet, with the studio’s Dark Universe still not fully formed in scope, so the director partnered with Netflix for a new feature based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel that will presumably give him free rein on the visuals. Now, it looks like Del Toro has a trio of huge names lined up to join his newest feature, in the form of a pair of MCU stars and a modern day Scream Queen.

No doubt still celebrating his Best Animated Feature win at this year’s Oscars for his Netflix Pinocchio adaptation, Guillermo Del Toro seems to be taking strides with his next meticulously crafted live-action horror feature. According to Deadline, producers are in early talks to bring in Moon Knight’s Oscar Isaac, Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Andrew Garfield, and Ti West’s X and Pearl star Mia Goth. Nothing is super official just yet, and the streaming giant hasn’t confirmed, but that kind of casting news could instantly put the filmmaker’s Frankenstein near the top of the most anticipated Netflix movies on the way. 

At this still early point in the process, Del Toro is reportedly still toiling away on bringing the script together, though it’s not entirely certain how he’ll be adapting Mary Shelley’s iconic story, as far as whether it will be faithfully set in the historical timeline, or if it will be more of a modern reimagining. It’s reported that the actors haven’t yet received any formal offers to join the cast, but that the director has indeed met with each of them. It’s said that each is interested and inclined to join in on the monstrous fun. 

Mia Goth — whose horror creds also include A Cure for Wellness, 2018’s Suspiria remake, Marrowbone and new-to-2023 release Infinity Pool — is understandably believed to be in line to take on the role of Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s love interest, though the context of their romance is up to anyone’s imagination. As much as I’m sure Del Toro would love to turn Goth into his own version of the Bride of Frankenstein, the specifics of that character and other details fall into copyrighted territories, so he’ll maybe need to stick closer to the source material in that respect.

Meanwhile, it's unknown who would be playing the maddest doctor of them all, Victor Frankenstein, between Isaac and Garfield. It's also not known exactly who the other actor would be portraying, though it's safe to bet that an Igor-esque assistant would be involved. Considering his highly acclaimed performance in FX's Under the Banner of Heaven, Garfield would also be a solid choice for whatever community leader eventually steps in to try and thwart the doc's resurrection-minded efforts, and/or to destroy the abomination that's eventually created. But then he's also tall, so he'll probably be the Monster.

News of this project may or may not conflict with other upcoming movies and shows that the rumored star trio have lined up. Just this week, Oscar Isaac was announced as a lead in Amazon Studios' drama Helltown, which will explore Kurt Vonnegut's early adult life before becoming a legendary author.  Also this week, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh are set to co-star in a new romantic comedy feature called We Live in Time. And then fans can expect to see Mia Goth at some point in the near-ish future in the third film of Ti West's southern fried porn trilogy MaXXXine.

Not to mention the fact that Del Toro himself is reportedly working on another stop-motion animated feature called The Buried Giant, for which he's currently co-writing the script, and is set to eventully direct. Given how long it takes to pull that kind of movie together, horror fans would no doubt like to see him bring Frankenstein to the operating table first. 

We'll have to wait and see if and when Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein will come alive...aliiiiiive...but there are lots of ways to utilize a Netflix subscription until then, so don't miss out!

Over a decade ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was founded with a principal lineup of characters including Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Thor, and among the many things that has changed since those early years is an increased focus on diversity and youth. In Phase 4 particularly, both on the big screen and the small, MCU fans were introduced to a fantastic roster of new heroes from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they all are expected to contribute in major ways to what’s ahead in the franchise.

Of course, given the scale of the canon at this point, it can be tricky to keep track of all the new names being introduced, so we’ve put together this guide highlighting all of the fresh faces that fans should get used to seeing in Marvel Phase 5 and beyond.

Alaqua Cox As Echo

Marvel fans were first introduced to the awesomeness of Alaqua Cox’s Echo in Hawkeye, where she was introduced as an intense crime boss looking to get revenge for the death of her father. She’ll be back soon in her own solo Disney+ series, which will see her, in part, deal with the consequences from taking a shot at Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin.

Awkwafina As Katy

Awkwafina’s Katy is a normal woman who is thrown headfirst into the craziness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to her friendship with Shang-Chi (more on him later). Where he goes, we expect she will follow and have his back – especially now that she has honed some killer archery skills.

Brian Tyree Henry As Phastos

A member of the Eternals, Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos has a bit of a dark history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it was his incredible ingenuity that in part led to the horrific bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. This led him to put aside his skills as an inventor and focus on living a human-like existence raising a son with his husband.

Danny Ramirez As Joaquin Torres

During Steve Rogers’ run as Captain America, he had Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson as brothers in arms who always fought by his side, and now that Sam is wearing the star-spangled suit and shield, he has Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres. Fans first meet Joaquin as he is helping Sam during an Air Force mission in The Falcon And The Winter Solider, and we will soon see the characters back together on screen in Captain America: New World Order.

Dominique Thorne As Riri Williams

Move over, Shuri and Peter Parker. There is a new hero in the MCU vying for the title of “most brilliant young inventor.” Dominque Thorne’s Riri Williams makes a remarkable impression as a genius technological mind in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her first steps towards being known to the world as Ironheart, and audiences will get to see that journey continue in the upcoming Ironheart Disney+ series.

Florence Pugh As Yelena Belova

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has no shortage of charismatic ass-kickers, but Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova has already made herself stand out from the crowd following Black Widow and the Hawkeye series. The former Russian assassin is, for all intents and purposes, the franchise’s new Black Widow, following the death of Natasha Romanoff, and there is anticipation for everything she has in the works – the standout title being Thunderbolts.

Gemma Chan As Sersi

At the end of Eternals, it looks like the brilliant, matter-transforming Sersi, played by Gemma Chan, is on a path to start living a happy, human-like life – with her relationship with Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman deepening. Sadly, those plans hit a snag when the Celestial, Arishem, comes to Earth and kidnaps her to space along with the other Eternals still alive and on the planet (including the aforementioned Phastos and the forthcoming Kingo). What’s next for her is unknown, but exciting.

Hailee Steinfeld As Kate Bishop

After decades of fighting for S.H.I.E.L.D. and serving as an Avenger, Clint Barton has certainly earned retirement – but it doesn’t seem he’ll be quite ready to hang up his purple costume until his successor is ready to take on the Hawkeye mantle. Said successor is Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop: an incredibly gifted and enthusiastic young woman who has a wide variety of skills, but chief among them is her talent with a bow-and-arrow.

Iman Vellani As Kamala Khan

Played by MCU superfan Iman Vellani, Kamala Khan is an Avengers superfan in the canon who lives the dream of gaining powers. In Ms. Marvel, it at first seems that her energy-based powers come from wearing a supernatural bangle, but she has since been recognized as the franchise’s first identified mutant. Expect that to come up when we see her next in The Marvels.

India Rose Hemsworth As Love

We have no idea when we will next see Love, or if she will continue to be played by India Rose Hemsworth in future movies after her debut at the end of Thor: Love And Thunder, but this list would be incomplete without mentioning her. She is the daughter of Gorr The God Butcher, and has remarkable gifts as a result – meaning Thor is going to have his hand’s full in the future as her guardian.

Kathryn Newton As Cassie Lang

Technically, Marvel fans have known Cassie Lang since Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (first played by Abby Ryder Fortson), but she is all grown up now following The Blip, and ready to be reintroduced as a new hero: Stature. She’s played by Kathryn Newton in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, which features her coming into her own as a scientist and dabbling in her father’s quantum research.

Kumail Nanjiani As Kingo

Like Phastos and Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo was seemingly in big trouble the last time we saw him – taken by Arishem into space to face consequences for their role in halting the birth of the new Celestial being born inside Earth. Not only is the character’s fate unclear, but his incredibly successful, multi-generational Bollywood acting career may be in jeopardy as well.

Lauren Ridloff As Makkari

Unlike the other Eternals who have already been mentioned, Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari didn’t stay on Earth at the end of the 2021 blockbuster – instead choosing to leave the planet with Thena and Druig to find Eternals on other worlds and tell them about their true natures. This plan, however, may change in the wake of the space travelers learning what happened to Phastos, Sersi, and Kingo.

Lia McHugh As Sprite

Once an Eternal, but no more! At the end of Eternals, the forever-youthful Sprite, played by Lia McHugh, undergoes a transformation and becomes truly human thanks to Sersi. Will she enjoy the experience? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Mahershala Ali As Blade

We’ve thus far only heard the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade, the infamous comic book vampire hunter, but soon he will be getting his very own MCU spotlight with the Phase 5 release of his solo film. Be warned, bloodsuckers!

May Calamawy As Layla El-Faouly

Indiana Jones is cool and all, but is he imbued with superpowers as a result of being the avatar for an Egyptian god? The answer is no, and that’s the edge that May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly will always maintain over her fellow pop culture archeologist. She made her MCU debut as the wife of Marc Spector (more on him in a bit) in Disney+’s Moon Knight, and by the finale she takes on the superhero mantle Scarlet Scarab.

Meng'er Zhang As Xu Xialing

The leader of the Ten Rings is a daunting position, as the organization orchestrates crime on a global level, but Meng’er Zhang’s Xu Xialing looks pretty damn comfortable in the role in the end credits of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. She is officially the successor to The Mandarin in the MCU, and we’ll have to wait and see how she wields her power.

Michaela Coel As Aneka

It’s a high honor in Wakanda to be named a member of the Dora Milaje, but Michaela Coel’s Aneka gets an even bigger privilege than that in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the blockbuster she is featured fighting alongside Okoye wearing one of the two Midnight Angel suits, and the will and skill demonstrated in the battle against Talocan will surely only fortify her reputation among the royals going forward.

Oscar Isaac As Marc Spector/Steven Grant

Who is the hero known as Moon Knight? That’s a complicated question, as his secret identity is fractured as a result of him having dissociative identity disorder. He was born Marc Spector, who becomes a skilled soldier in his adulthood, but he also lives a life as Steven Grant, a museum curator in England. Obviously only making things more complicated is that he is the avatar for the justice-obsessed Egyptian god Khonshu.

Simu Liu As Shang-Chi

Xu Xialing may control the organization known as the Ten Rings, but Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi is the one who actually possesses the incredibly powerful bands that give the wearer supernatural abilities. At the end of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, the hero is shown getting back to a somewhat normal life and hanging out with Katy, but it most definitely won’t be long until he returns to a good fight against evil.

Sophia Di Martino As Sylvie

Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie is unique on this list in that she is the only one not from the main MCU universe; she is a version of Loki from an alternate dimension with a quest to destroy the Time Variance Authority. She actually accomplished this task at the end of Loki Season 1…but we don’t know yet how it has changed her existence.

Tatiana Maslany As Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk

It’s not easy being both a Hulk and a lawyer, but Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, makes it work in the meta Disney+ comedy series, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. She’s mostly focused on the legal realm for now, namely practicing superhero law, but fans anticipate a call to action with the Avengers before too long.

Tenoch Huerta As Namor

Is Namor a hero or a villain? That depends on your perspective – but he’s certainly a hero in the eyes of the people of Talocan: the underwater nation he rules over like a god. Like Kamala Khan, he’s a mutant and he has remarkable abilities beyond his capacity to live underwater. He can fly thanks to Hermes-like wings on his ankles, and he is both phenomenally strong and durable.

Teyonah Parris As Monica Rambeau

The life of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau changes in every way during the events of WandaVision. Working as an agent of S.W.O.R.D., she is sent to investigate a strange anomaly in northern New Jersey – and not only does she literally get sucked into Scarlet Witch’s grief-related drama, but she ends up gaining superpowers. We’ll see her put those skills to use in The Marvels, where she’ll be featured opposite both Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel.

Xochitl Gomez As America Chavez

Phase 5 has been called the second phase of The Multiverse Saga – and that could suggest that we’ll end up seeing huge things coming from Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez. As established in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, the young hero has the unique ability to jump across universes, and that should be a pretty handy skill as existence gets closer and closer to potential chaos and nothingness.

For further reading, check out our Marvel Movies In Order feature and our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides. 

Oscar Isaac is a flirtatious dude with a great sense of humor. From his steamy moment on the red carpet with Jessica Chastain last year, to the “cock sock” he gave to Denis Villeneuve as a gift after filming his nude scene in Dune, it’s pretty clear that he is both flirtatious and fun, with a sexual sense of humor, and he’s not afraid to talk about it. This sense of humor was firing on all cylinders recently when the Moon Knight actor referred to himself as a “cock tease.” Now, after hearing this, the internet has some thoughts. 

While in an interview about his new comic book Head Wounds: Sparrow with Collider, Isaac was asked about the possibility of a Season 2 for Moon Knight. This is a topic that even if he does know something, he can't talk about it. For years now, all upcoming Marvel projects have been shrouded in secrecy, however, they are also hot topics. When asked about them, some actors aggressively and hilariously deny the rumors (I’m looking at you Andrew Garfield), or straight up give away spoilers (cough, cough Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo), or go the boring route and just say I don’t know. Meanwhile, Oscar Isaac is saying things like this: 

Yes, you heard that right. When asked about adding a second season of Moon Knight to the list of upcoming Marvel shows, rather than just saying ‘I don’t know,’ Isaac gave a very Oscar Isaac response, calling himself a “cock tease.”  While it was funny, many people of the internet pointed out how he could have answered, like @chismosavirus who tweeted: 

It seems like many agreed, as the tweet has nearly 5,000 likes on it. Meanwhile, others, like @jessecalvillo commented on how horny his response was, writing: 

Some fans were super shocked by how Isaac responded to the question, commenting funny photos like this one from @kirksburner8: 

Others weren’t as surprised, and had hilarious responses to the Isaac's tease, like @buggis6027 who tweeted: 

And finally, to round out the hilarious, and opinionated, responses to Isaac's sexual way of saying ‘I don’t know,’ @heilthenimon tweeted: 

Could he have just said, “I don’t know,” like the Moon Knight showrunner when asked about the character joining the Avengers? Yes, he could have. But, what fun would that be? These Marvel stars spend a lot of time squirming around questions they can’t answer, and I appreciate Isaac’s sense of humor about it all. I also don’t think it’s all that surprising he responded in this way, because he has an extremely flirtatious and sexy track record. 

I’m sure we’ll get more funny responses like this from Isaac in the near future, as he’s part of the Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse cast and has a few other projects in the works. However, while we wait for more hilarious and sometimes shocking answers from the actor, you can go back and watch the Marvel projects in order, including his show Moon Knight, with a Disney+ subscription. 

The road to bringing the beloved techno-thriller stealth video game Metal Gear Solid to the big screen has been long and winding. CinemaBlend reported in 2012 that a Metal Gear movie was in the works from Columbia Pictures. Still, a decade later, the on-again-of-again project seemingly isn't much closer to becoming a reality. Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts was hired to helm the project in 2014, but details beyond that have been very scarce over the last eight years. Moon Knight actor Oscar Isaac voiced his desire to play Solid Snake in a film adaptation. The movie's director was also keen on the idea because it wasn't long after Isaac made his desires known that the star was officially cast. So what is the state of the movie now?

The Dune star recently spoke to ComicBook.com about his upcoming graphic novel, Head Wounds: Sparrow, but talk soon turned to the ever-in-development Metal Gear project, where the actor gave a minor update. Though Isaac doesn't give us much information to go off of, he reiterates the importance of getting the script and their take on the material "right." The actor also expressed the team's desire to bring Solid Snake to the big screen in a way that will make fans excited. The actor said:

Though a somewhat vague statement, the Ex Machina star seems to confirm the project is still in development while also recognizing the level of care required to get a game adaptation right. If the last few years of adaptations have taught us anything, it's that video game adaptations' greatest strength and weakness can be their loyal fan base. 

Pitfalls A Metal Gear Solid Adaptation Should Try To Avoid.

Movies and television shows based on video game properties are becoming more and more commonplace. You don't have to look further than our upcoming movie releases list or our 2022 television schedule to see how many adaptations were released this year alone, with many more around the corner. Long gone are the days of fans accepting half-baked interpretations or haphazard remixes of their favorite games iconography (I'm looking at you, Netflix's Resident Evil series). Fans often have no problem voicing their opinion when they perceive an adaptation to have missed the mark. For example, look no further than the initial design for Sonic The Hedgehog's first cinematic outing. 

When the trailer for Sonic The Hedgehog dropped, fans were greeted by straight blue nightmare fuel. The initial character design for everyone's favorite Erinaceidae was creepy, to say the least, and fans took no time to go to social media to share their outrage. And for better or worse the film's director and studio listened, hit pause on the movie's release, and gave the character an overhaul, which paid off for the studio. Sonic was now more aligned with what fans had come to love and recognize. With the redesign in place, the Sonic movie was a hit embraced by its fans, who felt heard and had a sense of ownership of the character and film.

For Metal Gear Solid to be successful, it should take a page out of the Sonic The Hedgehog playbook by embracing what fans have come to love about the series. The filmmakers should try and replicate the games' neo-thriller gritty look and feel, of course, but, more importantly, they should embrace the cinematic storytelling already present in the series. 

Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts has said in previous interviews that his take on Metal Gear will be a remix rather than an adaptation of a single game or storyline. This direction, in my view, is a mistake. Anyone who has played a Metal Gear game knows that part of the appeal of the fun of playing them is their hours of dense story and cutaway scenes that are often as rich in detail and depth as any movie. 

Hopefully, the moviemakers will consider choosing one of the eleven games in the series and make a faithful adaptation of its story. If it is a hit with audiences, there will be plenty of time and story left over for sequels, making a remix unnecessary. 

Currently, there is no release date for Metal Gear Solid. For all of your film-going plans in the coming months, you can look at our 2022 Movie Release Schedule.

When Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came out in 2018, the world was shook by the stellar storytelling, groundbreaking animation and slew of unique characters. Now, nearly five years later we have finally gotten the aptly titled sequel: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and along with its incredible story and action, it also features a top-tier voice cast.

The movie has 240 unique characters in the background of the multiverse as Miles and his friends and family try to save it… again. The sequel will focus on Miles and his relationships with a few characters specifically. We’ll see the return of some fan favorites, as well as get to know some new and exciting characters. Here is a list of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's cast members.

Shameik Moore

Shameik Moore came back to play the Spider-verse saga's beloved main character, as confirmed by Across the Spider-Verse's first trailer. We met Miles Morales in Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse and watched as he evolved from a student into a Spider-Man, with the help of three Peter Parkers, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Ham, Peni Parker and his dad Jefferson. Miles fought off Kingpin and saved the world from falling into the multiverse.

While Moore is best known for his role in the Academy Award-winning animated movie, he also starred in the 2015 movie Dope. His other credits include Netflix originals like The Get Down series and the movie Let It Snow, as well as the series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld made her return to the Spider-Verse as Gwen Stacy in the upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, as confirmed in the trailer. Gwen, also known as Spider-Gwen, is not from Miles’ universe, but helped him fix his it in the first movie. 

Steinfeld has been extremely busy. Before the first Spider-Verse movie, she was known for her roles in True Grit, Pitch Perfect 2 and The Edge of Seventeen. Since the animated movie, she has been on a few popular series, including Arcane and Dickinson, which can be watched with a Netflix subscription and  Apple TV+ subscription, respectively. She also made her live-action MCU debut in the Disney+ series Hawkeye as Kate Bishop. 

Oscar Isaac

Making his first appearance in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse Oscar Isaac joined the franchise as Miguel O’Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099. Isaac reprised his role as a version of Spider-Man from the future. He explained in an interview with ScreenRant that his character is hilarious because he has absolutely no sense of humor. 

From indie films to massive franchises, Isaac has done a little bit of everything. Earlier in his career, he was known for smaller, yet acclaimed hits like Ex Machina and Inside Llewyn Davis. He has also starred as Poe Dameron in the latest trilogy of Star Wars movies, played Duke Leto Atreides in Dune and donned a live-action cape to lead the cast of Marvel’s Disney+ series Moon Knight. 

Jake Johnson

Peter B. Parker came crashing (literally) into Miles’ life in the first movie. He became a grumbly and goofy mentor to Miles throughout the film, all while trying to deal with a personal life crisis of his own. Luckily, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the slightly down-on-his-luck version of Peter Parker, because Jake Johnson confirmed his reprisal of the role. He explained that he hadn’t heard from the studio for a while, and he would have been “heartbroken” if he couldn’t be involved. Once he got the call he was ecstatic and said he couldn't wait to see what Peter B. Parker is up to in the web-slinging sequel.  

Johnson is best known for his role as Nick Miller on the Fox comedy New Girl. He has also starred in a lot of smaller movies, like Drinking Buddies, and Safety Not Guaranteed. Most recently, he starred in Minx, which can be watched with an HBO Max subscription. 

Jason Schwartzman

After the directors teased the villain of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, it was later officially announced that this villain is The Spot, and he would be played by Jason Schwartzman. In the comics, The Spot started out as Dr. Jonathan Ohnn who worked for Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin. He gained his powers after the collider exploded in the first movie, and they allow him to travel between dimensions via portals. 

Jason Schwartzman is probably best known for his work with Wes Anderson. He has starred in Anderson’s films Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited and Moonrise Kingdom, and he also made a brief appearance in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Schwartzman has also appeared in Fargo Season 4, and he is set to play Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman in the film adaptation of The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.  

Brian Tyree Henry

Brian Tyree Henry plays Miles' dad Jefferson in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and he was confirmed by Variety to return for the sequel. Jefferson is a cop and he does not like Spider-Man. However, Miles saves his dad at the end of the movie, and it seems like Jefferson's view on the web-slinger may be changing. 

Brian Tyree Henry has been busy since his first go around as Jefferson. He has continued to star in the FX hit show Atlanta, which is currently in its final season. He also made his live-action MCU debut as Phastos in Eternals and starred in the action-comedy Bullet Train earlier this summer. 

Daniel Kaluuya

We found out via a toy release that Spider-Punk would make an appearance in the film, and then it was confirmed that Daniel Kaluuya would be voicing the rock 'n roll Spider-variant. 

Spider-Punk’s name is Hobie Brown, and in the comics, his signature weapon is his guitar. When the casting announcement was made, it was also revealed that Kaluuya's character would be  “a homeless teenager who becomes a hero to the oppressed citizens of New York in his dimensional universe," according to THR.

This will mark Kaluuya's second project in the world of Marvel, as he played W'Kabi in the 2018 hit Black Panther. He has also made a name for himself by way of Jordan Peele's movies Nope and Get Out, which he earned an Oscar nomination for. Speaking of the Academy Awards, the actor won one in 2021 for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah.  

Issa Rae

Issa Rae has entered the Spider-Verse as Jessica Drew in the upcoming sequel. Jessica Drew, also known as Spider-Woman, is a Spider-person who works for Miguel O'Hara and serves as a mentor for Gwen.

Issa Rae came to fame with her YouTube series Awkward Black Girl. She is best known for her work on the HBO show Insecure. She created the show, starred in it and both wrote and executive produced it. She has also appeared in A Black Lady Sketch Show, Lovebirds, and The Photograph. Currently she is an executive producer on Rap Sh!t. 

Luna Lauren Velez - Rio Morales

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we didn’t see much of Miles’ mom, Rio. But Luna Lauren Velez told ComicBookMovie that her character will have a bigger role in the sequel, and she does. We see in the first movie that Rio is a nurse and loves her son dearly, and in the sequel we get a closer look at her relationship with her son and husband.

The actress voicing Rio, Luna Lauren Velez, is probably best known for her work on the Showtime hit Dexter, where she played Maria LaGuerta. She has also appeared in various shows like Oz, Ugly Betty and How to Get Away With Murder. 

Rachel Dratch - Principal

In the first movie, we see Miles transfer into the Brooklyn Visions Academy, which is a prestigious private school. While we meet a few of his teachers, we had yet to meet the principal. Rachel Dratch leads the high school in the sequel, which obviously led to some hilarious interactions between Miles and his principal. 

Rachel Dratch is best known for her time on Saturday Night Live and her characters like Debbie Downer. Since SNL, Dratch has been working consistently with supporting roles in Just Go With It, Click, and Spring Breakdown. Recently, she has appeared in Plan B and I Love My Dad, along with voice acting roles in Teen Titans Go! and Harley Quinn. 

Shea Whigham

When we met Gwen in the first movie, she was alone and not in her universe. In this movie, we got a closer look into her personal life, because Shea Whigham has been cast as her dad, George Stacy. The character is most frequently depicted as a captain of the New York City Police Department. 

Shea Whigham is probably best known for his work on two popular HBO shows, Perry Mason and Boardwalk Empire. He also appeared in the FX anthology series Fargo. Whigham has also shown up in multiple Fast & Furious movies, and he is set to appear in both parts of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning. 

 Jorma Taccone  

Announced at the same time as Schwartzman and Whigham, Jorma Taccone plays The Vulture in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The Vulture is an iconic Spider-Man villain, most recently shown on film when Michael Keaton played him in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Vulture is the alias for Adrian Toomes who is a brilliant engineer. The character is a long-time and classic foe of the Web-Slinger and was one of the founding members of the Sinister Six. This version has been described as a Renaissance-inspired criminal with an Italian accent.

Taccone is likely best known as one-third of the comedy music group The Lonely Island, which also includes Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer. The movie Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping was written by the three dudes of The Lonely Island, and was directed by Schaffer and Taccone.

Andy Samberg

Announced on The Lonely Island's Instagram, it was revealed that Andy Samberg, another member of the comedic rap trio, joined the Spider-Verse. It's been confirmed by the movie's Twitter account that the actor plays Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider in the upcoming movie.

Both Samberg and Taccone worked with Phil Lord and Chris Miller on The LEGO Movie as they wrote the song "Everything is Awesome," so it's not all that surprising that they are both popping up in this Spider-Man movie. Aside from The Lonely Island, Andy Samberg is best known for his work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Saturday Night Live. 

Karan Soni

Pavitr Prabhakar has entered the Spider-Verse, and he is voiced by Karan Soni, per THR. This character is a new one in the world of Spider-Man movies, but he's been swinging around the comics for a while. 

You might recognize Soni from a small role he had in Deadpool as Dopinder the cab driver, where he assisted the merc with a mouth by driving him to battle. He's also appeared in other shows like Miracle Workers, and has done a lot of voice work on series like Big Mouth, Mira, Royal Detective and Trolls Holiday in Harmony. 

Amandla Stenberg

Amandla Stenberg was confirmed as Spider-Byte in a thread on Twitter about the cast of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Her character Margo created a spider-powered avatar so she could fight in cyberspace.

Stenberg broke onto the scene as Rue in The Hunger Games, and has gone on to star in movies like The Hate U Give and Bodies Bodies Bodies. Along with joining the Marvel world, she'll also be flying into the Star Wars universe in the upcoming series The Acolyte. 

This installment of the Spider-Verse franchise is just as epic as the first, and that's in part thanks to the stellar cast and some exciting new characters. While Across the Spider-Verse has been delayed a few times, it made a splash on the 2023 movie schedule, and now the wait has begun for Beyond The Spider-Verse. 

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now available to buy and rent. 

Oscar Isaac’s difficult time on Bryan Singer’s final X-Men movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, has been heavily documented. The star went as far as saying his time as the titular villain was excruciating. How does Isaac feel almost seven years later? Has his tone changed after taking another chance on a superhero franchise, Marvel’s Moon Knight, a series available to anyone with a Disney+ subscription? 

While talking to the New York Times, Isaac spoke about why he was initially onboard to tackle the Apocalypse character and doesn't "disown" the work he did in the timeline of Marvel movies. The actor expressed his original excitement around the role was in part due to the fact he was sharing the screen with such talented costars:

It seems that most of Isaac’s frustration comes from wearing the clunky Apocalypse suit and not being able to interact with some of his favorite fellow actors unencumbered–a complaint I feel sympathetic towards. I would imagine one of the upsides to being an actor and taking on one of these tentpole franchises would be the chance to bond with some of the best working actors.

Even though it was a less-than-ideal situation for the actor, it doesn't seem like Isaac’s time in the Fox X-Men universe was all terrible:

It’s doubly upsetting that the actor's time as Apocalypse wasn’t fulfilling, considering he was an X-Men fan and the portrayal of the character just wasn't handled particularly well. However, I’m happy to hear that Oscar Isaac looks back on his time as Apocalypse with some fondness, and it didn't sour him on taking up superhero roles altogether. Had he been turned off by superhero movies, we might not have seen him in his starring role in Marvel’s top-tier dark series Moon Knight. 

Though a return as Moon Knight has yet to be announced as one of Marvel’s upcoming movies or in another Marvel Disney+ series, it's hard to imagine he won’t be making a return in some capacity after critics and fans alike praised Isaac's work in the series. 

Given the darker tone of Moon Knight, perhaps an appearance in the upcoming Marvel Blade movie would be a natural fit for Isaac’s return to the MCU? We'll let you know if Blade gets any more updates...

Is it over for the Skywalker saga? Recently, it feels like Lucasfilm is starting to make an effort to launch a new era within the Star Wars timeline that doesn’t completely rely on the story (and family) that started it all. With that in mind, we have to wonder if fan-favorites from this period of the franchise will still be explored down the line, like Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron. In the past, the actor hasn’t seemed interested in the prospect of a return, but let’s talk about the latest thoughts he shared when asked about playing the pilot again. 

After wrapping up the role of Poe Dameron in 2019’s Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Oscar Isaac said he was more inclined to make “handmade” movies than standing in front of a blue screen for major franchises like Star Wars. And he memorably joked (?) that he’d return to Dameron if he needed another house. Here’s what he says now: 

Oscar Isaac is keeping his options open, per his words to SiriusXM. While it certainly doesn’t sound like he’s running back to his orange jumpsuit in the near future, the actor isn't shutting down the idea of returning to the galaxy far, far away -- if the right project came his way. Two things seem to factor into how he’s making decisions moving forward. He has to form a connection with the story and filmmaker, and he has to have enough time to actually do the project. 

Oscar Isaac is 43 years old and has two young sons, 5-year-old Eugene and 2-year-old Mads. When he started working on the sci-fi franchise back in 2014, the actor was not yet married and wasn't a father. He may have different priorities these days and be pickier about the projects he decides to sign on for. 

I could certainly see Lucasfilm exploring Poe Dameron in the future with a Disney+ series focused on the character or even a solo film. But on the other hand, the actor and the cast of the Star Wars sequel trilogy dealt with a lot of unforeseen changes in creative direction and so forth. Isaac previously opened up about “Disney overlords” for not being ready to bring Poe and Finn’s relationship to screen after his “push” for it as well as lot of fan excitement for it to become canon. (Seriously, is there still tension there?) 

Since wrapping up his work as Poe, Oscar Isaac has beena part of some big projects like Dune, which Star Wars has roots in and Marvel’s Moon Knight, which could lead to him being one of the new MCU heroes to join the next Avengers movies. We’ll have to see how it all pans out as we follow all the upcoming Star Wars coming our way next. But you can stream his past SW appearances using a Disney+ subscription.

One unique aspect of being a famous actor is the attendance of premieres and walking on red carpets. As countless flashbulbs go off in front of you, celebs are expected to rock a stylish look that will intrigue the general public. There's recently been a trend with a few famous actors on the carpet: rocking a breezy skirt. And now Brad Pitt is following in Harry Styles’ footsteps, rocking a skirt on Bullet Train’s red carpet.

Pop star/actor Harry Styles has been pushing all sorts of boundaries with his fashion choices as of late, wearing bold statement pieces and wading the waters of gender neutral clothing. Styles has rocked skirts both at events and photo shoots, and it looks like that trend is gaining some momentum. Case in point: Brad Pitt's recent look at the premiere of the action flick Bullet Train. Check it out below,

Talk about a bold fashion choice. But if anyone can rock a skirt, blazer, and untucked dress shirt its Brad Pitt. He's been a bonafide sex icon for decades, so he's earned the right to swing big on the red carpet. And given the current heat wave that's been gripping the globe, you can't fault him for wanting to wear something breezy while posing for photo opportunities.

Of course, Brad Pitt wasn't the only person from the cast of Bullet Train to walk the red carpet for the upcoming action flick. He'd later pose with fellow actors like Joey King, Aaron-Taylor Johnson, and Brian Tyree Henry in a group photo. Sadly, he was the only one rocking a skirt.

The skirt trend might be most closely associated with Harry Styles, but he's not the only person who has been pushing the boundaries of what's expected for male fashions. Star Wars and Moon Knight actor Oscar Isaac has also made a habit out of rocking a skirt, proudly wearing these pieces at the premiere of his Marvel show and the Met Gala. He and Styles are both leading men, and Brad Pitt's years in front of the camera speak for themselves.

While walking the red carpet for Bullet Train, Brad Pitt took the time to sign a few autographs from eager fans. While doing so a photo captured what the Fight Club actor's skirt looked like from behind. Check it out for yourself below,

And that's how you do it. Brad Pitt has officially joined the fashion trend of Hollywood men wearing skirts. Since Pitt definitely has a loud voice in the entertainment world, it should be interesting to see if more actors start touting this bold fashion choice in the future. Because if folks like him and Oscar Isaac are brave enough, then others very well may follow. Who doesn't want to be as cool as that dynamic duo?

Bullet Train will arrive in theaters on August 5th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

“Moon Knight’s” season finale on Disney+ has finally delivered on Marvel’s Egyptian superhero - but it’s not who you think. That reveal and more (HELLO [SPOILER]) have blown fans like CinemaBlend’s Law Sharma and Sean O’Connell away. Watch as they break down the most exciting things we saw in Episode 6, “Monsters and Gods,” as well as what could be next for Khonshu’s favorite trio.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Finally, Jake Lockley
03:47 - Finally, Moon Knight Action
08:02 - An Egyptian Superhero
11:38 - Series or Season?
15:10 - Outro

Warning: SPOILERS for the Moon Knight episode “Gods and Monsters” are ahead!

Just like his comic book counterpart, Oscar Isaac’s version of Marc Spector has dissociative identity disorder, which primarily manifested itself through Steven Grant in the Moon Knight series. However, there were hints of a third personality throughout the episodes, and in “Gods and Monsters,” a.k.a. the Moon Knight finale, we finally met the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on Jake Lockley. I had the opportunity to speak with Moon Knight executive producer Grant Curtis and director Mohamed Diab about their work on the Marvel show, and they went over how the plans to spotlight Jake ended up changing, resulting in him being saved for the finale.

To provide some context in case you haven’t seen “Gods and Monsters” with your Disney+ subscription, in the Moon Knight finale’s post-credits scene, Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow, who was now bonded to Ammit, was taken out of the psychiatric hospital he’d been put into following his defeat. The mysterious, Spanish-speaking individual who abducted Harrow put him into the back of a limousine, where Khonshu (whose scenes were shot Hulk-style) awaited. Harrow soon learned that while Marc Spector and Steven Grant were no longer bonded to Khonshu, that didn’t hold true for Jake, who executed the show’s main antagonist on behalf of the bird-faced Egyptian god. When I asked Grant Curtis about if their had been any discussion about featuring Jake earlier in Moon Knight’s run, he responded: 

Moon Knight did throw in a handful of hints that there was a third personality within the mix, such as in Episode 3, a.k.a. “The Friendly Type,” when neither Marc nor Steven had any memory of killing some adversaries in Cairo. However, it wasn’t until the final minutes of “Gods and Monsters” that Jake Lockley’s existence in the MCU was finally confirmed. As Grant Curtis explained, with so much on this show’s plate already, they wouldn’t have been able to do proper justice to Jake by just shoehorning him in at an earlier point. So instead, he was saved as one last surprise for Moon Knight viewers.

Mohamed Diab, who directed the Moon Knight finale and three other episodes (including the premiere), and is also credited as an executive producer, echoed Grant Curtis’ sentiments, noting that Jake Lockley deserves just as big a platform to shine on as Marc Spector and Steven Grant received. As he put it:

In the Moon Knight comics, Jake Lockley drives a taxicab and procures handy information that aids in Moon Knight’s crimefighting endeavors. Having Oscar Isaac’s Jake drive the limousine was a nice nod to his comic book counterpart’s profession, but this version of the character was also set up as being more ruthless than both Marc Spector and Steven Grant, and the former used to be a mercenary! Going back to my conversation with Grant Curtis, here’s what the executive producer had to say when I inquired about the thought process of depicting Jake as a “cold-blooded killer”:

At the time of publication, it hasn’t been announced if “Gods and Monsters” served as the Moon Knight series finale or it another batch of episodes will air in the future. Either way, I doubt this is the last we’ve seen on Oscar Isaac in the MCU (whether Isaac will eventually sneak in an f-bomb is less certain). If Moon Knight Season 2 does greenlit, you can be sure Jake Lockley will have a prominent role in it, and with that will ideally come details about how long he’s existed, why he’s ok allying with Khonshu and more. We’ve gotten an appetizer of what kind of a person the MCU’s Jake is, now we wait to see if a main course is coming.

CinemaBlend will share more Moon Knight coverage in the days ahead. Until then, see what else lies ahead in the small screen corner of the MCU by looking through our guide detailing upcoming Marvel TV shows.

Oscar Isaac isn’t just known for his killer acting skills - he’s also the king of avant garde red carpet fashion. After making waves in a pleated skirt/kilt combo at the Moon Knight premiere, the Star Wars actor inspired a bold look for this year’s Met Gala that added his wife to the mix. 

For this year’s Met Gala, Oscar Isaac and his wife Elvira Lind took the opportunity to think outside the box. How did they come up with their boundary-breaking looks? Oscar Isaac shared his thoughts with Vanity Fair. Check out the video below: 

Oscar Isaac wore a gray blazer and skirt combo to the premiere of the Marvel series Moon Knight last March. The ensemble was created by American designer Thom Browne, whose luxe label has been worn by the likes of Pete Davidson, David Harbour, and Angus Cloud of Euphoria. According to Oscar Isaac, the designer spotted his work at the Moon Knight premiere and asked to speak in person. 

Their conversation led to an offer from Thom Browne to design coordinated looks for both Oscar Isaac and Elvira Lind’s 2022 Met Gala appearances. Oscar Isaac was so enamored with his first skirted ensemble that he asked the designer for another one. The final look was described by Oscar Isaac as a "suit that’s been flattened to look like a dress." He complimented the garment with black leather combat boots and a glitzy gold wristwatch. Meanwhile, Elvira Lind opted for a sleek pantsuit complete with tails and a white bow tie. 

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the duo’s stylist Micheal Fisher said they wanted to play with the idea of "role reversal" and switching up the standards of lavish gowns for women and stark suits for men. Thom Browne, with his signature contemporary suiting, was the ideal choice for such a sartorial objective. Oscar Isaac was extremely pleased with the result, calling it fun and beautiful.

He wasn’t the only celebrity who rocked Thom Browne on the Met Gala red carpet: stars like Lizzo, Christine Baranksi, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Russell Westbrook, and Maisie Williams also sported his take on elevated formal wear. Other memorable presentations included Blake Lively in a reversible Lady Liberty-inspired gown by Versace and a platinum blonde Kim Kardashian in the very dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang her iconic rendition of Happy Birthday (a look that required some intense dieting). But of course, when it comes to Marvel stars, Oscar Isaac still tops the fashion A-list. 

He may not be wearing a skirt, but you can still catch Oscar Isaac in Marvel’s Moon Knight now with your Disney+ subscription. You can also check out these other upcoming Marvel releases set to continue the storylines of Phase Four. 

Major spoilers below for the season/series finale of Disney+’s Moon Knight, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched!

Though Moon Knight kept Marvel fans guessing wildly right up until the finale went live on Disney+, it somehow managed to wrap just about everything up accordingly and impressively. (And without even showing viewers exactly how Oscar Isaac’s titular protagonist actually took down Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow.) May Calamawy’s Layla gloriously went full Scarlet Scarab thanks to Taweret, and the winged hero was front and center for one of the series’ best action sequences. (Egyptian superhero recognition for the win!) After that and the one-of-a-kind battle of the gods between Ammit and Khonshu, Moon Knight had more surprises in store during its post-credits sequence. 

Or, on second thought, maybe Moon Knight’s final scene (possibly forever) wasn’t a surprise at all, since it featured the official arrival of a comic entity that fans have been clamoring for since the streaming series’ earliest days: Marc Spector’s Jake Lockley personality. Not to mention a long-awaited new look for Khonshu direct from the source material. Now let’s talk about each of those reveals alongside some fan reactions. 

Welcome To The MCU, Jake Lockley

As it usually goes with MCU projects, a lot of the theories that fans had about Moon Knight were just wishful thinking, but when it comes to the widespread expectations for Jake Lockley’s arrival, there was definitely precedence within the episodes themselves. Namely through moments when Steven and Marc would “wake up” after some hyper-violent act had been committed, with neither personality taking credit for it. And after Marc refused to do Khonshu’s bidding by killing Harrow, it was clear there was only one man for the job. 

For those unfamiliar, Jake Lockley is the comic book identity that Marc utilizes when going about things on a street level. As a New York cab driver, Jake settles nicely into somewhat stereotypical “tough guy” territory, and as the TV show made clear, he’s not as in tune with his moral center as Marc and Steven are. Which is precisely why Khonshu knew he could count on Jake to go through with ending Harrow’s life, complete with a sweet-ass final line. To be expected, fans on Twitter celebrated Jake Lockley finally showing up in such a subtly brutal fashion. 

Jake DGAF about keeping a hospital’s wheelchairs in good condition. And he also doesn’t care about how much blood gets all over that limo’s seats and back windows. 

Given the lack of updates about Moon Knight’s future, it’s unclear if there could be another short-form season down the road, or if Marc Specter & Co. are meant to play a role in other projects during Phase 4 and beyond. But regardless of what happens, everyone can take comfort in knowing Jake Lockley is MCU canon now.

One fan celebrated the comic book fave’s live-action debut with a reference to another amusing series about New Yorkers who want to catch bad guys.

And while we’re already talking about TV comedies, this comparison to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Frank is 100% apt, and I now regret that writer Jeremy Slater didn’t come up with a convincing way to have former Penguin portrayer Danny DeVito playing Jake Lockley himself. 

Of course, for all the celebrating there is to do regarding Jake’s arrival, his presence within this universe isn’t necessarily good news for Marc and/or Steven, who only just regained a semblance of mental self-embracing peace. Once they find out there’s a wild card inside, that’s only going to make things more complicated.

Even while celebrating, some fans were rowdy about Moon Knight waiting until the last possible second to introduce a character that they’d have watched an entire season about. 

If everybody on Twitter post-Moon Knight finale was an Emmy voter, I’m pretty sure they’d change the rules so that Oscar Isaac would be eligible to serve as all of the nominees for Best Actor. But if there was a Best Dressed category? Well, that one might go to Khonshu himself.

Fans were certainly more excited to see Jake Lockley and Scarley Scarab than anything else in the episode, but the god Khonshu did get some props on Twitter for rocking a comic book look that he hadn’t yet brought to the streaming series. Moon Knight isn’t the only one who knows how to rock dapper-looking suits and costumes on this show.

And then there’s this extremely timely joke that will potentially still be amusing to people who stumble upon the tweet six months from now.

Moon Knight may be over, but all six episodes are available to stream ad nauseum for anyone with a Disney+ subscription. But the MCU isn’t done changing the world yet this week, as the already well-received Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will finally arrive in theaters on Friday, May 6. 

Disney+ and Marvel’s latest series, Moon Knight, is nearing the end of the first season, with the finale releasing this week. The show, starring Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant/Marc Spector, is one of the darker projects in the MCU, with some comparing it to former Netflix series Daredevil. Isaac recently opened up about nearly sneaking an F-bomb into one scene. 

In an interview with Screen Rant, Oscar Isaac revealed that he tried to take advantage of the PG-13 and TV-MA production guidelines by including one use of the F-word. And Isaac drew inspiration from one popular meme:

Isaac’s brother stands in as his body double, and it seems like they came up with a perfect scene that would have been both hilarious and note-worthy. The meme in question is one that Vine lovers will surely remember, and it’s included in plenty of Vine compilations on YouTube. Unfortunately, that scene never made the cut.

Oscar Isaac explained how many takes he and his brother did that included the F-bomb. He was pretty confident that even though it was Disney, they would allow at least one use of the curse word. That was not the case, and the actor was pretty bummed:

It’s definitely a downer that Disney wouldn’t allow a single use of the word. Now that Disney+ has acquired the darker and more mature Marvel shows originally released on Netflix, the platform decided to update with parental controls. While the Marvel movies and shows have kept a PG-13 rating, that still doesn’t account for not using the F-word at least once.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the only “critique” that Moon Knight has gotten. Shang-Chi himself, Simu Liu, among other fans, couldn’t help but critique Ethan Hawke’s villain, Arthur Harrow. In one scene, Harrow and the young members of his cult address each other by speaking Mandarin Chinese. The Marvel actor wasn’t very impressed by it and took to Twitter to express his thoughts.

Fingers crossed that the final episode of Moon Knight stays in tune with the critics’ reviews when the series first dropped. While it seems unlikely that the last episode of the season will include an F-bomb, considering they cut out the Oscar Isaac's previous attempt to recreate the meme, one can hope. Though surely fans will be looking forward to seeing how the series ends, especially following the heartbreaker that was Episode 5.

Don’t miss the finale of Moon Knight dropping this Wednesday, May 4 on Disney+! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to.

Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight has part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a month now, and we’ve seen him rocking two different costumes. The Marc Spector personality wears the traditional Moon Knight ceremonial armor in battle, while the Steven Grant personality inadvertently conjured the Mr. Knight suit in the middle of fighting that jackal creature in “Summon the Suit.” Costume designer Meghan Kasperlik and her team adapted these looks from the comics for the critically well-received Marvel series, but each costume came with its own challenges in order to be fully realized.

I kicked off my recent conversation with Meghan Kasperlik about her work on Moon Knight (which you can catch up on with a Disney+ subscription) by asking which of these two costumes was the hardest to make comic-accurate. She answered that it was the main Moon Knight costume, explaining:

Designing a costume is a hard enough endeavor, so the fact that Meghan Kasperlik was able to get the job done in a separate country from where the Moon Knight production was taking place is impressive! With the wonders of Zoom and some willing stunt people, she was able to figure out the sizing of the costume and pick the right fabrics to put together the final ensemble we’ve seen Oscar Isaac and the stunt people wear onscreen. After Kasperlik brought up functionality, I inquired about if it was difficult striking the balance between making sure the Moon Knight costume was functional, but still elaborate. Here’s what she had to say:

As for the Mr. Knight suit, that came into existence when Steven Grant was in control of the body and he had a different idea on what it meant to summon the Moon Knight suit. To be fair, he was falling out of a building when this happened, but Steven re-donned his Mr. Knight suit in “The Friendly Type.” Later on in my interview with Meghan Kasperlik, I asked which of the two costumes was her favorite. She responded:

Meghan Kasperlik then added that she made the Mr. Knight suit with an upholstered fabric because she was worried about the “wear and tear of it.” Thanks to the “amazing” work from her tailors, only two Mr. Knight jackets were split during the making of the Moon Knight series. That’s a great track record, and both the Moon Knight and Mr. Knight costumes certainly do a good job of closely resembling the looks from the comics, while still being infused with certain unique elements.

There’s just one episode left to go in Moon Knight’s run (and we already know where the final battle will take place thanks to Oscar Isaac), since it hasn’t been revealed yet if the show will return for another season. That being said, there are plenty of other upcoming Marvel TV shows to look forward to on Disney+, with Ms. Marvel next set to follow on June 8.

Marvel just premiered Moon Knight Episode 5, titled “Asylum” on Disney+, and we know what you’re probably thinking after watching - WOW. CinemaBlend’s Law Sharma and Sean O’Connell are even calling this the best episode in MCU television history. So sail through the sands with us as we break down the origin stories, “Organizing Principle,” and what that ending means for Marc Spector in the upcoming finale.

Video Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:23 - Steven’s Origin And Marc’s Past
• 04:31 - More Hints At Jake Lockley… But That’s It
• 08:41 - Comic Accuracy of Moon Knight’s Origin
• 12:29 - Will Marc Find ‘Asylum’ In The Afterlife?
• 16:53 - Expectations For Episode 6 / Outro

Spoilers for the latest episode of Moon Knight, “The Tomb” and the upcoming season finale lie ahead.

Marvel’s Moon Knight has nearly reached the end of its run, and Marc Spector/Steven Grant’s story is only getting more interesting. Given the unpredictable nature of the show (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), it’s somewhat tricky to predict exactly how everything will be wrapped up in the final episode. The major details remain out of our reach for now, except for one, though. This is because Oscar Isaac has now (accidentally) revealed the location of the show’s big finale.

So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe-set show has taken viewers to some intriguing locales. The superhero series kicked off its story in London before moving the action to Egypt. And in Episode 4, which was reviewed here on CinemaBlend, Oscar Isaac’s titular hero and Layla El-Faouly, played by May Calamawy, found themselves exploring a tomb, where they faced off with undead priests. The two actors enjoyed their time working together and spoke to CinemaBlend about their on-set memories. It was during their back and forth that Isaac divulged the show’s final battleground:

May Calamawy: I feel like we were always just having fun. Right? 

Oscar Isaac: Never …I liked when we were all inside the tomb and like, or not, you know, inside, uh, the pyramid Giza, and it's towards the end. You'll see. It's like we were shooting the big finale, I guess I just revealed it. It happens in that period of [time], but, uh, you know, it's kind of… [To interviewer] Come on, you can kind of feel it's going towards there. And we just like you, me and Ethan [Hawke] just started doing a little dancing. I was in my Moon Knight costume and, you know, and just… Yeah, that was really fun. That was really fun.

MW: … Yeah, most of the time we were having fun. I kicked Oscar’s butt in ping pong all the time!

While I’m certainly glad to hear that the delightful pair and their Moon Knight castmates had fun on the set of the MCU production, I’m more intrigued by the Marc Spector actor’s reveal. It makes a lot of sense that the Great Pyramid of Giza would be the location of the final battle. The historic structure serves as the meeting place of the seven gods of the Ennead. And as of the third episode, it’s also the place where the moon god Khonshu remains imprisoned. With these facts in mind, I’d expect an appropriately “brutal” battle of epic proportions to transpire.

I’m willing to bet that Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow manages to revive Ammit and channel her power somehow. Such a development would create a true challenge for the Crescent Crusader. I’m particularly interested in seeing how the other gods on the Ennead Council get involved in the proceedings, especially considering their frustration with the imprisoned Khonshu. Should Harrow’s master become a threat, it’s possible that the council could release Khonshu so that he can bond with his avatar once more. 

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, though, as there are other questions that need to be answered ahead of the finale. For starters, how did Marc end up in that psychiatric hospital and how is Steven also present? And of course, what in the world does the Egyptian goddess Taweret (that hippopotamus we all saw) have to do with any of this? Who knows, but it’s clear that the pieces are being put in place for a wild ending.

Moon Knight drops new episodes on Disney+ on Wednesdays. Be on the lookout for other upcoming Marvel TV shows, and take a look at CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule as well.

Episode 4 of Marvel’s “Moon Knight” on Disney plus just turned the entire show on its head, so this week, CinemaBlend’s resident expert Law Sharma is joined by Managing Editor Sean O’Connell to help us figure out where this story is going. Watch as they break down the entire institution scene, some theories as to who Arthur Harrow really is, that big Layla reveal, and more!

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:54 - Is Any Of This Real?
03:04 - Breaking Down The Institution Scene
08:33 - Dr. Harrow Theories - Dr. Von Doom vs. Anubis
10:38 - What Happened Inside The Tomb
12:44 - Expectations For Episodes 5 & 6
13:45 - Outro

Disney+'s “Moon Knight” is shaking things up in episode 3, “The Friendly Type,” and CinemaBlend’s resident expert Law Sharma is here to break down everything we saw. This week he discusses some pretty big theories, including what’s next for Marc and Steven now that they’ve lost their powers, proof of a third personality, and what Marc has been hiding from Layla this whole time. Plus, a few cool easter eggs! Check it out.

Video Chapters: 

00:00 - Intro

00:32 - No More Moon Knight… For Now?

02:02 - The Third Personality (Jake Lockley)

03:37 - The Secrets Surrounding Layla

04:52 - Final Thoughts, Questions About The Ennead, and Easter Eggs

06:22 - Outro