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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are here at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan to report live on all the big news on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows coming out of the convention! After Friday's festivities kicked things off with a panel for The Mandalorian & Grogu movie that officially announced Ryan Gosling's Star Wars movie and the Lucasfilm Animation panel revealed an upcoming Darth Maul series. Plus, earlier on Saturday we caught the Andor Season 2 panel.

This one is going to be all about Ahsoka just ahead of Ahsoka Season 2 filming. We don't have a premiere date yet for those with a Disney+ subscription, but we're betting on a 2026 release date. Anyways, here's all the updates from the panel:

We're seated at the Celebration Stage after briefly talking to Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen at Star Wars Celebration's press line! We can't wait to see fans react to this exciting look back at Season 1, and perhaps hear a little something about Season 2.

The panel has opened up with a video showcasing Ahsoka's viral success with a huge emphasis on fans. Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson have made their way on stage to talk about the series. Dawson got a big standing ovation when she appeared.

Filoni has started the conversation by sharing how the series is inspired by Princess Mononoke. The markings on her face even have a reference to the Hayao Miyazaki movie. I had no idea, and I love this fun fact.

They are talking about George Lucas visiting the set of Ahsoka during a pivotal fight scene between her and Diana Lee Inosanto''s Morgan Elsbeth from late in Season 1 when it was filmed back in 2022. It stressed Filoni out big time because he only had one day to shoot it, but of course it was a huge honor for him to be there with them.

Dave Filoni is talking about how he made Ahsoka in a way where audiences can watch it without knowing her past in prior shows. He compared it to A New Hope, which started things off at Episode 4 Filoni recalled being a kid seeing the first Star Wars for the first time and being confused about there not yet being episodes 1-3, which we wouldn't get for thirty more years.

Hayden Christensen has made his way to the stage to an eruption of applause from audiences. He too got a standing ovation, and tons of fans were yelling their love for him in the audience.

The guests in the panel are taking about Ariana Greenblatt playing a young Ahsoka in Season 1. Her presence on set made Filoni "question" his "reality" because it really felt like he got to see young Ahsoka Tano in the flesh.

Christensen spoke to returning for Ahsoka being a really "compelling" time in his life, and he found it to be "too much fun" to return to the part in this era of his life. Christensten also really liked having a "new look" during his return. Filoni said "no one" swings like a lightsaber like him.

Rosario Dawson is talking about when she learned Sabine would be Ahsoka's padawan, and the importance of her character getting to pass on knowledge herself. She said the arc on the series makes her reflect more on Ahsoka's time on Clone Wars, and the trend of "spunky" padawans in other Star Wars mentorship dynamics,

Hayden Christensen says he always has George Lucas voice in the back of his head telling him things about his character like "faster, more intense". He also gushed about working with Dave Filoni after they both went the "school of George Lucas." It was so fun to see the pair geek out about working together.

Now they are moving on to talking about the upcoming Season 2 of Ahsoka, Rosario Dawson shared they are going to shoot the series next week.

Filoni getting a little teary-eyed talking about the loss of Ray Stevenson, and how his loss made the process of developing Season 2 very challenging. After speaking to Stevenson's family, Filoni said he's "very confident" Stevenson would be "happy" with the direction they went with Baylan. He said the "character was meant to be important" and the "parallel to Ahsoka in every way." They are excited to welcome the new actor Rory McCann!

Filoni has announced Admiral Akbar is going to be part of Season 2, and he'll go head-to-head with General Thrawn. He also showed pictures of some new Star Wars cute creatures called Loth Kittens. They are adorable!

Filoni has shared that General Thrawn is absolutely going to be a big part of Season 2. He called him the "right villain" for this era of Star Wars.

Last, but not least: Hayden Christensen says there's "not much he can share" but Anakin will indeed be back for Season 2 of Ahsoka. But wait, there's one more thing! Filoni is showing a "retro look" at Season 2, even though filming has not started. We are being asked to put our phones away.

And, that's a wrap!

Star Trek has been around for decades, and it takes a lot of people to fill a ship. As such, there's no shortage of actors who have joined its ranks over the years, but even in 2025, there are still some who haven't. With upcoming Trek shows on the horizon, I had to highlight some of the prominent names in sci-fi who I would love to see join Starfleet or some other role in this galaxy.

Whether it's joining a full-length series or just popping around for a one-off movie, these actors would be perfect for Star Trek. Frankly, some of them have done so much sci-fi in their careers that I'm shocked it hasn't happened already. All that being said, let's jump on my picks and go over where I'd best see them fitting into the franchise when it comes to roles.

Gillian Anderson

Had Bryan Fuller remained the showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, this could've happened already. The creative revealed on the D-Con Chamber that Gillian Anderson was planned to play a Starfleet Captain, though her exact role in the series was not defined. It is ironic that the person paired with David Duchovny to play the paranormal skeptic in The X-Files could've been someone who regularly interacted with aliens in Star Trek.

I don't think there's any denying Anderson would be the perfect fit for a Starfleet Captain or some other high-ranking official in the organization. I would say she has "Janeway energy," so it's easier to see her in that captain role because someone has previously paved the way with a character I could've easily seen her playing as well. Will it ever happen? I want to believe.

Rosario Dawson

After playing Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars and nurse Claire Temple in Netflix's Marvel shows, it only seems fitting that Rosario Dawson jumps to Star Trek next. In fact, the actress said years ago she's a fan and would love to be a part of the franchise, initially proposing that she play a background character just to be included in the fun and complete a lifelong dream. Of course, she's a big deal in Hollywood, and I doubt the franchise would toss her in rather than offer her an actual role.

Dawson's father suggested she play a Q, and I'm 100% on board with that idea. I think linking her to Starfleet is just too obvious of an option, and we could use more Q characters in the franchise to inject additional chaos into the shows every so often.

Alan Tudyk

Alan Tudyk isn't just a sci-fi actor; I would say a vast majority of the work in his career has come from the genre. He was burned on the set of Rogue One and was on the cast of Firefly, one of the most iconic canceled sci- fi shows. Frankly, I'm shocked he's never done anything with Star Trek, and I think it's high time that change.

The best thing about Tudyk is that he's just as iconic as a voice actor as he is in live-action. That makes him a perfect fit for any species of the week that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could use, corporeal or otherwise. For some reason, I see him playing a Medusan, but I can't explain why that sounds so perfect.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page hasn't been as active in Hollywood as in years past, but maybe it's because the right role hasn't come along. There's ample opportunity for the actor to make a comeback in the Star Trek franchise and an audience pre-dispositioned and ready to embrace the latest chapter in his life.

I also feel like Page just naturally has the look of someone suited to be a Vulcan or Romulan. Much like James Frain was the perfect fit for Sarek, I see Page taking on the role of a Vulcan leader or maybe a tough Romulan ready to take down the Federation with some brilliant scheme. In truth, I just want to see Page doing big things in Hollywood again, and I could think of no better fandom to welcome him into than the Star Trek universe.

John Boyega

There's a part of me that thinks John Boyega referring to his time in Star Wars as "franchise jail" means he won't readily do another sci-fi franchise again. Still, if there was a shortlist of actors in Hollywood, I would say are the best fit to bring back Star Trek movies, he'd be the star I'd want to prop up the franchise with.

As a franchise lead, he'd almost certainly have to be a Starfleet Captain. Sure, I'm all for the idea that anyone can be the lead of a Star Trek adventure, but he spent his time in Star Wars largely playing second banana to a larger story. It's high time we make John Boyega a leading man in sci-fi, and Trek would welcome him with open arms if he's willing to give it another try.

Domhnall Gleeson

I know I used the picture of him as Hux, but truthfully, I'd want more of the Domhnall Gleeson who appeared in Ex Machina for a Star Trek movie. Let's be honest, there's no shortage of Gleeson performances in movies that showcase his strengths as an actor, and they all make for a candidate that Starfleet would want among its highest ranks.

The problem is that Domhnall Gleeson is just so damn captivating as a villain. It would be a shame to have him in Star Trek and not play one of the most dastardly antagonists any of the quadrants have ever seen. I'm talking about something way worse than any of the most dangerous villains of The Next Generation, maybe even worse than Deep Space Nine's Dukat. He's capable of it, we just need someone over at Paramount to give him a shot and let him cook.

Katee Sackhoff

Katee Sackhoff has been a big name in the science fiction world for a while, really exploding onto the scene in Battlestar Galactica. Decades later, she's played Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian and talked about shifting over to Star Trek. Jonathan Frakes suggested she join Starfleet Academy, and I 100% sign off on that idea.

It may not be the best time to bring up Section 31 after critics were unkind in their reviews of the recent movie, but is there any person more suited for the morally gray faction? I could see Sackhoff steering the fandom back to being on board with Section 31, and if she can be paired up with Michelle Yeoh for a potential sequel to the movie, that's even better.

These are just a few names that I'd be thrilled to see involved with Star Trek as the franchise presses onward into the future. Those looking to keep tabs on everything on the way should pick up Paramount+ and catch up on some of the fantastic shows from the past few years.

Even though the galaxy far, far away is a big place, there’s no shortage of opportunities for popular characters from separate corners of the Star Wars universe to cross paths. When it came to Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Season 1, however, it was a largely standalone affair, with the only notable tie to one of the other Disney+ Star Wars shows being the inclusion of Vane, a pirate who appeared in The Mandalorian Season 3. However, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, who plays Wim in Skeleton Crew, shared with CinemaBlend that he wants a crossover with Ahsoka, as well as told us about his experience meeting the title character’s performer, Rosario Dawson.

Towards the end of my recent conversation with Cabot-Conyers, which included him sharing how he reacted upon learning the big twist for Jude Law’s character and what it was like shooting his big lightsaber moment, he had this to say when I asked him which Star Wars character he’d like Wim to meet someday:

It would indeed be canon for Wim and Ahsoka Tano to come face to face in select upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows. Both the Ahsoka series and Skeleton Crew take place in the New Republic era roughly half a decade after Return of the Jedi, with Ahsoka specifically set after the events of The Mandalorian Season 2 and The Book of Boba Fett. Now logistically, such a meeting would be a problem right now considering that Ahsoka is trapped in another galaxy, but it also stands to reason that her and Wim crossing paths would happen after Ahsoka Season 2 fixes that location problem.

As for Ravi Cabot-Conyers meeting Rosario Dawson, the young actor also told me the actress was in her full Ahsoka Tano makeup when she stopped by the Skeleton Crew set, which adds an extra layer of coolness to the experience. I’m glad he’s gotten along with her so well during their few encounters, and that makes me want to see their characters meet, too. If that’s not possible to do on Ahsoka or Skeleton Crew (assuming the latter returns for Season 2), then the best bet for that happening would be in the New Republic movie that Dave Filoni is putting together that will connect storylines from the other shows set from this era of the Star Wars timeline.

We’ll just have to cross our fingers that the day comes that Wim will be able to go adventuring with Ahsoka Tano, be it on the big screen or small screen. Until then, both Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew’s first seasons can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription alongside all the other Star Wars movies and TV shows.

The NBA season is underway, and an upcoming Star Wars project is near as well. While we wait for the arrival of the TV show Skeleton Crew amid the 2024 TV schedule, readers might be interested to know that Hayden Christensen and other SW vets recently rubbed shoulders with one of the elite players in professional basketball. The star in question is young player Victor Wembanyama, who is a massive fan of the franchise. And, after seeing them link up, I'd love to see Wembanyama appear in the galaxy far, far away.

For anyone who's more so up on science fiction and less on sports, Victor Wembanyama is the same player whose security detail stopped Britney Spears from approaching him. Those who follow the NBA may not even know that he's a huge fan of the prequel movies, and had a chance to make his dream come true, thanks to the stars aligning.

How Victor Wembanyama Met The Star Wars Actors

A picture posted by @_TheFailedJedi on X (via @Wemby_Muse) showed "Wemby" with not just Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, but also Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano). Before anyone starts speculating about plans for Ahsoka Season 2, I should note there's a reason for this.

As reported by KENS5, Spacecon 2024 recently took place in San Antonio. It was there that the three actors were guests of the convention. Seeing as Victor Wembanyama is the star of the San Antonio Spurs, it was likely easy to arrange for him to meet the trio, even with the NBA season going on. What might be harder, however, would be getting him into a Star Wars production, but I still think it would be worth the trouble.

Why Victor Wembanyama Would Be Great For Star Wars

I'm always a fan of surprising athlete cameos in movies, but there's a specific reason why Victor Wembanyama lends himself to Star Wars in a way even other basketball players couldn't. He stands at seven feet, four inches tall, and has a wingspan of eight feet. So he's not only incredibly tall, but his arms are also incredibly long.

His physique has likened comparisons to the creepy character Slenderman, who the France native actually dressed as last Halloween. Take a look:

Star Wars is a franchise with tons of different species and aliens of different shapes and sizes. Surely, there's room for him to appear as one of them. I'd say maybe cast him as a young Jedi but, given how The Acolyte and other shows have been about the brutal murder of those Force-users, I'm not sure he'd want that role. (Though I could be wrong in that assumption.)

He could be the tallest Wookiee to ever appear in Star Wars, which would be fitting given his recent custom Nike shoes themed after the franchise. These just have to be seen to be believed, so without further comment, check out the "Wookiee of the Year":

I should also note that Star Wars has used professional basketball players before to play Wookiees in the universe. Joonas Suotomo, who ultimately took over the role of Chewbacca for Peter Mayhew, was on the Finnish national basketball team. It's also been noted several times over the years that Lucasfilm hired several Australian basketball players to portray Wookiees when they were filming for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (via @NBL).

All in all, I'm just saying that the opportunity could be there for Victor Wembanyama if he can talk to the right people. Whether he spoke to Hayden Christensen and co. about that during their meet-up is unclear. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that something can be worked out.

Catch the premiere of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew using a Disney+ subscription when it premieres on December 3. I wouldn't expect Victor Wembanyama to be a part of the fun, but I hope we see him appear in the franchise down the way!

The Terminator is back, but this time the cybernetic assassin is unlike anything Arnold Schwarzenegger ever gave us in the films of past decades. Hoping to become one of the best shows to binge on Netflix, Terminator Zero has turned the familiar universe of machines and nuclear holocaust into an English-language Japanese anime series. Timothy Olyphant voices the titular cyborg, and critics who have screened the series ahead of its August 29 release on the 2024 Netflix schedule are weighing in.

In addition to Timothy Olyphant, Terminator Zero’s cast includes the voices of Rosario Dawson, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno and Ann Dowd. There have been multiple film sequels to The Terminator and even the short-lived Sarah Connor Chronicles series, but nothing has hit quite as hard as Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The trailer had some fans super pumped after making an iconic T2 moment more horrifying, so is this bloody anime remake worth the watch? David Opie of GamesRadar welcomes the franchise’s return to terror, rating it 4 out of 5 stars, and writing:

The Terminator Zero series is the best Terminator project since The Sarah Connor Chronicles, according to Daniel Fienberg of THR. Despite spending too much time setting up what will presumably happen in seasons to come, Terminator Zero has a distinctive look, a promising premise and solid vocal cast. Fienberg says:

Grant Hermanns of ScreenRant also walks away from the series with mostly positive impressions, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. The critic says this story is finally worthy of the universe created by James Cameron, as showrunner Mattson Tomlin uses the time afforded to him to explore why Skynet would want to eliminate humanity. Though not without its faults — including the story’s lack of conclusion — Hermanns concludes:

Kenneth Seward Jr. of GameSpot also has mixed-but-mostly-positive feelings of the show, calling it uneven but engaging. Terminator Zero not only respects the franchise's legacy but also offers up a unique take on its established lore. However, at times it seems trapped by the franchise’s staples. Seward gives it a “Good” 7 out of 10 and says:

Collider’s Shawn Van Horn writes that the voice performances are great, and the animation and new characters make the series feel fresh. That’s not quite enough, however, for the critic to overlook its exposition-heavy plot and too many twists. Van Horn rates it 6 out 10, and says:

Well there you have it. The critics seem to agree that the switch to animation and talented voice cast make this a solid addition to the franchise, and even the critics who find faults with Terminator Zero agree that there is enough good to justify giving this one a try, no matter how familiar you are with the other franchise works. At eight episodes that run less than a half-hour apiece, why not see for yourself? Fire up that Netflix subscription, because this new anime series is available now.

There has been a lot of talk about "nepo babies" over the last few years, and while it may seem like every actor has famous parents. That is hardly the case though, of course. Many of our favorite actors come from much more humble roots. So let's celebrate those stars with this list of actors who came from blue-collar backgrounds. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Growing up in Ohio Sarah Jessica Parker had a huge family, with seven siblings and step-siblings. She's talked about how there were times her parents struggled to pay the bills and were even on welfare for a time. Though her mom ran a nursery and her stepdad was a truck driver, they still found a way to support Parker's show business dreams and eventually moved to New York so she could star on Broadway. 

James Dean

James Dean is one of the most tragic stories in Hollywood history, and his upbringing was pretty rough too. His father left when he was a toddler and his mother supported the two of them as a single mother during The Depression. That is until she passed away when Dean was only nine. He moved to Ohio and lived with his aunt and uncle where things stabilized for him. After graduating high school, he moved to LA and embarked on his all-too-brief career. 

Maisie Williams

Though she found fame at early age with Game of Thrones Maisie Williams' family struggled when she was younger. She was raised in a council house (public housing in the UK) until she was cast in the hit HBO show at age 12. 

Jeremy Strong

Jeremy Strong may play a scion to one of the wealthiest families on TV in Succession, but in real life, he had a much more humble upbringing. Strong grew up in the blue-collar area of Jamaica Plain in Boston and his father was a guard in juvenile jails in town. Eventually the family moved to the more upscale town of Sudbury, where he went to high school and discovered acting. 

Samuel L. Jackson

For most of his career, Samuel L. Jackson was a blue-collar actor working as much as he could. That makes with his upbringing as the son of a single mother who worked in a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Shania Twain

Shaina Twain is best known as a country singer, of course, but she's done a little acting over her impressive career as well. It's a career that has taken far away from her humble roots outside Toronto, Ontario, where the family struggled. Those struggles led to her finding gigs as a singer at a young age and the rest is history.

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton had a rough upbringing in the UK. Nine of her formative years were spent in foster care when her parents, who were addicts, weren't able to care for her. She had a couple of scraps with the law herself but started getting acting work in her teens and it all came together. 

Dolly Parton

There is no more revered person in Hollywood (or Nashville) than the great Dolly Parton. She's often talked about her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee as one of 12 children. She has always praised how her mother kept the family together through hard times and when Parton was 18 she moved to Nashville and hit the big time pretty quickly as a songwriter and a singer. 

Adam Driver

Megalopolis star Adam Driver moved around a lot as a kid, living all over from San Diego to Indiana. His stepfather was a Baptist preacher, but he was mostly raised by his mother in Indiana. After the September 11th attacks, he joined the Marines and served, like many other actors have over the years, for a few years before being discharged for a medical reason and starting his acting career. 

Al Pacino

Al Pacino grew up mostly in the South Bronx, and anyone from New York can tell you that the South Bronx in the '40s and '50s was a tough place to live. By his own admission he got in trouble a lot, as often happens with kids with hard working parents. Even as a actor early in his career he couch-surfed with friends until he started landing gigs regularly. 

Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard's family experienced the American Dream, according to the actor and podcast host. His mom worked at GM while he was growing up near Detroit and the family struggled, but as he got older, his mom's career grew and she moved up the ranks from janitor to executive, so by the time Shepard was in high school, she was quite successful. 

Ice Cube

Any fan of N.W.A. knows about Ice Cube's roots in South Central LA as the son of a janitor and a groundskeeper. As a result of desegregation, Ice Cube had the opportunity to get bussed out of Compton and out to the suburbs, where he thrived in English class, something he would make good use of later in life as the principal lyricist for one of the most successful rap acts of all time. 

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson, who has won the famed EGOT, was raised with her two siblings by a single mother on the South Side of Chicago. She started working in local theater at a young age and famously worked on the Disney Cruise line before auditioning for American Idol in the show's third season, which was, of course, her big break. 

Mel Brooks

The legendary Mel Brooks, like so many of his generation, was the child of immigrants. He was raised very poor in Brooklyn surrounded by people who worked in the garment industry. Instead of following in their footsteps, he went into show business and the world is luckier for it. 

Joan Crawford

Screen legend Joan Crawford would die a very rich woman, but she started life as the daughter of a construction worker in Texas. After her parents split up and her mother remarried, her stepfather got in trouble in Texas and the family moved to Kansas City where Crawford attended Catholic school as a work student. 

Jim Carrey

At one point Jim Carrey was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, which is far cry from his humble beginnings in and around Toronto. For a time, Carrey has admitted, they were even homeless. Eventually his father found more stable employment and after dropping out of high school Carrey worked on his stand up routine and took shifts at a nearby factory. 

Misha Collins

Supernatural star Misha Collins grew up working class in Boston and he has said in the past that his family spent some time unhoused. He was lucky enough to gain admission to a prep school, which led him to the University of Chicago and eventually an internship at The White House during the Clinton administration before he concentrated on his acting career. 

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson has been a part of two of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, Star Wars and the MCU. It wasn't always the big time for her though. Her mother was a teenager when she was born and never married Dawson's father, but did marry another man, from whom Dawson takes her last name. He was a construction worker first in New York and later in Texas. 

Jessica Chastain

Though she doesn't talk much about her upbringing, we do know that Jessica Chastain's stepfather was a firefighter and that her family life was a struggle growing up. She grew up in Sacramento with four siblings, though she lost one to suicide when she was in her early 20s. Chastain started acting as a kid and her career would eventually take off and she would become one of the most beloved and acclaimed actors of her generation. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Born of Uganda immigrants in London, Daniel Kaluuya was raised on a council estate in one of the city's most famous blue-collar areas, Camden. He didn't know his father growing up, but he excelled in school and started acting in plays while there. he started landing paying gigs in his teens and the rest is history.

Hilary Swank

Though she has humble roots as the daughter of an army soldier, Hilary Swank grew up in a stable household and even after her parents split up when she was 15, her mother moved with Swank to the LA area so she could try her hand at Hollywood. That bet paid off as Swank has been one of the best actresses around for decades. 

Charlie Chaplin

It could be argued that Charlie Chaplin was the first bonafide superstar of the silver screen. While he would eventually become Hollywood's biggest star and one of the most financially successful moviemakers of his era, his childhood was a hardscrabble upbringing in central London. His parents had no capacity to raise children and he bounced around reform schools and other group homes as a kid before finding his way, first in the theater then later in silent films. 

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez famously grew up "on the 6," meaning the 6-Train through the Bronx in New York City. Her father had a job as a computer technician and Lopez had a solid, yet definitely blue-collar upbringing. 

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has starred in some of the best roles in Hollywood over the last four decades, and one of them, Woody Boyd on Cheers, reflected his actual blue-collar roots in Indiana. The story of Woody Boyd and Woody Harrelson are pretty similar, as both were raised in rural Indiana. Harrelson was famously locked up in prison for most of his upbringing, and he eventually died in prison after Harrelson's career had taken off. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis was actually born on plantation in South Carolina, if you can believe it. She was raised mostly in Rhode Island, however, but it was a hard upbringing which has described of being very financially unstable. 

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig may be famous for playing suave, debonair, and sophisticated characters, but that's nothing like his upbringing. His father was a construction worker and bar manager, though Craig does have aristocratic ancestors. 

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix (and his late brother River) had a wild upbringing. His parent were part of a cult called the Children of God and Phoenix spent much of his early life living in South America as his parents traveled as missionaries for the religious group. Eventually, the family left the cult, adopting the name "Phoenix" as a sign of their rebirth as a family in a new life.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is famously one of the richest people in Hollywood, but that's not how she started out. Her mother was a teenager in Milwaukee, but before long Winfrey found herself in Nashville living with the man she considers her father. While still a teen in Nashville, she started working in radio, which would eventually lead to her media empire. 

Bella Thorne

The whole reason Bella Thorne became a professional actor was to help support her family growing up. After her father was killed in a car wreck when she was ten, Thorne's mother was left to raise four children on her own. It was a tough upbringing, but the acting gigs started coming more and more often and got her big break on the Disney Channel's Shake It Up in 2010. 

James Caan

James Caan was in some of the best movies in Hollywood history. The list of Caan's best movies is incredible. His father was a deli meat salesman and he grew up in the blue-collar neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, in New York City. He found acting while he briefly attended Hofstra, where he would also meet Francis Ford Coppola, who would give the role of Sonny in The Godfather years later. 

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez was raised by a single mother who had Gomez when she was just 16. Gomez has never been resentful, it seems, and credits her with raising her under such trying conditions. Gomez caught the acting bug at a pretty young age and ws soon landing shows on kids shows, leading to the insanely successful career we all know and love. 

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had the definition of a blue-collar upbringing as the son of a beautician and an employee of the water company in his hometown of New York City. His parent worked hard to make sure he got a good education and after graduating from Fordham, he embarked on one of the most successful Hollywood careers of all time. 

Ahsoka Tano was one of the breakout characters of the Star Wars expanded universe when she appeared in 2008’s Clone Wars tv show and later Star Wars Rebels. When plans for a Disney+ series centered around Ahsoka were announced there were a few main things Star Wars fans wanted to see. One of those things was an emphasis on the relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka. The two characters have such an intertwined history, with Ahsoka being the only Jedi trained by Anakin before he became Darth Vader. Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the relationship between the two characters and the thought process that went into creating a special moment between the two. 

She revealed a scene that was changed in episode seven of the series. Ashoka watches an old training hologram of Anakin and a lot of old feelings were brought back for the character and audiences alike. There was already a lot of anticipation for Anakin to come back more than once when it was announced Hayden Christensen was going to reprise his role and be a part of Ahsoka's cast list. When talking about it Dawson said, 

The World Between Worlds played such an important role in Star Wars Rebels, and to Ashoka herself that it makes sense that trying to top it would almost diminish the scene. Even before the show aired there was already hype around the idea of a return to the World Between Worlds and Anakin’s involvement. Transforming the scene into something other than a Force Ghost made it different. The fact that her mentor turned to the dark side is a big development in the character’s journey. So any time the two crossed paths in this live-action setting the moment had to be just right. In the same interview Dawson went on to say,

It goes to show the thought that Dawson and creator Dave Filoni had when writing the show and bringing the characters to life. The scenes between Anakin (in whatever form he was in) and Ahsoka were some of the best of the show. Fans can ponder those questions about the World Between Worlds scene and many others while they wait for Ahsoka season two. Of course they could also go back and watch Ahsoka or any other Star Wars show or movie since they are all streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The state of Terminator franchise’s film side remains uncertain following the underperformance of 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, with the last major update on that front coming in December 2022 when James Cameron expressed interest in pressing the reboot button again. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any new Terminator content coming up, as those of you with a Netflix subscription will soon be able to see how this sci-fi property does in the anime realm. One of the key things we know about Terminator Zero is that Timothy Olyphant will voice the title robotic antagonist, and now the official announcement of a key Star Wars actor and more joining him in the cast has me even more psyched for this project.

Who’s Been Added To The Terminator Zero Cast

Netflix has revealed that Rosario Dawson, André Holland, Sonoya Mizuno and Ann Dowd will also be heard during Terminator Zero, which is set in 1997, the same year that Skynet became self-aware and began its war against humanity. Here’s the breakdown of who they’re playing and how these characters fit into the narrative that will be viewable on one of the best streaming services:

Rosario Dawson as Kokoro - “An advanced AI and Japan's answer to Skynet, if brought online, Kokoro will be endowed with the same power as Skynet. Kokoro must calculate for itself: is humanity the plague Skynet believes? Or are human beings worth saving?”

André Holland as Malcolm Lee - “A genius computer programmer and father of three, Malcolm Lee is haunted by prophetic nightmares of an apocalyptic future. He's spent the last decade creating a secret artificial intelligence that he believes will be humanity's last hope.”

Sonoya Mizuno as Eiko - “Coming from a post-Judgement Day 2022, Eiko is a resistance fighter sent back in time to stop Malcolm from launching Kokoro.”

Ann Dowd as The Prophet - “In the future, the Prophet is the philosophical guide for the human resistance, a light shepherding survivors in the darkness of the unknown future ahead.”

These days, Dawson is best known for playing the live-action Ahsoka Tano in the Star Wars franchise, first guest starring in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, then leading the Ahsoka series, which is returning for Season 2. Holland’s major credits include Moonlight and The Knick, Mizuno can currently be seen playing Mysaria in House of the Dragon, and Dowd’s filmography includes Philadelphia, Hereditary, The Leftovers and The Handmaid’s Tale.

Why Terminator Zero Sounds Appealing

While the Terminator franchise has endured for 40 years now, and both The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day rank as some of the best sci-fi movies, there’s no question that it’s been traveling along a bumpy road for a while. Along with Terminator: Dark Fate failing to impress at the box office, both 2009’s Terminator Salvation and 2015’s Terminator Genesis struggled critically and commercially. Terminator is in dire need of a refresh, and I’m hoping that Zero accomplishes this objective.

For one thing, it’s nice to be moving away from the Connors, who were also the focus of the short-lived TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. We now have a brand-new cast of characters who are dealing with their own troubles in 1997 Japan as Skynet is beginning to wreak havoc. That said, there are obviously parallels between Terminator Zero and the original Terminator saga beyond Kokoro being Skynet’s Japanese counterpart, including Malcolm Lee and Eiko respectively filling similar role as Miles Dyson and Kyle Reese, and The Prophet sounding somewhat like the adult John Connor, although perhaps less militaristic.

With Rosario Dawson’s Kokoro specifically though, what intrigues me about the 1997 version of the AI it how it’s torn between wiping out humanity like Skynet is doing, or allowing our kind to live on. Now in the future that Eiko comes from, it seems as though Kokoro went with the former option, but perhaps the events of Terminator Zero will lead to the AI making a different decision. Finally, I’m eager to see how the Terminator-style action sequences end up looking through an anime lens.

Created and executive produced by Mattson Tomlin, Terminator Zero premieres Thursday, August 29 on the 2024 TV schedule. While we count down the two months to go until its arrival, see what best shows on Netflix are worth pouring your time into right now.

Ahsoka Tano is a well-known character within the sprawling Star Wars franchise today. She’s greatly loved for her determination, cleverness, humor and heart. Of course, fans also appreciate the powerful Jedi’s skills with a lightsaber. Considering how beloved she is now, it’s somewhat hard to believe that there was a time at which she was unpopular. That’s right, plenty surely remember her introduction well over a decade ago, which was met with harsh critiques. Her rise from franchise pariah to pop culture icon is very interesting – so much so that amid Women’s History Month, I feel compelled to discuss her evolution. 

When Was Ahsoka Created For The Star Wars Universe And When Did She Make Her Debut?

There are two people who we can attribute the creation of Tano to, and they’re George Lucas and Dave Filoni, as they conceived of her while creating the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It’s been said that Lucas felt compelled to create the young heroine as someone for his (then-young) daughters and other girls to look up to. Filoni, who initially believed his Lucasfilm hiring was a prank, would eventually play a particularly keen role in developing the character. Someone who would, in time, prove to be vital to the character as well would be actress Ashley Eckstein, who was tapped to voice her.

Tano ultimately made her debut in the 2008 film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which was birthed from George Lucas’ excitement over the early footage from its TV show counterpart. Ahsoka was established as the newly minted padawan of one Anakin Skywalker, who was surprised Master Yoda had assigned the adolescent Togruta to him. But this would mark the start of an endearing surrogate father-daughter relationship. Today, the relationship between “Snips” and “SkyGuy” is beloved, and there’s even been artwork that’s paid tribute to Anakin and Ahsoka’s bond.

I can still remember being 14 years old when the film and TV series were released and, in the lead-up to both, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Tano. As a fan, I had no preconceived notions about her, just an ample amount of curiosity. I couldn’t have imagined that she would one day end up being one of the franchise’s most revered protagonists. Additionally, I also didn’t expect such intense backlash once the public got its first taste of her.

How Fans Responded After Ahsoka Tano Was Formally Introduced

Back in the late 2000s, I didn’t surf the Internet quite as often as I do now, though I do remember stumbling across some chat rooms and message boards. Needless to say, a number of franchise devotees weren’t too impressed with Ahsoka. At the time, many seemed to find her to be impatient, cocky and an unnecessary addition to the canon. Aside from fans, some critics weren’t taken with her right away. While reviewing the Clone Wars film, even the late, great Roger Ebert expressed less-than-positive sentiments about her introduction: 

It would be an understatement to say that fans and pundits alike didn’t mince words when voicing their displeasure for the young Jedi learner. And the people at Lucasfilm were well aware of the reception. While speaking at the 2023 C2E2 convention (via Popverse) Ashley Eckstein recalled the vitriol and, as you can imagine, she was deeply affected by it after the movie’s release and amid the series' early episodes: 

Fictional characters aren’t always perfect upon their debuts and, in fairness, Tano did need to be refined a bit. Still, the amount of blunt thoughts shared about her at the time was downright wild, if I’m being real. Ever in line with the spirit of the Star Wars franchise though, the creative team didn’t lose hope in its creation. As the actress mentioned, they were already working on Season 2 by the time the film came out, and they were confident that fans would eventually become interested in her journey. And they were right.

How Ahsoka Became A Fan-Favorite And Established Power Player Within The Franchise

Dave Filoni and co. did indeed have a plan for the character. Over the course of The Clone Wars’ five seasons that aired from 2008 to 2013, she evolved from an impetuous, young Jedi in training to a cerebral Force-user. And not only did her mind become sharper, but her skills with a lightsaber. (The New York Post’s Linda Stasi actually noted her skills as a swordsman as a bright spot in her negative review of the 2008 feature.) Tano was involved in some of the best storyline the Cartoon Network series had to offer, including the “Mortis” arc and the “Ahsoka the Fugitive” story. Her journey on CW culminated in the “Siege of Mandalore” story, which brought the entire show to a fitting end in 2020.

Of course, that series wouldn’t be the only place that fans would get to enjoy the character’s exploits. In 2015, she returned in Star Wars Rebels and, though she appeared in a supporting capacity, the writers expanded on her characterization and gave her cool actions sequences. Defining moments from the heroine’s life were also explored on Tales of the Jedi. And, of course, in 2023, she received her own self-titled, live-action series, with Rosario Dawson taking on the role. The show was well received and, as a result, fans can now look forward to Ahsoka Season 2, which we know a little about.

I’ve watched as fans’ opinions of Tano have shifted over the years, and it’s been wonderful to behold. Based on my observations, many seem to appreciate her journey and what she brings to the lore. Dave Filoni and the writers have shaped her evolution well, allowing her to grow in very dynamic ways. If anything, those who are invested find her journey to be relatively satisfying at this point. Which is ironic, considering that, in hindsight, one of the reasons why it’s so rewarding is because of the former padawan’s rocky beginnings. The creative team at Disney seems pleased by her impact as well. When Ashley Eckstein shared some words of wisdom about her character with CinemaBlend, she reflected on the influence her alter ego has had: 

In short, the character is now an icon – one that fans across all genders, ages, ethnicities and more admire. When taking into account just where she started, that's truly remarkable. What’s even more amazing to consider, even though she’s existed for nearly two decades now, is that there’s still so much of her story that can be told as time goes on.

What I’m Hoping When It Comes To Ahsoka’s Future

With her popularity now at a serious high, I’d imagine that Lucasfilm is going to make sure that more stories revolving around Ahsoka Tano will be told. Such a notion would neither surprise nor upset me. In fact, as time goes on, it’s my sincerest hope that the Jedi will remain a fixture within the franchise, whether that be through TV shows, movies, literature and more. More importantly though, one would hope that she continues to inspire viewers to be brave, intelligent, resilient and kind.

It’s not all that often that a character has such a tremendous glow-up like Ahsoka’s. To be honest, I’m still amazed by the trajectory she’s had. The early hate that she received may seem like a distant memory to some now, but it’s also a stark reminder that fandom shouldn’t write off a character right away. As CinemaBlend celebrates Women’s History Month, I can’t think of a better protagonist to pay tribute to. Tano deserves all the flowers and, at this point in her existence, the sky is truly the limit for one of the Star Wars franchise’s greatest icons.

You can check out Ahsoka Tano’s greatest moments by streaming The Clone Wars, Rebels and the character’s eponymous show using a Disney+ subscription. Also, keep your eyes peeled for details on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV series so you’ll know when she returns.

Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice, was introduced to the world back in 2008 in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, and she went on to play key roles in both the follow-up Clone Wars TV show and Star Wars Rebels. However, a lot of people didn’t become aware of her existence until Rosario Dawson brought the character to life in live-action in The Mandalorian Season 2. Following that guest appearance and briefly popping her head into The Book of Boba Fett, Dawson’s Ahsoka finally got to lead her own TV series, which, like the Star Wars movies in order and every show from this franchise, can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.

Picking up plot threads left behind by Rebels, Ahsoka saw its title protagonist embark on a mission to uncover a new threat posed by the Empire’s remnants and track down her missing friend Ezra Bridger. Ahsoka’s ending also left behind plenty of plot threads to be picked up in a second season. So, now let’s go over what we know about Ahsoka Season 2.

What Is The Ahsoka Season 2 Premiere Date?

Ahsoka Season 2 doesn’t have a release date yet since it’s simply “in development.” Given that Ahsoka Season 1 ended in October 2023, and no major updates on Season 2's progress as of July 2024, it indicates that filming is likely a ways off from beginning. Factor in how long the shoots on Star Wars TV shows usually are and the lengthy postproduction process, it stands to reason sometime in 2025 is the earliest we’ll see Season 2, although don’t rule out a 2026 drop either.

We Got A Glimpse Of Ahsoka And Sabine On One Of The Mortis Statues

Because Ahsoka Season 2 hasn’t started filming yet, obviously that means we’re a ways off from seeing any official stills. However, on January 10, the day after Lucasfilm confirmed the second season was in development as part of its announcement for the movie The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm shared the below piece of concept art on its social media channels:

Here we have Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano and presumably Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren atop the pointing hand of a giant statue, and “The story continues” is written within the image. We’ll save talking about where this statue specifically is for the next section, but Ashoka Season 1 viewers are already familiar with this gargantuan creation. Baylan Skoll, was seen standing in front of it and two other large statues, one of which was missing its head, in the final minutes of the Ahsoka Season 1 finale.

But, these aren’t just any random three statues; they represent The Father, The Son and The Daughter, a.k.a. the Mortis gods, who personify aspects of The Force. The Son represents the Dark Side, the daughter represents the Light Side, and the Father represents the balance between these two sides of The Force. The entities themselves were introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3, and while the chances of them actually appearing in Ahsoka are slim to none given the events of that animated series, their influence will be felt in Season 2 as we once again visit the statues constructed in their honor.

Who Else Might Appear In Ahsoka Season 2?

As has already been mentioned, Sabine Wren will still be by Ahsoka Tano’s side in Ahsoka Season 2. But they aren’t the only ones stranded on Peridea (more on that later), as the duo are also accompanied Huyang, voiced by David Tennant, while Ivanna Sakhno’s Shin Hati, Baylan Skoll’s former apprentice who has allied herself with a group of local bandits, is also there. So, at the bare minimum, we can almost certainly expect to see these four in Season 2, and I have a feeling Hayden Christensen may return as well to play Anakin Skywalker in Force Ghost form.

But, let’s not assume that Ahsoka Season 2 will only take place on Peridea. Chances are good that Ezra Bridger and Hera Syndulla, two other major characters from the Star Wars Rebels days, will stick around, giving us protagonists to follow along with in the Star Wars franchise’s main galaxy. And then there’s Grand Admiral Thrawn, who managed to escape Peridea with the Great Mothers and travel to Dathomir, home of the Nightsisters. 

With Moff Gideon having seemingly been killed in The Mandalorian Season 3 finale, Grand Admiral Thrawn is now positioned as the most influential figure within the ranks of the Imperial remnants. It’s even easy enough to imagine him becoming the overarching antagonist of all the Star Wars shows set in the New Republic era, but for now, it’d be surprising if he didn’t have a major role in Season 2. 

Baylan Skoll Has Been Recast

Baylan Skoll, played by Ray Stevenson, was also left stranded on Peridea in the Ahsoka Season 1 finale, and that shot of him in front of the Mortis Gods statues made it clear his story wasn’t over yet. However, with Stevenson having died in May 2023, three months before Ahsoka's premiere, it was unclear for a long time if this meant we'd never see Baylan again.

That won't be the case, as it was announced in January 2025 that Game of Thrones alum Rory McCann will take over the role in Ahsoka Season 2. We're still in the dark about what awaits Baylan, but at least his fans can take comfort knowing that he won't just disappear.

Where Ahsoka Tano Is Now

When Star Wars Rebels ended in 2018, the final minutes of the show revealed that Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren were embarking on a mission to find Ezra Bridger, who was taken to parts unknown with Grand Admiral Thrawn by the hyperspace-traveling Purrgil.  While the Ahsoka show starts off with Rosario Dawson’s version of the character still looking specifically for Thrawn, as she’d been doing in The Mandalorian Season 2 episode “The Jedi,” by the end of the series’ second episode, she and Sabine reached that same point from the Rebels series finale where they also catch wind of Ezra potentially still being alive and go searching for him

The good news is that they eventually found him on Peridea, that planet located in another galaxy, and also where Thrawn and his forces were stranded. Even better, Ezra was finally able to escape, make it back to our traditional galaxy far, far away and reunite with Hera Syndulla and Chopper. The bad news is that now Ahsoka and Sabine are stranded on Peridea in his place. 

While it’s unlikely that the the two will be stuck there forever, and potentially not even for years depending on how long Ahsoka Season 2 takes place after Season 1, expect to spend a decent amount of time on that world in the next batch of episodes. 

Dave Filoni Will Continue Working Behind The Scenes On Ahsoka Season 2

Dave Filoni has been an important behind-the-scenes talent on the Star Wars franchise since the Clone Wars days, which is where he introduced Ahsoka Tano to the world. His profile has gotten significantly bigger in recent years, though, thanks to working on The Mandalorian alongside Jon Favreau, and then he finally got to create his own live-action Star Wars show with Ahsoka.

Well, good news for those of you who like Filoni’s work, because he’ll continue serving as showrunner and lead producer during Season 2, as was shared in Lucasfilm’s brief comment. He's already created a playlist of music for composer Kevin Kiner to listen to as prepartion for work on the next season. But that’s not the only big Star Wars project he has coming up.

What Else Dave Filoni Is Working On

Dave Filoni is also attached as a producer on The Mandalorian and Grogu alongside director Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. However, arguably the biggest future project of his comes in the form of a separate feature film that he’ll direct and will serve as a climactic event tying together the storylines from Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Skeleton Crew. It’s still unclear if this movie will serve as a finale for all these New Republic shows or if some could continue afterwards, but either way, presumably Ahsoka Season 2 will come out beforehand.

Keep your eyes peeled here for more news on what to expect in Ahsoka Season 2, as well as other major updates concerning the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Once Lucasfilm wrapped the trilogy that was launched in 2015 with J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, fans began clamoring for the next big saga. So much of Star Wars takes place in television form nowadays, with solid series such as Andor, and disappointing series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi. We haven’t seen a new Star Wars film since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, though according to our reporting from Star Wars Celebration, all of that is about to change. Several upcoming Star Wars movies have been announced, and after the results of the Ahsoka season finale, I’m beginning to see where all of this is heading. 

The period of time in the Star Wars timeline set between the original trilogy (which ended with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) and the sequel trilogy (which began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens) seems incredibly rich for exploration. The Rebellion triumphed over the Empire, with Luke Skywalker’s help. How did The First Order come about? Why was Luke (Mark Hamill) exiled? A lot transpired. Much of it was explored in books, comics, and video games – some canon, some not. But seeds planted in the Ahsoka finale suggest a path forward into this time period, which is going to place a bright spotlight on three main characters. 

Here’s who I think will be very important to the narrative for the next decade of Star Wars storytelling: 

Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn

You basically can’t have Star Wars without a formidable villain, be it Darth Vader, or Emperor Palpatine. (“The dead speak!”) And Season 1 of Ahsoka spent its time setting up the return of, and eventual escape of, Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), the new Big Bad for Star Wars stories. Thrawn was introduced in a popular series of Star Wars novels written by Timothy Zahn. He unites the fractured pieces of the Galactic Empire, and wages war against the New Republic leaders, including Luke Skywalker, Leia, Han Solo, and more. 

Star Wars fans saw the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn in the animated Star Wars Rebels series, which concluded the storyline that Ahsoka Season 1 picked up. Near the conclusion of that show, Ezra Bridger exiled himself and Thrawn to a far off galaxy, to prevent him from taking over the New Republic. But thanks to Ashoka, Thrawn is now back on the playing field, and expects to be a major focus of either Ahsoka Season 2 or the Dave Filoni movie that Lucasfilm announced.   

Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger

Bringing back Thrawn also meant bringing back Ezra Bridger, the very popular character who once was the beating heart of Dave Filoni’s Star Wars Rebels. And what an arc Ezra had on that show, beginning as a street urchin on the planet of Lothal who eventually trains to be a Jedi under Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and join the Rebel Alliance. 

Introduced in live action as part of the Ashoka series on Disney+, Ezra was portrayed by Eman Esfandi, who tapped perfectly into the giddy enthusiasm and brazen confidence Bridger had in Rebels. Ezra often was too full of himself, his pride and ego distracting him from the ways of The Force. That impetuousness often made Kanan angry. We saw some of that come through in Ahsoka, but mainly, Ezra appeared to have matured, and even found greater control over his powers while in exile. As Season 1 concluded, Ezra was reunited with Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), so we believe his adventures are just beginning.   

Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren

Yes, Ahsoka Tano is Sabine Wren’s master. But there were times throughout Ahsoka when it seemed the writing was more concerned with advancing the story of Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) than it was with the actual title character. This has been the norm in the Disney+ Star Wars shows. The Mandalorian stole away The Book of Boba Fett, while Luke Skywalker and Ahsoka appeared in one of the more memorable episodes of The Mandalorian. It’s all one big galaxy. 

Sabine, however, made incredible strides over the course of Ahsoka, and it seems like she’s being positioned as one of the next big Jedi masters to be in service of the New Republic. There can never be too many trained Jedi, so it was important for Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) to help rescue Ezra, but also to return and resume training Sabine. As we saw in the season finale, Sabine’s control over the Force was increasing, and I’ll bet that a chunk of Ahsoka Season 2 (if it happens) will be dedicated to Ahsoka training her padawan even more, now that they are both stranded on Peridea. 

The biggest question now is, “When will we see these important characters again?” The natural answer would be Ahsoka Season 2, though nothing has been announced or confirmed yet. It seems like there is still too much story to establish before Dave Filoni’s Star Wars movie pulls together threads from The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. As soon as we know more about Filoni’s plan for these three actors, we will report back.

The last episode of Ahsoka was a big deal for fans because it brought together the title character with Anakin Skywalker in live-action, with Hayden Christensen returning in a big way. For the characters, it was a case of two people who used to be close to seeing each other again after a long absence. But it turns out that the same was largely true for the actors as well.

In Star Wars: The Clone Wars Ahsoka Tano was voiced by Ashley Eckstein, but Anakin Skywalker was voiced by Matt Lanter, and not Hayden Christensen. In live-action, Christensen is back in the role allowing his Anakin to work alongside Ahsoka, now played by Rosario Dawson, for the first time. It was a big deal for fans to see this moment. And in a video posted to the Star Wars YouTube account, Dawson says that she once spent time in acting school with Hayden Christensen. So for her, like Ahsoka, this was a case of seeing an old friend again. She explained… 

Rosario Dawson is just two years older than Hayden Christensen, so it’s easy to see the two young actors studying together, trying to hone their craft in search of success. Both would fine work as teens in the mid to late ‘90s, with Hayden Christensen of course becoming an overnight star when he was cast in the Star Wars prequels as the older Anakin Skywalker for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Dawson would take a longer road, but would eventually become no less the star. 

The episode saw a near-death Ahsoka find herself standing with her former Master, whose spirit took her on a journey through their life together. We even saw a version of Ahsoka as we would have seen her in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, played by Ariana Greenblatt, who is making a career of playing the younger versions of popular franchise characters.

It’s hard to undersell just how big a deal Ahsoka and Anakin together in live-action was for fans. As popular, and important, as the animated series has been to Star Wars on the whole, the movies are still the core part of the story, and so Hayden Christensen’s portrayal of Anakin Skywalker is the definitive one. The Disney+ Star Wars series has been all about recreating that cinematic experience on the small screen.

If there was a little bit of reality that made its way into the scenes between Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen, then it almost certainly helped make those moments better. While we’ve likely seen the last of Christensen in Ahsoka the chances of another appearance are not impossible, and the possibility of seeing Christensen appear in the Star Wars galaxy again seems quite likely.

 The following contains major spoilers for Episode 4 of Ahsoka. 

Generally speaking, fans, especially fans of Star Wars: Rebels, have been having a lot of fun with Ahsoka on Disney+. The show continues the long-running story that Dave Filoni started with Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a live-action setting, which, in the newest episode of the new series meant that Ahsoka had a moment fans have been waiting the entire series to experience.

In the final moments of the new episode, Ahsoka Tano wakes up in a mysterious place, after being defeated in battle against Baylon. Then, from behind her, she hears a voice she almost certainly wasn’t expecting that said two simple words. “Hello Snips.” With those words, a fan base has exploded, as Ahsoka Tano finds herself standing in front of not Darth Vader, but Anakin Skywalker, as performed by Hayden Christensen. Slightly wonky CGI effects notwithstanding, fans are here for it…

Those fans of Ahsoka who aren’t well-versed in the world of Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows are likely more than a bit confused. While not specified yet, it appears that Ahsoka has found herself in the World Between Worlds. It’s a place inside the Force that exists outside of space and time. How exactly Anakin is there we don’t yet know, but it does explain how a younger version of Anakin may be there to see his old padawan. Fans don’t care. 

It had been reported that Hayden Christensen would appear in Ahsoka so his appearance isn’t entirely a shock on its own, but of course, there was no clear idea of how it would happen. It could have been done as a flashback, or, as was done in Obi-Wan, via an appearance by Darth Vader himself. But the moment shook people. 

Snips, is a nickname that Anakin gives to Ahsoka early in The Clone Wars, due to her tendency to get snippy with him. Of course, Christensen didn’t voice Anakin himself in that animated series, so the actor we all think of as Anakin Skywalker had never “said the thing” during a canon Star Wars production until now. Needless to say, everybody is loving it. 

References and cameos are great, but the real test is going to come in a week when we see just where this story is going. This version of Anakin may not even realize what he becomes, but the final notes of the music, playing the Imperial March, surely want fans to remember.   

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Ahsoka episode "Time To Fly." Read at your own risk!

I'm enjoying watching Ahsoka (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) so far, but one common story element in these first three episodes has me pulling out my tin foil Jedi robe and spinning conspiracy theories. For this is yet another Star Wars project to fall back on a using a recurring plot point, and I'm beginning to wonder whether the frequency is all a bizarre coincidence, or if there is some deeper meaning and purpose behind it. 

In "Time to Fly," Ahsoka reminded us once again that Sabine Wren did not complete her training, making her another potential Jedi maestro whose ascension did not come to be in the Star Wars universe. I'm not sure if these truncated educations are something that all fans are keeping track of at home, but for those who aren't, the list of dropouts is growing quite a bit as of late. But is this story element something that is important to the greater story of the franchise, or just some hilariously coincidental instinct for creative teams in this universe? 

Sabine Is The Latest Jedi Who Didn't Finish Their Training In A Long Line 

Granted, we knew before the latest episode that Sabine Wren never finished her training with Ahsoka Tano, but the Episode 3 scene drilling down on that fact once more really had me reflecting on just how many Jedi we've met lately who boast little to no extensive training. Ahsoka, of course, never actually finished her Jedi training with Anakin Skywalker either, and here's a list of other Jedi besides Ahsoka and Sabine who failed to complete their training that we've seen: 

• Grogu
• Cal Kestis
• Kylo Ren
• Rey Skywalker
• Leia Organa

To be clear, there were multiple, valid reasons why all of these characters walked away from their training, and they all walked vastly different paths. It does seem weird, however, in the same way that blasters and lightsabers just don't kill things like they used to, that we have so many front-and-center Jedi who just aren't completing their training. It's strange, but also a little hilarious that in this new era of Star Wars, no one can emerge as a successful Jedi with a full array of preperatory education. 

Is Star Wars Doing This On Purpose? 

Star Wars keeps giving us quasi-Jedi, but I'm struggling to figure out if this is just a tried and true method of franchise storytelling, or if there's any connective tissue of value to it all. When Jedi are restricted to certain attachments, I wonder if it's just easier to create tension between Master and Padawan by creating the tension of a "will they or won't they" in terms of that particular relationship. For example, will Ahsoka show Sabine complete her training or come out of it with some blend of Jedi and Mandalorian fighting style? 

I also wonder if, much like CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley speculated, if there are plans to tell the story of a reformed Jedi order. It's possible Jacen Syndulla could represent the next wave of Jedi, though it seemed like the end of the sequel trilogy set up Rey to be the teacher of the next generation of Jedi knights. There is a Rey movie being developed, so I could see some long-term storytelling being laid out. 

At the same time, there's a part of me that just wonders if this is all unintentional, and I've stumbled upon a common crutch in Star Wars' storytelling. It's similar to the trope of how the villains connected to the Dark Side can seemingly survive if they just hate enough and refuse to die. And yet, Qui-Gon Jinn, one of the most powerful Jedi Masters, was taken out after a simple stabbing. Some things just don't make sense in Star Wars, so this may be all just one big coincidence. I guess like most things tied to the future of this universe, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Ahsoka premieres new episodes on Disney+ on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and eagerly await the return of Ezra Bridger, assuming we haven't secretly seen him already. 

Hollywood and the world at large lost a true talent this year in the form of actor Ray Stevenson, who suddenly died at the age of 58 in May. Tributes from James Gunn, Scott Adkins, James Purefoy and more flooded the Internet shortly after the news broke. Another person to memorialize Steveson was Rosario Dawson, who worked with him on one of his final productions – Ahsoka. Now, Dawson is opening up about what it was like to work with him on the Star Wars series, which just started streaming for Disney+ subscription holders. These comments also arrive as the show itself paid tribute to the late actor. 

When Rosario Dawson paid tribute to the Rome actor months ago, she appropriately referred to him as a “Ray of light.” She also described him as being “so vivacious & unbelievably present & vibrant.” While speaking with People, she provided further thoughts about getting to work alongside and befriend the fan-favorite actor. She spoke in depth about the qualities that made him a singular talent in her eyes. When describing him, she said he was: 

Based on what fans could see of the man during interviews, he was quite enthusiastic about the projects he was promoting at a given time. Those who’ve searched out vintage footage are sure to know that he could generate some great discussions. So I’m not surprised in the slightest to hear that he was just as personable on set as he was while talking to the press. It’s honestly still somewhat surreal to think that he’s no longer with us. At the very least though, his legacy lives on, and his work is still being enjoyed. 

Ahsoka tapped Ray Stevenson to play the role of Baylon Skoll, a former Jedi who’s fallen to the dark side of the Force and is now in league with the remnants of the Galactic Empire. With that role, Stevenson was called upon to wield a lightsaber. Only two episodes of the show have aired thus far, but Skoll has already proven to be adept with the weapon. Trailers have also teased a duel between him and the titular heroine, which should be a sight to behold. Rosario Dawson didn’t give away any specifics when talking about their fight, but it sounds like Stevenson certainly gave her a workout: 

As a fan, I’m excited, because it would appear the show gave the late actor some meaningful material to work with. What warms my heart even more, however, is the fact that the production honored him in a direct way. It did so by dropping a caption at the end of the premiere episode. You can see it for yourself: 

So far, Ahsoka has received mostly positive reviews from critics, with Ray Stevenson’s performance having been mentioned as one of the bright spots. I’m confident he’ll continue to be a standout as the season progresses. This period of time may be somewhat bittersweet for Rosario Dawson and the cast. But while they surely do miss their colleague, you can imagine that they’re pleased that the masses are able to enjoy one of his final performances.

New episodes of Ahsoka air on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Disney+ as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Anyone who’s enjoying the limited series and is already excited about other fare from the galaxy far, far away can read up on upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Ahsoka and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Read at your own risk!

Ahsoka is finally available for sci-fi fans with Disney+ subscriptions, and while I enjoyed the first two episodes of what feels like a live-action continuation of Star Wars Rebels, I still couldn't shake the feeling that the story thus far is similar to one that I've heard and actively experienced before. Franchise fanatics who are also gamers likely checked out Cameron Monaghan's return as Cal Kestis for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor earlier this year, and after watching Ahsoka, I can't be the only one who noticed some key similarities between the two projects. 

No doubt Ahsoka and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are completely different in the majority of ways, but the comparison points that have already sprung up cannot be ignored, especially since the game just came out earlier in the same year. Here's what stood out to me after the first two episodes, and why I think it might be handy if Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano sent a message to Cal Kestis for some pointers on how to navigate this situation. 

Both Ahsoka And Jedi Survivor Feature Opposing Sides Using A Map Device To Reach A Point In The Galaxy

In Ahsoka, the much-beloved Jedi with a long history is at odds with Morgan Elsbeth, one of Thrawn's old allies. Both are in search of the location of the Grand Admiral, but of course with different purposes in mind. Ahsoka Tano wishes to bring the Grand Admiral to justice, while Elsbeth needs him to help bolster and rally the remnants of the Empire. Both need the coordinates on the device to find Thrawn, as well as the missing Jedi Ezra Bridger. 

In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cal Kestis is in search of a map device from the High Republic era with coordinates to a hidden planet untouched by Empire rule. Once there, his hope is to rebuild the Jedi Order in seclusion, and establish forces against the Empire, though he's not the only one. Kestis went up against a fallen High Republic Jedi reawakened from stasis, Dagan Gara, as well as his cohort Rayvis. Quite a few people wanted to get their boots on this planet for various reasons, but at the risk of getting too spoilery, I'll just leave it at that.

The differences between the characters' missions and motivations are apparent, but there's a clear similarity in the idea of fighting over a map device that serves as the only way for our heroes to reach a certain spot in the galaxy. The journey took Cal and friends quite a distance to different locations, so I'm hoping the same will happen in Ahsoka. 

Both Include A Witch From Dathomir Providing Assistance

One other neat similarity is that both projects introduce a witch from Dathomir to add some mystical assistance. In Ahsoka, Morgan Elsbeth is linked to the Nightsisters of Dathomir, and her connection to them even gives Baylen Skoll's apprentice, Shin, pause. Even those entrenched within the Empire don't like to mess with the witches and with good reason. They're pretty creepy and powerful. 

• Ahsoka: An Updated Cast List For Disney+'s Star Wars Series, Including Rosario Dawson

In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Merrin is a Nightsister, ally, and love interest of Cal Kestis. Using her magic, she's able to aid Cal in his journey and ultimately helps him find the hidden planet with the aid of her supernatural abilities. The key difference here is that the Nightsister is helping the good guys in their mission, whereas the bad guys have her in Ahsoka. In any case, I'm so glad to see the Nightsisters getting more attention in the lore. 

Both Stories Potentially Rely On High Republic Technology

Ahsoka doesn't explicitly explain the origins of the mapping device during its first two episodes, but the device and imagery in the temple she obtains look very similar to the High Republic puzzles found in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Star Wars Rebels referenced old Jedi technology during the end of its run, but the series aired before The High Republic initiative. None of this is confirmed, to be sure, but going by the High Republic aesthetics shown in comics and the game, I think the influence seems pretty clear. 

In any case, both projects are great and worth checking out. I wouldn't call either of them ripoffs or copycats, since this is a universe of cyclical storytelling, after all. But these similarities can't be denied in my mind, and I'm hoping they end up meaning something deeper. 

New episodes of Ahsoka premiere on Disney+ on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. As someone who is in that time zone, I love the time switch-up of being able to see new episodes in primetime rather than the following morning, so here's hoping the trend continues with future releases. 

Loyal followers of all the happenings in a galaxy far, far away have had plenty to sink their teeth into, thanks to multiple animated and live-action series for those with a Disney+ subscription. However, many fans have been looking forward to seeing Rosario Dawson embark on her solo adventure as the fan favorite Ahsoka Tano since The Mandalorian spinoff was announced back in 2020. The time has finally come, with Ahsoka set to premiere on the streamer August 23, and critics have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the first two episodes.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, Ahsoka’s cast is expected to include the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka’s Jedi teacher. Many characters from the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels will be brought to life for the first time, including Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). So how does the former Jedi padawan’s story translate to live action? Let’s see what the critics have to say. 

Justin Lawrence of Geekcentric says the first two episodes of Ahsoka perfectly set up this next chapter, with mystery and intrigue that makes the critic excited to see what the rest of the series holds. Lawrence tweets:  

John Nguyen seems to agree, calling the premiere some of the best live-action fare the longtime franchise has ever offered. The critic also praises Rosario Dawson as “perfect casting,” saying: 

Rosario Dawson’s isn’t the only performance that’s caught the eyes of the critics, however, with Josh Martin-Jones highlighting the introductions of Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Ray Stevenson to the Star Wars universe: 

Klein Felt is also “blown away” so far by Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s portrayal of Sabine Wren and says the first two episodes of Ahsoka are pure bliss for fans of Star Wars Rebels:

In the Star Wars timeline, Ahsoka serves as a sequel to Rebels, and Jorgie of POC Culture posts that the two-episode premiere captures the animated feel of that and The Clone Wars in live action. He tweets: 

Ren Vieira of Mama’s Geeky concurs with that opinion, calling Ahsoka “brilliant” in its scope and character development: 

It seems safe to say that fans of Rebels are going to enjoy seeing these characters come to life. Laila of Agents of Fandom tweeted that she got chills from Kevin Kiner’s score and that the action is everything Star Wars fans are hoping for. In her words: 

Speaking of action, a couple of those who were lucky enough to access early screenings of the two-episode premiere have mentioned the lightsaber battles, and Molly Edwards of GamesRadar thinks fans are in for a treat with this “epic” series. She tweets: 

None of this would be possible, however, without Dave Filoni, who developed the series with Jon Favreau and wrote all eight episodes. Mark Pacis of Nerd Reactor thanks Filoni for his contribution to modern-day Star Wars, writing: 

It’s also noted by several who have seen Ahsoka’s first two episodes that prior viewership of Rebels and The Clone Wars aren’t needed to enjoy the Rosario Dawson-led series, though knowledge of previously established relationships between the characters does pay off for those who have watched them in full. 

If you haven't seen those animated series but can’t wait to catch Ahsoka when its first two episodes drop on Disney+ on August 23, CinemaBlend has got you covered with everything you need to know about Ahsoka Tano. You can also stay up to date on all of the upcoming Star Wars series and everything that’s new and coming in August to Disney+. 

This month, the newest live-action Star Wars series hits Disney+. In the past, the shows we’ve seen in live-action from the streaming service have either been about entirely new characters, like The Mandalorian, or connected to the movies that, at this point, we can assume most everybody has seen, like Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, with the Ahsoka TV show, we’re getting something a little different, as the title character has a significant history in the Star Wars galaxy, but almost all of it has been connected to animated series. Some have expressed a fear that if they haven’t watched all of The Clone Wars and Rebels, the events of Ahsoka may not make sense.

If watching seven seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and four seasons of Star Wars: Rebels sounds like fun to you, then by all means, you should do that. Both series are quite good and easily viewable with a Disney+ subscription. If, however, you don’t have that kind of time, then here’s a quick rundown about the key points concerning Ahsoka Tano’s story that will likely be relevant in the new Disney+ series. 

Ahsoka Was The Padawan Of Anakin Skywalker

Ahsoka Tano is introduced in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie that preceded the animated series, which fills in the gap between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The show follows several characters, most notably the trio of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano.

Young Ahsoka is a Padawan and Yoda assigns her to Anakin Skywalker in the hopes that it will teach the brash Jedi a certain amount of responsibility. He’s not really interested in training anybody at first, but she grows on him (and the audience), and eventually the pair become quite close. She called him Skyguy and he called her Snips due to the way she had a tendency to get snippy with him.

Ahsoka Left The Jedi Order 

The Clone Wars is, in many ways, the story of Ahsoka above all others. We see her grow, change and become a formidable Jedi in her own right. However, Ahsoka begins to become somewhat disillusioned as The Clone Wars go on, and the Jedi take on a more militaristic position, where they had previously been peacekeepers. Eventually, Ahsoka makes the decision to leave the Jedi Order.

This is prompted when she is framed for the murder of a suspected terrorist while they were in Jedi custody. Ahsoka is essentially suspended from the Order while being put on trial. When she is eventually cleared of the charges, the fact that so many people so important to her seemed to believe she was guilty broke what little faith she had left in the Jedi. While Ahsoka would still maintain the ideals of what it meant to be a Jedi, she would no longer hold the name.

Ahsoka Was An Early Part Of The Rebel Alliance 

Star Wars: Rebels was a follow-up animated series that focused on the crew of a starship called the Ghost, made up of Kannan Jarrus, a Jedi who escaped Order 66, and his crew, including pilot Hera Syndulla and a young Mandalorian named Sabine Wren. They also take in a young man named Ezra Bridger, who Kanan realizes is Force sensitive, and he begins to train the boy as a Jedi as best he can. Keep those names in mind as well. We know Hera, Sabine and Ezra are part of the Ahsoka cast, so they will be important.

The crew of the Ghost is part of a loose confederation of people fighting the Empire. They receive and transmit any important information to a go-between they know only by the code name Fulcrum, but at the end of Rebels' first season, it is revealed that Fulcrum is none other than Ahsoka Tano.

Ahsoka Is A Key Part Of The Skywalker Saga

Fighting for the Rebellion, and being one of the few capable of using the Force, of course, puts her up against the Empire's enforcer, Darth Vader. At first, Ahsoka is unaware of the identity of the man behind the mask, but during a key battle between the two, she realizes that she is fighting her former master, making her one of the few that knows his true identity.

But Anakin isn't the only Skywalker with whom Ahsoka is connected. In The Book of Boba Fett, we discover that during the early days of Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild a school for Jedi, Ahsoka gave him some assistance. How they met, or how much about their connection they have really shared with each other, has yet to be revealed.

Ahsoka Is On The Hunt For Grand Admiral Thrawn

The latter seasons of Rebels are concerned with the Ghost crew's battle with an Imperial officer named Grand Admiral Thrawn. At the end of the series, Ezra Bridger sends both himself and Thrawn to an unknown part of the galaxy, in an attempt to take Thrawn off the board for the rest of the battle with the Empire. Based on the fact that he does not appear in the Original Trilogy, it appears he succeeded.

However, when we meet the live-action Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian, we learn that she is on the hunt for Thrawn. Other references to him in Season 2 of that show would seem to indicate that while he has not yet returned, it is believed he will soon. 

Ahsoka’s Ultimate Fate Is Unclear 

The events of the Ahsoka series will be set somewhere in the period following The Mandalorian Season 2 and before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That’s a fairly big period, but, while we have seen where the larger story of Star Wars goes, where Ahsoka fits into it all is unclear. The Sequel Trilogy reveals much about what happens to many popular characters, but not Ahsoka.

We hear the voice of Ahsoka (as provided by her animated voice actress, Ashley Eckstein) among the chorus of Jedi encouraging Rey in the finale of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which would seem to indicate she has become one with the Force, ad all the other Jedi voices we hear are from those we know are dead. So one could deduce that Ahsoka has died by this point, but that’s far from a sure thing. However, it might also indicate that Ahsoka eventually does rejoin the Jedi at some point.

There are a lot of details that you certainly need to watch other Star Wars shows to fully understand. The Ahsoka series is likely to be full of references to them for fans that know them well, but hopefully they won’t be vital to the plot and it won’t be necessary for new viewers to know every detail. 

What is likely is that the Ahsoka series will be key to the planned Star Wars movie directed by Dave Filoni, so it will be a show worth watching even if the movies are really what you care about. With this much backstory, you should be in a good enough position to understand who Ahsoka Tano is when her series begins on August 23.

Disney+’s Ahsoka is just around the corner, and Star Wars fans’ excitement for the show seems to be steadily rising. Something that has franchise devotees like myself particularly pumped is the fact that the series has major connections to the animated series Rebels. Reports have suggested that the program will also have ties to a specific era in the Skywalker Saga – the prequel trilogy. On that note, a new rumor suggests that the Rosario Dawson-led show is going to feature a new take on one of the best scenes from that first set of films. 

The notion of the limited series references events from the prequels isn’t all that surprising, since the titular Jedi has direct ties to that time period in the galaxy far, far away. Ahsoka Tano served as Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice amid the Clone Wars. It was even previously reported that Anakin actor Hayden Christensen is reprising his role for this project. (The actor has yet to confirm that.) Despite all of that, I’m not sure anyone would’ve theorized what this recent rumor claims about the upcoming show. It was said, during an episode of Making Star Wars, that the production aimed to recreate Anakin and Obi-Wan’s Mustafar duel but with a key twist: 

The Mustafar sequence occurred at the end of 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It’s an emotionally charged scene that sees former master and apprentice Obi-Wan and Anakin (who’s known as Darth Vader by that point) dueling to the death. Ultimately, Kenobi emerges victorious after cutting off Vader’s arm and legs. All in all, it’s easily one of the finest – and most heartbreaking – moments within George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. Tano isn’t present during the fight, because (as revealed in the Clone Wars series finale), she was entangled in a dangerous situation of her own. 

The Mustafar sequence occurred at the end of 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It’s an emotionally charged scene that sees former master and apprentice Obi-Wan and Anakin (who’s known as Darth Vader by that point) dueling to the death. Ultimately, Kenobi emerges victorious after cutting off Vader’s arm and legs. All in all, it’s easily one of the finest – and most heartbreaking – moments within George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. Tano isn’t present during the fight, because (as revealed in the Clone Wars series finale), she was entangled in a dangerous situation of her own.

I’m intrigued by the idea of recreating the major moment and inserting Tano into the proceedings. However, there are a few reasons to be, at least, slightly concerned, if these scenarios were indeed filmed. For one, how does the overall idea fit into the story? The obvious answer would be a dream Tano has but, given she wasn’t actually present for the real event, one has to wonder how she’d have context regarding the specifics. On the whole, either theoretical sequence could just be tricky to sell to an audience. The host of Making Star Wars didn’t agree with the “pile of clothes” approach, arguing that it didn’t make sense in that context. And there’s a fair chance other fans may feel the same or have negative thoughts on other aspects of the sequence

But of course, I could just be getting ahead of myself, as a Mustafar moment is far from confirmed for the show at this point. Heck, Hayden Christensen still hasn’t even been officially announced for the series – even though Rosario Dawson seemed to confirm the casting with a social media post. An appearance from Chrstensen would track, though, not just because of Anakin’s connection to Tano but because the actor previously returned to SW through Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Speculation aside, what we know about Ahsoka is that it’ll see the wandering warrior reuniting with Rebels characters like Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla. The trio and more will have to team up in order to fight the impending return of Grand Admiral Thrawn. It’ll be exciting to see how that all comes to fruition and, if a Mustafar scene pops up at some point as well, so be it.

Ahsoka has its two-episode premiere on August 23 as part of the 2023 TV schedule, with one installment dropping weekly after that. Be sure you have a Disney+ subscription so that you can stream the show and eventually enjoy other upcoming Star Wars shows.

No matter which genre of movie you prefer to see at the theater, it seems there’s likely a big summer movie that meets your needs. While many seem to be taking in the “Barbenheimer” double feature, others may be looking for something more family-friendly or horror that will leave them shaking. Haunted Mansion, which is set to hit the big screen on July 28, may just satisfy those latter two audiences, as Rosario Dawson and LaKeith Stanfield lead an impressive cast in the newest take on the popular Disney ride. Critics have seen the Justin Simien movie, so let’s see if this one we want to make time for this weekend.

First reactions to early screenings had moviegoers surprised that the plot addressed loss and grief, but they said there were plenty of laughs to be had, as well as some jump scares. It sounds like a little bit of everything, so let’s see what the critics are saying. In CinemaBlend’s review of Haunted Mansion, Eric Eisenberg calls it a great introduction to the horror genre for younger audiences. He rates the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Molly Edwards of GamesRadar rates it 4 out of 5 stars, saying Haunted Mansion breathes new life into the Disney ride, providing unexpected emotional heft with a cast that appears to be having a blast. Justin Simien packs in the Easter eggs, but knowledge of the ride isn’t a prerequisite, the critic says, writing:  

Valerie Complex of Deadline says this movie would be a decent option for movie night at your house but isn’t sure it’s worth the price of a trip to the theater. Unlike the ride it’s inspired by, Haunted Mansion is less of an enchanting journey and more of a haphazard tour through an amusement park, the critic says. Complex continues: 

David Ehrlich of IndieWire also agrees the early potential is squandered and that the film is better suited for release on Disney+ than in theaters. Justin Simien brings some big ideas to the table, but they never quite take shape, Ehrlich writes. He grades it a C-, calling it “undead on arrival”: 

Luke Y. Thompson of the AV Club also gave Haunted Mansion a C-, noting that while LaKeith Stanfield shines, the other actors don't bring the same level of commitment. At times, Thompson says, the movie feels like an eternal cycle of the 9-minute ride, which nobody needs for 123 minutes. The critic continues: 

The critics seem to be split over this one; however, if it sounds like a movie you and your family might enjoy, you should check it out for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Haunted Mansion is set to hit theaters on Friday, July 28. That’s not the only scary movie hitting the screen, either, so check out all of the upcoming horror movies, as well as our 2023 Movie Schedule to find release dates for films of all genres. 

Usually, we’d be seeing Jamie Lee Curtis and the cast of Disney’s new Haunted Mansion movie promoting the heck out of one of the year’s big upcoming Disney movies, which hits theaters next weekend. Instead, Hollywood actors are striking over labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Amidst her Haunted Mansion co-star Rosario Dawson picketing on the ground recently, Curtis is shouting her out in support. 

Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to post a video of Rosario Dawson sharing that she’s striking so that she doesn’t have to live off ramen “for the rest” of her life. Check out the sweet shoutout from Curtis: 

Curtis handed off the microphone to Dawson, who came in hot with a solid point that if actors were not given rights to residuals and so forth, she wouldn’t be able to make a living in the industry. Dawson said “those contracts need to be updated” while holding a picket sign and striking with fellow actors. 

Her Haunted Mansion costar underlined the point on social media by sharing it and saying she’s telling it like it “was and is for the majority of actors.” The truth of the matter is that being an actor doesn’t necessarily amount to the big bucks, and as the SAG-AFTRA strike continues this week, more actors are speaking out about the problems happening behind-the-scenes in the industry. Here’s a round of photos from Dawson’s picketing: 

The Hollywood union strikes began with the WGA Writers Strike, which kicked off on May 2 for writers and continues today. Since last week, actors have been striking as well, effectively shutting down tons of movies and television shows that were previously in production. 

As actors continue to strike, they cannot promote their projects, including Haunted Mansion. Over the weekend, Walt Disney Studios held a premiere at Disneyland for the movie without its actors. Director Justin Simien and some producers attended the event, along with Disney characters walking the red carpet as well, but overall, it was a bit of a ghost town of a premiere. 

Per Curtis’ post, she only hinted that Dawson is a “colleague in the haunting tale,” whereas if Hollywood wasn’t in a strike, surely the actress would be all over letting the people know about her Disney project. Haunted Mansion’s first audience reactions were published last year, with many applauding the film for it being a fun, emotional and actually rather scary adaptation of the beloved Disneyland ride. 

Of course, this Haunted Mansion movie follows a previous one from 2003 starring Eddie Murphy. You can check out the upcoming release starring not only Jamie Lee Curtis and Rosario Dawson, but Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito and Jared Leto in Haunted Mansion, in theaters on July 28. 

Disney has given us several movies based on its theme park rides over the years. And when Justin Simien’s Haunted Mansion hits theaters July 28, it won’t be the first time this particular attraction has been depicted on the big screen. Eddie Murphy starred in The Haunted Mansion in 2003, and then the Muppets took a swing just a couple of years ago with 2021’s Muppets Haunted Mansion. Now, the upcoming Disney movie has held its premiere, and those who were able to attend an advance screening are hitting social media with their first reactions.

This time around it’ll be Rosario Dawson leading an iconic cast that also includes LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis and more. From what we know about Haunted Mansion — and what’s shown in the Disney film's trailer — audiences can expect plenty of laughs peppered into the spooky imagery, but let’s see what those who have seen the movie are saying.

Jazz Tangcay of Variety confirms there are plenty of laughs and jump scares in the film, but tweets that the movie’s portrayal of loss and grief was unexpected: 

Shannon McGrew of Nightmarish Conjuring agrees the film is filled with heart, and she credits the writing of Katie Dippold. Dippold’s background is in comedy, working on Mad TV and Parks and Recreation before penning The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, as well as the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters. That humor is apparent, as McGrew also notes that Haunted Mansion walks a thin line between humorous and spooky:

POC Culture tweets that fans of the theme park are going to love this flick, assuring movie-goers that it pays homage to the famous Disney ride with plenty of easter eggs. However, the thread continues to say the movie’s plot is unnecessarily bloated: 

Russ Milheim of The Direct agrees with the opinion above, saying Haunted Mansion is not without its faults but is a love letter to the ride that will bring fans much joy: 

Steven Weintraub of Collider notes that this movie will scare the kids and entertain adults, which might make it a good gateway horror option in a summer that’s filled with family friendly options at the theater. He tweets: 

Kristen Lopez of The Wrap calls this latest theme park ride adaptation wonderful, specifically shouting out the visual effects and the score from Academy Award nominee Kris Bowers. Lopez writes: 

So far, it seems like those who've screened Haunted Mansion agree that lovers of the ride are going to enjoy this movie. It also sounds like a good one to bring the family too, since the jump scares will be balanced out by plenty of laughs. If this sounds like one that you’re interested in, the movie is set to hit the big screen on Friday, July 28. Also be sure to check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to see what other big summer releases are heading to theaters soon. 

The entertainment world was dealt a serious blow earlier this week, as it was reported that Marvel and Star Wars actor Ray Stevenson died at the age of 58. Stevenson had a wide body of work, having starred in notable movies like The Punisher: War Zone and Kill the Irishman. As a result of his various gigs, he had the opportunity to work with a number of notable Hollywood stars. Now, as #RIPRayStevenson trends, a number of them are paying tribute to him, including Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn and Rosario Dawson, his fellow Ahsoka cast member. 

One of the late performer's most famous roles was that of Volstagg in Marvel Studios’ Thor franchise. He played a supporting role in the series’ first two installments and ultimately cameoed in Ragnarok after being uncertain about his involvement. During the second film, 2013’s The Dark World, his character appeared in a post-credits scene and said tag was helmed by James Gunn. The filmmaker took to Twitter following the King Arthur alum’s passing and reflected on their collaboration and run-ins: 

The star brought plenty of humor and warmth to the role of the jolly Warriors Three member. Of course, he had incredible range and could play a wide range of characters, including villainous ones. He’ll appear in such a role in Ahsoka, which will be streamable with a Disney+ subscription starting in August. Lead actress Rosario Dawson tweeted out some very sentimental thoughts in his honor, and her words really resonate with me: 

We should definitely make sure that we tell people we love them as much as possible because, ultimately, we just don’t know how long we have on this planet. Though it sounds like the Three Musketeers alum lived life to the fullest. Someone else who has that sense of vivaciousness is actor and stuntman Scott Adkins, who worked with the Northern Ireland native on the film Accident Man. Adkins shared nothing but kind words for his colleague and friend: 

One of Ray Stevenson’s most famous roles is that of Titus Pullo on the HBO series Rome. It was on the historical drama that he worked with actors like James Purefoy. The Mark Antony actor honored his late comrade in a very sweet tweet:

Titus remains one of the actor’s most famous roles, and a number of fans have singled it out since his death became public knowledge. Check out the tribute: 

And while he’s yet to make his (live-action) debut in the Star Wars universe, many already seem to be excited to see him as the imposing Baylan Skoll. Take a look at this tweet:

Ray Stevenson was easily one of the industry’s most underrated actors, and I’d argue that he never phoned in a performance. In addition to the productions that have already been mentioned, he also famously starred in shows and movies like Black Sails, The Book of Eli, Divergent and RRR. Stevenson remained busy up until his death, which reportedly occurred amid production on one of his latest ventures, Cassino in Ischia. While he certainly leaves a void that won’t be filled, fans and his collaborators can take comfort in the memories they have of him. 

We here at CinemaBlend continue to send our thoughts to Ray Stevenson’s family and loved ones at this time.

Rosario Dawson, at the moment, is probably best known for her growing role in the Star Wars universe. She assumed the coveted role of Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian, and later in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. All of this is ahead of the launch of a full season of Ahsoka, which will introduce Grand Admiral Thrawn while also bringing Star Wars Rebels characters to life in live-action. But to many of us, Dawson is a key member of Kevin Smith’s View Askew-niverse, and has been delivering outstanding performances in recent Kevin Smith movies, up to and including Clerks 3, which the director almost didn’t get to make.

Rosario Dawson appeared in Clerks 2 as Becky, a manager at Mooby’s who ends up falling in love with Dante (Brian O’Halloran). It’s really one of Dawson’s best parts, and she brought an emotional weight to that relationship in a surprising way in Clerks 3. As many know, Kevin Smith was inspired to write Clerks 3 after suffering a devastating heart attack. And when Dawson spoke with us as part of Star Wars Celebration, we brought up her excellent work on the film, which caused her to say:

Considering the fact that Rosario Dawson said that while promoting her significant role in the Star Wars universe is really saying something. But it is understandable. Kevin Smith writes some heartfelt dialogue (in addition to his dick jokes), and when the material lands in the hands of someone as gifted as Dawson, you can get a fantastic and memorable scene like this one from Clerks 3.

Clerks 3 worked as kind of Kevin Smith’s sendoff to that portion of his universe, and it was beautiful and appropriate that Rosario Dawson got to be a part of it. Maybe she’ll continue to pop up in roles if Smith ever gets his Mallrats sequel off the ground, or chooses a different project. 

In the meantime, we will be able to see Dawson carrying on the tradition of playing Ahsoka Tano in a brand news Disney+ series that may make you want to watch Star Wars Rebels all over again. Or it might make you hope that Kathy Kennedy puts Ahsoka in one of the three movies that the studio announced will be coming… some day in the future.

As far as ratings go, at least those handed out by the Motion Picture Association, there is nothing more extreme these days than NC-17. That means no one under the age of 18 can be admitted to a movie with this rating for a multitude of reasons.

Some directors, producers, and studios will re-cut their films to get an R-rating, but there are plenty of NC-17 movies that have been left unedited and sent out into the wild as is, which has resulted in limited releases of some of the most notorious movies of all time. Find out why these films were branded this way, as well as how you can watch them if you are curious, in the following list.

Henry & June (1990) - Fred Ward, Uma Thurman

What better way to start than with the very first movie to earn the NC-17 rating – according to SlashFilm – Henry & June. Director Philip Kaufman’s adaptation of Anaïs Nin’s memoir focuses on a love triangle between novelist Henry Miller (Fred Ward), his wife, June (Uma Thurman), and the French-American author (portrayed by Thurman’s future fellow Pulp Fiction cast member, Maria de Medeiros) in 1930s Paris. Despite its controversially explicit sexual content, the drama was a mild critical and commercial success and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.

Buy Henry & June on Blu-ray on Amazon.  

Killer Joe (2012) - Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple

Directed by the late William Friedkin and written by 2019’s Little Women cast member Tracy Letts (also based on his stage play), Killer Joe stars Emile Hirsch as an indebted young man who hatches a plan to have his mother (played by Gina Gershon) killed to collect insurance money. Matthew McConaughey gives one of his most underrated performances as the titular hitman he hires, whose fee is so high that he agrees to let his teenage sister (Juno Temple) be treated as collateral.

According to Deadline, the shamelessly twisted crime thriller was released with an NC-17 rating after Friedkin and distributor LD Entertainment opted not to change its ending. While an R-rated version of the film was later made available for home viewing, those interested in seeing it in its original form could also seek out the unrated director’s cut of Killer Joe instead.

Rent or buy Killer Joe on Amazon.
Buy Killer Joe on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Mysterious Skin (2004) - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

One of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s best movies from earlier in his career is Mysterious Skin, in which he plays a gay teen making a living as a sex worker who recalls a disturbing encounter from his childhood through narration. Meanwhile, another teen, played by Brady Corbet, struggles to figure out the truth behind a blackout he suffered when he was younger, leading the two men to cross paths unexpectedly.

Writer and director Gregg Araki is notorious for including pervasive sexual content in his films, but the NC-17 rating for Mysterious Skin – also starring Elisabeth Shue and Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member Michelle Trachtenberg – was largely determined by its graphic depiction of pedophilia. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the challenging subject matter sparked controversy when the Australian Family Association feared child predators could use the film as a grooming tool or for their own gratification.
 
Rent or buy Mysterious Skin on Amazon.
Buy Mysterious Skin on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989) - Antonio Banderas

In one of his many racy collaborations with writer and director Pedro Almodóvar, Antonio Banderas stars in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! as Ricky, who is released from a mental hospital with the intent of finding love. So, he tracks down a former adult film star, played by Victoria Abril, whom he once shared an intimate encounter with and takes her prisoner in hopes he can convince her to be his wife.

According to Gwyne Edwards’ 2001 book Almodóvar: Labyrinths of Passion, the controversial subject matter of Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! was instrumental in the creation of the NC-17 rating itself. Thus, the MPA branded it as such in 1990 for a “scene of strong adult sensuality with nudity,” according to FilmRatings.com.

Stream Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! on Max.
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Buy Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! on Blu-ray Amazon.

Blonde (2022) - Ana de Armas

Based on the book by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde is director Andrew Dominik’s in-depth and fictionalized look at the tragically short life of Norma Jeane Baker, better known as Marilyn Monroe. Ana de Armas disappears into the role of one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, portraying a side of the actress and model that was long kept hidden from the public.

Dominik once said that he anticipated his nearly three-hour biopic would be rated NC-17 before the MPA made it official in June 2022, citing “some sexual content” as the reasoning. The film’s more hardcore scenes would inspire some strong reactions from both critics and audiences since it was made available to stream in 2022.

Stream Blonde on Netflix.

Crash (1996) - James Spader, Holly Hunter

Not to be confused with director Paul Haggis’ Best Picture Oscar winner from 2005, Crash is one of the more bizarre and inventive movies directed by David Cronenberg (which is really saying something). Based on the novel by J.G. Ballard, it stars James Spader as a TV producer who becomes seduced into an unusual and dangerous obsession with car wrecks and the intense, sexually stimulating effect they seem to have on him and others, including his mistress (played by Holly Hunter).

Just from learning the plot, it seems pretty clear why a movie like Crash would have been given the NC-17 rating and why it inspired controversy so pervasive that it was chronicled in a 2001 book called The Crash Controversy: Censorship Campaigns and Film Reception. Nonetheless, it was still relatively well-received by critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes, and earned Cronenberg a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, despite vehement opposition from the jury’s then-president, Francis Ford Coppola.

Buy Crash on DVD on Amazon.

Descent (2007) - Rosario Dawson

Not to be confused with the Scottish 2005 horror movie THE Descent, this film sees Rosario Dawson giving her most provocative and extreme performance since she broke out in another controversial classic, Kids. This time, she plays a woman who undergoes a dramatic and violent change of character after she is assaulted by a man she meets at a fraternity party.

This brutal and upsetting revenge drama was actually released with two alternative cuts: one rated NC-17 and an R-rated edit that omits seven minutes of footage. Still, both versions contain brutal rape, language, some sexual content and drug use.

Buy Descent on DVD on Amazon.

Showgirls (1995) - Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan

Perhaps the most infamous movie on this list, Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 erotic cult classic, Showgirls, stars a post-Save by the Bell Elizabeth Berkley as a young drifter named Nomi Malone. As she hitchhikes to Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a famous dancer on the Strip, she has some ups and downs on her journey, but finally makes her dreams come true, at a price…

According to the MPA, Showgirls was given its NC-17 rating due to the amount of nudity and erotic sexuality throughout the movie, as well as graphic language and sexual violence. If you’ve seen the movie (and not the VH1 version with digitized bras), you’re well aware of the film’s graphic nature.

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Shame (2011) - Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan

Released in 2011, Steve McQueen’s psychological drama, Shame, stars Michael Fassbender as Brandon Sullivan – a successful and dashing executive who is secretly a traumatized sex addict who will do anything and everything to get his kicks in New York City. Just when he thinks life can’t get any worse, his equally damaged sister (Carey Mulligan) storms into his life, causing more complications.

Upon release, Shame was given an NC-17 rating by the MPA for explicit sexual content as well as some truly troubling scenes. I’ve walked out of several movies before, but this was the first I exited simply because what was happening on the screen was way too real and unnerving to finish.

Rent or buy Shame on Amazon.
Buy Shame on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013) - Léa Seydoux 

Abdellatif Kechiche’s 2013 French drama, Blue is the Warmest Color, stars Adèle Exarchopoulos as a high school student who experiences a sexual awakening after meeting an art school student and aspiring painter named Emma, played by James Bond movies actor, Léa Seydoux. Over the years, the two form a contentious and highly-emotional relationship that opens their eyes to a whole new world around them.

Though tamer than some of the other titles on this list, Blue is the Warmest Color was given an NC-17 rating because of the explicit sexual content the MPA felt was unsuitable for younger audiences. However, at least one theater allowed teens to watch the movie upon release.

Rent or buy Blue is the Warmest Color on Amazon.
Buy Blue is the Warmest Color on Blu-ray Amazon.

Bad Lieutenant (1992) - Harvey Keitel

Abel Ferrara’s 1992 crime thriller Bad Lieutenant follows Harvey Keitel as a broken NYPD detective whose stress over his job, life, and gambling habits get the best of him. From one interaction to the next, the unnamed lieutenant falls deeper down the rabbit hole of depravity, committing some irredeemable crimes of his own along the way.

If there has ever been a movie deserving of an NC-17 rating it would have to be Bad Lieutenant. With an abundance of sexual violence, intense sexual situations, endless drug use, and extreme language throughout, it’s no wonder the MPA came down hard on the movie, which later inspired a sequel only in name, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Werner Herzog.

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Rent or buy Bad Lieutenant on Amazon.
Buy Bad Lieutenant on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Orgazmo (1997) - Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Co-writer and director Trey Parker plays a normal Mormon missionary trying to find enough money to support and marry his longtime girlfriend. But when he stumbles upon a porn set, the once strait-laced and deeply devoted young man becomes the biggest thing going in the adult entertainment industry in Orgazmo.

It should come as no surprise that a movie written by the creators of South Park, and one centered on the porn industry, would receive an NC-17 rating from the MPA in 1998. It should come as even less of a surprise that the rating was handed down due to the sexual content and dialogue featured throughout.

Rent or buy Orgazmo on Amazon.
Buy Orgazmo on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Bent (1997) - Clive Owen, Ian McKellen

After being discovered and arrested by the Gestapo in Nazi Germany, Max – a proud gay man played by Clive Owen – is sent on a perilous journey to the Dachau concentration camp where he is subjected to indescribable horrors while still being able to find love.

Possibly one of the most harrowing movies about the Holocaust, Sean Mathias’ 1997 drama Bent is absolutely heartbreaking and disturbing with its graphic displays of violence. Upon its release, the movie received an NC-17 rating from the MPA due to its graphic sexual nature.

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Buy Bent on Blu-ray Amazon.

Matador (1986) - Antonio Banderas

In one of his most disturbing roles, Antonio Banderas plays Angel, a young student who confesses to an attempted rape and a series of murders he may or may not have committed, in Pedro Almodóvar’s 1986 dark comedy, Matador.

Just like some of the other movies featuring the director and actor, Matador pushed the limits with its dark, twisted, and oddly humorous story. Still, the MPA would later give the film an NC-17 rating in 2005 (nearly 20 years after initial release) due to “aberrant sexuality” and violence.

Rent or buy Matador on Amazon.
Buy Matador on DVD on Amazon.

The Dreamers (2003) - Eva Green, Michael Pitt

In the midst of the 1968 Student Riots in Paris, an American student named Matthew (played by Michael Pitt) finds himself getting caught up in the lives of formerly conjoined twins – Louis Garrel as Théo and Eva Green as Isabelle – whose relationship is far from normal. When asked to spend a month with the siblings, Matthew falls deeper into their wild and free-flowing lifestyle.

Bernardo Bertolucci’s 2003 erotic drama, The Dreamers, pushes several boundaries and deviates from societal norms to tell a story about young love in the midst of a chaotic time. With the extreme sexual content and nudity, it’s no surprise the MPA gave the movie an NC-17 rating upon release.

Buy The Dreamers on DVD on Amazon.

A Dirty Shame (2004) - Selma Blair, Johnny Knoxville

A John Waters movie receiving an NC-17 rating? You don’t say! The filthy filmmaker’s 2004 comedy, A Dirty Shame, follows Tracey Ullman as Sylvia Stickles– a puritanical resident of the Hatford Road area of Baltimore who experiences a sexual awakening after being hit by a car. 

Selma Blair, Johnny Knoxville, and Chris Isaak also star in A Dirty Shame, which (no shocker here) was given the NC-17 rating by the MPA due to its pervasive sexual content. And if you’ve seen the movie, you are all too aware of just how pervasive and graphic it is.

Rent or buy A Dirty Shame on Amazon.
Buy A Dirty Shame on DVD on Amazon.

Pink Flamingos (1972) - Divine

When Connie (Mink Stole) and Raymond Marble (David Lochary) attempt to steal Babs Johnson’s (Divine) title of “the filthiest person alive,” the down and dirty criminal and her family make it their mission in life to prevent the newcomers from accomplishing their mission by any means necessary.

With scenes featuring incest, people eating dog poop, flashers, and an infamously notorious scene involving a chicken, it shouldn’t shock anyone that John Waters’ classic exploitation comedy film, Pink Flamingos, was given an NC-17 rating by the MPA upon re-release in 1997, 25 years after it first shocked audiences around the world. Maybe that’s why Roger Ebert hated the movie.

Buy Pink Flamingos on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Evil Dead (1981) - Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell stars in the film that kickstarted the Evil Dead franchise as Ash Williams who – along with his girlfriend and a small group of friends – set off for a night away in an isolated cabin. However, the night quickly takes a turn for the worst after they discover the Necronomicon – a powerful book that awakens possessive, malevolent spirits.

Sam Raimi’s classic horror film, The Evil Dead, was initially released with an X rating back in 1981 on account of its substantial graphic violence and gore. It was later given an NC-17 by the MPA when the movie was re-released back in 1994.

Rent or buy The Evil Dead on Amazon.
Buy The Evil Dead on Blu-ray on Amazon.

BONUS: Elles (2011) - Juliette Binoche

The title of Elles refers to the French magazine, Elle, for which Juliette Binoche’s character is researching an article about an underground sex worker ring orchestrated by female college students in Paris. However, the closer she gets to the facts behind the story, the more she begins to question her own personal interests. Graphic sexual content that goes as far as urinary fetishes initially earned this drama from Polish filmmaker Malgoska Szumowska an NC-17 rating.

Buy Elles on Blu-ray on Amazon.

BONUS: Happiness (1998) - Philip Seymour Hoffman 

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman plays one of several interconnected people all searching desperately for the most coveted emotion there is: happiness. Of course, their chosen ways of acquiring it are exactly the kind of reasons this Golden Globe nominee was initially given an NC-17 rating. 

Also starring the likes of Trick ‘r Treat’s Dylan Baker, Twin Peaks cast member Lara Flynn Boyle, and SNL’s Jon Lovitz, Happiness is one of the darkest comedies of its time. However, that does not mean so much when you learn it comes from writer and director Todd Solondz.

Buy Happiness on DVD on Amazon.

Elles and Happiness are some of a few notable examples of films that surrendered their NC-17 ratings upon release and are now deemed “unrated,” such as the aforementioned Kids. However, they are just as challenging and provocative as any of the films listed above, which is why we’ll still count them as NC-17 in our book.

Warning: SPOILERS for Clerks III are in play. If you haven’t made this latest trip to the Quick Stop, consider this a warning. 

As 2006’s Clerks II came to a close, Kevin Smith’s romantic streak was proudly displayed in the knowledge that Dante and Becky were about to live happily ever after. Of course, life tends to happen, as do legacy-quels/new movie releases like Clerks III, and sometimes the relationship between two characters takes a turn. Little did anyone know how the Quick Stop saga would do just that thanks to Kevin Smith’s writing, as well as the performances of Brian O’Halloran and Rosario Dawson.

During this year’s San Diego Comic Con, CinemaBlend’s own Jeff McCobb got to hold court during our interview with the cast of Clerks III. As this interview took place in July, the secrets of this long awaited three-quel were still firmly in place. That piece of information is key, as Brian O’Halloran’s answer about how this latest film would develop the relationship between his character, Dante, and Rosario Dawson’s Becky takes on a whole new context after seeing the film. Here’s what O’Halloran in the moment: 

If you haven’t seen Clerks III, this is your final warning in the name of avoiding spoilers. I say this, because after learning the fate of Dante and Becky’s relationship, the answers Brian O’Halloran gave about this subject count as some of the best two-stepping around a movie’s secrets. That’s because, in the opening of Kevin Smith’s latest film, a gigantic revelation is made that may be part of how Clerks III’s critical reaction has been so split. 

This also might give a little more insight into how Smith’s own wife and daughter had mixed feelings about the movie.  Among the opening shots of the Quick Stop in our modern era, we see a flier that gives us some really tragic news. 

Shortly after the events of Clerks II, which Kevin Smith celebrated the 15th anniversary of last year, it turns out that Becky was killed by a drunk driver, claiming her life and that of her unborn child with Dante. This calls for Rosario Dawson to reappear as a spirit from the Great Beyond, consoling the still grieving Dante over a decade after her passing. 

In the moment, Brian O’Halloran and Kevin Smith’s remarks about Clerks III play like the sort of thing you’d expect to hear from talent promoting a movie. Reading back through these words after knowing the secrets, the praise for Rosario Dawson’s performance as Becky is even more of a ringing endorsement. O’Halloran in particular got to speak to that point, as he continued recalling the experience thusly:

Brian O’ Halloran: It’s been really great, it was awesome to work with her again. We had her for a very limited time, but the time that we had with her was absolutely platinum gold. 

Kevin Smith: That was the big difference. 

O’Halloran: So absolutely beautiful, it was like it condensed it into, ‘These moments count, let’s make it.’ I personally really wanted them to count, and she did too. … It’s like working with Jeff. Any time I’m in proximity with Jeff, it doesn’t take long, we’re back into [our] rhythms. It’s the same thing with Rosario, and that’s just a testament to her professionalism. There’s just this kind of thing that I really enjoy working with her, I really love these characters, I really love this universe, that it just brought it.

The ending to the film makes this conversation all the more poignant, as we see Dante suffer his own heart attack and eventually die after seeing Randal’s finished film. Led to the afterlife by his beloved Becky, it’s a moment that comes out of left field; even with Clerks III’s trailer poking fun of how Dante almost died in the original ending to Clerks. It also quite possibly the largest tearjerking moment in Kevin Smith’s career, as the death of Brian O’Halloran’s character is so sudden and devastating to Jeff Anderson’s Randal.

Though his interactions with Rosario Dawson made up only a handful of moments in the presumably final chapter of the Clerks legacy, Brian O’Halloran absolutely helps make the most of the time that they did spend. Everything from funny callbacks to genuinely heart-wrenching dialogue comes up in those scenes, with Dante’s final goodbye landing a bittersweet punch to seal the deal.  

Should you have read through these spoiler-heavy details without seeing Clerks III, that’s ok. The film is currently making its way through the nation as part of Kevin Smith’s Clerks III: The Convenience Tour, so you still have a chance to catch it for yourself. Be sure to check the listings carefully, as this rolling roadshow might be making its way to you in the near future. Tissues are not included in the ticket price, but there is a Q&A after the film. 

For some time, superhero fans wondered whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe would utilize characters from Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Well, that finally came to pass when Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now, Cox is officially set to return for Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again, which also stars Vincent D’Onofrio (who returned as Kingpin in Hawkeye). They’re the only two cast members from the OG show that have been confirmed for the new production. But their former co-star, Rosario Dawson, said that she has “unfinished business” with her character – Claire Temple – while weighing in on the upcoming show. 

Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple was a major fixture within Netflix’s catalogue of Marvel content. The actress actually appeared as the ex-night-shift nurse in all but one of the interconnected TV shows. With that, Dawson’s is more than eager to reprise the role for Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again. Her desire to return seems to be partially fueled by the nature of her character’s final appearance: 

Fans last saw Claire appear during the second season of Luke Cage, during which she was engaged in a romance with the titular hero before things eventually soured between the two. In the closing moments of the series finale, Luke (who’d proclaimed himself the Sheriff of Harlem) asked that an unseen Claire be dissuaded from entering the Harlem’s Paradise nightclub. It was honestly a pretty underwhelming way to address the character, so one can understand why the Clerks III actress would tell THR that she’s eager for more.

Of course, something that should be mentioned is that Marvel Studios has yet to specify whether Netflix’s shows are officially MCU canon. Sure, Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk have already appeared, but the two characters could very well be “variants” of the ones viewers first met several years ago. Still, I’m sure Kevin Feige and co. could find a way to fit some version of Rosario Dawson’s character into the proceedings. (Plus, Dawson does already have a foot in the Disney door, thanks to her role as Ahsoka in the Stars Wars franchise.)

Daredevil seems to have a big future at Disney+, and fans should be excited. Born Again’s 18-episode order is the biggest that the steamer has given to any of the MCU series thus far. And before his next solo outing, the Man Without Fear will guest star on She-Hulk. The show’s head writer, Jessica Gao, has confirmed that the show will feature a “lighter” version of Charlie Cox’s hero. However, the character’s brief appearance in a trailer for the show seems to indicate that he’s still a force to be reckoned with. 

Casting details on the new DD show are scarce at this point, but I’m hopeful that the producers will give Rosario Dawson (and some of her other colleagues) a call. Her “Night Nurse” would be a fun addition to the MCU, and there are plenty of ways that the writers could help her settle that “unfinished business.”

Daredevil: Born Again is set to be released in early 2024 as part of MCU Phase 5. While you wait for additional updates, you can stream the original series now using a Disney+ subscription.

After Rosario Dawson’s epic live-action debut as Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2, the fan-favorite character is getting ready to have her own self-titled spin-off show, which will follow the Force-sensitive Jedi on a whole new adventure. The upcoming Star Wars title is set to become available to stream with a Disney+ subscription on August 23, 2023. While specific plot details for the series are being kept under wraps, here are the actors who have either been announced or been reported to appear in the Ahsoka cast from reputable sources.

Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano)

Portraying the aforementioned title character of Ahsoka on her third Star Wars series so far is Rosario Dawson. The acclaimed actor was initially cast in the role – first introduced on Star Wars: The Clone Wars as voiced by Ashley Eckstein – for The Mandalorian, years after a fan tweeted at the actress in 2017 to play the animated character in live action, and she responded with, “yes, please.” 

The Jedi is only the latest character in Dawson’s repertoire that has earned her “Geek Goddess” status, such as a few animated DC movie roles (including Wonder Woman in several titles and Barbara Gordon in The LEGO Batman Movie), a Marvel character (nurse to the vigilantes, Claire Temple), and her role in the Sin City cast as Gail. She also earned praise for her performances in 2005’s Rent, Kevin Smith’s Clerks movies, and Hulu’s Dopesick cast, to name just a few notable examples.

Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker)

Ahsoka Tano will presumably be reunited with her Jedi teacher, Anakin Skywalker, since it’s been announced that Hayden Christensen would return to the role in Ahsoka, as Rosario Dawson confirmed on social media before Disney asked her to take down the news. Given the series’ expected timeline, Anakin should no longer be alive, so he’ll more likely be depicted in flashbacks or as a Force Ghost. 

Christensen most recently reprised his Star Wars prequel trilogy role in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi cast in 2022. Before that, he gave many eclectic performances in several notable movies like the fact-based Shattered Glass (also starring Dawson) and the 2010 thriller, Vanishing on 7th Street.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Sabine Wren)

Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo -- who was part of Netflix’s Day Shift cast, along with starring as Helena Wu in the streamer’s abruptly-canceled series The Society -- stars as the live-action Sabine Wren on Ahsoka. Sabine debuted in animated form on Star Wars Rebels and was a main character throughout all four seasons, as voiced by Tiya Sicar. 

Sabine is a Mandalorian artist who becomes a warrior leader of the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire as the series progresses. The last time Star Wars fans saw the character was when she and Ahsoka set off to find their missing friend, Ezra Bridger, who'd disappeared in the final Rebels episode with Grand Admiral Thrawn as an unwilling companion. When we pick up with these characters in Ahsoka, fans expect that it will continue this storyline and give them closure following where Rebels left off.

Eman Esfandi (Ezra Bridger)

Ahsoka has found its live-action Ezra Bridger in Eman Esfandi, who has previous credits in Red 11, King Richard, and the acclaimed 2022 drama, The Inspection. The actor succeeds Taylor Gray’s voice acting role as the Force-sensitive Jedi Padawan and freedom fighter. The character was key to Star Wars Rebels, where the orphan and con artist joined the Ghost crew, which included Sabine Wren.  

As previously mentioned, Bridger becomes lost at the end of Rebels when, in an effort to face their enemies, he sacrifices himself by creating a protecting air pocket for himself and General Thrawn to both be taken by a Purrgil. It looks as though we’ll get to see Ezra’s next chapter in live action with Esfandi’s performance. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Hera Syndulla)

Also joining the Ahsoka cast is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla – a Twi'lek female revolutionary leader from Rebels. The series will mark the actress’ first time in the Star Wars universe following her roles in various action franchises, from DC’s Birds of Prey as The Huntress in 2020 to Live Free or Die Hard as John McClane’s daughter, Lucy, back in 2007. The actor is also well-known as Ramona Flowers in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast, for starring in the 2016 Cloverfield spinoff, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and playing the title role of the Netflix's ass-kicking action movie from 2021, Kate.

In a cute connection, Winstead is the real-life partner of Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor, whom she first collaborated with on Fargo Season 3 before starring in Birds of Prey together. Not to mention, Ahsoka will mark the actor’s reunion with Dawson since they last shared the screen in Quentin Tarantino’s half of 2007’s Grindhouse (and self-proclaimed “worst movie”), Death Proof. 

Ray Stevenson (Baylan Skoll)

Ray Stevenson also stars on Ahsoka as a new character named Baylan Skoll – an orange-red lightsaber-wielding, Force-sensitive mercenary who appears to be working for Thrawn, based on the series’ trailer. However, this was not his first time in the Star Wars universe, having previously voiced Gar Saxon in Rebels and The Clone Wars. 

Stevenson was known for his role as Titus Pullo in the HBO series Rome, a recurring stint as one of the best main antagonists on Dexter, and for portraying a couple of Marvel characters – namely Frank Castle in 2008’s Punisher: War Zone, as well as Volstagg in three Thor movies. Unfortunately, before he could see the premiere of Ahsoka, the Irish actor passed away on May 22, 2023, at the age of 58.

Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati)

Also among the confirmed cast is Ivanna Sakno, who is reportedly playing a brand-new role made for the upcoming series, named Shin Hati. Sakhno is a Ukranian-American actress who has previously been seen in 2018’s Pacific Rim: Uprising and The Spy Who Dumped Me, along with appearing in a couple of episodes of Hulu’s High Fidelity alongside Zoë Kravitz. 

Diana Lee Inosanto (Morgan Elsbeth)

Diana Lee Inosanto will appear in the cast to reprise her role as an agent of Thrawn named Morgan Elsbeth, which she originated on The Mandalorian Season 2 episode, “The Jedi.” Inosanto is also known for her work as a stunt performer on movies like Blade and Face/Off and TV shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Lucifer. Her additional acting credits include a small part in the Pamela Anderson-led comic book flick, Barb Wire, and the lead of 2008’s The Sensei, which she also wrote and directed.  

Wes Chatham (Captain Enoch)

Additionally, Wes Chatham, who is best known for playing Amos Burton in another space-set series, Amazon’s The Expanse, along with portraying Castor in The Hunger Games franchise, is part of Ahsoka as well. The actor, per Deadline, will reportedly be playing Captain Enoch, who is the right-hand man to Grand Admiral Thrawn. 

David Tennant (Huyang)

Reprising the role of Huyang – a droid known for overseeing the construction of lightsabers for centuries – is the actor who voiced him on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, David Tennant. The British actor is part of a few other beloved franchises – having played the title role of Doctor Who for years, appeared in the Harry Potter movies as Barty Crouch, Jr., and starred alongside Dawson in the Marvel series, Jessica Jones, as Kilgrave, most notably. Some of Tennant’s most revered work outside of the fantasy genre includes the acclaimed crime drama, Broadchurch, and leading the Inside Man cast for Netflix.

Lars Mikkelsen (Grand Admiral Thrawn)

As it was announced during Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2023, the live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn is coming to Ahsoka and will be played by Lars Mikkelsen, the same actor who gave voice to the villain in Star Wars: Rebels. The brother of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor Mads Mikkelsen (according to Fandom) is also known for Forbrydelsen – the Danish series that inspired Netflix’s The Killing – and recurring roles on Sherlock and The Witcher. 

Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma)

Yet another franchise veteran reprising her role in the upcoming drama is Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, as we know from her appearance in the trailer. She became the second actor to play the Rebel Alliance leader (after Caroline Blakiston) when she was cast in Revenge of the Sith and would return to the character in Rogue One, and then again as part of the Andor cast on Disney+. Her most notable credits outside the franchise include the Matrix movies as Officer Wirtz, Amazon’s crime drama series Tin Star, and the Overwatch video games.

Those are all the actors, and the characters they play, that we could confirm are in the Ahsoka cast. Who knows what other iconic figures from a galaxy far, far away might show up in the highly anticipated Star Wars series? Find out when it premieres on Disney+ in August 2023!

Not only is Haunted Mansion one of the biggest upcoming 2023 movies, but this year marks a major anniversary for it. To be clear, I am NOT referring to the popular attraction at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but the first movie based on that ride – from director Rob Minkoff and starring Eddie Murphy – which was released 20 years ago.

Disney has been hit and miss when it comes to turning theme park attractions into movies but the original Haunted Mansion movie, despite having a lot more going for it than you might remember, is seen as one of the misses. But the ride is still popular, and following the success of Jungle Cruise, Disney has assembled an impressive ensemble for the new Haunted Mansion cast to make it a hit with the public. See what foolish mortals are getting spooky – as classic characters and new ones alike – in director Justin Simien’s new cinematic take on the freaky favorite.

Rosario Dawson (Gabbie)

Leading the impressive cast of Haunted Mansion as Gabbie –  a single mother, doctor, and new owner of the “strangely affordable” New Orleans mansion – we have Rosario Dawson, whose relationship with Disney dates back to her role on Star Wars TV show, The Mandalorian, as Ahsoka Tano, which she is reprising in her own upcoming, self-titled series on Disney+. The actor broke into Hollywood as a teen with her underrated performance in Kids before becoming a “Geek Goddess” by playing multiple comic book characters like Wonder Woman in some DC animated movies, nurse Claire Temple in Daredevil and other MCU-canon shows, and, eventually, narrating Max’s new DC docuseries, Superpowered: The DC Story. Also recently, she received acclaim for her performance in Hulu’s Dopesick cast, reprised her Kevin Smith movies role in Clerks III, and – according to Variety – is lending her voice to an upcoming interactive animated adventure series called Ghosts of Ruin.

Owen Wilson (Father Kent)

If The Exorcist taught us anything, it’s that when you’re dealing with otherworldly beings, call a priest. In Haunted Mansion, that priest will be played by Owen Wilson, who also has previous ties to Disney as the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Cars franchise and playing Time Variance Authority officer, Mobius, in the MCU. The actor – who has an Oscar nomination for co-writing one of the best Wes Anderson movies, The Royal Tenenbaums – also made his debut under Anderson’s direction (one of many times) in 1994’s Bottle Rocket, before going on to an eclectic career involving a few blockbusters like Armageddon, many classic comedies like Meet the Parents and Wedding Crashers, and films that combine drama with comedy fair like Midnight in Paris and the more recent Paint, in which he plays a Bob Ross-like character hosting a public TV art show.

Lakeith Stanfield (Ben Matthias)

Widowed scientist-turned-failed paranormal expert, Ben, will be played by Dawson’s Sorry to Bother You co-star and one of the first people cast in Haunted Mansion, Lakieth Stanfield. After making his debut in the acclaimed 2013 drama Short Term 12, the actor, went on to star on one of the funniest shows on Hulu, FX’s Atlanta, play a memorable role in Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out, and earn an Oscar nomination for Judas and the Black Messiah, among so many other highlights. Next in the pipeline for Stanfield is an Apple TV+ original sci-fi series called The Changeling and a biblical epic coming out in 2024 called The Book of Clarence.

Tiffany Haddish (Harriet)

Playing a psychic named Harriet, we have Stanfield’s co-star from Jay-Z’s “Moonlight” video, Emmy winner Tiffany Haddish, who has also worked with Jordan Peele to great effect in 2016’s Keanu, in addition to her many great scene-stealing and lead roles in comedies like Girls Trip and The Oath. She has also tried her hand at drama in the likes of The Kitchen and The Card Counter, and a mix of both with movies like Here Today and TV shows like The Afterparty as Detective Danner, whom she is reprising for Season 2 on Apple TV+. She is also known for lending her voice talents to many notable roles, such as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and Netflix original-turned-Adult Swim series, Tuca and Bertie as Tuca.

Danny DeVito (Bruce)

As a “crotchety” college history professor named Bruce – according to D23.com – is an actor more than capable of embodying the concept of “crochety”: Danny DeVito, whose own previous Disney credits include Dumbo (which also reunited him with his Batman Returns co-star, Michael Keaton, and director, Tim Burton) and the One and Only Ivan voice cast in 2020. Years earlier, he was best-known for his Emmy-winning role on Taxi and movies like Throw Momma From the Train, The War of the Roses, and Matilda (all of which he also directed), but the Academy Award nominee (for co-producing Erin Brockovich) has a special fanbase these days that know him as Frank from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Also this year, he lends his voice to Migration and will soon star alongside Chris Pine in his directorial debut, Poolman.

Chase Dillon (Travis)

Rounding out the key cast members as Gabbie’s son, Travis, is Stanfield’s The Book of Clarence co-star, Chase Dillon, who makes his theatrically released filmed debut with Haunted Mansion, as his only other film role was the Netflix original western, The Harder They Fall, in 2021. The young actor has appeared in several TV projects – including his debut on BET’s series reboot of First Wives Club; the Max original sketch comedy, That Damn Michael Che, as the SNL star’s younger self; one of the best Amazon Prime original series, The Underground Railroad; and Apple TV+’s animated series, Pinecone & Pony.

Jared Leto (The Hatbox Ghost)

It wouldn’t be much of a Haunted Mansion movie without some direct references to the popular attraction, and the new film has found some big names to take on some key roles, such as Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost, according to EW. The Academy Award winner (for 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club) last played a creepy creature in his Marvel movie debut, 2022’s Morbius, (six years after his DC movie debut as the Joker in Suicide Squad) but has a more longer history with horror, having starred in the 1998 slasher Urban Legend, a memorable scene from American Psycho, and the extremely disturbing thriller, Requiem for a Dream. From his breakout performance as Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life to his lead role in the upcoming Tron sequel, Ares, the Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman has led a pretty eclectic career.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Madame Leota)

Succeeding Jennifer Tilly in the role of the iconic Madame Leota – the head inside the floating crystal ball – is, arguably, the all-time best Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course, in addition to being the face of the Halloween movies not named Michael Myers and starring in plenty of other great horror movies, the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh has a couple of other Disney movies on her resume – namely Freaky Friday and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Curtis – who recently won Best Supporting Actress for Everything Everywhere All At Once – will also soon appear in the film adaptation of the Borderlands video game. 

Winona Ryder (Pat)

As a teaser for Haunted Mansion reveals, Winona Ryder is making a cameo as a tour guide named Pat – only her latest role in a long line of creepy credits. After breaking out in the Beetlejuice cast as Lydia (whom she is reprising in the upcoming sequel), she led the dark teen movie, Heathers; starred in a some more classic Tim Burton movies (such as Edward Scissorhands); and played Mina Murray in Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula adaptation. Of course, the two-time Academy Award nominee (for Little Women and The Age of Innocence) is also expected to return for Stranger Things Season 5 as Joyce Byers.

Dan Levy (Vic)

Along with Ryder, another actor revealed to be joining Haunted Mansion at D23 Expo in a small, unconfirmed role is Dan Levy, who is best known from the Schitt’s Creek cast as David Rose. The son of his co-star and co-creator, Eugene Levy, first got into acting with a small role on Degrassi: The Next Generation and more recently appeared in Hulu’s Happiest Season cast, lent his voice to Netflix’s Q-Force, and was on an episode of The Idol for HBO. He also created and judges a reality cooking competition for Max called The Brunch. 

Hasan Minhaj (Sketch Artist)

Appearing as a police sketch artist whom Ben and Bruce enlist to identify a ghostly encounter, we have Hasan Minhaj – formerly of The Daily Show and Netflix’s Patriot Act. Some of his most notable acting credits include two of Kate McKinnon’s best movies (Rough Night and The Spy Who Dumped Me), and Jennifer Lawrence-led 2023 comedy, No Hard Feelings, more recently. The comedian also has a couple great Netflix original stand-up specials called Homecoming King and The King’s Jester.

There are plenty more other grim, grinning ghosts to behold, in addition to star-studded Haunted Mansion cast. Any volunteers to see the new film when it hits theaters Friday, July 28th?

Marvel actors need to be cautious every single time they speak. Especially when it’s on stage at a geek event, where the wildfire triggered by a fresh Marvel rumor is ready to rage unchecked, in hopes that facts can be confirmed later. That’s what happened over the weekend when Rosario Dawson, speaking at C2E2 in Chicago, told an audience that she’d heard Jon Bernthal was confirmed to return to his menacing Marvel role as The Punisher (instead of having the character retire)… only to now take to social media and explain that she got fed bad intel, and this announcement may not actually be true.

This is what Rosario Dawson tweeted after her “confirmation” regarding the return of Jon Bernthal to the Punisher role spread around the pop-culture corner of the Internet with gusto. Granted, Dawson seemed confident when she said that “The Punisher is happening again.” And she was couching it as part of a discussion of wanting to be part of the potential project, because The Punisher was the lone Marvel-Netflix series that Dawson’s character, Claire Temple, didn’t show up in. The Ashoka actress was sending out positive vibes, hoping to get Temple a part in the show.

Only, the show might not be happening, according to Dawson’s latest Tweet. Or, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige got to Dawson, and encouraged her to walk back her comments so that news about the future of Frank Castle (possibly played again by Jon Bernthal) could be announced at D23 in September, as part of the confirmation of Marvel’s Phase 6.

Fans were willing to believe the potential news that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher could resurface, this time as part of the MCU, because his colleagues in the Daredevil universe are finding their way into ongoing Marvel Studios series… seemingly supporting their casting decisions. Charlie Cox played attorney Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and is about to bring back Daredevil for the She-Hulk series. Meanwhile, Vincent D’Onofrio has played Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin, in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, and is expected to join Cox in Echo. Finally, Kevin Feige confirmed that an 18-episode Daredevil series focused on the Born Again storyline was coming to Disney+ as part of Phase 5. Bringing Bernthal’s Punisher back for that makes all the sense in the world.

So, we linger in a zone of uncertainty. It’s very possible that Marvel might be ready to bring Jon Bernthal back as Frank Castle, there are countless other characters ready for the spotlight. We are about to meet RiRi Williams (Dominique Thorne), aka Ironheart, in November’s release Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She will go on to have her own Disney+ show. Mahershala Ali finally will begin filming on Blade for a 2023 release. And Phase 6 will include the Fantastic Four, a Secret Wars battle, and the evolution of Kang the Conqueror. So there’s PLENTY happening in the Marvel universe, and Castle might have to wait. Unless Dawson’s onto something, and is holding secrets for just a little while longer. 

The cast and crew behind "The Mandalorian" and "Ahsoka," including Jon Favreau, Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Giancarlo Esposito, Katee Sackhoff, and more, joined CinemaBlend at Star Wars Celebration 2022 to chat about the future of "The Mandalorian" and the characters that have sprung from the Disney+ hit.

Video Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
00:14 - Pedro Pascal on 'The Mandalorian’s' Emotional Journey
01:02 - Jon Favreau on 'The Mandalorian' Season 4 and Beyond
02:30 - Giancarlo Esposito on Moff Gideon’s Big Plans
04:56 - Katee Sackoff: Who’s The Better Pilot, Starbuck or Bo-Katan?
05:41 - Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo on What Not to Expect from 'Ahsoka'
05:55 - Carl Weathers on the Challenges of Directing 'The Mandalorian'
06:31 - Emily Swallow on Armorer’s Supposed Backstory
07:13 - Temuera Morrison Wants to Bring Back Badass Boba

The future appears to be bright for the Star Wars franchise, as the galaxy far, far away will be expanding with a plethora of television shows (available with a Disney+ subscription). That slate includes Ahsoka, a series centered on the fan-favorite Jedi who first appeared in animated form in Star Wars: The Clone Wars before being played in live action by Rosario Dawson on The Mandalorian. Dawson reprises her role for the spinoff and is super hyped. As a matter of fact, she was so excited at one point that she seemingly confirmed a major rumor on her social media and apparently got into a bit of trouble for it. 

So far, Disney and Lucasfilm haven’t revealed too much official information on Ahsoka, though reports from the trades have dropped details here and there. One of the biggest tidbits was the news that Hayden Christesen had signed on to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker on the show. After the story broke, Rosario Dawson posted an A+ response to the purported casting on Instagram. When reflecting on the move during a cover story for Vanity Fair, Dawson explained that entertainment company behind the show reached out to her:

If there’s one thing both fans and those involved with the Star Wars franchise know, it’s that there’s a lot of scrutiny when it comes to what’s revealed about upcoming projects. This has been true for the films over the past several decades, and it remains the case for the cavalcade of TV fare. Based on the actress’ comments, it’s clear that Disney was firm when responding to her post, though at least she can find a bit of humor in the situation now.

In the same VF story, Lucasfilm would neither confirm nor deny if Hayden Christensen will actually appear in Ahsoka Tano’s solo series. His inclusion would make sense, though, considering Anakin Skywalker’s relationship with Tano. Tano was trained by the “SkyGuy” during the bulk of The Clone Wars and, in the process, he and “Snips” forged an endearing relationship. Given where the new series takes place within the franchise’s timeline, Skywalker could either appear in flashbacks or as a Force ghost.

There are also practical behind-the-scenes reasons as to why Hayden Christensen could easily reprise the role. He’s already starring in Obi-Wan Kenobi this year yet, as far as we know, he’ll only be playing Darth Vader there. Also, while this doesn’t have true bearing on his casting, it’s worth mentioning that Christensen prepared for his Kenobi role by binging all of The Clone Wars and Rebels. If you ask me, he’s a shoo in, but we’ll just have to wait for more details. 

If reports are to be believed, Ahsoka (which recently kicked off production with a BTS photo) is assembling quite a roster of talent. This includes Rebels alum Ray Stevensen and Bird of Prey star Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whose casting was confirmed by her partner, Ewan McGregor, in VF’s story.) Rumors suggest that the show has also cast a live-action Ezra Bridger actor and has tapped a star to play the real Thrawn. As filming continues more news will undoubtedly break, and I’m certain Rosario Dawson will act with caution when deciding what to share on social media.

Ahsoka is set to arrive sometime in 2023 but, in the meantime, you can officially see Hayden Christensen return in Obi-Wan Kenobi, which premieres on May 27th. You’re not going to want to miss either of these Star Wars shows.

Fans were quite excited when it was announced that Rosario Dawson would be playing the live-action Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars TV. A lot of people had suggested exactly that piece of casting before it actually happened. But that doesn’t mean those fans aren’t willing to poke a little fun at Ahsoka. A new Ahsoka-focused meme has gone viral but Rosario Dawson is in on the joke.

The meme comes from a behind-the scenes picture that shows Rosario Dawson, in full Ahsoka Tano make-up and costume, but she appears to be just hanging out in her trailer and checking her phone. A fan suggested that exactly this might be what Ahsoka Tano was doing during the events of the original trilogy. Dawson has come to the defense of her character, but she also appreciates the shade being thrown… 

Ahsoka Tano became a fan-favorite character following her appearance in Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows, The Clone Wars and Rebels, but Ahsoka is also a bit complicated by virtue of the fact that she was inserted into the middle of the existing Star Wars timeline. We know that Ahsoka survived the events of the original trilogy, but she also wasn’t part of those events, by virtue of the fact that the character didn’t exist when the movies were made, so where the heck was she?

Thus far the adventures of Ahsoka Tano on screen have largely simply avoided this question. We know what she was doing during The Clone Wars and in the years following the formation of the Empire. We’re now seeing what she was doing following the Emperor’s defeat, but where she was in between is still shrouded in mystery. 

At some point we will probably get an answer to this question, why Ahsoka did not take a more active role in the fight against the empire, even though she was a major player in the early Rebel Alliance. The answer will probably end up being something along the lines of what Rosario Dawson says here, that Ahsoka was in some other part of the galaxy fighting the bad guys, doing her part in some other way in some other place.

Those details might come up as part of future Ahsoka Tano stories, and we know those are on the way as Ahsoka is getting her own live-action Disney+ series. The main focus of that show is expected to take place between the original and sequel trilogies, in the same era as The Mandalorian and the other current Disney+ series, but considering The Book of Boba Fett spent a lot of time giving us backstory for its main character, it’s possible Ahsoka could do something similar in order to reveal this gap in the character’s history.

It honestly feels like Rosario Dawson has done just about everything at this point in her career. She’s starred in comedies such as Clerks II and Josie and the Pussycats as well as dramas like Rent and Seven Pounds. Of course, there’s also her stint as Claire Temple in Marvel’s Netflix shows and her work as Ahsoka Tano (who’s getting her own solo TV series). But in 2021, she took on a new gig as a judge on Go-Big Show and made it through the incredible (and outrageous) first season with flying colors. However, amid Season 2, the star has revealed the “struggle” she had to overcome during her second judging stint.

Rosario Dawson and her fellow judges have seen some wild performances over the course of two seasons. From a man stuffing rattlesnakes in his mouth to a Rubik's Cube champion solving a puzzle while on fire, there’s been no shortage of shocking sights. But as entertaining as these things are, they do raise challenges for the judges. I had the opportunity to chat with Rosario Dawson about her work on Go-Big Show Season 2, and she explained that she finds it somewhat difficult to compare performances and tabulate a score that best represents the respective stunts:

The idea of having to compare two vastly different kinds of acts does seem somewhat unnerving. And believe it or not, the fan-favorite actress isn’t the only judge who has struggled with this aspect of the show. I previously spoke to fellow series star Jennifer Nettles, who admitted that she found it a challenge to weigh vastly different acts. However, Nettles eventually learned to trust her gut instinct and to evaluate talent based on what gives her “the biggest feeling.” Though Rosario Dawson has apparently landed on that same idea, she still seems to be haunted by a decision she made during the first season:

Unfortunately, for the judges, comparing talent is only going to get more challenging as the competition gets down to the end. The first performances of the semi-finals were impressive and featured great work from the likes of the DareDaughter and Andrew Parker. But it was ultimately Manu Lataste (a.k.a. The Flying Frenchman) who earned a spot in the finale, where he’ll compete for $100,000. It’ll be interesting to see how Rosario Dawson and the judges manage to rank the talent as the exciting proceedings move forward. 

Go-Big Show airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on TBS, and you can stream the show with an HBO Max subscription. While you’re at it, be sure to also check out our 2022 TV schedule for info on other returning shows.

For more than 50 years, The Haunted Mansion dark ride at various Disney parks around the world has terrified and entertained millions of theme park attendees with its thrills, chills, and spills. The ride is so popular in fact it spawned a 2003 film adaptation starring Eddie Murphy. Since then, there have been multiple installments in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and other movies based on popular Disney attractions. But in that time there hasn’t been another Haunted Mansion movie. That will soon change.

In the very near future, there will be another Disney movie inspired by the beloved attraction, and judging by the cast, director, and that first teaser trailer, it sounds like we’re all in for one hell of a ride. Here’s everything we know about Disney’s Haunted Mansion right now… 

What Is The Haunted Mansion Release Date

In addition to an assortment of upcoming superhero epics and returning action-adventure franchises, moviegoers will also be treated to a funny, spooky, and family-friendly horror comedy when Haunted Mansion is released theatrically on July 28th. 

In February, Deadline revealed that the movie, which was to come out in mid-August, was taking the place of the highly anticipated The Marvels, which was pushed back to its current release date of November 10th. 

The Haunted Mansion Trailer Is Full Of Thrills, Chills And A-List Stars

In March 2023, Disney released the first teaser trailer for Haunted Mansion, which featured all kinds of thrills and chills, references to the beloved ride on which it is based, and some of the A-listers who make up its impressive cast. The trailer is equal parts frightening and hilarious, and if the full movie is anything like this, we’ll be in for a good time come this summer. Check it out below:

Obviously, with this being a teaser, not a whole lot in terms of the plot is revealed besides the “family seeks spiritual help to take care of a ghost problem” angle, but this brief glimpse should be more than enough to figure out if you want to go see Haunted Mansion in July.

The Haunted Mansion Cast Includes Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, LaKeith Stanfield And Danny DeVito

When Haunted Mansion lands in theaters this summer, it will feature a rather impressive group of actors with years of experience in comedies, horror films, and family-friendly adventures. According to Variety, Rosario Dawson will be leading the Haunted Mansion cast as Gabbie, a mom who moves into a New Orleans estate with her young son, Travis (Chase W. Dillon).

Starring alongside the Ahsoka lead actress will be Owen Wilson as a priest named Kent, LaKeith Stanfield as a paranormal expert named Ben, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, a French Quarter psychic, and Danny Davito as a college professor, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the same Variety article mentioned above, it was revealed that the movie will feature references to the ride of the same name with characters like Jared Leto’s Hatbox Ghost and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Madame Leota. Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and Hasan Minaj have also joined the cast, but their respective roles have yet to be revealed.

Haunted Mansion Follows A Woman And Her Son As They Attempt To Rid Their New Home of Supernatural Squatters

When Haunted Mansion lands in theaters this summer, it will follow Gabbie as she attempts to rid her new home of what Disney has called “supernatural squatters,” a clever way of saying ghosts. Not able to complete the task on her own, she will turn to a ragtag group of so-called spiritual experts to free her estate of the ghostly presence once and for all.

Haunted Mansion Is Directed By Dear White People’s Justin Simien

Taking on the directing duties for Haunted Mansion will be Justin Simien, the filmmaker, actor, and author, who is perhaps best known for the 2014 satirical dark comedy, Dear White People, a film he followed up with the Netflix series of the same name. That series ended its four-season run on the popular streaming service in September 2021.

The news was first reported back in April 2021 when publications like Variety announced that Simien had been tapped to lead the latest film project based on a popular Disney park attraction. This will be the first big-budget film production for the filmmaker, whose other credits include the 2020 Hulu horror comedy Bad Hair. At the time, it was also revealed that Katie Dippold, who wrote the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, would be penning the Haunted Mansion script.

Jamie Lee Curtis Has Said Haunted Mansion Finds The ‘Sweet Spot’ Of ‘Scary, Funny, And Adventure’

Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis is no stranger when it comes to horror movies (the Halloween horror franchise) and Disney remakes (Freaky Friday), and so you could say she is an expert on both. When speaking with Entertainment Weekly in October 2022, Curtis revealed that director Justin Simien and company found “the sweet spot” here, saying:

Curtis would go on to say that Haunted Mansion is “scary like a Disney Ride,” but also captures the humor of the classic theme park attraction. Though she couldn’t share all too much information about the movie when it came to specifics, the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once star did say she has never worn costumes as beautiful as the ones she wore for the movie.

Guillermo Del Toro Was Previously Attached To Reboot The Haunted Mansion Franchise In 2010

The upcoming Haunted Mansion movie isn’t the first time Disney has attempted to reboot the series since the release of the 2003 film. In fact, Guillermo del Toro, the director behind The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley, was planning a version of his own “truly scary” adaptation of the beloved theme park ride. The project was first announced at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con where it was revealed that the visionary filmmaker would write and produce the planned reboot. Several years later, in 2015, it was revealed that Ryan Gosling was in talks to lead the “supernatural family film.” However, those plans didn't work out over the years and set the stage for the current upcoming version. 

Expect to hear much more about Haunted Mansion, as well as other major releases on the 2023 movie schedule, in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, check out all the upcoming Disney movies so you don’t miss anything from the House of Mouse.

Usually, the job of comic book movie actors is to smoothly transcend their character away from the pulpy graphics and bring them into the real world. However, that was not quite the case for Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Alexis Bledel, and the rest of the Sin City cast, because Frank Miller and co-director Robert Rodriguez did more than just adapt his series of gritty, noir-inspired graphic novels into a film. They brought them to life.

The critically acclaimed 2005 hit stays remarkably faithful to the source material - not just to the stories and character motivations, but also (and most importantly) the minimalistic, grayscale aesthetic that results in one of most refreshingly original and visually stunning films of its time. Many Sin City cast members would later appear in more straightforward superhero movies, including Rosario Dawson and Benicio del Toro, to name a few. To see what else the star-studded ensemble has been up to, read on.

Jessica Alba (Nancy Callahan)

After rising to fame with the 1999 horror-comedy Idle Hands and the sci-fi series Dark Angel, Jessica Alba played Nancy - a club dancer with a disturbing past - in Sin City the same year she starred in the first of two Fantastic Four movies as Invisible Woman. She would re-team with Robert Rodriguez for 2010’s Machete, the fourth installment of the Spy Kids movies in 2011, and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, in which she returned as Nancy. 

The mother of three and founder of The Honest Company more recently partnered with Gabrielle Union on the Bad Boys movies spin-off series, L.A.’s Finest, and is currently starring in and producing the upcoming thriller Trigger Warning.

Bruce Willis (Det. John Hartigan)

Also appearing in the Sin City sequel, once again as Det. John Hartigan, was Bruce Willis, who seems to be busier now than ever. He already released six titles in 2021 alone (such as Midnight in the Switchgrass with Megan Fox), with three coming out later in the year (including Fortress, which already has a sequel in the works). 

The Die Hard movies star also had a busy and successful 2019, reprising David Dunn in Glass, playing Edward Norton’s mentor in Motherless Brooklyn, and playing himself in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and Between Two Ferns: The Movie. Willis has five 2022 movie releases scheduled, including A Good Day to Die (not to be confused with A Good Day to Die Hard) which also features his Cosmic Sin co-star, Frank Grillo.

Devon Aoki (Miho) 

“Deadly little Miho” was recast in the sequel with Jamie Chung, but was portrayed in the original Sin City cast by Devon Aoki. She broke through two years earlier as Suki in 2 Fast 2 Furious before playing one of the four main teen heroes of D.E.B.S. in 2004. 

In 2006, she played another samurai-sword wielding warrior in the video game movie D.O.A.: Dead or Alive, had a small role in the lighter comic book movie, Zoom, appeared alongside Jason Statham and Jet Li for War in 2007, and entered a future war in Mutant Chronicles the following year. After 2009’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead, the model and mother retired from acting, but has appeared in a few music videos - most recently one for her half-brother, Steve Aoki.

Benicio Del Toro (Lt. Det. Jack “Jackie Boy” Rafferty)

Miho’s most memorable kill in Sin City would have to be the crooked cop known as “Jackie Boy,” played by Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro in his comic book movie debut. Years later, he appeared in the Marvel movies as “The Collector,” whom he reprised most recently on Disney+’s What If…? in 2021. 

That same year, he re-teamed with Traffic director Steven Soderbergh for HBO Max’s No Sudden Move, and worked with Wes Anderson for the first time in The French Dispatch. Del Toro has a couple of dramas in the works (including White Lies from Oliver Stone), a comedy from writer and director Jamie Foxx called All-Star Weekend, and a Cuban Mafia biopic called The Corporation.

Rosario Dawson (Gail)

Also part of the MCU (if Netflix’s Marvel TV shows still count) is Rosario Dawson. She actually made her comic book movie debut with Josie and the Pussycats four years before playing Old Town’s Gail in Sin City. 

The “Geek Goddess” has since become especially prolific for comic book character roles, including Wonder Woman in several DC animated movies, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in The LEGO Batman Movie, Catwoman in HBO Max’s Batman: The Audio Adventures podcast, and Ava DuVernay’s upcoming DMZ series adaptation. The Dopesick cast member is is re-teaming with Kevin Smith for Clerks III and will soon lead her own Ashoka Tano TV show - a miniseries spun-off from The Mandalorian - on Disney+.

Clive Owen (Dwight McCarthy)

Gail’s lover - the mysterious, hard-nosed Dwight McCarthy - was first played in the original Sin City by Academy Award nominee Clive Owen. He has probably never played a more badass character, even though his earlier role in The Bourne Identity and later performance in Inside Man offer worthy options. 

After returning to comic book adaptations with 2017's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and playing the enemy of two Will Smiths in 2019’s Gemini Man, the British actor reunited with his Children of Men co-star Julianne Moore for Apple TV+’s Stephen King-inspired miniseries Lisey’s Story in 2021 and, that same year, joined the Impeachment: American Crime Story cast as Bill Clinton. Owen is reportedly planning to head to France to shoot a new TV series called Monsieur Spade, on which he will play Humphrey Bogart’s famous detective character from The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade.

Alexis Bledel (Becky)

One of the more notably younger Old Town girls is Becky, played by Alexis Bledel - who was best known at the time as Rory from the Gilmore Girls cast, and from her debut film Tuck Everlasting in 2002. This past year, she reprised her Emmy Award-winning role as Emily Malek in The Handmaid’s Tale cast for Season 4 and will reportedly reprise her character from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies in a third installment.

Jaime King (Wendy/Goldie)

The twin sisters who led Old Town in Sin City, Wendy and Goldie, were both played by Jaime King, who would also star in another visually unique comic book movie from director Frank Miller called The Spirit. A year later, 2009’s 3-D My Bloody Valentine remake made her a bit of scream queen (further proven by her lead role on the Netflix original zombie show Black Summer). 

Of course, the model and actress is also known for lighter roles, such as Lemon Breeland in the Hart of Dixie cast or in 2018’s Ocean’s Eight as herself. King recently reunited with Bruce Willis for the 2021 action movie Out of Death and will play the title role in the upcoming assassin thriller Banshee. 

Mickey Rourke (Marv)

Moments before her untimely death at the beginning of Sin City’s first segment, Goldie captured the heart of an extremely tough, but compassionate, criminal named Marv. I would personally rank this character right underneath Mickey Rourke’s Academy Award nominated role in director Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler on a list of his strongest performances. 

After returning to comic book movies with 2010’s Iron Man 2 and the Sin City sequel in 2014, the Angel Heart star would also return to horror movies, such as the Shudder original anthology Nightmare Cinema in 2015 and upcoming titles like The Seeding and She’s Still Here alongside Dexter: New Blood cast member Jennifer Carpenter. Of course, his biggest role in recent memory would have to be on The Masked Singer Season 4 as Gremlin. 

Carla Gugino (Lucille)

Marv’s parole officer, Lucille, is played by Carla Gugino in her fourth collaboration with Spy Kids director Robert Rodriguez. She also did several comic book adaptations directed by Zack Snyder, including Watchmen as Sally Jupiter and all of his DCEU installments as the voice of the Kryptonian ship. 

The Jett star is best known lately for appearing in several projects from Mike Flanagan, including Gerald’s Game, his Haunting Collection on Netflix, and a brief cameo in the Midnight Mass cast as a judge. The Gunpowder Milkshake cast member’s next project, a TV series thriller called Leopard Skin, is now in post-production.

Elijah Wood (Kevin) 

Giving one of Sin City’s creepiest performances (without saying a word) as the cannibalistic Kevin is Elijah Wood. The former child actor became an icon as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings movies, a sitcom star with FX’s surreal American remake of Wilfred, and a horror movie actor (i.e. his inventive 2012 remake of Maniac) and producer (i.e. the brutal revenge tale Mandy from 2018 starring Nicolas Cage). 

In 2021, he played the FBI analyst to whom Ted Bundy revealed the details of his crimes in No Man of God and leant his voice to the video game Psychonauts 2. Speaking of video games, he has a movie about the dark side of video game programming called L.A. Rush in the works, along with his upcoming Toxic Avenger remake.

Nick Stahl (Yellow Bastard)

Perhaps the creepiest and undeniably grossest character in Sin City, however, is Roark Jr., otherwise known as “Yellow Bastard” due to his unique complexion, who is played by Nick Stahl. Also a former child actor who made his film debut in 1991 with Mel Gibson’s The Man Without a Face, he is best known as John Connor in 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines or as the lead of HBO’s Carnivale cast. 

In 2021, he joined the Fear the Walking Dead cast in a recurring role and made a guest appearance among the ruthless Animal Kingdom characters on the TNT drama. He is currently filming a live action adaptation of the hit anime, Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, expected for 2023.

Josh Hartnett (The Salesman)

The first character we meet and the one who first refers to the film’s setting as “Sin City” is the mysterious, deadly “Salesman.” He is played by The Faculty cast member Josh Hartnett, who would star alongside Bruce Willis in Lucky Number Slevin in 2006. 

The following year, he appeared in a more brutal comic adaptation called 30 Days of Night and then, after an acting break, became the lead of the Penny Dreadful cast. After playing himself on Quibi’s Die Hart in 2020, Hartnett appeared in two cool 2021 thrillers (Wrath of Man and Ida Red), and is now working on the TV series The Fear Index.

There are many Sin City cast members who have, unfortunately, passed away in the years since the film was released - including Powers Boothe (Senator Roark), Michael Clarke Duncan (Manute), Rutger Hauer (Cardinal Roark), and Brittany Murphy (Shellie). However, they will forever be seen as a bright, delightful memory from an otherwise beautifully bleak and deliciously dismal masterpiece. 

Rosario Dawson wowed Star Wars fans when she made her franchise debut as a live-action Ahsoka Tano on The Mandalorian. Shortly after that first appearance, it was revealed that she would be headlining her own self-titled spinoff series for Disney+. Concrete details on the show are scarce at the moment, and many are likely eager to learn more about what lies ahead for the Jedi. Now, it seems fans may, at the very least, have a better idea of when the show will finally be in production. 

Writer and filmmaker Marc Bernardin, of the Fatman Beyond podcast, recently revealed in the latest episode that he’s developing a short film. Bernardin mentioned that he’s aiming to shoot the project sometime in December and expressed his hope that he can tap Rosario Dawson. And how would this be possible, you ask? Well, according to the creative, the actress will apparently be working on Ahsoka in Manhattan Beach at that point, which would be convenient for his production. 

These comments do come as a bit of surprise, considering that many assumed the Disney+ series wouldn’t start production until early 2022. While this alleged start date is far from confirmed, Marc Bernardin does have major connections in the entertainment industry. He’s also correctly called a few other major developments in the past. Earlier this year, he actually mentioned that Warner Bros. Television was working on a revamp of Batman: The Animated Series. That project -- Batman: Caped Crusader -- was announced a few months later.

Theoretically, a December start date would make sense for the highly anticipated Star Wars show. Recent reports seem to indicate that the production has already cast some major roles, so cameras could indeed start rolling soon. Plus, Lucasfilm has really been rolling when it comes to their productions. This year alone, the company has already overseen filming on The Book of Boba Fett, Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi, all small-screen ventures. In addition, Season 3 of The Mandalorian has officially begun.

When it comes to Ahsoka, fans mostly have rumors to go on but, if proven true, they could be big for the show. Aladdin alum Mena Massoud is rumored to be portraying Star Wars Rebels’ Ezra Bridger. Meanwhile, Lars Mikkelsen is allegedly playing the live-action version of his Rebels character, Grand Admiral Thrawn. 

This past week also brought another major update, as it was reported that Hayden Christensen will be reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Unlike the other casting reports, this one holds more weight, as Rosario Dawson herself confirmed it with a sweet message. Though she ultimately deleted the Instagram post in which she celebrated the news. 

With a talented lead and skilled producers in Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, Ahsoka has the potential to be an entertaining addition to Star Wars canon. There’s no telling when production may actually kick off, which may make some anxious. However, given Rosario Dawson’s active social media presence, she may give a hint to let fans know when she’s actually donned her lightsabers again. 

As you wait for updates you can look forward to The Book of Boba Fett, which arrives on Disney+ on December 29. You can also check out CinemaBlend’s fall 2021 TV schedule for more on the shows headed your way before this year comes to a close.

The Star Wars franchise has been expanding in interesting ways over the past few years, especially on the small screen. The Mandalorian kicked things off in a major way, and its success has now paved the way for a slew of spinoffs. One of these is Ahsoka, which will mark the return of Rosario Dawson in the role of the titular Jedi. While details on the show are scarce, it was recently reported that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader for the Disney+ show. And after the news broke, Dawson shared an A+ reaction that’s sure to make fans excited. 

Lucasfilm productions are typically shrouded in secrecy, so it’s no surprise that the Daredevil alum deleted her Instagram reaction to the big news. However, things on the Internet can always be preserved, and The Direct captured the post. In it, the star reacted to the news of Anakin’s return with some sweet nods to Star Wars: The Clone Wars:

Fans of the show likely know that “Skyguy” was Ahsoka Tano’s sweet nickname for her master. And “Snips” was the playful name he gave her when he took her on as a padawan. Rosario Dawson’s post indicates that she’s ready to play out the complex relationship between the two Jedi, and the new series could depict it in some compelling ways. 

It’s not clear as to how Anakin Skywalker returns for the show, though there are two ways in which it could likely happen. On the one hand, he could return in flashbacks that show him training a younger Tano during the days of the Clone Wars. Some may also believe the fallen warrior could return in the form of a Force ghost, who communes with the older iteration of his apprentice in the present day. Of course, he could appear in both capacities.

Hayden Christensen is making quite the return to the Star Wars franchise. Ahead of his work on the Mandalorian spinoff, the actor will also be reprising his famous role in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Given how much he’s being used now, one has to wonder if there are even more plans for the actor in the galaxy far, far away moving forward. 

When it comes to Ahsoka, a number of major casting rumors have been floating around. Aladdin star Mena Massoud has been linked to the role of Star Wars Rebels alum Ezra Bridger over the past year. Meanwhile, Lars Mikkelsen has been reported to be bringing his animated role of Grand Admiral Thrawn to life for the upcoming series. 

Rumors aside, though, Rosario Dawson’s post indicates that Anakin Skywalker is making his way to the series, and it’ll be cool to see what the writers do with him. Ahsoka doesn’t currently have a release date but, in the meantime, you can look forward to fellow Mandalorian spinoff The Book of Boba Fett, which hits Disney+ on December 29.

Leslie Grace was recently cast to play Gotham City’s most famous female crime fighter in her own solo Batgirl movie, which will be released exclusively on HBO Max in 2022. While she is the first non-white actress to play the character in a live-action movie, the singer and In the Heights cast member is the latest of several actresses who have played the tough-as-nails, vigilante alter ego of Commissioner James Gordon’s daughter, Barbara Gordon, in both DC movies and TV shows, with each one bringing something new to the role to be remembered for. Only time will tell how Grace’s portrayal will compare to the following six iconic and celebrated previous depictions of Batgirl, starting with the true originator of the character.

Yvonne Craig On Batman

Similar to how Harley Quinn was originally created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini specifically for Batman: The Animated Series in the early 1990s, Barbara Gordon was originally thought up by William Dozier, the producer of the old live-action Batman TV show, specifically for the classic series starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the Caped Crusaders. However, unlike Harley Quinn, Barbara Gordon also made her DC Comics debut simultaneously with her TV debut in 1967.

Despite the “Batgirl” moniker existing since 1961 when it was held by the mother of Kate Kane (a.k.a. Batwoman), Yvonne Craig had the rare honor of taking immediate ownership of the Barbara Gordon character without becoming a scrutinized subject of comparison like many performers do these days. Thus, the late actress’ witty, energetic performance is still widely considered the definitive portrayal of the character… in a live-action series, at least.

Melissa Gilbert, Tara Strong, And Stockard Channing On Batman: The Animated Series And Batman Beyond

Even with the heavy hitters leading the live-action Batman movies, many believe Kevin Conroy’s vocal performance is the definitive Dark Knight portrayal. The DC Animated Universe’s iteration of Batgirl is often given the same distinction for a more earnest and relatable vulnerable approach, but the credit does not go to just one actress.

Little House on the Prairie’s Melissa Gilbert first played Barbara Gordon on Batman: The Animated Series before Loki’s Tara Strong (also famous for voicing Harley Quinn after Arleen Sorkin) took over when the show was rebranded as The New Batman Adventures in 1997. She would reprise the character in many DC TV shows and movies, including Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - a feature length spin-off of the futuristic Batman Beyond series, which cast Grease star Stockard Channing as a grown-up Barbara Gordon, now serving as GCPD Commissioner. This would not be the last time we saw Batgirl follow in her father’s footsteps.

Rosario Dawson In The LEGO Batman Movie

While Leslie Grace has the honor of being the first non-white actress to play Batgirl for a live-action movie, as previously established, the very first non-white portrayal of the character in any adaptation was performed by Geek Goddess and experienced DC voice actress Rosario Dawson. She stole the show as Barbara Gordon in The LEGO Batman Movie from 2017, and first portrayed her as a by-the-book Gotham City police commissioner before eventually accepting Batman’s (Will Arnett) vigilante philosophy and donning her iconic purple and yellow outfit.

Admittedly, director Chris McKay’s batty spin-off of 2014’s The LEGO Movie is meant to be a goofy deconstruction of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego and everything else in his world, and Rosario Dawson’s Barbara Gordon takes a few creative liberties. However, the film is one of the most hilarious superhero parodies, and Batgirl’s arc brings out a unique side of the character that lends to her legacy beautifully.

Savannah Welch On Titans

Barbara Gordon’s reign as the commissioner for the Gotham City Police Department would later be brought to live-action television on Titans Season 3 in 2021. However, we never see singer and actress Savannah Welch as Batgirl on the hit HBO Max exclusive series because her portrayal is based on a post-Batman: The Killing Joke Barbara (also known as Oracle) who was paralyzed from the waist down by Joker’s bullet.

However, never seeing Savannah Welch don the cape and cowl does absolutely nothing to detract from her refreshing depiction of a strong, mature, independent Barbara Gordon DC fans have been waiting to see. It certainly is an improvement on Dina Meyer’s performance on the short-lived Birds of Prey TV show, not that that was necessarily the actress’ fault, though.

Danielle Judovits On The Batman

On the other hand, some claim the Birds of Prey TV show (which aired on The CW when it was still called The WB in the early 2000s) deserves a second chance. On that note, a relatively well-liked animated series that sill deserves more love today is The Batman (not to be confused with Matt Reeves’ upcoming solo Batman movie), which saw a younger Bruce Wayne (Rino Romano) team up with a young Barbara Gordon even before Dick Grayson (Evan Sabara) comes into the picture.

The Batman’s Batgirl is played by veteran voice actress Danielle Judovits of Naruto and Sailor Moon fame, who brings a contemporary flair and irresistible spunk to the role that calls to mind Carrie Kelley (a.k.a. Robin from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns). Until Ariel Winter voiced Carrie/Robin in the two-part adaptation of Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel, Judovits’ Barbara Gordon was the closest we got to an onscreen depiction the fan favorite, instantly making her a winner in my book.

Briana Cuoco On Harley Quinn

Contemporary flair and irresistible spunk are also what make Batgirl so fun to watch on HBO Max’s animated Harley Quinn series. Interestingly, it is star Kaley Cuoco’s sister, Briana Cuoco, who plays Barbara Gordon this time and does so with the same level of enthusiasm and talent for wit.

The series traces Barbara Gordon’s modest evolution from aspiring crime fighter and die-hard Batfan to full-on crime fighter when she finally adopts the Batgirl moniker and starts a livestream blog of her adventures - which sounds very against the Batfamily rules, but it's clever enough to get a pass. What really makes Briana Cuoco’s portrayal stand-out is the close-knit portrayal of her relationship with her father, which I hope is depicted half as strongly in the new Batgirl movie.

For those wondering why I did not include Batgirl from Batman & Robin, first of all, that is not Barbara Gordon in the infamous 1997 sequel, but Alfred Pennyworth’s niece Barbara Wilson and, secondly, Alicia Silverstone would even agree that her performance does not hold a candle to any of the other depictions above. That being said, which Batgirl is the best and battiest in your book?

This poll is no longer available.

Disney clearly sees the potential for success once again in making movies based on theme park attractions, as following the strong performance of Jungle Cruise, and the green light for a sequel, things are now moving quite quickly for the studio's reboot of the Haunted Mansion. Just yesterday it was announced that Owen Wilson had joined the cast, and now another big name has been as added as The Mandalorian's Rosario Dawson is apparently also on board the project.

As with Owen Wilson, there's no announcement from Deadline as to what role Rosario Dawson will actually be playing. Dawson and Wilson join Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield, who had already signed on previously. Haunted Mansion is being directed by Justin Simian from a script by Kate Dippold. The movie itself is quite close as filming is set to begin sometime next month.

It's possible that we'll see even more names come on board the new Haunted Mansion before production gets underway. When the news of Owen Wilson's casting arrived, it came with details that the movie would be an "ensemble," so seeing four significant names on board the project makes some sense. Four cast members is a solid number, but we could still see more depending on just how big the new Haunted Mansion movie plans to be. Tiffany Haddish will play a professional psychic in the movie, while LaKeith Stanfield will play a "lifeless" French Quarter tour guide who has lost his wife.

Considering that the Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney Parks around the world are places where a bunch of strangers come together and go wandering through, it's easy to see a similar set up for the new movie. All the various characters end up inside the mansion for one reason or another, and then need to work together to deal with the 999 happy haunts, and find a way out. Of course, there's always my way...

Disney's Haunted Mansion is one of the most popular attractions in its parks and it makes the perfect location for a movie. Based on the fact that the movie is set in New Orleans, it seems the Disneyland version of the attraction will be the primary source of inspiration. While the ride itself is largely the same at Disney World, the exterior structure is designed to match the colonial era of Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square. Haunted Mansion attractions at the international parks are quite different in the story they tell.

The idea of turning the ride into a movie has already been tried once. And while the movie is perhaps better than its given credit for, it was not a hit with audiences. Hopefully this new movie has found ways to fix the problems the last movie had. It absolutely is putting together an incredible cast, which is making a new Haunted Mansion movie perhaps more exciting than I ever would have expected.

Over the pandemic, Kevin Smith has made it no secret that he is working on sequels to some of his beloved classics. Of course, View Askewinverse fans have been anticipating the release of Clerks 3 the most. Smith announced the film started weeks ago with no leaks coming from the set. Now, after weeks of shooting, he finally gave diehard fans a peek into the sequel. Smith released a Clerk 3 photo showing how everyone has aged except for Rosario Dawson.

This moment came courtesy of the Clerks 3 director’s Instagram feed. As the Clerks 2 sequel is currently shooting, Kevin Smith decided to document how much time has passed since the cast was last together. But he didn’t just take a regular still image, Smith recreated the famous Clerks 2 lineup still. In doing so, followers got to compare how the cast looked then and now. To see an ageless Rosario Dawson two decades after the Clerks sequel, check out Smith’s full post below:

Looking at Kevin Smith’s split image showed how Rosario Dawson looked the same (if not, younger) since Clerks 2 was released. Dawson appeared to have found the fountain of youth despite some stylistic changes for Clerks 3. In comparison, her Clerks 3 castmates – Trevor Fehrman, Brian Cohalloran and Jeff Anderson – have gotten older as evident by some grey hairs and weight gain. But everyone still carried the same spirit and energy from Clerks 2. The differences in the images were so different that even Smith had to comment. The director said:

As any Kevin Smith fan knows, he’s always honest no matter how big or small the situation is. Of course, he wanted to chronicle the passage of time since Clerks 2 as the cast is a full decade or two older. But it wasn’t just about displaying the cast’s age, he wanted to celebrate reuniting with everyone to make a follow-up to his favorite Askewniverse film. He was the most thrilled to shoot at the legendary Quick Stop convenience store. Smith said about shooting at the iconic store once again:

Kevin Smith’s throwback post was an excellent way to hype Clerks fans for the final act. Smith tapped into moviegoers’ love for Clerks 2 while teasing the third installment's upcoming storyline. Influenced by Smith’s real-life heart attack, Clerks 3 follows slacker Randal as he enlists Dante, Elias, Jay and Silent Bob to make a film about his life at the Quick Stop Groceries. Of course, Rosario Dawson’ Becky will get caught up in the mix. The film is currently filming in Clerks’ home base of Leonardo, New Jersey. But fans will have to wait until 2022 to see the final cut of Clerks 3.

When it comes to zombie films, there are few that often stray from the simple course of survivors just needing to survive, shooting zombies and somehow staying alive. While there have been a couple that have sort of reinvented the zombie franchise in the last couple of years, such as Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, only one film series stands out to me among the rest, and that’s Zombieland, and its successor, Zombieland: Double Tap.

The wonderful combination of gore and hilarious jokes, plus the superb acting from the Zombieland and Zombieland: Double Tap cast made these films so much fun to watch, and became a wonderful addition to the world of zombie-comedy films, like Shaun of the Dead. But with casts as star-studded as some of these, where have they been seen before and what have they done, like Emma Stone? Are any of them going to be in the upcoming 2021 movies or 2022 movies? Luckily, we have that covered for you if you were a fan of these two great zombie films.

Woody Harrelson (Tallahassee)

Tallahassee is the kind of survivor we would all want as our partner in a zombie apocalypse, and was a great partner to Columbus in Zombieland and Zombieland: Double-Tap. Woody Harrelson portrayed the wise-cracking zombie killer and has been plenty busy since his zombie killing days.

From 2012 until 2016, Woody Harrelson portrayed Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games movies. Afterwards, he would go on to have starring roles in hit films such as the coming-of-age film, The Edge of Seventeen, the action film, War for the Planet of the Apes, the space-western, Solo: A Star Wars Story, the anti-hero film, Venom, the war film, Midway, and several others. He also starred in True Detective for its first season in 2014.

In the next couple of years, Harrelson will be appearing in several films, like Venom: Let There Be Carnage, where he will reprise his role. He will also be appearing in films currently in production, called Triangle of Sadness and The Man from Toronto.

Harrelson will also be in two upcoming TV series, one called The White House Plumbers and the other called The Most Dangerous Man in America. There’s truly no stopping this awesome actor.

Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus)

Columbus is a nerd - but he’s a surviving nerd and that’s all that matters in the rules of Zombieland and Zombieland: Double Tap. Jesse Eisenberg played Columbus in both films, and has been on a roll since his time in the zombie world.

Jesse Eisenberg went on to play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, Blu in the Rio animated film series, and have a starring role in the heist series, Now You See Me, with a third film on the way. Eisenberg also portrayed the iconic DC villain, Lex Luthor, in both Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and in the two Justice Leagues that released afterwards. In 2021, Eisenberg also had a role in the thriller film, Wild Indian.

In the upcoming years, he will have a role in several films, one titled The Medusa, and another titled Manodrome, so keep an eye out for this talented star.

Emma Stone (Wichita)

Wichita in both Zombieland and Zombieland: Double Tap is the epitome of what a badass girl should look like and be in the zombie world, and is a character I will always love to root for. Emma Stone, in one of her earlier roles, portrayed Wichita perfectly, and since then, she’s gone on to have quite the career.

Stone won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the musical La La Land in 2016, certifying her amazing acting skills. Besides that, Stone has been in plenty of critically acclaimed and well-received films, such as the comedy film, Easy A, the historical film, The Help, playing Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man films, starring in the Academy-Award-nominated Birdman and The Favourite, played the titular character in the Disney live-action film Cruella, and so many more. She was also a star in the Netflix miniseries, Maniac, alongside Jonah Hill.

Coming up, she will be appearing in a new film titled Poor Things, and a TV series called The Curse. With how much she’s done in the last decade, I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Abigail Breslin (Little Rock)

As the last of the original cast to appear in both films, Little Rock was adorably badass in Zombieland, and managed to keep some of her original character in Zombieland: Double Tap. Abigail Breslin portrayed the younger sister to Wichita both times.

Breslin has been in many different genres of film since her time in the zombie world. She was in the animated film, Rango, the sci-fi movie, Ender’s Game, starred alongside Matt Damon in 2021’s Stillwater, and several others. One of her biggest roles thus far was playing Libby Putney in Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens for two seasons.

Coming up, Abigail Breslin will be in a couple of films, Slayers and Saturday at the Starlight, so she’s sure to pop up in movies theaters soon.

Bill Murray (Himself)

While Bill Murray didn’t play an original character in Zombieland, his fictionalized version of himself will always make me hold my sides in laughter every time I watch. Bill Murray has been active in Hollywood for decades now, and that hasn't changed ay all, because he's filmed plenty of movies since Zombieland's release.

Since his appearance in Zombieland, Murray has been in several big films, such as Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Dumb and Dumber To, the Wes Anderson film, Isle of Dogs, the zombie film, The Dead Don’t Die, and many others. Coming up this year, he will be appearing in both the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife film, and have a role in the anticipated The French Dispatch, so it seems that 2021 is going to be Bill Murray’s year.

Rosario Dawson (Nevada)

As the first character who only appeared in Zombieland: Double Tap, Nevada was a great character to introduce to the sequel, and her Elvis-themed hotel was to die for. Rosario Dawson, who played Nevada in the film, has been acting in Hollywood for some time, and only continues to do so.

You might have seen her hits like the comedy, Zookeeper, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, The Water Man and more. She’s also continuously voiced Diana Prince, otherwise known as Wonder Woman, in several DC animated films and TV shows - including 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Dawson also had a major role in Netflix’s Defender’s universe, where she played Claire Temple in Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and The Defenders series. She also had a recurring role in the cast of Jane the Virgin.

Recently, she took the playing the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano in Disney+’s The Mandalorian, and will continue to play the character in the upcoming spinoff, titled Ahsoka. She will also be in a couple new films, titled Clerks III and Speed of Light, as well as another new miniseries called DMZ.

Zoey Deutch (Madison)

I mean, I think all of us loved and hated Madison in Zombieland: Double Tap, but that doesn’t mean that Zoey Deutch wasn’t a great actress to pick for the role.

Deutch has appeared in several different movies, namely the fantasy film, Beautiful Creatures, the teen fantasy movie, Vampire Academy, the teen drama film, Before I Fall, the biographical film, The Disaster Artist, and more. Zoey Deutch also had a main role on the Netflix series, The Politician.

In the next couple of years, Deutch will be in a few new films, titled The Outfit, Not Okay, and Hound, so hopefully we will get to see more of this talented actress.

Luke Wilson (Albuquerque)

Albuquerque is basically Tallahassee except a bit younger and I am all here for it, because he brought some great comedy to Zombieland: Double Tap. Only a star like Luke Wilson could play someone like him perfectly, and it’s no surprise that he’s been busy in Hollywood just like the rest of his co-stars.

Wilson has appeared in plenty of hits during his time as an actor, including The Legally Blonde movies, the Netflix original film, The Ridiculous 6, The Goldfinch, another Netflix original film, All the Bright Places, 12 Mighty Orphans and more. Recently, Wilson has taken on a role in the Disney+ original series, Stargirl, and will continue that into its next season.

Wilson will also be in several new films, including Gasoline Alley alongside Bruce Willis, The Cleaner, and Plus/Minus. He will also be in an upcoming TV series titled New-Gen.

Avan Jogia (Berkeley)

Oh, Berkeley. You gotta love him and hate him at the same time. I mean, who has ever heard of a pacifist in a zombie apocalypse? But that’s who he was in Zombieland: Double Tap, played by the wonderful Avan Jogia, who has been around for some time.

Jogia has mainly kept his career towards TV during his time in Hollywood. He grew in fame when he had a main role on the Nickelodeon show, Victorious, as Beck, and continued to star in several other shows after it ended. Avan Jogia had the lead role in the teen drama mystery series, Twisted, the lead role in the miniseries, Tut, the lead role in the SyFy series, Ghost Wars, the lead role in comedy TV series, Now Apocalypse, and part of the main cast in The Stranger on Quibi.

In 2021, he is going to be playing legendary video game character Leon S. Kennedy in the upcoming adaptation, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and have a role in a film titled Door Mouse. With a resume that packed with TV work, I hope that he takes that talent to film more and we get to see him on the big screen soon.

Thomas Middleditch (Flagstaff)

Flagstaff is a mirror of Columbus in Zombieland: Double Tap, and has plenty of commandments for survival just as Columbus does. Thomas Middleditch, who played Flagstaff, did a great job of mirroring those same traits of Columbus and creating some funny moments.

Middleditch has appeared in several films, such as the sports comedy, The Bronze, the comedy film, Tag, the monster film, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and had voice role in Disney+’s original film, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe.

However, Middleditch has been also super active in TV as well. He had one of the main roles in popular comedy series, Silicon Valley, and went on to voice and write for Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero. Currently, he is voicing a main role in Solar Opposites, an adult animated sitcom made by the Rick and Morty creators, and has a role in the sitcom, B Positive on CBS.

These two roles will likely continue into the next couple of years, so if you’re a fan of this talented and funny actor, be sure to check out his latest TV series.

With how much these big stars have done, there’s no surprise that you’ve most likely seen them in some way or another throughout their years in the industry. Maybe if there’s a possible Zombieland 3 we might get to see them all together again, but if not, I’ll have to tune in to whey they’re all doing next.

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Rosario Dawson’s debut as the live-action Ahsoka Tano on The Mandalorian Season 2 was one of TV’s biggest events in 2020. The actress seamlessly slid into the role of the fan-favorite Jedi, so it was no surprise when Disney and Lucasfilm confirmed that she would reprise the role in her own spinoff series. Dawson is working on other projects at the moment, though, such as HBO Max’s DMZ miniseries. But even while working on that series, Dawson is still in full-on Ahsoka mode, as evidenced by a cool on-set video.

Rosario Dawson recently posted the video to her Instagram, and it shows her and one of her colleagues, VFX whiz Omar Sfreddo, have some Star Wars fun while taking a break from their work on DMZ. The video shows Dawson sporting Ahsoka’s signature “head-tails” and two small lightsabers and doing battle with Sfreddo, who’s sporting a Mandalorian helmet. Check out the video below to see their duel, which Sfreddo enhanced with some nifty special effects:

As a Star Wars fan, I can’t think of a better way to spend your downtime on a set, and it definitely looks like Rosario Dawson and Omar Sfreddo enjoyed their own “climactic” duel. And most of us probably would’ve ultimately surrendered to Dawson as well, given her skills with lightsabers.

Star Wars has been a passion of Rosario Dawson’s for some time now, as she’s shown plenty of enthusiasm for the franchise over the years. She’d also been vocal about her desire to play Ahsoka Tano, which made it incredibly sweet when it was reported early last year that she’d been cast in the role. Fans can thank Lucasfilm producer Dave Filoni (and studio head Kathleen Kennedy) for casting her in the role.

At present, there aren’t too many concrete details about the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff series, Ahsoka. However, rumors suggest that it will dive even further into Star Wars lore by bringing back some beloved characters from Rebels. And as Rosario Dawson’s character continues her journey across the galaxy, her skills and character are sure to be tested. To prepare yourself for that, you can check out her explosive debut on The Mandalorian by streaming it on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Of course, before we get too ahead of ourselves on Rosario Dawson’s Star Wars future, one immediately has to wonder if or how she’ll put those skills to use on DMZ. The series, executive produced by Ava DuVernay, is based on a comic book series about a Second Civil War (in the near future). And as a result, the island of Manhattan has become a demilitarized zone.

Keeping the premise in mind, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that Rosario Dawson’s character, a medic named Alma, could get some cool action scenes of her own. Though whether any of those scenes would rival Ahsoka’s remains to be seen.

In 1994, Kevin Smith’s filmmaking career kicked off with the indie hit Clerks, which also served as the first installment of the View Askewniverse shared universe. While that movie’s starring characters would later pop up in other movies set in that shared universe, in 2006, Smith returned to his roots with Clerks II. Now a decade and a half later, it’s been announced that Clerks 3, which Smith has been developing in one form or another since the early 2010, will soon begin filming, with the filmmaker sharing some new details for us to chew on.

Today brings word that Lionsgate has acquired the worldwide rights to Clerks 3, which is currently in preproduction in New Jersey and will begin production next month. The studio was previously in the Kevin Smith business on 2011’s Red State, having distributed that movie through video-on-demand. Smith commented on the studio’s involvement, as well as Clerks 3’s premise of Brian O’Halloran’s Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson’s Randal Graves shooting a movie about their lives as convenience store clerks, with the following (via Deadline):

Along with Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson reprising their respective roles, Clerks 3 will also see the return of Jason Mewes as Jay, Kevin Smith as Silent Bob and Rosario Dawson as Becky, the latter of whom was introduced in Clerks II. This marks the first View Askewniverse installment since 2019’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which, in addition to the title duo, also saw O’Halloran briefly reprising Dante Hicks. Rosario Dawson also appeared, though as a new character named Reggie Faulken, the wife of Shannon Elizabeth’s Justice Faulken. In a follow-up tweet, Smith also mentioned that Elias, who debuted in Clerks II as well, will appear in Clerks 3, although it’s unclear if Trevor Fehrman will reprise the role or if a new actor will take his place.

Just like what happened to Kevin Smith in 2018, Clerks 3 sees Randal Graves suffering a heart attack, and having come so close to dying, he decides to recruit his friends and coworkers to help him shoot a movie about working in a convenience store. Sounds awfully familiar, right? This meta-narrative is actually Smith’s second version of Clerks 3, with thew writer/director describing the previous version as being “a King Lear movie in a convenience store” back in 2015. However, following his heart attack, Smith decided to scrap the original story because it was filled with too much “doom and gloom.”

Clerks 3’s release date hasn’t been announced yet, but fans of the View Askewniverse can take comfort knowing Kevin Smith will be sticking around this world after the threequel comes out, as he’s also developing Twilight of the Mallrats. In the meantime, Smith enthusiasts can look forward to the first five episodes of his new animated series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, arriving on Netflix this Friday, July 23.

Filmmaker Fede Álvarez made his first big burst onto the horror scene in 2013 with his well-received Evil Dead remake, and he gained many more fans with the release of 2016's Don't Breathe. Now, as fans wait for the release of that film's sequel (which Álvarez co-wrote), every horror fan out there needs to binge the hell out of his new streaming TV show Calls, which is definitely worth the price of a month's Apple TV+ subscription and then some. It's definitely not the kind of project that anyone could possibly be expecting, so read on to find out exactly why Calls is such a must-watch series for anyone who loves horror, science fiction, and/or psychological thrillers.

Calls Is Unlike Any Other Horror On TV

It should take potential viewers exactly 0.5 seconds to grasp that Apple TV+'s Calls is on a completely different wavelength than most horror projects. The anthologized concept involves viewers being privy to a series of phone calls (and other forms of verbal communication) while the world is in the midst of an unexpected and horrifying apocalyptic event, but nothing of the zombie or pandemic variety. It's not a live-action series, though, so you're not seeing physical actors on their phones, but only hearing them. It's also not quite an animated series, with a visual style that's more abstract, lo-fi graphics rather than literal interpretations of people and places. It's essentially like non-randomized Winamp visualizations that are coded to freak you the fuck out, and they all range from 13-21 minutes, never outlasting their respective stays.

Though it is based on the French series of the same name created by Timothée Hochet, Fede Álvarez's Calls is definitely its own beast of a tale. And when I had a chance to talk to the genre-centric director ahead of the show's debut on Apple TV+, he explained how he got involved with such a unique idea for a horror TV show. In his words:

While I won't give away any spoilers about what audiences will experience, since things quickly take some very wild turns in the first episode, suffice to say Fede Álvarez and his creative team definitely came up with some refreshing and mind-boggling new ways to approach short-storytelling, which we'll get into more below.

Calls' Unique Visual And Audio Approach Is Unexpectedly Disturbing

As effective as horror audiobooks can be, as well as spooky podcasts, Calls ramps up the atmospheric aural sensations with a digital visual palette that successfully evokes dread and unease with shapes, lines, and letters in a wide variety of ways. Think about all the ways a phone call can be disturbing, from crossed lines to strange voices to technical glitches – they're all covered here. And all without confusion over who is speaking, since Calls makes the speaker identification part of its disquieting visual motif.

Below, Fede Álvarez talks about how the challenge that he and his creative team took on in approaching the minimalistic visual design, and he also jokes about the non-intuitive way giving the first Calls presentation went before Apple's execs.

To that end, I would easily put Calls in the Top 3 trippiest TV shows of all time, but obviously in a way that's entirely separate from the trippiness of cult faves like Twin Peaks, Mighty Boosh or Channel Zero. The majority of Calls imagery is almost meticulously hallucinogenic in the coolest of ways, although the audio itself will likely send one down a bad trip road.

Calls' A+ Cast Includes Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillan And More Big Stars

The fact that Calls is an anthology series, combined with the lack of a live-action production, allowed Fede Àlvarez to pull together a pretty stunning list of well-known talents, and it's indeed worth going over the majority of them here just to drive home how perfecto a group it is. The pitch-perfect slow-burning premiere episode is almost entirely performed by Succession's Nicholas Braun, Emily in Paris' Lily Collins, and the MCU's Karen Gillan. The next episode continues the MCU-ness with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who co-stars with Space Force's Ben Schwartz, the Child's Play franchise's Jennifer Tilly, and The Devil All the Time's Riley Keough.

The episode that breaks most from the horror genre stars Halloween's Judy Greer, The Morning Show's Mark Duplass and The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal. And look at that, Pascal's Mandalorian co-star Rosario Dawson is also in an episode. For time's sake, let's just run through some of the other stars post-haste, shall we? We've got The Voice's Nick Jonas, Yellowstone's Danny Huston, Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza, The Act's Joey King, Hollywood's Laura Harrier, Don't Breathe's Stephen Lang, IT's Jaeden Martell, The Righteous Gemstones' Edi Patterson, Community's Danny Pudi, SpongeBob SquarePants' Clancy Brown and more. It's a smorgasbord of awesome actors, and nobody phones it in, so to speak.

So clearly, I'm already a big fan of Apple TV+'s Calls, and I'm hoping everyone else out there will be convinced that it's a one-of-a-kind trip into the depths of space, time, and weirdness, and that the trip is one worth taking immediately. Stream all nine tension-soaked episodes on Apple TV+ now.

When it comes to talent competition series, the NBC hit America's Got Talent pretty much has it covered when it comes to ventriloquists, magicians and acrobats. But for those who want to see people showing off a wider variety of random and mind-boggling "skills," then TBS' Go-Big Show is a TV haven. The judges, including The Mandalorian's Rosario Dawson and rapping TV entertainer Snoop Dogg, have seen all kinds of wild acts so far in its first season, with snake wrangler Jackie Bibby offering up some reptile-related doozies. Which brings us to the jaw-dropping and jaw-expanding exclusive video clip above from Thursday night's episode.

In the clip, Jackie Bibby does what few people would even consider is a thing that anyone could do. Namely, he stuffs his mouth with tails of live rattlesnakes, and then holds a bunch of other rattlesnakes, and then has a spider crawl across his head. This is not your average talent, and you don't even have to see him doing it to know how bonkers it is. You just have to look at the reactions from Rosario Dawson, Snoop Dogg, AEW wrestler (and Arrow vet) Cody Rhodes and country singer Jennifer Nettles...oh, and literally everyone the camera focuses on that isn't part of Bibby's crew.

And by everyone else, I mean yours truly as well. It often takes a lot to get me to react so strongly to something, but here we are. In the first place, watching anyone stuff anything into their mouth in such a way is bothersome, and then watching anyone stuff snake parts into a small space is also bothersome. Combine those two, and Go-Big Show hopeful Jackie Bibby could theoretically jump-start his own horror franchise. Instead of seeing bees come out of Candyman's mouth, it'd be bigass rattlesnakes falling out of Bibby's mouth, while a hairy spider leg closes in around his ears. MAKE IT HAPPEN, BLUMHOUSE!

While a lot of people would run away screaming at the thought of pulling this act off, Jackie Bibby invokes the name of the show with his enthusiasm to take things up a notch. Just hearing anyone say "Seven rattlesnakes in his mouth?" is pretty bizarre out of context, but somehow even more bonkers totally in context. It was enough to make Snoop Dogg squirm, and this dude has seen some weird stuff in Bikini Bottom.

The clip obviously ends before we see how the end of the episode will go, but personally, I'd give Jackie Bibby all the prizes and accolades and awards just to make sure I'd never have to watch him sucking on live rattlesnakes again. (Note to self: Are Rattlesnacks a good idea or a bad idea? Answer to self: A bad idea.)

Check out Jackie Bibby's unpredictable feats, as well as all the other contestants, when The Go-Big Show airs Thursday nights on TBS at 9:00 p.m. ET. Let us know in the poll below what you thought about the act.

With only three seasons and nearly 40 episodes, Netflix's Daredevil didn't have a long stay, but it kept a devoted fanbase. The gritty, grounded take on the popular Marvel character ushered in a short-lived sideverse for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which also included Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders. Played by Charlie Cox, this brooding comic book series proved to be a more fitting take on the crime-fighter than the lackluster 2003 film adaptation, and it established the darker, more adult avenues that Marvel could explore.

But, now that the show is over, at least for the present moment, what is the Daredevil cast working on? Let's take a look and find out!

Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil)

In the role of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who doubles as a vigilante, Charlie Cox played the lead in Netflix's Daredevil. He also adopted this role in The Defenders. Outside of this titular part, the actor can notably be seen in The Theory of Everything, Boardwalk Empire, Stardust, King of Thieves, The Merchant of Venice, Casanova, There Be Dragons, and Stone of Destiny.

Most recently, Charlie Cox appeared on Broadway in a 2019 production of Betrayal. Next, he'll be seen in the mini-series Kin. Additionally, there are rumors that the actor might reprise his role as Daredevil in the MCU, possibly with the currently-filming Spider-Man 3.

Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page)

As Karen Page, a justice-seeking woman who connects with Matt Murdock, Deborah Ann Woll played the female lead in Netflix's Daredevil. Outside of this series, Woll is best known for HBO's True Blood. She also played Karen in The Defenders and The Punisher. Her other notable credits include Catch .44, Ruby Sparks, Mother's Day (2010), Escape Room, My Name is Earl, ER, CSI, and The Mentalist.

Most recently, Deborah Anne Woll starred in the mini-series, Flight 008. Next, Woll will be seen in Ida Red. Outside of acting, the actress regularly appears as herself on BoardGameGeek's GameNight!

Elden Henson (Franklin “Foggy” Nelson)

Playing the part of Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Matt Murdock's law partner and best friend, Elden Henson played a lighter, more reflective character than our titular vigilante. The actor also played this Marvel personality in The Defenders, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage.

Additionally, outside of this part, Elden Henson is best known for The Mighty Ducks trilogy. His other notable credits include The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and 2, The Butterfly Effect, Jobs, Lords of Dogtown, Under the Tuscan Sun, Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Deja Vu, Cast Away, She's All That, Idle Hands, Turner & Hooch, and Jaws: The Revenge. At the moment, Elden Henson's next project hasn't been announced.

Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk/Kingpin)

In the role of Wilson Fisk, a powerful crime lord and businessman better known as "Kingpin," Vincent D'Onofrio was heavily praised for his menacing, villainous performance in Netflix's Daredevil. An Emmy-nominated actor, D'Onofrio is best known for Full Metal Jacket, Men in Black, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, JFK, The Player, Ed Wood, Strange Days, The Whole Wide World, The Cell, Jurassic World, and Homicide: Life on the Street. His other notable credits include Mystic Pizza, Adventures in Babysitting, Stuart Saves His Family, Feeling Minnesota, The Newton Boys, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Thumbsucker, Cadillac Records, Escape Plan, Brooklyn's Finest, Sinister, The Magnificent Seven (2016), Death Wish (2018), and The Kid, which he also directed.

Most recently, Vincent D'Onofrio played a recurring role in Netflix's Ratched. The actor also appeared in Interrogation and Godfather of Harlem. Next, D'Onofrio will be seen in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Nora Fingscheidt's untitled new movie. He's also attached to star in A Fall From Grace.

Toby Leonard Moore (James Wesley)

As James Wesley, Wilson Fisk's right-hand man, Toby Leonard Moore played a dependable supporting character in Netflix's Daredevil. Outside of this series, the actor is best known for John Wick, The Pacific, Blue Bloods, and Banshee.

Currently, Toby Leonard Moore can be seen in Billions. Most recently, the actor appeared in Mank. He also plays a part in Condor. Next, Moore will be seen in The Volunteers and Payback. He'll also appear in the upcoming mini-series, The Unusual Suspects.

Vondie Curtis-Hall (Ben Urich)

Playing the part of Ben Urich, an investigative journalist at the New York Bulletin, Vondie Curtis-Hall brought us an interrogating character in Netflix's Daredevil. Outside of this role, Curtis-Hall is best recognized for CBS's Chicago Hope. He's also known for writing, directing, and starring in Gridlock'd. Additionally, Curtis-Hall directed Glitter. His other notable acting credits include Crooklyn, Clear and Present Danger, Falling Down, Broken Arrow, Eve's Bayou, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans, Come Sunday, Harriet, Turn It Up, Romeo + Juliet, Passion Fish, Die Hard 2, and Coming to America.

Recently, Vondie Curtis-Hall was part of the main cast for ABC's short-lived For the People. He was also in an episode of Evil. Next, the actor will appear in The Night House. He'll also soon be seen 18 1/2 and Residue.

Bob Gunton (Leland Owsley)

In the role of Leland Owsley, a key figure in Wilson Fisk's plans in Hell's Kitchen, Bob Gunton played an accountable character in Netflix's Daredevil. Outside of this part, Gunton can also be seen in The Shawshank Redemption, Argo, Demolition Man, Patch Adams, Desperate Housewives, The Perfect Storm, I Heart Huckabees, Boat Trip, Born on the Fourth of July, Unbroken: Path of Redemption, Buffalo Soldiers, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, JFK, and Patriot Games. He is also twice Tony-nominated for his work in Evita and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, respectively.

Most recently, Bob Gunton appeared in episodes of Elementary, Project Blue Book, and The Cool Kids. Next, the actor will be heard in the documentary, The Gettysburg Address.

Ayelet Zurer (Vanessa Marianna-Fisk)

As Vanessa Marianna-Fisk, an art gallery employee who eventually marries Wilson Fisk, Ayelet Zurer played a notable supporting character in Netflix's Daredevil. An award-winning actress for her performances in Nina's Tragedies and Israeli television drama Betipul, Zurer is also known for her appearances in Munich, Milada, Man of Steel, Angels & Demons, Adam Resurrected, Ben-Hur (2016), Hide Away, Darling Companion, Vantage Point, and Last Days in the Desert.

Starting this year, Ayelet Zurer will play a recurring role in Netflix's You. She was also recently seen in several episodes of Losing Alice.

Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple)

Playing the part of Claire Temple, a nurse who often helps Murdock, Rosario Dawson plays a mindful supporting character in Netflix's Daredevil. She also played this character in Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Defenders. Her other notable credits include Kids, Clerks II, He Got Game, Sin City, Jane the Virgin, Men in Black II, Josie and the Pussycats, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, 25th Hour, Alexander, Death Proof, Zookeeper, Top Five, Seven Pounds, The Rundown, Shattered Glass, Rent, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, The LEGO Batman Movie, and Zombieland: Double Tap.

Most recently, Rosario Dawson took on the role of Ahsoka Tano in Disney+'s The Mandolorian. Next, she'll be seen in The Water Man and a pair of mini-series, DMZ and Dopesick. She's also attached to star in Ahsoka, based on the Star Wars character of the same name. Outside of acting, Dawson is slated to be a judge on TBS's Go-Big Show.

Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher)

In the role of Frank Castle, i.e. The Punisher, a vigilante who vows to clean up Hell's Kitchen, Jon Bernthal played a take no prisoners character in Netflix's Daredevil. Following his appearance in this show, Bernthal would go on to play the character in his own spin-off series, The Punisher, which ran for two seasons. Outside of these streaming shows, the actor is known for The Walking Dead, The Wolf of Wall Street, Fury, Baby Driver, Widows, The Accountant, Sicario, The Ghost Writer, Wind River, World Trade Center, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Show Me A Hero, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Most recently, Jon Bernthal was seen in Viena and the Fantomes and Ford v Ferrari. He was also heard in the video game, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint. Next, the actor will be seen in Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Many Saints of Newark, Small Engine Repair (which he also produced), King Richard, and Nora Fingschedit's untitled new movie. He's also attached to Showtime's American Gigolo reboot.

Elodie Yung (Elektra Natchios)

As Elektra Natchios, a mysterious, deadly woman from Murdock's past, Elodie Yung was a notable new character in the second season of Daredevil. She also played Elektra in Netflix's The Defenders. Her other notable credits include Gods of Egypt, The Hitman's Bodyguard, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), District 13: Ultimatum, La vie devant nous, and Les Bleus.

Most recently, Elodie Yung appeared in Disney+'s Secret Society of Second-Born Royals. Next, the actress is expected to star in The Blue Mauritius and Hunters in the Dark.

Do you miss Netflix's Daredevil? Be sure to let us know in the comments! You can stream Daredevil on Netflix here.

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The Mandalorian Season 2 may be done, but Star Wars fans are likely still chatting about the cool things they witnessed during those eight episodes. Among the standout moments were Din Djarin’s explosive reunion with Cara Dune and Greef Karga and the surprise return of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker. But one of the moments fans were most excited about was the live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano, played by Rosario Dawson. The actress was amazing in the role, but what was even more impressive is how the makeup team brought the character to life. Now, Dawson has shared a cool behind-the-scenes video that shows how she was transformed into the Jedi.

Ahsoka Tano is a Togruta, one of the many species that can be found in the Star Wars universe. Because the aliens have such a unique look, it was easy to assume it would take some serious makeup wizardry to accurately translate Tano to live-action. In celebration of Ahsoka Tano Day, Rosario Dawson gave fans a look at the exact process using a video posted to Twitter, and it’s just as tedious as you’d imagine. Take a look:

Just watching The Mandalorian’s makeup crew work on Rosario Dawson’s look (for what was likely several hours) is enough to make you exhausted. Extensive makeup work like that is rarely ever easy for the crew or the actor, as it typically requires an early morning start and must be done perfectly.

While the efforts of the makeup team were absolutely important, Ahsoka Tano’s presence on The Mandalorian ultimately came down to Dawson’s performance. So you can imagine that fans were thrilled when she nailed it. Fans had long been fancasting her in the role, though it was anyone’s guess as to whether it would actually happen. Mandalorian producer Dave Filoni, who created the character, took his time in casting the role and even received advice from others. Thankfully, the Force led him to cast Dawson in the role.

Following her debut on The Mandalorian, the gears of speculation began to turn, regarding Rosario Dawson’s future on the show. Her future on that show is currently unclear, but we do know that Dawson will once again suit up as Ahsoka in her own spinoff series. Nothing is known in the way of specific plot details yet, if rumors are to be believed, the series could bring back another fan-favorite character.

It’s great to know that there are still plenty of Ahsoka Tano stories to be told, and it’ll be fun to see how Dawson continues to grow into the role. And hopefully, getting into that makeup will get easier for her as time goes on.

The first two seasons of The Mandalorian are available to stream on Disney+, and you can sign up using this link.

I love dream casting almost as much as I love the Sega Dreamcast. And, with Spider-Man and Miles Morales, in particular, being more popular now than ever before due to Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and his most recent Playstation game, I thought it would be a great time to dream cast a live-action Miles Morales movie (Or TV show. I’m not picky). As with other times where I dream cast movies, I’m well aware that this hypothetical film will likely never happen, so I’m kind of just swinging for the fences with some of these picks and potential storylines. Because it’s my list, and I can dream if I want to.

Now, one thing that I want to make perfectly clear is that I don’t want this to be an interdimensional story where we get other spider people. I don’t even want Peter Parker in this hypothetical movie, because Peter Parker has been done to death, and I want this to be Miles’ story alone. I also don’t want The Prowler to be the antagonist since that’s already been done, too. Instead, I want this to be more like the Playstation title and will pick a more obscure villain, like that game did with The Tinkerer, but also making it more personal to his character. Still with me? Then let’s get thwipping!

Miles Morales (Rhenzy Feliz)

Miles Morales is half-black from his father’s side, and half Puerto Rican from his mother’s side. He’s intellectually gifted and is often portrayed as a wiry teenager with a swimmer’s build. One of his most defining characteristics as seen in both Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and the Playstation exclusive, is his desire to make other people proud. What distinguishes him from Peter, besides his ethnicity, are two new powers. One being the venom strike, where he can use electricity, and the other being camouflage, where he can become almost invisible. He’s also usually younger than Peter, though he has also been portrayed as being the same age as Peter in the Ultimate Spider-Man Animated Series. He’s a cool dude overall.

I want Dominican actor, Rhenzy Feliz, to play Miles Morales. The actor has already done one Marvel property, with the Hulu series Runaways, where he played Alex Wilder, and already showed that he can pull off brainy characters, which would fit Miles to a T. Plus, I think Feliz has a similar body-type as Miles. You might not agree with the other picks on this list (especially my villain), but you can’t deny that Feliz would be a perfect fit for the role. That’s the problem with these dream casting lists. I always get my hopes up for something that will never be.

Genke Lee (Charles Melton)

Genke Lee is Miles’ best friend and confidant. He’s Korean-American and rather large in body-type. In fact, some people believe that Ned Leeds is Disney/Marvel’s take on Genke Lee without being called as such. He offers Miles insightful advice and often believes more in Miles than Miles even believes in himself. Who doesn’t need a Genke Lee in their life?

I want The Sun Is Also A Star actor Charles Melton for Genke, but more for his work on Riverdale than anything else, where he plays the second Reggie Mantle. Yes, Charles Melton is kind of a stud and doesn’t really look anything like the Genke from the comics. But, I think he could play the role of a good sidekick who is always there for his buddy quite well, if given the role.

Rio Morales (Rosario Dawson)

Rio Morales is of Puerto Rican descent and has been seen as a nurse in both the comics and in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, as well as a teacher and politician in the Playstation game. Rio actually dies in the comics. Even so, her character helps shape Miles as an individual, so she’s a very important character in his life.

Give me Rosario Dawson for Rio Morales! She’s also Puerto Rican (and Cuban), and can play pretty much anybody. Like Rhenzy Feliz, she’s also already been in several Marvel properties, as she portrayed Night Nurse in the Netflix Marvel shows like Daredevil and The Defenders. Another plus? It’s Rosario freaking Dawson! I’d watch her in anything. Wouldn’t you?

Uncle Aaron (Yasiin Bey)

Okay, so because of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, everybody knows that Uncle Aaron is The Prowler, right? Well, The Prowler, who acts as a cat burglar as well as a mercenary for hire, is a bad dude in Into The Spider-Verse. But it all changes once he realizes that Miles is the new Spider-Man, and he sees the error of his ways. In the comics, The Prowler is much more of a scumbag, even forcing Miles to work for him and take out Scorpion. He is probably Miles’ most popular villain, and he’d, of course, have to be the villain for the live-action movie, right?

Not so fast! Because I don’t want to tell that story. I actually want to throw a curveball for my movie. In the comics, Uncle Aaron and his brother both start off in a life of crime, but Miles’ father reforms and becomes a cop, while Uncle Aaron stays in the underbelly. In my movie (Or TV show), I want Yasiin Bey, better known to most as the rapper, Mos Def, to play Uncle Aaron. And I want HIM to be the one who reforms and becomes a cop. Mos Def just has that personality of being a cool cat who’s got wisdom to impart to anyone who will listen, and I think he would be the perfect mentor for Miles. Which just leaves one last character.

Jefferson Davis (Mahershala Ali)

And here’s said curveball! In the comics, Jefferson Davis is Miles' dad and a police officer who used to be in the crime scene before he reformed. He actually worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. for a little bit, acting as an undercover agent, and even paired up with The Kingpin before turning into the good guy he would later become. Miles looks up to his father, obviously.

But, here’s the thing. Jefferson Davis has actually been a villain as well. On Earth-65, Jefferson Davis is that world’s version of Scorpion. In the cartoon Ultimate Spider-Man, he was also the villain Swarm. So, how about this? I know Mahershala Ali voiced Uncle Aaron in Into The Spider-Verse, but what if he played Miles’ dad in this live-action version, and he also played the villain? He’s already shown that he could pull off a villainous role, as he played Cottonmouth in Luke Cage. But he’s also going to be playing Blade, so he’s already Marvel royalty. That’s why I want Mahershala Ali for Jefferson Davis! Make it happen, people!

Obviously, this movie or TV show will likely never happen, but it was fun dream casting all the same. What do you think? Do these roles totally fit the character, or am I completely off the mark? Sound off in the comments section down below, either way. I’d love to hear your thoughts!