Spoilers for The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’s finale are ahead! If you haven’t seen it, you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf quite literally ended its run on the 2025 TV schedule with a bang. In the final episode of the show’s first season, Taylor Kitsch’s character detonated a bunch of bombs and set a house and a lot of people up in flames. It was epic, and looked pretty practical, so I had to ask Kitsch and Chris Pratt about it.

So, here’s the context: toward the start of the Dark Wolf finale, Ben is alone. He no longer has his team with him; they fully know Jed Haverford is a traitor, and he’s in a rural house setting up a trap for the people who are trying to stop him. As the countdown begins, Ben runs upstairs and watches a convoy approach, and almost immediately, one of the cars explodes. There are more explosions after that, making for an epic action scene. Kitsch also told me their team loved putting it together, as he said:

As a massive team of adversaries shot up the house Ben was in, he ran downstairs to connect wires that ultimately led to the big bomb in the basement. He then used a tunnel to escape and get out of the house, before setting off barrels and barrels of explosives. It was a lot of bombs, and the entire house blew up.

According to Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch, when you film in Budapest, you can really pull off moments like that, as they joked back and forth:

• Chris Pratt: Listen, if you have to do movies with lots of bombs, do it in Budapest.
• Taylor Kitsch: Yeah, true.
• Chris Pratt: They’re like, ‘We added a little extra TNT.’

They certainly added the extra TNT, and the insanely explosive practical effects are one of many reasons why Dark Wolf is so good.

This really is a moment where Ben has to go big or go home, and they took that seriously and literally, as they blew up a home amid a massive shootout. It was epic and massive, and the Friday Night Lights star was here for it, as he said:

He finished his thought by saying he “loved” that moment, and so did I. I thought it was a great set piece to lead the finale with, as it showed Ben as this lone wolf, fearlessly taking on a small army of men by himself.

However, it also showed off the power of the brotherhood he was in, because his former teammates showed up to help him succeed and make it out of this situation alive.

Overall, this season was packed with intense moments (like this one and that torture scene) that told the origin story of Ben Edwards, and it ultimately helped me understand how he got to the point he’s in in The Terminal List. It was intense and explosive, both literally and figuratively, and now I can’t wait to see how the major events of Dark Wolf impact Terminal List Season 2.

Minor spoilers for The Terminal List and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf are ahead! Read with caution and stay up to date with both shows by streaming them with an Amazon Prime subscription.

As The Terminal List: Dark Wolf moves through its run on the 2025 TV schedule, I’ve found a new reason to be happy that this Terminal List spinoff happened. From the jump, I was thrilled we’d get Ben Edwards' backstory that explained why he did what he did at the end of the OG series. However, as Chris Pratt told me, it’s also great because it’s introducing us to history that will be important in Terminal List Season 2.

When Terminal List got renewed, the Taylor Kitsch-led spinoff was announced, too. Now, as Dark Wolf airs, we’re getting to know some beloved characters from Jack Carr’s novels, who will presumably be featured in Season 2 of the OG show, which is a book-to-screen adaptation of True Believer. During an interview with CinemaBlend, Chris Pratt told me that we need to pay attention to said characters, because we’ll see them again:

While we know Ben Edwards’ fate at the end of The Terminal List, we don’t know where Mo, Raife and Landry are. They aren’t in Season 1. However, since Season 2 will follow True Believer, we know they’ll be in the new episodes of the series all about Pratt’s character James Reece.

As I discussed why it was important to pay attention to these characters in Dark Wolf with the Parks and Rec star, he also noted that we should be thinking about the timing of both shows. The Taylor Kitsch-led prequel series takes place seven years before the events of Season 1, and a lot can change in that time, as Pratt explained:

When we meet Mo, Raife and Landry, specifically, they’re all leaving the SEALs with Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards. Meanwhile, Pratt’s Reece stayed in the teams. We’ve already seen this experience working as CIA operatives change these characters – I mean, Tom Hopper’s Hastings tortured a man in Episode 5 of Dark Wolf, which marked a major turning point for his character.

That happened not long after they left the teams, so think about how a decade of questionable and morally grey work will change these characters. With that in mind, Kitsch kind of teased that too during our interview, as he said:

• Taylor Kitsch: Arguably, you're gonna witness one of the craziest character arcs I've ever seen.
• Chris Pratt: 100%.

Well, that sounds exciting! Thankfully, we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out what they’re talking about. That’s because, as Dark Wolf airs, Terminal List Season 2 is in the works and will hopefully be available to stream on Amazon Prime sooner rather than later.

The Terminal List is finally returning to the 2025 TV schedule; however, it’s not for Season 2 (yet). While the long-awaited sophomore installment is coming, we’re going back in time first to learn more about Taylor Kitsch’s character, Ben Edwards. So, while chatting with the actor and the series’ co-creator and showrunner, they told me why they wanted to make this show and how it was actually inspired by Ben’s final scene with Chris Pratt’s James Reece in the original series.

While the incredibly popular first season of The Terminal List and its upcoming second installment are book-to-screen adaptations of Jack Carr’s novel, Dark Wolf is not. It’s a totally new story about the origins of Kitsch’s character, and it will help us better understand the choices he made that ultimately led to his brutal betrayal of Pratt’s Reece and his death at the hands of his friend at the end of Season 1.

When I asked DiGilio about the creation of this series, he said it was that final sequence where Reece killed Ben that inspired Dark Wolf, as he explained:

If you have read The Terminal List and watched the series with an Amazon Prime subscription, you’ll know that Ben is quite different between the two. He's more cold-blooded in the book. Meanwhile, in the show, he helps Reece with his list, and he regrets his actions against his friend, leading him to be fairly understanding of Pratt’s character’s choice to kill him. Ultimately, that emotional reaction makes that final gunshot even harder to hear, and it made me wonder why Ben did all this in the first place.

To that point, DiGilio told me that moment, and Ben’s feelings about it sparked quite the debate online, which is what led to conversations about Dark Wolf. He said:

The talk about that scene and if Ben deserved his fate “launched Dark Wolf,” and we can ultimately thank Kitsch’s performance and Pratt’s love for him and his character for all of that, the showrunner told me. He also explained that out of that, they wanted to answer questions about how Ben got to this point in his life; how he became the dark wolf.

Elaborating on that point, DiGilio said:

For context, Dark Wolf starts right when Ben leaves the SEALS. We learn why he has to go, and the show explains how he wound up connected to the CIA. All of that ultimately helps explain why he acts the way he does in The Terminal List. Speaking to that idea and addressing why he wanted to play Ben again, Taylor Kitsch told me:

When I finished watching The Terminal List, I certainly needed to learn more about Ben. In the original show, he’s kind of an enigma and his motivations, while clear, needed elaboration. This prequel should give us that, and we can thank that final rollercoaster of a scene that ended in Ben's death for it.

So, now that we know why Dark Wolf got made and the scene that inspired it, it’s time to get excited. Chris Pratt has said this new show is better than Terminal List Season 1, and between that and the idea that we’re going to get Ben’s backstory, I cannot wait.

To see how Ben’s story began and the experiences that made him the man we met in Terminal List, you can stream the three-episode premiere of Dark Wolf on Wednesday, August 27, with a Prime Video subscription. After that, episodes will drop weekly on Wednesdays.

It’s been more than 15 years since X-Men Origins: Wolverine introduced Taylor Kitsch as Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit. His role was small but memorable, though many fans ultimately viewed it as a misstep, much like the controversial way Deadpool was portrayed in the same film. Kitsch's tenure as the card-throwing mutant was short-lived as Channing Tatum was later cast in the role and attached to a long-rumored Gambit solo movie that never materialized. Now, Kitsch has broken his silence on being replaced, and his response might surprise you.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant promoting Prime Video’s upcoming series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Kitsch was asked directly about Tatum’s cameo as the beloved X-Men character in last year's Deadpool & Wolverine. When asked if he’s had a chance to see Tatum’s take on the character he originated, he admitted to the outlet:

The True Detective Season 2 star didn’t dodge the follow-up, though. Asked if losing the role was ever a tough subject, he responded with perspective:

For fans who may have hoped Kitsch would reprise Gambit in the MCU, that’s as definitive a statement as we’ve gotten. The actor makes it clear he’s happy with where his career has taken him. Also, it’s not like he’s been idle since his brief Marvel stint. Following X-Men Origins, Kitsch went on to star in John Carter, Battleship and Savages.

Taylor Kitsch also has TV shows under his belt like True Detective Season 2 and Waco. Kitsch is also reteaming with Chris Pratt for The Terminal List spinoff, which debuts on August 27 as part of the 2025 TV schedule. (The new series spinoff will be streamable with an Amazon Prime subscription.)

Interestingly, the Canadian-born star didn’t entirely close the door on Marvel, even while signaling that Gambit’s future isn’t his to control. When asked whether he considered his superhero days to be firmly behind him, he left things open. He added:

The Battleship actor’s ​​reflections seem to show an actor who’s made peace with the past and is focused on stories that challenge him now. Whether it’s his turn in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf or the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of the real-life drama of 11 Days in Hell, he’s carving out a career defined by range and grit rather than what-ifs.

Gambit wasn’t “in the cards,” but Taylor Kitsch seems perfectly fine letting the chips fall where they may. And, hey, with Avengers: Secret Wars looming on the horizon and rumors swirling about a multiverse’s worth of variants, we’ve all learned never to say never. In the meantime, fans can stream both X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Deadpool & Wolverine with a Disney+ subscription.

When The Terminal List premiered in 2022, it accumulated an insane number of minutes watched (1.6 billion minutes to be exact). So, there’s 100% a lot of anticipation for Season 2 as well as its prequel series, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, which will premiere on the 2025 TV schedule first. So, while discussing all that’s to come, Chris Pratt got real about why this new spinoff is better than Season 1 of his show and how that will ultimately help Season 2.

For context, Terminal List ended with Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards betraying Pratt’s James Reece, and now, Dark Wolf will give us the story behind why Ben ended up in a place where he was willing to do that. I always thought Dark Wolf was a necessary spinoff, and now, hearing the Guardians of the Galaxy star hype it up, my expectations are even higher, as he told Collider:

I feel like this is probably the best outcome ever. Improvement is always the goal for basically everyone working, I’d assume, and that’s especially the case when you’re returning to a project. However, Dark Wolf isn’t just “bigger and better”; it’s outright better than Season 1 of The Terminal List, as Pratt, who is an executive producer on both shows, explained:

First of all, I love that Chris Pratt saw the room for improvement and acknowledged how much they’ve all grown between Season 1 and this prequel series. He expanded on that point, too, comparing the work on these shows to being in high school. He said:

This makes perfect sense. Most shows do get better as time goes on and the cast and crew are able to really find their groove. Just look at the evolution of the other big show Pratt was part of, Parks and Recreation (one of the best sitcoms ever), and you’ll see my point clearly.

Speaking directly to how time together has made them a better team, the Jurassic World star said:

Now, everything they’ve learned on Dark Wolf will be taken into Season 2 of The Terminal List, because, as Pratt said, “iron sharpens iron.” He explained this prequel raised the bar, and now they’re hoping to meet it in the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of True Believer.

With that kind of passion and willingness to reflect and be critical, I have a feeling they’ll do just that.

So, now, get hype to use that Amazon Prime subscription to return to this world, because it sounds like we’re in for something fantastic (especially if you already enjoyed the first season of The Terminal List) when Dark Wolf premieres on August 27.

I don’t know about you, but I felt just as blindsided as James Reece (Chris Pratt) was at the end of The Terminal List when he found out that his friend and confidant, Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch), had betrayed him. Now, obviously, I get why Ben did this, because he explained his reasoning before he was killed. However, there’s still so much more to this story, I can just tell. So, thank goodness we’re getting a spinoff on the 2025 TV schedule all about this complex character.

How The Terminal List Ended For Ben Edwards

So, I did not contribute to The Terminal List’s 1.6 billion minutes watched when it originally came out in 2022. I binged it with my Amazon Prime subscription weeks before Dark Wolf’s premiere. Therefore, knowing Taylor Kitsch was getting his own show played a big part in my interpretation of and shock over the series.

This shocking instance I’m referring to is the scene where we find out that Ben was involved in the conspiracy that ultimately led to James’ team and family dying. That was confirmed in the show’s finale when Ben said:

Then, when James asked if Ben did this for his friends or for $20 million, Kitsch’s character replied with:

There wasn’t much explanation past that, and James ended up shooting his friend. Now, as we move into The Terminal List Season 2, I can’t help but wonder how that betrayal and choice will impact James. However, a bigger question on my mind is: What led Ben to do this? Well, thankfully, his spinoff from one of Amazon’s best shows might give us an answer.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Will Serve As Ben’s Origin Story

Here’s why I’m so relieved Ben is getting his spinoff, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf: I need to know when and why he changed and lost his undying loyalty to Reece and co. When did he decide to betray his brothers? What changed him to the point where he felt like he could or had to make the choice? How did his time in the CIA change him after he left the SEALs?

Thankfully, it seems like The Terminal List: Dark Wolf will answer at least some of those questions. The series, which premieres its first three episodes on Wednesday, August 27, will serve as Ben’s origin story. Amazon’s synopsis states that it will follow Kitsch’s character “throughout his journey from the Navy SEALs to the clandestine side of CIA Special Operations.” It also promises to be an “espionage thriller that explores the darker side of warfare and the cost that comes with it.”

I’m really hopeful that we’ll get some necessary backstory here that adds some depth to Ben's moral greyness, and I personally can’t wait to watch it. That feeling increased tenfold when I re-watched the trailer for Dark Wolf after seeing the original series, and heard Ben say:

So, that tells me we’ll get to see some events play out that lead to him ultimately giving up this “brotherhood” he found in the military. The trailer, which you can see below, also features Tom Hopper’s Raife Hastings talking about the importance of knowing how to find the breaks and stop as a whole bunch of violence happens.

It seems like Ben is a loose cannon, looser than he was in The Terminal List, and that will likely play into the choices he makes that eventually lead to his fatal fate at the end of the original series.

The Terminal List is one of Taylor Kitsch’s best projects, and his character was such a fascinating part of the series. So, I’m thrilled he’s getting a spinoff, and we might finally get some backstory to the biggest betrayal of Season 1.

Taylor Kitsch got his big break in Hollywood back in 2006 when he portrayed Tim Riggins on the hit teen drama Friday Night Lights, and since then he’s continued to throw himself into roles on projects like Painkiller, The Terminal List (as well as its upcoming spinoff) and Lone Survivor. It’s quite an intense resume he’s compiled, and that includes his most recent series, American Primeval, a new Netflix show to hit the 2025 TV schedule. Kitsch took a moment to look at his career and admitted maybe it’s time to step into something a little lighter.

For his role as Isaac Reed on American Primeval — which Rotten Tomatoes viewers have been all over — Taylor Kitsch learned the Shoshone language, CBC reports, to portray a man raised by the tribe in the 19th century around the time of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. That reportedly follows other big moves like opening a sobriety facility for veterans following his role as an opioid addict on Painkiller (which can also be streamed with a Netflix subscription) and moving to Texas while filming Friday Night Lights. Kitsch admitted that he becomes quite committed, saying:

An actor allowing himself to be consumed by the subjects he’s portraying can often bring realism and empathy to a production, and it’s obvious those people and places stick with him. He also reportedly took up wildlife photography after the 2010 film The Bang Bang Club and remained close to the Navy SEALS after portraying an officer on Lone Survivor and The Terminal List. Taylor Kitsch continued:

It certainly sounds challenging — and fulfilling — but it also sounds like a lot for the actor to put himself through. He seemed to admit that, as he said:

Unfortunately for Friday Night Lights fans, that probably doesn’t mean we’ll see him in the reboot of the beloved high school football series. While he did answer some of CinemaBlend’s questions regarding the FNL reboot, Taylor Kitsch said he really has no interest in reprising the role of Tim Riggins to star in the new series. He is, however, possibly open to a guest appearance — maybe one that wouldn’t inspire him to move to Texas again.

We’ll be keeping an eye on Taylor Kitsch’s projects to see if he ever does get around to that rom-com, but for now, the limited series American Primeval can be streamed in full on Netflix.

There’s been quite a bit of buzz about Taylor Kitsch since it was announced that a Friday Night Lights reboot is happening, but meanwhile, the actor who will always be known to some as Dillon football player Tim Riggins has been keeping busy with some other projects on the 2025 TV schedule. American Primeval recently dropped on Netflix’s 2025 calendar starring Kitsch as a guide helping a mother and son survive their quest to California. The series seems to be winning fans over, but is that the reason Kitsch isn’t committing to the FNL reboot?

Critics And Audiences Give Taylor Kitsch’s American Primeval Their Stamp Of Approval

American Primeval began streaming to Netflix subscription holders on Thursday, January 9, and since then it’s accumulated an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter. In addition to Taylor Kitsch, the series stars Betty Gilpin as Sara Rowell and Preston Mota as her son Devin, who are trying to escape the vicious and dangerous Utah Territory in 1857.

Many fans, like the one below, who decided to give the period Western a shot were hooked from the very first episode, posting to X (Twitter):

Other Netflix subscribers followed suit, with many noting how brutal the six-part series is, as well as how emotional they feel over the events that play out. Other audience reactions from X include:

• American Primeval on Netflix with Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin is awesome! It’s the best thing they both have ever done. It reminded me a lot of 1883 and The English. Journeying through Utah in the old west. One of the best series Netflix has made! – JiffSchwazz
• American Primeval is by some distance the best thing I've seen on Netflix in ages. – trivet1806
• You guys have got to watch American Primeval on Netflix. That shit is so well done. Like masterpiece done. – PINELANDGHOSTX
• American Primeval on Netflix is brilliant!! It’s like Deadwood meets Yellowstone meets The Revenant. Love it!!! Strange that it’s had very little media. Best thing I’ve watched for ages. – paulbellis
• Taylor Kitsch is so fucking good in American Primeval. Everyone is, but Taylor…damn. – daytime_GG
• This show is so brutally intense and so good - American west of the 1860’s meets Squid Game – TheRealMarkLevy

It’s easy to see how the series could get an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score with audience members posting reactions like this to social media. Critics, however, were slightly less taken by American Primeval, rating it an accumulated 59%. Aramide Tinubu of Variety calls it a “truly immersive experience,” writing:

However, other critics like Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.com say the plot takes a backseat to gratuitous violence just for the sake of shock value. In Jones’ words:

Duly noted. Viewers, be prepared for all of that if you choose to hit Play on this show. My next question is, will Taylor Kitsch be too busy with this series to devote more time to Friday Night Lights?

Will American Primeval Keep Taylor Kitsch From Friday Night Lights Reboot?

Despite the positive reception the new Netflix show has received, it’s unlikely that’s the main reason Taylor Kitsch seemed to only be considering a small role on the upcoming Friday Night Lights reboot. American Primeval was only ordered as a limited series, and there’s no indication that a second season is coming. Even if there were a Season 2, it’s possible Kitsch wouldn’t even return.

If anything, it would more likely be his commitments to The Terminal List that would cause a scheduling conflict. The action series (available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription) that also stars Chris Pratt, Constance Wu and Riley Keough was renewed for a second season back in 2023, and a prequel series centered around Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards was ordered.

We’ll have to see if the actor pops up anywhere else, but in the meantime, all six episodes of American Primeval are streaming on Netflix.

When news broke the other day Friday Night Lights would be making a comeback and following a new team in Texas dealing with the after effects of a hurricane, my brain scrambled in all directions. Did this mean a totally new remake or a spinoff of sorts? Would the OG cast be involved in any capacity? Would it give the same vibe and feel as the original series, which ran on NBC and then DirecTV for its final seasons? Taylor Kitsch has thankfully answered some of these questions for me, but I’d like to push back a little bit on his own ideas about what's coming. Hear me out.

Kitsch recently spoke to Sirius XM about the Friday Night Lights reimagining and as it turns out, the show has reached out to see if he would like to be involved. Amidst this, there's both good and bad news, depending on your personal bandwidth when it comes to Tim Riggins as a character.

The actor said to the radio outlet he’s “been asked,” also telling the outlet he’d “maybe do something for an episode.” He then ended the comment with “we’ll leave it at that” before actually giving us a few more tidbits about how he feels about the new series, which is bringing back some OG creators like Peter Berg.

How Taylor Kitsch Thinks He Should Come Back To FNL (And What I Think Should Really Happen)

While I’m certainly happy about the thought of getting an update on a character I adored watching and was always rooting for during the original show’s run, it sounds like we wouldn’t be getting Tim Riggins in a major capacity given the new storyline (the bad news). However, per Kitsch, there’s an easy way to bring him on board and have him pop in without having him become a regular on the show:

Listen, I know Riggins helped out Coach during Season 4 and could conceivably have ended up as a coach himself, but to me, the young jock's entire story arc was overcoming his family odds and learning to have healthier relationships. I never really saw him going down the same path Billy did as a coach. To me learning to be reliable and show up for the team was what Tim needed to thrive rather than just survive. Football gave him structure, but his arc was more one of growing out of one’s circumstances and finding a place (Texas) to call home.

On that note, a lot of fans would have liked to have seen him “officially” end up with Tyra (Adrianne Palicki). While I’m not sure that relationship would have worked out over the long haul, I’d like to think that Tim’s future would have been to be a good father figure like he was to neighbor kid Bo Miller early on in the series. Maybe he should pop in as a parent of a kid on the high school team or even on an opposing high school team?

I guess what I’m saying is I don’t care about how big the role is, but I’d like to see what happened to Tim Riggins between the end of the show and now. Even if it's only one or two episodes, I think seeing him as a coach on the field for eight seconds wouldn’t accomplish what I would want as a viewer, and I’m not sure the coach bit even makes the most sense for his character. Being a parent of a teenager or some other slightly larger role could accomplish that, however, if it was done well.

Don’t Get Me Wrong, It’s Great Taylor Kitsch Would Be Willing To Appear

Kitsch has been really active on the TV scene still in the time since Friday Night Lights officially ended back in 2011. He’s in the popular series The Terminal List, which has Season 2 on the way. He had a big role in one of the seasons of True Detective and more recently has appeared in TV miniseries like Waco and Painkiller. I wish he’d be open to a larger role in the reboot, but I’d be happy to see him appear in general and (the good news) he does seem interested in the prospect.

As he even noted, it’s possible that Kitsch could come back and not play a character related to the original at all, as he told Sirius XM he’d be open to doing both Riggins or a new role.

I suppose we should be grateful if he makes time between his work on The Terminal List and other big gigs coming to the 2025 TV schedule to sign on for a remake of the show that made him a household name. I am grateful for whatever we get, particularly given Kyle Chandler also recently admitted he hasn’t been contacted… yet. This is semi surprising given Berg has said he’d like both back for an FNL movie in the past. We’ll likely hear more in the coming months, however.

For now, I’m just saying Tim Riggins as maybe not dad of the year, but a dad who’s really putting the effort in? Where do I sign up?

Alright sports fans, get excited because a Friday Night Lights reboot is officially in the works. After hearing about potential FNL reboots for years, I'm hopeful this one will really get off the ground this time and be available to stream with a Peacock subscription. Honestly, I’m feeling great about its chances too, because it’s been confirmed that this new series is being worked on by the OG show’s showrunner, director and producer. However, there’s one original Friday Night Lights cast member I need to see added to this roster, and that guy is Taylor Kitsch.

Friday Night Lights Has Landed At Peacock With Its Original Creative Team

It would appear that Peacock is aiming for a touchdown with this new Friday Night Lights show. That’s because, according to Deadline, the drama's original showrunner Jason Katims, original director Peter Berg and the original producer Brian Grazer are all on board to executive produce the project.

They’ll be working with Kristen Zolner for Imagine Entertainment and Universal Television to make the show, which is also encouraging since the OG series aired on NBC back in the early 2000s.

While this is a tall order, seeing as Friday Night Lights is one of the best sports movies and shows, it seems like it’s in good hands. Plus, I’m here for the plot too, as the report revealed the following details about this reboot’s story:

So, it sounds like this reboot will tell a new story about a new team with a new coach. Seeing as the first season of the early 2000s series and the movie focuses on a team coming back from their star quarterback getting injured, it’s clear that this new story that begins with a devastating natural disaster will be quite different from its predecessors.

At the moment it’s unclear if it will feature all new characters, all returning characters or both. However, no matter what happens, I want Taylor Kitsch to be involved!

Now, I’m Hoping Taylor Kitsch Comes Back Too

When you look back at Taylor Kitsch’s best projects, two of them came from Peter Berg. First of all, his breakout role was Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights. Then, almost two decades later, he worked with the director again on Netflix’s Painkiller.

I spoke to Berg when that Netflix series came out, and he told me he loved seeing Kitsch “shed the Tim Riggins legacy” with that true crime show. It truly did show off his range and growth as an actor, and it was great to see a project made by these two long-time collaborators.

Now, I’d like to see them come back together for this Friday Night Lights reboot.

Think about it, it’d be a great way to show off Kitsch’s range again, as they could cast him as this new coach – a character who could potentially be totally different from the the football player he portrayed all those years ago.

Or, if he returns as Tim Riggins, it’d give him the opportunity to play a grown-up version of his beloved character, and it’d offer a deep connection between the first series and this new one.

Either way, I think it’d be wonderful to see Taylor Kitsch back in the world of Texas football. Plus, considering his history with the show’s director, I think it’d be a natural fit to cast him in this reboot.

Overall, there’s a lot to be excited about with this Friday Night Lights show that’s being made for Peacock. Here’s hoping it really works out this time and that my dreams of Taylor Kitsch returning come true! Now, while we wait for more updates about this exciting new series, I’ll be going back to stream its NBC predecessor with a Netflix subscription.

Actors make good movies and actors make bad movies. It’s just the law of averages and part of the game. However, sometimes an actor shows up in a movie so repugnant that it becomes a detriment to their career or ruins it entirely. One day you’re winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the next you’re taking home some Razzies.

Come with us as we break down 32 movies that ruined an actor’s career and what made them so bad. The perennial A-listers who ran out of steam and up-and-comers whose rise to fame was cut short on this list are wild, to say the least.

The Love Guru (Mike Myers)

Mike Myers had a stellar career on Saturday Night Live and was one of the funniest movie stars of the latter part of the 20th century thanks to ‘90s comedy movies like Wayne’s World and Austin Powers franchises, but the 2000s weren’t as kind to the comedian. After a string of duds, Myers starred in 2008’s The Love Guru, a “comedy” so bad, so tasteless, and so unfunny that Myers never really rebounded outside of voice roles.

Showgirls (Elizabeth Berkley)

Elizabeth Berkley seemed like a star on the rise after ending her run on Saved by the Bell in the early ‘90s, but that all came crashing down after taking the lead role in Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama, Showgirls. Sure, the movie about a young drifter finding her place in Las Vegas’ showgirl scene is considered a cult classic years later, but there’s a reason we didn’t see too much of Berkley on the big screen after this one.

Batman & Robin (Alicia Silverstone)

Alicia Silverstone was one of the “it” girls of ‘90s cinema thanks to iconic performances in the likes of Clueless, The Crush, and all those Aerosmith videos, so it only seemed natural for her to land one of the lead roles in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately for Silverstone, and everyone else involved, the movie was abysmal and resulted in a complete reboot of the franchise, one that wouldn’t arrive until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins debuted nearly a decade later.

The Master Of Disguise (Dana Carvey)

Both before and after his SNL run, Dana Carvey appeared in classics like This Is Spinal Tap and Wayne’s World. That success would run dry with the 2002 release of The Master of Disguise, a movie that showcased Carvey’s zany characters, but not much else. 

Rollerball (Chris Klein)

Remember when Chris Klein seemed like a star in the making after great performances in Election and American Pie? Well, that was all ruined with the 2002 release of Rollerball, a remake of a better and more cohesive ‘70s movie of the same name. 

Norbit (Eddie Murphy)

Some of Eddie Murphy’s best movies were those where he played multiple characters, but Norbit is no Coming to America or The Nutty Professor. This 2007 comedy saw Murphy play an unhappily married couple and was received so poorly that people are still not convinced it didn't cost him an Oscar for his Dreamgirls performance.

Superman Returns (Brandon Routh)

It’s not like Brandon Routh never acted again after playing the titular hero in Superman Returns, but it’s safe to say his career never reached great heights after the 2006 movie either. He was great as Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Routh hasn’t had a remarkable go of it after having such a grand start.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Ahmed Best)

It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace was so bad. It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Jar Jar Binks has become one of the most detested characters in the galaxy far, far away. And it’s not Ahmed Best’s fault his career was ruined by the 1999 prequel film. 

In The Cut (Meg Ryan)

Meg Ryan was coming off a string of appearing in some of the best romantic comedies of all time when she took on a more dramatic role in the 2003 thriller, In the Cut. But for some reason, Jane Campion’s thriller about a woman getting wrapped up in a series of murders just didn’t work.

Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)

Battlefield Earth, with all of its Dutch angles, terrible lines, and over-the-top performances was so bad that it canceled out all the goodwill John Travolta earned with Pulp Fiction not even a decade earlier.

Soul Man (C. Thomas Howell)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, and  Red Dawn all made C. Thomas Howell one of the brightest young Hollywood stars in the early-to-mid ‘80s, but then came Soul Man, a movie in which he wore blackface. Howell’s been in scores of movies since, but most are direct-to-video or bargain bin material.

Son Of The Mask (Jamie Kennedy)

A sequel no one wanted, Son of the Mask brought in Jamie Kennedy to try and recapture the energy of Jim Carrey more than a decade earlier. Despite his best efforts, the Malibu’s Most Wanted and Scream star just couldn’t do it (maybe the script is to blame), and he never really rebounded. 

Sahara (Matthew McConaughey)

Though not Matthew McConaughey’s worst movie, Sahara is far from being his best. Released nearly a decade before the Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective star won all kinds of awards during the peak of the “McConaissance,” this 2005 dud was one of the straws that broke the camel’s back.

Abduction (Taylor Lautner)

Remember when Taylor Lautner seemed like one of the biggest stars on the planet and then abruptly disappeared? Well, we probably have Abduction, his 2011 action thriller to blame for that. Though he would have a few movies after the Twilight saga ended the next year, but Grown Ups 2 and The Ridiculous 6 finished off what Abduction started.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch)

John Carter was supposed to be the biggest movie and Taylor Kitsch was going to become the biggest action star, but neither happened after this 2012 box office disaster happened. The Friday Night Lights star would show up some more on the small screen in the years that followed with True Detective Season 2 and the bonkers Waco limited series.

The Godfather Part III (Sofia Coppola)

Before becoming one of the big filmmakers of her time and crafting movies like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Priscilla, Sofia Coppola began as an actress, appearing in many films by her father, Francis Ford Coppola. But that acting career pretty much came to an end following the release of The Godfather Part III, in which she replaced Winona Ryder and was then torn apart by critics.

Josie And The Pussycats (Rachael Leigh Cook)

In the late ‘90s, Rachael Leigh Cook became a massive star thanks to her take on Laney Boggs in She’s All That. But then came the 2001 adaptation of Josie and the Pussycats, a movie so bad that no one was safe from its fallout outside of Rosario Dawson and Parker Posey.

The Postman (Kevin Costner)

Kevin Costner was on top of the world when he decided to direct and star in The Postman. But unlike Dances with Wolves, which earned him multiple Oscars and a ton of praise, this 1997 sci-fi epic didn’t impress anyone and set the actor back a bit. He’s since rebounded, but it’s not hard to imagine “what if” in this case.

After Earth (Jaden Smith)

With memorable performances in The Pursuit of Happyness and The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith seemed like the next second-generation star to take over Hollywood. But then came After Earth, a forgettable (at best) sci-fi thriller alongside his dad, Will Smith. 

Pinocchio (Roberto Benigni)

For a while there, it seemed like Roberto Benigni couldn’t do anything wrong as both an actor and filmmaker. Well, that all changed with his 2002 adaptation of Pinocchio, specifically the English dub, which earned a stunning 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. He’s only appeared in a handful of movies since, including the 2019 adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale.

The Passion Of The Christ (Jim Caviezel)

Though he’ll always be recognizable thanks to his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel’s career was never the same after this historic film. He’s still making movies, but not on the same level as The Thin Red Line, The Rock, or G.I. Jane, though his run on Person of Interest was impressive.

Cutthroat Island (Matthew Modine)

A few years before the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise took the pirate genre to new heights, Matthew Modine starred in 1995’s Cutthroat Island, a movie that would prove to be detrimental to his career for years to come. Modine would later find success again after working on shows like Weeds and Stranger Things, but it would take many years to get there.

Catwoman (Halle Berry)

Halle Berry was an Oscar-winning actress when she took on the lead role in Catwoman, which is often considered one of the worst superhero movies of all time. And while it would take a few years for the stink to wash off, Berry did have some fun with the experience and even accepted her own Razzy.

The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp)

The Lone Ranger somehow received an Oscar nomination, which doesn’t make sense considering it stopped Armie Hammer from becoming a massive action star and cooled off Johnny Depp’s incredible box office run. Aside from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Depp hasn’t had a whole lot of success since.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Sean Connery)

Sean Connery famously retired from acting after appearing in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a shame because the late James Bond actor’s swan song was out of tune and off-key, to say the least. This abysmal book-to-screen adaptation of one of the best graphic novels of the 20th century is often forgotten 20-plus years after its release, and it’s probably for the better.

Welcome To Mooseport (Gene Hackman)

Gene Hackman has had one of the best careers in Hollywood history, but that all came to an end after the release of Welcome to Mooseport. Hackman, who seems to be living a quiet and reclusive life these days, hasn’t been on screen since this 2004 comedy starring Ray Romano. Though not the worst movie ever made, this box office and critical dud didn’t do anyone any favors.

Howard The Duck (Lea Thompson)

An ‘80s movie that has not stood the test of time, Howard the Duck is one of those comic book movies that came out before Hollywood figured things out when it came to the genre. Though Robin Williams jumped ship and salvaged his career, Lea Thompson wasn’t as lucky and went through a tough stage before finally rebounding.

Freddy Got Fingered (Tom Green)

Freddy Got Fingered was never supposed to be a good movie, but Tom Green’s bonkers big-screen gross-fest was enough to turn people off to the idea of the MTV personality and prankster ever getting a large sum of cash ever again. Those who have seen it know why, and those who haven’t should be warned.

Chairman Of The Board (Carrot Top)

Carrot Top is still making the rounds as a prop comedian, but the eccentric showman has not been given the lead role in a movie since the disaster of Chairman of the Board. Forgettable even by ‘90s standards, this movie was made for an audience of one: its star.

Boat Trip (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Cuba Gooding Jr. in the ‘90s: Boyz n the Hood, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets. Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000s: Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Boat Trip. That last film was tasteless, awkward, and just about killed the Oscar winner’s career.

Corky Ramano (Chris Katan)

Though not everyone from SNL can become a Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, or Bill Murray, it at least seemed like Chris Katan would find some success outside of Studio 8H. However, he had to go make Corky Ramano, which is probably the worst comedy to come from the group.

The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin)

The Great Dictator is a great movie, and perhaps one of the best of Charlie Chaplin’s career. However, it now has a legacy of poking fun at Adolf Hitler during a time in which the Nazi leader was systematically exterminating tens of millions of innocent souls across the Atlantic.

There was a time in the mid-to-late 2000s when it seemed like Taylor Kitsch was everywhere, as if it were every major Hollywood studio’s goal to make him the next big movie star. He showed up in everything from teen horror movies like The Covenant, a small role in the John Tucker Must Die cast, played fan-favorite Marvel character Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and led an action-packed thriller based on the board game Battleship.

These days, Kitsch is not necessarily opening blockbusters. Yet, as his frequent collaborator Peter Berg will vouch for, he has grown into an actor you can depend on to give a grounded, adept, and riveting performance, as seen in the very impressive filmography he has created for himself. Let’s go over these highlights in our guide for how to watch the best Taylor Kitsch movies and TV shows.

American Primeval (2025)

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Better Gilpin

What it's about: The dawn of the American West, as seen from various viewpoints.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: From creator Mark L. Smith and director Peter Berg, the new Netflix TV show American Primeval is an intriguing, six-part look at a revolutionary time in American history through a gritty, brutal lens.

How to watch American Primeval

• Stream American Primeval on Netflix

Painkiller (2023)

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: Under the direction of Richard Sackler, Purdue Pharmaceuticals develops and distributes a powerful pain medication called Oxycontin, which proves to have a highly addictive, fatal, and devastating effect on millions of people.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: From director and executive producer Peter Berg (who has a personal connection to Oxycontin), Painkiller is a fictionalized, six-episode Netflix original limited series dramatizing Purdue’s contribution to the opioid epidemic as told from multiple perspectives.

How to watch Painkiller

• Stream Painkiller on Netflix

Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton

What it's about: A dedicated head coach contends with his own personal struggles while leading his top-ranking high school football team – the pride of his Texas town – to greatness.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Years before working together on Painkiller, Taylor Kitsch collaborated with executive producer Peter Berg as part of the Friday Night Lights cast (in the role of Dillon Panthers’ fullback/running back Tim Riggins) in this hit series based on a movie of the same name that Berg also directed in 2004.

How to watch Friday Night Lights

• Buy Friday Night Lights on Amazon
• Buy Friday Night Lights on Blu-ray on Amazon

Lone Survivor (2013)

Director: Peter Berg

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster

What it's about: A Navy SEAL and his crew set out to capture a wanted Taliban leader dead or alive, only to come at odds with multiple armed adversaries in a harrowing fight for their lives in 2005 Afghanistan.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Kitsch plays real-life, deceased United States Navy SEAL officer Michael Murphy in Lone Survivor – a film that features a brutal depiction of war based on the tragic experience of Marcus Luttrell, who lost the rest of his unit during Operation Red Wings.

How to watch Lone Survivor

• Rent or buy Lone Survivor on Amazon
• Buy Lone Survivor on Blu-ray on Amazon

Snakes On A Plane (2006)

Director: David R. Ellis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Nathan Phillips, Byron Lawson

What it's about: An FBI agent accompanies a murder witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles where he is meant to testify against a notorious gangster – unaware that said criminal has orchestrated an attack on their plane by releasing a swarm of venomous snakes on the passengers.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch appears in the deliciously campy, cult-favorite horror-comedy Snakes on a Plane as a man who, along with his girlfriend (played by Samantha McLeod), falls prey to slithering enemies while 30,000 feet above ground.

How to watch Snakes on a Plane

• Stream Snakes on a Plane on Peacock
• Rent or buy Snakes On A Plane on Amazon
• Buy Snakes on a Plane on Blu-ray on Amazon

John Carter (2012)

Director: Andrew Stanton

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins

What it's about: A former Civil War veteran is mysteriously transported to a distant planet where he is forced to compete in barbaric challenges and comes to the aid of a desperate royal figure.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch’s first major leading role was the title hero from Disney’s John Carter – an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “A Princess of Mars,” which was a critical and commercial failure upon release but is seen as an underrated epic by many today.

How to watch John Carter

• Stream John Carter on Disney+
• Rent or buy John Carter on Amazon
• Buy John Carter on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Grand Seduction (2013)

Director: Don McKellar

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: To secure a contract to establish a factory in his struggling fishing village, an elder resident enlists fellow citizens to help convince a young, unwitting physician to take up a permanent residence in the town.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Following a run of disappointing big-budget projects, Taylor Kitsch put his attention toward smaller-scale films, such as The Grand Seduction – a funny and charming English-language update of the French-Canadian satire, La Grande Séduction.

How to watch The Grand Seduction

• Stream The Grand Seduction on Tubi
• Stream The Grand Seduction on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy The Grand Seduction on Amazon
• Buy The Grand Seduction on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Normal Heart (2014)

Director: Ryan Murphy

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: A group of gay activists ally with medical practitioners to raise awareness of the New York AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a fictional character inspired by real-life gay rights activist Paul Graham Popham, in HBO's Emmy-winning adaptation of Larry Kramer’s Tony-winning, semi-autobiographical play, The Normal Heart.

How to watch The Normal Heart

• Stream The Normal Heart on Max
• Rent or buy The Normal Heart on Amazon
• Buy The Normal Heart on Blu-ray on Amazon

Only The Brave (2017)

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Josh Brolin, Miles Teller

What it's about: A firefighter crew is put to the ultimate test when a historic forest fire threatens to burn their to town the ground in 2013 Arizona.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch plays real-life firefighter Christopher MacKenzie in Only the Brave — a thrilling and inspiring account of the development and sacrificial heroism of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

How to watch Only the Brave

• Stream Only the Brave on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Only the Brave on Amazon
• Buy Only the Brave on Blu-ray on Amazon

Waco (2018)

Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: A fanatical religious group violently resists ATF suspicions, causing the FBI to initiate a 51-day siege on the cult’s Texas compound in 1993.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Taylor Kitsch gives one of his most acclaimed performances as leader of the Branch-Davidians, David Koresh, in Drew and John Erick Dowdle’s shocking, six-episode true crime limited series, Waco, which would later spawn a follow-up series called Waco: The Aftermath in 2023.

How to watch Waco

• Stream Waco on Paramount+
• Buy Waco on Amazon

21 Bridges (2019)

Director: Brian Kirk

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Taylor Kitsch, Stephan James

What it's about: A disgraced New York detective goes to desperate measures to capture a pair of notorious criminals by sealing off every exit from Manhattan.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Taylor Kitsch would turn up the dark to take on another villainous role in 21 Bridges – a high-concept action thriller also produced by Boseman, alongside his Avengers: Infinity and Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo.

How to watch 21 Bridges

• Rent or buy 21 Bridges on Amazon
• Buy 21 Bridges on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Defeated (2020)

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Logan Marshall-Green

What it's about: An American cop establishes a much-needed law enforcement unit in post-World War II Berlin, where he must also contend with a ruthless gangster.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch TV shows: Taylor Kitsch makes up for his bad behavior in 21 Bridges by playing someone on the right of the law as the lead of The Defeated – an intriguing historical limited series original produced for German television before being acquired by Netflix.

How to watch The Defeated

• Stream The Defeated on Netflix

The Terminal List (2022)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch

What it's about: After surviving a deadly ambush, a traumatized former Navy SEAL begins to suspect he is targeted by a conspiracy that threatens him and his loved ones.

Why it is one of the best Taylor Kitsch movies: Nearly a decade after playing a Navy SEAL in Lone Survivor, Taylor Kitsch plays yet another named Ben Edwards, who will reportedly be the focus of a prequel spin-off to The Terminal List – Amazon Prime’s hit action TV show based on a series of novels by Jack Carr.

How to watch The Terminal List

• Stream The Terminal List on Amazon Prime

If you still cannot get enough of Taylor Kitsch after this binge, keep an eye out for his upcoming projects. He told Variety in 2018 that he is developing a movie of his own that would be his feature-length debut as a writer and director.

While Friday Night Lights was not Taylor Kitsch’s first big job, it’s safe to say it was his breakout role, and to this day it’s one of the projects he’s best known for. Back in 2006, he was cast as Tim Riggins in Peter Berg’s show based on the film of the same name, and now the two creatives have reunited, 17 years later for Netflix’s Painkiller. While discussing this new drama, Berg opened up about seeing Kitsch grow as an actor over the course of nearly two decades, and he explained to CinemaBlend why he’s loved seeing him “shed the Tim Riggins legacy.” 

Both Friday Night Lights and Kitsch’s performance as Tim were critically acclaimed and wildly popular. The tortured football player was a constant among the Dillon Panthers. While he wasn’t a regular during the show’s final season, Tim Riggins still played an important part in the story, and to this day the actor behind him is known for the role. However, Berg noted that after the NBC drama came to an end, The Terminal List star was determined to not play a version of Tim Riggins over and over again. During the Painkiller junket, the director spoke to me about his relationship with the actor, and how he’s loved seeing him grow up and past the Dillon Panthers running back. He said:

After Friday Night Lights, Kitsch starred in John Carter and Battleship in 2012. Since then, he collaborated with Berg again on the 2013 film Lone Survivor, starred in a season of True Detective and worked alongside Chris Pratt in The Terminal List, plus he has his own show on the way that is within the Terminal List world. His most recent project on the 2023 TV schedule though is Painkiller – a fictionalized drama about the rise and consequences of OxyContin – which allowed Berg to collaborate with him again. 

The creator of the NBC football drama explained that he was excited to work with Kitsch on the Netflix drama. Speaking candidly, Peter Berg noted that the actor, like the families in the disclaimers of Painkiller, has had family members who struggled with OxyContin addiction. When it came to the Friday Night Lights star’s performance in the Netflix drama as Glen, a man who is prescribed and becomes addicted to Oxy, the director explained that his personal connection and skill as an actor really made for an “outstanding” performance. 

Taylor Kitsch does give a moving and heart-wrenching performance in Painkiller as a man who is struggling with addiction to this drug. He plays one part in the greater story about those who have been impacted by OxyContin addiction and the fight to bring down Purdue Pharma and those selling the drug. While both Friday Night Lights and Painkiller are dramas, this Netflix series shows just how much Kitsch has grown since his breakout role as Tim Riggins. 

To throw it back, and see where Berg and Kitsch’s partnership started, you can stream Friday Night Lights with a Hulu subscription. If you are looking to see their latest collaboration, you can watch Painkiller with a Netflix subscription. 

Minor spoilers for Netflix’s Painkiller are ahead. If you haven’t watched the limited series, you can stream it with a Netflix subscription.  

Netflix’s drama Painkiller, which tells the story of the rise and consequences of OxyContin, does not hold back from showing the pleasure and deep pain that comes with opioid addiction. While the show is a book-to-screen adaption of a New Yorker article and a book of the same name, the show's director Pete Berg also drew on personal experience to better portray the opioid struggle. In an exclusive interview with ReelBlend, he explained what it feels like to take Oxy, and how it helped them figure out how to film said feeling.

Pete Berg candidly explained that he has used OxyContin recreationally once while speaking with Sean O’Connell and Kevin McCarthy on CinemaBlend’s podcast ReelBlend. Opening up about what it felt like, he said: 

He went on to explain that it’s “undeniable” that OxyContin works for people who are running from pain, and the show directly addresses that by having Richard Sackler, the man who got the drug on the market, talk about how if people want to get away from pain they should “run toward pleasure.” While it might feel good for a second, the consequences are dire, as the show depicts, and Berg explained:

Speaking back on his own experiences, the Friday Night Lights creator said he has also tried cocaine once, and he told his son that “it’s the greatest drug in the world.” However, he immediately knew it wasn’t worth doing again because:

This journey is what’s shown in Painkiller, specifically through Taylor Kitsch’s character Glen. While we hear from families who have lost loved ones to OxyContin addiction in the disclaimers, and we see the creative way Berg depicted Richard Sackler possibly realizing the pain he's caused, Kitsch's character is the one that shows the timeline of what happens when someone struggles with Oxy addiction. He gets injured early in the series, is prescribed the drug by his doctor, and subsequently becomes addicted to it. The director said:

When it came to visualizing this spiral in the show, Pete Berg used a scene from Episode 5 as an example. In the sequence, it showed the juxtaposition of the highest of highs and lowest of lows of people using OxyContin, the Lone Survivor director went into more detail, saying:

As Berg explained his own experiences using drugs like OxyContin and cocaine, he noted how it helped them show the spiral of drug addiction. He also explained what he hopes the audience takes away from seeing Painkiller. Speaking to these takeaways, he said he wants audiences to think twice about what they’re prescribed and make sure they take care of their loved ones and check in on them, especially when they’re in a situation where they’ve been prescribed a drug like OxyContin. 

Painkiller is the latest limited drama to drop on the 2023 TV schedule, and you can stream it right now on Netflix. 

With his roles in the Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy franchises coming to a presumed end, Chris Pratt’s schedule looked like it was about to become a lot clearer. That no longer seems to be the case, as his Prime Video series The Terminal List appears to have been renewed for Season 2. While we’re not sure if this means we’ll be seeing James Reese on the 2023 TV schedule, it looks like the deal to continue adapting author Jack Carr’s military action franchise comes with an extra sweetener. That is because Taylor Kitsch’s character is also being tapped as the focus of a new prequel series.

Sources speaking to Deadline have reportedly confirmed that The Terminal List is finally moving forward with Season 2. This comes after months of fans waiting to learn whether Pratt’s Lieutenant Commander James Reece would return, after Season 1’s impressive performance proved that an audience was indeed curious about his character's exploits.

Now, it looks like Reece and his squadmate Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) are gearing up for more missions. As for the untitled Kitsch-centric prequel, fans of The Terminal List can rest assured that Chris Pratt’s protagonist will be popping up in that series as well. Also on tap to make their debut is, allegedly, fellow SEAL Raife Hastings; who was referenced in the Season 1 finale of the Prime Video drama. 

Hastings is a character that has not yet been cast or seen on screen, but he has a  rather important connection to The Terminal List. That is because he is featured in the next Jack Carr book, 2019’s True Believer, as well as the James Reece series at large, meaning Raife Hastings is another important building block to the future. 

With True Believer confirmed to be The Terminal List’s Season 2 source material, it wouldn’t be that shocking if an official confirmation of the news above could include casting for Raife Hastings. That might even be the reason why, at this moment, this news is not officially confirmed by Amazon Studios. A plan so ambitious would seem all the more real when announced with such details included.

The passion behind The Terminal List has been worn on its sleeve, right down to Chris Pratt’s original pitch video that sold the project. Seeing the opportunity for Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, and the rest of the crew behind the first season to continue mining that appreciation is only a good thing, especially in a world where the cancellation picture has been rather brutal. That, and with Jack Ryan ending its run after Season 4, there’s going to be a little more room in the Prime Video ecosystem for another “elevated espionage series.” 

No official confirmation of The Terminal List’s future plans and strategies have been confirmed, so we’ll have to keep our eyes and ears peeled for further updates. In the meantime, you can enjoy Season 1 in its entirety, with a Prime Video subscription. 

Have you ever watched a classic early-2000s movie and thought to yourself, “What in the world happened to that early-2000s actor?”

John Tucker Must Die (2006) is the perfect example of a movie that checks all the teen rom-com boxes. Dorky girl who’s actually hot? Check. Love triangle? Check. Varsity basketball team full of men that look way too old to be in high school? Double check. But, what became of the actors who created this piece of early-2000s culture? 

Luckily for fans of the movie, many of the actors have been pretty busy since the release of John Tucker Must Die. But, like many actors from any era of film and TV, you might have to look a little bit harder to track these stars down.

Here’s what all your favorite John Tucker Must Die actors have been up to lately, including the projects you can catch them in if you’ve been missing them in the nearly 20 years since the film came out.

Brittany Snow (Kate)

Shy outsider-turned-“it girl” Kate was played by Brittany Snow, a teen queen from this era of TV and movies.

Shortly after the release of John Tucker Must Die, Snow starred in Hairspray (2007) as Amber von Tussle, although most fans of the actress would probably first recognize her from her role in the Pitch Perfect movies as Chloe, the bubbly soprano whose vocal nodes turn her into a bass.

In the years since, Snow has starred in ore guested on a number of TV series, including Ben and Kate, Full Circle, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Almost Family, as well as the A24 horror film, X (2022). Upcoming projects for Brittany Snow include Stripped and Big Nickel, both currently in pre-production.

Jesse Metcalfe (John Tucker)

The titular character in John Tucker Must Die was played by Jesse Metcalfe, a teen-heartthrob actor who successfully carried the weight of portraying an unlikable character who still has enough redeeming qualities to make the audience root for him.

After the release of John Tucker Must Die, Metcalfe continued his recurring role on the ABC drama Desperate Housewives, as well as performing in a number of other TV shows, including Chase and Dallas.

In the years following John Tucker Must Die, Metcalfe became a staple of Hallmark romantic TV movies, acting in a number of them, including A Country Wedding, Fairfield Road, and Christmas Next Door. You may also recognize Metcalfe from films like Beyond A Reasonable Doubt and the Dead Rising zombie thriller series.

In the future, Metcalfe will appear in On a Wing and a Prayer, a drama/thriller about a pilot who dies in the middle of a flight; he’ll also star in the third installment of the Fortress franchise, although a release date hasn’t yet been announced.

Sophia Bush (Beth)

In addition to playing Beth, a character regrettably referred to as a “vegan slut” in John Tucker Must Die, Sophia Bush is best known for her nine-year run as Brooke David on the CW drama One Tree Hill.

While still working on One Tree Hill, Bush appeared in the horror film The Hitcher, as well as the comedy, Table for Three.

In the years since the conclusion of One Tree Hill, Sophia Bush has appeared in a number of TV series, including Partners, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Good Sam, and Love, Victor. From 2013 to 2017, she also held a starring role on Chicago P.D. as detective Erin Lindsay, while guest starring as that character on Chicago Med and Chicago Fire.

Bush is also known for her podcasts, including Work In Progress and Drama Queens OTH, the latter of which discusses One Tree Hill plotlines, behind-the-scenes commentary, and even negative set experiences from the stars of the show themselves.

Upcoming appearances for Bush include Junction, a movie about the opioid crisis in America, set to premiere some time in 2023.

Penn Badgley (Scott)

Penn Badgley was the “dorky” little brother in John Tucker Must Die, but he evolved into Joe Goldberg, everyone’s favorite serial killer from the Netflix original series You.

Prior to appearing in the highly successful thriller series, Badgley's best roles were in Easy A (one of my personal favorite teen comedies) alongside Emma Stone, as well as the massively popular series, Gossip Girl, where he starred for six seasons as Dan Humphrey.

While Badgley has been pretty busy with You since its premiere in 2018, you can also catch him in the recent mob-thriller, The Birthday Cake (2021).

Ashanti (Heather)

While Ashanti’s most popular film appearance is probably that of spunky cheerleader Heather in John Tucker Must Die, the actress/singer is a Grammy award-winning artist. If you need an Ashanti fix, she’s starred in many music videos during her long career as an R&B singer, all of which are available to watch on YouTube.

Ashanti appeared in Army Wives as Latasha Monclair, but has also played herself in small roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Dynasty.

Ashanti will appear in the upcoming film, The Plus One, alongside fellow early-2000s movie alum, Jonathan Bennett.

Arielle Kebbel (Carrie)

Right around the same time as John Tucker Must Die, Arielle Kebbel appeared in the mermaid movie, Aquamarine, portraying the role of the local bully, Cecilia. In the years following these successful films, Kebbel has appeared in movies like Daydreamer (2007) and Vampires Suck (2010).

She also appeared in the CW show 90210 as Vanessa Shaw, as well as a number of other television shows including The League, The Vampire Diaries, Midnight, Texas, Ballers, and 9-1-1. She’s also starred in some TV movies for the Hallmark channel, much like fellow John Tucker Must Die star Jesse Metcalfe.

In 2022, Kebbel will star in the film, Site, a horror movie about an abandoned government test site.

Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Lori)

Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, known at the time as Jenny McCarthy, played the role of Kate’s free-spirited mom, Lori, in John Tucker Must Die. In the years since the film’s release, McCarthy has starred in shows like Tripping the Rift, In the Motherhood, Two and a Half Men, and Return of the Mac.

Fans of Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg can currently find her on The Masked Singer, where she serves as a panelist on the popular celebrity singing competition.

Taylor Kitsch (Justin)

After playing the minor role of Justin in John Tucker Must Die, Taylor Kitsch went on to originate the role of Tim Riggins in the series Friday Night Lights (which might be rebooted).

In the years since Friday Night Lights, Kitsch has appeared in movies such as John Carter (2012), Lone Survivor (2013), and the recently released Amazon series, The Terminal List. More of Kitsch’s TV work includes a lead role on the anthology series, True Detective, as well as the lead in the miniseries, Waco.

In 2022, Kitsch will appear in the new TV miniseries Painkiller, a Netflix drama about the opioid crisis.

Patricia Drake (Coach Williams)

Patricia Drake’s portrayal of the strict cheerleading coach in John Tucker Must Die is just one credit in this actor’s lengthy filmography. 

Following John Tucker Must Die, Drake appeared in the TV series The Guard, Class of the Titans, and Being Ian. She’s also done a fair amount of voice work for Barbie-related projects, as well as the 2018 Polly Pocket series.

Most recently, Drake was seen in Mike Flanagan’s horror series, Midnight Mass. She’ll appear in the next Mike Flanagan work, The Midnight Club, as well, which is set to premiere some time in 2022.

Terrell J. Ramsey (Tommy)

Known by the name Fatso-Fasano at the time of John Tucker Must Die, actor Terrell J. Ramsey now goes by his real name.

Ramsey is known for the TV series Weeds, but has had a number of smaller roles, including stints on The Mentalist, Entourage, Harry’s Law, and Kidding. In 2022, Ramsey will star in Cheddy Ace, a comedy about a man and his nephews working to repay a debt to a local gang.

To relive the masterpiece that is John Tucker Must Die, you can rent or buy the movie on Amazon. 

It's time for a 10-year reunion. It's hard to believe that a full decade has passed since NBC's acclaimed football drama series, Friday Night Lights, left the air. Starring Kyle Chandler in the Emmy-winning role of Coach Eric Taylor, this television adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's best-selling non-fiction book, which also inspired the 2004 film, featured acclaimed performances from Connie Britton and Aimee Teegarden. It also launched the careers of future big-league stars like Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Minka Kelly, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, and Jurnee Smollett. With its 10-year anniversary crossed, let's see what Friday Night Lights' star-studded cast is doing now.

Kyle Chandler (Eric Taylor)

As Eric Taylor, the head coach of the Dillon Panthers, Kyle Chandler won an Emmy playing the protagonist of NBC's Friday Night Lights. Prior to his time on this show, Chandler starred in Early Edition, Homefront, What About Joan?, and The Lyon's Den. Following his time on Friday Night Lights, Chandler gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Bloodline. He was also Emmy-nominated for his guest turn in Grey's Anatomy. His other TV credits include Catch-22, Robot Chicken, and King of the Hill.

Away from TV, Kyle Chandler played Hamilton Jordan in Argo. He was also seen in Super 8, The Wolf of Wall Street, Manchester by the Sea, King Kong, Game Night, First Man, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Additionally, the actor appeared in The Kingdom, The Spectacular Now, Zero Dark Thirty, Carol, and The Midnight Sky. Most recently, Chandler starred in Godzilla vs. Kong. Currently, he's filming Slumberland.

Connie Britton (Tami Taylor)

In the role of Tami Taylor, a guidance counselor at Dillon High and the wife of Eric Taylor, Connie Britton gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Friday Night Lights. Away from this series, Britton gave an Emmy-nominated performance as Rayna Jaymes in Nashville. She also received an Emmy nomination for her work in American Horror Story. Additionally, Britton starred in 9-1-1, Dirty John, and Spin City.

Away from television, Connie Britton appeared in Friday Night Lights (2004), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Bombshell, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The To Do List, This Is Where I Leave You, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), and Beatriz at Dinner. Most recently, Britton was seen in Promising Young Woman. She was also heard in Pandemica. Next, Britton will appear in Joe Bell and The White Lotus.

Aimee Teegarden (Julie Taylor)

Playing the part of Julie Taylor, the eldest Taylor daughter, Aimee Teegarden is a liberal-minded character in Friday Night Lights. Following her time in this show, Teegarden starred in the short-lived Star-Crossed, as well as Notorious. Her other television credits include The Ranch, 90210, Robot Chicken, CSI, Legend of the Seeker, Hannah Montana, CSI: Miami, and Cold Case. Away from TV, Teegarden starred in Prom and Rings. Her other film credits include Call of the Wild, Love and Honor, A Change of Heart, and For Sale by Owner. The actress also produced and starred in Beneath the Darkness, Beautiful Wave, and Bakery in Brooklyn. Last year, she appeared in Guest House.

Most recently, Aimee Teegarden guest-starred on The Rookie. Next, the actress will be seen in The Road to Galena.

Michael B. Jordan (Vince Howard)

As Vince Howard, a troubled teenager who becomes the football team's leader through Coach Taylor's guidance, Michael B. Jordan played a primary part on Friday Night Lights for the show's final two seasons. Discovering his breakout role in The Wire, Jordan found fame after Friday Night Lights with his star performances in Chronicle, Fruitvale Station, Just Mercy (which he produced), and the Creed movies. The actor also stole the show as Erik Killmonger in Marvel's Black Panther. His other film credits include That Awkward Moment, Fantastic Four (2015), Red Tails, Hardball, and Black and White. Additionally, Jordan can be seen in All My Children, Parenthood, and Raising Dion.

Most recently, Michael B. Jordan produced and starred in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse. The actor also lent his voice for Love, Death & Robots. Next, he'll be heard in What If. Currently, Jordan is filming a role in Denzel Washington's A Journal for Jordan. He'll also expected to star in Danny Boyle's Methuselah. Additionally, Jordan reprises his titular role in Creed III, which serves as the actor's directorial debut.

Jesse Plemons (Landry Clarke)

In the role of Landry Clarke, a well-studied student-turned-football standout, Jesse Plemons plays a transformative character in Friday Night Lights. Shortly after his time in this show, Plemons played Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad, which is a role that he reprised in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. He also received an Emmy nomination for playing Ed Blumquist in Fargo Season 2. Furthermore, Plemons received another Emmy nomination for his performance in Black Mirror. Plemons' other TV credits include Olive Kitteridge and Drunk History.

Away from television, Jesse Plemons starred in Other People. He also appeared in The Irishman, Game Night, Vice, Bridge of Spies, Black Mass, The Master, Observe and Report, Varsity Blues, and The Post. Last year, Plemons starred in I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. Most recently, Plemons appeared in Judas and the Black Messiah. Next, he'll be seen in Jungle Cruise, Antlers, and The Power of the Dog. Currently, Plemons is filming the lead role in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. He's also signed on for Love and Death.

Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins)

Playing the part of Tim Riggins, the party-loving fullback of the Dillion Panthers, Taylor Kitsch found his first brush with fame in Friday Night Lights. Following this NBC series, Kitsch played the titular role in John Carter and starred in Battleship, Savages, Lone Survivor, The Grand Seduction, and Only the Brave. His other film credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, American Assassin, 21 Bridges, John Tucker Must Die, Snakes on a Plane, and The Covenant. Additionally, Kitsch appeared in HBO's The Normal Heart.

Away from film, Taylor Kitsch played Paul Woodrugh in True Detective Season 2. Later, the actor earned acclaim for portraying David Koresh in Waco, which Kitsch produced. Most recently, Kitsch starred in Shadowplay. Currently, Kitsch is filming Amazon Prime's The Terminal List. Additionally, he's signed on to star in Neill Blomkamp's Inferno.

Jurnee Smollett (Jess Merriweather)

As Jess Merriweather, the East Dillon Spirit Squad leader and the former girlfriend of Landry Clarke and Vince Howard, Jurnee Smollett played a primary character in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights. Away from this NBC series, Smollett played Nicole Wright on True Blood. Additionally, the actress was a series regular on Underground, The Defenders, Wanda at Large, and On Our Own. Her other TV credits include Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, Do No Harm, and Full House. She's also heard in Sofia the First.

Away from TV, Jurnee Smollett played Eve Batiste in Eve's Bayou. She also starred in Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. Her other film credits include The Great Debaters, Gridiron Gang, Hands of Stone, Roll Bounce, and One Last Thing. Most recently, Smollett starred in HBO's Lovecraft Country. She also appeared in Birds of Prey and The Twilight Zone. Next, Smollett will be seen in Escape from Spiderhead.

Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity)

In the role of Lyla Garrity, a smart, bubbly cheerleader infatuated with Jason Street, Minka Kelly played a primary character in Friday Night Lights for four seasons. Away from this show, Kelly played Gaby in Parenthood, Valerie Stahl in Almost Human, and Eve French in Charlie Angels (2011). Her other TV credits include What I Like About You, Jane the Virgin, and Drunk History. Currently, Kelly plays the part of Dawn Granger/Dove in HBO Max's Titans. The actress also starred in Hallmark Channel's The Beach House.

Additionally, on the big screen, Minka Kelly starred in The Roommate. She also played Jackie Kennedy in The Butler. Her other notable film credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Kingdom, Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, Just Go With It, Searching for Sonny, and Naked. Next, Kelly will be seen in Lansky, She's in Portland, and Titans Season 3.

Adrianne Palicki (Tyra Collette)

Playing the part of Tyra Collette, a self-thinking woman who doesn't care about football in a sports-obsessed town, Adrianne Palicki is a strong-willed girl in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Palicki plays Barbara "Bobbi" Morse in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Commander Kelly Grayson in The Orville. Her other notable TV credits include Supernatural, Robot Chicken, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and Supernatural.

Away from TV, Adrianne Palicki played Ms. Perkins in John Wick. She also appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, S.W.A.T.: Under Siege, Legion, Elektra Luxx, and Red Dawn (2012). Most recently, Palicki was seen in the short film, Thoughts and Prayers. Next, Palicki is expected to appear in The Orville Season 3, which was picked up by Hulu, and With/In.

Scott Porter (Jason Street)

As Jason Street, a quarterback for the Dillion Panthers, Scott Porter plays a protege player in NBC's Friday Night Lights. Outside of this show, Porter played George Tucker in Hart of Dixie. He also played Blake Calamar in The Good Wife and Nestor Williams in Caprica. His other television credits include Scorpion, Why Women Kill, and As the World Turns. Additionally, the voice actor has a recurring role in Harley Quinn. He can be heard in Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Additionally, Scott Porter's film credits include Bandslam, Dear John, Speed Racer, Music and Lyrics, 10 Years, Prom Night, The Good Guy, and The To Do List. Currently, the television actor plays a main role in Ginny & Georgia. He was also seen in Lucifer.

Gaius Charles (Brian “Smash” Williams)

In the role of Brian "Smash" Williams, the confident running back for the Panthers, Gaius Charles played a joke-loving, career-driven star athlete on Friday Night Lights. Following this show, Charles played Dr. Shane Ross in Grey's Anatomy. He was also a series regular on Taken and Aquarius. Additionally, he had a recurring role in God Friended Me.

Additionally, in film, Gaius Charles can be seen in Salt, The Messenger, The Stanford Prison Experiment, and Takers. Most recently, the television actor provided a recurring role in Roswell, New Mexico. Next, Charles will be seen in Land of Dreams and Alice.

Matt Lauria (Luke Cafferty)

Playing the part of Luke Cafferty, a newcomer to the East Dillion team, Matt Lauria is a hard-working personality in Friday Night Lights. Outside of this series, Lauria played Ryan York in Parenthood, Ryan Wheeler in Kingdom, and Ben Newton in Dickinson.

Additionally, Matt Lauria played main roles in Tell Me a Story, Little Birds, Traitors, and The Chicago Code, as well as a recurring role in Lipstick Jungle. In film, he appears in Miss Bala (2019), Ma (2015), and Shaft (2019). Next, Lauria is seen in CSI: Vegas and To Leslie.

Dora Madison (Becky Sproles)

As Becky Sproles, Luke's girlfriend, Dora Madison, a.k.a. Madison Burge, played a recurring role in Season 4, followed by a lead part in Season 5, in Friday Night Lights. Elsewhere, Madison starred in Chicago Fire. She was also a series regular on What Would Diplo Do? and a recurring player on Dexter, Star-Crossed, and Chicago Med.

On the big screen, meanwhile, Dora Madison starred in Bliss. Also, Madison appeared in Everybody Wants Some!!, The Loft, Song to Song, Divine Access, and Night of the Babysitter, which she also produced. Most recently, Madison appeared in VFW. Next, the actress will be seen in Lapsis.

Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) 

Playing a main role in Friday Night Lights' first three seasons and a recurring role in the final two, Zach Gilford portrayed Matt Saracen, a rising quarterback for the Dillon Panthers. He was also a love interest to Julie Taylor. While Friday Night Lights wasn't Gilford's first screen credit, it was certainly one of the roles that took his career to the next level. Since the NBC drama wrapped up, Zach Gilford has gone on to take on a number of TV roles, the most recent of which include Good Girls and the part of Ben Walker on L.A.'s Finest. 

On the big screen, Zach Gilford appeared in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Last Stand, and played a starring role in The Purge: Anarchy.  Coming up, he's among the cast of the Netflix horror series Midnight Mass.

You can stream Friday Night Lights on Peacock.

Few films from this decade have become as synonymous with failure as Disney’s John Carter. The 2012 sci-fi epic was a costly endeavor, and ended up being one of the studio’s biggest bombs. And the ensuing headlines called Taylor Kitsch’s rising star into question. But now that the dust has settled, the actor has realized that thanks to Netflix, John Carter is finding a new audience that’s willing to give it a chance.

Taylor Kitsch has tried a bit of everything as an actor -- from critically-acclaimed TV dramas to movies that have been almost universally panned. He sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for an introspective conversation about his career highs and lows. When asked about John Carter, he told the magazine he made it clear that he doesn’t regret making the film. And he shared that he thinks the movie is resonating with people, despite the initial backlash:

Taylor Kitsch’s perspective on John Carter, and his other career mishaps, is refreshing. And he spoke to a hard fact that is easy to forget -- that sometimes, we focus more on the narrative about a movie than we do on the movie itself. He went on to tell THR that he has nothing but love for his experience with John Carter:

After he became a breakout star on Friday Night Lights, it seemed like Hollywood was positioning Taylor Kitsch as the next A-list action hero. But after the one-two punch of Battleship and John Carter, he shifted gears and began to focus on character-driven projects, like Lone Survivor, Waco, and his latest film, 21 Bridges. And despite the renewed interest in his sci-fi warrior past, he seems to be focused on the future. He’s ruled out an FNL reunion, so it’s safe to guess he probably wouldn’t want a part in any John Carter reboot, either.

Keep up with everything still headed to the big screen this year with our 2019 movie release date schedule.

One of the breakout stars of NBC's Friday Night Lights could illuminate television again with a potential new series. Taylor Kitsch is attached to a show that would mark his return to HBO via a new drama. So long Tim Riggins. Kitsch's character in the potential series is a drug dealer.

That's right. The Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch is attached to both star in and executive produce the series, per Variety. The show is currently in development and has not received a series order at this point. So, time will tell if it comes to fruition. If it does, here are the plot details you will want to know.

While the show does not have a title yet, Taylor Kitsch's character has a name -- Chris Klug. According to the plot description, Chris has a lot going on. He is a young guy, who is focused on his family. He is also a drug dealer. That all sounds like drama enough when a significant twist ensues.

Chris ends up taking a bad batch of drugs, and it leaves him in a temporary vegetative state. The story will accordingly unfold through flashbacks and Chris' "purgatory" in the present. Chris soon discovers that him taking the batch was not an accident. Rather, someone he is close to tried to kill him with it. Cue dramatic music.

So, there is going to be a mystery at play. What we do not know is why the would-be killer is not going to try something at the hospital. Perhaps that will be the groundwork for further drama. This role sounds like it has a lot of layers to it.

It will not be Taylor Kitsch's first time playing a character with a drug-related history. He starred in the 2012 film Savages in the role of a marijuana grower. Kitsch also has a history with HBO. He previously starred in the second season of HBO's True Detective, as well as the HBO film, The Normal Heart.

This new project for the cabler sounds promising. Taylor Kitsch has that star quality to make this work. A role like Chris Klug's will require charisma. It is something Kitsch always brought to playing Tim Riggins. Even when Tim did unfortunate things, you wanted to forgive him for them. A character such as Chris Klug will require that trait.

If this show gets off the ground, it will have a lot going for it. The plot description puts off Ozark vibes. The series is created by John Barcheski, who worked on the Kurt Sutter series Sons of Anarchy and The Bastard Executioner. Robert Munic would serve as the series' showrunner.

If the show gets picked up, it will mark the latest television role for Taylor Kitsch. He recently starred in Paramount Television's limited series, Waco. After appearing in many movies through the years, he is still keeping the television fires burning.

Stay tuned to find out what becomes of the Taylor Kitsch-led series. Hopefully HBO gives it the green light. In the meantime, many shows are premiering and returning this fall and throughout the midseason. You can relive the glory of Friday Night Lights on Hulu.

Throughout his acting career, Taylor Kitsch has played all manner of machismo-laden characters in projects like Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor, True Detective and more. But for Paramount Network's Waco, he took on a completely different portrayal as the notorious sect leader David Koresh, and it's instantly obvious that this was a carefully conceived performance. When CinemaBlend spoke with Waco developers John Erick and Drew Dowdle, they explained to me just how deep into preparation Kitsch got for the role. According to Drew:

The very first time future audiences laid eyes on Taylor Kitsch with his Waco appearance, the transformation was an impressive one. I wouldn't have guessed the actor lost as much as 30 lbs, but as David Koresh, Kitsch definitely looks far more fragile and wispy than he did as John Carter. (Which is good, since no one would buy some jacked-up muscle-head as the leader of the Branch Davidians.) And when that weight loss is combined with the glasses and distinct hair, Kitsch is fairly easy to lose in his role while watching Waco.

All the things that Drew Dowdle said Taylor Kitsch learned are on display throughout Waco. We get to watch him quote from scripture, we get to see him play the guitar, and we get to hear him once again adopt a Texas accent on TV. One of the most important aspects of this role is showing viewers that David Koresh wasn't some lunatic zealot who leapt before he looked. For that, Kitsch was able to draw from all manner of references in developing his humanizing performance, including conversations with surviving Branch Davidian member David Thibodeau, whose book A Place Called Waco was half of the miniseries' source material.

All that isn't to say that Taylor Kitsch's cult leader is portrayed as a hero or a protagonist in any way. Waco does aim to show all the angles of the epically mishandled situation at Mount Carmel, but in a way that doesn't glorify or condemn the parties involved, so while Koresh's charismatic side may be on display, so is the fact that he sired children with different wives, some of them of the underage variety. And Drew Dowdle lauded Kitsch for taking on such a stigmatizing part.

If Taylor Kitsch's performance would be the only visual or audio evidence we have of David Koresh's persona, it'd still be easy to understand why people followed him, especially when his messianic talents are on full display for the sermon. Starting off with such a gigantic moment might have flustered some actors, but according to John Erick and Drew Dowdle, Kitsch was beyond ready for it.

Everyone can watch and see just how solid Taylor Kitsch's performance is when Waco premieres on Paramount Network on Wednesday, January 24, at 10:00 p.m. ET. To see when other new and returning shows will hit primetime, hit up our midseason premiere schedule.

Fans can continue to beg for a Friday Night Lights reunion until the cows come home, but it'll probably never happen. Creator Peter Berg is against it, Kyle Chandler is against it, and recently Taylor Kitsch added his voice the list of stars who think the series should remain as is. Kitsch said no to returning to any reunion and explained his feelings and reasoning for wanting to leave his character, Tim Riggins, and the beloved series in the past:

Taylor Kitsch is far more interested in what lies ahead as opposed to what happened to Tim Riggins. Some Friday Night Lights fans may agree with his desire to leave the character alone, since the series ended with Riggins building a home on his land and possibly getting back together with Tyra. Historically, good things never seemed to last for Tim Riggins on the show, so any revival would surely set the character up for some downfall in its return. Given that, wouldn't it be nicer to just let sleeping dogs lie and, as Kitsch said to THR, keep the series' ending on a "beautiful note"?

Taylor Kitsch will probably get his wish, considering that enough decision makers are on the same page regarding a potential Friday Night Lights reunion. Should minds change though, and Kitsch be the last man standing in the way of a revival, he said he'd give his full blessing for the cast to move on without him:

The good news is that Taylor Kitsch doesn't sound the slightest bit vindictive when it comes to him not joining any hypothetical Friday Night Lights reunion, and he noted strong relationships with former members of the cast. The bad news is, if a reunion ever does happen, the show will have to explain why Mr. "Texas forever," isn't around, which would be tricky to do without disappointing fans. Of course, chances of a reunion are incredibly slim to nil at the moment, so anyone worried about that shouldn't worry too long.

Taylor Kitsch will play cult leader David Koresh in Paramount Network's limited series Waco, which starts on Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to check in with CinemaBlend here soon as we spoke to series' creators John Erick and Drew Dowdle and have some stories regarding its production on the way. For a look at what else is coming to television in early 2018, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

The two Indonesian films that make up The Raid series have become incredibly popular in the US in recent years. However, they have yet to gain what could be called true mainstream acceptance. This is, of course, the perfect territory for the good old Hollywood remake. While this was likely great news for people who count money in L.A. it didn’t make a lot of sense to actual fans of the movies. For over a year, however, the remake seemed to hit one delay after another. Now, the movie may be on hold indefinitely, as almost everybody previously on board has now dropped out.

In short order, the remake has apparently lost its director, its star, and one of its two production studios -- leaving the entire project sitting with one studio, and nobody else looking to make the movie. According to The Tracking Board, Expendables 3 director Patrick Hughes has dropped out of directing the film. The reasons for his departure are unknown. The film’s numerous delays could have led to him getting frustrated with the lack of progress, or it’s possible that the delays simply could have pushed him past the window when he was available. He’s reportedly now moved on to other projects.

In addition, Screen Gems, who was to distribute the film, has also backed out, which leaves XYZ Films without any domestic distribution and now solely in charge of production. Finally, one of only two actors who were attached to the film, Taylor Kitsch, has also left the project. This leaves Frank Grillo as apparently the only person still on board the film who’s not an employee of XYZ. Grillo has previously stated that the film’s delays were due to the difficulty involved in the preparation necessary to recreate The Raid: Redemption’s high-energy fight sequences. While it’s good to hear that everybody involved is trying to be faithful to the source, it appears that now none of those people are involved.

To be fair, there is one other name still involved in the remake. Gareth Evans, the writer and director of the original films, is still an executive producer of the new version. He’s been involved in the new screenplay as well, though that has also been through multiple versions.

XYZ Films will now go on a hunt for a new director. While fans of the original probably wish they would just move on to other things, some ideas are just too enticing for remakes, and this may very well be one of them. Is a good remake of The Raid: Redemption even possible, or should we just prepare ourselves for the eventual terrible attempt?

There’s trouble in paradise for the upcoming X-Men spinoff Gambit. Yesterday it was reported that Channing Tatum may drop out of playing the eponymous character due to his deal with 20th Century Fox falling apart. Ever since Fox officially confirmed that Tatum would both star in and produce Gambit at the beginning of the year, things had been moving smoothly, from Rupert Wyatt being hired as director, to Tatum learning how to throw cards and practice a New Orleans accent, so this news was quite the surprise. Keep in mind that that Tatum hasn’t officially exited Gambit, but at the time of this writing, things aren't looking good.

For the sake of argument, however, let’s assume Channing Tatum does decide to drop out. Whether Fox keeps their original October 2016 release date or decides to delay it, they will still have to find a replacement to portray Remy LeBeau. With that in mind, these are the five actors we think could to the longtime X-Men character justice on the big screen.

Taylor Kitsch

Wait, hear me out! Despite the negative reviews X-Men Origins: Wolverine received, many fans did like Taylor Kitsch’s performance as the Ragin’ Cajun, who was Wolverine’s adversary-turned-ally. If Tatum does walk, it wouldn’t be unprecedented to turn back to the guy that originally played Gambit. Granted, Kitsch hasn’t had great luck with blockbusters lately, but one thing he has going for him is that people have already gotten a taste of what he has to offer, similar to Ryan Reynolds with Deadpool. Kitsch has already given Tatum his blessing, but I find it hard to believe he wouldn’t at least meet with Fox if they approached him. If hired, all we ask is that he work on making Gambit’s Cajun dialect more pronounced. In his first turn, the accent was subtle to the point it was barely noticeable.

Gaspard Ulliel

I hadn’t heard of Gaspard Ulliel until I saw him suggested in the comments section of one of our articles, but after doing some research, I agree that he would be an excellent choice. As you may have been able to guess from his name, Ulliel is French, which means it would be easier for him to replicate Gambit’s trademark accent. Combined with his uncanny resemblance to the mutant, if you give this guy a trench coat, headpiece, and a deck of cards, you would be guaranteed a great Gambit. Seriously, it’ll be like he jumped straight from the comic book pages to the big screen. Having primarily acted in French productions, Ulliel’s only major American role so far has been playing the young Hannibal Lecter in 2007’s Hannibal Rising, so if he was cast as Gambit, the film would no doubt raise his profile in the United States.

Jared Padalecki

Like Ulliel, Jared Padalecki looks almost just like Remy LeBeau in the cmics, so he has that going for him. He also has experience in the realm of fantasy and heavy mythology playing Sam Winchester in the CW series Supernatural, and he’s gotten to show off cool fighting moves in several episodes. It also helps that Padalecki has that built-in fanbase, which will no doubt get many Supernatural fans into those theater seats to see Gambit. The only problem is that Supernatural’s eleventh season will likely still be filming when Gambit begins shooting in October or November. So if Padalecki was cast as the lead, the film’s release date would have to be delayed so that production could work with Padalecki's schedule, presumably around December or January 2016 at the earliest. If his audition blows Wyatt and the other bigwigs away, though, they may be fine with that.

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer’s looks may not remind you of Gambit, but he does have experience playing a lovable rogue. On the USA series White Collar, his character Neal Caffrey was a con man/thief that was forcibly recruited by the FBI to serve as a consultant. Comic book fans know that Gambit has a similar history of operating outside the law as a thief and card shark before his time with the X-Men. Bomber’s experience playing this type of character would be invaluable, and starring in Gambit would boost his slowly increasing fame even higher. All he needs to do is grow out his hair and nail down Gambit’s accent. Bomer has already turned down playing Superman for Warner Bros, but if Fox does a good job pitching Gambit to him, this might the perfect opportunity for the actor to jump into the world of superheroes.

Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård’s time as Eric Northman on HBO’s True Blood is the best example of why he’d be a good fit for Gambit. Northman was a complicated, dark figure that was still a fan favorite, which lines up with Gambit’s background in the comics: sometimes he’s a hero, but occasionally he’s veered into villainy and you can count on him being a great anti-hero. Oh, and of course like the other candidates on this list, he looks quite similar to the Ragin’ Cajun. If this film ends up being set in the present and has close ties with the main X-Men movies, the bonus to using Skarsgård as Gambit would be if Rogue were included in the film. That way we could see the actor reunite with his True Blood costar Anna Paquin, though there might not anything romantic in the cards (pun intended) if Rogue is still with Iceman.

Channing Tatum may be starring in next year’s Gambit, but it was Taylor Kitsch who first brought the character to life six years ago in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Kitsch’s performance has its share of supporters and detractors, but when rumors of a new Gambit movie surfaced, some wondered whether Kitsch would reprise his role. That wasn’t in the cards (pun fully intended), but fortunately for Tatum, Kitsch doesn’t have any problem with him taking over the role.

Kitsch revealed to The Daily Beast that he didn’t audition for Gambit again before Channing was cast, but believes the Magic Mike XXL star will be a worthy successor. He said:

In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the titular mutant tracked down Gambit in New Orleans to lead him to William Stryker’s mutant prison, as the card shark was the only person to ever escape. After briefly fighting Wolverine (he believed he was being recaptured), Gambit agreed to help and flew the clawed mutant to Stryker’s compound. He later returned to help out and told the amnesiac Wolverine that his name was Logan before they went their separate ways. Gambit’s real name Remy LeBeau, and he was also seen on a computer screen in X2: X-Men United, and Bryan Singer planned to include him in X-Men: The Last Stand, but the character was ultimately cut.

Because the franchise’s timeline was altered in X-Men: Days of Future Past, it’s unclear how similar Tatum’s Gambit will be to Kitsch’s in terms of personality and history. Heck, we still don’t even know whether the new Gambit will be adventuring in the 1980s like before or will somehow be living it up in the modern day. Regardless, Tatum has already begun preparing for the role, including learning how to throw playing cards from a magician and planning to model the Cajun accent on someone from the South. Gambit will be the third X-Men character to get a standalone film, following Wolverine and Deadpool. As for Kitsch, he’s since gone on to star in films like John Carter, Battleship, and The Normal Heart, and can currently be seen on HBO’s True Detective.

Gambit hits theaters on October 7, 2016.

True Detective is coming off of a tightly written and critically acclaimed first season. It makes sense that HBO would sign on for more episodes of the series, but if you are a fan of the first season, you should already know that there will need to be serious setting and character changes in order for Season 2 to happen. Luckily, the rumor mill and showrunner Nic Pizzolatto have released a few details about the series. While HBO has been fairly mum so far about True Detective Season 2, we’ve compiled what we know here.

When Will True Detective Season 2 Air?

Not soon enough. The first season of True Detective ran from January through March of 2014. Two weeks after the Season 1 premiere crushed in the ratings, Nic Pizzolatto signed a two-year deal with HBO. Now, the show is returning for a second season, and as expected, it looks as if it will air as part of the network's summer lineup. True Detective will hit the schedule on Sunday, June 21 on HBO at 9 p.m. ET. Also premiering that night will be new half-hour shows Ballers and The Brink.

What have we seen from True Detective Season 2 so far?

In April, HBO finally released the first footage for True Detective. It's a teaser trailer, but it just so happens to be one of the heftiest teaser trailers we've seen, with a full minute of footage introducing us to the characters played by Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Taylor Kitsch. Give it a watch, below.

A few months later, HBO released a second trailer that really looks at the gritty nature of Season 2, featuring plenty of bruised body parts. This one also features dialogue, which is an added bonus, considering the other marketing the network has put together for the show.

Continue on to find out who will star in the new season of True Detective...

Who Is Cast In True Detective Season 2?

A lot of names have been tossed out in relation to True Detective’s second season. Which is no wonder, because despite what the Emmy’s might tell you, True Detective is the show that captured viewers and critics alike this year. Let’s talk about the men who will join the True Detective club, first.

Colin Farrell was the first name bandied about in relation to the upcoming season. As long ago as July, the Irish actor was listed as a possibility for taking on a lead role in the new episodes and he confirmed the gig in September. He'll play corrupt police detective Ray Velcoro. Vince Vaughn was also mentioned as one of the actors up for a lead in the new series and was announced by HBO at the same time as Farrell. He'll play Frank Semyon, a career criminal who runs into a spot of trouble.

In October, Taylor Kitsch told Adweek he is also starring in True Detective. This will be a second HBO gig for the actor, who formerly starred in HBO’s The Normal Heart. In True Detective, Kitsch will play a California Highway Patrol officer and motorcycle enthusiast--a far cry from his prim and well-dressed Normal Heart character.

Early reports indicated that Mad Men actress Elisabeth Moss was an early frontrunner for True Detective's female detective role. However, in September Rachel McAdams' name also came up as a possibility. A short time later, McAdams was in talks and by November of 2014 she had signed on for the lead. Her character, the "uncompromising" Ani Bezzerides, will be a Ventura County Sheriff’s detective.

In addition to the leads, Lolita Davidovich, James Frain, Abigail Spencer, Michael Irby, Leven Rambin, Christopher James Baker, Afemo Omilami, Chris Kerson and Black Box lead Kelly Reilly will all appear in True Detective's second season. Reilly’s character sounds particularly interesting, as she will play a former D-list actress who now happens to be Frank’s wife, joining him on the business end.

What’s The Premise Of True Detective’s Second Season?

True Detective is a show about the personal journeys of its protagonists, but it is also a drama following detectives, murders and the pursuit of the people committing the crimes. While those basic premises should remain unchanged, Season 2 will look a hell of a lot different than its Season 1 counterpart. Instead of the creepy and desolate Louisiana Bayou, True Detective’s new episodes will take place in sunny California. We’re not talking Hollywood, Silicon Valley, or San Francisco; instead the show will be shot in “lesser known venues.”

Three was the working number Nic Pizzolatto was working with back in May of 2014, but more recently it was revealed there will be three cops and a fourth lead who is a career criminal. While production is already underway, we don't have a ton of information about the upcoming season. If reports are to be believed, the series will follow two male detectives and one female detective from different branches of the law enforcement sphere and different parts of California coming together to investigate the murder of a high end city official. There will also reportedly be S&M involved in the plot. Take that last part with a large lump of salt, because HBO and Pizzolatto are staying tight-lipped about the new season right now. HBO has revealed the first episode will be called "The Western Book of the Dead" and will follow this basic premise:

Episode 2 is rolling with the less startling title "Night Finds You."

Are There Any Other Juicy Season 2 Tidbits?

Why yes, dearies, there are a few things more behind-the-scenes facts that the industry has been buzzing about over the last few months. While True Detective’s first season featured the talents of director Cary Joji Fukunaga for all of its eight episodes, Season 2 looks as if it will be attempting a more regular TV format. From the looks of things, Season 2 will be employing multiple directors to film different episodes of the new season. Director Will Friedkin has hesitantly described himself as being in the mix for a Season 2 directing role. Just a couple of months later, Fast & The Furious franchise director Justin Lin was in talks to direct one or two episodes of the new season. Thus, we may see plenty of high-end directors attached to True Detective during Season 2.

In March, reports indicated that a couple of porn stars have been signed on to the series to participate in a wild orgy scene that will play a role in Season 2 of the drama. In terms of juicy tidbits, that seems to be the juiciest.

When you're good at what you do, demand can only grow for your skills. Just ask any Hollywood actor who has made it big in the business, and they'll tell you that when success hits, the offers typically are only eclipsed by the budgets attached to them. But be careful, because all it takes is one big dud to knock you back, and a couple to take you off the A-list entirely.

This list of 10 stars can all attest to that fact, as they once had the keys to the kingdom – until reality snatched the keys right back.

Eddie Murphy

The Rise: Throughout the 80's and 90's, Eddie Murphy seemed to be able to balance his hits with his losses. For every misfire like Boomerang and Vampire In Brooklyn, there were still hits like Bowfinger and Dr. Doolittle. Perhaps his biggest hit in his later career is, of course, The Nutty Professor -- where he played almost the entire Klump family to a hysterical degree.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: If The Adventures Of Pluto Nash was a warning shot, Norbit was the iceberg that finally sunk Murphy's career. Despite being a financial draw, it was widely panned as a dud by critics and crowds alike. Worse still, it lead to Murphy's backslide into a spate of sentimental comedy films that couldn't even make their small budgets back.

The Fallout: Basically, Eddie Murphy only has one option at this point, and he's taking his sweet time getting Beverly Hills Cop 4 into production. Maybe his time in movie hell has inspired him to take a little more care in choosing his projects, as Tower Heist helped boost his profile a little. Still, you can bet that Beverly Hills Cop 4 is probably going to come in on a budget akin to Ride Along, so as to maximize the profit output.

John Travolta

The Rise: John Travolta was lucky enough to have two rises in his career. The first was, naturally, through his days of Welcome Back Kotter and Saturday Night Fever; with the second being thanks to Quentin Tarantino's casting of the fallen legend in Pulp Fiction.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: Battlefield Earth. In the early days of the public's education on Scientology, Travolta spearheaded production on this L. Ron Hubbard opus of crap. As if throwing his weight behind the film as its producer wasn't bad enough, he hammed it up as Terl, the film's head villain. The less said about that, the better; but YouTube is probably lousy with montages of the film’s "best" bits.

The Fallout: Doomed to a life of cameos, Disney ensemble pictures (Wild Hogs), and direct-to-video films you probably haven't heard of (The Forger), John Travolta's star has once more faded into a haze of obscurity. Though he manages to make a name for himself, whether he likes it or not, as a bit of a professional gaffe maker. Now would be a good time to push The Vega Brothers into fruition.

Drew Barrymore

The Rise: Drew Barrymore, much like John Travolta before her, had a huge career that took a slight nosedive after some troubled times. Nothing that a late 90's renaissance couldn't revive, though, with her appearance in Wes Craven's Scream bringing her career back in a rather bloody fashion. Riding a decent wave of hits and misses after that film's release, she since has came crashing down hard.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: Ever hear of a movie called Big Miracle? It wouldn't be surprising if you had, because it's run on HBO quite a few times. But have you ever watched it? Apparently, not a lot of people did, because Drew Barrymore's fairly reliable star power didn't draw enough people to see this whale of a tale in its box office release. But do you know what did manage to draw in a lot of money, through some feat of dark advertising magic? Blended. Call it an Adam Dandler-driven fluke

The Fallout: So far, it looks like Drew Barrymore has two options that are available to her struggling career at this point: she can hitch her star permanently to Adam Sandler, and join the Happy Madison menagerie, or she can make more off-the-radar films like she did before Scream. So don't be surprised if she has a cameo in The Ridiculous Six to complement her current project, Miss You Already.

Taylor Kitsch

The Rise: A starring role in Friday Night Lights brought Taylor Kitsch into the forefront of Hollywood's attention. This only grew with a bit part in X-Men Origins: Wolverine as Gambit bringing him the spotlight that made Hollywood stand up and decide that Kitsch was their new "it guy."

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: It's a tie, because John Carter and Battleship delivered a one/two punch of career hemlock to Kitsch's rising star. One film looked like too much of a Michael Bay rip off, and one film was sold so horribly that not even genre fans could save it. Actual quality of either picture aside, two big-budget bombs in one summer does a lot to crush a burgeoning career.

The Fallout: Taylor Kitsch is actually not doing to bad, as he's made good friends at HBO – thanks to not only a dramatic performance in The Normal Heart, but also his status as one of the new leads on True Detective's second season. The remake of The Raid might help repair some of the damage (if he gets a role, as rumored), but with his career already in the "I'm making under the radar animation films" phase, it needs to be really good.

Michael Cera

The Rise: Michael Cera started as a pretty experienced child actor, doing everything from voiceover work on The Berenstain Bears, as well as films like Frequency. The big time came a calling after Arrested Development became a newly minted comedy hit, with Cera's awkward George Michael helping him transfer into equally awkward roles in Superbad and Juno.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: For as good of a movie as it was, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was a certified box office disaster, finding itself unable to break even after tax rebates were cashed in to make the actual spend on the film look much smaller. You could easily say that Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist and Year One played a part in Cera's box office demise, but Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was his big starring role, and the public let it fall flat.

The Fallout: Every now and then, Seth Rogen and friends will throw Michael Cera a bone, through a cameo in This Is The End as well as a role in the upcoming animated picture, Sausage Party. Other than that, he's been doing short films and indies that have made a small splash, as well as returning to his awkward role as George-Michael in the revival series of Arrested Development. But his leading-man days appear to be done.

Sylvester Stallone

The Rise: With Rocky lighting the firework that was Sylvester Stallone's career, the 70's and 80's were extremely good to the Italian Stallion. With action and comedy being his two main wheelhouses, the man introduced us all to the previously mentioned boxing sensation, as well as war veteran turned one man killing machine Rambo. Times were very good to Stallone.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: Judge Dredd was, hands down, the nadir of Stallone's career, at least on paper. While the film eventually became somewhat of a camp classic, it was a huge blow to the industry's confidence in the leading man’s star power. Even worse, Stallone fell into the same trap John Travolta did with Battlefield Earth, and made a couple films through shady production shingle, and infamous money pit, Franchise Pictures.

The Fallout: Sylvester Stallone has managed to settle into a niche of low expectations, with the occasional hit that'll keep him going for a little longer. Rocky Balboa, Rambo, and The Expendables all made some nice-sized spikes in his star power, but ultimately Stallone's just not the draw that he used to be. Even that recent spike has seen some decline, with The Expendables 3 being savaged every which way (especially at the box office, where it matters most).

Katherine Heigl

The Rise: The transition from teen sensation to grown-up celebrity is a hard one, yet somehow Katherine Heigl made the jump with very little friction. Thanks to Bride Of Chucky’s success, as well as her tenure on Grey's Anatomy, film roles started to become more and more prevalent, with Knocked Up being her huge breakout hit.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: After a lot of ego problems between her and her Grey's Anatomy family, as well as some choice words about how "sexist" Knocked Up was against her character, Heigl's backslide was a combination of PR nightmares and diminishing returns. Movies like Killers, Life As We Know It and The Ugly Truth were – well, ugly. But no project signified both pitfalls as great as the disastrous Janet Evanovich adaptation, One For The Money.

The Fallout: Katherine Heigl's profile has been moderately visible, with smaller films on her resume and a starring role on State Of Affairs being her current claims to fame. Yet her film career isn't as bright as it once was, and we’re not sure it ever will be again.

Kristen Stewart

The Rise: Another child star who hit it big, Kristen Stewart went from running scared with Jodie Foster in Panic Room to running through the woods with then-boyfriend Robert Pattinson in The Twilight Saga. Like or hate the films, the teen romance franchise shot her star into the stratosphere, and built on a carefully crafted foundation she'd constructed over the years.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: That foundation apparently wasn't strong enough to continue her success past The Twilight Saga’s conclusion, as Snow White And The Huntsman was nowhere near as huge as the sparkling success she was experiencing concurrent to the release of Universal's attempted franchise launch. Not only did this performance stunt the development of the sequel, it also hurt Stewart's career after some personal drama came to the forefront.

The Fallout: Kristen Stewart has always had one toe dipped in the indie film pond, and after the aftermath of Snow White And The Huntsman, that's basically all she's been doing ever since. A huge franchise just doesn't seem in the cards, because audiences proved that they don't buy her as a viable lead. While she might never have another franchise to head up, she's doing decently for herself in the small film circuit, especially when she became the first American to win a Cesar Award. You don’t always have to be the lead, after all.

John Cusack

The Rise: With a career that spans more than 20 years, ranging from teen 80's comedies to underrated thrillers and romantic comedies, John Cusack has an impressive range of films on his record. He's also one of those rare actors who can age gracefully, switching gears as naturally as he can hold a boombox outside Ione Skye's window. He rose to fame with Better Off Dead in 1985, and stayed on top for a long, long time.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: In more recent years, John Cusack has made himself comfortable with more smaller-scale films, and the project to blame is most assuredly Roland Emmerich's 2012. With a plot more ridiculous and ham-fisted than any previous Emmerich disaster, 2012 rides a wave of disaster porn and pseudo science that even the most forgiving audiences found laughable.

The Fallout: In recent years, Cusack has been working with low budget films that either find themselves completely forgotten, or succeeding with a weak-tea temperament. The most high profile roles he's scored have been in films with Lee Daniels (The Butler) and David Cronenberg (Maps to the Stars), which has kept him in public view. But he skipped the second Hot Tub time Machine. And the Stephen King adaptation, Cell, probably the highest profile project in Cusack's queue, isn’t going to be the actor’s return ticket to the big leagues unless it hits big.

Nicholas Cage

The Rise: Perhaps the most interesting career on this list, Nicolas Cage made a name for himself by playing to a cross-section of roles that flexed both his serious acting chops, as well as his naturally weird personality. Much like his idol, Elvis Presley, Cage had cultivated a persona as a performer as well as an enigmatic eccentric, and he's got the Academy Award to prove it.

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: Cage’s career is hard to pin down. He was making Face/Off at one moment and National Treasure in the next, with plenty of time to make The Weather Man in the interim. Cage seemed to have a good racket going for him. Then, The Wicker Man happened, and faster than you could say, "BEES," Nicholas Cage amped up the weird factor and scaled back on reality. He really hasn’t returned.

The Fallout: As crazy as his choices may have looked, Cage has maintained a steady stream of work that's kept him in the public eye. While he hasn't always made the best choices, he's certainly made interesting choices that don't look like they cost their respective studios all that much to produce. Sadly, this has diluted the "Cage" brand, making films like The Croods 2 or National Treasure 3 the only shot Cage really has at leading a huge budget picture -- and even then, those films aren't guaranteed.

So what have we learned today? If anything, it could be said that the greatest lesson of today's examination into the rise and fall of big name stars is not only to choose your projects wisely, but to know how to balance said projects in accordance with your true talents. Maybe you shouldn't take two high profile projects in one year, even if they seem like a sure fire hit. Perhaps you should pay your taxes, so you don't have to take every remake of a Christian blockbuster that comes along. Or maybe, you should just realize that the job of an actor isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. So before you get into the business, or before you choose that next project after your appearance in a Marvel comic book movie, keep in mind these 10 profiles, and the career mistakes they have made.

With the amount of buzz and quasi-secrecy surrounding the casting process for the second season of HBO’s True Detective, you’d think that either J.J. Abrams or Christopher Nolan had something to do with it. HBO has finally announced its newest cast members – Taylor Kitsch, Rachel McAdams and Kelly Reilly – but it’s three people that we were already fully aware were involved with the dark anthology drama. Luckily, their announcements come official character descriptions, which offer us a deeper look into this already complex tale of secrets and murder.

Season 2 of True Detective will follow a trio of police officers (Colin Farrell, Kitsch and McAdams) who are caught up in a conspiracy-driven mess after a murder affects a city project involving a career criminal (Vince Vaughn). Let’s take a closer look at each of the newly confirmed characters.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams (About Time), whose name has been circling this project for a while now, is set to play Ani Bezzerides, a detective for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Dept. According to Deadline, she has uncompromising ethics that complicate her relationships with others, as well as her work. I like that they’re not just making her the go-to good gal that Allison Tolman played in Fargo. McAdams is a delight when she’s being saucy.

Taylor Kitsch

Taylor Kitsch’s (Savages) name has also been tied to True Detective for ages now, and he even confirmed it himself a while back. He’ll play Paul Woodrugh, a motorcycle officer for the California Highway Patrol. A war veteran, Woodrugh is constantly trying to avoid the mistakes of his past, as well as “the sudden glare of a scandal that never happened.” Now that’s a fruity phrase if I’ve ever read one. What could this unreal scandal be, and why are its glares so sudden?

Kelly Reilly

Kelly Reilly (Black Box) will star as Jordan Semyon, the wife of Vince Vaughn’s bad guy Frank. She’s a former D-list actress who keeps herself busy staying on top of Frank’s business and schemes. While the other two actors had been circling the cop roles, Reilly’s role was only previously described as self-possessed, with the name of Morgan.

Other actors in line for roles in Season 2 are Michael Irby (Almost Human), Abigail Spencer (Suits), Riley Smith (True Blood), Leven Rambin (The Hunger Games), Adria Arjona (Person of Interest), James Frain (Intruders), Michael Hyatt (Franklin & Bash) and Lolita Davidovich (Good God). Are they official or just rumored at this point? Only time and the sluggish HBO can tell.

Expect to find True Detective Season 2 causing Twitter meltdowns when it hits HBO at some point in 2015.

For months, numerous names were tossed out related to next season's True Detective cast. In September, Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn were officially confirmed for Season 2 of HBO’s acclaimed series and today, Taylor Kitsch also says he will play a lead in True Detective Season 2.

Taylor Kitsch was listed early on as a potential for a lead role in the series, along with Farrell and Vaughn. After the latter names were confirmed for the new season, it stood to reason that Kitsch was probably also joining the show, too. It’s hearsay until someone gives confirmation, and on Monday Taylor Kitsch told Adweek that he will be in True Detective. It will be his first acting gig in over a year.

True Detective Season 2 will focus on three detectives and a career criminal whose paths cross after a big murder. Farrell has agreed to play a corrupt cop in the series with mob connections and Vaughn will play a career criminal trying to work his way into legitimate business. Since Vaughn’s already signed on to play criminal Frank Semyon, it stands to reason that Kitsch will be one of the other cops in the series.

Reportedly, Season 2 will also feature a female lead, and while Elizabeth Moss and Rachel McAdams were rumored early on to have the gig, as many as 10 women have actually been considered for the role. Obviously, there should be other non-lead females in the series, which may account for some of the confusion, or perhaps it just took HBO a longer time to figure out who would be a perfect fit for the part.

Regardless, with three of the four leads cast, True Detective is really getting going. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming season so far. In addition, we'll let you know as soon as HBO confirms Kitsch’s role, as well as gives us a Season 2 premiere date.

Are you a good looking, decently athletic male leading man? Do you love the feeling of getting the crap kicked out of you repeatedly, take after take, by stuntmen who have no mercy for your whining? Well then, your name might be Taylor Kitsch, because that's exactly who is now up to tackle the English-language remake of The Raid.

The Wrap reports that John Carter himself, Taylor Kitsch, has been offered the lead role in The Raid remake. Directed by Patrick Hughes (The Expendables 3), the remake is being penned by Brad Inglesby (Out Of The Furnace), and is slated to start shooting in January. This is all happening while Kitsch is also trying to grab a lead role in the second season of HBO's True Detective, which starts shooting this fall and wraps right before the martial arts remake starts up. So Kitsch is currently trying to find a way to have his cake and eat it too. And then and the end of the cake-eating, get beat up by a bunch of stuntmen.

Kitsch is an interesting choice. For one, it ends the film's reported flirtation with the Hemsworth brothers, who originally were eyed to play the leads. For another, it means that this film won't be getting a bigger budget any time soon. Kitsch is still smarting from 2012, where he fronted John Carter, Savages and Battleship. He's not necessarily bankable to the studios, but Screen Gems will take a chance on his unrealized potential as a marquee attraction. He's still young and super handsome, and did eventually star in a hit film when he popped up in Lone Survivor. He was the body flying towards the camera whilst being shot at. No, the other one. No, not that guy, the other other one.

Kitsch will either be working with, or against Frank Grillo in the redo, which is said to hew closely to the original. In case you haven't seen the original, and you are an action junkie, rent it as soon as you can, and quit worrying over subtitles. The story involves a mobster who has taken over a high rise, forcing a SWAT team trapped inside to make their way to the top. Yes, you've played a video game like this once. Grillo is probably playing the grizzled police chief who isn't what he seems – if so, he'll likely get a far more badass sendoff than the first guy to play the role, as Grillo is an accomplished martial artist and all-around badass. Kitsch is going to have his work cut out for him. Unless Dolph Lundgren is cast as Kitsch's brother, Grillo could wipe the floor with that pretty boy. That's not necessarily a swipe at Kitsch. Grillo's just that sort of guy.

In the fastest news to zip around the entertainment-verse today, it seems like True Detective may have landed another Season 2 lead. Soon after news broke that veteran actor Colin Farrell is in talks to join the critically-acclaimed drama, news broke that his partner in crime will likely be none other than Taylor Kitsch, who is well-known to X-Men fans as the man who played Gambit.

The Wrap posted the news, noting that HBO is currently staying mum about the potential castings. An HBO spokesperson literally said the following, “there is no news to confirm on the casting.” Luckily, we can still gossip about the juicy potential of such a TV partnership.

If the casting news does hold up, it seems that True Detective won’t have to go so heavy on the makeup during its second season. During Season 1, 44-year-old Matthew McConaughey and 52-year-old Woody Harrelson did some time hopping, taking on roles that allowed them to play somewhat young detectives in the early nineties spanning into the early 2000s. With youth on their sides, the under-forty actors wouldn’t have to wear too much makeup, unless the series decides to time hop and turn them into old men. Speaking of age, even if the talks for Kitsch to join the series don’t turn out to be true, it does seem like the HBO series is looking to hire a young actor to play one of the leads. Tron: Legacy actor Garrett Hedlund has also been mentioned as a possibility for the role, although connections to the series note Kitsch is the preferred choice.

Honestly, both Farrell and Kitsch should be a good fit for True Detective. Both actors are high profile enough to seem like meaningful castings, and both should have time in their schedules for a limited anthology series. Farrell just came off of the lambasted movie Winter’s Tale, and he’s always been better in smaller gigs with a twisted sense of humor. With that in mind, True Detective’s tone (should it stay similar) would be a great fit. Kitsch, once thought to be the next big thing in movies, really could use a high profile TV series in the wake of Battleship and John Carter. True Detective would go a long way to build up his TV resume, which also includes the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights and HBO’s recent TV movie, The Normal Heart.

Once contracts are dotted and signed, I’m sure HBO will make an official announcement about the castings. The good news is that the subscription cable network has not been totally mum about True Detective’s second season. We know that there will be more than two leads, so if Farrell and Kitsch do sign on, there will be more casting news to come. Additionally, the series will be set in California, although creator Nic Pozzolatto was quick to note the show won’t go near Los Angeles. Stay tuned for more news to come.

Lone Survivor doesn't look much like your usual end-of-year awards hopeful, a war movie crammed with action scenes and stars like Mark Wahlberg and Taylor Kitsch. But the buzz surrounding the next film from Peter Berg suggests Lone Survivor might be worthy after all. Due in theaters on December 27, Lone Survivor recounts the true story of what happened on June 28, 2005, when Seal Team 10 attempted to capture a Taliban leader and encountered deadly obstacles in the process. And as you can see in the latest trailer, which you can watch in high-res at Apple, something as simple as sparing the life of a innocent kid can be the one mistake that causes true disaster.

As you can tell from the pull-quotes featured in this trailer, from the likes of Bill Simmons and Peter Travers, The Lone Survivor isn't your average war movie, and may serve as a kind of redemption for both its director and one of its stars. No, I don't mean Mark Wahlberg-- he made a masterpiece this year already, remember?-- but Taylor Kitsch, who with director Peter Berg brought upon the world last year's Battleship. There's no better way to recover from an expensive stumble than to stick the landing on the next go-round, and Berg-- who made one very good war film already with The Kingdom-- seems to have taken that to heart. It's hard to get into the macho balance of humor and action within a single trailer, but I like what we're seeing here. If it's a lot of watching Kitsch and Wahlberg rib each other, with a little bit of action thrown in, that's actually perfectly fine.

Berg explained more about what he's doing with Lone Survivor in a recent behind-the-scenes featurette, which you can also watch below. In addition to Kitsch and Wahlberg the cast includes Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Jerry Ferrara (a.k.a. Entourage's Turtle), Alexander Ludwig (Cato of The Hunger Games) and Emile Hirsch, which makes it at the very least a showcase for a lot of young actors who deserve good work. Whether we can find them amid the chaos and bullets of war is something we'll have to wait until December 27 to see in action.

"Been around the world twice. Talked to everyone once. There ain't nothing I can't do. No sky's too high. No sea's too rough. Learned a lot of lessons in my life. Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet. Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards. I'm a lover. I'm a fighter. I'm a UDT Navy SEAL diver." This is the creed Alexander Ludwig delivers in the upcoming military drama Lone Survivor, and it serves as a bold introduction to Yahoo's behind-the-scenes featurette

Based on Marcus Luttrell's non-fiction book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, this feature from writer-director Peter Berg tells the story of SEAL 10's failed mission on June 28th, 2005. Known as "Operation Red Wings," the objective was to capture and kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd, but--as you may have guessed from the tile--the book's author was the only survivor of this endeavor.

"The prime objective was just to find this Taliban leader," Berg explains in the above featurette, "but they got there and things just started going wrong." Mark Wahlberg stars as Luttrell, and is joined by Ludwig, Emile Hirsch, Eric Bana, Ben Foster, and Taylor Kitsch. Speaking of his cast, Berg says, "The actors knew they had a responsibility to capture that warrior spirit that these men had." Lutrell also makes an appearance in this vid to recount part of his incredible survivor story. "He believes the reason he survived," Berg offers, "is to make sure people remember who these guys were and how they died. He was going to make sure I understood what happened on that mountain."

Lone Survivor has been a passion project for Berg since 2007. This look behind the scenes makes clear the earnestness he has for making this film something special that speaks to the experience of being a soldier in a no-win situation. However, good intentions alone don't make good movies. And Berg's past is checkered with hits and misses. Sure, he helmed hits like the beloved football drama Friday Night Lights and the Will Smith-fronted superhero adventure Hancock. But he also directed such flops as the 2007 espionage thriller The Kingdom and the atrocious sci-fi actioner Battleship, which boasted a $209 million dollar price tag, was ravaged by critics and made only $65 million domestically.

Here's hoping his latest team-up with failed leading man Taylor Kitsch will be better. After Battleship sank, both of their reputations could use it.

Lone Survivor will open in limited release on December 27th, 2013. A wider release will follow on January 10th, 2014.

In Oliver Stone’s Savages, the characters played by Aaron Johnson couldn’t be more different. While they are connected through their shared girlfriend O (Blake Lively), and run a successful business together growing weed, everything else about their personalities completely clashes. One is a Buddhist trying to live a life of peace and understanding, while the other is a former marine whose mind is still at war and who lives for pain. So how do the two characters connect? It was something I was curious about when I recently attended a press conference for the new film in Los Angeles.

Below you will find a transcript for the press conference, and in addition to my question about Ben and Chon’s relationship, you can read the actors' responses to other journalist questions about how the two reacted when they discovered they would be working on an Stone film, their preparation for the more sensual scenes and whether or not a relationship between three people could ever work.

Your characters are best friends and share a girlfriend. How did you come to understand these two guys and do you think that’s really possible to share a girlfriend without any jealousy like that?

Aaron Johnson: No, I don’t think it is [laughs]. Yeah, I think that says a lot about these guys that there’s no shame in their relationship, no jealousy, and it’s a bond that’s stronger than that. It’s sort of a three-way friendship that is based on a lot of loyalty and trust.

Taylor Kitsch: I agree. I think it’s more of the trust thing. For us, I think it was more of a brotherhood. It really does come down to the trust and that was such an integral part of the movie because we have barely any scenes with her so we had to get it basically in one scene. In one scene we had to show this connection between three people that would literally die for each other. So there was more at stake than just showing that we can do it and make it work.

Johnson: I think we’re really a yin and yang because Chon’s this ex-Marine, a kind of fighter, and my character’s a more sensitive, hippie kind of guy. So we were that balance that she looks for. I think she’s just fucking greedy, to be honest [laughs].

How did you prepare for the more sensual scenes with Blake? Did you have to have safe words?

Kitsch: A lot of sexual improv was going on there [laughs]. You block it out. With Oliver, we had two weeks rehearsal, so we talked until we were about to pass out. Then on the day, I mean, I knew Blake I think three days, four days, before we shot. That was the first week of shooting. So it was just trusting Blake and Oliver like you do on any set. I was just glad it was over with, to be honest. It’s very awkward to do. It’s such a big part of Chon, who he is, and that’s how you meet him. So it’s a pretty intense reveal, no pun intended. It’s all part of it and I was glad it was in the first week.

Both of you have great scenes with great actors like John Travolta and Benicio del Toro, how did you prepare for that, lots of prep like with Blake?

Kitsch: I think that’s just what they are as well. And why they are who they are is just because they’ve come on as an actor. Obviously, it’s John Travolta and Benicio and you just respect those guys. They’re icons for a good reason.

Johnson: There was a lot of room to play around as well. I think you get that opportunity with those guys. They’re just free to kind of experiment and they’re not afraid to. And Oliver’s not afraid to allow that kind of creativity to happen. So you get more out of it and we get more out of it. I think that was great. And also, we’d never really know. So coming up to those scenes, it was still sort of figuring out, “How strong do we come in on that?” Oliver was, “Does he come in and stab him in the hand?” He would play with it so we’d talk about it a lot. I think that’s what Oliver is like. He needs to get the sensitivity right and the balance right so it doesn’t become overwhelming or too surreal. There was a reality barrier that we always were trying to juggle and I think that comes across really well in the film, that you never doubt anything. The situation that they’re in, you don’t ever find it unbelievable.

Kitsch: I think it takes a special actor as well, which they are, just to give you that scene in that way. I’ve worked with obviously lesser actors and what-not that are more worried about how they’re going to come out of the scene than the scene itself. So I think it just says so much about Benicio and John that they’re just like, “Yeah, let’s make this scene incredibly memorable and let it just serve the script and not selfishly our characters, ourselves.”

I wanted to know, when you got that call from Oliver Stone, what was your reaction? And Aaron, playing this Orange County surfer guy, being from England, how did you research that kind of role and come up with the look?

Kitsch: I just told Oliver how lucky he was [laughs]. It’s just an amazing accomplishment and I hold a lot of pride within that to be working with these guys – John and Oliver. It’s something that you’ll have for a long time. It was amazing.

Johnson: It was great for me to kind of embrace the South Cali. We did a lot of preparation on this. We had to learn a lot about the marijuana business and go in the grow-ops and see the most fantastic plants. It was a slow build, but Oliver wanted to give it a lot of subtext and he loves to go deep into the background -- my guy studied at Berkeley and this whole science behind the medicinal marijuana. It was all of that so it was so much to kind of grasp. We had meetings with DEA agents, and the situations on the kidnappings and cartel. It was really quite intense and some really dark stuff that we had to take onboard. You open your arms to that and grasp as much knowledge as possible and use it in your preparation and kind of throw it away when you’re on the job. It was good.

During Oliver Stone films, the devil’s in the details, was there a lot of paying attention to that?

Kitsch: I think you’re always conscious of that. That’s where the prep, rehearsal [comes in]. I shadowed a Navy SEAL for a long time and working with those guys, I felt quite set, even in rehearsals. So I practiced an enormous amount and so does Johnson. The rehearsals were quite intense, so you were quite set. You felt quite good on the day because you had it out. So many of our questions were done and dealt with in rehearsal and then you go and play. He’ll call you out when necessary and you collaborate like anything else. I just loved that he holds you accountable and I just think that gets the best out of you.

Considering the bond your characters have with Blake, what do you think of Salma’s line that if they really loved her they would have fought each other over her, not allowing each other to share her?

Kitsch: I think it’s almost un-debatable that you can tell how much we love O. I think it’s more of playing the higher card rather than making it about us, of who loves her more, rather than both of us dying for her more or less, or doing whatever it takes. I think our actions will speak a lot louder than us debating who loves her more.

Johnson: I think she carries that spirit in her that is my guys are coming after me. I think it’s just a part of the game Salma has with her.

When you tackle a project like this based on a book, how much is that an influence or do you just focus on the script?

Kitsch: Chon says maybe two lines in the book [laughs], so… And I definitely thought about it. I love Chon in the book, I think everyone does. I wish we had a couple of those scenes selfishly where he goes into the sailboat in the book and does that thing. I think it’d be incredibly boring to watch me not say a word and not really do much and then shoot the odd gun. One of my favorite scenes is in the car after we switch cars and they take the money, that’s just verbally where we’re both at, and I just love that scene. That’s really who Chon is to me.

Johnson: I think in the film it plays a lot more into our dynamic. It puts our relationship on the line because of the circumstances that we’re in. I think in the book, there was a longer journey to where they were getting to. But I think Oliver found the right pace for this movie and I think sometimes there has to be a big decision to make a cut at some point to tell the story. I think that’s what a good director is, someone who can tell a story. In a book, you want a book to carry on going. There were some great scenes in there that we kind of just tried to push into one. We’ve got a couple heists in there that do just the same thing. I think everything has an answer for what we’re doing so that you don’t ever doubt it. I think with the book, there’s that point where they’ve done one too many heists and you think, “Why hasn’t the cartel got a clue on what’s going on here?” And I think it pushes the boundary a bit too far that I think in the film world, you wouldn’t want to start questioning that.

In the movie, your characters Ben and Chon are really kind of polar opposites, but they are connected through O and their business. It’s mentioned that you were friends in high school, but how do you think your characters became friends?

Kitsch: I think for me it’s because of acceptance. I don’t think it made it in, but Chon’s father beat the crap out of him a lot and they had some of that in there. I think with O and especially Ben’s character, for Chon, it’s more of this guy accepts him for who he is. I think with any relationship that’s everything and that’s the one person that Chon will do anything for. To protect Ben and O, for that matter, is Chon’s purpose. His purpose is lost with being out of the war so he’s given him purpose. For me, that was everything. That’s why he would do what he did, to protect him.

Taylor, earlier this year, you did some big science fiction films, was this a chance to dig into some meatier material?

Kitsch: Yeah, it was exciting. I kept pitching Aliens to Oliver, but he wasn’t buying it [laughs]. No, it’s back to being just mano y mano, working with actors and not green screen. It was very refreshing. Both of those films taught me an immense amount of patience and I think I really brought that over to Savages. Man, I tell you, I really love being on these sets with these actors and being a part of it, not that I didn’t with the others. But just to make it as raw as this film is, to get back to what it is, just going off another actor and really searching, creating and collaborating that way is refreshing and I’ll stay on that track. No green screen for a while.

What is your take on legalization and how that would affect violence such as in this film?

Johnson: I think it’s kind of a heavy, loaded question. It’s kind of strange because I’m British so for me to talk about the situation in Mexico and the political sense of it in the States is kind of weird to us, to me.

Kitsch: I’m Canadian. We’re not violent [laughs]. It’s not a yes or no, black or white answer. You’re not going to all the sudden take the violence out of what’s going on and that’s fact. It’s not just marijuana they’re fighting over as well. To regulate it and to sanction it, that would take years to actually do it right in my opinion, from what I learned on this film which isn’t a ton for me to have a professional opinion on what should happen. But I think if done right, it could work or it could aid in the process. I just don’t think it’s that simple. I mean, I think there’s seven cartels right now. Just legalizing that, it’s not the answer, but it may facilitate it.

The trailer for Oliver Stone's Savages shows the potential for a film that's gritty, dark and violent. In this new featurette, John Travolta even uses the words, "the Pulp Fiction of now" when discussing the movie. Whether or not the movie lives up to that standard remains to be seen.

Based on Don Winslow's crime novel, Savages stars Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch as two close friends who run a pot growing/selling business in California and also happen to share a girlfriend (Blake Lively). Things take a turn for the dangerous and violent when a Mexican Baja Cartel shows up and tries to go into business with them.

The recently released featurette (courtesy of iTunes) begins similarly to the trailer we saw back in April, with Blake Lively's voice making it clear that the fact that she's telling this story doesn't mean she lives through it. And after that, the cast walks us through the basics of the movie while we're given a look at scenes from the film…

"This will hit you across the face," Kitsch says, as we're shown glimpses of gun-shooting and explosions. "And then when you're down crying, we're gonna come over and kick you when you're not looking. That's what this movie's gonna bring."

It seems fitting that Del Toro would bring up Natural Born Killers, given the implied focus on romance and violence in Savages. It does set the standard high, but it seems like a better connection to make than Travolta's mention of Pulp Fiction, given the director. Then again, both NBK and Pulp Fiction released in 1994, so maybe there's something to that. We'll have to see how Savages looks.

In addition to Lively, Kitsch and Johnson, Savages stars John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek. It arrives in theaters July 6. More information, photos and video can be found in our Blend Film Database.

Between Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch and Garrett Hedlund, only Kitsch and Hedlund have experience in the realm of the sci-fi epic. Kitsch, of course, has done it twice this year, starring in both John Carter and Battleship, but just two years ago Hedlund got sucked into the grid and worked to find his father in Tron Legacy. The question is: will that experience give them a leg up against Hammer as they compete for a possible role in The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire?

A source has given E! the inside scoop, saying that the three up-and-coming stars are the top three picks to play the role of Finnick Odairin the upcoming film. In the book, Finnick is another previous Hunger Games winner, having won the 65th annual games (Katniss and Peeta were victors in the 74th annual games). The site says that a final decision about casting could be made by the end of this week, but also says that Lionsgate is giving consideration towards unknowns for the part.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is being directed by Francis Lawrence and is already set to have Jennifer Lawrence return as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson return as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth return as Gale Hawthorne. Production is scheduled to begin this fall in preparation for its release on November 22, 2013.

So what do you think, Hunger Games fans? Do you think that Kitsch, Hedlund or Hammer would be a good pick for Finnick? Do you think they should consider someone else? Who did you imagine in your mind while reading the book? Let us know your questions, comments and concerns below.

Battleship doesn’t have an original bone in its big-budget body. And for once, that’s a good thing.

Originality isn’t necessarily something Hollywood studios trade in during the summer season. The box office charts currently are teeming with comic book adaptations, sequels, remakes and reboots. But something about Battleship still feels overly familiar, as if we’ve seen a handful of these scenes before, perhaps in other like-minded blockbusters. The whole movie feels like Roland Emmerich’s sperm and Michael Bay’s sperm fertilized an egg Tony Scott cryogenically froze back in 1986, producing a “baby” with qualities of all of its “birth” fathers.

So before you see the Ship (and read Katey Rich’s review before embarking on said mission), revisit these classic action-movie sequences … and then determine whether Berg begged, borrowed or stole from his esteemed predecessors in adrenalized action.

The following points refer to specific scenes in Battleship. As a result, this column could be considered spoilery, but really, it’s a movie based on a board game, so how surprised do you need to be?

1) The Con Air introduction to our hero.

You all remember clean-cut soldier boy Nic Cage standing up for his beautiful wife (Monica Potter) by picking a bar fight in the opening scenes of Simon West’s Con Air. The act landed Cage’s character, Cameron Poe, behind bars … triggering West’s story. Battleship has a similar opening, where Taylor Kitsch breaks into a convenience store after hours so he can heat a chicken burrito for beautiful Brooklyn Decker. The act lands him in the Navy … triggering Berg’s story. Too bad that means Kitsch couldn’t rock Cage’s wispy Con Air hair.

2) The Top Gun volleyball scene.

A gratuitous excuse for sweaty beefcake dropped in the middle of a fighter-pilot thriller. The beach volleyball scene was Tony Scott saying, “Ladies, I know your boyfriend dragged you to this. Here. Shirtless Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. You’re welcome.” In Battleship, the unnecessary sporting event is a soccer match on the Hawaiian base. It means nothing to the overall film, but the teenage girls sitting behind me in our screening giggled at sweaty Kitsch like my wife still does when she hears Kenny Loggins’ “Playing with the Boys.”

3) The Independence Day alien punch.

It might be the moment where Will Smith went from recognizable actor to mega-super-duper movie star. In Roland Emmerich’s ID4 -- which essentially is the grandfather to Berg’s Battleship -- Smith eludes an alien spacecraft, forces this fast ship to crash, then tears the hatch on the craft open, punches the alien, and barks, “Welcome to Earth.” A similar battle ensues in the patriotic Battleship, only it’s a wounded Naval veteran boxing an alien. And when he connects a fight-stopping roundhouse, Berg slows his camera speed so the audience can thrill at the sight of four alien teeth getting knocked out. Welcome to Earth, indeed.

4) The Transformers skyscraper collapse.

Granted, Berg likely was working on the Battleship special effects long before Bay released last summer’s Dark of the Moon. But shots of a broken spaceship raining down on Japan and decimating skyscrapers called to mind the similar destruction re-enacted at the end of Bay’s Transformers sequel. Admittedly, there are only so many different ways you can show technologically advanced space creatures tearing down one of our planet’s tall buildings. But as one tower sliced in half and fell in on itself, I couldn’t help but think of Transformers 3 … and that’s not a good thing.

5) The Armageddon walk.

Speaking of Bay, one of his most recognizable shots makes its way into Berg’s Battleship. It's known as the Armageddon walk, and it occurs every time a full cast walks side-by-side toward destiny, preferably in slow-motion and, if John Woo is directing, with doves flying behind them. (Others call it the Reservoir Dogs walk. To-May-to, to-Mah-to, if you ask me.) Berg employs the signature strut with a band of senior citizens slo-mo walking across the once-defunct Missouri to solicit applause from a mainstream crowd. These veterans aren’t trying to split an asteroid in half, but their actions do ultimately save our planet, and for that, we’re forever grateful.

Battleship will mark the second enormously expensive film in the last two months to star Taylor Kitsch as a gruff, troublemaker hero who steps up to the plate when the world requires saving. His star turn in John Carter didn't do much for his career, and his blank and miscast performance in that film left a lot of people who loved his work on Friday Night Lights wondering if he was all that talented to begin with. But in Battleship he has the chance to redeem himself, and some people-- well, at least Katey-- think he shows that spark of star potential after all. Kristy, on the other hand, remembers him fondly as Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights, and didn't see anything to like at all about what he does in Battleship.

So-- is Taylor Kitsch movie star material, or is he a TV actor not ready for the big leagues? Katey and Kristy take on a Great Debate to find out. Pick a side and watch it all play out below.

?KATEY: ?So Kristy, just so we know where we both stand-- did you watch Friday Night Lights?

?KRISTY:? I did. All of it. Angie and I were actually re-imagining Battleship as a FNL sequel, with Minka Kelly and the girl who played Tara replacing Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna.

?KATEY?: Alright, I never watched the show. So not only is that joke lost on me, all existing affection for Tim Riggins is too. When I first saw Taylor Kitsch in John Carter a few months ago, he was basically a blank slate for me.

?KRISTY?: Okay, that's good to know going forward. I actually love him as Riggins.

?KATEY?: Well, I knew people loved him as Riggins, and I kind of went into John Carter hoping for that. But in that movie-- and I think we both agree on that-- he was just a disaster. Dull, directionless, totally miscast.

?KRISTY?: I actually didn't see John Carter. So seeing Battleship, I didn't hold that against him. I just thought he was pretty vacuous in Battleship, and lacked the charisma the role needed to pull the movie through so much absurdity.

?KATEY?: And knowing his work on Friday Night Lights, what do you think changed?

?KRISTY?: Well, in Friday Night Lights he plays Riggins, who is a bad boy on the surface but really is more a wounded soul. He wants to be good, but has no one that supports him in this. So he's an underdog you root for. But in Battleship he just seemed like an arrogant ass. That burrito scene did not endear me to him. It seemed like a meet-cute out of Cops.

?KATEY?: it sounds like you're giving more credit to the writing on both sides, which I guess makes sense-- the writing on FNL was surely better than what's in Battleship. But in this movie I felt like there was something he was getting across that the writing wasn't. Like he was written as a totally typical, rugged hero, but he brought a little extra danger and potential to the part.

?KRISTY?: I don't know. I felt like that part was written for Bruce Willis circa Die Hard - rugged, yes, but also requiring a winsome sort of smug self-confidence. I didn't get that from Kitsch. I didn't get much from him at all.

?KATEY?: I think I got more of the underdog thing that you saw in him in Friday Night Lights-- he's the last guy you want to count on, but he'll come through when the time calls for it. What it sounds like, though, is that might be the only role he's capable of playing. When he was on FNL, did you expect a good movie career for him?

?KRISTY?: I was actually surprised when he got John Carter because he didn't show a lot of range on FNL, but I thought that might have been the writing. I mean, his character was pretty guarded by nature. But I have yet to be as taken in by one of his movie roles.

?KATEY?: Well, I'm not going to go as far as to say he single-handedly redeemed Battleship for me. But he did seem to show potential there that totally didn't exist in John Carter, and whereas I wanted to write him off entirely two months ago, now I'm more interested. But talking to you, it sounds like I'm just at the point most FNL fans were 4 or 5 years ago.

?KRISTY?: Maybe. I think that's why I was disappointed. I've seen him play the guy no one depends on, but who can be a hero when need be. What I was missing here was an energy or...I don't know screen presence. Like imagine Jeremy Renner in that role. He would have brought such energy to the goings on, no matter how ridiculous. I thought Kitsch relied too heavily on his puppy eyes. I mean, he's very good looking - but what else?

?KATEY?: See, and I'm less convinced of Jeremy Renner's screen presence, but that's a different great debate entirely. Here's my final question: do you want Taylor Kitsch to have a movie career, or are you ready to give in?

?KRISTY?: I do. I like him in spite of being underwhelmed by Battleship, but I think he needs to take some time and supporting roles to develop as an actor. Of course, if Battleship takes off, I doubt that'll happen.

?KATEY?: I'm thinking Battleship won't take off, and that won't be a problem. And I'm with you on supporting roles, though I don't want to see him try some big stretch. I think Battleship was the first evidence for me of him being able to play the brooding, dangerous guy, maybe as a supporting character to the main action, but I think he can do it successfully. And once he can walk away from John Carter and Battleship-- which I don't think will do anything at all for his career-- maybe he can figure out how to do that. Like, hey, in Savages, which comes out in July.

?KRISTY?: That's true. That could prove interesting. Oliver Stone, the bestower of second chances!

?KATEY?: If it worked for George W. Bush, it can work for Taylor Kitsch.

?KRISTY?: And Blake Lively even.

?KATEY?: Oh boy, and that's the topic of our next "should this person be famous?" debate.

This poll is no longer available.

Though Savages is a dark drama about drug dealers and is directed by Oliver Stone, it includes among its cast Battleship star Taylor Kitsch and Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, which means it's got enough youth appeal for the trailer to premiere at MTV. You can see that very trailer below, in which we see Kitsch, Lively and Aaron Johnson living in idyllic drug-dealing paradise, until Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek show up and make everything go very, very wrong. See how wrong when you watch the trailer and we'll talk after.

Without Oliver Stone attached I might assume this was some forgettable exploitation movie about drugs and guns and hot women and violence beyond your imagination. But this is Stone, the guy who made Natural Born Killers and Platoon-- he understands violence and darkness in ways that have defined generations in the past, and after recent detours into disasters (Alexander) and odd retreads of the past (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), we might be seeing a return to form for the director, and a young cast who look eager to take on this next challenge.

Johnson, Kitsch and Lively all have something to prove-- Johnson looked like a breakout star after Kick-Ass but hasn't really followed through on it, Kitsch is coming off his wooden performance in John Carter, and Lively was last seen slightly adrift in the mess of Green Lantern. All three look like they'll have plenty to work with, especially bouncing off veterans like Hayek, del Toro and John Travolta. Savages comes to theaters July 6, as pretty canny counterprogramming to the usual big summer blockbusters. After seeing this trailer, do you think you'll check it out?

Taylor Kitsch seems kind of proud that he went through hell for John Carter. The actor's bare chest has been splashed on posters and TV spots for months now, in character as the Earthling, Civil War veteran John Carter who is suddenly transported to Mars-- and though Kitsch started his career as a hockey player and played the athletic Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights for years, you don't come by abs like that naturally. But the months of training and restrictive diet wasn't even the hard part-- try falling face first into dirt as hard as concrete take after take, or even playing the title character in a movie directed by Andrew Stanton, who has loved the John Carter of Mars books since he was a child. Kitsch had every reason to kill himself for the role-- and by all accounts, he did that and more.

It's kind of obvious to say it's fun to talk to Kitsch in person-- he's easy on the eyes, after all-- but in both our longer sit-down interview and the short video conversation, it was surprisingly fun and easy to strike up a conversation. He had just flown in from the South Pacific, where he was doing advance press for Battleship and shooting one last scene for the Oliver Stone drama Savages, and while it's clear how much affection he has for the massive experience of John Carter, he's even more excited for the many different roles he'll be playing this year. I talked to him briefly about Battleship and the expectations put upon him for two huge movies in a row, but we also went over the physical and emotional toll of John Carter, how a hockey career translated into acting after an injury, and how he's different as an actor thanks to the John Carter experience. Check out the video below, and beyond that, the transcript of our longer conversation. And of course, you can see John Carter in theaters everywhere now.

How does a hockey career turn into an acting career? Those two don't link up very often. What put the acting bug in your head?

It's a pet peeve of mine when actors are like, "I've been acting since I was 5," and they did a play or something at school. But I've always loved it. I loved telling stories, getting laughs. A lot of that kind of stuff. Like I was voted funniest person and shit at school-- I would do anything for a laugh. And hockey, I attribute so much of that to who I am now. The work ethic, the leadership, and I think I apply those tools into my work now.

And hockey gives you such a physical background that has to help you for something like this. But this is different from hockey. What do you have to relearn that's new for something like John Carter?

Being athletic helps so much, especially with the action, and what goes on in John Carter is so emotionally driven too. You learn and learn, and that work ethic comes into play with the sword training. I picked that up faster. The wire work, it helps being athletic so much. God knows it can take you out of it if these jumps look terrible. Those things are all just such a benefit.

You fall on your face in the dirt so many times when you're first learning to jump, it's like you're fearless going into these things.

That was a big thing for me, the sacrifice. It's part of the escape for me. I'm going to go all out to do that. Even when we were shooting the learning-to-jump falls, where he's getting so mad, that fucking hurt. Because that was like concrete, the dry lake bed. But I knew that it was just part of the whole thing, and that journey that he goes on. I would rather go do that than just get through it.

Andrew is pretty open about how much the story has meant to him since he was a kid. He's as attached to John Carter as anybody is. Did you guys have to link up in that attachment?

Yeah, in that respect, and that love for it. It's his childhood dream, and I come from a couple sides. One, it's an honor to bring life into his childhood dream, which is a trip to me. And the opportunity to bring somebody in emotionally, it's the biggest high I have. For me it makes it all worthwhile, the passing out from exhaustion, the 4:30 am wakeup for 7 months, the times where you're questioning why you do what you do, and then you get someone who says "That was fucking great," and you're like, "There you go."

I'm going to assume Battleship is not as heavy duty emotionally as John Carter. When you're done something like this and you're in every scene with all these emotions, does that make something like Battleship easier, or give you another perspective on how that works?

Yeah, I think it was with Pete [Berg] to reconcile with him, and we're so close. It's more fun and popcorn. These kids are going to die watching both movies, but with Battleship…And that was just me sitting down with Pete and going, there's got to be that emotional element as well, but it isn't as strong as JC.

Did you latch on to that emotional element more than you would have before John Carter?

Yeah, I tend to take myself so fucking seriously, so it was nice to go and have Pete take the piss out of me, like you know what, let's just make a fun movie. I needed that, and to do that and go to work with Pete and challenge each other. I think Battleship, I don't think people have seen much of the humor in me.

We haven't seen much of the humor of that at all in the trailers.

Yeah. But the humor of Hopper, it's quite hilarious, at least I think so. And it was just a cool moment for me as an actor, we can actually play some fun shit, do some real hysterical stuff.

There's a double-edged sword of having two movies out in one year, where you can have an amazing year, or people can get sick of you. Do you feel that pressure going into these two huge movies?

I ended on a note of Savages, and I'm telling people to buckle up for that. And that is a 180 character. That is what I'm very proud of, they're so different each one. I would be really apprehensive if each character was super similar, then I'm kind of fucked. But yeah, I'm not going to lie, you can work yourself up and have that anxiety. But that's why I work myself so hard. No matter what you say or anyone says, I wouldn't change what I put into it.

The title of the Peter Berg-directed Lone Survivor may make it sound like it will be a one-man show, but let's hope that's not the case because the trio of talent that could board the film would be totally wasted if the project only focused on one of them.

According to Deadline, Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster are currently in talks to sign on for the new Berg movie, which was first announced last May. The movie is based on the book by Marcus Luttrell about a group of four Navy SEALs who were captured by the Taliban while on a mission to kill a terrorist leader in 2005. As you can probably guess by now, Wahlberg, Kitsch and Foster, should they sign on, will play three of the four members of the team with Wahlberg taking the role of Luttrell.

Berg wrote the script for the film after being embedded with a SEAL team in Iraq, though this isn't the filmmakers first time in the desert as he previously directed The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. While this would be the first time that both Foster and Wahlberg have worked with Berg as a director, Kitsch has worked with him closely, both on the television series Friday Night Lights - which Berg co-created - and Battleship, which is due out this summer.

Navy SEALs seem to be the "in" thing these days, with Act of Valor opening at number one last weekend and movies like Kathryn Bigelow's untitled Kill Bin Laden project and John Stockwell's Code Name: Geronimo currently in development. Let's just pray that Hollywood doesn't let the bubble burst like they let happen with vampires.

John Carter may not be the most heavily publicized or anticipated film of 2012, but if our hunches are correct, it might turn out to be one of the best. As crazy as this outer space adventure looks, it doesn't take much knowledge to predict John Carter will be good-- after all, it's directed by Andrew Stanton, the Pixar genius behind Wall-E and Finding Nemo, making his live-action directorial debut. If you scoff at the idea of an animation director switching over to real live actors, you clearly didn't see Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, which transferred the high-flying energy of The Incredibles to the real world with amazing skill.

Still, selling the world on a new Tom Cruise adventure is one thing-- getting people excited to see Taylor Kitsch in a loincloth riding outerspace monsters is another thing entirely. But the effort continues with the latest poster for the movie's Spanish release, posted by Andromeda High. Check it out below:

I'm not really sure what those elephant monster type things are, but I know that they're just the beginning of the crazy stuff Civil War soldier John Carter encounters when he's somehow transported to Mars. As much as i don't yet understand about the world of this movie, I hope they don't actually overexplain it-- it's a rare thing to see a story you're not that familiar with at the movies these days, and even though John Carter is based on the century-old stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it's going to be new to a lot of people. Let's let the mystery last a little longer, at least until the movie's release on March 9.

A couple weeks ago, we got our very first look at Peter Berg’s Battleship, a trailer which boasted aliens, a "game board" shot, and weaponry that, you guessed it, looked like pegs from the classic HASBRO board game. After all this, if you didn’t facepalm yourself into a concussion you’re a far more tolerant man than I.

Unfortunately, the trailer proved that this movie is definitely happening and if you still weren’t convinced you weren’t in some sort of fever dream then this new image released from the film will clear your mind. Absent from the trailer was any footage of pop mega-star Rihanna, but we get the chance to see her here wielding (read: standing near) a boat-mounted minigun looking confused. Scope it our below courtesy of Rhianna Daily.

Sure, it’s nice to see Rihanna's spreading her wings and out celebrity-ing professional douchebag Chris Brown, but the fact that she’s in this movie doesn’t elevate it any higher than Liam Neeson has. Once this movie spends its (probably short) life at the box office, expect to see it exactly where you’ll find old versions of the game--on the bottom shelf behind other stuff that is better than it.

This will be Rihanna's first outing as an actress so expect to see her creep her way in to films even if this movie does belly flop into the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Where do you stand on Battleship? Am I justly bitter, or am I being a film curmudgeon? Sound off in the comments below.

Though it's based on some pretty well-loved source material, the novel John Carter of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the upcoming John Carter is a pretty big question mark-- after all, it's not like a ton of your average moviegoers are up to date on their serialized characters from the 1910s. So as Disney starts marketing the film, which comes to theaters March 9 next year, they seem to be building up the mystery. At least that's what I'm getting from the first teaser poster, which debuted today at Apple, and gives us pretty much nothing beyond the stylized letters "JCM" and a dark photo of star Taylor Kitsch looking pretty concerned. Take a look below.

Kitsch plays the titular character, an American soldier inexplicably transported to Mars, but a lot of character actors you probably love round out the cast, including Willem Dafoe, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Haden Church, Samantha Morton, and Sinestro himself, Mark Strong. The film is the live-action directing debut for Andrew Stanton, who made two of Pixar's best films with Finding Nemo and Wall-E; he'll have a chance to bring some of his animation skills too, though, as many of the space creatures will involve motion capture animation. Below is the full synopsis for the film that came along with the poster; it'll probably be a while before we see actual footage from the film, but if there's not some kind of promotion at Comic Con next month, I'll be quite surprised.

Behind every great man, there’s a great woman, right? Well, that’s certainly the case with the Bang Bang Club. While the real life photographer foursome risked their lives snapping images in the violent townships of South Africa at the end of Apartheid in the early 90s, photo editor Robin Comley held things together at the office, ensuring their work was seen and also just keeping them as level-headed as possible while working in the midst of such a devastating environment.

In the film version of the Bang Bang Club’s story, Malin Akerman assumes the role of Robin Comley. The film kicks off as Greg Marinovich (Ryan Phillippe) is inducted into the group and hits the dirt alongside Kevin Carter, Joao Silva and Ken Oosterbroek (Taylor Kitsch, Neels Van Jaarsveld, Frank Rautenbach). Together they were seemingly unstoppable, dashing into the line of fire with no-fear attitudes and catching a slew of visually stimulating, some award winning, images. However, ultimately the danger and horror of the situation seeps in and the group is rattled emotionally and physically.

Akerman has revisited an old role in The Heartbreak Kid and brought a graphic novel character to life in Watchmen, but there’s really nothing like portraying a real person on the big screen. Akerman was fortunate enough not only to meet Robin Comley, but to shoot the film in the same exact location in which the real events took place. Just before the film's Tribeca Film Festival debut, Akerman sat down to tell us all about her experience in South Africa, from working with Comley to diving into the local culture, shooting a particularly emotional scene in the film and much more. Hear it all for yourself in the video interview below.

It’s quite obvious why a group of photographers preferred the name The Bang Bang Club to The Bang Bang Paparazzi. Then again, what do you call a team who makes a living snapping combat photos never lifting a finger to help the innocent? Smartly, writer-director Steven Silver let’s you decide that for yourself, not turning his first feature narrative, based on a true story, into a message film, rather an experience making it all the more profound.

The Bang Bang Club opens with Kevin Carter (Taylor Kitsch) in the midst of a radio interview focusing on his line of work. After being stumped by a question probing for what he thinks makes a good photo, we cut to four years earlier, April 1994, post Apartheid South Africa. When photographer Greg Marinovich (Ryan Phillippe) boldly treks into a notoriously violent workers hostel and not only survives, but emerges with a selection of fantastic pictures, he’s initiated into a group of photographers who work together to capture the violence regardless of the risk.

Kevin, Greg, Ken Oosterbroek (Frank Rautenbach) and Joao Silva (Neels Van Jaarsveld) go from township to township on the lookout for anything and everything dangerous. Seemingly indestructible, the team dodges bullets and soaks in some of the most horrific visuals without letting their composure crack in the slightest. However, there’s just so long their good fortune lasts and ultimately not only do they pay the price mentally, but physically, too.

The Bang Bang Club starts off rather slow. While Kevin’s radio interview turns out to be a rather nice bookend, it makes for an uninteresting opening. However, once we’re in the battlefield alongside the photographers, the pace really starts to pick up. On the other hand, what doesn’t increase is the amount of character development. It takes a long time to get to know these guys. While we learn a lot about what they do and the rules of the game, watching them jump from street fight to street fight, it isn’t until about halfway through that we really get to know who they are as people and not just as photographers.

Luckily, Silver has the backdrop of the final days of apartheid to hold you over until we can get into the characters’ heads. The daily events during this time are disturbing, but intriguing. Silver shows just enough gruesome imagery to make you understand the devastation, but never goes overboard, always keeping you itching for more. It’s this interest in the state of the region that keeps you engaged until the characters are developed to the point that they can take you the rest of the way.

Both Rautenbach and Van Jaarsveld assume supporting positions, but make waves with them. Their characters’ idiosyncrasies are so well conveyed that even with less screen time than Kitsch and Phillippe, you really feel like you know them and, in turn, honestly care for them. However, this is certainly more Kitsch and Phillippe’s show. Both Kevin and Greg have incredible arcs, starting off as determined and upbeat, but then being consumed by the horrors their career packs.

While Kitsch does an excellent job taking Kevin from happy-go-lucky to deeply disturbed, it’s Phillippe’s transformation that’s the easier to identify with and Silver knows it. We do see quite a bit of the other three men, but the camera appropriately always comes back to Phillippe and he makes good use of the additional screen time. Greg is likeable right from the start. He’s a little naïve, but proves he does know what he’s doing and has good intentions. As the dreadful events seep through his skin, they infiltrate the audience’s as well and when Greg starts to break down you feel it, too.

Further rounding out his character is his love interest. Robin Comley (Malin Akerman). She’s the photo editor so doesn’t hit the ground running with the guys, but after a long day’s work, the action always shifts back to the safety of the town in which their headquarters is located and, in turn, lands Greg back into her arms. The relationship kicks off a little abruptly, but ultimately the chemistry is strong enough that there’s no denying the romance is real. You’d think hanging back as an editor would leave Akerman out of the action, but a surprisingly significant amount of tension arises from the seemingly simple editorial decisions. However, at one point she does accompany Greg on one of his exploits and while there’s little danger in this particular moment, the sequence is quite intense.

In addition to the situation in South Africa and the lives of these photographers, Silver artfully slips in the morality of their job. At first, you catch yourself wondering how they can just watch people die, but soon you’re swept up in the high of the gig, much like The Bang Bang Club. When the glory dulls for them, it does for you, too and that conflict of integrity begins to creep in. Silver never rubs it in your face, rather lets the concept simmer until it’s opportune to boil over so as to be impactful without being imposing.

Silver really almost nails it with The Bang Bang Club. The handheld shooting style is wildly appropriate, the action captured in an all-encompassing yet perspective manner and the performances are of the best quality resulting in piece with the power to stick with you long after the credits roll. There are a number of minor issues including some extremely short and expendable scenes and a confusing time lapse, but these are mere minimal bumps in the road of what’s an incredibly exciting yet troubling film.

When Oliver Stone first started putting together his upcoming drug-trafficking drama Savages, attempting to bring in Jennifer Lawrence to play one of the major roles, he was already eyeing Benicio del Toro to play the enforcer for a Mexican drug cartel who threatens some small-time pot dealers and their shared girlfriend (Lawrence). Now del Toro is getting ready to make it official; according to Deadline he's in talks for the film, which will star Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch as the Laguna Beach-based drug dealers but no longer has Lawrence thanks to The Hunger Games.

With the men on board Stone is now looking to set up the female roles, "casting a wide net" for the girlfriend role Lawrence was set to play, and also considering Salma Hayek for a role as the "Mexican drug cartel matriarch," though nothing is set in stone yet. Hayek's character is actually the one starting all the trouble in the film, sending del Toro to force the drug-dealing to work for her; when they refuse, he kidnaps the girlfriend, O, and demands a fortune in ransom. The plot sounds soapy and potential ridiculous, but the caliber of actors Stone is bringing on board gives it a little added potential. Universal is looking into acquiring the film, which presumably starts shooting soon given Lawrence's Hunger Games conflict.

Liam Neeson used to make movies like Schindler's List, Nell and Michael Collins. He's an Oscar nominated actor who made his name in heavy dramas. Apparently he doesn't really care about that anymore. Deadline reports that Neeson has joined the cast of Peter Berg's Battleship. In the film, the actor will play Admiral Shane, the father of Brooklyn Decker's character. The film co-stars Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgaard, and Rihanna.

Seventeen years ago, Neeson played the title role in a Steven Spielberg film widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time - a historical drama in which his character does everything in his power to help the Jewish people under persecution from the Nazis. Now he's playing a background character in a movie based on a board game that will likely see a pop star have higher billing then him. The man seriously needs to fire his agent.

Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch and True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard are leading the cast of Peter Berg's Battleship movie, but apparently that's enough "real" actors for one film. Just a few weeks after hiring RIhanna to make her acting debut, Berg has cast Victoria's Secret model Brooklyn Decker, according to Latino Review.

Decker is not to be confused with fellow Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is starring in Transformers 3, though how we're supposed to tell the difference between these nubile blondes is beyond me. Also a Sports Illustrated cover model, Decker, has long been famous for her looks and her marriage to Andy Roddick, but lately has been making the transition into acting, with guest spots on Chuck and Royal Pains and a part in the upcoming romantic comedy Just Go With It.

I'm not sure if they didn't want to hire an experienced actress out of fear of making Rihanna look bad or if the female roles in this movie are really that inconsequential, but the fact that Battleship will star a pop star and a model probably tells us a lot about what to expect here. I guess if the explosions and alien special effects are good enough, we may at least not notice the leading ladies have no idea what they're doing-- hey, it worked for Megan Fox in Transformers.

He was one of the better things about X-Men Origins: Wolverine and next year you’ll see him as the lead in John Carter of Mars. Now he’s been cast in Battleship and Taylor Kitsch seems well on his way to being the next Sam Worthington.

THR says director Peter Berg has cast Kitsch to play a naval commander named Alex Hopper. The character is described as “wildly spirited” and “a great seaman but a lousy politician.” Hopefully he’s also good at killing aliens because even though the movie’s based on the decidedly not sci-fi board game of the same name, this Battleship is a sci-fi movie with an alien invasion plot.

Disney’s John Carter of Mars adaptation has both its John Carter and Dejah Thoris. THR reports that Taylor Kitsch, last seen as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine will play John Carter. Lynn Collins, who also appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as Logan’s girlfriend Kayla Silverfox, will be Deja Thoris.

John Carter of Mars is still being helmed by Pixar notable Andrew Stanton who has never worked on a live action movie before. Instead, he’s been the director of such instant Pixar classics as Finding Nemo and WALL-E. They are, unfortunately, also Pixar’s sappiest movies. It’s hard to imagine this guy handling the world of John Carter, talented though he is.

Still, maybe this will work. Dejah Thoris will be forced to wear clothes of course, because it’s Disney, but maybe that’s the only compromise they’ll have to make… if we’re lucky. On the other hand John Carter of Mars is about a bloody, brutal Martian civil war; material which doesn’t exactly lend it to the doggedly family friendly tone of most of Disney’s movies. I just don't see it. At least Kitsch and Collins sort of look the part.

Lynn Collins

Taylor Kitsch