We’re living in a world of reboots and legacy sequels — which isn’t likely to change with 2026’s movie releases — but at least with Jack Black and Paul Rudd’s latest adventure, we can expect a remake that’s wildly different from the original. Anaconda centers around buddies who set out to film an amateur version of the 1997 cult classic, only to happen upon their own serpentine killer. Critics have seen the movie, and they mostly agree it’s not as much fun as it thinks it is.

Along with Paul Rudd and Jack Black, the upcoming action movie stars Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton, and adding to the meta-ness of it all, Ice Cube makes his return. Moviegoers’ first reactions praised it for its comedy and surprising amount of heart, but Matt Donato of IGN is definitely not a fan, giving the movie a “Bad” 4 out of 10 for making a mockery out of the beloved, perfectly cheesy 1997 original. For such an outside-the-box concept, Anaconda reads generic, with potty humor, overplayed needledrops and Tropic Thunder-esque pyrotechnics. Donato says:

William Bibbiani of The Wrap says the big-budget remake feels like it’s punching down at the actual Anaconda sequels and those who enjoy them. If you’re going to make a movie about how ridiculous the 1997 movie is, Bibbiani says, you have to actually be better than it and its sequels. Instead we get potty humor and side plots that go nowhere and aren’t fun. The critic concludes:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire rates the meta-sequel a C, calling it a “soggy first draft” that is so “shoddily made” that it completely undermines the fun that it’s meant to celebrate. Ehrlich does, however, enjoy that there are two jokes made at Jon Voight’s expense. The critic writes:

It’s not all bad, though. Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence says it’s OK for a movie to just be funny without digging too deep. The critic gives the movie a B, admitting that it’s far less scary than the original, purposely trading horror for laughs. Miller writes:

As a fan of 1997’s Anaconda, I’m pretty disappointed to read that critics aren’t enjoying this reboot. With 76 critics weighing in on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing, only 50 percent have given the movie a positive score. However, there’s no denying Jack Black and Paul Rudd’s comedic potential, so if this is a title you’ve been looking forward to, don’t let the critics stop you!

Anaconda is in theaters now.

There’s just something special about 1997’s Anaconda starring Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, so I was definitely intrigued when it was announced that a new version was coming, especially since the remake is going in a wildly different direction. Paul Rudd and Jack Black star in the new Anaconda movie (and would it even be Anaconda without the Friday star?). Screenings have started for the upcoming action movie ahead of its Christmas Day release, and first reactions indicate we’re in some laughs --- and a surprising amount of heart.

Naturally, Jack Black and Paul Rudd are giving the Anaconda remake a comedic spin, starring as Doug and Griff, who set out for the Amazon to shoot an amateur remake of the 1997 cult classic (how meta!), only for it to turn into a fight for their own survival. Critic Simon Thompson calls it the “popcorn movie of the holiday season,” posting:

Hunter Bolding of The Hashtag Show writes that the kills are good and the snake itself is “pretty fearsome.” More from Bolding:

Cris Parker also comments on the shocking amount of genuine emotion evoked through this buddy comedy, which doesn’t take away from the laughs, because this critic says he was “wheezing”:

Mollie Damon says its 100-minute runtime goes down easy and is reminiscent of those feel-good stoner comedies of years past. Damon writes:

Taylor Gonzales says he also got throwback vibes from the Jack Black-Paul Rudd bromance, and with so many comedies going straight to streaming, Gonzales notes how good it is to see this one hit theaters, writing:

Andre Saint-Albin posts that this is the perfect holiday stress reliever with “big laughs & a bigger snake!” I love to read that the trailer apparently doesn’t spoil some “awesome surprises.” Saint-Albin continues:

Klepcx says this is how you reboot an IP, with Anaconda balancing its “unhinged” humor with a surprising softness:

Peter Gray of the AU Review is surprised as how much he liked this film, putting it in the same wheelhouse as a classic Ben Stiller satire:

It’s great to see so many positive early reactions to the Anaconda remake, because it’s risky to mess with perfection! If you’re excited to see how Paul Rudd and Jack Black play this new action/adventure horror, be sure to check out the reboot when it hits the big screen on Thursday, December 25.

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

People, it’s time we give Wednesday Season 2 all the snaps, because the cast they just announced is next level. Of course, our favorite leading lady, Jenna Ortega, and her beloved Nevermore crew, including Emma Myers' Enid Sinclair, are coming back. However, the excitement really ramps up when you see the new additions. While we knew about Steve Buscemi joining the Wednesday cast, now we also know that the OG Uncle Fester, Christopher Lloyd is going to be on the show too, along with many others, and now is 100% the time to get pumped about the return of the Netflix megahit. 

Christopher Lloyd Is Set To Return To The World Of The Addams Family 

That’s right, you read that correctly, Christopher Lloyd, AKA the original Uncle Fester from The Addams Family movies, is joining the Wednesday cast as a guest star this season!

At the moment, we don’t know who Lloyd will be playing. However, it is logical that he won’t be reprising the role of Fester, because Fred Armisen plays that part on Wednesday – however, we don’t know if the SNL vet will be back for Season 2 yet. 

Based on Season 1, which saw the OG Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci, playing Marilyn Thornhill, I assume Lloyd will be a new character in Season 2. 

While it’s unclear if Ricci will be coming back to Wednesday, if she does, it’d be very fun to see her and Lloyd share a few scenes. Maybe he could play her assistant, seeing them be evil together would be such a blast!

Overall, I love that Wednesday is keeping its streak going of casting OG Addams Family cast members in the show. However, there’s a lot more to get excited about, because Season 2’s ensemble not only includes Christopher Lloyd, but a whole slew of incredible actors. 

The Entire Season 2 Cast Of Wednesday Is Fabulous 

I promised that the Season 2 Wednesday cast is super stacked, and I’m about to live up to it. 

To announce that Season 2 of the Addams Family spinoff was in production, Netflix’s Wednesday account dropped a video on their social platforms that showed Thing delivering scripts to the cast. 

Thing dropped off scripts to our established regulars like Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia), Emma Myers (Enid) and Joy Sunday (Bianca). 

It also delivered scripts to new additions, which included Steve Buscemi who will be playing someone named Barry Dort. This video also revealed that Doctor Who’s Billie Piper will be playing Capri, and Westworld’s Thandiwe Newton is joining the cast as Dr. Fairburn. 

Many other incredibly exciting guest stars and new regulars were also announced through this video. This includes The Sixth Sense’s Haley Joel Osment and Scream’s Heather Matarazzo as well as Frances O’Connor and Joonas Suotamo. Overall, I’m so here for Wednesday adding even more actors who are known for their work in the horror, sci-fi and/or fantasy genres. 

Finally, to make matters even more exciting, Netflix posted a cast photo confirming that the majority of the regulars will be back. However, notably, Percy Hynes White, Jamie McShane and Naomi J. Ogawa, will not be returning. 

Personally, considering the questions I had after Season 1 of Wednesday, I’m thrilled that Hunter Doohan is coming back as Tyler, so we can continue to see the story about his monster play out. Along with him, I can’t wait to see Ortega and Myers back on screen, because I always need more Enid and Wednesday in my life. In fact, seeing more of their friendship is one of the changes I’m hoping Season 2 of Wednesday implements.  

All-in-all this massive announcement deserves all the snaps, because it really solidifies the fact that Season 2 of Wednesday is ready to rock, and I can’t wait to see it. This cast truly is one-of-a-kind, especially with the additions of legends like Christopher Lloyd, Thandiwe Newton and Steve Buscemi. Now, the countdown is truly on as we wait for the sophomore season of The Addams Family spinoff.

As we learn more about Season 2 of Wednesday, we’ll keep you posted. As for what you can do while you wait, you can stream Season 1 of the series with a Netflix subscription, and make sure to check out the 2024 TV schedule to find other shows to watch until the premiere of the next season of this incredibly well-cast show. 

If you’re looking for a great family movie on Netflix or want to check out a modern stop-motion animation film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the long-awaited sequel to the 2001 film starring Mel Gibson as a rooster who helps a group of hens escape a terrible yet delicious fate, is going to do just the trick. While Gibson isn’t back this time around (he’s been replaced by a great choice), several of the other voice actors from the original are back for another round of action.

Stick around as we break down the Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget cast, including those returning stars and new additions to the ensemble. There’s much to go over, so let’s get this show on the road… 

Thandiwe Newton (Ginger)

Kicking things off is Thandiwe Newton, who takes on the role of Ginger, a.k.a., “The Wing Leader,” in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, taking over for Julia Sawalha from the original animated film. An actress we’d like to see return to the Mission: Impossible franchise, Newtown has been in a little bit of everything over the years including great sci-fi series like Westworld and a list of movies that includes For Colored Girls, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Zachary Levi (Rocky)

Taking over for Mel Gibson in the Chicken Run sequel is Zachary Levi, who provides the voice of Rocky, the rooster who helped Ginger and company escape last time. No stranger to the world of animation, Levi has voiced characters in Tangled, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again, and several episodes of Robot Chicken. All of that is on top of starring roles in Shazam!, American Underdog, and two of the Thor movies.

Bella Ramsey (Molly)

Bella Ramsey, who received a Golden Globe nomination for their role in The Last of Us, also appears in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, in which they portray Rocky and Ginger’s young daughter, Molly. In addition to playing Ellie on the smash HBO video game adaptation and Lady Mormont, a Game of Thrones character who wasn't present that much, Ramsey has voiced characters in movies like Hilda and the Mountain King, Turtle Journey, and Princess Enemy.

Romesh Ranganathan (Nick)

Romesh Ranganathan joins in on the fun of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget as Nick, one of the rats who helps the chicks' plan. A prolific stand-up comedian, Ranganathan recorded a handful of specials over the years in addition to making dozens of appearances on various talk and late-night shows. He previously voiced Romesh the Mouse in the 2021 Amazon original movie, Cinderella.

Daniel Mays (Fetcher)

Daniel Mays shows up in the Chicken Run sequel as Fetcher, another rodent friend of the core group of chickens who helps with their big plan. Over the years, Mays has appeared in movies like Atonement, The Adventures of Tintin, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and 1917 to name a few.

Peter Serafinowicz (Reginald Smith)

Peter Serafinowicz portrays one of the humans in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, a businessman named Reginald Smith. One of the actors who appeared in Star Wars and Marvel movies (The Phanom Menace and Guardians of the Galaxy), Serafinowicz has been quite the busy actor over the years, also appearing in films like Hot Fuzz, John Wick: Chapter 2, and Sing.

Miranda Richardson (Mrs. Tweedy)

Miranda Richardson is back again as the villainous Mrs. Tweedy, the big bad from the original Chicken Run who wants nothing more than revenge. A two-time Academy Award nominee (Damage and Tom & Viv), Richardson has given one tremendous performance after another over the years, including in movies like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Stronger, and The Hours.

Nick Mohammed (Dr. Fry)

Nich Mohammed, who is best known for his portrayal of Nate Shelley on Ted Lasso, voices Dr. Fry, Mrs. Tweedy’s new husband, in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. When he’s not playing the lovable-then-detestable-and-then-lovable-again character on the popular Apple TV+ original series, Mohammed has popped up in movies like Christopher Robin (he voiced Piglet) and The Martian, as well as a long list of TV shows.

Imelda Staunton (Bunty)

Imelda Staunton, who previously appeared in Chicken Run, is back for the sequel, once again providing the voice of Bunty. The release of the 2023 Netflix film comes just one day after Staunton’s final set of episodes on The Crown debuted on the platform, making December a big month for the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix actress.

Jane Horrocks (Babs)

Jane Horrocks is back again as Babs, the hen with a love for knitting, in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Between movies like The Witches, Corpse Bride, and Swimming with Men, the Absolutely Fabulous actress has been quite busy throughout her decades-long career.

David Bradley (Fowler)

David Bradley portrays Fowler the rooster in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, a role that was originally played by the late Benjamin Whitrow in the 2000 animated film. Though some may have forgotten he was in the MCU, no one can forget Bradley’s portrayal of the diabolical Walder Frey on Game of Thrones or Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies.

Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle)

Josie Sedgwick-Davies is another new addition to the Chicken Run family with her portrayal of Frizzle. Unlike most of the actors in the cast, this is Sedgwick-Davies’ first movie.

Lynn Ferguson (Mac)

Lynn Ferguson shows up in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget as Mac, Ginger’s trusty assistant from the first movie. Over the years, Ferguson has appeared on shows like No Angels, Blessed, and The Bill, to name a few, but she is more known for her stand-up comedy and writing duties on The Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Well, hopefully, this helps you make sense of the Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget cast and why they all sound so familiar. The movie, along with the original Chicken Run, is currently available to anyone with a Netflix subscription, which will also give you access to some incredible original 2024 movies and TV shows in the very near future.

Stream Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget on Netflix.

I have always appreciated when people follow in the footsteps of their famous parents. In fact, I think it is fun to see actors collaborate with their own children on-screen, of which there are more than enough examples. The following are 30 of our favorite movies and TV shows that proved to be a family affair for the stars involved.

Adam, Jackie, Sadie, And Sunny Sandler (You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah)

Not only did producer Adam Sandler star as the father of two girls played by his real daughters, Sadie and Sunny, in the You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah cast in 2023. The Netflix original coming-of-age dramedy also stars the comedian’s wife, Jackie, while Idina Menzel handled the role of Adam’s onscreen spouse.

Andie MacDowell And Margaret Qualley (MAID)

According to MAID developer Molly Smith Metzler, it was actually star Margaret Qualley who brought up the idea of casting her own mother, Andie MacDowell, as her character’s mother. The Golden Globe-nominated Four Weddings and Funeral star plays Paula (a woman with severe bipolar disorder) opposite the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast member in the Netflix original miniseries based on Stephanie Land’s memoir.

Angelina Jolie And Vivienne Jolie-Pitt (Maleficent)

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt gave her debut (and, so far, sole) onscreen acting performance opposite her mother, Angelina Jolie, in 2014’s Maleficent — a live-action reimagining of Sleeping Beauty from the villain’s perspective. According to Vanity Fair, the then-5-year-old got the part of a younger version of Elle Fanning’s character, Aurora, because other children were too afraid of the Academy Award winner in full makeup and costume in the title role.

Ben And Jerry Stiller And Anne Meara (Various)

Ben Stiller shared the screen with both of his late parents, legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, multiple times — the first being the 1989 mockumentary, That’s Adequate, followed by 1991 horror-comedy, Highway to Hell. Ben later played a sadistic fitness guru who purchases a youth weight loss camp from his parents’ characters in Disney’s 1995 summer comedy movie, Heavyweights, before casting them 2001’s Zoolander, with Jerry as Maury Ballstein and Meara cameoing as an egg-throwing protester.

Billy Ray, Miley, And Noah Cyrus (Doc, Hannah Montana)

Both Miley Cyrus and her sister, Noah, made their acting debuts on the medical drama, Doc, which was led by their musician father, Billy Ray Cyrus. Years later, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer took a supporting role on Miley’s smash hit Disney Channel show, Hannah Montana, which Noah would also appear on in various unnamed roles.

Brendan, Domhnall, And Brian Gleeson (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 1, Frank Of Ireland)

Brendan Gleeson reprised Mad-Eye Moody in the penultimate installment of the Harry Potter movies, which also starred his son, Domhnall, as Ron Weasley’s older brother, Bill, in 2010. More than a decade later, the Academy Award nominee starred opposite the Star Wars movies actor and his younger son, Brian, in an episode of their Amazon Prime comedy series, Frank of Ireland, as a new boyfriend of the title character’s mother.

Blythe Danner And Gwyneth Paltrow (Sylvia)

In 2003, Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow played the title role of a biopic about Sylvia Plath. To play the renowned writer and poet’s mother, Aurelia, Paltrow’s real-life mother, Tony and Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner was cast.

Chris, Tristan, And India Hemsworth (Thor: Love And Thunder)

After his older brother, Luke, portrayed his comic book character in a play in Thor: Ragnarok, Chris Hemsworth made 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder a real family affair. Not only would Luke return, but Chris’s son, Tristan, appeared as the title character’s younger self in a flashback and his daughter, India, played Gorr the God Butcher’s daughter, Love.

Clint And Scott Eastwood (Gran Torino, Trouble With The Curve)

The first time Clint Eastwood acted alongside his son, Scott, was in 2007’s Gran Torino for a scene in which — as the Suicide Squad star claimed to Conan O’Brien — his father threw a few unscripted insults toward his character. Five years later, Scott starred in the baseball movie Trouble with the Curve as a minor leaguer discovered by his father’s character.

Damon Wayans And Damon Wayans Jr. (Blankman, My Wife And Kids, Happy Together)

Daman Wayans Jr. debuted as the younger version of his father’s character — aspiring superhero, Kevin — in the funny ‘90s movie Blankman, before landing a recurring role on his sitcom, My Wife and Kids, and later inviting him to play his dad on his own sitcom, Happy Together. In early 2023, Deadline reported that the Wayans are developing a new sitcom that will pair them up as an on-screen father-son duo once again.

Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, And Rumer Willis (Various)

Rumer Willis’ first two acting gigs were alongside her mother, Demi Moore, as Angela Albertson in the underrated ‘90s movie, Now and Then, and as the daughter of Moore’s character in the classic stripper movie, Striptease. The actor and singer’s next two roles would be alongside her father, Bruce Willis, with an uncredited cameo in the 2000 comedy, The Whole Nine Yards, and as the daughter of Willis’ character in the 2005 thriller, Hostage.  

Donald And Kiefer Sutherland (A Time To Kill, Forsaken)

The first time Donald and Kiefer Sutherland appeared in a movie together — namely 1996’s A Time to Kill — Donald played a civil rights lawyer and Kiefer played a vicious white supremacist. Nearly two decades later, the father and son played a father and son in a western called Forsaken.

Eugene, Dan, And Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek)

The Schitt’s Creek cast has more than two related actors in it. Eugene Levy and his son, Dan (who also created the hit sitcom together), play Johnny Rose and his son, David, and Dan’s sister, Sarah, also stars as Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands.

George And Mayan Lopez (Lopez Vs. Lopez)

Comedian George Lopez teamed up with his daughter, Mayan, and Debby Wolfe to create the NBC sitcom, Lopez vs. Lopez. The series — which  was renewed for a second season, according to Variety — also stars George and Mayan as a father and daughter forced to reconnect after year when they have no choice but to move in together.

Henry And Jane Fonda (On Golden Pond)

The 1981 film adaptation of the acclaimed play On Golden Pond was a very special moment in Henry Fonda’s career. In addition to being his final performance, which earned him a Best Actor Oscar, it saw him share the screen with his real-life daughter, Jane, who played his estranged daughter.

Johnny And Lily-Rose Depp (Tusk, Yoga Hosers)

A nearly unrecognizable Johnny Depp plays Guy LaPointe in Kevin Smith’s bizarre A24 horror movie, 2014’s Tusk, which also stars his daughter, Lily-Rose, as a convenience store employee. When Smith made a spin-off in 2016 focusing on Lily-Rose and Harley Quinn Smith’s characters called Yoga Hosers, Depp reprised the French-Canadian P.I. as well.

Judy Garland And Liza Minnelli (In The Good Old Summertime, The Judy Garland Show)

As The Guardian recalls, the multi-talented Liza Minnelli was just three years old  when she made her acting debut with a brief cameo at the end of 1949’s In the Good Old Summertime, alongside her mother — the iconic Judy Garland. The Wizard of Oz star later invited her daughter to perform with her on her variety program, The Judy Garland Show, in the early 1960s.

Kirk, Diana, Michael, And Cameron Douglas (It Runs In The Family)

It Runs in the Family, marks a rare instance of a movie starring three generations of an actor family. It stars Kirk Douglas and his former wife, Diana, as the father and mother of a man played by their real son, Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, whose own actual son, Cameron, also stars as his eldest son in the 2003 dramedy.

Leslie Mann And Iris and Maude Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40)

Leslie Mann’s character in 2007’s Knocked Up and its 2012 quasi-sequel, This is 40, is married to writer/director Judd Apatow in real life. Their children, Iris and Maude — the latter of which went on to star in the Euphoria cast as Lex Howard -- appear in both This is 40 and Knocked Up with Leslie Mann.

Martin And Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez are celebrity siblings who have acted together multiple times, including once with their father, Martin Sheen, with small roles in Badlands. However, every other time the actors appeared alongside Martin was individually — with Charlie in Wall Street, Cadence, and Hot Shots, most notably, and with Estevez in In the Custody of Strangers and The Way.

Meryl Streep And Mamie Gummer (Heartburn, Evening, Ricki And The Flash)

When speaking to Jimmy Fallon, Mamie Gummer looked back on her acting debut as a toddler in the 1986 dramedy Heartburn, which was led by her mother, Academy Award winner Meryl Streep. More than twenty years later, Gummer played her mother’s younger self in the 2007 romantic drama, Evening, before playing her estranged daughter in 2015’s Ricki and the Flash.

Ralph And Julia Macchio (Cobra Kai)

Ralph Macchio’s daughter, Julia, has made a name for herself as an actor in movies like Girl Most Likely and shows like Showtime’s City on a Hill. She would share the screen with her father on a couple episodes of Netflix’s Karate Kid sequel series, Cobra Kai, as Daniel LaRusso’s cousin, Vanessa — a young, but highly skilled, child psychology grad student.

Ryan And Tatum O’Neal (Paper Moon)

According to Collider, the record for youngest Oscar winner is still held by Tatum O’Neal for her performance in 1973’s Paper Moon. Her character in the crime dramedy directed by the late Peter Bogdanovich is a precocious, Depression-era orphan who teams up with a con artist who could be her father, played the actor’s actual father, Ryan O’Neal.

Robin And Zelda Williams (In Search Of Dr. Seuss, Nine Months, House Of D)

Zelda Williams had her first taste of show business with her father -- Academy Award winner Robin Williams -- right beside her in the 1994 TV movie In Search of Dr. Seuss and the following year with her small role in the Hugh Grant-led rom-com, Nine Months. Her first starring role in a theatrically released film was in 2004’s House of D, which also marked the third and final time she acted alongside her late father.

Sean And Dylan Penn (Flag Day)

Sean Penn and Robin Wright’s daughter, Dylan Penn, got her start as a model before she took up acting. Her biggest role to date was as the unwitting daughter of a criminal played by Sean in 2021’s Flag Day, which the two-time Academy Award winner also directed.

Sylvester And Sage Stallone (Rocky V, Daylight)

In the Rocky movies’ fifth installment, Rocky Jr. was the debut role of star and director Sylvester Stallone’s real-life son, Sage, who would later appear with his dad in the ‘90s action movie,  Daylight. Sage went on to become the founder of Grindhouse Releasing — which prevented him from reprising his Rocky V role in Rocky Balboa — and, according to CNN, sadly passed away at 36 in 2012.

Thandiwe Newton And Nico Parker (Reminiscence)

Nico Parker — known for Disney’s live-action Dumbo remake and HBO’s The Last of Us cast — is the youngest daughter of actor Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker. However, in the 2021 futuristic noir, Reminiscence, she appeared alongside the Westworld star as a grandmother and granddaughter. 

Tom, Colin, Elizabeth, Chet, And Truman Hanks (Various)

Tom Hanks has shared the screen with all four of his children. He cast Colin Hanks in a small role in That Thing You Do! before appearing alongside him again in 2008’s The Great Buck Howard. Elizabeth Hanks was also in That Thing You Do!, but debuted in Forrest Gump. Chet Hanks has been in Larry Crowne and Greyhound and Truman Hanks normally does technical film work, but has appeared in three of his dad’s movies — News of the World, A Man Called Otto, and Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City.

Will, Jaden, And Willow Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness, After Earth, I Am Legend)

Jaden Smith has played his father's onscreen son in two of Will Smith's movies — the first being his debut role in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness and the second in the M. Night Shyamalan movie, After Earth. Willow Smith also made her acting debut as her father’s daughter in a heartbreaking flashback sequence from 2007’s I Am Legend.

If you're familiar with some or all of these films, you may agree that much of these parent-child pairings demonstrate the magic that can come from family members working together on screen. 

From Julia Roberts to Jennifer Lawrence to Viola Davis, the list of women who have taken a stand and fought for pay equality is long and inspiring. Many actresses, including the three named above, have worked hard to ensure equal pay for themselves, and they have been transparent about the pay disparity they have experienced compared to their male co-stars. So, let’s take a look at a few examples of women who have stood up against the gender pay gap in Hollywood. 

Julia Roberts 

Julia Roberts was a pioneer when it came to fair compensation for actresses, and she helped break the glass ceiling when she sought better pay for her role in Erin Brockovich. The Oscar winner -- and she won for this movie might I add -- demanded $20 million to play the leading role in Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 film. Ultimately she became the only woman during that time to make as much as a male actor, and she had to fight for it, as she explained in 2022 during History Channel’s History Talks in Washington D.C. (via Variety):

Not only did Roberts have the box office success of some of her best films like Pretty Woman and Notting Hill, among others, to show her worth, but she also explained just how hard she works on set, explaining that she’s “all-in. So, show me the money.”  

Jennifer Lawrence 

Jennifer Lawrence penned a brutally honest essay on the pay gap in Hollywood back in 2015, which was years after she won her Oscar and around the time the final Hunger Games film came out. In the open letter to Lenny Letter, the Silver Linings Playbook star explained why she found it unacceptable that she, and many actresses, weren’t making as much as their male colleagues. She wrote: 

The three actors she named were her co-stars in David O. Russell’s American Hustle, and she and Amy Adams also starred in the film. All five were advertised on an equal level on the poster, but as Lawrence noted, she was worried she’d be called a “brat” if she negotiated like her male co-workers probably did. However, with this letter, she put her foot down and made her worth known. 

Viola Davis 

Viola Davis has spoken candidly about the pay gap and how women of color are specifically affected by it. The actress, who joined the list of EGOT winners recently, spoke about how she’s had a similar career to other prominent actresses like Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. However, she has not received the same treatment as them. The Fences star explained during a conversation with Women in the World CEO Tina Brown in 2018 (via Mashable): 

She went on to say she thinks Black actresses probably get “a tenth of what a Caucasian woman gets,” noting that she’s “number one on the call sheet,” and still doesn’t make as much. Davis makes a valid point, she has had a career that is just as prestigious as all the actresses she names, and she’s been awarded for it at the highest caliber. However, when it comes to her paycheck, as she said, it’s not so equal, and it needs to change. 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas was a wildly successful Bollywood actress before making her debut in the United States in the hit ABC drama Quantico. However, she didn’t receive equal pay until this year for her show on the 2023 TV schedule, Citadel. While speaking at the South by Southwest Film Festival, the actress explained that even though she’s been working for 22 years, and has over 70 credits to her name, pay parity wasn’t something she received until recently. According to THR she said:  

Chopra Jonas explained that Jennifer Salke being the head of Amazon Studios probably helped her receive equal pay. The actress starred in the show alongside Richard Madden, and they were billed as co-leads, which logically meant they both made what they deserved and there wasn’t a pay gap when it came to their respective salaries for the Prime Video series. 

Ellen Pompeo 

Before leaving Grey’s Anatomy as a series regular last fall, Ellen Pompeo had led the show for 19 seasons. She saw the changing of the guard both in front of and behind the camera, and she always led the cast as Meredith Grey. However, despite her character’s name being in the title of the show, she had to fight to get fair pay, and she’s been very open about that battle. 

In 2018, the actress explained to THR that she tried to negotiate a higher salary when Patrick Dempsey left the show in 2015, saying:

Well, in 2017, she was finally able to come to a deal that made her “the highest-paid woman on television” as she signed a $20 million per year contract. The Merideth Grey actor also explained she was able to take on producing too, saying what they were able to do to close the pay gap on this show and provide more opportunities for women in entertainment was “unprecedented.” 

Zoë Saldaña 

If you look at a list of the highest-grossing movies of all time, the common denominator among the top three is Zoë Saldaña. As one of the stars of Avatar, Avengers: Endgame and Avatar: The Way of Water, she has played a role in films that are pivotal to modern cinema, and she deserves to be paid equally for them. 

To show her support for the fight for equal pay, the actress celebrated Latina Equal Pay Day on Instagram in 2018, as she, and others posted this message:

Along with Saldaña, Latina actresses including Sofia Vergara, Gina Rodriguez, Melissa Barrera and more posted the same message to their socials, as ET compiled, so they could all shine a light on the pay disparity that Latina actresses face. 

Thandiwe Newton

Groundbreaking work was done during Season 3 of Westworld when it was confirmed that Thandiwe Newton and Evan Rachel Wood had negotiated their contracts to finally get equal pay to their male co-stars. While speaking with Vanity Fair in 2018, Newton opened up about the entire cast of the HBO hit getting equal pay, as she said: 

She went on to talk about how the negotiations went, and why she felt it was important to work toward an agreement that closed the pay gap on the show. She said:

Considering how big of a hit Westworld was, it feels logical that its female stars would receive the same pay as the male ones. And, thank goodness they did. 

There are tons of other examples of women standing up for themselves, and demanding better and equal pay for actresses. Michelle Williams spoke at the Democratic Women’s Caucus four years ago about her experience negotiating a higher salary after finding out her male costar was making a lot more than her. Emma Watson also gave a now-famous speech to the United Nations about feminism, women’s equality and equal pay. Plus many others, including Aunjanue Ellis, Meryl Streep and more have spoken out about women’s rights to make a fair and equal amount of money. Luckily, steps forward have been taken, but there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to closing the pay gap. 

As Magic Mike’s Last Dance becomes the hottest new 2023 movie release to hit theaters this weekend, Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek bring all the spice this time around to the stripper franchise. However, back when the production was initially announced, Westworld’s Thandiwe Newton was initially set to star alongside Tatum rather than Hayek. When the actress exited the movie, all kinds of rumors surfaced as to why. Now Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh has responded to these claims. 

When Newton exited Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Warner Bros. reported she made the “difficult decision” to step down to deal with “family matters,” but other rumors suggested there was more to it. Among the rumors, sources claimed that Newton was “acting strange” on the movie’s set and had to leave the project to go to rehab, while another claimed she clashed with Tatum on set over Will Smith infamous Oscars slap. Here’s how Steven Soderbergh responded to the rumors:  

In other words, Steven Soderbergh has chosen not to entertain the rumors about Thandiwe Newton and keep the whole thing private. Though, in his words to Rolling Stone, he did hint at these stories perhaps all being inaccurate. Plus, as he points out, at the end of the day, what was going on with Newton was a personal matter that should remain private.

There’s certainly no bad blood between Newton and her replacement. Following the actress’ April 2022 exit, Thandiwe Newton took to Instagram to clear that up by raving about Salma Hayek’s performance in Beatriz at Dinner, which came out back in 2017. Newton shared to her story (via People) that there was “no finer performance, no finer film.” 

Salma Hayek stars in Magic Mike’s Last Dance as Maxandra Mendoza, a wealthy socialite, who meets Channing Tatum’s Mike after learning her husband is cheating on her. Maxandra commissions him for a private dance and their relationship gains steam there before she asks Mike to direct a show she can invest in. 

Magic Mike’s Last Dance follows Steven Soderbergh directing the 2012 original Magic Mike, along with classic films like Ocean’s Eleven, Out Of Sight and Erin Brockovich. Like the previous Magic Mike films, this one is spicy enough to be rated-R, but Soderbergh recently shared that he cares more about what’s “sexy” than sex itself in the movie. You can check out Tatum and Hayek in Magic Mike in theaters starting this Friday. 

Fans of HBO’s Westworld were delivered a shock late last week, when the award-winning dystopian sci-fi drama was canceled ahead of its fifth season. Despite its twisty plots and exciting commentary on humanity vs. artificial intelligence, Westworld was apparently the victim of an aggressive cost-cutting mandate enacted by the network. The series’ big budget, combined with declining ratings over the past two seasons, proved to be its downfall, but it turns out the A+ cast members are still going to get paid.

Deadline reports that Westworld’s actors had “pay-or-play deals” for Season 5, ensuring that the cast — which includes Aaron Paul, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson and Jeffrey Wright — will still be paid, despite the cancellation. The site reports that contracts may have been renegotiated ahead of Season 4, and that networks making such guarantees to its actors is not unusual, particularly for ensemble casts that might be difficult to reassemble otherwise.

HBO is expected to pay out between $10 million and $15 million to the actors, which is still considerably more financially feasible than paying for another season, as THR reports that Season 4 cost “at least $160 million” to make what turned out to be its final eight episodes.

Despite ratings for Westworld dropping for 2020’s Season 3, and falling further two years later when it returned from pandemic-related delays, co-creator Jonathan Nolan said he’d always planned for a fifth and final season. It’s terribly frustrating for fans, including myself, to know there was a plan that would bring the often-confusing storylines to a conclusion, and now we will likely never get to see that play out.

Over its four seasons, the series accumulated 54 Primetime Emmy nominations, taking home nine trophies. There’s no question the HBO drama has made its mark on the TV world, with another good benchmark of that being the fact that it was brilliantly parodied in The Simpsons’ annual Halloween “Treehouse of Horror” episode this year.

As the actors will still collect a check from HBO, we can keep up with them through their other projects. Evan Rachel Wood can currently be seen with a spot-on portrayal of Madonna on The Roku Channel’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. And following Teddy’s surprising return to Westworld Season 4, you can take a look at any of James Marsden’s best movies and TV shows.

There may not be any more stories from the Divine on their way, but the first four seasons of Westworld are still available to stream for fans with an HBO Max subscription. You can also check out some of HBO Max’s best original series, and see what’s coming to cable and streaming for the rest of the year with our 2022 TV schedule. 

Tons of spoilers below for Westworld Season 4’s fourth installment, “Generation Loss,” so be warned if you haven’t yet watched!

Westworld seemed to clue audiences in on the importance of Episode 404 in the way it eschewed the usual cold open, so that the constant flow of details, twists and revelations wouldn’t be interrupted. And it was quite a gripping hour of television, thanks in part to a finale-worthy bevy of big reveals and twists that completely changed this show’s universe up from what we understood going into it. While I don’t think Westworld can ever quite match the pummeling shock of Season 1’s William/Man In Black timeline, I dare say “Generation Loss” comes as close as possible, with a villainous declaration that seemingly paid homage to Watchmen’s endgame shocker.

Considering everything we know now about Caleb, Maeve, and other main characters, it’s almost baffling to think that half of Season 4’s eight episodes have yet to air. Clearly, creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan aren’t finished putting viewers through the narrative wringer, so let’s take a closer look at the major and minor twists peppered throughout Episode 404. (While also quietly pondering the connection the episode’s number has to 404 errors that occasionally plague web browsing.)

Major Twist #1: Caleb Was Killed And Turned Into A Host 

Well, it finally happened: the twist that some Westworld fans have been guessing at and waiting for ever since Aaron Paul’s Caleb was first introduced in Season 3. Caleb is no longer a living and breathing human, and is instead one of many hosts under the ruling thumb of Charlotte Hale, though I’m not entirely certain how much of what we’ve seen from him so far this season has been part of his sentience-asserting fidelity test. The early-episode flashback (within a flashback) played viewer expectations in that respect, making it seem as if Caleb had died from a bullet wound during a mission with Maeve. 

It was indeed bullets that killed him in the end, though, with Hale’s team taking Caleb out somewhat soon after Maeve’s self-sacrifice. And yet, Hale chose to keep him around as a host, likely due to the strong impact he’d made on Dolores and Maeve, despite that making him something of an obvious threat. Such is Hale’s pride and arrogance, I guess.

•  So What Happens Next? 

Caleb obviously isn’t a mindless worker-bee drone that’ll dutifully go about his host duties without further clashing, even if Hale has the upper hand by way of controlling things. But surely Paul’s character gaining sentience similar to Dolores, Maeve and the Man in Black indicates he’ll soon bring his human and host skills together to become Hale’s nightmare. Assuming it doesn’t take him two more decades to figure out how to gain powers.

Major Twist #2: Charlotte Hale’s Fly Scheme Worked, And The Tower Is Real

With its very first sequence in Season 4, Westworld hinted at more timeline shenanigans as the Man in Black utilized a fly army to gain access to the Hoover Dam, while much of what we’ve seen after that depicted the early trial phases of Hale’s fly-weaponizing scheme. But it was confirmed in Episode 404, whose title “Generations Loss” is itself a reference to her reveal, that her plan to take over humanity via airborne parasites was a vast success. And as Caleb soon discovers, it’s been 23 years since his humanly death, and the world is now populated by millions (perhaps billions) of adults who were infected with the flies as children, an age range when such perfect symbioses are best formed. 

As it turns out, the mysterious Tower that we’ve seen and heard about is actually a massive version of the device within Delos’ labs that uses soundwaves to control those who’ve been infected, and is located just off the coast of NYC. (Which definitely ties back to Peter killing himself in front of Christina, as suicides were part of the trial-and-error testing.) Tessa Thompson was divine in laying out the hope-destroying line of “Welcome to my world,” and it looks like humanity doesn’t have a shot at rising back up.

•  So What Happens Next?

I mean, obviously humanity is going to rise back up, but it’s a matter of how. Because for all that Hale appears to be a world-conquering tyrant, viewers have only seen the Tower’s effects on display within New York City specifically. Which could mean other highly populated cities around the world aren’t yet under her grasp, and could provide assistance in taking her down. Although I don’t really get what the rest of the world would think the Tower is for. 

Major Twist #3: Aurora Perrineau’s C Is Caleb’s Daughter 

To be clear, I’m sure there are some fans who guessed this from the start, since there are only a certain number of characters/twists to populate such theorizing. But it was still a jolt to the “aha” sense when it was made clear that Aurora Perrineau’s mystery character, dubbed C, is actually Caleb’s daughter Frankie. Nobody came out and said that her letter-specific name was in reference to her dearly departed pops, but that’s gotta be the case, right?

Now that we know what this character’s motivations tie into, it’s easier to understand why she’s working with Daniel Wu’s rebel leader J. And why she doesn’t have much time for taking nonsense from anyone else. She went through a pretty traumatic experience with her mom, and we don’t even know yet what happened to them after Caleb and Maeve’s mission went so awry. Nor what Uwade’s fate was, or is.

•  So What Happens Next?

Frankie gets revenge, naturally. Of course, we don’t know exactly how it’ll happen yet, but one can only assume it will involve the mystery person that J and others were going to extract. Could that end up being Uwade?

Major Twist #4: Maeve Is The Weapon Bernard Was Talking About 

Before we had a real clue of how the timelines worked in Season 4, I can’t imagine many fans out there expected for Bernard’s big weapon in the desert to be Maeve. Now that we do know it’s her, it sorta makes all the sense in the world, since she’s one of few hosts who was able to tap into empathy and humanity, which led to her sacrificing herself in order to take the Man in Black down. (Not that the whole “saving Caleb” part of that plan worked, but she doesn’t know that yet.)

I’m still not sure how all of these geographical changes make sense, as far as this desert area goes, though I’m curious to know what park was going to be built there, and why Delos didn’t just go forward with construction despite all the explosions and whatnot. Granted, Bernard likely would have found her even if she was beneath a fake medieval castle or a fake African jungle, but it’s odd that the land was left barren. 

•  So What Happens Next?

Only Bernard knows that, but it’s easy to imagine Bernard will get Maeve back online somehow, so that she can get caught up with the past 23 years of events. But she’s almost definitely going to need some big upgrades of her own in order to take down Hale and her seemingly endless army. She could probably use some old friends by her side, too. 

Major Twist #5: Olympiad Entertainment Is (Probably) The New Delos 

This one also starts with a caveat, in that fans started theorizing about Delos connections as soon as Westworld namechecked Olympiad Entertainment as the company that Evan Rachel Wood’s Christina works for. It happens with every organization and brand name that comes up, and it’s often a safe bet to make. So it wasn’t so much shocking as highly intriguing when Episode 404 revealed that Hale was giving Caleb his fidelity test within the Olympiad building. 

To be sure, there’s always the possibility that this wasn’t quite what it seemed to be, and that the location switcheroo was just to throw audiences off. But that seems like it would create unnecessary storytelling hurdles, as it’s far easier to believe that a company responsible for crafting narrative games is actually a front for a devious corporation ruled by A.I. to control people’s minds. It’s the Delos mission statement, post-Ford. 

•  So What Happens Next?

Considering this reveal appears to fully connect Caleb to Christina’s timeline — despite the fact that the Tower isn’t visible during her scenes — we can hopefully expect to see Paul and Wood to share the screen again, as confusing as it’ll be for all involved. (Viewers included.) I’m guessing this will also lead to the reveal that Hale figured out how to digitize the fly parasites, and decided it would be easier and cheaper to bypass physical parks to make way for infections via video games.  

Minor Twist #1: Maeve Missing Caleb Is What Got Her Caught

Westworld answered one of my big questions about the Season 4 premiere with this reveal, as I did not understand Maeve outing herself with that trip down memory lane. Now we know it was her first big mental jaunt in years, and she wasn’t trying to tap into her own memories of her daughter and Hector. Instead, viewers learned that after Caleb regained consciousness from a post-wound coma, Maeve didn’t say goodbye before retreating into solitude, and that she remained out of contact as a way to keep him safe. But then she went and botched it all by missing him enough to try and hack into his limbic implant, which is what caused the power outage that drew the Man in Black to her. Maeve is a true friend, since true friends aren’t exactly perfect.

• So What Happens Next?

I doubt Maeve would need additional reasons to go ballistic on Hale & Co. upon being reawakened, but she will almost definitely take Caleb’s death (and eventual host-ing) personally. Which probably won’t be good for Hale’s face. 

Minor Twist #2: Christina And Teddy Are Totally Dating Now 

The previously confirmed-to-return Teddy appeared at the end of the premiere in “handsome stalker” mode outside of Christina’s apartment building, and Episode 4 revealed him to be her blind date. Because this is Westworld, their predestined meet-cute in the bar was sparked when he picked up her lipstick rolling across the ground, marking yet another echo of Teddy and Dolores’ origin story. Their scene ends on a cheers to Christina and her path, wherever it leads, and if all these callbacks and on-the-nose references don’t lead directly to Super Dolores, my fidelity will begin decaying.

• So What Happens Next?

Super. Dolores. Obviously! Ahead of that, though, I was already guessing Teddy 2.0 was specifically created as a means to break through the weirdness happening with Christina. And now I’m wondering if Maeve took part in that creation, or even if it’s actually Maeve’s brain pearl inside Teddy’s head.

Minor Twist #3: Maya Seemingly Remembers Being Infected By Hale’s Flies 

For all the thoughts and theories I’ve considered regarding Christina’s existence, I’ve less mental ammo when it comes to Ariana DeBose’s Maya. That confused feeling only escalated with “Generation Loss,” as Maya described her most recent nightmare, which involved a childhood picnic with her parents being disrupted by a swarm of flies that first attacked the screaming adults before descending on young Maya. If these characters’ actions are indeed happening concurrently with Host Caleb’s story, then Maya’s inherent nature could very well be tapping through the parasitic facade that Hale uses to control everyone. But there's also something to be said for the way the scene remained partially focused on the clothes-changing Christina as Maya talked, as if her roommate's dream had stoked her own memories.

• So What Happens Next?

Not a clue for Maya, really. My only hope is that Westworld doesn’t reveal her to be another Dolores clone, and that she’s an organic being inside and out. Ariana DeBose deserves the best that Westworld can give. 

I’m not sure there’s anything left to say, beyond at least a dozen or so other spirited manifestos I could easily lean into. But for now, let’s mull over Episode 404's big reveals while anticipating the second half of the season. Just gonna drop this "MORE CLEMENTINE" note in the suggestion box before I go...

Westworld airs Sunday nights on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET, with episodes available to stream for HBO Max subscribers as soon as they air.

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Westworld Season 4’s second episode, so be warned!

After making its long-awaited return with a surprisingly straightforward premiere (at least when compared to some of its more confounding installments), HBO’s Westworld delivered more enjoyably low-impact progression with the second episode of Season 4. Which isn’t to imply the sci-fi thriller is moving slowly or has become boring, but rather to celebrate the showrunners for introducing mysteries that spark legibly formed questions instead of flat-out confusion. 

“Well Enough Alone” featured some major character/actor returns that no doubt delighted viewers, while also putting its main stars into various interesting and troublesome situations that will no doubt get increasingly more complicated as the season goes forward. So let’s take a look at the four biggest takeaways from Westworld’s latest, starting with a brand new Delos Destination! 

Westworld Introduced Its Newest Park: The Golden Age 

Westworld co-creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan are no doubt keen on knowing just how obsessed viewers are with the idea of new parks being introduced. As fans will remember, Season 2 brought in Shōgunworld and The Raj, while Season 3 brought audiences inside Warworld (and also hinted at a medieval, dragon-filled Game of Thrones-esque park, as well as a Jurassic Park-inspired dino area). Even though viewers still aren’t quite clear on the current state of Delos after the seven-year jump, it appears things are going quite well, given the opening of the company’s newest Destination: The Golden Age.

This newest attraction was stumbled upon by Maeve and Caleb, who were assisted just by returning actress Lili Simmons, and it’s assumed that her character Sofia is as much as host as her prior character New Clementine was. The Golden Age appears to be recreating the U.S. in the 1920s, give or take a few years, with jazzy tunes and golden light bulbs aplenty, from marquee signs to street lamps to the headlights of classic cars. Though none of the other first-time visitors were showcased, I can’t help but feel like there were some very important people on that train.

The Golden Age was partly bankrolled by the U.S. government, with the Vice President now a host puppet for Man in Black and others, and that’s presumably not the extent of such professional relationships. Perhaps most interestingly so far, the location depicted in The Golden Age is “Temperance,” which either suggests that it’ll be an alcohol-free establishment fitting for the time period, or that the town will feature a variety of speakeasies for its guests to get liquored up in. Either way, depraved sex and violence are likely the end results.

Christine’s Peter Mystery Is Somehow More Complicated Than Expected 

To be expected, Christine has something of an epiphany after watching “Peter” throw himself off a building to his death, and remembers having crafted a game story similar to his. (Not exactly the same as the presumed-dead Dolores having memory flashes from earlier loops, but not entirely dissimilar, either.) While on her way to the mental facility namechecked in Peter’s obituary, she listens back to her notes on the story, which basically matched up with the “real life” character. Since that reveal was already telegraphed, it served as window dressing for the actual twist, for lack of a better word, that came shortly after. 

When Christine arrived at the facility, she found it to not only be empty — I’m curious about that group of possible contractors and buyers in hard hats — but more or less abandoned. It’s hard to tell exactly how long the building would have been sitting empty, but all the leaves and whatnot implied many months, if not years. Coupled with the discovery of the “Peter Myers Wing” dedication plaque, the Hope center hinted at some major timeline fuckery happening.

Even if Christine was correct in guessing there were two different Peter Myers at play, it still wouldn’t explain how a fund was started there in Peter’s name after his death, unless that obit detail was falsified. But it definitely looked like the place that Peter would have spent a lot of time, given the room that Christine looked into with all those drawings of what’s assumedly the Tower that keeps getting mentioned. And it’s the same design that’s featured in the opening sequence as composer Ramin Djawadi’s credit comes up. 

Charlotte Hale Returned, And She Apparently Doesn’t Just Want To Kill All Humans 

As frightening as Ed Harris’ Man in Black is without any human morals, he’s still just a worker bee following the orders of a higher power, and Charlotte Hale made her Season 4 debut in true Westworld fashion: through a host’s remotely accessed memory bank. Maeve discovered that Charlotte spearheaded hosts replacing a U.S. senator and his wife (as portrayed by guest stars Jack Coleman and Saffron Burrows, respectively). It appears her efforts to take over the world hadn’t exactly faded away over time, which wasn’t too shocking to learn.

But Charlotte doesn’t appear to be your everyday TV big bad, and not only due to her synthetic origins. While many plot-minded villains don’t give a second thought to the body count required to reach their overall goals, Charlotte’s plan doesn’t hinge on killing all humans and populating the planet with hosts, at least not at this point in the process. As a being who doesn’t age, she naturally has more patience than those with blood flowing through their veins. One of her motivations, as discussed below, revolves around an “eye for an eye” sense of revenge, but that doesn’t seem to be her only exception. 

Charlotte made good on not killing the Senator’s wife, and it can be assumed that Anastasia was useful for the research Charlotte alluded to. It can also be assumed that Charlotte’s research-acquiring methods completely broke Anastasia’s brain. At least, that’s what I gathered from her being covered in blood and slicing up a dead horse’s stomach when Maeve and Caleb discovered her in the barn. But we won’t be finding out what happened to her, since Maeve shot her in the head during her attempt to stab Caleb. 

William Confirmed To Be Still Alive, Though Imprisoned 

One of the Season 3 finale’s post-credit scenes finally addressed one of Westworld’s biggest ongoing questions, with the Man in Black host slitting the throat of his human counterpart William. It was unclear what happened in the aftermath, since we didn’t technically see William die, and the series surprisingly didn’t keep us guessing for very long, as “Well Enough Alone” revealed Charlotte is keeping the still-living William in cryogenic stasis. And as she explained it, she’s keeping him alive so that he can be the ever-present “loser” in the hosts’ and humans’ battle for supremacy. She said it with the same disgusted tone she used in comparing Anastasia to “other livestock” earlier on.

On the one hand, I loved the scene, as it showcased how intimidating Tessa Thompson can be without ever raising her voice or appearing directly threatening. And to me at least, it also sort of extends the initial purpose of flies within Westworld to indicate a host going off the scripted path. Charlotte keeping William around just to witness humanity’s downfall is the epitome of hubris, which is a human foible that properly functioning hosts likely wouldn’t adhere to. Perhaps she should have been remembering the saying “pride goeth before the fall” instead of whatever William used to say.

On the other hand, though, I don’t wholly understand why that scene happened at this particular point in the series’ timeline, considering their conversation implied they haven’t talked much (if at all) since he was replaced in the real world all those years ago by the Man in Black. Perhaps she was just waiting until they reached a certain level of success, such as replacing the Vice President with a host. Still, since William probably didn’t know what year it was, it was odd for Charlotte to be speaking to the present while his questions were presumably still based on what was happening when his throat was slit. 

Other Delos-Approved Thoughts About "Well Enough Alone”

• Are we to assume that the Man in Black has been hunting/repurposing all the hosts in the real world who weren’t under Charlotte’s rule? Will that have anything to do with James Marsden’s Teddy showing up in the Season 4 premiere?
• So we now have to keep up with 250 different emissaries of the New World Order? 
• What’s up with all the dead birds that Christine saw? And I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad sign that I have no firm assumptions regarding that moment’s legitimacy, as far as why she was seemingly the only person who noticed them. That’s so Westworld. 
• In a similar vein as the above point, it’s also not entirely clear if any of what Dolo…Christine witnessed inside the Hope 
• Christine only gets 4 paid days off for sick leave in a year? Can’t tell if it’s a sign of the company being shitty, or that people just don’t get sick as often in this COVID-free timeline. 
• I get that The Man in Black’s multiple holes in one were meant to impress and then disturb the Vice President, but was that entire scene just artifice? Because if his programming allows for that sort of perfection each time, what’s the point? I guess I can believe that the Man in Black is so full of himself that even the host version needs daily reminders like that. 
• “I’ve always wondered, why do they call you the secret service? Aren’t you a little…obvious?” This line made up for having to watch the Man in Black shooting and slicing Clementine in the cold open. Welcome back, Angela Sarafyan!
• I may never be comfortable by how clear and visible people are in their cars on Westworld. Do people not go get fast food while wearing their shittiest pants in this universe?
• I love how many buildings in Westworld (and similar fare) feature massive, high-ceiling rooms whose central purpose is to store something that requires 1/20th the space.

Westworld airs new episodes every Sunday night on HBO at 10:00 p.m. ET, and are also available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. While waiting for the next episode, head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other less-confusing shows will be arriving soon.

Spoilers below for the Season 4 premiere of Westworld, so be warned if you haven’t yet tapped into the madness. 

After a hiatus lasting just over two years — and I’m sure the specific number of days it was gone is itself a clue about the future — Westworld finally returned to HBO for the start of what will assuredly be an enjoyable head-scratcher of a fourth season. The highly anticipated premiere, titled “The Auguries,” picked up in the story seven years after the chaotic rebellion that capped off Season 3, and almost seemed like it was part of a normal, traditional series at times, from Evan Rachel Wood’s new and seemingly human character Christina to the all-around lack of Delos and the parks (outside of flashbacks).

Of course, co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy had plenty of rampant weirdness and mysteriousness and low-key hilarity on display throughout, giving audiences plenty to think about during the wait for Episode 2. So let’s take a look at the four biggest takeaways from Westworld’s Season 4 opener, followed by some more random musings. 

Evan Rachel Wood’s Christina May Be Partly Responsible For Gamers’ Suicides

While the details are a bit smudgy, Evan Rachel Wood’s non-Dolores — whom we’ll refer to as Christina for clarity and because it’s her actual name — works for some kind of a gaming company as a writer who seems to work mostly with realistic, situational experiences. Though she’d prefer to craft tales more in line with Dolores’ farmgirl origins, her boss (played by The Vampire Diaries’ vet Michael Malarkey) wants more sexed-up and violent fare. So for the most part, that side of Christina’s life felt pretty tame and non-controversial. But then there were the phone calls that Christina was getting, seemingly all from one ranting and raving dude named Peter (played by 12 Monkeys vet Aaron Stanford), who claimed that her games have ruined his and others’ lives. 

Westworld easily could have kept that loose thread dangling for another episode or two, but instead hastened things by having Peter accost Christina outside her home. This guy, with his talk of The Tower and other non-sequiturs, doesn’t know how to rationally stand still and explain himself, however, and the confusion reached the point where Peter jumped off of a building in front of Christina, questioning whether or not her game was causing it to happen. Not exactly normal shit to deal with, and the fact that Christina is seeing the Maze symbol…well it doesn’t bode normal either.

But Christina didn’t act like she had any idea what Peter was talking about, even in private moments away from her roommate. And she certainly didn’t appear to be programming any mind-controlling games when she was seen at work. So while the whole “technology dictating people’s actions” idea is obviously right in line with Westworld’s mission statement, it’s not yet clear what the hell is up with The Tower and how Christina factors into it. And let’s face it, it may never be. 

The Man In Black Is On A Mission Involving A Crapload Of Flies

By the time Westworld’s premiere ended, it was almost easy to forget that the episode started off so extremely bizarrely, with Ed Harris’ Man-Bot in Black attempting to literally buy the Hoover Dam. Understandably, no one jumped at his immediate offer, but then no one else seemed to understand just how dead-set he was on taking possession of said dam. His actions, which are presumably being guided in some way by Charlotte Hale, seem to be focused on regaining access to data that was stolen eight years prior. 

Jonathan Nolan did confirm the Man in Black’s quest ties back to something we saw in Season 2, so it can be gathered the information he’s seeking used to be housed within Delos’ property, presumably within the many mega-servers that were in the Forge. (And could technically be once more, given the seven-year time jump.) But since this is Westworld, the data probably isn’t what we’re expecting it to be, so there’s no point in speculating too hard about it at the moment.

But we might as well speculate on what the hell is up with those flies, because that was a truly horrific moment. And it wasn’t completely clear whether it was real and tangible, or just something being hallucinated by this character that Big Sky’s Arturo Del Puerto portrayed. Whatever the case may be, the flies were surely sent somehow by Man in Black or his higher-ups, and they’re somehow capable of making people bend to others’ will. To the point where someone slicing their own throat is on the list of commands. As if just the visuals of huge swaths of flies weren’t already bothersome enough.  

I Will Follow Maeve Into Any Rebellion, Caleb Not So Much

While we didn’t spend as much time with Thandiwe Newton’s Maeve as I would have liked — roughly the whole episode, give or take 30 seconds — it appears as if her narrative push early on this season will revolve around her trying to take out everyone that the Man in Black seems to be sending out to kill her. Even though I’m not entirely convinced that’s even the case, considering it was hard to gauge anyone’s full intentions from just the few memories that Maeve viewed from her attacker.

Whoever it is that’s been trying to track her down over the years, they should get ready for a mound of bodies to start piling up, both of the human and host variety, because Maeve is not one to back down when put up against a threat. And my money is on that character “winning” out in the end, even if there’s no true victory in Westworld. 

But do I feel great about Caleb jumping into the mission alongside Maeve? Not exactly. Especially after seeing how his home life is going. As mildly heartwarming as it is that he’s a doting husband and father who loves target practice, he’s apparently been overtaken by PTSD and paranoia more than ever in the last seven years. And while there’s nothing necessarily wrong with those traits in and of themselves, they almost definitely foreshadow troublesome times ahead for ol’ Caleb. Which probably means Maeve will suffer by extension, which would not be great.

More Major Characters Should Have Appeared

I can fully understand why a show with plots as dense as Westworld may need to start a new season off without all of its parts and mechanisms in motion. Especially when dealing with actors playing new roles, time jumps, and other new characters to introduce. So I don’t fault the Season 4 premiere for keeping other favorite characters at bay while setting up all the dominos yet to fall. 

However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remark on how the episode was impacted by the lack of its ensemble sharing the screen together, at least ahead of Maeve showing up in the nick of time to save Caleb and his daughter from being capped. And considering that was a badass moment, it helps to prove my point. 

Even if we didn’t get more genuine ensemble moments, I would have also been happy to spend two or three scenes with Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard, who was last seen shaking off dust after a presumed trip to the Sublime. Why we gotta wait at least another week to find out what’s up with that? WHYYY?!? Also, let’s see some non-flashback Clementine!

Other Delos-Approved Thoughts About "The Auguries"

• Who’d have guessed that Ariana DeBose was exactly what Westworld needed? Clearly the casting director, who deserves a bunch of “Way to go!” balloons. 
• Totally understood that those were all CGI flies, but someone should have told Arturo Del Puerto to react a little bit more “freaked the fuck out”-ishly in that moment, considering how WTF things were. He was beyond startlingly calm, considering I would have shattered porcelain with my screams after seeing that horde of flies.
• I like that the fly form was incorporated into the Season 4 opening title sequence. Nothing goes together in nightmares quite like flies and skulls. 
• When Christina passed a seemingly homeless man while walking through the city, he definitely mentioned The Tower looming over everyone, which definitely wasn’t a coincidence. But was he one of the people that was “ruined” by the game like Peter?
• Christina’s boss kinda sucks, and both her conversations with him and her dinner date felt like they were themselves written by A.I., which I feel is worth noting in the folder marked “Possible Evidence For Why Season 4’s Real World Is Actually A Park.”
• How did returning star James Marsden show up right on time there in the end, and what does his character have to do with any of this? 
• Nothing has more inherent chill than Maeve meditating inside a snowy cabin as Jimi Hendrix plays. 
• “Now be a dear and close your eyes, would you?” Cold. As. Ice. 
• It’s kind of weird to watch Evan Rachel Wood as a Westworld character other than the deceased (or whatever) Dolores, even after Season 3’s body-swapping. I already know I won’t be able to break away from the feeling that there are identity-related twists to come for Christina.
• “Tabs” are the Season 4 equivalent of Season 3’s “Drip,” I’m guessing. At least as far as fad drugs go, if not for being similar in its effects and purpose of usage. 
• I don’t really understand what Maeve’s power outage was about, in that I don’t see why she was going so hard on her memories at that point in time, seven years after going on the lam. Does A.I. get the seven-year itch, as it were?
• Prediction: Frankie’s Bear Bear doll is no doubt going to get destroyed, and it will be a Top 3 tragedy for the season. 
• Do we think Maeve’s scabbard is a smelly gross mess that she doesn’t care about, since she’s not human, or do we think she cleans it when necessary? Because she most definitely did not wipe that blade off before sticking it back in there, and it was doused in blood or whatever life fluid.
• As happy as I was to see Ariana DeBose on screen, that’s how happy and surprised I was to see Good Girls vet Manny Montana popping up as Carver near the end of the episode. He brought a lot to Mayans M.C. Season 4 in recent months, so here’s hoping he gets showcased on Westworld as well.

Be sure to watch new episodes of Westworld on HBO every Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. ET, with episodes also available with HBO Max subscriptions, and then check out all of my random thoughts on a similar weekly basis. While waiting, head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way.

Thandiwe Newton has apparently been in a period of transition as of late. When it comes to her professional career, the actress departed Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike 3 earlier this month. And in Newton’s personal life, she’s reportedly dealing with a number of things, including a separation from her husband. The Emmy winner appears to be trying to put all of that behind her, though, as she commemorated the start of “a new day” in a social media post. 

The co-lead of All the Old Knives, one of 2022’s new movie releases, erred on the side of positivity in her latest Instagram post. The star posted a simple photo that shows a plant and a stick of sage sitting against a window. It was in her caption that she declared “a new day.” Check out the post down below:

The other term Thandiwe Newton used, “Ubuntu,” is a South African word that means “humanity” and can also be translated as “I am because we are,” or “I am because you are.” The actress, who concluded the brief caption by signing her name, seems more than ready to take a breather. And based on the reports that have surfaced over the past week or so, one can honestly understand why that would be the case.

Earlier this month, Warner Bros. released a statement, saying that the Reminiscence star left Magic Mike’s Last Dance to deal with “family matters.” Around that time, it was also reported that the actress allegedly exited after a dust-up with Channing Tatum over Will Smith’s Oscars slap. One crew member alleged that the two stars had a “tense exchange of words,” which led Tatum to get in his car and drive off. A representative for the London-born actress has since disputed the claims, calling them “completely inaccurate.” The movie, referred to as the “Super Bowl of stripper movies” has since tapped Salma Hayek to fill the role.

Other sources claim Thandiwe Newton was “acting strange on set” and that an “apparent breakdown caused so much disruption, it became clear she couldn’t play the role.” It was later alleged that Newton was looking to enter a treatment facility once she returned to the U.S. Per reports, her management team wants her to enter a facility located in Arizona. 

As previously mentioned, rumors have also been swirling around her purported split from Ol Parker, her husband of 24 years and the father of her three children. Insiders claim that the two had been “struggling” for some time ahead of their separation. As of this writing, the Westworld alum has not spoken publicly on the state of her marriage.

Kudos to Thandiwe Newton for remaining upbeat amid all of the speculation. It’s currently unclear as to whether she plans to seek out any kind of help in the midst of her reported situation. As fans await  information from the star, all they can do is wish her well and hope that she’s able to move forward in a way that’s most beneficial for her. 

Viewers can check out Thandiwe Newton in All the Old Knives, which is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Actress Thandiwe Newton has had a long and successful career in Hollywood, with roles in major franchises like Mission: Impossible and Star Wars (with the latter killing her off way too early), as well as prestige dramas like Crash. She was set for a role in Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike 3, but surprisingly dropped out of the highly anticipated movie. And after her exit from the Magic Mike threequel, more rumors are swirling about Newton’s personal life.

It was revealed a week ago that Thandiwe Newton was dropping out of her role in Magic Mike 3, although there were conflicting reports regarding the reasoning. One rumor was that she clashed with Channing Tatum over Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap, while Warner Bros. maintains she left the movie to deal with “family issues.” Another report indicated that Newton was heading to a rehab facility following her split from her husband Ol Parker. And now there’s even more rumors about the Westworld actress’ life, with Page Six reporting on such matters. 

According to Page Six’s report, Thandiwe Newton had been behaving “erratically” on the set of Magic Mike 3 prior to her departure. According to an anonymous source who is allegedly close to the movie's production:

As far as Thandiwe Newton’s possible stay in a rehabilitation center, those close to the situation reportedly encouraged the Westworld actor to attend a facility in Arizona immediately after departing the set of Magic Mike 3. But she allegedly decided to stay in London instead. Newton’s team declined the opportunity to issue a statement for Page Six’ story.

Said story includes more rumors, including the allegation that Thandiwe Newton fired her U.K. agent of over 30 years. She and ex Ol Parker have reportedly not filed for divorce, despite their split. Another anonymous source provided some reasoning behind the break-up, alleging:

Thandiwe Newton recently had great success for her starring role as Maeve in HBO’s Westworld, for which she won an Emmy Award. While celebrating this success and landing a role in Solo: A Star Wars Story, she reclaimed the original spelling of her name, after being known professionally as Thandie Newton for years. As she put it,

Clearly there are a number of rumors surrounding Thandiwe Newton’s professional and personal life at this time. Salma Hayek has since replaced her in Magic Mike 3, which should hopefully give Newton the chance to get help if she needs it. 

Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike 3, described by the actor as “the Super Bowl of stripper movies,” is currently in production. However, the long-awaited, Tatum-led sequel recently experienced a casting shake-up after Thandiwe Newton dropped out of the proceedings. In Warner Bros.’ official statement, it was said that this is due to “family reasons,” while sources also initially claimed that her exit was due to a dust-up with Tatum. Now, it would seem that in the aftermath of that situation and her split from her husband, Newton is reportedly heading to rehab. 

It’s been alleged that during her time on the set of Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Thandiwe Newton was exhibiting unusual behavior. According to Page Six, after crew members expressed concern for her, Newton’s agent arrived on the London-based set to ease the situation. However, the star eventually departed the project and made her way back to the U.S., where she’s allegedly looking to receive treatment. Sources say the star’s separation from her husband of 24 years, Ol Parker, and other personal issues apparently affected her work on the upcoming film:

The alleged argument that was initially said to have caused Thandiwe Newton’s exit from the latest Magic Mike movie was said to have been about Will Smith’s Oscars slap. It was said that she and Channing Tatum “fell out” over the situation, with Tatum allegedly disappearing from the set after a particularly “tense” exchange. Newton’s spokesperson later refuted these claims, though, stating that the actress viewed the report as “completely inaccurate.”

Page Six’s sources also state that the Westworld star recently made changes to her management team, as she’s reportedly fired her U.K. agent, who’d been with her for 30 years. It’s been said that at this moment, her reps want to ensure that she gets the support that she needs:

Following the All the Old Knives star’s departure from the stripper flick, her role was quickly filled by Salma Hayek. The film’s plot, including details on Hayek’s role, are being kept under wraps at this time. There are still plenty of questions surrounding the project (which those with HBO Max subscriptions will be ), including whether or not Matthew Matthew McConaughey will return. One thing that seems evident, though, is that the dancing will be intense. 

As for Thandiwe Newton, it remains to be seen whether she does indeed admit herself to a treatment center. One hopes that whatever the situation, the actress will find the best path forward during this time.

Production on the grand finale known as Magic Mike’s Last Dance (and otherwise known as Magic Mike 3) is already underway in London, with Channing Tatum’s upcoming movie release reportedly 11 days into its shooting schedule. It’s apparently not too late for a shake-up though, as co-star Thandiwe Newton has just been announced to be exiting the film. As a new report alleges that a dust up over Will Smith’s infamous Oscar slap took place between Newton and Tatum, some further developments are now coming out. So, what's going on? 

Warner Bros’ Official Statement On Thandiwe Newton’s Magic Mike 3 Recasting

News first broke surrounding this situation yesterday afternoon, as Warner Bros. made an official statement stating that Thandiwe Newton was leaving Magic Mike 3.  THR picked up on the studio’s comments on the matter, and shared them as follows: 

Apologies to you fans of The Lost City who were hoping Sandra Bullock might change her mind and join the production, as this report also stated Salma Hayek will be the actress stepping into Newton’s role. However, it has also been rumored that this recasting came about after a huge dust-up between franchise lead Channing Tatum and Thandiwe Newton allegedly occurred on set. The account of which included details that suggested Channing Tatum had stormed off, leading to Thandiwe Newton’s possible dismissal rather than exit.

How Will Smith’s Oscar Slap Is Allegedly Involved In The Magic Mike 3 Exit

These rumors of supposed discord on the Magic Mike’s Last Dance set came from The Sun. Accompanied by paparazzi photos of scenes between Thandiwe Newton and Channing Tatum, the whole story was anonymously sourced from remarks that allegedly came from a crew member. Here’s what supposedly happened, according to the source: 

Were this story to be true, it sounds like Magic Mike 3’s dancing isn’t the only intense stuff this project has seen. If that weren't bad enough, reports have alleged Thandiwe Newton might be preparing to sue Warner Bros. as a result of what happened on set. Not so fast, though. Now, Newton’s camp is refuting this rumored story.

How Thandiwe Newton Has Refuted The Magic Mike’s Last Dance Rumors

What makes this Magic Mike 3 story even more intriguing is the speed at which the story has been moving. In around the same short span of time, the official announcement of Thandiwe Newton’s departure and the rumors surrounding the circumstances made the news. However, a third factor should be taken into consideration, which is the fact a spokesperson for Newton has denied the story of her supposed fight with Channing Tatum.

This further statement was reported by The Daily Mail, in addition to the rest of the supposed debacle. Recounting the Magic Mike’s Last Dance recasting, and the rumors of a huge falling out, the publication was apparently contacted by said spokesperson on behalf of the Westworld actor. Simply saying that Thandiwe Newton saw The Sun’s report as “completely inaccurate,” there’s now another wrinkle in the overall story. 

As Channing Tatum claims Magic Mike 3 will be “the Super Bowl of stripper movies,” anticipation is rather high for this streaming flick. With no official release date announced for the film’s potential debut, we’re still in the dark as to when the flick will officially be available for HBO Max subscribers. Obviously one thing is for certain: Thandiwe Newton is definitely leaving the production, so some already-shot scenes are going to need to be reworked. 

It’s finally arrived! After its initial announcement in 2019, Human Resources, the Big Mouth spinoff, has finally come to Netflix, and the series that focuses on the very popular Hormone Monsters from the original series. 

But, with plenty of new names as well as familiar ones, fans of the show might be wondering where you’ve heard the cast before, or seen them. If that’s the question that’s on your mind, we have the answers for you. Here is where you’ve seen (or heard) the Human Resources cast before. 

Aidy Bryant (Emmy) 

As one of the few new characters on Human Resources, Emmy is a Lovebug who gets assigned to her first client, and is voiced by the lovely Aidy Bryant. The actress has been around for some time in Hollywood, but is primarily known for her work on the popular and very long running late-night sketch show, Saturday Night Live. 

Some of the other work that you might have seen her in is her own Hulu original series, Shrill, in which she stars, and she has a voice role on the series, Danger & Eggs. She’s also had recurring roles in TV shows like Girls, Horace & Pete, and more. Some of her movie roles include I Feel Pretty, The Big Sick, and others. 

Nick Kroll (Maurice Beverley, Rick) 

Nick Kroll is a name that should sound very familiar to Big Mouth fans, as this actor is one of the co-creators of the original show and voices one of the original Hormone Monsters, Maurice, otherwise known as Maury. He also voices Rick, and older Hormone Monster that is wise beyond his years, and other characters on the show. 

Kroll has been active in Hollywood for quite a while, creating and starring in several TV shows. These include, but aren’t limited to, The Kroll Show, Oh, Hello on Broadway, The League on FX, and more. His voice is also quite popular as well, as he's used it in several animated movies, like Sausage Party, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets 2, and more.

Kroll has also had a variety of live-action appearances as well, like Uncle Drew, Olympic Dreams, and The House among others. 

Maya Rudolph (Constance LaCienega)

Maya Rudolph voices another of the Hormone Monsters from Big Mouth in Human Resources, the fabulously odd Constance LaCienega, otherwise known as Connie. Rudolph has done a variety of movies and TV roles. Most people probably know her from her time on Saturday Night Live as a cast member, just like Aidy Bryant. Rudolph also had her own variety series, called Maya & Marty alongside Martin Short, as well as guest starring on The Good Place. 

In addition, Rudolph has done several live action and animated films. She was a part of the Bridesmaids cast, as well as other films, like the Grown Ups series, Sisters, Wine Country, Inherent Vice, and more. Rudolph has also shown her ability as a voice actress with big roles in animated movies like The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Luca, and Big Hero 6, as well as others. 

David Thewlis (Shame Wizard) 

How fitting is it that David Thewlis, who played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film franchise, ended up voicing a character known as the Shame Wizard in both Big Mouth and Human Resources? I find that hilarious. 

Besides his role in Harry Potter, Thewlis is a very talented actor who has been in a variety of movies. These include Naked, Wonder Woman, Dragonheart, James and the Giant Peach, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, War Horse, The Theory of Everything, Anomalisa, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and many more. 

Thewlis has also done some TV work as well, including the miniseries Dinotopia, the third season of Fargo, and recently starred in the HBO miniseries, Landscapers. 

Brandon Kyle Goodman (Walter Las Palmas)

You have to love those hate worms that turned into Lovebugs, and Walter Las Palmas was one of those in Big Mouth, and he is voiced by Brandon Kyle Goodman in Human Resources.

Goodman has primarily kept his talents to television, appearing in a variety of shows. These include Red Oaks, Alive in Denver, Little Italy, Los Angeles, Modern Love on Amazon Prime, Broke, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, among other guest appearances. He’s also appeared in movies like A Simple Wedding, People Just Do Nothing, Papi Chulo, and more. 

Keke Palmer (Rochelle)

Rochelle was another hate worm that turned into a Lovebug on Big Mouth, and she is still voiced by Keke Palmer. Starting off her career early, Palmer appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows during her youth and has only continued to do so. 

Some of her biggest TV show parts thus far have been her star role in True Jackson V.P. on Nickelodeon, the Ryan Murphy-created Scream Queens, the animated series, The Winx Club, and Berlin Station. Palmer has been in many movies, including Akeelah and the Bee, Madea’s Family Reunion, Jump In!, Shrink, Joyful Noise, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Hustlers, and more. She’s also going to star in the upcoming Jordan Peele horror film, Nope. 

Pamela Adlon (Sonya Poinsettia)

Pamela Adlon voices Sonya Poinsettia, another Lovebug from Big Mouth, who is also a part of Human Resources. Adlon has been active in the industry for a long time, appearing in many animated roles as well as live-action ones. 

One of her most prominent animated roles that you might recognize her from is voicing Bobby Hill in King of the Hill. She’s also used her voice talents for shows such as Recess, Time Squad, Milo’s Murphy Law, the video game series Pajama Sam, and several others. 

However, Adlon has also done plenty of live-action work, too. You might recognize her from the dramedy series Californication on Showtime, or her role as Pamela in Louie on FX. Some of her other work includes her FX series, Better Things, Boston Legal, Lucky Louie, and more. 

Adlon has also appeared in both animated and live-action films, some of which are Say Anything…, After Midnight, Grease 2, First Girl I Loved, Bumblebee, The King of Staten Island, The Pirate Fairy, and Dino Time, among many other film roles. 

Randall Park (Peter)

Peter is another one of the new characters in Human Resources, and he is voiced by Randall Park. This actor has been all over the place with both movies and TV shows, so I would not be surprised if you have seen Park in many other projects. 

Park was a part of one of the funniest Dwight jokes on The Office when he played the Asian version of Jim. However, Park has done plenty of other great TV roles, including portraying Louis Huang in Fresh Off the Boat, his recurring role in Veep, and more. He’s also become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Special Agent Jimmy Woo in both The Ant-Man films, as well as reprising that character as a part of the WandaVision cast. 

Randall Park has done many other film roles as well, including starring in the romantic comedy, Always Be My Maybe, portraying Dr. Stephen Shin in Aquaman, and playing a dictator in The Interview. 

Ali Wong (Becca)

Another new character on Human Resources is Becca, a mother which all the monsters are assigned to. Voiced by Ali Wong, this voice actress is primarily known for her comedy, as she has plenty of hilarious comedy specials on Netflix that you can stream at any time. 

However, Wong has also done plenty in the acting sphere. In terms of movies, she starred alongside Randall Park in Always Be My Maybe, as well as appearing in movies like Birds of Prey, Onward, and more. 

Wong has also had a prominent television acting career. Even though she voices Becca on Human Resources, she voices Ali on Big Mouth, as well. She also had a recurring role in Love, Victor, a starring role in Tuca & Bertie as Bertie, was a series regular on American Housewife, and was on Are You There, Chelsea? 

Thandiwe Newton (Mona)

Last but not least, we have Thandiwe Newton, who voices Mona in both Human Resources and Big Mouth. Thandiwe Newton has done plenty in her long acting career, from movies to television shows. 

Some of her biggest films have been Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Crash, The Pursuit of Happyness, For Colored Girls, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and more, as well as being a part of the Reminiscence cast in 2021. 

Newton has also done a lot of great television work. One of her biggest roles has been portraying Maeve Millay in the HBO original science fiction series, Westworld, which is expected to premiere its fourth season in 2022. She also had a main role in the miniseries, Line of Duty, as well as a main role in the TV shows, The Slap and Rogue. 

With so many amazing actors stepping into the fray, these are just a fraction of some of the big stars we'll be listening to in the Human Resources cast. Their voices are already iconic in every way.  

Ever since it was revealed that Mission: Impossible 7 is bringing back Henry Czerny’s Eugene Kittridge, the Tom Cruise-led franchise seems to be hinting that Ethan Hunt’s past will further define his future. With such an exercise supposedly taking form over the course of the next two installments of Paramount’s blockbuster franchise, it leaves the door open for several other returns that we’d love to see for various actors who’ve helped make Mission: Impossible a compelling and fun espionage franchise. And who better to kick off this wishlist of returning IMF agents and all folks adjacent than the sadly not returning Angela Bassett.

Angela Bassett (CIA Director Erika Sloane)

After the death of IMF secretary Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin), the mantle of IMF Secretary felt primed to be handed over to Angela Bassett’s CIA Director Erika Sloane. Her addition to the cast in Mission: Impossible - Fallout was supposed to carry over to Mission: Impossible 7, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bassett’s return was sadly not possible this time out. Much as Angela Bassett herself hopes to be able to rejoin the team in Mission: Impossible 8, we too hope that she can accept the next mission since she’s already chosen to do so.

Jeremy Renner (William Brandt)

There was once at time that Jeremy Renner’s William Brandt was being eyed as the new lead of the franchise after his arrival in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. While that never happened, Renner’s character was retained for the following sequel, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, and was presumed to be a part of the team going forward. That was, until Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame came into the picture, prohibiting Jeremy Renner from returning in Fallout. Maybe, just maybe, depending on what his Hawkeye schedule looks like in the future, Renner will be humming the Mission: Impossible theme tune in celebration of his potential return.

Thandiwe Newton (Nyah Nordoff Hall)

An accomplice to Ethan Hunt’s IMF Team in Mission: Impossible 2, Thandiwe Newton’s Nyah Nordoff-Hall was an accomplished jewel thief who literally put her life on the line for the survival of the planet. And after those heroic deeds, there was never an offer for Westworld star to return in Mission: Impossible III. While the experience was intense, to say the least, after Ms. Newton’s new calling card arrived in the form of her huge action sequence in this summer’s Reminiscence, the thought of Nyah returning as an IMF agent with her own mythic legacy is the stuff that sequels are made of.

Anthony Hopkins (Mission Commander Swanbeck)

If you’re playing an IMF commander that gives Ethan Hunt his Mission: Impossible orders, chances are you’re either cannon fodder without a proper name (like Tom Wilkinson in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) or you just don’t reappear, like Mission: Impossible 2’s Mission Commander Swanbeck. Played by Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins, this elusive figure bookends the film’s plot, but has never been heard from since meeting with Ethan and Nyah in Sydney. If Henry Czerny is coming back after intensely locking horns with Tom Cruise’s IMF super agent, then maybe it’s time to bring back the most paternal IMF superior Ethan has ever served under.

Maggie Q (Zhen Lei)

While Rebecca Ferguson’s IMF ally Ilsa Faust is an absolute breath of fresh air when it comes to keeping Mission: Impossible alive and well, her casting came from two members of the team that sadly couldn’t return. One such figure was Zhen Lei, Maggie Q’s Mission: Impossible III operative, who sadly found herself sidelined twice due to contractual obligations. But the door is still open, and Maggie Q’s only upped her action game since working alongside the rest of Tom Cruise’s team of agents. Perhaps some day, Zhen can make her big Mission: Impossible return by dropping into a room from the end of a fire hose, delivering a witty one-liner to stop the room in its tracks.

Paula Patton (Jane Carter)

The other Mission: Impossible actor that sort of paved the way for Rebecca Ferguson to join up is none other than Paula Patton from Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. With Maggie Q’s Zhen Lei unavailable for service, the vengeful Jane Carter was introduced, with Patton playing the part. And, as is often the case in this series, when Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation came calling, Paula Patton sadly had to pass. Though Jane may have gotten her revenge on her lover’s murderer, that probably doesn’t quench her passion for action in the name of peace.

Laurence Fishburne (IMF Director Theodore Brassel)

Again, if you’re a superior at the IMF, your odds of returning in another Mission: Impossible caper do tend to diminish. But if there’s one example we have to single out in terms of authority figures we’d love to see back in Mission: Impossible 8, besides Angela Bassett’s Erika Sloane, of course, it’s Laurence Fishburne’s IMF Director Theodore Brassel. A mixture of the paternal nature of Commander Swanbeck, as well as the adversarial “by the book” nature of Kittridge before him, Director Brassel was one of the most fun superiors to see Ethan Hunt play cat and mouse with. The Matrix may not have him right now, but the Mission: Impossible series should try and grab Mr. Fishburne for a dramatic return as soon as humanly possible.

The past history of the Mission: Impossible franchise has left tons of opportunities for people to return to this massive pop culture touchstone. Just as Tom Cruise will keep upping the ante with his stunt work, at least for the foreseeable future, the plot of the IMF’s international legacy will always have the chance to raise the stakes. Which is only a better case for drawing as many of these talented stars back into the game.

Of course, Mission: Impossible 7 is the current priority, with its newly locked release date of September 30, 2022. Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible 8 is currently set for release, blimp or no blimp, on July 7, 2023; but naturally that could change as well. What shouldn’t change too much is the 2021 release schedule, except, of course, for a couple minor shifts here and there. Though you should probably head over there soon, as this feature may or may not self-destruct in five seconds.

In 2018, the Star Wars franchise wound the clock back to show Han Solo’s origins in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and among the people Alden Ehrenreich’s version of the character was Thandiwe Newton’s Val, the wife of Woody Harrelson’s Beckett. Unfortunately, Val’s time in the movie was rather short, with the character meeting her demise during Han’s first heist with Beckett’s crew. Three years after, Newton has shed light on why Val died, as well as voiced her disapproval of the creative decision.

For those who need a refresher, after Val was cornered by some security droids during the heist and realized she wouldn’t be able to safely rendezvous with Beckett and the others as planned, she sacrificed herself to detonate the bridge that the Conveyex transport they were robbing was traveling down. However, Thandiwe Newton informed Inverse that originally Val was supposed to make it out of Solo: A Star Wars Story alive. In her words:

So evidently the change in Val’s fate came down to time constraints during the filming of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Apparently in the scenario where Val was kept alive, she wouldn’t have factored into the rest of Solo’s story, but the door was open for her to return, be it in Solo 2 or another Star Wars project. But that’s not what happened, and Thandiwe Newton was dissatisfied with Val being killed off even during Solo’s principal photography. The actress continued:

Thandiwe Newton is correct that she was the first Black woman to have a prominent role in a Star Wars movie, with Naomi Ackie following in her footsteps as Jannah in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker the following year. Considering that Val’s death was for naught since Han Solo had to ditch the stolen cargo to save Chewbacca and Beckett, at least if she’d fallen to parts unknown, she could have embarked on new adventures. Though unfortunately for Han, she never would have reunited with Beckett, as her husband was fatally shot by Han before he could gun down the young man.

In any case, there’s always the possibility we could see a prequel story featuring Val told someday, but as far as the Star Wars franchise’s current creative endeavors go, the next movie on the slate is Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron, while Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett will keep things going on the TV front this winter. Learn what else is coming to a galaxy far, far away with our Star Wars movies and TV shows guide. Thandiwe Newton fans can see her starring opposite Hugh Jackman in Reminiscence, which is playing in theaters and on HBO Max.

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Warning: Light spoilers for Reminiscence are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, feel free to jump to another piece of coverage here at CinemaBlend, until you’ve caught the action for yourself.

For the most part, Reminiscence is a mystery picture that sees Hugh Jackman chasing down the elusive Rebecca Ferguson, after she’s disappeared from his life. But in this sci-fi neo-noir, there are a couple of impressive action set pieces that find their way into the mix, and one of them is commanded by Thandiwe Newton’s character, Emily “Watts” Sanders. The results are not only something Newton considers her new calling card for the future but, as she recalled the day of shooting her big action scene, it was almost cancelled due to a rather nasty electrical storm.

While speaking with Thandiwe Newton during the press day for Reminiscence, the subject of her huge shootout sequence needed to be brought up. Though we’ve seen Ms. Newton certainly clean up during her time as Maeve on Westworld, this venture with collaborator Lisa Joy required something a little different. And part of that difference was a rather interesting venue, which as you’ll read below provided some quirks that almost shut down production for the entire day of the sequence:

The Reminiscence sequence in question is the result of Hugh Jackman’s Nicholas Bannister talking himself into near fatal trouble. Looking for Mae (Rebecca Ferguson,) the woman he’s fallen in love with, and subsequently seen disappear into thin air, he pays a call to someone he probably shouldn’t have messed with. Just as it looks like he’s going to be drowned in an eel tank by Saint Joe (Daniel Wu,) a drug dealer with ties to Mae’s past, Watts comes in and saves the day.

Hugh Jackman’s protagonist would have been done for, if it wasn’t for the fact that Reminiscence saw Thandiwe Newton shoot her way into this decrepit bar. Wielding a shotgun, as well as a pistol, her character, Watts, stops Nick from drowning, and ultimately punches Saint Joe’s ticket for good. While this moment may differ from what we’ve seen in Newton’s Westworld past, it was definitely reminiscent of Lisa Joy’s touches from that show. Overall, it was an experience that Newton was happy to rave about, before getting into the finer details:

Lisa Joy’s Reminiscence is one of those directorial debuts that’s strong in tone and style, forging her creative voice all the clearer. Having Thandiwe Newton help to do so, and in such a tremendous way, is one of the strongest reasons this scene plays so well in the finished film. Should the Mission: Impossible series be looking to bring back Newton’s character of Nyah Nordoff-Hall in the future, the powers that be can be sure that the character will be able to hold her own alongside Ethan Hunt and the rest of his IMF cohorts. Though anyone else looking for an action lead that can take on a whole bar full of baddies at a moment's notice should be paying attention as well.

Reminiscence is currently available, in all of its action and mystery glory, in theaters. However, you can also catch the film on HBO Max until September 19th, provided you’re a current subscriber to the ad-free plan. Check out the latest subscription offer available to newcomers, should you not already be part of the party.

With the year more than halfway over, 2021 movies are coming out quicker than ever, and that includes the brand new addition to the pack, Reminiscence. In this new science fiction thriller film, we watch Hugh Jackman’s character, Nick, who finds a way to help his clients relive their past, and uses the method to find a lost love.

But, with stars a plenty, where has the Reminiscence cast been seen before? Hugh Jackman, Dune's Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, and several others have popped up in several projects - here is where you might have seen them prior to their role in Reminiscence.

Hugh Jackman (Nick Bannister)

Starring as the lead, Nick Bannister, in Reminiscence, Hugh Jackman is one of those actors that has truly been all everywhere in Hollywood, mainly in film. He made his mark when he took on the role of Wolverine in the X-Men franchise for nearly two decades, ending with his final film, Logan, in 2017.

But, other than his time as the famous Marvel superhero, Jackman has been active in several films. He’s had starring roles in the musicals Les Miserables and The Greatest Showman. He’s also been in several different genres, such as the romantic comedy, Kate & Leopold, the action/horror film, Van Helsing, the drama The Prestige, animated films The Rise of the Guardians and Missing Link, the thriller, Prisoners, and so many more.

Jackman, while he’s also starred in movie musicals, has appeared on the Broadway stage several times. One of his most recent adventures has been starring in the new Broadway adaptation of The Music Man.

One can only imagine where a man with this much talent is going to go next after Reminiscence.

Rebecca Ferguson (Mae)

Playing Nick’s lost love, Mae, in Reminiscence, Rebecca Ferguson has made her name in Hollywood over the last several years, starring in many big-time films. She got her start in the Swedish soap opera, Nya tinder, and her career only skyrocketed after that.

She’s been in two Mission Impossible films, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible - Fallout, and will be reprising her role in the upcoming Mission Impossible 7 and 8. She also had a main role in The Greatest Showman, where she acted alongside Hugh Jackman before Reminiscence. Ferguson has also appeared in several other films, including Life, the horror movie Doctor Sleep, and had supporting roles in The Girl on the Train, Men in Black: International and more.

Ferguson has also made her mark on TV after her soap opera days, namely starring in several miniseries, such as The White Queen and The Red Tent. Recently, she had a main role in the TV series, Wool.

Coming up, besides her role in the new Mission: Impossible film, she will also have a part in Dune, so keep an eye out for this talented actress.

Thandiwe Newton (Watts)

Playing Watts in Reminiscence, Thandiwe Newton has made her mark in both TV and film, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you saw her somewhere prior to her role in this movie.

In terms of movies, Newton started her career in the 1990s, and only continued to grow into an amazing actress. She had parts in the dramas Beloved, Mission: Impossible 2, the Academy-Award-winning Crash, the Will Smith-led The Pursuit of Happyness, and played a part in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

With TV, Thandiwe Newton has also had a lot of success. In the earlier years of her career, she had a recurring role on E.R., and a main role on the TV series, Rogue, but one of her biggest roles thus far has been portraying Maeve Millay on the HBO series, Westworld, a role she will reprise in the upcoming Season 4. She also had a main role in police procedural, Line of Duty, and has a recurring voice role on the Netflix original, Big Mouth.

Cliff Curtis (Cyrus Boothe)

Cliff Curtis portrayed Cyrus in Reminiscence, and has been active in both film and TV for a while now. He’s appeared in several high-profile movies such as the Bruce Willis-led Live Free or Die Hard, Doctor Sleep, The Dark Horse, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, among several others.

Curtis has also been active in TV as well, appearing in multiple TV shows. He had a main role in the medical drama, Trauma, a role in mystery thriller, Missing, and portrayed Travis Manawa on The Walking Dead spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead. Coming up, he is also going to be in two Avatar sequels - whenever they release - so it seems that the next couple of years are going to be big ones for Cliff Curtis.

Marina de Tavira (Swati)

Playing Swati in Reminiscence, Marina de Tavira is pretty new to the industry in the United States. Prior to her role in the film, Tavira starred in multiple Mexican movies, but her breakthrough was when she starred in the Academy Award-nominated Roma, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Reminiscence seems to be her first big role in the U. S., so, hopefully, after her portrayal here, we'll get to see her more in the future.

Daniel Wu (Saint Joe)

Daniel Wu played Saint Joe in Reminiscence, and he’s been pretty active in film for a long time, mainly in China. He’s starred in several Chinese films, becoming a huge star in the country, but has also appeared in American-made movies as well, including The Man with the Iron Fists, Europa Report, Warcraft, the disaster film Geostorm, and Tomb Raider.

His biggest role in here, however, was when he starred in the AMC drama, Into the Badlands, where he played Sunny from 2015-2016. I’m eager to see what he does after his role in Reminiscence, and where he might go next.

Mojean Aria (Sebastian)

Playing Sebastian in Reminiscence, Mojean Aria has mainly kept his talents to TV. While he has had roles in smaller films for a long time, he’s appeared in two TV series as main characters.

One was in the show All Saints, and the most recent was in the Apple TV+ series, See, alongside stars like Jason Momoa. After his role in Reminiscence, I hope I get to see him in more projects super soon.

Brett Cullen (Walter Sylvan)

Brett Cullen portrays Walter Sylvan in Reminiscence, and let me tell you, this man has been nearly everywhere during his long career. In terms of film, he’s appeared in several, including Apollo 13, Ghost Rider, the romantic comedy, Monte Carlo, The Dark Knight Rises, the biographical sports film, 42, the psychological thriller, Joker, and many more.

But Brett Cullen has also been extremely active in television, appearing in many TV shows as main characters. This includes playing Dan Fixx on the nighttime soap, Falcon Crest, Sam Cain on The Young Riders, Ned Logan on Legacy, Governor Ray Sullivan in a recurring role on The West Wing, Goodwin Stanhope in Lost, and in a recurring role on Make it or Break it as Mark Keeler. He was also a series regular on Devious Maids, and had recurring roles on Under the Dome, Narcos, and on Season 3 of True Detective.

With someone with that much to their name in Hollywood, it’s no surprise that Brett Cullen is in a big film like Reminiscence. I can only wonder where he is going to go next with how much he has done.

Natalie Martinez (Avery Castillo)

Playing Avery Castillo in Reminiscence, Natalie Martinez has been in both film and TV for some time. She was in action thriller film, End of Watch, the science fiction film, Self/less and several other movies.

In TV, she was on the soap opera Fashion House and the telenovela, Saints & Sinners for a little bit, before moving over into new roles. She had a main role on the police procedural Detroit 1-8-7, appeared in CSI: NY for several episodes, had a main role in Under the Dome, and in the miniseries, The Stand, and had a main role in Kingdom, where she played Alicia Mendez. She also had a main role in the procedural drama, APB, the science fiction series, The Crossing, and appeared in Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone.

Natalie Martinez is currently set to have a main role in an upcoming TV series, Ordinary Joe, so keep an eye out for her on your TV screens soon.

Angela Sarafyan (Elsa Carine)

Angela Sarafyan plays Elsa Carine in Reminiscence, and has been in plenty of feature films and series prior to her role that you might have seen her. With film, she has appeared in movies such as Kabluey, On the Doll, A Beautiful Life, The Informer, A Good Old Fashioned Orgy, Lost & Found in Armenia, and even had a supporting role in the Twilight Saga in Breaking Dawn - Part 2. She also appeared in the Netflix original film, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

Sarafyan has also appeared in several TV shows, such as guest roles in 24, CSI, Cold Case and more. She had a main role in the action series, The Good Guys in 2010, and currently has a main role in the HBO series, Westworld, alongside Thandiwe Newton.

With how many stars are in this film, it’s not a shocker that we have seen them in so many other movies and television series. I, for one, cannot wait to see where they go next after starring in Reminiscence.

At this point, Westworld fans are used to waiting for extended gaps between seasons without a whole lot of new details to speculate about while waiting. We're now around eight months ahead of the spring premiere window that the HBO sci-fi drama utilized for Seasons 2 and 3, and though there's no telling when we'll actually see Season 4 debut, co-creator Lisa Joy has offered up a couple of details that Westworld fans can nibble on with curiosity. Even if the details inevitably only cause more confusion, at least in my non-artificially intelligent brain.

Lisa Joy is currently in the process of promoting her new brain-bending thriller Reminiscence, which has received the same kinds of reviews as Westworld, with fanatics adoring it, while others are left befuddled. Ahead of its release in both theaters and on streaming, Joy spoke with Deadline, which is where she shared the promising claim below:

I think we can all agree that some of the most interesting aspects of Westworld are the Delos "worlds" themselves. Viewers have spent an ample amount of time in the titular realm, while Season 2 introducing Shogun World and the jungle-filled The Raj. Season 3 hinted at Medieval World with its Game of Thrones dragon, and took viewers fully into Warworld with Thandiwe Newton's Maeve and Ridrigo Santoro's Hector. So for Lisa Joy to be teasing more than one new world coming in Season 4, it either means big changes within the park, or possibly a trip back in time.

Westworld's convoluted Season 3 took viewers and its host characters outside the Delos park system, and gave Evan Rachel Wood's Dolores a new human companion in Aaron Paul's Caleb. But then things went all screwy in that bonkers finale, with Dolores and Maeve sorta liking humans, while Tessa Thompson's altered Chalores stepped up as a central antagonist. Not to mention Ed Harris' Man In Black getting murdered by his own host version. And that's all on top of the world almost spiraling into widespread disaster over issues with Rehoboam and everyone's social status.

So how will Season 4 go about introducing new worlds? Will Delos' business and legal issues all magically reverse themselves, allowing the parks to go public with new and exciting exhibits and challenges? Or will Westworld's new areas come into play through flashbacks to different points before everything went haywire in Season 3?

Elsewhere, Lisa Joy described Season 4 of Westworld as "Inversion," so do with that what you will. Personally, I will just shrug over it.

While it doesn't offer anything to go on plot-wise, it's interesting that Lisa Joy is already teasing a new cast member on Westworld having come from Reminiscence. The film already features Thandiwe Newton and Angela Sarafyan, with the latter making her return as Clementine in Season 3 for a single episode. Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Cliff Curtis and Daniel Wu also co-star in the flick, so could it be one of their faces we'll see in Season 4?

Westworld Season 4 is potentially set to hit HBO at some point in 2022, though it's not clear exactly when that'll happen. In the meantime, all the showing popping up across the 2021 Fall TV premiere schedule.

The stars of Reminiscence, including Hugh Jackman, Thandiwe Newton, Rebecca Ferguson, and writer/director Lisa Joy discuss their mind-bending sci-fi movie in this interview with CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes. The cast discusses the deep dives they took for their characters with Lisa Joy, while she hints at a future Westworld role for one of the stars… and so much more!

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro

00:23 - Hugh Jackman Discusses Reminiscence And Genres That Inspired His Performance

01:12 - Lisa Joy On Her Process Of Putting Together This Mysterious Neo-Noir Film

01:57 - Hugh Jackman On Working With The “Naughty” Rebecca Ferguson Again

02:52 - Rebecca Ferguson Talks Hugh Jackman And Their Characters' Relationship

04:09 - Thandiwe Newton Gives Us A Behind The Scenes Look At That Epic Shootout

05:42 - Lisa Joy Talks Westworld And Potentially Bringing The Reminiscence Cast Over To HBO

07:02 - Thandiwe Newton Discusses The Internalized Bias She Overcame While Portraying Watts

09:40 - Rebecca Ferguson Had To Dive Deep With Director Lisa Joy To Portray Mae

10:43 - Hugh Jackman On Whether We Can Ever Expect Real Steel 2

You can see Reminiscence in theaters and on HBO Max on August 20.

Who else is ready to see Hugh Jackman back on our screens? He next stars in the science fiction thriller Reminiscence as Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind, who navigates the past by helping his clients access lost memories. Living on the sunken Miami coast, his life is forever changed when he takes on a new client, Mae. A simple matter of lost and found becomes a dangerous obsession. As Bannister fights to find the truth about Mae's disappearance, he uncovers a conspiracy. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Mae (marking a reunion of the two actors from The Greatest Showman), and the film also features Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis, Marina de Tavira, and Daniel Wu. Lisa Joy, co-creator and showrunner of Westworld, directed the thriller in her feature film directorial debut, and considered Jackman’s casting essential.

Reminiscence will debut in theaters on August 20, with a month-long simultaneous release on HBO Max. Critics have started releasing their reviews, so let’s take a look.

We’ll start with the home team, like usual. CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes is giving high praise to Reminiscence, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. He really enjoyed Jackman’s performance as the lead, but pointed out that the entire cast shines. Reyes also complemented Joy’s direction, noting that her meticulously crafted storytelling upgrades the neo-noir genre and is a visual and thematic thrill. Overall, he noted:

Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly had a completely different take on Reminiscence. While she found the premise intriguing, she thought the plot was just silly, with the sole voice of reason coming from Newton in a few scenes. Greenblatt thought that the actors tried hard to make the best of “dim material,” but overall she was unimpressed with Joy’s directorial debut, saying:

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter echoed those sentiments in his review. He thought the plot was so convoluted that the revelations are like “a leaky faucet.” He argued that there’s so much going on that it’s impossible for characters to establish themselves, specifically Newton’s underused Watts. Rooney highly criticized Reminiscence, calling it:

The negative opinions of the sci-fi thriller continue with David Ehrlich from IndieWire, who thinks that Reminiscence should be forgotten. He argued that the plot is a bit too predictable and incoherent. Ehrlich also thought it was a drag to watch Hugh Jackman try to piece together the storyline to justify the film’s metaphors, and criticized the lack of established characters. He said:

Pat Padua from The Washington Post thought the concept was fascinating, but was ultimately disappointed with Reminiscence. He criticized the thriller for relying too heavily on other memory-themed films and being too over-stuffed with plot. While Padua did enjoy a fight scene, he thought the action flick failed to keep viewers interested, saying:

Well, that was bleak. Critics seem to be rather unimpressed with Hugh Jackman's Reminiscence. Will viewers feel the same way? We'll soon find out, as the sci-fi thriller releases in theaters and on HBO Max on August 20.

In the meantime, you can check out what else is coming up from Warner Bros. (the studio bringing us Reminiscence) to plan your next movie-going experience.

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Throughout his career, Hugh Jackman has played major roles in mind-bending sci-fi films and gripping thrillers, with movies like The Fountain and The Prestige coming to mind. In the very near future, the Golden Globe Award-winning actor will take on a role that looks to combine elements from both of those genres in Reminiscence, a film that has potential to be the next great sci-fi film, thanks to its stellar cast, which includes Rebecca Ferguson, and a story written and directed by Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy.

If this is the first you are hearing of Reminiscence, don’t worry, because we’ve put together a quick yet comprehensive guide containing everything you need to know about the upcoming mystery that looks to combine elements of films like Blade Runner, Inception, and film noir classics of the past. Below you will find details about the film’s release date, its cast, and other information that will have you racing to theaters (and HBO Max)…

Reminiscence Comes To Theaters And HBO Max August 20, 2021

In December 2020, Warner Bros. sent shock waves through the movie industry when it announced that all of its 2021 releases would open in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. One of the films on the WB list was Reminiscence, which was given a release date of August 20, 2021. This came after the studio moved the movie around its calendar multiple times for myriad reasons, including the pandemic and competition from other movies opening on the film’s previous release dates. It should be noted, Reminiscence and the other Warner Bros. movies with this release model are only available for the ad-free version of HBO Max, and not the low-cost model introduced in June 2021, at least not when they're still showing in theaters.

Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson And Thandiwe Newton Lead The Reminiscence Cast

Leading the charge in Reminiscence is Hugh Jackman as Nick Bannister, a solitary figure living in a near-future Miami who gives his clients the ability to escape their reality by allowing them to relive any of their past memories. Rebecca Ferguson, who previously appeared alongside Jackman in The Greatest Showman, portrays Mae, a mysterious woman who kick starts the mystery at the center of the sci-fi thriller. Thandiwe Newton also co-stars as Watts, Bannister’s business partner who helps him run the mysterious and powerful memory-retrieving technology. The Reminiscence cast also includes Cliff Curtis (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Marina de Tavira (Roma), Daniel Wu (Into the Badlands), Mojean Aria (See), Brett Cullen (Joker), Natalie Martinez (The Stand) Angela Sarafyn (Westworld), and Nico Parker (Dumbo), according to Warner Bros.

Reminiscence Follows A Private Investigator Who Becomes Part Of A Sprawling Mystery When A Client Disappears

Set in a world that has been decimated by climate change and rising sea levels, Reminiscence follows Nick Bannister (Jackman), a private investigator of the mind who helps his clients access their old memories, according to Warner Bros. Living on the fringes of society and without any meaningful relationships in his life, Bannister’s life is forever changed when a new client named Mae (Ferguson) comes in with a simple job: retrieving a lost memory. But, the job quickly becomes anything but simple as Bannister becomes obsessed with the mysterious woman, especially after she disappears upon being implicated in violent conspiracy.

Reminiscence Combines Elements Of Sci-Fi And Film Noir For Its Mysterious And Thrilling Narrative

With its setting and concept of using a technologically-advanced machine to retrieve memories, it’s easy to see the sci-fi elements in the movie, but, similar to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Reminiscence also has a heavy film noir feel to it, as Hugh Jackman explained during an interview with CinemaBlend in June 2021, specifically addressing the role Rebecca Ferguson’s character plays in the mystery:

Whether or not Rebecca Ferguson’s Mae is a classic femme fatale like in The Maltese Falcon or Double Indemnity or just an innocent victim remains to be seen, but we’ll know in due time.

Westworld Co-Creator Lisa Joy Is Making Her Feature Directorial Debut With Reminiscence

Lisa Joy is no stranger when it comes to complex narratives set in realm of sci-fi, having co-created and served as a writer, producer, and director on the critically acclaimed HBO series Westworld. Despite working on shows like Pushing Daisies and Burn Notice over the years, Joy is making her feature directorial debut with Reminiscence, a film that she not only directed, but also wrote and produced.

Casting Hugh Jackman Was Essential For Director Lisa Joy

It’s not uncommon for screenwriters to have a certain actor in mind whenever they’re putting together a script, and such is the case for Lisa Joy, who kept thinking about Hugh Jackman when writing Reminiscence. During a conversation with CinemaBlend in June 2021, the writer-director explained that Jackman was essential to the process, so much so she went to great lengths to get him on board:

And, you can’t blame Lisa Joy for being so committed to having Hugh Jackman lead Reminiscence, especially when you consider just how well the actor portrays dynamic and broken characters.

The Reminiscence Trailer Shower Off The Movie’s Trippy Visuals And Gripping Mystery

In June 2021, Warner Bros. released the Reminiscence trailer, giving audiences their first look look at the unforgiving and mysterious nocturnal world Lisa Joy has created in the upcoming sci-fi action thriller. Filled with plenty of action, mystery, and plenty of trippy visuals that can’t help but intrigue the viewer, the nearly three-minute clip includes all the major players and teases the underlying mystery that will play out over the course of the film’s runtime. The full trailer can be viewed below:

After watching the Reminiscence trailer, as well as hearing what writer-director Lisa Joy and star Hugh Jackman have to say about the sci-fi thriller, it’s easy to get excited for one of the most intriguing 2021 movies coming to theaters (and HBO Max for a short time).

Sometimes stress has funny ways of manifesting itself in our daily routine. So one would think with the sort of pressure that Tom Cruise engages in during the course of a Mission: Impossible movie, even his bodily systems would find a way to make things interesting. That was recently confirmed by his Mission: Impossible 2 co-star Thandie Newton, as she told a story of a pretty pressured night of shooting that started with a simple blemish, and ended with a full blown zit.

Vulture conducted a comprehensive interview with Thandie Newton, which covered everything from her earliest acting credits, all the way down to her current role on Westworld. Mixed in with this profile of Thandie Newton’s stories of important moments throughout her resume was a story that talked about why she hasn’t appeared in the Mission: Impossible franchise since the second sequel released in 2000, and as you’ll see below, how the stressful night started out:

As Mission: Impossible was a smash success, and Mission: Impossible 2 was the first experiment in the sustainability of the legendary TV series turned film franchise, there was no shortage of pressure. With all of that pressure on the line, having a night’s worth of dialogue that both Thandie Newton and Tom Cruise felt was subpar certainly didn’t help their night of shooting on a Spanish balcony.

Playing the character Nyah Nordoff-Hall, a professional thief recruited into helping thwart the plans of her evil ex-boyfriend, Thandie Newton’s character was in a good portion of Mission: Impossible 2 alongside Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. So it was obviously key for the two to find the proper rhythm between their characters early on, and sustain that energy throughout the film’s production. All of this anxiety literally came to a head, as Newton would explain in the rest of her story:

With their chemistry balanced, and Mission: Impossible 2 going on to become a huge hit at the box office, one does have to wonder why Thandie Newton wasn’t asked back to play Nyah Nordoff-Hall in a future Mission: Impossible installment. Not only is that because Newton’s performance chops are always a joy to watch, but the mark she left on the still going strong franchise is still well regarded 20 years after.

Then again, there are two Mission: Impossible sequels currently being shot, and if Henry Czerny’s Kittridge can return from the first installment, who’s to say that Ms. Hall isn’t waiting in a post-credits cliffhanger between Mission: Impossible 7 and 8, ready to return in grand style? With nostalgia proving powerful in entertainment, crazier things have happened.

Mission: Impossible 7 starts the road to the future of the IMF on November 19, 2021, with Mission: Impossible 8 set to jump off on November 4, 2022.

To start things off on the proper footing, Westworld ranks as one of my favorite TV shows of the last decade, both in terms of sci-fi escapism and theory-indulgent conversations. I'm an adorer of the ensemble cast's consummate excellence, and a fan-apologist for the creative team's more questionable ebbs and whims. Actively seeking out Westworld's story issues isn't part of my narrative, as it were, but even I had to lower my rose-colored glasses more than a few times during the now-concluded Season 3.

Like many other fans, my hopes for the third season were as lofty as Westworld's plant-covered skyscrapers, coming after that game-changing Season 2 finale, with the strength of new cast members such as Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul and Black Swan's Vincent Cassel. And certainly, much about Season 3 can be celebrated as achievements, with the show's acting and cinematography as lovely as ever. Still, I couldn't help coming away from the season as a whole with a host of lingering issues that I'd managed to avoid in previous years. So here are my biggest peeves and grievances from "The New World," in no particular order.

Serac And Rehobaom Were Never Mentioned Before

Engerraund Serac and his predictive A.I. Rehoboam were so vital to humankind that a data breach was the catalyst for mass riots, suicides, etc., and that's on top of Serac's company being a gigantic tech-world quasi-rival of the Delos Corporation that hunted and effectively "killed" outliers who didn't mesh with Incite's vibe. Yet none of the human characters in Season 1 or 2 ever mentioned any of it. Plus, I guess it means none of the sadistic monsters who went to Westworld and the other Delos parks were considered to be outliers at all.

Obviously creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy didn't have every Westworld story beat planned out from the beginning, but they did inevitably choose to make the Incite way of life so universally adopted. Is it dumb that I'd be perfectly fine with them going back and adding new dialogue/scenes to Season 1 and 2 that did incorporate references to the Serac brothers and their devices?

The Real-World Chaos Undercut Dolores’ Big Plans

Westworld set many up to think Dolores would lead a Host army into waging war on a tech-obsessed humanity in Season 3. But while people were indeed consumed by gadgets and data, Dolores' vengeful mission lost nearly all of its steam once it became clear the "real world" was just as fucked up and pre-programmed as the Delos parks. The parallel riffs might have felt more dynamic and poignant under different pretenses, but her revolution and death were sorely muted by Rehoboam's massive impact on human behavior, as well as the lack of morally upstanding flesh-and-blood characters.

The Man In Black’s Erratic AF Storyline

For two seasons, Ed Harris' anti-villain The Man in Black was one of TV's most intriguingly enigmatic characters, especially when incorporating his youth. However, the character's staggered Season 3 arc was a largely blasé and empty affair, save for the group therapy session and the finale's post-credit reveal of the Man in Black Host. Sure, I'm still excited about what's coming next, but without as much confidence that it'll wow me beyond the power of Ed Harris' sneer.

Caleb Is Apparently The Only Non-Rapist To Have Visited A Delos Park

I know Dolores doesn't have a contact list full of dependable human beings who might also be sympathetic to sentient androids, but certainly she should have had more candidates for confidantes than "the guy who lightly convinced other supposedly respectable soldiers not to rape any robots several years ago." What a savior.

Too Much Confusion Over Dolores’ Pearls

When Dolores smuggled a handful of Host pearls out of the Delos parks in the Season 2 finale, it seemed like a great way to build mystery in Season 3. At times, that was achieved. For the most part, though, Westworld dripped those reveals out until confirming that the non-Bernard pearls were just clones of Dolores, which felt more like a "Gotcha!" than a germane bombshell at that point.

Bernard’s Most Interesting Moments Were His First And Final Scenes

Similar to how Ed Harris' excellence felt partly squandered in Season 3, Jeffrey Wright was faced with Bernard's meandering storyline. Things opened promisingly, with Bernard as a self-controlled fugitive living and working among real people, but he immediately reverted back to confused-detective mode. Thankfully, the character's story ended just as confidently, which included an emotional visit with Arnold's wife Lauren before an extended voyage into The Sublime. In between those sequences, though, Bernard bounced from location to location (alongside the returning Stubbs) as little more than glorified exposition. Be better, Bernard.

No Real Resolution For All The Frozen Outliers

Sure, Westworld is a dark show, but what's more disturbing than the reveal that Aaron Paul's Caleb was quasi-brainwashed by Serac's people into kidnapping and/or murdering people as guided by Rehoboam data, all for the still-living people to be declared dead put into permanent states of hibernation until an eventual "cure" is found for their outlier status. But did all those people actually die when Dolores hit that EMP in Episode 9? Are there now a bunch of rotting corpses smelling up the Solomon facility in Sonora, Mexico?

Maeve Constantly Getting Shafted Over Everything

Thandie Newton's Maeve wasn't created to follow a happiness-infused narrative, so it's perfectly natural that the character's rise to sentience and beyond has been one marked with various tragedies. But Season 3 heaped on the tragedies and down-trodden moments without any of the survivor savagery we've seen in seasons past, or even the story agency. Maeve was used by Serac and his simulations, she permanently lost her true love Hector, she was killed by the Musashi clone, and she was killed by Dolores, all without ever getting her promised reunion with her daughter in the Sublime. Of anyone in Westworld, Maeve is one who's least-deserving of such fates.

Neato Cityscapes Aren't As Visually Interesting As Delos' Parks

Yes, Westworld's visuals did get an aforementioned shout-out, but that's just comparing Westworld to most other TV shows. When stacked up against itself, though, the show's visual mastery sagged hard by setting the majority of Season 3 in the real world. The brief moments that did incorporate the Westworld park were a splendid reminder, as were the surrounding areas within the Warworld simulation, though they were too few and far between. It's cool to watch flying vehicles flying through various skyscrapers, don't get me wrong, but nothing about Westworld's San Francisco or L.A. locations were anywhere near as memorable as the abundance of nature within any of Delos' creations.

The Lack Of Robert Ford

Westworld understandably left a lot of familiar characters behind by largely vacating the parks in Season 3, and the creative team did a commendable job of peppering in cameos of favorites such as Angela Sarafyan's Clementine and Jimmi Simpson's younger William. But tell me this chaotic storyline wouldn't have become so much more grounded and meaningful by even a single appearance from Anthony Hopkins' Robert Ford, whose signature reflections on existence are the foundation for Westworld's ethos and pathos.

With Season 4 coming at some point in the future, Westworld can easily revert me back into a guilt-free fanatic who would cast doubt upon everything I've said above. But until those episodes start to arrive, I'll be crafting conspiracy theories about how the human Man in Black isn't actually dead yet.

Westworld Season 1-3 can currently be streamed on HBO Go and HBO Now. Be sure to keep up with all the upcoming TV goodness by bookmarking our Summer 2020 premiere schedule.

Spoilers below for the second-to-last episode of Westworld Season 3, so be warned!

Westworld's penultimate installment, "Passed Pawn," put a lot of focus on explaining Caleb's dark and intentionally obscured backstory, while also introducing the Serac brothers' prototype for the Rehoboam system. Much head-scratching ensued, and that was before the climax seemingly wiped out both Dolores and Maeve thanks to a well-placed EMP device. (Don't worry, they're both "alive" and well in the season finale trailer.)

Even though Season 3 hasn't necessarily been as densely structured as the first two seasons, at least as far as we can tell, creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy weren't exactly forthcoming with fully explored answers across these first seven episodes. And wouldn't you know it? Rehoboam totally predicted that I would have a ton of questions and curiosities left floating around ahead of the finale, which are compiled below. Pop those Limbic tabs and let's get started.

Who Resurrected Maeve After Her Battle With Dolores?

Even though it was partially revealed in the Episode 8 trailer, audiences were already clued in on Caleb being responsible for bringing Dolores back online somehow. (And it looks complicated.) But, assuming Caleb didn't also do the same for Maeve, how is she alive again in the finale? Perhaps Serac and his team were notified whenever Solomon shut down, or even whenever Maeve herself shut down, since he obviously has some overarching control over her. Hopefully the EMP didn't permanently fry her pearl in any way.

Will The Valley Beyond Situation Ever Get Resolved?

By and large, Maeve's main goal in Season 3 has been to reunite with her loved ones, even though she is continuously at the beck and call of Serac. We know that her love Hector is now permanently out of the picture, but will the season finale at last grant Maeve the happiness that she (arguably) deserves by sending her into the Valley Beyond with her daughter? It really wouldn't seem right to keep stretching that story into the recently renewed Season 4.

Is Caleb Really Set To Lead A Revolution, Or Is Dolores Playing Him?

Caleb re-learned a lot about himself thanks to Solomon's revelations, including the fact that he was responsible for killing and apprehending untold numbers of supposed outliers, all while creating false memories around the RICO missions. Dolores already seemed to know all of this, though, implying that she'd been grooming Caleb this whole time into taking her mantle as Host-sympathetic revolutionary. But would Dolores really put all of her metaphorical eggs in Caleb's basket, considering how unstable he is?

What Is Solomon's Final Strategy?

Unsurprisingly, viewers haven't yet learned the details behind the final strategy that Solomon crafted for Jean Mi Serac before the metaphorical plug was pulled on that particular operation. The original version of the plan was outdated by this point, and involved some people who are currently in outlier limbo, but Dolores had the A.I. develop a revised version that revolved around Caleb. In fact, Solomon even tried to warn Caleb about something before the EMP was activated. So what on Earth will Caleb do that introduces even more chaos into the world?

What Happened To Chalores After Escaping The Burning Car?

One of the bigger shocks in the episode “Decoherence” came when Halores’ car was purposefully blown up, killing off Charlotte’s human husband and son in the process. When she pulled herself out of the wreckage, she looked ready to scorch the planet, which was complemented by her totally scorched skin. Early in Episode 7, Halores was curiously framed during a phone call in which she revealed she’d completely sold out on Dolores and tipped Serac off to the Musashi/Sato clone’s location in Jakarta. What exactly happened that shifted her worldview after getting out of that car, and is she healing at all?

Is The Final Dolores Pearl Clone Located In Berlin?

Earlier in Westworld Season 3, one of Serac’s underlings pointed out the locations of Dolores’ contacts, and to date, the only one that hasn’t been revealed yet is the one supposedly in Berlin. That unidentified being isn’t necessarily harboring the missing Host pearl that is still unaccounted for, but the story would probably make a lot more sense if those things are connected. But will the Berlin ally be someone that viewers know?

Is Serac Really Alive Or Just A Series Of Holograms?

Every time viewers are witnessing Vincent Cassel’s Serac on the screen, there’s a 9 in 10 chance that it’s merely a holographic projection. Very rarely has Serac been “proven” to be in the physical world, making contact with objects and other human beings. Episode 7 even introduced a new, prerecorded Serac hologram, one with a message meant for his brother Jean Mi if he was ever successfully reconditioned. Interestingly, though, Serac’s message claims that the man he was “no longer exists.” A nod hinting at a transition to an A.I. consciousness, or something else?

Who Is Serac's Other Delos Mole(s)?

While Charlotte Hale was the most prominent mole within Serac's Delos-infiltrating scheme, he alluded to having someone else working for him on the inside. This mystery associate is presumably the one who initially rescued Maeve's pearl from Cold Storage. As well, he or she is believed to be the one who returned her to the simulation world, as well as the one responsible for Host-printing Clementine, Hanaryo and the unfortunate Hector. Will it end up being Maeve's former compadre Felix, or perhaps his more surly counterpart Sylvester?

Will William Once Again Become The Man In Black?

After spending the entirety of Season 3 either hallucinating at home, hallucinating in virtual nightmare therapy, or begrudgingly palling around with Bernard and Stubbs, Ed Harris' William is in desperate need of a costume change. In getting perhaps unfairly ousted and committed by Halores, the tragedy-stricken gunslinger became the Man in White. but he's apparently now found his path and is set to be the hero in this tale by killing off every last Host that he comes across. (Assuming he's not a host himself.) That probably won't bode well for some normal humans, considering what happened with Emily in Season 2.

What Was Dolores’ Plan With The Jakarta Clone?

Before his death and beheading, the Musashi/Sato clone confirmed with his henchmen that a certain someone's location had been found and that everything was in order. He then sent another out to make a delivery, with the threatening message that he shouldn't return if the mission isn't completed. We know this clone had tied to a facility that appeared to be manufacturing the Hosts' bodily fluids, but where are all the bodies for that fluid to go into?

Why Is Arnold's Maze Showing Up In The Real World?

At least twice now in Season 3, Westworld has shown viewers wall graffiti that directly references the maze imagery that Season 2 was based on. In one instance, Halores walked past it while taking Charlotte's son home, and the other instance was in the tunnel walkway where Dolores and Caleb first meet. It also showed up in one of the trailers released ahead of the season, presumably from one of the finale's riot scenes, but what does it mean? How did Arnold's maze escape the park and crossover into everyday human life, and why?

Why Is Bernard Still So Important In All This?

Inarguably one of Westworld's most important characters, as portrayed by one of the show's most talented actors, Jeffrey Wright's Bernard has strangely been treading a ton of water in Season 3, and not in the normal "confused Bernard exists in 11 different timelines" way. Dolores implied at one point that Bernard was the only irreplaceable Host, but it's not exactly clear what that meant, and he hasn't exactly been doing anything all that noteworthy on his treks with Stubbs. That said, I'm still kind of awaiting a left-field twist that re-contextualizes the entirety of Bernard's Season 3 narrative.

Did Caleb Kill Any Other Outliers That Are Important To The Story?

Caleb learned a lot of terrible shit about himself in "Passed Pawn." Not only was he responsible for killing his brother in arms Francis, but the two of them somewhat unwittingly worked as Serac's hitmen through the RICO app, taking out potentially innocent outliers. Viewers got to see at least one part of Caleb's laundry list of successful missions, along with two failures for "Murder" and "Enhanced Interrogation." Will any of those other deadly missions come up as critical backstory for the rest of Season 3? Is it possible one or some of Caleb's mostly forgotten crimes will come back to haunt him?

Will Anyone Actually "Win" The Finale?

The Season 3 finale trailer plays up the pure madness that's on the way as city populations start rioting over the Incite info dumps that Dolores made public. It plays up the Serac vs. Caleb angle, as well as the Dolores vs. Maeve angle, while also making it seem like William might actually kill Stubbs and/or Bernard. But when all is said and done and the credits are rolling, will Westworld have an actual victor to grant a crown and scepter to? Or is Dolores' main plan just to leave the real world as bloody and destroyed as Westworld itself became over the course of Season 2?

If someone put on about 14 pots of coffee, I could keep cooking up questions that would last us until HBO aired the Westworld finale, but that might be overkill. Be sure to let us know your theories in the comments, and tune into "Crisis Theory" when it airs on HBO on Sunday, May 3, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn't watched Westworld's "Decoherence."

Once again almost fully separating itself from the Alpha Dolores and Caleb storylines, Westworld pulled its focus back on Thandie Newton's Maeve, Tessa Thompson's Charlotte Hale and Ed Harris's The Man in Black (whose past selves returned). Each one of the characters went through semi-cataclysmic situations that completely altered their headspaces and put them on direct paths to the Season 3 endgame. That's assuming there aren't another three or four left turns sprinkled into the final two episodes, which there probably will be.

Below, I'm going to dig into how Maeve, Hale and William's stories changed up in "Decoherence," complete with my biggest question about each of these hard-to-predict characters' narratives. Now put on your hallucinatory sanitarium-prescribed AR goggles and follow along!

Maeve's Now On The War(world)path

Maeve kicked the episode off in a pair of familiar places, first within a quasi-memory of the Valley Beyond for a quick and threatening convo with Serac, as portrayed by Vincent Cassel. After that, Maeve woke up back inside the Warworld simulation, where she angrily created some of her own violent delights before reuniting with digital Lee Sizemore. With her pearl having been recovered by Serac's team (following her death at the hands of Dolores' yakuza leader), Maeve was sent back to Warworld for more research, as well as to reconnect with Rodrigo Santoro's Hector. And possibly others...

Maeve once again found full-fledged happiness after she reinstated Hector's self-awareness, but it was sadly short-lived. The powers that be also recovered Martin Connell's damaged Dolo-pearl, which allowed Serac to bring that pearl's version of Evan Rachel Wood's Dolores into the simulation. The point was for Maeve to utilize  subdued Dolores and devise real-world strategies to take her down, all while new host bodies were being printed for Maeve, Hector and others in the real world. However, the tables turned when Hale-ores arrived at the facility and destroyed Hector's pearl, seemingly killing him off for good. (His face couldn't have been creepier in that moment, either.)

Though she also intended to demolish Maeve's pearl, Hale-ores was attacked before she could follow through, which marks the second time a Dolores clone purposefully stopped just short of permanently taking Maeve out. Whatever the deeper motivations were, Maeve is now back in the real world with both a new body and a much deeper sense of vengeance on her mind. If Dolores wasn't worried before, it's definitely a good time to start. Though she probably knows that already.

Question: What Other Bodies Were Being Printed Besides Maeve And Hector?

Similar to the mystery of Dolores' smuggled pearls, Westworld seemed to withhold potentially important information by not identifying the other two Host bodies that were being printed along with Hector and Maeve, especially considering Serac called for all other hosts to be destroyed. Simulation Dolores also hinted at more characters returning when she brought up bringing in friends as backup. Might Armistice (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) or (Tao Okamoto) be returning to assist in Maeve's quest, or will Simon Quarterman's Lee Sizemore be returning to the real world as a non-simulated Host?

Charlotte Wants Revenge

After the events of "Decoherence," Westworld fans should probably flip from calling Tessa Thompson's cloned Host Hale-ores to calling her Scarlotte. For one, Charlotte further drifted from Dolores' original code; it was her emotional side that tipped Serac off that she was the secret Host he was seeking out. Those humanistic instincts also resulted in the shocking deaths of Charlotte's husband and son, who both died without learning the truth about anything.

Perhaps more shocking than the explosion itself, Charlotte wasn't fully killed off the way that Connells was. She burst from her burning vehicle with completely singed skin and a hyper-fierce look in her eyes. Where she might have previously been torn between her two different sides, Charlotte now appears to have all of Dolores' viciousness on tap, with everything from the character's human world going up in flames, or getting gassed in a boardroom.

From this point forward, I don't necessarily think that Charlotte will be keeping Dolores' gameplan at the forefront of her artificial mind. Having digitally smuggled as much data as possible out of Delos, Charlotte will probably now hone in on physically taking Serac out for killing Jake and Nathan.

Question: Will Charlotte Try To Stop Dolores Now?

Having continuously distanced herself from Dolores' anti-human mindset, Charlotte is once again a wildcard at this point, in that she has seemingly nothing to lose except a shot at revenge. It's assumed she's going after Serac now, but will her quest for justice stop at just his head, or will Dolores also eventually bear the brunt of Charlotte's rage?

The Man In Black Is The Good Guy Again...Maybe?

In the time that Dolores succeeded in spreading her sentience across multiple hosts, The Man in Black's sanity went in the reverse direction as he drunkenly withdrew further from reality. After being (justifiably) transported to the Inner Journeys Recovery facility, William had proven himself a hinderance in group therapy with his warped views of reality. Then, in what was either the best timing in the world, or the worst, his first round of virtual therapy began right as Dolores released Rehoboam's information to the world, making him an afterthought as chaos reigned.

William's extended jaunt through the synapses initially took him back to his youth for the first time, where viewers saw him cower upon hearing his father's angry hollers. It was later revealed that a schoolmate called William's father a drunk, and William beat the shit out of that kid. The scene implied that William's apple didn't fall far from his abusive father's tree, but because William didn't display physical injuries, and because Westworld stopped short of showing that abuse, the overall context may actually be that William's violent tendencies didn't have any direct outside influences.

Current-day William wants to leave all the bad shit he did behind and become the "good guy" again, which was an assumption he came to after his self-reflective therapy session. As led by guest star Peter Mullen as James Delos, the grouping included Ed Harris' park-dwelling Man in Black, the pre-widower William, Jimmi Simpson's young William, and the aforementioned pre-pubescent William (played by Zayd Kiszonak). Of course, in order to reach his good-guy revelation, William bloodily murdered his past selves. So we should assume he'll have Dolores in his sights after being discovered by Bernard and Stubbs, right? Is that what the hero would do?

Question: What Happened To William's Father?

Every era of The Man in Black's life that viewers have witnessed has been stricken with tragedy, usually with some form of betrayal involved. So clearly, the character's childhood needs to have at least one similar touchstone for William to have repressed. Whether or not he was abused, is it possible that William snapped and murdered his own father in a fit of rage?

Let us know in the poll below who you think will be the final victor when the finale is over. Don't forget that Westworld has just two episodes left in Season 3, and fans can find them airing on HBO on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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Warning! Westworld spoilers are all over the place below, so only read if you're comfortable digging into what we learned (and didn't) in "The Winter Line."

Westworld's Season 3 premiere introduced viewers to a whole new world, one where Aladdin references like that work because the show's self-guided vehicles are basically flying carpets. For better or worse (where critics are concerned), the second installment only followed up on Bernard's journey and that final scene with Maeve, delaying further exploration of Dolores' new relationship with Aaron Paul's Cal. Thankfully, there were more than enough interesting and thought-provoking moments to go around, complete with both new characters and a few familiar faces.

While waiting to see all the madness that the third episode will bring, I'd like to pick apart some of the major questions I had after watching "The Winter Line." Though first, can we all just take a moment to appreciate the notion that Ramin Djawadi's Westworld theme actually exists within the show's universe itself? That was weird, and awesome. Check out our questions from Episode 1 if you haven't already, and read on!

Does Warworld Actually Exist?

Westworld seemed to be taking a strange left turn (or far-far-right turn) when trailers introduced Nazi propaganda into Season 3 by way of a new park. But as Episode 2 showed us, that park was not what it was first perceived to be, and was actually a looping simulation that Maeve was trapped inside, along with Rodrigo Santoro's Hector. Maeve's loop only shows viewers a small section of the park, which just so happens to be near the Forge that it took characters ages to get to in Season 2. So did Delos actually build a Warworld for Guests to get bloody in, or was it all for the sake of the simulation?

Even with all the additional in-development characters seen in Delos' lower decks, I would probably be convinced that War World only existed in digital form if not for one detail: Maeve is the one who name-checks Warworld when talking to Lee Sizemore 2.0. Considering Maeve was artificially intelligent enough to figure out that she was inside a counterfeit world, it doesn't seem likely that someone could have programmed recognition of a fake park into her core without her then recognizing that as false information.

Was Maeve's Experience Just One Big Turing Test?

While it didn't take too long for Maeve to figure out what was happening to her, even with Lee there in complete denial about his real-world death, the episode didn't exactly deliver very many answers about why Maeve was being holed up inside the War World simulation. One can easily assume that it has a lot to do with Vincent Cassel's newly introduced Serac, but (to be expected) even his end goal for Maeve didn't directly explain what she'd just been through. So was it all just one big Turing Test to see if Maeve could outthink the human creator(s) and game the system, as a tutorial for eventually going after Dolores? Or were there other motivations involved?

As well, what were the rest of those cores stored inside the facility where Maeve's was being held? Were those all the other hosts that factored into the War World simulation, from Hector to the Nazi general? Or is that basically the main storage hub where the majority of the parks' hosts are kept while Delos fixes all the damage Dolores and others caused?

What's Up With Vincent Cassell's Serac?

Judging by his lavish living quarters, Serac clearly has the kind of disposable income that Delos parks like to exploit, and it seems like he's got a decent working knowledge about the depths of Maeve's unique functions. So who is he, and why is he so set on killing Dolores? Could he be a former confidante of Robert Ford and/or Arnold Weber, tasked with being the last line of defense against the Hosts if Ashley Stubbs' security team ever failed to keep things contained? I kinda can't wait to find out what weirdo skeletons he's got lurking inside his massive walk-in closets.

Will Everyone Who Entered The Valley Beyond Return?

Poor Bernard and his terrible ability to hold onto memories. After being on the run from both humanity and his own past, Bernard was able to reconnect with lost moments, including Dolores-as-Charlotte having changed the location coordinates for where the Hosts' minds would end up after leaving The Valley Beyond. Considering we know Maeve is still on a general mission to reconnect with her daughter in some way, it was already half-assumed that at least some of them would be returning in one form or another, and this episode seemed to have strengthened that theory. But where will they end up? Was Dolores able to port the Hosts' minds into the real world to populate a human-hunting army? Or is there another plan for all that vengeful data?

How Will Bernard Attempt To Take Dolores Down?

Westworld is setting up a war that goes against the logic of how wars are usually started, with Dolores fully aware that Bernard will be coming after her, and with Bernard aware that...well, whatever that might be. One advantage on the latter's side now is Luke Hemsworth's Stubbs, whose main directive is now to keep Bernard safe. Don't forget that Stubbs was the one who allowed Dolores to escape into the real world with the mystery host cores, driven by his loyalty to Robert Ford.

It will be interesting to see if and how Stubbs' assistance will give Bernard an edge against an increasingly scary and potentially unstoppable foe such as Dolores. Granted, she suffered from gunshots in the season premiere, so she's not immortal, but that probably isn't the only version of Dolores that's out there.

When Will We See That Dragon Again?

Bernard and Stubbs' trip through Delos' behind-the-scenes facilities offered a smorgasbord of interesting visuals, as the floor they were on appeared to be solely focused on a medieval fantasy park that would likely provide a good Game of Thrones-esque experience for Guests. But more exciting than kings and queens and presumed royal orgies was the rather large dragon seen curled up in one of the tech labs, said to possibly be transported to a startup in Costa Rica. A. Fuck. Ing. Dragon!

Let it be lost on no one, however, that Game of Thrones showrunners David Beinoff and D.B. Weiss had cameos as techs (named David and Dan) in the episode, so that entire fantasy concept might just be one big tip of the crown to the former HBO hit, as opposed to an actual set-up for the show's future. That said, I'm definitely hoping this is a case of Chekov's Dragon, where what you see in the early part of the season comes back in a meaningful way down the road. It's almost ludicrous to think about what Dolores could do if she got ahold of an artificially intelligent dragon, but my god, I am going to think about it a lot.

Is Anyone Actually Keeping Track Of Missing Hosts And Employees Like Stubbs?

Given the wide-ranging and publicized destruction delivered to Delos' parks, its employees and some of its paying customers, one might think the powers that be within the company would soon have an unbreakably firm grip on every detail imaginable before moving forward in any capacity. Dolores' absence would be the exception to the rule in this case, of course. But beyond the obviously awareness to put out BOLO alerts in the real world for Bernard, is there anyone in control that's actually kept track of what happened to all of the hosts after the events of Season 2's finale?

Case in point: After his unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Stubbs' would-be corpse-bot apparently went undetected for weeks inside the lab basement of the Sector 17 cottage where the Ford Host family used to reside. Granted, Stubbs' host nature was hidden from most, and that cottage's location isn't the most well-known, but it still possibly reflects on how lacking Delos' follow-through was after everything went to hell. As head of the board, the non-human Charlotte Hale probably didn't make it a priority, but it seems like someone would have, and should have, ordered teams to do full security checks of every inch of the park. If not to account for those known to be missing, then to at least make sure there weren't any further human casualties to be discovered.

Though HBO gave audiences a free preview weekend to enjoy Westworld's long-awaited return for Season 3, the episode didn't initially pull in as many viewers as one might have expected, following the success of the Stephen King-adapted thriller The Outsider. But here's hoping viewers continue building up as the eight-episode season glides along, so that the mysteries can continue for years longer.

Westworld airs Sunday nights on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET.

With only days to go before Westworld Season 3 arrives on HBO, viewers are in a pretty familiar place, in that we only have the vaguest clue of what the upcoming episodes will actually be about. It's almost a (Lisa) joy at this point, with anticipation butting heads with rampant curiosity while trying to remember all of the Season 2 details that will likely become relevant as the third season gets started. Westworld didn't make things any clearer with its recent trio of Season 3 trailers, either.

While waiting for showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy to unleash the beast with Westworld Season 3 (which is being dubbed The New World), let's take a deep dive into all the big questions those trailers inspired.

How Do Dolores And Caleb Meet, And Why Isn't He Way More Freaked Out?

Aaron Paul is one of a few new "human" characters being introduced in Westworld Season 3, but not that much is known about him, nor how he and Evan Rachel Wood's Dolores first meet. Whatever happened, I want to know how that first meet-cute-bot makes Caleb so enthused by Dolores that he isn't screaming to high heavens after seeing her tech-savvy skeleton without most of its skin. And is that a coffin, or some kind of shipping container?

Who Or What Is Vincent Cassel's Serac?

Portraying another new character, Vincent Cassel joins Westworld as the mysterious Serac. In one trailer, Serac welcomes Thandie Newton' Maeve into his luxurious "world," and then tasks her with finding Dolores and killing her. Then elsewhere, Serac is seen holding Caleb at gunpoint, presumably also with the intent to find Dolores. But why is he tracking Dolores? Did someone hire him, or is he the one with the personal vendetta? Also...he's human, right?

What Are Arnold's Plans With Westworld And/Or Dolores?

Now that Robert Ford's partner in artificial crime Arnold Weber will officially be out and about in Westworld Season 3, it will be interesting to see what his motivations are. The western-themed park was pretty much destroyed during the course of Season 2, so will his next step be to fix everything up and bring it back to its former glory, or will he raze it all and start over with a new park idea? Also, he's possibly a little vengeful for all the destruction, so should we expect Arnold to go hard after Dolores? Could it be that he's the one who puts Serac to the task of finding the self-sufficient host?

Does Maeve Actually Make It To The Real World?

Though perhaps not for the proper reasons, Westworld's Maeve has long wanted to defect from her host-ly ways in order to escape the park. It appears she gets to do just that in the trailers, only with a mission of death as opposed to one of reuniting with her daughter. But I'm not fully convinced that Maeve's outside-the-park moments are actually real and not a figment of her imagination.

What's So Important Inside The Man In Black's Mouth?

More than a few sci-fi shows have featured characters who were set up with tracking devices hidden in their teeth, which is the only kind of half-explanation I can think of for why a non-dentist would be using a scary AF tool to dig around in The Man in Black's mouth. Otherwise, what is happening here, as well as in the other moments with The Man In Black? Perhaps the bigger question here is whether or not the William we're seeing is the human version or the host version who appeared at the tail end of Season 2.

What Is Going Into Or Out Of Dolores' Body?

To be expected, a lot of moments in the Westworld trailer provoke questions that aren't anymore complicated than "WTF is this, though?" Case in point: Dolores appears to be going through some kind of painful blood-fluid extractions, unless she's actually having the fluids pumped into her. In any case, it seems like that process could be handled without tubes being jabbed into her chest and arms. Although I suppose the pain might be intentional...

Is Teddy's Core Inside Charlotte's Body?

At the end of Westworld Season 2, the human version of Tessa Thompson's Charlotte Hale was murdered by Dolores-as-Host-Charlotte, but we know that Dolores took the Charlotte form with her into the real world. In the episode just before that, viewers watched as James Marsden's Teddy killed himself after reaching sentience. Theories abound that Teddy's host core was one of the ones Dolores nabbed from the park, and after seeing the way Dolores and Charlotte laid together in the Comic-Con trailer last year, those theories multiplied. So is Teddy still alive, as it were, and will we see James Marsden at all?

What Happened To These Buildings?

Westworld Season 3 is said to be partially set in a futuristic Los Angeles, giving viewers our first big look at the "real" world. But what's up with that one skyscraper being overgrown with plant life? Is it another example of the dichotomy between the "living" and...the otherwise? Or is the aftermath from some kind of global event or disaster?

Is That Big Ball Connected To Incite?

Incite is the Westworld-derived company whose website is home to the show's hidden trailers. It's some kind of a data-mining company, which speaks heavily to the kinds of information that people are being tracked for within the Delos parks. But what is that big mysterious ball of lights, and how does it factor into Caleb and Dolores' stories?

How Will Nazi-Filled Italy Enter Westworld's Story?

With all the logical additions that were made for Westworld Season, one of the weirder elements was the debut of a park set in Italy during WWII, when Nazism was in full effect. Given the backlash to Amazon's polarizing Nazi-killing action drama Hunters, one might not have expected Westworld to hearken back to that terrible point in human history. I suppose it's meant to give the park visitors a chance to enter a military-centered narrative, but I can't imagine it'll be handled on the show with kid gloves and without offending anyone.

Okay, so I probably have a lot more questions that that, if we're being honest with ourselves. How long a time span does Season 3 cover? What in the world are NFL great Marshawn Lynch and rapper Kid Cudi going to get up to in their scenes? Will Anthony Hopkins' Robert Ford be back in some way? The inquiries just keep going, people, so stifle that flow by checking out the main Season 3 trailer below.

Find out the answer to some of these questions and more when Westworld debuts Season 3 on HBO on Sunday, March 15, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Check our Winter and Spring TV schedule to see what other shows are hitting the small screen around that time as well.

A number of people had a number of issues with Solo: A Star Wars Story when it came out last year. It turns out that one of the film's writers may agree with at least one of the criticisms. Overnight, Solo co-writer Jon Kasdan took to Twitter to drop a lot of interesting information about the film, released on Digital today, including the fact that, in his opinion, Thandie Newton really got the shaft in the movie. According to Kasdan...

It can be a tough thing to balance when sometimes you have a character with an important role, but that role is to die at the end of the first act. Jon Kasdan says that it was always in the plan for Beckett's crew to die on the heist and leave him with only Han and Chewbacca, but then the movie went and cast the great Thandie Newton in the role of Val, and so a lot of people took issue with her being killed off.

On the one hand, if people had known going in, it might not have been such a problem, but movies like Solo: A Star Wars Story make sure to keep spoilers locked down, so when we heard Thandie Newton was being cast, everybody assumed it was for an significant role. We had no reason to believe she would die so soon.

Of course, on the other hand, casting a great actress like Thandie Newton is part of the reason the death works so well. Because you don't expect a movie to kill off a great actress like the Westworld star so quickly, you're utterly taken aback when the story blows her up. Thandie Newton's character had her own movie poster alongside the other big stars, which was obviously done specifically to hide what happened, and it worked. If a smaller name was in the role, you're less surprised when they don't survive.

The thing is, while part of the issue was that the Solo: A Star Wars Story blew up Thandie Newton, the other part of the problem was that Solo blew up the second biggest female role in the movie, and the only one being played by a woman of color. Once Val was dead, there was only one major role being played by a woman at all. This would have been an issue in Solo regardless of who was cast in the part. While the Star Wars franchise has been doing a better job with women characters of late, that's only because they started close to zero, and even now the movies can't seem to break away from casting anything other than white brunettes. Thandie Newton was a major exception, so a lot of people were hoping she'd stick around.

From his comments, it sounds like Jon Kasdan may be starting to regret that somebody as "interesting" as Thandie Newton was in that role. If anything, the issue was that Val wasn't interesting enough because the audience didn't get to spend enough time to get to know her.

Sometimes, to tell the story you want to tell, characters have to die, and if you want those deaths to have an impact on the audience they have to care about the character. Casting Thandie Newton helped that work, but it wouldn't be terrible if Star Wars found a place for the actress, and other equally as interesting actresses, in the future.

Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode of Westworld. If you haven't seen "Phase Space", then turn away!

After two long years of waiting, Westworld has finally retuned for its sophomore season, and it's not disappointing anyone. The acclaimed sci-fi series is greatly expanding the world of the show, while also providing an experience that is a bit less confusing narratively than the first season. One of the new twists of Season 2 is the introduction of the other parks, with Shogun World getting the biggest feature thus far with the past two episodes. While Maeve and company have finally moved on, actress Thandie Newton recently explained how the character's journey through a second park is so significant.

It looks like Maeve's trip through Shogun World further helped to fuel the fires of her independence and free thinking. While still steadfast in her quest to reunite with her host daughter, seeing how cruelly the robots are treated throughout all of the parks has opened her mind and heart. Aside from gaining a better hold over her telepathic powers, Maeve now has an empathy that most hosts do not.

In fact, Maeve is probably a better choice for a host revolutionary than Dolores at this point. Dolores is all fire and fury, but Maeve seems to have feelings towards other hosts, as well as humans. As Thandie Newton told THR:

While Maeve probably isn't going to be taking arms and facing down the battle against humans, she sees the meaning other hosts could have. Meanwhile, Evan Rachel Wood's Dolores is learning that her ambition and changes to Teddy's code may have graver consequences than she anticipated.

Westworld airs Sundays on HBO. In the meantime, check out our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our Amazon premiere list and superhero premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single epissode.

The Star Wars franchise is chock full of hotshot pilots. From Poe Dameron to Wedge Antilles, there's a different flying style for every fan taste. That said, arguably the two most iconic pilots in the series are Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. That raises the question of who the superior pilot truly is, and we recently posted that question to the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story during the film's recent press day in Los Angeles. However, when we asked Val actress Thandie Newton to explain the differences, she gave a near-perfect answer about why Han's from-the-gut style beats Luke's far more disciplined approach. The Westworld actress explained:

That's pretty much a perfect encapsulation of what makes Han Solo and Luke Skywalker fundamentally different pilots in the Star Wars galaxy. Luke is arguably a far more disciplined pilot, and he lets The Force guide him. Meanwhile, Han Solo takes more risks and (often intentionally) puts himself in situations in which he's not sure if he will survive. Comparing the two styles side-by-side, Thandie Newton thinks that Han's method actually shows superior skill.

One other layer of this equation that feels worth exploring is the way in which Luke and Han work with others when they fly. Throughout the original trilogy, Luke was shown flying in teams as a member of Red Squadron (particularly in the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Hoth), while Han (true to the origin of his name) was shown flying solo -- well, with Chewbacca in the co-pilot's seat, of course. Luke has the support of others around him, while Han has proven that he knows how to get by on his own.

Of course, if you want to hear everything that Thandie Newton had to say to CinemaBlend about the fundamental differences between Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, then make sure to take a look at a clip from our interview with her, below!

Now that Solo: A Star Wars Story is finally in theaters, audiences have a chance to see what kind of pilot young Han Solo is in his earliest adventures. On that note, make sure to take a look at CinemaBlend's full review of the most recent Star Wars franchise spinoff, and check the film out for yourself!

It's a very exciting time to be a Star Wars fan. With Disney now in charge of the beloved property, there's a ton of new and exciting content being produced within the galaxy far, far away. While many fans are still reeling from Rian Johnson's subversive sequel The Last Jedi, the next installment in the franchise is a matter of weeks away. Solo: A Star Wars Story will hit theaters shortly, illuminating and expanding the past of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian. But there are also a bevy of new characters being introduced, and Solo's newest posters help to do just that. Starting with the adorable little alien voiced by Jon Favreau.

Here we get our best look at the furry guy, named Rio Durant. Rio made his debut in the very first footage for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and fans have been eager to accrue any new information about him. While he isn't listed as high as the rest of the starring cast, Rio has been teased to be an important and funny character in the upcoming standalone movie. Star Wars has always been known for its adorable creatures, from Ewoks to Porgs. And now Solo is going to introduce a new species that will no doubt sell oodles of merch along the way.

One of the most exciting cast members of Solo (and there are many) is Thandie Newton as Val. Unsurprisingly, not all that is known about Val's role in the mysterious conflict. Smart money says she joins the motley crew assembled by Han's mentor Tobias (Woody Harrelson), but we've only seen a few brief clips of the newcomer in action. Newton is currently having a major sci-fi moment, currently starring in HBO's critically acclaimed and ambitious series Westworld. She picked up an Emmy nomination for the show's first season, with Season 2 airing now. Cinephiles are going to be psyched to see Maeve kick some ass, albeit in a different universe.

It's not a Star Wars movie without a droid to fall in love with. While the current trilogy is being dominated by the likes of BB-8, standalone Star Wars movies have the luxury of introducing new droids that don't need to be carried through the franchise proper. Rogue One did a great job with Alan Tudyk's sassy K-2SO, and Solo is taking its shot at the tradition with L3-37. L3 is Lando's droid companion, which will no doubt put her in a variety of dangerous and colorful situations. It's currently unclear what her personality will be like, but she'll be voice by English director and actress Phoebe Mary Waller-Bridge and is known to be a mutt of different droid parts.

These new characters' fates will all be revealed when Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Although all the focus is currently on next month's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Lucasfilm train keeps on rolling and we will be getting Star Wars films for the foreseeable future. That will continue with next year's prequel spinoff film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. The Han Solo origin story has seen its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama as original directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were replaced with veteran director Ron Howard. There have been a lot of questions as to how much the film has changed under Ron Howard's direction and how much needed to be reshot. Now, Solo: A Star Wars Story actress Thandie Newton shed some light on her perspective, noting,

Thandie Newton's comments to Entertainment Weekly seem to drive home the positive sentiments that have come out of the Solo production since Ron Howard took over directing duties. Ron Howard has been using his social media to post a lot of positive vibes from the set and the film is still on track to hit its release date. Thandie Newton's role in the film is a mystery, but it is encouraging to hear that, at least from her perspective, Solo: A Star Wars Story with Ron Howard didn't have to start from scratch. While there is some debate about how much of the film has been reshot, reshoots in and of themselves are part of the process on big budget films and there are countless great films that have also had troubled productions.

Solo: A Star War Story will chronicle the early years of that galaxy far far away's greatest pilot and smuggler. We have already seen the ending of Han Solo's journey and this film will give us the chance to see how it began. While some fans may prefer that Han Solo's origin and past exploits remain shrouded in mystery, this movie is happening, so we might as well get excited about the possibilities. It would be especially interesting to see the origin of Han and Chewie's friendship and the life debt incurred. There is also a good chance we will see a certain sabacc tournament and the infamous Kessel Run.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is directed by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Ron Howard, based on a script by Jon and Lawrence Kasdan. It stars Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Paul Bettany, Donald Glover and Thandie Newton and opens in theaters on May 25th, 2018. For all the latest on Solo: A Star Wars Story, stay locked on CinemaBlend and be sure to check out the schedule for everything coming out next year.

With Ron Howard's retooling of the untitled Han Solo Star Wars story, there's obviously a need for reshoots to tighten up the film's narrative. In that process, we've seen a character potentially re-cast, as well as some historical moments in Solo's history quite possibly taking shape on film. The latest development in this process is that fact that Thandie Newton has apparently taken a break from her Westworld season 2 shoot, in order to grab some more screen time in the Star Wars canon.

The film is wrapping up its beleaguered, but constantly moving, production schedule, as the May 25, 2018 release date looms unchanged. News of Newton's reshoots come not too long after the streamlining process saw Michael K. Williams' character in the Star Wars stand-alone removed from the film due to scheduling woes of his own preventing any participation in coverage of his own. With that void possibly being filled by Paul Bettany's pinch hitting, it's a welcome relief that Thandie Newton was able to rearrange her schedule with the acclaimed HBO sci-fi drama to make her presence known in the Star Wars universe, in a role that Howard himself promises will light up the screen.

Of course, we still don't know what that role is, though some folks on the internet think they've figured it out. If you scroll through the Twitter post where Ron Howard shared this delightful news, you'll see that some fans feel Newton has been brought in to play the character of Rae Sloane. An Imperial officer that was introduced through tie-in literature set during the Star Wars Rebels timeframe, Sloane is a ladder climbing officer who eventually becomes Grand Admiral by the time the First Order is starting its earliest phases of formation, and she's also known to partake in Jedi hunting as a hobby.

All of this speculation is fun, but before we go any further, take a look at the photo for yourself. In particular, pay close attention to where Ron Howard's hand is on Thandie Newton's coat. When you zoom in on this section, you'll notice that it looks like a certain insignia is supposedly being covered up.

Should these rumors be true, there's a good chance that Thandie Newton's portrayal of Rae Sloane could set her up for a meatier presence in the Star Wars galaxy. Her presumptive character has found herself occupying later pieces of the history of the Empire, with appearances in the Aftermath trilogy, as well as the recent novel Phasma, which delves into the history of a certain silver plated Stormtrooper. If you're looking to wow Kathleen Kennedy and the folks at Lucasfilm Ltd, you might want to propose an adaptation of that story as a stand-alone film, if only so we could potentially see Newton and Gwendoline Christie deliver some heavy hitting Imperial drama.

But, as per usual, speculation reigns the day, and the facts are that Thandie Newton will get some more time in the Star Wars spotlight, while Ron Howard continues to enjoy himself in completing what could be the next big hit in the still young line of the franchise's spin-offs. The truth will come out when we get a better look at the untitled Han Solo Star Wars story, which is set to hit theaters on May 25, 2018. If you want to know what else is hitting our galaxy through next year's schedule, you can do your research in our 2018 release date schedule.

Nudity is a big part of HBO's Westworld. If you aren't comfortable with nudity as an actor or actress, you'll definitely want to sidestep an offer in this show, because they really bare it out there for the world to see. Perhaps surprisingly, actress Thandie Newton didn't mind being nude on the set of the series as the host Maeve, and she actually even preferred it. Newton shares why she felt acting in the buff was better than her usual prostitute costume on the show below:

Thandie Newton is a big supporter of women's rights, and went on to say she felt she garnered more unwanted attention on set when she wore the corset getup, as opposed to when she was fully naked. Newton told Daily Mail that while she was nude, she felt as if she was treated with nothing but respect. I'm glad to hear that, because I feel that near the tail end of Season 1 (no pun intended), she was more naked than anyone else on the screen. I can't imagine the pressure of acting in front of a whole crew filming you, let alone doing it au natural!

Then again, on-screen nudity is not a new thing for Thandie Newton. While other projects may not be as intense as the full frontal of Westworld, Newton has appeared nude in some form in at least eight of her other projects. That sounds like a lot, but when you consider Newton's extensive career in Hollywood from 1991 on, it's just a handful of scenes, and they've all served a purpose beyond just gratuitous titillation. Newton's sense of body image and nudity has a much deeper meaning than just female empowerment.

Thandie Newton mentions in her interview that she struggled with bulimia when she was attending Cambridge University, saying the illness spurred from growing up as the type of girl that guys wanted to date, which caused her to damage her body. That's a powerful and honest statement that deserves respect. Considering how self-assured she is while walking around Westworld completely naked, it's hard to imagine Newton ever having body issues.

One would imagine that after the events of Season 1, we won't be seeing Thandie Newton in similar states of undress quite as much in Season 2. As for what we will see, that's pretty up in the air. Jimmi Simpson doesn't know if he'll be back, and no one has confirmed when Westworld will officially return beyond just "2018." If you're crazy about Westworld, be sure to bookmark our page for what we know about Season 2 and we'll keep you in the loop as soon as we learn anything. You can also check out our midseason premiere guide and keep track of any new shows HBO has on the way, or find another series until Westworld returns!

The Han Solo movie kicked off its production in England late last month, which means that more news about the spinoff's casting is starting to make its way out. Just this past Wednesday, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge was said to be in talks for a "key CGI role." Now news just dropped that Westworld's Thandie Newton could be joining the young smuggler's solo adventure, too.

Variety is reporting that Thandie Newton is currently in talks to join the Han Solo movie, although details about her role weren't disclosed. Assuming a deal is worked out, Newton would join a cast that consists of Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson as Han Solo's mentor and Emilia Clarke as a yet-to-be-identified character. Chewbacca will also appear, though it hasn't been revealed yet who will be under the fur.

Last August, it was reported that the young Han Solo movie was looking for an actress of color to play one of the leads, who we speculated could be Sana Starros, a character introduced in Marvel's ongoing Star Wars comic book series. A few months later, Tessa Thompson, Naomi Scott and Zoe Kravitz tested for the movie, but there's been no word on if any of them made the cut. Since Newton is a decade or two older than those three actresses, it's unclear whether she would be playing the same character they auditioned for or someone completely different, but either way, she would be a major score for the production.

Thandie Newton is most recognizable these days from Westworld playing Maeve Millay, one of the eponymous amusement park's "host" androids. She also recurred as Makemba 'Kem' Likasu on ER for six years. On the big screen, her notable credits include Mission: Impossible II, The Pursuit of Happyness, W., 2012 and Crash. For that last movie, she was earned numerous accolades, which included winning a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Empire Award for Best Actress.

If you want a taste of what Thandie Newton can bring to this popular sci-fi/fantasy franchise, check out the clip below for a snippet of her performance as Maeve Millay in Westworld.

Taking place years before A New Hope, the Han Solo movie will show what the main character was like when he was more enveloped in his smuggler lifestyle and nowhere close to becoming a Rebel hero. No specific plot details have been released yet, but it has been rumored that we'll see how Han won his beloved ship, the Millennium Falcon, from Lando Calrissian.

The Han Solo movie hits theaters on May 25, 2018. Let us know what you think of Thandie Newton possibly coming aboard in the comments below.

Have you heard the term "casting couch" before? You probably have. It represents the trading of sexual favors to help someone get a job, and it is widely associated with the motion picture industry, for when potential actors arrive at an audition and have to please a casting director or producer in order to land a coveted gig. It's a horrific phrase, but it exists because it's a gross reality of the entertainment industry, as this recent story told by Crash star Thandie Newton reminds us.

The Westworld actress was being interviewed by W Magazine, and the subject came around to an uncomfortable and disturbing experience she had at a young age while auditioning for film roles. Newton recalled, once again, an uncomfortable experience she had with a casting director when she was trying to break into the business. Newton has shared this personal story before, and while she didn't mention the name of the director in this story, she recalled the incident in question in this way:

The way that Thandie Newton describes that situation almost makes it sound like it's normal, accepted behavior. We don't know the type of role that she was auditioning for in this context, so it's possible that such behavior would be part of the gig. As she says, she felt slightly more comfortable with the idea because there was a female casting director in the room, as well. Acting is a strange profession, and certain boundaries we might accept are overlooked by performers.

What happened next, however, takes the situation to a whole new field. Thandie Newton recalls to W that she ran into a producer during a film festival, who drunkenly admitted to her that they had seen the footage of Newton's raw audition. Newton explains:

What a horrific, vile violation. There's so much about this that's wrong, we hardly know where to begin. We can almost understand the need to have an actor pantomime sexual activity in an audition, if it's for a role that requires such action. The actor going out for the role may know what's needed from them, and if they want to be in such a project, the audition could requite it. But a filmmaker holding onto the footage, and then sharing it with strangers after the fact? That's beyond deplorable.

Newton, now 43 and the mother of two teenage daughters, is taking the high road. She is sharing this story so that it might be a lesson to others in the industry who are doing what they can to break in, not realizing how detrimental it might be to them in the future. She concludes to W:

We sincerely hope that Thandie Newton's message reaches all of the right people.

“My life is perfect,” Tyler Perry’s well-groomed character tells us in the trailer for his latest picture, Good Deeds. That’s far from the truth, and you’ll find out why in the clip, which we have posted below.

Wait, this isn’t the one that Perry took heat from regarding his Kim Kardashian casting? Seriously, this man works harder than virtually anyone else in the industry. Instead, Good Deeds looks like a pay-it-forward melodrama about a corporate tycoon who wakes up to reality when he’s compelled to help a struggling single mother (Thandie Newton) and her child. Hallmark probably could have run this story on a Sunday evening, but with Perry’s signature on the dotted line, Good Deeds should enjoy good returns at the box office come February.

Truthfully, I’m just happy Perry’s making movies that find legitimate roles for talented actresses like Newton, Phylicia Rashad and Gabrielle Union. And at least, by the looks of things, we don’t have Madea to contend with in Deeds.

As for all of you Kardashian fans, the reality-television starlet will appear in Perry’s The Marriage Counselor, which is eyeing a 2012 release date (if the writer-director can deliver on time). I wonder how many times Kardashian can marry and divorce on camera before the publicity train for that drama gets underway?

I sometimes wonder if my intense hatred of Hayden Christensen isn't all his fault. Looking at his resume, which includes titles such as the Star Wars prequels, Takers, Awake and Jumper, one begins to realize that he has a knack for starring in films that would probably be god-awful with or without his involvement. Perhaps he's not a bad actor; maybe he just has really bad taste. Vanishing on 7th Street may be a great way to find out and now we have the film's first trailer, courtesy of Yahoo!

Directed by Brad Anderson, the man who got Christian Bale to lose 63 pounds for his role in The Machinist, Christensen plays a man who wakes up one morning to discover that everyone in the world has vanished and that light is quickly disappearing. Joining up with the only survivors he can find, played by Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo, they realize that the only way to stay safe is to stay in the light.

Check out the trailer below or in HD over at Yahoo! and then join me afterward for some discussion.

What the movie seems to have working for it is atmosphere. As a person who ranks losing his sight among his top fears, moving into a world of darkness seems pretty terrifying, particularly when you're being haunted by dark apparitions. In addition to making The Machinist, a dark and creepy film in its own right, Anderson is also known for making Session 9, a terrific atmospheric horror film in its own right. Maybe this will work, maybe it won't. Guess we'll have to wait until February 18, 2011 to see.

Jamie Bell, a.k.a. the actor everyone thought was Spider-Man until Andrew Garfield got the job, isn't going to just fall back and lick his wounds after that brutal casting process. No, he hasn't already found his own superhero project-- that revenge would be just a little too perfect-- but he is still working, at least. Deadline reports that he's signed on to star opposite Cillian Murphy and Thandie Newton in The Retreat, a small-scale British thriller that shoots in Wales next month.

It isn't said explicitly in the piece, but presumably Bell will be playing the man in the biohazard suit who washes up on the shore of a remote island where a couple (Murphy and Newton) happen to be vacationing. The man claims he's the only survivor of a killer virus, and the couple have to decide what to do from there. It sounds like one of those movies that could easily be a play, emphasizing the performances and the dynamic between the main actors, and the prospect of watching Newton, Murphy and Bell bounce off each other is enough to sell me on this already. A challenging role that doesn't require jumping into a skintight bodysuit? Bell is probably grateful at this point to have missed that boat .

The one time in his life Hayden Christensen played a role that was remotely critically acclaimed, it was as disgraced journalist Stephen Glass in Shattered Glass. Perhaps realizing it might be best to just start over again, Christensen is returning to that journalism well, signing on to play a reporter in the supernatural thriller Vanishing in Seventh Street.

He's joined in the film by Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo, and all three will play survivors of mysterious shadowy forms that cause people to suddenly disappear. According to THR they'll be filming in Detroit, a brilliant move for a movie set in a once-thriving, now demolished city.

The film is directed by Brad Anderson, who made last year's thriller Transsiberian and has directed a handful of Fringe episodes. It seems daring for anyone to film a movie in Detroit, but we'll see if the story can hold up against that one bold move.