• Lizzy Caplan said the Channing Tatum-led "Gambit" movie she was set to costar in had "a really cool idea."
• Caplan said the film was going to have a '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe set in the superhero world.
• The movie was scrapped after the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, but Tatum played Gambit in "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Lizzy Caplan says the scrapped stand-alone "Gambit" movie with Channing Tatum would have been entertaining, but a project in the superhero genre isn't in the cards for her right now.

"It was a really cool idea," Caplan told Business Insider in the latest installment of our Role Play interview series. "It's kind of odd that it got scrapped. Those movies don't seem to ever get scrapped, but it did."

Tatum's uphill battle to get a movie about the X-Men character Remy LeBeau/Gambit (aka the Ragin' Cajun) off the ground has long been documented.

Five years after the character was portrayed by "Friday Night Lights" star Taylor Kitsch in the 2009 movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Tatum, who previously expressed interest in playing Gambit, was confirmed to be taking over the role in a coming stand-alone film.

In the ensuing years, the movie was delayed by script rewrites and multiple director exits. Tatum, who was set to produce, even reportedly threw his hat in the ring for the director position.

Then, in 2017, Variety reported that Caplan was in talks to play the female lead in 20th Century Fox's "Gambit" film, though additional details were sparse.

Caplan told BI that not only did she sign on for the movie, but she also attended meetings with Tatum and others involved in the project.

"We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," Caplan recalled. "I think there was a start date. I had had meetings with Channing, and there were a couple different... we had a director, then we didn't, but I had multiple meetings with Channing and the other producers."

Producer Simon Kinberg told IGN in 2018 that the "Gambit" movie would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," to fit with the New Orleans thief's persona.

"They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun," Caplan added.

It wasn't meant to be. The movie was killed after the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. Tatum told Variety in 2022 that the yearslong ordeal left him "traumatized."

"I shut off my Marvel machine," he said. "I haven't been able to see any of the movies. I loved that character. It was just too sad. It was like losing a friend because I was so ready to play him."

Tatum's efforts weren't for nothing, though.

The actor finally got to suit up as Gambit and fight baddies with a kinetically charged deck of playing cards and a glowing staff in the 2024 movie "Deadpool & Wolverine," to much fanfare.

Tatum's comedically over-the-top performance and sometimes indecipherable accent were a resounding hit with audiences, and the actor told Variety he's praying for another chance to play Gambit.

In a lengthy post shared on X days after the release of "Deadpool & Wolverine," Tatum thanked Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds for giving him the opportunity to play Gambit.

"I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit," Tatum wrote, in part. " I will owe him probably forever. Cause I'm not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy."

While Tatum is itching to reprise his superhero role, Caplan has made peace with how things ended up.

"Let's just say that was, like, so many years ago," she told BI. "The 'Gambit' thing, that's when those movies were, I guess, probably the best they were. That's when they were dominating in every possible way. "

Caplan added that she's content to have avoided the pressure of being in a Marvel movie.

"I had a lot of stress about doing that kind of movie even then," she said. "So now I'm pretty OK not doing one of those movies. I can hear my manager screaming in the other room."

• Jon Stewart's impassioned "Daily Show" monologue ended with an on-air injury.
• Stewart began by suggesting ways that DOGE could cut costs and save money.
• As he criticized government-funded pharmaceutical subsidies, Stewart smashed his mug and cut his hand.

Jon Stewart's fiery "Daily Show" monologue criticizing DOGE's cost-cutting measures briefly went off the rails, leaving the host with a bloody hand.

In his Monday night monologue, Stewart called out the recent actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is run by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

"Cutting money shouldn't be this hard," Stewart said. "I'm starting to think that we as a country don't understand where the real waste fraud and abuse in our system really is."

"Let me join DOGE. I'm gonna see if I can noodle some ideas here," Stwart said, putting a bunch of props, including a "word's most dad" mug, a calculator, and a notepad, on his desk.

"How about we just take $3 billion in subsidies we give to oil and gas companies that already turn billions in profits," Stewart sarcastically suggested. "How long did that take?"

The host didn't stop there. Instead, he continued to offer alternative ways to save money.

"Oh, wait! How about we just close down the carried interest loophole on hedge funds? That's $1.3 billion a year," Stewart continued. "How about we stop the $2 trillion dollars we've given to defense contractors to build a fighter jet that blows, when everybody knows the next war is going to be fought with drones and blockchains, whatever that is! Holy shit! I can't believe it! I just saved us billions of dollars in 11 seconds!"

Stewart said that pharmaceutical companies receive plenty of government funding, and in exchange, people pay "the highest drug prices in the Western hemisphere."

"But you know what's so horrible about our system now? And the corruption that lays within it?" Stewart asked. "We're so fucking numb to it, we actually tout tiny cracks in that exploitation as victory."

Stewart showed an old clip of former US President Joe Biden celebrating negotiations with Medicare to lower the cost of 10 drugs to illustrate his point.

"Ooh, can it be? The companies we subsidize with billions of dollars are allowing us the privilege of negotiating the price of 10 of their drugs," Stewart said sarcastically.

"And 10 is all of them, right? It would be embarrassing if it was a small drop in the bucket and that the American people didn't expect that we should negotiate for all their fucking drugs! Because we've already paid for 'em with our subsidies!" Stewart said, smashing his mug with his right hand around the 17:00 mark of the monologue.

Then, Stewart briefly glanced at his bleeding hand and hid it behind his desk to continue the segment.

"I'll be going to the hospital soon," he joked, before continuing with his rant about pharmaceutical companies. Later, near the end of the monologue, Stewart pulled his hand back up on the desk, and the crowd reacted to the sight of it completely covered in blood.

"It's fine!" he yelled with a laugh.

Whatever happened to his hand, Stewart has seemingly lived to tell the tale. Stewart poked fun at the mishap on X, writing: "We're back! New Daily Show tonight! It's a bloody good episode…emphasis on bloody…I'm an idiot…"

• Juliana Pasquarosa is one of the contestants on Grant Ellis' season of "The Bachelor."
• She caught Grant's attention on night one, but doesn't go on a one-on-one date until week five.
• Juliana is a 28-year-old client service associate based in Newton, Massachusetts.

As the competition heats up on season 29 of "The Bachelor," contestant Juliana Pasquarosa is quickly becoming a strong contender for Grant Ellis' heart.

"It has been so long since I have had a big crush or felt the butterfly feelings for a man. It's a little bit of a fairytale and my heart's happy," Juliana, 28, says during week three.

By week five of the show, Juliana is one of the seven remaining women. After patiently waiting all season, she finally gets to spend solo time with Grant during a one-on-one date in Scotland on Monday night's episode, and their connection grows even stronger.

Here's everything to know about Juliana.

Juliana has a job in finance

Grant is a day trader, and Juliana also has some ties to the financial sector. According to her LinkedIn profile, Juliana has been working as a client service associate at Winthrop Wealth, a wealth management firm, since May. She's also a social media manager for La Beautique Salon.

She graduated from Lasell College with a degree in marketing in 2018.

Juliana's family is the most important thing to her

In her intro package during the season premiere, Juliana says, "My family is like the center of my life."

"We're big, Italian, loud, crazy,'" she adds. "We really support each other."

Juliana also explains that she was cheated on a lot during a long relationship, which led her to a "dark place," but she credited her family with picking her up.

Juliana's ABC bio says that her parents were high school sweethearts, and she hopes to similarly find lasting love.

Based on the caption of one of her Instagram posts, Juliana's older sister signed her up for "The Bachelor" without telling her. Given how things are going with Juliana and Grant so far on the show, she may have to thank her sister.

She loves dogs

Juliana has a dog named Charlie and her ABC bio says that she "wants to own a dog-friendly bar one day."

"For a random $5-Walmart-parking-lot purchase, you sure turned out to be one of the biggest blessings," Juliana wrote in part on Instagram.

Juliana's bubbly disposition gets Grant's attention from the start

After sharing a cannoli with Grant during her limo entrance on night one, Juliana impresses the Bachelor with her piano skills later that evening.

"Juliana immediately has my attention," Grant says. "She has some skills that I definitely don't have. Not to mention, she's gorgeous. She's a talented woman and I love that."

Juliana also tells Grant that she's a bubbly person because of the love she got from her family. Although the competition begins with 25 women, Grant tells her that he has his eyes on her.

"I like your personality and you're beautiful," he tells her before they share their first kiss.

Their connection gets overshadowed by some of the drama throughout season 29, but Juliana does eventually get to spend time with Grant at a castle in Scotland.

"I just feel like a princess," Juliana says. "Cinderella can take a full backseat because this is like, next-level type of love."

New episodes of season 29 of "The Bachelor" premiere on Mondays.

• Fyre Festival 2 is a go, according to the original event's founder Billy McFarland.
• The original Fyre Festival was a disaster, resulting in McFarland serving several years in prison for financial crimes.
• The new festival is set to happen in Isla Mujeres from May 30 to June 2.

It's been eight years since the disastrous Fyre Festival, but founder Billy McFarland insists that a second attempt is still in the works, though details are scant.

"FYRE 2 is real. My dream is finally becoming a reality," McFarland told NBC's "Today" show in an interview that aired on Monday.

The original Fyre Festival took place on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. "Took place" is loose parlance — sure, people arrived in the Bahamas for a music festival. But they were famously greeted with catastrophe: The promised "luxury lodging" was actually tents, "gourmet food" was haphazard cheese sandwiches, and the artists set to perform simply weren't there.

The infamous event was chronicled in two dueling documentaries: Netflix's "FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened" and Hulu's "Fyre Fraud." McFarland himself was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges tied to the festival. He was released in March 2022 after serving less than four years.

McFarland first announced his intent to engineer a second Fyre Festival in an April 2023 post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Then in August, McFarland announced in a video uploaded to his personal YouTube channel that tickets were on sale despite no details about what the event would entail. McFarland claimed his first batch of 100 tickets sold out.

More than a year after McFarland's initial announcement, plenty of questions still remain about the festival and the founder still has limited answers.

Here's everything we know about Fyre Festival 2.

Why is Billy McFarland organizing another Fyre Festival?

After the disastrous results of the original festival, McFarland seems determined to redeem himself.

"FYRE 2 really isn't about the past, and it's not really about me. It's about taking the vision, which is strong," McFarland told the "Today" show.

McFarland spent time in solitary confinement in 2020 and 2021 after participating in an interview on the podcast "Dumpster Fyre," his attorney told Business Insider. It was there, McFarland said, that he dreamed up his new venture.

"It really all started during this seven-month stint in solitary confinement," he said in the Fyre Festival 2 announcement video. "I wrote out this 50-page plan of how I would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre, and how I would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen, but how I would find the best partners in the world to allow me to be me while executing Fyre's vision to the highest level."

McFarland also said in an April 2023 X post, after announcing Fyre Festival 2, that it was "in the best interest" of the people to whom he owes money for him to continue working.

McFarland was released from federal prison in March 2022 and transferred into "community confinement" in New York. Entertainment Weekly reported that he's since been on supervised release.

When and where is Fyre Festival 2?

Fyre Festival 2 will take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico from May 30 to June 2.

It's not surprising that the festival won't take place in the Bahamas again. The country's Ministry of Tourism previously told CBS News in a statement that the "government of The Bahamas will not endorse or approve any event associated with" McFarland, saying that he's "considered to be a fugitive" in the nation.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, conducted in June 2024 and published in September 2024, McFarland said that his festival partners would be scouting locations in Honduras, Belize, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and Panama. The Journal reported that discussions about the festival taking place in Honduras have been ongoing since February, Coral View Beach Resort owner Heath Miller said.

This time around, McFarland will be working with a production company that bought a 51% stake in Fyre Media, a talent management company, and a US festival operator. An Instagram post shared by McFarland on Monday revealed that the three-day festival will be produced by live event producer Lostnights. The partners SoldOut and FriendlySky will handle ticketing and hospitality packages for the guests.

McFarland will be more hands-on with the festival's marketing and promotional events.

"I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again," McFarland said in a statement included in his Instagram post. "After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history. Thank you to my partners for the second chance."

How to get Fyre Festival 2 tickets

People interested in attending the festival should be prepared to shell out a hefty amount of money, even for the cheapest tickets. On Monday, McFarland announced that 2,000 tickets ranging from $1,400 for general access to $1.1 million for the highest tier were now on sale.

When the first batch of tickets was released in 2023, the festival website and McFarland himself said that tickets had already sold out — but it's difficult to verify that claim. At least a couple of people seem to have genuinely bought tickets, though: The Washington Post and CBS News both spoke to Victoria Medvedenko, who purchased tickets for her and her boyfriend at $549.89 each.

Medvedenko, a 20-year-old nursing student, told the Washington Post she wasn't very concerned about how the festival might turn out. "I'm sure I'll get my money back so I don't really see it as much of a loss either way."

Her boyfriend, Cooper Sinkiawic, told CBS News the couple's biggest worry was whether major acts would be willing to sign on to the festival. While they're "optimistic," he said, they're not ruling out the possibility of "some cheese sandwiches."

McFarland announced in a since-deleted statement on his Instagram in August 2023 that all revenue from ticket sales would be held in escrow until the announcement of the final date — meaning that a third party will hold them until that condition is satisfied. In his interview with the Journal, McFarland reiterated that the money from the aforementioned sales remains in escrow.

In a statement provided to Business Insider on February 24, 2025, Fyre 2's head of sales said, "We've already sold over $1,500,000 of tickets."

Who's on the lineup for Fyre Festival 2?

There isn't one yet. So, again: TBD!

"We're going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop, and rock," McFarland told the "Today" show. "However, it's not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning."

McFarland skirted around follow-up questions regarding the lineup before saying that the festival still hasn't secured any artists yet but he's hopeful.

His Instagram post said that there would be "international and emerging talent, taking guests on boundary-pushing excursions by day and uniting for intimate beach-side performances by night."

As for other events, McFarland said in his previous announcement video that he was working with "one of the biggest and best TV companies in the world" to produce yet another documentary titled "After the Fyre." He also said he was working with "one of the biggest production companies" on a deal to produce "Fyre Festival: The Broadway Musical," which is admittedly much more intriguing than the prospect of another Fyre Festival itself.

McFarland said there will also be pop-ups and events "around the world" in the lead-up to the festival — at least four, per the festival site.

Only time will tell if everything manifests — and McFarland knows his reputation for follow-through isn't the best.

"I think it's always a risk," he told the "Today" show. "You're taking a risk because I made a lot of bad decisions and messed up the first festival. Until it's experienced, there is a risk component to it."

Palmer Haasch contributed to an earlier version of this story.

• Alec and Hilaria Baldwin have been married since 2012 and share seven kids.
• The couple's eldest child was born in 2013, and their youngest was born in 2022.
• The family of nine will star in the new TLC reality TV series "The Baldwins."

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are pulling the curtain back on their bustling family life.

The "30 Rock" star, the yoga instructor, and their seven kids are taking the spotlight in the new TLC reality TV series "The Baldwins."

"We're inviting you into our home to experience the ups and downs, the good, the bad, the wild, and the crazy," Alec said in an Instagram video announcing the show in June.

The reality series promises to give an intimate look at the life of a couple who's been the subject of public interest and some controversies over the years.

The trailer for "The Baldwins" revealed that the show will address the difficulties of parenting in the aftermath of the 2021 accidental shooting that occurred on the set of Alec's movie "Rust," which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and Baldwin was acquitted of the same charge after pleading not guilty.

"Honestly, from the bottom of my soul, I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have you and these kids," Alec tells Hilaria at one point in the trailer.

Here's everything you need to know about the couple's kids before the series premiere of "The Baldwins."

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin's first child together, Carmen, was born on August 23, 2013

Alec and Hilaria met at a restaurant in New York City in 2011 and married in 2012. The following year, Hilaria gave birth to their first child together, Carmen Gabriela.

It wasn't the first child for Alec, who was previously married to the actor Kim Basinger. The pair share a daughter named Ireland Baldwin, who was born in 1995.

They welcomed four sons between 2015 and 2020: Rafael, Leonardo, Romeo, and Eduardo

Alec and Hilaria's first son, Rafael Thomas, was born on June 17, 2015. Hilaria shared the news with fans on Instagram at the time.

"We are happy to announce the birth of Rafael Thomas Baldwin 💙," Hilaria captioned a photo of her holding hands with the baby.

Leonardo Ángel Charles followed on September 12, 2016.

"We are so pleased to introduce you to our new baby, Leonardo Ángel Charles Baldwin. It was such a special day bringing him into this world 💙," Hilaria shared on Instagram that year.

Hilaria gave birth to the couple's fourth child, Romeo Alejandro David, on May 17, 2018. The wellness enthusiast shared a photo of her and Alec with the newborn on Instagram, writing: "He's here! He's perfect! 8lbs 2oz 💛 #wegotthis2018."

Alec and Hilaria's fifth child, a son named Eduardo "Edu" Pao Lucas, was born on September 8, 2020. "We had a baby last night. He is perfect and we couldn't be happier 🌟," Hilaria wrote in part on Instagram.

Alec also shared the same photo of him and Hilaria with their newborn baby on his Instagram account. "I love you, @hilariabaldwin," he wrote in part. "My karma is your karma. Your karma is mine."

Their sixth child, daughter María Lucía, was born via a surrogate on February 25, 2021

Alec and Hilaria welcomed María Lucía Victoria, nicknamed Marilu, several months after the birth of Edu.

A few days after her birth, Hilaria shared a photo of the newborn on Instagram with the caption: "We are so in love with our daughter, Lucia. Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come true."

Hilaria, who previously opened up about miscarrying at four months pregnant in 2019, refers to Edu and Marilu as her "two rainbow babies."

"We are living each day, bonding, and grateful for all of the very special angels who helped bring Lucía into the world," Hilaria wrote in part in another Instagram post after Marilu's birth. "María Lucía Victoria and Eduardo Pau Lucas: our babies who bring light into our lives—almost like twins, we love you so much."

Their youngest child, daughter Ilaria, was born six months later

Ilaria Catalina Irena was born on September 22, 2022.

Hilaria referred to the newborn as their "tiny dream come true," in an Instagram post.

"How grateful we feel to welcome our newest little daughter into this world," the couple told People magazine that year in a statement. "Just as magical and filled with love as every other little person we have been blessed with."

"The Baldwins" will feature all seven children and give a more personal look at Alec and Hilaria's parenting styles.

Alec said he and his wife decided to participate in a reality show "in place of doing a movie or a play."

"Now I think to myself, 'Am I going to be away from my kids five nights out of the week until 11 o'clock at night?'" Alec told People magazine earlier this month of the decision to star in a reality TV show with his clan. "For me, work-related things really aren't that critical anymore. I thought, 'I get to spend time with my family.'"

"The Baldwins" premieres on TLC on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

• HBO renewed Sam Levinson's "Euphoria" for a third season in February 2022.
• The show is still eyeing a return in 2026 and began filming in February 2025.
• Barbie Ferreira and Storm Reid will not reprise their roles as Kat and Gia, respectively.

HBO's popular drama series "Euphoria" will be back for another installment — but the characters will no longer be in high school.

The show, which is created, written, and directed by Sam Levinson, centers on a 17-year-old drug addict named Rue Bennett (played by two-time Emmy winner Zendaya).

In early February 2022, amid a bonkers and wildly memed second season, HBO announced that "Euphoria" was renewed for a third season.

Here's everything we know so far about season three. 

The season 3 cast will consist of core characters, with a few shake-ups

On February 14, 2025, HBO announced that Zendaya, Hunter Schafer (Jules Vaughn), Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs), Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie Howard), Alexa Demie (Maddy Perez), and Maude Apatow (Lexi Howard) will reprise their roles.

Colman Domingo, who won an Emmy for his performance as Rue's NA sponsor Ali, will return as a guest star. Martha Kelly, who played a drug lord named Laurie, and Chloe Cherry, who appeared as Faye, have been upped to series regulars.

Season three will feature two new series regulars, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Toby Wallace, and a slew of guest stars: Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Kadeem Hardison, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert, and Anna Van Patten.

The same day, Variety reported that Dominic Fike will reprise his role as Elliot. The musician joined the show during season two, with his character driving a wedge between Rue and Jules. He also enabled Rue's addictions.

HBO reps didn't immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Fike's reported involvement.

Don't expect to see everyone back, though.

Barbie Ferreira (Kat Hernandez) was the first to exit the show in August 2022, months after she reacted to rumors and reports of on-set tension with showrunner Sam Levinson during an interview with Business Insider.

"I've seen so many different things and a lot of it is untrue and some of it's kind of like mundane little things," she told BI in March 2022.

During an appearance on the podcast "Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard" in April, Ferreira said that her exit was a "mutual decision" because her character's arc ran its course.

Storm Reid, who starred as Rue's younger sister Gia, recently told TMZ that she wouldn't return due to scheduling conflicts. It's unclear if Nika King will reprise her role as Leslie, Rue and Gia's mom.

Eric Dane said that his character, Cal Jacobs, will get redemption 

In a 2022 interview with Variety, Dane said that Cal's story would continue in season three.

Cal was last seen getting arrested after his son Nate called the police on him. 

"There's gonna be redemption," Dane said. "I mean, that's the trajectory he's on. I can't imagine Cal's life from solitary confinement. It's tough to work Cal into the storyline when he's behind bars."

However, Dane's promise of redemption for his character should be taken with a grain of salt since his comments were made long before the plan for season three was solidified.

There will be a time jump, showing the characters out of high school

Heidi Bivens, a stylist and the costume designer for "Euphoria," spoke about her work on the series in an April 2023 interview with Vogue and said there was "talk of it being about five years in the future, and that they're not in high school anymore."

A time jump would also make sense considering that Zendaya, a producer on "Euphoria," previously told The Hollywood Reporter that she hoped the next season would show Rue's life beyond high school. Plus, most of the stars are in their 20s, unlike their teenage characters.  

"I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look," Zendaya said. "But also with all the characters, in the sense where they're trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be."

Elordi also expressed skepticism that season three would pick up exactly where fans last left the high school-aged characters. 

"I'm assuming that we'll have to go forward, otherwise it's going to seem like a weird bit," Elordi said during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in January. 

"I'm going to have a bad back walking down the hallway, you know?" he joked. 

In March 2024, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported that season three would include a time jump. HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys confirmed this during an interview with Variety in June. 

"One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesn't want to have it in high school anymore," Bloys said. "That's where it was set and what made sense then. So when you take it out of that, there's a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff. But I think he's got a take that he's excited about, and he's busy writing."

Levinson previously said he envisioned season 3 as 'film noir,' but this could have changed

In Zendaya's Elle cover story in August 2023, Levinson said that season three will "explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world."

It's important to note, however, that Levinson productions famously change direction on a dime, even during filming. In a press junket interview for season two, Elordi told Business Insider that the scripts for those episodes were "changing pretty regularly for the longest time." 

The direction for season three is still up in the air.

Variety reported in March 2024 that HBO wasn't pleased with Levinson's revised scripts that he submitted in late 2023 and early 2024. Those new scripts reportedly had Rue working as a private detective, an idea that HBO shut down.

Variety said that Zendaya pitched her character as a sober twentysomething surrogate mom. Insiders told Variety that her idea was also turned down because it didn't feel aligned with the show's tone. The publication added that even though Zendaya is an executive producer, "she doesn't have veto power over the scripts."

Per a report published by THR in July 2024, Zendaya was opposed to Levinson's private detective pitch. Sources told the publication that Zendaya and Levinson's once-close working relationship has become strained and tense amid the show's delays.

'Euphoria' won't return until 2026, and it'll probably be the final season 

The show's production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes.

In a January 2024 interview with TheWrap, Bloys said that Levinson was "in the thick" of writing season three. 

Two months later, Deadline reported that season three was delayed again — this time due to Levinson's scripts not being completed. Deadline said that filming was supposed to start "within the next couple of months." With the indefinite delay, the stars were allowed to take on other jobs. 

In July, HBO confirmed that production on season three would begin in January 2025. 

During a 2025 slate preview event in November, Bloys said that season three will be comprised of eight episodes.

At a tech and media conference in December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette said "Euphoria" was eyeing a 2026 return.

Filming for season three finally began in February 2025, and HBO shared a first-look image of Zendaya as Rue. Shortly after, Orsi told Deadline that nothing's confirmed yet regarding the show's future beyond season three, "but it's been discussed that this is the end."

"I think you will be very satisfied with this season, and how we bring each of the characters' whole narrative," Orsi said.

• Season four of "Bridgerton" is in the works, and will likely arrive in 2026.
• The next season will focus on Benedict Bridgerton's love story with Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). 
• Returning cast members include Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan Jonathan Bailey, and Simone Ashley.

"Bridgerton" fans have been patiently waiting, and Benedict Bridgerton's season is coming.

Season three of the Netflix series, centered on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) relationship, concluded with the release of part two in June.

In giving Polin a happy ending, "Bridgerton" also teased that Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second-eldest sibling, would get the main character treatment next season. His status as the lead has officially been confirmed, and new details about Benedict's season were just revealed at the "Bridgerton" virtual fan event called "Season of Love" on Friday.

Here's everything we know about season four of "Bridgerton" so far.

Benedict's love story will be the focus of season 4

An official announcement about Benedict being the season four lead was made in July. In a video posted by Netflix, Thompson is handed a suit for the masquerade ball. But eagle-eyed fans weren't surprised, because this was all teased in the season three finale that aired in June.

As Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) prepared to head off to Scotland with Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), John Stirling (Victor Alli), and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza) in the episode, she assured Benedict that she'd only be gone until next year.

"Do you think Mama would ever let me miss her Masquerade Ball?" she said.

Benedict, still not ready to settle down, replied: "I will be there, hiding out behind a mask, avoiding eligible ladies like the plague."

That not-so-subtle moment was a nod to Benedict's novel "An Offer From a Gentleman," which is part of Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" book series.

In the third, "Cinderella"-inspired book, Benedict meets a woman named Sophie Beckett at a masquerade ball. Unbeknownst to him, Sophie is a servant to a rude stepmother named Araminta Gunningworth. By the end of the novel, they express their love for each other and get married.

Netflix's official logline for next season reads: "The fourth season of 'Bridgerton' turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson). Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball."

'Dune: Prophecy' actor Yerin Ha will play Sophie Baek, Benedict's love interest

Ha was most recently seen on the Paramount+ TV series adaption of the "Halo" video game franchise and HBO's "Dune" spin-off series "Dune: Prophecy."

Netflix's editorial site Tudum reported that "Bridgerton" showrunner Jess Brownell changed Sophie Beckett's surname to a Korean name to fit Ha, a Korean actor from Australia.

"A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that's why changing a name can be so powerful," Ha told Tudum. "To make Sophie's name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner."

Sophie and Benedict are also confirmed to meet at a masquerade ball, just like in the book series.

Despite the character being based on Cinderella, Brownell assured fans that Sophie "is no damsel in distress."

"She is someone who has chess moves and is always thinking two, three steps ahead," Brownell said at the virtual fan event in January 2025. "So she's absolutely gonna throw Benedict for a loop."

'Harry Potter' actor Katie Leung is among the new cast members

Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang in the "Harry Potter" film series, will portray Lady Araminta Gao.

Her character description reads: "Twice-married and twice-widowed, Araminta has two daughters debuting on the marriage mart this season and she's feeling the pressure to get at least one of her girls married off. Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything — or anyone — threatens her standing in society."

Michelle Mao will play Rosamund Li, Araminta's eldest daughter who's "beautiful, vain, and eager to please her mother." According to her official description, Rosamund will be vying for Benedict's heart when she hits the marriage mart.

Isabella Wei will play Posy Li, Araminta's youngest daughter who's described as kind and chatty.

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan are back as Colin and Penelope Bridgerton in season 4

At the "Season of Love" event in February, Brownell said that the new installment will show Colin as a "wife guy" and the couple raising their baby, whose name has yet to be revealed.

Brownell previously told TheWrap that she'd like the pair to continue on the show beyond season four because she thinks there are more stories to be told. Newton similarly told Teen Vogue that he's committed to staying on the show indefinitely.

Brownell elaborated on Polin's place in season four in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying that the couple will shift to being part of the larger ensemble.

"I do think that there is a bit more to tell story-wise with Whistledown," she said. "Whistledown has been the narrative glue of every season. Now that Penelope's out publicly as Whistledown, I want to see more of what that's like. So, we will continue with them next season for sure."

In addition to the confirmed returns of Coughlan and Newton, Julie Andrews will also be back as the voice of Lady Whistledown.

Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley will also appear as Anthony and Kate Bridgerton

Kanthony fans have been wondering how long Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) will stay on the show after leading season two.

Previous season leads have largely stepped away after their story arcs concluded, but Anthony and Kate are the new heads of the Bridgerton household, which means they have to stick around.

In season three, Anthony and Kate show up in four episodes, often disappearing on trips around the world. The show writers likely did this to explain the characters' disappearance so Ashley and Bailey could film other projects (Bailey, in particular, was pulling triple duty, also working on "Wicked" and "Fellow Travelers").

In season three, episode seven, Anthony and Kate leave for a trip to India so Kate can visit her home and give birth to their first child. Though this looks like a convenient way to write the couple off the show entirely, that's not the case.

Brownell told Entertainment Weekly in June that Anthony and Kate heading to India allows the two actors to work on other projects "while still leaving the door open for them to return when and if they're able."

"So the India send-off is a plot device in certain ways that allows us to leave the door open," she said.

And the "Bridgerton" virtual event in February officially confirmed that Bailey and Ashley are indeed returning, including both in the official cast list for season four of "Bridgerton."

Fans will see "more of their marital bliss and seeing their baby as well," Brownell said.

Season 4 will expand the storylines of other 'Bridgerton' characters

At the virtual event, Brownell teased where fans will see the "Bridgerton" characters at the start of season four.

The showrunner alluded to Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) continuing her flirtations with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) and moving beyond the giggling that defined their season three interactions.

Violet will also be busy trying to prepare her unmarried kids for the future. While Francesa got married last season, her siblings Eloise and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) haven't reached that milestone yet.

"Violet is once again trying to put Eloise on the marriage mart and she's absolutely dreading it," Brownell said.

On the flip side, Hyacinth "is desperate to pre-debut early. And the two of them get paired together this season for comedic results."

Meanwhile, Gregory (Will Tilston), the youngest son, is "going to get sent off to Eton for a little while, but that gives him time to come back no longer a gangly teenager but a young man."

As for the rest of the Ton, Brownell said that fans will see more of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who has a new dynamic with Penelope now that she knows who Lady Whistledown is. Additionally, season four will expand on Queen Charlotte and Lady Agatha Danbury's (Adjoa Andoh) relationship.

Lady Danbury, who often vacillates between meddling and advising other characters, will help Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) navigate a new challenge as they settle into being members of society.

This isn't the last we've seen of Cressida Cowper

Season three of "Bridgerton" gives more insight into Cressida's (Jessica Madsen) difficult home life and the lengths she'll go to in order to get out of her situation.

During the season, she attempts to take credit for Lady Whistledown so she can receive the reward money and avoid marrying an older man, but the plan backfires. Then, when she learns that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, she attempts to blackmail her with the intention of using the money to escape town and avoid being sent off to live with her aunt in Wales.

But Cressida is outsmarted and is last seen being sent away in a carriage to live with her relative after tarnishing the Cowper family's reputation.

In separate June 2024 interviews with The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, and The Los Angeles Times, Brownell said that Cressida's story isn't over yet.

"It felt a little early in this season for her to get a happily ever after just because we've watched two seasons of her being a real bully to Penelope. She has a little bit more growth to do, but I do want to give her a happy ending eventually," she told EW.

"We want to see more from Jessica Madsen," Brownell told THR. "So we wanted to leave her story a little bit more open-ended so that we can craft an ending for her in future seasons."

Showrunner Jess Brownell said the season 4 theme is 'forbidden love'

At the virtual event, Brownell said that every season follows a romantic trope, and season four is all about "forbidden love."

"That class clash gives us a very serious obstacle and the stakes could not be higher this year, so it's really a juicy one," she said.

"The theme of the season is really about true love being somewhere in between fantasy and reality," Brownell added.

The new season will delve into Benedict's status as a member of high society and Sophie's role as a maid. And after spending three seasons focusing on the happenings of the wealthy characters, season four will broaden the world to follow the working-class characters below them.

"Because you are now so familiar with the upstairs, I think viewers know just how difficult a pairing between a gentleman and a maid will be," Brownell said.

Ha said that Sophie's job as a maid at Penwood House, where she works for Lady Araminta, is high stakes.

"Living under that Penwood House is a mode of survival for her because if she doesn't, then she has nowhere else to go," Ha said. "I think it also highlights just how hard it was being a maid in that era. You mess up and your life can turn upside down in a second, and I think we're trying really hard to portray those dynamics."

Brownell said that the all-important masquerade ball where Benedict and Sophie meet will be "a very large chunk of the first episode." She also said that the aesthetic of the ball was inspired by William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and the vibe is "dark and mysterious and fairytale-like."

Aside from the masquerade ball, season four will pull additional elements from the book, like My Cottage — which is Benedict's countryside home — and a nearby lake that fans of the novel will be familiar with.

"I do think that this season is the most faithful to the book," Brownell said. "It really lends itself to adaptation plot-wise. It's very similar."

Still, some aspects were changed for the Netflix adaptation, like character motivations.

"Benedict is quite different from the book just in that Luke Thompson brings this wonderful sensitivity and self-awareness to the character," Brownell said. "So in Benedict's story of trying to woo Sophie, I think the character is a bit more delicate and thoughtful, perhaps, about the way he goes about it."

The 'Bridgerton' season 4 premiere probably won't be until 2026

In June, Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter that fans will have to wait two years for the next season.

"We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language," Brownell said. "And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we're kind of on a two-year pace, we're trying to speed up but somewhere in that range."

Production on season four began in September and Brownell told the Los Angeles Times and said that they chose to film during the fall partly for storytelling purposes but also out of practicality.

"It's still going to be just as lush and colorful, but just more in those warm fall colors instead of the pastels," she said. "There will still be some pastels, so it won't look like a totally different show."

Netflix confirmed that there will be eight episodes, just like the past installments. As of mid-February, they're still in production on season four. This means that the new season is likely to premiere at some point in 2026, but there's no confirmed release date yet.

• Millie Bobby Brown said that being a child actor affected her social skills.
• Brown became famous through "Stranger Things" and said she has few friends "because of who I am."
• Because she didn't go to school like people her age, she said she lacks social skills.

Millie Bobby Brown was 11 years old when she first filmed her breakout role as Eleven on "Stranger Things." But stealing scenes on a smash-hit Netflix series as an adolescent has its downsides, some of which still affect the 20-year-old today.

"I don't have many friends, because of who I am," Brown told Vanity Fair in a cover story released on Wednesday. "I didn't go to school, so I don't have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I'm working through them."

"Stranger Things," which debuted in 2016 and will release its fifth and final season this year, has become one of Netflix's most popular shows of all time. Brown has previously spoken about the challenges of becoming famous in adolescence and being sexualized in the media, revealing that she started having severe panic attacks around age 15.

"I don't allow many people into my life, and when I do, I think it should be super moderated," she told Vanity Fair. "I started this really young, and I felt that the press specifically was very, very harsh on me. And so I just like to make sure that I'm advocating for myself."

Brown's Vanity Fair profile notes that instead of going to school like kids her age, Brown had private schooling on the show's set and passed the time between filming with her fellow cast mates. The coronavirus pandemic compounded her lack of social interactions outside the show.

Brown now lives on a farm with her husband, Jake Bongiovi, and calls it her happy place.

"My animals are loud, and it's messy and my dogs are crazy. And there is, you know, laughter and a lot of passion and excitement, and it is a very vibrant place," she said. "There is so much chaos, and that is where I thrive."

• Season three of HBO's "The White Lotus" premieres on Sunday night and features a new cast.
• The new season includes stars like Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey, and Jason Isaacs.
• Lalisa Manobal, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, makes her acting debut on the show.

HBO's hit anthology series "The White Lotus" is back for season three with a fresh group of guests checking in.

The latest season of the show, which was created, written, and directed by Mike White, follows vacationers at the titular resort chain's Thailand location over the course of a week. With the exception of Natasha Rothwell reprising her season one role as Belinda, the rest of the core cast consists of actors who are new to the "White Lotus" world.

Ahead of the season three premiere on Sunday, here's a rundown of who's in the cast and what you might recognize them from.

Natasha Rothwell returns as spa manager Belinda Lindsey.

In the first season, set in Hawaii, Belinda aspired to run her own wellness center someday. One of the rich White Lotus guests, Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), led Belinda to believe that she'd fund her dream. But Tanya ultimately backed out of the agreement. Tanya then died after falling overboard from a yacht in the season two finale of "The White Lotus."

Rothwell, who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance in season one, is known for playing Kelli Prenny in the show "Insecure," which was created by and starred Issa Rae. Rothwell also served as a supervising producer.

In recent years, Rothwell has appeared in movies like "Wonder Woman 1984," "Wonka," and "Sonic the Hedgehog." Her most recent show, "How to Die Alone," was canceled after season one but is being shopped around for another home.

"Mission: Impossible" star Michelle Monaghan portrays a vacationer named Jaclyn.

Monaghan was first introduced as Julia Meade, a nurse and fiancé of Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt in the third "Mission: Impossible" movie. Although Julia and Ethan broke up sometime after getting married, Monaghan reprised her role in "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol" and "Mission: Impossible — Fallout."

Monaghan starred in season one of HBO's "True Detective," the Hulu drama series "The Path," and the horror movie "MaXXXine." She's also appeared in romantic movies like "Made of Honor," "Playing It Cool," and "The Best of Me."

Leslie Bibb, who recently appeared in Clint Eastwood's film "Juror No. 2," plays Jaclyn's longtime friend Kate.

Bibb has been acting professionally since the '90s.

She played a journalist named Christine Everhart in "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" and played a superhero in the 2021 Netflix series adaptation of the comic book series "Jupiter's Legacy."

Bibb also starred alongside Kristen Wiig and Ricky Martin in the Apple TV+ dramedy "Palm Royale."

In the legal drama "Juror No. 2," she played jury foreperson Denice Aldworth.

"The Gilded Age" star Carrie Coon plays Laurie, who's on a girls trip with Jaclyn and Kate.  

Coon is a two-time Emmy nominee thanks to her roles on the FX anthology series "Fargo" and the HBO period drama "The Gilded Age." She also earned a Tony nomination for her performance in the Broadway revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

The actor also starred as Nora Durst in the TV series "The Leftovers" and was unrecognizable as Proxima Midnight, the adoptive daughter of the villain Thanos (Josh Brolin), in "Avengers: Infinity War."

Coon recently starred alongside fellow Marvel actor Elizabeth Olsen and "Poker Face" actor Natasha Lyonne in the family drama "His Three Daughters."

"Fallout" actor Walton Goggins portrays Rick, a rough-around-the-edges vacationer at the resort.

Walton Goggins has built up a robust career as a character actor. He then landed a starring role on the FX drama series "The Shield," which ran for seven seasons between 2002 and 2008. That led to being part of another successful FX show, "Justified."

Goggins is also known for starring in the HBO shows "Vice Principals" and "The Righteous Gemstones" and for his appearances in two Quentin Tarantino films: "Django Unchained" and "The Hateful Eight."

He's also played bad guys in the "Maze Runner" franchise and "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

Goggins currently portrays a bounty hunter named the Ghoul in Prime Video's TV show "Fallout," based on a popular video game series of the same name. He earned an Emmy nomination for his performance and will reprise the role for season two.

"Sex Education" star Aimee Lou Wood plays the free-spirited Chelsea, Rick's much younger girlfriend.  

Prior to her film and TV roles, Wood starred in theater productions.

The Netflix series "Sex Education," which ran for four seasons between 2019 and 2023, marked Wood's screen debut. She played a high school student named Aimee Gibbs.

Jason Isaacs, known for portraying Lucius Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies, stars as Timothy Ratliff, a businessman.

Isaacs has more than 150 credits to his name, ranging from movie and TV roles to voice work for video games like "Baldur's Gate III" and "Marvel's Midnight Suns." He's also recognized for playing the villain of the 2000 movie "The Patriot."

In recent years, Isaacs guest starred in "Sex Education" and "The Great" and played Dr. Hunter Aloysius "Hap" Percy in the Netflix sci-fi series "The OA."

Parker Posey plays Timothy's wife, Victoria Ratliff.

Posey rose to fame in the '90s through roles in independent films like "Dazed and Confused" and "Party Girl." She also portrayed Patricia Eden, a publisher and girlfriend to Tom Hanks' Joe Fox, in the classic rom-com "You've Got Mail."

Since then, Posey has portrayed a record label CEO in "Josie and the Pussycats" and has appeared in movies like "Scream 3," "Blade: Trinity," "Superman Returns," and "Beau Is Afraid."

She recently starred alongside "Gladiator II" actor and "White Lotus" season one alum Fred Hechinger in the 2024 movie "Thelma" and guest-starred on season one of Prime Video's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" TV series.

"Gen V" star Patrick Schwarzenegger portrays the couple's eldest child Saxon Ratliff, who works for his dad's company.

Schwarzenegger, the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, has gained more recognition as an actor in recent years through roles on the HBO miniseries "The Staircase" and the Prime Video show "Gen V," which is a college-set spin-off of the streamer's hit superhero satire series "The Boys." He also portrayed NFL star Tim Tebow in "American Sports Story."

After appearing in the "Cruel Intentions" TV show, Sarah Catherine Hook joined "The White Lotus" as Piper Ratliff, the middle child.

Piper is a college senior who's a religion studies major.

Hook recently starred as Caroline Merteuil in the "Cruel Intentions" show, which was released on Prime Video in November.

Prior to that, she had roles in "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," season three of "American Crime Story," and the Netflix supernatural series "First Kill."

Fresh off his role in the Netflix series "The Perfect Couple," Sam Nivola is playing Lochlan Ratliff in "The White Lotus."

He's the youngest Ratliff child and a senior in high school.

Nivola, who's the son of actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, is a rising star with a few acting credits.

He previously starred in Noah Baumbach's 2022 film "White Noise" and portrayed Bradley Cooper's on-screen son Alexander in the biopic "Maestro," based on the life of famed composer Leonard Bernstein.

Most recently, Nivola played Will Winbury in the Netflix ensemble series "The Perfect Couple," which also starred Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.

Thai actor Lek Patravadi stars as Sritala, one of the owners of The White Lotus in Thailand.

She developed the Thai resort's wellness program.

Patravadi is known for her contributions to theater, both as a playwright and a teacher of the arts at the Patravadi Theatre, which she founded.

She previously starred in the Thai drama series "In Family We Trust."

Blackpink's Lalisa Manobal makes her acting debut as Mook, a health mentor at the resort.

"The White Lotus" marks Manobal's first acting role, but she's no newcomer to Hollywood.

Manobal is best known as a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, where she goes by the stage name Lisa. Her debut solo studio album, "Alter Ego," will be released on February 28.

Tayme Thapthimthong portrays Gaitok, a security guard at The White Lotus.

Thapthimthong is a London-born actor of Thai descent.

Prior to acting, he had a background serving as an infantryman in the Royal Thai Army and in private security.

He landed his first acting role in the 2014 action movie "Skin Trade" and most recently appeared in an episode of the Netflix limited series "Thai Cave Rescue."

• "Captain America: Brave New World" includes a cameo from Sebastian Stan, who reprises his role as Bucky.
• Bucky gives Sam Wilson a pep talk and assures him that he's worthy of being Captain America.
• The scene also teases Stan's return as Bucky in "Thunderbolts*."

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Captain America: Brave New World."

"Captain America: Brave New World" is filled with heroic moments from Anthony Mackie's titular superhero, Harrison Ford transforming into the comic book character Red Hulk, and a surprise cameo from a fan-favorite Marvel character.

The fourth "Captain America" movie follows Mackie's Sam Wilson after he inherited Steve Rogers' (Chris Evans) shield and the title of Captain America in "Avengers: Endgame."

In Sam's first solo outing as Captain America, the everyman character struggles with the pressure and responsibility of saving the world despite not having superpowers or special abilities. But a visit from an old friend reassures him that he was chosen as Steve's successor for a reason.

Here's everything to know about the movie's standout cameo.

Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes to give Sam Wilson a much-needed pep talk

Sebastian Stan was last seen as Bucky Barnes in the 2021 Disney+ miniseries "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," which costarred Mackie.

In "Brave New World," Sam successfully stops rogue US fighter pilots from attacking a Japanese fleet. But in the process, his sidekick Joaquin Torres/The Falcon (Danny Ramirez) gets injured mid-flight and crashes into the Indian Ocean. After being rescued, Joaquin is immediately taken to the ER.

Sam, feeling guilty for what happened, watches through a window as doctors attend to Joaquin's extreme injuries. Then, Bucky arrives in a suit and stands next to Sam.

"Hate to admit it, but I'm glad you're here," Sam says, as the two hug.

After Bucky tells Sam that Joaquin's accident isn't his fault, Sam replies, "It makes me think of Steve."

The two talk about how Steve successfully stopped two alien invasions, and Sam, by comparison, feels unqualified and unworthy of being Cap.

"What made me think I could follow that?" Sam says.

Sam adds that he should have taken the super-soldier serum like Steve and Bucky did because all of this is bigger than him and his human limitations.

"Steve made a mistake," Sam says.

"You're a human being," Bucky replies "You do your best. Steve gave them something to believe in. You give them something to aspire to."

To emphasize his point further, Bucky concludes, "He gave you that shield not because you're the strongest, but because you're you."

"Did your speechwriters help you with that?" Sam jokes.

Then, Bucky leaves for a political campaign obligation.

Once he exits, Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), the security advisor to US President Thaddeus Ross (Ford), refers to Bucky as "future congressman James Buchanan Barnes."

Stan's cameo sets up his appearance in the next Marvel movie, 'Thunderbolts*'

Stan will return as Bucky in the film "Thunderbolts*," set for release in theaters on May 2.

Eagle-eyed fans already picked up on Bucky seemingly wearing a US Congress pin in the most recent trailer for "Thunderbolts.*" His cameo in "Brave New World" tees up this surprising pivot from an assassin to a congressman.

"Thunderbolts*" centers on Bucky and a group of misfit Marvel characters who team up to stop a mysterious new threat.

The ragtag team of unlikely world-savers consists of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker/US Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko). The movie also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and MCU newcomer Lewis Pullman as Bob/Sentry.

"Captain America: Brave New World" is now playing in theaters.

• "Captain America: Brave New World" has one post-credits scene.
• The scene features Sam Wilson/Captain America and Samuel Sterns/The Leader.
• Their conversation alludes to the next big Avengers team-up.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Captain America: Brave New World."

If you head to the theater to watch "Captain America: Brave New World" this weekend, you may want to stick around until the very end.

The fourth "Captain America" movie stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America after Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) passed the shield to him in "Avengers: Endgame."

Sam accepted the position and got a Cap suit of his own in the 2021 Disney+ miniseries "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." But in "Brave New World," Sam is still grappling with his role as a hero without superpowers — while also ending up in the crosshairs of an international incident.

After all the credits roll, the movie concludes with a scene that teases action to come in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Sam Wilson pays the villain, Samuel Sterns, a visit at the Raft

In the MCU, the Raft is a maximum security prison where super-powered or enhanced individuals are incarcerated. Thaddeus Ross (then played by late actor William Hurt) previously locked up Sam and some of the Avengers at the Raft after the events of "Captain America: Civil War."

But by the end of "Brave New World," the tables are turned, and Ross (now played by Harrison Ford) is imprisoned inside the Raft after he transforms into Red Hulk and causes destruction in Washington, D.C.

Samuel Sterns/the Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), the antagonist who orchestrated a string of events to destroy Ross' legacy, is also sent to the Raft for his actions.

In the end-credits scene, Sam visits Sterns at the prison and tells the brainiac character that he's not in the mood for his jokes.

"You killed a lot of good men trying to get your revenge," Sam tells him. "Trust me, we don't share the same sense of humor."

Sterns, who can predict what will happen by calculating statistical odds, then shares a warning for the hero.

"We share the same world, don't we? This world you would die to save, it's coming," Sterns says. "I've seen it in the probabilities, seen it plain as day — all you heroes protecting this world. You think you're the only ones? You think this is the only world? We'll see what happens when you have to protect this place from the others."

The scene ends with text that reads: "Captain America will return."

The next Avengers team-up is coming

Near the end of "Brave New World," Sam tells Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), his mentee and the new Falcon, that Ross was right about one thing: the world needs the Avengers. The end-credits scene reiterates this point without offering much else.

Plus, Sterns' tease about the next superhero team-up isn't brand-new information to fans.

Since "Endgame," the MCU has been expanding the storylines for the more recent additions to the Avengers lineup and introducing new characters to rebuild the team in the absence of people like Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

It'll culminate in the next two "Avengers" movies, which are part of the MCU's Multiverse Saga: "Avengers: Doomsday," set for release on May 1, 2026, and "Avengers: Secret Wars," scheduled for May 7, 2027. Both will be codirected by sibling duo Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed the last two "Avengers" movies.

Details about the "Doomsday" plot are unknown, but the ensemble film will star Mackie, Downey Jr. as the villainous Doctor Doom, maybe (or maybe not) Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange, and the cast of the upcoming "Fantastic Four" reboot.

Evans will reportedly appear in "Doomsday," though he denied his involvement in a recent interview with Esquire.

"Captain America: Brave New World" is now playing in theaters.

• Millie Bobby Brown criticized leaked salary contracts and said they put child actors at risk.
• She told Vanity Fair that contracts she signed as a child "should have been protected."
• Brown was reportedly paid $10 million for Netflix's 2022 film "Enola Holmes 2."

Millie Bobby Brown says she's learned from her experience as a child actor that salary contracts should be protected rather than leaked because they endanger young actors.

Brown, who rose to prominence playing Eleven on Netflix's wildly popular sci-fi series "Stranger Things," reacted to reports about her hefty paydays (including a reported $10 million deal to return for 2022's "Enola Holmes 2") in a new Vanity Fair cover story published on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old actor said that contracts she signed as a child "should have been protected so that they're not on the record," instead of being leaked.

"It just puts children in a really dangerous situation," she added.

Brown didn't elaborate on the specific dangers of contract leaks for child actors, but she told the publication, "I think everybody's a little bit too lax about the way that children are brought up in the industry."

Brown played Enola Holmes, the sleuthing younger sister of Henry Cavill's Sherlock Holmes, in the 2020 movie and its sequel and also served as a producer for both. But the young star was already Netflix's golden child long before that.

Brown was 11 years old when she first portrayed Eleven. In a cast comprised of veteran stars Winona Ryder and David Harbor and younger rising talents, Brown became the breakout of season one, which premiered in 2016.

By season three of "Stranger Things," the cast had landed significant salary bumps, with Brown reportedly earning at least $250,000 per episode, per Deadline. (Netflix declined to comment at the time.)

For the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things," coming this year, most cast members reportedly earned $6 to $9 million-plus. Brown, however, has a separate, lucrative deal in place that also includes her films for the streamer (like the "Enola Holmes" movies" and the upcoming "The Electric State"), according to Puck's Matthew Belloni.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, the actor credited Netflix and her parents for protecting her during her rise to fame.

"I grew up with a lot of eyes on my parents, but I feel that those were the people that protected me the most," she said, adding that her family taught her to "say no at a very young age" and advocate for herself.

• Warner Bros. Television is working on a scripted "Harry Potter" TV show for HBO. 
• The series was announced at a Warner Bros. Discovery press event in Los Angeles in April 2023.
• The show is eyeing a release in 2026 and will remain "faithful" to the book series.

A "Harry Potter" TV show is in the works.

At a press event in LA in April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery first confirmed it's expanding the wizarding world with a coming TV series, originally planned for release on its streaming service, Max. But in June, Variety reported that the series would be branded as an HBO original instead.   

The untitled "Harry Potter" series will feature a fresh cast and introduce a new generation to the wizarding world franchise created by author J.K. Rowling. 

Here's everything we know so far about the show.

The series will be a 'faithful adaptation of the beloved original Harry Potter books'

"We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way," said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max content in a press release shared with Business Insider. "Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World." The series will "dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years."

In the same release, Rowling said: "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series."

Francesca Gardiner will be the showrunner and J.K. Rowling will serve as an executive producer 

Gardiner's previous credits include "Succession," "His Dark Materials," and "Killing Eve."

Mark Mylod, most recently recognized for his work on "Succession," will direct multiple episodes of the show. 

The show's executive producers include Gardiner, Mylod, Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts. "Harry Potter" franchise producer David Heyman is also in talks to executive produce.

Users on X (formerly known as Twitter) took to the platform to criticize Max for its decision to involve Rowling, who has been accused of making transphobic comments, in the project. 

Max did not respond to a previous request for comment. 

John Lithgow is reportedly in talks to play Albus Dumbledore

On Wednesday, Deadline reported that John Lithgow was in final negotiations to star as the Hogwarts headmaster. The actor is known for roles in "Terms of Endearment," "The Old Man," "The Crown," and "Dexter." He most recently starred in the Oscars contender "Conclave."

HBO declined to comment, telling Deadline in a statement: "We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals."

Variety also previously reported that Paapa Essiedu was being considered for the role of Severus Snape, though no deal has been made yet.

The show is eyeing a release in 2026

Warner Bros.'s eight "Harry Potter" films comprise one of the studio's most successful franchises, grossing over $7 billion worldwide at the box office. The TV show, which is aiming to release in 2026, will stream on the service in the US and globally. 

In December, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the show will start filming in Leavesden, where the previous "HP" movies were made, in the summer of 2025.

WB Discovery CEO David Zaslav shared details about the expected debut during an earnings call in February 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter. Zaslav said that he, Bloys, and WBD TV chief Channing Dungey met with Rowling and her team to discuss the show.

"Both sides are thrilled to be reigniting this franchise," Zaslav said. "Our conversations were great, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead. We can't wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world."

This story was originally published in April 2023 and has been updated to reflect recent developments. Kirsten Acuna contributed to a previous version of this article.

• Renée Zellweger reprises her role as Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
• Hugh Grant also returns as Daniel Cleaver after the character was revealed to be alive in the third film.
• Colin Firth's Mark Darcy is killed off, but the actor still shows up in a few scenes.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Renée Zellweger is back as the titular heroine in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" — this time as a widow juggling work, raising two kids, and dating.

"Mad About the Boy," the fourth and final movie in the rom-com franchise, centers on Bridget Jones as a single woman following the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), four years earlier.

With the help of her friends, family, and ex-boyfriend Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), Bridget gets her groove back and works through the stages of grief.

Even though Firth's character is dead, the actor still makes a few appearances throughout the movie. Meanwhile, Grant seamlessly slips back into his womanizer character, who was revealed to be alive at the end of the third movie, "Bridget Jones's Baby."

Here's how "Mad About the Boy" incorporates Firth and Grant's characters.

Colin Firth reprises his role as Mark Darcy in the form of hallucinations

The movie opens with the revelation that Mark was killed four years ago in a deadly explosion while on a humanitarian mission in Sudan. Since then, Bridget has primarily focused on raising the couple's two kids, 9-year-old Billy (Casper Knopf) and 4-year-old Mabel (Mila Jankovic).

Firth first appears as a hallucination when Bridget imagines Mark accompanying her to a small gathering in honor of his birthday. He also shows up when Bridget tucks her kids into bed.

Firth pops up one last time near the end of the movie when Billy performs during his school's Christmas concert. After finishing his performance, Billy earns applause and a standing ovation from the audience. While clapping, Bridget looks over and hallucinates Mark standing nearby and doing the same.

By the film's conclusion, Bridget and her kids have fully grieved Mark's death, and the heroine realizes they'll all be okay.

"Mad About the Boy" closes with a New Year's Eve party set one year later. In a tribute to Mark, Billy is seen wearing the same green turtleneck sweater with a reindeer on it that his dad wore in the first "Bridget Jones" movie.

Bridget Jones and Daniel Cleaver don't end up together. Instead, they maintain a close friendship.

Bridget attended Daniel's funeral at the start of "Bridget Jones's Baby," after he was presumed dead following a plane crash. However, the film concluded with the revelation that Daniel was found alive and living with a remote tribe in the Australian outback one year after the crash.

Although the past "Bridget Jones" films showed Bridget in a love triangle with Mark and Daniel, the latest movie squashes any chance of romantic reconciliation between her and Daniel.

The pair are now friends. While Daniel is still up to his womanizing ways, he also steps in to babysit Bridget's kids when she needs help. Daniel also has a child, a 15-year-old son named Enzo, whom he's estranged from and hasn't seen since he was 2. Enzo also lives with his mom in Bologna, Italy.

Later in the movie when Daniel has a heart issue and ends up in the hospital, Bridget visits him. He tells her that his life flashed before his eyes and when he was asked to list a next of kin, the only person he could think of was Bridget.

Daniel then tells Bridget that seeing her with her kids made him contemplate what could have been if they ended up together. Bridget isn't interested in Daniel romantically anymore, but she tells him that this health scare could mark a fresh start for him.

At the end of the film, Daniel reconnects with Enzo and introduces him to Bridget at the New Year's Eve house party. Enzo is also seen flirting with a party guest, indicating that perhaps he's not too different from his dad.

"Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" is streaming on Peacock.

• "Bridget Jones's Diary" was released in theaters in 2001.
• The movie starred Renée Zellweger as a 30-something single woman navigating her love life.
• Zellweger and Hugh Grant reprise their roles in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," streaming on Peacock.

Twenty-four years ago, Renée Zellweger brought the clumsy but charming protagonist from Helen Fielding's novel "Bridget Jones's Diary" to life on the big screen.

The 2001 film adaptation of "Bridget Jones's Diary" starred Zellweger as Bridget Jones, a single woman in her 30s living in London who's on a mission to get her life together — and find her perfect match.

The rom-com was a commercial success, earning $281 million at the global box office on a $25 million budget and leading to three sequels: "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" (2004), "Bridget Jones's Baby" (2016), and, most recently, "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" (2025).

"Mad About the Boy," touted as the final chapter in the franchise, was released on Peacock on Thursday and features many returning cast members from the first movie.

Here's a look back at the cast of the original film and where they are now.

Renée Zellweger portrayed the film's protagonist, Bridget Jones.

At the start of the movie, Bridget makes a New Year's resolution to lose weight, stop drinking and smoking, and find a "sensible boyfriend."

Zellweger's performance as Bridget was praised by fans and critics, and she earned an Oscar nomination for best actress at the 2002 Academy Awards.

Zellweger is now a four-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner.

Zellweger was already a recognized actor at the time of the first "Bridget Jones" movie, having starred in films like "Jerry Maguire."

After "Bridget Jones's Diary," she went on to earn an Oscar nomination for her performance as Roxie Hart in the film adaptation of the musical "Chicago."

Then, in 2004, Zellweger won her first Academy Award for her supporting role in the war drama "Cold Mountain." That same year, she also reprised her role as Bridget Jones for the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason."

After a string of poorly received films, Zellweger took a six-year acting hiatus from 2010 to 2016.

When costar Hugh Grant asked what prompted the break during a recent interview for British Vogue, Zellweger replied, "Because I needed to. I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?' It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences."

Zellweger told Grant that she spent those years getting healthy and doing non-Hollywood things, like studying international law, building a house, and going on a cross-country road trip with her rescue dogs.

She returned to acting in 2016 with two films: the legal drama "The Whole Truth" with Keanu Reeves and "Bridget Jones's Baby," the third movie in the rom-com franchise.

A few years later, Zellweger won her second Oscar, for her portrayal of the legendary actor Judy Garland in the biopic "Judy."

Now, she's back as Bridget Jones in the fourth movie, "Mad About the Boy." The film follows the character as a mother of two and a widow since the death of her husband, Mark Darcy, four years earlier.

Colin Firth starred as Mark Darcy, a human rights lawyer and one of Bridget's love interests.

Bridget and Mark grew up together and reconnect at a holiday party years later. They're not attracted to each other, but as the movie progresses, they develop feelings for each other and go from enemies to lovers.

Firth is an Oscar winner and two-time Emmy nominee.

Firth reprised his role as Mark for "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" and "Bridget Jones's Baby." In the latter movie, Bridget gave birth to their first child, a baby boy, and the couple finally got married.

His rom-com experience extends to the 2003 ensemble holiday movie "Love Actually" and two "Mamma Mia!" films released in 2008 and 2018.

The actor has also starred in action movies like the "Kingsman" franchise and family-friendly films like "Mary Poppins Returns."

A year after landing an Oscar nomination for his performance in "A Single Man," Firth won the Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of King George VI in "The King's Speech."

More recently, Firth starred in the film "Empire of Light" and the miniseries "The Staircase" and "Lockerbie: A Search for Truth." He earned Emmy nominations for "The Staircase" and "Conspiracy."

Hugh Grant starred as Daniel Cleaver, a womanizer and Bridget's boss at a publishing company.

Daniel, the editor-in-chief at a publishing company, starts dating Bridget, a publicity assistant, early in the film. But the pair don't last long because Daniel is non-committal and cheats on Bridget.

The first "Bridget Jones" movie positions Mark and Daniel as Bridget's main love interests. She ultimately chooses Mark because he accepts her as she is.

Grant has strayed from his rom-com roots in recent years.

In the '90s and early 2000s, Hugh Grant was widely recognized for starring in iconic rom-coms like "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill," "Love Actually," and the "Bridget Jones" movies.

But his recent filmography has been far more unpredictable.

Grant starred as a villain in the family-friendly movie "Paddington 2," had a cameo as Daniel Craig's on-screen partner in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," acted alongside Meryl Streep in the biopic "Florence Foster Jenkins," played another antagonist in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," and portrayed an Oompa Loompa in "Wonka."

He's also a two-time Emmy nominee for his performances in "A Very English Scandal" and "The Undoing." For his role as Mr. Reed in the 2024 horror movie "Heretic," Grant earned his seventh Golden Globe nomination.

Grant was absent from the third "Bridget Jones" movie and told Variety that he felt his character "didn't belong." However, he returned for "Mad About the Boy" after writing some scenes for Daniel that enhanced the story.

Jim Broadbent played Colin Jones, Bridget's dad.

Bridget's parents have been married for 35 years, but their relationship hits a rough patch in "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Broadbent's extensive credits include roles in "Game of Thrones," "Moulin Rouge!" and the "Harry Potter" and "Paddington" movies.

Broadbent was already an established actor when he first portrayed Bridget Jones's father. The same year that "Bridget Jones's Diary" was released, the actor starred in two major movies in his filmography: "Iris" and "Moulin Rouge!"

He landed an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for his supporting role in "Iris" and a BAFTA Award for his performance as Harold Zidler in "Moulin Rouge!"

Broadbent played a professor in the 2005 film adaptation of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," Dean Charlie Stanforth in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and Professor Horace Slughorn in the "Harry Potter" franchise.

Like Grant, Broadbent is in the "Paddington" movies. He plays Mr. Gruber, the owner of an antique shop and Paddington's best friend.

He also appeared in a couple of episodes of HBO's hit fantasy series "Game of Thrones" during season seven and played the Duke of Leicester in the Prime Video breakout series "My Lady Jane."

Gemma Jones starred as Pamela Jones, Bridget's mom.

Bored by her relationship with Mr. Jones, Pamela takes a job as the assistant to a man who has a cable show on a home shopping channel and has an affair with him. Mr. and Mrs. Jones later reconcile and renew their vows in the second film.

"Harry Potter" fans may recognize Jones for her role as Hogwarts matron Madam Poppy Pomfrey

Jones played Madam Pomfrey in three "Harry Potter" films. She also portrayed Elton John's grandmother, Ivy, in the 2019 biopic "Rocketman," which starred Taron Egerton as the musician.

In 2015, she won a BAFTA TV Award for her supporting role in the TV movie "Marvellous."

Shirley Henderson portrayed Jude, one of Bridget's closest friends.

Bridget's "urban family" consisted of three close friends, including Jude, who often gave practical advice.

Henderson has had roles in franchises like "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars."

A year after the first "Bridget Jones" movie was released, Henderson portrayed Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a former student who haunts Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the second "Harry Potter" film, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." She reprised the role a few years later for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

Henderson also voiced a droidsmith named Babu Frik in the 2019 movie "Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker" and is one of many actors who have guest-starred on the popular sci-fi series "Doctor Who." Additionally, she had a small role in Sofia Coppola's 2006 movie "Marie Antoinette."

Most recently, Henderson returned as Jude for "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Sally Phillips starred as Sharon, aka "Shazza," another of Bridget's pals.

She's a journalist who likes to curse a lot.

Phillips returns as Shazza in "Mad About the Boy."

Since the first "Bridget Jones" film, Phillips has appeared in various shows and films, most notably the HBO series "Veep" and the 2016 action film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

The actor is also an executive producer at the UK production company Captain Dolly, which she cofounded in 2020.

In 2016, Phillips, who has a son named Olly with Down's syndrome and autism, made the documentary "A World Without Down's Syndrome?"

She returned for all the "Bridget Jones" sequels, including the latest one.

James Callis rounded out Bridget's friend group as Tom.

Tom was an '80s pop icon who retired after being a one-hit wonder. Although his music career is dead, he still gets recognized in public for the record that made him famous nine years prior.

Callis is known for his role as Dr. Gaius Baltar in the sci-fi series "Battlestar Galactica."

He first portrayed the character in the 2003 miniseries "Battlestar Galactica" and reprised the role for the re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica" series and the TV movie "Battlestar Galactica: Razor."

Callis has guest-starred on shows like "Arrow," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Rick and Morty," and "Star Trek: Picard."

In recent years, he has provided voice work for the Netflix animated series "Castlevania" and its spin-off show "Castlevania: Nocturne." Callis also appeared on season four of the Apple TV+ thriller show "Slow Horses," which stars Gary Oldman.

He reprises his role as Tom in "Mad About the Boy."

• "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" is the fourth and final movie in the rom-com franchise.
• Renée Zellweger's titular character struggles with grief after the death of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
• She ends up in a love triangle with a 29-year-old named Roxster and a teacher named Mr. Wallaker.

Warning: Spoilers for "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" ahead.

Bridget Jones's story has finally come to an end.

After 24 years, the fourth and final installment of the rom-com franchise, "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," is here.

The movie, released on Peacock Thursday, centers on Renée Zellweger's titular protagonist as she navigates life as a widow and single mother of two kids, 9-year-old Billy (Casper Knopf) and 4-year-old Mabel (Mila Jankovic).

Touted as the popular franchise's last chapter, the movie follows Bridget finding happiness again four years after her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), was killed in an explosion on a humanitarian mission in Sudan.

In revamping her life, Bridget meets two new love interests: Roxster (Leo Woodall), a 29-year-old park ranger who's studying to be a biochemist, and Mr. Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a pragmatic science teacher at the school that Bridget's kids attend. Plus, her former flame, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), returns as her platonic friend after he's confirmed to be alive at the end of the third film, "Bridget Jones's Baby."

Here's what to know about the movie's conclusion — and which character Bridget ends up with.

Bridget and Roxster break up due to their age difference

Bridget meets Roxster at a park when he rescues her and her kids from a tree they get stuck in.

While helping them down, he catches a glimpse of Bridget's Tinder profile on her phone, which her colleague Miranda (Sarah Solemani) set up for her, and decides to make his own profile so that he can find her. After matching on the app, they begin a flirtatious texting relationship and meet for a date.

Roxster assumes Bridget is about 35 and says her age doesn't bother him because he's attracted to older women, who he thinks are wiser, more mature, and more experienced.

At the end of their date, they hook up — but their dynamic is not a one-night stand. Instead, they date over the summer. Still, their relationship goes downhill when Roxster drunkenly tells her he wishes she had a time machine.

After letting it slip that he's bothered by their age difference, Roxster ghosts and ignores all of Bridget's texts. Sometime later, Roxster shows up unannounced at her workplace and explains that he panicked, got scared, and ran away because he thought he wanted to be with someone his own age.

However, after considering his hasty decision, Roxster says that he loves Bridget and is ready for everything that comes with it.

However, Bridget isn't interested in getting back together with Roxster and ends their relationship for good, telling him she wishes he had a time machine to catch up to her.

Bridget chooses to be with Mr. Wallaker, Billy's science teacher

When Bridget and Mr. Wallaker first meet at school during morning dropoff one day, their contrasts are clear. Bridget is outspoken and uncoordinated, while Mr. Walker is a polished rule-follower.

Then, during a class field trip, Mr. Wallaker tells Bridget that he doesn't have kids and never had time to think about having a family as a teacher — but he's OK with that.

Shortly after that conversation, Billy tells Mr. Wallaker that he's struggling with Mark's death and is worried he may forget his dad. In response, Mr. Wallaker reassures Billy that Mark is everywhere and asks him to share his favorite memory of him.

At the school's Christmas concert, Billy delivers a heartfelt solo performance with Mr. Wallaker's help. Bridget, who has seen hallucinations of Mark since his death, sees another vision of her late husband clapping in the audience after Billy's performance.

After the show, Bridget tells Mr. Wallaker that she's touched by how he helped Billy with his grief and taught him to be happy despite Mark's absence. And for the first time in four years, Bridget realizes that she and her kids will be OK.

Bridget invites the teacher out to drinks, but he chickens out of going inside the bar. Bridget spots him through the window, though, and runs after him. He explains that he had something he wanted to tell her, but it wasn't the right setting. Then, he makes a bold proclamation.

Mr. Wallaker references Isaac Newton's third law of motion — for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction — and says that Bridget is that opposite force to him. He says he's fallen in love with Bridget, and she kisses him. He then tells her that his first name is Scott, so she can quit referring to him as Mr. Wallaker.

In a scene set one year later, Bridget and Scott are happily together at a New Year's Eve party hosted at her home. At the end of the evening, they say "I love you" and kiss.

The movie concludes with a close-up of Bridget smiling while hugging him.

"Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" is streaming on Peacock.

• John Oliver returned to "The Daily Show" to mock America's shift to its "monarchy era."
• Oliver crashed the host Jon Stewart's monologue and said he was there to gloat.
• Oliver told Stewart to embrace being a monarchy because "kings get shit done."

John Oliver surprised audiences by returning to "The Daily Show" on Monday to interrupt Jon Stewart's monologue and gloat about ushering America into a new era.

Stewart's monologue briefly addressed the Super Bowl but primarily focused on jokes about President Donald Trump's recent executive orders, like renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and his saying that America was at its greatest from 1870 to 1913.

"Well, it's been a good run, America," Stewart said about 16 minutes into the monologue. "It's looking like we're becoming less like the constitutional republic it's been for 250 years and more like the monarchy that we all fought to escape from."

Oliver then appeared onscreen as the audience burst into applause.

"The prodigal son appears to have returned," Oliver said.

Oliver was a senior correspondent on the show from 2006 to 2013. He then landed his own series, "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver," which airs on HBO.

When Stewart asked Oliver if he was here to offer his "wisdom and counsel," Oliver clarified: "Oh, no, no, Jon. I'm here to gloat."

"America had its little fun, didn't you?" he continued. "Experimenting with democracy. You fought so hard to get away from us, acting up, throwing all that tea into the harbor — you still owe us for that, by the way."

Oliver teased America for diverging from British rule and vowing to not be like Britain.

"We let you spend your wild teen years experimenting with your ridiculous ideas of checks and balances because deep down we knew that once you got that nonsense out of your system, you'd be back," Oliver said.

"Let me be the first to welcome America to its monarchy era," he added.

In response, Stewart said America was "having a bit of trouble with democratic governance," but not to the point of wanting to "go full empire."

"Don't fight being a monarchy, Jon. Embrace it!" Oliver said. "Kings get shit done."

Stewart retorted that Britain hadn't turned out much better than America.

"For a country that doesn't want to be an empire, you're doing a pretty fucking good impression of one right now," Oliver said, citing "invasions" and "economic exploitations."

"We really have become our father," Stewart conceded.

• Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday.
• His performance included details you might have missed, like nods to his feud with Drake.
• Lamar's varsity-style designer jacket also included a few references.

Fresh off his five Grammy wins a week ago, Kendrick Lamar completed another career milestone on Sunday: headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.

Lamar's performance at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome during the 2025 Super Bowl featured some of his most popular songs and surprise appearances from stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams.

Aside from the overt references to American culture, Lamar included subtle details that alluded to his music and, of course, his beef with Drake.

Here are the biggest details you might have missed in Lamar's performance.

Lamar's viral bootcut jeans were designed by Celine.

Lamar's flared jeans were the breakout star of the halftime show, with fans praising the style and fit.

The rapper was styled by Taylor McNeill and Vogue reported that bootcut jeans are designed by the French luxury brand Celine.

His jacket, designed by Martine Rose, was emblazoned with the name Gloria as a nod to his most recent album.

"Gloria" is the final track on Lamar's 2024 album "GNX." The song features SZA, Lamar's frequent collaborator, who joined him on stage at the halftime show to perform "Luther" and "All the Stars."

Lamar's varsity-style jacket had a bunch of other references, too.

The back of the jacket had a logo for pgLang, the communications company that he co-founded with record producer Dave Free, and the phrase "I Deserve It All" stitched below it, which is a nod to the "GNX" track "Man at the Garden."

Lamar's track "Peakaboo" was hand-stitched on the right sleeve and a "G.National" patch appeared on the left sleeve in reference to his album "GNX."

His lowercase "a" necklace was a standout accessory with two different interpretations from fans.

Many fans assumed it was a nod to his "a minor" lyric aimed at Drake in "Not Like Us." But others suggested that it could be symbolic of his company pgLang, which has been using a logo that features a lowercase letter a.

Lamar made a reference to Drake's legal battles while teasing "Not Like Us."

Halfway through his performance, Lamar teased "Not Like Us" by telling backup dancers, "I wanna perform they favorite song, but you know they love to sue," while looking directly at the camera and putting one hand on his hip.

Then, a few notes of "Not Like Us" played before Lamar pivoted to "Luther" featuring SZA.

This comment was seemingly in reference to Lamar's ongoing beef with Drake and Drake's lawsuits filed in response.

In November, Drake's company, Frozen Moments, filed a pre-action petition against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG), the record company that owns Lamar's label Interscope and Drake's label Republic Records.

The petition accused the music streaming service and record company of inflating streams of "Not Like Us" through inorganic methods, like bots.

In another filing, Drake's team accused UMG of conspiring with iHeartRadio as part of a "pay-to-play" tactic to boost airplay for "Not Like Us."

A spokesperson for UMG denied the accusations in a statement to BI.

Drake also went on to file a defamation lawsuit against UMG in January, saying the record company "approved, published and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track" that was "intended to convey the specific, unmistakable and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response." UMG said it is fighting the case.

Lamar omitted the scathing Drake-directed line "certified pedophile" from "Not Like Us."

In "Not Like Us," Lamar raps, "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile." At the Super Bowl, Lamar recited the "Certified Lover Boy" lyric but stopped short of calling Drake a pedophile on national TV, omitting the word.

"Certified Lover Boy" is the title of Drake's 2021 album.

Although Kendrick didn't include the aforementioned lyrics in his performance, he took other opportunities to criticize Drake.

Serena Williams' surprise cameo during "Not Like Us" was interpreted as another jab at Drake.

One of the biggest surprises of the halftime show was tennis legend Serena Williams popping up and crip-walking during "Not Like Us."

Williams' choice of dance moves was significant. She was previously criticized for crip-walking in celebration of defeating Maria Sharapova and winning the gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012. At the time, Williams was accused of glorifying gang violence.

"Man I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon," Williams said in a video posted on X following her appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show. "Oh, I would've been fined."

"It was all love," she added after laughing.

Williams showing up for "Not Like Us," the song in which she's name-dropped, seemed to be yet another dig at Drake.

Drake and Williams were linked between 2011 and 2015, though it was never confirmed that they ever had a romantic relationship. The rapper was sometimes photographed watching Williams' tennis matches, and was seen sitting front row at her Fashion Week show in 2015.

He also confirmed that his song "Too Good" was about Williams.

"When I make songs about women, I also make songs for them," he said. "So, I know what kind of song to make. If I'm gonna talk about them, I'll at least do them the justice of making them a song that they like. So, I know Serena very well, and I know that she'll hear it loud and clear, but she'll also not hate me for it because it's lighthearted."

In 2015, a source told People magazine that they were "just friends" and "never dated."

Williams married Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian in 2017 and the couple welcomed two daughters, Alexis Olympia and Adira River.

Drake dissed Ohanian in his track "Middle of the Ocean," calling the entrepreneur a "groupie." In response, Ohanian said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that becoming a husband and father made him "100x better as a man and a businessman."

"The reason I stay winning is because I'm relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do — including being the best groupie for my wife & daughter," he wrote.

Lamar topped off his halftime show with an appearance from "Not Like Us" producer DJ Mustard.

DJ Mustard, who recently got a shout-out during Trevor Noah's opening monologue at the 2025 Grammys, joined Lamar onstage during "TV Off."

• A reboot of "Fantastic Four" is in the works at Marvel Studios.
• The film will star Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. 
• "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," directed by Matt Shakman, will be released on July 25.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's long-awaited reboot of "Fantastic Four" is on the horizon, and more details are coming into focus.

The latest iteration of "Fantastic Four," which is set for release this summer, has been in the works for years, going as far back as July 2019, when Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige first confirmed plans to reboot the franchise while onstage at San Diego Comic-Con.

Here's everything we know about "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," so far.

Matt Shakman will direct the film

"Spider-Man" director Jon Watts was initially attached to direct the movie, but he reportedly exited in 2022 because he needed a break after working on Tom Holland's three Spidey films back-to-back.

The movie will now be directed by Matt Shakman, who previously directed all nine episodes of Marvel's limited series "WandaVision."

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will star as the titular superheroes

Casting rumors ran rampant on the internet for years, with everyone from Adam Driver and Penn Badgley to Jodie Comer and Margot Robbie reportedly being considered for the main roles.

Marvel finally put the speculation to rest on Valentine's Day 2024, sharing the official casting and new, retro-inspired artwork depicting the actors as the Fantastic Four.

"Gladiator II" star Pedro Pascal will portray team leader Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, "Mission: Impossible" actor Vanessa Kirby will play Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, "Stranger Things" breakout Joseph Quinn will portray Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and "The Bear" star Ebon Moss-Bachrach will bring Ben Grimm/The Thing to the big screen.

'Ozark' star Julia Garner will portray the film's version of the Silver Surfer

Deadline, who was the first to report Garner's casting, said that the Emmy winner will play Shalla-Bal.

In the comics, Shalla-Bal is the love interest of Norrin Radd/Silver Surfer. In one run of the source material, Shalla-Bal becomes a Silver Surfer alongside Norrin after acquiring the Power Cosmic.

Garner has been tight-lipped about how she'll factor into the movie.

"I'm assuming that this Silver Surfer is gonna be really shiny like in the other previous ones and the comic books," she told Entertainment Weekly in January.

Additional cast members include Ralph Ineson as the villain Galactus and Natasha Lyonne in a mystery role

In May, The Hollywood Reporter said that Ineson was cast as the film's big bad, Galactus. In the comics, Galactus is a formidable character in the cosmos who consumes the life force of various planets.

The official plot synopsis for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" suggests that the antagonist will be on a similar mission in the movie.

"Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner)," the description reads. "And if Galactus' plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren't bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal."

Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles were also cast in undisclosed roles.

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' will be set in an alternate universe in the 1960s

Artwork and official posters for "The Fantastic Four" have alluded to the movie being set in the 1960s. During an appearance on the podcast "The Official Marvel Podcast" in June 2024, Feige confirmed that the film is a period piece and teased that it exists in a different version of New York City.

"There was a piece of art we released with Johnny Storm flying in the air making a 4 symbol and there was a cityscape in the corner of that image," Feige said. "There were a lot of smart people who noticed that that cityscape didn't look exactly like the New York that we know, or the New York that existed in the '60s in our world. Those are smart observations, I'll say."

Shakman teased that the movie will be different from past Marvel projects

"It's different in so many ways," Shakman told Collider in October.
I wish I could be specific. I wish I could say more. But we are doing things very differently from a story standpoint, from an approach to the filmmaking standpoint, that really fits the material."

"I think it's going to be unlike anything you've seen before, and certainly unlike anything at Marvel that you've seen before," he added.

In an interview with Inverse, the director echoed those sentiments and said that he took inspiration from the comics, rather than the previous "Fantastic Four" movies.

"I'm trying to figure out who these characters are to me and how to bring them to life in the best possible way, and that's really where I've started and how we've approached it," he said.

The Fantastic Four will return in the next 'Avengers' movies

Little is known about Marvel's upcoming films, but "Avengers: Doomsday," starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, is set for release on May 1, 2026, and "Avengers: Secret Wars" is scheduled for May 7, 2027. Both movies will be codirected by sibling duo Joe and Anthony Russo.

In November, Feige said that characters from "The Fantastic Four" will "go right into the next 'Avengers' movies, so I'm very excited for the future of the Fantastic Four."

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' releases in theaters on July 25

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" will be released this summer as part of phase six of the MCU.

The first teaser trailer was released on Tuesday. It shows glimpses of the superhero family suited up, Galactus towering over New York City, Malkovich's mystery role, the comic-book character H.E.R.B.I.E. cooking with Ben in the Baxter Building, and Reed seemingly working on an equation for a multiverse bridge.

• Zoe McGrady is one of 25 contestants on season 29 of "The Bachelor," which stars Grant Ellis.
• During week two, her competitive approach to dating frustrates the other women.
• Zoe is a 27-year-old tech engineer and model based in New York.

"The Bachelor" season 29 contestant Zoe McGrady wants to win over Grant Ellis — and she'll do whatever it takes to spend time with him.

Zoe, 27, is one of 25 women participating in the latest season of the reality TV show. The competition intensifies during week two, when Zoe steals Grant away for a private chat during the first group date of the season, a slam dunk competition.

Zoe causes more drama later when she interrupts Grant's one-on-one conversations with contestants Juliana Pasquarosa and Alli Jo Hinkes so she can talk to him further.

"We have one shot at all of this," she tells the women. "We had one shot at basketball, we had one shot on our group date today. We have one shot at this whole experience, and I know personally I gave it my all today and I'm very happy that I got time with him. That's what you gotta do."

Here's everything to know about Zoe.

Zoe grew up in Virginia with her adoptive parents

During an appearance on an episode of the podcast "Miss Represented," released in January 2024, Zoe, who's a mixed woman of color, said that she was adopted by two white people and grew up in a predominantly white town in the South.

She said that it was challenging growing up in Virginia as one of the few people of color who was also interested in STEM and felt like the "black sheep" of her hometown.

"I was definitely an outcast," Zoe said, adding that she was the first female wrestler to join her high school wrestling team.

Zoe said that she was interested in science and math from a young age, and even dressed up as Albert Einstein more than once for Halloween.

She went on to pursue a career in STEM after graduating from high school.

She's now a tech engineer and model based in New York

Zoe graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2019 and has been working in fintech since then.

After getting hired as a project manager at the tech company Quantile, Zoe moved to New York, where she decided to become a model in addition to her day job. She signed with the modeling agency Wilhemina Models in 2023.

She's done modeling jobs in beauty, lifestyle, sports, and fitness, and has walked runways as part of New York Fashion Week.

Zoe is a two-time first runner-up in the Miss New York USA pageant

In the podcast, Zoe said she never competed in a pageant prior to participating in Miss New York USA in 2022. She discovered the casting call for the pageant while scrolling on Instagram.

Zoe said she spent most of her life focused on sports and education and never thought she'd fit into the pageant world. However, she learned that she had a story to tell and felt she could use her platform to speak about things that were important to her.

In an Instagram post, Zoe said that she competed in the pageant so she can "share my story and advocate for other people with adverse childhood experiences," inspire women in male-dominated fields like wrestling and engineering, and make underrepresented people feel seen.

She was named the first runner-up of Miss New York USA in both 2022 and 2023 and returned to the pageant to compete a third time in 2024.

She's also a youth mentor and motivational speaker

Zoe often speaks in schools, telling kids about her passion for STEM, how her childhood and upbringing shaped her, and how she overcame adversity to succeed as a woman of color.

She also appears at conference panels and offers one-on-one mentorship on topics ranging from building confidence and resilience to managing mental health and healing from adverse childhood experiences.

New episodes of season 29 of "The Bachelor" premiere on Mondays.