• 2024 may not have been as big a year for television as 2023 – but there were plenty of gems.
• Series like FX's "Shōgun," Prime Video's "Fallout," and Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" cut through the noise.
• Here are the BI entertainment team's favorite television series of the year.

Amid shake-ups in the television industry, 2024 still delivered a slate of great TV series ranging from familiar continuations to ambitious debuts.

That includes series like FX's "Shōgun," an immersive adaptation that brought top Japanese talent to American screens; the Brian Jordan Alvarez comedy "English Teacher," which turns high school culture wars into comedy fodder; and hits like "Baby Reindeer," which captivated the world with a story pulled from creator Richard Gadd's life.

Here are our favorites from this year.

"Abbott Elementary" season 4

Season four of "Abbott Elementary" picks up with Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) officially dating after their slow-burn romance played in the show's previous seasons. At the start of this season, the pair are unsuccessfully trying to keep their relationship a secret from their Abbott Elementary coworkers when they return to school.

The writing of "Abbott Elementary" remains as sharp and culturally relevant as ever, and the latest season sprinkles in new characters that keep the show fresh and exciting — from Jacob's younger brother Caleb (Tyler Perez) and an IT guy named O'Shon (Matthew Law) whom the staff have a crush on to a lovable guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks who breaks through Melissa's (Lisa Ann Walter) tough exterior. — Olivia Singh

"Arcane" season 2

Netflix and Riot Games' "Arcane" is one of the most impressive and ambitious animated works of the past decade — and while it doesn't always find its footing, the end result is still so spectacular.

The series is adapted from Riot Games' massively popular video game "League of Legends," honing in on a small cast of characters who live in Piltover, the gleaming city of progress, and Zaun, its less-than-scintillating undercity. The conflict between the two cities has reached a critical point by season two. Unfortunately for all parties, so has the evolution of Hextech, a magic-powered technology that has spiraled out of control and turned one of its developers into a misguided messiah. Oops!

Season two is nothing if not ambitious and widens its scope while leveling up its already excellent animation, courtesy of the French studio Fortiche. In the process, it loses some of the intimate character work and tight focus that made its first season truly extraordinary. Still, the second season serves as a fitting conclusion and is a harbinger of good things to come from Riot's entertainment arm. — Palmer Haasch

Read Haasch's interview with "Arcane" showrunner Christian Linke.

"Baby Reindeer"

Few shows caused as much of a stir this year as "Baby Reindeer," starring and written by comedian Richard Gadd. Netflix and the creator himself billed the series as a true story based on Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked by an older woman. Unfortunately, the show's stalker character, Martha Scott, was quickly outed as Fiona Harvey, who took legal action against the streamer.

Despite all the behind-the-scenes controversy, "Baby Reindeer" is a work of art. Gadd lays himself bare as Donny, who's loosely based on himself. He's a powerhouse in episode four, which flashes back to explain the source of Donny's trauma before meeting Martha.

It's an engrossing watch with equally powerful performances from Jessica Gunning, who plays the disturbed but deeply sad Martha, and Nava Mau, who plays Donny's girlfriend, Teri. — Caralynn Matassa

Read about the legal drama behind "Baby Reindeer.'

"The Boys," season 4

If "The Boys" is Prime Video's NSFW answer to superhero fare like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then season four feels like the equivalent of "Avengers: Infinity War" — minus a snap from a villain that wipes out half the universe.

Season four of "The Boys" is darker than past seasons, as the characters confront deep-seated traumas. For an aging Homelander (Anthony Starr), this means grappling with the legacy he'll leave behind for his son Ryan. For his nemesis Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), it means coming to terms with his looming death and trying to prevent Ryan from succumbing to Homelander's darkness.

It's a season filled with even more gory, jaw-dropping scenes and yet another Emmy-worthy performance by Starr, particularly in Homelander's gory homecoming episode.

The endgame is nearing, with a fifth and final season of "The Boys" likely premiering in 2026. Season four ends with the perfect foundation for all hell to break loose one last time. — OS

"English Teacher"

It's astounding that it took this long for Brian Jordan Alvarez to get a series order after the release of his excellent 2016 web series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" — but thankfully, "English Teacher" premiered this year.

The series stars Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a beleaguered but idealistic Texas high school teacher who comes under fire at work when a parent complains about him kissing his ex-boyfriend in front of the students.

While "English Teacher" embraces the thorny politics of being an American educator in 2024, it doesn't spin them into saccharine teaching moments or cheap jokes. It mines them for character threads and comedy. — PH

"Fallout"

With "Fallout," Jonathan Nolan proved that prestige-y video game adaptations weren't exclusive to HBO. Rather than directly adapting one of the multiple games in the postapocalyptic "Fallout" universe, Nolan instead leverages the style, humor, and striking visual identity of the games to show us something new.

"Fallout" stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive resident who grew up in an underground bunker known as a Vault, established to protect humanity from nuclear armageddon. However, after tragedy befalls her home, she ventures to the surface, only to learn it isn't as deserted or unsurvivable as she was led to believe.

The series features stellar performances from Purnell and Walton Goggins, who spends most of the season admirably noseless. And while it's set in the grim aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, it's also irreverently funny and endearing. — PH

Read Eammon Jacobs' review of "Fallout" and Jason Guerrasio's interview with Walton Goggins.

"Hacks" season 3

The Max original "Hacks" has only gotten better with age, and in season three, it feels like the show has hit its stride.

The show follows veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who, on the coattails of a successful comedy special, is gunning for her dream: a late-night hosting gig. After cutting her young writer, Ava Daniels, loose at the end of season two, Deborah realizes that she needs Ava — and Ava craves working with Deborah again, too.

This central relationship — and all the ways Deobrah and Ava support, encourage, and mess each other up — is constantly in flux. Season three not only succeeded in being funnier and more resonant than its predecessors but also in shifting Deborah and Ava's power dynamic into something new and a bit dangerous ahead of season four. — PH

Read Haasch's interview with "Hacks" stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Mark Indelicato.

"Industry" season 3

Move over, "Succession" — there's another contender for the best HBO show about horny, psychopathic capitalists. "Industry," the show about London's most dedicated and depraved bankers, finally broke through to the mainstream with its third season.

Seasons one and two delivered well-written, well-acted, character-driven drama about the highs and lows of a group of young bankers trading stocks (and spit). Still, season three upped the ante, spending more time away from the office in lavish locations, such as the English countryside, a yacht in the Mediterranean, and a Davos-like conference in Switzerland.

The change in scenery enhanced the story and deepened our understanding of the series' core group of complicated characters, most of whom have greatly evolved since we first saw them sitting and sweating at their Pierpoint desks.

All of it leads to an explosive finale that's massive in both budget and sheer plot, effectively wiping the slate clean for a now-confirmed season four. It's an appropriately daring move for a show confident in its vision. It's peak TV at its peak. — Samantha Rollins

Read Rollins' interview with "Industry" showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

"Love Island USA" season 6

There were many (many) reality dating shows that aired in 2024. Having regrettably watched most of them, I can confirm that the latest installment of "Love Island USA" blew them all out of the water.

The franchise, which spun off of the UK edition, has the secret sauce that makes this genre sing. It's largely thanks to a format that other shows have tried — and failed — to replicate, wherein participants must constantly recouple to find true love (and win a cash prize).

Season six had a particularly explosive set of personalities among its cast, leading to some serious drama, shocking betrayals, truly memorable moments, and fan-favorite standouts, including Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and Jana Craig. — CM

"A Man on the Inside"

"A Man on the Inside" is initially presented as a spy mystery series as Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson), a widower who recently lost his wife, accepts a job to go undercover in a retirement home.

That's all background noise to the main event, which follows the lives of a kooky gang of residents who find community with each other after being left behind by their loved ones.

Anyone who has seen Danson in any of his other many roles would not be surprised that he is an incredible leading man. However, the show's real strength is the supporting cast, especially Margaret Avery, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers, who provide so much humor and heart that they may make you shed tears.

"A Man on the Inside" proves we really need more TV shows centered on older characters, and there's ample talent out there to make those stories worth watching. — Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Read Rollins' interview with "A Man on the Inside" creator Mike Schur.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Prime Video's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a reboot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2005 film (mostly in name only), is deeply funny, emotionally stirring, and clever.

Sure, both titles share a similar premise — a husband and wife who are both assassins — but the television series flips it on its head to create something much better.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two strangers who, upon taking a new job as shady agents for a mysterious boss, are paired together as a cover story.

The 10-episode season features a laundry list of guest stars, ranging from Ron Perlman to Micaela Coel. — PH

Read Haasch's review of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jacobs' interview with guest star Ron Perlman.

"Nobody Wants This"

Rom-coms are so back.

Six years after Netflix was credited with a rom-com renaissance thanks to hits like "Set It Up" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," the streamer struck gold again with "Nobody Wants This," a comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The show became an instant hit, proving audiences yearn for more high-quality modern rom-coms.

"Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and loosely inspired by her love story, follows Noah (Brody), an attractive and newly single rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), the outspoken agnostic host of a sex podcast. Despite their different views on religion and lifestyle, they pursue a relationship.

Noah and Joanne's swoon-worthy first kiss scene went viral, people realized that Brody had been leading man material all along, and the show jumped to the No. 2 slot on the streamer's Top 10 list for English-language TV in the week of its debut. Unsurprisingly, "Nobody Wants This" will be returning for a second season, which begins filming in February. — OS

"One Day"

The second attempt at bringing David Nicholls' bestselling novel "One Day" to the screen (after a 2011 film adaptation) is a rousing success.

The novel of the same name is already beautifully tragic, relatable, and perspective-altering, but the Netflix show amplifies all these strengths with gut-punching performances from leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, who play destined lovers Dexter and Emma.

With each episode set in a different year, "One Day" takes audiences on a 14-year journey as the two grow into adults and fall in love with other people and each other, but never at the right time. For romantics or young people worried about the future, this is the show to watch from 2024. — AA

"The Penguin"

Colin Farrell leads the spinoff sequel to the 2022 film "The Batman," playing the titular comic book villain Oz "Penguin" Cobb. It was fascinating how quickly it became apparent that the show had more in common with "The Sopranos" than nearly anything DC Studios has released.

Farrell utterly transforms as Cobb, the mobster clawing to the top in Gotham after the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone in "The Batman" left a power vacuum. Still, Cristin Milioti is the real standout as Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter and accused psychopathic serial killer, fresh out of a stay in Arkham State Hospital. — CM

Read Jacobs' interview with "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

On its surface, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was a show greenlit solely because of a TikTok scandal where several couples in a Mormon community were implicated in an alleged swinging scandal. That premise didn't seem like it'd carry far, but turns out the swinging was possibly the least dramatic thing about these women.

After a moderately slow start, "Secret Lives" turns the dial up to 11 in episode four, a group birthday vacation where all hell breaks loose as the group of friends and frenemies start calling one another out. (Shout out to the truth box, the real MVP.)

It was hard not to root for Taylor Frankie Paul and follow her tumultuous relationship with Dakota Mortensen or to root against the deeply annoying Whitney Leavitt, who became the sleeper villain of season one. We're dying to see what becomes of MomTok when the show returns in 2025. — CM

Read Haasch's interview with Taylor Frankie Paul and Mayci Neeley.

"Shōgun"

There was no stopping "Shōgun" at the 2024 Emmys, and for good reason. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel, the stunning historical epic focuses on an English sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Toranga, a powerful warlord.

With incredible performances, sweeping visuals, and mesmerizing battle sequences, it's no wonder the show set a record for the most Emmys won by a single season of television and that the creators decided to rethink their limited series plan and continue the show with second and third seasons. — CM

"The Traitors" season 2

They were the words heard 'round the reality TV-loving world: "Oh lord, not Ekin-Su."

Few shows were as memed as "The Traitors," the US iteration of the international competition series where reality stars and celebrities try to deceive one another to claim a cash prize.

Season one, which aired in 2023, was entertaining, but season two reached new heights, largely thanks to compulsively watchable characters like meme factory Phaedra Parks and "Shahs of Sunset" star MJ Javid, who gave us one of the best reaction shots of the year. — CM

Read Matassa's interview with "Big Brother" alum Dan Gheesling, who tried and failed to extend his gaming skills to "The Traitors."

"X-Men '97"

Not only did "X-Men '97" expertly capture the spirit of the original animated "X-Men" series, but it also made it feel modern and relevant to the 2020s amid some gorgeously animated action.

The performances are seamless with the original show, adding new dimensions to the Marvel Universe that fans, new and old, will appreciate.

It deserves all of the praise for easily navigating the messy Jean Grey/Madelyne Prior clone saga from the comics. Season two can't come quickly enough. — Eammon Jacobs

• Ariana Grande is dating her "Wicked" costar Ethan Slater.
• Slater is a Broadway actor who rose to fame starring as Spongebob in "The Spongebob Musical."
• Here's what to know about Slater, from his notable roles to his relationship with ex-wife Lilly Jay. 

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's relationship is facing renewed interest amid the release of "Wicked" and a personal essay published by Lilly Jay, Slater's ex-wife.

In July 2023, multiple outlets including People magazine and TMZ reported that Grande, 31, and her "Wicked" costar Slater, 32, were dating. The reports came days after news broke of Grande's separation from her husband, Dalton Gomez. 

Grande and Slater presumably met through their roles in the two-part film adaptation of the "Wicked" musical. Grande portrays Glinda, the popular girl at Shiz University, and Slater plays Boq, a classmate from Munchinland who has an unrequited crush on her but becomes the love interest of Elphaba's younger sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode).

Here's everything to know about Slater.  

Slater is an actor who rose to fame playing Spongebob on Broadway

For his star turn as the plucky yellow sponge in the 2017 musical adaptation of "Spongebob Squarepants," Slater received several accolades, including a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award win in 2018. He also starred in the Classic Stage Company's production of "Assassins," which ran until January 2021, and has had roles on shows including "Law & Order: SVU" and "Fosse/Verdon." 

Slater more recently starred in the Broadway revival of "Spamalot," which closed in April after a 24-week run. 

Shortly after news broke of his rumored relationship with Grande, Slater's Instagram page was made private. When viewed by Business Insider before Slater made the account private, the page mostly featured clips from his past and coming projects, as well as a blurry selfie with his then-wife, Jay. 

Slater shares a son with his ex-wife, Lilly Jay

Slater and Jay, a clinical psychologist in perinatal mental health and child development, met in high school and married in 2018. They welcomed their first child together, a son, in August 2022. 

In People's July 2023 report about Grande and Slater's relationship, a source said that Slater and Jay had separated, though they didn't give an exact timeframe for the separation. TMZ reported that Slater filed for divorce from Jay on July 26, 2023.

Jay later addressed Slater's romance with Grande in an interview with Page Six, calling the singer "not a girl's girl" and saying her family was "just collateral damage" in the controversy. 

Grande first sparked her own divorce rumors after she was spotted at a Wimbledon match without her wedding ring or engagement ring on July 16, 2023.

A day after the singer was seen without her rings at Wimbledon, TMZ reported that Grande and Gomez had been separated for several months and were "heading for divorce." The couple had been together since 2020 and married in 2021.

Grande and Gomez simultaneously filed for divorce in September 2023. Their separation date was listed in court documents as February 20, 2023.

Jay recently discussed her and Slater's divorce in an essay for The Cut, published on Thursday. In her essay, Jay avoided directly addressing Slater and Grande's relationship and instead focused on how her highly publicized divorce affected her. She also said that she and Slater continue to co-parent their child. 

"While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not," Jay wrote. "Both of us fiercely love our son 100% of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided. As for me, days with my son are sunny. Days when I can't escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker."

Libby Torres contributed to an earlier version of this story.

• The Netflix drama series "Virgin River" returned this week.
• Films released in theaters earlier this year, like "Cuckoo" and "Juror No. 2," are on streaming.
• The final season of Marvel's animated series "What If….?" begins on Sunday.

As Christmas approaches, streamers have plenty of options to get in the holiday spirit.

There's the classic 2000 movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," starring Jim Carey as the titular cranky recluse, which hit Peacock on Friday, and the new "Simpsons" holiday special that premiered exclusively on Disney+. For some festive music, tune into Josh Groban's holiday special featuring celebrity guests.

But there's plenty of other entertainment to check out, too, like brand-new comedy specials, the latest season of Netflix's drama "Virgin River," and two films released earlier this year: Clint Eastwood's "Juror No. 2" and Tilman Singer's "Cuckoo."

If you've been following the behind-the-scenes controversy surrounding the making of YouTuber MrBeast's new reality competition show, "Beast Games," you might be inclined to check out the first two episodes of his new Prime Video series.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

"Virgin River" returned for season six.

Netflix's drama series about characters in a small town in Northern California returned this week. This season follows Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack's (Martin Henderson) love story as they finally get married.

Streaming on: Netflix

Clint Eastwood's courtroom drama "Juror No. 2" hit streaming after a muted theatrical release.

"Juror No. 2" stars Nicholas Hoult as Justin Kemp, a family man summoned as a juror on a trial for a high-profile murder that he may or may not have played a part in.

Eastwood's latest film, which is believed to potentially be the last one from the 94-year-old director, received positive reviews from critics but was reportedly released in less than 50 theaters. Now that
"Juror No. 2" is available to stream on Max, you can see it for yourself.

Streaming on: Max

The horror film "Cuckoo" is available on Hulu after releasing in theaters over the summer.

After 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) moves from America to live with her dad and his new family at a resort in the German Alps, she becomes tortured by bloody, horrific visions.

Streaming on: Hulu

For more thrills, watch "The Inheritance."

Just before his 75th birthday, billionaire Charles Abernathy (Bob Gunton) gathers his estranged kids at his sprawling estate out of fear that something or someone is going to kill him by midnight. If the children protect him and he survives the night, he'll dole out their inheritance to them.

Streaming on: Hulu

Kerry Washington stars in "The Six Triple Eight," inspired by a moving story about barrier-breaking women.

The Netflix movie tells the story of the first and only Women's Army Corps unit of color that served overseas in World War II. "The Six Triple Eight" is directed and written by Tyler Perry, starring Washington as real-life hero and commanding officer Major Charity Adams.

Streaming on: Netflix

For comedic relief, check out Ilana Glazer's stand-up special, "Ilana Glazer: Human Magic."

In her stand-up special, the "Broad City" star shares unfiltered jokes about the awkwardness of her high school years and the joy of becoming a mom after welcoming her first child, a daughter, with her husband in 2021.

Streaming on: Hulu

Or Rose Matafeo's stand-up special, "Rose Matafeo: On and on and on."

Four years after her first Max comedy special, "Horndog," Rose Matafeo is back for more.

In her latest special, the "Starstruck" creator and star delivers musings about the differences in dating in her 20s versus her 30s and more — all with her signature self-deprecating humor.

Streaming on: Max

Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu stars in the new dark rom-com series "Laid."

The "Everything Everywhere All at Once" actor plays Ruby, a woman who learns that her exes are all dying in weird, mysterious, and seemingly unrelated ways. To stop more of her former loves from meeting their end, her roommate AJ (Zosia Mamet) creates a "sex timeline" so Ruby can track down her previous conquests and warn them of their impending death.

At eight episodes of about 30 minutes each, "Laid" is a no-brainer for your next binge-watch.

Streaming on: Peacock

YouTuber MrBeast is giving away $5 million as part of his latest endeavor, "Beast Games."

"Beast Games," which premiered on Thursday, involves 1,000 players competing in a variety of mental and physical challenges for the chance to win a $5 million cash prize — touted as the biggest single prize in TV and streaming history.

Streaming on: Prime Video

The third and final season of Marvel's animated series "What If….?" begins on Sunday.

If you're looking for the next follow-up to "Agatha All Along" or a palate cleanse after watching "Kraven the Hunter," look no further than season three of "What If….?"

Like past installments, the final season of the critically acclaimed animated series explores alternate timelines in the MCU's vast multiverse. "What If….?" concludes with eight episodes released daily starting on Sunday.

Streaming on: Disney+

Get into the holiday spirit with a super-sized episode of "The Simpsons."

On the 35th anniversary of the first-ever "Simpsons" Christmas special, Fox's long-running animated series debuted a 45-minute episode exclusively on Disney+ this week.

In the latest Christmas special, a famed British mentalist named Derren Brown visits Springfield and accidentally hypnotizes Homer into believing he's Santa Claus.

Streaming on: Disney+

Or the entertainment special "Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays."

The special, hosted and executive produced by five-time Grammy nominee Josh Groban, features a combination of storytelling, comedy, and yes, plenty of music. Expect Groban and his guests, like Jennifer Hudson and James Bay, to perform classic holiday tunes, new songs, and original duets.

"Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays" can be streamed live on Paramount+ with the Showtime plan as it airs on CBS on Friday, or streamed the following day on Paramount+.

Streaming on: Paramount+

For a classic holiday flick, watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Twenty-four years after its release, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" still remains a quintessential holiday season watch and one of Jim Carrey's most memorable roles.

Streaming on: Peacock

• "Mufasa: The Lion King," directed by Barry Jenkins, opens in theaters on Friday.
• It's a prequel and sequel to Jon Favreau's 2019 remake of the 1994 animated movie "The Lion King."
• The movie has a 60% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" is the latest addition to Disney's growing collection of modern films, and critics have mixed reviews about it.

The movie, in theaters this Friday, comes five years after Jon Favreau's "The Lion King" remake was widely criticized for its uncanny, photorealistic animation.

In "Mufasa," Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight" and "If Beale Street Could Talk") tells the origin story of the two lions and adoptive brothers Mufasa, Simba's dad; and Taka, who will become the "Lion King" villain known as Scar. The story is framed around the wise mandrill named Rafiki recounting the history to Kiara, voiced by Blue Ivy Carter.

Jenkins tries to infuse the film with his signature style, but the limitations of photorealistic visuals, unmemorable original songs, and cheap attempts at nostalgia and laughs hinder the movie.

Ultimately, Clarisse Loughrey wrote at The Independent, the movie is "yet another damning case study of the fragility of the artist's voice in the modern studio machine."

At the time of publication, "Mufasa" has a critics score of 60%, with some calling it a "contrived cash-in" and "blankly corporate" film.

But despite its shortcomings, "Mufasa" is likely to perform well at the box office this holiday season. Variety and Deadline reported that the movie is tracking for a global opening of $180 million. Only time will tell if it'll catch up to the success of Favreau's "Lion King" remake, which made $1.6 billion globally despite middling reviews (it holds a 51% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes).

Here's what critics are saying about "Mufasa."

The movie begins with a touching homage to the late James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the beloved 1994 animated movie "The Lion King."

"'Mufasa' opens with a brief, but effective tribute to the icon. As a result, his presence lingers over the whole project." — Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant

"That it opens by paying tribute to the late, great James Earl Jones, known to several generations as the booming voice of Mufasa, rather than simply closing with a dedication, is an early sign that reverence for what came before will be the name of the game." — David Fear, Rolling Stone

Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. deliver great performances as the voices of Mufasa and Taka, respectively, while Mads Mikkelsen excels as the villain Kiros.

"Pierre and Harrison are strong actors committed to the material, and while it'd be nice for Disney to imagine a villain not played by Mikkelsen for once, he's yet to turn in an ineffective performance." — Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent

"Whilst Pierre is no James Earl Jones (but then again, who is?), at least he makes the character his own to feel invested in Mufasa's journey as a reluctant leader who becomes the king we know and love." — Kelechi Ehenulo, Total Film

The visuals are better than the 2019 movie's emotionless and lifeless animals, but they still cross the uncanny valley.

"Jenkins at least addresses of the central issues of Jon Favreau's 'The Lion King,' namely, that lions aren't very expressive animals." — Witney Seibold, Slash Film

"As opposed to Favreau's cast in 'The Lion King,' the elephants, giraffes, and birds here don't look like pieces of melted plastic." — Robert Daniels, IGN

"The characters in 'Mufasa' look plausible, but more expressive. The camerawork takes full advantage of the animated medium, flying across the screen with energy and wonder instead of limiting itself to what might have been possible in real life." — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

"Impressive though it may be intellectually, the reality of watching these animals for two hours is a somewhat numbing and dull experience despite the best efforts of director Barry Jenkins." — Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

"Jenkins calls for far more nuance and expressivity in the virtual animals' facial performances, which helps us identify with their emotions, even as it pushes the characters toward the uncanny valley — especially when they speak or open their mouths to sing." — Peter Debruge, Variety

"There is just no way for the face of a photorealistic lion — 'live action,' in Disney's controversial parlance — to convey the pain of a brother's deep betrayal, or express a moving grief over a lost family." — Petrana Radulovic, Polygon

The tonal shift to Timon (Billy Eichner ) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) as comedic relief kills the movie's momentum and the jokes don't land.

"The framing device feels like a mistake, serving mostly to delay and interrupt the main attraction, which is Mufasa's origin story." — Peter Debruge, Variety

"Though they add comedic relief to a surprisingly heavy story, their meta jokes and constant asides break up the flow of Rafiki's earnest storytelling in the present day." — Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant

"The story Rafiki tells Kiara is so thematically rich that the frequent shifts back to present day, usually involving some lighthearted Timon jokes, don't do the narrative momentum many favors." — Brian Truitt, USA Today

"Nothing in 'Mufasa' plays more like a desperate studio note than these comic relief characters, who inject self-aware jokes and gross-out humor in a shameless attempt to entertain immature audience members who can't focus on a well-told story without constant reassurance that they're being pandered to and the filmmakers haven't forgotten about 'Hakuna Matata.'" — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's original songs are adequate but largely forgettable.

"Even Lin-Manuel Miranda's new songs play like off-brand substitutes for each of Elton John's originals — and only one, the 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' stand-in, makes an impression on its own terms." — Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

"While the visuals during these sequences are solid, the songs themselves follow a trend in recent Disney musicals in the sense that all the songs are just...OK. None of the seven original songs in the film are flat-out terrible, but they're also not particularly memorable either." — Aidan Kelley, Collider

"None of the songs here are overtly terrible, but they all blur into an indistinguishable 'Lin-Manuel Miranda Presents: The Lion King!' concept album, with all Miranda's stylistic hallmarks. He sure has a signature style, but it's hard to reconcile that style into a movie that already has its own iconic soundtrack. The new songs feel forced and out of place." — Petrana Radulovic, Polygon

There are glimmers of Barry Jenkins' visual style in the film, but his vision seems at odds with the demands of a big studio.

"The studio obligation for brand reassurance and nostalgia bait is constantly at odds with Jenkins' vision, especially when they're not emotionally earned." — Kelechi Ehenulo, Total Film

"It's a shame Jenkins wasn't able to personalize it more, but, as they say, that's just the nature of the beast." — Dan Jolin, Empire

"Jenkins' pivot to a big-budget, kid-friendly project for a major studio was always intriguing. But in hindsight, it's hard to imagine he ever really stood a chance at revolutionizing from within Disney's so-called 'live-action' money machine." — Alison Foreman, IndieWire

"The Barry Jenkins-directed project is mostly a site of strained encounters between a visionary helmer and his corporate shareholders." — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

Linda Cardellini had been patiently waiting for the chance to play somebody terrible.

After three seasons embodying the sweet, passive Judy Hale opposite Christina Applegate's hotheaded Jen Harding on the Netflix comedic thriller "Dead to Me," the actor, 49, was ready for something new.

"I was like, 'Well, won't it be fun if I can be a real jerk?'" Cardellini tells Business Insider.

She got her wish thanks to "Dead to Me" creator Liz Feldman, who dreamed up the role of Margo in her newest Netflix dark comedy "No Good Deed" with Cardellini in mind.

The selfish, manipulative, and deliciously glamorous Margo is one of several people vying for a 1920s Spanish-style home in Los Angeles that grieving couple Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) and Paul (Ray Romano) put on the market, and she'll do just about anything to make it hers.

Sporting designer clothes, long nails, and a fake tan, Cardellini's Margo commands attention in any room she walks into, though the true extent of her cunning isn't made clear until later in the series.

It's exactly the kind of role Cardellini was longing to play, and she's grateful she could reunite with Feldman, now a close friend, for the opportunity.

"Who wouldn't want some incredibly talented person to be writing for her? It just is a dream," Cardellini says of Feldman. "She writes really challenging and good roles. Especially as a woman my age, it's just wonderful to have that."

For the latest interview in Business Insider's Role Play series, Cardellini reflects on how the heartbreaking cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks" changed her approach to her career, playing an unlikable character (and murderer) in "Legally Bonde," and the best business decision she ever made.

On the cancellation of 'Freaks and Geeks' and learning to trust her gut

Business Insider: You got your big break on "Freaks and Geeks," and I read that you passed on two other promising projects in favor of that show. Do you think your career would look different if you hadn't done "Freaks and Geeks?"

Linda Cardellini: That's a great question. I would imagine so, although that show didn't do well back in the day. It really didn't. Now, it seems like a success, but back then, it did not seem like that to a lot of us and to the general public. [Laughs.] We could have never imagined that people would still be able to watch it on demand anytime they wanted somewhere. That just didn't exist at the time.

So I do think that things would've been different if I had never taken on that role. I don't know how, but definitely it's one of my favorite roles that I was ever in and one of my favorite shows I was ever involved with.

I just can't imagine if I had taken one of the other jobs and then had to watch somebody for years and years and years play that role instead of me. Not that I watch it — I don't — but I think that would've always been a massive regret.

Can you share what the other shows were, for context?

They were shows that didn't make it, actually, funny enough. I had gotten a phone call from somebody at the network being like, "You really should look at those other two shows. They're much more promising." And luckily, they were wrong.

How did experiencing that cancellation early in your career impact how you viewed the industry? What did you learn from that disappointment?

That's a good question. It's interesting because I learned a lot from that. I learned in some ways to go with my gut about how I felt about a script because a lot of people told me I was wrong — not that they thought the script was bad, but they thought other things were going to move forward faster or better. And that, I don't know how or why, just didn't matter to me in that at that time.

That show spoke to me for different reasons. I was reading a lot of things about teenagers where they were super cool and they were doing things that I just didn't relate to. I related to more of the "Freaks and Geeks" version of being caught in the middle of not feeling a hundred percent comfortable in your own skin, not doing the cool things, and not having all the right answers. And also, the fact that there was something about her where she still loved her parents even though she was trying to get away from them was interesting to me.

What that also taught me is nothing's guaranteed. You can love something, you can have the best experience on set. Everybody, as we have all seen now, everybody's done so well. What a talented, fun group of people to be with. And then it could be canceled. So nothing's a given, but if you do good work, maybe somehow it comes back, and people care about it.

On the flip side of that, I also learned that maybe I'll be a little careful with my heart because I was so heartbroken when it was canceled.

There's a picture that I saw that you can tell from my face that I've been crying all day on the last day of shooting. Since then, I kind of realized, OK, things just get canceled. You can't do anything about it. I sort of guard my heart sometimes in terms of not wanting to get my heart broken again.

Pivoting to "Legally Blonde," you have a very memorable scene where we find out that your character, Chutney, is the murderer. What was it like filming that moment and having that big perm?

That was my real hair. I have straight hair, so every piece of it was curled, and it was a long process. I didn't mind. As ridiculous as it could look, I didn't have any vanity about that.

I remember going to see it in the theater for the first time because I had missed the premiere for some reason; I think I was working or something. I went with a friend of mine, and we were sitting in the audience, and when I came on screen, someone was like, "Ew!" in a full theater, and I thought, "Oh my God."

On one hand, my feelings were really hurt because it was a visceral reaction someone was having to me on screen. And then on the other flip side of the same coin, I was really proud that I was willing to have this crazy look on screen and that maybe I did gross some people out.

Well, you did the job. She's not supposed to be the most likable person.

That's right, thanks. But that was really fun. I got to sit in there and work with everybody, and it was a really high-stakes scene.

On the mixed reactions to the live-action 'Scooby-Doo' movies and Velma's sexuality being watered down

Another fan-favorite role of yours is Velma in the live-action "Scooby-Doo" movies. There's been renewed appreciation for them more recently, but when they were released, they didn't get the best reviews and the second one didn't perform as well. Did that affect you at the time, when the movie's performance didn't go the way people thought it would?

I loved the second one. Velma had so much fun stuff to do in the second movie. By now, I was aware of the process of you could love something and somebody could hate it. It's always just the way it's going to go. And also, if everybody hates something, you might find one person who loves it. People really love those movies, and they're typically people who are younger who loved them when they were kids, which, how cool to have that place in somebody's heart?

I had so much fun making that movie, both of them. I got to play a character who was extraordinarily broad, broad comedy, where I was a cartoon, which was really fun for me. I'd come from doing "Freaks and Geeks," which was very grounded, and we weren't even allowed to wear very much makeup and looked like real kids. And then on the flip side of that, I got to play something that was my favorite cartoon as a kid.

That's all you have at the end of the day, is the experience you have on set. The rest of it is out of your control. You don't know how things will be edited. You don't know if you'll make it into the movie or not, especially when you're just starting out. I've learned that the best thing you can do is have a great time making the movie and having the opportunity to do your art.

That's all I ever wanted to do since I was a kid, so the idea that somebody gives me that opportunity, I can't take for granted.

A few years ago, screenwriter James Gunn said that he wrote Velma as "explicitly gay" in the original script, but it got watered down by the studio, became ambiguous, and then she got a boyfriend in the sequel. Were you aware of the studio pushback at the time?

I was not involved in any of those conversations. I was aware of the intentions and some of the stuff that was in the script that later got cut, for sure. But no, I wasn't in on any conversations like that at all.

There were lots of things that got cut. I think that the original script had a lot more things that sort of pushed the envelope in a lot of different directions. And then it also had that Velma was gay, and I think that those were things that were in the original script, but then the movie sort of geared towards children more at a certain point.

On being part of the 'enormous' Marvel Cinematic Universe and pushing past rejection

A lot of people know you from playing Laura Barton in the MCU. And in the "Hawkeye" series, we got to learn a lot more about her. It's been a couple of years since we saw you in that role. Have there been any discussions with Marvel about bringing Laura back?

No, I haven't had any discussions. But I was lucky enough to be back with them on "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and that was really fun.

There's nothing like going to one of those premieres. Any time I get to be involved with any of those, they're just so enormous and impressive and phenomenal. I finally took my daughter with me to the last one because I was like, she's got to see this because it's just an incredible experience, the fans that are there. It's really huge.

What's the best business decision you ever made for your career?

To stick with it. There are times that it's undoubted that you're going to hear no. You get a certain resilience to it, but it definitely hurts. So I think the most important thing that you can do is just stay with it, stick with it. Try to do the best work that you possibly can.

Having been in this business for decades now, it's really nice when the wonderful relationships you have with people work out and you get to work with them again, and you get to have something written for you, and you appreciate them, and maybe somebody appreciates you. That's the real stuff. You spend a lot of time with people at work and when you're able to surround yourself with people who are creative and kind, it's the best.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting out as an actor, knowing what you know now?

That the fears you have are also part of the fun. Sometimes I tell kids, those butterflies you feel before you go onstage, what an exciting feeling. You're feeling some kind of danger, but you're not really in any danger. You're only in danger of somebody's opinion. And that can be scary, and it is. But what an exciting thing to be able to do, to put yourself out there and to be able to express yourself. So, it's OK to be afraid.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

"No Good Deed" is now streaming on Netflix.

• HBO's anthology series "The White Lotus" will return for a third season on February 16.
• Season three is set in Thailand and Natasha Rothwell will reprise her role as Belinda.
• New cast members include Patrick Schwarzenegger, Carrie Coon, and Jason Isaacs. 

A new batch of wealthy vacationers will check into the lavish White Lotus resort when HBO's "The White Lotus" returns for season three.

Since premiering in 2021, each season of Mike White's "The White Lotus" has focused on a new group of rich people visiting the titular resort chain — but not everyone makes it out alive. And a newly released teaser trailer for season three of "The White Lotus" indicates that at least one character will end up in a body bag.

Here's what to expect when the Emmy-winning anthology series returns for season three.

Season 3 was filmed on-location in Thailand

Season one took place in Hawaii, and season two was set in Sicily, Italy. In a featurette released after the season two finale, White alluded to Asia as the next destination.

"The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex," he said. "I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus."

In March, Variety reported that season three would take place in Thailand.

The first official poster for season three of "The White Lotus" suggests that karma will be a major theme.

Natasha Rothwell will reprise her role as Belinda Lindsey

Natasha Rothwell played a spa owner in season one of "The White Lotus."

Throughout the season, Jennifer Coolidge's character, Tanya McQuoid, strung Belinda along and gave her hope that she'd fund her dream of developing a wellness center.

Tanya ultimately backed out of the deal, leaving Belinda disillusioned.

Variety first reported Rothwell's return in April. She teased season three during an interview with Vanity Fair at the LA premiere of Wonka in December, saying that she "gasped out loud a minimum of five times" while reading the scripts.

"The scripts are a testament to Mike's skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories," Rothwell said. "I mean, everything that he does is like a lesson to me as an actor and a performer. And as a writer myself, he takes folks on a journey. Everyone needs to buckle up, because it's going to get real!"

The first official teaser trailer for season three of "The White Lotus," released on Monday, revealed that Belinda ends up in Thailand's White Lotus resort as part of an exchange program.

'The White Lotus' season three cast includes Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, and Michelle Monaghan

HBO announced the following castings in January: Leslie Bibb ("American Housewife"), Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs ("Harry Potter"), Michelle Monaghan ("Mission: Impossible"), Parker Posey ("Beau Is Afraid"), Tayme Thapthimthong, and Carrie Coon ("The Gilded Age").

Five more actors were added to the cast later in the month: Walton Goggins ("Fallout"), Sarah Catherine Hook ("First Kill"), Sam Nivola ("Maestro"), Patrick Schwarzenegger ("Gen V"), and Aimee Lou Wood ("Sex Education").

In February, Variety reported that Blackpink member Lisa also joined the cast and will be credited under her given name, Lalisa Manobal.

Little is known about the characters, but Manobal will be playing a staff member at the Thai resort.

Character descriptions released by HBO shared more insights into who the actors will be playing in the new season.

Bibb, Coon, and Monaghan portray three longtime friends on a girls' trip who haven't seen each other for a while; Goggins and Wood play an age-gap couple; and Isaacs and Posey star as a husband and wife duo vacationing with their three kids, played by Schwarzenegger, Hook, and Nivola.

Patravadi plays one of the owners of The White Lotus, Manobal portrays a health mentor for resort guests, and Thapthimthong plays a security guard.

The season follows the characters over the course of one week.

Mike White described the new season as 'supersized' and Patrick Schwarzenegger called it 'insane'

"It's going to be a supersized 'White Lotus,'" White told Entertainment Weekly in November. "It's going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don't know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that's a good thing."

It's unclear if White's comment means that the season will contain more episodes or that the episodes will be longer — or both.

Schwarzenegger shared similar sentiments, telling Business Insider in November that the latest installment is "absolutely fucking insane."

Season 3 will premiere on HBO on February 16

Season three, which will consist of eight episodes, was filmed in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok.

The new season will debut on Sunday, February 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and will stream on Max.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig said she was at "totally zero" regarding ideas for a sequel.
• THR reported in December 2024 that "Barbie 2" is in "early stages" based on a concept from Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
• However, reps for Gerwig, Baumbach, and Warner Bros. denied THR's report, calling it inaccurate.

It looks like everyone is living in a "Barbie" world, and the party might not be over yet.

The 2023 Greta Gerwig-directed movie starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken raked in $1.4 billion globally, winning the box office battle against Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer." 

"Barbie" wasn't just a box office sensation. The movie earned an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, landed eight Oscar nominations, and became a pop culture phenomenon. 

Given its critical and commercial success, it's only natural to wonder whether the studio is planning "Barbie 2" with Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie.

Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz previously told Time magazine that the company is keen to make "more 'Barbie' movies."

"We're looking to create movies that become cultural events. If you can excite filmmakers like Greta and Noah to embrace the opportunity and have creative freedom, you can have a real impact," he said.

At the time, Gerwig said she was unsure about taking on a sequel, but a new report suggests that she might be back for more. 

Greta Gerwig addressed 'Barbie 2' in a 2023 interview with The New York Times

In an interview published in July 2023, the director told The New York Times that she exhausted all her ideas for "Barbie."

"I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I'll never have another idea, and everything I've ever wanted to do, I did," Gerwig said.

She added, "I wouldn't want to squash anybody else's dream but for me, at this moment, I'm at totally zero."

However, speaking to Uproxx about Ken's obsession with Sylvester Stallone in the movie, Gerwig joked that the "Rocky" star could show up in "Barbie 2," or even direct it himself.

"You never know!" she said. "Or that he's going to direct it. I mean, he's welcome to it. It would be an honor. It would be such an honor."

While Gerwig wasn't sold on the idea of returning, star and producer Robbie told Time in June 2023 that conversations about a sequel had yet to happen.

"It could go a million different directions from this point," she said. 

But Robbie also said that "you fall into a bit of a trap if you try and set up a first movie whilst also planning for sequels." 

Mattel is also looking to make movies based on its other properties, like a Hot Wheels movie being developed by J.J. Abrams. 

A new report suggested a 'Barbie' sequel could be in the works, but it's unclear

On December 13, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter published a story reporting that Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, who cowrote the "Barbie" screenplay, presented Warner Bros. with an idea for a sequel that was in the "early stages." The publication also said that talks about a deal were in similarly early stages.

Don't get excited yet, though: Gerwig and Baumbach's rep denied THR's report, telling the publication, "There is no legitimacy to this reporting."

And a rep for Warner Bros. said, "THR's reporting is inaccurate."

• Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and director Sam Taylor-Johnson have been married since 2012. 
• They met through the 2009 movie "Nowhere Boy," which starred Aaron and was directed by Sam. 
• They have two daughters together, in addition to two daughters from Sam's previous marriage. 

Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, and director Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, have been together for more than a decade. 

The pair, who have an age difference of 23 years, met through the 2009 film "Nowhere Boy" and have spoken about their long-lasting romance in various interviews. 

Here's a complete timeline of their relationship. 

2008: They meet when Aaron auditions for the role of John Lennon in 'Nowhere Boy,' Sam's feature film debut

Their exact ages at the time of their first meeting remain largely unclear. 

Various publications have said that he was 19 and she was 42 when they made the movie, which was released in 2009. The Hollywood Reporter said that Aaron was 18 at the time. Fans have speculated that she knew the actor when he was younger because she was a family friend, but Business Insider could not verify any of these claims.

The Telegraph UK reported that Sam and Aaron met at the audition in 2008, a year prior to the film's release.

In a 2017 interview with The Sunday Times UK, Sam (née Taylor-Wood) said the couple almost didn't meet because Aaron was only available to audition on a date that she was absent.

Aaron had a limited schedule because he was filming "Kick-Ass." Meanwhile, Sam and her first husband, an art dealer named Jay Jopling, had split after 11 years of marriage and she was moving out of their shared home on the day that Aaron was free. So, Aaron auditioned for the biopic at her house.

"It was so inconvenient," Sam said. "In the end, I was like, 'OK, he'll have to come to my home.' I opened my door to John Lennon. I instantly knew he was the guy."

Sam's divorce from Jopling, with whom she shares daughters Anjelica and Jessie Phoenix, was made public in September 2008. Anjelica Jopling also had a small role in "Nowhere Boy" as a younger version of John Lennon's sister, Julia. 

Sam told The Telegraph UK that she was immediately impressed by how much Aaron prepared for his audition.

"I could see how much research he'd done already just by the way he was standing and the few words he said," she recalled.

Aaron later told Harper's Bazaar that he still remembers how Sam looked at that first audition. 

"I remember it very, very clearly," he said. "I know exactly what she was wearing. This white shirt that she still has, that I love. It definitely changed my life, though not in the way I expected."

Aaron has spoken out about their age gap multiple times. Speaking to The Telegraph UK in 2019, the actor said: "When I met Sam I'd already lived a life far beyond that of most of my contemporaries – I didn't relate to anyone my age. I just feel that we're on the same wavelength."

The stars say that they kept things professional on the set of their movie

IndieWire reported that principal photography for "Nowhere Boy" began in Liverpool, UK on March 8th, 2009. 

"We had this intense connection," Sam told The Sunday Times UK of working with the young actor.

"He was very intense and absolutely mind made-up," she said of how their relationship blossomed. 

The director also told The Telegraph UK that they clicked from the start.

"We were very professional through the entire film," the couple told Harper's Bazaar in 2019. "No funny business at all."

Sam also said that "everyone on set knew" that they had a connection. 

2009: Aaron proposes to Sam after wrapping the film

"As soon as we finished, he told me he was going to marry me," Sam told Harper's Bazaar. "We had never been on a date, or even kissed."

"And a year to the minute after we met, exactly one year to the minute, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me," Aaron said. 

The actor later reflected on their engagement in an interview with The Telegraph UK, saying: "I knew instantly that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this person."

He added: "I knew I wanted a family with her, I knew I wanted kids, and a month later she was pregnant with our first child."

Sam and Aaron, then 19, announced their engagement at the UK premiere of "Nowhere Boy" in fall 2009.

November 27, 2009: Sam tells The Guardian that she and Aaron have been living together for a while

"I'm not surprised, I'm happy," she told The Guardian when asked if she was caught off guard by the progression in her relationship with Johnson. "We've been living together for ages... since about March."

Sam also said that Aaron got along well with her kids from her previous marriage and "it all felt strangely natural."

The director said that she and Aaron didn't date while working on "Nowhere Boy," but she felt a strong connection to him.

"I managed to hold off really until almost the end of the film," she said.

Her interviewer, Simon Hattenstone, noted earlier in the story that he visited the set of "Nowhere Boy" back in March and observed Sam and Aaron arm-in-arm, acting "like teenagers in love" and wearing matching jackets that only they had. 

"We weren't even together then," Sam said when Hattenstone mentioned his set visit. "Maybe feelings were there but unacted upon. The thing is, we had quite a psychic link when we were working together. I knew from a flicker of an eyelash what kind of performance I was going to get. I felt that link almost from day one of meeting him."

April 2, 2010: Aaron speaks about fatherhood during an appearance on 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross'

The interview occurred while Sam was pregnant with the couple's first child. Aaron said that he wasn't nervous because he was already acting as a step-father to Sam's two daughters from her first marriage.

July 2010: Their 1st child together, daughter Wylda Rae, is born 

Sam was 43 and Aaron was 20 at the time of their baby girl's birth. People magazine reported that Wylda was born in London.  

March 4, 2011: Sam directs R.E.M.'s music video for "ÜBerlin," which stars Aaron

The track was from the band's 15th studio album, "Collapse Into Now," released that year. The entire video showed Aaron dancing through the East End of London.  

January 18, 2012: Their 2nd child, daughter Romy Hero, is born 

People magazine reported that their baby was born at home in London. 

"Both mother and daughter are well," a rep said in a statement shared with the publication.

June 21, 2012: The couple gets married and changes their last name to Taylor-Johnson

Aaron, then 22, and Sam, then 45, wed in Somerset, England E! News reported.

Aaron told London's Evening Standard about the name change: "I just don't see why women need to take the man's name. I wanted to be a part of her just as much as she wanted to be part of me."

January 2015: Sam speaks about the 'stability' of their relationship and gushes about Aaron being an attentive father 

"Being in an amazing relationship, having come out of a difficult one, it felt so good," Sam told The Guardian while promoting "Fifty Shades of Grey," which she was encouraged to direct by Aaron. "And I feel like that stability has enabled me to get on with doing this momentous project."

"The great thing about Aaron is that he's happy not working and being at home with the kids while I work," the director added. "We're actually fighting over it. He's like, 'No no, I like being an at-home dad, doing the cooking and the school runs.'"

April 2015: Aaron says that it was 'important' for him to hyphenate his name after they wed

"It was so important to me," the actor told The Guardian in 2015 of seeing his name written as Taylor-Johnson for the first time in the credits for his 2012 movie "Anna Karenina."

"Actually I wanted it on 'Savages' as well but they told me the posters had already gone out," he added, referring to another of his films released earlier in 2012. "Then they said: 'Look, we hired Aaron Johnson.'"

The "Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging" star told the publication that he fought for his name to be updated in "Anna Karenina" after that experience.

"I said: 'I want it changed! This is important,'" he recalled.

"It felt beautiful," he said of seeing the final product. "It felt right."

January 8, 2017: Aaron gives his wife a shout-out after winning a Golden Globe for his role in Tom Ford's 'Nocturnal Animals'

In his acceptance speech for best supporting actor in a motion picture, the actor said, "I want to thank my wife for being there with me and supporting me through this. Thank you for putting up with me, Jesus, I was not very pleasant in this role. You're my soulmate and I love you very much. I'm blessed. I have four beautiful daughters: Anjelica, Phoenix, Wylda, and Romy, I love you all very much."

February 2017: Aaron says that the public's fixation on their relationship is 'intrusive'

"The attention was intrusive," he told New York Magazine of the early reaction from people.

"But having to deal with that early in my career probably got me to a place where I can more quickly just go, 'Oh, fuck it' instead of wanting to rip someone's head off for asking questions I don't like," he added.

March 2017: Aaron reveals that he has a tattoo of his wife's name on his chest near his heart

The "Avengers: Age of Ultron" star no longer has an Instagram account but when he did, he posted a photo in honor of Sam's 50th birthday with the caption "forever in my  ❤."

The tattoo was also seen in the couple's joint photo shoot for a 2019 Harper's Bazaar feature. 

March 2017: Aaron gushes about fatherhood and feeling 'secure and loved and safe' in his relationship 

"I get more fulfillment from being a father than I do from being an actor," he said in an interview for Mr Porter. "I'm still constantly wanting to give it up." 

The actor also spoke about raising his daughters to be empowered.

"Their mum is one of the strongest, most independent women I know. A role model," he said.

Regarding his marriage, Aaron said, "I don't really analyze our relationship."

"I just know that it works," he continued. "I just feel secure and loved and safe. We have this very deep connection. We're just in sync."

June 2017: Sam says that her husband has an 'old soul' 

"I literally found my soulmate," she told The Sunday Times UK in June 2017. "I feel so blessed: every day I wake up happy."

She also described her and the actor, who she said has an "old soul," as "in such sync."

"We spend every minute of the day together," she said. "My friends call him Benjamin Button because he has — on the outside — such youth, and on the inside, he is so wise and settled. He doesn't like parties. He likes being at home and cooking for the family. He likes walking the dogs. He loves his chickens — he collects the eggs and makes breakfast for everyone."

"He is an amazing man," Sam added. 

The director also said that she's not bothered by their age gap because, "When you're solid with someone in your own love, you don't think about it."

June 2017: Sam comments on their age difference in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter

"If I gave a second thought to other people, I would be the unhappiest person, probably still in a miserable marriage," she said.

She continued: "People like to talk about it. I'm like, 'Yeah, but it works better than my last marriage.' It's lasted longer than a lot of my friends' marriages."

June 13, 2018: Sam posts a tribute to Aaron in honor of his 28th birthday

"HBD to the most incredible husband, father, man @aarontaylorjohnson I ❤️U," she captioned a photo of him that was shared on Instagram. 

June 21, 2019: Sam posts a black-and-white selfie of them for their 7th wedding anniversary

"Seven Years today ❤️" she captioned the Instagram post.

June 29, 2019: They attend Zoë Kravitz and Karl Glusman's wedding in Paris

"To the wedding we go... 🎩 @karlglusman @zoeisabellakravitz," Sam captioned a photo of her and Aaron heading to the event. 

Kravitz and Glusman's wedding was also attended by Jason Momoa (Kravitz's step-father) and her "Big Little Lies" costars. The couple's breakup was revealed in early 2021. 

August 2019: They participate in a joint interview for The Telegraph UK

"We just have that trust when we collaborate — we are not afraid to play," Aaron said of working with his wife. 

Sam said that they "had debates" while co-writing the script for their film "A Million Little Pieces," but Aaron said that they "rarely argue."

The director also called herself "lucky to have such a supportive husband" and said that working together for the film was "a dream come true."

"I really enjoy it," Aaron said. 'There's nothing more empowering than supporting my wife in her passions and ambitions; I've never felt more — what's the opposite of emasculated? Empowered."

Regarding their age gap, the actor also said: "I've never for a second felt a difference in age."

"Sam is far more outgoing and energetic and achieving than I am," he added.

November 2019: The couple says that collaborating on 'A Million Little Pieces' was their greatest decision

"It was the best thing we've ever done," Sam told Harper's Bazaar in their joint interview.

In response, Aaron added: "Even better because we did it together."

In the same interview, the couple said that in the time they've been together, they've "only been apart for maybe two or three days."

James Frey, the controversial author who admitted to fabricating details about his life in his 2003 memoir "A Million Little Pieces," conducted the couple's Harper's Bazaar interview. His book was adapted into a 2019 film of the same name, directed by Sam and starring Aaron as Frey. 

December 4, 2019: The couple appear on 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' and discuss collaborating on 'A Million Little Pieces'

Sam and Aaron also cowrote the screenplay for the movie. When asked about what it was like to direct her husband's sex scene in the film with costar Odessa Young, Sam said: "We wrote it together, so I kind of knew what we were getting into when we were writing it. And then it's another thing when you're filming it."

The director recalled "feeling something" while seeing the actors film the scene, especially because it was shot on Valentine's Day. 

December 2019: They say that after being together for more than 10 years, they aren't concerned with the chatter surrounding their relationship

"We've been together for over a decade now, so I feel like it is less of a conversation for people," Sam told The Daily Beast while discussing "A Million Little Pieces."

She continued, "It doesn't worry me, and it's not something that is difficult to talk about because it's such a positive story, that we're a decade later together and working together and raising a strong family together. That may be a positive message for people out there."

June 21, 2020: Sam posts a black-and-white photo in honor of their 8th anniversary

"8 years later. Happy anniversary ❤️ #aarontaylorjohnson ❤️," she captioned the photo, which showed them sitting together on massive rocks. 

That same day, Sam also posted a photo of him lounging in honor of Father's Day.

October 28, 2020: Aaron stars in musician Rhye's music video for 'Black Rain,' directed by Sam

Aaron danced shirtless by himself for the entirety of the four-minute-long music video. The song was included in Rhye's 2021 studio album "Home."

March 2021: It's reported that Sam and Aaron will team up for another film together

According to Deadline, the movie is called "Rothko" and is based on Lee Seldes' novel "The Legacy of Mark Rothko."

The film will also reportedly star Russell Crowe and "Chernobyl" actor Jared Harris.

April 2021: The couple reportedly lists their home in LA for $7.5 million 

The news was reported by Dirt on April 2, 2021.

The reported listing led fans to speculate about the couple's relationship status and suggest that the two stars were headed for a split. But selling a shared home doesn't necessarily mean they're breaking up. The pair could be selling their property to live elsewhere.

May 26, 2021: Sam reacts to Aaron being cast as the Marvel villain Kraven the Hunter in an Sony project

Multiple outlets reported Aaron's casting in late May. In the comics, Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter is one of the most skilled game hunters and a popular foe of Spider-Man. The movie is set for release on August 30, 2024.

Sam weighed in on Aaron's role by posting an image of Kraven on Instagram with the caption, "My husband ❤️ #kraventhehunter #aarontaylorjohnson."

June 1, 2021: Celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo reveals that Sam got her husband's name inked near her collarbone

Dr. Woo posted a photo of Sam's new ink, which is Aaron's name written in cursive.

The artist also tattooed a hummingbird on Aaron's chest, near the tattoo of Sam's name that he got years prior.

"Captured a healed hummingbird on Aaron and added some love ✍🏼 for Sam ✨❤️" he captioned the Instagram post.

June 13, 2021: Sam shares a photo of Aaron in celebration of his 31st birthday

"Happy Birthday mon amour ❤️," she captioned an image of Aaron wearing a white dress shirt and sitting near a window. 

September 10, 2021: Sam documents a breakfast date with her husband

"Breakfast with the beast ❤️" the director captioned a photo posted on Instagram, which showed Aaron with his elbows resting on a table while dining at Animal Restaurant in Los Angeles, California. 

December 25, 2021: Sam posts photos of the couple celebrating Christmas at the beach

The first image, which was turned upside down, showed Aaron with his feet planted along the shoreline and his arms raised above his head. 

In the second photo, Sam leaped while waving her arms in the air. 

June 13, 2022: Sam shares a black-and-white photo of her husband in honor of his 32nd birthday

"Happy Birthday my darling husband ❤️ @aarontaylorjohnson," she captained the image, which showed him flipping into a pool.

June 21, 2022: The couple celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows

In his Instagram post, Aaron said that the "beautiful day" involved professing their love "in front of our nearest and dearest friends and family."

"It was a celebration of love and joy!" he wrote. "A decade of marriage. It was a magical unforgettable day and the sun did not stop shining on us both.. we are blessed beyond belief. ❤️ Sammy you are my love, my life, my soulmate, my wife, my world!" 

Sam expressed similar sentiments in her post, which featured two photos of the couple kissing at the celebration.

"10 glorious years," she said. "My incredible husband, father to all 4 girls. I love you, I love you, I love you 💕 love conquers all."

July 2022: Sam joins Aaron on the press tour for 'Bullet Train'

Aaron starred as a contract killer with the codename Tangerine in David Leitch's action film.

Sam posed for photos with her husband at the premiere in Paris, France on July 18.

Two days prior, Sam shared a candid black-and-white photo of Aaron with "Bullet Train costars Brad Pitt, Brian Tyree Henry, and Joey King. 

August to December 2022: The couple share photos and videos from their globe-trotting adventures and home life

In August, Sam posted a video of a high-energy Aaron doing flips in what appeared to be their backyard. 

"He just ate a huge bowl of pasta and did this 10 times, it was only pesto…" Sam captioned the Instagram post. 

Later that month, Aaron shared a photo of the couple with the caption, "From Japan to Carnival." 

In September, they both posted a photo that was taken by one of their kids. 

"When your 10 yr old takes the best picture," Sam wrote on Instagram. 

Aaron and Sam shared additional photos on Instagram, one of which was taken in France. 

Then in December, they coupled up to explore the Galleria Lorcan O'Neill, a contemporary art museum in Rome, Italy. 

March 4, 2023: Aaron celebrates Sam's birthday by posting a trio of photos of the couple

"When you're lucky enough to find someone as mad as you… 💕 I love you 💕 Happy Birthday Baby 🎈@samtaylorjohnson 🎈" Aaron captioned the Instagram post.

June 13, 2023: On his 33rd birthday, Sam calls Aaron the 'sweetest husband and incredible father' 

"Happy Birthday dear heart ♥️ You're the sweetest husband and incredible Father to all our girls. We love you ♥️" Sam captioned a black-and-white photo of the actor, shared in honor of his birthday. 

June 19, 2023: Sam shares her support and excitement for Aaron's starring role in the 'Spider-Man' spin-off movie, 'Kraven the Hunter'

Sam posted the official poster for "Kraven the Hunter" on her Instagram with the caption, "Kraving my Hunter."

August 14, 2023: Aaron speaks about his relationship with Sam, fatherhood, and their family's life in the countryside in a cover story for Esquire 

In Esquire's September cover story, the star said that he turned down big acting opportunities after the births of his two daughters. 

"I wanted, purely, to be with my babies," he said. "I didn't want to be taken away from them. I battled with what that would be like."

Aaron also said that mundane activities, like "getting my kids ready in the mornings, taking them to school" are the kinds of activities that he finds the most fulfillment in. 

Esquire reported that Aaron and Sam bought a farmhouse in Somerset, England, in 2010 but didn't relocate there full-time until 2022 after selling their LA home. In his interview, Aaron gushed about having animals on their property, like pigs, and spoke about harvesting honey from bees on their property. 

As for his relationship with Sam, the actor said that it's inaccurate to say that their dynamic works because of their creative collaborations. 

"I think we're really great at collaborating. But that's not why I fell in love with her," Aaron said, adding that he knew he would be a young dad before they even met. 

"I was going to have a big family," he said. "I knew I was going to be a young father. I knew I was going to have many kids."

September 6, 2023: Sam shares a series of photos documenting the couple's summer adventures 

Amid a summer of shocking celebrity breakups, from Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara to Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, the director proved that she and Aaron are stronger than ever. 

"Summer romance," Sam captioned her post on Instagram, which included several images of the couple together. 

March 4, 2024: Aaron celebrates Sam's 57th birthday with an Instagram post

Happy Birthday my darling @samtaylorjohnson," Aaron captioned a black-and-white image taken by photographer Alexi Lubomirski. "You're an exceptional woman, there's really no one I know quite like you. You are the most wonderful doting mother and beautiful role model to our 4 daughters. A gorgeous loving wife, you are my love, my soulmate and I'm always blown away by you. Your so cool. I couldn't be more proud and excited for this year ahead for you."

March 20, 2024: Aaron tells Rolling Stone UK that the fixation on him and Sam's age gap is 'bizarre'

Aaron told the publication that his life has always moved quickly and progressed at a faster rate than others.

"What you gotta realize is that what most people were doing in their 20s, I was doing when I was 13," he said.  

"You're doing something too quickly for someone else? I don't understand that," he continued. "What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It's bizarre to me."

Elsewhere in the interview, Aaron gushed about his wife and her Amy Winehouse biopic, "Back to Black."

"Sam is actually a great filmmaker and a wonderful storyteller," he said. "People will think there's sort of a bias to me saying it, but I think when they see 'Back to Black,' everyone's going to realize how fantastic a filmmaker she is."

April 8, 2024: Aaron supports Sam at the world premiere of her film 'Back to Black'

The biopic stars Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse and Jack O'Connell as Blake Fielder-Civil, Amy's ex-husband.

April 2024: Sam talks about the 'uncomfortable' attention on her and Aaron's age gap 

"There are times where it's uncomfortable," Sam told The Hollywood Reporter of the scrutiny. "Most of the time we zone it out and stay pretty private. We tend to retreat. Kids and school runs keep you pretty grounded."

In a separate interview with The Guardian, the "Back to Black" director spoke about her relationship and said that their age difference isn't noticeable to the couple. 

"We're a bit of an anomaly, but it's that thing: after 14 years you just think, surely by now it doesn't really matter?" she said. 

Sam also said that she doesn't pay attention to hateful comments online or go out of her way to avoid social media because "it doesn't mean anything."

"It is just people upset with their own sadness; with misgivings about their own life," she said.

She also said that her children don't take on rude comments directed at the pair.

"They see two loving, happy parents, so it doesn't really register," Sam said. "They just think people are a bit mean, or mad."

In the same interview, Sam talked about the family enjoying their farm life since moving back to the UK. 

"I'll turn to Aaron and say, 'Should we get another dog?,' and he'll look at me for a minute and go, 'Yuh.' He always says yes to any mad thing I suggest. That's why we've got 14 animals," she said. 

May 17, 2024: Sam tells Time magazine that people were initially skeptical about how long her and Aaron's relationship would last 

Sam told Time that she's aware of the interest in their marriage, but her day-to-day with her husband is spent with their family, so she doesn't think about it. The director also said that she doesn't read anything in the press, whether it's about reviews or her personal life. 

"The thing is I live my life fairly fearlessly," she said. "I literally leap into every challenge with excitement. And I think if I read and took note of any of that I wouldn't be doing the amazing things I think I'm doing. I wouldn't make this film. I wouldn't have been in this amazing relationship for nearly 15 years."

"Everyone at the beginning said, 'It's a terrible idea, it's not gonna work,' and then you're like 15 years down the road and have raised four kids and you're like, 'Really?'" Sam added.

The filmmaker also said that she and Aaron don't look at each other through the lens of their age gap. 

"It's just a connection of souls and hearts and our life is our life where we're just moving through it in a gorgeous loving way," Sam said. "When people make films, or talk about it or question it or dissect it, it is so strange to me. When people fall in love, they fall in love."

She also said that she knows "nothing" regarding the rumors of Aaron being cast as the next Bond, but she'd "be so happy for him if that happens" and would want to direct the film. 

June 13, 2024: Sam shares a series of photos for Aaron's 34th birthday

"Happy Birthday my love ♥️," she captioned the Instagram post. 

July 14, 2023: The couple attend Wimbledon together 

Sam and Aaron attended the men's singles final, in which Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Sam posted photos and videos on Instagram, showing her and Aaron in their color-coordinated white and off-white attire. 

September 24: Aaron posts images from his and Sam's getaway 

In the photos shared on Instagram, Aaron was seen smoking a cigarette, doing a handstand, and posing with Sam near a coastline.

December 2, 2024: Sam accompanies Aaron to the world premiere of 'Nosferatu' in Berlin

Robert Eggers directed and wrote the screenplay for "Nosferatu," which stars Bill Skarsgård as the grotesque Count Orlock and Lily-Rose Depp as the protagonist Ellen Hutter. Aaron plays a supporting role in the film as Friedrich Harding, a friend of Ellen's husband, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult).

December 10, 2024: Sam and her 2 eldest daughters join Aaron for the world premiere of 'Kraven the Hunter' in New York

Aaron and the cast and crew of "Kraven the Hunter" posed for photos at the film's red-carpet premiere at AMC Lincoln Square. Sam and her daughters from her first marriage, Angelica Jopling, 27, and Jessie Phoenix Jopling, 18, also posed with Aaron. The event marked the Joplings' red carpet debut. 

• Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano star in Netflix's new dark comedy series "No Good Deed."
• The season one finale ties up all eight episodes, but there's one loose end.
• Netflix hasn't announced a second season yet.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season one of "No Good Deed."

Your next binge watch has arrived, and it's "Dead to Me" creator Liz Feldman's new dark comedy "No Good Deed."

The eight-episode Netflix show stars "Friends" alum Lisa Kudrow and "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Ray Romano as Lydia and Paul Morgan, grieving parents who are looking to sell their seemingly perfect Los Angeles home three years after the death of their son, Jacob (Wyatt Aubrey).

An open house catches the attention of three couples in the neighborhood, all of whom are looking to make an offer. But as the episodes progress, the plot thickens and a murder mystery unfolds. The dramatic finale will leave viewers wanting even more (be warned: spoilers ahead).

Here's what we know so far about if "No Good Deed" will return for a second season.

The finale reveals who really killed Jacob, meanwhile, Lydia and Paul finally sell their house

The finale reveals that Margo (Linda Cardellini), whose real name is Luann, was in an inappropriate relationship with Jacob. The night of his murder, Margo caught Jacob, wearing a ski mask, breaking into her and her husband JD's (Luke Wilson) house and stealing the gifts he gave her.

She threatened to tell the whole neighborhood about his thievery, and he countered by threatening to tell JD about their secret relationship. Margot then chased Jacob back to his house, saying that she wasn't going to lose everything because of him. As Jacob tried to open his house door, Margo shot him. So it was Margo, not Jacob's sister Emily (Chloe East), who shot and killed him.

JD, who has already reached his limit with Margo's manipulation, gets his revenge on her by setting their house on fire as she's enjoying a bubble bath.

The finale then jumps six months later, showing where everyone ended up.

Lydia and Paul sold their house to Leslie (Abbi Jacobson) and Sarah (Poppy Liu), who are expecting their first child together.

Margo survived the house fire but has burn marks on one side of her face. She's last seen being arrested by Paul and Lydia's nephew, Nate (Kevin Alves), a police officer. Meanwhile, JD is thriving, having landed a role in a Western called "Teton Territory."

The Morgans also find closure three years after their son's death. Lydia starts playing the piano again and performs alongside Emily, who plays a song developed by Jacob, as Paul watches on.

Netflix hasn't announced a season two of 'No Good Deed' yet

The season one finale neatly ties up most of the storylines, but there's one glaring loose end that could lend itself to a potential second season if Netflix chooses to renew "No Good Deed."

In the time jump, it's revealed that new parents Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) and Carla (Teyonah Parris) bought the property previously owned by JD and Margo. Carla is under the impression that they were able to buy the property using the advance from Dennis' third book. But in reality, Dennis quietly cashed Carla's estranged dad Randall's $5 million check.

So far, Feldman has been quiet about what a potential second season could look like.

"I want viewers to be thinking about where the Morgans are," she told Tudum. "I leave my favorite shows wondering about [the characters] — asking myself questions, [mentally] writing the rest of the story myself. And I want to encourage people to do that."

While awaiting news about "No Good Deed," the streamer has plenty of other options to tune into, like the new Keira Knightley thriller series "Black Doves" or the bizarre docuseries "The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga."

"No Good Deed" is now streaming on Netflix.

• Opera singer Maria Callas' real-life relationships are depicted in the new Netflix biopic "Maria."
• Callas had a longtime affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.
• They continued seeing each other even after Onassis married Jackie Kennedy.

Famed singer Maria Callas gets the Hollywood biopic treatment in Pablo Larraín's new film "Maria," which stars Angelina Jolie as the opera legend.

The movie chronicles the last days of the soprano's life as she tries to find her singing voice again, which earned her the nickname "La Divina." Callas died of a heart attack in her Paris home on September 16, 1977, at the age of 53.

"Maria" also includes flashbacks of Callas' glory days as a performer and her relationships with her husband and manager Giovanni Battista Meneghini and her lover Aristotle Onassis.

Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, had a well-known affair with Callas during his marriages to Athina Maria "Tina" Livanos and Jackie Kennedy. "Maria" implies that Callas was Onassis' true love.

Here's what to know about Callas' relationships with the shipping tycoon.

The real Maria Callas met Aristotle Onassis during her marriage to Giovanni Battista Meneghini

Callas and Meneghini were married from 1949 to 1959. They met in Italy in 1947, when she was a 23-year-old rising opera singer and he was a 51-year-old brick manufacturer.

In "Maria," Callas meets Onassis at a lavish party and he wastes no time professing his love for her, despite both of them being married to other people.

"I'm ugly, but I'm rich. I'm Greek, but I'm from Argentina. I'm married, but it's 1959," he tells Callas.

In real life, Callas met Onassis at a party in 1957 and he courted her while she was married to Meneghini.

Callas and Onassis attended various social events together during their romance, including then-president John F. Kennedy's 1962 birthday party. Marilyn Monroe, who was rumored to be having an affair with Kennedy, famously sang a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" to the president at the event. Callas also performed at the Democratic fundraising dinner at Madison Square Garden and was photographed chatting with him at a reception.

After Callas ended her marriage to Meneghini, she continued dating Onassis. In interviews, Callas said that Onassis didn't want her to sing.

Lyndsy Spence, the author of the biography '"Cast a Diva: The Hidden Life of Maria Callas," said that Callas had two miscarriages during her relationship with Onassis, in 1960 and 1963. Spence said that Callas became pregnant with Onassis' child again in 1966 and likely had an abortion.

A diary of one of Callas' close friends, which Spence was given access to for the biography, said that Onassis drugged the singer "mostly for sexual reasons."

Despite their yearslong relationship, Callas and Onassis never married.

In a 1974 interview with Barbara Walters, Callas said that after getting married and divorced, she was "frightened" of getting married again. She also said that she didn't believe in marriage.

"I think love is so much better when you're not married," she said.

Callas and Onassis' relationship continued during his marriage to Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy isn't a character in "Maria," but she is referenced in the film. In a flashback, a sickly Onassis tells Callas that he loves her, but he still hates the opera. Callas gets emotional and says that her pride, not her heart, was hurt when she found out via the newspaper that he married Kennedy.

Onassis tells Callas that he always loved her, and then the singer exits via the back door so Kennedy doesn't see her.

"Even in death, I was the secret," Callas recalls.

In real life, Onassis and Kennedy married on Onassis' private Greek island Skorpios in 1968 and remained married until Onassis' death in 1975. During that time, Onassis continued seeing Callas.

"He couldn't live without Maria," Kiki Feroudi Moutsatsos, Onassis' personal secretary, told People magazine in November.

"Maria was a piece of his soul, of his body, of his brain," Moutsatsos added. "That's why they never believed that they could be separate."

Onassis died of respiratory failure in 1975 at 69 years old. Historians believe that Callas and Kennedy never actually interacted, but they were aware of each other and were hostile.

According to Moutsatsos, Kennedy was "not happy" about Onassis' continued relationship with Callas but never spoke directly about the singer.

"What she spoke of was Onassis' behavior," Moutsatsos told People magazine. "If I could characterize her, I would say that she was behaving like a cat. Very smart. Very clever. She would wait for the right moment to speak with him about his behavior."

In her interview with Walters, Callas was asked about the rumors that she wasn't friends with Kennedy.

"I've never met her," Callas replied. "We're not friends, I've just never met her."

When asked if she harbored any bad feelings, the singer said, "Not at all. Why should I?"

"Maria" is now streaming on Netflix.

• Céline Dion and her late husband, René Angélil, had three children together.
• Dion's eldest son, René-Charles Angélil, is 23 and pursuing a career in music.
• The singer also has 14-year-old fraternal twin boys named Nelson and Eddy.

Céline Dion is a five-time Grammy winner, a global icon, and a proud mother.

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer has three children with her late husband, René Angélil, who died of throat cancer in 2016.

"What makes me most proud is to be a mother," Dion told Extra in 2017. "To be honest, they're remarkable. They are helping me. I am helping them — it's mutual," she added.

Here's everything you need to know about Dion's three kids.

René-Charles Angélil, 23, is the eldest child.

Dion gave birth to René-Charles in Florida on January 25, 2001, and the couple named him after his father. As the famous singer's first child, he was automatically in the spotlight.

During an appearance on James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" segment in 2019, Dion recalled the media frenzy when she gave birth.

She saw her doctor on TV announcing the birth of her child right after delivery. "And I'm saying to myself, 'My baby is on television, and I didn't even hold him yet,'" she said.

At his father's funeral in 2016, 14-year-old René-Charles gave a touching speech. A few months later, the teen surprised Dion by presenting her with the Icon Award at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

In 2018, René-Charles started releasing rap and R&B music under the stage name Big Tip.

When René-Charles released his first EP in 2021 under the name RC Angélil, his mother posted on X, then Twitter, "I'm so proud of my son. My love for him is so strong, and it touches me deeply that one of his passions is also one of mine."

At the 2024 Grammys in February, René-Charles escorted Dion onstage as she presented the award for album of the year to Taylor Swift. Mother and son also posed with Swift backstage.

Dion's fraternal twins, Nelson and Eddy, are 14 years old.

In a 2010 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Dion talked about the difficulties she had becoming pregnant again. She underwent several rounds of in vitro fertilization and had a miscarriage.

"We tried four times to have a child," she said. "We're still trying. We're on the fifth try. And I tell you, if five is my lucky number, this fifth try has got to come in."

Dion gave birth to Nelson and Eddy via C-section in Florida on October 23, 2010. Their names were inspired by former South African President Nelson Mandela and the French songwriter Eddy Marnay, who worked on several of Dion's albums.

"They have very different personalities, but both of them love to wake up first thing in the morning and go to their closet and decide what they will wear," she said of her twins in a 2013 interview with the Daily Mail.

All three of Dion's kids continue to be supportive of their mom on and off the stage.

Back in 2019, they joined her onstage during the final night of her Las Vegas residency. In 2023, the family attended a hockey game together. The outing marked Dion's first major public appearance since sharing in 2022 that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome.

Recently, she's had to explain to her sons how to deal with an emergency related to her illness because she may not be able to speak. "As a mother, first of all, talk to your kids. Let them know that you will not die," she told TODAY's Hoda Kotb in June.

This story was originally published on February 5, 2024, and updated on December 12, 2024.

• Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner revealed that he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer this year.
• Turner and Theresa Nist announced their plan to divorce in April.
• Turner said his diagnosis affected his decisions, but Nist said it wasn't a factor in their breakup.

Months after announcing their divorce, "The Golden Bachelor" exes Gerry Turner, 72, and Theresa Nist, 71, are talking about a health diagnosis that affected their relationship.

In a new interview with People magazine published on Wednesday, Turner revealed that he was diagnosed with an incurable form of bone marrow cancer around the time that he and Nist were figuring out the details of their future together.

Turner said that he chose to speak out about his cancer diagnosis now "because it probably will clear up a lot of mystery around what happened back in February, March, and April."

"As Theresa and I were trying very hard to find our lifestyle and where we were going to live and how we were going to make our life work, I was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer," he said.

Turner told the publication that he injured his shoulder three years ago but didn't get around to having it checked out. Once he finally visited an orthopedic surgeon, Turner learned that he had "unusual blood markers." That led to meetings with more doctors, and eventually being diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, an incurable, slow-growing cancer in which white blood cells turn into cancer cells and build up in the bone marrow.

Turner, a widower and father to two daughters, won over Bachelor Nation when he was tapped to star in the inaugural season of "The Golden Bachelor," the first show in the long-running franchise to focus exclusively on older men and women looking for love.

Turner and Nist, his final pick, got engaged in Costa Rica during the finale, which aired in November 2023. They later married in early January during a live televised ceremony called "The Golden Wedding."

But three months later, the couple appeared on "Good Morning America" and announced their plan to divorce after having "a number of heart-to-heart conversations." The couple also said that they couldn't agree on where to live together, as Turner is based in Indiana and Nist is in New Jersey.

Turner said that he told Nist about his diagnosis in mid-March and she was "a little bit awestruck by the news."

The reality TV star said that he wanted to maintain a sense of normalcy in his life, "and that led me to believing that as normal as possible more meant spending time with my family, my two daughters, my two son-in-laws, my granddaughters."

"The importance of finding the way with Theresa was still there, but it became less of a priority," he said.

Turner said that he hoped that people who were critical of his and Nist's split could understand that his diagnosis "had a huge bearing on my decisions and I think probably Theresa's as well."

Nist spoke to People magazine in a separate interview and said that she was "extremely upset" about the diagnosis, but it "wasn't a factor in the ending of the relationship, at least not for me."

"If that was something on his part, maybe, I don't know. But no, that didn't factor into ending the relationship," she said. "Part of it was the distance, but that wasn't the only part. That's really all I will say."

• Angelina Jolie portrays late singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's new film "Maria."
• She spent seven months taking singing, voice, and Italian classes for the role.
• Jolie is really singing in the movie, but her vocals are mixed with the real Callas.'

Angelina Jolie transforms into famed soprano Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's new biopic "Maria," and yes, the actor is singing for real.

"Maria," which is now streaming on Netflix after being released in select theaters earlier this year, follows Callas in the days leading up to her death at 53 of a heart attack. in 1977. The film addresses her weight loss, the decline of her voice, and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis.

Flashbacks in the film show Callas in the prime of her career, performing to packed audiences. But in most of the movie, the singer is shell of her former self, struggling to hit the right notes and sound the way she used to. It's a heavy role for Jolie, who hasn't acted in a film in three years, and she's generating awards season buzz for her performance.

Jolie spent seven months taking singing, voice, and Italian classes

"Maria" marks Jolie's first time singing publicly. The actor told The Hollywood Reporter that she stopped singing because of an unnamed ex who was unkind to her about her voice.

"And so I just assumed I couldn't really sing," she said. "I'd been to theater school, so it was weird that it even had an effect on me. I just kind of adapted to this person's opinion. So it took me getting past a lot of things to start singing."

After Jolie was cast as Callas, she started training to sing opera. In doing so, she discovered that like Callas, she was also a soprano.

"Learning to sing and to enjoy singing, I was very, very shy stepping through this whole process," she said.

Jolie also told Deadline that throughout filming, she had nightly rehearsals to prepare for the following day of shooting.

"It was living as a singer," she said. "I don't play the piano, but I had to learn little bits. Wherever I went, whether it was a dressing room or hotel room, we always had to have the piano, the keyboard, the teacher nearby, and at night it was the warm-ups."

Jolie is really singing in 'Maria,' but her voice was blended with Callas'

According to THR, Jolie sings six pieces in "Maria" and some of Callas' real vocal tracks were incorporated into the mix.

Larraín told the publication that it wasn't possible to cut corners and simply play Callas' vocals while Jolie lip-synched; the actor portraying Callas had to have real singing capabilities.

"With opera, because of the pitch and the structure of the melody, it's so specific that you have to be very accurate," he said. We couldn't have taken another path."

Larraín elaborated on the technical aspect of the role in his interview with Deadline. The director explained that Jolie wasn't mimicking Callas' voice on set. Instead, the actor wore an earpiece while singing, and her voice was the the only one that the cast and crew heard while shooting.

After filming Jolie's performances, her voice was mixed with the real Callas'.

"We needed to capture that, capture every sound that's made, and then bring it into the mixing stage, and then choose how to blend both voices," Larraín said. "So there's always a part of a fragment of Angie singing and that's what gives truth. Otherwise, it won't be possible. You'll never believe it."

"Maria" is streaming on Netflix.

• Jay-Z was named in an amended complaint to a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, filed in October.
• The filing accuses Jay-Z and Combs of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000.
• Experts said that Jay-Z's response could have been stronger if it included an explicit denial of the claims.

Jay-Z's response to the rape accusations against him is missing something, according to one crisis-PR expert.

The "99 Problems" singer — whose real name is Shawn Carter — was accused in a civil lawsuit Sunday of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2000.

Carter responded to the "heinous" allegations hours later in a statement posted on his company Roc Nation's X account, calling the accuser's attorney, Tony Buzzbee, "deplorable" and saying he engaged in "a blackmail attempt."

"Whoever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?" the statement reads, in part. "These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case."

Still, the statement doesn't include "a flat unmistakable denial that he'd ever engaged in behavior like that in this case or otherwise," said Evan Nierman, the CEO of crisis-PR firm Red Banyan.

"I think Jay-Z was strong in pointing out the heinous nature of the crimes and that he views them as unconscionable," Nierman said. "But I would've liked to have seen a little bit more of a flat denial."

The allegations against Carter stem from one of the slew of civil sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs, who's in a Brooklyn jail while awaiting trial on separate criminal sex trafficking charges. Combs has denied the accusations against him.

In the original lawsuit, filed in October, the anonymous Jane Doe plaintiff from Alabama accused Combs of raping her at a party in New York City as two other unnamed celebrities watched. The stars were only identified in the civil lawsuit as "Celebrity A" and "Celebrity B."

The updated lawsuit filed Sunday identifies Carter as "Celebrity A."

The other celebrity was described as a "female" but has otherwise not been identified in court documents.

Attorneys for Carter and Combs did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. A day after Carter's statement was published, his lawyer, Alex Spiro, more forcefully denied the allegations in a court filing.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Carter is entirely innocent," he wrote. "This is a shakedown."

A PR expert says Jay-Z's statement had 'bravado'

In his social media statement, Carter took aim at Buzbee, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiff, and said that his lawyer "received a blackmail attempt" to pressure him into settling out of court. He has separately filed an extortion lawsuit against Buzzbee.

Buzbee told Business Insider that he sent a letter to Carter requesting that Carter and the plaintiff mediate before Sunday's filing.

The amended complaint said Carter responded to the letter by filing a lawsuit and "orchestrating a conspiracy of harassment, bullying, and intimidation" to silence the accuser from naming him.

Camron Dowlatshahi, a partner at Los Angeles-based Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP, told Business Insider that the back-and-forth negotiations referenced by Carter are typical, "especially in a case involving a high-profile individual."

What caught peoples' attention was the more casual tone of Jay-Z's statement, which includes informally styled words in all caps and a sentence that ends with two exclamation points.

"He infused it with the kind of bravado that he's known for," Nierman told Business Insider. By reiterating his rough upbringing — "I'm a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn" — Nierman added that he's "saying, 'You misjudged me by trying to play with me the way you deal with other people.'"

Despite the informal tone, Dowlatshahi said it's highly likely that the statement was crafted with lawyers and publicists.

"I thought it was unorthodox but important to come from him," Dowlatshahi told Business Insider. "It personalizes everything that he's going through instead of being defensive."

Carter's statement said his accuser's lawyer should "file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!" Still, only prosecutors representing the government, not individual accusers, can file criminal indictments.

Damian Williams, the US Attorney overseeing the criminal case against Combs in Manhattan, told Business Insider in October that the "investigation is very active and ongoing" when asked whether additional people would be charged.

Nierman and Dowlatshahi said it was nonetheless smart for Carter to point out that he was not charged with a crime.

"Something involving essentially a rape of a 13-year-old is not something that you have an afterthought about and amend your complaint about," Dowlatshahi said. "It's something that's at the forefront of a case, and typically a criminal case."

Experts don't think the allegations will tarnish Jay-Z's reputation if it's an isolated incident

Nierman and Dowlatshahi think Jay-Z is too rich and powerful for his reputation to ultimately be damaged by the suit.

He's "too big to cancel, and his brand is too strong to be destroyed by a civil lawsuit," Nierman said.

Dowlatshahi agreed. "Right now, this is a pretty contained isolated thing."

If more allegations against Carter surface or he faces criminal charges, indictments, or arrests, it could be career-ending.

"This is a civil lawsuit being filed by an attorney who's been very aggressive about his demand letters and going after celebs in the interest of securing financial settlements for his client," Nierman said. "So I don't see this as creating a permanent stain on Jay-Z's brand."

Nierman and Dowlatshahi said that Carter's mention of the allegations' impact on conversations with his kids, whom he shares with Beyoncé, also humanized him outside his celebrity persona.

Nierman said that Carter made his response "personal" by directly questioning Buzbee's integrity and values. "When you come out of the gates with such a strong statement like what Jay-Z made, and you make it so personal, both in his defense of himself and his attack on his accuser, he's already set," Nierman said. "It's going to be very hard to come back from that. So I expect him to be extremely aggressive in defending his reputation."

On Monday, Carter's lawyer filed a flurry of motions in federal court to dismiss the case or disclose the accuser's identity in the civil lawsuit.

"These claims are not about justice for victims. Nor are they about giving victims of sexual violence a voice," Carter's attorney Alex Spiro wrote in a filing. "Instead, they are merely the next chapter in Attorney Buzbee's sprawling extortion saga — a saga whose aim is base and measured in dollars."

Spiro didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Dowlatshahi said this is a common next step as Carter's team explores every possible option to defeat the claims. In Nierman's view, the aggressive strategy is working in the court of public opinion.

"Jay-Z is not going to be defined by these allegations," Nierman said. "I don't think that this is even going to be a footnote to his obituary."

• On April 11, 2023, Jamie Foxx was hospitalized with a medical condition, but didn't reveal what.
• The 56-year-old said in his new Netflix special that he had a stroke and blacked out for 20 days. 
• Here's everything we know about Foxx's health and what those close to him have said about it.

Jamie Foxx was hospitalized with a mysterious illness last April. In the actor's Netflix comedy special that airs on December 10, he said he had a stroke and blacked out for 20 days.  

In April 2023, Corinne Foxx, Foxx's daughter, shared a statement from her family that said he had been taken to a hospital in Atlanta due to a "medical complication."

In the following weeks and months, Foxx's family and his celebrity friends didn't reveal what his health issue was, leading to fans sharing theories that he had been cloned or had died.

Foxx joked about the theories in his new Netflix special, "Jamie Foxx: What Happened Was…," before telling the audience that he had a stroke caused by a brain bleed.

A stroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a part of the brain doesn't have enough blood flow.

Foxx told the audience that in the year following the stroke: "I lost everything, but the only thing I could hold onto was my sense of humor.

"If I could stay funny, I could stay alive."

Jamie Foxx "experienced a medical complication" on April 11, 2023, according to a family statement.

"We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," Corinne Foxx shared on her Instagram account on behalf of the Foxx family.

"Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers," the statement continued. "The family asks for privacy during this time."

According to CNN, the actor was in Atlanta filming his new Netflix movie, "Back in Action," with Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close when he was taken to hospital.

On April 17, 2023, it was reported that Foxx was still under medical observation a week after being hospitalized.

According to both CNN and People, the "Day Shift" actor was still receiving medical care at the Georgia medical facility.

"They are running tests and still trying to figure out what exactly happened," a source told CNN at the time.

On the same date, People also reported that Foxx's costar and close friend Diaz made her return to the set of "Back in Action," working with a body double for Foxx.

On April 20, 2023, Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence spoke about Foxx's health, with the latter saying Foxx was "doing better."

Morgan wished Foxx well while attending Lawrence's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on April 20, 2023.

"I love Jamie. Jamie's a good friend of mine ... my prayers go up for Jamie," Morgan told Entertainment Tonight. 

"He's strong, he's a fighter, he's gonna come out of it and he's good. He's gonna be stronger and better than ever," Morgan said.

Referring to his 2014 accident which left him with life-threatening injuries, Morgan added, "I've been there. I was on the other side in a coma for 10 days, so I know about [being hospitalized]."

Meanwhile, Lawrence told Extra, "I hear he's doing better… My prayers go out for him every night and just wishing the best for him, one of the best that we got in Hollywood." 

 

 

On April 23, 2023, Nick Cannon said that Foxx was "awake" and "alert" 12 days after being hospitalized.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Cannon said that he has been saying "words of affirmation for my big brother" and teased the news that he would be standing in for Foxx as guest host on the upcoming season of game show "Beat Shazam."

Cannon said, "I know he's doing so much better because I'm actually about to do something special for him, and doing him a favor. I can't really say what it is, but it'll be out there soon."

Speaking about Foxx's health, he added, "He's awake. They say he's alert, so, we love it. That's family right there."

On May 3, 2023, Foxx spoke out for the first time since his hospitalization in a brief Instagram post.

"Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed," he wrote, followed by a praying hands emoji, red heart emoji, and fox emoji.

Many of his friends extended their well wishes to him in the comments.

Jeremy Renner wrote: "Sending you strength and love," while Kate Beckinsale added: "Love you sir massive hugs king xxxx"

Ansel Elgort, who appeared in "Baby Driver" with Foxx, wrote: "You are the greatest Jamie, please make a speedy recovery. You are a blessing to this world, we need you in it."

Foxx also gave a shout-out to Nick Cannon for filling in on his hosting duties for the upcoming season of "Beat Shazam" in an Instagram Story.

"Appreciate ya my boy @nickcannon. See u all soon," he wrote over the Fox show's statement about the change of lineup for the new season, which returned to screens on May 23.

On May 12, 2023 Foxx's daughter said he was out of the hospital and recuperating after seeing false rumors about his condition.

Just over a month after news of his hospitalization, Foxx's daughter announced that the actor was out of the hospital after unsubstantiated reports that the family was "preparing for the worst" began circulating online.

According to her Instagram Story, her father was discharged several weeks ago.

"Update from family: Sad to see how the media runs wild," she wrote.

"My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone's prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!" 

 

 

On June 28, 2023, John Boyega, who stars alongside Foxx in the film "They Cloned Tyrone," said that the actor was "doing well."

"He finally picked up the phone. Thank you, bro," Boyega told People at the premiere of the movie. "He's doing well. And then, you know, we just giving him the privacy, and we can't wait for his return."

"I gave him the well wishes directly," Boyega added. "I gave him all the well wishes. So I'm just gonna be waiting until he comes back out here. So take your time, Jamie. We love you, bro."

"They Cloned Tyrone" coproducer Datari Turner shared similar comments about Foxx.

"He's in really, really good shape and spirits.," Turner said. "And he'll be back on the screen. He'll be back to work very soon."

In an undated video that surfaced on July 1, 2024 on X, Foxx gave an update on his health and said that his unknown condition began with a "bad headache."

"First of all, I want to say thank you to everybody that's prayed, man, and sent me messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back," Foxx said in a video posted on Instagram. "I went through something that I thought I would never ever go through."

Foxx said that he was aware that people wanted updates, but he didn't want fans to see him during his medical complication.

"I didn't want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through," he said. "And to be honest with you, my sister, Deidra Dixon, and my daughter, Corinne Marie, saved my life. So to them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video."

Foxx said that his family protected him and kept his situation under wraps, which led to speculation and false rumors. 

"I went to hell and back. And my road to recovery had some potholes as well," he said. "But I'm coming back and I'm able to work. So I want to thank the people who let me work. I just want to say that I love everybody and I love all the love that I got."

On December 4, 2023, Foxx attended the Critics Choice Association's "Celebration" event, honoring Black, Latino, and AAPI achievements.

Foxx was presented with the Vanguard Award for his performance in the 2023 film "The Burial," which was inspired by true events.

The actor began his speech by telling the audience that he couldn't walk six months prior. 

"I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy, because it's tough," he said. 

Since his experience, Foxx said that he has a "new respect" for life and his art.

"I watched so many movies and listened to so many songs trying to have the time go by," Foxx said. "Don't give up on your art, man, don't give up."

On March 3, 2024, Foxx accepted the producers award at the African American Film Critics Association's (AAFCA) Special Achievement Awards luncheon.

Foxx and his producing partner Datari Turner accepted the award on behalf of Foxxhole Productions. The actor's speech was filled with jokes and heartfelt sentiments reflecting on his career. He also referenced his health situation.  

"Everybody wants to know what happened, and I'm going to tell you what happened. But I've gotta do it in my way," Foxx said. "I'm gonna do it in a funny way. We're gonna be on the stage. We're gonna get back to the standup sort of roots."

In a Netflix comedy special that aired on December 10, 2024, Foxx shared that a stroke was the cause of his 20-day blackout.

In the Netflix special, Foxx said he blacked out for 20 days in April 2023 after getting a bad headache.

Foxx said he was later told what happened during those 20 days, though he didn't specify who told him. 

Foxx said he was initially taken to a doctor who gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, then his sister, Dixon, drove him to Piedmondt hospital in Atlanta.

The doctor, whom he called doctor Schuette, told Dixon that Foxx had a stroke and needed to be operated on right away.

"My sister knelt down outside the operating room and prayed the whole time," Foxx said.

Foxx said that he felt "peaceful" when he was unconscious.

"I saw the tunnel. I didn't see the light." Foxx said. "It was hot in that tunnel. Shit, am I going to the wrong place in this motherfucker?"

He said the doctor later told Dixon that they couldn't find where he was bleeding in his brain but he may be able to make a full recovery.

"It's going to be the worst year of his life," Foxx said the doctor told his sister.

During the first 15 days of recovery, the doctors thought he was going to die because his vitals were too high and he needed to be kept calm, he said. 

Foxx said his youngest daughter, Anelise Bishop, snuck into his hospital with her guitar and started playing music, which helped Foxx's vitals go down.

"It was God in that guitar," Foxx said. "That's my spiritual defibrillator."

Later on during the special, Foxx said he woke up on May 4, 2023 in a wheelchair and refused to believe he had a stroke.

"Jamie Foxx don't get strokes," Foxx recalled. "That's old man shit."

While strokes are more common in older people, a study published by the CDC earlier this year found that strokes in people under 65 have increased by 15% in the US from 2011-2013 to 2020 - 2022.

Foxx said it took time for him to come to terms with his condition and work on getting better.

• Pete Davidson said he earned $3,000 per episode when he joined "Saturday Night Live."
• Davidson starred on the show for eight seasons between 2014 and 2022.
• He's since landed various film and TV roles, plus brand deals.

Pete Davidson is known for his eight-season tenure on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," but he wasn't making big bucks when he joined the popular sketch comedy show in 2014.

"My biggest indulgence after my first 'SNL' paycheck? Do you guys know what they pay us? It's like three grand an episode. I think I got dinner," Davidson said in an Instagram video for New York Magazine, as part of their latest issue featuring past and present "SNL" cast members.

Davidson got his big break in Hollywood when he landed a job as a featured player on season 40 of "SNL," which premiered in 2014. He appeared in 20 of the 21 episodes that season, bringing his estimated salary to $60,000.

The comedian, then 20 years old, was one of the youngest-ever hires and the show's first cast member born in the 1990s. Davidson most notably played a character named Chad in various sketches and was a frequent guest on the "Weekend Update" segment.

Although Davidson seemingly considered his early "SNL" paycheck small, his growing popularity led him to land even more work as an actor.

While on "SNL," Davidson took on other projects, including starring in Machine Gun Kelly's music video for "Loco," playing a supporting part in the hit Netflix rom-com "Set It Up," and having a cameo in the DC comics movie "The Suicide Squad." He also starred in the films "Big Time Adolescence" and "The King of Staten Island."

Davidson exited "SNL" in 2022 after season 47 concluded. He's since returned as a host for the season 49 premiere and had a cameo on a season 50 episode hosted by John Mulaney.

In addition to his work on "SNL," he released three comedy specials: "Pete Davidson:" SMD, "Pete Davidson: Alive From New York," and "Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli."

Davidson reportedly earned $500,000 per episode for his eight-episode Peacock series "Bupkis," in which he starred as a heightened, exaggerated version of himself. The show was canceled after one season.

The actor has also earned revenue from his work as a brand ambassador for Smartwater and Manscaped. Perhaps his most note-worthy splurge to date was a decommissioned Staten Island ferry, which he and "SNL" star Colin Jost purchased for $280,100 while "very stoned," Davidson said.

Representatives for Davidson and "Saturday Night Live" didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

• "The Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon's ex-wife Jennifer Tilly said she's still making money off the show.
• Tilly and Simon were married from 1984 to 1991.
• Tilly, who appears as a "Friend" on "RHOBH," said she "got a piece" of the show in her divorce settlement.

Actor and "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Jennifer Tilly is still reaping the financial benefits of her divorce from "The Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon.

"It takes a really long time to get over a divorce," Tilly said in a confessional on Tuesday's episode of "RHOBH."

But, she continued, there's one thing she's still thankful for.

"My ex-husband was Sam Simon, who created 'The Simpsons,'" she continued. "I was married to him for seven years. We were together for about 10 years. And then when we got divorced, I got a piece of 'The Simpsons' in the divorce settlement, and nobody knew that 'The Simpsons' was gonna go on for trillions of years."

Tilly concluded by saying that she's grateful for her share.

"Every day I'm like, 'Thank you, Sam,'" she said.

Tilly was married to Simon from 1984 to 1991; "The Simpsons" which was developed by Simon, James L. Brooks, and cartoonist Matt Groening premiered on Fox in 1989.

Now in its 36th season, the animated series is still staple on Fox and in syndication. Over the years, the show has welcomed a plethora of celebrity guest stars and showcased an eerie knack for predicting real-life events.

Although Simon stepped away from "The Simpsons" in 1993, the producer negotiated a deal that involved getting paid from the show's royalties and syndication. During a 2007 appearance on "60 Minutes," Simon said that he made over $10 million annually from the show.

"When I was there I thought I was underpaid. I thought I wasn't getting enough credit for it," Simon said. "Now, I think it's completely the opposite. I get too much credit for it. And the money is ridiculous."

Simon donated his entire fortune to charity before he died of colorectal cancer in 2015.

Tilly is known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film "Bullets Over Broadway" and for playing Tiffany Valentine in the "Chucky" franchise. She officially joined "RHOBH" as a "Friend" during season 14 after previously making appearances on the reality TV series. Aside from doing voice work on a 2012 episode of "The Simpsons" in 2012, Tilly isn't credited with being involved creatively in the show.

She previously told Los Angeles Magazine's "The Originals" podcast in 2021 that she received about one-third of Simon's continued earnings from "The Simpsons."

"I used to do a lot of movies because the roof was leaking, or to pay for the plumbing," she said, "and now I don't have to."

• Season five of "Yellowstone" ended on Sunday, December 15.
• A teaser for the last few episodes described it as a season finale instead of a series finale.
• Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler may become the leads for a sixth season — or get their own spinoff show.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the season five finale of Paramount Network's "Yellowstone."

Season five of "Yellowstone" — also long believed to be the final installment — ended on Sunday, but a recent teaser has fans thinking that there could be more to come.

Since debuting in 2018, "Yellowstone," co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson and centered on an aging rancher named John Dutton (Kevin Costner), has become a smash hit for the network.

Episode 12 of season five, part two (also known as 5B) ended with a preview for the penultimate episode of the season.

In the teaser, the announcer said, "Only one episode left until the season finale of 'Yellowstone.'" Fans latched on to the use of "season finale" instead of "series finale," theorizing that the phrase choice was a subtle confirmation that a sixth season is coming despite a cancellation announcement last year.

Here's what we know about the future of "Yellowstone."

'Yellowstone' director and executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros said that 'the end of an era' was coming

In May 2023, it was announced that "Yellowstone" would end with season five.

"I think this last batch of episodes leads us to the end of an era," director and executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros recently told Variety of the final three episodes of season five.

"It's impossible to talk about it in any detail without tipping my hat towards things to come," Voros continued. "But I think Taylor has managed to — and I'm really not sure how he's done it, I think it's sort of masterful — bring the ending to something that feels both shocking and fated at the same time. You need to get to the end of the story to fully understand everything that has come before."

Actor Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan, shared similar comments hyping up the season five finale.

"I don't know that any show has finished this strongly, ever," he told Entertainment Tonight in April. "We're expecting to have the best series finale in history. Overconfident maybe, but I think that's what it's going to be."

The season 5 finale teased a new chapter for Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler

Sheridan directed the season five finale, titled "Life Is A Promise."

In the finale, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) avenges the death of her father, John, by killing her adoptive brother Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), who was indirectly involved in the patriarch's demise. Then Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) disposed of Jamie's body by throwing it off the side of a cliff.

After Kayce (Luke Grimes) sells the Dutton ranch to the Broken Rock Reservation, rather than developers, Beth and Rip are last seen buying a smaller, secluded ranch in rural Montana and moving there with their adopted son, Carter (Finn Little).

Beth and Rip may take over as the leads for 'Yellowstone' season 6 — or get their own spinoff show

In August, Puck reported that "Yellowstone" would continue, focusing on Beth and Rip. According to the outlet, Reilly and Hauser would become the new leads of the series after Costner exited. Costner's character was killed off-screen when season 5B premiered in November.

In early November, Hauser told The Hollywood Reporter that he felt there was more to explore with Beth and Rip.

"You can go on forever about these two. There's no walls when it comes to them, no limits," he said. "And as long as Taylor wants to write something special, I know Kelly and I would be interested to do it."

Then Deadline broke the news that, according to sources close to the production, Reilly and Hauser would reprise their roles to star in a "Yellowstone" spinoff series.

According to Deadline, Sheridan is currently developing the new show, which will likely star other actors reprising their roles from the main series.

Paramount has yet to officially announce a sixth season or spinoff starring Reilly and Hauser, and network representatives didn't respond to our requests for comment. But fans of the neo-Western drama have more to look forward to either way.

Sheridan's TV universe, which includes the "Yellowstone" prequel series "1883" and "1923," will expand with an upcoming "Yellowstone" sequel show called "The Madison," starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

• Netflix's six-episode series "Senna" is a fictional retelling of F1 driver Ayrton Senna's life.
• The show follows his rise to fame and his death at the San Marino GP in 1994.
• F1 reporter Laura Harrison isn't based on a real person, but she serves a key purpose.

Famed Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna's life and career is the subject of Netflix's latest limited series "Senna."

The six-episode scripted show, starring Gabriel Leone as the titular character, chronicles Senna's early years in karting, his triumphs as a three-time Formula 1 world champion, and his fatal crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

The series includes many of the notable people in Senna's life, like his family members, his rivals, and key Formula 1 figures. However, the show also introduces a fictional character, a journalist named Laura Harrison (Kaya Scodelario).

Here's how she fits into the story.

Laura Harrison is a reporter who meets Ayrton Senna during his days racing in Formula Ford

When Senna moves from Brazil to England to compete in Formula Ford, he catches the attention of Laura Harrison, a reporter for the Norfolk Express.

She first interviews Senna after he wins his first Formula Ford race and tells him that he's talented, but he seems to have a more aggressive driving style than other drivers. Harrison's story about Senna's rivalry with Enrique Mansilla subsequently makes the front page of the Norfolk Express.

As Senna progresses in motorsport, Harrison also makes moves in her career. By the time Senna reaches Formula 3, Harrison has become a reporter at Autosport, a real magazine focused on motorsport news.

The show doesn't spend much time on her backstory, aside from a quick comment about being fluent in Portuguese because her mom is Brazilian and a later mention that she has a British husband. She and her husband have a daughter named Claire, but by episode three, the pair have divorced, and Harrison juggles her job as a reporter with her co-parenting duties.

She and Senna continue to run into each other when Senna embarks on his career as a Formula 1 driver.

Their dynamic remains purely professional, with Laura observing the behind-the-scenes drama from the sidelines, getting exclusive scoops, and writing unbiased cover stories for Autosport. After Harrison writes one story in which Senna's rival and McLaren teammate Alain Prost calls the Brazilian driver a "traitor," Senna distances himself from her.

Laura Harrison isn't based on any real-life people that Senna knew

Years after publishing the story, Harrison starts working on a piece about Senna's career.

The weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, Harrison gives Senna a tape recording with one final question for her article: "Thirty years after getting your first go-kart from your dad, 10 years in Formula 1, three world championships, why do you keep racing?

Senna records his response to Harrison and has the tape recorder sent back to her. Then he dies during a crash that occurs on the track during the Imola GP.

After his death, Senna's parents, Milton da Silva and Neyde Senna, listen to his tape recording, where he explains his passion for the sport and why he never stopped racing.

Although there's no real-life equivalent of Harrison, she serves as an amalgamation of the reporters and journalists who followed Senna's superstardom.

Within the Netflix series' narrative, Harrison represents the media's role in Senna's career and helps to neatly tie up the show in a way that pays homage to his achievements.

All episodes of "Senna" are streaming on Netflix.

• F1 driver Ayrton Senna died after a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy on May 1, 1994.
• Senna's crash was one of two fatal accidents that occurred that weekend on the track.
• After Senna's death, better safety measures were established.

Netflix's new limited series "Senna" dramatizes the life of late Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna, chronicling his achievements as a three-time world champion and his fatal crash in 1994.

The six-episode scripted series, starring Gabriel Leone as the titular character, shows the Brazilian driver's humble beginnings in karting, his move to Europe to compete in Formula Ford, and the highs and lows of his 10 years in Formula 1.

But Senna's death, the result of a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994, looms over the series. The final episode of "Senna" recounts that ill-fated weekend in Imola, Italy.

Here's what happened leading up to Senna's crash and how his death at 34 years old changed the course of F1.

Senna voiced concerns about his car's performance prior to race day

Senna made his F1 debut with Toleman in 1984 and moved to Lotus the following year. After his switch to McLaren in 1988, Senna saw the most success in his career, winning the world championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991.

For the 1994 season, Senna jumped to Williams, a team that performed well the prior year. He hoped to score wins with the team, but the F1 cars underwent massive changes after electronic aids were banned. These electronic features were an advantage that helped the drivers on the circuits. Without them, there was no traction control, special brakes, or electronic suspension.

In archival interview footage featured in the 2010 documentary "Senna: No Fear, No Limits, No Equal," Senna said that the car felt "immediately less stable without the electronic suspension" and harder to drive, leading to spinning out and going off-track.

By the time of the San Marino GP, the third race of the 1994 season, the handling of the car was still poor and Senna was uncomfortable driving it.

In footage taken during the practice session on Friday, April 29, 1994, Senna was seen telling the Williams team about issues with the car's balance.

On the weekend of the San Marino GP, 2 drivers died in 2 days: Roland Ratzenberger and Senna

On Friday, Jordan driver Rubens Barrichello crashed and suffered non-fatal injuries. Then, during the qualifying session on Saturday, Simtek driver Roland Ratzenberger experienced an even more severe crash and died from injuries that took place on the circuit.

Ratzenberger's death shook up Senna. Still, he decided to participate in the race on Sunday.

"Ayrton got very, very upset and cried a bit," F1 doctor Sid Watkins said in the 2010 documentary. "And that's when I said to him, 'You know, Ayrton, you've been three times world champion. You're the fastest man in the world.' And he liked fishing, so I said, 'Why don't you quit? And I'll quit and we'll just go fishing?'"

In Watkins' book "Life at the Limit," the doctor said that Senna's final words to him during that conversation were: "Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on."

While on lap seven of 58, Senna's FW16 crashed at the Tamburello corner. The reason for the incident remains unknown, but Senna's car crashed at an angle where the suspension shaft hit his helmet.

Senna was airlifted to Bologna's Maggiore Hospital and an official announcement about his death was made by the hospital.

However, Watkins believed that Senna died on the Imola circuit, due to the impact of the crash.

"We got him out of the cockpit, got his helmet off, and got an airway into him," Watkins recalled in the documentary. "And I saw from his neurological signs that it was going to be a fatal head injury. And then he sighed, and his body relaxed, and that was the moment — I'm not religious — that I thought his spirit had departed."

Better F1 safety protocols were enacted following Senna's death

Senna's body was transported back to São Paulo. Three days of national mourning took place and thousands of people lined the streets of Brazil to honor the F1 driver.

Senna's funeral was attended by his parents, Milton da Silva and Neyde Senna; his sister, Viviane Senna; his ex-girlfriend and Brazilian TV host, Xuxa; his then-girlfriend and model, Adriane Galisteu; and his F1 rival, Alain Prost, who was a pallbearer.

Before his crash, Senna had spoken to Prost about reviving the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) out of concern for the drivers' safety. After Senna's death, the GPDA was reestablished. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) also appointed Watson to improve safety standards and cars received new features designed with driver safety in mind.

There were no fatalities at F1 races for 21 years, until French driver Jules Bianchi's death in 2015.

Senna is considered to be one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, and his legacy extends beyond motorsport.

The Ayrton Senna Institute was founded by his family in 1994. It strives to change the lives of children through education. According to a postscript at the end of "Senna," the organization has helped more than 36 million youths in Brazil.

This year, in honor of the 30th anniversary of Senna's death, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who became an honorary citizen of Brazil in 2022, drove Senna's 1990 championship-winning McLaren MP4/5B prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 3. Hamilton called the moment "the greatest honor of my career."

All episodes of "Senna" are streaming on Netflix.