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Finn Jones has said that he would love to return to the MCU, but that may not be what actually happens. If Richtman’s report proves accurate, and Iron Fist is in «Shang-Chi 2,» there are plenty of multiversal ways to incorporate a new actor or version of the superhero. Because the «Iron Fist» series didn’t garner the best reputation, Marvel Studios might prefer to get a fresh start. Jones’ Danny Rand isn’t quite as beloved as some of the other Defenders characters, like Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, after all.

For now, fans will have to wait and see. Regardless of the character’s exact version, it seems unlikely that Iron Fist would be particularly central in either «Eyes of Wakanda» or «Shang-Chi 2,» but rather would be a supporting player. For a character whom many casual fans may have entirely forgotten about, that’s probably the right way to reintroduce him. Richtman’s report also claims that the plot of «Shang-Chi 2» will involve time travel in some way, so there will be a lot more going on in the plot that could take priority. For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement and for «Eyes of Wakanda» to shed a bit more light on the situation.

Before he nabbed the role of the lazy, arrogant, and scheming Greg Heffley, Zachary Gordon was a rising child actor, boasting small roles in «National Treasure: Book of Secrets» and the sitcom «How I Met Your Mother.» With «Diary of a Wimpy Kid,» he cemented himself as an actor to watch out for, headlining the lucrative trilogy. Gordon expertly played Greg, who many think is sociopathic (though Jeff Kinney doesn’t). Once Gordon wrapped up his tenure as Heffley, he continued to appear in films like Steve Carrell’s «The Incredible Burt Wunderstone.» 

The actor’s other notable credits include voicing characters on «Star Wars Rebels» and guest starring on «The Good Doctor.» Gordon has also appeared in beloved video games like «Kingdom Hearts III» and «Genshin Impact.» In 2022, Gordon ventured into the world of music, releasing several singles that he shares with his fans on social media. 

While he’s branched out into several different mediums, Gordon acknowledges how important playing Greg Heffley was for his career. «‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ is a part of my legacy. It is something that I will always hold dear to my heart. I have been very blessed and fortunate,» he told Digital Journal in 2021, before adding, «I am grateful that a new generation is starting to watch the movies.»

If you’ve only watched Denis Villeneuve’s «» movies and not read the novels, Paul’s reason for rallying the Fremen seems pretty straightforward: He needs their strength to defeat the Harkonnens, avenge his father’s murder, and free Arrakis. But, of course, it’s not that simple. Paul recognizes that side of things for most of «Dune: Part Two,» but he still resists. He believes that they can defeat the Harkonnens without him stepping into the role of messiah. It’s only after the Water of Life awakens his powers completely that he embraces the myth surrounding him.

This isn’t just a rallying cry for the Battle of Arrakeen. In the books, we get a more complete explanation of why Paul changes his mind about the holy war. Through his visions of the future, he determines that no matter how violent the campaign may be, it’s still the best path forward for humanity as a whole in the long term. The novels dig a lot deeper into the idea of human genetic longevity – something that Paul believes the war will help address. His full vision of the future and the so-called «Golden Path» he sees through it aren’t fully explained until «Children of Dune» and «God Emperor of Dune,» however.

The caveat to all of this, as is frequently noted in the «Dune» sequels’ epigraphs, is that even for someone with Paul’s immense powers, future sight is far from a concrete thing. By the end of his life in the novels, Paul comes to deeply regret his role in the holy war and tries desperately to persuade the Fremen to abandon their faith in him.

The rise of the internet put a greater emphasis on preventing piracy in Hollywood. In 2003, the Academy made members sign confidentiality agreements stipulating they wouldn’t share screeners, which was bad news for Carmine Caridi. He had befriended a man named Russell Sprague; the two kept in touch even though Sprague lived in Illinois, and before long, he asked Caridi to send him the VHS tapes that he would then copy. It didn’t take long for the pirated tapes to get linked back to Caridi, and early in 2004, the Academy reached out to him after his screeners appeared online.

The Academy acted swiftly, permanently banning Caridi that same year. He also faced lawsuits from Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures, and he was interrogated by the FBI, where he gave up Sprague in exchange for immunity. Caridi told The Hollywood Reporter he wasn’t aware that movies could be put on the internet, and he ultimately agreed with the Academy’s decision, saying, «I did violate their law.» Even after his expulsion, Caridi continued acting in a variety of projects until he died in 2019, one of many actors from «Fame» who have since passed away.

Through such actions, Caridi joined a small group of people who have resigned or been expelled from the Academy. At the time of his THR interview, he mentioned still being in the Screen Actors Guild and getting some screeners from that organization. Somewhat amazingly, he added, «I lend them to my neighbor.»

«Venom: The Last Dance» is certainly a more creative title than something like «V3nom,» albeit a bit esoteric. Some Redditors have even poked fun at it, suggesting this means that the film will feature a cameo from Michael Jordan since there’s a documentary miniseries about Jordan and the Chicago Bulls called «The Last Dance.» All jokes aside, it’s possible that the creatives behind the «Venom» threequel just wanted some campy fun, but there’s always a chance it could hint toward greater machinations.

The «Venom: Let There Be Carnage» and «Spider-Man: No Way Home» post-credits scenes respectively see Eddie get transported into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and then sent back to his own universe. It would be weird for that tease not to pay off. What if «The Last Dance» isn’t hinting at Eddie’s demise but instead teasing the end of his time in the SSU? The «Venom» threequel could be Eddie’s «last dance» in the SSU before he’s permanently placed in the MCU, where he could have a role in «Spider-Man 4.»

A BTS «Venom 3» photo with Tom Hardy even confirms a «Spider-Man» connection, with the actor seen wearing the same clothes as in the «No Way Home» post-credits scene. «The Last Dance» could pick up shortly after those events, and with the Multiverse still fresh in Eddie’s mind, perhaps he’ll find a viable way to return to that other reality. Then again, this is all speculation. There could be any reason why it’s called «The Last Dance.» Who knows? Maybe it’s a surprise remake of 2001’s «Save the Last Dance.»

Darth Vader’s legacy isn’t associated with mercy and tolerating failure. That said, some «Star Wars» fans believe he should have made an exception for Captain Lorth Needa. As Reddit user u/HotRod1701 noted, the captain accepted responsibility for letting Han Solo get away and owned up to it in person. That’s admirable, and Vader overreacted. 

Redditor u/SnooEagles3687 echoed this view, claiming they felt terrible for Needa as he was a pretty decent guy. The «Star Wars» saga has many villains, but the captain elicits sympathy from fans, suggesting that he is only considered bad due to the people he’s associated with.

However, some fans believe that Needa’s death says more about Vader than the captain. For example, u/phillred argued that Needa’s confession would never be enough to make Vader change his wicked ways. «The writers specifically show you Captain Needa’s virtues and what makes him a valuable officer to the Empire so that you know that these are things that do not impress Vader.» Essentially, Vader is too dedicated to the dark side by this point even to consider showing mercy, though he does show his sweeter side later on.

Rob Mills and Molly McNearney went on to say that the standards and practices executives at ABC were nervous about the idea of John Cena being completely naked onstage at the Dolby Theater, even with the rules about cracks and bulges firmly in place. The fact that Cena’s bit was a callback to a streaker who snuck onstage during the 1974 Oscars likely didn’t help, but Mills and McNearney said that they got everything they wanted … even though ABC’s legal team wasn’t thrilled.

«They were sweating,» McNearney said, referencing the standards and practices executives. «I think at the end we all got to a spot where we were comfortable, S&P was comfortable, and it didn’t compromise the comedy a bit. I was very thankful that we didn’t have to send him out there in tighty whities, which I’m sure legal would have preferred.»

The sketch left a lot of viewers wondering if the actor was actually completely naked — which he was, for the most part (Cena wore something at the Oscars weirder than nudity in case something went wrong). «That’s what I wanted!» McNearney revealed. «Maybe it’s not what [S&P] wanted. That’s definitely what I want!»

While some people might associate Michael Culker with playing a character on the receiving end of one of Darth Vader’s best one-liners, he had a lengthy career. He made his acting debut in 1961 with an uncredited role in «From Russia with Love» before moving on to recurring roles on «The Adventures of Black Beauty» and «Secret Army.»

That said, he’s probably infamously remembered for his role in «A Passage to India,» where he played Major McBryde, a racist law enforcement officer. Elsewhere, he portrayed Sir Reginald Musgrave in an episode of «The Return of Sherlock Holmes.»

While some of Culver’s most notable on-screen roles saw him play bad guys, his real life saw him engage in political and humanitarian causes. According to The Guardian, he strongly opposed the Iraq war and campaigned against it. Meanwhile, in 2020, he lent support to a successful bid to have a statue of Brian Haw — an anti-war protestor — placed next to London’s Imperial War Museum.

If you want to know more about actors we’ve lost, check out our memoriam of «Star Wars» actors who’ve passed away.

Right now, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is the only confirmed supervillain appearing in James Gunn’s «Superman.» Some fans believe DC Comics might have spoiled the main villain, Brainiac, based on suggestions the publisher shared as essential reading to prepare for the film. However, Gunn’s brief mention of Brainiac on BlueSky didn’t come with any confirmation or denial about the character’s potential movie debut.

So, has Gunn hinted at Bizarro appearing in the «Superman» project? Well, sort of. On Instagram, Gunn shared his comic boom inspirations for the first film in the new DC Universe. Gunn has referred to «All-Star: Superman» (by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant, Phil Balsman, and Travis Lanham) as one of his primary comic book touchstones for both the movie and his DCU as a whole. Issue seven of the series features a trip to Bizarro World, along with many different versions of the character. Another image from the post was a piece of pin-up art from «Superman Annual» #6 by legendary artist Curt Swan, which features the Superman Family, including the Legion of Super-Heroes, Supergirl, and Bizarro, among others.

Introducing Bizarro in the first «Superman» movie would be a curious move, as audiences still haven’t seen David Corenswet in his first superhero role. Casting him as Clark Kent/Superman, as well as his evil clone counterpart, would be a bit of a surprise, as you might think Gunn would want to establish the new Man of Steel before bringing Bizarro into the fold, and yet, there continue to be indications this could be the case.

Will Bizarro appear in «Superman» in the DCU? We’ll find out when the film arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025.

Turning the Swedish actor into a figure worthy of inducing nightmares was no small task. All in all, it took five people four hours to apply the silicone bald cap, eyebrow covers, and prosthetic cheeks, jowls, hands, feet, and ankles — and that’s when he’s clothed. It took six and a half to seven hours to prepare him for when he’s not wearing a costume, partially because everything is practical rather than CGI.

Despite this, Stellan Skarsgård insisted on more nude scenes. «Stellan just loved being naked as the Baron,» makeup artist Donald Mowat told TheWrap. «He was always asking for more nudity.» From Skarsgård’s point of view, the Baron’s frequent nudeness reveals how terrifying he is. «Harkonnen is more dangerous naked than in armor,» he told USA Today. «His evilness comes from the inside.»

While the Baron is killed in «Dune: Part Two,» Paul’s (Timothée Chalamet) journey continues in «Dune: Messiah» (although you shouldn’t expect «Dune 3» anytime soon).

Famously fired from «Saturday Night Live,» Norm Macdonald was the show’s «Weekend Update» host for nearly five years, and became a legend after exiting the sketch comedy series in December 1997. Arguably more beloved after he left «SNL,» he went on to front his own sitcom, «Norm» in 1999, and later provided voicework in animated favorites like «Skylander Academy» and «Mike Tyson Mysteries» as well as the live-action sci-fi comedy «The Orville.» 

In his later years, Macdonald became active on social media and online, even hosting his own podcast that featured guests like Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, and Roseanne Barr. On Twitter, Macdonald seemed to use the platform to talk about just about anything that was on his mind, no matter how small. A lot of his posts were about sports, oddly enough, including his many wagers on betting apps, in line with his well-chronicled gambling habits. 

It came to an end with his death in September 2021 from leukemia. His last tweet came a few months before he died, when it was revealed that he’d been ill for almost a decade. But that tweet showed that no matter how grim his diagnosis, he always had time for a little odds-making, posting about his betting picks. «Morikawa shoots a 64 to get to -9,» he said, referring to pro golfer Collin Morikawa. «He was my pick for this week, but I laid off at last second due to injury concerns.»

While Robert Downey Jr. seemingly ignoring Ke Huy Quan could be seen as insensitive, is it a stretch to call it racist? Photos later emerged from that evening of Downey and Quan shaking hands backstage. There was even a group shot of Downey posing with the five presenters with his arm around Quan. Others on X seem to think the whole controversy doesn’t hold merit, like @MattMustin: «Seeing some unironic ‘Robert Downey Jr is obviously a racist a****** who should go to hell’ tweets because he didn’t make eye contact with Ke Huy Quan and I swear to god all of you need to chill out.»

Then again, the flap is bringing to mind another unfortunate incident concerning Downey. In 2015, the actor was asked by The Guardian about director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu calling superhero movies a form of «cultural genocide.» The «Iron Man» star, one of a few MCU stars to have won an Oscar, answered, «For a man whose native tongue is Spanish to be able to put together a phrase like ‘cultural genocide’ just speaks to how bright he is.» That statement, combined with Downey appearing to snub Quan, has led to many derisive remarks on social media. 

The question remains: did Downey intentionally ignore Quan? Taylor Swift made headlines earlier in 2024 when people thought she snubbed Celine Dion, who presented her with an award at the Grammys. Award shows can be chaotic, so perhaps Downey was just so overwhelmed he didn’t think to shake Quan’s hand. Regardless, many find it to have been a bad look. 

When Neve Campbell exited the «Scream» franchise, she told People in August 2022 that she wasn’t offered a high enough paycheck to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott, feeling that a man would have gotten whatever compensation he asked for. «And as a woman in this business, I think it’s really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued,» she told the outlet. «I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man.»

This is a perfectly valid stance from Campbell — but now that she’s rejoining the franchise (and presumably was offered a big fat check to do so), her comments about women being «valued» in the entertainment industry rings hollow. In the wake of her firing from the «Scream» franchise, Melissa Barrera released a statement in November 2023 condemning both antisemitism and Islamophobia, saying that she «[condemns] hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,» but it’s not as if Spyglass Productions saw fit to reverse their decision; they simply punished her for speaking out. Campbell is welcome to her paycheck, but fans should be aware that she’s not supporting Barrera by cashing it.

Al Pacino released a statement on the matter, which was also published by Variety. He reiterated how it was an intentional decision: «I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony.»

The actor went on to explain that he understands why people may have been more upset than confused about the matter. While all of the best picture nominees were highlighted throughout the ceremony, the final award presentation is an opportunity to praise them one last time. The whole ceremony is about honoring cinema, so why not draw attention to the best films of the previous year? Pacino admitted, «I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful … I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.» 

Even Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at Pacino’s presentation. After the show, he spoke with «Live with Kelly and Mark» to say, «Everyone in America knows the rhythm of how it’s supposed to go … down to the ‘And the Oscar goes to…’ But not Al Pacino! God bless him.» If nothing else, Pacino’s presentation overshadowed other big moments, like John Cena being naked at the 2024 Oscars, which is a feat in and of itself.