“It’s a line that you have to walk: ‘How far are we going to take this?’” Connor, 22, told The Guardian in a Friday, July 10, profile ahead of the Heartstopper Forever premiere. “But at the end of the day, it did feel like these two guys are really attracted to each other at the age where they probably would have been doing it.”

Connor and Locke, 22, star as Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, respectively, in Netflix’s Heartstopper. The YA coming-of-age romance, adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, aired three seasons on the streaming giant from 2022 to 2024. The entire cast recently reunited in Heartstopper Forever, a feature-length follow-up film set years later.

Considering Nick and Charlie’s maturity in Heartstopper Forever, the actors believe it “would be weird” to exclude sex scenes.

‘Heartstopper’ Wasn't Renewed for Season 4 — But Is Getting a Movie

“It would be weird if we hadn’t shown it. Just because our show is a more earnest version of a queer representation doesn’t mean that sex [shouldn’t be shown],” Locke stated to The Guardian. “It’s still a big thing for anyone in the world. I don’t think Heartstopper is ever trying to say anything bad about casual sex. It’s just nice to see two boys in love.”

Locke and Connor also coproduced the film, which will serve as the franchise’s conclusion.

“The Heartstopper audience has been loyal throughout. I didn’t feel like season 3 had any less of an impact,” Locke said, denying speculation the show ended due to waning fan enthusiasm. “[Today’s political climate]  makes it more important. What’s great is that Netflix is everywhere, so even in these countries where you can’t be so openly queer, Heartstopper is still on Netflix and people still have access to it.”

Heartstopper's Kit Connor Slams Viewers for 'Forcing' Him to Come Out As Bi

Since its inception, Heartstopper has spotlighted queer representation across the spectrum. Nick is openly bisexual, Tobie Donovan’s Isaac Henderson identifies as asexual and aromantic and Yasmin Finney plays Elle Argent, a transgender Black girl.

“Heartstopper is a form of escapism for queer people,” Finney, 22, told the British newspaper. “It’s not about, ‘Look what’s happening in the world, feel sorry for us.’ It’s more, ‘This is what queerness can be and it’s beautiful and it transforms in many different ways.’ I think it’s just as important to have realism as it is to have escapism because we’re still living in an epidemic where trans people are constantly being ridiculed. Every day I try to just focus on the present and stay positive.”

Heartstopper Forever premieres Friday, July 17, on Netflix.  

After winning over fans as endlessly lovable best friend Lee Flynn in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth franchise, Courtney, 30, steps up as a full-fledged heartthrob opposite Bailee Madison in 40 Dates and 40 Nights. The rom-com follows Leah (Madison) as she agrees to go on 40 dates with 40 different men after her grandmother (Annie Potts) offers her a year of free rent if she completes the challenge. But when one disastrous first date with Mason (Courtney) keeps bringing the pair back into each other’s orbit, their unexpected sparks threaten to derail the entire experiment.

In the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now, Courtney shares how his years playing the lovable best friend helped him prepare to finally be a leading man.

“I absolutely cherish my time on The Kissing Booth,” he tells Us, noting that he “learned so much on [those films] about the structure of rom-coms and the moments of connection” between his costars Joey King and Jacob Elordi, who play the trilogy’s main love interests. “Getting to play the leading guy now, I just felt ready.”

Having Madison, 27, opposite him on screen only made that transition easier.

Rom-Coms You Forgot About and Need to Watch Right Now

“Bailee is an incredible actress, and so collaborative, and very kind and just a first-class person to work with,” Courtney explains. “We just had an awesome time on film… We go ttogoo to work and have a really great time making this beautiful story that I think people are going to absolutely love and connect with.”

It didn’t hurt that the pair were friends long before they were cast in the film together, making their chemistry feel even more natural once the cameras rolled. “We ran in similar circles with a lot of mutual friends,” Courtney shares.

He adds that, despite much of 40 Dates’ dialogue feeling natural and conversational, rehearsals with director Andy Delaney played a key part in ensuring the Leah and Mason dynamic landed right. “I love rehearsing —  I think it is central to my process,” Courtney notes.

He adds that while some scenes played better off the cuff — one particular moment in a pharmacy where Leah finds herself desperate to get access to Plan B after a one-night stand relied heavily on improv moments, Courtney points out — others benefited from getting every beat laid out ahead of calling “action.”

“There’s a scene on the couch where [Mason spends] the night at Leah’s place because his power goes out and their friendship, their playful friendship, kind of takes a dangerous step toward, ‘Yeah, there’s something here between us,’” Courtney says. “We rehearsed that scene a ton. We had an absolute blast rehearsing that, and I got a lot out of it. I learned a ton from Andy, and I learned a ton from Bailee.”

The heart of the film, after all, stems from the world Sarah Howard created on the page.  Courtney jumps to praise the writer for her script, calling it a “beautiful piece with beautiful characters and the ability to apply so much nuance.”

It’s the type of script, Courtney says, that feels reminiscent of the charming classic romantic comedies of past decades.

“I’m so excited that people finally get to see this, because it feels like those early 2000s rom-coms. It feels so familiar, and like the laughs are honest,” Courtney explains. “I‘m just so proud of it.

The romance genre has seen a major recent comeback — People We Meet on Vacation was just nominated for an Emmy, while Voicemails for Isabelle has taken the world by storm. Courtney, for his part, thinks the resurgence comes down to something surprisingly simple: people are craving real human connection in an increasingly digital world.

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“I think technology is a separator as well as a connector,” he says, pointing to dating apps and social media as changing the way people meet. “I think this pursuit of a relationship, this pursuit of love, is becoming a real thing in the rom-com space.”

For Courtney, the best romantic comedies remind viewers that love is still worth taking a chance on — even if you have to date 40 people to find it.

“I think that’s where these films really score, is when you see yourself in the. Like, I get what Leah’s going through. I wish I could find a mason,” he shares. “This outcome is not impossible; it’s achievable. You gotta keep trusting that love is out there, keep trusting that love is out there, keep trusting in your gut. Go out and be willing to be affected. Put your phone down. See if someone talks to you.”

40 Dates and 40 Nights is on demand now.

Adapted from Deborah Gregory’s novels of the same name, The Cheetah Girls follows high schoolers Galleria (Raven-Symoné), Chanel (Adrienne Bailon-Houghton), Aquanetta (Kiely Williams) and Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan), who made up an aspiring girl group pursuing the bright lights of fame in New York City and beyond.

The debut movie musical, produced by the late Whitney Houston, premiered in August 2003 followed by The Cheetah Girls 2 in 2006 and The Cheetah Girls: One World (sans Symoné) in 2008. News broke in July 2026 that Symoné, Bailon-Houghton, Bryan and Cheetah mamas Lynn Whitfield and Lori Anne Alter would all reprise their cheetah-licious roles in a “next gen” sequel.

Keep scrolling to revisit where the original stars are now:

The TV network announced its partnership with the NFL in 2024, creating a brand-new Countdown to Christmas flick inspired by the Kansas City Chiefs.

“This holiday season, Hallmark is all about bringing joy to the world,” Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “Our new partnership with the NFL and Chiefs is uniquely designed to do just that — to find universal ways to spread cheer, tell heartwarming stories and build excitement for our treasured hometown brands during this very special time of year.

At the time, the Chiefs were the reigning Super Bowl champions but soared to even greater heights thanks to pop star Taylor Swift’s real life romance with tight end Travis Kelce. (Kelce’s mom, Donna, even made a cameo in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.)

Holiday Movies Inspired by Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's Romance Compared

Since Holiday Touchdown’s debut in KC, the franchise has expanded to other NFL teams. Keep scrolling for a full guide:

‘A Chiefs Love Story’

The inaugural Holiday Touchdown film premiered in November 2024, following a diehard family of Chiefs fans competing to win a “Fan of the Year” trophy. Daughter Alana (Hunter King) quickly gets to know the team’s director of fan engagement, Derrick (Tyler Hynes), as he determines the contest winner.

“I don’t know that I’ll ever experience [anything] quite like that again. And it speaks to the people who are in that city,” Hynes exclusively told Us Weekly of filming in Kansas City and at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. “It seemed like it was the best of America that we got to serve with this.”

‘A Bills Love Story’

Holiday Touchdown moved to Buffalo, New York, in November 2025 for a sweet rom-com inspired by the Buffalo Bills. In the film, Morgan (Holland Roden) and Gabe (Matthew Daddario) are childhood best friends and neighbors who team up to uncover the mysterious gift giver who’s been sending Morgan’s uncle an annual Bill-themed holiday present for decades.

Much like A Chiefs Love Story, the Bills version was filmed in Buffalo and at the team’s Highmark Stadium.

“They say that these houses are in the shadow of the Highmark Stadium, and they really are,” Roden told Us in November 2025, revealing the cast even got to tailgate with the Bills Mafia fans. “We got to go to a real game where we drank out of a bowling ball. We helped clean up the ears of the man that puts mustard and ketchup all over him. I was Q-tip Girl for him.”Filming A Bills Love Story also turned Roden into a proud supporter of the New York team.

“I am 100 percent a Bills fan. It’s hard not to fall in love with the city of good neighbors,” she stated. “You go into any coffee shop restaurant [and] there’s a spirit of the Bills. Either by physical murals on the wall, flags in the front yard. It’s like the Bills’ election 24/7 there. I’m from Dallas. [As] a Cowboy fan, it’s hard to top [the Texas team], and Buffalo did it tenfold.”

‘A Bears Love Story’

Hallmark announced in June 2026 that the Holiday Touchdown was en route to Chicago for its third installment of the franchise.

“We are honored, grateful and excited to join forces with Hallmark Media, Skydance Sports and NFL Films on this special project,” Chicago Bears president and CEO, Kevin Warren, said in a statement. “As we continually look for ways to further the connection with our passionate Chicago Bears fans and amplify our global brand in creative ways, we will provide our club and our fans with the opportunity to grow together by creating a special, meaningful movie. We look forward to the work ahead alongside Hallmark Media, Skydance Sports and NFL Films, and we are energized for the product we will create together, celebrating football, family, the Chicago Bears and the holiday season.”

Lyndsy Fonseca will star as Avery opposite Robert Buckley‘s Matt. Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods and Khary Payton round out the starting lineup.

Further details about A Bears Love Story, including a story line, premiere date or potential NFL cameos, have yet to be announced.

Disney completely surprised millennials on Wednesday, July 8, when the network announced a brand-new music-driven film called The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen.

A new cast of talented young actresses, including Leah Sava’ Jeffries, Carmen Sanchez, Kaileen Chang and Sophie Lennon, are expected to star in the upcoming movie.

But wait, there’s more! Symoné — who serves as an executive producer on the project — will reprise her role as Galleria alongside Bailon-Houghton, who is returning as Chanel.

Disney Channel Original Movie Leading Ladies: Where Are They Now?

Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter are also set to play Dorothea and Juanita once again, while Sabrina Bryan will make a special appearance as Dorinda, Disney confirmed. To top it all off, Sophia Bush will also appear in a supporting role as Jennifré.

“The story picks up when Cheetah Girls Galleria (Symoné, 40) and Chanel (Bailon-Houghton, 42), alongside Galleria’s daughter Faith (Jeffries, 16) and her three friends, travel to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary,” Disney said in a press release. “Along the way, these four teen girls test their friendship, find their voice and discover the true Cheetah spirit as they save the preserve and ultimately take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls.”

The Cheetah Girls is one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchises. When it premiered in 2003, The Cheetah Girls was the No. 1 highest-rated movie on broadcast or cable.

The franchise also launched tours and massive hits, including “Cheetah Sisters,” “The Party’s Just Begun” and “Cinderella.”

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“The Cheetah Girls has always been about friendship, music and empowering young people to use their voice,” Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said in a statement. “That spirit connected deeply with a generation of fans, and it still resonates today. Bringing this dynamic new group of young stars to the franchise allows us to continue that legacy for a new era of kids and families.”

Disney Stars Through the Years: Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, More

More than two decades after the film’s debut, The Cheetah Girls franchise continues to resonate with new and old fans alike because of its themes of friendship, ambition and self-expression.

“This is going to be Cheetahlicious!” Symoné wrote via Instagram on Wednesday after Disney revealed the new cast members. “So proud of you ladies! 1, 2, 3 with the vocals!”

Although a premiere date has yet to be announced, filming is expected to kick off in South Africa later this month.

“I mean, come on, Mitch McConnell’s dead,” Rinna, 62, said via a TikTok video posted on Tuesday, July 7. “He’s dead.”

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star then compared McConnell’s lack of transparency about his illness — and retreat from the spotlight — as that of the plot for the 1989 film Weekend at Bernie’s.

“They’re keeping him alive like Weekend at Bernie’s,” Rinna claimed, shaking her head at the camera as if to say there’s no other explanation.

Meghan McCain Believes Mitch McConnell’s Staff Should Show ‘Proof of Life’

Weekend at Bernie’s is a dark comedy starring Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman, who try and pass off their murdered boss as still being alive by dressing him up, putting on sunglasses and throwing parties and hanging at the beach with his body.

Rinna was referring to the movie’s story line of keeping Bernie Lomax’s (Terry Kiser) death a secret by hiding it in plain sight after McConnell, 84, faced a series of health issues in recent months.

“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” McConnell’s office said in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, seemingly reassuring fans that McConnell is alive. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”

In February, the Kentucky senator was hospitalized after experiencing “flu-like symptoms,” which McConnell’s team told Us in a statement was done out of “an abundance of caution.”

“His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving. He is in regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business,” the spokesperson explained at the time.

Less than four months later, McConnell experienced another seemingly more serious health scare which led to his current hospitalization.

Multiple news outlets reported on July 1 that McConnell was found “unconscious” at his Washington, D.C. home on June 14.

Senator Mitch McConnell Releases Statement Amid Reports He's Brain Dead

The New York Post reported that emergency service personnel said in the dispatch audio that there was “CPR in progress” for a “cardiac arrest” at the house.

“Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery. However, he will not be voting this week,” spokesperson Stephanie Penn said in an email to People earlier this month.

According to Senate records, McConnell hasn’t voted since June 11.

Amid his absence, rumors have swirled about what exactly is going on with the former Senate Majority Leader. Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist, for example, has claimed that McConnell is brain dead amid his hospitalization.

“Mitch McConnell is brain dead and hooked up to machines!!!” she alleged via X on Tuesday, July 7. “He is 84 years old and was found unconscious and needed to be resuscitated.”

That same day, McConnell’s team shared an update about the politician’s health, casting doubt on her claims.

The statement, however, hasn’t stopped the conspiracies and rumors from spreading. In fact, Meghan McCain called for transparency about McConnell on Tuesday via X.

Mitch McConnell Found Unconscious Last Month After Possible Heart Attack

“Senator McConnell’s staff owes it to the American public to give a real update on his health or show us some kind of proof of life,” McCain, 41, wrote. “All of this is unseemly, macabre, bad for democracy and quite frankly embarrassing for the country.”

CNN analyst Scott Jennings, meanwhile, claimed on Tuesday that he’s spoken with McConnell recently.

“He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library and even a little bit of Senate history,” Jennings, 48, tweeted. “I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”

McConnell has been representing Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and is currently in his seventh term. He announced in 2025 that he didn’t plan to seek reelection in 2026.

They may not always have the lead role, be the team captains or have millions of Instagram followers, but something about these individuals catches our attention and has Us googling them shirtless for more.

We’ve always known Zac Efron has it going on, but Dylan Efron’s unexpected rise to prominence on Traitors had Us looking up his Instagram — only to find it’s stock-full of thirst traps. (Thank you, Dylan Efron.)

Sure, Jalen Hurts is all the rage, but the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl championship suddenly had Us drooling over Saquon Barkley’s “Saquads” and tuning into the Big Game.

And yes, John B. (a.k.a. Chase Stokes) is the obvious crush on Outer Banks, but series villain Drew Starkey’s nuanced and erotic performance in Queer had Us looking at the actor in a whole new light.

Keep scrolling for more of Us’ weekly picks for People We Googled Shirtless:

The upcoming thriller F.A.S.T. recently filmed in Marbella, Spain, going nearly unnoticed despite the large scale of production on the Warner Bros. Project. Peter Welter, who is the executive producer and CEO of Malaga-based company Fresco Film, shared insight into the work that went into F.A.S.T.

“Part of our work for major production companies is to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. This time, we managed it,” Welter told SUR in English about the film, which was shot in Alicante, Murcia, Madrid and Toledo.

According to the official synopsis, F.A.S.T. follows “a former special forces commando, down on his luck after he returns Stateside, who is tapped by the DEA to lead a black op strike team against CIA-protected drug dealers in his town.”

Brandon Sklenar’s Candid Quotes About Starring in Taylor Sheridan's ‘1923’

In addition to Sklenar, the film stars Juliana Canfield, LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke, Sam Claflin, Trevante Rhodes and Chloe Coleman.

“We needed a mansion to serve as the residence of some drug traffickers and we found it in Malaga, between Marbella and Estepona,” Welter shared. “It was a shoot in a private residential development, which allowed us to camouflage the filming very well.”

Welter praised executive producer Sheridan for the work that went into F.A.S.T., adding, “It was also a major shoot, filming over 14 weeks on three soundstages.”

Before F.A.S.T., Sklenar was catapulted into stardom thanks to the Yellowstone spinoff 1923. (Yellowstone aired from 2018 to 2024, with additional series 1883 and 1923 focusing on various ancestors of the original show’s Dutton family.)

1923 starred Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford as relatives of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. Sklenar, meanwhile, stole scenes in the role of Spencer Dutton as season 1 followed the challenges of a historic drought and Prohibition.

As Sklenar’s career expanded with opportunities in It Ends with Us, Drop and The Housemaid, he expressed gratitude to Sheridan for believing in him before reuniting on F.A.S.T.

Inside Taylor Sheridan's Life Outside of the Spotlight After Leaving L.A.

“I’m just excited to work with great directors and great actors, and just continue to learn and grow. I’d like to direct at some point in the next five years. I’m kind of just trying to learn,” Sklenar told Forbes in 2025. “The little kid in me, I would love to do a proper western — a proper, straight western — that has been a dream of mine for a long time. I kind of touch it a little bit in 1923, but that’s something that I would love to do.”

Sklenar was candid about working with Sheridan, telling Esquire in February 2025, “I owe it all to this show. I was grinding for 12 to 13 years before that, and this was the thing that did it. For [Sheridan] to put that faith in me to play this incredible character he wrote, I’ll forever be in debt to him. I’m just so honored that I got to do it and hopefully continue to do it.”

The actor later found himself involved in the legal battle between his It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni when text messages were released in January referencing 1923.

“I hope your show gives you space to hustle. Especially once It comes out, week 2 will be a time that it will get especially heated for you. Just something to think about and maximize,” Lively wrote to Sklenar, who replied, “I’m working on it. They are particularly s***ty about that. But I’m gonna do everything I can to make it happen. It would be a crime to not ride that momentum.”

Sklenar noted that he was looking forward to production wrapping up on 1923 since the second season “was only meant to be the 8 and they added 7 more as soon as we started the first 8.”

“No more shows after this. That’s for damn sure,” he added.

Lively and Baldoni eventually settled their case before heading to trial.

Critics are praising Nolan’s “must-see” movie, which had its first screening in London on Monday, July 6, and is set for release on July 17.

The Odyssey, based on the Greek epic by poet Homer, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus. The film costars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Samantha Morton.

Following Monday’s world premiere, social media was abuzz with reactions from critics lucky enough to see it, with Nolan’s direction and Pattinson’s performance as Antinous drawing particular attention.

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“Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time,” wrote Fandago and Rotten Tomatoes’ Erik Davis via X. “It feels like everything Nolan has been working toward with IMAX has culminated here. The production design is incredible, the action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before.”

“The cast is stacked, and somehow everyone still gets a chance to shine. Anne Hathaway is incredible, Matt Damon is excellent, and Tom Holland continues to prove he can do just about anything,” Davis continued. “But Robert Pattinson absolutely stole the show for me. He’s so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch. Pattinson leans all the way into the character’s villainy, and it results in one of my favorite performances of his. Look, it’s the must-see cinematic event of the summer — and quite possibly the year. I can’t wait to watch it again.”

Critic Matt Neglia wrote, “Matt Damon’s screen command and glimpse into Odysseus’s soul brings waves of enormous power to a larger-than-life and complex role. Anne Hathaway turns in an equally powerful and emotional performance as the steadfast Penelope. And Tom Holland’s coming-of-age portrayal of Telemachus signals an exciting new era in his evolving career as a leading man. The cast is massive but the supporting turns from Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, and John Leguizamo impressed me the most.”

Collider’s Steven Weintraub hailed the movie as “incredible,” writing, “I’m really blown away by this film. Everything from the flawless performances to the way Nolan embraces the supernatural is just perfect.”

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IndieWire chief film critic David Ehrlich wrote, “The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization – this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.”

“It boasts spectacular & even terrifying set pieces that feel like Christopher Nolan fully embracing the horrors of Greek mythology,” wrote DiscussingFilm’s Andrew J. Salazar. Yet, how he tastefully recontextualizes the story for the modern day is what has kept my head buzzing. … In a world where pride, ego, & entitlement continue to fuel wars & endless bloodshed, Nolan uses Odysseus’ ancient tale as a channel to question what it would take for us to truly forgive our past sins. Epic and meditative in equal measure, the ending left me soaring with hope.”

The New York native nearly gave up on acting before landing his major breakthrough in 1974’s The Lords of Flatbush. The first Rocky film hit theaters two years later — and Stallone’s career changed forever.

“I wanted to get back to the cycle of the films of the ’40s and the ’50s … so I took the opportunity to write this particular film, of course, being somewhat selfish because I had myself in mind for [starring in] it,” he explained during a 1977 TV interview of writing the character of Rocky Balboa. “That was the main motivation.”

Rocky was nominated in a total of 10 categories at the 1977 Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing. It was the highest-grossing film of 1976 and spawned multiple sequels.

Along with his box office hits, Stallone’s personal life has fascinated fans over the years, including his marriage to third wife Jennifer Flavin, with whom he shares three daughters.

Scroll down for a look at Stallone’s career highlights and more:

Adeyemi, 32, took to TikTok on Saturday, July 4, with a statement that read, “Since someone asked, I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it.”

She continued: “It’s been painful holding this back from you all. And I’m sorry if any of you thought I didn’t care. I will always care about US. More than any glitter.”

In response to a fan who was upset about the post, Adeyemi replied, “I do not mind anyone going to watch the film. I wrote this for us. I fought for us. I’m just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because I can’t keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes.”

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Adeyemi also attached a screen grab in which she wrote a message to unidentified recipients.

“There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. That’s all,” she wrote in a group chat that appeared to include Amandla Stenberg, who plays main character Princess Amari. “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me.”

Adeyemi appeared to send the message in February 2025, which was around the time Stenberg’s casting was announced. The news originally received backlash, which Stenberg, 27, addressed and claimed Adeyemi had supported her leading the cast.

Children of Blood and Bone, which is the first novel in Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, is set in an African fantasy kingdom and follows a young woman who goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people. The main character and her brother team up with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against the brutal rule.

The novel was previously planned to be developed at Lucasfilm. Paramount acquired the adaptation in late 2021. At that time, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Adeyemi’s request to write the script for Lucasfilm had been denied.

Gina Prince-Bythewood was tapped as the director and co-screenwriter with Adeyemi for Children of Blood and Bone. In addition to Stenberg, the cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Viola Davis.

Stenberg previously broke her silence about the colorism backlash.

“I’ve been through a lot of s***, y’all,” she shared in an Instagram video, which has since been removed. “This year was mostly defined for me, honestly, by contending with what it felt like to receive racist death threats just for existing in the Star Wars universe, and that was a really difficult thing for me to move through. But honestly, it feels so much more painful for me to feel like I’m at odds with my own community.”

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Stenberg shut down the implication that she was taking roles away from dark-skinned actresses, adding, “I would never navigate my career blindly and ignorantly, not thinking about my skin tone or the space that I occupy. I would never go after a role that I didn’t feel like was right for me to chase.”

At the time, Stenberg recalled researching photos of Princess Amari after joining Blood and Bone. She highlighted that in the book, characters with skin tones similar to hers were considered the “ruling class” who oppress dark-skinned characters for their “magical capabilities.”

“So, I thought to myself, not only do I fit this character description, but my skin tone actually serves the story in supporting the allegory of colorism and oppression,” she continued.

Stenberg also claimed she received the stamp of approval from Adeyemi.

“She goes, ‘Amandla, I want you to know that when you were a little girl and you were cast as Rue in The Hunger Games, and people said that Rue’s death wouldn’t be as sad because you’re a Black girl — that inspired me to write this series so that Black girls like you and Black girls of all shades could have a story written about them,'” Stenberg recalled. “We started crying, and I said to myself, ‘God wants me here.'”

“My daughters have watched every episode of One Tree Hill, and they wanted to go to dinner with Brooke,” O’Connell, 52, told Us Weekly exclusively of his Summer’s Last Resort costar, referencing her character from the beloved teen drama. “They were very excited about that. Basically, Sophia is the link between myself and my daughters. That’s the only communication I have.”

He kept the joke going, adding, “I actually don’t even talk to them anymore. I just send messages to Sophia, who then talks to them in emoji and young people dialect.”

The actor shares 17-year-old twin daughters Charlie and Dolly with his wife, Rebecca Romijn, and Bush, 43, appreciated the adoration from their girls.

“The joke became, like, they never wanted to talk to any of us,” the actress recalled to Us. “And then we all went to dinner for [Jerry’s] birthday in L.A., and they came, and I was like, ‘Oh, the girls wanna…’ It turns out they want to hang out with us. We’re pretty cool. So I feel like we really got there.”

To be fair, O’Connell got plenty of love from the young ones in Bush’s life as well.

“On set, you’d figure out the time change, and then everyone would be FaceTiming their families, and we were all talking to each other’s families, and our kids would be like, ‘Mr. Jerry!’ like, so excited,” she recalled of her own brood with partner Ashlyn Harris and her two daughters, Sloane, 5, and Ocean, 3.

Sophia Bush Was 'Mortified' in Jerry O'Connell's Dolphin Scene in New Film

Both O’Connell and Bush applied what they know about parenting to their roles as Milly and Glenn in Summer’s Last Resort, a couple who tries to unite their blended family on a tropical vacation, much to the dismay of Milly’s high-strung daughter, Summer (Violet McGraw), and Glenn’s free-spirited daughter, Sadie (Clara Alexandrova).

“Most of the friends in my peer group have toddlers of varying ages, but we have three girlfriends that had kids really young, like they’re graduating high school now, and so to be in that position as characters where we’re playing mother and daughter, but we’re also playing friends is a really interesting dynamic,” Bush said of her chemistry with McGraw, 15. “I feel so protective of [her], but I’m also like, ‘Should we go to dinner?’”

While his own dynamic with McGraw’s character onscreen makes for a great movie, O’Connell is currently dealing with the woes of teenage girlhood in real life.

“I’m a much older parent to my kids, so we don’t have anything in common,” he joked to Us. “All I do is say, like, get off your phones. Go outside. What are you doing? Stop with the selfies!”

With that being said, leaning into the embarrassment of a role like Glenn allowed O’Connell to live out his dadhood dreams.

“Living with two teenage girls made me really appreciate Summer’s Last Resort and also made me play a lot of the scenes, I’m not kidding, I did things on the movie that I know I should never do around my children, because they won’t talk to me for months at a time,” he told Us. “I was like, ‘Oh, what would I do that would anger my daughters if I did it?’ And I could see that it was really working, because I could see that I was angering Violet IRL — that means in real life for some of your older readers.”

McGraw countered with an immediate “When?!” — though O’Connell had an example ready to go.

“I mean, when we had scenes with the dolphin and stuff, I was doing things that would mortify you and mortify my daughters,” he recalled.

As for Bush?

“I got to be mortified from the stands that day,” she joked.

Summer’s Last Resort premieres exclusively on Tubi Friday, July 3.

“I got to be mortified from the stands that day,” the actress, 43, told Us Weekly exclusively of a scene in her new film Summer’s Last Resort. “I’ve never been more relieved to be an observer of a scene.”

Bush stars as Milly in the Tubi film opposite Jerry O’Connell and Violet McGraw, who play her boyfriend and daughter, respectively, as they all try their best to get along on a tropical vacation. The scene in question involves O’Connell, 52, and McGraw, 15, trying to resuscitate a dolphin in hilarious fashion, while Bush’s character watches from the sidelines.

“When we had scenes with the dolphin and stuff, I was doing things that would mortify [Violet], would mortify my daughters,” O’Connell, who shares 17-year-old twin daughters Charlie and Dolly with his wife, Rebecca Romijn, joked to Us. “I was able to lean into it. I’m so afraid of my daughters. I live in fear of them. I’m afraid of even talking about them. When I got on Summer’s Last Resort, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m able to do the things I yearn to do as a dad, but I have to stop myself from doing because Violet has to be here. It’s her job.’”

McGraw concurred, adding that working with the dolphins was definitely “the most memorable for me.”

The movie is action-packed and filled with physical comedy, so it should come as no surprise that the dolphin scene wasn’t the only behind-the-scenes moment that pushed some boundaries.

“There really was a moment where I was like, I don’t know how long we should stay here,” Bush recalled of things getting chaotic during a “big” fire scene. “I think I’m going to remove her now and save us both? And we made it.”

But O’Connell didn’t come out of that one unscathed.

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“I get nose hairs. Hairs grow out of my nose. It’s my family tree. My dad gets them, his father got them, I have them. My daughters will get them someday. When we were shooting that scene, I was 20 feet behind these two next to the fire, and I took a breath in, and my nose hairs… I could feel them burn,” he told Us. “I didn’t have to use [my trimmer] for like two weeks because that’s how hot it was.”

Admittedly, that wasn’t the actor’s only nasal incident on set. He joked that he “singed all my nose hairs” once again after catching a whiff of sardines on the dolphin’s breath.

“I kissed the dolphin and, I’m not kidding, no offense to dolphins, their breath the worst,” O’Connell said. “It’s just sardine breath, like in your face, and they have no concert of blow hole and mouth and everything. They think everyone wants to be near them.”

At the end of the day, the heart of the movie rests on the mother-daughter relationship between Milly and Summer, McGraw’s character.

“It was just kind of easy because she felt like my mom in real life and took such great care of me,” McGraw told Us of working with Bush.

For her part, the One Tree Hill alum added, “We’re playing a mother and daughter, but we’re also playing friends. It’s a really interesting dynamic. … We’re all very tight, and I think that grew naturally between us, but also for all of us as a group, because we were essentially at summer camp.”

She concluded: “We just had so much fun.”

Summer’s Last Resort premieres exclusively on Tubi Friday, July 3.

“It was Anne Hathaway who quit the movie,” the Studio star, 44, said during a Wednesday, July 1, appearance on “The A24 Podcast” alongside his The Invite director and costar Olivia Wilde.

Wilde, 42, asked Rogen if the rumor that Hathaway, 43, exited the movie due to the “crowning” scene was true.

“Yeah, I mean … it could have been a hundred million things. That was what I remember being told,” he explained. “Crowning is a tough one. She didn’t want the crowning of the baby to be visually representative. Even though it wasn’t going to be hers … It’s obviously not real.”

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Rogen continued, “She felt that it was not her brand. Part of me also … we had started rehearsing the movie … maybe she was just like, ‘I don’t know if this is for me.’ I don’t know. I will take what she said at face value, which was the crowning.”

The actor added that Hathaway “had a sense” that the role “was not for her” and Katherine Heigl was cast in her place.

“And history will tell … she has been right about a lot more things than I have over the years. So I think she was probably right,” Rogen reflected. “[Heigl] knew what was right for her, yes. And then Heigl was great. Katie Heigl was great.”

Knocked Up starred Rogen, Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel and Martin Starr. The 2007 rom-com was directed by Judd Apatow and followed Rogen and Heigl’s characters after a one-night stand results in an unintended pregnancy. Knocked Up was a box office smash, earning $219 million worldwide and glowing reviews from critics.

While Rogen believes Heigl nailed her role as Alison, the actress has been outspoken about some of the film’s problematic aspects since its release. She called the movie “a little sexist” and criticized her own performance during a 2008 interview with Vanity Fair.

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Rogen later shared that Heigl’s remarks hurt his feelings.

“I thought she hated us,” Rogen said in a 2016 interview with Howard Stern. “We just heard she didn’t like it and that it seemed like she didn’t have a good experience making it and that she didn’t feel the product was reflective of how she thought she should be portrayed. And when that happens, as someone who’s an egomaniac, I just get hurt by that.”

Following Rogen’s admission, Heigl shared that she had nothing but love for the actor.

“I think that he’s handled that so beautifully and I just feel nothing but love and respect,” she said in a 2016 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It’s so long ago at this point, I just wish him so much goodness and I felt that from him too.”

The comedic film followed a group of rival cheerleaders as they competed to win a national championship amid allegations of cheating, blossoming love and plenty of other run-of-the-mill teen drama.

“[I was shooting] in Prague, and I remember not turning it down, exactly, but not being super sure about it,” Dunst, who played Toros captain Torrance Shipman, told Entertainment Weekly in October 2015. “I was like, ‘A cheerleading movie?’ It sounded like it could have been just a cheesy teen movie, but what sealed the deal for me was talking to the director, Peyton Reed, on the phone — he was just so smart.”

The movie wasn’t just another cheesy teen flick. In fact, decades later, it’s still one of the biggest roles both Dunst and Union, who portrayed Clovers’ captain Isis, are recognized for.

“Even when I’m promoting different movies or my TV show, people still want to talk about Bring It On,” Union told EW. “When I run into Katie Couric, it’s the first thing she talks about.”

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The 1995 cult classic focused on five teenagers from very different backgrounds who end up serving detention together at their high school. The cast of The Breakfast Club — which included Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson — quickly found success for their involvement in the iconic coming-of-age story.

After joining The CW’s Riverdale in 2017, Ringwald’s legendary film was the subject on a special episode in the series’ third season. The show’s flashback episode titled “The Midnight Club” paid tribute to The Breakfast Club by having the main actors play younger versions of their onscreen parents.

Scroll on for more TV shows that paid homage to The Breakfast Club over the years:

“Hi everyone! I am so excited to announce that we are bringing Garage Sale Mystery back,” Loughlin, 61, said in a Tuesday, June 30, Instagram video shared by the official Hallmark Channel account. “It’ll be coming your way sometime this fall. You can watch it on the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus the next day.”

The caption read, “Something mysterious is coming this fall 👀 Lori Loughlin returns in a brand new Garage Sale Mystery movie! 🔍 Watch on Hallmark Channel and stream next day on Hallmark+.”

In the comments section, several users shared their excitement about Loughlin returning.

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“THIS is the BEST NEWS!!! Omg!!!!” one user wrote, while another added, “We love you Lori! ❤️ welcome back!!!” A third wrote, “You go Lori!! Yayyy, it’s the news I’ve been waiting for!! I can’t wait!! Bring on fall! 💗💗.”

Loughlin made her Hallmark Mystery debut in September 2013 as Jennifer Shannon in the initial Garage Sale Mystery film. The actress has not reprised her role in several years, since she was at the center of the college admissions scandal. (Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli were indicted and arrested in 2019 for their alleged roles in the so-called Varsity Blues scandal. She served less than two months in prison and completed 100 hours of community service in 2021. News broke in 2025 that Loughlin and Giannulli, 63, separated after nearly three decades of marriage.)

After the network cut ties with Loughlin amid the scandal, the actress returned for When Calls the Heart season 14. Her comeback was teased one season prior, which aired earlier this year, when character Abigail made a brief cameo.

“It’s good to be home,” Abigail said, while becoming emotional as the credits rolled.

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Months prior, Loughling shared that it feels “amazing” to return and have her “girl” Erin Krakow “championing this for a long time.” While speaking with fans at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in December 2025, she explained that Krakow — who portrays Elizabeth Thornton — played a role in why Loughlin was asked back.

“When did I find out? Maybe like a month ago, two months ago, and I just want to thank everyone at Hallmark for being so loving and so welcoming … and this just feels incredible,” she said. “I mean you guys all know it, we have such a special cast, and such a special bond and it’s just so nice to be back with my family.”

Released in 2001, Legally Blonde follows Reese Witherspoon‘s Elle Woods, a sorority girl who is dumped by her boyfriend who thinks he’s too good for her. In an effort to prove him wrong and win him back, she hits the books and is accepted to Harvard. Luke Wilson (Emmett Richmond), Jennifer Coolidge (Paulette Bonafonte), Selma Blair (Vivian Kensington), Matthew Davis (Warner Huntington III) and many more appear in the now-iconic film.

Two years after the release of the original film, Witherspoon returned in Legally Blonde 2, which followed her character’s journey as an animal rights activist. A musical adaptation hit the stage in 2007 and Witherspoon coproduced a spinoff called Legally Blondes, starring twin sisters Milly and Becky Rosso playing Elle’s younger cousins.

Plus, Legally Blonde 3 is underway. Written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, very little details are known about the future film besides the release date of May 2022. Witherspoon is set to return as Elle Woods once more.

Remembered for the optimistic protagonist and a message that digs below the surface, Legally Blonde has remained relevant for years. While waiting for the release of the third movie, keep scrolling to see what the cast has been up to since the original film.

“My son’s going out for the role to play me in the Snoop movie,” Master P, 56, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending the 2026 BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, referring to the 2027 movie about Snoop Dogg’s career.

The music mogul (real name Percy Robert Miller Sr.) noted that when his son started to prepare for the audition, the producers told him about trying to channel his “quiet power.”

“I don’t do a lot of screaming and all that, but I do make my presence felt,” Master P teased.

When asked how someone can “tap into that level of confidence,” Master P advised his son — and fans — to “just believe in yourself.”

“Do the right thing and put your trust and faith in God,” he continued. “So you don’t have to do all that screaming when you know God got you.”

Master P didn’t reveal which of his sons is attempting to play him on the big screen, but there are many to choose from.

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The “Mr. Ice Cream Man” rapper is the father of nine children, including seven he shares with ex-wife Sonya C. Master P and Sonya C, 58, were married from 1989 to 2014.

Master P’s eldest child, son Romeo, is probably his best known offspring. Born in 1989, Romeo has followed in his father’s footsteps, releasing five albums of his own.

In addition to Romeo, 36, Master P shares Vercy, born in 1991, Tytyana, born in 1992, Inty, born in 1993, Itali, born in 1999, Hercy, born in 2002, and Mercy, born in 2005. (The musician’s daughter Tytyana died in May 2022 at the age of 29 after struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.)

Master P is also the father of Veno, born in 1991, and Cymphonique, born in 1996, from other relationships.

Outside of Romeo, who has acted in films like Honey and had his own Nickelodeon series, Romeo!, Master P’s son Hercy, 24, has recently been thrust into the spotlight.

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After getting hurt amid his college basketball career, Hercy filmed season 1 of Netflix’s Calabasas Confidential, which premiered in May. Hercy is also an influencer and the founder of Fearless Dreamer clothing.

His younger brother, Mercy, 20, has since carried on the basketball legacy, playing for the University of Houston.

Master P’s other two sons, Vercy and Veno, both 34, also have acting credits to their name.

While it’s unknown whether any of Master P’s kids will land the role in the upcoming biopic, the rapper is just happy to have his children in his world.

Master P told Us on Sunday that his children have helped teach him “how to be a good father” and “how to communicate.”

“As [I’m] getting older, we have to communicate love and just all the godly values and having integrity, I mean, we’re constantly teaching each other,” he added.

With reporting by Shy Taylor.

“It felt — as much as it could — like a really timeless romantic comedy. Sometimes they feel a little bit too 2026. The ones that I respond to feel a lot more timeless or are from the ’90s and have just something to them that feels not so [dated],” Reinhart, 29, explained at Obsessed Fest on Saturday, June 27.

Reinhart, who plays Olive, addressed how the movie compared to the novel.

“That’s what the script was able to feel like for me — while still keeping the integrity of both characters and doing the book justice,” she noted. “Obviously, the importance of the book and the source material [is something we thought about].”

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She continued: “We wanted to totally respect that and I think our writer Sarah [Rothschild] absolutely did. The heart of the book is in the film.”

Bateman, 37, couldn’t help but agree after bringing Adam to life, adding, “It’s really hard when you’re adapting something for a film because every single one of you that loves the book has your own idea of what these characters are gonna be like, what this world is going to be like and each moment of the story. You can only tell one.”

Based on Hazelwood’s debut novel, The Love Hypothesis follows a Ph.D. candidate and a professor at Stanford University who pretend to be in a relationship.

“Every single person involved with this had such a deep love for this book and for doing it justice for everyone that loves it, for the amazing characters and the world. The intention was always, ‘We want to make this the best it can be.’ And who better to tell it than a group of people who love it so much?” Bateman continued. “People were really fanning over it. The book was around set all the time. I remember, Lili gave me the book on set and we’d be reading bits of it before filming the scene.”

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The actor said the source material “was always front and center” for the cast and crew, concluding, “We weren’t trying to get away from it in any way. We were just trying to do our very, very best to give everyone what they want out of this story.”

Before Hazelwood released The Love Hypothesis as a book, it was originally a fan fiction story about Rey and Kylo Ren from the new Star Wars movies. Bateman’s wife, Daisy Ridley, played Rey opposite Adam Driver in the sci-fi trilogy before serving as the inspiration for Reinhart’s character, Olive.

Ridley, 34, was later asked about the connection while speaking to Collider in 2023, to which she replied, “I mean, honestly, for anyone to just write a book is so impressive, let alone a New York Times bestseller, let alone something inspired by something I was part of. That’s very thrilling.”

She continued: “So, thank you, if anyone’s reading this. Whoever wrote The Love Hypothesis and The Hurricane Wars. Wow. F***ing cool.”