Steve Pond's Blog, page 100
July 2, 2025
Freedom of the Press Foundation Weighing Legal Options Against Paramount Over Trump Settlement
The Freedom of the Press Foundation is weighing its legal options against Paramount Global following its $16 million dollar settlement with President Donald Trump after the nonprofit filed a shareholder information demand asking for a litigation hold.
“Today is a dark day for press freedom. Paramount’s spineless decision to settle Trump’s baseless and patently unconstitutional lawsuit is an insult to the journalists of ‘60 Minutes’ and an invitation to Trump to continue targeting other news outlets,” Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement. “Each time a company cowers and surrenders to Trump’s demands it only emboldens him to do it again. It will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history.”
FPF, a press freedom advocacy group, already filed a shareholder information demand back in May and said Wednesday it’s exploring further legal action to hold Paramount’s board accountable for what it sees as a capitulation to Trump that violates shareholders’ interests and the First Amendment. The organization itself is a shareholder.
The FPF called out the settlement as a conflict of interest and said it was “intended to clear the way for federal approval” in the sale of Paramount to Skydance Media which would also “result in a multimillion-dollar payout to Paramount Chair Shari Redstone.”
The nonprofit already filed a shareholder information demand to Redstone and announced Wednesday they are sending a second demand to uncover information regarding the decision. Based on the information, the FPF “will continue to pursue our legal options to stop this affront to Paramount shareholders, CBS journalists and the First Amendment.” The initial filing called the lawsuit “frivolous” and notified Paramount of its intention to take legal action in the event of a settlement with Trump.
Many have called the settlement problematic with three U.S. senators (Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden) launching an investigation into whether paying off Trump through a settlement to obtain approval of the sale would violate federal bribery and other laws. The California Senate opened a similar investigation.
“With Paramount folding to Donald Trump at the same time the company needs his administration’s approval for its billion-dollar merger, this could be bribery in plain sight,” Warren said in a Wednesday statement to TheWrap. “Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I’m calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken.”
The settlement with Trump covers legal fees and other costs, as well as a donation that will be allocated to a “future presidential library.” Paramount also said that “in the future, ’60 Minutes’ will release transcripts of interviews with eligible U.S. presidential candidates after such interviews have aired, subject to redactions as required for legal or national security concerns.”
Notably, the settlement does not include any statement of apology or regret from CBS or “60 Minutes.”
Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks addressed the settlement in a shareholder call early Wednesday morning and said the decision allows the company to focus on “core objectives, rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction.”
Trump initially sued CBS and “60 Minutes” for $20 billion, claiming that an Oct.7 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris was deceptively edited and caused him “mental anguish.”
Trump’s legal team called the settlement a “win for the American people.”
“With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit,” a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said in a statement. “CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.”
Paramount did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The post Freedom of the Press Foundation Weighing Legal Options Against Paramount Over Trump Settlement appeared first on TheWrap.
Actor Keith David Shares Tearful Reaction to Getting a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: ‘Blessed’ | Video
Keith David, the famed actor from such films as “The Thing” and “They Live,” shared a social media video reacting to the announcement that he would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Apparently, the performer didn’t know about the star before he sat down.
“What a surprise! Being #blessed to GET to do this for a living is enough for me; to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is the cherry on top,” David shared on TikTok. “Thank you, #hollywoodwalkoffame & Hollywood Chamber for this honor. A special s/o to my wife, @Dionne Lea – my greatest supporter! This will be a wonderful birthday present next year.”
To receive a Walk of Fame star, a celebrity must be nominated by another individual and agree to the nomination when applying. In the video, David’s wife, Dionne Lea Williams, exclaimed, “Happy 70th birthday!” when the announcement was made. David, who turns 70 next June, will see the star unveiled in 2026.
You can watch the heartwarming video below.
What a surprise! Being blessed to get to do this for a living is enough for me; to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is the cherry on top.
— Keith David (@ImKeithDavid) July 2, 2025
Thank you, Hollywood Walk of Fame & Hollywood Chamber for this honor. This will be a wonderful birthday present next year. pic.twitter.com/dnSmObJezT
David’s extensive resume makes him a worthy recipient. The character actor has appeared in hundreds of films and television shows since his first credited role in 1982’s “The Thing.” David, who began his career as a stage actor, has also lent his voice to numerous animated series and video game projects. He has worked with directors including John Carpenter, Jordan Peele, Barry Jenkins, Oliver Stone, Shane Black, the Wachowski siblings and Hayao Miyazaki.
Fellow Walk of Fame recipient Eugenio Derbez announced David’s star and led the presentation alongside Richard Blade. Among the other celebrities announced to receive stars were Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Miley Cyrus, Rami Malek, Rachel McAdams, Demi Moore, Shaquille O’Neal, Noah Wyle and the late Tony Scott.
The post Actor Keith David Shares Tearful Reaction to Getting a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: ‘Blessed’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Mahershala Ali Dodges Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey Grilling Him on His Marvel Work: ‘Leave Me Out of It’ | Video
The “Jurassic World Rebirth” trio of Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson assembled for Vogue to answer questions for its “Off the Cuff” video series. When Bailey was asked to name every MCU movie the other two actors had been in, Ali quickly removed himself from the question.
“Leave me out of it,” Ali laughed. “That’s just a Scarlett question.”
“Well, there’s one that we’re very excited about,” Bailey joked.
You can watch the interview segment below:
The actors all hilariously evaded the elephant in the room, one that’s followed Ali throughout this entire press tour for “Jurassic World Rebirth.” Back in 2019, Kevin Feige brought the actor out at Comic-Con to announce that he would be starring in an MCU adaptation of “Blade.” Six years and a slew of departing directors, writers and cast members later, “Blade” seems no closer to releasing than it did in Hall H.
Ali’s inclusion in the question isn’t entirely unwarranted, as the actor has appeared in one MCU film to date. In the post-credits scene of 2021’s “Eternals,” Ali lends his voice to an incredibly brief cameo, teasing a storyline between Blade and Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman (a.k.a. The Black Knight) that fans probably shouldn’t hold their breath for.
Unfortunately, this has Ali’s Blade tied for MCU appearances with Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of the same character — and Snipes appears far more in “Deadpool & Wolverine” than Ali does in “Eternals.”
Though Vogue only asked the trio to name Ali’s MCU film, the actor appeared in the first season of “Luke Cage” as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes. He also did voice work in the non-MCU “Spider-Verse” series as Aaron Davis/The Prowler.
Still, it feels like Vogue was twisting the knife a bit with that question. Johansson was, too.
“That was a lot,” Johansson joked after they finished going through her MCU films. “And you, Mahershala? What about you?” Ali ignored the playful pestering.
A founding Avenger, Johansson carries an extensive MCU resume — one that Ali and Bailey struggled to identify.
“‘Black Widow’ and the ‘Avengers’ stuff,” Ali tried to answer.
“That doesn’t count,” Johansson replied. “You can’t say it like that. You have to name every single one by name.”
Bailey then tried his hand, venturing guesses like “Captain America 1 and 2,” “Avengers 1 to 5” and “Black Widow 1.” It should be noted that Johansson did not appear in the first “Captain America” film, and the fifth “Avengers” movie has not completed filming.
(It will still come out before “Blade,” though.)
“Jurassic World Rebirth” is now in theaters.
The post Mahershala Ali Dodges Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey Grilling Him on His Marvel Work: ‘Leave Me Out of It’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
50 Cent, Aubrey O’Day, Rosie O’Donnell and More React to Split Diddy Verdict: ‘I’m Gonna Vomit’
Celebrities are making their thoughts known in the wake of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial verdict.
Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking Wednesday morning. He was, however, found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Shocked by the split verdict, a number of celebrities and musicians aired their thoughts on social media.
“Diddy beat the RICO, that boy a bad man!” 50 Cent, a long-standing rival of Diddy, said on Instagram. “He like the Gay John Gotti.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)
Kesha kept her reaction to the verdict simple and mostly supportive of Cassie Ventura, Combs ex-girlfriend who testified as a witness to the mogul’s alleged years of abuse, coercion and threats.
“Cassie, I believe you,” she wrote on X. “I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.”
Cassie, I believe you.
— kesha (@KeshaRose) July 2, 2025
I love you.
Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.
Notably, last year the singer revealed that the lyrics from her famous song “Tik Tok” that exclaimed “feeling like P. Diddy” were being changed to “f–k P. Diddy.”
Aubrey O’Day worked with Combs on his reality show “Making the Band 3” back in 2005 and 2006. The singer has been a vocal opponent of Combs for years after she was removed from his Bad Boy Records group Danity Kane back in 2008.
“Oh my God, not guilty on Cassie, not guilty on RICO, no way that Jane is gonna be guilty,” O’Day said in an Instagram story. “This makes me physically ill … Cassie probably feels so horrible. Ugh, I’m gonna vomit.”
She continued: “The cultural weight of this decision is immeasurable. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives have been impacted by their experiences with Sean Combs — only for those stories to fall short in the eyes of a jury. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described.”
Rosie O’Donnell also gave her two cents on the verdict over on her Instagram account.
She wrote: “I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion- wow – they just think women stay because what? money – fame – ‘they love the abuse’ – what a f–king joke – this decision got me angry #cassie.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rosie O’Donnell (@rosie)
Despite the partial acquittal, Combs was denied bail by Judge Arun Subramanian and will remain in prison until his sentencing hearing on Oct. 3. In a letter to the judge, the prosecution recommended “at least 51 to 63 months’ imprisonment” for Combs.
The post 50 Cent, Aubrey O’Day, Rosie O’Donnell and More React to Split Diddy Verdict: ‘I’m Gonna Vomit’ appeared first on TheWrap.
‘The Old Guard 2’ Cast and Character Guide | Photos
“The Old Guard” is back and Netflix’s new sequel boasts both familiar and new faces.
The series, returning five years after the first film debuted, follows a group of immortals who task themselves with protecting the mortal world from threats while working to keep their long lives as secret as possible for fear of capture and study. The latest film brings back Charlize Theron and introduces new A-listers into the mix like Uma Thurman.
Here’s a who’s who the cast and characters to know in “The Old Guard 2.”
Charlize Theron in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Charlize Theron as AndyCharlize Theron plays Andy, one of the oldest of her kind and the leader of her group of immortal do-gooders, who is no longer immortal herself as of the end of the first film.
Theron’s filmography is wide-ranging. She won an Oscar for her role in 2003’s “Monster.” Theron also appeared as Furiosa in “Mad Max: Fury Road” and as Cipher in “F9: The Fast Saga” and “Fast X.” She’s also appeared in “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Road,” “Prometheus,” “The Italian Job” and “Long Shot.”
Uma Thurman in “The Old Guard 2” (Credit: Netflix)Uma Thurman as DiscordUma Thurman plays Discord, an immortal even older than Andi, who emerges as a new threat to their kind in the sequel.
Thurman is most known for her role as The Bride in “Kill Bill Vol. 1” and “Kill Bill Vol. 2.” She has also starred in “Pulp Fiction,” “Batman & Robin” as Poison Ivy, and “Nymphomaniac Vol. I and II.”
KiKi Layne in “The Old Guard 2” (Credit: Netflix)KiKi Layne as NileKiKi Layne plays Nile, the latest immortal to join Andy’s crew, as depicted in the first film.
Layne has also starred in “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Native Son.”
Matthias Schoenaerts in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Matthias Schoenaerts as BookerMatthias Schoenaerts plays Booker, a former member of Andy’s team who’s currently at the start of a 100-year exile from the family after he betrayed them in the first film.
Schoenaerts is best known for “Far From the Maddening Crowd,” “Rust and Bone,” “Red Sparrow,” “The Danish Girl,” “The Mustang” and “A Little Chaos.”
Henry Golding in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Henry Golding as TuahHenry Golding plays Tuah, an ancient immortal who spends his days archiving stories and evidence of their kind.
Golding is most known for his role as Nick Young in “Crazy Rich Asians.” He also starred as the titular hero in “Snake Eyes,” as well as roles in “The Gentleman,” “Last Christmas,” “A Simple Favor” and “Nine Perfect Strangers” Season 2.
Marwan Kenzari in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Marwan Kenzari as JoeMarwan Kenzari plays Joe, another member of Andy’s team who’s in a centuries-long romance with Nicky.
Kenzari is best known for playing Jafar in Disney’s 2019 live-action “Aladdin” remake, as well as “Black Adam,” “What Happened to Monday,” “The Night Agent” and “The Return.”
Luca Marinelli in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Luca Marinelli as NickyLuca Marinelli plays Nicky, Joe’s long-time partner and fellow member of Andy’s group.
Marinelli’s best-known work includes “Martin Eden,” “They Call Me Jeeg,” “Trust,” “The Eight Mountains” and “Mussolini: Son of the Century.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Charlize Theron in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Chiwetel Ejiofor as CopleyChiwetel Ejiofor plays Copley, a non-immortal who found and recruited Andy’s crew in the first film and now works alongside them.
Ejiofor is most recognized for starring in “12 Years a Slave.” He also played Baron Mordo in “Doctor Strange” and its sequel, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” He starred more recently in “Life of Chuck,” “The Lion King,” and “Venom: The Last Dance,” and is known for films including “Serenity,” “Inside Man,” “Love Actually” and “The Martian.”
Veronica Ngô in “The Old Guard 2” (Netflix)Veronica Ngô as QuynhVeronica Ngô plays Quynh, Andy’s old best friend who has spent centuries trapped in an iron maiden under the sea.
Ngô has starred in “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Creator,” “Bright” and “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.”
The post ‘The Old Guard 2’ Cast and Character Guide | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.
Freevee’s Standalone App to Shutter in August
Freevee’s standalone app will no longer be accessible starting in August, according to an in-app notice to users.
“Prime Video is the new exclusive home for Freevee TV shows, movies and Live TV,” the notice states. “The Freevee app will be accessible until August 2025. Continue watching your favorite Free Originals and our library of hit movies, shows, and live TV on Prime Video for free, no subscription needed. Download Prime Video to get started and sign-in with your Amazon account.”
Photo courtesy of Freevee appThe move comes after Amazon revealed in November that it would shutter the free, ad-supported streaming service as it consolidates its content into Prime Video.
At the time, it said that it had decided to “phase out Freevee branding” and that there would be no change to the content available for Prime members. It added that non-Prime members would still be able to access a “vast offering” of free streaming content, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels.
Prime Video has surpassed 130 million ad-supported users in the U.S.
When combining Prime Video with Amazon’s other owned and operated entertainment properties such as Twitch, MGM Studios, Wondery and Amazon Music, the tech giant’s entertainment portfolio reaches an average monthly ad-supported audience of more than 300 million globally.
Amazon previously shut down rumors of Freevee’s shuttering in February 2024, which came just a month after Prime Video launched its ad-supported tier. The streamer first launched as IMDb TV, before being rebranded to Freevee in 2022.
The post Freevee’s Standalone App to Shutter in August appeared first on TheWrap.
Brad Pitt Explains Why He Joked About Bradley Cooper Losing ‘Maestro’ Awards Despite It Being ‘One of the Best Movies of This Decade’ | Video
Brad Pitt finally shed some light on why he poked fun at Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” losing so many awards, even though he thinks it’s one of the best films of the decade. The reason? A long-standing football rivalry with his friend who is a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Pitt, a Springfield, MO, native and Kansas City Chiefs fan, went on Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast this week to talk about “F1,” sports movies and his Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles rivalry with Cooper. Pitt also used the opportunity to praise “Maestro,” even though he made fun of its Oscar losses at the time of its release.
“He’s your prime Eagles fan,” the “F1” star said of Cooper who he awarded an Outstanding Performer of the Year award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
“I have a confession to make: I’m friends with Bradley Cooper,” Pitt joked on the podcast. “He was getting an award for ‘Maestro,’ [which] is still probably one of the best movies of this decade. And I was giving him this award and he’s been nominated like 18 times for the Oscars.” In reality, Cooper has been nominated for 12.
Cooper directed, starred in and helped write the Leonard Bernstein biopic for Netflix and Pitt could not resist taking a dig at Cooper’s Philadelphia fandom during the 2024 The Santa Barbara International Film Festival awards ceremony.
“I closed with ‘Listen, he’s been nominated the 19,000th time. You know, if he doesn’t get it, it’s OK, he’s used to it. He’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan.'”
Despite his 12 nominations, Cooper has yet to win an Academy Award. Pitt has been nominated seven times as an actor and producer, winning one award for each.
Pitt’s speech about the Eagles came nearly one year after the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia team in Super Bowl LVII. Both Kelce bothers played in the game on opposing teams. It was also soon after the Eagles had been eliminated from the 2024 post-season — with the Chiefs only days away from another victory in Super Bowl LVIII.
“I’m not saying that I have the power to affect a game in any way,” Pitt joked with the Kelce brothers. “I don’t adhere to that kind of hubris.”
“Oh, I do,” Jason responded.
Pitt followed his “Maestro” anecdote by referencing this year’s Super Bowl LIX, where the Eagles — sans Jason — handily defeated the Chiefs. Pitt said Cooper “was happy this year.”
“We didn’t talk for two months,” Pitt deadpanned. “He gracefully let me hurt.”
You can watch Pitt’s “New Heights” interview in the video above..
The post Brad Pitt Explains Why He Joked About Bradley Cooper Losing ‘Maestro’ Awards Despite It Being ‘One of the Best Movies of This Decade’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
‘Crimson Tide’ Sequel in the Works, Jerry Bruckheimer Says | Video
After producing “Top Gun: Maverick” 36 years after the release of the original 1986 Tom Cruise fighter pilot classic, Jerry Bruckheimer has his eyes on another one of his classic films for a legacy-quel: the submarine thriller “Crimson Dawn.”
The producer revealed his plans during an interview on “The Rich Eisen Show” while promoting his newly released film “F1” starring Brad Pitt, which Warner Bros. and Apple released this past Friday. While not revealing names, Bruckheimer said that “Crimson Dawn 2” is not just an idea, and that he’s already made hires for the project.
“We have a really good director and writer talking to the navy right now about what’s going on under the water,” Bruckheimer said on Tuesday’s episode of “The Rich Eisen Show.”
What isn’t clear at this stage is whether the original film’s star, Denzel Washington, would return for another round on the USS Alabama. In the 1995 film made famous by Hans Zimmer’s Grammy-winning score, Washington played Navy Lt. Commander Ron Hunter, who is named the Alabama’s executive officer by its captain, Frank Ramsey, played by the late Gene Hackman.
But the relationship between the two men boils over when the Alabama receives an order to launch nuclear missiles at a Russian base amidst a rebellion staged by an ultranationalist in the country. But as they prepare to fire, a second command is interrupted when their radio is destroyed. Ramsey decides to go through with the nuclear attack while Hunter refuses to go along with it, resulting in a conflict that splits the submarine’s crew apart.
Washington’s next film is “Highest 2 Lowest,” which will be released by A24 and Apple in August and sees the Oscar winner reunite for the first time in 19 years with director Spike Lee. He is also set to appear in Ryan Coogler’s third “Black Panther” film for Marvel Studios.
While discussing Washington’s potential involvement, Bruckheimer said that a script has not been locked for “Crimson Dawn 2,” but told Eisen that ““If we give him a good script, I think he’d do it.”
Disney, which released the first “Crimson Dawn” through the now-defunct Buena Vista Pictures, declined to comment.
You can listen to the full “The Rich Eisen Show” interview in the video above.
The post ‘Crimson Tide’ Sequel in the Works, Jerry Bruckheimer Says | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
‘South Park’ Season 27 Premiere Pushed Back 2 Weeks
Oh my god, they delayed Kenny!
“South Park” fans will have to wait a little longer for the premiere of Season 27, as the long-running animated comedy series will now premiere Wednesday, July 23, on Comedy Central at 10 p.m., the network announced Wednesday.
Back in April, Comedy Central set the premiere for Wednesday, July 9. The network did not give details on the reason for the time-shift.
But anyone who saw “6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park” — a behind-the-scenes look from 2011 at how Trey Parker, Matt Stone and the team spend less than a week producing the show up against its airdate — knows that it has always operated on a knife’s edge to stay topical.
Last Monday, Parker and Stone, who operate South Park Digital Studios — which owns the show’s streaming rights — accused Jeff Shell, the Redbird Capital executive who is set to become the next president of Paramount should the deal with Skydance close, of steering negotiations with potential streaming partners Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery to benefit Paramount, threatening legal action.
A rep for Redbird and Skydance maintained that Shell did nothing wrong, saying in a statement to TheWrap: “Under the terms of the transaction agreement Skydance has the right to approve material contracts.”
There was no indication that the dustup over streaming rights had anything to do with the delay, however.
The hit franchise debuted on Comedy Central on August 13, 1997. Co-creators Parker and Stone are executive producers, along with Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are producers.
“South Park” remains one of cable television’s longest-running scripted series and continues to draw strong ratings and critical acclaim. The show has also expanded its presence in recent years through specials and streaming events, part of a broader content deal Parker and Stone signed in 2021.
The post ‘South Park’ Season 27 Premiere Pushed Back 2 Weeks appeared first on TheWrap.
July 1, 2025
‘Ironheart’ Finally Introduced That Marvel Character – and Not Even Star Dominique Thorne Knew About It | Video
Note: This story contains spoilers from Marvel’s “Ironheart” Episode 6.
It’s been years of conspiracy theories and grasping at possible clues, but Mephisto has finally entered the MCU, live and in person — er, in demon? He showed up in the “Ironheart” finale and apparently, not even series star Dominique Thorne knew it was going to be him until she arrived to set to shoot the scene.
“That’s when I knew, ‘Oh! OK, great,'” she told TheWrap with a laugh. “Even the names were fake. I mean, Marvel, hats off to them. They are so committed to the lore and the secrecy that even us within the cast weren’t sure who it was actually going to be.”
Throughout the first season — it remains unclear whether it’ll be the only season at this point — of the series, now streaming on Disney+, the running theory was that Parker Robbins received his magic hood from Dormammu, a villain Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) seemingly took care of in his first solo film.
Still, Dormammu is a seriously dark being, so Zelma (Regan Aliyah) is pretty confident he’d have the power to do this, and promptly informs Riri (Thorne). But when Riri comes face to face with the man herself, he laughs at the fact that she believes him to be Dormammu.
No, he’s Mephisto, the villain fans first started hoping to see back when WandaVision released in 2021. “Ironheart” was announced in 2020, and went into production in 2022, and granted, there were reports floating back then that Sacha Baron Cohen had earned the role, but he was never officially confirmed.
“The name in the script kept changing,” Thorne revealed. “And so it wasn’t until we shot that final scene, I’m sitting face to face with Sacha Baron Cohen, where I’m like, ‘Oh, he said it. It’s Mephisto, here we go. That’s who he is.'”
You can watch part of TheWrap’s interview with Thorne in the video above.
Obviously, the “Ironheart” team knew how long Mephisto’s name had been whispered about, and according to Thorne, they kept that in mind when discussing how to set the tone for the actual reveal.
“It was just, ‘This is something that fans have been waiting for for a long, long time, and this is going to be how they get it,'” she explained of the discussions on set on how to go about it, tonally.
“Also, peeling back the curtain to understand, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is who Parker Robbins has been talking to this entire time? This is what the hood is connected to? This is that guy?’ Finally getting a lot of those answers, just within our own storyline, far more for the MCU at large. So definitely, definitely leaning into all of the anticipation for that final moment, for sure.”
The thing is, Riri Williams also seems to immediately strike a deal with Mephisto, selling her soul to get her best friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) back. As the final moments of the episode come to a close, we see Riri now sporting the visceral, magic veins that Parker had all over his back.
So, what does that mean for Ironheart? Has she turned to the dark side, officially?
“I don’t know,” Thorne teased. “We might need to keep an eye on her, is all I think I can say for now.”
That said, Thorne also admitted that, while the actor in her would love to lean full tilt into playing a villain, the actress also knows how important the character of Ironheart is as a whole, and what her history means.
“I think the version of me that’s also aware of how much she means as a hero to so many young girls out there is really wanting to fight for that moral whatever that she — it feels like she really does want to lean into,” Thorne said. “But I do really think there’s something there. I think there’s something unique and cool about the authenticity of that crossroad.”
“I mean, yeah, I know what the right thing to do is, but this is my best friend,” she continued. “I can’t get my father back. I can’t get my stepfather back, but my best friend? Right now? Especially as a young person going through that particular transition of, you know, young teenager-dom into young adulthood, that’s such a tender time to have lost someone so close to you. Truly like losing a part of you.”
So, what will Riri Williams’s future actually hold? We’ll just have to wait for her next appearance.
“Ironheart” is now streaming on Disney+.
The post ‘Ironheart’ Finally Introduced That Marvel Character – and Not Even Star Dominique Thorne Knew About It | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
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