Steve Pond's Blog, page 171

Donald Trump Roundly Criticized for Wearing Blue Suit to Pope Francis’ Funeral

Donald Trump’s choice of a blue suit for Pope Francis’ funeral Mass was widely panned Saturday, and it wasn’t just a fashion statement: Fortune reported the Vatican asked all attendees to wear black.

Many took issue with the specific blue Trump chose. Instead of wearing navy, which would be more appropriate for such a somber occasion, Trump’s suit popped in a wave of black wool.

Despite the Vatican’s request, Trump was not the only attendee who wore blue or otherwise eschewed the dress code. Former President Joe Biden wore a blue tie, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t wear a tie with his all-black ensemble. For her part, First Lady Melania Trump stuck to the dress code completely.

Trump’s wardrobe choice caught the attention of Derek Guy, menswear writer and well-known fashion critic who regularly tweets about men’s fashion.

“These norms are pretty much gone in the US, but for the Pope’s funeral, seems like you should adhere to protocol,” he wrote. “A funeral calls for a black wool suit, white shirt, black tie, and black leather dress shoes.”

When asked about the varying shades of blue worn by other men, Guy answered, “I get the impression that many people can’t distinguish between different shades and hues. But these colors do hold meaning in men’s dress. It’s true many people attended the funeral in blue suits but they were very dark. Some blues look quite black. Would you agree?”

Others also commented on Trump’s attire. Journalist Claas Gefroi wrote on Blue Sky, “Why are you wearing a blue suit at a funeral? Don’t you own a black suit?

Journalist Molly Knight also wrote, “I can’t believe Trump showed up to the pope’s funeral in a bright blue suit. does everyone around him hate him.”

Others had harsher assessments of Trump’s suit. “Of course Trump is the only jackass wearing a blue suit and blue tie to a funeral….such an embarrassment,” wrote Wu Tang is for the Children on X.

“A blue suit? Donald Trump couldn’t even be respectful and wear a black suit to Pope Francis’ funeral like the rest of world leaders,” Art Candee contributed. “He always has to stick out and try and be the center of attention.”

The post Donald Trump Roundly Criticized for Wearing Blue Suit to Pope Francis’ Funeral appeared first on TheWrap.

Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson Surprise Fans at ‘Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith’ Screening

“Star Wars” fans who attended a 20th anniversary screening of “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” in Los Angeles Friday were treated to a major surprise when franchise stars Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson showed up, lightsabers in tow.

Christensen, who returned to the franchise as Darth Vader in the TV shows “Kenobi” and “Ahsoka,” spoke to attendees first. In reference to the third prequel and sixth film, Christensen noted, “I see a lot of lightsabers out here. I see a lot of red lightsabers, which truth be told is my personal favorite lightsaber color.”

Christensen was about to continue speaking when he was interrupted by Jackson, who said, “Hold on, Skywalker” from offstage. “This party ain’t even over.”

After audience cheers, Jackson said, “This is so, so, so awesome. Twenty years later, I can hardly believe that we’re still as popular — as happenin’ — as we are. I haven’t seen Hayden in a while, but so, so, so happy to come back, see him, and see all of you at the same time. Thank you all so much. We had a great time making the film down in Australia. We were hangin’ out, doin’ stuff.”

“I hope you enjoy the effort that went into this and watching me do my ‘I move almost all backwards’ fight with Palpatine,” Jackson added. “Before my unexpected exit. And for the record — Mace lives!”

Jackson has insisted his character, who was launched out of a building by Emperor Palpatine, survived the fall and could return for any new “Star Wars” film or series. Unfortunately, it appears Mace Windu is officially dead according to the powers that be.

Earlier this month, Christensen told Complex at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo he has enjoyed the opportunity to explore the “more heroic” side of Vader through the Disney+ shows. “I think my understanding of the character is just continuing to grow. We’re getting to sort of explore different sides of Anakin, which I’m really enjoying,” he said.

“And I’m just enjoying the journey, you know. It’s a very complex character and there’s a lot going on. But I’m really loving getting to sort of play the more heroic side of the character in the Ahsoka show. I’m very excited for season two.”

The second season of “Ahsoka” went into development in January. The first season of the series concluded in October 2023.

The post Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson Surprise Fans at ‘Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith’ Screening appeared first on TheWrap.

Wrexham Is One Step From Ryan Reynolds’ Premier League Dream After Historic 3rd Consecutive Promotion

Wrexham AFC’s commanding 3-0 Saturday victory over Charlton Athletic secured the British soccer club’s promotion to the second tier – just one step away from co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ stated goal of joining the top-flight Premier League.

The unprecedented third consecutive promotion earned Wrexham a place in the EFL Championship next season, where they will compete with 23 other clubs for the top two spots – and a promotion to the sport’s highest professional ranks. Wrexham finished second to Birmingham City, which will also join the second tier.

“Our goal is to make it to the Premier League,” Reynolds told ESPN afterwards. “It just seemed like an impossible dream [when buying the club in 2021], but as storytellers, you look as much as you can at the macro view of history.”

Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney, who purchased the club for $2.5 million in 2021, celebrated the milestone alongside a sold-out crowd of nearly 13,000 fans. The co-owners’ investment and global spotlight, bolstered by the documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham,” have elevated the club’s profile worldwide.

The victory over Charlton followed news that Wycombe Wanderers had lost, leaving Wrexham needing only a win for automatic promotion. Goals from Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith in the first half, followed by Smith’s second in the 81st minute, ensured a decisive victory.

Fans erupted in celebration at the final whistle, storming the pitch with banners reading “Back to back to back” as red smoke filled the air. Wrexham is the first team in English football history to achieve three consecutive promotions.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, who has guided the team from the National League to the Championship since his 2021 appointment, praised his squad’s resilience and focus.

“We will take the Championship full-on, just as we have done in recent years,” he said. “It is going to be a huge challenge.”

Parkinson added, “Getting over the line in football is hard to do, so to be able to maintain that standard in such a high-profile game is a testament to everybody. I want to savor the moment.”

The post Wrexham Is One Step From Ryan Reynolds’ Premier League Dream After Historic 3rd Consecutive Promotion appeared first on TheWrap.

The 7 Best New Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now

If you’re looking for something new to binge-watch, Netflix always has you covered with new releases and April is no different. Whether you’re looking for the latest installment of the heartwarming docuseries “Love on the Spectrum,” a new batch of feel-bad from “Black Mirror” or the last season of “You,” here’s a handy guide to the best new shows streaming on Netflix in April.

“Love on the Spectrum” Season 3Madison and Tyler in “Love on the Spectrum” (Netflix)

The heartwarming docu-reality series “Love on the Spectrum” returned to Netflix this spring. This season picks back up with fan favorites Connor, Tanner, Abbey and David, to name a few, and introduces the audience to some new faces, Madison and Pari. Season 3 even features the series’ first queer relationship. The hopeful singles make breakthrough discoveries, and the happy couples face tough decisions as they navigate the ever-confusing world of romance. Viewers have the chance to fall in love with each participant and their special interests as they find love on-screen. — Tess Patton

“Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 3“Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 3 (Netflix)

After the heartbreaking betrayal at the end of Season 2, “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” returns right where we left off, letting the characters reel before diving into more dinosaur adventures, naturally. We’re five years and eight seasons into the Camp Fam story and the animated series continually does some of the coolest storytelling in the “Jurassic”-verse by putting characters first but never being afraid to get playful and creative with its world-building. This is one of the seasons that crosses over more heavily with the “Jurassic World” movies, “Dominion specifically, and in doing so, makes the world of the films feel infinitely richer. I’d wager this season has some of the highest highs in all of “Camp Cretaceous” and “Chaos Theory,” from a baby dinosaur to a Nonna. – Haleigh Foutch

“Pulse”Netflix

It was only a matter of time before Netflix put their own spin on the streaming juggernaut that is ‘Grey’s Anatomy,” and new series “Pulse” does not disappoint. From first-time creator Zoe Robyn and TV legend Carlton Cuse, the 10-episode medical drama follows the busy and messy lives of the doctors and nurses of a Miami trauma center. Starting with their efforts to keep the hospital running as a hurricane hits the city, the show also explores a complicated relationship between resident Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) and her superior Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell). Their relationship starts off a lot messier than Meredith and Derek on “Grey’s,” and the drama benefits from a strong supporting cast begging to be explored further in a potential Season 2. — Jose Alejandro Bastidas

“Black Mirror” Season 7Cristin Milioti in “Black Mirror” Season 7 (Photo Credit: Netflix)

“Black Mirror” made its beautifully dreadful return in April with six new episodes to fret over. The latest offering provided a crop that included a throwback to the feel-bad episodes of the series’ early days and a pair of sequels – one to the much beloved and “Star Trek” inspired “USS Callister.” While the show may not hit the high highs of the earliest seasons, the newest additions feel like a return to form and are well worth the time of anyone who wants to spend a weekend with a pit in their stomach in the best way.  – Jacob Bryant

“North of North”“North of North” (Netflix)

Family dramas seem to be few and far between at this stage of the streaming era, so a darling like “North of North” is worth celebrating — even if it leans into guilty pleasure territory. Netflix’s first Canadian original takes the drama of a traditional coming of age story and centers it on an Inuk woman living in the small (and fictional) Arctic community of Ice Cove. As she realizes there’s more to her than the traditions that aim to hold her back, Siaja (Anna Lambe) embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shines from both its emotional highs and wildly soapy lows. Season 1 comprises eight binge-worthy episodes, ending on a cliffhanger that sets up massive growth and an exciting new direction should Netflix choose to pursue it further. — JAB

“You” Season 5Penn Badgley in “You” Season 5

After seven years, five seasons and who knows how many murders, Joe Goldberg’s story is coming to an end. The fifth and final season of “You” isn’t quite as whipsmart as other installments of the series. Typing up the many lives Joe (Penn Badgely) has lived and his victims is a task akin to wrapping up “The Avengers;” it’s a task so imposingly large, it was bound to feel a bit messy. But even when “You” is at its most ridiculousness, there’s an addicting soapiness to the satirical drama that makes you want to keep pressing play. Tune in to see if Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) survives and if Beck (Elizabeth Lail) will get the justice she deserves. But keep watching for a truly stellar performance from Badgely, who unabashedly and wholeheartedly throws himself into every scene this season. – Kayla Cobb

“Chef’s Table: Legends”José Andrés in “Chef’s Table: Legends” (Netflix)

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, “Chef’s Table” turns its attention to four of the most famed figures in fine dining: José Andrés, Alice Waters, Jamie Oliver and Thomas Keller. With “Chef’s Table: Legends,” the eighth installment of Netflix’s series created by “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” filmmaker David Gelb, expect more cinematically stunning portraits of food as art, lessons on the craft behind that, and meditations on the ever-nebulous nature of the role food plays in our lives and luxuries. “Chef’s Table” is known for its loving portraits of these culinary creators, and naturally all of the “Legends” have fascinating careers, but it’s Chef Andrés’ hour I’m most eager to see, as it puts the spotlight one of the most fascinating and impactful figures in the food scene, who grappled with what it means to be a chef who feeds people, and came out the other side as a person made the world a better place with his humanitarian efforts. – HF

The post The 7 Best New Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now appeared first on TheWrap.

Megyn Kelly Shared a Red Carpet With Blake Lively – and Pulled No Punches Afterward: ‘Twisted Mean Girl’ | Video

Megyn Kelly shared a red carpet at the Time 100 Gala with Blake Lively, whom the former Fox News host has sharply criticized for her public feud with “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni – and while the two apparently didn’t speak or cross paths, the podcaster had plenty to say about the actress afterwards.

Kelly wasn’t even sure she belonged at the Thursday night celebration of what Time deems the 100 most influential people, with invitees including Demi Moore, Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Snoop Dogg. She said the “Time people” were lovely to her – even if they’re not great at picking influencers.

“I was debating whether or not to go because I don’t totally believe in these big red carpet things, and I have been to very many of them over the years,” Kelly said. “As I said on the red carpet last night, with all due respect to Time, I don’t think they really pick the most influential people.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the 2025 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME)

“[Time] did nothing other than make me feel welcome and were super kind, and I appreciate that,” Kelly said. “But the nature of the gathering is just off-putting to me, whereas, when I first went in 2014 I was a little bit more starry-eyed.”

Not this time.

Kelly said it was “embarrassing to be walking around with people pretending this really is the 100 most influential people and somehow they have moved up on some imaginary power grid … Then you had people like Blake Lively, who was there with her husband Ryan Reynolds and her mother Elaine Lively. She has been in some movies and successful TV shows, but in no world is this person one of the most influential people in America.”

Kelly has repeatedly scorched Lively for her complex entanglement with Baldoni, which started out as creative differences on “It Ends With Us,” became allegations of sexual harassment and has since spiraled into a fusillade of finger-pointing over alleged smear campaigns. The feuding pair’s dueling lawsuits were consolidated and are headed to court next year.

“I knew if I went and I gave interviews on the red carpet, I was going to be honest in response to the questions,” Kelly said. “I was asked by the Daily Mail about Blake Lively, and here’s how that went … It’s very rare to have a red carpet comment along those lines. Correct? I don’t mean to be impolite, but I got it. I’m not going to lie – like I’m very outspoken about my opinion on this person on this show. Millions of people have already heard it, and in no world was I gonna stand there and try to pretend like I didn’t feel that. It just would have been a farce.”

Kelly says there was a silver lining to being confronted on her opinion of Lively, who was right there in the room:

“But I had to say it’s pretty cathartic to say how you really feel,” she said. “I don’t think what she’s doing to Justin Baldoni is in any way fair, gracious, nice or just, and so I couldn’t help looking at her the whole night like some sort of twisted, mean girl, like there’s something wrong with this person, because all the allegations that she’s launched against him have fallen apart, virtually every single one of them.”

Kelly called Lively’s ongoing feud a desperate attempt to repair her public image.

“She’s really taken a serious hit,” Kelly said. “She thought she was going to file this MeToo claim against him and get the New York Times to write about it, and she was going to be elevated as a MeToo heroine. And instead, he lawyered up, and he got a great one, Bryan Freedman, and started fighting her back on each and every claim.”

Watch the entire video above.

The post Megyn Kelly Shared a Red Carpet With Blake Lively – and Pulled No Punches Afterward: ‘Twisted Mean Girl’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Sinners’ Ending Explained: Fangs for the Memories

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is here. And based on the early response to his 1930s-set vampire movie, which stars Michael B. Jordan as bootlegger twins who return from Al Capone’s Chicago to set up a juke joint in their small Mississippi town, everybody is going to be talking about it.

There will certainly be much discussion about the movie’s ending, which goes all out. If Coogler eases you into the movie’s horror tropes, by the end everything is turned up to 11.

Let’s talk about the ending of the movie, but obviously, beware of major spoilers. If you haven’t seen “Sinners” already, it’s best to return here after you’ve watched. And if you’ve been turned into a vampire, so be it!

What happens at the end of “Sinners?”

Well, much of “Sinners” has been built around the juke joint that Smoke and Stack, the twins played by Jordan, are opening – collecting a bunch of townsfolk to help out with the operation and reconnecting with the loves the brothers left behind. But wouldn’t you know it, a rascally vampire named Remmick (played with lip-smacking intensity by Jack O’Connell) shows up and it all goes to hell.

By the end of “Sinners,” Remmick has turned many of the lovable characters introduced in the first hour of the movie into vampires, including Hailee Steinfeld’s Mary, Omar Benson Miller’s Cornbread and Yao’s Bo Chow, one of the grocers that helped supply the juke joint with all that catfish. Stack has also become a member of the undead army of blood-suckers.

When the vampires finally infiltrate the juke, Grace Chow (Li Jun Li) sets her husband on fire and they both burn together, her plunging a stake into his heart. Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), Smoke’s lover, is bitten by Stack and Smoke kills her before she turns into a vampire. Pearline (Jayme Lawson), the love interest of young Sammie (Miles Caton), is also turned and killed. Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), the old bluesman, sacrifices himself to let some of the other characters escape.

Not that it does much good. (We were also hoping for a “Day of the Dead” moment when Delta is ripped apart by various vampires. Alas, Coogler does not go full George A. Romero.)

At that point, things are bleak.

What else happens?

Well, at the very end of the movie, with most of the characters dead or turned into vampires, Remmick chases Sammie into a nearby stream. Remmick wants to use Sammie’s soulful blues abilities to reconnect with loved ones that Remmick has lost (there’s an implication, earlier in the movie, that a Native American group of vampire hunters had just killed Remmick’s wife). Remmick starts to drown Sammie, a baptism of sorts since Sammie starts singing a hymn, which Remmick doesn’t take too kindly too. He seems to be from ancient Ireland, and the hymn brings up the English who invaded his land.

Finally, Sammie rears back and hits Remmick in the head with his guitar, which has a silver face. It lodges in his head and makes Remmick even more monstrous. Just as Remmick is about to strike Sammie, Smoke plunges a stake through Remmick’s heart. He goes up in flames as the morning sun starts to crest over the horizon, killing the amassed vampires. They saved the town. But at what cost?

What happens to Smoke?

Smoke sticks around the juke joint. Remmick has told him that Hogwood, the white man who sold himthe factory where the juke joint now stands, was a grand wizard of the KKK and that he and his cracker buddies were going to come back and murder them all. Well, Smoke is the only one left. He kills all of the KKK guys but is fatally wounded. As he starts to pass on, he sees Annie and their young baby. She hands the baby to Smoke and he passes on.

What about the stuff at the beginning of the movie?

Oh right. The first scene of the movie is young Sammie returning to his preacher father. He’s got a scar across his cheeks from Remmick’s claws and he is clutching what is left of his guitar. We then flash back to the day before.

At the end of the movie, we return to this moment. Sammie’s father tells him to put down the guitar. Sammie refuses. He goes back to the car and drives away. He is free – or at least part of him is.

What’s next?

We flash forward to 1992, to see Sammie as an elderly blues musician, playing in a smoky club.

Is there anything else?

Yes, but now we’re getting into post-credits scenes, which is a whole separate article.

Are there any dangling questions at the end of “Sinners?”

There are a few actually! One concerns Bert (Peter Dreimanis) and Joan (Lola Kirke), the two KKK members that Remmick turns into vampires after fleeing the Native American vampire hunters. When Remmick kills Bert, there’s a baby carriage in the room. Did they have a child that Remmick ate? Was Joan pregnant? Did they lose a child? This is never explained or expanded upon. If they did have a child who died, that would connect them to Smoke and Annie, who went through a similar tragedy. Also: why did we never see those Native American vampire hunters again? They were pretty neat!

The post ‘Sinners’ Ending Explained: Fangs for the Memories appeared first on TheWrap.

Every ‘Star Wars’ Movie and Show From the Disney Era Ranked

When it comes to Star Wars, everyone has an opinion.

Before Disney purchased the rights to the franchise, it really felt like fans might never see live-action offerings again. But the House of Mouse swooped in, for better or worse, and now we’re all swimming in an ocean of new content from a galaxy far, far away.

Whether it’s the Disney+ shows that are your bread and butter, or you’re one of the fans who think Disney has murdered the very fabric of Star Wars with every new addition, we all love to fit our opinions in a concise ranking. This is how the Disney-era of Star Wars shakes out for me.

Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (Credit: Lucasfilm)12. Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

“Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” represents a bleak turning point for the franchise – and one it’s still trying to right. After the reaction to “The Last Jedi,” the powers that be cowered to the supposed masses crying out about the story’s direction by bringing JJ Abrams back onboard to direct and spending a majority of the runtime erasing the work and beats Rian Johnson set up in the previous film.

The final product is a scared and creatively void mass gurgling for a reason to exist. “The Last Jedi” opened up the galaxy in the “galaxy far, far away” we’re always reading about but “The Rise of Skywalker” shot those hopes out of the air blandly proclaiming that this story might only ever be about three families and roughly ten important people.

The somehow in “Somehow Palpatine returned” was corporate fear and creative assassination all along.

Lucasfilm/Disney+11. The Book of Boba Fett

Spinning out of the acclaimed second season of “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” was the first real dud for Star Wars content on Disney+. The show had a very herky-jerky nature to it as it bounced from present-day Boba (Temuera Morrison) and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) tried to get a foothold in Mos Eisley, and flashbacks to how Boba survived his encounter with the Sarlacc everyone thought killed him in “Return of the Jedi.”

Neither past Boba’s time with the Tusken Raiders nor present Boba’s hunt for power in Mos Eisley are given the time they need to make viewers care. Couple that with many low-budget and ultimately memeable moments (the 5 MPH scooter chase will stay with me until my dying days) and less-than-stellar dialogue cemented the show’s fate. When the best part of a series is the two episodes where the titular character either is barely featured or never shows up once, it’s usually not a great sign.

Silver lining: seeing live-action Cad Bane was a thrill for me and me alone.

“Obi-Wan Kenobi.” (Disney+/Lucasfilm)10. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Disney really wanted (and realy needed) “Obi-Wan Kenobi” to do well. All the pieces seemed to be there: Ewan McGregor was back as Obi-Wan, Hayden Christensen also returned as Darth Vader, giving him more than a blink-and -you’ll-miss-it moment in the iconic suit. All of it steered by director Deborah Chow who had already put out two fan-favorite episodes of “The Mandalorian.” The pieces were in place.

And the show landed with a resounding thud.

When the show wasn’t downright dull or placing a ton of focus on the baffling choice to include Princess Leia as a child (Vivien Lyra Blair), it was pulling its best moments wholesale from storylines that happened in the animated series years before. The final battle between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader – down to Vader’s mask being damaged and Anakin’s eye being visible beneath – is a lesser recreation of Ahsoka and Vader’s first reunion in the Season 2 finale of “Star Wars: Rebels.” Attempts to bring in elements of the animated series to live-action can be pulled of (see: Ahsoka) but “Obi-Wan Kenobi” proved some characters should be left in cartoon form – looking at you Grand Inquisitor/Rupert Friend.

The show also brought out the incredibly toxic elements of the fandom again – a toxicity that has only grown in the Disney era. Actress Moses Ingram received relentless undeserved attacks online when the show debuted that the hate earned more headlines than the show itself. That alone is enough to leave a sour taste on any potential rewatches.

Amandla Stenberg in “The Acolyte.” (Lucasfilm)9. The Acolyte

“The Acolyte” was a fun and ultimately engaging look at a period of “Star Wars” history that many have never experienced. The show takes place in the High Republic era – hundreds of years before the name Skywalker will be said – and depicts both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order at the height of their power and influence. The story follows a Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) and a team – including a former Padawan (Amandla Stenberg) – tasked with investigating a string of murdered Jedi across the galaxy.

“The Acolyte” still had its fair share of clunky dialogue the live-action shows have unfortunately become known for, but the smaller scope of the series and the mystery do it more favors than the “galaxy threatened” scope the franchise usually features. The show’s choice to forego shooting in the Volume and instead film on practical sets and locations provides a tactile nature than many of the Disney+ shows lack.

Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) duel in “Ahsoka” (Credit: Lucasfilm)8. Ahsoka

It’s nothing new to say that Ahsoka is Dave Filoni’s favorite character (he created her after all), but that love really shines through in her live-action series. The story of “Ahsoka” picks up – for better and worse – primarily after the events of the animated series “Star Wars: Rebels” with the hunt for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) and Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). For better because “Star Wars: Rebels” remains the single best Disney-era entry into the franchise, and for worse because not all elements of the animated series translate to live-action.

But when it works, it works. Rosario Dawson is unsurprisingly great as Ahsoka – a fact we already knew through her appearances in “The Mandalorian” and “Book of Boba Fett.” Esfandi brings Ezra’s charm to life while also adding a maturity that being lost in space for years would no doubt create. The real jewel of the season came in the form of the late Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll. He and Ahsoka are very much reflections of their paths not taken and whether they were crossing blades or comparing philosophies, the show was rarely better than when Dawson and Stevenson shared the screen.

“Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens” starring Daisy Ridley and John Boyega (Walt Disney Studios)7. Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens

The hype around “Star Wars Episode VII -The Force Awakens” is hard to put into writing. Despite the franchise’s enduring popularity, it really felt like we may never get another major film entry – and then Disney swooped in and everything changed.

Is the film a pretty beat-for-beat rehash of “A New Hope?” It is. Did that harm the overall experience of returning to the galaxy that had a vice grip on my imagination since I was a kid? Not in the slightest. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Adam Driver breathed new life into the world and the nostalgia plays in the opening film of the sequel trilogy felt like they were done with love rather than in a pandering way in “The Rise of Skywalker.”

Being sat in a theater on opening night and watching the reveal of the “piece of junk” ship being the Millenium Falcon during Rey and Finn’s escape from Jakku remains one of my favorite moviegoing experiences of my life.

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” (Credit: Disney)6. Solo: A Star Wars Story

I will NEVER understand the hate for “Solo.” It might have busied itself with “over-origining” every aspect of Han Solo’s young life – I did not need the explanation why he used the DL-44 Heavy Blaster or the fact that his very cool last name was really just him being shamed for traveling alone – but it was so fun to see a new corner of “a galaxy far, far away.”

Diving into the smuggler world and the various crime organizations that may or may not be calling a lot of the shots around the galaxy was a fun diversion from the lightsabers, and Jedi, and Force of it all. “Solo” felt like sitting down with one of the old legacy Star Wars novels that soaked up too much of my free time as a kid – and that’s one of the highest compliments I can give it.

Lucasfilm5. Skeleton Crew

“Star Wars” went full Amblin, sun-soaked cul-de-sacs, kids on bikes energy with “Skeleton Crew” and that feeling helped to breath some fresh life into the franchise. The series didn’t allow itself to get bogged down in the increasingly dense lore of a galaxy far, far away or an over-focus on the Jedi – though there was some of that. What we got instead was a swashbuckling adventure of a bunch of kids coming of age in a galaxy they aren’t quite prepared for. Sprinkle in a dash of pirates and Jude Law playing a sometimes good, sometimes bad loner and the series struck paydirt.

The four kids – Wim, Fern, KB, and sweet sweet Neel – steal the show and their banter with each other and an increasingly weary “babysitter” Jod (Law) are what make the series sing. There will certainly be arguments made down the road as to whether “Skeleton Crew” actually stands above “The Mandalorian” but already that race is closer than you’d think.

(L-R): Grogu and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.4. The Mandalorian

Disney+ struck pay dirt right out of the gate when “The Mandalorian” debuted shortly after the launch of the streaming service in 2019. Few enjoyed a more meteoric rise to cultural stardom than Grogu – then known by the much more adorable Baby Yoda. But on top of Baby Yoda love, the show was good! It brought a spaghetti western sensibility to a galaxy far, far away along with an unexpected but not unwelcome blend of serialized and procedural storytelling.

Then Season 2 came out and it got better! Ahsoka appeared in live-action for the first time, planting the seeds for her own series. Boba Fett returned from the dead. And that Season 2 finale with Luke Skywalker getting his own “hallway fight” to rival his dad’s had fans buzzing for what was to come.

Season 3 was less than stellar as it got a bit lost in the minutiae of Mandalorian customs, and the immediate take-back of Grogu from his training with Luke left more than a few “what was the point of all this?” thoughts percolating. But even a lesser season still included plenty of thrilling moments, and the OG stands as the second-best series from the Disney era.

Lucasfilm3. Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

“The Last Jedi” is the biggest swing “Star Wars” has every made while confronting both its characters and the franchise as a whole by examining the dangers of legacy. Rian Johnson crafted something truly beautiful with the film as it deconstructed Luke (Mark Hamill) and made moves to expand the world beyond the small corner fans had seen for the last 40 years.

Whether or not he himself loved the direction his character went, Hamill puts on a heartbreaking performance as a hero struggling with decisions made after becoming that hero – and whether or not he should have been in charge at all. Adam Driver once again proves to be one of the modern greats as Kylo Ren slips more into his uncertainty and paranoia.

“The Last Jedi” is the boldest, richest and most beautiful Star Wars has ever been. I’ll see you all in my mentions.

Lucasfilm2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

For a franchise that was built on the backbone of a rebellion fighting an evil empire, said rebellion always felt held at a distance by all the Force hoopla happening around it. “Rogue One” changed that.

The film stops looking at things in the macro and zooms in on the micro, the everyday soldiers and spies who kept the Rebellion humming and let Luke and his crew eventually get the job done. It’s brutal, it’s gritty, and the ending will have you crying your eyes out. If Disney wants to keep finding ways to tell new stories but still keep it connected to the core trilogies, make “Rogue One” the blueprint.

Diego Luna in “Andor.” (Lucasfilm)1. Andor

The good shows on this list are examples of Star Wars done right. “Andor” is a great show regardless of the Star Wars moniker. The Tony Gilroy-steered and Diego Luna-starring series really came out of nowhere in 2022. People expected the show to be good – Luna and Gilroy teamed up to great effect in “Rogue One” – but the results were one of the best “Star Wars” stories ever told.

Set five years before the events of “Rogue One,” the series began showing how Cassian Andor (Luna) first fell into the Rebellion. Along the way we also see the machinations of the Empire and the lackeys it was prepared to bury to wrest even more control of the galaxy.

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas has always insisted that the franchise should be made with kids in mind. Gilroy said “no” and put together a show that is decidedly adult and deeply serious, tackling socio-political issues as it chronicles the literal origin story of a rebel — Andor goes from uninterested bystander to devout believer.

The show’s choice to zoom in on the regular folks of the galaxy and see how the Empire affects their day-to-day lives was a brilliant one, resulting in an exhilarating and harrowing story from start to finish.

The post Every ‘Star Wars’ Movie and Show From the Disney Era Ranked appeared first on TheWrap.

The 7 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now

Spooky scary skeletons are welcome year-round, and there’s no lack of good horror movies to watch on Netflix if you’re in the mood for a fright. Below we’ve rounded up a short but curated list of some of the best horror movies on Netflix right now. They range from out-and-out classics to hidden gems to recent horror hits. All are well worthwhile, and each involves a different kind of scary depending on your mood.

So peruse our picks below.

Netflix“The Ritual”

If you liked “Hereditary,” check out “The Ritual.” This 2017 folk horror film follows a group of friends who take a hiking trip to Sweden in remembrance of their recently deceased friend, only to find themselves in an increasingly eerie — and deadly — situation. Starring Rafe Spall, the film is incredibly tense but also emotionally compelling.

Universal Pictures“Psycho”

While Netflix is lacking in classic film, here’s one movie made before the year 2000 that you should make a point to watch. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film “Psycho” set the blueprint for so many slashers to come, but it remains terrifying and shocking over 60 years later.  Janet Leigh plays a woman who steals a briefcase full of cash from her employer only to end up at a seedy motel during her getaway, where she crosses paths with the mild-mannered Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). If by some miracle you don’t know what happens next we won’t spoil it for you here, but suffice it to say this movie breaks many rules.

Melissa Barrera in “Scream” (Credit: Spyglass Media) “Scream VI”

2023’s “Scream VI” is arguably a step up from its predecessor, the 2022 franchise reboot “Scream,” as it finds Melissa Barrera’s character wrestling with the knowledge that her father is none other than Billy Loomis, the killer from the original “Scream.” This one twists and turns as it builds to a surprising finale, and while the killer reveal is a bit lacking for this franchise, the slasher set pieces that directors Radio Silence construct are thrilling.

Netflix“Fear Street” Trilogy

Everyone loves a good scare, but the “Fear Street” trilogy gives you three times to thrills for the price of one overarching story. These three interconnected films trace the origins of a witch’s curse on a small town, covering events in 1994 in the “Scream”-inspired first film, then heading back to 1978 for the summer camp slasher sequel, before concluding in the year 1666 for the third and final feature that reveals the origin story of the Shadyside witch. Colorful, fun, and genuinely scary, the “Fear Street” trilogy tells a truly epic horror story.

Universal/Blumhouse“Ouija: Origin of Evil”

Before filmmaker Mike Flanagan made “The Haunting of Hill House” franchise for Netflix or “Doctor Sleep,” he directed a very good prequel to a very bad movie. “Ouija: Origin of Evil” takes place in 1967 Los Angeles and follows a widow and her two daughters who run a spiritual medium business out of their home. But when a Ouija board comes into play, all hell breaks loose. As with all Flanagan projects this film is rooted in a strong emotional core that makes everything matter — you actually feel for these characters. And the best part is you don’t need to have seen the original “Ouija” to enjoy or follow this movie.

“Talk to Me” (A24)“Talk to Me”

“Talk to Me” made a splash when it hit theaters in 2023, now see what all the fuss was about. The Australian horror film follows a group of teenagers who think they can communicate with the dead using a mysterious severed hand. Then… well just watch and see.

Sony Pictures“I Know What You Did Last Summer”

Now that a new legacy sequel is coming to theaters, revisit the original “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” This teen slasher from Kevin Williamson, the writer of “Scream,” follows a group of kids — including Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt — who are involved in a hit and run. After deciding to leave the man they hit for dead, months later they find themselves stalked by a killer with an ice pick who claims to know their secret.

The post The 7 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now appeared first on TheWrap.

Bill Maher Jokes Pope Francis Survived a 38-Day Hospital Stay Only to Be ‘Keeled Right Over’ by JD Vance

Bill Maher kicked off Friday’s episode of “Real Time” by paying homage to the late Pope Francis and, of course, mocking Vice President JD Vance who happened to meet with the religious leader just hours before he died.

“He was 88-years-old, had just finished a 38-day stay in the hospital, got a lung infection and pneumonia, met JD for half an hour and keeled right over,” Maher joked.

Maher spent a good portion of this week’s monologue talking about Pope Francis, who died Monday after suffering stroke and of subsequent heart failure. “Sad, sad week, the pope died, fentanyl is no joke” Maher said. “Pope Francis was the first pope from South America. So he will rest in repose for eight days at the Vatican and then ICE will come by and ship him to El Salvador.”

Maher noted that this week, Wednesday to be specific, would also mark Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, a well-known benchmark to measure the initial success of a president’s term. “It’s always a big thing when the president has his first 100 days,” Maher said. “Time really flies when you’re in the fetal position.”  

Maher then shifted his focus the “kooky cabinet members” Trump has put in office, specifically, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The former Fox News host make headlines again this week for sharing even more sensitive information on a Signal group chat, just weeks after facing backlash for including the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg in a message involving “imminent war plans.”  

“What a scad!” Maher said while talking about Hegseth’s latest blunder. “He was caught sharing top secret information. Well he did it again! He shared attack plans with his wife, his brother, his lawyer. Pete says it’s no big deal. The brother and the lawyer can completely be trusted, and the wife doesn’t believe anything he says anyway.”

Maher also took aim at Hegseth for news that came out of the Pentagon that he was installing a makeup room. “Pete denies this. He’s says it’s not a makeup room. And this is true, he says it’s just a countertop, a tall directors chair, a mirror, a makeup light and a pink neon sign that says ‘You go girl!’ Other than that it is not a makeup room. Do not get confused people.”

Maher commented that shockingly the president does not seem to be that bothered. “Trumps position is that he’s standing by Pete, and blaming Al Gore for inventing the internet.”   

“Real Time with Bill Maher” airs Fridays on HBO.

The post Bill Maher Jokes Pope Francis Survived a 38-Day Hospital Stay Only to Be ‘Keeled Right Over’ by JD Vance appeared first on TheWrap.

Virginia Giuffre, Outspoken Jeffrey Epstein Accuser and Sex Trafficking Activist, Dies by Suicide at 41

Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, died by suicide Thursday, April 24. She was 41.

The news was confirmed to People by Giuffre’s family.

“Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” her family said. “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure. The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah and Emily.”

“It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realized she had to fight back against those who had abused her and so many others,” the statement continued. “There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia. She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit. In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight. We know that she is with the angels.”

Giuffre accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of forcing her into a sex ring of high-profile clients when she was 16-years-old and of forcing her to have sex with Epstein, who died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of child sex trafficking.

She also filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in 2021 and claimed the former senior royal forced her to have sex with him three times between 1999 and 2001. In the suit, Giuffre accused the then 61-year-old prince of sexually abusing her at Epstein’s Manhattan home when she was under the age of 18, and of intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and the rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions,” Giuffre said in part, in a statement to the media. “I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but one can reclaim her life by speaking out and demanding justice.”

In a 2019 BBC interview, Andrew denied the allegations. “I’ve said consistently and frequently that we never had any sort of sexual contact whatever,” he said, when questioned about Giuffre’s allegations against him.

The pair settled out of court in February 2022 for an undisclosed amount.

Virginia Giuffre was born Aug. 9, 1983, in Sacramento, California. She detailed a childhood of sexual abuse and instability in a 2018 interview with the Miami Herald. After a period of homelessness, she moved in with her father, then became the maintenance manager at Mar-a-Lago, at age 14.

It was there that she met Maxwell, who worked in the resort’s spa. She was soon roped into Maxwell and Epstein’s sex ring and spent significant time with the pair between 2000 and 2002. Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Epstein and Maxwell in 2009 as Jane Doe 102 alongside several other victims. That lawsuit was settled for $500,000.

In the darkness, Giuffre still found light. She was a mother of three children, Christina, Noah and Emily.

In recent weeks she appeared to indicate a forced estrangement from the trio. “My beautiful babies have no clue how much I love them and they’re being poisoned with lies. I miss them so very much,” she wrote in a post shared on Instagram.

“I  have been through hell & back in my 41 years but this is incredibly hurting me worse than anything else. Hurt me, abuse me but don’t take my babies. My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens .”

Her publicist Dini von Mueffling wrote in a statement, “She adored her children and many animals. She was always more concerned with me than with herself. I will miss her beyond words. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988 is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information and local resources.

The post Virginia Giuffre, Outspoken Jeffrey Epstein Accuser and Sex Trafficking Activist, Dies by Suicide at 41 appeared first on TheWrap.