Men's Journal's Blog, page 135
April 20, 2025
Andrew Garfield Makes Big Admission on 'Spider-Man' Future
As filming ramps up for a 2026 featuring the release of multiple high-profile Marvel movies, it’s hard not to speculate on each film while playing the “what if” game.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theatres on July 31, 2026, and it comes with many question marks and constant theories. After fans were treated to a Spidey trio of Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, many are crossing their fingers that the multiverse can set that up for an encore.
While it remains unlikely that Garfield and Maguire will make an appearance in Brand New Day, recent comments by the former fueled the speculation.
Garfield spoke about playing Spider-Man during a recent fan event, and admitted that he'd "love" to play the role again.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by ET بالعربي (@etbilarabi)
“I really loved playing Spider-Man. I would love to play the character again in some capacity, but I think it would have to be very weird," Garfield said. "I think I would like to do something very strange, I would want to do something very unique, and offbeat and surprising.”
Garfield continued to explain that he enjoys the animated Spider-verse films due to the numerous ways they can maximize the character through the multiverse.
“Kind of like the creative freedom they have with the animated ‘Spider-verse’ movies. I think they’re so great, and you can honour the character in so many ways through the multiverse,” he said. “That is the truth, and I know that I am going to be the boy who cried wolf forever.”
It sounds as though Garfield is ready and willing if the right opportunity presents itself. Whether that's already been discussed or is a total hypothetical, though, is anyone's guess.
Related: Keanu Reeves to Play Surprise Role as Villain in New Movie, per Report
Ben Stiller Pushes Back on Sinners Box Office Narrative in Viral Tweet
On April 20, the Severence director called out a viral tweet that claimed Sinners is still far from turning a profit—a narrative he described as completely misaligned with the film’s actual opening weekend success.
Stiller responded to Variety's tweet, which read, "Sinners has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It's a great result for an original, R-rated horror film, yet the Warner Bros. release has a $90 million price tag before global marketing expenses, so profitability remains a ways away....."
In his response to the Tweet, Stiller clapped back, "In what universe does a 60 million dollar opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline?" Stiller has made it clear he views the film’s opening weekend performance as a success worth celebrating.
According to Variety's article from April 20, Sinners has brought in over $61 globally from its opening weekend.
Other stars have also expressed similar sentiments.
On April 20, Patrick Schwarzenegger wrote, "It's opening weekend..." implying that the film’s profitability is far from settled and that Sinners is likely to earn significantly more in the coming days and weeks.
In what universe does a 60 million dollar opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline? https://t.co/rkFQxQNwMp
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) April 21, 2025
Joe Russo wrote a similar Tweet, poking fun at the headline by making his own: "Variety: “WHY DIDN’T THE MOVIE MAKE ALL ITS BUDGET BACK IN THREE DAYS.”
In the words of CNN, Sinners "shattered" industry expectations at the box office with its $45.6 million domestic earnings. The outlet quoted Shawn Robbins, the director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, as writing, "That star power for ‘Sinners’ (and) really kind of a fresh, original take on the vampire movie (genre) … helped bring out moviegoers..."
As of April 20, the film had performed well on Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh with a 98% Tomatometer (critical reviews) and 97% Popcornmeter (audience reviews).
Related: Data Reveals the Real Cost of Being Polite to ChatGPT
Data Reveals the Real Cost of Being Polite to ChatGPT
Being polite is expensive. For OpenAI, that is. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, per Tom's Hardware, polite exchanges with ChatGPT cost "tens of millions of dollars" in expenses.
In a separate interview, Kurt Beavers, a Microsoft Copilot design director, corroborated that sentiment and added, "using polite language sets a tone for the response..." Beavers adds that when regenerative AI "clocks politeness, it’s more likely to be polite back.”
But what, exactly, is so expensive?
According to recent reports obtained by the outlet, a "you are welcome response... uses roughly 40-50 milliliters of water." And water, according to reports from The Washington Post, is used to cool the servers that generate the data. And that costs money.
Tom's Hardware notes, "Texas had the lowest water usage at an estimated 235 milliliters needed to generate one 100-word email, while Washington demanded a whopping 1,408 milliliters per email — which is about three 16.9oz water bottles."
Speaking to The Washington Post, Microsoft's Craig Cincotta said that the company was "working toward data center cooling methods that will eliminate water consumption completely."
I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying “please” and “thank you” to their models.
— tomie (@tomieinlove) April 15, 2025
What's the latest in the world of AI? According to a New York Times article from April 16, OpenAI's technology is learning to "reason" with images. What does that mean?
Mark Chen, head of research at OpenAI, stated that AI will be able to "manipulate, crop and transform images in service of the task you want to do." Images could be generated from scratch, as well.
It's worth noting that this kind of "reasoning" is different from humans'. The outlet wrote, "And like other A.I. technologies, they can get things wrong and make stuff up — a phenomenon called hallucination."
Related: Bowen Yang Makes Surprising Comment After SNL Sketch Controversy
Experimental Whiskey Brand Drops Its Most Straightforward—and Potentially Best—Bourbon Yet
Jefferson’s Bourbon, known for its aging experiments, has just released perhaps the purest expression of its whiskey yet: Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength.
Since founding the brand with his father in 1997, Trey Zoeller has always approached the category with an outside-the-box strategy. The brand has made its name with unique cask finished bourbons as well as whiskeys aged in different environments.
“I’ve always taken pride in the fact that we’ve always done more than just distill, age, and bottle,” Zoeller says.
Among these experiments is Jefferson’s Tropics, a bourbon that was aged in the sweltering heat and humidity of Singapore. Jefferson’s Ocean, a Kentucky bourbon that's aged across different climates at sea, is among the brand’s most unique and successful experiments.
For Zoeller’s latest release, he’s taking things back to basics. Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength is an eight-year-old, non chill filtered Kentucky bourbon bottled at 130 proof (65 percent ABV). No cask finishes, no unique maturation experiments. This is Jefferson’s Bourbon in its purest form.
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“It’s what we use as a base for almost all of our products,” Zoeller explains. “We haven’t showcased it by itself yet, and it’s pretty damn good.”
Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength is a blend of just over 1,000 barrels of four different Kentucky bourbons. The barrels, having spent eight years aging in Kentucky, were all at different proof points.
“It averaged out right at 130 proof,” Zoeller says.
The new cask strength release allows bourbon enthusiasts and fans of Jefferson’s to get a close-up look at the bourbon that makes up the DNA of most of the Jefferson’s range—unfiltered and at barrel proof. It’s a new approach for Jefferson’s, but it’s one that Zoeller thinks you’re going to like.
“Sometimes you want a big damn bourbon,” Zoeller says. “And this drinks like that.”
Trey Zoeller normally makes experimental bourbon for Jefferson's. This time, he decided to make an elevated basic: cask strength bourbon.Courtesy Image
What Does Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength Taste Like?On the nose, Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength has a rich and creamy aroma with notes of butterscotch and salted caramel. For a 130 proof bourbon, there’s surprisingly little ethanol heat on the nose.
Once sipped, the bourbon is spicy and gripping. It's surprisingly rye-like, despite its mash bill containing only 17 percent of the grain. Notes of black pepper and allspice are bolstered with two levels of cherry sweetness, both fresh black cherry and medicinal, along with brûléed sugar. Again, it drinks way below its proof, with a balanced, satisfying, and complex flavor profile and a creamy, round mouthfeel.
Just with the nose and the palate, the high proof presents itself as baking spice notes on the finish, with notes of nutmeg and clove leading the way. Butterscotch and vanilla round out the finish, which is satisfying and lengthy, but slightly dry with a small but noticeable presence of tannic bitterness on the side palate.
Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength: The Final VerdictFor a stripped-down expression of Jefferson’s Bourbon, this cask strength offering has a lot of character. The most noteworthy characteristic of the whiskey is that it drinks far easier than its proof may lead one to believe. Instead of harsh ethanol, the bourbon's strength presents as a unique blend of baking spices, with different notes popping up during different parts of the tasting experience. The spicy notes balance well with the bourbon’s creamy character, making it dangerously easy to sip at its strength.
“Nobody drinks cask strength bourbon for the first time and says ‘Where has this been all my life?’ You build up to it. It’s a graduation,” Zoeller says.
With this expression, it feels like Zoeller and the team at Jefferson’s may have created a high-octane bourbon that might actually be able to convert new drinkers to the cask strength cult.
At a suggested retail price of $70, Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength sits right around the same tier as other popular cask strength offerings like Wild Turkey Rare Breed and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. While those expressions tend to be punchier and a bit more aggressive, Jefferson’s Cask Strength presents a more approachable form of cask strength bourbon.
Related: The Man Behind Jefferson's Bourbon Shares What the Next Limited Releases Will Be
The Darkest 'Star Wars' Show Ever Is Streaming Its 3-Hour Season Premiere— But Not When You Think
It may not be the most watched Star Wars series of all time, but Andor is certainly the buzziest of all the Disney+ shows set in the famous galaxy far, far away. And now, after two years, Andor Season 2 is back with a massive 12-episode season.
Unlike any Star Wars show before, Andor Season 2 is streaming new episodes in big chunks. And, if you assume that this like the old Mandalorian days when episodes were streaming first thing in the morning, think again. Here's what to know about the exact streaming time of the 3-hour-long season premiere of Andori Season 2, the release date, and what to know about the plot of the first three episodes. No spoilers.
Related: Disney Drops Free 'Andor' Episodes on YouTube Ahead of Season 2 Release
Andor Season 2 Release DateAndor Season 2 hits Disney+ on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This comes nearly a full three years after Andor Season 1 debuted on September 21, 2022. Disney+ will drop the first three episodes of Andor Season 2 on Tuesday. There will be 12 episodes in Season 2 overall, which is also the final season of Andor and will conclude just before the events of Rogue One (2016) and A New Hope (1977).
Andor Season 2 Streaming TimeThe first three episodes of Andor Season 2 will hit Disney+ on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EDT, and 6 p.m. PDT. To be clear, this means that these episodes will not drop first thing in the morning, but rather at the end of the day.
Disney+ has been known to do this for its newer shows, which is different from when the service began back in 2019. Even back in 2022, Andor episodes would have dropped earlier in the day.
Related: 'Andor' Season 2: Release Date, Cast and Surprising 'Star Wars' Time-Jumps
Andor Season 2 TimelineJumping ahead a year after the ending of Season 1, Andor Season 2 will take its various Rebels and Imperials through a crucial part of Star Wars history; from four years before the original 1977 movie, to just one year before. So, after every three episodes, there will be a time jump of one year. This means that the first three episodes that debut on April 22 take place in "4 BBY," which translates to four years before the Battle of Yavin; AKA the moment where Luke Skywalker blows up the Death Star in the original movie.
After the first week, we'll get three new episodes each Tuesday for a total of 12 episodes and four weeks total. The final episode airs on May 13 and will serve as a direct prequel to the 2016 movie Rogue One. For those who maybe forgot; Diego Luna's titular Cassian Andor made his debut in that movie, and the series Andor is, among other things, his origin story.
And, if you remember how things go for Andor in Rogue One, then you'll know that Andor Season 2 is destined for a very bittersweet ending.
Andor, Rogue One, and all of Star Wars streams on Disney+.Related: Ryan Gosling Just Confirmed He's in the Next 'Star Wars' Movie In the Coolest Way Possible
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Shares Tearjerking Update
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took a rare emotional detour on Instagram Thursday, sharing a deeply personal moment with his 395 million followers that left many in tears.
In a short but powerful video clip posted April 18, the former WWE star turned box-office heavyweight revealed a series of autograph requests he’d recently completed—each one for a fan with a story that hit him hard. Among the names he scrawled his signature for: Takeste, Elijah, Connor, and Abel. Each request carried weight, but it was Abel’s story, marked by a terminal brain cancer diagnosis and an estimated eight months to live, that visibly shook Johnson.
“Abel, I’m honored to sign this for you. Stay strong, Brother,” Johnson wrote in silver ink on a glossy headshot, before signing his name with care.
“Autograph requests always coming across my desk,” Johnson wrote in the caption. “But every once in a while, I’ll get an autograph request like the last one here. It always sits me down and makes me catch my breath, as I’m never quite sure what to say. What to write.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)
Johnson, 51, often shares high-energy behind-the-scenes content or family updates, but moments like this peel back the curtain. “It’s the heartbreaking side of life,” he continued, “but the good side of fame. Where I can write to this person. I’m lucky to have him as a fan.”
Followers flooded the comment section, echoing the emotion. “The last one got me,” one wrote, punctuated with crying emojis. Others praised Johnson’s authenticity and compassion: “You have a great soul and a great heart,” one said, while another added, “It may seem like a simple thing. But it’s an act of unconditional love—giving, expecting nothing in return.”
The moment reminded fans, and perhaps Johnson himself, that sometimes the most meaningful gestures don’t require lights, cameras, or action...just a silver Sharpie and a few words from the heart.
Gen Z Craves Café Vibes With No Starbucks Tab
Gen Z is realizing that they don't need to go to Starbucks to have those cozy café vibes. Instead, they are creating more affordable alternatives at home.
The trend started on TikTok with influencers, including Abigail Orfino and Marlene Rodriguez, according to the New York Post. In February, Rodriguez shared a video of herself making a tantalizing-looking iced coffee in her own kitchen. She told her followers, "Reminder to make your coffee at home tomorrow morning and save those $7." They aren't just filming their java recipes; the social media content goes for the full coffeehouse experience.
Orfino created an entire space in her home with a table that is work-friendly and dog-friendly for her pups that play at her feet. Other influencers go all-out, hosting friends at their pretend cafe, dressing as baristas, and serving pastries.
@marlenerodriguezoficialNow that I no longer buy from Starbucks; I’ve been making my coffee at home and let me tell you, you sure do save money 🤎🎀 #coffee #icedcoffee #strawberrycoldfoam #coffeetiktok #coffeeathome
♬ congratulations by mac miller - Hannah🎹
In August 2024, The Wall Street Journal noted that Gen Z's rejection of the Starbucks experience started with the increasing prices, but continued with the company's perceived pushback on unionizing stores and their stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
"Starbucks likes to say they don't consider us employees, they consider us 'partners', but we have no power in that partnership," Starbucks Workers United member Jaz Brisack told the BBC in 2021. "But if we can build actual worker power for baristas, then we can change not just Starbucks and make it the best it can be but help make the whole services industry better."
With White House tariffs likely sending the price of coffee skyrocketing in the near future, Gen Z isn't likely to return to Starbucks anytime soon.
Prince William, Princess Kate Make Decision on Royal Easter Celebration
Prince William and Princess Kate finalized their decision on the Easter Sunday celebration with the Royal Family for the second year in a row.
According to reports, Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - decided to spend the holiday Sunday away from the main celebration for the second year in a row.
Meanwhile, back at Windsor Castle in England, King Charles and Queen Camilla reportedly took the lead with the holiday celebrations. The 76-year-old King Charles and 77-year-old Queen Camilla rocked their best Easter Blues at St. George’s Chapel in England.
According to a report from Page Six, several other notable guests were in attendance, just not Prince William and Princess Kate:
Charles’ siblings Princess Anne with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and Prince Edward with his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh were all in attendance.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrews’ daughters, were also in attendance with their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozz and Jack Brooksbank. Edward’s son, James, Earl of Wessex, also joined.
Prince William and Princess Kate decided to spend the Easter holiday out of the way for the second year in a row.
The royal couple and their children spent the holiday at their country home in Norfolk, which is about two hours outside of London.
The couple skipped out on the festivities last year, while Princess Kate battled cancer. She announced in January that she was in remission.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,” she said.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” she continued. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”
Fans Stunned by Billy Ray Cyrus's Relationship Reveal
Billy Ray Cyrus, 63, appears to have a new girlfriend.
The American singer and songwriter has been married - and divorced - three times. He was first married to Cindy Smith from 1986-91. Later, he was married to Tish Cyrus from 1993-2022. Recently, he was married to Firerose from 2023-24.
The father of Miley Cyrus appears to have a new girlfriend, though. On Sunday, April 20, the longtime American singer shocked fans by revealing that he appears to be in a relationship with Elizabeth Hurely.
Hurley stunned fans with a kissing photo with Cyrus on Easter Sunday.
"Happy Easter ♥️," she wrote.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1)
Fans of the new couple are pretty shocked by the relationship reveal, as dozens took to the comment section of her post to sound off on their surprise.
"The couple we didn’t know we needed," one fan wrote.
"Wasn’t he engaged to someone else last week?" another fan wondered.
"Wait….what?" another fan wondered.
Fans were pretty shocked to see the news on social media, too, with fans immediately taking to X.
"Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus are dating?? ?????" one account wrote.
"What in the hell is actually going on," one fan added.
"What the what?" one fan added.
"How is this possible?" one fan added.
However, another fan had a theory, that the "couple" could just be filming something together, like a music video or maybe a modeling campaign.
"Could they just be filming a music video maybe?" one fan pondered.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: (Exclusive Coverage) Elizabeth Hurley attends the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 33rd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 02, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images) Perhaps we'll learn more about this relationship in the coming days.
Lara Pulver Unpacks Bella's Shocking Motivations in 'MobLand'
With four episodes out, MobLand already has more twists and turns than most shows can pull off in an entire season. And, one of the reasons the series is so compelling is that it's hard to know what any of the characters are going to do at any given time. But more than that, with Episode 4, "Plan B," MobLand dropped a jarring bit of backstory about Kevin's (Patty Constantine) wife, Bella (Lara Pulver), and her previous relationship with his father, and this mafia family's patriarch, Conrad Harrigan (Pierce Brosnan).
But what does it all mean? Does Bella hate the Harrigans? Does she secretly love Harry (Tom Hardy)? And why is she so obsessed with this political blackmail scheme? Speaking to Men's Journal, the brilliant actress Lara Pulver—famous as Irene Adler in Sherlock—explains that her character is even trickier than we thought.
"She's looking down the barrel of an uncertain future," Pulver explains. "And when it comes to Tom's character, I don't think she necessarily wants to sleep with him. I don't think she's in love with him, but I think she's just seeing where that boundary is going to go."
Lara Pulver at the Paramount+ "MobLand" New York Premiere at SVA Theatre on March 31, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)Kristina Bumphrey/Getty Images
In Episode 3, Bella makes it clear she wants Harry to be more than just a glorified helper, she's willing to cheat on her husband with him. But, in Episode 4, we find out that she got herself into the family by dating her husband's father, which makes everything suddenly way more loaded.
"I think she's not wholly comfortable with her past," Pulver explains, in reference to this latest revelation about Bella and Conrad Harrigan. "She's trying to have moments of just owning the present."
Pulver also hints that Bella's impulsive behavior—lying to her husband, trying to seduce Harry, trying to blackmail politicians—will likely only get worse. And it's all because she's trying to dig herself out of the hole she's in.
"As the series goes on, she wants to earn her status and find her identity in the present," Pulvers says. "And so, she starts making choices. Not necessarily great choices, either."
MobLand streams new episodes on Sundays on Paramount+.Men's Journal's Blog
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