We’ve seen this playbook before.
Hollywood went all-in on behalf of illegal immigration over the past decade. Documentaries. Feature films. TV show plots. The messaging proved consistent and one-sided.
We need open borders, even if they never said those words aloud.
Now, Hollywood is tag-teaming more specifically against ICE and any attempt to arrest illegal immigrants. And if what’s past is prologue, reality will prove superior to Hollywood fiction.
<div id="attachment_1067967" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1067967" class="size-large wp-image-1067967" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266673336-864x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Malgosia Turzanska, pin detail, attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266673336-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266673336-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266673336-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266673336.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Mike Coppola/Getty Images</div>
First, a quick review of how aggressively Tinsel Town promoted the open-border madness under Democrats.
Take Fox’s hit series “Party of Five.” The show centered on a tight-knit family surviving after the loss of their parents. The 2020 reboot on Freeform followed a similar storyline, except the parents in question were deported to Mexico.
And, yes, the messaging was as heavy as possible. Newsbusters dubbed the pilot episode pure “<a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/lindsay-kornick/2020/01/08/illegal-immigrant-party-five-reboot-whats-matter-country">parody</a>,” while the saga got a jump on the current anti-ICE mania.
HBO uncorked not one but <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/hbo-torn-apart-liberty-open-borderstorn-apart/">two open-borders documentaries</a> in 2019, and the titles spoke volumes — “Torn Apart: Separated at the Border” and “Liberty: Mother of Exiles.”
More examples? The final season of “Orange Is the New Black” <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/open-borders-hollywood-immigration/">pushed family separation plot lines</a>, while the villain in the third “Descendants” film for kids tried to ban immigration. 
Selena Gomez used her clout to promote the docuseries “<a href="https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/selena-gomez-netflix-docuseries-1203338879/">Living Undocumented</a>.”
<div id="attachment_1067903" style="width: 799px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1067903" class="size-large wp-image-1067903" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-1178702372-789x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Rosario Dawson (L) and Selena Gomez attend the LA Screening for Netflix Doc Series &quot;Living Undocumented&quot;, produced by Selena Gomez at Netflix Offices on October 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)" width="789" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-1178702372-789x576.jpg 789w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-1178702372-300x219.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-1178702372-768x561.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-1178702372.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 789px) 100vw, 789px" />Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix</div>
Subtle? Hardly. And what happened next?
Donald Trump got re-elected by promising to slam the southern border shut. And when he did just that, by sheer coincidence, America celebrated its <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murders-plummet-crime-trends-2025/">lowest national murder rate in more than a century.</a> 
Hollywood’s all-powerful messaging machine had failed. So why not try it again, but this time directly targeting ICE?
It started with “One Battle After Another,” a cinematic love letter to violent revolutionaries. Leonardo DiCaprio played a stoner rebel cosplaying as an anti-ICE warrior. His fiery gal pal (Teyana Taylor) was the real deal, using any means necessary to free illegal immigrants and attack U.S. officials.
Films take much longer than TV shows to produce and release, but writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson somehow grasped his industry’s zeitgeist with Kreskin-like accuracy.
Just days ago, Hollywood gave it the Best Picture Oscar.
<div id="attachment_1067923" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1067923" class="size-large wp-image-1067923" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2268276413-864x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: Noah Wyle and Harriet Rose speak onstage during the Q&amp;A for 'The Pitt' to celebrate the launch of HBO Max at Rosewood London on March 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for HBO Max)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2268276413-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2268276413-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2268276413-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2268276413.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for HBO Max</div>
TV show productions happen faster, allowing small screen scribes to indoctrinate on demand. That allowed HBO’s hit series “The Pitt” to pick up the “OBAA” propaganda baton. A second season story arc follows an illegal immigrant being treated for a shoulder injury in the show’s Pittsburgh emergency room.
The ICE agents are portrayed as aggressive and unfeeling, while patients and workers alike recoil at their presence.
<div id="attachment_1067931" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1067931" class="size-large wp-image-1067931" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II-1024x576.jpg" alt="Source: HBO Max/The Pitt" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/The-Pitt-II.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Source: HBO Max/The Pitt</div>
Then, according to The Hollywood Reporter, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-pitt-ice-episode-scott-gemmill-interview-1236514931/">things get personal</a>:
<blockquote>…at the end of the episode, nurse Jesse (Ned Brower) gets detained for stepping in to protect the patient when the ICE agents get too aggressive.</blockquote>
Over at CBS, the “Matlock” reboot <a href="https://www.primetimer.com/features/matlock-season-2-episode-9-matty-s-high-risk-collateral-move-leaves-julian-with-the-ultimate-truth-bomb">concocted its own anti-ICE narrative</a>. An episode dubbed “Collateral,” during the show’s second season, finds Kathy Bates’ character defending a client detained by ICE agents. That bleeds into a larger story with both the client and his family trying to stay in the country despite their illegal status.
The government’s “deal” is cruel, including a demand that the client pay up to $6 million in restitution with zero path to citizenship. Boo! Hiss!
Meanwhile, the just-released second season of “Daredevil: Born Again” tackles ICE in a less heavy-handed, but equally negative fashion. The villainous Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), now the Big Apple&#8217;s mayor, begins rounding up citizens without due process. That’s been the Left’s battle cry against ICE arrests across the nation.
<div id="attachment_1067935" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1067935" class="size-large wp-image-1067935" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2267624335-864x576.jpg" alt="Vincent D'Onofrio at the &quot;Daredevil: Born Again&quot; Season 2 Launch Event held at Drai's Supper Club New York on March 23, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2267624335-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2267624335-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2267624335-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2267624335.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images</div>
D’Onofrio’s character is an obvious stand-in for President Donald Trump, or at least the cartoonish version Hollywood holds dear.
The show’s creative team has been coy about any real-world comparisons, but that may be a case of artists trying not to steamroll a show that hasn’t lit up the ratings world upon its belated return.
“Daredevil: Born Again” co-star Michael Gandolfini didn’t follow that advice. He <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/2036625364890628459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2036625364890628459%7Ctwgr%5E22e967c30af443b7a7cea49a0a08d23ed1a607a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodintoto.com%2Fcolberts-lord-of-the-rings-gig-reveals-ugly-hollywood-truth%2F">praised his show</a> for speaking, wait for it, truth to power.
<blockquote>We do a lot of safe things in film now. To do something risky that says something is rare.</blockquote>
More shows will likely follow. These stories aren’t isolated incidents. Late-night TV hosts routinely rage against ICE efforts in their monologues. 
NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” has done the same via its <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/snl-slams-ice-weekend-update-1236640253/">Weekend Update faux news desk</a>.
<blockquote>“I get that ICE agents are people, allegedly, and they have a job to do. But at some point while you’re pepper-spraying old ladies or shooting at a nurse, do you ever stop to ask yourself, ‘Are we d*cks?&#8217;”</blockquote>
Stars have been raging against all things ICE from their favorite bully pulpits — <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/celebs-slam-ice-independent-spirit-awards-2026-1236506162/">awards season stages</a>. &#8220;White Lotus&#8221; alum Natasha Rothwell expressed her feelings at the recent Spirit Awards:
<blockquote>I’m gonna go to the prompter, but I just want to say, ‘F*** ICE.&#8217;</blockquote>
“ICE Out” buttons have been the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/celebrities/2026/03/15/ice-out-ceasefire-pins-2026-oscars-photos/89172466007/">fashion accessory of the season</a> at these events, and stars have used their red carpet remarks to blast any attempt to uphold the law.
Just don’t expect any shows reflecting heinous illegal immigrant murders, like the deaths of Laken Riley or Sheridan Gorman. Nor will a star or starlet name-drop either victim as they collect their new shiny trophies.
Their names won’t be found on any chic Hollywood buttons, either.
The facts behind their tragic deaths are chilling and undeniable, but they’re inconvenient to the narrative in play. And Hollywood is all about narratives, especially the fictional ones.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.

“Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2 Launch Event

Hollywood’s Biggest Shows Have A New Propaganda Mission: Eliminate ICE

Hollywood Keeps Pushing This Narrative But Ignores What Follows

actors

Celebrities

Democrats

Entertainment

Film

Hollywood

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Leftists

Television

In any other time, Timothée Chalamet would be the toast of Hollywood.
Young, handsome and versatile, few actors take their craft as seriously as Chalamet. So why is he suddenly considered a cartoonish villain within the halls of Tinsel Town? At a time when the industry still relies on 60-something stars named Cruise, Pitt, Depp and Reeves to fill seats, shouldn’t Hollywood be rallying around a much younger star?
Instead, we’ve spent weeks dissecting an offhand comment he made during a podcast chat and wondered if his “<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/timothee-chalamet-oscar-campaign-analysis-marty-supreme-1236521110/">swagger</a>” alienated too many Oscar voters.
Is this any way to treat a generational talent?
<div id="attachment_1064909" style="width: 819px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1064909" class="size-large wp-image-1064909" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2110850824-809x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Timothee Chalamet is seen on location for the Bob Dylan biopic titled 'A Complete Unknown' on March 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)" width="809" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2110850824-809x576.jpg 809w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2110850824-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2110850824-768x547.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2110850824.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px" />Gotham/GC Images</div>
In a just a short span, Chalamet has played a bevy of iconic roles. He gave us Paul Atreides, the complicated hero of the “Dune” saga, a remarkable take on Bob Dylan via “A Complete Unknown” and even a young Willy Wonka. He’s earned three Oscar nominations to date, cementing his status among his peers.
And these weren’t emotional picks by any stretch. He earned them.
His sublime turn in last year’s “Marty Supreme” had him earmarked for Oscar night glory. It was his time, especially since he missed out the year prior despite a dazzling turn as a young Bob Dylan. Chalamet spent years performing like the folk-rock legend, so when the cameras started rolling, he’d be more than ready for his close-up.
Cillian Murphy bested Chalamet for his work in “Oppenheimer” all the same. It happens, but the young star never stopped hustling.
He trained obsessively once more for “Marty Supreme,” the tale of a ping-pong prodigy whose moral lapses threatened his dreams of global domination.
<div id="attachment_1064923" style="width: 605px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1064923" class="size-large wp-image-1064923" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2176665467-595x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Timothee Chalamet is seen on the set of &quot;Marty Supreme&quot; on October 7, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)" width="595" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2176665467-595x576.jpg 595w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2176665467-300x290.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2176665467-768x743.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2176665467.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px" />XNY/Star Max/GC Images</div>
Not only was he preparing years before the film hit theaters, he had to ape the precise ping-pong style of the 1950s. Tricking audiences that he was an elite ping-pong champion wasn’t enough. 
That’s hardly new for Chalamet, who happily rolls up his sleeves for the right role. He <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/timothee-chalamet-marty-supreme-ping-pong-training-1236454197/">learned Italian for his 2017 film</a>, “Call Me by Your Name,” which landed him his first Oscar nomination.
His latest extreme challenge didn’t grant him the ultimate acting prize. His fading can’t-miss status collapsed over the last few months, paving the way for the talented Michael B. Jordan to take Best Actor honors for “Sinners.”
That came as no surprise to Oscar observers. They watched Chalamet’s can’t-miss status crumble in real time.
First, he was working too hard to promote the film, appearing in public at pop-up events and flexing his Instagram account to drum up interest for the film. Why wouldn’t Hollywood crave such a creative approach to marketing?
<div id="attachment_1064925" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1064925" class="size-large wp-image-1064925" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2195483518-864x576.jpg" alt="SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1876 -- Pictured: Host and musical guest Timothée Chalamet during the monologue on Saturday, January 25, 2025 -- (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2195483518-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2195483518-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2195483518-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2195483518.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images</div>
Did anyone think a ‘50s era look at ping pong would draw huge crowds all by itself? Chalamet’s energy and enthusiasm helped make the film a hit, outgrossing the year’s eventual Best Picture winner, “One Battle After Another,” in American theaters — $95 million to $72 million, respectively.
Later, some pundits were turned off by his swagger. He simply wanted that golden statuette too much. What if he earned it fair and square? Since when is swagger a negative trait in a movie star?
Since now, apparently.
The post-Oscars recap of Chalamet’s loss is even more dispiriting. The Hollywood Reporter essentially asked the actor to disappear for a while<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/timothee-chalamet-break-dune-3-1236536689/"> so we’d “miss” him</a>, at least until the third “Dune” saga hits theaters in December.
<div id="attachment_1064927" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1064927" class="size-large wp-image-1064927" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266738177-864x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Timothée Chalamet at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266738177-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266738177-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266738177-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266738177.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Emma McIntyre/Getty Images</div>
Overexposure is a real concern for some stars, but Chalamet doesn’t work nearly as often as some of his high-profile peers. Heck, there’s a running joke about the ubiquitous Pedro Pascal, but Chalamet’s resume is far less busy than the “Mandalorian” star.
Chalamet makes one sizable film a year, with the occasional supporting turn to flesh out his resume.
The craziest attack on the star came late in the recent Oscar campaign. The actor told fellow star Matthew McConaughey that he hoped film wouldn’t drop off the cultural scene<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/timothee-chalamet-still-getting-slammed-for-saying-ballet-and-opera-are-dead"> like ballet and opera</a> have in recent years.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it&#8217;s like, &#8216;Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.&#8217; All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there.”
That set off a firestorm, even though there’s some truth to his comments. How many people can rattle off the biggest opera or ballet stars in the world, as opposed to the biggest TV or film actors?
The critique <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doja-cat-admits-she-piled-on-chalamet-for-clicks-says-she-was-virtue-signaling">got blasted</a> far and wide, making its presence felt during the 98th Oscars ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien.
“Security is extremely tight tonight. I’m told there’s concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”
The camera quickly panned to Chalamet, who grinned sheepishly at the bit.
<div id="attachment_1064919" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1064919" class="size-large wp-image-1064919" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266716206-864x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Elle Fanning, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet attend the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266716206-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266716206-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266716206-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2266716206.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Kevin Winter/Getty Images</div>
That imbroglio may not have hurt him in the Oscar voting tally as much as some suspected. Many votes had already been cast at that point. Still, the fallout was considerable, and some voters likely would have held it against him if possible.
The notion that they would let such a silly spectacle warp their perspectives is a tragic glimpse at award season decline, not anything about Chalamet’s talent.
We need younger stars to step in while the old guard recedes for character parts and retirement. Chalamet offers exactly that, but is Hollywood ready to embrace him?
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci – Arrivals

The Strange Backlash Against Timothée Chalamet

Academy Awards

Oscars

Timothee Chalamet

The following is an edited transcript excerpt from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mks-ep-1935-sub?elementPosition=7&amp;row=6&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">The Michael Knowles Show</a>.
* * *
Val Kilmer is dead. Hollywood now wants to put him in another movie anyway.
Not through footage he had already completed. Not through a role he finished before his death. Through artificial intelligence.
We are told this is a tribute. It is not a tribute. It is necromancy.
Yes, necromancy. And no, that is not just a melodramatic way of saying I dislike the technology. Taking a dead actor, reconstructing his face and voice with AI, and then putting words in his mouth is not ordinary filmmaking. It is an attempt to conjure a human presence from beyond the grave. Not the man himself, of course, but his image, his shade, his likeness. That is exactly what makes it so grotesque.
I know the objection. No, it’s not. Necromancy would mean literally bringing someone back from the dead. This is just technology. This is just creating an image that looks and sounds like him.
No. That is not really what necromancy has ever meant in practice. 
When people go to a psychic and try to conjure the dead, they are not expecting a flesh-and-blood man to walk back into the room. They expect a voice, a shadow, a movement, a shape, an apparition. They expect an image that gives the illusion of presence. That is what they are after. And that is exactly what this technology offers: not resurrection, but simulation. Not life, but a convincing imitation of it.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mks-ep-1935-sub?elementPosition=7&amp;row=6&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1054531 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1024x171.jpg" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
That is why the distinction does not save it. It condemns it.
A human being is not merely a face, or a voice, or a recognizable pattern of speech. A man is not reducible to a catalog of gestures and expressions that can be fed into a machine and reproduced on command. A man is body and soul. A body without a soul is a corpse. A soul without a body is a spirit. A digital imitation is neither. It is not the man. It is not Val Kilmer.
Val Kilmer lived, and then he died. That is the truth. And when you start creating AI performances that ask audiences to forget that truth, you are doing more than making a movie. You are teaching people to deny death.
That is one of the deepest temptations of modern life. So much of liberal modernity is about denying mortality, denying limits, denying the fixed realities of the human condition. It is about gathering to ourselves powers that do not belong to us. It is about pretending we can master time, history, memory, identity, even death itself. It is about maximizing human autonomy until man no longer receives the world as a creature under God, but tries to re-engineer it as his own private project.
<div id="attachment_1062869" style="width: 893px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1062869" class="size-large wp-image-1062869" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-607408752-883x576.jpg" alt="American actors Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)" width="883" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-607408752-883x576.jpg 883w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-607408752-300x196.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-607408752-768x501.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-607408752.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px" />Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images</div>
That is what makes this more than a Hollywood gimmick. This is not just another strange special effect or another morally neutral technological advance. It is part of a much larger effort to flatten reality and replace it with manipulation. It invites us to believe that the dead are not really gone, that personhood is just data, that memory can be commercialized into presence, and that all boundaries exist to be crossed so long as the software is good enough.
And it will get good enough. That is part of the problem. If the technology improves, people will look at that screen and think, on some level, that they are really seeing Val Kilmer. Maybe not literally. Maybe they will know, abstractly, that it is AI. But emotionally, imaginatively, culturally, the effect will be the same. The dead man will appear to live again. And when that happens over and over, decade after decade, it will change the way we think about death itself.
It will teach us that death is not a real rupture, merely a technical inconvenience. It will teach us that the dead remain available for reuse. It will teach us that a person can be broken down into commercially exploitable fragments and then reassembled whenever a studio wants one more performance. That is dehumanizing enough when done to the living. Done to the dead, it becomes something darker.
We should not do this.
There are living actors — plenty of living actors. If you want a performance, go find a living man to give one. If you want to honor the dead, then honor them as dead. Remember them. Pray for them. Be grateful for the work they already gave the world. But do not digitally ventriloquize them and call it art.
And this applies beyond Hollywood. The same impulse that says we should build AI versions of dead actors is the impulse that refuses to accept mortality at all. It is the same impulse that wants to summon, recreate, simulate, and control what ought to be received with humility. It is the refusal to let the dead remain dead, and the refusal to let the living remain creatures rather than aspiring gods.
So no, I do not think this is harmless. I do not think it is merely clever. And I do not think Christians, or anyone with a sane understanding of human dignity, should shrug and accept it as inevitable.
Don’t talk to your dead father as though he were still here. Pray for him. Don’t ask a machine to conjure the likeness of the dead so that you can pretend mortality has no claim on us. Speak to the living. Love the living. Live among the living.
Leave the dead in peace.

“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” Photocall at the 58th Cannes Film Festival

Why Bringing Val Kilmer Back With AI Crosses A Moral Line

Artificial Intelligence

Death

Michael Knowles

Movies

Opinion

Tragedy struck the world of comedy again this week.
Katherine Short, the 41-year-old daughter of legendary funnyman Martin Short, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/martin-shorts-daughter-katherine-dies-at-42?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Martin+Short%E2%80%99s+Daughter+Katherine+Dies+At+42">passed away</a> on Feb. 23. Her passing came only weeks after comedienne Catherine O’Hara’s death at 71.
Short and O’Hara have been making us laugh for decades without so much as an interruption. O’Hara’s turn as Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek” capped a career that included memorable turns in “Home Alone,” “Beetlejuice” and other comedy classics.
Short’s comedy resume is among the longest and the best in the business.
And both got their start on &#8220;Second City Television&#8221; or “SCTV,” a show that has been perpetually overshadowed by a glossier American sketch comedy series. Yet, decades later, “SCTV’s” legacy is only getting bigger while “Saturday Night Live’s” continues to contract.
<div id="attachment_1051159" style="width: 430px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051159" class="size-large wp-image-1051159" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-asdfas-420x576.jpg" alt="Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB." width="420" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-asdfas-420x576.jpg 420w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-asdfas-219x300.jpg 219w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-asdfas.jpg 700w" sizes=" (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px" />Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB.</div>
Short and O’Hara cut their comedy teeth as members of “SCTV,” a sketch comedy troupe that delivered laughs from north of the border. The show aired stateside starting in the late 1970s, but it never quite gained the cultural traction “SNL” enjoyed.
The latter gave us superstars like Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, and Will Ferrell but those comedy titans came from endless cast iterations. For every standout like Dana Carvey or Bill Hader there were dozens whose “SNL” time turned into brief highlight reels.
That wasn’t the case with “SCTV,” which ran from 1976 to 1984. The show’s small, fairly consistent cast featured talent after talent, and their post-show work shined as brightly as the best “SNL” alums.
Maybe even brighter.
<div id="attachment_1051127" style="width: 402px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051127" class="size-large wp-image-1051127" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-cast-1980s-392x576.jpg" alt="SCTV. IMDB." width="392" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-cast-1980s-392x576.jpg 392w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-cast-1980s-204x300.jpg 204w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/SCTV-cast-1980s.jpg 680w" sizes=" (max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px" />SCTV. IMDB.</div>
The show’s cast came from Toronto’s edition of Second City, an improv group made famous for sparking NBC’s “SNL” series in 1975 (along with National Lampoon’s media empire). The Canadian series was built around a fictional TV studio, allowing for recurring comic characters and wacky sketches.
It’s where Short perfected his Ed Grimley character – later seen on “SNL.” (Short graced both sketch comedy institutions, but “SNL” for only a single season (1984-85). Co-star Eugene Levy’s Bobby Bittman character exuded oily ‘70s smarm, while Joe Flaherty’s Count Floyd sent up horror movie hosts to perfection.
Those characters endure, but so do the performers’ post-show resumes.
Last year’s “I Like Me” documentary captured the short, remarkable life of “SCTV” alum John Candy. The husky comic died at 43, but not before leaving us with one indelible turn after another. He swiped scenes in “Home Alone,” “Vacation” and “Splash” while anchoring raucous comedies, including “Uncle Buck,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Summer Rental.”
<div id="attachment_1051147" style="width: 1016px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051147" class="size-large wp-image-1051147" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/candy-john-1006x576.jpg" alt="Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB." width="1006" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/candy-john-1006x576.jpg 1006w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/candy-john-300x172.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/candy-john-768x440.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/candy-john.jpg 1221w" sizes=" (max-width: 1006px) 100vw, 1006px" />20th Century Fox. Hughes Entertainment. &#8220;Home Alone&#8221;</div>
Lovable with a pinch of sadness beneath his grin, Candy’s persona enhanced a crush of comedies before his 1994 death. “I Like Me” nailed both his comic gifts and ability to connect with audiences in ways many comedians never could.
O’Hara’s comedy career ended with her most recent role in Apple TV+’s “The Studio,” the latest example of her versatility. And she didn’t need a script to make us howl. Recall her improv chops in four Christopher Guest “mockumentaries” – “For Your Consideration,” “Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind.”
Short’s film career wavered after a series of under-achieving comedies like “Three Amigos,” “Innerspace” and “Clifford,” but he never stopped working. Most recently, he’s anchored Hulu’s comedy series “Only Murders in the Building” alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez.
<div id="attachment_1051167" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051167" class="size-large wp-image-1051167" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-864x576.jpg" alt="Photo by Courtesy of Hulu. Copyright Hulu.Only Murders in the Building, Nail in the Coffin Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Only-Murders-martin-short.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo by Courtesy of Hulu.</div>
One “SCTV” alum’s career stalled, but only due to a deeply personal choice. Rick Moranis, so memorably in films like “Spaceballs,” “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and “Ghostbusters,” stepped away from Hollywood following the death of his wife in 1991.
He tried to be both a working actor and single parent, but he realized he couldn’t do both without sacrificing key parts of the latter. So he left the business on his terms. Decades later, his return as Dark Helmut in the “Spaceballs” sequel, due in 2027, is one of the film’s biggest selling points.
Moranis’ on-screen hoser/partner, Dave Thomas, never matched Moranis’ early fame. He still worked steadily over the years, bouncing from sitcom roles to writing gigs on shows like Fox’s “Bones.”
<div id="attachment_1051149" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051149" class="size-large wp-image-1051149" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north-1024x512.jpg" alt="Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB." width="1024" height="512" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north-300x150.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north-768x384.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/sctv-great-white-north.jpg 2002w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB.</div>
And the pair reunited for 1983’s “Strange Brew,” bringing their Bob and Doug characters to the big screen alongside Max Von Sydow. The film wasn’t a smash, but it swiftly became a cult classic. And deservedly so.
Some “SCTV” alums shined even brighter behind the camera. Yes, Harold Ramis was one of the four core “Ghostbusters,” but he’s better known for directing “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Caddyshack” and “Groundhog Day.”
That, plus a series of strong supporting roles (“Knocked Up,” “As Good As It Gets”) complemented his impressive post-“SCTV” life until his death in 2014.
“SCTV’s” Andrea Martin has enjoyed a blue-collar career following the show’s end, netting endless work, including a silly supporting role in the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” franchise. She also found voice actor gigs and joined former “SCTV” chum Short on “Only Murders in the Building” since 2022.
<div id="attachment_1051145" style="width: 793px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1051145" class="size-large wp-image-1051145" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/cast-sctv-783x576.jpg" alt="Second City Entertainment. SCTV." width="783" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/cast-sctv-783x576.jpg 783w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/cast-sctv-300x221.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/cast-sctv-768x565.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/cast-sctv.jpg 1169w" sizes=" (max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px" />Second City Entertainment. SCTV. IMDB.</div>
And while we lost O’Hara this year, her “Schitt’s Creek” husband, the amiable Levy, keeps making us smile. Levy’s exhaustive film and TV career includes key turns in the aforementioned mockumentaries and the “American Pie” franchise.
“SCTV” signed off for good in 1984, while “SNL” recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. That said, the latter keeps burning down its legacy with biased political gags and bland bits. The NBC show may still crank out a future star or two, but “SCTV’s” killer ratio of repertory players who made it big remains unmatched.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

SCTV cast II

Before ‘SNL’ Ruled Late Night, This Show Rewrote The Rules

Before 'SNL' Ruled Late Night, This Show Rewrote The Rules

Canada

comedian

Comedy

John Candy

Martin Short

The following is an edited transcript excerpt from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1903-the-three-million-new-pages-of-epstein-files-explained?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">The Michael Knowles Show</a>. 
* * *
Christopher Nolan is doing a movie about &#8220;The Odyssey,&#8221; Homer&#8217;s epic poem, and he has cast Lupita Nyong&#8217;o as Helen of Troy — the face that launched a thousand ships, the most beautiful woman in the Greek world.
Lupita Nyong&#8217;o is a very good actress. However, let&#8217;s just say she doesn&#8217;t look Greek.
She doesn&#8217;t have any of the features that are traditionally associated with Helen of Troy. Helen is portrayed as having very, very fair skin, sometimes slightly darker hair, sometimes blond hair. So it doesn&#8217;t quite match. Some people are making all sorts of nasty comments about Lupita Nyong&#8217;o, this perfectly nice-looking lady, who is certainly a very good actress.
This does not seem to serve the story, does it?
The purpose of casting is the same as acting, directing, editing, and producing — it&#8217;s to tell a story.
To cast Lupita Nyong&#8217;o in that role is to distract from the story. It undermines the story. She&#8217;s not fit for that part.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably the greatest actor of my lifetime. He’s just absolutely magnificent. It would be a little odd to cast Philip Seymour Hoffman as Malcolm X in “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” wouldn&#8217;t it? He&#8217;s a very good actor. But there are limits.
There are limits to what an actor can do. There are limits to this entire world.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1903-the-three-million-new-pages-of-epstein-files-explained?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">WATCH: The Michael Knowles Show</a></h3>
There was a famous debate within the theater, by the way, on so-called &#8220;colorblind casting,&#8221; which is never really colorblind. They call it colorblind casting when they cast Lupita as Helen of Troy, but they don&#8217;t call it colorblind casting if they were to cast Philip Seymour Hoffman as Malcolm X. That would be an outrage. It would never happen.
So it&#8217;s not exactly colorblind. It&#8217;s just casting black and Latino people in white roles, and not casting white people at all.
There was a famous debate on this between Robert Brustein, who ran the American Repertory Theater, and August Wilson, who was probably the most famous black American playwright, perhaps ever. He wrote “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” he wrote “Fences,” which was a movie with Denzel Washington some years ago — a good playwright as far as contemporary playwrights go.
And Brustein, the white liberal, argued for colorblind casting. Oh yeah, anybody of any race, any background can play any part. And August Wilson, the black guy — or half-black guy — said, no, they can&#8217;t. He didn&#8217;t want white people to play roles where they&#8217;re a garbage collector in the early 20th century in black neighborhoods with black families. It doesn&#8217;t read. It takes you out of the story. It isn&#8217;t true.
And there&#8217;s obviously some wiggle room here in certain roles because actors pretend. But it is beyond the capacity of certain actors — of all actors — to overcome their natural limits.
Christopher Nolan&#8217;s a good director, but one can object to the casting without being offensive and mean-spirited; it just doesn&#8217;t make a lot of sense.
Someone on X/Twitter rightly put it, “this is now the face that launched a thousand quips because people think it&#8217;s kind of funny.”

The Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit Presented by CHANEL

Why Lupita Nyong’o As Helen Of Troy Does Not Work

Why Lupita Nyong'o As Helen Of Troy Does Not Work

Blacks

Cultural Appropriation

Race

Whites

Chicken Little has nothing on today’s celebrities.
Stars large and small are spreading fear throughout the culture, and the topics won’t take anyone by surprise.
They typically involve an orange man behaving badly and his so-called Gestapo foot soldiers.
The recent Sundance Film Festival affair, the last to be held in Park City, Utah before moving to The Republic of Boulder, is giving celebrities all the red-carpet room they need to spread fear.
<div id="attachment_1036401" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1036401" class="size-large wp-image-1036401" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258422955-864x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 26: Demonstrators walk down Main Street protesting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258422955-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258422955-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258422955-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258422955.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />David Becker/Getty Images</div>
The media is doing the rest, regurgitating their comments without a fact check in sight.
Oscar-winner Natalie Portman used her festival pulpit to decry the rise of ICE agents corralling illegal immigrants, many of whom have been charged with heinous crimes like rape and murder.
For Portman, the scary part is <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5707941-natalie-portman-donald-trump-kristie-noem-ice/">enforcing immigration laws</a>.
“It’s very joyful to be at a film festival and in a creative community celebrating film together, but what is happening in our country is just obscene … What Trump, and Kristi Noem and ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] are doing to our citizens, and undocumented people, is outrageous and needs to end.”
<div id="attachment_1036349" style="width: 831px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1036349" class="size-large wp-image-1036349" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258048486-821x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 24: Natalie Portman attends the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/GC Images)" width="821" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258048486-821x576.jpg 821w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258048486-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258048486-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258048486.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px" />Bryan Steffy/GC Images</div>
The comments came shortly after ICE agents shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti, a Jan. 24th incident with many questions left unanswered. Pretti was armed at some point in the altercation, and new video shows he previously spat at ICE agents, kicked another agent’s vehicle, shattering its taillight, and resisted arrest.
His death remains tragic, but context cannot be left out. This wasn’t a peaceful protester simply waving a placard or warbling a protest song.
Actress/director Olivia Wilde doubled down on Portman’s comments, once again from a glamorous red-carpet affair.
“We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered. And, I don’t want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet. On film. It’s. It’s hideous.”
Oscar-nominee Edward Norton took a cue from too many Democrat politicians by ratcheting up the rhetoric with <a href="https://www.euronews.com/culture/2026/01/26/sundance-film-festival-crowds-protest-and-celebrities-react-to-latest-ice-killing-in-minne">the Nazi Card.</a>
“These days it’s ‘What are we gonna do about mass Gestapo shooting American citizens? … We are sitting here talking about movies while an illegal army is being mounted against US citizens.”
<div id="attachment_1036419" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1036419" class="size-large wp-image-1036419" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258054012-864x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 24: Edward Norton (L) and Seth Rogen attend The Invite After Party with Casamigos at The Cabin On Main Street, Sundance Film Festival 2026 on January 24, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Casamigos)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258054012-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258054012-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258054012-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258054012.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Casamigos</div>
He didn’t back up his charge that the ICE agents are acting in an illegal manner. Nor did he wonder why there’s so much violence associated with Minneapolis “protests” when other cities are also flooded with ICE agents without incident.
Others are relying on social media, not glitzy film festivals, to peddle fear. Comedian Kathy Griffin, whose career came to a screeching halt in 2017 when she shared a photograph of her holding a bloodied Trump head aloft, ISIS style, also spread distrust via social media.
She told her followers to find out if their neighbors are “MAGA” and <a href="https://x.com/ClownWorld/status/2016985304419488006">start planning accordingly.</a> For what, she didn’t say, but the implications were ominous.
“Breaking Bad” alum Giancarlo Esposito, not someone normally associated with political banter, offered what might be the most fear-based comments of them all.
The actor played the Race Card while suggesting we could be staring down the barrel of a Civil War of sorts. And <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-bad-star-says-its-time-for-a-revolution-admits-people-will-die-for-the-cause">there will certainly be blood.</a> It sounds like he can’t wait.
“This is time for a revolution — and they don’t even know that’s what they’re starting,” the actor said. “We have to stand up to it. They can’t take us all down. If the whole world showed up on Putin’s doorstep or the Iranians’ doorstep or in Washington, they’d kill 500 or 50 million or however [many], but the rest of us would survive with a new [world]…”
“This is all a preparation for a very insidious problem that’s happening in our world. And for me, I have to speak out. We will not be ICE’d out. This is not going to happen.”
Some fears don’t directly involve ICE or President Trump, but the connective tissue is easy to spot. Take Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke, who proved his acting chops anew with this unhinged and reality-free take on the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-lefts-performative-outrage">death of free speech in Trump’s America</a>.
&#8220;There’s a kind of fear in the air that I’ve never felt before … And it’s not America. To get to be an artist in a free country, I’ve had enough of an education to know what a privilege that is. And I don’t feel that way anymore. And that’s something that has to change.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1036361" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1036361" class="size-large wp-image-1036361" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258406932-864x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 26: Ethan Hawke attends &quot;The Weight&quot; Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 26, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258406932-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258406932-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258406932-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258406932.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images</div>
Hawke has been mum on the new Hollywood Blacklist that keeps too many conservatives out of Hollywood or shamed into silence. He also stood down when Gina Carano’s social media post pleading for tolerance cost her the biggest job of her career – a slot on Disney+’s “The Mandalorian.”
Pop superstar Lady Gaga isn’t in the United States at the moment, but she still felt compelled to spread fear via <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/01/29/video-lady-gaga-pauses-tokyo-concert-to-smear-and-lie-about-ice/">a Tokyo concert appearance</a>.
“In a couple of days, I’m gonna be heading home and my heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families, all over America, who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE. I’m thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us.”
Laura Ingraham’s “Shut Up and Sing” mantra rushes to mind. 
<div id="attachment_1036387" style="width: 896px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1036387" class="size-large wp-image-1036387" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258386241-886x576.jpg" alt="PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 26: Demonstrators protest the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Main Street during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2026 in Park City, Utah. Protests and demonstrations have broken out in multiple cities following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)" width="886" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258386241-886x576.jpg 886w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258386241-300x195.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258386241-768x500.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2258386241.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px" />Jesse Grant/Getty Images</div>
Late-night comics are doing their fair share of spreading fear, with one in particular making a ghoulish Nazi comparison to heighten his audience’s apprehension for the daily headlines.
Stephen Colbert, whose “Late Show” goes the way of the pager and 8-track tape come May, slammed ICE agents in a way that should make even Left-of-Center souls shudder.
“Yes, do not compare ICE or Border Patrol agents to the Nazis. That&#8217;s an unfair comparison. The Nazis were willing to show their faces.&#8221;
The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” broke into tears, twice, in the first episode following Pretti’s death. He regurgitated the same Nazi rhetoric coming from the Legacy Media and his Hollywood brethren.
“Decide for yourself if that&#8217;s making America great,” Kimmel cried.
The country these stars describe is scary, no doubt. Yet none of them act as if they’re actually afraid. A Nazi-like state wouldn’t take kindly to these outbursts. Threats would be made. Professional punishments might commence.
Some might disappear, never to be seen again. Yet nothing of the kind has happened, nor will it.
The only thing America has to fear is fear itself, and celebrities who twist the truth for deeply partisan gains.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The Variety Studio during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival Presented by Audible

Sundance 2026: Celebrity Fear Factor On Full Display

Celebrity Fear Factor On Full Display

Minnesota

Natalie Portman

Sundance Film Festival

Well, it’s Oscar season again, that time of year when Hollywood honors those amazing films that bravely went on playing in theaters, even though no one was sitting there except Nicole Kidman, desperately trying to move her face. For myself, I couldn’t look forward to the award ceremony more. I really couldn’t. I’ve tried everything. But before you know it, that spectacular gala will be preempting something you actually wanted to watch, so some of you may be thinking… “Sure, if I watch the award ceremony, there’s no doubt I’ll be riveted to my TV, because obviously, if I weren’t, I’d just walk away and do something else. But what I’m really wondering is what’s the inside skinny on how you win this coveted award.” So just in case you’re one of the sad little people whose life is so empty that you would actually think something as pathetic as that, the Daily Wire will now take you behind the scenes for an exclusive look at what it takes to win the Oscar. 
If you want to walk away with gold on Oscar night, you can’t just stand around waiting for someone to watch your movie because, let’s face it, that’s never going to happen. What you have to do is draw attention to yourself by giving interviews in which you express political opinions that are shockingly different from those of someone with even a minimal knowledge of world events. At the same time, of course, it’s important that your shockingly different opinion is exactly the same as everyone else’s opinion in Hollywood, otherwise you can kiss that statuette goodbye. 
For instance, Ethan Hawke has been nominated for his performance as Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon,” which, in all honesty, would have been the best piece of acting anyone saw this year if anyone had. So clinging to the laughable delusion that the best actor award might go to a white man, Hawke gave an interview in which he reacted to immigration enforcement for all the people in America who woke up that morning thinking, “Gee, I wonder what that guy who played Lorenz Hart is thinking about immigration enforcement.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1264-the-andrew-klavan-show?elementPosition=1&amp;row=5&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974735 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Hawke told an interviewer, “Never before in America have I felt so afraid to speak my mind that I wouldn’t even dare to say what I’m saying right now. But in my role as a man with moral courage, I must come forward with the exact same opinion as everyone else in Hollywood and suffer the consequences, which I hope will be that sweet, sweet statuette. At a time when we in the movie industry are overcome with a sense of crisis totally out of keeping with reality, it’s incumbent on us to speak truth to power, as long as it’s not the sort of power that could keep me from getting the award I should have gotten for “Training Day,” but which instead went to Jim Broadbent, whom no one has heard of, in a movie no one saw about Iris Murdoch, whom no one has read. So please, please, this year, I was in an obscure movie about an artist no one remembers, and now I’m standing here degrading myself by slandering my country and pretending to be afraid for some reason, so please, just give me the award, all right? Please, I’m serious, please.”
Even a front-runner has to campaign for the prize. For instance, “Sinners,” received a record 16 Oscar nominations, including most over-nominated picture, and best picture with a moderately entertaining first half before the second half dwindles into muddled anti-historical theorizing and shameful anti-white racism. Nonetheless, “Sinners” best actor nominee Michael B. Jordan still felt compelled to give a campaign interview, telling reporters, “So help me, if they give my Oscar to that fay cracker in the ping pong movie, I’m gonna slap Chris Rock in the face so hard, he’s gonna change his name to Will Smith so no one will remember who he is either.”
So there you have it. Thanks to this exclusive inside Hollywood reporting from the Daily Wire, you’ll be able to turn on your TV on Oscar night and really enjoy whatever it is you’ll be watching instead.
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>.
The views expressed in this satirical piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Academy awards

How To Win An Oscar Without Anyone Watching Your Movie

Andrew Klavan

Ethan Hawke

Humor

Michael B Jordan

Satire

At last year&#8217;s Golden Globes telecast, Nikki Glaser spoke the ugly truth.
The awards host called the star-studded crowd famous, talented, and powerful. “I mean, you could really do anything &#8230; I mean, except tell the country who to vote for.&#8221;
That joke landed for all the right reasons. The 2024 presidential election proved that everyday Americans tune out political advice from their celebrity betters. Even Legacy Media outlets admitted as much, suggesting that star endorsements may have actually hurt Vice President Kamala Harris’s White House dreams.
Somehow, even pop superstar Taylor Swift couldn’t sway Americans to vote for Harris.
Some predicted Hollywood stars would downgrade their political activism moving forward. And, for the first few months after President Donald Trump’s election, and following Glaser’s spot-on joke, the stars mostly kept quiet.
No longer. Celebrities are louder than ever. And so are <a href="https://ew.com/why-mark-ruffalo-others-wearing-be-nice-pin-at-golden-globes-2026-11883213?srsltid=AfmBOoqcsYgLyf_Q5gDoE-p5rGFqOwuCzww6y-QjmkcM1oBA9MLRUPAg">their “Be Good” activist pins</a>.
<div id="attachment_1032127" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032127" class="size-large wp-image-1032127" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-865x576.jpg" alt="US comedian Wanda Sykes wears a pin reading &quot;be Good&quot;, in tribute to Renee Good, who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, as she attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images</div>
They’ve weighed in on ICE arrests, the overthrow of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, and the Epstein Files. Just once or one thousand times.
But why? If their endorsements and social media posts aren’t moving the electoral needle, why bother sharing them in the first place? Aren’t they hurting their own cause?
For one, it’s the ultimate virtue signal in a relentlessly progressive industry. Sharing the “correct” views will never hurt one’s career, even if the average movie or TV fan cringes in response.
That’s hardly the only reason. These missives could actually help their careers at a critical time.
Hollywood jobs have rarely been this insecure. Theatrical attendance is shrinking. Major streaming platforms are struggling to make ends meet. Late-night TV is going the way of the pager and the 8-track tape. Quality films often come and go without so much as denting the pop culture zeitgeist, even with the biggest stars attached.
Last year, a gangster flick with not one but two Robert De Niro performances <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt21815562/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">earned $6 million at the domestic box office.</a>
For stars, spouting off about “Gestapo”-style ICE agents is a way to signal to fellow progressives. I’m like you. I vote like you do. And, if you happen to know of an upcoming gig, please keep me in mind.
Consider it virtual networking. Chances are, it works more often than it doesn’t.
Plus, legacy media outlets love sharing progressive stars and their political missives. The aforementioned Mr. De Niro rages against President Trump early and often, a real dog-bites-man news story.
Yet every time he does so, it inspires a fresh wave of news articles. Most, if not all, publicity is good publicity.
<div id="attachment_1032113" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032113" class="size-large wp-image-1032113" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-864x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - US actor Robert De Niro speaks in support of US President Joe Biden outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments in New York City, on May 28, 2024. De Niro on Tuesday spoke outside the New York court where Donald Trump is standing trial, branding him a dangerous &quot;clown&quot; who will become a dictator for life if reelected. De Niro, a longtime political activist and critic of Trump, has taken a growing role in the campaign to reelect Joe Biden, including starring in a new hard-hitting TV ad for the Democratic Party. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images</div>
In the dog-eat-dog world of Tinsel Town, every advantage should be taken to secure future work. It explains why prominent liberal stars like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck just sat down with Joe Rogan for the comic’s rebel podcast. The stars may still be mad about Rogan endorsing Trump at the end of the 2024 presidential election. Or, they could resent Rogan’s subversive take on the COVID shot that their friends and neighbors insisted everyone take … or else.
And yet, they still understand if they want more eyeballs on their new Netflix original film, “The Rip,” they’d better hide those hard feelings and make nice with the former “Fear Factor” host.
Progressive stars still won’t drop by the set of Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” They don’t need to promote their films and TV shows that badly, apparently.
The secret to their political commentary? Supporting the right, or approved, causes. Anything that smacks of an anti-Trump sentiment is held dear to their hearts. The stars stayed silent during the worst woke cancellations. They ignored the rise of sensitivity readers influencing what words can and can’t be shared in fiction.
No anti-Trump or anti-GOP angle to exploit.
Yet when Jimmy Kimmel got suspended for insinuating MAGA Nation killed Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, they rose up en masse to protect Kimmel’s “free speech” rights, presuming without evidence that President Trump had benched the far-Left broadcaster.
The lack of a Trumpian angle may explain why the Israeli women who endured brutal sexual assaults, and worse, during the October 7 atrocities didn’t get support from Hollywood’s MeToo activists.
More recently, Hollywood gathered for the latest Golden Globes soiree as Iranian protesters squared off against their tyrannical government. Once again, the Hollywood elite couldn’t spare a syllable to support those risking their lives for freedom.
After all, President Trump had the Iranian people’s back, so it wasn’t worth sticking their neck out to support the cause.
There are always exceptions to the political celebrity rule. Two recent examples spring to mind.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1032119" style="width: 392px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032119" class="size-large wp-image-1032119" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-382x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 09: BIlly Bob Thornton attends PaleyFest NY 2025 - Paramount+'s &quot;Landman&quot; on November 09, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images)" width="382" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-382x576.jpg 382w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-199x300.jpg 199w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941.jpg 679w" sizes=" (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" />Manny Carabel/Getty Images</div>
Actor Billy Bob Thornton of “Landman” fame told Joe Rogan last November that you won’t find him <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billy-bob-thornton-talks-hollywood-politics-with-joe-rogan">lecturing fans</a> from any awards show podium.
“I’m very strong in my opinions, but my opinions don’t belong to any political party. I just look at what makes sense, and I think we need a common sense party in this country. That’s actually what I think we need. Just figure it out. It’s pretty easy to figure out what this is all about.”
And Claire Foy went from admonishing President Trump several years ago to declaring <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/actress-claire-foy-trump-political-opinions/">politics off limits</a> in her promotional efforts.
“What I believe and who I am and where I stand on things is constantly in flux, as much as it is for everyone else, and I have absolutely no authority to discuss or proclaim about anything other than what I do as an actor.
“If you’re just making noise for the sake of it, then you should probably shut up – so I tend to shut up.”
Actors, by and large, will never shut up. Nor should they. If they actually practiced some consistency with their political activism, they might start changing some hearts and minds after all.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

TOPSHOT-US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-TELEVISION-AWARD-GLOBES-ARRIVALS

Why Stars Keep Getting Political, Even When No One’s Listening

Why Stars Keep Getting Political, Even When No One's Listening

Billy Bob Thorton

Donald Trump

Elections

Robert de Niro

U.S. Politics

“Wicked: For Good” European Premiere – Arrivals

The Real Reason Hollywood Keeps Turning Villains Into Heroes

Cartoon

Disney

Matt Walsh

Propaganda

Wicked

Woke Culture

Ratings are down. Cultural prestige? Sinking as we speak. Yet the Best Picture race is one even casual movie fans tend to track. It’s the night’s biggest honor, and having a Best Picture logo next to a film title still holds some sway in the culture.
That’s even though most people didn’t see, or can’t remember, the last few Best Picture winners.
And, each awards season, experts track which film has the best chance to win that Oscar trophy. It’s the ultimate horse race, with box office results, critical reviews, and cultural resonance influencing the outcome.
Is this year’s race over already, weeks before some Oscar-bait films have even reached theaters? It sure looks that way.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and has already won multiple honors, and the awards season has barely begun. The film swept the National Board of Review’s 2025 honors, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor (DiCaprio).
That’s in addition to best picture wins with the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, the Gotham Awards, and the New York Film Critics Circle. The film also scored big with Sight and Sound’s 2025 Best Films Of The Year List, topping its 2025 chart.
More will follow, no doubt.
<div id="attachment_1010711" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010711" class="size-large wp-image-1010711" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-461x576.jpg" alt="Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures - copyright Warner Bros. Pictures" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Movie-OBAA.jpg 1638w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures &#8211; copyright Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
“One Battle After Another” stars DiCaprio as a bumbling protester who hangs up his revolutionary jacket to raise his mixed-race daughter (Chase Infiniti). His radical past comes back to haunt them when a racist, out-of-control Colonel (Sean Penn) tracks his daughter down for nefarious purposes.
It doesn’t take Peter Falk’s iconic Columbo to sleuth out why “One Battle After Another” is generating so much critical adoration. Yes, Anderson is a top-tier filmmaker, and some of the sequences in the film prove exhilarating.
The film’s political point of view is pure catnip to a community wedded to progressive ideals. The story’s heroes are anti-government radicals who will do whatever it takes to free illegal immigrants taken into U.S. custody.
If that means holding U.S. officials at gunpoint, setting off fireworks, or bombing buildings, so be it. The U.S. forces shown throughout the film are almost uniformly cruel, callous, or just plain evil. A subplot involving a White Nationalist group feels too extreme even for your average MS NOW anchor.
It wasn’t for movie critics, apparently. They’ve endlessly praised the film to the tune of a 94% “fresh” rating at RottenTomatoes.com. The general public liked it, albeit less, via an 85% “fresh” score.
Some scribes have tried to <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/no-one-battle-after-another-is-not-a-left-wing-film-1236556461/">downplay the film’s far-Left politics</a>, a funnier take than any late-night monologue.
<div id="attachment_1010715" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010715" class="size-large wp-image-1010715" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-864x576.jpg" alt="Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures - copyright Warner Bros. Pictures" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Leo-robe.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures &#8211; copyright Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
It helps that no other 2025 release has “Best Picture” written all over it. Director Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet” is getting early raves, but the film has barely registered at the box office ($1.7 million to date) and offers a maudlin subject. The film imagines what William Shakespeare and his wife endured after the loss of their son.
The Boss biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” flopped in theaters and didn’t get enough critical love.
Art remains subjective, but Hollywood politics are another matter. Not only does “One Battle After Another” reflect the industry’s hard-Left embrace of open borders, it’s a thumb in the eye to both ICE and President Donald Trump.
The latter will be irresistible to Academy voters. And, chances are, the film’s key stars will lean into that sentiment during awards season.
The various arts honors do more than help predict which films and actors will emerge triumphant on Oscar night. They let the early winners test out their acceptance speeches, another unwritten part of their Oscar campaigns.
Uncork a few fiery “thank you… and” speeches, hitting all the “approved” targets along the way, and a star’s Oscar chances perk up.
Now, imagine what DiCaprio would say at the Oscar podium while collecting his second Best Actor statue for “One Battle After Another.” He used his 2017 podium time to promote his Climate Change agenda.
<div id="attachment_1010725" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1010725" class="size-large wp-image-1010725" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-798x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood &amp; Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)" width="798" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-798x576.jpg 798w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-300x217.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450-768x554.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-645717450.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />Kevin Winter/Getty Images</div>
There’s less than zero chance he won’t blast President Trump’s attempt to enforce immigration laws in any 2026 speech. And he won’t be alone.
Recent Oscar ceremonies have dialed back, to a degree, on the hard-Left polemics. Even far-Left host Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t leaned into his progressive bona fides in recent years.
That will change in 2026 after a full year of President Trump’s return to the White House. Is there a better film to reflect that “resistance” than “One Battle After Another”? That’s rhetorical.
We still have a few more weeks before the year ends. Films like “Marty Supreme,” starring perennial Oscar-bait Timothee Chalamet, hit theaters on Christmas Day. Still, anyone who grasps Oscar culture knows a heavy favorite when he or she sees one.
There is one dark path forward that could derail “One Battle After Another.” The film’s gauzy framing of violence against immigration enforcement took an ugly turn when real attacks on ICE agents broke out close to the film’s release.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/second-illegal-immigrant-detainee-dies-after-dallas-ice-shooting">September attack on a Dallas-based ICE facility</a> didn’t kill any U.S. agents, but it did leave two illegal immigrants dead. The media complex didn’t connect the attack to “One Battle After Another,” but if similar events follow, the connection may be unavoidable.
Hollywood may want to shrug off any ties between the film and actual carnage, but it might be enough of a problem to coax Oscar voters to select another, less incendiary film.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
* * *
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Oscars Leo

Is the Best Picture Race Already Over?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Before director James Cameron became <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/james-cameron-reflects-king-of-the-world-titanic-oscars-speech-2023-3">&#8220;king of the world&#8221;</a> he sat on the hottest of hot seats.
Cameron’s 1997 film “Titanic” arrived with enough bad buzz to sink a battleship. Time magazine ran a cover story on the bloated, $200 million affair with the words, <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/titanic-trailer-james-cameron-bad-buzz-blockbuster-1236552019/">“Glub, Glub, Glub” as the tag line.</a>
All signs suggested the headstrong director behind “Terminator” and “True Lies” had bitten off far more than he could chew, and Hollywood was ready to rub his nose in an epic failure.
What happened next? “Titanic” became the biggest blockbuster of all time, at least up until he dethroned himself (twice) with 2009’s “Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022).
One man is responsible for three of the most popular American films in U.S. history. This Cameron fella knows what he’s doing and, more importantly, what moviegoers crave. He better, since Hollywood is banking on his latest film to give theaters one last jolt before 2025 wraps.
And, up until now, it hasn’t been a blockbuster year for movies. Can Cameron save Hollywood with “Avatar: Fire and Ash?”
The December 19 release is the third film in the enviro-friendly franchise. Once again, Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang bring the world of Pandora to life, along with endless zeroes and ones. The CGI-heavy franchise slathers recognizable stars with endless digital effects.
<div id="attachment_1000779" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000779" class="size-large wp-image-1000779" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1024x425.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” 2025. Sam Worthington. Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="425" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1024x425.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-300x125.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-768x319.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9-1536x638.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Untitled-design-9.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
The latest “Avatar” installment finds the Sully clan dealing with a new threat along with a familiar foe. A violent Na’vi faction dubbed the Ash People has aligned with the evil Colonel Quaritch (Lang), setting up more action-packed sequences in the bustling saga.
That’s roughly all we know about the film. Team Cameron knows less is more when it comes to movie marketing.
Plenty is riding on the film, including the saga’s future. Cameron has said if “Fire and Ash” underperforms, <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/10/3/james-cameron-says-avatar-3-has-to-make-a-lot-of-money-for-the-franchise-to-continue">parts 4 and 5 could be in jeopardy</a>. He’s betting “Fire and Ash” will come close to replicate his past successes, partially based on early box office predictions. The film is expected to rake in <a href="https://boxofficetheory.com/6-week-box-office-tracking-wicked-for-good-and-zootopia-2-check-ins-plus-other-updates/">at least $110 million</a> in its opening frame.
He’s not alone in wishing for the best.
The box office isn’t the same as it once was, not even when “The Way of Water” helped theaters bounce back from the pandemic shutdowns three years ago. For every “A Minecraft Movie” or “Sinners,” there are many 2025 films that either flopped or dramatically underperformed in 2025.
“Christy.” “The Alto Knights.” “Good Fortune.” “Snow White.” “Elio.” “Tron: Ares.” Even some hits have been misses. “One Battle After Another” is approaching $70 million at the U.S. box office, but the film’s price tag (a reported $130 million) means it’ll lose plenty for Warner Bros.
One report suggests <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/one-battle-after-another-lose-100-million-dollars-theaters-1236552914/">that figure could be $100 million.</a>
Variety reports that this year is <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/october-box-office-record-low-ticket-sales-smashing-machine-tron-ares-flop-1236567987/">currently 2.9 percent ahead</a> of 2024, hardly a boastful account. Stateside revenues are still more than 22 percent behind 2019. That’s the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered movie houses and sent patrons scrambling to streaming services.
That, plus the continued rise of social media, video games, and streaming platforms, leaves cinema uniquely vulnerable as 2026 approaches.
<div id="attachment_1000763" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000763" class="size-large wp-image-1000763" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1024x424.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="424" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1024x424.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-300x124.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-768x318.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb-1536x636.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar-imdb.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
There’s something else about Cameron’s “Avatar” franchise that isn’t discussed enough. Do people actually care about the saga and its heroic figures? How many Halloween costumes have been inspired by the series? Does “Avatar” merchandise sales spike when a new film hits theaters?
Comic-Con Nation genuflects to “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” the MCU, and other geek-friendly IPs. Does “Avatar” hold sway over that demographic in a similar fashion? Are names like Neytiri, Jake Sully, and Miles Quaritch as recognizable as Han, Luke, and Leia? What about Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy?
Hardly.
Cameron has spent much of his career defying the odds, and his “Avatar” films do so in another remarkable way. The phrase, “get woke go broke” finally pierced the Hollywood bubble in recent years. The industry has dialed back on its progressive messaging, realizing audiences would rather be entertained than lectured.
Yet the “Avatar” saga is unabashedly pro-environment and, on more than a few occasions, anti-human. We’re meant to root for the Na’vi, not Colonel Quaritch and his human foot soldiers.
<div id="attachment_1000753" style="width: 792px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1000753" class="size-large wp-image-1000753" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-782x576.jpg" alt="“Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, James Cameron. Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="782" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-782x576.jpg 782w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-300x221.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-768x566.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co-1536x1131.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Avatar.-Cameron-co.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px" />Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS &#8211; Copyright 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. IMDB.</div>
The director’s green activism infects every frame of his “Avatar” films, and he makes no apologies about it. That hasn’t impacted the franchise’s box office receipts, though. Not yet, at least.
Cameron’s undeniable skills can take eco-lectures and dress them up in clear-eyed action sequences and relatable themes. The pro-family sentiment of “The Way of Water,” for example, was impossible to miss.
Look past the director’s progressive streak and you’ll find a populist lurking in plain sight.
And while most filmmakers have wisely left 3D technology behind, Cameron clings to the format while pushing cinema technology forward. Each new “Avatar” film represents a leap in what’s possible on the big screen.
Who knows what “Fire and Ash” will deliver come December.
Boy, could the industry use another Cameron miracle to christen the New Year’s box office dreams and, in theory, prove the “rising tide lifts all boats” axiom anew. It wouldn’t be the first time Cameron defied the odds, but they haven’t been stacked so tall in ages.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

“L’Art De James Cameron – The Art Of James Cameron” Exhibition At La Cinematheque

Can James Cameron Save Hollywood Again?

Box Office

James Cameron

The stars are aligning against artificial intelligence.
It’s hard to blame them. One look at Tilly Norwood, the A.I. actress, as pretty as she is, forever young, and it’s clear why actors would be threatened by her digital existence.
That explains why so many are raging against A.I. in interview after interview. Except there’s a flaw in their arguments, one few stars are willing to admit. Nor will major studios, for that matter.
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson excoriated the rise of A.I. during an appearance on the soon-to-be-extinct “Late Show” on CBS. 
She shared her “<a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/emma-thompson-ai-annoying-irritation-1236563757/">intense irritation</a>” with the technological movement.
<blockquote>“… when I’ve written something, I will put it into a Word document. And recently, the Word document is constantly saying, ‘Would you like me to rewrite that for you?’ And so I end up just saying, ’I don’t need you to rewrite what I’ve just written, will you f*** off?! Just f*** off!”</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_994579" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-994579" class="size-large wp-image-994579" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Colbert-ET-1024x517.jpg" alt="Screenshot: Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube.com" width="1024" height="517" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Colbert-ET-1024x517.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Colbert-ET-300x151.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Colbert-ET-768x388.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Colbert-ET.jpg 1157w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube.com</div>
“Parks &amp; Recreation” alum Nick Offerman sang from a <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/the-view-nick-offerman-slams-ai/">similar hymnal</a> during a recent “View” appearance.
<blockquote>“In this day and age where companies are taking over the curation of our lives, like, they want AI to think for us…I love my clumsy, stupid farmer voice, I would never want a robot to write my song for me, because my song is stupid in a wonderful, delicious way that’s all about my voice! I don’t want to give over my agency.”</blockquote>
One of Offerman’s compositions <a href="https://www.billboard.com/culture/politics/nick-offerman-slams-donald-trump-pro-kamala-song-parody-1235762250/">mocked President Donald Trump</a> during the 2024 campaign.
<blockquote>“I’m proud to be a Kamala man, who’s quit the GOP/ I just can’t stick with the man convicted of 34 felonies.”</blockquote>
It’s hard to imagine A.I. could belt out a tune quite that insightful.
Some artists are doing more than talking about artificial intelligence. Author George R.R. Martin is <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/george-rr-martin-openai-court-legal-1236413461/">suing OpenAI</a> for copyright infringement. And he may have plenty of company, especially since said suit, albeit slowly, is moving forward.
The collective fear is palpable, and not without reason. If a savvy 21-year-old can use A.I. to create a visually stunning film at the same price point as a studio’s catering budget, Hollywood could be on borrowed time.
There’s another reason for the industry to give A.I. a long, hard look. The computer revolution excels at absorbing content and spitting out new material based on that data. How different is it from Hollywood in 2025?
Yes, too many film and TV scripts feel like A.I. helped write them from start to finish. Hackneyed plots. Predictable story arcs. Canned dialogue lacking in wit and imagination. Here’s betting A.I. could create an annoying GirlBoss character as well as any woke scribe.
Or almost as well.
That’s part of the problem. What about the content itself? Hollywood recycling has reached a fever pitch, and it shows no signs of stopping.
Recent examples include a deal to turn the ‘80s cop show “Miami Vice” into a feature film, one potentially starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler. The original saga captured the Reagan era to a “T,” from its pastel-flavored suits to its synth-heavy soundtrack.
Except we’ve already seen a “Miami Vice” movie directed by a key player behind the original series, auteur Michael Mann. That 2006 film featuring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell made only a modest dent at the box office. Now, it’s time to try again? Why not feed the show’s original episodes into Grok and see what it churns out?
<div id="attachment_994551" style="width: 943px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-994551" class="size-large wp-image-994551" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2242151643-933x576.jpg" alt="ELIZABETH, NJ - OCTOBER 21: Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone is seen filming on the set of &quot;I Play Rocky&quot; on October 21, 2025 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)" width="933" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2242151643-933x576.jpg 933w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2242151643-300x185.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2242151643-768x474.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2242151643.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 933px) 100vw, 933px" />Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images</div>
Another upcoming project essentially reboots Sylvester Stallone’s early years. “I Play Rocky” recalls the actor’s battle to play the main character in his original, in-demand screenplay. Studio executives had little appetite for Stallone, then an unknown actor. They craved an established star to play the blue-collar boxer who dreams of greatness.
The film cast young actors who resemble both Stallone and “Rocky” favorite Carl Weathers, respectively, although A.I. could have de-aged both for a fraction of the price.
The problem isn’t relegated to the big screen. A new “Karate Kid” musical retells that now tired tale, one that inspired three sequels, a Jackie Chan-led reboot, a spinoff TV series (“Cobra Kai”), and last summer’s tepid “Karate Kid: Legends.”
Here’s betting A.I. could write a few wisecracks about Hollywood’s recycling obsession. Actually, here’s one from Grok:
<blockquote>Hollywood is so obsessed with sequels, prequels, and remakes that the next big blockbuster will be Spider-Man: The Origin of the Origin Story.</blockquote>
Hardly a howler, but it’s not as awful as your average Stephen Colbert monologue.
Now, imagine if today’s Hollywood threw off the shackles of its IP obsession and reclaimed the spirit of, say, ‘70s-era filmmaking. That decade delivered rich, complicated stories that brought out the best in Hollywood at all levels. Think “Three Days of the Condor,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Network,” “Taxi Driver,” and “Chinatown.” Those are just a few of the iconic films that defined the ‘70s.
<div id="attachment_994583" style="width: 741px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-994583" class="size-large wp-image-994583" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-133286967-731x576.jpg" alt="Penny Allen (3rd from left) and others are held up by Al Pacino in a scene from the film 'Dog Day Afternoon', 1975. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)" width="731" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-133286967-731x576.jpg 731w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-133286967-300x236.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-133286967-768x605.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-133286967.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px" />Photo by Warner Bros./Getty Images</div>
No A.I. bot could replicate those stories. Tilly Norwood would look foolish among the likes of Diane Keaton, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.
Maybe Hollywood should view A.I. not as an existential threat but the ultimate challenge.
Hollywood delivered some of the best stories of the modern era thanks to the intense competition fostered by the rise of cable and streaming outlets in the 21st century. “The Sopranos.” “Breaking Bad.” “Game of Thrones.” “Mad Men.”
The industry should view the threat of A.I. as a chance to show those dumb robots what great storytelling is all about.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stars Rage Against AI, But Hollywood’s Been Acting Like A Machine For Years

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