Actress Hayden Panettiere&#8217;s on-again, off-again boyfriend raised so many red flags among her neighbors that her homeowners&#8217; association (HOA) put up &#8220;wanted&#8221;-style posters warning residents not to let him enter the property.
About one year before Panettiere&#8217;s sudden death on Sunday, the HOA <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/19/hayden-panettiere-hoa-posted-warning-of-brian-hickerson/">posted warnings</a> featuring photos of Brian Hickerson, who had been linked to the &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress for years despite his domestic abuse conviction. The posters instructed residents not to allow Hickerson into the building and to call the police if they saw him on the property.
Mia Terrazas, who lived next door to Panettiere in her West Hollywood, California, condo, told entertainment site TMZ that the posters went up in August 2025 following years of disturbances involving Hickerson and complaints about his presence in &#8220;common areas&#8221; around the complex.
Terrazas said she was afraid of Hickerson and told Inside Edition that she called 911 on a number of occasions over disturbances coming from Panettiere&#8217;s apartment.
&#8220;I was terrified of him, and I have a concealed carry [permit], so that&#8217;s saying a lot,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcO8cHQD_18/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
&nbsp;
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcO8cHQD_18/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Inside Edition (@insideedition)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
The HOA took the signs down after about one week, Terrazas said, telling her only that Hickerson was &#8220;no longer considered a threat.&#8221;
Hickerson was in the South Carolina Airbnb rental with Panettiere when she was found dead on Sunday afternoon, reportedly sleeping in another room when his brother, Zach Hickerson, discovered the actress unresponsive in a chair.
Police reportedly showed up on Wednesday at a Greenville, South Carolina, home owned by Hickerson&#8217;s grandmother and said that they were there to conduct a &#8220;welfare check,&#8221; though officials said the call was unrelated to the investigation into Panettiere&#8217;s death.
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hayden-panettiere-autopsy-reveals-new-details-of-her-death">autopsy</a> performed one day after Panettiere&#8217;s death —which came just five days before her 37th birthday — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hayden-panettiere-autopsy-reveals-new-details-of-her-death">revealed</a> no &#8220;signs of trauma&#8221; that would have contributed to her death. Her official cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending further investigation and additional testing, including toxicology results, which the Greenville County coroner has said could take up to eight weeks.

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere’s HOA Took Drastic Step Against Boyfriend Before Her Death

Celebrities

Death

Drugs

Hollywood

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has joined the investigation into the recent death of actress Hayden Panettiere, who died of an apparent overdose on Sunday afternoon.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/arts/television/hayden-panettiere-dea-investigation-drugs.html?eafs_enabled=false">reported</a> on Thursday that the DEA — which often works with local law enforcement to investigate drug-related incidents — would be assisting the Greenville Police Department in the same way that they had assisted the Los Angeles Police in investigating the death of &#8220;Friends&#8221; star Matthew Perry.
The &#8220;Heroes&#8221; star was found unresponsive in a South Carolina Airbnb rental. First responders indicated immediately that she had suffered a cardiac arrest believed to be linked to an overdose. Her on-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson provided investigators with a &#8220;bag of medication&#8221; that she had been taking leading up to her death.
In years past, Panettiere had been open about her struggles with addiction and alcohol abuse — issues she said were exacerbated by postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Kaya and old injuries that occasionally flared up — and recent reporting suggests that those struggles were far from behind her.
Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/19/celebrity-news/hayden-panettiere-still-in-throes-of-addiction-just-three-months-ago-got-whippets-and-booze-delivered-to-hotel-sources/?_gl=1*z136mf*_gcl_au*ODI0NDI1MjE1LjE3ODcyNDE5NzY.*_ga*MjA2NTMxODYyMi4xNzg3MTY4Mjg3*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3ODcyMzc0MzMkbzMkZzEkdDE3ODcyNDE5NzYkajIyJGwwJGgw">reported</a> that in May, while promoting her memoir &#8220;This Is Me: A Reckoning,&#8221; Panettiere attempted to have nitrous oxide delivered to her hotel.
According to an unnamed source, hotel security &#8220;stopped a [delivery service] order to her hotel room, which was several industrial grade nitrous oxide cans that she was planning on huffing.&#8221;
&#8220;She had alcohol and whippets delivered. They wouldn’t allow it up to her room,&#8221; another source claimed.
Panettiere&#8217;s friend and rep Kasey Kitchen denied the claims, saying, &#8220;She was in Nashville for a short amount of time and slept for most of it. She also had private security with her.&#8221;
But entertainment site TMZ also <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/20/hayden-panettiere-director-reveals-intervention-talks/#continued">reported</a> that her team and &#8220;A Breed Apart&#8221; director Griff Furst had discussed staging an intervention for the actress as recently as 2025.
Furst said that while they were filming, it was clear that Panettiere was &#8220;fighting to stay sober&#8221; — and that he&#8217;d agreed when her team approached him about a possible intervention. He also made it clear that he was not impressed by the &#8220;dark energy&#8221; surrounding Panettiere&#8217;s on-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who had visited the set with her. He said that she &#8220;deserved better company&#8221; — and added that despite his willingness to help, he did not believe an intervention ever took place.

Hayden Panettiere Death Probe Escalates As Feds Step In

Top Drug Cops Join Probe Into Hayden Panettiere's Death

Drug Enforcement Agency

overdose

Hayden Panettiere said injuries she suffered after being thrown from a zebra on a movie set continued to cause her pain decades later, with the actress also recounting how a flare-up of &#8220;an old neck injury&#8221; contributed to her escalating opioid use.
Panettiere, who died suddenly on Sunday at 36, wrote in her recent memoir, &#8220;This Is Me: A Reckoning,&#8221; about the lasting effects of an accident she suffered at 14 while filming the 2005 movie &#8220;Racing Stripes&#8221; in South Africa.
Panettiere said she was performing a stunt when she was <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/19/celebrity-news/hayden-panettieres-old-injuries-from-zebra-fall-still-bothered-her-months-before-death/">thrown from the zebra</a> she was riding, sustaining a concussion, whiplash, and injuries to two vertebrae in her neck.
&#8220;I kept my mouth shut and endured the pain in my back and neck,&#8221; she wrote in the memoir, adding, &#8220;Over 20 years later, these injuries still bother me.&#8221;
The &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress also recalled that injury when discussing her struggles with addiction, both to alcohol and opioids, saying that her dependence on the pain medications in particular had escalated when an &#8220;old neck injury flared up.&#8221;
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon. First responders found her in cardiac arrest and attempted cardiac life support, but she could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 pm.
Brian Hickerson, Panettiere&#8217;s on-again, off-again boyfriend, was at the residence when she died and showed investigators a &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-detail-emerges-about-what-hayden-panettiere-was-taking-before-her-death">bag of medication</a>&#8221; that the actress had been taking at the time of her death. He said she was on nine medications.
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hayden-panettiere-autopsy-reveals-new-details-of-her-death">autopsy</a> performed on Monday revealed that there were no signs of trauma that might have contributed to her death, according to the Greenville County Coroner&#8217;s Office.
Her cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending further investigation and additional testing. Toxicology results could take several weeks.
Authorities have not determined whether opioids, other medications, or Panettiere&#8217;s previous injuries played any role in her death.

Warner Bros.’ Premiere “Racing Stripes” – After Party

Hayden Panettiere Said Bizarre Zebra Accident Left Her With Chronic Pain As Opioid Use Escalated

On-Set Zebra Accident Blamed For Hayden Panettiere's Opioid Use

drug addiction

Movies

Opioids

Two police cars arrived at the South Carolina home belonging to Brian Hickerson&#8217;s grandmother early Wednesday morning — just three days after the sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere, Hickerson&#8217;s apparently on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/19/celebrity-news/cops-pay-visit-to-hayden-panettieres-boyfriend-brian-hickersons-family-home-days-after-actress-death/?_gl=1*1i39vc8*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3ODcxNTE3MzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODcxNTE3OTUkajYwJGwwJGgw">reported</a> that two marked cars from the Greenville Police Department rolled up on property owned by Betty Ellison, knocking on several doors at the home but receiving no answer. The outlet stated that Zach Hickerson, Brian&#8217;s brother, was on the property at the time.
Both Brian and Zach had been spotted at the property one day prior, but neither came to the door when police arrived. After about three minutes, officers left the home — but returned less than two hours later to conduct a &#8220;welfare check.&#8221; They stayed on the property for about 10 minutes before leaving again.
Zach Hickerson, 38, was reportedly the first person to discover the late actress unresponsive when he walked into the Airbnb rental they were sharing on Sunday afternoon. Police on the scene said that he appeared to be visibly shaken as first responders worked on the 36-year-old &#8220;Nashville&#8221; star.
Brian, who had been involved with Panettiere on and off for a number of years, was reportedly asleep in another room when she was found — and did not appear to be upset until the actress was officially declared dead a short time later. He provided investigators with the &#8220;bag of medication&#8221; that she had been taking in the days leading up to her death.
Panettiere and Hickerson had a rocky relationship, and had once split after she accused him of domestic violence. Hickerson was arrested on Valentine&#8217;s Day in 2020 after reportedly striking Panettiere &#8220;with a closed fist,&#8221; and when police arrived he&#8217;d been locked out of their Airbnb rental in Wyoming.
Following his arrest, despite being informed that he was not allowed to contact the &#8220;Heroes&#8221; actress, Hickerson called her phone repeatedly and sent <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/18/celebrity-news/hayden-panettieres-boyfriend-brian-hickerson-allegedly-sent-threatening-texts-after-2020-arrest/">several texts</a> that appeared to be overtly threatening.
&#8220;Time to go to war I guess,&#8221; he wrote.
In another text, Hickerson appeared to be hinting at leverage he held over Panettiere: &#8220;After Wyoming and LA disappears so do the videos.&#8221;
&#8220;Even if i sit in a jail cell for ten years. All of the stuff that is vaulted overseas with my people will come out the second I step foot into prison,&#8221; another text read, according to <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/18/brian-hickerson-texts-to-hayden-panettiere-after-his-2020-arrest-revealed/">entertainment site TMZ</a>. &#8220;And all that does is hurt your name while simultaneously clearing my name. And at that point who actually cares?&#8221;
In another alleged text, Hickerson suggested that his attempts to stay out of court were ultimately for Panettiere&#8217;s protection: &#8220;I don’t want to go to court, for you. I will be f*cking fine in court, trust me, it’s for you.&#8221;

Celebrity Sightings In Palisades – March 8, 2023

Cops Make Visit Tied To Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend

Cops Swarm Boyfriend's Grandmother's Home Two Days After Hayden Panettierre’s Death

Domestic Violence

The mother of the late actress Hayden Panettiere issued public statements on Tuesday that pin blame on her daughter&#8217;s boyfriend for &#8220;enabling&#8221; Panettiere. The 36-year-old actress was found unresponsive in her residence on Sunday and declared dead shortly after.
“I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path,&#8221; Lesley Vogel said in a statement to NBC News.
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,&#8221; the mother continued, referring to Panettiere&#8217;s on-again-off-again boyfriend. &#8220;There is a lot of history in the past where Brian has enabled Hayden many times, and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.”
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-detail-emerges-about-what-hayden-panettiere-was-taking-before-her-death?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=New+Detail+Emerges+About+What+Hayden+Panettiere+Was+Taking+Before+Her+Death">The Daily Wire</a> on Tuesday, Panettiere was reportedly discovered unresponsive in a chair by Zach Hickerson, Brian’s brother. Brian was said to be asleep in another room in an apartment that they’d rented through Airbnb. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-was-scene-died-police-report-says-rcna593125">Responding officer</a> Matthew Bryan said in his report that Zach was clearly distraught while first responders worked on Panettiere, but noted that Brian did not appear to be visibly upset until the actress was officially declared dead.
Notably, in Panettiere’s memoir, &#8220;This Is Me: A Reckoning,&#8221; Brian Hickerson is described as both physically and emotionally abusive to the actress.
&#8220;[No contact] was a choice I made for very specific reasons, and, ya know, certainly not for a lack of care, concern, or love,&#8221; she said. Panettiere has publicly spoken about having no relationship with her mother in recent years, saying that Vogel &#8220;slammed that door&#8221; in her face &#8220;pretty hard.&#8221;
“I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different,&#8221; Vogel continued. &#8220;I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”
Vogel added that she thought her daughter was now &#8220;at peace&#8221; with her brother Jansen, who died of aortic valve complications from an enlarged heart in 2023.
Some people online noted how Vogel only talked about Panettiere&#8217;s talent, as opposed to her personal qualities. Others also pointed out her comments about Panettiere being consumed by the industry, noting that the actress was just a baby when her mother started to take her on auditions.
&#8220;She talks as if Hayden got herself into the business on her own — she was 11 months old when her mom started having her audition for acting gigs!!! You are responsible!&#8221; commentator Yashar Ali <a href="https://x.com/yashar/status/2089885976969843109">said</a> of Vogel&#8217;s statement.
Just months ago, Panettiere shared on the podcast &#8220;On Purpose with Jay Shetty&#8221; that she attempted to cut her mom out of her business life so she could have her mother just be her mother. Instead, Panettiere claimed Vogel told her she &#8220;owed&#8221; her and was referring to money.
“When I was 19, I finally worked up the courage to split from her business-wise because I desperately wanted a relationship with her,&#8221; she told Shetty. &#8220;I just wanted her to be my mom.”
“She came into my trailer during lunch while we were filming &#8216;Heroes,&#8217; and I told her, ‘I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom.’ I wasn’t expecting her response, ‘You owe me.’ That’s all she said before walking out.”
&#8220;It left this dark cloud over my head. What did she mean by ‘I owe her’?&#8221; Panettiere recalled thinking. &#8220;I was disappointed to find out she meant money.”
“She never pursued a real relationship with me as just a mother and daughter. Once the business aspect was gone, I hoped she would simply be my mom,&#8221; the actress added. &#8220;The fact that she didn’t seem to want a relationship with me was a tough pill to swallow.”
Panettiere was best known for her roles in “Nashville,” “Heroes,” and “Remember the Titans.”
The actress, who leaves behind one daughter, publicly discussed her battle with addiction in the years preceding her death. However, the cause of death remains unknown; an investigation is ongoing, and authorities say there are currently no signs of trauma.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Presents An Evening with “Heroes” – VIP Reception

Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Reveals Who She Blames After Star’s Death

Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Raises Eyebrows With First Public Statement Following Daughter’s Death

actress

Boyfriend

Mother

The late actress Hayden Panettiere was taking a &#8220;bag of medication&#8221; at the time of her sudden death on Sunday afternoon.
According to a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-was-scene-died-police-report-says-rcna593125">report</a> from NBC News, Panettiere&#8217;s on-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson handed over a bag containing the medications she&#8217;d been taking in the days leading up to her death — and although the names of the medications were redacted, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/us-news/hayden-panettiere-was-on-bag-of-medication-at-time-of-death-as-cops-reveal-boyfriends-strange-reaction-to-her-overdose/">reported</a> that there were nine drugs listed in the Greenville City Police Department report.
Entertainment site TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/18/hayden-panettiere-found-while-boyfriend-slept/">reported</a> that Panettiere, who died just days before what would have been her 37th birthday, was discovered unresponsive in a chair by Zach Hickerson, Brian&#8217;s brother. Brian was reportedly asleep in another room of the Greenville, South Carolina, apartment they&#8217;d rented through Airbnb.
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-was-scene-died-police-report-says-rcna593125">Responding officer</a> Matthew Bryan said in his report that he first spoke with Zach — who was clearly distraught while first responders worked on Panettiere — but that Brian did not appear to be visibly upset until the actress was officially declared dead.
Additional reporting said Brian and the &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress had been more on-again than off-again of late, but kept their <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/17/hayden-panettiere-brian-hickerson-forced-to-keep-relationship-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relationship</a> quiet because her publicity team felt his presence would likely hurt her book sales.
Panettiere&#8217;s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, also voiced concern about Hickerson in her first public comments following her daughter&#8217;s death: &#8220;This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.&#8221;
Hickerson has not been accused by authorities of involvement in Panettiere&#8217;s death.
&#8220;I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry,&#8221; Vogel added. &#8220;It is a struggle and it&#8217;s a very challenging industry and it&#8217;s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.&#8221;
Hickerson and Panettiere had both expressed anger toward Vogel in the past.
&#8220;Hayden&#8217;s mother is by far one of the worst people I&#8217;ve ever met in my life,&#8221; Hickerson told TMZ in May — and Panettiere said on a recent podcast that she&#8217;d been broken by her mother&#8217;s response when she asked if they could just be mother and daughter instead of manager and actress.
&#8220;You owe me,&#8221; Vogel reportedly said at the time, and <a href="https://people.com/hayden-panettiere-estranged-mom-speaks-out-after-death-12061596">Panettiere</a> told podcast host Jay Shetty that she&#8217;d been heartbroken to realize that she&#8217;d meant &#8220;money.&#8221;
The police report indicated that the responding officer was wearing a body cam at the scene, but that footage has not been released.
An autopsy was performed on Monday, and the coroner&#8217;s office released a statement saying that &#8220;no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death&#8221; — but the investigation is still ongoing. Toxicology reports could take weeks to compile.
&nbsp;

An Alternative View Of The 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards

New Detail Emerges About What Hayden Panettiere Was Taking Before Her Death

Hayden Panettiere Was Taking 'Bag Of Medication' When She Died 

People close to Hayden Panettiere told Page Six that the actress was suffering with severe back problems and anxiety in the months leading up to her untimely death at age 36.
Panettiere, known best for her roles in &#8220;Nashville,&#8221; &#8220;Heroes,&#8221; and &#8220;Remember the Titans,&#8221; was found unresponsive Sunday afternoon at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she had been temporarily staying. An investigation into the death is ongoing, but authorities say there are currently no signs of trauma.
Erick Orellana, Panettiere&#8217;s close friend and hairdresser, told Page Six that the actress was dealing with severe back problems earlier this year, which left her using crutches.
“I know she suffered earlier this year with her back,” Orellana said, describing the pain as “really severe.”
“At one point, it was even hard for her to move her legs,” the hairdresser added.
Back in March, Panettiere was photographed using crutches while traveling through the LAX airport with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson.
Orellana said she thought Panettiere appeared to be &#8220;on the mend&#8221; from the back issues before she died.
Another source said Panettiere, who was a &#8220;night owl,&#8221; seemed extremely tired at times and suffered from anxiety. The 36-year-old would take medicine for her anxiety that could “every so often&#8221; impact her speech, the source added.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed and found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death.
“The decedent has been identified as Hayden [Lesley] Panettiere, 36, of California. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying. An autopsy was completed today,&#8221; the office said in a statement. &#8220;At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death. This investigation remains active and ongoing.&#8221;
First responders were dispatched to the apartment where Panettiere had been staying with Hickerson on Sunday afternoon. A 911 call indicated that there was an unresponsive woman who may have suffered cardiac arrest. Hickerson was reportedly at the apartment at the time.
TMZ has reported that Narcan, a medication commonly used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, was found at the scene.
On Tuesday, former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, who was in a relationship with Panettiere for nine years, shared an emotional statement following her death. The former couple have one child together, an 11-year-old daughter named Kaya.
<div id="attachment_1159821" style="width: 777px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1159821" class="wp-image-1159821 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-168286242-767x576.jpg" alt="" width="767" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-168286242-767x576.jpg 767w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-168286242-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-168286242-768x577.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/GettyImages-168286242.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px" />Jemal Countess/Getty Images</div>
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko posted to social media. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”
&#8220;She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,&#8221; Klitschko wrote. &#8220;To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.&#8221;
&#8220;I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon. I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences,&#8221; Klitschko added. &#8220;Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief.
The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.
She built… <a href="https://t.co/etL169NOmB">pic.twitter.com/etL169NOmB</a>
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) <a href="https://x.com/Klitschko/status/2089609887076503934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-hayden-panetierre-dead-at-36">Actress Hayden Panettiere Dead At 36</a>

Hayden Panettiere Portrait Session

Troubling Details Emerge About Hayden Panettiere’s Life Before Her Death

Revealed: Hayden Penettiere’s Mounting Health Problems Before Her Death 

The autopsy for actress Hayden Panettiere has revealed more information about her shocking death at the age of 36.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office delivered an initial statement on the &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress&#8217;s post-mortem, saying that her body had not shown visible &#8220;signs of trauma&#8221; at the time of her death.
&#8220;The decedent has been identified as Hayden [Lesley] Panettiere, 36, of California. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying. An autopsy was completed today. At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,&#8221; the statement read.
&#8220;This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time,&#8221; the coroner&#8217;s statement concluded, but the office stipulated that additional testing was ongoing and that additional information would be released as it was made available.
First responders were dispatched to an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettierre was reportedly staying with on-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, on Sunday. Their arrival came following a 911 call indicating that there was an unresponsive woman who may have suffered a cardiac arrest. Two ambulances arrived on the scene, according to entertainment site TMZ, and both unloaded stretchers, but it is unclear why they thought a second stretcher might be needed. Hickerson was reportedly at the apartment at the time, but both ambulances ultimately left the scene without patients onboard.
Additional reports from TMZ suggested that first responders used both Narcan and epinephrine — used to treat opioid overdoses and cardiac arrest, respectively — but did not confirm whether they were used exclusively to treat Panettierre or someone else who may have been in the apartment.
Earlier reports included information from the 911 call from the apartment, and indicated that Panettierre was being treated for a suspected overdose.
The &#8220;Heroes&#8221; actress has had a long and well-documented history of struggling with addiction, dating back to her teenage years when she said adults had offered her &#8220;happy pills&#8221; ahead of red carpet appearances: &#8220;They were to make me peppy during interviews.&#8221;
As her battle escalated, she eventually compromised her liver function to the point that she developed jaundice.
&#8220;I was being told how to be and how to live by so many people in my life. I wanted certain decisions to be my own, and nobody could stop me. What I put in my body was like an act of defiance,&#8221; she said — and she added that her addiction had gotten much worse while she battled postpartum depression following the birth of the daughter she shares with ex Wladimir Klitschko.
&#8220;I never heard any stories about it at all,&#8221; she said of <a href="https://people.com/parents/hayden-panettiere-wishes-someone-told-me-its-ok-postpartum-depression/">postpartum depression</a> in 2023. “I just thought there was something seriously wrong with me, so I thought, ‘[Alcohol] will fix this. Duh!’ And it didn’t. It does for a moment, but then it made everything worse.&#8221;
By the time she sought treatment, her eyes were yellow from the jaundice and her hair had thinned and begun to fall out.
&#8220;Doctors told me my liver was going to give out,&#8221; Panettierre admitted during a 2022 interview — and in her recently released memoir, she added, &#8220;A doctor told me that if I didn’t stop drinking, I’d be dead within five years.&#8221;
Panettierre spent months in rehab, and went into great detail in her memoir describing her experiences going through withdrawal: &#8220;Once during withdrawal, I heard voices that were so terrifying I got on all fours and crawled to my bathroom, where I lay on the cool, clean tiles and waited for the panic to pass. I couldn’t sleep, and my head pounded like it was pressing against my skull.&#8221;
Panettierre was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. on Sunday, just five days before what would have been her 37th birthday.

Build Presents Charles Esten & Hayden Panettiere Discussing “Nashville”

Hayden Panettiere Autopsy Reveals New Details About Her Death

Audio from the 911 call related to the death of “Nashville” actress Hayden Panettiere, 36, shows that she was discovered unresponsive from an apparent cardiac arrest.
According to a report from entertainment site <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/17/hayden-panettiere-found-dead-by-a-friend-inside-greenville-home/">TMZ</a>, law enforcement received a call about an “unresponsive female” at 1:51 p.m. Sunday and were dispatched to a Greenville, South Carolina apartment. Responding paramedics administered “advanced cardiac life support” but were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to revive her.
Law enforcement officials stated that there was “no sign of foul play,” but said that an autopsy would be conducted on Monday to determine cause and manner of death.
Fans are still reeling from the unexpected death of the 36-year-old actress, which was announced late Sunday night. Panettiere had just released her tell-all memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” earlier this year. Her death occurred 5 days before her 37th birthday.
The former child star began acting in commercials when she was just 11 months old and later transitioned to films and television shows. Panettiere was best known for her breakout role as Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with healing powers, on the NBC superhero series “Heroes.”
She later earned two Golden Globe nominations for her co-starring role in the drama series “Nashville.” The Hollywood star also landed major roles in other movies such as &#8220;Remember the Titans,&#8221; &#8220;Raising Helen,&#8221; &#8220;Ice Princess,&#8221; and &#8220;Scream 4.&#8221;
Panettiere had a younger brother, Jansen, who died suddenly in February 2023 at the age of 28 from cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) coupled with aortic valve complications.
In 2014, the “Heroes” star gave birth to a daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. Panettiere detailed having severe postpartum depression and addiction following the baby’s birth and ultimately signed over full custody to Klitschko so that she could seek treatment.
The actress said that at the time, she was not capable of caring for her child — and said that because Kaya already had an established life in Klitschko’s native Ukraine, the move was in her best interest.
More recently, Panettiere was involved in an on-and-off relationship with Brian Hickerson, a real estate agent and aspiring actor, from around 2018 until 2022. During that time, he was arrested multiple times for domestic violence against her, first in 2019 and again in February 2020 in Wyoming, where he reportedly punched her in the face. The first charges were later dropped.
In July 2020, he was arrested in Los Angeles, where Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend and was sentenced in 2021 to jail time, four years of probation, domestic violence classes, fines, and a multi-year protective order.
In her memoir, Panettiere described the relationship as traumatic, detailing how verbal arguments escalated into physical abuse. She said she found it “<a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/hayden-panettiere-calls-brian-hickerson-incident-embarrassing/">very embarrassing</a>” as someone who saw herself as a strong and resilient woman.
Panettiere also recently revealed several incidents during her career involving unwanted sexual advances from major Hollywood directors and actors when she was in her late teens. She said a trusted friend led her into what felt like a trap involving a “very famous” naked man while she was out on a boat.
“The fact that I was 18, even though I’d lived such a huge life and I thought I was oh so mature at 18 … scientifically, our frontal lobes don’t develop until we’re what, 25, 26?” Panettiere told podcast host Jay Shetty of the incident during a May interview, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nashville-star-says-she-was-lured-into-dangerous-situation-with-very-famous-naked-man">reported</a>. “So even though I felt like I could make healthy decisions, safe decisions, I wasn’t capable of being fully aware of what was going on around me.”
“It wasn’t until I found myself in predicaments that I realized — my perspective completely shifted, and I realized that I was in danger,” she went on. “But by the time I’d realized I was in danger, I was quite literally out to sea.”
“It took me by surprise,” Panettiere added. “It was somebody led by somebody that I had grown to trust and see as a protector and somebody who had my back.”
The actress detailed her addiction struggles in her memoir, noting how doctors told her she would be dead in five years if she didn’t stop drinking. Panettiere most recently spent eight months in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction in 2020.

911 Call Reveals New Clue In Hayden Panettiere’s Shocking Death At 36

Entertainment

Many people are wondering why so many famous movie actors are having transgender children to go with their fifteen-hundred-dollar Origami Cubic Pumps, and the sensuous new Liquid Under Shorts, which are perfect for those daring evenings when you pick up a smoking hot stranger in a Port-o-San at a West Hollywood construction site and then spend the next two weeks wondering why it burns when you urinate.
Now some experts feel the mathematically miraculous number of transgender kids parented by movie stars is due to the fact that each of these amazingly popular celebrities possesses a powerful charisma that masks a case of narcissistic personality disorder so extreme it would qualify as a psychotic condition of the type usually found in ax murderers, mass shooters and opinion columnists at The New York Times, and that an actor’s skill in slipping almost seamlessly into movie characters as diverse as Spiderman and Spiderman 2 is less a talent than a symptom of a mental illness in which the desperate loneliness of emotional emptiness is alleviated by the self-medication of performative delusions similar to those witnessed in psychiatric hospitals where inmates wander around believing they’re someone like Napoleon Bonaparte or Jesus Christ or Spiderman 2 instead of the addled, self-destructive, sexually ambiguous theater kids they in fact are, and that this combination of virulent narcissism and self-comforting delusion combine to render most movie actors as incapable of loving their own children as they are of truly loving themselves, so that the children of these famous thespians also never develop fully functional personalities and, in a tragic imitation of their seemingly successful parents, they become convinced they can find some comfort in a make-believe world where they are the opposite gender to the one God made them, and so they begin mutilating those portions of their bodies in which the urgent desire for the love and connection missing from their dysfunctional upbringing are most blatantly expressed, after which, as soon as they grow up, they plan to travel to Canada to take advantage of their program of medically assisted suicide.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/andrew-klavan-show-ep-1291"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-974735 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg" alt="" width="1800" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w, 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-1024x171.jpg 1024w, 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" sizes=" (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /></a>
Anyway, that’s how some experts explain the phenomenon. Other experts believe it’s the result of a bite by a radioactive spider.
To find out more, The Daily Wire sent our crack reporter Jimmy Crack to the West Coast to interview some of the silver screen’s most in-demand mentally ill people. In an article phoned in from Hollywood’s famous Michael Jackson Memorial Bathhouse and Daycare Center, Crack reported his findings shortly before he disappeared without a trace.
In Crack’s exclusive interview with Lola Vavoom, the ravishing female lead of the new hit Spiderman 2B, the actress explained why, of the seven children birthed for her by her faithful surrogate Lulubelle Squeeze, five have decided to change their sex from the one they are to the one they can never actually be.
Ms. Vavoom said, “I think it might have started when I was getting into character for the remake of Monster, the film for which my idol, Charlize Theron, won an Oscar playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos before Theron had her transgender child. Using the method acting techniques I acquired at the Scientology Self-Transformation and Daycare Center, I got into character by chasing my sons around the room with a butcher knife, screaming, ‘Here comes mommy to cut off your wiener, and I’d like to thank the Academy very much for this great honor.’ It was soon after that that all my sons came to me and said, ‘Mommy, I think we’re little girls, so will you please unlock the closet door now and let us out.’ I was so moved, I immediately scheduled their surgeries and rented a gown for awards night.”
Unfortunately, it turned out Ms. Vavoom was not eligible for the Oscar because the remake of Monster went straight to streaming on the Disney Channel, but there are rumors it will soon be made into a ride at Disney World’s new Gender Fantasyland and Daycare Center.
We hope Crack’s crack reporting has illuminated the issue of child transgenderism in Hollywood, and will help to inspire reasonable methods of addressing the phenomenon, like the forced sterilization of everyone in show business.

Hollywood Blames Trans Epidemic On Radioactive Spiders To Hide Severe Narcissism

Spider-Man

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland

trans kids

Transgender

Kevin Sepe never performed before thousands of screaming fans or made millions with a hit song.
His personal tragedy still mirrors what the lead character in “Elijah Peel,” a faith-based drama about a rocker’s road to redemption, endures on screen.
That’s no accident.
Sepe turned his near-death experiences and addiction woes into a feature film, showcasing what it means to find Christ in the world of pop music.
“Elijah Peel,” out August 14, follows a drug-addled rocker (Robert Malcolm Cumming) recovering from an accidental overdose. He bonds with a fellow patient, a precocious girl named Jessica (Evelyn Grace Kite) who points him toward a better path.
But it won’t be anything close to easy.
Sepe previously plotted feature film projects, but he says they didn’t reflect his current state of mind and spirituality.
“I love the entertainment space,” says Sepe, who produced, wrote, and co-directed “Elijah Peel.” “I always gravitated toward that world.”
He initially envisioned a version of “Elijah Peel” that was R-rated and immature, a frat-style comedy that lacked the current version’s core values.
“It reflected where I was spiritually which was not in a good place [at the time],” he says. Still, the project got traction in Hollywood before his life began to crumble.
He later reassessed his filmmaking vision.
“When I finally emerged from that ordeal … I was left thinking in a different spiritual pace. My God, what had I done?” he recalls, praying that he’d create a project that mirrored his faith journey.
Enter “Elijah Peel,” executive produced by “Duck Dynasty” alums Willie and Korie Robertson. The film co-stars Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules” fame as Elijah’s conflicted manager. Their youthful co-star won the Lead Actress award at this year’s International Christian Film &amp; Music Festival, becoming the honor’s youngest winner at nine years of age.
Rockers like Elijah Peel face constant temptations from fans, fame, and the perils of endless cash. Sepe says he, too, is susceptible to a relapse.
“I’m at a place where I understand where the triggers are for me,” he says. “With one move, I can destroy anybody, including me … even when I pray about this film. I’m so conscious of me getting in the way.”
The project’s goal isn’t Hollywood fame but to “further the Kingdom,” he says, dubbing the film “soul food.”
The parallels between Sepe and his cinematic alter ego are palpable. Yes, both Sepe and his on-screen creation battle addiction issues, but that brand of abuse speaks to a larger concern.
“I know enough about addiction to know it’s a symptom of what’s really going on,” he says. The main character’s rock star status actually can make matters worse for the addict.
“That’s a dangerous place to be for a sick guy or woman inside … they have more means to do what they do … they’re in a place where they can continue &#8230; it’s a harder place to get to the bottom.”
On screen, Cumming’s character “had the benefit of a hard and fast fall to near death so he could recognize what an urgent call to address the spirit that was so broken with him was,” he says.
Making a movie inspired by his own life proved an “almost out of body experience,” Sepe says. His next project, already completed, is under contract with Angel Studios to bring “Young Warriors” to the screen. The feature, starring “Entourage” alum Jeremy Piven, follows a group of youngsters “growing up in a dysfunctional world.”
It’s a snug fit for the upstart studio, a production shingle with a goal to “amplify light.” Angel has hit the ground running with impactful films like “Sound of Freedom,” “David” and “Young Washington.”
“Elijah Peel” was shot on location in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s one of a growing number of film projects lensed outside of Hollywood, a trend Sepe embraced.
“There’s something to be said about using local crews in the region,” he says. “There’s a pride in what they’re doing &#8230; ‘we wanna show the world this little city is cool.’”
Sepe calls himself a dreamer and storyteller who loves the pop culture landscape. Now, he’s using that affection to talk about Jesus in a fresh way.
Movies like “Elijah Peel” “widen the net,” he says, reaching people who might not otherwise consider a spiritual path.
“The message is powerful, soulful and Christian,” he says. “It reflects the love and grace that God gave me. I wanna share that with the world. Pop culture enables me to do that.”
***
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. He&#8217;s also the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hollywood-in-toto-podcast-w-christian-toto/id1186449155">The Hollywood in Toto Podcast</a>. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>.

image-6

‘Elijah Peel’  Is A Cinematic Redemption Story With Real Roots

“Elijah Peel”

Angel Studios

Kevin Sepe

Spider-Man just beat the assembled Avengers where it counts — at the box office.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” earned $360 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, making it the biggest opening of all time. The 2019 superhero extravaganza “Avengers: Endgame” held the previous record of $357 million.
Everyone’s favorite wall-crawler had a little help. The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) co-star in the fourth “Spider-Man” feature starring Tom Holland. Still, the film’s gargantuan take signals something profound.
Superhero fatigue is situational, at best, with the summer’s “Supergirl” revealing that its relevance still matters in extreme cases. Plus, reading the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s last rites may be premature, even if recent titles (“Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts”) failed to blow away the competition.
Yet caveats abound, and they’re all worth exploring.
Let’s start with “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The 2021 romp did more than unite three Peter Parkers in one film. It proved a nostalgic smart bomb, revisiting old villains for a near-perfect blend of action, adventure and humanity.
Plus, the film came out as the COVID-19 lockdowns were easing, letting the country enjoy the theatrical experience again. The goodwill generated by those elements proved massive, setting the stage for “Brand New Day.”
After all, the latest Spidey adventure doesn’t have a sizable hook. It doesn’t continue a major plot point from previous MCU films. The villain has been hidden in the marketing rollout, robbing the film of a key selling point.
The MCU didn’t hire a “name” director (think Spielberg, Tarantino or Villeneuve) to tackle the assignment. Destin Daniel Cretton previously helmed “Shang-Chi,” a well-received MCU effort but far from a blockbuster.
There’s something deeper here — a type of attraction that demands the attention of not just superfans or Marvel acolytes. America’s favorite wall-crawler holds special appeal that can’t be relegated to the halls of Comic-Con like some obscure spin-off side character. Spider-Man has been part of Western culture for decades, from the animated TV show with the catchy theme song (“… Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can”) to Saturday-morning cartoons and a late-1970s TV show with Nicholas Hammond.
He’s a science nerd and social outcast, the kid who got bullied in school until a radioactive spider changed, well, everything. He remains relatable and real, even if we can’t swing from skyscraper to skyscraper.
Plus, he’s had the benefit of sublime actors bringing him to life. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield proved to be critical casting choices, while Holland has masterfully allowed his Peter Parker to mature before our eyes.
The new film finds him fighting crime while missing his best bud, Ned (Jacob Batalon), and his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya). That matters.
The “Spider-Man” films fall under the Sony banner, even while Disney’s MCU recently paired up with the film studio. That means the live-action Spider-verse didn’t follow the woke road that derailed the MCU in recent years.
No forced identity politics or woke plot points. The Sony films proved smart, resourceful and effective. The same can’t be said for MCU clunkers like “The Marvels” and “Eternals.”
The MCU has course-corrected of late, even including some pro-life messaging in last year’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The MCU still has a galaxy of minor heroes who could save the day (and crush the box office), but they must be launched wisely. Most people didn’t know what a Deadpool was, but star Ryan Reynolds used his personal touch and plenty of humor to <a href="https://ew.com/article/2016/02/17/deadpool-viral-marketing-campaign/?srsltid=AfmBOorzn6DjOSRQkkS7_oTgEF4iEAMZhxtAUCkv5FVQEl41jDfZp8oi">sell the character to the masses.</a>
A decade after its solo film debut, Deadpool is a familiar pop culture staple and a phenomenon that has far exceeded the 2016 film’s modest $58 million budget.
Reynolds &amp; co. also showed fidelity to the source material, telling fans they could trust the stories coming to their local cineplex. Geek Nation is a tiny fragment of the movie-going audience, but its members are the best marketers an MCU film can have when they’re working on your behalf.
Holland himself has played a key role in this MCU success story. The British actor doesn’t say a peep about ICE, voter ID, or other red-hot-button issues. He’s charming in publicity interviews, even keeping a low boil on his marriage to fellow superstar Zendaya, a kind of humility akin to “Brand New Day” — even down to the old-school Spidey suit that goes without the bells and whistles seen in recent MCU adventures.
That goodwill matters. Plus, <a href="https://screenrant.com/spider-man-brand-new-day-hulk-return-success-mark-ruffalo-comment/">Team MCU apparently benched Ruffalo</a> during the “Brand New Day” press tour, knowing the far-Left actor would likely distract from the film with his progressive lectures.
It’ll be much harder to silence the crush of stars assembling for this winter’s “Avengers: Doomsday” feature. The December 18 release is a who’s who of superhero actors, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
If an “Avengers” film can’t pull off Spidey-sized numbers, then the MCU will be better off hyping their best individual characters moving forward. Why spend all that money on a film that can’t outperform a geeky wall crawler?
The X factor that can’t be overlooked? The old saw “a rising tide lifts all boats” still matters. The theatrical model made a stunning comeback this year, with breakout hits like “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Toy Story 5” and “Obsession.”
Suddenly, going to the movies is cool again, with Gen Z often leading the way. That might be the one superpower the MCU needed most of all.
***
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. He&#8217;s also the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hollywood-in-toto-podcast-w-christian-toto/id1186449155">The Hollywood in Toto Podcast</a>. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>.

Los Angeles Premiere Of Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”

Is ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ The MCU Superhero That Saves Hollywood’s Summer?

Menu