According to a new report, Jim Carrey is in talks to reprise his role in the popular Christmas classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” live action film from 2000. 
Universal and Imagine Entertainment are developing a sequel to the original smash hit that made more than $350 million, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/grinch-sequel-in-the-works-jim-carrey-1236595265/">The Hollywood Reporter</a> — a more-than-respectable amount for the time. Ron Howard is also rumored to be returning as director and Brian Grazer will again serve as producer, the outlet noted.
The trio of script writers — Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and David Mandel — also worked on the Dr. Seuss adaptation “The Cat in the Hat” (2003) starring Mike Myers, which was not considered a success. It won the Golden Raspberry Award (Razzie) that year for “Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content).”
The project is far from being a done deal and is still in the beginning stages. Carrey, 64, has discussed in the past how difficult the Grinch makeup was to put on and wear — but now he realizes technology has changed everything. He said he was open to returning if that process could be different. 
“Oh, gosh, you know, if we could figure out the Grinch,” the actor told <a href="https://comicbook.com/movies/news/jim-carrey-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-2-one-condition/">ComicBook</a> during a 2024 interview. “The thing about it is, on the day, I do that with a ton of makeup and can hardly breathe. It was an extremely excruciating process. The children were in my mind all the time. ‘It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.’ And now, with motion capture and things like that, I could be free to do other things. Anything is possible in this world.”
Carrey is best known for cult classic comedy films such as “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “The Mask,” and “Dumb and Dumber,” among others. But he gradually stopped working as much and in 2022, even said he was “probably” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-carrey-said-hes-probably-retiring-from-hollywood-ive-done-enough">retiring from Hollywood</a>. 
Then the actor joined the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise as the film’s villain, Dr. Robotnik, and said he agreed to do the third installment for a relatable reason. “I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And, you know, it’s just … I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly. Yeah,” Carrey <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-carrey-reveals-why-he-agreed-to-do-sonic-3-i-need-the-money-frankly">said</a>. 
He is also set to reprise his role in “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” scheduled in 2027.

The Grinch

Jim Carrey May Reprise One Of His Most Popular Roles Ever

Christmas movies

Hollywood

Jim Carrey

Movies

Superhero films are no longer Hollywood’s coin of the realm. Video game-based films are a safer bet — think the “Super Mario” franchise, “A Minecraft Movie,” and the “Sonic the Hedgehog” saga.
Even “Superman,” the most consequential hero in the comic book canon, didn’t deliver the box office bounty as expected last year.
Yet a certain wall-crawler defies this pop culture trend.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” set to open July 31, just reached the best <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/06/spider-man-brand-new-day-presales-record-1236959396/">first-day presales</a> figures since 2021, according to Deadline. The film’s latest trailer, released June 17, teased fellow superheroes (like the Hulk) and pointed to yet another summer blockbuster.
Spidey crushed the competition with 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which earned nearly $2 billion worldwide. The fourth installment in the series may not make that much money, but it’ll prove we still have a soft spot for Lycra-clad heroes.
Why does Spider-Man endure?
We’ll start with Stan Lee. The Marvel Comics maestro cracked the superhero code in his early days, understanding that flawed, relatable heroes matter more than invincible ones.
Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, was a picked-upon teen who pined for the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane, and struggled to make ends meet. His boss barked at him at The Daily Bugle, his schoolmates bullied him, and the world took away his parents at an early age.
A radioactive spider bite changed everything, at least on paper. He was still the sweet, insecure kid deep down. That’s true in both the comics and on the big screen.
Tobey Maguire’s “Spider-Man” (2002) found the web-slinger struggling to woo his beloved Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), even though he could have spilled his secret and potentially won her over in a super way.
His innate decency wouldn’t allow it. And he knew it also might put her life in jeopardy.
Credit Hollywood’s casting gurus for finding the right Spideys at the right time. Maguire nailed the character’s naive approach and Everyman status. Andrew Garfield, his immediate successor, conveyed a similar sense of unease while slowly growing into his skills over two “Amazing Spider-Man” movies.
Tom Holland effortlessly took the baton, and his aw-shucks shtick from “Captain America: Civil War” gave the film endless highlights. His Spidey even read his frenemies their Miranda rights during that film’s epic battle royale.
Would any other hero approach a fight in that fashion? In a way, Spidey is one of us — uncomfortable with being a hero.
If anything, Spider-Man getting the girl in the recent films could prove problematic. We love him a wee bit more when he’s pining for the girl of his dreams, not swinging from rooftop to rooftop with her by his side.
That’s why the big moment at the end of “No Way Home,” where Doctor Strange causes Zendaya’s MJ to forget all about her beau, sets “Brand New Day” up in a satisfying manner.
It also helps that the “Spider-Man” film series never went woke. Sony technically holds the keys to the webbed character’s cinematic kingdom, but it pairs with Disney’s MCU to bring him to screens.
While Disney movies like “Eternals” and “The Marvels” pushed a progressive agenda, the “Spider-Man” saga focused on the fun. That meant no awkward gender swaps or forced same-sex subplots. Zendaya’s MJ isn’t technically the classic character from the comics and big-screen adaptations. Her nickname was a tip of the cap to the source material.
Her MJ shared a few woke asides in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” her first feature as the character. That’s where it started and ended, and she sounded like too many Gen Z types anyway. No lectures, no clunky messages beyond the hero’s signature wisdom, shared by Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Even the animated “Spider-Verse” movies have avoided woke flourishes and maintained their cinematic excellence. The visuals from the first two installments — and a third has been delayed until 2027 — set a very high bar at a time when CGI animation is routinely stunning.
Embracing the Miles Morales arc of the Spidey universe expanded the film’s appeal to a broader audience without detracting from the character’s core traits. So did the recent “Spider-Noir” Prime Video series, giving the web crawler a neo-noir edge.
Credit also goes to the minds behind the recent “Spider-Man” live-action films.
The saga’s newest iteration has felt organic in a way that has eluded both “Star Wars” and the once-mighty MCU. We’re watching Peter Parker grow up, establish his personal boundaries, and realize his full potential.
The aforementioned franchises felt as if they were being assembled on the fly, with no overarching plan. The saga also found a way to shake up the formula without losing audiences.
Consider the loss of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) in “No Way Home.” Her death allowed Peter Parker to grieve a loved one in powerful ways. Yes, this saga is full of humor and heart, but it’s also achingly human.
Holland recently nominated Owen Cooper, 16, of “Adolescence” fame, to take over as the next Spider-Man. That change is inevitable, given the character’s enduring popularity and Spider-Man’s creative DNA. Peter Parker should be a youthful figure. It’s part of his appeal and distinctive persona.
At 30, Holland is getting a little long in the tooth to be playing a college student — even if he looks young enough to pull it all off.
Either way, Spider-Man isn’t the mightiest Avenger, let alone the toughest superhero. He’s still able to put fannies in seats better than any other costumed crusader.
Long may he swing.
***
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>.

Celebrity Sightings In Glasgow – August 3, 2025

Why Spider-Man Is The Last Superhero Standing

Box Office

Entertainment

Marvel

Peter Parker

Spiderman

“Cheers” co-creator James Burrows has died at the age of 85.
Burrows’ family confirmed his death in a statement, reported by <a href="https://people.com/james-burrows-dead-cheers-co-creator-director-was-85-exclusive-11744793">People</a>. “We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James ‘Jimmy’ Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family. For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.”
&#8220;Over the course of his unparalleled career, Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television and was instrumental in creating some of the most iconic series ever produced, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will &amp; Grace, and The Big Bang Theory, among many others,&#8221; the statement went on.
&#8220;But beyond his remarkable achievements, Burrows will be remembered for something even greater: his kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in the people around him. He possessed a rare ability to make everyone better and was known for remembering every person he met by name, making colleagues at every level feel seen, valued, and appreciated.&#8221;
The director is well-known in Hollywood for directing cult classic shows including &#8220;Will &amp; Grace,&#8221; &#8220;Cheers,&#8221; and &#8220;The Mary Tyler Moore Show,&#8221; and for helping to create hit shows including &#8220;Friends,&#8221; &#8220;Taxi,&#8221; and &#8220;Frasier,&#8221; CBS News reported. Burrows directed episodes of &#8220;The Big Bang Theory&#8221; and &#8220;Two and a Half Men,&#8221; as well as the more recent reboot of &#8220;Frasier.&#8221;   
Burrows won 11 Emmy awards and was nominated for many others, the outlet noted.
&#8220;Burrows understood that great comedy was never simply about laughter. It was about humanity, connection, and truth. That understanding became the foundation of a career that forever changed television,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;His influence will continue to be felt for generations through the countless artists he inspired, the stories he helped tell, and the millions of people whose lives were brightened by his work.&#8221;
His family wrote in conclusion, &#8220;Above all else, Burrows was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife, Debbie, his four daughters, and his seven grandchildren. He will be profoundly missed and forever remembered. Our thoughts are with Debbie, his children and grandchildren, his family, friends, collaborators, and all those whose lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing.&#8221;

James Burrows

‘Cheers’ Creator James Burrows Dies At 85

Television

Actor Tom Hanks jabbed at liberal outlet MSNOW, mocking the far left outlet when a reporter caught up to him on Thursday at the opening of former President Barack Obama&#8217;s Presidential Library in Chicago.
The &#8220;Toy Story&#8221; actor, dressed for the outdoor occasion in a black blazer and round sunglasses, turned to the reporter and asked what information he should share with the &#8220;800&#8221; people who might be likely to be tuned in to the network.
WATCH:
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Credit: MS NOW
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The reporter was naming off some of the famous people in attendance at the library&#8217;s opening, mentioning Doris Kearns Goodwin before turning to address Hanks.
&#8220;What can I do for the 800 people watching MSNOW?&#8221; the actor asked as the reporter turned toward him.
&#8220;Come on,&#8221; the reporter pushed back, telling Hanks that the shot was live.
&#8220;All right, add a zero to it if you need to,&#8221; Hanks laughed.
&#8220;I would say millions, now that you&#8217;re on our air,&#8221; the reporter replied.
&#8220;All right, all right,&#8221; Hanks laughed.
The library opening drew a massive crowd, including former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden — along with their respective First Ladies – and former Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as a number of celebrities. The opening ceremony itself was largely mocked across conservative media because it began with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-presidential-library-officially-opens-with-land-acknowledgement">land acknowledgement</a> to the native tribes that had occupied the area previously.
The fifth film in Hanks&#8217; &#8220;Toy Story&#8221; franchise opened in theaters on Friday, June 19 — and had already set off alarm bells when it set the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/toy-story-5-breaks-the-wrong-kind-of-record-for-pixar">wrong kind of record</a> for Pixar. The critics&#8217; rating for the latest installment ranked lower than any of the previous four on film site Rotten Tomatoes, coming in at 94%. The fourth ranked three points higher at 97%, and the first two had perfect scores of 100%. Critics have argued that the franchise lost its way as the final offering failed to provide a real &#8220;villain&#8221; in the story.

“A Man Called Otto” Photocall – VIP Access

Tom Hanks Delivers Reality Check On ‘MS NOW’

Tom Hanks Delivers Reality Check On 'MS NOW'

Barack Obama

Media

MSNOW

Tom Hanks

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Pixar’s very first film came out in 1995, near the start of the dot-com bubble. Eight years before Myspace was invented, apps weren’t a thing, and the average cell phone was as big as a brick. So if kids weren’t riding their bikes or listening to cassette tapes, they were playing with toys. 
It’s no surprise that “Toy Story” was a massive success. Over the years, the franchise has grown alongside its viewers, with “Toy Story 2” somehow tackling the existential dread of growing up and “Toy Story 3” arriving just in time to tug at the heartstrings of parents and adult children hugging goodbye at college. “Toy Story 4” was a fairly forgettable (if successful) romp through a dusty antique store, and “Toy Story 5” arrives this weekend as one of the year’s most-anticipated films.
For parents hoping to enjoy a clean summer blockbuster with their kids, it doesn’t disappoint. But for those who were expecting the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buzz-and-woody-team-up-again-to-battle-big-tech-in-new-toy-story-5-trailer">introduction</a> of an iPad-style character would meet the moment with a cautionary tale about technology, well, they might need to preach that lesson themselves.
In some ways, “Toy Story 5” is the most family-friendly installment of the whole franchise. The first few movies have some terrifying moments; now, there is no Sid to threaten to blow up the toys and turn them into new, Frankenstein’s monster-style creations; no disturbingly hairy collector to steal them; no pink bear to leave them falling toward a fiery trash heap; and no 1950s talking doll who seems like she walked right off the prop shelf from “Annabelle.” Today, the villains aren’t other toys, and the stakes are simple, as they always ultimately have been: We’re talking about the thoughts and feelings of kids and their playthings. 
This is no small matter, at least when it comes to the kids, but it’s a welcome emotional scope considering the trailers that played just before the film. In one, a pair of friends risks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8RHqN93qfo">losing</a> all of their memories together; in another, the Cat in the Hat is inexplicably <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT5JAp5z0-o">responsible</a> for saving the entire world. 
“Toy Story” movies believe that childhood matters, which makes this newest installment so frustrating. “Toy Story 5” doesn’t take its own stakes seriously. Kids’ childhoods are on the line; shouldn’t it matter how they spend them? 
As the much-discussed trailer promised, the toys’ lives are upended by the arrival of Lilypad, the first piece of technology for eight-year-old Bonnie. Her parents, worrying that she’s struggling to make friends, order her a tablet. Lilypad then uses online games to connect Bonnie with friends from her dance class, who could be actual child traffickers for all we know. Somehow, the issue of parental controls never comes up. 
Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the gang may be disappointed that they’re not getting played with now that Bonnie has her nose in her tablet, but at least she’s making friends, argues Lilypad, who has just enough vocal fry to sell her mission to make Bonnie fit in with the cool girls. 
Though Lilypad has good intentions, her efforts at finding Bonnie friends result in the girl getting cyberbullied. That seems like a good case against tech for kids if I ever heard one. Yet somehow, this becomes framed as Lilypad’s honest mistake; once Jessie finds a new friend for Bonnie, Lilypad saves the day by connecting them online, proving that the world wide web is a tool that must be used judiciously in the hands of — elementary school students. 
<div id="attachment_1119343" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1119343" class="wp-image-1119343 size-medium" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798-300x168.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="168" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798-300x168.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798-768x431.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798.jpeg 1300w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Photo courtesy of Pixar</div>
The films have always held the tensions between the children’s and the toys’ needs: the toys’ need to be played with, and the children’s need to grow up. “Our mission on this planet is to make a child happy. To play!” Buzz tells dozens of other Buzz Lightyears, part of one of the latest movie’s most humorous plot lines. (Speaking of which, don’t leave the theater before the mid-credits scene.)
Jessie finally learns the lesson every toy has to face, which is that loving and leaving children is part of the deal. “Bonnie’s growing up,” she concludes. “And we don’t get to decide when and how that happens. All that matters is we were there at the right time to help her along.” 
This would be a good realization, if it weren’t actually an acknowledgment from Jessie that “when and how that happens” might involve a good bit of tech. In the age of iPad kids, when some <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-2025-common-sense-census-media-use-by-kids-zero-to-eight">estimates</a> suggest that as many as four in 10 kids get tablets by the age of two, this message is not just tone-deaf; it’s dangerous. 
“We’re not getting rid of these devices, no matter how hard we try,” director Andrew Stanton <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/toy-story-5-plot-twist-set-to-disappoint-parents">said</a> in the lead-up to the film’s release. “I’m always going to have my phone. I’m probably going to be partially addicted to it. So it felt right for the toys to have to grapple with that nuance.”
The tablet, Stanton said, is “just the next phase in Bonnie’s life.”
That’s a fatalistic way to look at things, especially for someone in the business of sparking kids’ imaginations.
On the upside, “Toy Story 5” is full of hijinks from the toys you know and love, and it’s sweet that millennials who grew up with the originals are now taking their own kids to the theater. But we millennial parents are also raising children during an unprecedented time in which kids’ mental health issues are skyrocketing — in part because of screens.
To pretend like giving your kid a tablet will simply lead to her making new friends and then ditching the screens, which barely ever did her harm, is either hopelessly naive or has a bit of a darker motive. The cynic in me suspects the $28 Lilypads now <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/shopping/toy-story-5-lilypad-leapfrog-tablet-buy-real-version-online-1236620372/">for sale</a> online wouldn’t make quite as much profit had she been the villain.
My four-year-old came to see the movie with me, and while his favorite part was decidedly the “Buzz Lightmears” (so many of them!), his least favorite was Lilypad. She may have been designed ultimately to surprise us with her usefulness, but he wasn&#8217;t buying it. Fortunately, kids can see past the falsehoods adults tell to make us feel better about ourselves.

g_disneymovies_toystory5_7_2ba88af6

The Lesson ‘Toy Story 5’ Gets Dangerously Wrong

Toy Story

Upstream

Actor Russell Crowe said he rejected doing a sex scene in the popular historical drama “Gladiator” (2000) and stuck to his guns when he got pressured.
The actor discussed what happened during an appearance at Taormina Film Festival, per <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZm5EDqAJQg/">Deadline</a>.
“When we were shooting that film, there was a lot of pressure. The studio, the producers [thought] there should be sex between Maximus and the female characters. I just kept pushing back,” he said.
“This is the story of a man avenging the death of his wife and his child,” Crowe continued. “There cannot be a moment in that journey where he stops and has sex with somebody. It doesn’t make any sense because then that destroys the journey.”
The actor said he &#8220;stuck to my guns,&#8221; despite the fact that director Ridley Scott would have &#8220;loved a sex scene between me and [lead actress] Connie Nielsen.” 
The “Gladiator” star said sticking to his convictions led to Scott coming to his side and agreeing there was a “moral core of the film.&#8221; That bet paid off, as Crowe took home the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the film won Best Picture.
Crowe was not part of the sequel, which was released in 2024. The actor blamed the lackluster response on the film not having a moral code. 
“For them, in a second movie to destroy that moral center … it’s very interesting, because the second movie barely took the same box office that the first movie took. But, that’s 20 years later,&#8221; he said. 
&#8220;When you apply how much of a change there’s been on the value of a dollar, they failed,&#8221; Crowe went on. &#8220;And they failed because they didn’t understand why [the original movie] was successful — it was successful because it had a moral core.&#8221;
Crowe had discussed his frustration with the sequel before. He said in 2024, “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what gets done. But a couple of the things I’ve heard I’m like — no, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character. But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place.”

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe Reveals Why He Refused To Do A Sex Scene For ‘Gladiator’

Celebrities

Trans activist Laverne Cox said he’s lost most of his money, and Donald Trump is the one to blame.
The &#8220;Orange Is the New Black&#8221; actor explained the situation while <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/15/free-from-shame-laverne-cox-trans-woman-in-trump-america">speaking to</a> The Guardian, claiming the Trump administration turned people away from accepting radical trans ideology.
&#8220;Over the past two years, [Cox] has lost 90% of [his] income, however. Hosting contracts have ended and not been renewed. Corporate speaking engagements have dried up,&#8221; the outlet reported.
“This regime has threatened to defund any colleges and universities that promote gender ideology, DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion],” Cox told The Guardian. “Even though I’d be teaching a graduate acting class, it could be perceived as promoting trans ideology. These are the realities.”
The activist went on, “I’m not complaining — I’m very blessed. I think the important thing to note is that if Laverne Cox’s income has gone down significantly, what about all the other trans people who are not as privileged and as blessed as I am? There are material consequences for this kind of discrimination and scapegoating.”
Cox said it was all part of the plan, which was Project 2025&#8217;s agenda.
“All these words had to be taken out of every piece of legislation, policy, government document: gender, gender ideology, gender identity, LGBTQ, DEI, abortion, contraception,” he told The Guardian. 
Cox then used the tired analogy of comparing the “fundamentalist Christian ethno-nationalist project” with Nazi Germany.
“We’re in a very similar moment to Germany at that time,” he warned.
While most of the world, including corporate America, continues to move away from the radical trans agenda, Hollywood is still clinging stubbornly to the far-left ideals that dominated the culture six years ago. 
For Cox in particular, the souring of public opinion must be jarring. In 2014, he was celebrated for being the first openly transgender actor to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. But after Trump was elected, he claimed he lost out on speaking opportunities and other work. 
“I feel that this is a moment where we have to make some really important decisions about who we are, who we want to be, and how we’re going to proceed. I’ve been saying when history looks back at me, I want to be a Christian Dior, not a Coco Chanel. It’s that serious,” he told the New Yorker in a separate <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/laverne-cox-wants-to-rehumanize-everybody">interview </a>this week. 
“We’re in a fascist moment with this crazy president who wants to be a dictator, who’s just thrown every law out the window. In Nazi Germany, trans people were some of the first people who were attacked, and history is repeating …  It’s nuts, and they just keep finding new things to do to disenfranchise trans people in order to delegitimize our identities.”
“It’s not even about hope. We have to take action right now. We have to have the courage to tell the truth… I think rhetorically we need to rehumanize trans people and rehumanize everybody,” Cox insisted.

Laverne Cox

Trans Actor Blames Trump After Losing 90% Of His Income

Trans Actor Says He's Lost 90% Of His Income, And It's All Trump's Fault

Donald Trump

LGBT

Transgender

This summer has been anything but normal in La La Land.
Two indie horror films, one made for less than $1 million, are crushing the box office. A Steven Spielberg film about aliens visiting Earth can only dream of catching up. The same holds for a film franchise “in a galaxy far, far away.”
Nothing makes sense in Hollywood now, and that might be the best news possible for a flailing industry and audiences hoping for more voices, not fewer.
The Old Guard is fading to black. Enter the New Guard, weaned on YouTube and ready to tell fresh stories that connect with Gen Z.
Take director Curry Barker. The 26-year-old isn’t a household name like Spielberg, unless you live on YouTube. Barker cut his teeth on the platform, delivering viral hits like the creepy “Milk &amp; Serial,” an hour-long found-footage film no studio would touch.
That convinced Hollywood to let him direct his first feature, “Obsession,” about a lovestruck man granted one powerful wish: Make the girl of his dreams fall in love with him.
It works, and that’s when the macabre elements rush in.
The micro-indie opened to a solid $17 million in U.S. theaters, but it just kept growing. The film made significantly more money in its subsequent two weekends, a feat that doesn’t happen without adding movie screens.
As of June 11, the film snuck back to <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/date/2026-06-10/?ref_=bo_di_table_1">reclaim the top box office</a> slot nearly a month after it opened (May 15). Once again, that simply doesn’t happen.
But it did. And its worldwide total as of mid-June is north of $240 million. Hollywood already handed Barker the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise to revive. More gigs will follow, with one studio waving a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/obsession-filmmaker-curry-barker-gets-7-figure-offer-1236606967/">$10 million check</a> in front of him to do something, anything, for them.
Here’s betting Kane Parsons will get similar offers. The 20-year-old director also flexed his storytelling chops on his YouTube channel (Kane Pixels), building on creepy stories that lurk across digital platforms like 4chan.
The result? “Backrooms,” which opened to $81 million stateside.
That comes on the heels of an early 2026 hit, “Iron Lung.” Once more, a neophyte director weaned on YouTube. Mark Fischbach, AKA Markiplier, wrote, edited, directed, and starred in a sci-fi/horror film that earned a stunning $40 million on a $3 million budget.
As if 2026 couldn’t get any more unpredictable, there’s “The Amazing Digital Circus.” The Australian animated series debuted the final two episodes of its first season in select theaters. That release, subtitled “The Last Act,” briefly topped the box office and ended its debut weekend <a href="https://www.boxofficepro.com/the-amazing-digital-circus-the-last-act-lands-standout-box-office-debut/">with more than $20 million</a>.
All for two TV-like episodes set to debut in less than a month, for free, on YouTube. We shouldn’t be shocked, though. The show’s pilot episode has generated <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAPLk_sQ3w&amp;t=120s">440 million views</a> on the platform to date.
These films did more than just wildly overperform; they let YouTube storytellers have their say. They brought Gen Z back to theaters in droves. That’s what’s been missing in recent years. Something blamed on a generational shift, short attention spans, and a dearth of compelling content.
And it took a new guard of storytellers to make it happen.
Now, imagine this stunning success complemented by older, more established franchises and iconic directors. Except it’s not working out that way.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu,” the first new “Star Wars” feature since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” is underperforming. Badly. The film is laboring to crack the $300 million mark at the global box office, a fraction of what a “Star Wars” movie should earn.
For comparison, “The Rise of Skywalker” brought in $1 billion worldwide, and that film got skewered by franchise fans. The least successful “Star Wars” film in the modern era, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” brought in $392 million in 2018.
And then there’s the man who gave us “Jaws,” “Jurassic Park” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Spielberg’s new film, “Disclosure Day,” lets the Oscar winner revisit his most popular theme — aliens.
The thriller stars Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, and Colman Domingo, and early reviews are promising — north of 80 percent “fresh” at RottenTomatoes.com. Yet the film is expected to earn roughly <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/06/box-office-disclosure-day-projection-1236951773/">$35 million in its opening weekend in the U.S.</a>
Mediocre word of mouth could sink the film, and fast.
Once upon a time, a new Spielberg film felt like a cultural event, one that couldn’t be missed. That’s especially true for his summer-style features.
Not anymore.
Then there’s Clint Eastwood. The actor-director just turned 96, and various media reports suggest he’s either <a href="https://consequence.net/2026/06/clint-eastwood-may-not-be-retired/">retired or hasn’t decided yet</a>. Either way, the Hollywood legend has earned the right to sit back and marvel at his magnificent film legacy.
There won’t be another star like him, maybe ever.
Hollywood is in flux, and the new kids are in charge. It could also lead to more voices being heard and movie studios losing their iron grip on content. After all, technology is breaking down the barriers between artist and studio. Someone can shoot a movie on their iPhone and edit it on any number of cheap but powerful tools.
Plus, Fischbach self-distributed “Iron Lung,” bypassing the Hollywood gatekeepers — the same gatekeepers who often make sure select stories and voices aren’t heard on screen. We know which ones.
That won’t be the case for much longer.
The new, emerging Hollywood isn’t just saving the theatrical experience. It’s opening cinema up to fresh new ideas and, eventually, to more voices than ever before.
***
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 Special Screening Of Focus Features’ “Obsession” – After Party

Gen Z YouTube Creators Are Shaking Up Tinseltown

Gen Z

Independent Film

Star Wars

Steven Spielberg

The Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing one of the biggest regulatory obstacles to a deal that would reshape the entertainment industry.
According to reports from <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/paramount-acquisition-warner-bros-approved-00960300?_sp_pass_consent=true">Politico</a> and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/paramount-wbd-merger-approval-doj.html">CNBC</a>, the DOJ&#8217;s Antitrust Division concluded the transaction does not pose a threat to competition and declined to challenge the merger.
The decision paves the way for Paramount to merge with the media giant behind CNN, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures, TBS, TNT, and other major entertainment brands, creating one of the world&#8217;s largest media companies.
The approval is expected to be formally announced on Friday.
Federal regulators reportedly approved the deal without requiring Paramount to divest any assets or accept behavioral remedies, conditions that often accompany major media mergers.
The merger has been among the most closely watched antitrust reviews of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term because of its size and its potential impact on the media landscape.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, reportedly met personally with DOJ officials multiple times during the review process. According to Politico, Ellison spent roughly two hours meeting with Antitrust Division officials and career attorneys several weeks ago to discuss the transaction and its competitive effects.
Throughout the review, Paramount argued that the merger would strengthen competition by creating a larger media company capable of competing against streaming giants and technology firms that increasingly dominate the entertainment business.
Earlier this year, Netflix briefly pursued its own acquisition proposal for Warner Bros. Discovery before dropping out of the bidding process. According to CNBC, Paramount&#8217;s offer values Warner Bros. Discovery at approximately $31 per share.
Despite the federal approval, the deal still faces additional scrutiny.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, continues to investigate the transaction and could attempt to challenge the merger in court. Attorneys general from several states, including California and New York, monitored portions of the federal review process.
&#8220;The Paramount acquisition of Warner Brothers remains an active investigation,&#8221; a spokesperson for Bonta&#8217;s office told Politico.
The merger must also receive approval from European regulators before it can be finalized. The European Union has opened its own review and set a July deadline for its initial assessment.
On Wednesday, Paramount announced that Australia&#8217;s competition regulator had <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/06/paramount-wbd-mergerl-clears-australia-1236952390/">approved the transaction</a>.
Critics of the merger have warned that it could lead to another round of consolidation-related layoffs across Hollywood. Industry unions and some entertainment advocates have argued that the combined company would likely pursue significant cost-cutting measures.
For Paramount and the Ellisons, the DOJ&#8217;s decision represents a major victory after months of regulatory scrutiny. The company has said it expects the transaction to close by September if all remaining approvals are secured.

In this photo illustration, the Paramount logo is seen

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Clears Major Hurdle

Anti-trust

Antitrust

Business

Economy

justice department

Paramount

Warner Bros

Warner Brothers

Steven Spielberg’s new alien thriller, “Disclosure Day,” is leaving some moviegoers laughing their way out of theaters. This is an issue for the legendary filmmaker, as that movie was never intended to be a comedy.
The film’s official logline says, “If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?”
Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O&#8217;Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo, &#8220;Disclosure Day&#8221; has earned average but not great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. But the vibe on social media is decidedly more negative, with commenters saying they believe Spielberg has lost the golden touch that made films like “Jurassic Park” and “E.T.” so magical.
“So&#8230; is Disclosure Day meant to be a comedy or something? Because I was laughing my ass off during most of it,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/thecriticaldri2/status/2065099752694296781?s=43">wrote</a>. 
Other commenters mentioned how the film was rumored to run counter to the Christian faith, which they said was ultimately ineffective.
“Just got back from Disclosure Day. I went with the intention of debunking what I heard was a manipulation of Christian theology to leave room for aliens in God&#8217;s creation,” another person wrote. 
“I expected a high-quality movie with a dangerous messaging that would be planting a seed for the Great Deception. What I watched was an embarrassingly bad movie. Predictable. Cliche. The climax was laughable. It would have been semi-shocking two decades ago. The only thing that sort of saved it was the great acting despite the horrible script.”
The commenter went on, “As for debunking it spiritually, no need. It was so ham-fisted with its attempt to work aliens into theology that none of the elect could easily be swayed. I wasted two-and-a-half hours.”
“145 minutes for pretentious overacting in scenes intended for Oscar nomination clips. Disclosure Day was made by people who enjoy sniffing their own farts, and, boy howdy, did this movie sh*t the bed,” <a href="https://x.com/reallifefakewiz/status/2065266433659974050?s=43">echoed another</a>. “Pack it up, Grandpa. Spielberg is done.”
&#8220;It was mid at best. Jumbled, predictable, unbelievable, a garbage soundtrack, plot holes a plenty, and good acting. I’ve rewatched so many of Spielberg movies joyfully. This is a one and done,&#8221; another <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/2065443513190187102">wrote</a>.
The movie debuted on June 12. It currently has an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74% audience score. 
Spielberg previously mentioned how the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life could challenge people&#8217;s understanding of faith. 
“The movie takes the position of the believers, or the curious, the ones that have been deeply affected by this,” Spielberg said in an <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disclosure-day-director-steven-spielberg-on-alien-visitations/">interview</a> with CBS News. “And the movie also takes the position of the church. What does this do to the fundamental beliefs that many of us have? Is God our God only on this planet? Or is God a god for every system where there’s civilization and intelligent life, and even developing life?”
However, faith leaders and religious folks are pushing back on that idea, saying the existence of aliens wouldn’t be a faith-shaking moment even if the movie were perfectly executed. And they say it’s just not.

Disclosure Day

Spielberg Said ‘Disclosure Day’ Would Challenge Christian Faith. Instead, Many Find It Laughable.

Christianity

Veteran stunt performer Todd Bryant called out the uber-woke star Ron Perlman on X, saying he refused to work with him because of Perlman&#8217;s &#8220;Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).&#8221; 
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been contacted to stunt double for Ron Perlman on a job he is on right now,” Bryant, who had worked on major productions such as “Ford v Ferrari” and “Star Trek V,” shared on X. 
“The short answer is NO. I will not work for liberals with TDS like Will Ferrell or Ron. I lost all respect for these Actors.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I&#8217;ve been contacted to stunt double for Ron Perlman <a href="https://x.com/perlmutations?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@perlmutations</a> on a job he is on right now.
The short answer is NO.
I will not work for liberals with TDS like Will Ferrell or Ron.
I lost all respect for these Actors. <a href="https://t.co/OuZgAGm0sF">https://t.co/OuZgAGm0sF</a>
— Todd Bryant | Captain Klaa 🇺🇸 (@RealKlaa) <a href="https://x.com/RealKlaa/status/2064381482131431921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The responses were filled with fans and other members of the Hollywood community supporting Bryant’s courage to speak out against hardcore liberals in the industry, even at the risk of career and reputational damage.
“You proved one thing, money can&#8217;t buy ethics and principles,” one reply <a href="https://x.com/MrDparkskip/status/2064603002053255554">said</a>. “You sir are one of the few good men left, on behalf of all good men we salute you!”
“Perlman is foul mouthed and self important. Ferrell peaked at playing more cow bell. Not spending a thin dime to watch anything they make,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/DebNonCompliant/status/2064699761127575689">agreed</a>.
“I have much respect for you sir. I won’t watch anything they are associated with anymore,” echoed a third. “I really wish Hollywood had stayed in the entertainment business. Instead, they decided their audiences wanted to be lectured in THEIR [political] beliefs. Sad…”
Perlman is known for his unhinged, profanity-laced rants against President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans. In 2020, the actor <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/28/ron-perlman-on-hellboy-the-la-fires-and-trump-a-snake-oil-con-artist-whod-sell-you-bad-vodka-and-swampland-in-new-jersey">challenged</a> Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to a fight online. He’s called Trump, “a snake-oil con-artist who’d sell you bad vodka and swampland in New Jersey” and referred to <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/ron-perlman-donald-trump-terrified-of-kamala-harris-1236201087/">Kamala Harris</a> as “f***ing brilliant.”
The “Hellboy” star also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ron-perlman-deletes-video-threatening-to-destroy-studio-execs-home">lashed out</a> at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), calling him a “Nazi pig” over the Parental Rights in Education law — despite the fact that he clearly did not understand what it did.
“Good morning, Governor DeSantis,” Perlman began with a leering smile. “Ron here. Um, don’t say gay? Don’t say… as the first two words of a sentence spoken by a political leader of a state in the United States of America? Don’t say gay? Don’t f***ing say gay you f***ing Nazi pig? Say. First Amendment. Read about it. Then run for office. You piece of s***.”
The Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro responded to Perlman at the time, saying simply, “You are literally too stupid to insult.”

Anti-Trump “No Kings” Protests Pop Up Across The Country

Stunt Man Refuses To Work With Woke Hollywood Actor Over ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Ron Perlman

Trump Derangement Syndrome

British actor Idris Elba is addressing rumors that he could be selected as the next James Bond, saying the world is not ready for a black Agent 007.
“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” the 53-year-old celeb <a href="https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/idris-elba-is-flying-solo">told</a> British GQ in a newly published interview. 
“James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it. And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”
He went on to say he doesn’t believe Bond should change, anyway.
“Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke,” Elba continued. “I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”
Fans have been speculating about who could play the next Bond weeks after Amazon Studios announced it had begun casting.
“The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement.
The role was last played by Daniel Craig, who retired from the franchise after “No Time To Die” in 2021. There has been a lot of speculation about who the next Agent 007 would be, but now, with Amazon leading the charge, anything can happen.
Former producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli surprised fans in 2025 when they announced they would step back from the James Bond franchise and give creative control to Amazon. The company purchased MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022 and, in doing so, acquired the rights to distribute all “James Bond” projects. 
Broccoli previously said she was open to a black man playing Bond.
“I think [the next James Bond] will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond,” Broccoli said in 2021. “I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles.”
“I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women,” she added. “He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race].”

Idris Elba

Idris Elba Reacts To Rumors He’ll Play The Next James Bond

James Bond

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