The Hollywood Resistance wasn’t ready for its close-up following the 2024 presidential election.
We didn’t even see starlets donning hats resembling a certain female body part. Trade publications like <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/hollywood-fears-trump-president-devastating-1236209319/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a> and <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/hollywood-trump-resistance-the-sequel-1236076420/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> fretted that we might not endure a repeat of Hollywood’s posturing during the first Trump term.
Remember the first Trump term? Death wishes. Clunky documentaries. Comedy shows throwing satire to the side to smite the 45th president. And one ISIS-style photography shoot which pummeled a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/election-night-kathy-griffin-retweets-infamous-pic-of-her-with-trumps-severed-head" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D-list star’s career.</a>
Those fears have melted away in President Trump’s first 100 days in office. The Resistance is back and the worst is (likely) yet to come.
Late-night TV never stopped attacking President Trump. Most programs would consider President Joe Biden and his gaffe-tastic Vice President Kamala Harris fodder during the leader’s one term in office.
The jokes could write themselves. Instead, Colbert and co. pretended as if Trump had never left the Oval Office.
<div id="attachment_825621" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-825621" class="size-large wp-image-825621" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK CITY - OCTOBER 17: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest during Thursday's October 17, 2024 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images</div>
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel greeted Trump’s re-election with literal tears, and it’s been the same ol’, same ol’ ever since. He referred to Trump administration officials as “animals” in an <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/jimmy-kimmel-trump-late-night-future-interview-1235315906/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unhinged Rolling Stone interview</a>. He also described his comedy platform as a place liberals can go to “scream” in Trump 2.0.
NBC’s Seth Meyers is openly advising the Democrats on how to win back the general public, <a href="https://x.com/alexchristy17/status/1917210840106680431" target="_blank" rel="noopener">throwing caution</a> (and comedy) to the wind:
<blockquote>Now is not the time to nitpick the messaging of other Democrats. Instead of critiquing someone else&#8217;s message, go out there and do your own thing and give voters the choice they were deprived of this last election. Take a cue from the ones who are actually going out there doing [bleep] and getting attention for it.</blockquote>
Amber Ruffin no longer has a late-night show to call her own. So she talked herself out of a gig hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association gala by <a href="https://variety.com/2025/politics/news/whca-drops-amber-ruffin-performance-dinner-1236351795/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharing what she planned to say</a> on the dais. 
When asked if she would hit both sides of the political aisle, she said doing so would make Team Trump “feel like human beings … ‘cause they’re not.”
“Saturday Night Live” continues to hammer all things Trump while aggressively ignoring Democratic blunders, from throwing support to alleged gang members to goofy stunts like Sen. Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster.
<div id="attachment_914075" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-914075" class="size-large wp-image-914075" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-864x576.jpg" alt="SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1881 -- Pictured: (l-r) Special guest Beck Bennett as Vladimir Putin and James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump during the &quot;White Lotus&quot; sketch on Saturday, April 12, 2025 -- (Photo by: Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images</div>
Comedian Bill Burr isn’t a political stand-up, but in recent years he’s called out both sides as he sees fit. Now, Burr is targeting Elon Musk, Trump’s right hand DOGE man across multiple platforms. Burr has blasted Musk as a Nazi and raged against billionaires, part of a new Democratic talking point that ignores their deep Soros family ties.
Other stars keep spreading fake Trump stories without fear of repercussion. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/01/amber-ruffin-comedian-white-house-correspondents-dinner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Both Ruffin</a> and “Hacks” star <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hannah-einbinder-israel-massacre-palestinians-hrc-1236170941/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hannah Einbinder</a> pushed the “very fine people” hoax against Trump in recent weeks, earning zero pushback from Legacy Media outlets or so-called fact checkers.
Celebrities may seem a little less vocal in their anti-Trump posturing for one sober reason. Some decamped from X to Bluesky, the platform of choice for the modern Leftist. Now, when stars like “Two and a Half Men” alum Jon Cryer rage against Trump few people actually hear it.
That’s probably why some liberal stars like Stephen King left X only to come back to it weeks later. They were tired of screaming into the void, apparently.
Others use every available podium to decry President Trump.
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (“Bad Education”) used his speech at the 50th annual Chaplin award gala earlier this month to says Trump will, “<a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/04/29/spanish-filmmaker-pedro-almodovar-trump-will-go-down-in-history-as-the-greatest-mistake-of-our-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Go down in history as the greatest mistake of our time.”</a> Director Steven Soderberg (“Black Bag”) only called the president a <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/entertainment/director-of-che-guevara-biopic-worries-trump-popularity-proves-audiences-have-been-rooting-for-movie-bad-guys-all-along/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“villain”</a> by comparison during a press opportunity.
It’s still a sin in Hollywood to treat President Trump as normal, let alone human. Comedian Bill Maher, one of the president’s loudest critics, made more enemies on the Left by breaking bread with the Commander-in-Chief.
Maher hasn’t pulled any punches since the sit down, but he also saw Trump as, gasp, human and said as much. That was too much for fellow comedian Larry David. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star’s New York Times op-ed calling both <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/larry-david-whines-about-bill-maher-giving-donald-trump-a-chance-with-trite-hitler-comparison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump and Maher Nazis</a> spoke for many of the industry’s dwellers.
<div id="attachment_914179" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-914179" class="size-large wp-image-914179" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-815x576.jpg" alt="Credit: Randy Holmes/BILL MAHER. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Larry David." width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Credit: Randy Holmes/BILL MAHER. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Larry David.</div>
Some celebrities insist President Trump will either lock them up or prevent them from returning to America. Rocker Neil Young, who famously tried to get Joe Rogan fired from Spotify during the pandemic, openly worries he won&#8217;t be able to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/02/neil-young-fears-us-ban-donald-trump-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tour the U.S</a>. if he temporarily leaves the country during Trump 2.0.
Stand-up comic Nikki Glaser, who rarely gets political, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/24/entertainment/nikki-glaser-worried-that-she-could-not-be-let-back-into-the-country-for-trump-jokes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared a similar fear</a>.
Others, like Patti LuPone, embrace big-picture worries, like <a href="https://variety.com/2025/legit/news/george-clooney-patti-lupone-surviving-trump-broadway-pay-1236374131/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America won’t survive</a> a second Trump term.
What’s missing? Overtly anti-Trump project announcements. They may be in the works, but we’ve yet to hear of any major film or TV show dedicated to tackling Trump.
Screenwriters may work around the edges as part of their Resistance sequel. Take “Mountainhead,” a new satire from the creator of “Succession.” The Max original film, debuting May 31, follows four billionaires on vacation as they react to a global crisis from their posh retreat.
Will the movie be a “Smash the Oligarchy” event targeting the Elon Musks of the world? Perhaps. The film’s rush from production — which began in March — to release date teases just that.
Hollywood has nearly four more years to lash out at President Trump in all manner of forms. Chances are we’ll see new films or TV show tackling the 47th president directly. And, if past is prologue, the eye rolling will be epic.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Saturday Night Live – Season 50

Hollywood Reacts To 100 Days Of Trump

actors

Bill Maher

comedian

Donald Trump

Hollywood

Jimmy Kimmel

Larry David

President Trump

Stephen Colbert

Television

Trump Administration

Actor Terrence Howard recently said he turned down the chance to star in a Marvin Gaye biopic because it might have required him to kiss another man.
The 56-year-old “Empire” star discussed his thoughts during an interview on “Club Random with Bill Maher.” 
Howard said he couldn’t sign on to play singer Smokey Robinson in the biopic because he was already considering playing Marvin Gaye in a different project. But then he changed his mind.
“I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay,’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?&#8217; And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes,&#8217;” he told Maher. 
“They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Howard explained. Maher replied, “You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on screen in a movie?” prompting the actor to say, “No. Because I don’t fake it. That would f*** me. I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
“I can’t play that character 100 percent. I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand,” he added, saying, &#8220;It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.”
Gaye was married to two women during his life and was not openly gay, but there has been speculation that he was attracted to men, and at least one of his marriages was an attempt to silence those accusations.
The recording artist had the nicknames &#8220;Prince of Motown&#8221; and &#8220;Prince of Soul&#8221; and is considered by some to be one of the greatest singers of all time. Gaye was born in 1939 and died in 1984 at the age of 44 after being shot and killed by his father while trying to break up a physical altercation between his parents.
Howard announced his second <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-the-end-terrence-howard-announces-second-retirement-from-acting">retirement from acting</a> in 2022. “I’ve been playing pretend for forever,” he shared at the time. “[There’s] no need to play pretend anymore. I’ve done my time.”
The actor was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2006 for his role in “Hustle &amp; Flow.” He also appeared on the big screen in such movies as “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “Dead Presidents,” “Who’s the Man,” and “Iron Man.”

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard Turned Down Marvin Gaye Biopic Over The Possibility Of Having To Kiss A Man

Celebrities

Entertainment

Homosexuality

U.S.

Actress Heather Graham, 55, said it’s “awesome” that more women aren’t having children, while also admitting that she sometimes questions her decision never to become a mother.
The “Austin Powers” star made the revelation during a recently published interview with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/28/i-stopped-talking-to-my-parents-and-life-opened-up-heather-graham-on-family-ageing-and-creepy-film-makers">The Guardian</a>. 
“I think I’ve had moments where I wondered: what would it have been like if I had a kid? I guess I would say 80% of the time I feel glad I don’t have kids, and I feel free and really good about it, and maybe 20% of the time I wonder what would it be like. You just have to appreciate the life you have,” Graham said.
The actress said she respects women who decide not to have children. 
“I do think it’s awesome now that more women are expressing their desire to not have kids,” she added. “The culture says: ‘You need to have kids.’ But why? If you’re not being a people pleaser, what do you really want?”
Graham’s comments come as multiple reports show <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/31/health/fertility-births-vance.html">declining birth rates</a> in the United States and other countries, such as Japan.
The “Chosen Family” actress also said she’s been estranged from her “religious” family for 30 years because they disapproved of her Hollywood lifestyle. 
“I kind of became my own person and discovered: ‘What do I like? What do I want when I’m not under this very judgmental, authoritarian, parental, patriarchal structure? What do I want to do? What do I think of this?’” she told the outlet of cutting ties with her family around the time she was 17. 
“My father’s really religious, and they were, especially my father, very critical of everything I was doing. It didn’t feel like a healthy dynamic. I stopped talking to them and, I have to say, that was a huge relief. I felt like, at that moment, my life opened up with a freedom. I didn’t need to please them.”
Graham continued, “I feel like I wasn’t brought up to have a deep sense of self-esteem, and I think as I detached from my family, I built my own sense of self-esteem. Sort of like a detective, I went through my past and looked at how I developed certain ways of thinking that weren’t the healthiest, and basically just went on a journey to be happier.”
When asked if her family ever tried to contact her, the actress said an effort was made, but it was “very judgmental.”
She said they would say, “‘Let me give you the number of the priest and you can go to confession.’ I just think we’re really different. They have a lot of great qualities – it’s just not a healthy dynamic for me.”

Heather Graham

As Birth Rates Plummet, Actress Heather Graham Says It’s ‘Awesome’ More Women Don’t Want Kids

As Birth Rates Plummet, Actress Heather Graham Says It's 'Awesome' More Women Don't Want Kids

Children

In 2023, actors and writers went on strike as fears over artificial intelligence’s rapid development gripped Tinseltown.
The entertainment workers picketed for weeks, demanding guardrails around AI’s use in Hollywood. They got their wish when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) agreed with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to put new rules into place.
The fears are understandable, especially for those whose jobs are centered on writing scripts or editing videos. But for Jonathan Yunger, AI can be a major boost for Hollywood — the talented people who work there just have to embrace it and learn how to master it.
“Hollywood is old school. They’re scared about being replaced, but I truly believe that, and I’ve been saying this from the beginning, AI is here and it’s not going anywhere,” Yunger told The Daily Wire. “We have to learn to work together.”
Yunger doesn’t just express that belief. He’s putting his career behind it. Yunger — who’s worked on blockbuster films such as “Expendables,” “Hellboy,” “Hitman’s Bodyguard,” and “Rambo” — co-founded <a href="https://www.arcanalabs.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arcana Labs</a>, a new AI production studio that he believes will help lead the way in revolutionizing the way creative content is made.
Many in Hollywood fear that if AI continues to move at the pace tech whizzes expect it to, it won’t be long before it’s capable of producing any type of creative content without the countless hours of dozens of writers and actors. Yunger has a different perspective on Hollywood’s use of AI, saying that creative content will always need “real actors” and “real storytellers.”
“You go to ChatGPT and ask it to tell a joke, it’s not going to tell you a funny joke,” he said. “If you tell it to write a story that will make you cry, it’s not going to make you cry. You still need human involvement. You still need the human element.”
“So Arcana is geared more towards artist-driven AI rather than AI-driven art,” he added.
Arcana’s capabilities were introduced to the world on February 25, when President Donald Trump posted a satirical <a href="https://www.instagram.com/realdonaldtrump/reel/DGhfpgHsOg6/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> about the remaking of Gaza. The AI-generated video that took social media by storm that day was made by someone who was testing Arcana’s tools, according to Yunger. Now, the company based in Los Angeles has $5.5 million in funding and <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/04/ai-content-platform-arcana-labs-raises-5-5-million-1236369763/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">officially launched</a> its production studio earlier this week with SEMCAP AI and co-CIOs Walter Buckley and Cyrus Vandrevala jumping on board.
“It was around the time I was doing ‘Hellboy’ — I wasn’t using any AI in ‘Hellboy’ — but me and my co-founder Hank Hoffman got hipped to generative AI at the time,” Yunger told The Daily Wire in his first interview since the launch of Arcana AI’s production studio. “And I was like, ‘Wow, it’s amazing.’”
Yunger said that AI’s capabilities to immediately turn words into images were “like the ultimate high” for a producer, but he added that he soon grew frustrated with the new tool because it took “hundreds of generations” to get AI to generate the image he had in his mind.
“This is amazing tech, but how do you incorporate this into a workflow if you’re either making a movie or making a comic book, or whatever it is, and you’re on a deadline?”
Out of this question, Arcana AI was born, and Yunger and his team believe it will help kickstart the “future of filmmaking.” Arcana also offers tools for small businesses, photographers, videographers, and everyone in between. Content creators and companies have already begun extensively using AI to produce everything from short films and memes to marketing campaigns and advertisements. Even Jeremy’s Razors, which shares common ownership with The Daily Wire, released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzMXJct5WQ8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fully AI-generated commercial</a> earlier this year.
As AI continues to grow, a top priority for Arcana is to ensure that creators have a place to develop their skills with AI without fearing censorship. Yunger said that many other AI programs don’t allow creators to make scenes that include violence, blood, horror, or nudity. He argued that since AI is going to play a major role in the future of artistic content, it’s vital to allow artists the freedom to create content without fear of censorship.
“Imagine if they said, &#8216;No more nudity in every single art museum in the world.’ Or imagine if the Renaissance was censored, or imagine if every movie studio said, ‘Okay guys, only PG-13 movies from now on,’” Yunger said. “That is an attack on our liberty.”
Striking a balance between creative liberty and inappropriate content is an age-old question that AI is also facing. One of the biggest concerns is how AI is all-too-often used for sexual predation, such as revenge porn and “deepfake” nudity.
As AI has progressed, so has the ability of bad actors to create realistic images and videos that show the faces of real people who gave no consent for their likeness to be remade through artificial intelligence. The top targets of this unethical use of AI are celebrities, women, and girls, whose faces are attached to pornographic images. Often, the victims are underage girls who learn that one or more of their classmates used a “nudify” program to generate naked photos of them, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/23/opinion/deepfake-sex-videos.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by The New York Times last year.
When asked about the troubling trend of AI being used for revenge porn or other illegal activities, Yunger said that Arcana can both defend free speech and stamp out unethical uses of its studio. Arcana’s security protocols warn users if they type a potentially illegal prompt into the AI generator and identify illegal content and those who create it.
“We have technology deployed that basically stamps every image made on Arcana with the username in an invisible watermark,” he told The Daily Wire. The security system allows Arcana to quickly identify illegal content and track down who is behind it.
Creators on Arcana are free to make what they want, but Yunger added that if something gets sent to the police, “We will find you very, very quickly.”
Excitement and fear around AI will remain as the technology affects more industries, jobs, and people, and Yunger acknowledged that “at the end of the day, things shift,” and those in Hollywood will have to keep up with the changes AI brings just as previous generations adapted to the computer revolutionizing the way people work.
“I don’t think AI will replace people,” Yunger added. “I think people who use AI will replace people who don’t.”

Hollywood Dreads AI’s Takeover, But This Producer Sees An Artist-Driven Future

Artificial Intelligence

Jobs

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made a change to the rules for Oscars voting that shocked fans who can’t believe it hasn&#8217;t been the standard all along.
Several new <a href="https://press.oscars.org/news/awards-rules-and-campaign-promotional-regulations-approved-98th-oscarsr">guidelines</a> were announced Monday, including a rule saying, “Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars.”
“Absolutely insane this wasn’t already a thing,” one X user replied to the update, echoing what so many others were saying. “Were they just voting on vibes before?” another chimed in.
Commenters also wondered if some films in the past may have been overlooked or snubbed because of it.
“This honestly makes me question the integrity of previous Oscar wins,” another reply <a href="https://x.com/sash_jpg/status/1914423182448005584">said</a>. “Imagine if Dune: Part Two didn’t get an award simply because voters couldn’t be bothered to sit through a two-hour film, and the clip they saw felt too boring or confusing without context. There are so many great films that probably lost out this way.”
Others questioned how the new rule would be enforced.
“How will you prove this? I could go to the theater and sleep through every one or play the screeners to an empty couch. It seems this is more wish fulfillment than actual enforceable policy,” one person <a href="https://x.com/deltamagnet/status/1914413354162250034">wrote</a>.
The Academy announced other updates in addition to the new rule for voting, including a rule saying the use of generative AI and digital tools will &#8220;neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.”
This comes amid a huge debate over the use of AI in the movie industry, with actors and directors divided on how and when it should be used. There was controversy about the use of AI in “The Brutalist” this past awards season. The historical drama took home three Academy Awards, including Best Actor.
It was discovered that Adrien Brody’s Hungarian accent was tweaked using AI to adjust vowel and consonant sounds using an editor’s voice. The director justified the move, saying it was a tiny fix that didn’t touch the actual performance.

Oscars

Oscars Mandate Voters Must Watch All Films Before Voting, Sparking Mockery Online

Movies

The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic church who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber announced Monday.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
Francis’ death comes a few months after he contracted bronchitis in February and was hospitalized in Rome, per <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vatican-pneumonia-conclave-a3f2410a612aa93c18fd638d08236ed3">Associated Press</a>. He later contracted double pneumonia and experienced “two episodes of acute respiratory failure,” according to the Vatican.
On March 23, he was released from the hospital after a 38-day stay. Pope Francis made a few public appearances after his release from the hospital, including waving to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
World leaders have posted their messages of condolences, as did several celebrities who shared about Pope Francis’ death on social media.
Vice President J.D. Vance, who just met with Pope Francis on Sunday, shared his thoughts with a post on X.
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance wrote. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful,” he continued. “May God rest his soul.”
“The View” host Whoopi Goldberg showed a photo of herself meeting the Holy Father. “He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and none [sic] believer,” she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIs-eVhuEM3/#">wrote</a> in an Instagram post. “He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances [sic] with your love of humanity &amp; Laughter.”
“Truly anointed,” actress Viola Davis wrote on Instagram.
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“Pope Francisco has died — a man who, at the head of the Catholic Church, showed kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people,” actor Antonio Banderas <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIs82utAh8_/">wrote</a> on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with the Holy Father.
“A beautiful day in Rome, but, a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis,” <a href="https://x.com/russellcrowe/status/1914271755184542106">wrote</a> “Gladiator” star Russell Crowe alongside a photo of Rome.
“A wonderful, wonderful man!” Sylvester Stallone wrote. “Rest in peace holy father!”
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, wrote in Instagram Stories, “No better example of total humility in kindness and compassion. Thank you for leading us with not just your words, but with your unwavering service to humanity.”

Pope Francis and Whoopi Goldberg

Celebrities React To The Death Of Pope Francis: ‘Truly Anointed’

Celebrities React To The Death Of Pope Francis: 'Truly Anointed' 

Death

Pope Francis

World

The cause of death for Michelle Trachtenberg, who died suddenly in February at the age of 39, has been revealed.
The “Gossip Girl” star’s death was ruled as natural and was a result of complications of diabetes mellitus, according to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 
A spokesperson for the medical examiner told <a href="https://people.com/michelle-trachtenberg-official-cause-of-death-revealed-11688954">People</a> that &#8220;the amended determination was made following review of toxicology testing results” and noted that &#8220;toxicology testing can be done without autopsy.&#8221;
Trachtenberg, who was best known for her roles in “Gossip Girl” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” was discovered unresponsive and unconscious in a New York City apartment after her mother placed a call to 911. 
Sources told the outlet that Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant, but that was never confirmed. The “Buffy” star made headlines last year after leaving comments on fan posts saying she looked unhealthy, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” the actress replied to one commenter. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy,” she added in another post. “Check yourself haters.”
The former child star first got her big break when she landed the role of Harriet in the 1996 children’s movie “Harriet the Spy” alongside Rosie O’Donnell, who played her nanny.
Trachtenberg is also known for her work in films such as the 2005 children’s movie “Ice Princess” and the 2009 romantic comedy “17 Again,” which starred Zac Efron and Matthew Perry.
“Harriet the Spy” director Bronwen Hughes shared a tribute to the late actress after news of her death in February. 
“Michelle was like a lightning bolt of a casting discovery. She had fire, she had spark, she had truth, and she had Harriet’s conviction, like her sense of self,” she <a href="https://x.com/THR/status/1894854106566762568">told</a> The Hollywood Reporter. 
“No one else came in the room like that,” she added. “So she had that acting gene that you can’t really teach. It’s innate, which is not something you find very often.”

Michelle Trachtenberg

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s Cause Of Death Revealed

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg's Cause Of Death Revealed

New York City

Legendary game show host and radio personality Wink Martindale passed away on Tuesday, April 15, at the age of 91. He died at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, after a year-long battle with lymphoma, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wink-martindale-dead-d2f333da86b6efb3b99b36bb7a71a7a4">Associated Press</a>. 
Born Winston Conrad Martindale on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee, he began his broadcasting career at 17 as a radio DJ. Wink said he received his nickname from a childhood friend.
&#8220;When I was a kid in Jackson, Tennessee, one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t say ‘Winston,’ which is my given name. He had a speech impediment, and it came out sounding like ‘Winky.&#8217; So Winston turned into Winky, and then I got into the business and Wink it was! It served me well,&#8221; he <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wink-martindale-explains/story?id=27034447">told</a> ABC in 2014.
His early career included a television interview in 1956 with a young Elvis Presley. This was a defining moment as the two celebrities became lifelong friends.
&#8220;Very few people knew that he gave away literally millions and millions of dollars to charitable organizations not only in this country but all over the world,&#8221; Martindale <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/wink-martindale-iconic-game-show-host-dead-91">told</a> Fox News Digital in 2019. 
&#8220;He was a great giver. If he was your friend, he was your friend until the day you died. I mean, he would always be your friend and do anything for you that you needed him to do. He was that kind of a person.&#8221;
Martindale’s wife Sandra said Presley is the reason she and Wink married. She dated The King on and off before he married Priscilla in 1967.  
&#8220;When [Martindale] said [Presley] was from Tennessee, I said, ‘He must be a nice guy,’ because I loved the state. I loved all the guys. I loved everything in the state of Tennessee because Elvis was such a wonderful part of my life,&#8221; Sandra said, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wink-martindale-dead-tic-tac-dough-game-show-host-1236191994/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. 
Martindale&#8217;s television career took off in the 1960s, leading to his role as host of NBC&#8217;s &#8220;What&#8217;s This Song?&#8221; He gained national prominence with game shows like &#8220;Gambit&#8221; and &#8220;Tic-Tac-Dough.&#8221; Martindale hosted more than 20 game shows over the course of his career, including &#8220;High Rollers,&#8221; &#8220;Debt,&#8221; and &#8220;Headline Chasers.&#8221;
Beyond television, Martindale achieved musical success with his 1959 spoken-word hit &#8220;Deck of Cards,&#8221; which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The game show host was also a frequent contributor to charitable causes, including St. Jude Children&#8217;s Hospital.
Martindale is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sandra; his daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura; his sister Geraldine; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Wink Jr. 
His enduring charm and warmth made him a beloved figure in American entertainment.

Wink Martindale

Beloved Game Show Host Wink Martindale Dies at 91

Longtime actress Cate Blanchett, a two-time Academy Award winner, said she’s “serious” about quitting Hollywood.
The 55-year-old Australian-born star made the revelation during an interview with Radio Times in an episode slated to debut in full on Sunday.
“My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it,” the “Black Bag” star said, per U.K.-based outlet <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/cate-blanchett-bbc-radio-elizabeth-i-radio-times-oscars-b1222359.html">The Standard</a>. “I am serious about giving up acting. [There are] a lot of things I want to do with my life.”
The actress also mentioned some aspects of being famous that she doesn’t care for. 
“When you go on a talk show, or even here now, and then you see soundbites of things you’ve said, pulled out and italicized, they sound really loud,” Blanchett said. “I’m not that person.”
“I make more sense in motion,” the actress continued. “It’s been a long time to remotely get comfortable with the idea of being photographed. I’ve always felt like I’m on the periphery of things, so I’m always surprised when I belong anywhere. I go with curiosity into whatever environment that I’m in, not expecting to be accepted or welcomed.”
“I’ve spent a lifetime getting comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable,” Blanchett added.
The Aussie native won Best Supporting Actress for &#8220;The Aviator&#8221; (2004) and Best Actress for &#8220;Blue Jasmine&#8221; (2013). Blanchett gained international fame for her role as Galadriel in &#8220;The Lord of the Rings&#8221; and &#8220;The Hobbit&#8221; trilogies and has starred in a wide range of critically acclaimed films, including &#8220;Elizabeth,&#8221; &#8220;Carol,&#8221; and &#8220;TÁR.&#8221; 
This is not the first time that the actress talked about walking away. “I always thought, if the acting thing didn’t work out, which it still might not, I would love to be a Foley artist,” she <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/09/everything-is-so-fragile-cate-blanchett-on-marriage-metoo-and-the-state-of-the-world">told</a> The Guardian in March. “One day, I’m going to grow up and get a proper job.”
In December, Blanchett fretted over artificial intelligence impacting Hollywood and the world.
The actress said she’s “deeply concerned” about the technology and worried that it’s poised to significantly impact “the average person.”
“I’m looking at these robots and driverless cars … and I don’t really know what that’s bringing anybody,” Blanchett said. “I’m worried about us as a species, it’s a much bigger problem.”
“You can totally replace … any person,” she added. “Forget whether they’re an actor or not, if you’ve recorded yourself … for three or four seconds your voice can be replicated.”
&nbsp;

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett Says She’s ‘Serious’ About Quitting Hollywood: ‘I Mean It’

Actress Cate Blanchett Says She's 'Serious' About Quitting Hollywood: 'I Mean It'

Acting

The stars of one of the next films in Disney&#8217;s Marvel Cinematic Universe — &#8220;The Fantastic Four: First Steps&#8221; — made it clear in a recent interview that their plan is to effectively &#8220;Snow White&#8221; the franchise.
Despite Disney&#8217;s spectacular crash-and-burn with the Rachel Zegler-led live-action &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snow-white-bombs-with-one-of-disneys-lowest-opening-weekends-for-a-remake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snow White</a>&#8221; — which struggled under the weight of Zegler&#8217;s woke commentary and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snow-white-producers-son-destroys-rachel-zegler-amid-films-box-office-struggles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anti-Semitic social media posts</a> in addition to the widely-panned decision to use CGI rather than live <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/total-travesty-dwarfs-to-protest-snow-white-after-cgi-used-instead-of-actors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dwarf actors</a> — the cast of &#8220;First Steps&#8221; appears ready to deliver a similar offering when the film is released in late July.
In a recent interview for <a href="https://ew.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-mcu-plot-character-details-cover-story-11712063?taid=67f7ebcc645bb3000131484d&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+%28Feed%29&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly</a>, Jessica Kirby (who plays Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman) explained how she planned to reinterpret her character despite the fact that the film is set in the 1960s in a parallel world within Marvel&#8217;s multiverse.
&#8220;If you played an exact &#8217;60s Sue today, everyone would think she was a bit of a doormat. So figuring out how to capture the essence of what she represented to each generation, where the gender politics were different, and embody that today, was one of the greatest joys of this,&#8221; Kirby began. &#8220;Matt and I were really aware that there hasn&#8217;t really been a mother with a baby in these superhero archetypes women have been getting. One of the things I love most from Sue&#8217;s history is when she becomes Malice, and all her dark stuff comes out. I was obsessed with that chapter of her life. So I wanted to make sure that there were tones of Malice in there with her, that she wasn&#8217;t just the stereotype of a goody, sweet mother.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve always been really interested in the mess of femininity, and how can you be both? How can you be all the things? Not just the tough, invincible, powerful woman, but also a mother who gives birth, which is itself a superhero act. I love that these characters are real humans in a messy family who argue and try to work it out and get things wrong,&#8221; Kirby continued.
Joseph Quinn took on the role of Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, and he described how cultural changes had led them to move away from previous portrayals that cast Johnny as an immature hothead and a bit of a player.
&#8220;He&#8217;s a man that leads with a lot of bravado, which can be an affront sometimes. But also he&#8217;s funny,&#8221; Quinn explained. &#8220;Myself and [Marvel Studios boss] Kevin [Feige] were speaking about previous iterations of him and where we are culturally. He was branded as this womanizing, devil-may-care guy, but is that sexy these days? I don&#8217;t think so. This version of Johnny is less callous with other people&#8217;s feelings, and hopefully there&#8217;s a self-awareness about what&#8217;s driving that attention-seeking behavior.&#8221;
The foursome — which also includes Pedro Pascal&#8217;s Mr. Fantastic and Ebon Moss-Bacharach&#8217;s Thing — are expected to reprise their roles in 2026&#8217;s &#8220;Avengers: Doomsday.&#8221;

The Cast of Fantastic Four Trailer Launch at the US Space & Rocket Center

‘Fantastic Four’ Stars Are Gearing Up To Pull A ‘Snow White’ On Disney’s MCU

'Fantastic Four' Stars Are Gearing Up To Pull A 'Snow White' On Disney's MCU

Comic Books

Marvel

Politics

Superheroes

Video games pose a very real threat to Hollywood’s box office hopes.
Modern games are more interactive and snazzier than their predecessors, digitally enslaving Gen Z in the process. “Netflix and Chill” doesn’t come close.
Studios surveyed the landscape and said, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Or, in this case, leverage their IPs for serious coin.
“A Minecraft Movie” earned a <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/minecraft-movie-box-office-success-blockbuster-1236361148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whopping $313 million</a> across the globe in its opening weekend, pumping life into 2025’s sad theatrical start.
<div id="attachment_906797" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906797" class="size-large wp-image-906797" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-864x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: (L to R) Sebastian Hansen, Jennifer Coolidge, Jack Black and Jason Momoa attend the World Premiere of &quot;A Minecraft Movie&quot; at Cineworld Leicester Square on March 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207107585.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage</div>
The smash comes on the heels of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, the burgeoning “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise, 2023’s “Super Mario Bros.” animated reboot and 2022’s “Uncharted” with Tom Holland. Let’s not forget 2021’s “Free Guy” with Ryan Reynolds as a lovable NPC (non-player character). The latter wasn’t based on any one video game but sprang from a sensibility gamers understood.
We’ve come a long way from wobbly video game adaptations like “Super Mario Bros.” (1993), “Max Payne” (2008) and “Alone in the Dark” (2005).
What changed? Studios started taking the source material seriously, expending big budgets to recreate the look and feel of the games in question. It helps that CGI advancements make it all possible, visually speaking. The sight of John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins fleeing rubbery dinosaurs in 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.” still makes us wince.
Studios have hired A-listers like Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt to bring video games to stunning life.
They also didn’t make them woke or forget the core audience in question – boys and young men. Disney spent years transforming the “Star Wars” saga into a feminist-friendly franchise with shows like “The Acolyte.”
How did that work out again?
<div id="attachment_906779" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906779" class="size-large wp-image-906779" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1024x576.jpg" alt="Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Sebastian Hansen in ‘A Minecraft Movie’. Photo by Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. IMDB." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-11-Apr-2025-03-17-PM-8107-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. IMDB.</div>
It’s notable that “A Minecraft Movie” features two key female characters and gives them little to do. The film’s creative team checked those Identity Politics boxes but neglected to give the stars any sense of agency.
Still, the film’s cast and crew didn’t leave longtime fans behind. The new video game movies efficiently work elements of the games into the on-screen adventures. Those blocky swords in “A Minecraft Movie” are just one of many familiar sights for hardcore fans.
That, plus a wave of “easter eggs” make gamers feel seen. And they’re telling their friends all about it.
Black’s performance in “Minecraft” shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s like the Energizer Bunny on screen, but with even more energy. He also promoted the film without going full or even the semi-Zegler. He praised the feature as a fun, upbeat adventure that could heal a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jason-momoa-jack-black-minecraft-movie-jennifer-coolidge-1236175713/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fractured nation</a>.
<blockquote>We’ve got to work together, my God. There’s so much violence and war and hatred. And that’s what I love about this movie — there’s a lot of love in it and there’s a lot of creativity. There is some anger and violence too, but in the end it’s about friendship and working together to make [the world] a better place.</blockquote>
Black has been a vocal Obama supporter in the past, even shooting a video to support the Democrat’s Iran policies – which haven’t aged well, to say the least.
He hasn’t been as loud about the political scene in recent years. He even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blindsided-jack-black-axes-tour-after-bandmate-cheers-trump-assassination-attempt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily shelved his Tenacious D band</a> when fellow rocker Kyle Gass wished for President Donald Trump’s assassination on stage.
<div id="attachment_906787" style="width: 859px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906787" class="size-large wp-image-906787" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-849x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 30: Jack Black attends the World Premiere of &quot;A Minecraft Movie&quot; at the Cineworld Leicester Square on March 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)" width="849" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-849x576.jpg 849w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207617384.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px" />Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures</div>
Carrey similarly <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-industry-news-february-23-2021-1945969" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stopped his barrage of hard-Left, anti-GOP paintings</a> in recent years. Meanwhile, Reynolds and Pratt are known for their upbeat, mostly apolitical personas.
Not every recent video game movie snagged “Minecraft”-sized numbers. Last year’s “Borderlands” debacle got ignored by gamers and torched by film critics.
The smart 2023 drama “Grand Turismo” offered a novel way to bring the driving game to the big screen, but audiences didn’t bite in “Minecraft”-sized numbers ($44 million US).
Still, the recent hits have given Hollywood exactly what it needs – young movie goers eager to share their thoughts on social media. “A Minecraft Movie” became a meme sensation in real time, with users producing “Chicken Jockey” gags on TikTok and elsewhere.
If you have to ask, you either never played the game or don’t have children under the age of 16.
Those memes made “Minecraft” an “event,” much like the 2023 “Barbie” movie. Women gathered their friends together to see the film wearing their best, “Barbie”-like outfits.
Now, teens are devouring “Minecraft” movie memes and celebrating them in theaters en masse. That’s exactly what studios love to see, even if some young fans are getting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/teen-boys-trashing-theaters-causing-mayhem-at-a-minecraft-movie-showings?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=Entertainment&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Teen+Boys+Trashing+Theaters%2C+Causing+Mayhem+At+%E2%80%98A+Minecraft+Movie%E2%80%99+Showings">carried away with their exuberance</a>. Those viral clips, ironically, will only build on the film’s popularity.
<div id="attachment_906791" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-906791" class="size-large wp-image-906791" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-864x576.jpg" alt="THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 2117 -- Pictured: (l-r) Actor Jack Black and host Jimmy Fallon during the &quot;Minecraft Claw Machine Challenge&quot; on Monday, March 31, 2025 -- (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207397332.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images</div>
There’s another factor here, one that plugs in seamlessly to the “Minecraft” ethos. Many modern video games offer a canvas for inspired young minds. “Fortnite,” for example, allows gamers to choose from any number of “skins” and weapons. Players can team with friends across the street – or the globe – to create their own adventures.
They’re not just part of the action, they’re making the games up as they go. “Minecraft” might be the ultimate example of that ethos. The pixel-friendly game demands creativity from start to finish.
Movies aren’t interactive, at least for now. Films like “A Minecraft Movie” tap into that sense of self-directed adventure, the kind that makes video game adaptations into blockbuster hits.
The only downside for Hollywood? Studios will learn the wrong lessons from “A Minecraft Movie” and we’ll suffer through a few more “Borderlands” in the coming years.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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‘A Minecraft Movie’ Smashes Box Office … And A Few Theaters

'A Minecraft Movie' Smashes Box Office ... And A Few Theaters

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President Donald Trump made it clear on Thursday that he was unbothered by China&#8217;s threats to exclude American movies as part of the ongoing tariff and trade war between the United States and the communist nation.
Trump brushed the threat aside when a reporter posed the question, following days of back-and-forth retaliatory tariffs on both sides.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;China retaliated today by reducing the number of American films that can be shown there. What&#39;s your reaction to them now targeting cultural exports?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I&#39;ve heard of worse things.&quot; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/zpseCdDXEX">pic.twitter.com/zpseCdDXEX</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1910388089610207360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;China retaliated today by reducing the number of American films that can be shown there. What&#8217;s your reaction to them now targeting cultural exports from the United States?&#8221; one reporter asked.
&#8220;I think I&#8217;ve heard of worse things,&#8221; Trump said with a smile, prompting laughter from around the room.
The China Film Administration announced the new position on Thursday in a statement, saying, &#8220;The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films. We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.&#8221;
Additional <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/1910299585295065566" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> indicate that China could be considering even more drastic actions — with the possible implementation of a total ban on American films — if President Trump does not back down on the imposed tariffs.
The president did announce a 90-day hold on tariffs for a number of other nations amid negotiations for fairer trade policies across the board. China was not included in that 90-day hold — and will be subject to dramatically increased tariffs — because Chinese officials had opted for retaliation rather than negotiation when Trump unveiled his &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariff plan.
&#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; judge Kevin O&#8217;Leary has defended Trump&#8217;s position with regard to China, saying that if anything, Trump was taking it a little too easy on the communist country. O&#8217;Leary argued that Trump should slap a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shark-tank-judge-unloads-on-msnbc-host-over-chinese-tariffs-squeeze-chinese-heads-to-the-wall">400% tariff</a> on Chinese imports — and said that it was long past time that someone forced China to abide by the rules of fair trade.

‘I’ve Heard Of Worse Things’: Trump Unbothered By China’s Plan To Cut Hollywood Access

'I've Heard Of Worse Things': Trump Unbothered By China's Plan To Cut Hollywood Access

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