Daily News 19

Category: Celebs

Entertainment, news, celebrity updates, pop culture, film, music, and television.

  • Hurdle Hints and Answers for September 3, 2026

    Hurdle Hints and Answers for September 3, 2026

    Today’s Hurdle Answers and Hints for September 3, 2026

    If you enjoy daily word games like Wordle, Hurdle makes an excellent addition to your routine. The game features five rounds where you guess words with feedback on correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters. Each correct answer advances you to the next hurdle, using the previous solution as your starting guess for the next round. The final hurdle displays all previous answers with letter highlights, though note: the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does not necessarily indicate its frequency in the final word.

    Hurdle Word 1

    Hint: Jeans.
    Answer: DENIM

    Hurdle Word 2

    Hint: Transparent.
    Answer: CLEAR

    Hurdle Word 3

    Hint: The sound an angry dog makes.
    Answer: GROWL

    Hurdle Word 4

    Hint: Legitimate.
    Answer: LEGAL

    Final Hurdle (Word 5)

    Hint: Cheesy.
    Answer: CORNY

    More Puzzles and Games

    If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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  • Forget Back-to-School: Take Your Kids Back to Hogwarts with LEGO

    Forget Back-to-School: Take Your Kids Back to Hogwarts with LEGO

    LEGO Back to Hogwarts 2026 Event Launches Two New Harry Potter Sets and Exclusive Gifts

    Every autumn, LEGO marks the return of young witches and wizards to Hogwarts with a dedicated shopping celebration. The official LEGO Back to Hogwarts 2026 event runs from August 29 through September 6, offering fans of every house—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin—early access to new sets, limited-time gifts with purchase, and collectible brick merchandise. The event also highlights the LEGO Builder app, a tool that helps builders of all ages develop real-world construction skills through interactive 3D instructions.

    Ministry of Magic Collector’s Edition: A Massive 3,491-Piece Display Set

    The centerpiece of the launch is The Ministry of Magic Collector’s Edition, priced at $449.99 and designed for builders aged 18 and older. This sprawling model spans three distinct levels:

    • A detailed subway station entrance
    • The iconic Hall of Prophecies
    • A public restroom with a functioning flush feature that sends 14 mini-figures down into the Ministry

    Collector-focused details include a golden wizard statue and an exclusive 25th-anniversary Lynx Patronus figure. The set is available now at LEGO.com.

    Mini Hogwarts Castle: Microscale Magic for Ages 10+

    For a more compact but equally enchanting build, the Mini Hogwarts Castle arrives at $39.99 with 700 pieces. Standing just 5.5 inches tall, the model packs significant detail into a small footprint:

    • Microscale Great Hall and Astronomy Tower
    • East Wing that lifts to reveal the Chamber of Secrets
    • Mirror of Erised
    • Harry Potter and Hedwig owl mini-figures mounted on a broomstick for flight display

    Recommended for ages 10 and up, the set is available at LEGO.com.

    Free Gifts and Insider Perks Through September 6

    Access to the new releases and promotional gifts requires a free LEGO Insider membership. Key offers during the event window include:

    • Purchase The Ministry of Magic Collector’s Edition → Receive a metal display of Harry Potter’s phone-booth portal to the Ministry.
    • Redeem Insider points for 25th-anniversary Harry Potter baubles.
    • Spend $40+ on qualifying Harry Potter merchandise → Get the Dumbledore’s Office with Harry Potter set free.
    • Spend $130+ on qualifying Harry Potter merchandise → Receive both the Ministry Munchies and The Daily Prophet Stands sets free.

    All promotions end September 6, 2026, while supplies last.

    Why This Event Matters for Collectors and Families

    The Back to Hogwarts campaign combines high-end collector appeal with accessible entry points for younger builders. The Ministry set targets adult fans with intricate architecture and display-worthy exclusives, while the Mini Castle delivers play-focused features at a family-friendly price. Bundling these releases with tiered gift-with-purchase incentives encourages larger baskets and rewards loyalty program engagement—an established LEGO strategy that drives both sell-through and Insider sign-ups.

    Whether you’re chasing the golden statue, the Lynx Patronus, or simply a weekend build with the kids, the 2026 event delivers more perks than you can wave a wand at—no actual magic required.

  • GTA 6 PS5 vs Xbox: Key Differences to Consider

    GTA 6 PS5 vs Xbox: Key Differences to Consider

    Grand Theft Auto VI: PS5 vs Xbox Series X/S — Which Version Should You Buy?

    Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version is expected later, but if you want to play on day one, you’ll need to choose a console. Here’s what we know so far to help you decide.

    Pre-Order Trends Lean Heavily Toward PlayStation

    After pre-orders opened, IGN reported that PS5 versions were outselling Xbox at an eight-to-one ratio. Microsoft disputed those numbers, but if IGN’s readership reflects the broader market, players are leaning strongly toward Sony’s platform.

    Official Gameplay Footage Comes From PS5

    The only official extended gameplay look — a 26-minute video released on Netflix in late August — was captured on PlayStation 5. Sony has leaned into this in its marketing, stating the game plays best on PS5.

    “Thanks to the close partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment and Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto VI will play best on PS5 by taking advantage of PS5’s immersive features to deliver a deeply engaging single-player experience when it launches on November 19,” a Sony blog post reads.

    Sony hasn’t provided technical details on what “plays best” actually means. Until the game is in hand, we can’t verify any performance advantage.

    Graphical Showcase: Comparable on Series X, Questions on Series S

    Digital Foundry, known for deep technical analysis, called GTA VI the most impressive example of real-time game rendering they’ve seen. The raw power gap between PS5 and Xbox Series X is small, so the Series X version should be comparable based on the Netflix footage.

    One caveat: Digital Foundry expects the game to launch at 30 frames per second on both consoles, with no 60 FPS mode planned — and possibly never arriving. For an open-world crime saga, 30 FPS is widely considered acceptable.

    What About Xbox Series S?

    The Series S ($500) is the most affordable current-gen option, but it’s significantly less powerful than the Series X. Rockstar hasn’t revealed any Series S specifics. It’s reasonable to assume lower resolution and reduced settings, though an unplayable release would be highly unusual for a title of this scale. More technical details will surface before launch.

    Pre-Order Options

    Standard Edition — $79.99

    Ultimate Edition — $99.99

    We’ll update this guide as Rockstar and platform holders share final performance specs, resolution targets, and any platform-exclusive features ahead of the November 19 release.

  • East of Eden Trailer: Florence Pugh Leads Netflix’s Sprawling John Steinbeck Adaptation

    East of Eden Trailer: Florence Pugh Leads Netflix’s Sprawling John Steinbeck Adaptation

    Netflix has unveiled the first full-length trailer for East of Eden, an upcoming limited series adapted from John Steinbeck’s acclaimed novel. The project marks a significant literary adaptation for the streaming platform, with Florence Pugh leading the ensemble cast as Cathy Ames, the novel’s central antagonist.

    A Multigenerational Epic Reimagined

    Written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks, The Big Sick), the series carries a notable cinematic lineage. Kazan’s grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the 1955 film adaptation starring James Dean. However, that movie covered only the final portion of Steinbeck’s sprawling narrative. The new series aims to adapt a broader scope of the multigenerational saga, placing heightened emphasis on Cathy Ames’ storyline.

    Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames

    Described in the novel as pure evil and a monster with a “malformed soul,” Cathy Ames serves as the primary antagonist of East of Eden. The narrative follows Cathy and her husband, Adam Trask (Christopher Abbott), as they settle in California’s Salinas Valley. After giving birth to twin sons, Cal (Joseph Zada) and Aron (Joe Anders), the story unfolds as a sprawling reinterpretation of the Cain and Abel parable from Genesis.

    Pugh’s portrayal is positioned at the center of the trailer, which introduces key figures from each generation. The cast also includes Mike Faist as Charles Trask, Adam’s half-brother, and Hoon Lee as Lee, the Trask family’s devoted servant. The role of Cathy previously earned Jo Van Fleet an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the 1955 film, raising immediate speculation about Pugh’s awards prospects.

    Premiere Date Confirmed

    East of Eden is set to premiere globally on Netflix on October 1.

  • NYT Pips Hints and Answers for September 2, 2026

    NYT Pips Hints and Answers for September 2, 2026

    NYT Pips Hints and Answers for September 2, 2026: Complete Guide

    Welcome to your daily guide for Pips, the newest addition to the New York Times Games catalog. Released in August 2025, Pips reimagines classic dominoes as a compelling single-player logic puzzle perfect for a daily gaming habit. If you find yourself stuck, the in-game hint system currently reveals the entire solution, forcing a restart on the next difficulty tier. Below, we provide progressive, piecemeal hints to help you solve each puzzle without spoiling the full board.

    How to Play Pips: Rules and Mechanics

    If you have played traditional dominoes, the core mechanics of Pips will feel familiar. Tiles are placed vertically or horizontally and connect to adjacent pieces. However, Pips introduces a critical twist: color-coded conditional spaces that dictate the value of the pips (dots) occupying them. Unlike standard dominoes, touching tiles do not necessarily need to match numbers.

    Each colored zone on the grid enforces a specific mathematical rule. It is common for only half of a domino tile to sit inside a conditioned space. Here are the standard condition types you will encounter across all difficulty levels:

    • Number: The sum of all pips within the space must equal the displayed number.
    • Equal: Every domino half in the space must display the identical number of pips.
    • Not Equal: Every domino half in the space must show a different number of pips.
    • Less Than: The sum of pips on every domino half in the space must be lower than the displayed number.
    • Greater Than: The sum of pips on every domino half in the space must exceed the displayed number.

    Note: Areas without color coding have no conditions; tiles placed there are unrestricted.

    Easy Difficulty Hints and Solutions

    Here are the tile placements for the Easy puzzle on September 2, 2026:

    • Number (4) — Red Space: Everything must add up to 4. Answer: 4-4, placed horizontally.
    • Number (4) — Light Blue Space: Everything must add up to 4. Answer: 4-1, placed vertically.
    • Number (4) — Purple Space: Everything must add up to 4. Answer: 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.
    • Number (4) — Orange Space: Everything must add up to 4. Answer: 0-4, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
    • Less Than (4): Everything must be less than 4. Answer: 0-3, placed horizontally.

    Medium Difficulty Hints and Solutions

    Solutions for the Medium puzzle on September 2, 2026:

    • Number (3): Everything must add up to 3. Answer: 0-5, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.
    • Equal (4): Everything must equal 4. Answer: 3-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.
    • Greater Than (4): Everything must be greater than 4. Answer: 4-5, placed horizontally.
    • Greater Than (4): Everything must be greater than 4. Answer: 6-5, placed horizontally.
    • Equal (5): Everything must equal 5. Answer: 0-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.
    • Less Than (2): Everything must be less than 2. Answer: 1-3, placed vertically.
    • Number (9): Everything must add up to 9. Answer: 2-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

    Hard Difficulty Hints and Solutions

    Solutions for the Hard puzzle on September 2, 2026:

    • Number (12): Everything must add up to 12. Answer: 6-5, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.
    • Less Than (3): Everything must be less than 3. Answer: 2-4, placed horizontally.
    • Greater Than (3): Everything must be greater than 3. Answer: 6-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.
    • Greater Than (3): Everything must be greater than 3. Answer: 6-4, placed horizontally.
    • Equal (2): Everything must equal 2. Answer: 2-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.
    • Equal (5): Everything must equal 5. Answer: 5-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.
    • Less Than (3): Everything must be less than 3. Answer: 5-0, placed horizontally.
    • Number (1): Everything must add up to 1. Answer: 1-4, placed horizontally.
    • Equal (4): Everything must equal 4. Answer: 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.
    • Number (12): Everything must add up to 12. Answer: 2-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.
    • Number (8): Everything must add up to 8. Answer: 0-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.
    • Equal (3) — Green Space: Everything must equal 3. Answer: 5-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

    More Daily Puzzles and Games

    Looking for more challenges? Mashable’s games hub offers a variety of free daily puzzles including Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.

  • NYT Connections Hints Today: Clues and Answers for September 2, 2026

    NYT Connections Hints Today: Clues and Answers for September 2, 2026

    NYT Connections Today: Hints, Categories, and Solution for Puzzle #1177

    The New York Times Connections puzzle for today offers a music-friendly challenge. As one of the Times’ most popular daily word games, Connections tasks players with finding the common threads among 16 words. Like Wordle, the puzzle resets after midnight, and each new set grows progressively trickier. Below you’ll find hints, category clues, and the full solution — scroll to the end if you want the answer immediately, or keep reading for strategies to solve it yourself.

    What Is NYT Connections?

    Launched as the Times’ latest daily word game, Connections has quickly become a social-media hit. Associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu is credited with helping create the game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Playable on web browsers and mobile devices, Connections presents 16 words that must be grouped into four categories of four words each. Categories can span anything from book titles and software to country names. Only one correct grouping exists per category, even when multiple words appear to fit together.

    When a player correctly identifies all four words in a set, those words are removed from the board. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake — players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends. The board can be rearranged and shuffled to make spotting connections easier. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). Results can be shared on social media, much like Wordle.

    Today’s Connections Hints — Category Clues Without Spoilers

    If you’d like a nudge without seeing the actual categories, consider these thematic hints:

    • Yellow: To shock
    • Green: What an instrumentalist might carry
    • Blue: Canines
    • Purple: Not canines

    Today’s Connections Categories

    Need a little more help? The puzzle’s four categories are:

    • Yellow: Flabbergast
    • Green: Things in a violin case
    • Blue: ___ dogs (that are dogs)
    • Purple: ___ dogs (that aren’t dogs)

    Today’s Connections Solution — Puzzle #1177

    Warning: This is your last chance to turn back and solve the puzzle before the answers are revealed.

    The solution to Connections #1177 is:

    • Flabbergast: DAZZLE, FLOOR, STUN, WOW
    • Things in a violin case: BOW, MUTE, ROSIN, SHOULDER REST
    • ___ dogs (that are dogs): HUNTING, RESCUE, SAUSAGE, SHEEP
    • ___ dogs (that aren’t dogs): CORN, PRAIRIE, SALTY, TOP

    More Daily Puzzle Help

    Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to today’s Connections for the correct date.

  • NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 2, 2026

    NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 2, 2026

    Today’s NYT Strands puzzle offers a spiritual twist that makes the hints surprisingly accessible. Strands, the New York Times’ elevated word-search game, challenges players to find words formed from linked letters—up, down, left, right, or diagonal—with the added complexity that words can change direction, creating quirky shapes and patterns. Every letter in the grid belongs to an answer, and a unifying theme connects all solutions, including the “spangram”, a special word or phrase that encapsulates the daily theme and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

    How Strands Differs From Wordle and Connections

    By providing only an opaque hint and withholding the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing experience that typically takes longer to solve than its sibling games like Wordle and Connections. If you’re stuck or short on time, the hints below will help you progress at your own pace.

    Today’s Strands Theme and Hint

    Theme hint: All will be revealed

    The solutions describe things that become evident or come to fruition.

    Spangram Direction and Answer

    The spangram for today’s puzzle runs horizontally.

    Spangram answer: Come to Light

    Complete Word List for September 2

    • Emerge
    • Arise
    • Surface
    • Come to Light
    • Materialize
    • Manifest

    Looking for more daily puzzles? Mashable’s Games hub offers additional hints for Strands, along with Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and other online games. If you’re playing on a different day, you can find the corresponding Strands solution on our site.

  • Wordle Answer & Hints for September 2, 2026

    Wordle Answer & Hints for September 2, 2026

    Today’s Wordle answer should be a straightforward solve for anyone feeling power-hungry. If you prefer to skip straight to the solution, scroll to the bottom of this article for the September 2, 2026 Wordle reveal. If you want to work it out yourself, keep reading for clues, tips, and strategies to guide you.

    Play More Games on Mashable

    Looking for a break? Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more are available now in Mashable’s games hub.

    Need Help With Other NYT Puzzles?

    The Origins of Wordle

    Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

    What Is the Best Wordle Starting Word?

    The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer a strategic approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

    What Happened to the Wordle Archive?

    The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

    Is Wordle Getting Harder?

    It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle’s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

    Today’s Wordle Hints

    Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

    An emperor.

    Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

    There are no recurring letters.

    Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

    Today’s Wordle starts with the letter R.

    Today’s Wordle Answer

    Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

    Drumroll please!

    The solution to today’s Wordle is…

    RULER

    Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

    More Puzzle Help

    Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

    About This Article

    Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

    Stay Updated

    Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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  • Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan’s 19-Year-Old Son Jack Towers Over His Mother at the US Open

    Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan’s 19-Year-Old Son Jack Towers Over His Mother at the US Open

    Bridget Moynahan was serving up motherly love at the 2026 US Open, where the Blue Bloods alum was joined by her and ex Tom Brady’s son, Jack. The mother-son appearance drew attention as Jack towered over his mother during their…

    Source: www.eonline.com

  • Paul Mescal ‘dropped from Ridley Scott’s new movie’ after director blamed him for Gladiator II flop

    Paul Mescal ‘dropped from Ridley Scott’s new movie’ after director blamed him for Gladiator II flop

    Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars arrived in cinemas on Friday, 28 August, starring Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley. However, the film was originally expected to feature Paul Mescal in the lead role.

    Mescal’s departure has now been linked to claims that Scott blamed the Irish actor for the alleged underperformance of Gladiator II. Mescal’s representatives deny the reports, while Scott’s team has said they are ‘not true’.

    According to Puck’s Matt Belloni, Scott was unhappy with Mescal’s performance in the much-anticipated 2024 sequel. The director’s representatives have rejected that account.

    Gladiator II, the follow-up to Scott’s acclaimed 2000 epic, was viewed by some as a disappointment compared with the original. The film nevertheless earned $462 million worldwide, despite reports that its budget may have reached between $250 million and more than $300 million. Some critics also praised Mescal’s performance as Lucius.

    Scott’s team have rejected the claims. (Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)

    Why Paul Mescal reportedly left The Dog Stars

    Belloni, via World of Reel, reported that Scott believed Mescal wasn’t ‘masculine enough’ for the lead role in Gladiator II. Mescal then reportedly ‘dropped’ out of The Dog Stars, with Elordi taking over the part.

    At the time, Mescal’s exit from the project was attributed to ‘scheduling conflicts’ with Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles film, in which the actor is playing Paul McCartney.

    Responding to the claims, Scott’s representatives told LADbible they were ‘not true’.

    “Ridley loves Paul and was excited to work with him on Dog Stars after having enjoying such a great collaboration on Gladiator 2.”

    Sadly, Paul’s rehearsal schedule for another film prevented him from ultimately doing Ridley’s film. While he was disappointed to lose Paul, he was thrilled to get the chance to work with Jacob, who was excellent in the role.”

    Belloni reported that The Dog Stars had an $89 million budget but opened to just $7.7 million during its first weekend. The LADbible Group has contacted Mescal’s representatives for comment.

    Jacob Elordi replaced Paul Mescal in The Dog Stars
    Elordi replaced Mescal in the film. (Matt Crossick/Variety via Getty Images)

    The Dog Stars receives mixed reviews

    The film has reportedly become one of Scott’s biggest box-office disappointments, performing poorly with both critics and audiences.

    On Rotten Tomatoes, The Dog Stars currently has a 39 percent Tomatometer score and a 71 percent Popcornmeter audience rating.

    One viewer described the film as ‘mediocre’, while another said they wanted to save others ‘from wasting two hours of their God given time on this film’.

    “Took a great book and made it a pretty stupid zombie apocalypse shoot ‘em up. Really disappointed,”

    A fourth viewer wrote:

    “Slow, not much of a plot. Simple ending. Kept waiting for the movie to take off never really did.”

    Other viewers said they were ‘blown away’ and ‘love everything about it’.

    “I don’t understand the story but I still enjoyed the ride.