Daily News 19

Tag: TV and Film

  • Robert Pattinson’s ‘you see how this looks, right’ Primetime Quote: What It Really Means

    Robert Pattinson’s ‘you see how this looks, right’ Primetime Quote: What It Really Means

    Key Highlights

    • Robert Pattinson portrays Chris Hansen in the A24 film Primetime, now in U.S. theaters, with early trailers going viral for his delivery of Hansen’s iconic line: “You see how this looks, right?”
    • Pattinson, considered an outside Oscar contender, tells LADbible he found it fascinating how the serious Dateline segment To Catch a Predator became an internet meme, and anticipated the trailer’s own viral second life.
    • The film holds an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score; Variety praises “extraordinary performances” that make the “uncompromisingly grimy” movie unignorable. U.K. release is set for 31 October.

    Pattinson’s Chris Hansen Portrayal Ignites Viral Buzz Ahead of Primetime Release

    A24’s Primetime has arrived in U.S. cinemas, propelled by a wave of online attention that began months before opening weekend. The catalyst was Robert Pattinson’s uncanny embodiment of Chris Hansen, the former host of NBC’s Dateline: To Catch a Predator. Early trailers spread rapidly across social platforms, zeroing in on Pattinson’s delivery of Hansen’s signature confrontation line: “You see how this looks, right?” The clip turned the actor into an instant meme and placed him in the early conversation as a dark-horse contender for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

    The Irony of a Serious Sting Operation Becoming Internet Comedy

    In an exclusive interview with LADbible, Pattinson dissected the strange trajectory that took a hard-hitting investigative news segment and transformed it into lasting meme fodder. He explained that the script’s central tension—the gap between the show’s grave purpose and its eventual ironic afterlife—was what drew him to the role. “I think that’s one of the things I found interesting about the characters and the story, it’s one of those weird internet things, why has he been co-opted? When you look at the chronology of how people were receiving the show… it was a segment on the news, that’s what it was,” Pattinson said. He described the speed of the shift as jarring: “To be so popular immediately was so strange, but then it was co-opted so quickly by people doing parodies and people normalising it and it being something which people were imitating just immediately.”

    The actor dug deeper into the “alchemy” that made audiences read a predator sting as entertainment. “You’re like ‘Why? What was it about the alchemy of the different elements that made it first of all something where people interpreted the news as sort of like… funny? Because it wasn’t supposed to be funny,” he observed. Pattinson acknowledged the difficulty of predicting internet culture but admitted he sensed the trailer might follow the same path: “But then it had this second life as this internet thing, which in some ways was ironic, it’s so difficult to understand why anything happens on the internet but I kinda thought there was a possibility that that might happen.”

    Chris Hansen Embraces the Meme Legacy

    The subject of the portrayal has publicly welcomed his unexpected digital fame. Chris Hansen has addressed the phenomenon repeatedly, most notably during a 2019 appearance on the H3 podcast. He framed the meme status as a generational bridge: “It’s amazing to me because a whole generation of people who were kids or not even born when we started doing To Catch a Predator now know me through YouTube clips and memes.” Hansen argued that resistance is futile in modern media: “I think it’s great. You have to embrace it—if you take yourself too seriously in this business, you’re done.” He traced his own acceptance to the shift from rigid network formats to audience-driven clips: “At first, back at NBC, everything had to be very rigid news broadcast format. But when I saw the online reaction, I realized people loved the catchphrases and the dramatic moments. So why fight it?”

    Critical Reception and Release Schedule

    Early critical consensus suggests the film transcends its viral marketing hook. Primetime holds an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of publication. Variety highlighted the ensemble’s work as the anchor that prevents the film’s bleak aesthetic from alienating viewers: “This uncompromisingly grimy approach would be actively repellent were it not for the extraordinary performances, which make Primetime a thing you cannot stop watching even as the desire to flee to the nearest shower cubicle grows.” The film is currently playing in U.S. theaters and expands to U.K. cinemas on 31 October.

    Why This Matters

    Primetime arrives at a cultural moment where true-crime media, internet irony, and prestige cinema increasingly overlap. The film uses the To Catch a Predator legacy—once a staple of appointment-viewing broadcast journalism, later a staple of YouTube compilation culture—as a lens to examine how digital platforms strip context from serious events and repurpose them as content. Pattinson’s casting signals A24’s continued strategy of pairing bankable stars with challenging, director-driven material. For awards watchers, his “outside contender” status will be tested by the crowded Best Actor field and the Academy’s historical reluctance to reward horror-adjacent or deeply uncomfortable performances. The U.K. release on 31 October positions the film for Halloween-season horror audiences while keeping it eligible for the 2025 awards cycle.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When and where can I watch Primetime?
    The film is currently in wide release in U.S. cinemas. It opens in U.K. cinemas on 31 October. No streaming date has been announced.
    Is Robert Pattinson actually a front-runner for the Best Actor Oscar?
    Industry outlets currently categorize him as an “outside contender” or dark-horse candidate. The race remains highly competitive and will depend on precursor awards and guild nominations in early 2025.
    How did Chris Hansen react to the film and the memes?
    Hansen has publicly embraced the meme phenomenon, stating on the H3 podcast that it introduces his work to new generations and that fighting the internet’s affection for catchphrases is pointless.
  • William Shatner, 95, Addresses ‘Rumour Mill’ About Captain Kirk ‘Return’ to Star Trek

    William Shatner, 95, Addresses ‘Rumour Mill’ About Captain Kirk ‘Return’ to Star Trek

    Key Highlights

    • William Shatner, 95, has directly addressed persistent rumors about reprising his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise via a statement on X.
    • Executive producer Henry Alonso Myers previously revealed that the creative team behind Star Trek: Strange New Worlds attempted to recruit Shatner for a return appearance every season.
    • Shatner confirmed he would only consider returning if presented with a “meaningful way” to resurrect the character that adds to the “beauty and spirit of Star Trek,” noting no such offer has materialized.

    Shatner Shuts Down Speculation with Definitive Statement on Social Media

    Veteran actor William Shatner has moved to quell months of industry speculation regarding a potential return to the Star Trek universe. On September 26, 2026, the 95-year-old performer took to his verified X account to publish a lengthy, personal statement addressing rumors that he might once again don the gold command tunic of Captain James T. Kirk. The intervention comes on the heels of revelations from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds executive producer Henry Alonso Myers, who confirmed the production team had actively pursued Shatner for a cameo in every season of the Paramount+ series.

    The Legacy of Captain Kirk and the Narrative Hurdle

    Shatner originated the role of Captain Kirk in 1966 when Star Trek: The Original Series premiered, leading a cast that included Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy, James Doohan as Scotty, and Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura. He commanded the USS Enterprise through the original series run and the first six feature films. The character met a definitive on-screen end in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations, where Kirk was killed helping Captain Jean-Luc Picard thwart the villain Soran. This narrative finality has served as the primary obstacle to any return, creating a significant continuity challenge for modern writers.

    Strange New Worlds’ Persistent Pursuit

    Despite the character’s death, the desire to bring the original Captain Kirk back has remained a topic of intense fan interest. Currently, the role of a younger James Kirk is portrayed by Paul Wesley in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a prequel series set years before Kirk assumes command of the Enterprise. According to comments made by Executive Producer Henry Alonso Myers to TrekMovie, the show’s creative team has not been deterred by the timeline or the character’s filmed demise. Myers disclosed that the writers’ room had attempted to devise a scenario to bring Shatner back for each season of the streaming hit, though those efforts evidently failed to produce a concept that satisfied the actor’s criteria.

    Shatner’s Conditions: Meaning Over Nostalgia

    In his public statement, Shatner was unequivocal about his prerequisites for a return, prioritizing narrative integrity over fan service. He wrote:

    “In order to put a stop to the rumour mill before it starts producing even more fiction than Star Trek ever did, let me say this. If someone came up with a meaningful way to bring Captain Kirk back to life, and gave him something genuinely interesting to do that added to the beauty and spirit of Star Trek, I would be delighted to consider it. But that has never come up. I love Star Trek just as much as all of you folks do. Kirk has been an extraordinary part of my life, and I would never want to bring him back simply for the sake of bringing him back. So, until someone comes knocking with an idea worthy of Kirk… I wait. For them. Or for eternity.”

    The statement draws a firm line under the speculation, framing any future return as contingent on creative merit rather than commercial pressure.

    Why This Matters

    The exchange highlights the unique tension in legacy franchise management between honoring established canon and leveraging iconic talent for modern streaming audiences. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been widely praised for its ability to integrate original series elements—such as the appearances of the Gorn and the reintroduction of Christine Chapel and Nyota Uhura—without relying on cheap nostalgia. Shatner’s refusal to return without a “worthy” script underscores a growing trend among legacy actors demanding narrative respect over mere cameo appearances. For Paramount and the franchise’s creative leadership, the door remains technically open, but the bar for entry has been set publicly by the franchise’s most recognizable face.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Did William Shatner officially retire from playing Captain Kirk?

    Shatner has not announced a formal retirement from acting, but he has explicitly stated he will not return as Captain Kirk unless a “meaningful way” to resurrect the character is conceived that adds to the franchise’s legacy. He characterized the current status as waiting “for them. Or for eternity.”

    Why can’t Captain Kirk just appear in Strange New Worlds since it’s a prequel?

    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is set approximately a decade before Kirk takes command of the Enterprise. While a younger version of Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) has appeared, William Shatner’s Kirk is intrinsically tied to the older, experienced Captain seen in The Original Series and the films. Bringing the 95-year-old Shatner back would require a narrative device—such as time travel, the Nexus (seen in Generations), or a quantum anomaly—to justify his aged appearance in a prequel timeline.

    Has Henry Alonso Myers commented on Shatner’s statement?

    As of the publication of Shatner’s post on September 26, 2026, there has been no public response from Executive Producer Henry Alonso Myers or the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds production team regarding the actor’s definitive conditions for a return.

  • Robert Pattinson Hopes for Chris Hansen’s Take on His ‘Primetime’ Portrayal

    Robert Pattinson Hopes for Chris Hansen’s Take on His ‘Primetime’ Portrayal

    Key Highlights

    • Robert Pattinson responds to Chris Hansen’s “hit piece” criticism of A24’s Primetime, expressing hope the To Catch a Predator host will understand the film’s nuanced portrayal after viewing it.
    • Pattinson reveals he drew performance inspiration from the active To Catch a Predator Reddit community rather than consulting Hansen directly, emphasizing the film explores cultural perception over biographical accuracy.
    • Early critical acclaim positions Pattinson for awards contention, with The A.V. Club calling it a “career best” and The Telegraph awarding a perfect five stars, comparing the film to Nightcrawler.

    Pattinson Addresses Hansen’s Criticism Amid Awards Buzz

    Robert Pattinson has broken his silence on Chris Hansen’s scathing pre-release critique of Primetime, the A24 film in which Pattinson portrays the longtime To Catch a Predator host. Hansen, who has not yet seen the completed movie, labeled it a hit piece in a recent interview, claiming a non-disclosure agreement from A24 would have required him to sign his rights away to attend a screening. Studio sources countered that the document was a boiler-plate NDA to avoid spoiling the film. Speaking exclusively to LADbible, Pattinson acknowledged he was kept pretty out the loop regarding Hansen’s public comments but offered a measured defense of the project’s intent.

    Performance Rooted in Cultural Perception, Not Biography

    Pattinson clarified that Primetime does not function as a conventional biopic seeking to dramatize the psychology of a real person. Instead, the actor explained the film operates on a meta-level, examining the public perception of the series and its host. If you look at it, [Primetime is] a very particular tone, Pattinson said. I think when you watch the movie it’s not like you’re watching a guy, a human, you’re trying to do a portrait and you’re heightening some elements, and so hopefully when he watches it, if he watches it, he understands that. The actor reiterated his hope that Hansen would ultimately appreciate the film, adding, I hope when he sees it he’s going to like it.

    Navigating Meme Status and Cultural Relevance

    Pattinson offered a sympathetic reading of Hansen’s complicated relationship with his own legacy. I think he’s someone who’s managed to ride… for doing something where you’re a reporter and I don’t think he’s ever had any intention of becoming the meme figure and to be able to navigate that is complicated in and of itself, and I think he’s done that with grace, Pattinson observed. He noted Hansen’s enduring cultural footprint two decades after the original show’s debut, suggesting the host understands that the different amalgamations of your persona is an organic thing that keeps evolving. Rather than consulting Hansen directly, Pattinson immersed himself in the To Catch a Predator subreddit, which he described as still very active, using the community’s discourse to shape his understanding of how the show and its host are perceived today.

    Co-Star and Critics Signal a Nuanced, Provocative Film

    Skyler Gisondo, who co-stars as Decoy Dan, reinforced the film’s refusal to moralize. I don’t think Lance [Oppenheim, the director] is the kind of filmmaker where he’s telling you what to think in this heavy handed way, Gisondo said. I think it’s just this show happens to be a really interesting inflection point in some way on our culture and a really interesting time capsule to look back at 20 years ago and what the show was doing then. Early reviews validate this approach. The A.V. Club hailed Pattinson’s turn as a career best, while The Telegraph awarded a rare five-star review, writing: Inspired by a 2007 magazine article about the series’ grisly conclusion the previous year, it is the best and nastiest film of its type since 2014’s Nightcrawler: it leaves its audience simultaneously appalled and thrilled, and thereby grubbily complicit. Merrit Weaver’s supporting performance has also drawn significant praise.

    Why This Matters

    Primetime arrives at a cultural moment where the ethics of reality television, predator-sting journalism, and internet vigilantism are under renewed scrutiny. By casting a major movie star as Chris Hansen and filtering the story through the lens of online fandom rather than the subject’s own testimony, director Lance Oppenheim positions the film as a critique of media spectacle itself. The dispute between Hansen and the filmmakers highlights the tension between public figures and the secondary narratives that calcify around them in the digital age. With a limited U.S. release on September 25 and a U.K. debut on October 31, the film’s awards-season trajectory—fueled by Pattinson’s transformative performance and Oppenheim’s rising auteur profile—will test whether audiences and academy voters embrace a project that refuses to settle for easy villainy or vindication.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Has Chris Hansen seen Primetime?
    No. As of the latest reports, Hansen has not viewed the film. He declined a screening invitation citing an NDA he characterized as requiring him to sign his rights away, though A24 sources describe it as a standard confidentiality agreement to prevent spoilers.
    Is Primetime a biopic of Chris Hansen?
    According to Robert Pattinson, the film is not a traditional biopic. It focuses on the cultural perception of To Catch a Predator and its host rather than a psychological portrait of Hansen as a private individual.
    When and where can audiences watch Primetime?
    The film opens in the United States on September 25 and in the United Kingdom on October 31, distributed by A24.
  • Charlie Korsmo, Peter Pan’s Son in ‘Hook,’ Quit Child Acting to Become Lawyer He ‘Hated’

    Charlie Korsmo, Peter Pan’s Son in ‘Hook,’ Quit Child Acting to Become Lawyer He ‘Hated’

    Key Highlights

    • Charlie Korsmo, who played Jack Banning in Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film Hook, left child acting at age 12 to pursue academics and law.
    • Korsmo earned a juris doctorate, passed the bar, and became a corporate lawyer—ironically the same profession as his on-screen father, Peter Pan (Robin Williams).
    • He later quit corporate law to avoid the grueling hours that mirrored his film father’s absentee parenting, becoming a professor of corporate law and finance while occasionally returning to acting.

    From Neverland to the Courtroom: A Child Star’s Unlikely Pivot

    When audiences revisit Steven Spielberg’s 1991 fantasy adventure Hook, the conversation inevitably centers on Robin Williams’ grown-up Peter Pan, Dustin Hoffman’s flamboyant Captain Hook, or Julia Roberts’ tart-tongued Tinker Bell. Yet the film’s emotional core rests on Peter’s neglected children, Jack and Maggie. Jack Banning was portrayed by Charlie Korsmo, a 12-year-old who had already built a remarkable child acting résumé with roles in Dick Tracy (1990) and What About Bob? (1991). Hook would become his final major role for decades, as Korsmo made the rare decision to step away from Hollywood at the height of his early success.

    The Ironic Career Mirror: Life Imitating Art

    The symmetry between Korsmo’s fictional and real-life trajectories is striking. In Hook‘s opening act, Peter Pan has abandoned Neverland to become a high-powered corporate lawyer whose absence poisons his relationship with his son. Years later, Korsmo followed a nearly identical professional path. After quitting acting in 1991, he pursued higher education with intensity, earning multiple degrees including a juris doctorate. He passed the bar examination and entered corporate law—the very vocation that had driven his on-screen father away from his family.

    Korsmo eventually transitioned into academia, becoming a professor of corporate law and corporate finance. Far from disowning his entertainment past, he acknowledges its tangible benefits. Speaking to Chambers Associate about his “big break” in the legal field, he stated: “If I’m honest with myself, getting into the movies – I’m sure it has gotten my resume plucked out of the pile on more than one occasion. Plus, if I hadn’t had the money I made from movies to pay for college, I might have been forced to just go wherever I could get a football scholarship.” In a separate interview with People, he revealed that after wrapping Hook, he realized he had no friends his own age, prompting his desire to return to a normal school environment and leave acting behind.

    Quitting Corporate Law to Avoid Becoming His On-Screen Father

    The decision to leave a lucrative corporate law career came from a place of deliberate self-awareness. In a 2021 conversation with YouTuber Sienna Boccio, Korsmo drew a direct line between his lived experience and the film’s cautionary tale. He recounted: “[Him and his wife] decided to move to New York, I worked as a lawyer for a couple of years. Then, when we wanted to have kids, working as a lawyer at a big law firm is… well, if you’ve seen Hook you know my father in Hook, Robin Williams, is a corporate lawyer. That is an accurate depiction of what a corporate lawyer’s life is. You never see your family, you’re working 3000 hours a year. I really didn’t want to do that.” This realization propelled his move into academia, where he could maintain a legal career without sacrificing the family life his character Jack had craved.

    A Selective Return to the Screen

    Retirement from full-time acting has not been absolute. Korsmo has accepted occasional roles that align with his current life, most recently appearing in a supporting capacity in the 2024 A24 psychological thriller A Different Man, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson. The project marks a thoughtful re-engagement with the craft he left behind as a child, undertaken on his own terms and without the pressures that once drove him away.

    Why This Matters

    Charlie Korsmo’s journey offers a rare counter-narrative to the cautionary tales that often dominate discussions of child stardom. His story illustrates the possibility of agency: a former child actor who recognized the personal cost of a high-pressure profession—whether in Hollywood or a Manhattan law firm—and chose a different definition of success. The irony that his on-screen father’s fictional career foreshadowed his own real-life dilemma adds a layer of cultural resonance, making his eventual pivot to academia a form of narrative correction. For an industry still grappling with the welfare of young performers, Korsmo’s trajectory—child star, Ivy League graduate, corporate attorney, law professor, and intermittent character actor—stands as a testament to the value of education, financial literacy, and the courage to rewrite one’s own script.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What movies did Charlie Korsmo appear in as a child actor?

    Charlie Korsmo’s notable child acting credits include Dick Tracy (1990), What About Bob? (1991), and Hook (1991), in which he played Jack Banning, the son of Robin Williams’ Peter Pan.

    Why did Charlie Korsmo quit acting and become a lawyer?

    After filming Hook, Korsmo realized he had no friends his own age and wanted a normal school experience. He left acting in 1991, earned multiple degrees including a juris doctorate, passed the bar, and practiced corporate law before becoming a law professor.

    Has Charlie Korsmo returned to acting since becoming a professor?

    Yes. While focusing on his academic career, Korsmo has taken occasional acting roles, most recently a supporting part in the 2024 A24 film A Different Man alongside Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson.

  • BBC Forced to Cut ‘Vile’ Victoria Beckham Joke After Major Complaints

    BBC Forced to Cut ‘Vile’ Victoria Beckham Joke After Major Complaints

    Key Highlights

    • The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit upheld viewer complaints against Have I Got News For You over a joke by host Katherine Ryan that equated Victoria Beckham with a “particularly offensive word,” resulting in the segment being edited from the BBC iPlayer broadcast.
    • Producer Jimmy Mulville criticized the month-long investigation as a “waste of money,” revealing that Ryan and Beckham had privately discussed the joke via Instagram DMs and that Ryan considered the slur “reclaimed” in context.
    • Katherine Ryan responded on Instagram, joking that she “forgets celebrities are not her friends” and attributing the incident to “Matrescence,” while insisting the live audience understood it was clearly a joke and that she declared her “love” for Beckham afterward.

    BBC Upholds Complaints Over Katherine Ryan’s Victoria Beckham Joke

    The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has ruled against the long-running panel show Have I Got News For You following a joke made by guest host Katherine Ryan during a November 2023 episode. The controversy centered on a segment referencing a leaked 2013 email allegedly sent by David Beckham, in which the former footballer used a vulgar slur—commonly referred to as the c-word—while venting about the UK Honours Committee’s decision to deny him a knighthood.

    The Joke That Sparked the Investigation

    Following the reading of the email, Ryan addressed the panel with a quip that immediately drew viewer ire. She stated: “I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the c-word, but you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier and we’ll allow that.” Two viewers filed formal complaints with the BBC’s ECU, arguing the remark was “gratuitously offensive.” After a month-long review, the complaints unit determined the joke lacked editorial justification. In its published statement, the ECU said: “there was no justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word.” The unit acknowledged that while BBC guidance does not require programmes to “avoid giving offence,” there must be editorial justification for content that does. They added: “It is never our intention to offend our audience.” Consequently, the joke was excised from the episode available on BBC iPlayer.

    Producer and Comedian Push Back on Ruling

    The decision has drawn sharp criticism from within the production team. Jimmy Mulville, a producer on Have I Got News For You and managing director of Hat Trick Productions, spoke to Deadline, labeling the investigation a “waste of money.” Mulville disclosed that Ryan and Victoria Beckham had communicated directly via Instagram direct messages following the broadcast. According to Mulville, Ryan had placed the joke in its “intended context” and asserted that the slur had been “reclaimed” within that specific comedic framing.

    Ryan Addresses “Matrescence” and Celebrity Boundaries

    Katherine Ryan herself took to Instagram to offer a characteristically sardonic response to the upheld complaint. The comedian joked that the incident served as a reminder that celebrities are “not her friends” and humorously blamed her judgment on “suffering from Matrescence”—a term describing the physical and psychological transition to motherhood. Ryan acknowledged the complexity of the situation, calling it “a tough one for the feminists” and quipping that she “should not have left the house.” She emphasized the difference between the live broadcast and the edited record, noting: “On the day if you watched it, it was clearly a joke.” Ryan also revealed that she had told the studio audience she “loves” Victoria Beckham after the initial shock of the punchline. She concluded that since the edit, the joke “now only lived in print media.”

    Why This Matters

    This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between comedic license and editorial standards within the BBC’s regulatory framework. The ECU serves as the final arbiter for on-air language disputes, and its decision to uphold the complaint—despite the producer’s claim of private resolution between the parties involved—signals a strict interpretation of the requirement for “editorial justification” when broadcasting highly offensive language, even in a satirical context. The case also underscores the unique scrutiny applied to the BBC as a publicly funded broadcaster, where “waste of money” accusations regarding compliance processes carry significant political weight. For the comedy industry, the intervention raises questions about the viability of edgy, context-dependent humor on mainstream terrestrial television when a single joke can trigger a costly, month-long regulatory process resulting in post-broadcast censorship.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What exactly did Katherine Ryan say that prompted the complaints?

    During the November 2023 episode, after a segment featuring an alleged 2013 email from David Beckham using the c-word, Ryan joked to the panelists: “I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the c-word, but you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier and we’ll allow that.”

    Why did the BBC edit the episode on iPlayer?

    The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit upheld two viewer complaints that the joke was “gratuitously offensive.” The ECU ruled there was “no justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word” and that the segment lacked the required editorial justification, leading to its removal from the catch-up service.

    How have Katherine Ryan and the show’s producers responded?

    Producer Jimmy Mulville called the investigation a “waste of money” and stated that Ryan and Victoria Beckham had resolved the matter privately via Instagram DMs, with Ryan explaining the context and stating the word had been “reclaimed.” Ryan posted on Instagram joking about “Matrescence,” noting the live audience knew “it was clearly a joke,” and that she had told them she “loves” Victoria Beckham.

  • Gremlins’ Billy Actor Starred in Controversial 1984 Film Released in 2015

    Gremlins’ Billy Actor Starred in Controversial 1984 Film Released in 2015

    Key Highlights

    • Warner Bros. has officially confirmed a new Gremlins film for theatrical release on October 6, 2028, with original franchise director Chris Columbus returning to write and direct.
    • The announcement arrived via a teaser showing Gizmo peeking from a backpack, posted to Warner Bros.’ social channels on September 23, 2026, following initial confirmation during an investor call in 2025.
    • Original star Zach Galligan, who played Billy Peltzer in both Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), has previously indicated Columbus plans a “darker, more adult” tone akin to a “Batman tone” for the third installment.

    Warner Bros. Unveils Gremlins 3 Release Date with Gizmo Teaser

    Warner Bros. has moved the long-gestating third Gremlins film from development limbo to a firm calendar slot, releasing a brief social-media teaser on September 23, 2026, that confirms a October 6, 2028 theatrical debut. The clip—just a few seconds long—shows the franchise’s iconic mogwai, Gizmo, peering out from an unzipped backpack, accompanied by the on-screen text “10.6.28. Only In Theaters.” The studio had first signaled the project’s existence during an investor call in 2025, but the new footage marks the first public-facing creative asset and a definitive release commitment.

    Chris Columbus Returns to the Franchise He Launched

    The film will be written and directed by Chris Columbus, whose directorial debut was the original 1984 Gremlins (produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment) and who later helmed blockbusters including Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter adaptations. Columbus’s return signals a desire to reconnect with the practical-effects-driven, horror-comedy alchemy that made the original a cultural touchstone. In a 2021 interview with Screenrant, original star Zach Galligan revealed that Columbus’s script “is going to go darker and more of a Batman tone. It’s a lot darker and more adult and gloomier and scarier—just more menacing. Which is a good way to go, because we haven’t done one of those.” Galligan, who reprised his role as Billy Peltzer in the 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch, has not yet been officially confirmed to return, though his comments suggest he has been kept abreast of the creative direction.

    The Curious Case of Nothing Lasts Forever: Galligan’s Lost 1984 Vehicle

    While Gremlins catapulted Galligan to stardom, his other 1984 feature, Nothing Lasts Forever, embarked on a three-decade odyssey before reaching audiences. The film, produced by Lorne Michaels and boasting a cast that included Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and—prior to his sudden death six weeks before shooting—John Belushi, was intended as a major metropolitan satire. Instead, after what Galligan described as a “disastrous” test screening, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shelved the picture, claimed it as a tax write-off, and locked it in a vault. It surfaced only after a 2011 YouTube leak (quickly struck down by copyright claim) and finally received an authorized broadcast premiere on Turner Classic Movies in 2015.

    Reflecting on the experience in a 2008 conversation with Den of Geek, Galligan recalled his high expectations: “Here I am doing a movie with Saturday Night Live people, with Lorne Michaels producing it, and Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and even John Belushi was going to be in it, until he passed away about a month before we were going to start shooting it. So here I am the lead, with all this stuff going on. And then I did the movie, and it turned out very differently. MGM just had no idea how to market it. They were just baffled. So it kind of fell between the cracks, and to be honest, MGM took it as a tax loss, which meant they couldn’t make any kind of profit on it.” The filmmaker added that occasional private screenings occurred over the years, but no commercial release materialized until the 2015 television airing.

    Post-Gremlins Career: Erotic Thrillers and Cult Horror

    In the wake of Nothing Lasts Forever‘s disappearance and the Gremlins franchise’s dormancy, Galligan built a resume heavy on direct-to-video erotic thrillers—including Mortal Passions and Caroline At Midnight—and low-budget horror titles. He has spoken candidly about the sharp tonal pivot, acknowledging the “bizarre” trajectory while maintaining a cult following among genre enthusiasts. The announcement of a Columbus-penned, theatrically released Gremlins 3 therefore represents not only a franchise revival but a potential career inflection point for the actor most closely identified with the property’s human protagonist.

    Why This Matters

    The Gremlins franchise occupies a unique niche in 1980s cinema: a Spielberg-produced, Dante-directed (Joe Dante helmed the first two films) blend of practical creature effects, dark satire, and holiday-season horror that grossed over $153 million domestically on an $11 million budget for the original alone. A third film has been attempted repeatedly—most notably a 2010s reboot effort that stalled—making Columbus’s direct involvement and a locked release date the most concrete progress in decades. The October 2028 slot positions the film as a major autumn tentpole, likely capitalizing on the franchise’s Halloween-adjacent appeal while avoiding the crowded summer corridor. For Warner Bros., the project leverages deep library IP at a time when legacy franchises (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Twisters) have demonstrated strong box-office appetite for nostalgia-driven sequels that retain original creative voices.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will Zach Galligan reprise his role as Billy Peltzer?
    Warner Bros. has not confirmed casting. Galligan told Screenrant in 2021 that he was aware of Columbus’s script direction but no formal offer has been publicly disclosed.
    Is Joe Dante involved in the new film?
    No. The teaser and studio announcement credit Chris Columbus as writer and director. Dante directed the first two films but has not been attached to this iteration.
    What is the significance of the October 6, 2028 release date?
    The date falls on a Friday, the traditional theatrical opening day, and positions the film for the lucrative pre-Halloween corridor—a natural fit for a franchise rooted in creature-feature horror-comedy.
  • Melissa McCarthy Shares Theory on JonBenét Ramsey’s Killer Ahead of Portraying Her Mother

    Melissa McCarthy Shares Theory on JonBenét Ramsey’s Killer Ahead of Portraying Her Mother

    Key Highlights

    • Melissa McCarthy will portray Patsy Ramsey in Netflix’s upcoming limited series “The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey,” alongside Clive Owen as John Ramsey.
    • McCarthy states her personal belief that no family member was responsible for the 1996 killing, based on extensive review of police and coroner reports.
    • The series is described as a character study rather than a whodunit, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the unsolved case that remains an active Boulder Police homicide investigation.

    McCarthy Takes on Dramatic Role in High-Profile Cold Case Adaptation

    Melissa McCarthy, widely recognized for her comedic performances in films such as Bridesmaids, Tammy, and The Heat, is preparing for a significant departure into dramatic territory. The 56-year-old actress has been cast as Patsy Ramsey in Netflix’s forthcoming limited series The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey. Opposite her, Clive Owen will portray John Ramsey. The project revisits one of America’s most enduring true-crime mysteries: the death of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, who was found beaten and bound in the basement of her family home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 26, 1996.

    Actress Shares Personal Theory After Extensive Case Review

    In a recent interview with Variety, McCarthy offered her perspective on the decades-old case after what she described as diligent preparation. “Just my personal feeling. My heart says no one in the family could have done that,” she said. “I don’t have the ability, or probably the right, to say that, but that’s what my gut says. Which I probably am not supposed to say. But shooting [the new show], I had to pick. I had to have that for myself, if nothing else.”

    McCarthy explained that her conclusion followed a thorough review of primary source documents. “I had to pick. I had to have that for myself, if nothing else.” She added that the drama series is not structured as a traditional whodunit but rather as a ‘character study’ into those involved. “This might sound nuts: I’m very fond of Patsy,” she continued. “I have so much compassion for them, what they went through, and go through currently.”

    Case Background and Continuing Investigation

    The autopsy determined that JonBenét died of asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma, and the case was ruled a homicide. A ransom note demanding $118,000 was discovered near her body, initially suggesting a kidnapping gone wrong. Despite a high-profile police investigation, the killer has never been identified. Patsy Ramsey passed away in 2006 after a battle with ovarian cancer. John Ramsey, who was not involved in the Netflix production, has since remarried Jan Rousseaux and resides in Michigan.

    John Ramsey has continued to advocate for further investigation. Speaking to PEOPLE in 2024, he detailed his own theory involving a masked intruder who broke into the home of a 12-year-old girl in Boulder nine months after JonBenét’s murder. He believes this intruder, who was never caught, could “easily have been the same person” who killed his daughter. “The police blew it off as, ‘No, it’s not the same,’” he added. This year marks the 30th anniversary of JonBenét’s death, and the Boulder Police Department maintains that the homicide investigation remains active and ongoing.

    Why This Matters

    The JonBenét Ramsey case has remained a focal point of public fascination and media scrutiny for three decades, spawning numerous documentaries, books, and theories. Netflix’s decision to produce a scripted limited series starring major Hollywood talent signals a continued cultural appetite for re-examining cold cases through a narrative lens. By framing the project as a character study centered on the parents—rather than a procedural attempt to solve the crime—the series may shift the conversation toward the human toll of unresolved violence and media sensationalism. With the Boulder Police still classifying the case as an active homicide investigation, any renewed public attention could theoretically generate new leads or pressure for advanced forensic testing of existing evidence.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey be released on Netflix?

    Netflix has not yet announced a specific release date for the limited series.

    Is John Ramsey involved in the production?

    According to the source material, John Ramsey was not involved in the new Netflix show.

    Has anyone ever been charged in connection with JonBenét Ramsey’s death?

    No one has ever been charged. The case remains an active homicide investigation by the Boulder Police Department.

  • Police Say 11 Sheep ‘Stolen’ from Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm Were Never Actually Stolen

    Police Say 11 Sheep ‘Stolen’ from Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm Were Never Actually Stolen

    Key Highlights

    • Thames Valley Police confirmed no sheep were stolen from Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, attributing the incident to an accidental miscount.
    • Clarkson initially reported 11 Easycare sheep missing during a count with farm manager Kaleb Cooper, valuing the flock at approximately £2,000.
    • The clarification comes weeks after Clarkson won Best Reality Docuseries at the National Television Awards for Clarkson’s Farm.

    Police Investigation Concludes Sheep Were Never Stolen

    Thames Valley Police have officially closed the investigation into the reported theft of sheep from Jeremy Clarkson’s Oxfordshire farm, confirming that the animals were never stolen. The force issued a statement to the Oxford Mail declaring that “Following enquiries into a reported sheep theft near Chadlington, reported on 2 September, it has been confirmed that no sheep were stolen.” According to the spokesperson, “An accidental miscount was behind the report, and all sheep have now been accounted for.”

    The development resolves a weeks-long saga that began when Clarkson, 66, noticed 11 of his Easycare sheep were missing during a routine headcount conducted alongside his employee and Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper. The former Top Gear host immediately contacted law enforcement, launching a police investigation that garnered significant media attention given the farm’s prominence from the hit Amazon Prime Video series.

    Clarkson’s Initial Account and Public Warnings

    Speaking to The Sun shortly after the reported disappearance, Clarkson detailed his experience reporting the crime. He described the police response positively, stating, “The police have been very good, actually.” He recounted the process of reaching an operator: “Once you go through 700 hours of recorded messages, I got through to a girl.” Clarkson recalled the exchange: “I said, ‘I know it’s going to sound like I’m from 1856, but I’ve had some sheep stolen’.” He continued, “She went through the name and address and then she said, ‘oh, not your Easycares’. She’s obviously been watching the show, but it is the Easycares.”

    At the time, Clarkson valued the missing sheep at around £2,000 at market and expressed concern that additional animals from his flock might also be unaccounted for. He also issued a stark warning to potential thieves: “It’s a farm. We’re armed. Just so they know.” Police had initially confirmed an investigation was underway into the theft of a “number of sheep.”

    National Television Awards Win Amid Controversy

    The resolution arrives on the heels of a professional milestone for Clarkson. Earlier this month, Clarkson’s Farm secured the award for Best Reality Docuseries at the National Television Awards, beating nominees including At Home With The Furys, Fletchers’ Family Farm, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, and Stacey & Joe. Clarkson accepted the award from the new hosts of his former show The Grand Tour—Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland.

    During his acceptance speech, Clarkson remarked, “Crikey. Some lovely programmes in that category.” He added a personal anecdote: “I’ve just discovered Paris Fury is from Doncaster like I am.” He concluded, “I don’t want to drone on forever, on behalf of everyone who makes this amazing show, thank you.”

    Backstage Comments Contradict Police Findings

    Despite the police conclusion, Clarkson maintained his belief that a theft had occurred while speaking backstage at the awards ceremony. He insisted, “There’s none on the farm, and there’s no blood and guts there, so somebody stole them and they will have butchered them by now. They’re sheep; they were going to be eaten anyway, let’s be honest.” He reiterated the financial loss: “Apart from anything else, they’re £205 each for a sheep, so that’s £2,000 of sheep that were stolen.”

    LADbible has reached out to Jeremy Clarkson for comment.

    Why This Matters

    The incident highlights the intense public scrutiny surrounding Clarkson’s Farm and its star, where even routine farm management issues become national news. The series, which documents Clarkson’s steep learning curve in agriculture at Diddly Squat Farm near Chadlington, has transformed the property into a tourist destination and cultural touchstone. The police’s definitive statement—that a simple miscount sparked the alarm—underscores the challenges of livestock management on a working farm, especially one operating under the watch of television cameras and a massive global audience. With the show renewed for future seasons, the farm’s operations will likely remain a blend of genuine agricultural enterprise and high-profile entertainment content.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Were any sheep actually stolen from Diddly Squat Farm?
    No. Thames Valley Police confirmed that no sheep were stolen and that an accidental miscount led to the initial report. All sheep have been accounted for.
    How many sheep did Jeremy Clarkson initially report missing?
    Clarkson reported 11 Easycare sheep missing during a count conducted with farm manager Kaleb Cooper.
    What was the estimated value of the supposedly missing sheep?
    Clarkson stated the sheep were worth approximately £2,000 at market, citing a value of roughly £205 per animal.
  • Monsters Star Ella Beatty Shares Advice from Famous Hollywood Parents

    Monsters Star Ella Beatty Shares Advice from Famous Hollywood Parents

    Key Highlights

    • Ella Beatty, 26, leads the cast of Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth season of the anthology series, which premiered September 17.
    • Co-star Sarah Paulson revealed she assessed Beatty entirely on merit, unaware initially that her parents are Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
    • Beatty credits her parents’ core acting advice — “get interested rather than be interesting” and prioritize listening — as foundational to her craft.

    Ella Beatty Steps Into the Spotlight With Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

    Netflix debuted the eight-episode fourth installment of its Monster anthology, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, on Thursday, September 17, placing 26-year-old Ella Beatty at the center of the macabre historical drama. The Los Angeles-born actress portrays Lizzie Borden, the figure at the heart of the infamous 1892 axe murders, marking her most prominent leading role to date. Beatty arrives at this breakthrough moment with a pedigree that reads like a Hollywood hall of fame: her father is Warren Beatty, 89, the Oscar-winning writer, director, and star of classics including Bonnie and Clyde, Reds, and Dick Tracy; her mother is Annette Bening, 68, a four-time Oscar nominee celebrated for American Beauty, Being Julia, and the recent Nyad; and her aunt is Shirley MacLaine, an Academy Award winner for Terms of Endearment. Yet Beatty’s resume already stands on its own, featuring a turn in Ryan Murphy’s Hulu series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and a role in the A24 film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

    Co-Star Sarah Paulson: ‘I Was Assessing You Entirely on Your Own Merit’

    During a joint interview with Interview Magazine last year, American Horror Story veteran Sarah Paulson — who appears alongside Beatty in the new season — disclosed she had “no idea” of Beatty’s lineage while they worked together. Paulson’s candid assessment underscores the younger actress’s ability to hold the screen independent of her surname. “My interest in you, my estimation of you as a performer, had nothing to do with that,” Paulson told Beatty. “Your father was a great movie star, but in terms of the current knowledge that some young people have today, your name might not be synonymous immediately with one of the most important actors and directors to ever walk the planet… I didn’t know you came from these formidable performers and I was assessing you entirely on your own merit.”

    Juilliard Training and a Lifetime of ‘Playing Pretend’

    Beatty traces her acting impulse to childhood, describing how she “contextualised the world” around her by “playing pretend.” She delayed professional work until after graduating from Juilliard, the prestigious performing arts conservatory. “I didn’t work professionally at all until I graduated from acting school, but I knew that that was who I was before I knew it was going to be my profession,” the former Juilliard student said. That disciplined foundation, combined with an upbringing steeped in cinematic craft, has shaped an approach she characterizes as curious and observant rather than self-centered.

    Parental Wisdom: ‘Get Interested Rather Than Be Interesting’

    Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, who met on the set of the 1991 crime drama Bugsy and share four children, offered their youngest daughter concise, practical guidance as she launched her career. Speaking to E! News, Beatty revealed the core lesson: “As an actor in a scene — always being more curious about what the other person is doing. Get interested rather than be interesting, but also to listen and observe and watch more generally. You never want to be the smartest person in the room. Just really listening is what I learned most from them.” She describes both parents as “incredible artists” and calls her mother her “favourite actress in the world, hero and best friend.”

    Why This Matters: Legacy, Merit, and the ‘Nepo Baby’ Conversation

    Beatty’s emergence coincides with an industry-wide scrutiny of nepotism, a dialogue she addressed directly in a 2024 Vogue interview. “I totally acknowledge that there is an inherent privilege and exposure that comes from having well-known actors as parents,” she said. “And I really hope that I can offer something meaningful.” Her casting as the first female lead in the Monster franchise — which previously centered on male figures such as Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers — adds a fresh dimension to the anthology’s exploration of notoriety. “Even by nature of her being the first female monster, I felt the difference there,” Beatty noted. “I was so excited by that opportunity to interrogate that theme.” For Netflix, the series represents a continued bet on high-profile true-crime storytelling; for Beatty, it is a test of whether early critical goodwill translates into lasting leading-lady status.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premiere on Netflix?

    The eight-episode season premiered on Thursday, September 17.

    What previous projects has Ella Beatty appeared in?

    She starred in the Hulu series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and the A24 film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You before landing the lead in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

    What acting advice did Warren Beatty and Annette Bening give their daughter?

    They emphasized listening and observation on set: “Get interested rather than be interesting… You never want to be the smartest person in the room. Just really listening is what I learned most from them.”

  • Vicky Krieps Plays Dual Roles in ‘Monsters: The Lizzie Borden Story’ as Characters Share Scenes

    Vicky Krieps Plays Dual Roles in ‘Monsters: The Lizzie Borden Story’ as Characters Share Scenes

    Key Highlights

    • Vicky Krieps portrays dual roles in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — primary character Bridget ‘Maggie’ Sullivan and historical figure Countess Elizabeth Báthory in fantasy flashback sequences.
    • The fourth instalment of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix anthology premiered on 19 September 2024, dramatizing the unsolved 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts.
    • Historical consultant Dr. Annouchka Bayley challenges the ‘Blood Countess’ legend, suggesting Báthory may have been the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt rather than a serial killer.

    Vicky Krieps Anchors Dual Roles in Latest Monster Anthology

    Luxembourg-born actress Vicky Krieps commands significant screen time in the fourth season of Netflix’s Monster anthology, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, which debuted on 19 September 2024. The 42-year-old performer takes on a demanding dual assignment: her primary role as Bridget ‘Maggie’ Sullivan, the Bordens’ housekeeper, and a secondary portrayal of Countess Elizabeth Báthory — the infamous “Blood Countess” — in stylized fantasy flashback sequences filmed in Italy. The casting decision for Báthory came late in production, with co-creator Ian Brennan revealing to Tudum that the role remained unfilled until Ryan Murphy proposed Krieps. “That was all shot in Italy, so we knew that that would be at the end of the schedule anyway, and we just couldn’t think of who would do it or who seemed right,” Brennan explained. “It was Ryan’s idea. He pitched it to her and she loved it. Now it seems like such an obvious choice, but it actually came very late in the process.”

    A Catalyst for Chaos in the Borden Household

    As Bridget Sullivan, Krieps embodies what Brennan describes as a disruptive force within the repressed Borden family dynamic. “She’s like a foreign object that gets introduced to this ecosystem, and completely turns it on its head,” he told TV Insider. The character introduces Lizzie Borden (played by Ella Beatty) to literature, hair dye, sex toys, and the concept of revenge — elements that destabilize the rigid household headed by Andrew Borden (Charlie Hunnam) and his wife Abby (Rebecca Hall). “I think Lizzie’s just completely perplexed [by Bridget] at first. She becomes, very quickly, an object of deep fascination and then desire,” Brennan added. Beatty characterized her collaboration with Krieps as the “most incredible partner in crime,” a description that resonates given the series’ murder-centric narrative.

    Ryan Murphy’s Vision: A Feminist, Unapologetic Reimagining

    Krieps offered insight into Murphy’s creative direction for Bridget during an interview with Vanity Fair. “The way Ryan thought of it, she’s almost like a Mary Poppins that comes out of nowhere, who can be anyone from any time. Ryan said, ‘It’s women-driven, feminist, lesbian, dirty, unapologetic’.” This framing positions the series as a deliberate subversion of traditional true-crime storytelling, centering female agency and desire within a historical case that has long been sensationalized through a patriarchal lens. The Borden murders — Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death with an axe in August 1892 — resulted in Lizzie’s acquittal, though she lived under suspicion until her death in 1927 at age 66.

    The Blood Countess: Historical Horror as Narrative Mirror

    The Báthory flashbacks serve as a thematic counterpoint to Lizzie’s story. In the series, Maggie recounts the legend of the Hungarian noblewoman who allegedly bathed in the blood of virgins to preserve her youth. “She was completely restored,” Maggie tells Lizzie. “Because…blood is life.” Historical records accuse Elizabeth Báthory of torturing and killing hundreds of young women between 1590 and 1610 alongside four servants; she was imprisoned in Csejte Castle until her death in 1614, while her alleged accomplices were executed. The show depicts her bathing first in milk, then escalating to blood to achieve “pure white skin like a child.” Folklore links Báthory to the evil queen in Snow White, and the series draws explicit parallels: both women were accused of heinous crimes, neither was convicted, and both became cultural bogeymen.

    Why This Matters: Revisiting History Through a Revisionist Lens

    Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story continues Ryan Murphy’s anthology strategy of re-examining notorious criminal cases through contemporary social frameworks. By casting Krieps in dual roles — one grounded in historical documentation (Sullivan was a real witness at Lizzie’s trial), the other in mythologized history (Báthory) — the series interrogates how female violence is narrated, remembered, and often distorted. The inclusion of Dr. Annouchka Bayley’s scholarly challenge to the Báthory legend underscores a broader editorial intent: to question whether history’s most “monstrous” women were perpetrators or convenient targets for patriarchal suppression. Bayley, a Cambridge associate professor, told the BBC in 2024 after years of research: “I mean, who has the time in one lifetime to, one by one, kill 650 young women? I mean she would have been a busy girl.” She further argued that Báthory — “the first female self-publisher that we have on record” — was likely silenced because her literacy and independence threatened power structures: “And that’s arguably why she needed not only to be shut up, but erased from the history books and, where not erased, turned into a bogeyman. Lock up your daughters — because Báthory is going to come and drain them of their blood to keep her looking young.” This revisionist perspective aligns with the series’ feminist framing and invites viewers to apply similar skepticism to the Lizzie Borden narrative.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What two characters does Vicky Krieps play in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story?

    Krieps portrays Bridget ‘Maggie’ Sullivan, the Bordens’ housekeeper and a central figure in the main narrative, and Countess Elizabeth Báthory, the Hungarian “Blood Countess,” who appears in fantasy flashback sequences filmed in Italy.

    When did Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premiere on Netflix?

    The fourth season of the Monster anthology premiered on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

    Is the Countess Elizabeth Báthory storyline historically accurate?

    The series dramatizes the legendary account of Báthory bathing in blood to preserve her youth. However, historian Dr. Annouchka Bayley has argued that Báthory may have been the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt, noting her status as an early female publisher and suggesting the 650-victim claim is logistically implausible. The show presents the legend as a story within the story, told by Maggie to Lizzie, rather than as established fact.