Perennially familiar, constantly compelling, and a consistent presence come award season, Tom Wilkinson passed away on Dec. 30, 2023, leaving behind nearly half a century of iconic performances.
The actor’s death has fans looking back on an incredible body of work. Here’s a brief retrospective of some of his most memorable roles.
The Full Monty
Nobody knows what works in show business. On paper, a story about a group of unemployed middle-aged ex-blue collar workers taking their clothes off in public doesn’t seem like a franchise launchpad, but darned if The Full Monty didn’t go on to become a hit musical, a stage play, a television series, and one of the British Film Institute’s best movies of the 20th century.
Playing Gerald, an out-of-work factory foreman with slick dance moves, Wilkinson was recognized with a Best Actor in a Supporting Role BAFTA, in addition to a SAG award for the film’s ensemble cast. Wilkinson even reprised the role in 2023 for the film’s FX/Hulu follow-up miniseries.
Selma
Following in the footsteps of so many great historical dramas, Selma went with a British actor to breathe life into one of America’s presidents. The film put Wilkinson in the part of Lyndon B. Johnson, presenting him as an unsympathetic barrier to Martin Luther King Jr.’s crusade. The history is pretty backward, but the message is clear, and Wilkinson’s performance is, as always, spot on.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
In 2004, Tom Wilkinson played the pioneering doctor behind Lacuna, an NYC medical office specializing in burning the memories out of people’s skulls in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If you don’t remember that Wilkinson was in the film, it’s probably nothing to worry about.
The Kennedys
It’s hard to think of a darker, more complex historical figure from the last century than Joe Kennedy, Sr., patriarch of the Kennedy family and stalwart proponent of surreptitious lobotomies. Those are the shoes that Tom Wilkinson stepped into for The Kennedys, the prestige biopic miniseries chronicling the lives of one of America’s most recognizable families. Wilkinson plays the part with drive and obsession, making the character all the more haunting, elevating the sometimes-stilted dialogue in ways that most actors would struggle to accomplish.
Shakespeare in Love
One speed that Tom Wilkinson could always be counted on to hit hard: The barely-keeping-it-together, angry money man. It’s a part he brought to life in The Ghost in the Darkness, appearing in just a couple of scenes while permanently changing the way people think “I don’t want to hear about this anymore” when their coworkers start talking about their babies.
And he did it again a few years later in Shakespeare in Love, playing theater financier Fennyman. Pushing the business part of art in an unblinking performance that involves more torture than you’d expect, Elizabethan ruffs notwithstanding. For any of the film’s other shortcomings, Fennyman gives audiences a character who really knows how to deal with theater people: By threatening to burn them.
Michael Clayton
It was 2007, and Hollywood was still blindly flailing at the Next Big Thing. One big swing came with Michael Clayton, the aesthetic and dramatic middle ground between Thank You for Smoking and The Bourne Identity.
It wasn’t the biggest hit, and we’re not still enjoying the Michael Clayton Cinematic Universe some 17 years later, but it’s a solid thriller with a lot of tension. In it, Wilkinson plays Arthur Edens, a high-profile attorney in a spiral thanks to a severe, public manic episode. It’s a characteristically powerful performance and one that saw Wilkinson nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Batman Begins
It’s hard to overstate how much Batman Begins changed the way that Hollywood approached superhero movies. Relative to almost everything else that had come out up to that point, it was camp-free, unwinking, and treated its main character – again, comparatively – like a real human being.
Part of that meant pitting him against other real human beings – not monsters or mad scientists, but ambitious men, driven by something closer to pragmatism than mustache-twirling villainy. Wilkinson portrayed Carmine Falcone, an organized crime boss who finds himself on the wrong end of a Batman-induced, spotlight-heavy citizen’s arrest. He’s a creep. He’s intimidating. He also gets gassed by one of those mustache-twirling mad scientists once the movie’s second half kicks off. Progress takes time.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Slowly released around the world from 2011 to 2013, receiving wave after wave of positive reviews and a box office reception beyond anyone’s expectations, and representing the closest thing that audiences will ever experience to an Avengers-style team-up of elderly British actors, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is charming. It’s the story of a group of retired people, all hoping to find a new start by picking up and moving to a badly misrepresented retirement community in India.
Starring alongside Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Dev Patel, Wilkinson plays a former judge, returning to the town where he was raised after being away from the place for decades. Without giving anything away, his story is heartbreaking, and his performance is layered. Like we said, it’s a very sweet film.
John Adams
As the golden age of television pushed forward, HBO found itself in unprecedented territory, suddenly getting away with putting out prestige miniseries on subjects that seemed unfilmable a few years prior. They pushed boundaries. They challenged preconceptions. They dared to ask “How dumb can we make our lead actors’ wigs before it gets distracting?”
And while they wouldn’t find a concrete answer to that question until 2023 with the release of House of the Dragon, they inched closer to it with John Adams, the historical drama documenting the American Revolution and the lives of the founding fathers. It was a difficult task — Hamilton was still a far-off dream, so they had to do the whole thing without rapping. Still, a stellar cast, including Wilkinson as an almost dangerously crotchety Benjamin Franklin, helped to carry the series to over a dozen Emmys, a handful of Golden Globes, and a pair of Screen Actors Guild awards.
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It’s been around 35 years, and fans of the cult classic Road House are in for a treat — its remake is releasing next year.
The rough and tough Dalton, played by Patrick Swayze, turned around an unruly bar as a no-nonsense bouncer in the original. And in its newest iteration, Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal will take the reins as Road House’s main protagonist, Edward Dalton (not to be confused with Swayze’s Dalton).
“An ex-UFC middleweight fighter ends up working at a rowdy bar in the Florida Keys where things are not as they seem,” the remake’s official IMDB bio reads.
Who else makes up the cast of Road House?
Although not much is known about the plot, a scene was filmed in March 2023 during the UFC 285 ceremonial weigh-in in front of a live audience. Gyllenhaal stepped onto the scale for a 185-pound mixed martial arts clash against the division’s champion, Jack Harris, played by fighter-turned-actor Jay Hieron.
Then, during UFC 285 the next day, Gyllenhaal and Hieron “fought” inside the promotion’s Octagon in front of the event’s crowd. The scene ended with Gyllenhaal continually “hitting” an “unconscious” Hieron as the referee attempted to stop him — an illegal act that presumably ended his UFC career and jump-started Road House’s plot.
Gyllenhaal is far and away the biggest-named actor on Road House’s roster, which includes Fast X’s Daniela Melchior, Never Have I Ever’s Darren Barnet, and Into the Woods’ Billy Magnussen.
Another superstar is attached to the film, however. Former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor is making his movie acting debut in Road House. Not much is known about McGregor’s role, but there’s been considerable hype surrounding his involvement in the project. Exclusive on-set photos of McGregor and Gyllenhaal were shared by Fansided’s Amy Kaplan in January 2023.
Doug Liman, who directed Edge of Tomorrow and The Bourne Identity, was tasked to head Road House. Road House’s original producer Joel Silver returned to work on the remake as well.
Three men are credited for its original screenplay, Anthony Bagarozzi, R. Lance Hill, and Chuck Mondry, but the movie is, of course, inspired by its predecessor, which was written by R. Lance Hill (under the pseudonym David Lee Henry) and Hilary Henkin.
When is Road House scheduled to release?
A snippet of Road House’s remake was a part of Prime Video’s “What’s Coming to Prime Video in 2024” teaser, but an official trailer is yet to become available. According to several online reports, Road House will be released on March 21. As an original Prime Video movie, it’ll stream on the platform when it drops — it won’t receive a theatrical release.
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Wonka might be making the headlines right now, but it’s still got a long way to go to become as beloved as the 1971 hit Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the movie was an instant classic, and its reputation only continues to grow. This is especially true of Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka, the magical chocolatier who seemed to both adore and despise children in classic unsettling Dahl style (and who has proved an enduring meme icon).
If you’re rewatching the movie for the holiday season, or if you simply want to know more about this iconic flick, then check out our actors and character guide for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory below!
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka
Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
The Blazing Saddles star showed his range with this excellent performance as the eccentric, mysterious, and quasi-magical chocolatier and factory owner whose bars inspire devotion. After years in reclusion, he hides five golden tickets in his chocolate bars, promising that the recipients of the shimmering pieces of paper will be given the chance to tour his factory. Mischievous and a little unnerving, he’s an iconic character if there ever was one.
Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe
Photo by John Barr/Liaison
Tony, Oscar, and Emmy-winning actor Albertson took on the role of Grandpa Joe, the chocolate-loving, bedridden grandpa of Charlie Bucket who is given a new lease of life once his grandson wins that elusive golden ticket. Although he doesn’t stop Charlie from breaking Wonka’s rules, overall he’s one of the film’s good guys (despite plenty of internet jokes about him faking his frailty until he has the chance to tour a chocolate factory!)
Peter Ostrum as Charlie
Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Playing Charlie was Ostrum’s only role as an actor, but when you start at the top why bother carrying on? He’s now a veterinarian, and for years told people it was his brother who played the iconic role instead of him. Charlie Bucket is a poor kid who loves chocolate, and winds up not only getting a golden ticket but also Wonka’s entire empire as he “wins” the morality game the chocolatier sets up.
Roy Kinnear as Mr. Salt
Photo by Frank Harrison/Fox Photos/Getty Images
An absolute legend of the screen and stage, Kinnear was a huge fan favorite no matter what his role was. He sadly died while on set for the Three Musketeers, but his legacy lives on. In this film, he played the father of Veruca Salt and the owner of a nut factory who put his employees to work trying to find a golden ticket for his spoiled daughter.
This was Cole’s biggest role, and she played it excellently. In the book and film, Veruca Salt is the spoiled daughter of Mr Salt and one of the golden ticket winners, who eventually falls down a garbage chute after being deemed a “bad egg.”
Leonard Stone as Mr. Beauregarde
Image via Paramount
Stone was a well-regarded character actor with over a hundred appearances on the big and small screens. In the film, he played the self-promoting car salesman father of one of the golden ticket winners, Violet.
Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde
Image via Paramount
Nickerson hit her acting peak with this role, but she did manage a decent career afterwards, appearing in soaps and other smaller productions. In the movie, she plays Violet, a gum-chewing child who is turned into a blueberry (a scene that has since become very popular online) after she ignores Wonka’s rules.
Nora “Dodo” Denney as Mrs. Teevee
Image via Paramount
Aside from appearing in Willy Wonka, Denney appeared in a number of other television shows and films. Here, she played the role of Mrs Teevee, the squeamish pushover of a mother who lets her son watch television all day. In the book, both she and her husband escort their son through the factory, but in the 1971 adaptation it’s just her.
Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee
Image via Paramount
Like most of the child actors in the film, this was Themmen’s main role. However, he also later appeared in Star Trek: Voyager, and has been on several celebrity versions of game shows. In the book and film Mike is the angry, overly talkative kid who cannot stop watching television, eventually being turned into a mini version of himself, then stretched out by Oompa-Loompas.
Ursula Reit as Mrs. Gloop
Image via Paramount
Reit mostly worked in Germany, and after she retired seemed to vanish mysteriously. In this film, she plays the mother of the glutinous Augustus Gloop, who enables her greedy son to do as he pleases.
Michael Böllner as Augustus Gloop
Image via Paramount
Michael Böllner wasn’t fluent in English when he landed this role, but since then has grown proficient in the language. He isn’t an actor at the moment, but seems to look back on this experience fondly. He played Augustus Gloop, the greedy, chocolate loving golden ticket winner who is the first to leave the factory after he falls into the chocolate river.
Diana Sowle as Mrs. Bucket
Image via Paramount
Sowle didn’t have many roles after this, but one of her most notable was a voice acting part in Fallout 3. In the film, she plays Charlie’s hardworking mother, who inspires him to look on the bright side of life despite the Bucket family’s poverty.
Aubrey Woods as Bill
Image via Paramount
Woods had a long and successful career on the stage and screen. In this film he portrayed Bill the sweet shop owner, known for singing the song “The Candy Man.”
Günter Meisner as Mr. Slugworth / Mr. Wilkinson (voiced by Walker Edmiston)
Image via Paramount
Meisner was a polygot who appeared in German, French, and English language films, and was known for portraying Hitler in several different productions. Here, he plays the role of Wonka’s rival Mr Slughorn, who tries to convince the ticket winners to bring him Wonka’s latest invention so he can copy it. However, at the end of the film it transpires that he was actually Wonka’s employee, Mr Wilkinson.
Although he could speak English, the character was voiced by a man nmed Walker Edmiston, who remained uncredited until recently.
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What makes a good movie? Jaw-dropping action? A story that leaves you in tears? Stitches from laughing? No matter what you’re into or might be into, there’s a movie for you. The aggregate rating site Rotten Tomatoes knows this, and it has a plethora of different ways to rank all kinds of different films.
There are comedies, war movies, romcoms, heist movies, experimental films and many, many others, but all forms of cinema have a purpose and hold their own meaning. Within that framework, some films rise to the top of their genres and become must-see movies.
Let’s look at what Rotten Tomatoes considers to be the top movies of all time in various genres. This should be fun!
Best Fantasy Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
No surprises here. Few movies ever match the kind of cultural cache that The Wizard of Oz carries with it. This classic “fish out of water” story follows a girl named Dorothy who finds herself in a strange land after her house is transported from Kansas to Oz.
It sits at a healthy 98 percent on the Tomatometer with a consensus that calls it “every bit as resonant” today as it was the day it came out. Also, it has one of the most iconic transitions from black and white to color in all of cinema.
Best Sports Movie: Ford V Ferrari (2019)
Ford V Ferrari is one of the newer movies on the list, but that doesn’t take anything away from it at all. It’s star-studded, for one thing, featuring both Christian Bale and Matt Damon in marquee roles. It sits at a comfortable 92% and is chock full of both “polished auto action” and “gripping human drama.”
In a fun tip to a very different kind of car movie, Stephanie Zacharek from Time said that the movie is “fast but never furious.” Isn’t that what we’re all looking for in a racing movie?
Best Heist Movie: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
There are so many good heist movies. We got Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job, Reservoir Dogs and The Town, just to name a few. However, few movies reach the heights of suspense and action reached by The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
The movie tells the story of four men with codenames that feature colors who hijack the NY train from the Pelham Bay Park station. It is a fast-moving, serious film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. This one sits at 98% on the Tomatometer, which isn’t too shabby at all.
Best War Movie: Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
An animated movie is the best war movie? Don’t worry, it’s a really, really good one. Grave of the Fireflies is a Studio Ghibli meditation on the horrors of war, and it’s told in a way that is hard to forget. It has a 100% rating on the site, which is nothing to sneeze at.
The reviews for this one are like angels singing. It’s described as “profoundly beautiful” and “haunting” in the same sentence, and it’s one of those movies that you won’t soon forget after you see it. It’s also heart-achingly sad, but definitely worth the journey.
Best Action Movie: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
When Mad Max: Fury Road came out in 2015, no one could have predicted that a “sequel” to a 1987 action film would become a genre-defining classic, but here we are. Technically, the movie is a reboot, but director George Miller likes to call it more of a “revisiting” than either of those other terms.
The movie has an impressive 97% rating, especially impressive considering it has more than 430 reviews. People love this movie! While the visuals are top-notch and impressive, what drives the engine is an impressive story with the right amount of stakes and drama.
Best Classic Movie: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Not familiar with this classic? The Philadelphia Story features the biggest stars of its day in Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart – the equivalent of a Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and Timothee Chalamet movie today.
The movie tells the tale of socialite Tracy Lord, who’s about to marry a very newly rich man named George Kittredge. However, her ex-husband and a magazine writer throw a wrench in those plans, and hijinks ensue. it’s a “remarriage” story, a genre popular at the time where divorced couples meet new partners but eventually end up back together.
Best Best Picture Winner: Parasite (2019)
What can we say about Parasite? This dark tale about class and poverty dives down to the deepest depths of humanity, and what people are willing to do when they’re pushed beyond their limits. It’s the first South Korean film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, which at first blush seems odd but once you watch the film it transcends language, despite being dubbed from Korean.
It’s directed by Bong Joon Ho, and it arrived at a time in society when inequality between social classes is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, that seems to always be the case.
Best Western: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1967)
Who doesn’t love a good Western? There’s maybe no better Old West character than the one Clint Eastwood plays in The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. It’s the third film in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy,” following A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.
Many cowboy movie tropes were cemented by this film. Eastwood plays bounty hunter Blondie with equal parts cool indifference and weathered skillful murderous ability. And it has arguably the greatest movie score of all time from Ennio Morricone.
It’s tense, exciting and hefty all at once.
Best High School Movie: The Last Picture Show (1971)
There have been a lot of high school movies over the years, but The Last Picture Show is in a class of its own. From the ’80s onward, the genre veered mostly toward comedy and slapstick, but back in the ’70s it was not such a common sight. It’s more than a teen movie, however. It’s a movie about coming of age during a time of loss. About finding oneself despite the chaos around you.
Out of 115 reviews, the movie sits at a comfortable 98% on the site, buoyed by strong performances from Cybill Shepherd and Jeff Bridges.
Best Sci-Fi Movie: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
What can be said about 2001: A Space Odyssey? It’s the template for which all sci-fi movies are judged since its release in 1968. 1968! Hard to believe it came out so long ago and it still gets brought up in conversation often due to its groundbreaking effects and themes.
It dove deep into questions about humanity, both how ingenious we can be and how that same energy can spell doom. And HAL! We can’t forget about HAL, the ultimate villain. Understandably, this one sits at 92% on the Tomatometer.
Best Summer Blockbuster: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
This decade-defining hit printed money back in the ’80s. It was made during the heyday of Steven Spielberg, who was getting rolling when it came to record-breaking blockbusters. E.T. became a cultural phenomenon and, even though there’s never been a sequel, has firmly lodged itself within pop culture where it continues to be referenced to this day.
it’s also just simply a good movie about friendship and family. A 99% rating on the Tomatometer is hard to argue with, regardless of the circumstances.
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Dragon Ball has had many series and film additions to the franchise over the years, most recently with Dragon Ball Super and the latest film in this universe, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
For long-time fans, movies have always been known as stories told outside the manga’s canon, but with the 2019 release of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, this all changed. Having done one film set in the canon, you may be wondering about the latest Dragon Ball Super film.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the canonical status of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
Is Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero canon?
Image via Crunchyroll
While it would seem that yes, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is canon to the anime, things aren’t so simple.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is a direct follow-up to the events of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which became the first canonical film in the Dragon Ball franchise. This being the case, it would only make sense that Super Hero is also considered canon.
However, things get confusing — during a recent interview with Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero producer Akio Iyoku detailed exactly where the movie fits alongside the manga canon.
In this interview, he explained that the film shows a parallel storyline taking place at the same time as Toyotaro’s manga series. The interview was translated and shared on Twitter.
Between this film and Toyotarou-sensei’s manga, we currently have two lines of Dragon Ball Super running. To begin with, the film is written purely as a sequel to Dragon Ball Super: Broly. We wanted to pick up on and meet the expectations of everyone who’s stuck with Dragon Ball so far, along the lines of, “It’d be neat this happened,” or “I hope this kind of character shows up.”
And in [V-Jump‘s] pages, we have the continuing story of Goku and Vegeta. We’ll see new strong enemies show up, and new stories, and events will continue to progress. Of course Toriyama diligently oversees the storylines for the manga too, so it’s like we have events running in parallel. In terms of timeline placement, we try to not build things in too strictly — we’d like to leave margins in the story, to allow for a greater degree of freedom.
This would seem to indicate a departure from the manga canon, but right now it isn’t entirely clear.
If this is the case, it remains to be seen how the manga and a potential second season of the anime will treat the character progression that has taken place during the film. Once this is addressed, we should have a clearer picture of how the two are connected.
In the meantime, the next Dragon Ball movie is apparently in the developmental stages, with the project potentially set to release sometime in 2024 or 2025.
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The first horror feature of the year is undoubtedly remembered for its pulse-pounding nature that sets us up for a wide calendar of future projects. Last year, Blumhouse’s M3GANkicked things off the right way with an unsettling android as its villain, and it now appears that Night Swim is looking to follow suit.
Blumhouse is apparently looking to recreate its first-horror-flick-of-the-year success from last year with this fresh-faced spooky tale revolving around a supposedly haunted swimming pool. While other famed horror features have specifically focused on common fears such as ghosts, spiders, and clowns, the James Wan-produced vehicle is set to examine our darkest fears whenever we innocently dunk our heads into a pool of water.
So, let’s dive in and explore everything we know so far about Night Swim, which is expected to land in theaters the first week of January.
What is Night Swim about?
As previously mentioned, the 2024 horror, which is based on director Bryce McGuire’s 2014 short film, centers around a family who soon discover their backyard pool is haunted after moving into the new home. With the swimming pool originally supposed to provide comfort and stability for the family, a supernatural presence has other plans in mind and wreaks absolute havoc on the estate.
When will Night Swim be released?
Image via Universal Pictures
Luckily, passionate moviegoers and horror fanatics won’t have to wait long to witness the skin-crawling terror — with Night Swim scheduled to premiere in theaters on Jan. 5, 2024. Seeing as the horror flick is set to be released by Universal Pictures, it should only be a matter of time before the haunted extravaganza ends up on a streaming service in the near future for all to enjoy.
Who’s in the cast of Night Swim?
Image via Universal
Without a doubt, the 2024 horror packs a definite punch with its strong lineup of credible stars. Its leading performers include Kerry Condon and Wyatt Russell, who both earned praise for their performances in The Banshees of Inisherin and Disney Plus’ The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, respectively. On the other side, young stars Amélie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren will play the roles of the children in the main family, while Nancy Lenehan and Jodi Long also feature roles in the terror-stricken film.
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At issue today: The surprisingly complex chronology of the Kung Fu Panda universe.
If you haven’t been carefully following the Jack Black-led animated franchise for the last 15 years, it may shock you to learn that Kung Fu Panda has blossomed into a full-on cinematic universe. It’s hit all the points necessary to keep a cartoon franchise afloat: A kids’ show, a series of video games, the introduction of adorable baby versions of the main character — everything.
And, of course, there are sequels — two direct follow-ups to the first film, with a third on the way, and plenty of side stories to dig into along the way. Looking to experience every feature film and special without accidentally ruining the story? We’re not here to judge, just to inform, and luckily for you, it’s easy to spot where to start.
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
In 2008, animated features starring popular comedic actors seemed like a sure thing. DreamWorks might not have had the second coming of Shrek 2’s box office on their hands with Kung Fu Panda, but they did alright.
The story, featuring a Hollywood Walk of Fame cast led by height-of-fame Jack Black, sees Po, an adopted panda with a love of snacks and a deep desire to learn kung fu, rising as an unlikely hero to work alongside the Furious Five, the protectors of his home. Through the power of persistence and high body fat, he works to save the kingdom, battling the vindictive tiger Tai Lung and enjoying little snacks.
Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)
Sometimes, being a Kung Fu Panda means doing more than just kung fu. Sometimes it means trying to get a party catered through the use of kung fu. That’s Kung Fu Panda Holiday. Also, it’s the holidays, which happens sometimes when Jack Black is around.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Prophecy! The dichotomy of the beauty of fireworks and the inherent danger that their components present! Big, mean dogs! All this and more awaits in Kung Fu Panda 2, the sequel that expanded on the universe of the first film while organically introducing Gary Oldman as an angry peacock.
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Like all great third parts in all great film franchises, Kung Fu Panda 3 sees the apprentices become the masters and also features tons of zombies. When a terrible threat from the other side of mortality returns to the living world, having stolen the chi of the world’s dead masters, it’s up to Po to fix things through kung fu, all while being a panda.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
The next entry in the series, Kung Fu Panda 4 sees Po on the lookout for a new Kung Fu successor, panda or otherwise. Complicating matters: The Chameleon, a fresh new threat to the Valley of Peace – presumably a chameleon, but assuming that as the extent of the danger he will pose would be a mistake. Kung Fu Panda 4 is set to hit theaters on March 8, 2024.
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It’s safe to say Johnny Depp has been a hot topic over the past few years– his love life, his legal battles… his teeth? Yup, his teeth. Those pearly whites (in this case yellows) have come under scrutiny lately, as fans have noticed that they aren’t in the same condition they once were.
An article even showed up in Page Six, with Depp reporting that his teeth haven’t seen a cleaning in years. He reports being proud of his “flawed” teeth and that he would rather “eat a tick” than get veneers. Noted.
Yet a few missed cleanings shouldn’t produce that level of stains and, quite frankly, rot so what’s going on? Let’s just say Depp’s teeth have experienced more than normal wear and tear. Here’s why.
Bad habits
Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage
In many ways, Johnny Depp’s on-screen roles mimic his off-camera life. In 1998 Johnny Depp portrayed Hunter S. Thompson in the film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The movie shows endless drug use and Depp practically smokes non-stop on screen. Such aspects of the film not only serve as biographical for its subject but also for Depp, who has been smoking for decades, saying he started at the age of 12. In addition, he once admitted that he spent about $30,000 a month on wine.
When considering the negative dental effects of smoking, and the high acidity of wine — which can do a number on anyone’s teeth if consumed regularly — then Depp’s dental problems seem to become a little more clear. This would be especially true when drinking wine in “mega-pints” as Depp was prone to do, another fact that came out during Depp’s publicized court trial.
(Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage
Depp also starred in the 2001 film Blow about cocaine smuggler George Jung. It turns out that Depp also had an unfortunate affinity for cocaine. Over the years, his drug use became more prevalent and troublesome. Though it’s unclear when he began this particular habit, he admitted on the stand during the recent Depp-Heard trial that he did cocaine, including a couple of times with Marilyn Manson.
Cocaine can also harm your teeth. According to an article by Banyan Treatment Centers, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, the common effects of cocaine on the teeth include, “enamel erosion, perforation of the palate, periodontitis or retracted gums, dry mouth, cavities, and more.” All of these symptoms seem to show up in Depp’s life and mouth, as he reports having multiple cavities and a half-finished root canal, going on eight years old.
A difficult childhood
Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images
It’s clear that Depp has had his struggles with substances, in fact in a 2005 Rolling Stone interview he said, “I spent years poisoning myself.”
Depp has admitted that shortly after he started smoking cigarettes (at the age of 12), he started drinking alcohol, and drug use wasn’t not too long after. He noted on trial that his drug use was meant to “numb the residual pain from my youth.”
Depp tried to quit his cocaine habit but only succeeded temporarily. His long-time friend, Bruce Witkin, noted that Depp hated cocaine as a teenager so he was surprised to witness Depp taking cocaine decades later. He said about Depp, “It’s deep-rooted issues that he’s dealt with.”
Depp’s decades of substance use seem to have finally caught up with him, or at least to his teeth. While the reason for the wear and tear to his teeth may no longer be a mystery, the reason he’s so opposed to dental work or veneers remains unclear. Although he has made his thoughts on the matter very clear, the reasoning behind it is a secret he is continuing to keep.
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From murder-crazed psychopath Stu Macher to deranged entertainment center owner William Afton, actor Matthew Lillard has delivered an unforgettable lineup of pulse-pounding performances in the horror genre (and, lest we forget, also squared off against the supernatural as Shaggy in 2002’s Scooby-Doo).
Right off the bat, it would seem incredibly silly to not include Lillard in the future Five Nights at Freddy’s sequels — especially when he already hinted that he was signed on for a multi-film tenure with the production house. With the first film releasing back in October, Lillard immediately shined as William Afton and once again perfected a villainous role in a horror feature — so it feels inevitable at this point that he will return for future FNAF flicks.
M3GAN 2.0
Image via Universal
Considering how absolutely wild M3GAN was, it hardly comes as a surprise that Blumhouse quickly pulled the trigger on making a sequel happen. And while Lillard had no part in the first movie, the film’s bizarre mechanics and pulse-pounding narrative would surely be a great fit for him. Seeing as the titular android M3GAN is the main villain, it might be difficult to picture Lillard as a baddie in this sequel, so maybe we’ll see him as a good guy.
The Black Phone 2
Image via Blumhouse Productions
The success of the first movie needs no repeating, and it was only a matter of time until a follow-up feature was confirmed. Despite the ominous Grabber dying in the first movie, perhaps a copycat Grabber could be introduced in the sequel and mapped out to target a new group of unsuspecting kids. Matthew Lillard, that’s your cue. I mean, come on, he’s just so good at playing a villain, so it’s hard to imagine him as anything else — or when it comes to horror movies, at least.
The Exorcist: Deceiver
Image via Universal
If we’re being honest here, the first chapter in the planned Blumhouse trilogy wasn’t exactly a heart-stopping venture great enough to remember. That being said, perhaps the inclusion of Lillard in the rebooted franchise could be the perfect piece that is needed to elevate its popularity and quality. He could be introduced as a baddie trying to resurrect the spirit of Pazuzu, or perhaps a fresh-faced figure that is trying to fight off the deranged demon. The possibilities are endless.
Wolf Man
Image via Blumhouse
One of the most exciting and anticipated Blumhouse projects on the way is Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man reboot. At the time of this writing, Christopher Abbott has already been cast as the horror flick’s leading man, but that certainly doesn’t mean Lillard wouldn’t fit perfectly in the project. The possibilities are practically drawing themselves — including the chance for him to perhaps be some sort of red herring or aide to the frightening Wolf Man. The idea of including the horror veteran just screams cash money.
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It seems as though we cannot scroll on social media these days without Jacob Elordi flooding our feeds. Nonetheless, with his six-foot and five-inch stature, his strong physique, and his all-around good looks, we’re not mad about it whatsoever!
Because of his increased prominence on social media — as well as our television screens, with Priscilla and Saltburn both being released in 2023 — questions have been posed by viewers about the Australian actor, many of which involve his upbringing, his family, his height, and more.
One of these frequently asked questions has to do with his age, leaving fans of The Kissing Booth trilogy, Euphoria, Priscilla, or Saltburn wondering how old Jacob Elordi actually is. Keep scrolling to find out for yourself…
According to quite a bit of internet sleuthing, Jacob Elordi was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on June 26, 1997, making him a Cancer.
Aside from his star sign, Elordi is 26 years old in the year 2023, despite some of his roles portraying him as a high school student, notably Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth trilogy and Nate Jacobs in Euphoria.
Will his acting gigs start to get more and more mature as the soon-to-be superstar grows up? Only time will tell…
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