Burchett appeared with Benny Johnson, the same conservative activist and podcaster whose interview with FCC chair Brendan Carr included a veiled threat toward ABC mere hours before Disney briefly pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air.

Speaking with Burchett, Johnson brought up “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” the animated fantasy/horror comedy series based on the graphic novel “DeadEndia,” which premiered on Netflix in 2022. The main character is Barney Guttman, a transgender teen.

A clip from the show in which Barney declares transgender identity recently went viral, and was reposted by Elon Musk, who urged his followers to cancel Netflix.

“Would you be in favor of the Netflix leadership being asked to testify for this?,” Johnson asked Burchett.

“Here’s what I want to do on this one because the First Amendment and all that is involved in it,” Burchett said. “I’m gonna follow up with my folks, after we get off. I’m gonna call them and say ‘Which committee can they be brought in front of – I think we have to look at, who regulates the FCC, and since it’s cable [sic: streaming] does that count, I don’t know.”

Since the clip went viral, the show’s creator, Hamish Steele, has reportedly received homophobic and antisemitic messages. Netflix did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment.

“They need to be brought in,” Burchett said. “We need to find out what their agenda is, and why they’re pushing this stuff. Because from what I understand, that little cartoon is the No. 1-rated cartoon on their show.”

Burchett noted that “I know some gay folks” and suggested they are unhappy with how transgender rights are being “lumped in” with LGBT community activism. The congressman said “Dead End: Paranormal Park” goes beyond inclusive representation.

“That right there is recruiting,” he said. “That is grooming. That is the worst of the worst, because they’re taking young minds, and they know they can do that.”

The post GOP Rep Threatens to Bring Netflix Execs Before Congress Over ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park’ Trans Character | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued. I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that — to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia.” she told the Hollywood Reporter.

“I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event. At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government,” Kirson added.

The festival, which runs from September 26 to October 9, also features performances from Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Pete Davidson.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka previously shared that she turned down an invitation from festival organizers and shared a portion of the event’s contract online that read: “ARTIST shall not prepare or perform any material that may be considered to degrade, defame or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule: A) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including its leadership, public figures, culture or people; B) The Saudi royal family, legal system, or government, and; C) Any religion, religious tradition, religious figure or religious practice.”

Kirson’s full statement is below:

“On Sept. 29, I performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. This decision has weighed heavily on my heart ever since. I like to express my sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights.”

“I want to share the context for my decision — not as an excuse, but because the people who have trusted me deserve to hear from me. As an artist, my mission has always been to help people feel less alone. As an openly gay person, when I was asked to perform in Riyadh, I was surprised. I requested a guarantee that I could be openly out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material. I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued. I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that — to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia. I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event. At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government.”

“I have donated the entirety of what I was paid to perform there to a human rights organization. I made this decision because I want that money to go to an organization that can help combat these severe issues.”

“I respect my fellow comics who have spoken out against the festival, and we should all be able to share our perspectives. I recognize the concerns and criticism this has raised. I hope that this moment sparks dialogue about how we can use our platforms for good — to support people without a voice and to find ways to be less divided. In the past, I’ve faced criticism for choices I’ve made, both on and off stage, and I rarely responded. This time, I felt I needed to speak up. I could not remain silent.”

“Most importantly, I am deeply sorry to all the fans and followers I have hurt or disappointed. I have a special relationship with my fans because of the vulnerable nature of my comedy and the trust they place in me as part of the queer community. To my fans: I see you. I hear you. Your voice matters to me. I love you all, and I am genuinely sorry for making a poor decision that had repercussions I didn’t fully consider. I will take full responsibility for my actions and dedicate myself to making amends, so that my words and choices reflect the respect and care you deserve.”

The post Gay Comedian Jessica Kirson Apologizes for Saudi Arabia Festival Appearance: ‘I Deeply Regret Participating’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Crunchyroll kicked off the season with mystical and magical series like “A Gatherer’s Adventure in Isekai” and a romantic comedy from OLM called “Let’s Play.” As October creeps in two of Crunchyroll’s heavy-hitters enter the chat, including final season of “My Hero Academia” and Season 3 of “Spy x Family,” which land on the platform on Oct. 4.

The season closes as Season 5 of “The Daily Life of the Immortal King,” plus new episodes of “Gachiakuta,” “One Piece” and “Case Closed (Detective Conan)” carry on from the summer.

Here’s the full list of everything heading to Crunchyroll this fall.

Available Sept. 27

• “A Wild Last Boss Appeared!”

Available Sept. 28

• “The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess”

Available Sept. 29

• “A Gatherer’s Adventure in Isekai”

Available Sept. 30

• “Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days”

Available Oct. 1

• “Let’s Play”
• “Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits-2”

Available Oct. 2

• “This Monster Wants to Eat Me”
• “Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!”
• “My Awkward Senapai”

Available Oct. 3

• “May I Ask for One Final Thing?”
• “Shabake”

Available Oct. 4

• “My Hero Academia” (Final Season)
• “Spy x Family” Season 3
• “To Your Eternity” Season 3
• “Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider”
• “SI-VIS: The Sound of Heroes”
• “Digimon Beatbreak”
• “Kingdom” Season 6
• “Inexpressive Kashiwada and Expressive Oota”
• “Touring After the Apocalypse”
• “Let This Grieving Soul Retire” Part 2
• “My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me!”
• “Tales of Wedding Rings” Season 2
• “The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest”

Available Oct. 5

• “Alma-chan Wants to Be a Family!”
• “Dad is a hero, Mom is a spirit, I’m a reincarnator”
• “Mechanical Marie”
• “Hands off: Sawaranaide Kotesashi-kun”

Available Oct. 6

• “My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s”
• “Plus-sized Misadventures in Love!”
• “GINTAMA – Mr.Ginpachi’s Zany Class”
• “A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace”

Available Oct. 7

• “Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill” Season 2
• “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle”

Available Oct. 8

• “The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess”

Available Oct. 11

• “Gnosia”

Available Oct. 12

• “Li’l Miss Vampire Can’t Suck Right”

Available Oct. 13

• “Isekai Quartet3”

Available Oct. 14

• “With You, Our Love Will Make It Through”

Available Oct. 30

• “So You’re Raising a Warrior”

Available Dec. 13

• “The Daily Life of the Immortal King” Season 5

The post What’s New on Crunchyroll This Fall 2025 appeared first on TheWrap.

This time around, Aries and Gemini sun placements dominate the contestants, and their ages range from 27 to 41. The singles all work in a variety of fields, including the medical industry, sales, real estate and more.

Some of them have been single for quite some time, a couple are world travelers, and many aren’t tolerating anyone who can’t bring positive vibes, hard work, and good fun to the relationship.

Check out the full cast below.

Anton

Anton, who grew up in Russia, comes ready to lock in love with a woman who is kind and truthful. But he admits his one bad habit is vaping.

Age: 29

Job: Transportation/logistics

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Blake

While he’s a jokester, Blake doesn’t play about finding love. He’s a proud homeowner and dog dad.

Age: 34

Job: Accountant

Zodiac sign: Aries

Brenden

When Brenden, who is described by his family as being a kind and compassionate person, enters the pods with hopes of finding the woman who can be his best friend.

Age: 32

Job: Finance manager

Zodiac sign: Leo

Chase

Chase is a 5 a.m. riser who likes his days to go just as he’s planned them. He loves to travel, as he spent eight months journeying through Southeast Asia. He wants his lady to be a traveler as well.

Age: 29

Job: Water treatment consultant

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Dayo

Dayo, who originally hails from the U.K., is a man who loves positive vibes and energy only. Though his friends say he’s a bit picky when it comes to women, the European lad is ready to settle down with the one.

Age: 30

Job: IT advisor

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Dylan

Dylan is a lover of the hit NBC show “The Office,” and he has hopes that his lady will have a love for comedy as well. He wants to be the Jim to someone’s Pam.

Age: 32

Job: Financial analyst

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Edmond

Edmond admits that he can be a bit obnoxious, but he says it’s mostly when he’s out having a good time. He wants a compassionate, friendly woman who won’t make him give up his rollerblading habit.

Age: 29

Job: Realtor

Zodiac sign: Libra

Jensen

Jensen is looking for a partner who loves to see new places just as much as he does. He’s optimistic and sees life from a more positive aspect, and would like his partner to be the same.

Age: 29

Job: Data analyst

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Joe

Joe wants an intimate connection with someone in the pods — one as deep as his relationship with God. And he’d like them to be OK with his habit of whistling around the house.

Age: 29

Job: Sales

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Jordan

When it comes to responsibility, Jordan knows all about it as a single father of a 4-year-old, and that’s why patience is very important to him. Outside of that, he’d really like his partner to believe in great hygiene.

Age: 30

Job: Service manager

Zodiac sign: Libra

Logan

Logan comes from a small town, and he’s big on family. He loves when a person can take accountability for their actions and his true love has to want children one day.

Age: 35

Job: Account executive

Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Michael

Michael loves spending time breaking his latest record playing basketball at Dave & Buster’s. He’d love his lady to have a “boss” mindset as well as a beautiful soul.

Age: 41

Job: Medical sales

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Mike

Mike thinks of himself as a jack-of-all-trades who loves trying new things. He loves to travel and would like his partner to be self-sufficient with a “growth mindset.”

Age: 38

Job: Real estate investor

Zodiac sign: Pisces

Nick

Nick loves to travel and wants a woman he can book a trip with at a moment’s notice. While he’s been afraid to take things to the next level in relationships, he’s willing to go the extra mile this time around.

Age: 28

Job: Luxury watch dealer

Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Patrick

Patrick is cool, calm and collected, and he adores down-to-earth conversations. He hasn’t found his perfect match, but that could all change in the pods.

Age: 31

Job: Construction manager

Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Rohan

Rohan is a man of many languages who is looking for a woman he can travel the world with. He is family-oriented and needs his partner to be as well.

Age: 27

Job: Private equity

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Ali

She has high standards and doesn’t want a man to waste her time on immature behavior. Right now, she’s pursuing another degree and needs her man to understand her passion for knowledge and growth.

Age: 29

Job: Nurse

Zodiac sign: Aries

Anastasia

Anastasia loves good, authentic conversation, and her listening skills come in handy in her career as a nurse. When she’s not in a hospital, she’s grooving on the dance floor.

Age: 29

Job: Nurse

Zodiac sign: Taurus

Anna

Anna advocates for everyone to take up therapy if they can because she prioritizes emotional maturity in a mate. She doesn’t tolerate anyone who is disrespectful, especially to their parents. Her loved ones describe her as fun and easygoing.

Age: 28

Job: Hairstylist

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Annie

Annie is a business owner who is most attracted to a hard-working man who supports all her goals and ambitions. She comes from two parents who have a loving marriage, so that’s her golden standard for a relationship.

Age: 31

Job: Hair salon owner

Zodiac sign: Aries

Ashley

Ashley has been single for quite some time, and she’s ready to enter the pods in hopes of finding the one for her. She likes a man with a boss mentality who can also help her relax.

Age: 35

Job: Director of Compliance

Zodiac sign: Aries

Aza

Aza is a concert-lover and she’s looking for a partner who loves music as much as she does. She’s described as a happy and positive person, and she wants her man to be the same.

Age: 32

Job: Events manager

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Chyna

Chyna loves being silly and cracking jokes, but she’s taking her relationship journey very seriously. She has a strong faith and isn’t settling until she finds the perfect person for her.

Age: 39

Job: Marketing manager

Zodiac sign: Leo

Hilary

Hilary is a true sporto, but that isn’t a requirement for her when dating, though he must love her dog Eeyore.

Age: 39

Job: Medical device sales

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Kacie

Kacie is a jokester who wants a sarcastic fella on her side. She loves to laugh, but she cries just as hard, and wants her man to understand her varying emotions.

Age: 34

Job: Hair and makeup artist

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Kait

Kair is miss independent, miss self-sufficient and her man has to understand that. She doesn’t want to waste her time on meaningless interactions, as she’s ready to lock down and find her husband.

Age: 33

Job: Registered dietician

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Kalybriah

Kalybriah is a big talker, so her man will have to be a good listener. She’s open to fixing her own flaws because she understands no one is perfect.

Age: 29

Job: Social worker

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Kaylen

Kaylen loves life, humans and animals. She maintains positive energy, and she loves passing that on in her relationships.

Age: 29

Job: Account executive

Zodiac sign: Pisces

Madison

In the past year, Madison has gone on 40 first dates, but she’s not giving up hope on finding love. She has an open heart and open mind that any man would love.

Age: 28

Job: UX/UI designer

Zodiac sign: Leo

Megan H.

Megan H. is very self-sufficient and appears to be a video gamer, as she boasts a Zelda tattoo. Aside from fictional characters, she loves her family and friends because they hold her down when her world is chaotic.

Age: 36

Job: Property manager

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Megan W.

Megan considers herself to be a perfectionist, and that quality has helped pave her way to the successful life she lives today. She’s looking for a financially and emotionally stable partner.

Age: 35

Job: Entrepreneur

Zodiac sign: Aries

Shelby

Shelby is a “boss lady” who is still waiting on the man who makes her feel like she’s warm in her home. She’d also prefer a respectful partner who knows how to properly pursue a woman.

Age: 35

Job: Realtor

Zodiac sign: Scorpio.

The post ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 9 Cast Guide | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

The firm, which used weekly survey data from Morning Consult to analyze sentiment and brand awareness, found a sharp decline in Disney sentiment among both Democrats and Republicans in the last two weeks, with Democrats showing a larger drop than Republicans. For Democrats, the latest week marked the lowest sentiment for Disney in the last two years. For Republicans, it’s the lowest level since March.

“This is clearly a PR hit for Disney,” Jeffries analyst James Heaney wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. “But the data implies a smaller impact on Disney+ than the brand as a whole, which may limit the amount of streaming churn.”

The saga began on Sept. 17 when Disney pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from ABC’s airwaves after Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting preempted the late night show indefinitely on their local affiliate stations over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin.

The move drew a wave of criticism and the Jefferies data highlights the continued fallout from Disney’s handling of the Kimmel situation. Democrats viewed the move as Disney capitulating to the Trump administration and an attack on free speech. Republicans slammed Kimmel’s comments as insensitive in the wake of Kirk’s murder.

Though Disney has not publicly confirmed how many streaming subscribers it lost from the Kimmel situation, independent journalist Marisa Kabas has reported that the total cancelations could be more than 1.7 million across Disney+, Hulu and ESPN between Sept. 17 and 23.

A Disney spokesperson did not return TheWrap’s repeated requests for comment on Kabas’ post.

Looking at a longer term stretch of two years, both Democrats and Republicans previously held an overall favorable view of Disney, with the former having a more consistently positive sentiment and the latter starting lower two years ago and only recently moving up in the last few months. That makes the drop last month much more dramatic.

As for Disney+, the last two weeks were similarly the lowest sentiment for Democrats, but there was a wider divergence between Democrats and Republicans in the latest week, with the former moving more sharply down, while the latter were closer to flat week over week.

Meanwhile, when looking at brand awareness, the last two weeks marked the highest awareness for Disney as a whole in the last two years, evenly split among both political parties. For Disney+, the spike in awareness was much smaller than usual and the lift came more from Republicans than Democrats.

The move would trigger protests from writers and union members, calls to cancel Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ subscriptions and an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union signed by over 400 artists condemning the suspension.

Disney shareholders Reporters Without Borders Inc. and the American Federation of Teachers have also requested all available documents and communications surrounding Kimmel’s suspension, alleging the abrupt decision led to “significant declines” in the company’s stock. They argue there’s a “credible basis” to suspect Disney “may have breached their fiduciary duties of loyalty, care and good faith by placing improper political or affiliate considerations above the best interests” of the company and its stockholders.

Disney later explained it pulled Kimmel to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” adding that some of his comments were “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” Disney reversed its decision after the immense backlash and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned on Sept. 23.

The same day as Kimmel’s return, Disney said that it would be hiking prices on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ subscriptions starting Oct. 21, which Heaney said could be another contributing factor to declining sentiment.

In its third quarter of 2025, Disney reported a total of 183.3 million subscribers across Disney+ and Hulu. When including ESPN+, the total subscriber count across the three services was 207.4 million. The company will report earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter on Nov. 10.

Prior to the Kimmel situation, Disney said it expected to add over 10 million subscribers this quarter, with the majority coming from Hulu as a result of its expanded deal with Charter Communications. Disney+ subscribers were expected to see a modest increase from the third quarter.

Heaney previously estimated that Disney will add 3.25 million Disney+ subscribers and 6.5 million Hulu subscribers in its fourth quarter, but acknowledged there “may be slight downside to those numbers from these recent events.” Similarly, Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich expects “little impact” in the quarter related to churn from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” but said there may be a “modest impact” in the first quarter of 2026.

Shares of Disney are down nearly 4% in the past month, but are up 27% in the past six months, 2% year to date and 20.9% in the past year.

The post Kimmel Fallout: Disney Sentiment Plunges Among Democrats and Republicans Alike | Charts appeared first on TheWrap.

Here are the eight best new movies and shows you can stream this weekend.

“The Toxic Avenger” (2025)

One of the most distinct, striking superhero films of the past few years, writer-director Macon Blair’s “The Toxic Avenger,” has finally arrived on digital this week. A reboot of the “Toxic Avenger” franchise, the film follows an outcast janitor (Peter Dinklage) who is transformed into a super-powered mutant and chooses to take on the crime-fighting mantle of the Toxic Avenger.

Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast headlined by Dinklage, Taylour Paige, Elijah Wood and Kevin Bacon, Blair’s “The Toxic Avenger” is a tongue-in-cheek, blackly comic riff on the superhero genre that is practically overflowing with gratuitous, over-the-top violence. It is, in other words, an acquired taste. But those who are interested in seeing a wild new spin on a traditional superhero film should consider buying or renting it this weekend.

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” (2025)

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” the third and final film in its franchise’s movie trilogy, hit theaters in the U.S. in mid-September. Less than a month later, it is available to buy and stream on demand now. If you are a fan of the “Downton Abbey” films and original show and you have not had a chance to check out “The Grand Finale” yet, then you might want to do so this weekend. Set pointedly in 1930, the film follows the Crawleys as they find themselves facing the threats of not only social decline but also an uncertain, new future. 

All of the old, familiar faces are back, including Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter and Michelle Dockery, as are recent “Downton Abbey” franchise additions like Dominic West and Paul Giamatti. Directed by Simon Curtis and written, as always, by Julian Fellowes, “The Grand Finale” has all the charming, comedic and comforting pleasures that “Downton Abbey” fans have come to expect from the franchise and its characters.

“Chad Powers” Season 1 (Hulu)

It’s been a long time coming, but “Chad Powers” is finally here. The first two episodes of the new series premiered Tuesday on Hulu. Its remaining installments are set to follow suit one at a time every week through Tuesday, Oct. 28. Created by Glen Powell and “Loki” Season 1 head writer Michael Waldron, “Chad Powers” follows a disgraced, former star quarterback who seizes upon an opportunity to restore his reputation and his once-promising football career by putting on prosthetics and a wig and auditioning to join the roster of a floundering college team.

Pulling equal inspiration from comedies like “Mrs. Doubtfire” and sports movie classics like “Cinderella Man,” “Chad Powers” may be too ridiculous for some. But those who can get on the same absurd wavelength as it have a delightful treat in store for them. Like all of Powell’s projects, it has an infectiously, almost blindingly charismatic lead performance at the center it of it as well.

“Play Dirty” (Prime Video)

Shane Black is uniquely adept at making movies that feel like hard-boiled, paperback crime novels come to life onscreen. That is what makes “Play Dirty,” and his return to the crime genre nine years after 2016’s “The Nice Guys,” so exciting. Based on the “Parker” book series by Donald E. Westlake, the film follows a ruthless thief (Mark Wahlberg) who happens upon, with the help of his crew of fellow thieves and criminals, the heist of a lifetime. 

Black has spent his entire career pulling off crime movies like “Play Dirty” with more style and wit than most of his contemporaries. His new film is, thankfully, more of the same. In some cases, that would be a bad thing to say about a filmmaker’s latest work, but that is not so here, especially given how many years viewers have been repeatedly forced to wait between Black’s projects. “Play Dirty” is streaming now on Prime Video.

“The Lost Bus” (Apple TV+)

A few weeks after it received a limited theatrical release, “The Lost Bus” is set to arrive on Apple TV+ on Friday. Directed by “The Bourne Supremacy” filmmaker Paul Greengrass, the film follows a bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) who is forced to drive his bus, the schoolchildren onboard and their teacher to safety in the middle of the infamous 2018 California Camp Fire. Greengrass wrote the film’s script with “Task” and “Mare of Easttown” creator Brad Ingelsby, and you can tell.

The film is a white-knuckled thriller that never loses touch of the deeply human story at the center of it. Time and time again, Greengrass has proven himself to be a master of turning real-life nightmares into riveting and rousing cinematic stories (see: “Captain Phillips,” “United 93”), and he appears to have done so once again with “The Lost Bus.” In case that was not reason enough to check it out, the thriller also features McConaughey’s first onscreen film performance in six years.

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (Netflix)

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” which has the potential to be one of this fall’s biggest shows, premieres this Friday on Netflix. The third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s “Monster” anthology series explores the life and many horrifying crimes of real-life serial killer Ed Gein (“Sons of Anarchy” star Charlie Hunnam). As the season’s trailer notes, Gein and his crimes inspired a number of iconic horror movies, most notably “Psycho,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “The Silence of the Lambs.”

“Monster” promises to pay homage to that fact by featuring actor Tom Hollander as “Psycho” filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, as well as actress Olivia Williams as Hitchcock’s wife, screenwriter and editor Alma Reville. The extreme nature of Gein’s crimes, which “Monster” does not seem interested in shying away from, may make its new season too gruesome for some viewers. For others, it is certainly positioned to be, at the very least, this year’s most startling true-crime drama.

All of its episodes are slated to premiere on Friday.

“Steve” (Netflix)

“Steve,” the second film collaboration between director Tim Mielants and star Cillian Murphy, is a grounded drama that is flying a bit under the radar this week. Based on Max Porter’s “Shy,” the film is set in the mid-’90s. It follows a pivotal day in the life of a headteacher (Murphy) at a last-chance reform school. Over the course of the film, Murphy’s Steve tries to fight for his school in the face of its impending closure, all while dealing with his own struggles and witnessing first-hand the plights of the students he is assigned to oversee. 

Narratively understated and yet rippling with visual invention, “Steve” is a stirring film about the importance of connection, sanctuary and understanding in a world that offers people very little room to make mistakes, let alone receive forgiveness for them. If you want something a little more lowkey than “The Lost Bus” and some of this week’s other streaming premieres, then “Steve” may be where you want to look.

“V/H/S/HALLOWEEN” (Shudder)

October is finally here, which means Spooky Movie Season has arrived. There is practically no better way to kick off one’s October horror watchlist, either, than by checking out Shudder’s annual addition to its “V/H/S” anthology franchise. This year’s entry is “V/H/S/Halloween.”

A five-part horror anthology film, “V/H/S/Halloween” features short movies directed by Bryan Ferguson, Anna Zlokovic, Casper Kelly and Alex Ross Perry. Maintaining the franchise’s VHS-inspired found footage format, the new film’s stories revolve around everything from a corporate taste trial gone terribly wrong to a video store containing tape recordings intended to help law enforcement identify missing children. It all sounds very weird and very “V/H/S.” It premieres Friday on Shudder.

The post The 8 Best New Movies and Shows to Stream This Weekend on Netflix, Hulu and More appeared first on TheWrap.

“NCIS: Tony & Ziva” finally got its titular star-crossed lovers together for a steamy hookup. And while fans will be celebrating the intimate reunion in Episode 7, there’s one person who is not interested in seeing them get back together: Their daughter Tali (Isla Gie)

The episode, titled “Dark Mirror,” followed as Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) returned to Paris to learn more about the people framing them in an international conspiracy. That involved hiding out in Ziva’s therapist’s apartment. He was inconveniently out of town, but his partner, played by “Ted Lasso” star James Lance, filled in as their sounding board while they learned more about Jonah (Julian Ovenden) and Martine (Nassima Benchicou).

As they sought shelter in the therapist’s home, the former special agents had a chance to take their guard down and be vulnerable with each other, leading to their first hookup in years — one that “NCIS” fans have been waiting to happen for more than a decade.

“It was very organic … and I’m not just talking about the sensuality of it,” de Pablo told TheWrap. “I’m talking about the intimacy of it, the vulnerability. That’s the most important thing. You could always have a sex scene, but if it’s not really anchored in something that is intimate and real, then there’s no payoff.”

But Tony and Ziva’s reunion means plenty of payoff for fans of the couple who spent more than decade on the flagship “NCIS” series caught in a will-they-won’t-they dynamic that continues to haunt fans years after both de Pablo and Weatherly left the show.

Bringing closure to the loyal audience around the world was the whole point of bringing the characters back for the 10-episode Paramount+ spinoff series. The streaming format also allowed the actors and EPs to elevate the action beyond what they had ever done on the CBS drama series, while keeping the lighthearted humor and grounded relationships at the center of the story.

“I came into the show like, ‘I don’t know, am I too old for this? Am I going to be able to meet expectations?’” Weatherly told TheWrap. “That went out the window so fast because the collaboration and the whole team came together for an awesome ride.”

But Episode 7 featured Tali’s hesitation at seeing her parents getting closer during their European mission. As she told her parents following their hookup, she didn’t even think they liked each other due to the fact they had barely spoken for years — a mystery that has slowly unfolded via flashbacks throughout the series and involves both Tony and Ziva’s unresolved issues.

“That’s obviously a hurdle, but I’m not sure they’re ready to give up on each other,” de Pablo said, adding that their current predicament of being framed for a cross-country espionage crime is also a big obstacle in their path to reconciliation. “For years, the universe has kept putting them back together in these impossible situations. They keep working through them and getting stronger.”

With three episodes left, the duo teased the action only gets more intense as we reach the season’s conclusion — especially with the cliffhanger that Ziva plants a seed of doubt in Martine’s mind about whether her partnership with Jonah is as strong as she believes. Stay turned for more nostalgic and surprising moments to come!

“The show is a love letter to the fans,” de Pablo said. “They waited a long time to get their characters back and get some sort of conclusion to this story, and we were not anticipating this much love. That obviously is the great part of the journey.”

“NCIS: Tony & Ziva” releases new episodes Thursday on Paramount+.

The post ‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’ Stars Break Down That Episode 7 Hookup and the ‘Hurdle’ of Tali’s Reaction appeared first on TheWrap.

With a 125,000 square foot production space producing five hours of scripted content weekly, Mann and his team operate at an incredibly high frequency. His studio employs over 200 people and feeds an audience of 140 million fans across YouTube, Facebook and other platforms. 

“If I wanted to play against Nielsen. I’ll take all the views – just do U.S., just do primetime, just do 18 to 49,” Atkins told moderator and CAA agent Brent Weinstein, comparing Mann’s channel to traditional ratings categories. “He would be the largest scripted television show on U.S. linear television every single night, just to give you a sense.”

“Any day of the week his streams would have outperformed the finale of ‘Game of Thrones’ by three times,” he added.

Mann himself had to leave TheWrap’s conference at the DGA Theater Complex in Hollywood early due to an unexpected conflict, but his studio’s head of production Toni Gray joined Atkins to give the audience a peek behind the curtain into how their operation works. The studio operates on a 30-day production schedule from ideation to publication. They have eight crews shooting simultaneously with plans to gear up to nine by the end of the year. 

Gray came from the traditional entertainment world and said that making the transition to digital was tough at first, but producing impactful work Mann is known for has made it all worth it. 

“Hollywood frowned upon jumping into this world, and I have to tell you that it is a totally different life,” she said. “It is an incredible culture. It’s collaborative. We basically tell stories at the water cooler. We can ideate and deliver in 30 days.”

The company has mastered the efficiency of space and time in order to ensure consistent output and quality. They developed a tailored software system that breaks down scripts and lets every department know what is needed for each production the following day. 

“If you’re sitting in wardrobe, you get a checklist that says, of these nine productions going on today, the following outfits for this actor or actress need to be in this location at this period of time,” Atkins explained. “There’s no people involved. It’s literally just software that delivers that.”

“You get this unbelievable efficiency, where they will produce a TV episode for approximately 1/100th the cost of a linear average episode,” he said.

Dhar Mann Studios also organizes their productions in such a way so that every studio has the basic setup for any kind of location – be that a school, retail establishment or workplace – to cut time for setup and strike for production crews. 

“It’s always about using data to analyze the efficiency, to make sure that we can kind of keep that cost efficiency down,” Atkins said. 

Data from National Research Group shared on a lunchtime panel earlier at TheGrill on Tuesday revealed that Gen Alpha (individuals born after 2010) are increasingly interested in going to the movie theaters. Weinstein asked Mann’s team if they had any plans for a theatrical release in the future. 

Though Atkins and Gray kept mum about plans for a theatrical push, the CEO said the next step for the company is to lean into in-person experiences with a national tour that allows the “Dhar Mann Fam” to act in their own digital short.

Watch TheGrill’s full The Rise of Creator-Led Studios panel below:

The post Dhar Mann Studios Boss Says YouTube Channel Far Outpaces Linear Television With 45 Million Streams a Day appeared first on TheWrap.

It’s spooky season, which means Peacock has tons of Halloween goodies adults and families can tune into. Some heavy-hitters include like “America Psycho,” “Friday the 13th,” “Ghostbusters,” “The Purge,” “The Leprechaun” franchise and more.

And if you’re not in the mood to be scared, Peacock will certainly be hitting viewers with some highly-anticipated TV shows, including the kickoff to “The Real Housewives of Miami” Season 7 reunion and “Saturday Night Live” Season 51.

Here’s the full list of everything heading to Peacock this month.

Available Oct. 1

• “50/50”
• “American Psycho”
• “American Psycho 2”
• “Bones And All”
• “The Book Of Life”
• “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”
• “The Crow”
• “Darkman”
• “Dead Silence”
• “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch”
• “Edward Scissorhands”
• “Event Horizon”
• “Exorcist: The Beginning”
• “Friday Night Lights”
• “Friday The 13th”
• “Friday The 13th – Part II”
• “Friday The 13th – Part III”
• “Fright Night”
• “The Frightners”
• “From Dusk Till Dawn”
• “Ghostbusters”
• “Ghostbusters II”
• “The Hitcher”
• “Hot Fuzz”
• “How To Train Your Dragon”
• “How To Train Your Dragon 2”
• “How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
• “Jason Bourne”
• “Krampus”
• “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3”
• “Leprechaun”
• “Leprechaun II”
• “Leprechaun III”
• “Leprechaun 4: Lost In Space”
• “Leprechaun Origins”
• “Leprechaun V: In The Hood”
• “Leprechaun VI: Back 2 Tha Hood”
• Mama”
• “The Mist”
• “Monster House”
• “The Omen”
• “Ouija: Origin Of Evil”
• “Paul”
• “The People Under The Stairs”
• “Poltergeist”
• “The Purge”
• “The Purge: Election Year”
• “Quarantine”
• “The Ring”
• “Scary Movie”
• “Scream”
• “Scream 2”
• “Scream 3”
• “Shaun Of The Dead”
• “Silent Hill”
• “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D”
• “Silent House”
• “The Skeleton Key”
• “Slither”
• “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation”
• “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride”
• “Van Helsing”
• “The Visit”
• “Warhorse One”
• “The Wolf Man” (1941)
  “World War Z”
• “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon” Season 1 – Premiere (NBC)
• “The Swift Effect” Season 2 (LX)

Available Oct. 2

• “Chicago Fire” Season 14 (NBC)
• “Chicago Med” Season 11 (NBC)
• “Chicago P.D.” Season 13 (NBC)
• “City No Limits Max” Season 1 (LEGO)

Available Oct. 3

• “Honey Don’t!”
• “The Real Housewives of Miami” Season 7 Reunion Part 1

Available Oct. 5

• “Earth Odyssey With Dylan Dreyer” Season 8
• “Love Island Games” Season 2 Finale
• “Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting The Wild Season 3 Premiere (NBC)
• “Saturday Night Live” Season 51 premiere

Available Oct. 6

• “The Case: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs” Finale (WNBC)
• “The Real Housewives Of Potomac” Season 10 premiere (Bravo)

Available Oct. 7

• “Of An Age”

Available Oct. 8

• “Dinastía Casillas” Season 1 (Telemundo)
• “La Isla: Desafío Extremo” Season 2 (Telemundo)

Available Oct. 9

• “The Bikeriders”
• “O’ahu Shores” Season 1

Available Oct. 10

• “How To Train Your Dragon” premiere
• “The Real Housewives of Miami” Season 7 Reunion Part 2 (Bravo)

Available Oct. 14

• “Cocaine Bear”

Available Oct. 15

• “Don’t Breathe”
• “FBI: International” Season 4 (CBS)
• “FBI: Most Wanted” Season 6 (CBS)
• “Jurassic World”
• “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”
• “Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition” Season 1 Premiere (Bravo)

Available Oct. 16

• “The Cabin In The Woods”
• “Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” Season 1 Premiere

Available Oct. 17

• “The Real Housewives of Miami” Season 7 Reunion Part 3 (Bravo)

Available Oct. 21

• “Retribution”
• “Snapped” Season 35 Finale

Available Oct. 24

• “Leslie Jones: Life: Part 2”
• “Premios Billboard de la Música Latina” 2025 (Telemundo)
• “The Rainmaker” Season 1 Finale

Available Oct. 28

• “Champions”
• “Charmed by the Devil” (Oxygen)

Available Oct. 30

• “The Fall Guy”
• “The Fall Guy: Extended”
• “Jurassic World Rebirth”
• “Touch”

Available Oct. 31

• “The Real Housewives of Orange County After Show” Season 1
  

The post What’s New on Peacock in October 2025 appeared first on TheWrap.

With some big-name series wrapping up and others preparing to begin, there’s a lot to watch on the recently-renamed streaming service this month. One of the biggest releases of the month will be the long-awaited “It: Welcome to Derry,” which returns viewers to Stephen King’s horror world featuring Pennywise the Clown (again played by Bill Skarsgård).

Fans of Tim Robinson will see the “I Think You Should Leave” star lead another series this October as he dives deep into an office-set conspiracy in “The Chair Company.” The series was created by Robinson and Zach Kanin, who collaborated on “Saturday Night Live,” “Detroiters” and “I Think You Should Leave.” The first episode was directed by Andrew DeYoung, who helmed “Friendship” — a film starring Robinson and Paul Rudd that was added to HBO Max in September.

HBO Max also has a number of new releases to treat subscribers. 2025’s “Bring Her Back,” from “Talk to Me” directors Danny and Michael Philippou, will start streaming on Oct. 3, just in time for Halloween. Eva Victor’s critically acclaimed debut “Sorry, Baby” — which they wrote, directed and starred in — will start streaming Oct. 30.

There can still be some surprises in store for HBO Max subscribers. It wasn’t until mid-September that audiences learned “Superman” would be flying onto the streaming service on Sept. 19 — just in time for a significant “Peacemaker” crossover. DC fans can also witness the end of “Peacemaker” Season 2 on HBO Max on Oct. 9.

Here’s everything new coming to HBO Max this October.

October 1
“2 Days in New York”
“50 First Dates”
“Alan Partridge”
“All Eyez on Me”
“Beetlejuice”
“Big, Beautiful Tariffs: A Fareed Zakaria Special” (CNN Originals)
“The Black Scorpion”
“Broken English”
“Bronson”
“The Brothers McMullen”
“Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh”
“Christine”
“Confidence”
“Crime in the Streets”
“The Cyclops”
“The Disembodied”
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1932)
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941)
“Drag Me to Hell”
“Edward Scissorhands”
“Enemy”
“The Exorcist” (1973)
“Fay Grim”
“Firestarter”
“The First Monday in May”
“Freaks”
“Freddy vs. Jason”
“Friday the 13th” (2009)
“From Hell It Came”
“The Gangster”
“Gone Girl”
“Gremlins” (1984)
“Halloween H20: 20 Years Later”
“Halloween: Resurrection”
“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers”
“The Harvey Girls”
“Hereditary”
“Highway 301”
“House of Wax” (1953)
“House on Haunted Hill” (1958)
“I Died a Thousand Times”
“I Give it a Year”
“Indestructible Man”
“Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison”
“Insidious: Chapter 2”
“Insidious: Chapter 3”
“Interview with the Vampire”
“Intruder in the Dust”
“Isle of the Dead”
“It’s Complicated”
“Krypto Saves the Day: Halloween Havoc”
“Lady in the Lake”
“The Lobster”
“Los Cronocrimenes”
“Macabre”
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes”
“Mirror Mirror”
“The Monster”
“The Mummy” (1959)
“The Mummy” (2017)
“The Mystery of the Wax Museum”
“National Velvet”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child”
“Nora Prentiss”
“Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words”
“Page One”
“Pearl: The X-Traordinary Origin Story”
“Phenix City Story”
“The Picture of Dorian Gray”
“Poltergeist” (1982)
“Practical Magic”
“Pride”
“The Return of Doctor X”
“Scooby-Doo” (2002)
“Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”
“Shame”
“The Shining”
“The Sixth Sense”
“The Steel Jungle”
“The Switch”
“Talk to Me” (2023)
“The Tattooed Stranger”
“Tension”
“Tickled”
“Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride”
“Trick ‘r Treat”
“Uncut Gems”
“The Unfaithful”
“The Walking Dead”
“War for the Planet of the Apes”
“The Watch”
“The Witch”
“X”
“You Can’t Get Away with Murder”
“Zombies on Broadway”

October 2
“Air India Crash: Declassified” (Discovery, 2025)
“E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web,” Season 1
“The Friday the 13th Murders,” Season 1 (ID)
“Mysteries of the Abandoned,” Season 12 (Discovery)
“The Real Murders on Elm Street,” Season 2 (ID)

October 3
“Bring Her Back” (A24)
“Where We Call Home,” Season 4 (Magnolia Network)

October 6
“Smiling Friends,” Season 3

October 7
“Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt” (CNN Originals)
“One Day in October,” Season 1

October 8
“Alex vs America,” Season 5 (FOOD Network)
“Baylen Out Loud,” Season 2 (TLC)

October 9
“Vgly,” Season 2 (Max Original)

October 10
“The Alabama Solution” (HBO Original)
“Bugs Bunny Builders,” Season 2G (Cartoon Network)
“Homes With a View,” Season 1 (Magnolia Network)
“Lu & The Bally Bunch,” Season 1D (Cartoon Network)
“The Substance” (MUBI)

October 11
“Bering Sea Gold,” Season 19 (Discovery)
“Impractical Jokers,” Season 12A (truTV)

October 12
“The Chair Company,” Season 1 (HBO Original)
“The Snake Catcher,” Season 1 (Animal Planet)

October 15
“7 Little Johnstons,” Season 16 (TLC)
“Graveyard Carz,” Season 20
“Mother May I Murder?,” Season 2 (ID)
“Pan”

October 17
“An Intimate Evening with Adam Pally” (HBO Original)
“Baby Assassins Everyday!,” Season 1
“Beach Cottage Chronicles,” Season 5 (Magnolia Network)
“Ignite,” Season 1
“La Grande Maison Tokyo Special”
“La Grande Maison Tokyo,” Season 1
“Light of My Lion,” Season 1
“Love is for the Dogs,” Season 1
“Mr. Mikami’s Classroom,” Season 1
“Please Die My Beloved,” Season 1
“The Thaw,” Season 3 (Max Original)
“True Beauty,” Season 1
“Until I Destroyed My Husband’s Other Family,” Season 1
“Vivant,” Season 1
“Who Saw The Peacock Dance in the Jungle?,” Season 1

October 19
“Anything But Gray,” Season 1 (Magnolia Network)

October 20
“Haha, You Clowns,” Season 1 (Adult Swim)

October 21
“Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death of Brent Renaud” (HBO Original)
“The Simril(l)s: A Family in Black and White, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” (CNN Originals)

October 22
“Holmes Family Rescue,” Season 3 (HGTV)
“Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody”

October 23
“Expedition X,” Season 10 (Discovery)
“Dangerously Obese,” Season 2 (TLC)

October 24
“Lakeside Retreats,” Season 1 (Magnolia Network)
“Teen Titans Go!,” Season 9D (Cartoon Network)

October 26
“It: Welcome to Derry,” Season 1 (HBO Original)

October 27
“Naked and Afraid Brazil XL,” Season 1 (discovery+)

October 28
“Country Doctor” (HBO Original)
“The United States vs. Harvard, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” (CNN Originals)

October 29
“American Monster,” Season 13 (ID)
“Survival of the Beast,” Season 1 (Animal Planet)

October 30
“Fatal Engineering,” Season 1 (Science)
“Sorry, Baby” (A24)

October 31
“House Hunters: Volume 10,” Season 246 (HGTV)
“Jonathan Ross Haunted Homecoming,” Season 1 (Travel)
“Old Home Stories,” Season 1 (Magnolia Network)

The post What’s New on HBO Max in October appeared first on TheWrap.