It’s a dirty phrase uttered by fans of comic book movies: “Superhero fatigue.” In general, it means that audiences have grown tired of messy, illogical comic-book blockbusters that killed off franchises – hello, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – or continued a rut that seems to have swallowed a few recent MCU movies. That doesn’t mean the concept is real. It just means that casual audiences want quality over quantity, and they won’t line up for any old story that happens to focus on characters in capes. One ongoing project that pushes back against the critique of superhero fatigue would be The Boys, still one of the best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video. And the main cast will tell you why the theory is overall bullshit.

The Boys is about to return for Season 4, and we’ve already received confirmation that The Boys Season 5 will happen in the future. It seems like Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and his war against The Seven will rage on for years. So during a recent press day with the cast of The Boys, I asked Homelander himself – Antony Starr – if he believed in the idea of superhero fatigue, and he told CinemaBlend:

Now, one might argue that The Boys is thriving because it bends, twists, and breaks the conventions that define the superhero genre. The Seven – a stand-in for DC’s Justice League team – are the evil entity on the show, and we root for the underdog humans doing what they can to take the super-powered team down. Which Antony Starr digs into when he goes on to tell us:

I really like how Antony Starr namedrops James Gunn as part of his answer. Perhaps he’s simply excited for the new DC universe that Gunn wants to launch with the animated series Creature Commandos, and his Superman feature film. Or maybe there’s truth to the rumor that Starr is in the running to play Booster Gold in a planned DC series for Max? That would be ideal casting, and a great way for Starr to stay in the hero realm, while still playing with convention. 

Look for the new season of The Boys starting on June 11, available with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

“The Abyss Of Life,” the eighth episode of Shogun Season 1, brims with intrigue. Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is backed into a corner following the betrayal of his estranged half-brother, and he informs Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) of his formal surrender to the council of Regents… but does he truly plan to just give up? That question lingers amid funeral proceedings for Toranaga’s son, an illness that sees him keep a distance from his inner circle, and an extreme act of loyalty committed by Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka).                                 

By the end of the acclaimed season, of course, we know that Toranaga is executing a master plan that has kept him five steps ahead of everyone else – but when reflecting back on “The Abyss Of Life,” one recognizes a meticulous and wonderful performance by Hiroyuki Sanada.

At the end of last month, I had the fantastic opportunity to do a deep dive into the episode with director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, and one of the subjects we specifically discussed was Toranaga’s closely guarded secrets and Sanada’s performance. The filmmaker gave a lot of credit to the actor, explaining that he was an active presence behind the scenes and has a talent for minimalism in his work. Said Osei-Kuffour,

Breaking Down Toranaga’s Secret Plan

Leading into the final two episodes of Shogun Season 1, Lord Toranaga puts on the guise of being a defeated leader – his family betraying him and his clan decimated by an earthquake – but he has carefully orchestrated plans, and his actions have the effect of getting his colleagues and enemies in precise positions in order for him to ultimately declare victory (a chess simile feels too obvious here). His capitulation looks entirely real when Hiromatsu, his closest ally, commits seppuku instead of surrendering, which not only convinces the council of his fake intentions, but shakes the faith of Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) to the extent that he forges a side deal with John Blackthrone (Cosmo Jarvis).

Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour told me that he has early conversations with Hiroyuki Sanada about his character’s machinations and getting all of the key players to play their part:

As noted by the director, the audience is partially clued into Lord Toranaga’s secret strategy by the end of “The Abyss Of Life,” most notably through his instruction for Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) to travel to Osaka… but there is also still a great deal to reveal in both “Crimson Sky” and “A Dream Of A Dream.”

“Doing Nothing Is Doing Something.”

Part of being meticulous means not doing too much, and in the helming of his Shogun episode, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour put an emphasis on that. The director told me that while working with Hiroyuki Sanada and his co-stars, he made a point of having them embrace pauses and let the audience project all of their thoughts on the atmosphere amid the silence:

Based on the novel of the same name, the ten episode first season of Shogun aired on FX between February and April, and it’s become an acclaimed phenomenon as one of TV’s best on-going epics (Season 2 is now in the works). If you wish to revisit the show, all you need is a Hulu subscription – and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Star Trek: Discovery series finale are ahead!

Although Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale mainly focused on Michael Burnham, Doug Jones’ Saru also got some time to shine. First, the Kelpien got one last “Action Saru” moment when he faced off against Primarch Tahal, and then weeks after the main conflict was resolved, friends and loved ones gathered for his and T’Rina’s wedding. Jones told CinemaBlend he was pleased with the way Saru’s story ended in “Life, Itself,” and also he shared with us his on-point envisioning of the characters future after the series finale.

Before the Discovery series finale was released to Paramount+ subscription holders on the 2024 TV schedule, I had the pleasure of speaking with Doug Jones about his experience shooting this last hurrah. Remembering how the decision to cancel Discovery came after the cast and crew shot Season 5, with Jones learning about this on the Star Trek Cruise shortly before it was announced to the public, I asked him if he had any idea on what would have happened with Saru had Season 6 been made, and he told me:

Between the aforementioned events from the series finale and Saru resigning from Starfleet at the beginning of Season 5 to become an ambassador for the United Federation of Planets, like Doug Jones said, he seemed to find himself. That being said, the actor could also see Saru joining a Starfleet mission if his presence was needed. So in a reality where Discovery Season 6 moved forward, the writers could have needed to come up with that special circumstance that required him to step away from being an ambassador for a little bit and don his captain’s uniform again.

And then, of course, “Life, Itself” capped off with an extended epilogue set decades later that showed Michael Burnham sending the Discovery and its AI Zora on a Red Directive mission, thus serving as a tie-in to the “Calypso” Star Trek: Short Treks episode. Since there was no mention of what Saru was up to during that time period, assuming he’s still alive, I asked Doug Jones where he envisioned his character’s life going in those intervening decades, assuming he hadn’t already been told that information by someone like showrunner Michelle Paradise. Jones confirmed that wasn’t the case, saying:

Saru is definitely cut out for being a mentor, and with Tilly telling Michael and Rayner at the wedding that she’ll be setting up a mentorship program at Starfleet Academy, I can only hope that the Kelpien is one of the first people she approaches to join it, even in just a guest capacity. Speaking of which, the upcoming Star Trek TV show Starfleet Academy spinoff is confirmed to take place in the 32nd century, so the stage is set for Discovery characters to appear there, though Mary Wiseman wouldn’t tell us if she’s involved in the show.

However, earlier this year, Doug Jones confirmed to our own Mick Joest that following Star Trek: Discovery’s conclusion, he’s “pursuing more human characters” and won’t perform as many prosthetic-heavy roles. Still, with Starfleet Academy coming up, I was wondering if Jones would be willing to make that one of his exceptions and reprise Saru in the spinoff if the opportunity came along. He answered:

So while Saru’s life following the conclusion of the Star Trek: Discovery series finale’s main story will have to be left up to fans’ imaginations for now, at least the possibility remains that some of that curtain could be pulled back on Starfleet Academy. So far the only actor officially on board for the spinoff is Holly Hunter, who will play the captain and chancellor of the education institution. If it’s announced at any point that Doug Jones will appear on the show, we’ll let you know.

Until then, keep visiting CinemaBlend for more news concerning Star Trek TV and film plans. Next on the slate is Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, which premieres people with a Netflix subscription on July 1.

Season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown just premiered on the 2024 TV schedule, and I had the chance to chat with Hugh Dillon about the first few episodes and working with Jeremy Renner. Kingstown went into production about a year after the leading actor’s accident, and the Flashpoint actor noted that at the time his co-star wasn’t at full confidence just yet. However, he believed in his friend, as he said:

Renner was cautiously optimistic going into Kingstown production, and so was Dillon. I asked both men about filming the show, and they noted that the Mike actor was able to jump back into the action quicker than expected. While the Hawkeye star had to “interject” his own physical limitations and recovery into the show, he was also able to do a lot of the things he’s always been able to do. 

Dillon told me about a specific fight scene that proved that Jeremy Renner was back in action, as he said:

He is back! As I’ve noted before, if I wasn’t aware of Renner’s recovery journey, I wouldn’t even have known he is still working back to full health just by watching Mayor of Kingstown.

Hugh Dillon went on to tell me that his lead actor surprised himself when he did that action sequence, as he said:

When I interviewed Renner, he noted that his ability to get back into the swing of things, especially when it came to the action, was emotional, which makes sense. He's gone through so much in the last year and a half, and being able to perform at such a high level while still healing has to be incredibly gratifying for everyone involved in the show. 

In the first episodes of Mayor of Kingstown’s third season, we’ve seen Renner’s character deal with major tragedy, and things are really heating up, so more action is inevitable. However, as the show has proven, and Dillon and Renner have said, he’s not just ready for it, he’s killing it.

To see Jeremy Renner and Hugh Dillon back at it in Season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown, you can stream it with a Paramount+ subscription and catch new episodes every Sunday. 

For the past 25 years, we’ve been showing up for M. Night Shyamalan’s career by seeing his work on the big and small screen. His daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, has too, but from a much different perspective than most of us can say. Ishana has spent her whole life watching her father make suspenseful movies as a major part of her upbringing. Now that she has her directorial debut, The Watchers, under her belt, we can witness what she’s learned over the years.

When CinemaBlend sat down with the new filmmaker, I asked Ishana Night Shymalan how growing up on movie sets influenced how she handles bringing tension to the set of The Watchers. Here’s what she said:

Of course, Ishana Night Shymalan has a great answer to this! She learned from one of the best! As the director shared, she has spent many hours over the years observing her dad make horror movies before going on to working beside him on his recent projects. Ishana served as the second unit director on his last two movies, Old and Knock at the Cabin, along with writing and directing multiple episodes of the Apple TV+ series Servant.

When I spoke to Ishana prior, she told me that she knew there would “inevitably” be a “level of similarity” between her and M. Night Shyamalan between their genetics and shared lives. However, she also hopes audiences will “feel the difference” within her own work here with The Watchers. Aside from the new movie adapting A.M. Shine’s novel of the same name, Ishana told us she is greatly influenced by Hayao Miyazaki.

The Watchers follows Dakota Fanning’s Mina, who gets stranded in a forest in Ireland and then finds herself trapped with three strangers in a bunker as they hide from the mysterious “watchers.” Just like the novel its based on, the new movie has roots in Irish folklore, bringing dark fantasy elements to the big screen with her directorial debut.

As she suspected, when critics who have seen The Watchers are comparing her work to M. Night’s. CinemaBlend’s own The Watchers review celebrated the new director for bearing “ripe and juicy horror fruits”, but found there is “room for growth” when it comes to her credit writing the movie’s screenplay. You can decide yourself right now, as The Watchers is now playing in theaters. Check out what other upcoming horror movies are on the way next here on CinemaBlend.

Warning: spoilers for Jurassic World: Chaos Theory are in play. If you haven’t caught Season 1 just yet, consider this the electric fence that separates you from all the teeth.

As fans continue to dive into the conspiracy-driven thriller that is Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, the possibilities for the future are going to be a hot topic for discussion. Not only is the mystery surrounding Brooklynn’s supposed death going to continue to blossom, but the unknown destination of the rest of the Nublar Six will have everyone wondering what sorts of characters will be seen beyond the 2024 TV schedule.

However, I really feel sorry for my fellow Camp Cretaceous fans. That’s because, during my recent interview with Chaos Theory’s executive producers Scott Kreamer and Aaron Hammersley, I learned that two more characters were discussed when it came to who’d be showing up. And based on what Scott Kreamer had to say, it sounds like we won’t be seeing this pair again any time soon.

I am, of course, talking about camp counselors turned heroic rescuers Roxie (Jameela Jamil) and Dave (Glen Powell). The “adults in the room” at the beginning of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ story of survival, their disappearance for most of the middle seasons of the Netflix series saw them eventually reunite after the adventure spurred on by the events of Jurassic World. But, as Scott Kreamer told CinemaBlend, Roxie and Dave’s futures may not be totally spoken for: 

I’ll admit, ever since the first full Jurassic World: Chaos Theory trailer confirmed that the sequel series was going to take place close to the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, I was curious. Seeing Roxie and Dave six years after their reunion with the Camp Fam is just as intriguing as catching up with where the young campers are in their young adult lives. While this isn’t closing the door entirely, I can kind of see where Scott Kreamer is coming from. 

In the case of Dave, Glen Powell’s meteoric rise to fame mirrors that of fellow Camp Cretaceous alum Jenna Ortega. So trying to find time in the Twisters heartthrob’s schedule to get back in the studio might be a bit challenging. Strangely enough, Powell’s past and present obligations put him squarely at the center of the potential Michael Crichton renaissance that seems to be forming. 

As for Jameela Jamil, her talents have also been in demand through streaming TV and movies. Her voice role in Pixar’s upcoming 2025 movie Elio as well as the soon-to-be Netflix original Star Trek: Prodigy have certainly kept her busy. So, for the moment, both Jameela and Glen have charted their own courses of adventure elsewhere. 

However, a desire to see Roxie and Dave does kind of highlight part of what Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is trying to do. Seeing the grown-up versions of the Nublar Six getting into trouble again is different because they are the adults in the room. So if Roxie and Dave are ever going to return, the timing needs to be after we've established that our young friends could be harmed at any given moment. 

That introduces all sorts of danger and developments that feel even more unpredictable, especially when the season opens with a death that inspired executive producer Colin Trevorrow’s interesting Jurassic World: Chaos Theory feedback. And as any Jurassic fan would tell you, that sort of risk-taking is what makes following this franchise so refreshing.

Of course, if you haven’t caught the entire run of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, and have somehow been tempted to read this entire rundown, don’t fret. You can still use your Netflix subscription to catch up on the thrilling chase that puts the Nublar Six in the crosshairs of their most deadly threat ever. And while you’re at it, Camp Cretaceous is also available on the platform, if only to bring back the nostalgic feelings of a time when camp counselors ruled the park. 

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Criminal Minds: Evolution’s two-episode premiere with a Paramount+ subscription.

After a slightly longer-than-expected hiatus, the BAU’s top agents returned to the small screen for Criminal Minds: Evolution’s Season 2 premiere (technically Season 17 overall), and it unlocked some of the details behind the season-long Gold Star arc (as well as the franchise’s first smoke break). But for those more interested in romantic workplace entanglements than “social contagion” and serial killers, the two-episode debut rather quickly reminded viewers of the quasi-triangle between Garcia, Alvez, and Tyler Green.

This season, showrunner Erica Messer upped the ante for the characters by promoting co-star Ryan-James Hatanaka to series regular, with Tyler now becoming an official BAU sidekick (or consultant, more specifically). As seen above, CinemaBlend’s Laura Hurley spoke with Hatanaka and other Criminal Minds stars ahead of the latest season’s debut, and he told us we can expect to see Tyler coming into his own as he’s learning the ropes, while also addressing how his character feels about reuniting with Penelope Garcia. According to the actor:

High stakes often create quick bridges to impulsive emotional reactions, so even if he wasn’t mentioning those specifically in relation to his potential future with Garcia, I doubt the two are wholly unrelated. He went on a stakeout with Tara and Rebecca in the second episode, “Contagion,” so it doesn’t seem impossible that he could eventually end up in a similar scenario with just Kirsten Vangsness’ analyst, or even with Alvez also on board to provide weaponized support. [Rubs hands together deviously.)

From asking Alvez about Tyler’s birthday-message intentions to her reactions to Tyler being back in the office and interrupting J.J., Garcia obviously isn’t completely over what they shared in Season 1. I mean, she even brought up their sexual history in front of Adam Rodriguez’s character, whose reaction fell somewhere between playfully jealous and playfully grossed out. He’s clearly protective of her, but to what end?

Messser said the creative team feels more comfortable leaning into workplace romances now in the Evolution era, so anything might be on the table for these characters. In that respect, the love triangle sitch is already pairing interestingly with Tara and Rebecca’s post-relationship tension, which Tyler witnessed first-person during the aforementioned stakeout.

Ryan-James Hatanaka On Tyler Green's Personal Growth In Season 2

Obviously Tyler Green joining the BAU involves a lot more than just a “will they? / won’t they?” romance, considering he’s had a direct history with Voit via his sister’s disappearance and murder. Here’s how Hatanaka described where Tyler’s head is at when he’s brought in, and where things are going in upcoming episodes.

For all that Tyler’s respect and admiration for the BAU will grow over time, it’s clearly not fully in place just yet, or else he likely wouldn’t have secretly broken into that building to get the information about the mysterious Sebastian Gasper, and then kept that information to himself instead of sharing it with Tara and/or Rebecca. The stakes are definitely high for the dude if he’s going to keep pulling moves like that.

Will Tyler reverse course and become more of an honest and trustworthy consultant, or will he continue to carve out his own path to the truth, even if it puts his relationship with Garcia and others at risk? There’s only one way to find out.

Criminal Minds: Evolution drops new episodes on Paramount+ every Thursday. While waiting to hear Prentiss and Rossi’s next F-bombs, as well as the arrival of Felicity Huffman's new character, head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what other summer treats are coming soon.

Video Chapters: 

00:00 - When Is Glen Powell Going To Host ‘SNL?’

00:30 - How Glen Powell Developed His Crazy ‘Hit Man’ Personas

01:30 - Adria Arjona Was “So Impressed” At Glen Powell’s Range

02:25 - Retta Thought Glen Powell Was Just “The Handsome Guy” Until She Saw ‘Hit Man’

03:10 - Debunking The Hit Man Genre With Richard Linklater

04:05 - Glen Powell Compares His Romantic Comedies ‘Hit Man’ And ‘Anyone But You’

05:45 - Richard Linklater On How Glen Powell Has “Deepened” Since ‘Everybody Wants Some’

06:40 - Who Is The Real Villain Of ‘Hit Man?’ According To Retta, Sanjay Rao And Richard Linklater

Bridgerton Season 3 has plenty of relationships that we're all following, but sometimes, those romances can cause trouble. One particular story that is causing drama in the Ton is Lord Kilmartin (a.k.a. John Stirling) and Francesca Bridgerton, the third-youngest sister of the Bridgerton family. Hannah Dodd, the actress behind Francesca in the third season, commented on what this love will look like in the future, and it's going to be great. 

We get to see many couples in Season 3 of Bridgerton. We could talk about the main couple, Colin and Penelope, Kate and Anthony appearing once again, or Violet and her enthralling potential love, Lord Marcus Anderson. However, the one relationship that people have been loving a lot is Lord Kilmartin and Francesca Bridgerton, the two introverts who found admiration in the silence they share and a shared love of music. 

During Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1, Violet attempted to set Francesca up with someone different – someone approved by the Queen – but things began to fall apart when Francesca started to grow close to Kilmartin. I had the chance to ask Dodd about the potential drama that this is going to unfurl in Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2, and the actress openly said that it's an "interesting" situation because it not only involves Francesca but her mother as well:

Violet Bridgerton, one of Bridgerton’s main characters, is undoubtedly one of my favorite people on the show. Along with aiding her children in finding suitable partners, she also encourages them to find love in the ones they pick. 

However, Dodd also stated that because Francesca has not only her mother looking out for her, but the Queen as well – who picked someone specific for Francesca – it's "a lot" for the character to take in, especially for her first time out in society: 

Dodd also laughingly referenced that it's a lot for her "first" time on the show as well, as she took over the role from Ruby Stokes:

Out of every new character on the show, Lord Kilmartin has undoubtedly made an impression. I have loved every single scene that he and Francesca have been in, and I can't wait to see what's in store for them when Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2 premieres on the 2024 TV schedule on June 13. 

I think now I just need to make sure I have all my tea and my tissues ready because this couple is going to make me emotional with all this drama—I can already feel it. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Kiner about his work on Ahsoka, which, just like with The Bad Batch, Tales of the Jedi and Tales on the Empire (all of which are viewable with a Disney+ subscription), he tackled with his children, Sean and Deana. In the middle of our conversation, I mentioned that I read Dave Filoni didn’t want to do a straightforward full rendition of Thrawn’s theme when he was brought into Ahsoka, so the Kiners instead to a slowed-down approach with the music. That left me curious about if there were any other musical challenges that they ran into with properly representing Thrawn, and Kevin Kiner answered:

Thrawn’s soft-spoken demeanor does indeed make him stand out from Darth Vader, as the former relies on strategy, tactics and study of culture to defeat his enemies rather than brute force (you can compare their differing styles in the book Thrawn: Alliances). However, because Thrawn rarely raises his voice, Kevin Kiner has had to make sure the music he composes for scenes featuring the character doesn’t drown out his voice, and this has stretched all the way back to Star Wars Rebels. Plus, like he mentioned, that music that needs to hit the right balance also needs to properly convey the kind of mood you expect from a Thrawn scene.

Listen to Ahsoka’s rendition of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s theme below, which is found on Part 2 of the Disney+ show’s soundtrack, covering Episodes 5-8.

The end of Ahsoka Season 1 saw Thrawn and the Great Mothers arriving on Dathomir, and with Ahsoka Season 2 officially on the way, fans can look forward to seeing both what the blue-skinned antagonist is plotting next and hear more of Kevin Kiner’s music. Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for news on how the next season is progressing amongst the other updates concerning upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.