Disney’s Avengers: Endgame Encore opened at No. 1 in the U.K. and Ireland with £4.1 million, or about $5.5 million. Resident Evil placed second with $3 million in its second weekend, bringing its running total to $11.6 million.
11:53 PMVariety76 stories from 9 sources
Established Franchises Became Entertainment's Main Event
Day’s Recap
Supporting Articles
Viewers attending Avengers: Endgame Encore screenings say a major new scene is available only in IMAX and Infinity Vision theaters. They are warning other fans to check the format before buying tickets.
1:02 PMIGN
Sony will reportedly re-release Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters with new footage, including cameos from other MCU characters that were cut from the original version.
6:23 PMPolygon
Avengers: Doomsday directors appear to be hinting that Doctor Doom is abducting heroes from different corners of the Marvel universe.
5:40 PMIGN
Joe and Anthony Russo joked that Doctor Doom had been planned all along after new Avengers: Endgame Encore scenes hinted at his arrival and possible ties to Iron Man.
4:59 PMIGN
Madonna dominated the 2026 MTV VMAs as the ceremony tried to recreate the energy and spectacle associated with earlier editions of the show.
12:18 PMNew York Times Arts
While accepting Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV VMAs, Madonna recalled losing a stiletto during her 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance, an incident once framed as a potential career-ending mistake. She made the reference while wearing classic black pumps.
10:26 AMWWD
Taylor Swift, Madonna, and LISA were among the major winners at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony recognized leading figures from multiple generations of pop music.
2:22 AMBBCFormer Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the company needs a new growth engine as it navigates its next phase. He also discusses his departure, claims that employees were discouraged from contacting him, and says he has not spoken with current CEO Josh D'Amaro since 2022.
5:35 PMBloomberg MarketsFormer Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the company pushed him out and has since erased his role from its history. He says he has not returned to a Disney park since his 2022 dismissal because he is not emotionally ready.
3:36 PMBloomberg Markets
Amazon MGM has renewed Reacher for a sixth season on Prime Video. The series’ source novel and release date have not yet been announced.
3:15 PMPolygon
Russell Crowe’s Netflix crime thriller Unabomber has reached No. 1 on the service. The film examines Ted Kaczynski’s radicalization and the FBI investigation into his bombing campaign.
2:00 PMPolygon
Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, has died at 75. His longtime agent confirmed the death, while no cause or additional details have been released.
11:00 PMVariety11:53 PMVariety
‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Tops U.K., Ireland Box Office
Summary
Disney’s Avengers: Endgame Encore opened at No. 1 in the U.K. and Ireland with £4.1 million, or about $5.5 million. Resident Evil placed second with $3 million in its second weekend, bringing its running total to $11.6 million.
The re-release’s strong debut shows that Disney can still generate substantial theatrical demand from established
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Studios can use re-releases of major franchises as reliable box-office events between new blockbusters.
1:02 PMIGN
Avengers: Endgame Encore Cinemagoers Issue Warning After Realizing Disney Locked Major New Scene Behind IMAX and Infinity Vision Theaters
Summary
Viewers attending Avengers: Endgame Encore screenings say a major new scene is available only in IMAX and Infinity Vision theaters. They are warning other fans to check the format before buying tickets.
Disney’s format restriction turns a rerelease into a premium-screening incentive and creates unequal access to
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Studios are increasingly using exclusive footage to make premium formats part of the content itself, not just the viewing experience.
6:23 PMPolygon
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Getting Official New Version, Report Says
Summary
Sony will reportedly re-release Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters with new footage, including cameos from other MCU characters that were cut from the original version.
The reported plan would make the re-release more than a routine extended cut by using
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Cut MCU cameos could materially change how audiences understand the film's place in Marvel's broader story.
2 stories · 2 sources
5:40 PMIGN
Doctor Doom Appears to Be Abducting Heroes in Avengers: Doomsday
Summary
Avengers: Doomsday directors appear to be hinting that Doctor Doom is abducting heroes from different corners of the Marvel universe.
The apparent abductions position Doom as the force assembling the film's scattered heroes, rather than
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Doom's role as the architect of the crossover would make the film's many returning heroes part of one deliberate plot.
4:59 PMIGN
Avengers: Doomsday Directors Joke Doctor Doom Has 'Been Planned All Along,' Tease Iron Man Connections
Summary
Joe and Anthony Russo joked that Doctor Doom had been planned all along after new Avengers: Endgame Encore scenes hinted at his arrival and possible ties to Iron Man.
The comments keep Marvel's continuity deliberately ambiguous while inviting viewers to connect Doom's emergence with
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Linking Doom to Iron Man could turn a casting surprise into the emotional hinge of the next Avengers saga.
12:18 PMNew York Times Arts
Best and Worst Moments of the 2026 MTV VMAs
Summary
Madonna dominated the 2026 MTV VMAs as the ceremony tried to recreate the energy and spectacle associated with earlier editions of the show.
The ceremony leaned on Madonna as its strongest link to the VMAs’ past. That choice
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The VMAs are treating nostalgia as a strategy for regaining relevance.
10:26 AMWWD
Madonna Revisits the Shoe Mishap She Was Told Would End Her Career While Accepting Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV VMAs
Summary
While accepting Artist of the Year at the 2026 MTV VMAs, Madonna recalled losing a stiletto during her 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance, an incident once framed as a potential career-ending mistake. She made the reference while wearing classic black pumps.
Madonna turned an old performance mishap into evidence of career durability. The moment reinforces her
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The speech shows how Madonna still uses past controversy to strengthen her present-day stature.
2:22 AMBBC
Watch: Madonna and Taylor Swift win big at the MTV VMAs
Summary
Taylor Swift, Madonna, and LISA were among the major winners at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony recognized leading figures from multiple generations of pop music.
The results reinforce the VMAs' role as a platform that connects established icons with current
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The ceremony's mix of legacy and current stars shows how major music awards now preserve relevance through cross-generational appeal.
5:35 PMBloomberg Markets
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says Company Needs a 'Growth Engine'
Summary
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the company needs a new growth engine as it navigates its next phase. He also discusses his departure, claims that employees were discouraged from contacting him, and says he has not spoken with current CEO Josh D'Amaro since 2022.
Disney's central challenge is now growth, not simply managing its existing portfolio. Chapek's comments point
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Disney needs a credible growth strategy that can outlast another change in leadership.
3:36 PMBloomberg Markets
Former CEO Chapek Says Disney Erased Him From Company
Summary
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the company pushed him out and has since erased his role from its history. He says he has not returned to a Disney park since his 2022 dismissal because he is not emotionally ready.
Chapek's comments show that his removal remains a personal and reputational break, not just a
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The episode shows how leadership changes can reshape both corporate strategy and a former chief executive's legacy.
3:15 PMPolygon
Reacher Officially Renewed for Season 6 on Prime Video
Summary
Amazon MGM has renewed Reacher for a sixth season on Prime Video. The series’ source novel and release date have not yet been announced.
The renewal extends one of Prime Video’s established franchises before the next creative direction is
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Prime Video has committed to another season of a proven franchise, reinforcing Reacher as a durable platform asset.
2:00 PMPolygon
Russell Crowe’s New Crime Netflix Thriller Is Officially a Streaming Hit
Summary
Russell Crowe’s Netflix crime thriller Unabomber has reached No. 1 on the service. The film examines Ted Kaczynski’s radicalization and the FBI investigation into his bombing campaign.
The early chart position shows that true-crime material remains a powerful acquisition and discovery engine
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The performance reinforces Netflix’s reliance on recognizable stars and true-crime subjects to drive immediate viewing.
11:00 PMVariety
Dennis Haskins, ‘Saved by the Bell’ Star, Dies at 75
Summary
Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, has died at 75. His longtime agent confirmed the death, while no cause or additional details have been released.
Haskins’ death marks the loss of a defining adult presence from a franchise that shaped
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Haskins’ passing underscores the continuing cultural reach of Saved by the Bell and its original cast.
Other Developments
A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.
Todd Rundgren criticized Taylor Swift in a recent interview, calling her “the apotheosis of mediocrity” and arguing that she has damaged popular music. The remarks add to his long-running critique of contemporary music and its industry.
10:04 PMVariety
Previously lost songs recorded in 1998 by Divinyls frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett and Split Enz’s Tim Finn have been found in a garage. The recordings offer a rare glimpse of an unreleased collaboration between two prominent Australian musicians.
9:33 PMBBC
The anime adaptation of Shinzo Keigo’s manga “Hirayasumi” has released new footage, a key visual, and its principal voice cast ahead of its January 2027 premiere on NHK General TV. International streaming plans have not yet been announced.
8:43 PMVariety
Rob Lowe says a sequel to “St. Elmo’s Fire” remains in development and that a script exists. He added that the original cast is interested in returning, though no production timetable was announced.
7:48 PMVariety
George Smiley, John le Carré's iconic Cold War spy, is returning in the BBC and MGM+ series “Legacy of Spies,” with Matthew Macfadyen in the role. A first-look image provides the initial public glimpse of the new adaptation.
7:01 PMVariety
Kane Parsons says he has always envisioned a definitive ending for his Backrooms story and believes a limited series would be the best format to deliver it.
6:45 PMIGN
Dan Trachtenberg, director of Predator: Badlands, is developing a new Disney film inspired by Sleeping Beauty. The project will use the fairy tale as a starting point for an original story rather than a straightforward remake.
3:27 PMPolygonKyle MacLachlan recalls how, at 23, he began working with David Lynch on Dune before appearing in Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. In his memoir, Fictional Selves, he describes his role as a performer who helped Lynch explore unsettling material.
2:08 PMNPR ArtsPhoebe Bridgers banned phones at her concerts, requiring fans to store their devices during the show. The policy aims to make the performance more immediate and less mediated by screens.
5:00 PMNew York Times Arts
Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate discuss their roles in DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. They describe the dialogue that proved hardest to perform and their reactions to seeing the finished characters.
2:00 PMPolygon
Joe and Anthony Russo said they had long considered showing Steve Rogers’ journey to return the Infinity Stones after Avengers: Endgame. The comments address a major off-screen event left largely unexplored in the film.
1:19 PMIGN
A group of 34 fans described the money, time and effort they spent attending Harry Styles’s New York residency. Their accounts examine the full cost of concertgoing beyond the ticket’s listed price.
12:42 PMNew York Times Arts“Glee” brought musical theater into mainstream television by combining stage performers with familiar pop songs and high-school drama. The series also helped introduce a wider audience to performers who later built careers onstage and onscreen.
12:31 PMNew York Times Arts
Episode titles for Avatar: Seven Havens are being revealed exclusively in partnership with Paramount. The announcements will roll out throughout the week.
2:00 PMPolygonPaul Verhoeven’s 1995 film “Showgirls,” once treated as a humiliating failure, has gained a second life as a camp classic. Its excessive style and melodrama now invite a more complicated reading of its artistic ambitions.
8:00 AMNew York Times Arts.jpg)
Caleb Hammer’s “Financial Audit” presents financially distressed guests as cautionary examples while claiming to promote financial literacy. The series has become popular by combining practical advice with the spectacle of public embarrassment.
6:00 AMThe New Yorker — Books & Culture10:04 PMVariety
Todd Rundgren Slams Taylor Swift, Says She ‘Ruined Music’ and Is ‘the Apotheosis of Mediocrity’
Summary
Todd Rundgren criticized Taylor Swift in a recent interview, calling her “the apotheosis of mediocrity” and arguing that she has damaged popular music. The remarks add to his long-running critique of contemporary music and its industry.
Rundgren’s comments are a provocation, not evidence of a measurable shift in Swift’s position or
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The clash shows how Swift’s dominance has made her a proxy for broader arguments about taste, merit, and the economics of pop.
9:33 PMBBC
Lost songs from iconic Australian rockstar found in garage
Summary
Previously lost songs recorded in 1998 by Divinyls frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett and Split Enz’s Tim Finn have been found in a garage. The recordings offer a rare glimpse of an unreleased collaboration between two prominent Australian musicians.
The discovery can expand Amphlett’s posthumous musical legacy while giving Finn and archival producers material
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Private archives continue to recover unreleased work that can reshape the catalogues of influential musicians.
8:43 PMVariety
‘Hirayasumi’ Anime Unveils Footage, Key Visual and Lead Voice Cast Ahead of NHK Debut
Summary
The anime adaptation of Shinzo Keigo’s manga “Hirayasumi” has released new footage, a key visual, and its principal voice cast ahead of its January 2027 premiere on NHK General TV. International streaming plans have not yet been announced.
The production has moved from development into a formal marketing phase, giving the series a
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The next commercial question is whether an international distributor secures the series early enough to build attention beyond Japan.
7:48 PMVariety
Rob Lowe Says ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ Sequel Is Still ‘In the Works,’ Confirms There’s a Script: ‘All of Us Actors Want to Do It’
Summary
Rob Lowe says a sequel to “St. Elmo’s Fire” remains in development and that a script exists. He added that the original cast is interested in returning, though no production timetable was announced.
The project has moved beyond a vague reunion idea but has not reached a firm
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The sequel shows how studios continue to mine recognizable 1980s properties while testing whether legacy casts can support a modern franchise.
7:01 PMVariety
John Le Carré’s Cold War Spymaster George Smiley Returns in First Look at Matthew Macfadyen in ‘Legacy of Spies’
Summary
George Smiley, John le Carré's iconic Cold War spy, is returning in the BBC and MGM+ series “Legacy of Spies,” with Matthew Macfadyen in the role. A first-look image provides the initial public glimpse of the new adaptation.
The series gives a major streaming and public-broadcast partnership a recognizable literary asset with built-in
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A new Smiley adaptation tests the market for slower, character-driven espionage against the dominance of action-led spy franchises.
6:45 PMIGN
Backrooms Director Kane Parsons Wants a Limited Series to Pull Off Horror Franchise's 'Main Ending'
Summary
Kane Parsons says he has always envisioned a definitive ending for his Backrooms story and believes a limited series would be the best format to deliver it.
Parsons is treating The Backrooms as a contained narrative rather than an open-ended horror universe.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The format could determine whether The Backrooms becomes a focused story or another indefinitely expanding horror brand.
3:27 PMPolygon
Predator: Badlands Director is Taking on a New Disney Reboot
Summary
Dan Trachtenberg, director of Predator: Badlands, is developing a new Disney film inspired by Sleeping Beauty. The project will use the fairy tale as a starting point for an original story rather than a straightforward remake.
Trachtenberg’s move places a filmmaker associated with science fiction and action inside Disney’s live-action fairy-tale
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Disney is pairing a genre filmmaker with one of its most recognizable fairy tales in an effort to create new value from old intellectual property.
2:08 PMNPR Arts
Kyle MacLachlan says he was David Lynch's 'submersible' into dark places
Summary
Kyle MacLachlan recalls how, at 23, he began working with David Lynch on Dune before appearing in Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. In his memoir, Fictional Selves, he describes his role as a performer who helped Lynch explore unsettling material.
MacLachlan’s account frames their partnership as a sustained creative collaboration, not simply a director and
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
MacLachlan’s memoir adds an insider perspective on the collaboration that shaped Lynch’s screen legacy.
5:00 PMNew York Times Arts
How Phoebe Bridgers’s Phone Ban Changes the Concert Experience
Summary
Phoebe Bridgers banned phones at her concerts, requiring fans to store their devices during the show. The policy aims to make the performance more immediate and less mediated by screens.
The ban shifts control over concert recording from audiences back to the artist. Fans lose
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A prominent artist is treating phone-free performances as an artistic choice rather than a venue restriction.
2:00 PMPolygon
Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate talk Forgotten Island
Summary
Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate discuss their roles in DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. They describe the dialogue that proved hardest to perform and their reactions to seeing the finished characters.
The actors’ comments point to the gap between recording animated performances and evaluating them in
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The interview provides a behind-the-scenes view of the performance and design work supporting DreamWorks’ latest animated release.
1:19 PMIGN
'We Did Circle It For a Long Time, That Idea': Avengers Directors Discuss Plans to Show Steve Rogers Returning the Infinity Stones
Summary
Joe and Anthony Russo said they had long considered showing Steve Rogers’ journey to return the Infinity Stones after Avengers: Endgame. The comments address a major off-screen event left largely unexplored in the film.
The directors’ comments confirm that the missing journey was an intentional creative possibility rather than
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A previously implied chapter of the MCU remains available for expansion through a future film or series.
12:42 PMNew York Times Arts
Here’s What Fans Paid for Harry Styles Tickets at M.S.G.
Summary
A group of 34 fans described the money, time and effort they spent attending Harry Styles’s New York residency. Their accounts examine the full cost of concertgoing beyond the ticket’s listed price.
The real price of a major concert includes travel, lodging, merchandise, resale premiums and the
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Concert pricing is now an ecosystem of costs, not a single ticket number, and demand lets artists and intermediaries capture value at every stage.
12:31 PMNew York Times Arts
How ‘Glee’ Made Musical Theater Cool
Summary
“Glee” brought musical theater into mainstream television by combining stage performers with familiar pop songs and high-school drama. The series also helped introduce a wider audience to performers who later built careers onstage and onscreen.
The show changed the pathway into musical theater by making performance culture visible to viewers
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
“Glee” helped turn musical theater from a niche interest into a mass-media language with lasting effects on casting and audience formation.
2:00 PMPolygon
Avatar: Seven Havens Episode Titles Revealed (Exclusive)
Summary
Episode titles for Avatar: Seven Havens are being revealed exclusively in partnership with Paramount. The announcements will roll out throughout the week.
The staggered rollout turns basic production information into a sustained promotional event for the series.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The campaign uses controlled information releases to build attention around the next Avatar series.
8:00 AMNew York Times Arts
‘Showgirls’: The Gratuitous, Surreal Bomb That Was Maybe Brilliant
Summary
Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 film “Showgirls,” once treated as a humiliating failure, has gained a second life as a camp classic. Its excessive style and melodrama now invite a more complicated reading of its artistic ambitions.
The film’s reputation changed because audiences and critics began treating its excess as deliberate or
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
“Showgirls” demonstrates that commercial failure can become cultural durability when later viewers find a work’s excess more revealing than embarrassing.
6:00 AMThe New Yorker — Books & Culture
Caleb Hammer’s Humiliation Economy
Summary
Caleb Hammer’s “Financial Audit” presents financially distressed guests as cautionary examples while claiming to promote financial literacy. The series has become popular by combining practical advice with the spectacle of public embarrassment.
Hammer’s format turns personal financial failure into a monetizable entertainment product, creating tension between education
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The series captures a broader media economy in which vulnerability becomes content and moral instruction becomes a justification for spectacle.
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