In the weeks leading up to, and then during the fifth and final season of Hacks, Megan Stalter has run her own kind of Kaufman-esque publicity tour for both the Emmy-winning show and her personal brand.

Gossip accounts like DeuxMoi and Stalter’s own social media channels have been flooded with clips of the actress prancing around Los Angeles looking very much like she wants attention while screaming at onlookers that they’re invading her privacy. In one video, she’s reading aloud from Britney Spears’ memoir, 2023’s The Woman in Me. In another, she seems to be parodying Addison Rae’s 2024 sideboob paparazzi shot.

It’s a masterful marketing stunt that keeps her front-and-center of the zeitgeist but also lets her fanbase in on the joke.

“My favorite kinds of comedy,” Stalter tells me, “is not knowing where the bit ends. I like to explore that and, like, to create experiences and feeling.” She adds: “If I'm on stage, I want, at times, people to be like, ‘Wait. Is she serious?”

In the early seasons of Hacks, Stalter’s Kayla could have easily been an obvious, one-note joke about Hollywood nepotism. As the daughter of the head of the talent management firm where she can barely roll a call, Kayla actually wielded more power than the manager she was assigned to cover, Jimmy (played by series co-creator Paul W. Downs). Almost instantly, Stalter proved she could steal a scene simply by entering a room, and Kayla quickly became the id that lives in everyone who’s had to suck it up when they want to speak out.

The show was the first time that the actress, who’d previously found internet fame for her viral videos, had been on a real set. No one truly knew what she could do—least of all her. And, like Kayla—who’s since graduated from someone Jimmy treated like a whiny kid sister to his professional equal in their own practice—she needn’t have ever worried about being underestimated. If the final season of Hacks is about owning your legacy and going out on your own terms, no one has done it better than Kayla or the woman who plays her.

But when she’s not in character—either on Hacks or as one of her clickbaiting personalities—Stalter herself is a lot more, well, chill. When we meet in late March at the London West Hollywood, her makeup, save for a strip of aqua eyeshadow that she says is an ode to Kayla, is natural. The actress, who’d just recently accepted the Queerties Awards’ 2026 Vanguard Award in red hot pants, an American flag halter top, and a back tattoo reading “The Prettiest Girl in America,” is wearing a much more subdued Hilary MacMillan denim outfit mixed with a Courrèges polo. Her voice is also more leveled and a little husky; less rage-squeaky than what you see on any screen.

With the real Stalter, or at least the version of her that she puts on for one-on-one interviews, it’s possible to have a conversation without worrying you’re going to wake the beast. In fact, she’s emotional and measured as she carefully considers answers to each question.

Here, we discuss her knack for making memorable red carpet moments, her mentor/mentee relationship with Downs, life after Kayla, and more.

Marie Claire: Going back to the first season, it took a lot of courage and fearlessness to really own those early scenes, where you had maybe two lines.

Megan Stalter: Paul and [fellow series co-creators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky] gave me a shot, and I was going to take any second I was on screen to make the most of everything that I got to say…because it's, like, my shot. I didn't finish college, and I didn't take formal acting classes. Every red carpet appearance or anything that I get to do in front of people, I want to have fun and make the most of it because it's my dream. We worked really hard to get here, and now I want to enjoy it.

MC: Does the concept of a “character actor” mean anything now that it’s so easy to associate an actor with one or two specific characters—or types of characters—and you can make a social media feed that reflects that?

MS: I get what someone means when they say “character actor,” but I just feel like all acting is a character, right? I think it's good to be thinking of it more just as acting than I'm a character actor. It's putting you in a box. I feel like I was so lucky to do Too Much and be like this romantic lead. But, I mean, that was still a character who was a little bit wacky.

MC: Kayla and Jimmy’s relationship seems to be similar to your actual relationship with Paul. You do red carpet stunts together, like when you parodied Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner’s Marty Supreme red carpet looks at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.

MS: Me and Paul have really good chemistry together. He makes me so much better as a person and performer. And I think, [the writers] ran with that in all the other seasons because it worked in the first season, and [fans] were so sweet about loving Jimmy and Kayla.

I knew how to perform on stage or make videos myself [before Hacks], but I didn't know what it was like to be on set. I didn't know what it was like to be in a scene with someone and being so present that you really feel like it's real in that moment. I learned everything I know about acting and being present and doing emotional scenes from [this show]. It's really easy to cry in a scene with Paul because I feel so connected to him, in the scene and in real life.

MC: Yeah, but it’s one thing to get along with your coworker. And it’s another to agree to wear orange spandex together on a red carpet.

MS: I feel like [Paul’s and my] relationship, in the show and in real life, I've just seen us rub off on each other … I'm so proud when we do something crazy on the red carpet because I know that I've encouraged Paul. Watching him be so funny in the orange outfit, like that was really moving to me. The orange outfits were Paul's idea.

Paul has made me a better actor and a performer and taught me to take this really seriously. And I hope that I've encouraged his wild side.

MC: Do you have a dream red carpet outfit?

MS: I would love to come into a red carpet on a horse. I actually am more saying no to my own idea because of scaring an animal. But if it's the right event and the animal’s not scared, I want to.

MC: How long does it take to come up with these red carpet ideas?

MS: It's really just you saying yes to your own idea and then getting other people on board with it. I have such an amazing team—they are so excited when I have a weird idea, and they all make it even better and weirder. Behind every bit is eight people who make it happen and come up with a million things to add to it.

MC: You dressed like a Dunkin’ Donuts cup for the 2025 Video Music Awards and wore a DIY Diet Coke-themed bustier for the Las Culturistas Culture Awards. Are you just really thirsty?

MS: There’s just something about a pop star endorsing a drink or having a signature drink that they’re always talking about. I'd love to have a sponsorship of Sprite, or, like, ginger ale.

The coffee came from them reaching out to do a commercial. We were a part of making the outfit. I was like, it would be cool if we played with making a cup. And then my amazing stylist [Kat Typaldos] was running with it and doing the Dunkin’ bag and all that. But the Diet Coke corset was me being like, it'd be so funny to, first of all, wear something that I made, and then [have it be] something that, like, anyone can make.

MC: This is all so smart because it keeps your name in the press.

MS: Even though I feel like Hacks is a big break, I'm not looking for like [another] big break. I'm looking to just perform for forever. It's just so much fun. I think it's interesting that pop stars reinvent themselves, and actors and comedians, we can do that too. Like, literally take on different personas.

Lady Gaga is a performance artist—that's how I feel. I want to be able to do something crazy on the red carpet and take on a different persona. The acting doesn't have to end when the scene ends. We can reinvent ourselves and make fun of how serious everything is in Hollywood…I'm from Ohio. Like, I didn't know anyone famous. I know it's like a dream, but it’s also hilarious.

MC: You also still do fun bits on social media. Like when you pretend to be Jacob Elordi’s stressed-out publicist.

MS: There's this show—I'm not gonna say the name—but I heard that they were casting, and I wanted to audition for the show. [It] was a publicist character. So I started doing videos as a publicist online to try to get an audition for the show. And I chose Jacob Elordi because he's one of the most talked-about male actors, besides Timothée…I mean, if I were doing all my bits about one male actor, that would become stalkery.

MC: Wait, so did you get to audition for that show?

MS: No. I think they probably thought I wasn't right, which is totally fine. But I wanted to be like, if I can't have an audition, maybe this could be put in their head. It doesn't hurt to put out the video. I don't think I looked crazy. Also, if I looked crazy; I looked crazy. If I was casting for a show and someone did that, even if they weren't right for the part, I would think it was funny.

MC: You’ve also used the red carpet to make serious statements. Your 2025 Emmy red carpet outfit referenced the war in Gaza. You also wrote a powerful Substack after the ICE raids this winter. There, you talked about your childhood growing up in the Pentecostal church and your relationship with God. Why did you decide to post that?

MS: I felt just so overwhelmed and like, “What are we supposed to do?” [after Renée Good and Alex Pretti were killed in Minneapolis when they attempted to stop mass deportation]. And don’t we have to be angrier and fight for each other and protect each other? People are being murdered in the streets, and it’s scary.

My only answer is God and loving each other and coming together, because most people do want to do good. Most people are against murdering innocent people. Yes, there is a group of people that fully are evil and doing evil things. But I think there's a lot of our country that desperately does want to come together. I think acknowledging what's happening and seeking out…vulnerable groups of people, protecting them, and then coming together in love and joy is what will conquer the true evil in our country.

MC: Do you still go to church?

MS: I actually feel even closer to God than ever before. I was very involved in church and felt extremely close to God [and] I did missions trips. And I feel close to God in a different way, probably, now.

I don't have a regular church I go to, but I mix it up, and I go to church sometimes. And I definitely want to find a church I regularly go to so I'm looking for that. My whole message is that God is for everyone. I believe that God is for queer people. And you can't tell someone they can't have something because they're different than you.

MC: You had very researched and informed answers for some of the haters who came for you in the Substack comments, particularly when it came to LGBTQIA+ comments. This has a bigger impact because you are an out queer woman who speaks about her positive relationship with religion.

MS: There are a lot of Christians, and a lot of people with different religions, that maybe judge how certain people live. Or [they] take the Bible and misinterpret or find something and then maybe preach their own beliefs. They can use it as a weapon. It's not what it's for.

It's empowering to hear other people that maybe have gone through something similar, and talking to other queer people that believe or have a relationship with God and also are fully queer. It’s healing, because a lot of people have been told they can't have that because they are a certain way. And I feel a lot of pain hearing people's experiences because the God that I worship wouldn't tell them that they can't have a relationship because they're gay.

MC: It was announced a few years ago that you were attempting to make a TV comedy about your experiences in the church. Is there any movement on that project?

MS: That’s still in the works, but there's nothing to report. My dream is to make that because that's so much of what my heart is—to make a comedy about God, while being able to show love for those people and not be completely, like, alienating the church is something that is really important to me to show in media.

MC: You seem so calm and chill when you talk about this, which is so different from your red carpet appearances or from Kayla.

MS: When I'm doing something like that or performing, I'm in a different place. That’s what I'm meant to do, and when you're doing what you're meant to do, there's some sort of energy that comes from somewhere.

MC: Hacks is ending and Too Much was only for one season. Do you have another project coming up?

MS: I do have a secret project that's going to happen that I'm really excited about, that I can't talk about. But I know you'll be absolutely loving and engaging with it and wanting more and more and more…It’s not a TV thing, but it's gonna be really amazing and big. It sounds like I'm making an escape room.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Photographer Joelle Grace Taylor | Stylist Kat Typaldos | Hair Stylist Clayton Hawkins | Makeup Artist Melissa Hernandez | Creative Direction Alexa Wiley | Art Direction Montse Tanús | Entertainment Director Neha Prakash | Shoot location The London West Hollywood

Spring 2026 belongs to Isa Briones. The Pitt star became an Actor Award winner, returned to Broadway after two years, and made a name for herself on the street style front. She's not letting one feat stop her from achieving another, either. Hours before her 7pm performance of Broadway's Just In Time, Briones made a pit stop in a jeans outfit Dr. Trinity Santos would wear out of scrubs.

Briones traded center stage at the Circle in the Square Theatre for the Museum of Broadway, where she announced the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. She started her pre-show outfit with a classic white tank top from Calvin Klein, stacked beneath a fitted blazer. The shade of chocolate brown gave her look a relaxed, '90s-inspired feel.

Next, Briones matched her tank's sleek simplicity with dark-wash jeans. Being low-rise and wide-leg, they tapped into spring's emerging, trouser-like denim trend. Perhaps she got fashion editor Lauren Tappan's memo to "soften up the look" with boho-chic separates. Finally, pointy brown pumps emerged from beneath each Briones's hem, a move fresh from Bella Hadid's boho playbook.

Briones's fans see her in scrubs more than jeans, given she prefers statement skirts or pants trends while on-duty. Last month, she attended another theater event (the opening of off-Broadway's Seagull: True Story) in capris nearly identical to the pairs in Hadid's closet. She even styled them similarly with a peekaboo, lace-trimmed camisole and a vintage-looking blazer. Peep-toe kitten heels were the cherry on top of Briones's fresh-from-the-'90s set.

More recently on her Just In Time press tour, Briones's anti-pencil skirt took her leather moto jacket from edgy to elegant. The black, bubble-hem maxi felt so on-brand for her. She's garnered an affinity for taffeta trains on red carpets, as proven by her pink skirt at a pre-Golden Globes party. April 13 marked her trademark's first foray into street styling, though.

You might not know it from her work on The Pitt, but Briones has enough sartorial prowess to become one of your favorite fashion girls. In just a few weeks, she made trends like low-rise jeans, capri pants, and maxi skirts feel more attainable than ever. Fingers crossed Briones gets to show this non-scrubs side to herself during The Pitt Season 3.

Shop Jeans Outfits Inspired by Isa Briones

This article contains references to suicide and self-harm. For support, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

Much like a car accident on a busy freeway, season 2 of The Pitt was almost impossible to look away from. Across 14 episodes, the HBO Max drama had fans stress eating through confrontations with ICE agents, cyber attacks, psychiatric meltdowns, and head injuries. (So many head injuries.) As torturous as it might’ve been for viewers, the show treated Noah Wyle’s Dr. “Robby” Robinavitch even worse, turning the battered moral compass of season 1 into…well, a bit of a dick. He insulted colleagues, he undermined his replacement on her first day, he let federal agents terrorize his employees without much of a fight. Those slutty little glasses could only do so much for his likability. By the time the day shift workers were limping through those emergency room exit doors, all of us were anxious for the scrubbed-up president of the sad dad club to treat his severe burnout with that ominously threatened sabbatical already.

All of which is to say: We thought we knew where the finale was headed. And if The Pitt were any other show, we would’ve been right. Prestige TV has a very specific grammar for a man in Robby’s condition. The internal rot must always express itself externally. In TV speak, that usually means car crashes, a bender, maybe a disgruntled patient with a gun, or a well-placed bridge—all arriving in a show’s final installment to serve as the climax, the boiling point of all the tension and narrative foreshadowing that had been building all season long. There’d likely be a cliffhanger to keep us on the hook during the year-long hiatus. But something had to happen.

And then, it didn’t. In fact, much of nothing at all happened in the show’s season 2 finale.

Obviously, that’s not true for the patients. A pregnant woman facing an eclampsia crisis courtesy of a “wild birthing” trend; a dead guy in the waiting room; a man wheeled in with half his face shot off—they were all in on the action, but for audiences expecting to see Dr. Robby’s skull meet pavement in those waning minutes, the writers delivered something very different. The ending the show had been telegraphing since the first frame of the season premiere, was Robby on that motorcycle, helmet-less making a decision he couldn't walk back. Instead, we were treated to something more radical: Men talking about their feelings.

Robby’s buddy Duke (Jeff Kober), bless him, went straight for the jugular, wielding his own dicey heart condition as emotional leverage to ensure his friend’s return. Langdon (Patrick Ball), who'd spent the entire shift ricocheting between wounded and furious in Robby's general direction, finally landed somewhere useful: a blunt, slightly self-helpy speech about addiction, delivered by a man who'd only recently gotten honest about his own. And Abbott—Shawn Hatosy doing Emmy-earning work—delivered the most heartfelt plea, using his own mental health struggles as a hand to pull Robby out of the darkness, providing perspective from the vantage point of a man who’s looked down from the ledge many times before. The fact that none of these amateur interventionists were women might seem minor, but it isn’t.

On prestige TV, the emotional rescue of a suffering man is traditionally women's work, because it traditionally is women's work—full stop. Television didn't invent the dynamic so much as faithfully reproduce it. There’s always been “the worried wife;” the perceptive female colleague; the girlfriend who calls attention with little credit. She is, depending on the show's politics, either a saint or a nag, canonized as a long-suffering angel or vilified as an obstacle to the protagonist's self-destruction. Either way, the emotional labor is theirs, unpaid and largely thankless, and the show's sympathy almost never follows them into the next scene.

What The Pitt did was hand that job to the men and the storytelling was better for it.

The finale ends not on a highway somewhere outside Pittsburgh, but on Robby still in the building, rocking an abandoned baby to sleep with something that sounds like hope; a bedtime story imagining a full life for baby Jane Doe, and maybe for himself too.

And I am not, in any way, condoning self-harm nor suggesting that finding the will to live makes things boring (in real life or otherwise). But I am saying that TV has spent decades teaching us to expect spectacle. By not giving us one, The Pitt prioritized character development over audience expectations, and let its broken hero simply clock out and try again another day.

Strip away the head injuries and the hot takes and that’s what The Pitt is really about: the labor of care. Who gives it, who receives it, and who gets voluntold into providing it based purely on their gender and their proximity to a man who's struggling. The ER runs on that labor and the show has always been smart enough to know it. Which makes it meaningful that when Robby finally needed saving, no woman was dispatched to do it. In 2026, when male loneliness is either a crisis or a grift depending on who's talking about it, that's its own kind of argument.

The show played us, and it played us on purpose. Fourteen episodes of setup, of ominous goodbyes and motorcycle safety lectures and watching Wyle hang on by his overworked stethoscope…and the payoff was a bedtime story. The Pitt has some nerve. It also, begrudgingly, has a point.

After four seasons, can the average Industry fan say they understand shorts and investments? Maybe. But can they say without a doubt that they know good TV? Well, yes!

In season 4, which aired in early 2026, the HBO hit introduced more frenemy and professional drama between Yas (Marisa Abela) and Harper (Myha'la)—that not even one night out doing all the things Lorde sings about could make up for!—a leveled-up corporate girl wardrobe, and surprising twists. As the show expanded well beyond the confines of Pierpoint & Co., where it originally introduced its characters as junior employees, it continued to explore power, but especially in terms of what comes when those who have it are ruthless with it, as well as perception versus reality.

The show created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay wrapped up its latest eight-episode installment on March 1, 2026, with a jaw-dropping finale that's sure to leave fans eager for more. Thankfully, HBO's seen the profitability of its financial drama, and we already know its fate going forward. Read on for everything we know about Industry season 5.

Is 'Industry' renewed for season 5?

HBO has seen returns on its investments in Industry—and it's continuing to do so for one more season. The network has officially renewed Industry for season 5, after the hit drama averaged 1.7 million viewers per episode with season 4, up 30 percent from the previous installment. The Hollywood Reporter reported the news in late February 2026, one week before the season 4 finale. The outlet also confirmed that season 5 will be the show's last—which was decided by the showrunning duo, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

The showrunners shared a joint statement on Instagram about the decision. "We’re privileged to have joined the small, esteemed club of dramas that have run for five seasons on HBO. This March marks a decade since we first began to conceive of the world of Industry and it exists because of the unwavering faith and vision of our partners and former partners at HBO," they wrote. "For some time now we have been thinking about how best to end the show on an unparalleled high. Unlike some of our characters, we know when to leave a party."

The duo continued, "We’d like to thank our evangelical fan base, especially those who have watched from day one. Finally: we owe everything to our crew and the best cast on TV for making our writing live. The characters will live on because of their world class performances. Seeing the HBO ident in front of our work will never stop being a thrill. It remains the best place to make television, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration well into the future."

HBO's executive vice president of programming, Francesca Orsi, also shared a statement, per THR. "For four seasons, Industry has thrilled us while examining power, money, politics, and class. Under Mickey and Konrad’s ambitious and singular vision, it has solidified itself as an important contemporary, genre-bending drama in HBO’s lineup that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat week after week...It is gratifying that viewers and critics have recognized season four as bigger and more thrilling than ever, buoyed by career defining performances from our magnificent cast. Alongside the amazing team under executive producer Jane Tranter at Bad Wolf and executive producer Kathleen McCaffrey at Little Gems, we are so proud we can announce the fifth season of this terrific show, which Mickey and Konrad have decided will take us to the end of Industry’s story."

While it'll be a bummer to no longer check in with our favorite morally dubious characters, at least the show will get to see a fitting, planned end.

When will 'Industry' season 5 come out?

It's unclear when Industry season 5 will be released. HBO and the showrunners haven't given any word on when production is set to begin. With the renewal announced right before season 4's ending, it's fair to assume the team needs to reopen the writers's room.

However, we can look at past seasons to get a sense of how long it might take. Season 3, for example, premiered in August 2024, and then season 4 aired in early 2026. Should season 5 follow a similar schedule, we may see new episodes in summer or early fall 2027.

Who in the 'Industry' cast will return for season 5?

Industry has come a long way since it followed the junior employees on the floor of Pierpoint & Co. Just about every season has been pretty ruthless about introducing fan-favorite characters, putting them through the wringer, and then writing their conclusion. (That's not to mention some of the stars the show has spawned, like David Jonsson and Harry Lawtey, who have exited on their own accord.) But still, the show has always been centered around one of TV's most complicated frenemies: Harper (Myha'la) and Yasmin (Marisa Abela). We can assume that at the very least, they'll lead the cast in season 5.

The rest of the ensemble is a bit up in the air, considering the show could go in any number of directions for its final season. While nothing is confirmed, it seems likely that Harper's teammates, Sweetpea (Miriam Petche) and Kwabena (Toheeb Jimoh), will return. Depending on where the show goes with Yasmin's shocking madame arc, season 4 newcomer Kiernan Shipka, who plays Yas's ally Haley, could be back.

There are several names we can be certain who won't return. With Yas being very clear about wanting a divorce from Henry (and, frankly, how much he's endured!), there's likely little more we could see from him and actor Kit Harrington. The Game of Thrones alum told Variety that he's pretty certain that Yas and Henry's relationship is over, and would be happy to come back to the show if asked, but thought it was unlikely.

Relatedly, now that the story revolving around Tender is through, we can assume Max Minghella won't reprise his role as Whitney Halberstram.

Whitney's grand scheme of extortion against powerful figures also affected Ken Leung's character Eric, which meant the end of his story on Industry. While he worked to remedy his relationships, including his mentorship with Harper, in season 4, a compromising video featuring him and an underage sex worker prompted him to leave everything behind. The showrunners confirmed it was the end of the road for him while speaking to Variety. Down said, "The sendoff that we gave Ken—Eric, should I say—is kind of the most explicit sendoff we’ve ever done with a character. He’s literally walking down the road to nowhere. It was almost us paying respect to the character within what he’d done, which was heinous."

With that in mind, there's certainly room for more characters to come into the fold for the fifth and final installment. As the series nears production, we'll be sure to keep an eye out for casting news.

What will 'Industry' season 5 be about?

The Industry team has been explicit about writing the show as it goes on, which has never been more apparent than in the ambitious season 4. Outside the confines of Pierpoint, Harper ran a successful shorts-only investment fund, while Yas became the (unhappy) wife of a British aristocrat, struggling to relaunch his political career. Inevitably, the two crossed paths again when Yas's husband was tapped to run the fintech company Tender, which Harper was investigating, and blew its fraudulent activity wide open.

By the end of the season, Harper is on top, finally reaching the life of luxury she's long been chasing—and Yas is perhaps in the most compromising position than ever. In the midst of a divorce but desperate to hold onto her power, she teams up with former Tender assistant/escort Haley to run "salons" for neo-Nazi types where they're trafficking young women and girls. It's to Harper's complete horror when she attends one of the disturbing events, though Yas doubles down on what she's doing. (While the reveal may have been a surprise to some viewers, the parallels between the character and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell have long been present.)

We can expect season 5 to continue some of that storyline—but with the writers seemingly unafraid of holding back, we can only imagine they'll introduce an even wilder final face-off/reunion/make-up/break-up for complicated besties Harper and Yas. They alluded to as much while speaking with GQ. Kay said, "I feel like the show can’t get any smaller, because a smaller thing would be a backward thing. So it feels like, if anything, it just needs to grow until it tumbles under its own weight."

He continued, "For season 5, I just think it’s going to be more emotionality, more character, making sure we don’t betray our roots, and I think the valence of the show, where it’s operating in all the different worlds, the politics, the media, the intersectional stuff—I feel like the show can’t get any smaller because a smaller thing would be a backward thing. So it feels like, if anything, it just needs to grow until it tumbles under its own weight."

While there's a lot to speculate at this time, fans can rest easy that the showrunners do at least have a conclusion in mind. Down told Collider, "We know what the ending is, though. You’ve got to. You can’t write four seasons and not think about the ending."

We can't wait to see what madness they come up with!

“I support women's rights and wrongs” has become the internet's favorite catchphrase for Industry’s Harper Stern, played by Myha'la.

For three seasons, viewers have watched the Black American, twenty-something financial trader at the core of the HBO series muscle her way through a world run by wealthy, white British men. Like all great anti-heroes, she’s complex and walks the line between morally ambiguous (faking a college degree, breaking girl code) and illegal (copious drug use, insider trading). She’s a scrappy, self-made, capitalist shark in a poly-blend blazer and business slacks—or, rather, she was. Now, she wears custom suits and Cartier.

We first see Harper in Industry season 4 power-walking into her office in a three-piece skirt suit; the thigh-high slit, boxy shape, and a draped neckline feel more aligned with Paris Fashion Week runways than London’s financial district. A stiff wool trench sits on her shoulders. She wears Saint Laurent stilettos on her feet and carries a chain-link Chanel 2.55 bag in her hand.

“Harper’s look at the beginning of the season needed to have gravity,” says Laura K. Smith, Industry’s costume designer. “She’s dangerous and has a different agency now. In that first scene, I wanted that Chanel bag to mirror the wrecking ball Harper is: She swings it on its chain the same way she swings her intellect through the financial district and her world.”

In that sharp-shoulder suit designed by Smith and custom-made on Savile Row, brandishing a designer handbag like a weapon, Harper is at her peak. “She’s spent a long time as an outsider in London, her face pressed up against the glass like The Little Match Girl," says Smith. "But she’s on the inside now, officially a fully paid-up adult, the person in the room who makes the call."

This season, Harper links up with her former Pierpoint boss, Eric Tao (Ken Leung) to co-run a short-only fund at an asset-management company. Naturally, her wardrobe needed to reflect her new, bigger bank account.

Harper’s style evolution also stems from studying people in the upper echelon, both those born into it and her fellow interlopers.

“I thought a lot about inheritance this season—what's the information that's been passed down to you, and how do you wear it?," Smith says. "Eric is Harper’s mentor, and he only wears suits on the trading floor. Harper has never worn high heels because she hasn't had the license or the luxury to do so, but she's seen Yasmin (Marisa Abela) wear them and taken note. Now, Harper understands there’s cachet in a bag, a great watch, and a pair of shoes. She gets that certain garments are signifiers and buy you passports into spaces.”

Throughout the season, you’ll see a Cartier Tank Must (“Yasmin’s Cartier Tank Louis would’ve inspired her,” per Smith) and a Tag Heuer Date Link on Harper’s wrist. You'll also clock her in vintage YSL and Alaïa blazers when she’s out causing chaos in public, or Nili Lotan barrel jeans and kinky garter-clip tops from Fleur du Mal when she’s scheming from the shadows in her office. Each piece reflects Harper’s overall arc of the season: She’s in the know now.

“So much of Industry’s narrative is breathing reality into an idea until it becomes physical,” Smith says. “There's a similar feedback loop when you choose certain clothing: Are you a powerful person because you wear that garment, or does the garment make you powerful? I imagined Harper in Selfridges—rather, having a personal stylist bring her things—and picking pieces that say, I'm in control.”

Beefed-up power shoulders were another motif Smith used to signal Harper’s ascension. “In the time of Elizabeth I and Henry VIII, that triangular silhouette of a massive shoulder and smaller waist was specifically designed to command power,” she says.

We see Harper wear the very same bespoke skirt suit from the premiere again in episode 6, when she hijacks the stage at the Web Horizon Conference and exposes Tender’s fraud publicly. She's a pulled-herself-up-by-her-bootstraps pragmatist, so an outfit repeat makes sense.

“Harper has experienced what it's like to have no money,” Smith says. "These investment funds live on a knife’s edge and can easily blow up. You need clothing that can last in case you need to reinvent yourself."

Mostly, the suit call-back was symbolic, referencing Martin Bell, a member of the British Parliament in the ‘90s who was known for wearing white suits. “[Bell] was elected on the basis of hunting down sleaze and wrongdoing," Smith says. "Harper sees her fund as one that shorts and roots out bad companies. Giving her a silhouette that makes her undeniable, a uniform that commands visibility, was important.”

Despite Harper’s newfound affinity for designer labels and custom wardrobing, this is still the same character we love to hate and hate to love. In episode one, dressed in a peaked-shoulder blazer dress and Roger Vivier leather thigh-high boots, we watch Harper shred a birthday card from her estranged mother and then mock a client into having a stroke.

But Industry’s fourth season also presents Harper at her most raw and vulnerable. Episode 5 starts with Harper learning of her estranged mother’s death. She initially takes her grief out on Eric—“You think if you leave your girls some money, they’re going to love you,” she snaps—only to eventually soften and confide in her co-founder and mentor. Fittingly, she’s wearing a simple black V-neck cardigan and ultra-baggy carpenter jeans in the most tender scene we’ve seen from the two. It’s a more well-rounded, human version of Harper.

Like her wardrobe, the emotionally troubled woman has grown. After all, depth and interiority are the two key components that make all the best anti-heroes so compelling.

“I really, really love Harper,” Smith says, with a soft smile. “Yes, she does some scurrilous things, but she always has her reasons. The things that people praise in men, they disparage in her; she’s exceptional in her field, both reading and creating the financial weather around her. She works in ways people don’t understand, and we haven't ever had a woman like Harper represented on screen. It’s really fun to watch—and it’s a lot of fun to dress her."

As all the best villains do, Harper now has a signature, legible look. Tony Soprano had his bowling shirts and bathrobes. Don Draper has his penguin suits. And Harper Stern has her power shoulder blazers and knife stilettos.

This story contains spoilers about Industry season 4, episode 6, "Dear Henry." Midway through season 4 of Industry, Kiernan Shipka sent the internet ablaze when her character, Haley, pulls a psycho-sexual Uno reverse on Marisa Abela’s Yasmin in the confines of an elevator. With one impeccable, snarky “Thank you, Mommy,” she launched countless GIFs and inspired even more viewers to tune into the HBO hit. But beyond that, the star also made it even clearer that there’s a lot more to the executive assistant than meets the eye.

In episode 6, “Dear Henry,” when shit hits the fan at Tender, Haley finally casts aside all professional pleasantries, unveiling who she really is. As it turns out, Tender head Whitney (Max Minghella) hired Haley from an escort service; her job description includes managing his schedule, sending emails, and committing extortion by getting herself and other escorts alone with powerful men.

As Shipka sees it, the role and its layers couldn’t have yielded a higher return on investment. “It’s fun to have a secret and slowly uncover it,” she tells Marie Claire over Zoom in January. “[At] the premiere, they only showed the first episode, and I remember being at the after-party and someone coming up to me being like, ‘I'm so scared for her. I'm so worried for her,’ which was funny to hear. I was like, ‘I think she'll be fine.’”

In the February 15th episode, not only does Haley confront Whitney, she also opens up to Yasmin in hopes of forming an alliance, so she, too, can remain within arm's reach of wealth and access and not go down with her boss and Tender. When Yasmin asks if the tryst between her, Haley, and her husband—Tender’s newly-appointed CEO, Henry (Kit Harrington)—was recorded as a part of Whitney’s schemes, Haley doesn’t give a straight answer. She may be at the bottom of the corporate ladder, but she’s savvy enough to wield what little power she has while trying to climb it.

The fact that Haley kept Industry fans guessing throughout season 4 is all to Shipka’s credit. The 26-year-old Mad Men alum masters the dichotomy of Haley’s good-girl-in-a-cardigan act as much as her true, devious party-girl form.

“We're such different people, and we move about the world in such a different way, but I feel like the thing that I could really deeply relate to was this idea of playing other people,” she says.

With Haley liberated from Whitney’s management following Sunday night’s episode, Shipka tells Marie Claire about what she makes of her character’s big reveal, what it’s like partying with the cast and crew of Industry, and what she really thinks of the show’s comparisons to Mad Men.

Marie Claire: There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Haley, and then the truth comes out in episode six. When you signed on, how much did you know about the character?

Kiernan Shipka: I knew what she did for [Whitney]. That was a pretty early conversation, just because I wanted to know everything that I could about her, especially playing someone who's so mysterious and revealed over time. I wanted to make sure that it all made sense.

I feel like, for the majority of the season, Haley is holding her cards close to her chest. She's breadcrumbing little bits here and there about who she really is, but she's playing a character [herself]. So to get to finally lay it all out and be a more authentic version of who she really is was so fun and so freeing because she played such a good game throughout the show. It was fun to let it rip and let more of the truth out. There was something very cathartic about that.

MC: What did you make of Haley in the moment when she confronts Whitney?

KS: I think that, for a long time, Haley felt she had to justify these things that she was doing and was feeling trapped in the Tender/Whitney situation until Yasmin proved to be a life raft out. I think there was a lot that she felt like she had to endure and do in service of getting what she wanted or getting something that Whitney promised her that never actually came to be. It was a big release for her because I think, before that, she felt like she couldn't leave, and she was scared to leave. Now, I think we see a version of her that's ready to go and is able to, for the first time, feel and say all these things she's actually been bottling up for a really long time.

MC: And then when Yas asks her if the encounter with Henry was filmed, you do this amazing little lip quiver. I need to know whether that was scripted or how you arrived there.

KS: When in doubt, Haley still wants to have options. I think she’s always—even in her most vulnerable moments—looking at the situation from a strategic point of view and always wants to have a few cards only for her. That was one of those moments that we wanted to play intentionally unsettling and vague because, at the end of the day, the potential existence of that tape has a lot of potential to come back around or be a lot of things. The power of her saying so much with saying so little was the goal there.

MC: There’s so much to unpack in Haley and Yas’s conversation, but it’s interesting how she says she wants to get closer to her because she’s learned that “access is what makes you rich.” Do you feel like there's truth in that? Or, how might you have related to that line of thinking?

KS: I definitely understand that line of thinking. I think that what Haley has been chasing—maybe she's thought for a while—is money, but what it really is is belonging. I think that her driving force is feeling untouchable and like she belongs. She doesn't want just a nice apartment to go home to, but not be invited to the party. She wants to be in the center of it all, and I definitely think that line was very astute. I think she sees the fleeting nature of money and then spending that money, versus the longstanding nature of having access or status, even though that can shift and rise and fall as well. She is realizing the staying power is not all just based in getting a check.

MC: In that moment, Haley also insists that she and Yas understand each other. Why do you think that is?

KS: I think it's their relationships with men. In the earlier episodes, there was this sort of unspoken spiritual bond because they've both endured some gnarly stuff and are still standing and protecting themselves in all the specific ways that they do. I think they're both incredibly charismatic and use that as a weapon.

What I think is very interesting about their relationship is that it's not really built on trust, but it is built on understanding. They both realize they would benefit from each other's existences in their lives, even if they're on shaky ground. They both would rather have each other and have more access and more of a chance to do whatever it is that they're about to do. They're both incredibly complicated people, and they're both incredibly flawed people, and they see a lot of the same want to belong in each other.

MC: Yas and Haley are the latest example in a trend of recent movies and shows about imperfect mentorship or an imbalanced power dynamic between a woman in a position of power and another woman who’s her junior. What interests you about these dynamics?

KS: There's something endlessly fascinating about who has the ball in a power dynamic. Especially in a power dynamic between two women, but really in any power dynamic, this idea that one person has the power at all times is this binary way of looking at it. This idea of there being nuance within that and complexities within that, especially in the current day and age, is so ripe for discussion and discourse.

It’s because there’s not a finish line—that's the endlessly fascinating thing about these shows and films, or with Haley and Yas. It's not done. It's not a fixed thing. There are ways for it to shift or seesaw, and I think there's something incredibly modern about that and incredibly exciting to watch. And all of that aside, it also just keeps you on the edge of your seat.

MC: You’ve been in the entertainment industry for a while. Did you relate to Haley’s ability to alter people’s perceptions of her, or maybe overcome being underestimated?

KS: I definitely think Haley knows how people see her or how she appears, and then plays with that and surprises people. I definitely relate to that. There's almost a meta quality to me playing this character, because there is a surprising nature to me in this part, inherently because of my history, having been a child in the public eye. As different as we are, I think that there were parts of her that I could really find myself in, too.

MC: How did you get into Haley’s headspace? Did you make a party-girl playlist or anything like that?

KS: All sorts of stuff. I journaled her. I really did her whole backstory. That's what I do for every character that I play. I want to know how they grew up, where they grew up, why they want what they want, how they were raised with their family—so that by the time that I'm in their shoes, I'm not confused. I don't want there to be questions.

I'm a big music listener, and I feel like I was listening to whatever I already was, plus extra fun stuff. The club scene that we did, [showrunner] Mickey [Down] actually had a DJ friend named DJ Tennis, and he literally DJ-ed. So, there was actual music going on during that, and a lot of the music was also written into the script itself. That was fun. There's a lot of footage out there of me trying to crawl into the DJ booth and getting rejected that didn't end up making the cut. It’s like me begging DJ Tennis let me into his booth and him just being like, Ugh, this girl.

MC: What is it like being a part of a show where the characters do not hold back and often show the worst parts of themselves?

KS: It's fun. It's great. We meet Haley at her most raw and unapologetic and reckless, for better or for worse. And that version of Haley circles back when she has the confrontation with Whitney. I see her in all these different parts, and it was fun to return to something that felt a little bit more recklessly abandoned, if you will.

I don't ever really approach anything from a place of judgment. I don't think you really can when you're performing. When you're playing someone else, you have to throw that out the window, and once it comes out, you can say, “Oh, I wouldn't do that.” But while doing it—to be able to escape into someone else and throw away judgment and really play with this new person—it's so exciting.

MC: Haley is at the scene of the crime in many of this season’s wilder moments. Which was your favorite to film?

KS: I really enjoyed screaming out Charlie [Heaton] at the beginning of the season. I didn't realize how funny that scene is until watching it back with an audience. There are certain scenes where, after I do them, I can drop my shoulders, and I know the character, where they're going, or like an important piece was done. After we did that scene, I felt like, Okay, we're in the car. It's moving. Let's do this. I felt really energized.

MC: There are a lot of comparisons between Industry and Mad Men. As a former Mad Men star, what do you think of them?

KS: They're really accurate. I binged [Industry] before I went to Wales to start filming the season, and I had not heard those comparisons before, but immediately I went, Oh my gosh, there's some stuff about it that's very Mad Men. I mentioned it to [showrunner] Konrad [Kay]—just casually wanted to drop it. He goes, “Oh, yeah. I've seen Mad Men four times through.” I think there's something in their subconscious that creates with Mad Men in mind, in the best way.

They're so wildly different in tone and in theme, and the characters are so different that the comparison feels really genuine and nice. Not like it's a replica by any means, but there are some dynamics in that show and some moments that really feel like subtle homages.

MC: You said a little over a year ago that you were trying to have more fun and untether yourself from control and perfectionism. Was challenging yourself with a role like Haley part of that journey?

KS: Oh, for sure. This whole experience was the epitome of fun and untethering. [Laughs] I didn't even think about that, but I really did say that, and I think I kept my promise to myself because this was exactly that. There's always a relinquishing of control when you're in a new place, on a new set. And there are so many different ways that things could go, and you can only do so much to service the character and the story, and then the rest is out of your control. And then also, this cast and crew are incredibly fun and like to have fun. I definitely said yes to all the fun nights, too, so there was that.

MC: Considering you had so much fun working with the cast and crew, do you have any favorite memories from going out with everybody?

KS: After that very intense Yas/Haley scene in episode six, where I reveal all, I got my things and drove straight to Glastonbury to meet Mickey and Konrad. Marisa [Abela] had two more scenes to do, but made it by the evening, and we had such a fun time. I'd never seen Charli xcx live. That was my number one. I felt like I really was in the center of the entire music festival, even though I wasn't, but I was in the crowd. Glastonbury was a magical, life-changing experience, and I'm glad I didn't have to work on Monday. Some of them did, though.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Not-so-fun fact for the movie buffs out there: Documentary films are fully eligible for the Best Picture trophy at the Academy Awards, but have yet to secure a single nomination in the category in the Oscars’s 98-year history. Sure, they’re eligible for two other doc-specific categories, but their absence from the night’s biggest slot might be the Academy’s most egregious and enduring snub. After all, nonfiction films have taken home the top awards at other prestigious events throughout the decades, including at the Cannes, Venice, and Berlin film festivals.

There’s also the fact, of course, that documentaries can be just as gripping and powerful as narrative features and require just as much artistry—if not more so—to tell a real-life story.

Luckily for us true-story truthers, just like last year, 2026 promises to bring a packed slate of deeply moving, thought-provoking, and entertaining documentary films and docuseries, many of which we’ve lined up below as our most anticipated of the year, from eye-opening looks at Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping and the war in Gaza to a Billie Eilish concert film directed by James Cameron (yes, really). We'll be updating this list throughout the year with even more films sure to educate, entertain, and, just maybe, snag an Oscar nomination.

The Best Documentaries of 2026 (So Far)

'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart'

Release date: January 21

In the more than two decades after Elizabeth Smart’s infamous abduction at the age of 14, when she was held for nine months by a couple in Utah and California, her story has been told in a variety of true-crime TV specials, documentaries, and dramatizations. The latest doc about her, from Netflix, retells the horrific story and features new interviews with Smart, her family, and investigators, allowing Smart not only to reclaim agency over her own story but also to share an optimistic look at her healing journey and full life since then.

WATCH IT

'Natchez'

Release date: January 30

The economy of the small town of Natchez, Mississippi, is largely centered around a tourism industry focused on revisiting the Antebellum South. This film, which won the Best Documentary Feature award at last year’s Tribeca Festival, dives into the implications of that practice, following locals as they grapple with what it means to keep such a horrific period of the past alive in the present.

WATCH IT

'The Investigation of Lucy Letby'

Release date: February 4

The story of Lucy Letby rocked the U.K. and the entire world in the late 2010s as the neonatal nurse was found guilty on several counts of murder and attempted murder of infants she was supposed to be caring for. This Netflix true-crime doc recounts the story, offering never-before-seen footage of Letby’s investigation, arrest, and questioning.

WATCH IT

'Queen of Chess'

Release date: February 6

Call it The Queen’s Gambit IRL. This Netflix film tells the incredible story of Judit Polgár, who emerged in the late ‘80s as a 12-year-old Hungarian chess prodigy. The doc explores how she spent the 13 years of her career working toward a goal of beating the highest-ranked man in chess—all while shattering long-held beliefs about what girls and women could accomplish in the sport.

WATCH IT

'Beam Me Up, Sulu'

Release date: February 17

In the 1960s, Star Trek broke new ground with its dedication to diversity and inclusion on TV screens across the country. 20 years later, a Trekkie made a long-shot ask to George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in the show, to star in his Star Trek-themed student film. Takei agreed, and after being lost for 40 years, the footage has finally been recovered and appears in this new doc, which charts the still-reverberating impact of Star Trek’s positive representation of a truly diverse team working together in harmony.

WATCH IT

'The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control'

Release date: March 6

This inspiring doc unpacks the years-long battle it took to get the first prescription drug for female hypoactive sexual desire disorder approved by the FDA. The charge was led by Cindy Eckert, who refused to back down until Addyi—often referred to as “female Viagra”—was finally made available in 2015.

WATCH IT

'Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere'

Release date: March 11

Prolific BBC filmmaker Louis Theroux made his Netflix debut this year with this investigation into the (very) dark underbelly of the so-called “manosphere,” the realm of extreme hypermasculinity, misogyny, and racism that, very disturbingly, is increasingly gaining cultural traction.

WATCH IT

'Keep Quiet and Forgive'

Release date: March 23

Years after being assaulted within her Amish community, a woman named Lizzie stepped up to lead a movement of other Amish and Mennonite survivors who demanded justice in place of their communities’s traditional secrecy and silence around sexual abuse. Their powerful fight is documented in this film, which arrived on PBS this spring after making the festival rounds last year.

WATCH IT

'The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist'

Release date: March 27

Daniel Roher, who directed the Oscar-winning 2022 documentary Navalny, returns to co-direct this film, following his journey to understand the impacts of the artificial intelligence boom on his future children’s lives. Though much chatter about AI tends toward the extremes of either apocalyptic or revolutionary, The AI Doc lands somewhere more in the middle, while still promising audiences a “wake-up call” about the technology.

WATCH IT

'Marc by Sofia'

Release date: March 27 in theaters

Sofia Coppola’s first-ever documentary feature is focused on her longtime friend and collaborator, Marc Jacobs. It primarily tracks the making of the fashion designer’s Spring 2024 collection, while also offering flashbacks into the early days of his career and the two icons’s extremely chic friendship.

WATCH IT

'A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough'

Release date: April 17

In 1978, the naturalist David Attenborough traveled to Rwanda for his Life on Earth series, which highlighted his playful interactions with a young gorilla named Pablo and raised awareness of the mountain gorilla’s dwindling population and need for protection. Half a century later, this documentary film, narrated by Attenborough, returns to Rwanda to catch up with Pablo’s descendants and chart the incredible results of those conservation efforts.

WATCH IT

The Best Documentaries Coming Soon in 2026

'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)'

Release date: May 8 in theaters

Billie Eilish has already starred in a (fascinating) documentary about her creative process and life on the road, 2021’s The World’s a Little Blurry. She’s back on the big screen this spring for a more traditional 3D concert film, but in a less-traditional twist, she’s joined as co-director by none other than James Cameron. I’ll say it: Billie could do Titanic, but Leonardo DiCaprio could never do “Birds of a Feather.”

WATCH THE TRAILER

'American Doctor'

Release date: TBA

This powerful film centers on three doctors of different backgrounds who travel from the U.S. to Gaza to lend their much-needed medical expertise amid the ongoing war. In addition to offering lifesaving care, the Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian trio also shed light in interviews on wartime horrors that have been concealed from outside journalists and speak out publicly about the terrible situation they’ve witnessed up close.

'Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That' the Weight of the World)'

Release date: TBA on HBO Max

After helming much-lauded films about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and Sly and the Family Stone, award-winning musician and writer Questlove is turning his lens on legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire. The doc is set to open this summer's Tribeca Festival, followed by a wider release via HBO Max, which revealed last fall that it had secured the film for a 2026 debut on its platform, saying it would feature “exclusive access to the band’s archives of visual, audio, and written material” to chronicle its cultural impact and legacy.

'The History of Concrete'

Release date: TBA

Fans of John Wilson’s HBO docuseries, How to With John Wilson, know that his creative projects often take bizarre, unexpected, and hilarious turns, and this full-length feature is no exception. It follows the filmmaker’s journey making a wide-ranging documentary about concrete, using the techniques he learned at a workshop about making Hallmark movies.

'Oz'

Release date: TBA

Another 2026 doc with no firm release date—but with plenty of excitement surrounding it—is an upcoming film that delves into the surprisingly messy backstory of the making of The Wizard of Oz in 1939, with Leonardo DiCaprio signed on to produce. According to Variety, the film will include “never-before-seen or heard footage and audio to explore how the beloved classic was forged in crisis during the height of the Hollywood studio era, and why it became and remains one of the most influential films ever made.”

Marie Claire editors are Heated Rivalry's target audience: hockey romance readers, avid HBO bingers, and always on the lookout for fashion guys. So, when Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, and Robbie Graham-Kuntz all attended Saint Laurent's Fall 2026 Menswear show, it became our Super Bowl.

After covering Haute Couture Week's buzziest front rows, we shifted our focus to another part of Paris, where Saint Laurent hosted our favorite (fictional) hockey players. Connor Storrie picked up where Hudson Williams left off at last week's Armani show, wearing an oversize, '70s-inspired suit set with Saint Laurent Spring 2026 tags.

Stylist James Yardley stacked a mustard yellow button-down beneath a shoulder-padded khaki blazer, which complemented his high-rise trousers. (It's giving Patrick Swayze-level suave, right?) To match the effortless, cool-guy charm of his rolled-up sleeves, Storrie accessorized with aviator sunglasses and a metallic bronze tie. Half of it remained inside the button-down; a signature motif in creative director's Anthony Vaccarello's Spring 2026 show. (Tucked-in ties returned this time around, too.)

François Arnaud traded Scott Hunter's New York Admirals jersey for head-to-toe Saint Laurent Fall 2025 selects, beginning with a pinstripe button-down. Then, stylist Luca Kingston followed the model's lead by stacking a striped black-and-gray tie on top.

His black trousers took a trendy turn alongside a leather trench coat. Arnaud is the latest male celebrity to channel Rihanna's affinity for straight-out-of-the-Matrix outerwear, behind Bad Bunny and A$AP Rocky. However, the Heated Rivalry effect proves he won't be the last.

Hudson Williams was noticeably absent from Saint Laurent's guest list, but Robbie Graham-Kuntz, a.k.a. Kip, held down the hunky, fashion guy fort. GK's Fall 2025 look debuted steps after Arnaud's on the catwalk, though he took creative liberties with his menswear.

Instead of over-the-knee boots—the collection's divisive hero piece—he paired his leather pants, white button-down, and black suit tie with loafers. Perhaps he's saving the $4,500 boots worn by Jonathan Bailey, Pedro Pascal, and Alexander Skarsgård for the after party. (They'd sure mark quite the shift from hockey skates.)

Heated Rivalry Season 1 didn't just gift audiences a whole hockey team of celebrity crushes. The fashion industry has an entirely new class of muses to dress, invite to shows, and cast in campaigns. So far, Giorgio Armani, Dsquared2, Donatella Versace, and Saint Laurent have boarded the Heated Rivalry bandwagon. But with Fashion Month on the horizon, the front-row invitations will just keep coming.

If you're a diehard TV fan, chances are you're a bit behind in your watchlist. So many must-watch shows came out last year, from the returns of juggernauts like The White Lotus and Stranger Things to surprise word-of-mouth hits like The Pitt and Heated Rivalry. Now that 2026 is fully underway, it's time to take note of which upcoming shows will command the cultural conversation this year—and which are already out and worth bingeing.

That's where I come in, a full-time culture writer whose literal job is to keep up with the overwhelming amount of media coming our way. Throughout the year, I'll be keeping track of the best and buzziest TV shows coming to Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV, and more. Read on for my picks for the best TV shows of 2026 so far.

The Best TV Shows of Winter 2026

'The Pitt' season 2

Release Date: January 8, airing weekly on HBO Max

Starring: Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, Sepideh Moafi, Lucas Iverson, Irene Choi, and Meta Golding

Paging Dr. Robby! The Emmy-winning medical series is back for its second year, picking up 10 months later on a Fourth of July day shift. Some of the season-long arcs include Langdon's (Ball) first day back at work after rehab, the introduction of new med students Ogilvy (Iverson) and Joy (Choi), and Robby's (Wyle) power struggle with Dr. Al-Hashimi (Moafi), his replacement for an upcoming sabbatical.

WATCH IT

'Industry' season 4

Release Date: January 11, airing weekly on HBO

Starring: Myha'la, Marisa Abela, Ken Leung, Sagar Radia, Miriam Petche, Kit Harrington, Kiernan Shipka, Toheeb Jimoh, Max Minghella, Kal Penn, and Charlie Heaton

After bringing its Pierpoint era to an end in the season 3 finale, HBO's most undersung series reinvents itself in its fourth season. Harper (Myha'la) now leads her own team funded by a powerful backer, while Yasmin (Abela) navigates her new role as Henry's (Harrington) dutiful wife. Add a buzzy fintech start-up that enters everybody's orbit, and we're promised a propulsive new season.

WATCH IT

'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette'

Release Date: February 12, airing weekly on FX/Hulu

Starring: Sarah Pidgeon, Paul Kelly, Naomi Watts, Grace Gummer, Sydney Lemmon, and Alessandro Nivola

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Ryan Murphy debuted his latest anthology based on a true story, after American Crime Story and American Sports Story. The first iteration of Love Story follows the whirlwind romance between Carolyn Bessette (Pidgeon), then a Calvin Klein employee, and scion John F. Kennedy, Jr. (Kelly). Their relationship was the subject of constant tabloid fodder before ending in tragedy, and the series imagines what went on in their private relationship. Come for the incredible performances, stay for the '90s fashion inspiration.

WATCH IT

'Boyfriend on Demand'

Release Date: March 6 on Netflix

Starring: Jisoo, Seo In-guk, Ha Young, Gong Min-jeung, Jo Han-chul, Lee Hak-joo, Kim Sung-cheol, Lee Soo-hyuk, Seo Kang-jun, and Yoo In-na

If you like your love stories more comedic than dramatic, this K-drama rom-com follows office worker Seo Mi-rae (Jisoo) as she tests a dating VR game with love interests based on all the best romance tropes. This series excels in balancing its escapist premise with a thoughtful, realistic look at love in the modern age.

WATCH IT

The Best TV Shows Coming in Spring 2026

'The Comeback'

Release Date: March 22, airing weekly on HBO

Starring: Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Tim Bagley, Jack O'Brien, Andrew Scott, Matt Cook, Ella Stiller, John Early, Barry Shabaka Henley, Abbi Jacobson, Tony Macht, Brittany O'Grady, Zane Phillips, and Julian Stern

Lisa Kudrow's cult-classic Hollywood satire returns for a third and final season, 21 years after its 2005 debut and almost 12 years since its 2014 sophomore season. We can't wait to see how sitcom star (and now executive producer!) Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) handles what Hollywood has become, from TikTok and Hot Ones to AI and streaming.

WATCH THE TRAILER

'The Testaments'

Release Date: April 8, airing weekly on Hulu

Starring: Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti, Lucy Halliday, Rowan Blanchard, and Mattea Conforti

Brace yourselves for a return to Gilead. Hulu's follow-up to The Handmaid's Tale will adapt Margaret Atwood's 2019 sequel novel, with Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia. The series will follow a new group of young women—including June's (Elisabeth Moss) now-16-year-old daughter, Hannah, known as Agnes (Infiniti), as she struggles to come of age in the dystopia.

WATCH THE TRAILER

'Euphoria' season 3

Release Date: April 12, airing weekly on HBO

Starring: Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Eric Dane, and Colman Domingo

It's been a long wait for Euphoria fans—so long that its characters have aged out of high school and college—but season 3 of the pop-culture phenomenon is just months away. The new episodes will pick up five years after graduation, with dozens of new stars (including Rosalía!) filling out the East Highland crew's new lives in L.A., N.Y.C., Mexico, and...the suburbs?

WATCH THE TRAILER

'Margo's Got Money Troubles'

Release Date: April 15, airing weekly on Apple TV

Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Angarano, and Nick Offerman

All you need to hear to be excited for this show: David E. Kelley adapts Rufi Thorpe's buzzy 2024 novel, Michelle Pfeiffer and (newly minted Oscar nominee) Elle Fanning leading the cast. It follows Margo (Fanning), a 20-year-old single mom, as she searches for a way out of poverty after getting pregnant by her English professor.

WATCH THE TRAILER

'Beef' season 2

Release Date: April 16 on Netflix

Starring: Charles Melton, Cailee Spaney, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Song Kang-ho, and Youn Yuh-jung

Netflix and A24's acerbic drama finally returns, three years after its Emmy-winning debut. The anthology's second season is a tale of two couples employed at an exclusive L.A. country club. When the younger pair (played by Melton and Spaeny) witness a fight between the elder (Isaac and Mulligan), they "use the recording to get ahead in their own careers," per Vanity Fair.

WATCH THE TEASER

'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed'

Release Date: May 20, airing weekly on Apple TV

Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Jake Johnson, Brandon Flynn, Murray Bartlett, Jessy Hodges, Jon Michael Hill, Charlie Hall, Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg, Nola Wallace, and Dolly De Leon

Once again, Apple TV comes through with a star-studded cast and a can't-miss premise: "Convinced she witnessed a crime—while simultaneously struggling through a custody battle and an identity crisis—Paula (Maslany) begins her own investigation, one that could unravel a greater conspiracy while also holding the keys to rebuilding her family and sense of self."

The Best TV Shows Coming Summer 2026

'Lucky'

Release Date: July 15, airing weekly on Apple TV

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Fichtner

In her first television role since The Queen's Gambit and Peaky Blinders, Anya Taylor-Joy returns to the small screen in this adaptation of Marissa Stapley's novel. The thriller miniseries follows the titular con artist (Taylor-Joy) as she flees from both sides of the law after a multi-million-dollar heist gone wrong.

WATCH THE TEASER

'The Vampire Lestat'

Release Date: TBA on AMC

Starring: Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Jennifer Ehle, and Sheila Atim

The third season of AMC's Interview with the Vampire will adapt the second novel in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles series, with Lestat (Reid) taking center stage as he ascends to rock royalty. Come for the original songs and Lestat-Louis (Anderson) toxicity, stay for the TV debut of legendary characters like Akasha (Atim).

WATCH THE FIRST LOOK

The Best TV Shows Coming Soon

'Hacks' season 5

Release Date: TBA on HBO Max

Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Meg Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and Christopher Briney

Though it's currently unclear whether season 5 will be Hacks's last, we're guaranteed at least one more season of Ava (Einbinder) and Deborah (Smart) hijinks. After that false death announcement in the season 4 finale, Deborah will return to the U.S. (more specifically, N.Y.C.!) for what's sure to be a hilarious comeback.

'Half Man'

Release Date: TBA on HBO Max

Starring: Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, Mitchell Robertson, and Stuart Campbell

In his highly anticipated Baby Reindeer follow-up, the renowned series creator Richard Gadd once again examines masculinity, this time via a decades-spanning family drama. According to the logline, "When Niall's (Bell) estranged 'brother' Ruben (Gadd) shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives."

'House of the Dragon' season 3

Release Date: TBA on HBO

Starring: Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Harry Collett, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, and Phia Saban

2026 is a big year for Game of Thrones fans: Not only did A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiere in January, but House of the Dragon returns for its third season. Though HotD has gone through some drama behind the scenes, here's hoping the battles foreshadowed in season 2 will be as epic as its predecessor's.

The Game of Thrones universe is expanding with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new adaptation from George R.R. Martin’s canon. The HBO series is another prequel set in the fictional Westeros, based on Martin’s novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg that follow Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey), future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and his squire “Egg” (Dexter Sol Ansell), who would later become King Aegon V Targaryen.

Egg’s explosive brother, Prince Aerion Targaryen, aptly nicknamed Aerion the Monstrous and played by Finn Bennett, becomes an obstacle in Dunk’s path as the two duke it out as the embodiments of good and evil. But despite stepping into the franchise as this show’s villain, Bennett didn’t watch the original series until the pandemic. “Lockdown was obviously really miserable, but at least I had Game of Thrones,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2025. “One of the great things about the show—and where a lot of fantasy shows faltered—is that it’s so political in looking at a kind of War of the Roses setup between these great and noble houses.”

While the actor initially thought he had “flubbed” his A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms audition, he stepped into the role right after shooting the 2025 A24 war film Warfare. Ahead, get to know Finn Bennett, the actor who is giving us Joffrey-levels of evil in the latest Game of Thrones offshoot.

Finn Bennett started acting with his sister when they were young.

Born in Hackney, London, in 1999, Bennett wasn’t raised around the arts. His father, Ronan Bennett, is a novelist and screenwriter of Irish descent, and his late mother, Georgina Henry, was a journalist, making him the first person in his family to pursue this exact line of work. Still, he didn’t always know he wanted to be an actor; as a child, he contemplated joining the circus or becoming a marine biologist.

Despite their creative pursuits, Bennett’s parents didn’t push an artistic career on him, but rather exposed their children to acting as a form of therapy. “When my sister and I were younger, she was going through a difficult time…On a friend's recommendation, my parents sent us both to a stage school on Saturday, which was an hour of music, an hour of dancing, and an hour of drama, and the hour of drama became my favourite hour of the week,” he told 5 Eleven Mag in 2024. At 10, he realized he had found his calling and was soon performing at their local Her Majesty’s Theatre, and made his television debut in 2010 on Foyle’s War.

Though he started in stage productions, Bennett has admitted that he prefers screen acting. “I like rules about the screen, and I enjoy working in a tight environment. That's not to say I wouldn't ever want to do theatre again…But I like something about the rules of film. I love a set. I love how many people it takes to make a movie or a TV show, and you become this big troupe, and that's exciting,” he said.

Finn Bennett’s role in 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' was his introduction to horseback riding.

To truly become a Westerosi knight, Bennett had to learn horseback riding and sword fighting. He told WWD that he was surprised by the weight of the swords and that riding a horse was his favorite activity, which he plans to continue doing in his personal life.

Physical activities weren’t the only things Bennett did to prepare for this role. He also leaned on music, telling GQ Australia that Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Rage Against the Machine were the soundtrack for getting into Aerion Targaryen’s head on set. He dubbed Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” as “Aerion’s theme song”—an apt title for the prince’s demeanor.

Finn Bennett received the prestigious 2025 Cannes Trophée Chopard award.

Bennett joined the ranks of Gael García Bernal, James McAvoy, and John Boyega when he was identified as an emerging young actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. “I didn’t really believe it at first,” he told WWD about being chosen as 2025’s Trophée Chopard recipient. “I looked up the previous recipients, and there are some really amazing people on there—not just well-known, but brilliant actors who do the kind of projects I want to do.”

Angelina Jolie was the award presenter, and Bennett used his speech to thank his agent of over a decade. “Your agent is reading all those scripts, selecting you for projects, fighting for you,” he noted in the speech. “Now that we’ve moved into more American projects, she’s on the phone at midnight—I’m not. I just get to reap the rewards.”

Leading up to the award, Bennett starred in two high-profile television shows: HBO’s True Detective: Night Country and Netflix’s Black Doves. Starring opposite Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country as Officer Peter Prior was a career highlight for Bennett. “That role could have just been a plot device,” he said. “But [showrunner] Issa López gave him this massive journey. He really affected me.”

He also starred in the A24 film Warfare alongside D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton—a group of actors he told The Hollywood Reporter he’s still in touch with every day.

Next, he’ll appear in another buzzy A24 film: The Backrooms, a horror movie from 20-year-old YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons that’s set for release later this year.

Light spoilers for the first six Game Changers books ahead. Like most of the internet, we at Marie Claire cannot stop thinking about Heated Rivalry. The Crave/HBO Max series and global phenomenon follows the romance between Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two professional hockey players who secretly fall in love as their on-ice rivalry becomes the stuff of sports legend. The show's first season was such an instant word-of-mouth hit in December 2025 that a second season is already in the works.

Of course, before it was an acclaimed TV series, Heated Rivalry first came to life as a novel, written by Canadian author Rachel Reid. Shane and Ilya's love story is the second book in Reid's Game Changers series, which features standalone books following different gay couples in the world of hockey. Though the Heated Rivalry duo are the novel queer series's most beloved characters—as evident by the fact that they're the only couple with a sequel novel—anyone looking for their next hockey-romance obsession will likely find a new fave couple among the rest of the series.

As we wait for Heated Rivalry season 2 to arrive on streaming, read on for everything you need to know about Rachel Reid's Game Changers series, from how to read the books in order to when the newly-announced seventh Game Changers novel is set to hit bookstores.

Book 1 — 'Game Changer' (Scott and Kip)

Fans of the show Heated Rivalry are already acquainted with the pair that introduced readers to the Game Changers universe. Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals, is a star center who's going through a bit of a slump on the ice. One day, he happens upon the Straw+Berry smoothie shop, and sparks instantly fly when he meets grad student Kip. Soon, Scott's a regular at the shop, as Kip's smoothies (and flirting) spur him out of his slump.

As TV fans saw, Scott (played by François Arnaud on screen) and Kip (Robbie G.K.) are the perfect pair for readers who like their ships to fall hard and fast. (The U-Haul lesbian jokes are definitely warranted.) However, Scott isn't out, and he knows that going public with his sexuality could derail his career in hockey's homophobic culture. As Kip begins to bristle at keeping this secret, can their romance survive?

Book 2 — 'Heated Rivalry' (Shane and Ilya)

Ah, the book that's sucked millions of readers into the world of hockey romance. Canadian golden-boy Shane Hollander and Russian rebel Ilya Rozanov first meet as teenage superstars headed for the MLH (Major League Hockey, the fictional stand-in for the NHL) draft. They're each other's biggest competition, and their legendary rivalry means it's an event every time they face off on the ice. But behind closed doors, they can't keep their hands off each other.

As many have pointed out, Heated Rivalry, the show, is an incredibly faithful adaptation of the series, from the time jumps to Shane and Ilya's strictly sexual relationship becoming more emotional as the years pass by. (If anything, the show cut back on the sex scenes.) But the joy of reading a book after watching the TV adaptation is all the extra details that can't easily make the transition to screen. (My personal favorite: Ilya getting paranoid that Shane may have used a translator during his love confession in Russian.)

Book 3 — 'Tough Guy' (Ryan and Fabian)

Ryan Price is an enforcer—a 6'7'' giant of a man who's tasked with protecting his team's star players. (Think hockey's version of the offensive line.) Despite his tough appearance, Ryan struggles with anxiety and self-esteem issues. When he's transferred to Toronto, he's determined to make roots in the city's LGBTQ+ community; even so, he's surprised when he runs into his childhood crush, Fabian Salah.

Fabian, an extroverted, confident musician, can't stand hockey. His Lebanese family is obsessed, and they even hosted Ryan for a year when he was a junior player. Although they had chemistry back then, Fabian hasn't seen Ryan since he made the NHL. Now that they're reunited, with Fabian serving as Ryan's guide to Toronto's gay scene, can the men build a future together without hockey coming between them?

Book 4 — 'Common Goal' (Eric and Kyle)

Fans of age-gap romance, here's your next read. Eric Bennett, goalkeeper for the New York Admirals, has decided that this will be his final season. The 41-year-old is happy to retire, but he's also facing an unknown future after ending his 16-year marriage. He's always known that he's bisexual, and now he's ready to start dating men for the first time, but he has no idea where to begin.

Enter Kyle Swift, a 25-year-old bartender at the Kingfisher (a.k.a. Kip's favorite bar!) who has a loaded history with older men. Though he's sworn to avoid them, he can't deny that Eric is just his type. Kyle ends up offering to give Eric some tips about re-entering the dating game, but as these friends-with-benefits begin to catch feelings, they'll have to work past their baggage and see if they can be more.

(Though it's not a direct sequel, Scott and Kip are supporting characters in Common Goal, and the novel provides plenty of cute moments with the Game Changer couple.)

Book 5 — 'Role Model' (Troy and Harris)

Between the promise of grumpy-meets-sunshine and the cover (that dog!), I'm excited to get to this one. Troy Barrett is a character who previously appeared in Game Changer and Tough Guy, in which he was the closeted sidekick to homophobic bully Dallas Kent. At the start of Role Model, Troy has just been traded to the struggling Ottawa Centaurs on the heels of a scandal and a breakup. All he wants is to do his work and go home...until he meets the Centaurs's social media manager, Harris Drover.

Sunny sweetheart Harris is determined to cheer Troy up, even as he begins to form an assumedly one-sided crush. Meanwhile, Troy eventually realizes that Ottawa can be a new start for him, as he makes amends for past toxic behavior and begins to embrace his full self. But with Harris out and proud, and Troy struggling with self-acceptance, will the pair realize they're meant for each other?

(Also, remember Shane's plan for Ilya to move to Ottawa at the end of Heated Rivalry? The Russian phenom has a supporting role in Role Model as Troy's new team captain.)

Book 6 — 'The Long Game' (Shane and Ilya sequel)

The Long Game is the much-needed sequel to Ilya and Shane's story. At the start of The Long Game, it has been 10 years since Shane and Ilya started their secret-hookup-turned-romance, and the pair have reached an impasse. Shane's at the top of his game and not looking to rock the boat, while Ilya, now playing for Ottawa, is starting to worry that they could end up sneaking around for another 10 years. As the official description teases, "It’s time for them to decide what’s most important—hockey or love."

Fans can make their own choice whether to read this sequel ASAP or wait to be surprised in Heated Rivalry season 2, but if you can't wait to see what happens next in Shane and Ilya's story, The Long Game is a must-read. Also, you may want to pick up a copy before a certain book arrives...

Book 7 — 'Unrivaled' (Shane and Ilya threequel)

On January 12, 2026, Rachel Reid officially announced that a third Shane and Ilya novel will make its way to bookshelves! Unrivaled, the seventh book in the Game Changers series, continues the couple's story after The Long Game, as they face the next stage of their relationship and a new set of challenges.

The official synopsis reads, "For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. After more than a decade of keeping their love secret, they’re out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support has been incredible. Most of the time."

"While fans celebrate them, others in the hockey world are still reeling from the reveal. A growing backlash—led by the popular hockey podcast 'Top Shelf' and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is making its presence felt. Standing together in the light was everything Shane and Ilya ever wanted. Now, they may be facing their biggest challenge yet."

When will 'Unrivaled' be released?

Unrivaled's release date is set for June 1, 2027, and the book is currently available for preorder. The book was originally supposed to hit shelves in September 2026, but in late February 2026, Reid announced on Instagram that she needed to push back the date due to her Parkinson's symptoms and need for a bit more time. She explained that the past few months have been a wonderful whirlwind, but that it's also "taken away [her] ability to have quality time to write."

"There's nothing more important than making Unrivaled the best book it can possibly be," she said in a video. "My Parkinson’s symptoms have gotten a bit worse, and it’s made it difficult physically to write, so I’m working a little slower, and that’s just something I need to learn how to navigate and face instead of ignoring. For all of these reasons, I’ve decided to move the publication date for Unrivaled."

"I hope that’s not too long a wait for everyone. I just needed a few more months for writing. My publisher’s been gracious enough to give those to me," the author added. "Ultimately, I just want to make a really good book, and I just need a little more time to do that."

We trust that Reid will deliver in due time!

What has Rachel Reid said about 'Unrivaled?'

In addition to opening up about her need for more time to work on Unrivaled, Reid has shared additional—and exciting!—updates. In an April 2026 Entertainment Weekly interview, she spoke about her progress and how, although she's feeling more pressure than ever, she's excited for readers to see what's to come

"I feel like more than any other book I’ve written, this one needs to be really good," Reid said. "I hope I’m giving people what they want out of this. I hope what I want is what other people want. I still am making decisions about the plot with some things. I rewrite a lot. There’s parts of the book I’ve rewritten and changed so many times. But hopefully I’ve made the right decisions and, generally, it’s going well."

She also gave more insight into the plot. "[Unrivaled] is really where the world’s gonna judge them, right? ‘Cause now they’re on the same team, it’s in people’s faces, they have to decide how they feel about this. And they’re gonna be loud about it," the author told EW. "I think it’s two sides. There’s gonna be people that are extremely excited and supportive of it—some of it in maybe a parasocial way, which isn’t at all based on reality. And there will also be the other side: just blatantly homophobic and bigoted and terrible."

Reid added, "Even though they had their happy ending, it’s a complicated happy ending, and there’s still a lot of things that they’re gonna have to deal with. That’s why I decided to write the book—because I felt like there’s still more story to tell."

Last fall, Miu Miu's Paris Fashion Week show included anything-but-average aprons in almost every runway look. By January 8, Industry star Myha'la gave Miu Miu's It-piece a proper close-up at the hit HBO Max show's Season 4 premiere.

Just two days after the newlywed made her secret 2025 wedding public, she returned to the red carpet with her husband, Armando Rivera. She delivered a solo step-and-repeat, too, starring stylist Law Roach's latest select: Miu Miu's black leather apron dress, featuring a haltered bodice and an entirely open back. A matching triangle bralette peeked out from beneath the leather.

Like any chef's lovingly worn-in apron, the bottom-half shielded her undergarments from any spills. (A win for inside the screening, no doubt.) The only differences? Myha'la's version didn't tie in the back before stretching below her stilettos. Its 360-degree skirt grazed the black carpet, contrary to the knee-length look seen on the runway.

Button closures traded places with a typical apron tie. Even so, the leather maxi wasn't completely lace-less. Knots secured both the apron and bralette around Myha'la's neck, as well as the mid-back bust. That way, the silhouette still stayed true to its hardworking roots—while still delivering plenty of edge.

Miu Miu's one-piece appeared just as striking on the Spring 2026 catwalk. The midi stopped in line with the model's knees, revealing black Oxford-style shoes.

Not a single accessory made the cut last September, but Myha'la couldn't leave her engagement ring at home. It sparkled just as much as her diamond stud earrings.

Once the curtain closed on the screening, Myha'la traded her apron for a leather-centric after-party look. She posed with Heated Rivalry heartthrob Hudson Williams, the internet's current BookTok boyfriend, in a white tank top, a suit tie, and low-rise leather pants.

The cherry on top of Myha'la's post-screening cake was Miu Miu's Mini Aventure Bag in black. You may recognize its yellow gold hardware from the closets of Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Chase Infiniti, and more Miu Miu girls. It's a small-but-mighty $3,300 signature for Hollywood's elite, both up-and-coming and seasoned.

Myha'la is the first fashion girl brave enough to test the Miu Miu-ified, stay-at-home-parent apron in public. (Though the Bodies Bodies Bodies star went the leather, blacksmith-inspired route.) Her sartorial prowess ensured she won't be the last.

Shop Apron Dresses Inspired by Myha'la

After the events of season 1 of HBO Max’s The Pitt, no one would blame Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) for needing a little time away from the ER. And when the show returns for its second season on January 10, 2026—jumping 10 months forward to July 4th—he’s preparing to do just that with a planned three-month motorcycle sabbatical. Season 2 of the Emmy-winning medical drama, in which each episode operates as a real-time hour of the emergency room staff’s shift, follows Dr. Robby on his last shift as he prepares to hand off his duties to a new attending physician.

That’s where Sepideh Moafi’s newcomer Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi comes in. A confident physician who previously worked at the VA Hospital with Dr. Mel King (Taylor Dearden) and Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh), Dr. Al-Hashimi arrives earlier than expected to shadow Dr. Robby, armed with a long list of ideas she’d like to implement at the hospital. Moafi herself has described this quality in her character as “Promethian flair for innovation,” and it’s quickly clear that her approach is more clinical and tech-forward than Dr. Robby’s. So, inevitably, their opposing outlooks on the state of medicine make them (politely) butt heads immediately.

But don’t worry, their friction won’t turn into a steamy romance. “I can assure there will be no broom closets involved," Moafi told USA Today. “The way I pictured it when I read the scripts was that we're two animals in the wild sort of circling and sniffing each other out.”

Dr. Robby is insistent in the season 2 trailer that Dr. Al-Hashimi is “just covering while I go on my little sabbatical,” but with Moafi announced as a series regular, she’ll be sticking around long enough for us to get to know her. Read on to find out more about the actress who is set to face off with The Pitt’s beloved Dr. Robby.

Sepideh Moafi was born in a refugee camp in Germany.

Moafi, 40, is of Iranian descent, and her parents fled their native country during the Islamic Revolution in the 1970s and sought political asylum in Turkey and Germany before her birth. The family was granted visas to the United States, where she was predominantly raised, eventually gaining citizenship.

Her family’s experience as refugees has shaped her identity: In 2019, Moafi penned a first-person essay in PEOPLE highlighting her experience and her focus on helping other immigrants in similar situations. “Being a refugee has shaped my life and I feel fiercely moved to not only help destigmatize but also humanize our struggling brothers and sisters around the globe,” she wrote.

Moafi has historically been involved with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), hosting fundraisers on its behalf. Her Instagram bio lists her as an ambassador to the organization. In 2021, she also hosted a salon titled “Belonging: From Refugee to Hollywood with Sepideh Moafi” for the nonprofit Girls Write Now. According to USA Today, Moafi’s humanitarian work influenced Dr. Al-Hashimi’s back story as a member of Doctors Without Borders.

Moafi is a trained singer.

Because of Moafi’s unique family history, she wasn’t “exposed to acting or singing until [she] was a teenager,” according to a 2018 interview. She began singing at the age of 15 and developed a passion for opera after singing Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and, within a year, she received a full scholarship to San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

While her opera background was tapped into on the 2014 series Black Box, she probably won’t be showing off her pipes in her latest role. “I might be concerned if they start writing an opera moment in The Pitt,” she told USA Today. But the skill is an intrinsic part of her identity: During a The Pitt season 2 press junket with co-star and Dr. Jack Abbot actor Shawn Hatosy, Moafi joked that she’d prefer being caught singing half-naked than catching a friend in a lie because, “[she’s] a singer and [she] loves being naked.”

'The Pitt' isn’t the first time she's played a doctor on TV.

Moafi’s first TV role was on the series Blue Bloods in 2013, but soon she donned a pair of scrubs to play Dr. Farrah Mahmoud on the ABC drama Black Box. She later played a doctor again in one episode of Limitless before stepping into two of her best-known roles: Loretta on HBO’s The Deuce and Gigi on Showtime’s The L Word sequel series, The L Word: Generation Q.

Even though she’s familiar with a doctor’s office set, the level of realism on The Pitt is something she had to get used to. “It's really hard with blood, I'm not a fan,” she told USA Today ahead of the season 2 premiere. “It's the level of detail. I was grappling with being Sepideh Moafi watching this outrageous prosthetic where somebody's entire torso is split in half while still playing a doctor who's seen much worse.”

In all my 30+ years, I have never watched a hockey game. I have, however, watched Heated Rivalry on HBO Max. The sexy hockey romance adapts the second book in Rachel Reid's Game Changer series (also titled Heated Rivalry). And while it hasn't taught me much about the sport, it has introduced me and countless others to the hockey romance genre. Let's just put it this way: We're hooked and demanding a season 2 ASAP.

Season 1 of Heated Rivalry introduced fans to Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie—two hockey players whose rivalry on the ice quickly turns into scorching hot sexual tension. The show begins in 2008, with season 1 following the beginning of their relationship. Neither Ilya nor Shane is publicly out with their sexuality, and while they have a habit of hooking up whenever they cross paths, they're also in no rush to make things official.

The six-episode season follows the first nine years of Shane and Ilya's romance, but fans of the original Heated Rivalry romance novel know this is a love story that spans decades. So it's only right that fans get more seasons. Below, we're breaking down everything we know about Heated Rivalry season 2.

Is 'Heated Rivalry' renewed for season 2?

Yes! The TV Gods have smiled upon us and granted us a season 2 of Heated Rivalry before season 1 was even over. The news was announced on the Heated Rivalry Instagram account along with a video of stars Storrie and Williams reading from The Long Game, the sixth book in the Game Changers series and the continuation of Shane and Ilya's love story.

In a separate video for HBO, Williams teased that season 2 would be “hotter, wetter, longer.”

When will 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 come out?

We've received news so hot it could melt ice! In late February, series creator Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady appeared on CBS Mornings and revealed the loose premiere date of April 2027, per Variety. They confirmed that production is set to begin this August, so the new episodes should arrive in the spring of next year.

Tierney said, "There will be more Heated Rivalry on your TVs truly as soon as humanly possible," and jokingly added that fans should "enjoy the yearn" in the meantime.

Production on season 2 is moving at a more reasonable pace compared to season 1, which had a very quick turnaround. For example, according to Storrie's Instagram, season 1 wrapped filming in June 2025, only six months before premiering in late November. However, season 1 was only six episodes long, and the renewal wasn't guaranteed, so the team needs time to write the forthcoming installments this time around.

After season 1 aired, Tierney told viewers to brace themselves for a bit of a wait. "It can’t be same time next year, because this time last year I’d written five of these, and this time this year I’ve written zero of them," he told Variety in a late December 2025 interview. "So it’s going to be a little bit later, but it’s still going to be soon."

Tierney added, "We understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons. And at the same time, I don’t want to put out a rushed, shitty second season just because the show is very popular. But we’re very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don’t want to wait too long. We’re getting back to work!"

Hudson Williams offered fans more context on why season 2 will need to take longer. During an appearance on "Andy Cohen Live," the actor explained that season 1's quick turnaround was tough on the showrunner.

"[Season 1] adapted two books. What Jacob Tierney does for season 2, I don't know. But this killed him. I think what people don't know is, he was giving final cuts of the episodes two days before they screened," Williams explained, adding that Tierney "sounded like a ghoul" when the actor called him after the finale dropped.

Still, about a year and a half between seasons 1 and 2 is pretty reasonable in the streaming age, when some shows have been delayed for years. So, we'll take April 2027! Plus, it sounds like 2027 is gearing up to be a major Heated Rivalry year, with the next book in the series and third Hollanov romance, Unrivaled, due out in June 2027. In the meantime, fans looking for their hockey romance fix can always rewatch season 1 and read the Game Changer series.

What cast members are returning for 'Heated Rivalry' season 2?

The exact cast list has yet to be confirmed. Still, given the season 2 renewal announcements, it's safe to say that both leads, Williams and Storrie, will reprise their roles as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

Given the show's success and the fan obsession with François Arnaud, it seems likely that he'll return as Scott Hunter. That hopefully means we'll also see more appearances from Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady as well. Shane's parents, Yuna and David, played by Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh, play a vital role in The Long Game, so they're likely to return as well, though nothing has been confirmed.

What will 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 be about?

The video announcing season 2 makes it clear that the next batch of new episodes will adapt The Long Game by Rachel Reid. The 2022 romance book is technically the sequel to Ilya and Shane's Heated Rivalry story (though it's also Book 6 in the entire series). We can look to what unfolds in the book to predict what we might see on screen.

The Long Game picks up three years after the end of the Heated Rivalry novel, 10 years into their relationship. Ilya and Shane are still keeping their romance a secret, while the pressure of being professional athletes continues to weigh heavily. Ilya might be ready to take their relationship public, but Shane is still playing things close to the vest. Are they ready to risk it all to be together?

Tierney has spoken about how exciting it is to bring The Long Game to the screen—and how much of a change fans should expect from season 1, especially considering how "emotionally sophisticated" the source material is. "It’s different. It really is different," the series creator said while speaking at a BookCon event in April 2026, per Variety. "The challenge of it is, from an adaptation point of view, is that you’re in much more serious territory. A lot of the initial—there’s still lots of flirting and lots of sex—but this kind of danger, this kind of hotel-room-adolescent-sex stuff is largely gone. And so it presents really new challenges."

Tierney added that Ilya and Shane will always be "the heartbeat" of the TV show, but that season 2 will, in fact, adapt parts of the other books in the Game Changers series. He explained that Role Model, the fifth installment, will feed into the plot.

If you have yet to read Role Model, the book follows hockey star Troy, who has been traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, as he deals with a breakup and scandal. While he's unenthused about playing on the struggling team, his attitude starts to change when he meets their social media manager, Harris.

As book fans are well aware, there's a direct tie-in to the Ilya and Shane story. In Role Model, Ilya and Shane have followed through on their plan to move to Ottawa, and Troy's captain is none other than the Russian star athlete himself.

Season 2 won't be the first time the show adapts other books in the series. Episode 3, “Hunter,” was based on the first book in the queer series, also called Game Changers. The episode introduced the story of New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter, played by François Arnaud, and his secret boyfriend, Kip (Robbie G.K.), but only told part of their story. There's certainly more that we could see there, but the word is still out on whether that will make it into season 2.

However, we do know for sure is that Heated Rivalry won't lose any steam going into season 2. Tierney told Etalk that he wants the show to always evoke “horny joy,” and it's safe to say that he'll be taking that mission into the new season.

How many seasons will 'Heated Rivalry' have?

With the massive success of Heated Rivalry, it makes sense to wonder whether the series could continue after the upcoming second season. And that's not just the fandom psychosis talking; we have receipts from the show's stars themselves.

In their cover story for GQ Hype, Williams and Storrie (a.k.a. HudCon) revealed that they both signed on for three seasons of the show. Although this is a common practice in TV, fans responded to the news by speculating whether The Long Game could be split into two seasons or if the show would inevitably bring to life Unrivaled and run for four installments. With the ongoing hype, Crave and HBO Max may not be willing to let Heated Rivalry end at just two seasons.

In April 2026, Jacob Tierney hinted that a popular fan theory may be coming true. Speaking to Deadline, the creator coyly teased that season 2 may not be able to cover all of Shane and Ilya's The Long Game story. "Who said I’m doing it all? There’s a lot of material," he said.

Tierney also revealed that he's brought on North of North producer Michael Goldbach to co-write the upcoming episodes. "We’re just continuing to give Shane and Ilya the seriousness that this love affair deserves while also continuing to exist within the confines of the genre that we’re in, which I love," Tierney added. "I want them to be happy, but I also want to show that that’s not easy. Because part of what Rachel does so brilliantly in her writing is to give queerness joy, but also not pretend the world isn’t the world. It’s not like she created this world where it’s like, there’s no homophobia and hockey’s amazing, and anyone can come out. No. She shows it’s difficult, takes courage, guts, and sacrifice, and takes stepping up and saying things with your full chest. And that to me is a triumph. That’s what we’re trying to do here."

Maia Simsbury, the aspiring talent manager played and written by Rachel Sennott on HBO's I Love LA, is a familiar working-girl archetype on paper. She's 27 but she still has an entry-level title (and salary). She's put in the hours for a promotion, but her boss, Alyssa, (played by Leighton Meester) shuts down her ask to finally graduate from her assistant role. It's all very 9 to 5 in theory. But set against a backdrop of influencers, ad campaigns, and raucous late-night parties, it's not so corporate in practice.

Maia spends I Love LA's eight-episode first season chasing success in a version of LA you won't recognize from reality TV. And, while wearing the opposite of heels and a cinched blazer dress. "It's not Kim Kardashian's LA," as costume designer Christina Flannery explains to Marie Claire. Rather, it's an LA populated by a new generation of strivers (at best) and clout-chasers (at worse), dressing the part in a range of It bags and vintage grails you'd more likely find on Depop than at a department store.

Flannery pulled inspiration for her leading lady from pop culture tentpoles of the 1990s and early 2000s: Cruel Intentions, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and yes, some Sex and the City. The blend of baby tees and tiny skirts—plus a vintage Dior bag or Chloé dress—reminded the costume designer of the elevated-yet-offbeat style she's observed in LA neighborhoods like Highland Park and Silver Lake.

Maia is the character with the biggest arc by the season finale, in the script and in her wardrobe. On a journey where she's "blowing up everything"—her relationship, her professional connections, her friendships—her closet couldn't stay the same from episode 1 to episode 8.

"Maia to me kind of represents this like Saturn return," Flannery says. She's referring to the astrological phenomenon when Saturn reaches the place it was at someone's birth, marking a period of transition and rebirth. For Maia, that means a gradual evolution from "aspirational" florals and sweet kitten heels, in the image of her boss, to edgier, more confident clothing.

At the series' start, "Maia still has that cute, feminine feel to her and a vibe where she's trying to become the next boss at her job, and she's trying to pivot herself to align with Alyssa180 [the marketing agency] and Alyssa's character, specifically." In early episodes, vintage Betsey Johnson and dainty wallpaper prints are the cornerstones of her closet. She and Alyssa even style different versions of the same Laura Ashley-esque top at the same time.

Still, the Gen Z inclination to bend boundaries was present. "In the office scenes, I still wanted her to have a little touch of fashion," Flannery adds. "So she's wearing a cute Marc Jacobs vintage cherry top, but underneath it she's wearing a vintage bullet bra that we sourced."

The more time Maia spends trying to promote her foil and star client, Tallulah (Odessa A'zion), the more her wardrobe shifts. Tallulah is a "take-no-shit anarchist" with a ripped up wardrobe to match. "She's stumbled into this social media thing, but she doesn't really give a shit about it, so we wanted to play with that within clothing," Flannery explains. "It's a cool, edgy, punk New York feel with a DIY twist on it." When Tallulah does wear something designer—like her Balenciaga City bag in episodes one and two—it's stolen.

By the series finale, Maia has temporarily traded Los Angeles for New York City—and some major (if risky) career prospects. Flannery calls Maia's touchdown on the east coast her "Carrie Bradshaw moment."

As Maia coordinates a high-stakes dinner appearance for Tallulah with a prestigious fashion brand and walks away from a manipulative offer from a toxic former boss, "You see a full transition for her in episode 8. Her color palette changes. Her hair changes," Flannery explains. Gone are the Betsey Johnson florals; instead, she's wearing a black feather-trimmed top with capris. In one scene, she even swaps outfits with her influencer frenemy-turned-client.

"I feel like that's a really pivotal moment for her," Flannery says. All season long, Maia's put everything on the line to level up her work life. In this episode, she dresses like it, too.

Viewers will have to wait until a planned second season to see how much business Maia and Tallulah manage to handle on their NYC business trip. Know that behind the scenes, Flannery and Sennott are applying the series' same hustle-at-all-costs energy to bring the series' distinctly LA style to life.

"I was reaching out and begging people, 'please send us stuff,'" Flannery laughs. She remembers the formula she'd follow to stretch the series' limited first-season budget as far as it could go: "Okay, this Chloé dress is so expensive and so amazing but it's such a statement piece, so then this outfit can be patched together from a thrift store or the rental house." Like the characters she dresses throughout I Love LA, she always hustled until she figured it out.

Good news for fans of Erewhon smoothies and the Silver Lake Reservoir: HBO’s freshman comedy I Love LA will officially be back for a second season. From the star of Shiva Baby and Bottoms, Rachel Sennott, I Love LA follows a group of Zillennials navigating Hollywood and its adjacent industries. Sennott stars as Maia, a talent manager whose entire world is swept up by the return of her chaotic influencer friend Tallulah (Odessa A’zion).

Season 1 ends in dramatic fashion, and as Maia’s relationship with boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hutcherson) and her career are in limbo, Maia finds herself leaning even more heavily into Tallulah’s orbit. With more episodes already confirmed, here’s everything we know about I Love LA season 2, including when it might arrive and what it could be about.

Is 'I Love LA' renewed for season 2?

HBO announced the show’s renewal on November 20, 2025—well before I Love LA’s season 1 finale aired on December 21, 2025. When the network announced the renewal, it touted the series as being “among the fastest growing original comedies,” noting that it was “HBO’s second top freshman comedy in platform history, averaging nearly 2 million (L+3) U.S. cross-platform viewers.”

When would 'I Love LA' season 2 come out?

With an early renewal announcement, Sennott and her writing team are likely already at work on the new season. Season 1 production timelines weren’t explicitly available online, but it seems that filming likely began sometime in spring 2025, after Hutcherson’s casting announcement in May 2025. If season 2 follows a similar timeline, it’s possible we could see more of Maia, Tallulah, Alani, Charlie, and Dylan in the fall of 2026.

Who in the 'I Love LA' cast would return for season 2?

Though there was a shocking death of a minor character midway through season 1, it’s safe to assume that the core members of I Love LA are alive and well, and returning for the show’s second outing. That means Maia and her dysfunctional group of friends, played by Rachel Sennott, Odessa A’zion (Tallulah), True Whitaker (Alani), and Jordan Firstman (Charlie), will all likely be back for season 2. Keith David, who appears as Whitaker’s father in the finale, could also pop up for more screentime in the second season.

At the end of season 1, Maia and her boyfriend Dylan, played by Josh Hutcherson, are on a break and seem headed for more relationship problems—something that would require Hutcherson to return for more episodes. Callie Hernandez will also probably return in season 2 as Dylan’s coworker Claire, whom he sleeps with while he’s on a break with Maia. Tallulah’s girlfriend, played by Moses Ingram, could also appear in future episodes.

The same can’t be said of Maia’s passive-aggressive boss, Alyssa (Leighton Meester), who fires Maia in the back half of the first season. Meester may return in a guest capacity in season 2 once Maia goes out on her own, but we wouldn’t expect a large arc from her (or her boyfriend Jeremy, played by Ben Feldman). Colin Woodell, however, may return as Maia’s former boss Ben, who offers her a lucrative job opportunity but seems to expect her to be submissive in return.

We’re hoping that season 2 will expand beyond the core friendship between Maia and Tallulah, with more screen time given to Firstman’s stylist character, Charlie, and his zany clients like Ayo Edebiri’s pop star character Mimi Rush. And with one of the highlights of the season being Elijah Wood’s self-deprecating cameo, there’s a strong likelihood that we’ll see more familiar faces from the entertainment industry making an appearance in season 2 (though it’s unlikely that Wood himself will come back for more).

What would 'I Love LA' season 2 be about?

The first season of I Love LA ends with a slew of realizations for Maia and her immediate found family. Maia quits her job at Alyssa 180, but realizes that a job offer from her old boss, Ben, comes with strings she doesn’t want to be controlled by. Dylan and Maia take a break from their relationship, which pushes him into the arms of the coworker Maia was most worried about. Nevertheless, the friendship between Maia and Tallulah is stronger than ever, even if it encourages Maia’s worst impulses.

We don’t know anything for sure, except that season 2 will continue to mine the core relationships in Maia’s life—romantic, personal, and professional—and force her to confront what she really wants and expects from her life. While Maia and Dylan may reconcile early in season 2, Dylan’s hook-up with Claire will absolutely come to light, and the couple will have to have (another) real talk about their diverging desires and paths. Maia and Tallulah’s friendship will also continue to evolve, and it’s possible that they hit a few more bumps in the road as they figure out where to draw the lines between business and friendship. And after Maia turned down a $380,000 job offer from her old boss, season 2 will have to contend with how far her hustle and singular client can take her.

Sennott knows that the show could go in several routes, which she expressed while speaking to Deadline in a post-season 1 finale interview. "I think there are so many places we can go from here, and I have a lot of ideas," she told the outlet. "I’m excited to get into the writers's room too and talk them through with everyone and see, because I think we teed ourselves up for a lot of action, but we can go in different directions with it, which I think is really exciting."

The star/showrunner also weighed in on the drama between Maia and Dylan—seemingly teasing that a breakup may be in store. "The relationships I had when I was younger, I always kind of viewed it through this lens of like, 'I'm the victim, and everything anyone else does is wrong,' and I think as I got older, you have relationships where you’re like, 'This isn't a bad person. I still love this person. I still have love for them in my heart, but we are not meant to be together,'" she said. "I think sometimes that’s even more heartbreaking, because you can’t walk away and villainize that person, and I really didn’t want to villainize either of them. I really wanted to hit that balance of like, obviously she should have texted him that she stabbed herself, but also, she's not wrong for wanting more and pushing herself."

Considering the series is all about knowing what you want and going after it, we'd bet that wherever season 2 goes, it'll focus on how these driven Angelinos balance ambition with their personal lives, especially when the two intertwine. Or, as Sennott once said, "What? It's L.A.!"

HBO's horror series IT: Welcome to Derry has had Stephen King fans on the edge of their seats for the past several weeks, following a new generation of losers and Derry residents who face the iconic creature, mostly known as Pennywise the Clown. Developed by the same team behind IT and IT: Chapter Two, the eight-episode show takes place 27 years before the film adaptations, as Pennywise reawakens and a mysterious military plot targets the entity.

Welcome to Derry came to an end on December 15, with a finale that brought the prequel in line with the events of the film and gave a hint of what's in store for potential future seasons. Below, read on for what to know about IT: Welcome to Derry season 2, including what that season finale cameo says about the series's future.

Has 'IT: Welcome to Derry' been renewed for season 2?

Nearly two months out from the Welcome to Derry season finale, and HBO has yet to renew the hit horror series. However, network chief Casey Bloys said in a late January interview with Deadline that he's 100 percent on board with more.

He clarified the hold-up by saying the show is "not in limbo at all." Instead, he attributed the lack of renewal to waiting on the story from showrunners Andy and Barbara Muschietti.

"Andy and Barbara are hard at work trying to come up with an idea for a story they’d want to tell for another season. I would happily do it," the CEO said. "One of the challenges is, there’s not a book that you’re basing it on, so it’s invention. They want to make sure that they have a story they’re excited to tell. So it’s not limbo other than they need to land on something they’re excited by creatively. We’ll be there."

Considering his comments—and how the show is among the most popular debuts on HBO Max, behind only The Last of Us and House of the Dragon, since the streamer launched—more episodes seem very likely.

That's not to mention that co-creator Andy Muschietti has been vocal about his three-season plan for the series since he first teased the show last January. Hopefully the team behind the series will get their ideas over to HBO Max soon, and the streamer will bring it to fruition. (Whether it's before or after WBD's fate is sealed is anyone's guess.)

When would 'IT: Welcome to Derry' season 2 come out?

Fans of genre shows are used to waiting a while for new seasons, and IT: Welcome to Derry will likely follow the trend. However, season 2 is guaranteed to have a shorter production schedule than season 1, which began filming in May 2023 and had to pause during the Hollywood strikes before production eventually wrapped in August 2024. Depending on how fast work resumes on the show, season 2 could return by late 2027 or early 2028.

Which of the cast members would return for 'IT: Welcome to Derry' season 2?

Based on what we know about Welcome to Derry season 2 so far, the only cast member guaranteed to return is the man behind the entity IT himself, Bill Skårsgard. However, there are a couple of characters who could return based on the revelations from the season 1 finale (and the Beverly Marsh cameo). My best guesses are that Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) or Marge Truman (Matilda Lawler) could show up at some point.

What would 'IT: Welcome to Derry' season 2 be about?

According to Muschietti, seasons 2 and 3 of IT: Welcome to Derry would depict earlier feeding cycles in IT/Pennywise's pattern of waking every 27 years. Season 2 would be set in 1935, and presumably depict the lead-up to the Bradley Gang massacre (that cycle's augury, the final tragedy that marks the end of IT's feeding, like 1962's burning of the Black Spot). If season 3 is greenlit, it would be set in 1908 and depict the Kitchener Ironworks fire. (These cycles are based on Mike Hanlon's research into IT's past in the original novel.)

Season 2 will likely be similar to the debut installment, telling an original story laden with both new IT/Pennywise lore and Easter eggs referencing the earlier adaptations. In the season 1 finale, we learned why those Easter eggs were also important to the overall plot. During their foggy face-off, Pennywise reveals to Marge that it sees time nonlinearly, so it knows that then-13-year-old Marge would go on to give birth to Richie Tozier (played by Finn Wolfhard and Bill Hader in the movies), and that Richie and the Losers would eventually kill him. (This also means that Marge named her eventual kid after her late love, Rich, and now I'm sobbing.)

After the '62 Losers send IT back to sleep, Marge speculates that IT could go back in time and target their ancestors, in an effort to stop the kids who would eventually defeat him from being born. With this setup, it seems that IT targeted Marge and Will Hanlon specifically because of their eventual offspring, so expect more generational connections with next season's kids. It's unclear now whether IT could succeed at changing history in later seasons, but it is a good threat to explain the series's reverse-linear timeline.

A bigger question for me as a Stephen King fan is how weird future seasons could go. Will Maturin, the cosmic god-turtle who "once created the universe by barfing it up," finally make it to the screen, or will the show stick with turtle charms and psychedelic roots? Only time will tell.

Heated Rivalry is the internet's new television obsession, thanks in large part to its breakout leads, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. The rising actors play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, two hockey stars pitted against each other in a legendary sports rivalry. Unbeknownst to the public, the pair are secretly hooking up, in this gay enemies-to-lovers hockey romance based on author Rachel Reid's #BookTok-beloved series.

25-year-old Storrie plays Ilya, a Russian phenom who's known for the powerful skills that back up his constant trash-talking. Viewers who watch the romance series may be surprised to discover that the man behind the character is an American with a very different background. Read on to learn more about Connor Storrie, from how he perfected that Russian accent to the secret behind his chemistry with Williams.

Connor Storrie is a Texan actor who previously appeared in a notorious superhero movie.

Connor Storrie, 25, grew up in Odessa, West Texas, before moving to L.A. to pursue acting. Though there was a hockey team in his hometown, Storrie revealed in a MuchMusic interview that he spent his childhood training as a gymnast

Before Heated Rivalry, Storrie appeared in an episode of the Hulu series Tiny Beautiful Things; the 2023 coming-of-age movie Riley; and the 2025 thriller April X. He also had a minor role in Joker: Folie a Deux last year, where he played a character that he had to keep secret until the film's premiere. Avoiding spoilers, I'll just say he was an Arkham Asylum inmate who had a profound effect on Arthur Fleck (played by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix).

"I just couldn’t believe I was there and what I was doing," Storrie said in an October 2024 interview with Variety. "It was so under wraps. I didn’t know anything else about the movie except that part in it. They were very serious. I didn’t say anything to anyone for two years."

He also addressed the polarizing discourse around the film, commending director Todd Phillips, despite the sequel's low box office. Storrie argued, "[I'd] rather things be polarizing than things be boring or squeaky clean."

Connor Storrie hadn't studied Russian at all before 'Heated Rivalry.'

Russian viewers have praised Storrie's accent in the days since Heated Rivalry's debut, but surprisingly, the actor does not have Russian heritage and didn't speak the language before landing the role of Ilya. According to Teen Vogue, Storrie spent three weeks taking four-hour lessons to learn the show's Russian dialogue.

"Honestly, I’ve always just thought [the] Russian language and Russian culture was really cool. It’s so different from American culture, so it feels really exotic and out there from where I come from,” Storrie said in an interview with ETalk. “So getting to play anything that is as far away from me as possible I feel like is really enlightening.”

Speaking to Out, the actor reiterated that his fascination with the language was part of why he enjoyed the role. "Selfishly, I just love Russian language. I love any opportunity to do an accent, learn a new skill, and this had all of it."

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams's real-life love languages helped them bring Ilya and Shane to life.

While doing press for Heated Rivalry, Storrie and his co-star Williams have shown off the easy chemistry that made their performances so magnetic. In an interview with Swooon, the pair, who became "super close, super quick" while filming, said that they both tapped into their real-life love language to embody the love story between Ilya and Shane.

“We’re both pretty tactile people in terms of love languages and how you express yourself,” Storrie explained. “We both like physical touch, whether it’s with friends, family, partners. When these characters are feeling good towards each other, I think we knew consciously to allow that to come out. The fun of that ends up being what it looks like [for Shane and Ilya] and how it is different from us, personally. That’s an impulse that is kind of naturally within us. We also became super close, super quick, so that makes it even easier, too.”

"Just with friends, I don’t feel like I am fully able to be earnest with them if I don’t establish a touch barrier with them—consensually, of course!" Williams added. "But the similarity for me and Shane is that, especially when we’re in love, there needs to be constant touching even when the scene isn’t intimate in that sort of way."

Williams also revealed that filming one of the show's sex scenes sometimes felt easier than one where Ilya and Shane are fighting the urge to touch each other. "It can feel like a 10-mile drive to brush a cheek," he said. "But we had such a good relationship that I was able to express myself in that way through Shane and with Connor. That was really lovely."

'Heated Rivalry' creator Jacob Tierney says there's "no reason" for Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams's sexuality to be public.

Since Heated Rivalry's debut, Storrie and Williams have been subjected to the divisive phenomenon of fans speculating on celebrities's sexualities. Neither of the actors has spoken out on the matter, but the show's creator, Jacob Tierney, argues that the speculation is irrelevant to the stars's casting.

"I don’t think there’s any reason to get into that stuff," Tierney said in an Xtra interview. "I’ll tell you something about the casting of both of these roles. You can’t ask questions like that when you’re casting, right? It’s actually against the law. So what you have to gauge is somebody’s enthusiasm and willingness to do the work."

He continued, "And that’s what’s so impressive about both of these guys is they came into this being like, 'Yeah, we’re here to do this, and we are here to make this story feel authentic and to be as real as possible.' And they fucking hit it out of the park."

Tierney added, referring to the pair's audition, "Their chemistry was just insane. It was always going to be about chemistry. We loved both of them separately, and then seeing them together, it was just like perfection. We couldn’t ask for more."

This holiday season, romance fans can't stop talking about HBO Max and Crave's latest series Heated Rivalry. Created by Jacob Tierney, the Canadian gay hockey-romance based on Rachel Reid's novel of the same name follows the love story between superstar players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), told over eight years as they face off on the court and secretly hook up in their off-hours. Created by Jacob Tierney, the new series doesn't shy away from the spicy scenes from the book, nor the messy emotions as the two men slowly fall for each other.

Since the November 28 premiere, viewers have been flooding social media with praise for the six-part series, with the hype growing day-by-day as the fandom grows. To bring the latest #BookTok-to-screen adaptation to life, Tierney gathered a cast of talented young stars and TV veterans, including some a real-life sports star. Below, read on to learn more about the cast of Heated Rivalry, including where to follow them as we wait for more episodes.

Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander

Shane is an Asian Canadian player who's known as a genius, dedicated hockey player with a spotless reputation. In addition to being an anchor on his national team, Shane becomes captain of the Montreal Metros and a star of the fictional Major League Hockey (MLH).

Hudson Williams, 24, is a Korean-Canadian actor who got his start in short films and went on to appear in movies like 2024's All I Need for Christmas and Nobody Dumps My Daughter. Earlier this year, he appeared in an episode of the CBS series Tracker. Heated Rivalry is his first major television role.

Instagram: @hudsonwilliamsofficial

Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov

Ilya is a classic bad boy from Russia, cocky with a penchant for trash talk. He becomes a member of the Boston Raiders MLH team in the same draft as Shane, and he can't help but be curious about his fellow star rookie. Off the court, Ilya is plagued with family drama and high pressure to represent his motherland.

Connor Storrie, 25, is a Texas-born actor who has previously appeared in small roles in the Hulu series Tiny Beautiful Things and 2024's Joker: Folie à Deux. In addition to Heated Rivalry, he also had a lead role in the 2025 thriller April X.

Instagram: @connorstorrieofficial

Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander

Yuna is Shane's mom and manager, who's thrilled that he joins her favorite MLH team. She and Shane's dad David (Nip/Tuck's Dylan Walsh) are very supportive, though sometimes Yuna can be too hands-on.

Christina Chang, 54, is a Taiwanese-American actress who has appeared in TV shows and films since the late '90s, including 2007's Live Free or Die Hard, and the hit series 24 and Desperate Housewives. She's best known for playing Dr. Audrey Lim in the long-running medical drama The Good Doctor.

Instagram: @thechristinachang_

Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry

Yellowjackets star Sophie Nélisse is set to appear in Heated Rivalry as Rose Landry, an American actress who Shane dates. The 25-year-old Canadian rose to fame as an award-winning child star in films like Monsieur Lazhar and The Book Thief, before her breakout role as young Shauna Shipman. Most recently, Nélisse has appeared in the horror movie Whistle, and the French-Canadian thriller L’indétectable.

Instagram: @sophie__nelisse

Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Vetrova

Svetlana, Ilya's childhood friend (and occasional friend-with-benefits) is played by Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova. The actress and model of Russian-Caribbean descent had a small role in the 2017 film Downsizing, before making her TV debut on a season 2 episode of Prime Video's The Boys. Most recently, she appeared in FX's Adults and Disney's A Very Jonas Christmas Movie.

Instagram: @daniela.xk

François Arnaud as Scott Hunter

Scott Hunter is a veteran hockey player and a role model for Shane, though they play on different teams. As book fans know, the New York Admirals player Hunter has his own love story in Game Changer, the first book in Rachel Reid's series. (Heated Rivalry is the second.)

François Arnaud, 40, is a Montreal-born actor who rose to fame with his leading role as Cesare Borgia in Showtime's period drama The Borgias. His other notable roles include NBC's Blindspot and Midnight, Texas; Lifetime's UnREAL; CBC's Schitt's Creek, and Showtime's Yellowjackets. The openly-bisexual star has also been in a relationship with fellow actor Marc Bendavid since 2022.

Instagram: @francoisarnaud

 Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady

Kip Grady, Scott's boyfriend from Game Changer, is also set to appear in Heated Rivalry. He's played by Robbie G.K., 29, who previously starred in Canadian shows like Utopia Falls and The Next Step. Earlier this year, he played Riley in Prime Video's college comedy Overcompensating.

Instagram: @robsgk

Harrison Browne as Connors

Hockey fans will spot real-life player Harrison Browne, 32, playing one of Ilya's teammates, Connors. Browne was assigned female at birth and competed in the National Women's Hockey League before he came out as transgender in 2016, becoming the first openly trans player in professional hockey.

After his retirement in 2018, Browne started a new career as an actor and filmmaker, appearing on shows like Y: The Last Man and Nancy Drew. Earlier this year, he made his directorial debut with the short film Pink Light, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. He also co-wrote the non-fiction book Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes.

Instagram: @hbrowne24

On the Sunday before Halloween, It: Welcome to Derry arrived on HBO to extend Spooky Season into the holidays. Developed by the minds behind It and It: Chapter Two, HBO's original prequel series returns viewers to Derry, Maine, 27 years before the events of the 2017 and 2019 film adaptations of Stephen King's iconic novel. Set in 1962, Welcome to Derry takes place during an earlier active cycle where IT (the shapeshifting evil that sometimes appears as Pennywise) awakens to terrorize and feed on the town's children.

Ahead of Welcome to Derry's debut on October 26, 2025, HBO kept character and plot details under wraps, to hide the new series's extensive connections to both IT and King's other novels. With the season finale airing on December 14, it's time to learn more about the kids and adults who take on the entity in the horror series. Below, read on for everything we know about the cast of It: Welcome to Derry.

Miles Ekhardt as Matthew "Matty" Clements

It: Welcome to Derry kicks off with the disappearance of Matty, a 12-year-old boy who still uses a pacifier and likes to sneak into movie screenings. Fleeing a difficult home life, Matty comes across trouble as he tries to run away from his deadly hometown.

Miles Ekhardt is a child actor who made his professional debut last year, with his role as Davis's younger brother Noah in the film adaptation of YA author John Green's Turtles All the Way Down.

Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge

Lilly, a friend of Matty's, is known by the moniker "Loony," as she previously spent time in the Juniper Hill Asylum following her father's tragic death. She's the first to get an unbelievable, terrifying vision.

At 4-years-old, Clara Stack began acting in local theater productions, including Annie and The Music Man. Before Welcome to Derry, she appeared in episodes of Madam Secretary, Bull, Almost Family, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. After playing young Kate Bishop in the Disney+/Marvel series Hawkeye, she appeared in the Disney original Christmas movie The Naughty Nine.

Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris

Teddy (above, right) was also friends with Matty; he, Phil, and Matty seemed to make up a proto-Losers Club before Matty's disappearance. While it hasn't been confirmed, Teddy is likely related to It's Stanley Uris.

Before Welcome to Derry, Mikkal Karim-Fidler had small roles in shows including Six, 50 States of Fright, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He also appeared in the 2023 Lifetime movie Boy in the Walls.

Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin

Phil (above, right) is a nerdy, chatty kid who's obsessed with aliens and may remind viewers of IT's Richie Tozier. As the kids investigate Lilly's vision, Phil's younger sister Susie tags along.

Jack Molloy Legault, 15, made his screen debut in 2020 with the Lifetime movie Christmas Ever After. He previously appeared in the Prime Video mystery-thriller Three Pines, and he voiced Slippy in the animated series Interstellar Ella.

Fun fact: Susie Malkin is played by Jack's real-life sister Matilda Legault, who played young Maxine in Ginny & Georgia season 3.

Amanda Christine as Veronica “Ronnie” Grogan

Ronnie spends her free time helping her dad, Hank Grogan, run Derry's movie theater. She was one of the last people to see Matty alive and has been experiencing visions, too.

Amanda Christine, 16, grew up in Virginia and landed her first commercial at age 4. She made her TV debut in 2016 with small roles on How to Get Away With Murder and Black-ish, going on to appear in several movies as well as episodes of Colony, 9-1-1, and A Black Lady Sketch Show. She also had a major role in the Prime Video horror movie Black Box.

Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman

Marge (above, wearing glasses) is one of Lilly's best friends, but she also wants to join the popular clique in their class, the Pattycakes (led by Patty). Unfortunately, her fear of not fitting in means she can be a less-than-helpful friend to a traumatized Lilly.

Matilda Lawler, 17, is a child of actors who made her Broadway debut in the 2018 production of The Ferryman. She went on to star as Young Kirsten in HBO Max's TV adaptation of Station Eleven, for which she received a Gotham Awards nomination for Outstanding Performance in a New Series. She is also known for playing Frances Montgomery on HBO's The Gilded Age.

Jovan Adepo as Major Leroy Hanlon

Major Leroy Hanlon is a decorated pilot and Korean War veteran who has recently been assigned to the Air Force base in Derry. Early in his move, self-described optimist Leroy has to deal with both racism from his fellow soldiers and danger surrounding the base's secrets.

Jovan Adepo, 37, is a familiar face for both HBO viewers and fans of Stephen King adaptations. The British-American actor previously starred in the films Fences, Mother!, and Babylon, as well as the shows The Leftovers, When They See Us, and Watchmen (for which his performance as Hooded Justice earned an Emmy nomination). Adepo also played Larry Underwood in Paramount+'s 2020 adaptation of The Stand. Next up, Adepo's set to appear in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and to reprise his role as Saul Durand in season 2 of Netflix's 3 Body Problem.

Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon

Leroy's wife, Charlotte Hanlon, was active in the civil rights movement in Louisiana, where the Hanlons lived before moving to Derry. As reported by Gizmodo, "Derry has its share of injustices that catch Charlotte’s interest, and it’s hard for her to resist speaking up for what’s right."

Taylour Paige, 35, grew up a dancer in Inglewood, California, including stints training under Debbie Allen and performing as a Laker Girl. She has previously appeared in movies including White Boy Rick, Zola, Boogie, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Sharp Stick, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. She earned a Grammy nomination for appearing on Kendrick Lamar's spoken-word track "We Cry Together."

Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon

Blake Cameron James plays Will Hanlon, Leroy and Charlotte's young son who, as an adult, will be the father of IT's Mike Hanlon. The 15-year-old actor is best known for starring as Malik in the acclaimed indie drama We Grown Now, for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture. He also appeared in an episode of the short-lived crime drama Found.

Arian S. Cartaya as Rich

On Will's first day in Derry, he becomes friends with Rich, a band kid with a crush on Marge.

Arian S. Cartaya is a young actor who made his TV debut in the first season of HBO Max's short-lived comedy Gordita Chronicles. He has also appeared in the telenovela Juego de mentiras and the Apple TV+ series Bad Monkey.

Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan

Hank Grogan, the projectionist at a Derry movie theater, is a widower who raises his son, Ronnie, with his mother (BJ Harrison) after his wife's death. He's played by Stephen Rider, 46, who had previously auditioned to play adult Mike Hanlon in IT: Chapter Two.

Rider made his film debut in the 2007 drama film The Great Debaters after being discovered by Denzel Washington. He has since appeared in 2013's The Host and The Butler, the Showtime series Shameless, the Netflix/Marvel shows Daredevil and Luke Cage, and the CBS procedural Instinct.

Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo

Pauly is Leroy's loyal friend and fellow pilot, who served with him in Korea and also moved to Derry. The captain is played by Rudy Mancuso, 33, who rose to fame with his popular musical-comedy videos on Vine and YouTube. He co-wrote, directed, starred in, and composed the soundtrack for the 2024 Prime Video rom-com Música, which co-starred Riverdale alum Camila Mendes. After falling in love while filming Música in July 2022, Manusco and Mendes got engaged a few days before the premiere of Welcome to Derry.

Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann

Dick Hallorann is a fellow soldier at Derry's Air Force base, who has a supernatural talent—you could call it a "shine"—and an important role in a top-secret mission. Stephen King fans better know the man from another famed novel, The Shining. (Yes, it's the same character, who's also mentioned in the IT novel.)

Chris Chalk, 47, is a long-time TV actor and scene-stealer who previously starred in Homeland, The Newsroom, Underground, Gotham, When They See Us, Shining Girls, Perry Mason, and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans. He has also appeared in the movies 12 Years a Slave, Detroit, Godzilla vs. Kong, and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt.

James Remar as General Shaw

Shaw is the leader of Derry's military base, who recruited Leroy Hanlon and Dick Halloran for a mysterious mission involving IT. He's played by James Remar, 71, a film and TV actor with a four-decade-spanning career.

Remar is best known for his roles as hotel magnate Richard Wright in Sex and the City and father Harry Morgan in the Dexter franchise. Next up, he's set to appear in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, following his role as Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson in 2023's Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.

Kimberly Norris Guerrero as Rose

Rose is the owner of the thrift shop Secondhand Rose, and a member of Derry's fictional Shokopiwah tribe. Readers who recall the tribe's mention in the novel know that Rose is hiding some big secrets.

Kimberly Norris Guerrero is a Native American actor with Salish-Kootenai heritage and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, per UC Riverside. Notable roles in her career include appearances on Seinfeld, Charmed, Grey's Anatomy, The Wilds, and Rutherford Falls, as well as playing Auntie B in Reservation Dogs. She also originated the role of Johnna in August: Osage County, performing the role in the play's Chicago, Broadway, London, and Sydney premieres.

Madeleine Stowe as Ingrid

One of the most mysterious characters in Welcome to Derry is Ingrid, an employee at Juniper Hill who befriends Lily. Ingrid is played by Madeleine Stowe, 67, who rose to fame with a string of movie roles, including 1988's Stakeout, 1992's The Last of the Mohicans, 1993's Short Cuts, and 1995's 12 Monkeys. After her semi-retirement to Texas in the 2000s, Stowe made her major TV debut with the iconic role of Victoria Grayson in the ABC soap Revenge.

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise

Though it took him a while to appear, no It story is complete without Pennywise, the most well-known form of the mystical evil that haunts Derry. Reprising his iconic role is Bill Skarsgård, the 35-year-old son of Stellan Skarsgård and brother of Alexander Skarsgård.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Bill started as a child actor and rose to fame in the U.S. with roles in Netflix's Hemlock Grove, 2012's Anna Karenina, and 2016's Atomic Blonde. Since his debut as Pennywise in 2017, the star has appeared in films such as Deadpool 2, Eternals, John Wick: Chapter 4, The Crow, and Nosferatu, as well as the series Clark and Castle Rock.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are privy to certain privileges as members of the Royal Family. Case in point: when HBO built elements of the new Harry Potter set in Windsor Great Park, Kate Middleton and Prince William's kids were lucky enough to get an invite.

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Hogsmeade Station was built on Windsor Great Park," which is conveniently close to Kate and William's new home, Forest Lodge. On Friday, September 26, "Kate took Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis for a spellbinding visit where they met the cast," the outlet reported.

According to the publication, the visit "would have been a magical evening for the young royals who are huge fans of the movies."

Describing the incredible event, a royal source told the Daily Mail, "It was so special, Kate and the children met the young actors and the director on the set. There was only one night of filming there so it really was a magical ticket."

The source continued, "And as for Louis, he got the chance to ride on the train with the driver. He seemed to absolutely love it. It's the dream for most children to step aboard the Hogwarts Express." Clearly, being a child of the future king has some benefits.

A source also revealed that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's children visited the set, too. "They were busy looking at the Hogwarts Express and it genuinely seemed like a magical time for them," the source explained.

Earlier this week, royal biographer Christopher Andersen opened up about George, Charlotte, and Louis's upbringing in an interview with Harper's BAZAAR. "[Kate and William] pretty much lavish equal attention on all three, while at the same time nurturing their distinct and different personalities," the expert noted.

The 2025 Emmys are the time to celebrate the best in TV, but before the awards show even began, fans found out that they're about to bid farewell to a beloved comedy series.

While walking the Emmys red carpet, Hacks star Hannah Einbinder revealed that the upcoming fifth season of the hit HBO Max series will be its final installment.

“It will feel different,” Einbinder told E! host Heather McMahan, per Variety. “We’re going to start [filming] next week, and knowing it’s the last season is really bittersweet. But I think it’s right, you know?"

The actress, who stars opposite Jean Smart on the series, added, "It’s nice to do something as many times as it should be done. Not overstay your welcome. Rip it and do it and laugh and cry."

The beloved showbiz comedy, created by Lucia Anello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky about the relationship between a stand-up legend and her younger writer, was renewed for its fifth season in May 2025, days before its season 4 finale. Before Einbender's announcement, the showrunners had previously said in interviews that they were unsure whether they would stick to their original five-season plan for the series.

"We are now breaking up season 5, and we have to see how many episodes it will take us to get to where we know we’re going to go," Downs said back in May.

"The final scene of the final episode has been in our minds since 2015, and we’re excited to get there. But that may take more episodes than we can fit in the season...The truth is that we’ve been really lucky to be able to tell the story in the way that the writing requires, and we’re gonna do that again. And so if we can’t get to that final chapter in 10, and it might be more—we just don’t know. That’s the truth. We know where we’re going, we just don’t know how long it will take to get there."

Fans may recall that the acclaimed season 4 of Hacks concluded with Smart's Deborah Vance down on her luck and living in Singapore after leaving late-night TV and facing a non-compete clause. However, it sets up the forthcoming episodes as a false report of her death inspires a fire in her and her writer/mentee, Ava (Einbinder), to return to the U.S. and fight the industry to reclaim her work.

This year's Emmys ceremony marked a big night for Hacks, which was nominated for 14 awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series.

The stars took home major prizes. Smart won her fourth consecutive Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for playing Deborah Vance (marking her seventh Emmy overall). Meanwhile, Einbinder took home her first-ever award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, for her performance as Ava Daniels.

Einbender, who is known for being vocal about both social justice issues and her love of the Philadelphia Eagles, ended her speech by saying, "Go Birds, fuck ICE, and free Palestine."

In January 2022, HBO debuted The Gilded Age, a period drama chronicling the titular American era of decadence and societal change. Created by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, the must-watch series applied the upstairs-downstairs approach of his British hit to a few upper-class families in N.Y.C. at the turn of the 19th century, while highlighting the power struggle between new-money schemers, represented by Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon), as they clash with old-money scions, like Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski). (Also, props to The Gilded Age for including a rare depiction of upper-class Black Brooklyn society at the time!)

Three years later, The Gilded Age has reached new heights, with season 3 drawing in more viewers than ever and growing to surprisingly life-or-death stakes compared to the show's low-stakes beginnings. (Remember when season 1's finale hinged on getting Mrs. Astor to attend a ball?) Since the season 3 finale on August 10, 2025, fans have been clamoring for news of the show's future. Read on for everything we know about The Gilded Age season 4 so far.

Has 'The Gilded Age' been renewed for season 4?

Yes! HBO announced the renewal on July 28, two weeks before the season 3 finale. The renewal came as the series continued to reach new viewership feats week after week. According to Deadline, ahead of the season 3 finale, The Gilded Age was "adding viewers at a rate nearly 50 percent higher than in previous seasons."

"We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season,” said Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. "Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a 'cant-miss it' entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season."

When will 'The Gilded Age' season 4 come out?

There's no official release date for season 4 yet, so the timeline for new episodes is unclear. However, in mid-December 2025, HBO dropped a teaser for its 2026 slate, and The Gilded Age was among the shows featured (along with other tentpole hits like Euphoria and House of the Dragon, as well as new releases like Lanterns). So, that being said, the period drama should return sometime in 2026.

As for when exactly, we can look back at previous seasons to get a sense. For example, season 1 premiered in January 2022, followed by season 2 in October 2023, and season 3 in June 2025. Although, the 2023 Hollywood strikes contributed to the delay between seasons 2 and 3, so the wait won't be as long for season 4. We would bet that the new episodes will start airing in fall 2026.

Which of the cast will return for 'The Gilded Age' season 4?

It's been reported that a handful of stars are confirmed to return: Carrie Coon (Bertha Russell), Morgan Spector (George Russell), Taissa Farmiga (Gladys Russell), Taissa Farmiga, (Gladys Russell), Harry Richardson (Larry Russell), Christine Baranski (Agnes van Rhijn), Cynthia Nixon (Ada Brook), Louisa Jacobson (Marian Brook), Audra McDonald (Dorothy Scott), Denée Benton (Peggy Scott), Blake Ritson (Oscar van Rhijn), Jordan Donica (Dr. William Kirkland), Ashlie Atkinson (Mamie Fish), and Kelley Curran (Enid "Turner" Winterton).

In fact, according to a February 2026 casting announcement from Deadline, we'll see even more of Donica and Atkinson, who have been promoted to series regulars in season 4. As fans may recall, Dr. William Kirklan proposed to Peggy—without his family's approval—at the Newport, Rhode Island gala in the season 3 finale. So, it makes sense we'll see more of the actor going forward. Could a wedding be in store next season? Or at least tensions to be dealt with among Peggy and William's disapproving family? We'll have to wait and see!

We know that Curran will also be featured more heavily. Deadline reported that she’s been upped as a series regular going forward. That makes sense, considering Oscar van Rhijn was considering her for a marriage of convenience in season 3—so it's safe to say there may be more than a few engagements and/or weddings in the next installment.

Though they have yet to be officially confirmed, several other major stars will likely return, including Ben Lamb (Hector, Duke of Buckingham), Kelli O'Hara (Aurora Fane), Donna Murphy (Mrs. Astor), Ben Ahlers (Jack Treacher), Douglas Sills (Monsieur Baudin), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mrs. Bruce), Simon Jones (Mr. Bannister), Jack Gilpin (Church), Debra Monk (Armstrong), Phylicia Rashad (Elizabeth Kirkland), and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Frederick Kirland.)

However, it remains to be seen if characters who were ousted from society will return in some capacity. Fingers crossed that Nathan Lane (Ward McAllister) will be back at some point!

Are there any new cast members in 'The Gilded Age' season 4?

In mid-February 2026, Deadline unveiled several new faces joining season 4 and teased their roles. As is typical of the show, many of the newcomers hail from the stage, including Tony-winner and Kimberly Akimbo star Bonnie Milligan, Tony-nominee Taylor Trensch (Bat Boy: The Musical), James Scully (Oh, Mary! and Netflix's You), Maggie Kuntz (John Proctor is the Villain), and Neal Huff (To Kill a Mockingbird). Dennis Haysbert (The Unit, Lucifer) also joins the show.

According to Deadline, some of the new additions will be playing real people: Milligan plays The Ladies' Home Journal editor Mrs. Knapp Curtis, while Huff brings to life businessman/oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. "A thin, self-made man of humble origins, now one of the richest and most powerful in the world. A devout Baptist and philanthropist, he does not always see eye to eye with his fellow robber barons," the outlet teased about his portrayal on the series.

Meanwhile, Trensch will portray "Oliver, "a new addition to the van Rhijn household," Scully joins as artist Lee Klein, Kuntz plays one of the Astors's cousins, the free-spirited Fiona Summers, and Haysbert plays William Kirkland's mentor, Dr. Reginald Harris.

And that’s not all! Even more exciting castings (of primarily theater actors) were announced in early March. Elizabeth Marvel (Presumed Innocent, Homeland), Andrew Burnap (Snow White, Under the Banner of Heaven), Dallas Roberts (The Walking Dead), and stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan will all appear in guest roles. 

Deadline teased their characters, as well. Marvel plays Virginia Saville, “a kind nurse who works at the Neighborhood Settlement House in the Lower East Side,” and Burnap will play Porter, “a young gentleman of Society with an Ivy League education and money to invest in exciting new ventures.” Gaffigan and Roberts, meanwhile, will portray a few more real-life figures, President Grover Cleveland and Secretary of Treasury Daniel Manning, respectively. 

What will 'The Gilded Age' season 4 be about?

HBO has shared a synopsis for season 4: "Bertha Russell changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn seizes an opportunity to regain her position. Meanwhile, Marian forges a new path for herself, and Peggy works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for."

We'll have to see how that all plays out, considering season 3 ended with the unthinkable, in which it seemed as if the Russells were done for good. After the show's most fascinating and ambitious couple spent the season at odds over their daughter Gladys's marriage, George recovers from being shot, but his near-death experience prompts him to leave his wife Bertha after her Newport Ball. The Russells's marriage is the best part of the show for most fans, so their separation and reconciliation (I'm manifesting it) will be a large part of season 4. (Also, George gets addicted to laudanum? We'll see.)

Both Russells shared their thoughts on the split in the hours following the season 3 finale. Morgan Spector was optimistic, telling TVLine, "Because we know how good this couple can be together, it would be really fascinating to see them spend a season figuring out how to get back to each other."

Meanwhile, when asked by Variety whether the pair will be able to put their differences aside, Carrie Coon answered, "I don’t know. It depends what George wants." She added of George's near-death revelations, "That feels very real to me in long-term relationships. One person can go through a very transformative experience that the other person doesn’t have access to, and it takes them a while to find their way back to each other."

Season 4 will also be a big season for engagements: Marian and Larry are still on course; Peggy is newly betrothed to her beau William (despite his mother's objections); and Oscar may be headed toward a lavender marriage with Enid. Also, despite her initial devastation at marrying a stranger, Gladys is happily pregnant by the season finale.

While speaking with Marie Claire about the season 3 finale, Taissa Farmiga shared her hopes for Gladys in season 4, including whether she might continue her arc in England or return to America. "What sets us apart from Downton Abbey is that it's American history, and I'm curious how much they [will] show Gladys in England, or would she be able to come back and, I don't know, bring some English manners and chaos to New York?" she said. "I hope I don't have to play pregnant too long. I don't want to have to wear a corset with a pregnancy belt. Let's just throw this out there—maybe Julian reads this. But also I'll do what I have to do!"

As for how Gladys will approach being a mother, Farmiga said, "I think she will be more inspired by George's parenting than by Bertha's parenting. I think she's going to want to give more of the emotional comfort that Bertha doesn't give, even though we know Bertha loves her children. She loves them so much, but sometimes a child needs a hug and a gentle smile, not like a firm guiding hand. Sometimes it's just acknowledging their feelings."

Taissa Farmiga leans in close to the camera, shaking out her shoulder-length straight brown hair. “Do you recognize me without my wig?” she asks me conspiratorially over Zoom. Just barely. For more than 10 years, the 30-year-old has been known for portraying wide-eyed terror in American Horror Story and The Nun franchise and more recently as Gladys, the youngest heiress of the Russell family on HBO’s The Gilded Age. But with a standout season—one where her emotional depth and charm made her easy to root for among an incredibly star-studded cast—Farmiga is sure to start getting spotted even without the voluminous up-dos or scream queen status.

At the beginning of season 3, Farmiga’s Gladys Russell is a sweet, naive teenager hellbent on marrying for love instead of status, despite her mother Bertha’s machiavellian plans to wed her to the Duke of Buckingham. Bertha (Carrie Coon) trumps Gladys, and by the end of the season, the 18-year-old has been sent to Sidmouth, the Duke’s estate in England; found empowerment by showing her sister-in-law who’s boss; and become sort of smitten with the Duke. Oh, she also ends the season pregnant—and happy.

Guess Bertha was right.

It’s a thrilling arc for any actor, and one that Farmiga was delighted to learn about during a conversation with series creator Julian Fellowes and executive producer David Crockett before filming began. “It's been a fucking emotional rollercoaster,” she tells Marie Claire of the season.

Speaking excitedly about the series from her home in the South of France, Farmiga shares her admiration for her “powerhouse” co-stars who make up the Russell family (Coon; Morgan Spector, who plays her father George; and Harry Richardson, who plays her brother Larry), the show in general (“It's history books and cotton candy. It's incredible”); and the costume department (“These are masters of their craft”).

On the heels of Sunday’s season 3 finale, Farmiga explains how Gladys becomes “Mini Bertha,” how finding her freedom might mean embracing her mother’s sensibilities after all, and what she hopes to see for Gladys in season 4.

Marie Claire: Throughout this season, we see Gladys go from a lovelorn girl to a devastated bride to a confident duchess and soon-to-be mother. How did you calibrate your performance as you moved through those roles?

Taissa Farmiga: When she starts season 3, she feels like she has power over her mother. She's learned how to navigate her with the help of her brother, Larry. They have that sibling dynamic with the winks and the smiles and the sneaky glances, like they know how to maneuver around Bertha Russell. But in the end, they really don't.

MC: No one does.

TF: No one does, not even her husband. But you see she's feeling on top of the world. You see her talk back a bit to her mother. Then her whole world comes crashing down, and that's the divot in the middle of the season [when she gets married]. At the end, things start to work out. Gladys will never admit that Bertha was right, but maybe she wasn't 100 percent wrong. The writing is there, the character arc is there, and I get to work with phenomenal actors.

MC: What have you learned from working with Morgan and Carrie, and how do you approach working with them?

TF: I'm a person who loves to observe, and these are two actors who are so intelligent and so cool. The Russell family dynamic really clicked immediately. When I'm there, and I'm looking in their eyes, and I'm feeling all the despair and the sadness and the loneliness and the betrayal that Gladys is feeling, and it's just Morgan's there looking so heartbroken as George, you don't have to play pretend that much. Obviously, it's hard work, but when you really connect with another actor, you fall into it and all of a sudden you kind of forget what's happening between “action” and “cut,” because you're just so immersed. And Carrie is so good at being a cunt. Pardon my French.

MC: This is a unique ensemble in that there are so many different women from different generations. I'm curious if that has affected your experience filming?

TF: You can feel the experience. You can feel the history. You can feel the knowledge and the talent when you walk in the room. I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that a lot of our cast is theater actors, but there's a different sort of core you have as someone who's based in the theater. There's more camaraderie. There's appreciation for the familial aspect of it. There's no battle for, I'm head bitch or I'm the one who's supposed to be number one on the call sheet. There's no cattiness.

MC: In the second half of the season, Bertha comes to visit Gladys in England, and that’s when Gladys’s fortune starts to change. For one, she and her mother have a new dynamic. They’re in cahoots together. One of the best scenes is when Gladys gets the courage to tell her sister-in-law, Lady Sarah, to sit down and wait for her to finish her meal. You get a glimpse that perhaps there is a little bit of Bertha in Gladys.

TF: Look, Gladys is a Russell. There's no way she doesn't have the genes of George and Bertha, whose love language is ambition. No matter what people say around them, they're going to trust their gut instincts more than anything. They're going to push for what they believe to be the best for their family, even if the other family members don't fully see or agree with the plan.

This is the first time in three seasons that we're seeing Gladys and her mom link and connect in any way. All Gladys has been fighting for the past three seasons was freedom and liberty and not being under her mother's thumb. She didn’t want to be a mannequin or a doll for her mother to dress.

But what's funny is that Gladys finally finds her freedom by becoming like her mother, by embracing the skills or the personality traits of Bertha. In that moment, I'm sure there's still leftover rage and trauma from being forced to marry, but what are parents if they don't give you trauma? She finally catches a glimpse of Maybe my mother does love me. She starts to understand. George's love has been a bit more about Gladys's present-day happiness, and Bertha's has been about her future happiness.

MC: So many stories that depict arranged marriages during this time period are about beautiful, naive ingenues who end up marrying abusive, evil men. I was waiting for that to happen and was so pleasantly surprised when the Duke proved me wrong.

TF: Hector is not a dick. They're just two people who hadn't really had a moment to get to know each other. Of course, she would be scared to marry a stranger, but she really never gave him a chance. I thought it was beautiful when she asked him before the wedding, "Is it okay if I don't love you?" And he was just honest. That was the first moment they connected.

They're two people, both lost in different ways. During the negotiations, George offered more money to Hector through the means of an allowance for Gladys. That really tilled the soil to be able to plant the seed for partnership, because Hector has to rely on his wife. Hector is just a bit aloof, and is content with "My sister does everything." When Gladys comes in, she’s like, Well, hold on. Mini Bertha can come in and grow to be big Bertha.

MC: At the end of season 3, Gladys tells her mother she’s pregnant. What do you think Gladys will be like as a mother?

TF: I think she will be more inspired by George's parenting than by Bertha's parenting. I think she's going to want to give more of the emotional comfort that Bertha doesn't give, even though we know Bertha loves her children. She loves them so much, but sometimes a child needs a hug and a gentle smile, not like a firm guiding hand. Sometimes it's just acknowledging their feelings.

MC: When Gladys set sail for England, I was a little worried that we weren't going to see much of her. If there is a season 4, what do you hope we'll see from her? [Editor’s Note: Since this interview, HBO renewed The Gilded Age for a fourth season.]

TF: What sets us apart from Downton Abbey is that it's American history, and I'm curious how much they [will] show Gladys in England, or would she be able to come back and, I don't know, bring some English manners and chaos to New York? I hope I don't have to play pregnant too long. I don't want to have to wear a corset with a pregnancy belt. Let's just throw this out there—maybe Julian reads this. But also I'll do what I have to do!

MC: All the costumes in the show are exceptional. Did you notice a shift between American Gladys and English Gladys?

TF: There was a huge shift between American Gladys and Gladys arriving in Sidmouth. The fabrics changed. There was a bit more of this flat and softer stuff, whereas she wore more satin in New York. New York is definitely more showy. In England, everything has to be more subdued. The costumes are absolutely, absolutely insane. What's wild is that they had to cut the wardrobe budget this season.

MC: You could never tell.

TF: It feels like they've stepped it up. It feels like they had more money.

MC: What was your favorite scene of the season to film?

TF: I love the scene that you mentioned when she's in Sidmouth and Bertha's there, and it's the first time you see Gladys become a mini Bertha. Speaking of the wardrobe, they had put a different dress in my trailer for that scene. It was this lilac purple flowy dress, which was very emblematic of previous season Gladys. It was the first time in three seasons that I was like, I don't agree. I don't feel like this is the right dress.

This is the moment that Gladys puts her foot down. She takes her place and she uses her title. She's the Duchess in that moment. I asked for one of my favorite outfits of the season—the dress I wore in that scene. It was this darker blue, a bit lacy. It felt a tiny bit sexy for the time period. It felt more mature, it felt lady-like.

I was so humbled that they allowed me to express my feelings about the character and be like, "Can we change it?" I felt more confident and in the moment, and it was a very triumphant moment for Gladys.

MC: What was the most difficult scene to film?

TF: I feel like the wedding lasted three weeks. If you look at my career, you’ll see that maybe 70 percent of my projects have been genre or genre-adjacent. Everything's so heightened in genre pieces, and you feel things so much more. That’s why I love Gladys’s arc this season. The high was super high and the low was super low. You really get to feel everything so intensely. Maybe it's exhausting and you have to calculate how much water you're drinking to make sure that you still have enough tears to keep doing this crying part for seven hours a day, but whatever. So even though it was the hardest scene, it also was one of my favorites as well.

I'm grateful to spread my wings a bit and get some nice meaty scenes and see this girl grow. We've seen her journey, but she's always kind of been an accessory to even the big moments in her life, like her coming out ball. She was an accessory to Bertha's moment. This time she got to shine.

Fans and hate-watchers of Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That... are not okay. Following the announcement that the HBO Max series will wrap at the end of its third season, the show's cast took to social media to share their thoughts about Carrie Bradshaw's story coming to an end. Sex and the City icon Kim Cattrall, who portrayed Samantha Jones in the original series and subsequent movies, also posted on Instagram, and fans are wondering if she was subtly referencing And Just Like That... abruptly ending.

Actress Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte York, re-shared showrunner Michael Patrick King's statement announcing the end of And Just Like That... and added her own emotional message. "I am profoundly sad," Davis captioned her Instagram post. "I love our whole beautiful cast and crew. 400 artisans working so hard on our show with deep love...And to our loyal fans, we love you forever and ever." She also commented on the post, writing, "Thank you to you all...You hold me up and I do not take it for granted."

Meanwhile, Cattrall—who famously declined returning for the Sex and the City spinoff—shared a photo of a beautiful sunset, along with the caption, "It's the end of a very long week."

Even though Cattrall's Instagram didn't reference the Sex and the City spinoff, fans interpreted the timing of her post as being connected to the show's cancellation.

Cynthia Nixon, who has played Miranda Hobbs throughout the franchise, shared her own tribute on Instagram. "I can't believe our wild beautiful And Just Like That ride is almost over," she captioned her post. "It has been such a delight from start to finish. I will miss working with these people everyday SO incredibly much but know we will always be a part of each other's lives. Get ready for a lot more carousels in the weeks to come! And don't miss these last few episodes: surprises in store!"

Still, most And Just Like That... hate-watchers will agree: there's no better time to start planning that Samantha Jones in London spinoff starring Cattrall.

For the past 15 years, you’d be hard-pressed to find a time when Christine Baranski was not starring in a beloved TV show. Leapfrogging from legal drama The Good Wife to its spinoff The Good Fight to the dishy HBO period series The Gilded Age, the Emmy and Tony-winning actress has become the go-to name when it comes to finding someone to play a well-heeled, side-eying, champagne-sipping woman who takes no shit.

This spring, she excels at not one but two of those roles: Victoria, a self-described “neglectful but also smothering” mother with a secret on the shroomed-out second season of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers; and Agnes, the uppity matriarch desperate to maintain her social standing on the third season of The Gilded Age, premiering June 22. “Strong women, women with a certain kind of flamboyance or a certain kind of wit—I’ve been playing characters like this since I left Juilliard,” Baranski tells Marie Claire over Zoom from her New York home. “It must be the raw material that is me,” she adds with her signature cheek.

The characters are wildly different (Victoria upends social norms by inviting her much younger lover, Matteo, to crash her mother-daughter trip while Agnes is more concerned with whether the staff at her Manhattan mansion will take orders from her instead of her newly wealthy sister). But it’s easy to see why Baranski is so perfectly cast in both shows. Breaking out in theater, then the ‘90s sitcom Cybil before landing scene-stealing roles in films like The Birdcage, Cruel Intentions, and Mamma Mia!, Baranski brings a sense of regality and knowing cleverness to characters both icy and zany.

In Nine Perfect Strangers, Baranski’s Victoria could be written off as cruel when she clashes with daughter Imogen (Annie Murphy) at Zauberwald, the mysterious resort where Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman) engages in experimental psilocybin treatments. But as the season progresses, Victoria reveals to Imogen that she has early-onset ALS and she may only have a few months to live. What results is a touching reconciliation that hinges on Baranski’s grounded, tender performance.

“I don't think I'd be very good at being the long-suffering mom, or the victim, or the fragile one that's having trouble coping,” Baranski says of the roles she’s offered. “I love the fact that I've had a career playing these kind of ladies, because I think audiences love to see this a woman who's her own person, who doesn't suffer fools, who is highly opinionated, who makes mistakes, but still, as Elizabeth Taylor would say, puts on her lipstick, and pours herself a drink, and moves on. Great clothes, funny lines. I mean, what's wrong with that?”

Ahead, Baranski breaks down her unlikely friendship with co-star King Princess, what’s next on this season of The Gilded Age, and her dedication to mentoring actors both on-screen and off.

Marie Claire: What attracted you to Nine Perfect Strangers?

Christine Baranski: We filmed in Munich and the Alps. It will go down as one of my favorite experiences, in terms of location, because I'm a music and opera lover, and I love to study European history. It was like a year abroad, where you just inhale culture.

I knew Nicole was reprising her role and then I heard the list of the actors they were talking to. They were just marvelous actors. I got a little hint of what the character was and I thought she was interesting because of her predicament. Playing a mother-daughter relationship is always a rich experience. Having raised two daughters, that was something, like, "Oh, well, I have some life experience with the complicated psychology of a mother-daughter relationship." But I also thought it would be very interesting to explore the psychology of a woman who knows she's dying. ALS is a terrible, terrible disease. She's hiding that, walking with a cane, pretending that she had a little accident. She comes in all dolled up but, in fact, she's quite frail.

MC: You mentioned your “marvelous” colleagues. Any memories together from your time abroad?

CB: One magical evening we were in this little town of Hallstatt [Austria], and the hotel was directly on this lake. It was out of a storybook, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and this crystalline lake. I had arranged for a little champagne twilight cocktail party. We set out some chairs and a table, and as the sun was shining and the darkness was descending, I had this beautiful Ennio Morricone music. We opened several bottles of champagne, and it was just simply magical.

MC: An article about you from a few years ago said you were known to throw incredible parties where people might end up naked in a lake.

CB: I didn't orchestrate it, but believe it or not, many of my colleagues did jump in naked, not by my prompting. I'm all in favor of doing that sort of thing, because I do have a house on a lake in Connecticut, and I have had many famous people enjoying themselves on my dock. But I did not. I went up to my waist. I was afraid of catching a deep chill and a cold.

MC: In episode 6, we learn about Victoria’s illness. Why did she want to keep this secret from Imogen?

CB: From the first time Imogen lays eyes on her mother, you can understand that relationship. There's estrangement there, there's anger, there's resentment. [Victoria’s] hope is that she’ll show up and have a rapprochement with her daughter. She’s not very clear about what all of these drug protocols are and all, given her physical state. I'm sure Victoria feels she does not want to take anything or do anything. She's hoping, at best, that this is a lovely spa experience with her daughter, and it won't take a long time to have that lovely conversation. But it's complicated because she shows up with a much younger man in tow, and that just ignites Imogen.

It's a very big thing to reveal to your child that you have a life-threatening disease. It's a bit of a death sentence. You only have a certain number of weeks, months, maybe years. It's not the kind of thing you tell somebody on the phone or email. She needs to see Imogen in person. For all the anger and Imogen's seeming independence, she has needed a lot of help. She's a girl who's gone through a lot of different graduate courses and has yet to really find herself. She is turning 35, and there's still a lot of fragility in Imogen.

MC: Why do you think she ultimately does go on the psychedelic trip with her?

CB: Because she is very fearful of her doing that alone. [Victoria] agrees to take that leap with her so that at least she can say to her that she did it too. When she decides that she really wants to take this deep dive into her traumatic past, Victoria makes that journey with her.

MC: What was your relationship like with Annie Murphy while on set?

CB: She pops off the screen with those deep brown eyes, and her vivacity. She's such a vibrant human being. Of course, we hit it off.

When you play a mother-child relationship or a husband-wife, you're trying to create years and years and years of how people communicate with each other. Two people falling in love, well, that's easy because you're just discovering. But if Imogen's 35, there’s a lot of baggage, a lot of wounds, a lot of memories. It was wonderful that we were in Munich, because we devoted a lot of time to hanging out. All of us had time to marinate as a cast.

MC: With all of the conversation about and portrayals of psychedelics, did any of you do mushrooms together?

CB: I'm not going to out anybody. I was given something at a party, and I think it was mushrooms, but I had to go back to my hotel. I had a little bit and I just felt wonderful. Everyone said, "Were you okay?" I said, "Oh, I was so happy. I felt like I loved everybody." They said, "Oh, okay, you had a good one." But drugs have never been my thing. When I played Diane Lockhart [on The Good Wife and The Good Fight], she dabbled in psilocybin and ketamine. I certainly didn't do ketamine. I would be a little nervous about trying stuff like this. But what happens in Munich stays in Munich.

MC: One of the narratives that's come out of this filming experience has been your friendship with your co-star King Princess. You don't see that many examples of true intergenerational friendship.

CB: I agree. She’s, without a doubt, one of the smartest humans. I'm stunned that she's only 25. We went out to dinner together, and as we were just having a martini at the bar, we started talking about her Nana. I started talking about my grandmother. It was like we had a shared human experience of having a deeply loving relationship with our grandmothers. That was it. From then on, we've kept in touch. That's a life that I would like to be a part of, have a little mentoring thing going.

It's not like she asks for my advice, but I think she finds it cool to know someone with that much experience in the theater. She was very open with everybody. She wanted to learn. She was humble. It was her first experience [as an actor] and I wouldn't have known that she didn't have any film experience because she was so easy in front of a camera. Stay tuned. It'll be more of the two of us doing stuff together.

MC: You have this illustrious career, but you've also talked about how you love learning from people who don't have as much experience. Do you still find that you're learning when you go to set?

CB: My God, yes. I was certainly the oldest person on the set of Nine Perfect Strangers, but I'm intrigued by what's going on in the culture. Much of it baffles me, but I feel like, why not learn from my fellow actors, especially the ones who are in their 20s and 30s? They are experiencing life in a way that is way different from how I grew up. We had one television set in the house. There were no iPhones, there was no internet. We’re talking about generations that are learning about life on their screens. I want to know what they're singing about. I want to know what they're concerned about. I want to know what their passions are. And KP is about as savvy and in the game as you can get. She's a great source to me. But I can also help her and say, "You know, have faith in time.” I didn't even become famous in that weird, ubiquitous TV way until my forties. Young people feel a great need to make things happen quickly, because their youth is a commodity now.

I want to encourage faith in time, having faith that things will unfold. If you're a person of talent, and commitment and passion, and if you do your training, that will pay off. Just don't expect instant payoffs. That's our culture, we want everything to be just like, boom.

MC: I think that's really reassuring to hear.

CB: I have a lot to learn from my young actors. Of course, on The Gilded Age, I have so many wonderful young colleagues. I adore them all. They're just all so attractive.

MC: You have a very fun dynamic with Louisa Jacobson, who plays your niece on the show.

CB: I'm friends with Meryl [Streep, Jacobson’s mother], so I said, "Your daughter's intimidated by me, but I'm just being the character." I don't think she is anymore, but that was when she first started.

MC: The third season of The Gilded Age wasn't necessarily guaranteed, especially with the writer's strike. Once you learned it was coming back, what were your hopes for Agnes' storyline?

CB: At the end of season 2, I lose all my money. Then in the very last episode, my sister's husband dies suddenly and she finds out she's inherited a fortune. In fact, we are not going to be paupers. We don't have to sell the house. The caveat is my sister's now in charge. It's not great news for Agnes, but it is great news for Christine as an actress, because I get to play a character who was so fixed in her ways, had such a strong sense of identity about her own place in the world, her place in the home, her stature in society, and it's completely upended.

She's watching her sister suddenly get more and more confident about running the household. It lends itself to a lot of funny moments with Cynthia [Nixon, who plays Agnes’ sister]. That's a strong point in the show, the comedic aspects of that sister relationship. Everybody who's a sibling recognizes top dog, underdog. Now she's the top dog and I'm the underdog, and I'm thoroughly grumpy about it, especially when she supports causes like temperance. Please. You are not going to tell Agnes she can't have wine at dinner. But in The Gilded Age, whoever holds the purse strings has the power.

MC: I interviewed Carrie Coon, who also stars on The Gilded Age, a few months ago about The White Lotus and we talked about how difficult it was for her to go back and forth between the set in Thailand and home as a working mother. You did the same thing when you were filming Cybil, commuting from the set in L.A. to your home in Connecticut, where your children lived. Did you and Carrie ever talk about that? Do you talk to working mothers now who are actors, about what's changed, what hasn't changed?

CB: I do. I make a point. When I worked with Audra McDonald on The Good Fight, I would check in with her, and I'd say, "Hey, I did this. This is so hard. It's so hard on a marriage, when you are the one who has a career in the ascendancy, and you're the one making the money.” There's this feeling of needing to downshift in the relationship so that you try to keep things on an even keel, to say nothing of leaving your children. There are no shortcuts. There's no easy way to do this.

Carrie actually did email me, and she said, "I've been offered The White Lotus, and I'm so torn. I can't not do White Lotus, but do I take my children? Do I leave them behind?" I said, "I left my kids in the care of my husband and my nanny because I thought it would be too disruptive to their lives, changing schools, changing friends." I said, "If you have good caregivers, your kids will probably be okay. Then just have it in your contract that you can get home."

Even while she was there, I wrote to her a few times to say, "How are you doing, pal?" As someone who walked that walk, had kids, held a marriage together, and managed to raise my kids, I want to help other women, at least to say, "I see what you're going through."

I went into therapy because I was so torn about working and leaving my kids. I felt so guilty about it. I felt if anything bad happened to my children, it would be my fault. Or if things didn't turn out well with my kids, it would be my fault. There is a terrible feeling of responsibility and guilt that women have. If you're a working actress with kids, I do think it's nice to know that other women have walked that walk, that it's not easy, but it'll be okay.

MC: Would you ever be interested in going back to the theater?

CB: I am currently in discussion for something, and it seems like it will happen. It is a play. It would be in London, and I've always wanted to work on the West End. I'm loath to say anything about it because it is not fait accompli, but it is an absolutely delicious role that has been played by some of the great actresses. It's a comedy. I get excited thinking about it. I'm overdue. I haven't done a run of a play since I worked with Mark Rylance on Boeing-Boeing, and that was 2007.

Now we are waiting to hear if The Gilded Age will be renewed. They don't want to make a decision until several episodes air so we're all sort of hanging. I couldn't commit to doing a play this autumn, because I thought, "Well, what if Gilded Age gets picked up? I want to be available for that." My television career definitely has been a happy roadblock to my doing theater, but there is a chance that I could make it work, and it would be great fun.

2025 is the year that medical shows flew to the top of every TV fanatic's watchlist. The medical drama has been a staple genre since the early days, with legendary classic TV shows bringing in hundreds of millions of viewers with their well-worn yet effective tropes. In recent years, several new series have revived the genre as a pop culture phenomenon with their refreshing takes on the everyday highs and lows (including global staffing and funding issues) that health care workers live through today.

Whether you're a longtime fan looking for your next re-watch or a Pitt-pilled newbie to the genre, we've compiled the best medical dramas, comedies, and miniseries, from the feel-good comfort watches to the emotional rollercoasters. Below, read on for our curated list of the best medical shows ever.

'Berlin ER' (2025– )

International TV offers a wealth of shows for viewers willing to overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, and the U.S. isn't the only country making great medical shows. Premiered during the medical-drama boom of early 2025, this German-language series has been likened to The Pitt for its no-holds-barred look at the pressures facing an under-resourced staff in an overcrowded hospital. (It may even be more anxiety-inducing than its peer, so fair warning.) When Dr. Suzanna Parker (Dear Child's Haley Louise Jones) is hired as the head of emergency medicine at KRANK, the "worst hospital in Berlin," she quickly learns just how massive a challenge she's facing.

WATCH ON APPLE TV+

'Call the Midwife' (2012– )

This long-running British period drama follows the women of Nonnatus House, a convent in a poor East London neighborhood where nurse midwives provide health care to the community. Starting in 1957, each season features diseases and issues ranging from tuberculosis, polio, and typhoid, to abortion, interracial marriage, and the invention of the contraceptive pill. While it doesn't shy away from the heavy realities of childbirth, the young midwives's friendships and love lives help Call the Midwife retain a comfort-show feel.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'ER' (1994–2009)

Of the early shows that led to the medical drama becoming a TV staple—from City Hospital to M*A*S*H to St. Elsewhere—ER stands apart. In addition to launching the careers of stars like George Clooney and Noah Wyle, ER raised the bar for dramatic storytelling and pacing, blowing the minds of the 1994 TV audience when they were introduced to the emergency room doctors at Chicago’s County General. Sure, the social issues they faced are now a bit dated, but if you're a medical-show fan who hasn't watched, the 300+ episodes will likely still blow you away.

WATCH ON HBO MAX

'Grey's Anatomy' (2005– )

Oh, where would TV be without Grey's? For 20 years, Shonda Rhimes's landmark series set at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital has become a Thursday night staple, dominated "best TV couples" rankings, and inspired a generation of fans to enter the medical profession themselves. From the original cohort with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina (Sandra Oh), and McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey), to recent favorites like Carina (Stefania Spampinato) and Taryn (Jaicy Elliot), there's a new favorite TV doctor for everyone among the show's 21 (and counting) seasons.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'Hart of Dixie' (2011–2015)

Hear us out: It wouldn't be right not to include the city-doctor-moves-to-small-town subgenre on this list, and Hart of Dixie is the type of soapy-yet-lighthearted comfort show that deserves a slot. (It narrowly edged out Virgin River.) N.Y.C. doctor Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) learns that her late biological father was a general practitioner in the rural town of Bluebell, Alabama. When she moves there to take over the practice, she must adjust to both her new home and her dad's former business partner, Brick Breeland (Tim Matheson). Of course, there's also a dash of rom-com in the love triangle between Zoe and locals Wade (Wilson Bethel) and George (Scott Porter).

WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO

'Hospital Playlist' (2020–2021)

One of the most beloved K-dramas of the past five years, this series centers on the doctors, patients, and staff at the fictional Yulje Medical Center, a Seoul university hospital. Five doctors who met during medical school are now best friends working across different departments, and come together at night to rehearse for their band. If you fall in love with the charming cast, don't worry—the spinoff Resident Playbook is full of cameos, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that a Hospital Playlist season 3 is on the horizon.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'House' (2004–2012)

Most of the shows mentioned so far in this list have been heartwarming at their core; Dr. Gregory House would probably hate them. This is a pure procedural, with the titular doctor (played by Hugh Laurie) and his colleague James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) spending each episode diagnosing mind-bending afflictions (which are never lupus). The antisocial curmudgeon Dr. House is a legendary TV character, and watching the show get to the truth of him throughout the show's early seasons is a fascinating watch.

WATCH ON HULU

'Lenox Hill' (2020)

While scripted medical shows are filled with fictional versions of the everyday heroes in the healthcare industry, this Netflix docuseries spotlights four real-life doctors. Filmed in the titular N.Y.C. hospital over several months, the series was lauded for covering a wide scope of personal issues affecting medical professionals, from the immense emotional toll and stakes of their work, to the dearth of physicians of color, to the experience of delivering babies while carrying their own. Lenox Hill even ends with a special episode covering the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'M*A*S*H' (1972–1983)

M*A*S*H is one of the most well-known classic TV shows; 105.97 million people watched the series finale, which is the most-watched scripted TV episode in history. Based on the 1970 film of the same name, the Korean War dramedy centers on the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital staff, as they treat their fellow soldiers and struggle against the strict military bureaucracy. Though it shows its age at times, M*A*S*H is an essential watch for TV historians.

WATCH ON HULU

'New Amsterdam' (2018–2023)

If you didn't catch New Amsterdam during its Netflix boost in 2023, it's never too late to watch one of the most popular medical shows in recent years. Set at the New Amsterdam Medical Center and based on N.Y.C.'s oldest hospital, Bellevue, the warm-hearted series follows idealistic medical director Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) as he sets out to transform the hospital into one that puts patients before bureaucracy. (A common theme, if you haven't noticed, but Eggold sells it particularly well.)

WATCH ON PEACOCK

'Nurse Jackie' (2009–2015)

Several medical dramas have depicted health providers struggling with addiction, but these tend to be supporting characters. On this Showtime hit, Edie Falco plays Jackie Peyton, who does excellent work in an N.Y.C. emergency department, while also going in and out of rehab for her pill addiction. Falco and Merritt Wever both won Emmys for their performances as mentor Jackie and mentee Zoey, whose complicated relationship was a highlight of the series.

WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO

'The Pitt'

If you've made it to May 2025 without watching The Pitt, you're doing yourself a disservice. The series from star, writer, and executive producer Noah Wyle is another fast-paced series set in a beleaguered emergency department, but it grabs your attention by skewing away from all the well-worn tropes of contemporary medical dramas (much like another series did in its heyday). The illnesses, injuries, and treatments are mundane and hyper-realistic; the social issues the staff addresses are nationwide concerns; and every character is fleshed out and feels like a real person from the moment they step into the room (shoutout to the night staff). There's a reason every TV fanatic you know literally cannot wait for The Pitt season 2.

WATCH ON MAX

'Scrubs' (2001–2010)

This medical comedy from Shrinking creator Bill Lawrence is one of the most beloved comedies in TV history; think Grey's Anatomy, but tone down the soapy drama and turn up the goofball humor. (Fans miss it so much that a reboot is on the horizon.) Set at Sacred Heart Hospital, the workplace sitcom is powered by its charming ensemble, from medical intern J.D. (Zach Braff) and surgeon Turk's (Donald Faison) iconic friendship to chief resident Cox (John C. McGinley) and nurse Carla (Judy Reyes).

WATCH ON HULU

'St. Denis Medical' (2024– )

Fans of mockumentary comedies like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Abbott Elementary have a new series to add to their watchlists. This feel-good series follows the eclectic staff of an underfunded Oregon emergency department as they try to stay sane while doing their jobs. This show handles the woes of the healthcare system with a good mix of absurd, silly, and downright dark humor, featuring great characters, from clear-headed head nurse Alex (Allison Tolman) to know-it-all Dr. Ron (David Alan Grier) to ambitious administrator Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey).

WATCH ON PEACOCK

'This Is Going to Hurt' (2022)

This underrated gem gives an up-close look at the provider side of the U.K.'s National Health Service, based on creator Adam Kay's searing memoir about his time as a junior doctor. The seven-episode miniseries is set in an understaffed and underfunded OB-GYN unit in London, where the fictional doctor Adam Kay (Ben Whishaw) trains new hire Shruti (One Day's Ambika Mod) through exhausting shifts. The BAFTA-winning series doesn't pull any punches in showing how the strenuous work affects both Adam's mental health and his relationships outside of the hospital; by the end, viewers are left reckoning with a vocation that helps so many yet demands so much.

WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO

'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' (2025– )

If you've ever wanted your medical show to have the same feel as an action movie, watch this K-drama. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call centers on Baek Kang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon), a genius surgeon and former combat medic hired to revamp a Seoul hospital's trauma center. When he's not jumping out of a helicopter or saving a patient's life, he's butting heads with hospital administration and mentoring his new fellow Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) through a trial by fire. Like many genre-bending K-dramas, Trauma Code skillfully balances thrilling scenes, laugh-out-loud comedy, and doses of emotional drama; fingers crossed it gets a second season.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

If you poked your head into a certain London dance studio for a period in 2024, you would’ve found Emmy-winning actress Julianne Nicholson preparing for a role of a lifetime: Dance Mom. She plays the suburbanite with a proclivity for sharing TikTok videos with upbeat choreography, known only by her social handle, on Hacks season 4. In the HBO Max comedy packed to the brim with guest stars, the influencer who gets a slot on the fictional Late Night with Deborah Vance is undeniably this installment’s standout new character—and the last role you would expect Nicholson to play.

“I feel like most people want to see me doing the heavier lifting,” Nicholson, age 53, tells Marie Claire over Zoom, two days before her Hacks debut in episode 5, “Clickable Face.” Since breaking out in 2013 with her scene-stealing turns in August: Osage County and Masters of Sex, the Massachusetts-born actress has become best known for dramatic roles, often playing complicated mothers (like in Janet Planet and Mare of Easttown). Just three months before Hacks, Nicholson wowed fans and critics as Sinatra, the billionaire villain viewers loved to hate in Hulu’s dystopian thriller Paradise.

With Dance Mom, the actress is excited to make viewers laugh instead of cry. “I loved it so much,” Nicholson gushes about her time working on Hacks’s “unbelievable” set. “'Lifetimes’ [by Katy Perry] was on a loop in my head. But then it was so cute, because the crew started doing it too. They started memorizing the dance and doing it back to me, which was so sweet. It made me feel so good.”

Nicholson is already getting Emmys buzz for the guest arc, and fans are obsessed with her performance; though Dance Mom is fictional, internet sleuths have even dug up a real-life TikToker who bears a resemblance. But viewers are in for a surprise with episode 7. In “D’Christening,” which hits streaming on May 15, agents Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) discover that their client from rural Alberta, Canada isn’t the wholesome wine mom she appears to be. Not only does she not have children, Dance Mom is spiraling after her overnight success, huffing inhalants and sexting Adam Levine while renting his $25,000-a-week home. Jimmy and Kayla’s house call is the season’s first hint that Dance Mom’s family-friendly image is going down the drain, and if you know Hacks, you know that chaos will follow.

“She's this small-town woman who had this very sheltered experience,” Nicholson says of Dance Mom’s many layers. “She's like a kid in a candy store, and she wants to eat all the candy. And some poppers.”

Below, Nicholson chats with Marie Claire about how she landed her Hacks role and what went into making her dance—no, she hasn’t done a real TikTok challenge; yes, she wants Dance Mom to become one—as well as her hopes for Paradise season 2.

Marie Claire: How did Dance Mom come about? Did Hacks come to you with the role fully formed?

Julianne Nicholson: They had written this part and had me in mind for it. They asked my agent to set up a Zoom so they could tell me about who she was and what her arc is, and I was all in. I never get to do comedy. I love Hacks anyway. They very kindly condensed my days, because I don't live in L.A. I was so flattered and excited to be invited, and I'm delighted that Dance Mom has been released into the world.

MC: Dance Mom is a departure from the dramatic roles you’re known for. Did Hacks co-creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky tell you why they thought of you for the role?

JN: No. I should ask them, because a few people have asked me that. First of all, I'm such a huge fan of each of them individually, and of them as a party of three. They're incredible. They're so smart, so funny, and they wear it so effortlessly. I think they have big imaginations. I feel like so much in our industry, there's a way of thinking. For business models, people feel like they have to follow a certain rule or go the known way, and I feel so excited when someone takes a risk. There's no character that I've played before that they could point to and be like, 'Yeah, I think because of that she could do this.' They just told me that they were fans of my work and thought I'd be good at it.

MC: We really get to know Dance Mom and see her spiral out of control through Jimmy and Kayla. What was it like performing opposite Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter?

JN: I loved Hacks from the first episode, but I feel like it's gotten stronger and stronger. Every season, they get deeper into who those characters are as people and those relationships. And I love Jimmy and Kayla. That dynamic is so funny, so to get to do most of my work with them was a dream. It feels like they're just playing. It doesn't feel serious; no one makes it a big deal. There's a lot of laughter and lightness all around. Nothing's precious, so it's like, 'Try this. Try this.' They're so into it, so sometimes looking across at them, they were like little kids blinking back at me. It was a joyful place to go every day.

MC: What was the process of crafting and learning the dances?

JN: Thank God I had a choreographer. I said to my agent, 'We're gonna get a choreographer, right? Because I'm not able to come up with these dances. I don't have that in my bag of tricks.’ So I worked with this wonderful choreographer named Corey Baker. He is one of the most upbeat, sparkly, talented, joyful people I've ever met. He was my cheerleader every step of the way. I'd go up to London a couple times a week. We'd work for a few hours, and I'd be sweating by the end every time. Corey would film me, and I also would film him, so I would have both to refer to, because every move he does was completely effortless. I was never gonna get to where he did, but I could at least have ideas in my mind of where I could relax things or move my body more.

MC: Dance Mom takes a turn in episode 7. Do you feel that the fame in L.A. slowly corrupted her, or is she showing her true colors?

JN: I think that there is a sadness to her. There is a dark side there, but I don't think she's had the opportunity to explore that. I feel like some people, especially from smaller towns, when they suddenly find themselves in L.A. or New York City, it's more than they know what to do with. I think because she's a little bit unfulfilled and unhappy, this feels like it's going to be a band-aid. It's the thing that's going to fix everything, and the world is her oyster—and I think that's too much for her.

That's the genius of the writers, too. It's not commented on, so you're not expecting it at all. When you show up at her house with the pink G-Wagon outside, it's like, Oh dear.

MC: Hacks was a rare opportunity where you got to flex your comedic muscles. What do you enjoy most about doing comedy?

JN: Well, it's so fun to laugh, right? That is also a release. It's so fun to not take yourself so seriously. There is no making a fool of yourself, really. If you don't feel like a fool, then who cares what everybody else thinks? It's fun to be a part of a show that brings so many people joy and laughter. What a gift, especially right now.

MC: You were also in Paradise this year, which is nothing like Hacks. Do you feel like playing such different roles is ushering in a new era for you as an actress, or that the public perception of you could change?

JN: Honestly, I don't know. I've been doing it long enough now that it's like building a body of work. You don't know where people are going to discover your work, and you don't know which role or show people will even respond to, so I feel like it continues to shift. The more different things you do, the more different things you can show people you do, then hopefully that opens people's eyes to like, 'Well, what else can she do?' That is exciting to me.

And to be on shows of such quality. Hacks is like a top show ever made. I can't write to Paul and Lucia and Jen again and thank them because they're going to think I'm too needy or something. But I really am so grateful that they had the imagination to think of me for the role and invite me along, because I feel like most people want to see me doing the heavier lifting.

MC: What can you share about Sinatra’s journey in Paradise season 2? You said in a previous interview that Sinatra hit her lowest point in the season 1 finale, so I'm curious whether that'll force her to change her behavior in any way.

JN: I think it will. I think there will be subtle shifts, some enforced just by the nature of being unwell, and what happens in the time where she's recovering. But something like that, when you are so close to death, it will shake things up for a person. [Showrunner] Dan [Fogelman] has told me that we will be discovering much more about how Paradise actually came to be, and what needed to happen to get that place even built. There will be plots outside the bunker and inside the bunker, which is very interesting. I can't wait to see how they bring it to life.

Even in season 1, it was all on the page, so we were using our imagination with what the bunker and the whole world looks like. That first episode when we pull out from the duck and you pull up, up, up, and see those people walking along on grates, keeping the place moving. I didn't even think about the people involved in keeping this place going behind the scenes, which is, of course, a huge part of the storyline, haves and have-nots, and all of that. I'm excited to go back and see what's in store for season 2.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: We live in the age of too much TV. Each week, dozens of TV shows are released across streaming and broadcast, fighting for the public's attention. In 2023, 481 scripted series were released in the U.S.; although that year experienced a significant dip, that's still so many shows to get through before reality shows and international TV like K-dramas are even included. Take it from a culture writer: Even if watching TV is your literal job, many series can slip through the cracks.

2025's TV slate may have been dominated by hits like Severance, Adolescence, The White Lotus, and The Pitt, but that's just a handful of the excellent shows that have debuted this year. Many hidden gems have been released that you may have yet to hear about, from hilarious comedies and searing satires to emotional dramas about life's complications. Below, read on for recommendations of the best underrated TV shows of 2025.

The Underrated New Shows of 2025

'Adults'

2025 has been a big year for new coming-of-age shows (see Forever, Overcompensating, and, to a certain extent, I Love L.A.). The FX comedy Adults, which premiered in May, is centered on a 20-something friend group who cohabitate in a Queens home owned by one of their parents. While the plot includes send-ups of issues like career anxiety and health-insurance woes, the show’s undeniable appeal lies in its talented core cast: Malik Elassal as slacker Samir, Lucy Freyer as anxious Billie, Amita Rao as hyper-confident Issa, Owen Thiele as people-pleaser Anton, and Jack Innanen as everyone’s favorite himbo, Paul Baker. As with the best friendship shows, by the end of the first season, I was bummed that I couldn’t call up the gang to hang out some more.

WATCH ON HULU

'Clean Slate'

Best known as the last completed project of iconic sitcom writer/producer Norman Lear before his death, this heartwarming comedy is the first gone-too-soon show of the year, unceremoniously canceled just weeks after its premiere. Comedy legend George Wallace plays Harry Slate, a Mobile, Alabama, car-wash owner who's about to reunite with his estranged child after 23 years. When the father finds out that said child is now a trans woman called Desiree (Laverne Cox), Harry is more offended that she's a vegetarian. As father and daughter reconnect, and Desiree grapples with what's next after a career failure, Clean Slate is most progressive because it tells a mundane yet sweet story that doesn't focus on trauma. And in the year of our lord 2025, we need more sweetness in the world.

WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO

'Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy'

Of the buzzy true-crime docs and dramas that dropped in October, the one I wish more people had watched was Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Whether you’re burnt out on horrifying retellings or already have expert knowledge of the notorious serial killer, this eight-episode series is well worth watching because of how it treats victims’s stories. Rather than fictionalizing real people’s histories to build up the titular character’s mythos, Devil in Disguise centers on the lives these people lived before they encountered Gacy, and the families left to grieve and seek justice. The series isn’t perfect—some death scenes lean toward gratuitous—but it’s another example of how a true crime series can transcend its genre’s flaws.

WATCH ON PEACOCK

'Dying for Sex'

Michelle Williams leads this FX on Hulu miniseries as Molly Kochan, a fictionalized version of a real-life woman who had a sexual awakening after receiving a terminal breast cancer diagnosis at age 42. The show follows Molly as she leaves her marriage and embarks on a journey of genuinely steamy hookups, with her best friend-turned-caregiver Nikki (Jenny Slate) cheering her on. Take a realistic portrayal of female friendship, sprinkle in some intro-level kink scenes, top off with intense emotions about life and death, and you have a truly can't-miss show.

WATCH ON HULU

'Heated Rivalry'

Yes, one could argue that Heated Rivalry is not a show that TV fans have missed. Even if they’ve never heard the words “hockey romance” in their lives, anyone who has an HBO Max (or TikTok or Twitter) account has come across the Canadian romance about two star athletes (played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie) whose years of secret hookups lead to real feelings. But if you look beyond the zealous fandom, queer representation discourse, and prudish stigma, there’s a reason that the critics’s praise is just as sky high as we’ve heard from the target audience. At its core, creator Jacob Tierney has crafted a character-driven romance that employs sex scenes as storytelling, led by two previously unknown actors who give thoroughly impressive performances. American media may be devoid of yearning, but Heated Rivalry has shown what happens when that demand is met.

WATCH ON HBO MAX

'The Lowdown'

In a time where the crime dramas that land on streaming tend to bleed together, The Lowdown deserves to stand out. Reservation Dogs creator Sterlin Harjo's new series has the feel of a dog-eared paperback, brought to life and updated to reflect the current evils plaguing our world. Ethan Hawke—operating on a Good Lord Bird level of crazed determination—plays Lee Raybon, a freelance reporter and "truthstorian" whose mission to reveal corruption in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pits him against both the town's elite (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn and Kyle MacLachlan, among others) and its white-supremacist underbelly. But perhaps more important is the strain it puts on his already shaky relationship with his 13-year-old daughter (Ryan Kiera Armstrong).

WATCH ON HULU

'Long Story Short'

Five years after Netflix's best original series ever came to an end, BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg debuted a new animated series that immediately became my comfort watch. Long Story Short tells the Schwooper siblings's (voiced by Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, and Max Greenfield) life stories via time-jumps, tracing how events from childhood affect their growth into adulthood. The show gracefully balances family dramedy and zany cartoon humor, with puns that rival BoJack's best. And at its core, it breaks and mends your heart, telling universal stories of grief, career anxiety, parenthood, and even the pandemic through the lens of a slightly dysfunctional Jewish family.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'North of North'

Netflix's first-ever Canadian original series, released on the same day as Black Mirror's latest season, is the perfect antidote to TV's current tendency towards bleakness. North of North introduces us to the fictional community of Ice Cove, Nunavut, which is based on (and filmed in) the real-life Arctic town where many of the cast and crew grew up. The cultural specificity is half the draw in this delightful small-town comedy, as 26-year-old Inuk mother Siaja (Anna Lambe) challenges norms and builds a new life for herself after leaving her narcissistic, golden-boy husband. The other half is the ensemble comedy's charming subplots, including a reunion between Siaja's long-lost dad, Alistar (Jay Ryan), and her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper).

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'Study Group'

If you're reading this, odds are you've watched Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead, or at least one Korean show on Netflix that crossed over from the K-drama world to mainstream fame in recent years. And if you consider yourself a fan of edge-of-your-seat thriller K-dramas, Study Group should be your next watch. The webtoon adaptation is like a comic book come to life, following kind-hearted student Yoon Ga-min (Hwang Min-hyun) as he battles a league of bullies to protect his new study group. Think Weak Hero Class 2, but funnier and co-ed.

WATCH ON VIKI

'Toxic Town'

Sometimes the best fictional depictions of true crime are those that put a human face on an absolute travesty, so that the institutional failures that led to it are never forgotten. The British miniseries Toxic Town accomplishes this thanks to its phenomenal cast, led by Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood as the moms affected by the Corby toxic waste case. Nothing about this series is easy to watch, but the excellent performances and character writing make it impossible to look away.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

Netflix's multi-generational drama When Life Gives You Tangerines covers 70 years of a woman's life, as Oh Ae-sun (played by IU in her youth and Moon So-ri later in life) experiences every range of human emotion, alongside her lifelong husband, Yang Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon). This epic story, told in non-chronological order and unfurling like a novel, will make you laugh out loud, cry harder than you have in months, and truly appreciate every person who has helped you through the ordeal of living.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

The Underrated Returning Shows of 2025

'Mo' season 2

A lot has happened since 2022, when comedians Mohammed Amer and Ramy Youssef co-created this grounded comedy about a Palestinian refugee living in Texas as his family's 20-year asylum case finally moves forward in court. In the long-awaited second season, only six months have passed, and Mo Najjar is still stuck in Mexico, trying to get back into the U.S. for his asylum hearing. Once Mo makes it back to Houston—which isn't a spoiler, since Mo without Houston would be like Sex and the City without N.Y.C.—the series balances a very dark story with sardonic humor and moments of joy that wouldn't work if Mo and his family weren't given the space to be their full, proudly-Palestinian selves.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

'Survival of the Thickest' season 2

If you missed Michelle Buteau's feel-good comedy the first time, it may be because the debut episodes dropped amid 2023's WGA strike (and the day before the SAG-AFTRA strike began). This year, Survival of the Thickest returned for its second season and is still an underrated gem in the subgenre of breezy sitcoms about a woman rebuilding her career and hitting the streets again after facing major heartbreak. Add in how gorgeous, Black, and queer the show is—and its much-needed discussions about size inclusivity in fashion—and we couldn't binge this uproarious, joyful story fast enough.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Falling in love with a TV show often means developing an affinity for its characters—along with the place a series is set. A plethora of shows, such as Gilmore Girls and Pretty Little Liars, were filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot in Hollywood, making it easy to visit a ton of different locations in just one tour. Meanwhile, some shows take audiences further afield, filming scenes in unexpected places both at home and internationally. Whether you remain a Game of Thrones superfan following the release of House of the Dragon, or you're still not over Carrie Bradshaw's iconic brownstone in Manhattan, it might be time to consider planning your next vacation around your most beloved TV shows.

While The White Lotus has transported viewers to three completely different and unique destinations, cities such as Wilmington, North Carolina, provide the backdrop for some of the most iconic late '90s and early '00s teen television shows. If you're ready to experience life like the lords and ladies of Downton Abbey or you're craving an Emily in Paris-style adventure, we've compiled the only itineraries you'll need.

1. 'The White Lotus'

Every season of The White Lotus is set in a different country, taking viewers to glamorous resorts in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand. Even though the namesake resort doesn't exist in real life, location scouts sought out the perfect destinations to film Mike White's darkly humorous series. Season 1 used Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii as the backdrop for The White Lotus, and season 2 took viewers to Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Italy.

Upping the ante once more, season 3 takes place in Thailand at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. While the characters of The White Lotus don't always appear to be enjoying themselves, the real life resorts are likely to provide a much more tranquil experience. Admittedly, vacationing like Parker Posey's Victoria Ratliff or Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya McQuoid won't be cheap, but it'll certainly be memorable. Let's just hope no mysterious deaths occur during your stay, à la HBO's hit series.

Where to stay:

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Rates start at $1,000 per night.

Kimpton Kitalay Samui. Rates start at $250 per night.

2. 'Downton Abbey'

Julian Fellowes's historical British television drama was an instant hit with viewers around the world. Set in a fictional town in the north of England, Downton Abbey documents the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the large staff of butlers, maids, and cooks they employ. Starting in 1912, the very same year the Titanic sank, viewers are transported to another era in which drastic class divides converge.

Luckily, viewers can visit Downton Abbey, real name Highclere Castle, which is actually located in the south of England. The palatial estate offers tours, afternoon teas, and special events. Sadly, it's not possible to stay in the iconic building itself, but two renovated lodges on the Highclere Estate are available for short stays, with budget options close by.

Where to stay:

London Lodge or Grotto Lodge at Highclere Castle. Rates start at $1,100 for two nights.

Hare and Hounds in Newbury. Rates start at $185 per night.

3. 'Sex and the City'

Throughout Sex and the City's six seasons, two movies, and the first two seasons of its spin-off, And Just Like That..., protagonist Carrie Bradshaw lived in a seriously enviable Manhattan brownstone. While critics questioned how a struggling writer could afford to live in such a luxurious zip code, fans flocked to the steps of Carrie's fictional abode, leading the home's real owner to beg tourists to stay away.

As Carrie's apartment is actually a privately owned house, it's not possible to stay in the building. However, fans can take a three-hour Sex and the City bus tour, which stops at a whole host of filming locations, including Magnolia Bakery, The Plaza Hotel, and Aidan and Steve's bar Scout. Pro tip: nab a reservation at French restaurant Pastis, where Carrie dined with her season 6 beau, Aleksandr Petrovsky.

Where to stay:

The Standard, High Line. Rates start at $600 per night.

Hilton Club The Quin New York. Rates start at $320 per night.

4. 'One Tree Hill'/'Dawson's Creek'

Wilmington in North Carolina is a popular filming location, providing the backdrop for everything from Nicholas Sparks movies to The Summer I Turned Pretty. Iconic teen TV shows Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill were both filmed in the port city, which is so aesthetically pleasing, you'll forgive the fact Tree Hill and Capeside aren't real places.

TRIC tours focus on the nightclub and recording studio that was a central part of One Tree Hill's later seasons, and it's also possible to embark on a self-guided tour of the show's most important filming spots. The famous bridge featured in One Tree Hill's opening credits is even marked on Google Maps. Even though the show is older, it's still possible to find a ton of crucial Dawson's Creek landmarks, from Joey's Wall to the unforgettable pier in the yard of the Leery house.

Where to stay:

Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Rates start at $150 per night.

Hampton Inn & Suites Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach. Rates start at $140 per night.

5. 'Insecure'

Insecure is Issa Rae's love letter to Los Angeles and the misadventures of an awkward Black woman—which just so happens to be the name of her book. Throughout five seasons, Issa Dee and her best friend Molly Carter navigated the messy experiences of falling love, breaking up, building careers, sustaining friendships, and trying to find their footing.

With neighborhoods like Inglewood and Leimert Park as the backdrop, Insecure provided a roadmap to some of the city's lesser known but completely unmissable restaurants. Fans point to Mexican restaurant Damian, food store Simply Wholesome, Ethiopian restaurant Merkato, and Hilltop Coffee, which Rae co-owns, as important stops on the tour. Visiting food stops like Worldwide Tacos, Swift Cafe, The Line Hotel's Openaire restaurant, and '50s-style diner Pann's will also help you feel like you're in an episode of the HBO series.

Where to stay:

Hilton Los Angeles Culver City. Rates start at $130 per night.

The Shay Culver City. Rates start at $360 per night.

6. 'Game of Thrones'

Game of Thrones is truly an international TV series, with filming locations encompassing everywhere from an uninhabited island in the Adriatic Sea to the Basque Coast of Spain and the Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland. Planning a trip around every one of the show's filming locations would be quite an undertaking; luckily, choosing just one destination will still result in a jaw-dropping vacation.

Banbridge in Northern Ireland is home to the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour, an exhibition housing authentic costumes, props, sets, and behind-the-scenes secrets relating to the HBO series. An impressive range of walking and coach tours are also available via Game of Thrones Tours, taking fans to some of the show's pivotal locations, from castle ruins to ancient abbeys in and around Belfast. It's also possible to visit Old Castle Ward, an 18th century mansion in Strangford, County Down, which doubled as Winterfell Castle.

Where to stay:

Belmont House Hotel. Rates start at $130 per night.

The Cuan in Strangford Lough. Rates start at $140 per night.

7. 'The Prisoner'

British television series The Prisoner starred Irish American actor Patrick McGoohan as a former intelligence officer known only as Number Six. The show, which was released in the late '60s, followed Number Six who, after quitting his job, finds himself kidnapped and imprisoned in a strange coastal village. Filmed in the quaint and idiosyncratic tourist village of Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales, The Prisoner was specifically filmed in color to capture the bold hues and dramatic architecture of its location.

Whether or not you've watched The Prisoner, Portmeirion is an indelible vacation destination. The village's Central Piazza features an ornamental garden, while its colorful buildings appear to draw their inspiration from the Italian Riviera. A picturesque waterfront is accompanied by a spa, cafes, stores, and an oversized chess board, making this one of the most unusual places you're likely to ever visit.

Where to stay:

The 4-Star Hotel Portmeirion. Rates start at $280 per night.

Castell Deudraeth. Rates start at $240 per night.

8. 'Emily in Paris'

If you've already been honing your French girl beauty skills, a trip to Paris might be on the horizon. Although some of season 5 of Emily in Paris is set to take place in Rome, there's literally never a bad time to book a flight to France. One of the most important locations featured in Netflix's Lily Collins-starring show is The Place de l'Estrapade in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, which is where Emily and Gabriel live. And, yes, it's possible to stay in their building.

The square outside Emily's apartment features a gorgeous fountain, and Boulangerie Moderne, the bakery at which our titular character discovers authentic pain au chocolat. Terra Nera, an Italian restaurant in the square, transforms into Gabriel's Les Deux Compères in the series. Venturing further afield, Emily's workplace, Savoir, is located at 6 Place de Valois, another chic square featuring hotels, restaurants, and galleries. Special mention must go to Jardin du Luxembourg, the tree-lined park and gardens where Emily and Mindy spend many lunches and coffee breaks.

Where to stay:

Paris Art Hôtel Quartier Latin. Rates start at $225 per night.

Hotel Bachaumont. Rates start at $320 per night.

9. 'Big Little Lies'

Star-studded series Big Little Lies is set in Monterey, a coastal city in California. Punctuated by moody beaches and an alluring, high-class fisherman aesthetic, it's unsurprising that some viewers have flocked to the twisty drama's filming locations. For starters, fans of the series can't resist driving over Big Sur's Bixby Creek Bridge, just like the characters do in the opening credits of Big Little Lies.

From Lovers Point Park to Monterey Bay Aquarium and Fisherman's Wharf, so many of the city's landmarks provide the backdrop for the show's most important scenes. Meanwhile, stars like Nicole Kidman were apparently anamored with nearby restaurants like Passionfish, Paluca Trattoria, and Happy Girl Kitchen Co., via Town & Country. Bonus: it's actually possible to stay in the beach house where Madeline Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) and her family live, but it's in Malibu, not Monterey.

Where to stay:

InterContinental The Clement Monterey. Rates start from $300 per night.

Centrella Hotel, A Kirkwood Collection Hotel. Rates start from $140 per night.

10. 'Bridgerton'

Netflix's Regency era Shondaland drama has taken the world by storm. Based on the book series by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton follows members of the noble Bridgerton family as they attempt to find spouses, taking place in an alternate universe in which racial equality has been established. Filmed in some of the United Kingdom's most wonderful locations—like Osterley Park and House in London and Basildon Park in Berkshire—Bridgerton is the ideal TV series to build a vacation around.

The Bridgertons's Mayfair home is actually Ranger's House in Greenwich Park, an English Heritage property fans can visit, housing a private art collection. Meanwhile, King Henry VIII's former home, Hampton Court Palace, served as the exterior of Queen Charlotte's humble abode, while Lancaster House in Westminster provided the interior.

Where to stay:

Henrietta Hotel. Rates start from $390 per night.

The Mitre, Hampton Court. Rates start from $160 per night.

HBO's dystopian drama series The Last of Us returned for its second season on April 13, introducing a new cast of characters as Ellie and Joel (played by Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal) jump five years into the future following season 1's finale. Among the many new faces introduced—both friendly commune residents and Firefly vengeance seekers—one early standout is Dina, a magnetic survivor played by Isabela Merced.

At the start of the premiere, Dina is Ellie's best friend, a skilled fighter and treasured member of the Jackson commune, and has even won over grumpy Joel. Throughout the episode, it becomes clear that Ellie's more-than-friendly feelings toward Dina are reciprocated. As the pair slow-dance in front of the whole town (including Dina's ex-boyfriend Jesse, played by Beef's Young Mazino), they share a steamy kiss. Though only one episode has been released so far, fans of the video game on which the HBO hit is based know that Dina becomes a major character throughout the rest of the series, serving as Ellie's loving partner and guiding light as the show's plot takes a very dark turn. (Yes, seasons 2 and 3 are set to get even more devastating than season 1.)

The Last of Us may be Merced's breakout TV role, but the 23-year-old has already proven herself as one of Hollywood's most hard-working actresses. In just two months, she's set to become a full-fledged superstar with a role in one of 2025's most anticipated action movies. Read below to learn more about Isabela Merced before she becomes one of the year's biggest stars.

Isabela Merced is a Peruvian American Nickelodeon alum and former Broadway star.

Isabela Merced, born Isabela Moner, is a Peruvian American performer born in Cleveland, Ohio, in July 2001. She learned Spanish as her first language and lived with her mother's family in Huancayo, Peru for several months during her childhood, as reported by Teen Vogue. In 2008, her family's home burnt down in an electrical fire; the day after, she had her first audition for a production of The Sound of Music and landed the role.

Merced kept up with theater and, at age 10, had her Broadway debut in the revival of Evita, which starred Elena Roger and Ricky Martin. She went on to star as CJ Martin in the Nickelodeon series 100 Things to Do Before High School, and she was a lead in the 2016 scripted Legends of the Hidden Temple movie. In addition to her acting roles, she started making music and released her debut album, Stopping Time, in September 2015.

She has appeared in the 'Alien' franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

After her Nickelodeon show ended in 2016, Merced crossed into film, with supporting turns in 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight, 2018's Sicario: Day of the Soldado, and 2018's Instant Family. In 2019, she starred as Dora the Explorer in the live-action film Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

She also changed her stage name that year to Isabela Merced, in honor of her maternal grandmother, Yolanda Merced Salazar, who "sacrificed a lot for her daughters to live out the American dream she had for them." She told Refinery29 at the time, "I believe some force, throughout all these years, has been giving my mom the strength and determination to guide me; a force that has been protecting us through so many journeys, trips, and experiences. I feel as though if that guardian angel would be anyone, it would be my grandma."

Merced had her biggest year yet in 2024, starring in three popular movies. First, she played Anya Corazón, a member of the girl trio (alongside Sydney Sweeney and Celeste O'Connor) in Sony/Marvel's Madame Web. Then, she starred as Aza Holmes in the film adaptation of John Green's coming-of-age novel Turtles All the Way Down. Finally, she played Kay Harrison in the horror franchise film Alien: Romulus.

She's set to play a major role in 'Superman' this summer.

Just months after her The Last of Us debut, Merced will return to the big screen in one of the biggest superhero movies this year. The multi-hyphenate is set to play Hawkgirl, real name Kendra Saunders, in the DC universe reboot of Superman, which releases this July. She'll become the first person to play a feature-film version of the character, though Hawkgirl has appeared in TV shows.

Most of the details of Merced's character and Superman's plot are still under wraps, but trailers have shown Hawkgirl flying through the city, in what is assumed to be a battle scene. Merced dropped a hint about her role in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "Every scene I'm flying, pretty much," she told the outlet. "But it's cool because I'm an adrenaline seeker. I like being dropped from really high heights. It's actually one of my favorite things."

In addition to possibly continuing playing Hawkgirl across the DC Studios slate, depending on the success of Superman, Merced also has hopes of returning to Broadway. "Not a revival. I want to do an original [show]", she says. "And then on top of that, I want to do a stoner comedy with two female leads. I love stoner comedies. However, I just don't see a lot of women leading them. And I love weed. I would be great for this. And I literally love Broad City. To me, that's a stoner show."

She says she's "looking forward" to any backlash towards Dina and Ellie's romance.

In recent years, Merced has spoken openly about several aspects of her identity and health journey, including living with PCOS and anxiety. She has also opened up about her sexuality since landing the role of Dina. In a New York Times article about Ellie and Dina's LGBTQ+ romance, Merced matter-of-factly stated, "I’ve been queer my whole life, so I never really thought about it." She also told Entertainment Weekly, "I mean, it's kind of my truth, so I don't see it as a thing even."

She continued, "The game was made so long ago. Gays have existed since the beginning of time, they were always there. I don't really see what the problem is. I don't see what we're trying to say or complain about. Not only that, it's just a beautiful story. If anything isn't successful, I promise you it’s because of the quality of the work, not because of themes. Any theme can be done properly if it's done by a good artist and executed with care and consideration. I guess everything in this story ends with tragedy. However, in my opinion, this is a successful sapphic story. It's beautiful and we win in the end. There's a lot of winning for this sapphic couple. I'm just really, really excited for people to see that."

She also told Entertainment Weekly that she's prepared to face whatever prejudiced criticism the show gets in response to the storyline. "I'm kind of looking forward to the backlash,” she added. “I don't know how to describe it. I'm not scared because the gays have existed since the beginning of time. The thing is, if you have the gays, you have the world as well. If you have their support, you are fine.

One of the year’s biggest surprise hits is HBO Max’s The Pitt, a return to the episodic, longer seasons that accompanied network television before the streaming takeover. The medical drama follows a group of ER physicians and nurses in real time, with each episode following one hour of their 15-hour shift as they navigate difficult cases and the psychological toll of being surrounded by death. At the center of the story is Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, played by ER’s Noah Wyle, the attending on duty who has to manage the overflow of patients, provide his medical expertise on demand, and police his staff’s sometimes-hostile interpersonal relationships.

The first season of the must-watch series, which comes from two of the writers of ER, climaxed with a mass shooting at a fictional music festival that pushed the medical professionals to their physical and emotional limits. But it won’t be the last we see of the doctors at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center; HBO Max quickly greenlit a second season that will begin filming this summer and will jump forward in time when it returns in 2026. Below, find out everything we know so far about The Pitt season 2.

How does 'The Pitt' season 1 end?

One thing is for sure: The Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital employees deserve a break after the stressful events of their 15-hour shift that makes up the first season of The Pitt. Leading up to the finale, Dr. Robby’s ER and trauma center is overrun by victims of a mass shooter at PittFest, and things get personal when Dr. Robby’s adoptive son Jake (Taj Speights) arrives with his girlfriend Leah (Sloan Mannino), whom Dr. Robby is unable to save. In his grief, Jake blames Dr. Robby for her death, triggering the attending’s PTSD related to the death of his mentor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Things don’t necessarily get better in the finale. Jake’s grief leads him to say hurtful things to Dr. Robby, who also has to deliver the awful news to Leah’s parents. Their loud sobs send our main character into another tailspin. He seeks refuge on the roof, and Dr. Abbott (Shawn Hatosy) finds Dr. Robby in a similar position to himself at the start of Dr. Robby’s shift—a mirror image of the two doctors' first scene together in the show’s pilot. They talk about their trauma and high expectations of themselves, and Dr. Abbott offers Dr. Robby his therapist’s number. Here’s to hoping he takes it.

With the shooting victims mostly taken care of (and almost all of them saved by the medical attention they received), the most prominent case left during the shift is the teenager with measles whose parents are refusing to consent to a spinal tap, which would help guide his treatment. The father finally gives the doctors the green light, though it becomes clear that this was a one-sided decision; the mother barges in right as Dr. King (Taylor Dearden) finishes the procedure, livid that they’d do this without her go-ahead. The series implies that this treatment will likely save his life, but a potential measles outbreak could be a plot point in the next season.

David (Jackson Kelly), the teen who allegedly wrote a hit list, also remains in the hospital under a 72-hour observation after Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif) reported him to the police as the potential PittFest shooter. Though he’s angry at the world, Dr. McKay’s impassioned speech about violence against women seems to impact him—especially when she asks him to consider how it would feel if his mother was one of the victims. Dr. McKay also evades arrest related to her ankle monitor tampering when her coworkers convince the police to allow her to deal with it in the morning.

There are still a few threads left intentionally vague for the next season: Dr. Langdon’s (Patrick Ball) future at the hospital is in jeopardy after Dr. Santos (Isa Briones) reported his drug pilfering. When he repeatedly begs for his job, Dr. Robby counters with an extensive outpatient drug addiction program, and it’s unclear if Langdon is desperate enough to agree to those terms. Nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) also hasn’t committed to quitting her job after being on the receiving end of a disgruntled patient’s fist, but she does remove the personal photos from her station, implying that she’s taking the option seriously. And if it’s her last shift in the ER, at least it ends on some good news from the police: Doug Driscoll (Drew Powell), the guy who punched her, has been arrested.

As the first season wraps up, the toll of the 15-hour shift is hitting everyone, not just Dr. Robby. Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) feels loopy during an adrenaline rush before breaking down in the bathroom as she processes her day; Dr. Santos displays some uncharacteristic bedside manner when helping a patient she suspects of a suicide attempt, and then extends this generosity to Whitaker (Gerran Howell) with an offer to be roommates when she finds out he’s been sleeping at the hospital because he doesn’t have an apartment; Javadi (Shabana Azeez) joins a group of coworkers—including Nurse Diaz (Jalen Thomas Brooks), on whom she has a crush—in the park for drinks to debrief on the day. Dr. Robby and Dr. Abbott arrive for a beer, and the latter is revealed to have an amputated leg, presumably from his days in the army.

After laughing about what a crazy first day on the job this was for Javadi, Dr. Robby peels off from the group early. “Tomorrow is another day,” he says, before finally heading home from the day from hell.

When will 'The Pitt' season 2 come out?

Are you ready to clock in for another shift? In mid-December, HBO Max announced on social media that The Pitt season 2 will premiere on Thursday, January 8. The streamer shared the news with a brief clip of footage of all your favorite doctors back at work.

Fans have known for quite some time that The Pitt would be back sooner than many other TV series in the streaming age. In an April 2025 interview with Vulture, HBO chief Casey Bloys revealed that new episodes of The Pitt would stream in January. The show began pre-production on its forthcoming episodes in spring 2025, and in mid-June, HBO Max announced via a press release that filming had begun, and shared behind-the-scenes photos from set to coincide with the news.

The Pitt is returning much quicker than some other streaming series these days. According to Bloys, the short break between seasons is by design. "This model of more episodes cuts down on the gap between seasons," he told Vulture. "On the platform, we have shows like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and White Lotus, which, because of how they’re made, can take two years to make. What I love about something like The Pitt is I can get 15 episodes in a year."

Who in the 'The Pitt' cast will return for season 2?

The Pitt season 1 featured an ensemble cast including Noah Wyle as the central Dr. Robby, Tracy Ifeachor as his former flame Dr. Heather Collins, Patrick Ball as the alleged drug addict Dr. Frank Langdon, Supriya Ganesh as the meticulous Dr. Samira Mohan, Fiona Dourif as the ankle-monitored Dr. Cassie McKay, Taylor Dearden as the compassionate Dr. Melissa King, Isa Briones as the abrasive Dr. Trinity Santos, Gerran Howell as the body fluid magnet med student Dr. Dennis Whitaker, Shabana Azeez as Dr. Victoria Javadi, the med student with everything to prove, and Katherine LaNasa as Dr. Robby’s right hand woman Nurse Dana Evans.

Season 2 will feature the same faces; however, one name is confirmed not to be returning. In July, Variety reported that Tracy Ifeachor is exiting the show. The outlet revealed "that the decision was made by the show's creative team," rather than being her choice.

The actress shared a statement on Instagram about her departure, saying it was "a blessing to be a part of this first and foundational season of #ThePitt." In the caption of a Reel featuring photos and red carpet videos from The Pitt events, she wrote, "It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece. Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me."

It's unclear why Ifeachor was let go from the series, but fans on Reddit have pointed out she's among the cast of M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller and have alleged her involvement in an extremist Christian faith.

HBO Max has yet to announce whether her character will be recast or if she will be written out of season 2, due to the time jump that's confirmed to take place.

As for the rest of the ensemble, all the familiar faces fans know and love should be back, even with the time jump. Series creator R. Scott Gemmill told TVLine that though the new episodes will be set a little bit in the future, Langdon will be a large focus and it'll help aid Nurse Evans's return to the E.R. "If next season were to take place the next day or the next week, you wouldn’t see Dana," he told the outlet. "When she comes back, she’s going to have a bit of an attitude adjustment, though. She’ll be even less tolerant of bullshit. She’s going to be much more protective of her flock."

He also explained that "there's always new people coming in and out of the hospital." This makes sense, considering season 1 focused on the day shift employees and season 2 may highlight even more of the night staff (including Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Robby’s counterpart Dr. Jack Abbott, Ken Kirby as senior attending Dr. John Shen, and Ayesha Harris as Dr. Parker Ellis, a night shift resident whom we saw at the tail-end of season 1).

Are there any new cast members in 'The Pitt' season 2?

Yes! Get ready to meet more staffers! In mid-June, Deadline reported that four names are set to join the cast in recurring roles. According to the outlet, the new stars will play a mix of patients, students, and recent graduates.

As reported by Deadline, Breaking Bad alum Charles Baker will play Troy, "an unhoused man forgotten by most, and a patient in the ED;" Insatiable star Irene Choi will portray Joy, "Joy, a third-year medical student with strong boundaries and a vast knowledge of medicine that leans toward the macabre:" up-and-comer Laëtitia Hollard is taking on nursing school grad Emma, "who some may consider naive;" and stage actor Lucas Iverson joins as James "a fourth-year medical student."

A few other names were added to the cast later in the summer. Sepideh Moafi is joining as a series regular and "playing an attending physician in emergency medicine," according to Deadline. Rising actor Lawrence Robinson is also now a part of the ensemble. He'll play a patient, but what's more exciting is he's said to be a romantic interest(!) of someone on staff. His character description is "a sweet, charming, and kind-hearted patient who turns a soccer injury into a possible meet-cute with one of the doctors." The word is out on who that might be, but our hearts are already fluttering.

Plus, ahead of Emmys weekend (where The Pitt was nominated for 13 awards), an additional guest star was announced. Cuban-American actor Victor Rivas Rivers (known for films like The Mask of Zorro and Blood In, Blood Out) will guest as the hospital's big boss: PTMC's Chief Executive Officer, Trent Norris. Sounds like bureaucracy tension might be on the horizon.

Beyond Lawrence Robinson's patient/love interest character, we also got an idea of a few more people checking into the hospital in December. Deadline reported four more recurring guest stars: Brittany Allen (The Boys, What Keeps You Alive), Bonita Friedericy (Chuck), Taylor Handley (Mayor of Kingstown), and Jeff Kober (The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy).

According to Deadline, Allen plays "Roxie Hamler, an Emergency Department patient," while Handley portrays her husband, Paul Hamler. As for Friedericy, she'll play "Cora Wilkins, a woman visiting a patient in the Emergency Department," and Kober joins as "Duke, a motorcycle engineer who goes way back with one of the doctors." (Are we sensing a former flame of somebody?)

Other stars with recurring roles include Meta Golding (Rabbit Hole, Empire) as nurse Noelle Hastings, Luke Tennie (Shrinking), as Dr. Crus Henderson, who is a "PTMC Night shift 4th year resident," Christopher Thornton (Magnum: PI, The Lincoln Lawyer) as Dr. Caleb Jefferson, "a PTMC Psychiatric Attending," and Travis Van Winkle (FUBAR) plays Curtis Larson, "an agressive patient of the ER," per Deadline.

What will 'The Pitt' season 2 be about?

The second installment of the medical drama will follow a similar format, shadowing the ER doctors across another brisk 15-hour shift. This time, producers confirmed to Deadline that the shift will fall on the busy July 4th weekend, 10 months after the events of the season 1 finale. And if there’s one thing the plethora of medical shows has taught us, it’s that holiday weekends are eventful, to say the least. Wyle said it best on the red carpet for the Emmys while speaking to ET: "Americans have a lot of creative ways to hurt themselves, and we're gonna try to exploit all of them on America's 250th birthday."

Wyle, as well as executive producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill, have also opened up about what specific issues season 2 will tackle. They shared in an interview with Variety that the show's creative team contacted real healthcare professionals to hear their predictions of how President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which cut funding for Medicaid by 12%, might affect their work. Those "immediate consequences" will be depicted in the forthcoming episodes, as well as "concerns" about how undocumented immigrants and their families have been treated amid the ongoing ICE raids.

“We take our platform very seriously," Gemmill said. "I think one of the things when you can reach 10 million people—and this was true back in the day on ER as well—is with that amount of people listening, you have to be responsible for what you put out there."

In general, Wells added that they're always considering writing about marginalized groups, and teased one upcoming storyline. He said, "We’re doing a big story right now on the difficulties the deaf community has in arriving at an emergency room and being unable to communicate and not being able to be understood for their specific problems...We’re always on the lookout for those kinds of stories that are going to resonate."

On a more specific character level, Melangdon fans will have something to talk about. Taylor Deardan and Patrick Ball opened up about what's next for Mel and Langdon's highly anticipated season 2 reunion at the Emmys. Dearden teased what's to come while speaking to Variety on the red carpet, saying, "For Mel, he’s someone that she meets on her first shift, and she finds she really relates to him...She’s only known Langdon for one day, but he makes such a massive impact on her, and then he’s gone. In season 2, he’s back after 10 months, and she has no idea where he’s been or why he was gone for so long."

Ball emphasized that Mel "still has no idea what happened to him" and added how their dynamic will shift. "In season 1, Mel needs Langdon to get through her shift, but Langdon might need her more than he thinks he does in season 2.”

In addition to those two, we can expect to get more insight into other characters, including Samira Mohan. Actress Supriya Ganesh also opened up about what's to come at the Emmys, saying, "We learn a lot more about her, and I’m excited for people to see that."

She added, "Everyone’s been itching to learn a little bit more about this character, and I think the show is going to deliver that."

We certainly have high expectations!

Is there a trailer for 'The Pitt' season 2?

Our favorite doctors are clocking back in! HBO Max dropped the full-length trailer for The Pitt season 2 in mid-December. Accompanied by the anxiety-inducing sound of a ticking clock, it shows the doctors as they anticipate a busy July 4th weekend, what with all the firework and BBQ disasters that will inevitably ensue...and the start of the chaos.

We also get a tease of the more personal drama, as the trailer introduces Sepideh Moafi's character Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, who is supposed to replace Dr. Robby amid his sabbatical. His colleagues seem to think he needs the rest—with Nurse Dana Evans saying, "he’s trying to outrun some old ghosts," and Dr. Abbot asking if he can "handle" staying away—but we'll have to wait and see whether he actually steps back. If he does, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi is already clear that she wants to implement some changes at the hospital—including helping Dr. Robby "get some basic empathy back."

Plus, we see the return of Dr. Langdon, who Mel is thrilled to see, but everyone else seems hesitant of reuniting with. There's also a computer system shutdown, setting up even more challenges, as if the staffers didn't already have enough on their plate.

If you need even more previews of The Pitt. There is also a teaser available. The teaser begins with a nurse (standing next to Dana) saying, "The prodigal son returns," as Dr. Robby walks into the hospital. It's back to work as usual, with shots of doctors putting on their scrubs, conducting surgeries, and caring for patients, young and old. "You guys do this every day?" a med student asks, while Santos replies, "If we're lucky."

We're lucky to be graced by new episodes soon!

The White Lotus is guaranteed to feature A-listers in its cast every season, but the HBO escapist hit also always puts the spotlight on rising stars. One example in the season 3 cast: New York native Nicholas Duvernay, whose character Zion is at the center of the Thailand-set installment's opening flash-forward, setting off the installment's murder mystery. As the season goes on, we learn that Zion is returning character Belinda's (Natasha Rothwell) son, who channels his MBA degree and deep bond with his mom, so she walks away from their stay not just alive but possessing a small fortune.

In bringing Zion to life, up-and-comer Duvernay plays a role that he's said is close to his real-life personality, from his determination to his protectiveness over loved ones. Below—as we're still reeling from his performance in the season 3 finale and wondering if he's a candidate to return in season 4—read on to learn more about the actor having his big break, including whether or not he's related to one of Hollywood's most esteemed directors.

Nicholas Duvernay is a 25-year-old actor known for roles in 'Bel-Air' and 'Purple Hearts.'

Nicholas Duvernay, 25, grew up in Long Island, New York, and moved to L.A. to pursue acting after high school. Before The White Lotus, he was best known for playing brash soldier Armando in the Netflix romance movie Purple Hearts and Drew in Bel-Air, Peacock's dramatic reboot of the classic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

His other credits include Tyler Perry's Assisted Living, Perfect Addiction, The Winchesters, and All American: Homecoming.

Nicholas Duvernay is not related to Ava DuVernay.

Even though they have similar last names, Duvernay isn't connected to Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay, 52. While Nicholas grew up in Long Island, Ava was born and raised in Southern California, in Long Beach and Lynwood. The When They See Us filmmaker does have a brother named Nicholas, but that is producer Nicholas Maye.

While speaking with Ebony about the coincidence, the White Lotus star explained, "It's almost a question I expect every time I meet somebody, just because it's not a very common last name."

"I finally met her during award season, and, she was like, 'You're Nicholas Duvernay.' And I was like, you're Ava DuVernay," he recalled. "It was so nice to connect finally. And we're like, 'We might be related. Who knows?'"

Duvernay recorded his response to landing his 'The White Lotus' role.

In a February interview with Esquire, the actor and Banana Republic model recalled being confident that he would land the role of Zion. He said, "It just felt like me. It felt seamless."

Duvernay added that after he sent his audition tape in, he received a callback that was changed into a general meeting with creator Mike White. "Mike called me. He was like, 'Yo, you want to come party with us in Thailand?' I was like, 'What?!'" he shared.

The actor explained that his mom encouraged him to record the call. "Because my mom—moms have a hunch. She was like, 'Just set your phone up during the call and record. It could be one of those big calls where you get the job, and I want to see your reaction,'" he told the outlet. "And it was the call where he told me I got the job. And it’s great that I have the video now, because it was a moment, I think, that’ll mark when I got a chance to really show what I was capable of and got my big break. I mean, we’ll see when it comes out, but that’s what I’m hoping for."

Duvernay also described his experience filming the season as "the Super Bowl of everything I've done so far, for sure."

"It’s really an actor’s dream. I started acting when I was a kid, so it’s everything that I could have expected and more, down to working in Thailand and being overseas for six months," he said. "The cast is…it’s like the ’90s Bulls. I mean, it’s unbelievable. So even just having breakfast and lunch and dinner with that caliber of actors, you learn so much about what it is to be an artist, how to navigate even the business side sometimes."

Nicholas Duvernay says his real-life relationship with his mother is similar to Belinda and Zion.

It turns out that Duvernay is just as sweet of a son offscreen as he is on. In a post-season interview with Ebony, Duvernay revealed that Zion's close relationship with his mom, Belinda, reminded him of his real-life relationship.

The actor explained of his own mother, "We both love fashion. She's put me on the fragrances, so we definitely bond over that. Growing up, my dad worked so much, so she was my go-to person. She taught me so much about myself."

He added, "As you get older, you get to know them as people. I’m kind of in that stage of my life. Zion is as well. He has such a good rapport with his mom. It wasn't too far off for me from my personal lifestyle."

Duvernay also took time to gush about Rothwell. "She's so playful, and she gives you so many different things to pull off. If I'm nervous—there's been many days where I've leaned on her. She really took me under her wing and kind of put me at ease. She's been a pivotal part in feeling at home and able to wrap my head around this whole experience," he said.

Meanwhile, the Insecure actor has nothing but good things to say about her onscreen son. In an interview with Decider, she praised her co-star and admitted that she even got flustered around him.

"I mean, Nicholas Duvernay, he is that. He’s a walking heart," she said on a panel, according to the outlet. "He’s very symmetrical, so it got a little Oedipal at times because I was just like, 'I cannot be attracted to my son!' But no, seriously, he is so giving, so talented."

In April 2025, TV viewers waved goodbye to The White Lotus's Thailand-vacationing ensemble, as the season 3 finale ended with shocking choices and heartbreaking deaths. After weeks of theories, memes, and character style analysis, we bid adieu to Koh Samui, Thailand, from our new favorite trio of lifelong frenemies to the Ratliffs's spiritual awakenings to the coda to Belinda, Greg, and Tanya's multi-season arc.

Of course, as with real-life vacations, fans are already dreaming of the next getaway. The White Lotus was renewed for its fourth season in January 2025 (before season 3 even aired), so it's time to gather the clues of what's next for the Emmy-winning hit. Below, read on for everything we know about The White Lotus season 4 so far.

When will 'The White Lotus' season 4 be released?

HBO hasn't revealed a release date for season 4, but we have received a few updates. In January 2026, Variety reported that filming is set to begin in late April and last until October. Should the series meet that production timeline, season 4 may premiere in early 2027.

Where will 'The White Lotus' season 4 be set?

The White Lotus season 4 is headed to France. According to a Deadline report in September 2025, HBO and creator Mike White have "zeroed in" on France as the location for the next installment. One month later, Variety reported the specific locales where the show would be shot: the French Riviera and Paris.

We also know exactly which hotel will transform into the fictional White Lotus. For scenes shot in the French Riviera, the luxury stay Airelles Château de La Messardière in Saint-Tropez, located on the Mediterranean coastline, will host the new cast of characters. Past seasons have utilized various Four Seasons locations, but this five-star hotel is part of the Airelles Collection. It pulls out all the stops for its guests, too: Suites range from $3,000 to over $8,000, and guests can enjoy an on-site spa, beach access via a Rolls-Royce, no less, various restaurants, and more.

Hôtel Martinez, a Hyatt hotel, will be flipped into the White Lotus Cannes. The establishment, which opened in 1929, is located right on the Côte d’Azur and touts an infinity pool, luxury spa, and Michelin-starred restaurants.

It's yet to be confirmed where, but season 4 will also shoot some scenes in Monaco and Paris. The exact lodging has yet to be confirmed, but Variety reports that HBO is considering several options in the City of Lights: the five-star hotel Le Lutetia, located along the Seine in Saint-Germain des Prés, and the five-star Ritz Paris in the 1st arrondissement. Both hotels have rich histories and were artist denizens in the early 20th century.

It's been known that a European vacation was the plan for the HBO mainstay's fourth season for some time. At the time of season 3's release in February, White and HBO exec Francesca Orsi said Europe was a "likely" setting for future episodes.

Orsi said, "I can’t really say where we’re going to land, but chances are somewhere in Europe.”

France inevitably fell into place while the team was scouting locations and had a cliched experience at a restaurant in Cannes. As shooting began in April, executive producer David Bernad told Deadline that "a really specific experience with a waiter and the maître d" inspired their decision. "It was a very funny moment, and that totally unlocked what the show is. We literally cancelled everywhere else we were planning to go," he said.

What will 'The White Lotus' season 4 be about?

As always, the upcoming installment will follow the guests and staff at a White Lotus hotel over one week. While HBO and Mike White typically keep details tightly under wraps, we do know a bit more about season 4 than usual. As filming began in mid-April, Deadline confirmed that the new episodes will take place during the Cannes Film Festival. According to the outlet, HBO confirmed that although scenes will be shot in Paris and Monaco, most of the season will be in the French Riviera, and that Cannes is a main focus of the plot.

Variety revealed even more details, stating in an early May feature that it'll be about "two rival film teams...with movies in competition and something to prove." According to the outlet, one of the teams "camps out at a flashy, palatial hotel on the Croisette, while the other is ensconced in a luxurious hilltop hideaway." And, of course, that will make the lives of the staff at those hotels very difficult.

We also know what to expect in a more meta-sense. While White Lotus always explores privilege and power dynamics, White tends to center installments on a certain theme, and this time around, it's "the life of an artist." Executive producer David Bernad teased what the show's exploring while speaking to Deadline, saying, it's about "the loneliness and the pain" that comes with being an artist and living in the spotlight.

He said, "As we located the show at the Cannes Film festival, this idea of fame popped up, and who has the world’s attention? Who can grab it, and who is the plus one in a relationship? What are the things that satisfy us? Is it the love of an intimate partner, the love of strangers, what do we prioritize in people?"

"It really examines the things we value as people and what is attractive to us, and how fame can be corrosive and dictate your choices in life,” the EP added. “Some of the characters are existentially reflecting on those choices, some are reflecting on the choices and sacrifices they made as artists, and some are just starting to enter into this world of fame. Mike does a brilliant job of capturing how relationships can be corroded.”

Is 'The White Lotus' season 4 filming at Cannes Film Festival?

If you're hoping to scour all the Cannes paparazzi shots and news coming out of the festival for a hint of White Lotus tea, don't expect to see too much. While Variety confirmed that the cast and crew will walk the carpet in a special appearance at some point, it also reported that filming at the event will actually take place once it wraps. Almost as soon as the festival concludes, The White Lotus will "re-create" it for the show by reusing the red carpet and buildings known as the Palais des Festivals before it's all closed down. To capture the busyness of the festival, hoards of locals were hired as extras.

However, while the festival is happening, the series is still in production nearby. According to Variety, the de facto White Lotus Hotel, Château de la Messardière, is currently closed to the public and sealed off entirely to keep "a low profile."

Who is in the cast of 'The White Lotus' season 4?

Bonjour to the stars of The White Lotus season 4! The A-listers and up-and-comers filling out the ensemble have been teased since late 2025—and this might be the biggest season yet, both given the huge names and the international scale.

In late December 2025, Deadline reported the initial guests set to check in for the new season. According to the outlet, AJ Michalka, a former Disney Channel star and one-half of indie rock sister duo Aly and AJ, and Alexander Ludwig of Vikings fame are among the leads.

Details on their characters are being kept under wraps, but it’s safe to say the news sent social media into a tizzy. The White Lotus will mark Michalka’s first major, dramatic leading role in years. As for Ludwig, the internet has already dug up his thirst traps and is ready for the Canadian actor’s star-making moment. Plus, it’s perhaps worth noting that Ludwig is a musician himself. Could the two be playing a vacationing (potentially insufferable) celebrity musical duo? We'd like to see it!

In early 2026, other names continued trickling in. According to The Hollywood Reporter, British comedian Steve Coogan and rising Australian actor Caleb Jonte Edwards also landed roles. Coogan has been a well-known comedic actor since the early '90s, but is perhaps best known for movies like The Trip series and 24 Hour Party People, as well as the Oscar-nominated Philomena, for which he also co-wrote the screenplay. Edwards, meanwhile, is relatively unknown, except for roles in a short film and an episode of the Australian crime drama Black Snow. It's safe to say he's about to have his big break.

Soon after, several other Hollywood favorites were announced. Variety reported that arguably the best of the Hollywood Chrises, Chris Messina (who's known for The Mindy Project, Sharp Objects, and other TV and movie hits), was confirmed. Along with him, the outlet also revealed model Marissa Long will make her TV debut in season 4.

While the details are scarce, in mid-March it was announced that the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales, Only Murders in the Building) and New Girl alum Max Greenfield have major roles, or, as Deadline describes, in "two of the meatiest recurring parts." (Could one of them be murdered and featured in flashbacks? That sure would be "meaty!")

The comedic actors/eye candy were announced alongside Chloe Bennet (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Interior Chinatown), comedian Charlie Hall (The Sex Lives of College Girls), and writer/director/actor Jarrad Paul. Interestingly, we know a little about their characters: Greenfield plays Mitchell, Bennet plays Brynn, and Hall plays Zach.

We hope you haven't been holding your breath because even more intriguing names are joining season 4. To the thrill of cinephiles everywhere, in late March, HBO revealed several '90s film divas are joining the cast on Instagram: Heather Graham and Rosie Perez are among the stars. Alongside the Boogie Nights beloved and indie darling, Ben Schnetzer (Y: The Last Man, 3 Body Problem), Swedish actress/model Frida Gustavsson (Vikings: Valhalla), Norwegian actor Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom, Exit), and French actress Laura Smet (The Guardians, Fauda) were also announced.

Additional names in the ensemble include comedy icon Sandra Bernhard, Ari Graynor, and Dylan Ennis. Bernhard should bring some comedic relief; the icon is known for her stand-up and roles in sitcoms like Rosanne, as well as recent credits in Severance, Pose, and Marty Supreme. Her White Lotus part is being kept under wraps, but Deadline reported some potential intel on Graynor and Ennis's characters. Graynor—known for Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and her recent acclaimed, breakout role as Leslie Abramson in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story—is likely being paired with Messina. Ennis, meanwhile, is a relative newcomer, and given the London-based actor's French/Jamaican heritage, Deadline suspects he's playing a local.

A few French stars have also joined the roster, leading to reports that they'll either play White Lotus employees or locals. Vincent Cassel—a fixture of French and international cinema who's known for roles in Westworld and movies like La Haine and the Ocean's series—and rising French actors Corentin Fila (Being 17, Mortel), and Nadia Tereszkiewicz (Forever Young) were cast in early March. And, as stated, Laura Smet is also in the ensemble. We know, for one, that Cassel scored the role of "the hotel manager," so we can't wait to see how he caters to (or refuses to put up with) the guests.

Shortly after production began, a couple of Brits and a Swede were thrown into the mix. Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley, The Handmaid's Tale alum Max Minghella—returning to HBO after his stint on Industry—and Swedish-speaking Finnish actor Pekka Strang (Tom of Finland) will also make appearances.

While much of the casting news has sent the internet ablaze, perhaps the most interesting reveal came as soon as production began. As reported by Deadline, a week into filming, Helena Bonham Carter (previously one of the first names cast) exited the show. According to the outlet, HBO explained that her character "did not align once on set" and the role needed to be reworked. Days after the news broke, Laura Dern was said to be replacing the British star. Now, the Oscar-winner will play a different character, "being developed and written for her by White."

In the weeks since, Variety revealed that Bonham Carter was to play an actress trying to make her big comeback at Cannes, but differed from "White’s demand for a boisterous performance." Dern's role is said to "fill a similar place within the ensemble, but isn't the exact same part.

Dern has long been rumored to be a favorite for The White Lotus, considering she and White are longtime collaborators. (If you haven't already seen Enlightened, do yourself a favor!) That's not to mention that she's technically already a part of The White Lotus universe: As eagle-eyed fans discovered in season 2, the actress voiced the wife of Michael Imperioli's character over the phone. The word's still out on whether she'll reprise the role and bring it to the screen, or play a different part.

In general, we won't know many character details about anybody in the ensemble until shortly before the season airs, but we can surely start theorizing. Especially now that we know the series will follow two film crews, you can galaxy-brain about who might make up which team.

For instance, there are more than a few names hailing from Norway or of Norwegian descent, which feels significant. Could they be playing costars on a film project? And with so many iconic actresses on board, might some of them be playing career rivals, forced to reunite on the Cannes carpet? We'll have to wait and see!

What characters will return for 'The White Lotus' season 4?

One of the biggest questions surrounding a new season of The White Lotus is which previous stars could return for another round. So far, three characters have appeared in multiple seasons: Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), who tragically died in season 2; her ex-husband Greg/Gary (Jon Gries), who likely had her killed and is living large off her fortune in Thailand; and Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), who accepts $5 million in hush money from Greg in the season 3 finale. This trio's storyline comes full circle by the end of season 3, so this could be the last we see of them. However, Rothwell and Gries have both said they are up to return for season 4, so who knows?

As for who else could return for season 4, all the guests from season 3 are fair game, except for the dearly departed Rick (Walton Goggins) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). And there are certainly several characters from past iterations that could be up for another vacation.

The cast and crew have alluded to as much. During a THR roundtable, Patrick Schwarzenegger (who played Saxon) brought up the possibility of an all-star season with multiple returning cast members, to which White replied, "I’d love to do that."

"They could get all the douche guys in one hotel together," Schwarzenegger added. "Mike said that one day when we were on set, he was like, 'Oh my God, it’d be so good to get you, Jake Lacy, and Theo James in the same room.'"

HBO CEO Casey Bloys added, "Maybe Molly Shannon’s character and Victoria Ratliff know each other? There are so many connections between all these awful people."

We're starting a prayer circle now for that last pairing—as well as the return of Meghann Fahy's season 2 fan-favorite character, Daphne. It could also be fun to see Michael Imperioli's Dominic Di Grasso, should Laura Dern actually resume playing his ex-wife, Abby. We can't wait to check back in and see what's possible!

If you were among the many viewers who, upon meeting the trio of childhood friends reuniting in the first episode of The White Lotus’s third season, couldn’t tell any of them apart, please know that was the point. At least according to creator Mike White, who dubbed them “the blonde blob.” But as the episodes ticked by, their personalities came into focus: There’s attention-seeking, brazen TV actress Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), prim and uptight Austin philanthropist Kate (Leslie Bibb), and recently-divorced, boozy New York lawyer Laurie (Carrie Coon).

As Laurie, Coon brings a spiky sense of insecurity and a near-desperate desire to be accepted by her friends, even when she’s talking shit about them (Jaclyn seeks validation in men! Kate maybe voted for Trump!) and when she knows they’re talking shit about her.

After Jaclyn sleeps with their “health mentor,” Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius), the women stop gossiping in private, and bring their decades-long grievances to the group dinner table. In Sunday night’s episode, Jaclyn takes a jab at Laurie: “Are you life’s victim or are you doing it to yourself?”

Jaclyn’s betrayal is “the catalyst for this moment where they actually start to say things to each other's faces,” Coon says over Zoom from her home in Westchester. It’s a Tuesday afternoon and the actress, best known for her Emmy-nominated roles in Fargo and The Gilded Age, is relaxed and wearing a sweatshirt that reps the Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic—a happy coincidence considering her character, Laurie, was reading a book written by the shop’s owner (Emma Straub) in episode 6. “So many pieces of art that are asking about identity ask the central question, ‘If you let go of the illusions you have about yourself or other people, can this relationship survive?’ That's where they are right now.”

After the women explode at one another, Laurie ditches Jaclyn and Kate and heads for the Muay Thai fight, where she meets up with Valentin and his Russian buddies. After a few beers and blood spatter in the ring, Laurie finally gets laid…albeit with conman Aleksei (Julian Kostov), who, post-coital, asks her for $10,000 to help his mother. (“Paypal? Zelle? Cash app?”) She’s then forced to flee the scene, pants barely fastened, after a few knocks to the head courtesy of Aleksei’s girlfriend.

Here, Coon breaks down the penultimate episode, Laurie’s fashion choices, and how she gained “autonomy” by filming in Thailand without her family.

Marie Claire: In a lot of ways, this trio is the most relatable group of the guests. Was this a familiar dynamic to you?

Carrie Coon: I know a lot of women who have childhood friends, and they go on girls’s trips every year. That is just not the way my life has unfolded. I looked like a boy until I was 17, and then I was one of those problematic girls who didn't think I could be friends with girls. I found female friendship very late in my life, and in that way I think my female friendships have a degree of health and stability.

But the writing is excellent and we all understand that these dynamics exist between women. We are forced to compare ourselves to others. Buddhism says that the comparing mind is a source of great pain and suffering, and whether you think you are better or worse, you will have suffering, and you will cause suffering for other people. It just makes perfect sense that this trio of ladies is who Mike has chosen to put into this Buddhist country examining spiritual questions about identity and self and reckoning with your own life choices.

MC: In the first episode, viewers are led to believe that Jaclyn and Kate are the two best friends and Laurie is on the outside. She is in a lot of ways but as everything unfolds, you realize there are one million dynamics at play in this tripod. It’s not that simple. How did you talk to Leslie and Michelle about this trio’s relationship?

CC: All three of us have been doing this long enough. Your job is to show up prepared and be present in the scene. But normally in a job, there would only be one of us, there wouldn't be three of us. It was such a distinct pleasure at this particular age and at this time in our careers to get to be on the same set together. Because we know the job, we know exactly what's expected of us, and our scenes would always go quickly because you had three really professional women coming in super prepared to do the work.

At the same time, we were actually living together in the Four Seasons. While we were acting out this old friendship, we were forging our new friendship because we were literally eating our meals together, going to the gym together, going to the grocery store, washing our underwear outside. We were doing all of these really intimate things. In some ways we were living this five-month friendship, even as we're living through this old friendship unfolding, however complicated that was. But we are really healthy people in very successful times in our lives. We are the Jaclyns, in a way.

MC: What intrigued you most about Laurie as a character?

CC: In some ways, she's a lot like me. When my family saw episode 5 [when Laurie dances at the bar], they said, "Well, it's nothing we haven't seen you do at a wedding.”

But I really like her arc through the season. She has to hit this very particular bottom, and because no one has seen episode 8, you don't know if she survives, you don't know if she goes postal, kills everyone. You don't know if she learns something or she learns nothing. But it doesn't stay static. None of the characters will be in the same place where they started.

MC: How would you define her arc?

CC: Dark night of the soul, baby. It's not the one she was expecting, it's not the one she wanted. It's not what she was seeking, but it's what she's getting.

MC: It was so fun to watch her let loose in episode 5. She goes to bed dancing! Do you think that she wanted to hook up with Valentin? Why do you think she didn't go for it?

CC: Laurie means what she says early in the episodes when Jaclyn suggests that she go after Valentin. She says, "I don't think he'd be interested anyway."

Ultimately, those questions are about self-esteem. She's just come out of a divorce and she hasn't been playing the game for a while. She's waiting for him to make a move, and Jaclyn doesn't wait. Also, she's a drunk, and drunks aren't necessarily good on the follow-through. They can make mistakes and Laurie finally gets hers, but not without consequences. Not without some real deep humiliation. The thing she was afraid of turns out to be true.

MC: You’re talking about how, in episode 7, she sleeps with Aleksei, who turns out to be a conman. What do you think she is hoping to get from this experience? And do you think she gets any of it?

CC: She's not unhappy to get laid. I think if she were to walk away from a Thai vacation with a sexy young boyfriend, that would be a dream come true. A dream she didn't know she had. But perhaps she’s looking for validation from her friends. To prove to them and to herself that she is attractive.

But then she experiences this humiliation where she almost has to laugh. You have now jumped out a window and got smacked on the head by some booby Russian and you don't know where you are and you don't know how to get home, and it's humiliating.

MC: Backing up a bit, when she's having dinner with Jaclyn and Kate, instead of talking shit about one another, they're talking shit about each other to each other in a way that feels like they're being honest for the first time. Kate says that Laurie is always disappointed, and it’s like Laurie realizes someone else sees the worst qualities she sees in herself. She’s confronted with the fact that these women know her.

CC: Laurie is really good at calling out other people. She has not been good about taking responsibility for her part in it. People who love you the most can also hurt you the most. They are probably people who actually do see you. So ultimately, they do really know each other. They do see each other and they don't necessarily want to look at themselves. It's a very painful moment. It's a catalyst for whether or not we think this friend group can or should survive this vacation.

My husband [the writer and actor Tracy Letts] wrote a play, and in it there's a quote that says, "New friends are better than old friends." You have to ask yourself, at what point are these relationships being continued just out of habit as opposed to true identification with one another? How are they reactive? If they're unexamined, you will continue to be living inside reactivity.

MC: I'm curious to find out in the finale if they leave as friends.

CC: Yeah, me too. Maybe everybody dies. Everybody dies.

MC: There is a moment when she's leaving Aleksei's apartment and she sees the jewels. Do you think that she was clocking that he's the thief or is that a subtle confirmation to the audience that he was?

CC: I think because we saw that snake necklace with Chelsea in the shop, the audience will certainly make that connection. Our storyline is so siloed in a way, I don't think they know. They've heard about the robbery, but they don't know specifically what was taken. Any intelligent person is thinking, "That doesn't belong here," right? “There's something more sinister happening. And I should probably get the fuck out.”

MC: You said in a recent interview that one of the most profound parts of doing The White Lotus was the “recovery of your personal autonomy.” What did you gain from this experience?

CC: I don't know any mother who isn't suffering from burnout. Because of the way we parent now—alone in a house without community—it's very hard to be a parent. There's a different psychological demand on women when their children are young. Trying to balance a successful career, which I'm in the throes of right now, with raising young children means there's always an opportunity cost. I either have to turn down a really great job or my relationship with my children will suffer on some level.

My children are incredibly privileged and safe and well cared for. They have wonderful people in their lives who support us. However, women at all levels are struggling with this question of work-life balance that is absolutely impossible to achieve. For me, to go away [to film in Thailand] for weeks at a time, I would sleep when I wanted to sleep, somebody was cooking for me, and I didn't have to clean up. I could read books and I could exercise and take care of myself. I could meditate, and I could go swim in the ocean. Being the arbiter of how I spend my time is something that I don't know another woman who's parenting right now has. The idea that my career affords me the chance to step away from being a mother and then come back to it so that I can appreciate it on another level is a thing most women don't get.

Because I live a creative life, when I get to be away from my family, there's something really fulfilling about the process I'm engaged in, which is about building something and being fully expressed. So it's a tremendous gift to get to do it. I credit my husband with making space for me to do it.

But then the flip side is when I had free time, I had to get on a plane for 18 hours and fly home and there's no jet lag, there's no nap. I got pneumonia. I was so sick during a lot of that shoot because I had to go back and forth.

Other people were like, "Let's go to Cambodia, let's go to Tokyo." I was like, "I got to go home to New York and do laundry and make dinner and make sure my children are feeling psychologically cared for, and make sure the nannies have the right schedule and that the swimming lessons are scheduled for the summer, and that all the bills are paid for these extracurricular activities." The responsibilities were just overwhelming.

My husband had said to me at some point, "I just want you to know, we see all the things you do. We do recognize all the things you're doing that we don't even know about." I know women who are waiting 10 years in a marriage to hear that from their partner.

MC: It's probably important for your children to see you pursuing this creative endeavor in a way that shows that you have a full life as a person, as Carrie Coon, not just as Mom.

CC: Yes. It’s important even to counteract their feelings of privilege and entitlement in the life they're living. A little discomfort is good. These kids need to learn frustration tolerance, and they need to learn about their own resourcefulness and resilience.

MC: Costume designer Alex Bovaird has said Laurie is really trying to keep up with Jaclyn and live this glamorous lifestyle, and you can see that through her style. What kind of conversations did you have with the costume designer?

CC: What was important to me is that while she is in resort clothing, she maybe didn't pack as well. She certainly wasn't like Kate. She didn't go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for this trip, which you know Kate did. Her clothes feel a little bit off. They're not quite right. They don't fit as well. Her hat's a little dowdy but necessary because she's not going to get sun. It was important to me that her nail color feel a little bit weird. It's this weird violet-y blue, like she was trying something and it just didn't work. Those were the choices we made along with the fact that she's in Thailand and Laurie doesn't know what to do with her hair. It's frizzy.

MC: All the details matter so much and they really pop when they're right. I’m not the only one who clocked her reading Emma Straub’s Modern Lovers by the pool in episode 6. Did you have a say in that?

CC: Mike and I did go through some selects. That's her beach read. The joke for me and Mike that no one will ever see is that she brought A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. She’s like, “Everyone’s talking about this book. I have to read it.” But she just can't bring herself to read it. So A Little Life is actually in Laurie's suitcase.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Hair Peter Butler | Makeup Rebecca Restrepo | Stylist Alicia Lombardini

Sawatdee kha, and welcome to Thailand! It's finally check-in time for the third season of The White Lotus. After season 2's shocking ending, season 3 sees a jam-packed cast journey to the Thai island of Koh Samui, once again bringing drama and danger as their carry-ons. From an incestuous Southern family to a middle-aged girl squad to two(!) familiar faces, read on to get to know the outrageous characters of The White Lotus season 3, and the global A-listers starring in the HBO anthology.

The Guests in 'The White Lotus' season 3

Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey

Continuing the tradition established in season 2, The White Lotus's third season brings back a fan-favorite character from an earlier season. This time, masseuse Belinda is checking into a new White Lotus as part of a three-month cultural exchange program for the hotel's workers. In addition to learning Thai wellness methods, she's also expecting a visit from her college-aged son Zion.

Natasha Rothwell, 44, was born in Wichita, Kansas, and taught high school theater in N.Y.C., before becoming a writer on Saturday Night Live's 2014-2015 season. Before The White Lotus season 1, Rothwell had her breakout writing on Insecure and co-starring alongside Issa Rae as the hilarious Kelly. She also created the Hulu series How to Die Alone, which won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.

Nicholas Duvernay as Zion Lindsey

Belinda's son Zion, the center of the season 3 premiere's harrowing flash-forward, is played by Nicholas Duvernay, 25. The Long Island-born actor is best known for appearing in the romance movies Purple Hearts and Perfect Addiction and the series Bel-Air and Tyler Perry's Assisted Living.

Jason Isaacs as Timothy Ratliff

Timothy Ratliff, a wealthy, no-nonsense Southern businessman, arrives at the White Lotus with his wife, Victoria, and his children, Saxon, Piper, and Lochlan. Timothy struggles with the Thai resort's no-phones policy when he starts getting calls from a journalist.

Jason Isaacs, 61, is nearly unrecognizable on The White Lotus, as many millennials best know the English actor for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. The prolific stage, screen, and voice actor's other credits include the movies The Patriot, Black Hawk Down, and Peter Pan; and the shows Brotherhood, The OA, and Sex Education. Fun fact: He also voiced Admiral Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.

Parker Posey as Victoria Ratliff

Two things that immediately stick out about Victoria Ratliff are her pronounced Southern drawl and her affinity for popping pills. She is very loving towards her family, though she doesn't understand her daughter's interest in Buddhism.

Parker Posey, 56, has been dubbed the "Queen of Indies" for her tenure staring in independent films from auteurs like Christopher Guest (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) and Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, SubUrbia), as well as the films Party Girl and House of Yes. Recently, she appeared in TV shows including Search Party, Lost in Space, The Staircase, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon Ratliff

Eldest sibling Saxon is a finance bro happily working for his father, who says that "pussy, money, and freedom" are "all that matters in life." His one goal for this family vacation is to get himself and his little brother laid. Yes, he's just as weird as he sounds.

Patrick Schwarzenegger, 31, is the son of former Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger and author Maria Shriver. Since his acting debut as a teenager, he has appeared in shows including The Terminal List, The Staircase, Gen V, and American Sports Story. Outside of his acting career, music fans may also know him from his brief rumored romance with Taylor Swift.

Sarah Catherine Hook as Piper Ratliff

Middle child Piper is why the Ratliff clan is in Thailand, as the religious studies major wants to write about a nearby Buddhist temple for her senior thesis. She thinks her family's unrepentant wealth is ridiculous but in a more earnest way than season 1's Olivia (Sydney Sweeney).

Sarah Catherine Hook, 29, is a rising star in television. The Montgomery, Alabama native had starring roles on the Netflix lesbian vampire drama First Kill and the recent Prime Video remake of Cruel Intentions. She's next set to appear in Netflix's adaptation of Emily Henry's romance novel People We Meet on Vacation.

Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff

Lochy, the youngest Ratliff child, is a high school senior torn between two life paths: attend Duke (where his dad and older brother matriculated) or UNC Chapel Hill (like his mother and sister). In an obvious parallel, the shy teen is torn between his obnoxious brother and his kind sister from the start of their trip. (Though there may be something extra between Saxon and Lochlan.)

Sam Nivola, 21, is the son of English actress Emily Mortimer and American actor Alessandro Nivola. The Columbia University grad made his acting debut alongside his mom in the 2013 TV series Doll & Em and went on to appear in the films White Noise, Maestro, and Eileen, as well as the Netflix rich-people-behaving-badly series The Perfect Couple.

Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett

Rick is a man of mystery. As of episode 1, all we know is that he travels the world with his younger girlfriend Chelsea and he's not very kind towards her. He also seems interested in the Thai resort's owner, an American businessman named Jim Hollinger.

Walton Goggins, 53, is an Alabama-born actor and multiple Emmy nominee, who rose to fame with his supporting roles on the FX shows The Shield and Justified. He's also well-known for starring alongside Danny McBride on the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principles. In addition to Justified, he received an Emmy nomination for his starring role in the dystopian series Fallout.

Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea

Chelsea is a perfect fit for this White Lotus's vibe; the kindhearted former yoga teacher from Manchester, England is all about tranquility. Unfortunately, her older boyfriend Rick often kills her vibe with his secretive and hostile personality.

Aimee Lou Wood, 30, first rose to international fame with her award-winning TV debut as Aimee Gibbs on Sex Education. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art grad has mostly starred in British shows and movies, including Daddy Issues, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Living, and Seize Them!. She's next set to appear in the Netflix miniseries Toxic Town.

Michelle Monaghan as Jaclyn Lemon

Jaclyn is a famous TV actress traveling to the White Lotus to treat her childhood besties Kate and Laurie to a girls' trip. Jaclyn recently married the love of her life, another actor, and seems to be on cloud nine. However, there's a frenemy undertone to the trio's sisterhood.

Michelle Monaghan, 48, is a prolific film and TV actress who has appeared in movies Unfaithful, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor, MaXXXine, and the Mission: Impossible franchise. On the TV front, her credits include True Detective, The Path, Echoes, and Bad Monkey.

Leslie Bibb as Kate

Kate lives in Austin and is married to a man who's "big in Texas." She seems to be the peacemaker in her friend group, though she's not above digging for gossip.

Leslie Bibb, 50, started as a model before her breakout role on the short-lived Ryan Murphy series Popular, which premiered on The WB in 1999. Her credits since include the shows GCB, American Housewife, Palm Royale, and Juror #2, as a recurring role in the first two Iron Man films. She has been in a relationship with Sam Rockwell since 2007.

Carrie Coon as Laurie

Laurie, the third member of the friend group, is a bit of an outsider. The corporate lawyer doesn't seem to relate to her friends' socialite lives, and she's the only single gal there. Time will tell what it takes for the trio to implode.

Carrie Coon, 44, got her start in regional theater and made her Broadway debut in the 2012 revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which earned her a Tony nomination. Soon after, she had breakout roles in the 2014 movie Gone Girl and the HBO series The Leftovers. Other notable credits include Fargo season 3, Widows, Avengers: Infinity War, His Three Daughters, and The Gilded Age.

Charlotte Le Bon as Chloe

Chelsea befriends Chloe at the resort bar, but the mysterious woman is not a fellow guest. Instead, Chloe is a model living in a house up the hill with her own grumpy older boyfriend, who looks a bit familiar...

Charlotte Le Bon, 38, is an actor and filmmaker from Montreal, Québec, Canada. After working as a model for eight years, Le Bon made her acting debut on the French variety show Le Grand Journal and eventually earned a César Award nomination for the biopic Yves Saint Laurent. Her English-language credits include The Hundred-Foot Journey, The Walk, and The Promise. She made her feature-length directorial debut with 2022's Falcon Lake, which had its premiere at that year's Cannes Film Festival.

Jon Gries as Greg Hunt

Your eyes do not deceive you, Chloe's LBH ("loser back home") boyfriend is, in fact, Greg, Tanya McQuoid's ex-husband. A quick refresher: Tanya met Greg in Hawaii in season 1, and upon meeting him, she promptly dumped plans to finance Belinda's spa, leaving the masseuse devastated. Tanya and Greg traveled to Italy together in season 2, but he departed early, leaving Tanya to befriend and then meet her demise at the hands of those murderous gays. It was never confirmed, but Greg was likely behind the plot to kill Tanya so he could inherit her wealth.

Jon Gries, 67, is an L.A. native who began as a child actor and has appeared in TV series, movies, and video games. Some of his notable credits include recurring roles on the shows Martin, 24, Supernatural, and Psych; the movies Real Genius, Get Shorty, Napoleon Dynamite, and the Taken franchise.

The Staff in 'The White Lotus' Season 3

Lisa (Lalisa Manobal) as Mook

Mook is one of the health mentors at the White Lotus, who serves as a sort of assigned concierge for Rick and Chelsea. She's good friends with security guard Gaitok, but she's also impressed by the resort owners' bodyguards, who get to travel the world.

Lalisa Manobal, stage name Lisa, 27, is a global pop star and member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. She was born and raised in Thailand before moving to Korea at age 14, and now the most-followed K-pop idol on Instagram. In addition to making her acting debut on The White Lotus, Lisa's soon set to release her debut album Alter Ego on February 28.

Tayme Thapthimthong as Gaitok

Gaitok works as a security guard at the White Lotus, a mostly unexciting gig that involves manning the resort's entrance gate. He's devoted to his friend and crush Mook, but he gets intimidated when she speaks with the bodyguards.

Tayme Thapthimthong, 35, was born and raised in England and worked as a bouncer while studying at Kingston University. He eventually moved to Thailand, where he placed runner-up in season 10 of the singing competition Academy Fantasia. He quickly landed acting roles and has since appeared in shows including Farang, Bäckström, and the Netflix original Thai Cave Rescue.

Lek Patravadi as Sritala

Sritala is the glamorous owner of the Thailand-based White Lotus, which she co-owns with her American husband Jim Hollinger. Formerly a singer, actress, and author, Sritala became a wellness pioneer after she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder.

Lek Patravadi, also known as Patravadi 'Lek' Mejudhon, 76, has been dubbed the "Judi Dench of Thailand" by show creator Mike White. The veteran actress is best known for her breakout role in 1973's Mai Mee Sawan Samrab Khun, which earned her the Thai equivalent of the Best Actress Oscar, and for the 2018 series In Family We Trust. She was named the country's National Artist in Performing Arts in 2015, and she opened the country’s first open-air theatre and established a theater school.

Christian Friedel as Fabian

Fabian, the general manager of The White Lotus Thailand, is skilled at his job but fairly socially awkward. He often sucks up to his boss Sritala, though he occasionally wants the spotlight for himself.

Christian Friedel, 45, is a German stage and screen actor who debuted in 2009. Stateside, he's best known for playing Reinhold Gräf on the series Babylon Berlin, as well as starring in the Oscar-winning film The Zone of Interest. He's also a member of the German band Woods of Birnam.

Dom Hetrakul as Pornchai

Pornchai is the wellness expert who trains Belinda in new massage techniques as part of her cultural exchange in Thailand. She's set to stay for three months, so who knows if their friendship could grow into something more.

Dom Hetrakul, 48, made his acting debut in 1998 and has appeared in Thai and Hollywood productions. Before The White Lotus, his most notable Western projects are 2008's Bangkok Dangerous (starring Nicolas Cage) and the Hallmark miniseries Blackbeard. He has also provided Thai voice dubbing for movies including Shrek 3, Puss in Boots, Batman Begins, and The Dark Night.

Arnas Fedaravičius as Valentin

Valentin is a health mentor at the White Lotus, a Russian expat who assists (and flirts with) Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie throughout their trip. He's played by Arnas Fedaravičius, 33, a Lithuanian actor and boxer who previously starred in the Netflix period drama The Last Kingdom, and the Prime Video fantasy epic The Wheel of Time.

Shalini Peiris as Amrita

Amrita is another White Lotus wellness team member, specializing in meditation. She takes a special interest in helping Rick through his baggage. She's played by Shalini Peiris, 39, a Sri Lankan actress who has appeared in Lockwood & Co., 3 Body Problem, and The Ark.

Morgana O'Reilly as Pam

Pam, the Australian health mentor who has a rough time getting the Ratliffs to give up their phones, is played by Morgana O'Reilly, 39. The New Zealand stage and screen actress previously starred in the 2014 movie Housebound, the long-running shows Neighbours and Wentworth, and the psychological drama Friends Like Her.

'The White Lotus' Season 3 Cameos

Ke Huy Quan as Kenny

In episode 2, Tim Ratliff has a fraught phone call with Kenny, his former business partner in a fund that may or may not have had shady ties to the government of Brunei. We don't see Kenny's face, but Everything Everywhere All At Once fans may have clocked that the familiar voice belongs to Ke Huy Quan, 53.

Before his Oscar-winning comeback in the 2022 sci-fi film, the Vietnamese-American actor rose to fame as a child star in '80s movies like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. His post-EEAAO credits have included the Disney+ shows American Born Chinese and Loki season 2, and the movies Kung Fu Panda 4 and Love Hurts.

If you're waiting impatiently for Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya to return in the third Dune film, HBO's latest must-watch TV series Dune: Prophecy is the answer to fill your Sunday-night appointment viewing. Set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi film saga based on Frank Herbert's book series, the new show focuses on the rise of the Bene Gesserit—a sisterhood of "Truthsayers" assigned to each Great House of the Imperium to "help them sift truth from lies"—as they aim to influence Emperor Corrino and his royal family.

For the fantasy prequel, the six-episode series has gathered a female-led cast of award-winning actors and next-gen stars, from Game of Thrones and Succession alums to the leading ladies of Bridgerton. Read on to learn more about the stars of Dune: Prophecy.

The Bene Gesserit

Emily Watson as Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen

At the start of Dune: Prophecy, Valya Harkonnen explains via voiceover that her family and others who "share her blood" have been disgraced for generations, after her great-grandfather deserted the fight against the "thinking machines." In the series' present-day timeline, Valya is the current Mother Superior, who aims to grow the Bene Gesserit's influence and restore the Harkonnen name.

Emily Watson, 57, is a London-born Oscar-, Emmy-, and Golden Globe-nominated actress who began her career onstage and has appeared in dozens of movies, including 1996's Breaking the Waves; 1999's Angela's Ashes; 2001's Gosford Park; 2005's Corpse Bride; 2008's Synecdoche, New York; 2014's The Theory of Everything; and 2017's Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Her first collaboration with HBO was on the acclaimed miniseries Chernobyl.

Jessica Barden as Young Valya Harkonnen

30 years before the main timeline of Dune: Prophecy, Valya formed a deep bond with the former Mother Superior Raquella. While on her death bed, Raquella gave Valya an apocalyptic vision of Tiran-Arafel, "a holy judgment brought on by a tyrant," and urged her to "use every tool" to increase the Bene Gesserit's power. She's also the first to use the Voice, though it's implied that she learned from Raquella.

Jessica Barden, 32, is an English actress best known for starring as Alyssa in the cult-hit Netflix series The End of the F***ing World. Since her breakout role on the long-running soap Coronation Street in 2007, Barden has appeared in shows and films including 2011's Hanna, 2015's Far from the Madding Crowd and The Lobster, Showtime's Penny Dreadful, Netflix's Pieces of Her, and FX's Better Things and American Horror Stories.

Olivia Williams as Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen

Valya's sister, Tula Harkonnen, helps lead the Bene Gesserit alongside the Mother Superior and teaches the younger members the arts of truth-telling and combat.

Olivia Williams, 56, is a British actress best known for playing Camilla Parker Bowles in the final two seasons of The Crown. After making her major film and TV debuts in ITV's Emma and 1997's The Postman, respectively, she went on to star in projects including 1998's Rushmore, 1999's The Sixth Sense, 2009's An Education, 2012's Anna Karenina, and HBO's The Nevers.

Emma Canning as Young Tula Harkonnen

Emma Canning, who plays young Tula, is an Irish stage and screen actress who graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2019. She's had an impressive breakout year in 2024, appearing in prestige series including Apple TV+'s Masters of the Air and The New Look, and FX's Say Nothing along with Dune: Prophecy. Previously, she appeared in Netflix's The Irregulars and Sky Atlantic's Domina.

Jihae as Reverend Mother Kasha

Kasha Jinjo, who serves as Truthsayer for Emperor Corrino, is a longtime friend of Valya Harkonnen. She's played by Jihae, 35, who grew up in South Korea and began her entertainment career as a model and singer in the 2000s. After her first major acting role in the National Geographic miniseries Mars, she went on to appear in Netflix's Altered Carbon, as one of the many forms of Takeshi Kovacs, and in HBO's Succession, as Kendall's PR consultant Berry Schneider.

Yerin Ha as Young Kasha Jingo

Young Kasha Jingo is played by Yerin Ha, a soon-to-be superstar who will play Sophie Baek, Benedict Bridgerton's love interest, in the forthcoming Bridgerton season 4. The 29-year-old Korean-Australian actress previously played Kwan Ha in both seasons of Paramount+'s Halo.

Tabu as Sister Francesca

Sister Francesca is another longtime friend of the Harkonnens and a member of the Bene Gesserit. She is also a former lover of the Imperium's emperor.

Sister Francesca is played by Tabu, one of the most lauded Hindi actresses in India, and has also starred in films across the Telugu and Tamil film industries as well as Hollywood. The most notable projects among her nearly 100 film credits include Bollywood hits like 1996's Maachis, 1997's Virasat, 2001's Chandni Bar, 2003's Maqbool, 2006's The Namesake, 2007's Cheeni Kum, and 2014's Haider, and 2012's Life of Pi.

Charithra Chandran as Young Francesca

Bridgerton alum Charithra Chandran appears in the Dune: Prophecy series premiere as young Francesca. In addition to the Netflix hit, the 27-year-old British Tamil actress previously starred in Prime Video's Alex Rider and the recent Prime Video rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh. Next up, she's set to play Nefertari Vivi, a.k.a. Miss Wednesday, in season 2 of One Piece.

House Corrino

Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino

Emperor Javicco is the current leader of the Imperium, the galactic empire and world of the Dune franchise. (For Dune: Part 2 fans, this is the same position as Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV.) The emperor is played by Mark Strong, a prolific and acclaimed British actor who has starred in films like 2007's Stardust, 2009's Sherlock Holmes, 2012's Zero Dark Thirty, the Kingsman film series, 2019's 1917, and 2022's Tár. He also recently played Carmine Falcone in HBO's The Penguin.

Jodhi May as Empress Natalya Corrino

With her marriage to Emperor Javicco, Empress Natalya united the galaxy in a time of peace. She's portrayed by Jodhi May, the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, for 1988's A World Apart when she was 12. She later appeared in 1992's The Last of the Mohicans; 2012's I, Anna; HBO's Gentleman Jack; and BBC's Small Axe. She also dipped her toes into the fantasy genre with roles in Game of Thrones (as Maggy the Frog) and The Witcher (as Queen Calanthe).

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez Corrino

Princess Ynez, daughter of Javicco and Natalya and the only heir to the Corrino throne, plans to become a member of the Bene Gesserit. However, she finds herself in a complicated situation with her combat instructor Keiran Atreides.

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, 33, is a Danish actress who previously starred in the Danish series 1864 and The Bridge, as well as The History Channel's Knightfall, and 2021's The Colony.

Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino

Constantine Corrino is the illegitimate son of Emperor Javicco, who lives with the royal family and has a friendship with his half-sister Ynez. Corrino's often torn between following his personal goals or his father's approval.

Josh Heuston, 28, is an Australian actor and model who has appeared in campaigns for brands including Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Bumble. He made his acting debut in 2021 on the Australian series Dive Club before appearing in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder and Netflix's Heartbreak High.

Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides

Keiran Atreides is the swordmaster and trainer for House Corrino, who has tons of sexual tension with his latest student, Princess Ynez. As you can guess by the name, he's the ancestor of Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides.

Chris Mason, 33, is a Liverpool-born actor who has held standout roles in several TV series, portraying Leo Humphries in ITV's Broadchurch and Chad Gekko in season 5 of Riverdale. His other notable projects include 2014's The Vampire Academy, Freeform's Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Bravo's Dirty John, and Peacock's Killing It.

Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart

Desmond Hart is a soldier assumed dead during a mission on Arrakis, who returns to House Corrino as the sole survivor of an attack. The mysterious figure ingratiates himself with Emperor Javicco, but his motives are unknown.

Travis Fimmel is an Australian actor and model who rose to fame in the early '00s, appearing in music videos for Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez before starring in a notorious Calvin Klein ad. (Fun fact, he was rumored to be the inspiration for Sex and the City character Smith Jerrod.) As for his acting career, he's best known for playing Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel's Vikings, and he has also appeared in 2016's Warcraft, Max's Raised By Wolves, and Netflix's Boy Swallows Universe.

Spoilers for The Penguin's season finale ahead. If you're a fan of crime-noir TV who hasn't tuned in to The Penguin, you're truly missing out. On September 9, 2024, HBO premiered its limited series spinoff of 2022's The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz, which launched a new offshoot of DC Comics' famed superhero world. Just like The Batman carved its own lane as a refreshing, brutal neo-noir caper within the bloated superhero genre, The Penguin now gives Batman villain Oz Cobb (played by Colin Farrell under heavy prosthetics) a Scorcese-esque mobster epic. Set in the aftermath of Gotham's devastating flooding, it follows Oz and former Arkham inmate Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) as they battle each other (and many other underworld gangs) for supremacy in a vulnerable city.

The Penguin wasn't ever going to be the end of Oz Cobb's story, as Farrell was already set to return in the 2026 sequel to The Batman before the series' airing. However, fans are also curious whether Oz and Sofia's stories will continue on the small screen. Below, read on for everything we know about a possible The Penguin season 2 so far.

Has 'The Penguin' been renewed for season 2?

HBO has not yet confirmed whether The Penguin will return for season 2, and the network likely will not share an official answer to the series' fate any time soon. For one, a new season of The Penguin would have to wait until after The Batman Part II arrives in 2026 since the sequel is already confirmed to continue Oz's story. In a post-finale interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Lauren LeFranc confirmed that the final shot of The Penguin, which shows the Bat Signal shining above Gotham, is meant "to launch into [The Batman director Matthew Reeve's] second film."

Another big reason to expect a wait on The Penguin season 2 news is that the show was initially billed as a limited series. Nowadays, the moniker of a limited series is never set in stone (see Big Little Lies, The White Lotus, Shōgun, etc.)—but LeFranc and Reeves have acknowledged since the start of the series that any more episodes would depend on season 1's reception. Now that The Penguin is a certified hit with Emmy buzz, Reeves told EW that he's looking ahead to the series' future.

"We are, in a very preliminary way—me, Lauren, [Reeves' producing partner] Dylan [Clark], and Colin—starting to talk about what would be the way," Reeves told the outlet. "For me, what's really important is that we earn it. The idea of revisiting means that we have to keep that same bar. I know that none of us wants to go back and just do more. We want to go back and do something great. So that's what we're talking about now. We do believe that there's going to be something in there, but it's just beginning. It's exciting though. It's very gratifying."

When would 'The Penguin' season 2 be released?

Unfortunately for The Penguin fans, Reeves' Batman Epic Crime Saga (yes, that's what Reeves' franchise of shows and films is officially called) will likely have to focus on The Batman Part II before we get any news about season 2. The highly-anticipated film is currently set to release on October 2, 2026, and filming is scheduled to start in 2025. Based on that timeline, we could wait for new episodes of The Penguin until 2027.

How does 'The Penguin' set up 'The Batman Part II'?

Though The Penguin is a true standalone series that even viewers with no Batman knowledge can enjoy, Reeves and LeFranc did develop the series to serve as a bridge between 2022's The Batman and the upcoming sequel The Batman Part II. The series began just a week following the events of the 2022 film after the Riddler's terrorist attack destroyed Gotham's seawall and killed Carmine Falcone (played by John Turturro). Now knowing the ending of The Penguin, countless fans are speculating that Oz Cobb will be one of the major villains going up against Robert Pattinson's dark knight in the 2026 film.

The Penguin ends with former Falcone goon Oz Cobb now the kingpin of Gotham's criminal underworld, after a season-long gang war against the city's biggest mob families. In the season finale, he framed his main opposition Sofia Falcone for all of the crimes both he and she committed throughout the season, sending her back to Arkham State Hospital just a few weeks after she'd been released. Oz has risen to his biggest heights—quite literally as he now lives in a penthouse with his comatose mother (Deirdre O’Connell) who hates him. He's also cemented himself as the absolute worst after he viciously strangled his loyal lackey Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) to death.

However, there are some signs that Oz's rise is only temporary. Back in Arkham, Sofia receives a letter from Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), hoping to connect; as fans now know, the women are half-sisters. The two rogues' team-up and potential revenge plot against Oz depends on when Sofia is released from Arkham. Someone else could their hands on Oz much sooner, too.

The season ends with the telltale Bat signal in the sky, showing that the Bat will soon return to take Oz down. (Where he's been, we'll hopefully learn in The Batman Part II.) Speaking to EW, LeFranc explained, "I very much liked the idea of the Batman undercutting the strange, delusional scenario that Oz created for himself at the end, to merit all of his previous actions and to say, 'I finally made it.' And then for us to say, 'Maybe not. Maybe you haven't.'"

Who in the cast would return for 'The Penguin' season 2?

The returning cast for The Penguin season 2 would depend on who makes it out of The Batman II alive, but as of The Penguin's season finale, the main cast members who could return include Colin Farrell (Oz Cobb), Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone Gigante), Deirdre O’Connell (Francis Cobb), Theo Rossi (Dr. Rush), and Carmen Ejogo (Eve Karlo). While some fans may have been hopeful Oz's betrayal of Vic was a fever dream, Feliz has confirmed that his character is dead and won't return.

Farrell has been very open about sharing his thoughts on returning for a second season throughout The Penguin's run. In September before the series' airing, he made headlines when he confessed during a Total Film interview that he hated wearing the head-to-toe prosthetics that came with his Oz Cobb transformation. "Don’t get me wrong—I loved it—but it got in on me a little bit. By the end of it, I was bitching and moaning to anyone who would listen to me that I fucking wanted it to be finished," he said of filming the series, adding, "When I finished I was like, 'I never want to put that fucking suit and that fucking head on again.'"

However, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter for the season 1 finale, Farrell clarified that he would be open to returning for the right story, especially after the series was so well received. "If there’s a great idea [for season 2], and the writing was really muscular and as strong or stronger on the page than it was the first season, of course I would do it," he told the outlet.

Farrell isn't the only cast member who has teased that they'd be up to return for more Penguin. In an interview with Esquire, Milioti revealed that she'd like to reprise her role as Sofia Gigante. When asked what roles she would like to play in the future, she said, “I would love to play Sofia again, but I would also be so interested in—I mean, this is off the top of my head.... I will say that watching Colin in prosthetics made me be like, 'I want to try that.' It’s so brutal. What a brutal way to start your morning. It’s three hours every day. But I was like, 'Ooh, I want to do that. I want to try that one time.'"

HBO's latest true crime docuseries Breath of Fire is another saga of a spiritual community accused of cult-like behaviors. Based on Hayley Phelan's Vanity Fair article "The Second Coming of Guru Jagat," the four-part series—which premiered on October 23, 2024, and airs new episodes every Wednesday—centers on Guru Jagat, a practitioner of kundalini yoga who doc directors Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens have dubbed "the Elizabeth Holmes of Yoga." Throughout the 2010s, Jagat built her L.A.-based studio into an international empire that boasted several locations, adjacent e-commerce businesses, and celebrity followers including Kate Hudson, Alicia Keys, Orlando Bloom, and Russell Brand. She also allegedly fostered a cult-like, abusive environment within the organization, and eventually platformed right-wing, anti-vax, and QAnon conspiracies by the onset of the COVID pandemic.

The well-rounded cult docuseries also explores the legacy of Jagat's controversial mentor, Yogi Bhajan, the complicated culture of modern spirituality, and the "dangers of self-proclaimed gurus," per the doc's description. At the center of it all is Guru Jagat, the charismatic and controversial leader whose public profile has altered from guru girlboss to alleged cult leader, in the wake of her untimely death. Read on for a brief primer on everything to know about Guru Jagat.

She was an internationally known kundalini yoga guru.

Guru Jagat, real name Katie Griggs, was born in Colorado in 1979. According to Vanity Fair, Griggs dreamed of acting or performing onstage as a kid, and she "drifted in her early 20s, dropping out of school due to partying, then eventually getting a degree from Antioch College in Ohio." Eventually, the one-time YouTube astrologer founded the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Sciences and Technology, an L.A.-based studio established in 2013 that focused on spreading the practice of kundalini yoga. According to the outlet, kundalini is "characterized by intense breath work, repetitive poses, and alternative lifestyle choices, such as wearing white and eating mostly vegetarian."

The first episode of the HBO docuseries introduces some elements of Jagat's practice, including "breath of fire," an energizing breath work that one doc subject describes as a feeling similar to "taking poppers." As stated in the doc, Jagat would end her sessions with a 45-minute talk that sometimes included a "prosperity meditation," where the attendants would credit their successes, such as getting a dream job or a dream house to the yoga practice.

By the late 2010s, Jagat became a popular yoga guru and business owner thanks in part to her active Instagram presence. She hosted online classes through a subscription service, where 20,000 subscribers paid at least $19 monthly. She also started several other ventures out of RA MA, including two clothing lines: a streetwear brand and a line of "ethereal white dresses." The physical RA MA studio also expanded into multiple locations including Venice (the L.A. flagship); New York; Boulder, Colorado; and Mallorca, Spain.

Guru Jagat presented herself as a direct disciple of the controversial spiritual teacher Yogi Bhajan. She claimed that she was able to meet him in the final years of his life and that she received her spiritual name from him. However, this claim has been questioned because Bhajan died in 2004, and Guru Jagat did not start going by that name until 2013. Before then, she ran a website called Kundalini Katie, and at various points, she went by the monikers Athena Day and Katie Day, per the doc.

She's a student of Yogi Bhajan, the spiritual leader who founded Yogi Tea.

Yogi Bhajan, real name, Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, is a spiritual guru who's credited with popularizing kundalini yoga. The former customs inspector immigrated from India to the United States in the late 1960s, when, as Amanda Montell points out in Breath of Fire, "people were feeling, existentially, high and dry." He established the 3HO Foundation in L.A. and gathered hundreds of followers who lived by his teachings. Critics have accused Bhajan of inventing kundalini by pulling from other spiritual practices and Sikh teachings.

Bhajan was also a businessman who ran multiple multimillion-dollar businesses, including Yogi Tea and a private security firm. According to the doc, Bhajan's teachings were similar to the prosperity gospel, a belief that a higher power rewards the faithful with financial wealth. Over the years, his followers created businesses for "shoes, body scrubs, granola bars, essential oils," and more, per the doc. Cameron Healy, the founder of Kettle Foods, reportedly became involved in kundalini yoga in the early 1970s, investing in a successful bakery called The Golden Temple, before eventually founding the eventual kettle-chip brand in 1978.

Bhajan faced accusations of "rape, sexual misconduct, and financial malfeasance" before and after his death, per Vanity Fair. In 2020, after his former employee and lover Pamela Dyson released a memoir including several new allegations, Guru Jagat expressed support for Bhajan and promoted a video that "sought to discredit Dyson and defend Bhajan." Her stance led to a backlash that prompted her fall from grace.

Guru Jagat was accused of running a toxic workplace.

In mid-2020, Jagat's former employees Becky Lovell and Nicole Norton started the anonymous Instagram page @ramawrong, which posted evidence of Jagat instilling a culture of abuse among her employees. Per Vanity Fair, "Jagat could be abusive, irrational, and was prone to lying; she spent money like water and often came up short when it was time to pay her employees—many of whom, despite being full-time staffers with 'director' in their titles, made far below minimum wage and were asked to file as independent contractors, depriving them of benefits like health care." Anonymous employees also told Vanity Fair that Jagat allegedly supported QAnon conspiracy theories, with some accusing her husband Teg Nam—real name Austin Dunbar, a former student who was almost two decades younger—of "radicalizing" her.

Guru Jagat died in August 2021 under mysterious circumstances.

As reported by Vanity Fair, Guru Jagat died in August 2021 at the age of 41. The RA MA Institute said at the time that she had died of a pulmonary embolism following ankle surgery. Though the outlet confirmed her cause of death via her death certificate, several rumors were swirling at the time regarding what led to her death, ranging from her facing COVID complications after refusing to get vaccinated and holding maskless classes during the pandemic, to her faking her death in the wake of growing criticism against her.

In the finale of Industry season 3, Eric Tao (Ken Leung) tries to lift the spirits of the Pierpoint & Co. employees after the company is sold to Egyptian investors. He quotes the Denis Johnson short story "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden," saying, "Money tames the beast. Money is peace. Money is civilization. The end of the story is money." While his musings only enrage the traders, whose London office is about to be shuttered, he speaks to the themes of the incredible finale of the must-watch TV series: "The end of the story is always money."

In the final installment of the HBO hit's better-than-ever season (which wrapped up on Sunday, September 29), the core characters who began as juniors on the Pierpoint floor all bought into money, security, and the kind of dealings that fit within their realm of ethics. A lot happened, though, between Harper (Myha'la), Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and their former coworkers as their old employer imploded and they continued to move on with other ventures and propositions. So, below, we're breaking down what happened in the Industry season 3 finale, which seems to set up the forthcoming season 4.

What happened to Pierpoint in the 'Industry' season 3 finale?

Industry may have started centered around the wheelings and dealings of the fictional bank Pierpoint & Co.'s London office, but that ends up being no more by the season 3 finale. The bank is officially sold to Egyptian investment firm Al-Mi’raj—a sale Eric encourages—majorly selling out after spending too much on "ethical investing."

Eric attempts to bolster morale among the staff about the new Al-M’iraj Pierpoint in a speech about the power of the market and Pierpoint's history of change, but they see right through him. Al-M’iraj then proves to axe the London office, leaving Eric without a job but sitting pretty as he gets a $20 million buyout. In the process, he screwed over his terminally ill friend and former colleague Bill (Trevor White) but came out with a better deal than he ever could—effectively taking a snakey, self-ish note from his mentee, Harper.

What happens to Harper in the 'Industry' season 3 finale?

Harper attempts to make big off of the Pierpoint sale at her company with Petra Koenig (Sarah Goldberg), Leviathan Alpha, but it doesn't go as planned. She learns that Petra stood by her ethics and stopped their short before the two made an exorbitant amount of money. They have a conversation about agreeing not to make any more "unilateral decisions," but Harper seems underwhelmed by their work together. She brings over ex-Pierpoint staffers Sweetpea (Miriam Petche) and Anraj (Irfan Shamji), largely in a move to upset Rishi (Sagar Radia) after he contributed to her firing at Pierpoint. She embarrasses him by bringing him into the Leviathan Alpha office but not giving him a job, leaving him nowhere to go after Al-M’iraj interfered with his former employer.

When she ultimatley becomes bored by her professional life (which has become entwined with her personal), she decides playing it safe was never her game and starts her own venture. With Otto Mostyn's (Roger Barclay) backing, she'll launch an all-shorts fund, going after failing businesses, and be based out of N.Y.C.—returning home to the place she's long avoided.

She also reconnects with Eric, calling him to thank him for the quote he gave for her Forbes 30 Under 30 feature. In his phone as "Harpsichord," there's still warmth between the mentor and mentee, who have learned a lot from each other this past season, even if they no longer share the same desk.

What happens to Rishi in the 'Industry' season 3 finale?

After Rishi gets humiliated by Harper, he faces the grueling consequences of his gambling addiction. He comes home to find the loan shark he thought was his friend, Vinay (Asim Chaudhry), at the kitchen table with his wife Diana (Emily Barber), demanding the millions he's owed. When Diana realizes how much money her husband has lost, Vinay shoots and kills her in the show's most dramatic, thriller-like moment to date.

It's the last we see of Rishi in season 3, but it seems to set up a dicey future for him. Darkness was already looming around the choices he's made professionally and with his addiction, and it seems he'll continue to show the confines of what corrupt men in finance can or cannot get away with.

Why did Yasmin get engaged to Henry Muck in the 'Industry' season 3 finale?

For much of season 3, Yasmin tried to push against the narrative that she had been living off the money her father embezzled through Hanani Publishing. By the end of season 3, she chooses money in what she sees as the most secure way possible.

When Yas joins Rob on a road trip as he interviews for a psilocybin start-up, she suggests they change course on the way back to stop by Henry Muck's (Kit Harington) uncle Lord Norton's (Andrew Havill) estate. She says Henry invited them and neglects to tell Rob that she contacted Henry, hoping they could reconnect. What was meant to be a brief visit—in which Henry tells the two that he's dedicating his life to public service—turns into a weekend stay over Norton's birthday.

Over the weekend, Yas asks media mogul Norton to stop his tabloids from unfairly covering her and the lawsuits against her father's company. He tells her what she's always needed to hear: that her late father's vile, manipulative behavior had nothing to do with her.

"I am fiercely protective of my family, and I always use my not insubstantial power to protect them," he says at one point. "But then again, life is about the family you choose." It's something that Yas takes to heart and listens to, as Norton essentially makes a deal with her that he'll use his power to stop the bad press and economic windfall against her if she gets back together with Henry.

After one thing leads to another, Yas and Rob passionately hook up on the estate grounds—and she delivers on her word that she's good at making people think she's in love with them. Shortly after, in the most devastating moment of the finale, Yas proposes to Henry that they should get engaged. The scene in which they agree to tie the knot flips between her conversation with Henry and Lord Norton's birthday dinner when they share the news. Rob looks stunned but exchanges a look with Yas in which he seems to express that he understands; she appears somewhat remorseful like she wishes he could have stopped her from deciding what she felt she had to.

Having lost her job at Pierpoint and dealing with the problems left in her father's wake, a marriage of convenience seems like the best option for Yas.

With its third season, Industry became better than ever and solidified itself as a must-watch TV series. The HBO hit about a group of junior traders at the London office of Pierpoint & Co. expanded even further beyond the walls of the bank, as staffers Yasmin (Marisa Abela) andRobert (Harry Lawtey), and alum Harper (Myha'la) were no longer quite so junior and with many nefarious dealings on their hands.

By the end of Industry season 3, Pierpoint had gone up in flames and was transformed into Al-M’iraj Pierpoint in a major sale, leaving multiple people without jobs or with new ones, and even a shocking engagement of convenience on the table. With more surprises in the season 3 finale than in a downturned market, it leads fans to wonder where the show could be going next. Below, we're breaking down everything to know about Industry season 4.

Has 'Industry' been renewed for season 4?

Yes! HBO has wheeled and dealed and ordered another season of Industry. Variety reported the acclaimed financial drama had been renewed for season 4 before the season 3 finale even aired, announcing the news in mid-September 2024.

At the time, the series creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay shared a statement. "We are beyond thrilled and grateful to HBO, the incredible team at Bad Wolf and our phenomenal cast and crew for their continued belief in Industry and for allowing us to grow as creators, writers and now directors whilst taking the show to new heights," said the showrunners. "We can’t wait to dive deeper and deliver the best season yet in season 4."

With the show receiving rave reviews this season and more eyes on it than ever—as Variety points out that viewership is up 40 percent this season and averaging 1.6 million views per episode—a renewal was all but inevitable.

When will 'Industry' season 4 be released?

Get ready to clock back in! In late November, HBO confirmed via a press release that Industry season 4 will premiere on Sunday, January 11. As with nearly all HBO series, the show will premiere with one episode and its eight-episode season will air weekly.

Who in the 'Industry' cast will return for season 4?

The core ensemble of Industry may no longer be junior employees on the floor of Pierpoint & Co., but the show will continue to follow their careers. In season 4, we'll see more of Harper (Myha’la) and Yasmin (Marisa Abela). The show has also seen Harper remain somewhat of a mentee to her former boss Eric (Ken Leung), so even though he's no longer at Pierpoint, we'd bet the next season will see where he lands.

There is one core cast member who won't be returning for season 4: Harry Lawtey, who plays Robert. Deadline reported in February 2025 that the British actor exited the series "due to scheduling conflicts." Industry was Lawtey's breakout role, making him a fan-favorite character in the financial drama, so it's safe to say viewers are bummed we won't be able to see the next chapter in Rob's story.

In a mid-March interview with The Telegraph, Lawtey opened up more about his decision to leave the series. The actor revealed that he and the Industry writers agreed that Rob's story had concluded. He explained, "Ultimately, I feel like I’m in a place where I’ve said everything I had to say with a character, and I think both me and the writers felt mutually happy with where we left him."

Lawtey revealed that Rob's storyline ending was essentially written into the season 3 finale. "There was actually a stage direction after my final line, in my final scene of the show, which literally read: ‘On Robert—transformation complete.’ And that sat really well with me," he shared. "Now I feel unmoored, but in a really good way. And ready for the next chapter."

Lawtey's exit is not unlike when David Jonsson, who played Gus in seasons 1 and 2, left. Jonsson has since led major movies like Alien: Romulus, and has more buzzy roles to come, like in Colman Domingo's directorial debut Scandalous!. Lawtey, meanwhile, was among the cast in Joker: Folie à Deux and has more projects booked, so Industry has become a bit of a talent incubator. We'll miss them (but are excited to see what they do next)!

With Lawtey exiting, other characters are getting more screen time. Season 3 introduced a few new characters who have become key players: Henry Muck (Kit Harington) and Petra Koenig (Sarah Goldberg). With Yasmin engaged to Henry, Harington will return and has been upped to a series regular. As for Petra, Harper left their successful joint venture Leviathan Alpha, so it's unclear whether we'll see more of her but it seems unlikely as there's been no news of her role. Otto Mostyn (Roger Barclay), the financier who supported Leviathan, is still working with Harper, though, so he may pop up now and then.

It's been confirmed that Sweetpea (Miriam Petche) will return since Harper brought her to Leviathan Alpha. In hiring the former Pierpoint juniors, Harper swindled Rishi (Sagar Radia) into unemployment, since he thought she was hiring him as well. While his fate seemed rather unclear by the end of the season—now that his gambling addiction led to one of his associates murdering his wife—he's also set to be back. He may not be at Pierpoint or Leviathan, so we suspect we'll see what consequences he must face in the coming episodes.

An interesting name that floated at the end of season 3 was Jesse Bloom, the hedge fund manager who used to be one of Harper's clients. It's revealed that he's been released from prison, piquing Harper's interest. With her planning on returning to New York (more on that below), perhaps Jay Duplass will reprise his role as the smarmy billionaire.

Are there any new cast members in 'Industry' season 4?

You bet! In February 2025, Variety reported that a new addition is set to join Industry season 4. Max Minghella, best known for playing Commander Nick Blaine on The Handmaid's Tale (for which he earned an Emmy nomination), is now among the cast. He's set to play Whitney Halberstram, who Variety reported is "the CFO and Founder of Tender, a payment processor entering a growth phase."

More casting news followed just one month later. Deadline reported in March 2025 that Kiernan Shipka (a.k.a. Miss Sally Draper from Mad Men herself and more recently of The Last Showgirl), Jack Farthing (Poldark, Spencer), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), and Amy James-Kelly (Everyone Else Burns) are also joining the cast. Like Minghella, each newcomer received a character description.

According to Deadline, Shipka will play Haley Clay, "an executive assistant at payment processor Tender," or Minghella's character's company; Farthing is set to portray one of Henry's friends, Edward Smith, who is described as a "troublemaker;" Jimoh will play Kwabena Bannerman, a "trader at Mostyn Asset Management;" and James-Kelly will portray Jennifer Bevan, "the newly promoted Minister in the Labour government."

It seems season 4 will be the biggest Industry season yet. Several other notable names were cast in late March. Variety reported that comedic actor Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar movies, House), Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton, and British star Claire Forlani (Meet Joe Black, Basquiat) have joined the ensemble. Their characters were also revealed.

Penn seems to be playing Minghella's business partner, as his role as Jay Jonah Atterbury is said to be the "CEO and founder of payment processor Tender." Heaton and Forlani, meanwhile, seem to play characters from a slightly different world. Heaton's role is Jim Dycker, "a finance journalist," and Forlani is portraying "corporate PR heavy-hitter" Cordelia Hanani-Spyrka.

What will 'Industry' season 4 be about?

When HBO announced the season 4 premiere date, it also released an official logline. It reads: "At the top of their game and living the lives they set out to have as Pierpoint grads, Harper and Yasmin are drawn into a high-stakes, globetrotting cat-and-mouse game when a splashy fintech darling bursts onto the London scene. As Yasmin navigates her relationship with tech founder Sir Henry Muck and Harper is pulled into the orbit of enigmatic executive Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella), their twisted friendship begins to warp and ignite under the pressure of money, power, and the desire to be on top."

The way season 3 ended—with Pierpoint sold and now to be renamed Al-M’iraj Pierpoint, and all of the show's key players no longer employed by the bank—the show certainly set up new opportunities for its characters and a new setting in the U.S. As fans may remember, the last installment concluded with Harper planning to launch a new N.Y.C.-based all-shorts fund with financing help from Otto Mostyn. We'll have to see if she can finally put her anger toward her past employer behind her, or if she'll find a new scheme to get revenge.

Eric also has a wide open chapter: Having been asked to step down from Pierpoint and given a hefty exit package, he could go anywhere. It seems likely that the Penny to his Don Draper will reteam.

The showrunners have also teased that the show will feature the U.S. in some capacity. Doing so will uncover more about the past Harper has been running from. Case in point, Down hinted to Variety that the series hasn't "shown what is so awful about America [for Harper]."

Down and Kay also spoke to GQ about how much the forthcoming installment may or may not focus on the U.S. versus the U.K. "It’s an American-effected show because we grew up watching those shows and obviously it follows several American characters. There is something about London and, especially in the last season, our exploration of London, and in particular London high society, which I think is unique to this show, and I would hate to lose," Down said. "And I think there are other shows that have done similar things in the U.S., but there is nothing in the U.K., which feels real and authentic and is actually giving you a sort of a firsthand, I would say, insight into that world. And I think that’s probably what you do for season 4."

Is there a trailer for 'Industry' season 4?

Oh, boy, is there ever? For a Christmas treat, HBO dropped the season 4 trailer of Industry in late December, and it's a doozy! If you thought the coked-out binges and office hookups at the start of the show were wild, it looks like the upcoming episodes may be more unhinged than ever.

The visual begins with Eric telling Harper, "We might be standing on the verge of something great, but the work is ugly. It’s anti-status quo, anti-establishment, anti-power." Inevitably, she responds, "Which part of that is meant to be a problem for us?"

It seems as though the two are teaming up to investigate and take down Tender, which just so happens to be the company that Yasmin's husband, Henry, has been tapped to be the new face of. If that doesn't sound messy enough, there's a finance journalist on everyone's tail, trysts between coworkers and enemies, shifting power dynamics in Yas and Henry's marriage, extravagant parties, and lots of clips of nights out in the club. At the end of the trailer, Yas says, "Who's in?" We very much are!

If you're dying to see more, there's also a teaser available. It has everything: dance floor make-outs, mysterious figures jumping out of windows, fist fights on private jets, bloodied hands driving luxury convertibles, mirrors seemingly broken in a fit of rage, and passionate embraces between newly weds outside of their luxurious estates. It's all set to the sound of Nine Simone's "Lilac Wine," adding to the mood.

The only dialogue in the teaser is between Yas and Harper. "Will you look after me tonight," the Brit asks her American bestie. "When the fuck are you going to look after me?" she responds. Yas's answer? "Tonight." We can't wait to see how that—and the rest of the season's impending melodrama—plays out.

Summer 2024 saw the release of House of the Dragon season 2, kicking off the Dance of the Dragons. (Sort of.) After airing over two months, the Game of Thrones spinoff concluded with the anticlimactic season 2 finale, capping off an installment that served more as the second prelude to the epic Targaryen civil war. Sure, the war between the Greens and the Blacks did officially start, with its first major battle at Rook's Rest culminating in the death of one main character and the mutilation of another. But HotD thus far has spent more time setting the stage for epic conflicts than actually showing them.

Luckily for bloodthirsty fans, that's all set to change in House of the Dragon season 3, which was greenlit by HBO days before season 2 even premiered. Read on for everything we know about season 3 so far, including how long we'll have to wait for more dragonfire.

When will 'House of the Dragon' season 3 come out?

House of the Dragon season 3 isn't expected to hit our screens until at least 2026. This would follow the pattern of the previous two installments, which premiered on HBO in August 2022 and June 2024, respectively. Plus, season 2 arrived right on schedule; despite the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes pausing most of Hollywood, HotD is a British series that was able to continue filming with no delays. So it officially takes two years to deliver another round of Targaryen-filled episodes.

While a release date is still far off, we do know that work on season 3 is already underway. In May 2024, showrunner Ryan Condal told Entertainment Weekly that the show's team was already "deep into" writing season 3, should HBO renew it. Following the season 2 finale, Condal revealed in a press conference that cameras will start rolling on new episodes in early 2025, per Variety.

When will 'House of the Dragon' end?

Following the season 2 finale, showrunner Ryan Condal dropped some surprising news about House of the Dragon during a virtual press conference, per The Hollywood Reporter. In response to speculation on how long the series will last, Condal revealed that House of the Dragon will end with season 4, making the spinoff half the length of its eight-season predecessor Game of Thrones. (Though, considering how contentious those final GoT seasons are, this could be a blessing.)

"I think it’s four,” Condal said of the series' length, before noting that the overall plan for the rest of the show was mapped out after the first season, per THR. He also shared that season 3 will likely also consist of eight episodes.

Condal had already hinted that HotD could end sooner rather than later while speaking to Entertainment Weekly last May.

"You certainly don't want to rush to get to an end, but you also don't want to overstay your welcome," he told the outlet. "You want to find this very satisfying place to go out that ties up enough loose ends and leaves others intentionally open because, as we know, this history marches on for another 150 years to Daenerys."

Which cast members will return for 'House of the Dragon' season 3?

HBO has yet to announce the official cast list, but here's everyone still standing at the end of season 2: For the Blacks, there's Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Harry Collett (Jacaerys Targaryen), Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen), Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria), and Tom Taylor (Cregan Stark). Meanwhile, the Greens have Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Matthew Needham (Larys Strong), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen), Jefferson Hall (Tyland and Jason Lannister), and Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), who finally made an appearance in the finale after disappearing for half the season.

Of season 2's new additions, it's most likely that Kieran Bew (Hugh Hammer), Tom Bennett (Ulf), Clinton Liberty (Addam of Hull), and Abubakar Salim (Alyn of Hull) would return. The rest of the cast will depend on where the series takes us, but hopefully season 3 can swing by Harrenhal to bring back Simon Russell Beale (Ser Simon Strong) and Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) as well.

Who are the new cast members joining 'House of the Dragon' season 3?

As season 3 heads toward production, HBO has announced the first new cast member to join House of the Dragon. Per Variety, Happy Valley and Little Women star James Norton will play Ormund Hightower, "Otto’s nephew, Alicent and Gwayne’s cousin, and the Lord of Oldtown." Season 3 will be the onscreen debut of the character, who was mentioned throughout season 2, and "is presently leading the Hightower host in a march on King’s Landing to support his house against Rhaenyra."

One highly-anticipated casting yet to come is for Daeron Targaryen, Alicent's youngest son, and younger brother to Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. As of the start of season 3, Daeron is also marching alongside the Hightower army, or should we say, riding his new dragon, Tessarion.

What will 'House of the Dragon' season 3 be about?

Spoilers for the House of the Dragon season 2 finale ahead. The season 2 finale (which could also have served as a season 3 premiere, tbh) laid the road for some epic battles heading into season 3. Queen Rhaenyra officially has the most dragons, after the Sowing of the Seeds recruited dragonriders Hugh Hammer, Ulf the White, and Addam of Hull claiming their own winged nukes. Prince Jace is nervous about giving these wild cards such power, and readers know he isn't wrong to be worried (even though the whole "mongrels" bit is a horrible look). Rhaenyra and Daemon's youngest kids are on a ship bound for Pentos, while Rhaena snuck away to claim a wild sheep-stealing dragon; Hand of the Queen Corlys and his illegitimate son Alyn are also setting sail to defend the blockade in the Gullet. And in the show's most mystical twist so far, Daemon is fully Team Rhaenyra after Alys Rivers and Helaena(!) showed him a "Winter is Coming" vision, complete with a Dany cameo.

Meanwhile, Prince Regent Aemond is scrambling after realizing the Blacks have more dragon power. Hand of the King Criston and his army are on the move, but they're no help unless it's a land-based battle. Aemond asks Helaena to ride her dragon, but she doesn't want to "burn anyone," so she rebuffs him, asking if he'll burn her like he did Aegon. Alicent, who is completely over the whole "trapped in a prison of her own making" thing, plans to flee King's Landing with Heleana, and she even agrees with Rhaenyra's deal: a son for a son. However, the severely-wounded Aegon has fled King's Landing (whether he'd likely be killed by either Rhaenyra or Aemond) for Pentos, accompanied by Larys. Oh also, unknown to everyone, Tyland Lannister has succeeded in bringing the Triarchy (the pirate army that Daemon and co. fought in early season 1) over to the Greens' side.

Basically, as hinted by Ramin Djawadi's epic score, there are a ton of battles on the horizon. (We'll just have to wait two years.) Fire & Blood readers know some of what's in store: The Battle of the Gullet will likely happen in the season 3 premiere, where Corlys will think he's only going up against the Lannister navy and instead be met with the Triarchy. Some other battles to anticipate for the spoiler-prone: Rhaenyra's plan to attack King's Landing, the Butcher's Ball, the First Battle of Tumbleton, and maybe even the Battle Above the God’s Eye.

Per THR, Condal has heard fan's criticisms of season 2's anticlimactic finale, and he's promising that once these battles arrive, they'll have a huge impact. During the August 5 press conference, the showrunner said the decision to push the Battle of the Gullet to season three came down to how big the show could go.

“One of the things that came into play in season two is: What is the final destination of the series and where are we going? It was a combination of factors that led us to rebalance the season knowing now where we’re going. … we are trying to give The Gullet — which is arguably the second most anticipated action event of Fire & Blood — trying to give it the time and the space that it deserves.”

When will 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' come out?

After the success of House of the Dragon, HBO greenlit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new spinoff based on a trio of prequel novellas that take place 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones. (The overall Westeros TV timeline goes HotD, then Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, then GoT.) The new series will follow two fan-favorite characters: Ser Duncan the Tall (a.k.a. Dunk), and his squire Egg (a.k.a. Aegon V Targaryen), as they travel throughout Westeros on quests and adventures. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Condal described the new series as being about "the small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it's played by the nobles."

On August 4, 2024, HBO released a sizzle reel that featured the first-ever look at A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The brief clip introduced Dunk (played by Peter Claffey) and the young Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell), while confirming that the new series will make its debut in 2025. So, HotD fans will have a new tale of chivalry to hold us over until House of the Dragon season 3.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1-9 ahead. Like a fan-favorite character once said, the Game of Thrones universe has a soft spot for bastards and broken things. This affinity continues in the prequel series House of the Dragon, which returned for its second season in June 2024 with some surprising new characters in the orbit of its dueling Greens and Blacks. In addition to setting up the early battles of the Targaryen family's civil war known as the Dance of Dragons, the series also introduces some common folk populating King's Landing and Driftmark. While the inclusion may have seemed surprising to some TV fans, readers of author George R. R. Martin's original Fire and Blood book series know that no scene included in this stacked fantasy series is truly random. (Let's keep the final Thrones seasons out of our minds for that.)

While GoT had Jon Snow and Ellaria Sand (we're ignoring Ramsey), HotD has the dragonseeds, many of whom we were already introduced to before season 2, episode 4. These men (and maybe eventually women) are set up to play monumental roles in the fight for the Iron Throne, even if they aren't all introduced within season 2. Read on for a primer on the dragonseeds we've met on House of the Dragon so far, including which dragons they've claimed, and some extra details from Fire and Blood.

What is a dragonseed in 'House of the Dragon?'

In the era of Westeros where dragons roamed the sky and Targaryens were on the throne, "dragonseed" was the term for bastards of Valyrian descent. A dragonseed is fathered or mothered by someone from a dragon-riding Valyrian family, typically a Targaryen or a Velaryon. Not all children of Valyrian descent inherit dragon-riding skills, but a great amount do. Since the ability to ride dragons is passed down through blood (look up "why Valyrians can ride dragons" for a fun yet harrowing time), a dragonseed doesn't need to be officially claimed by their family to be able to ride a dragon, though that is likely the only way they'd get anywhere near one.

Being a dragonseed is dangerous at any time before Robert's Rebellion since the odds are they could become cannon fodder for a potential heir securing his throne. As Ulf says, “A dragonseed must watch his own neck when he has no white cloak guardsman to do it for him.” However, at a time when dragons are the most valuable weapon in a war, there is a chance the dragonseeds could become indispensable.

Let's meet some of them below.

Addam of Hull

Early in season 2, we meet brothers Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim), who grew up in the Driftmark town of Hull. Remember when Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) was thought dead after a battle in the Stepstones? It turns out that Alyn is the one who saved him, and, as his brother Addam hints in episode 2, that's not the only connection the men have to the Sea Snake. In episode 4, Rhaenys (Eve Best) pretty much confirms that Alyn and Addam are the bastard children of Corlys, adding that Corlys should reward Alyn for saving his life. She also mentions that the pair shouldn't have to hide in the shadows, which is some mighty foreshadowing.

In Fire and Blood, Alyn and Addam are confirmed to be of Velaryon blood, though it's unsure whether they are Laenor (John MacMillan) or Corlys's sons. One passage reads, "That Addam and Alyn were dragonseed no man who looked upon them could doubt, though their mother steadfastly refused to name their father." (Judging by Laenor's sexuality, we suspect it's going to be either Corlys or even his late brother Vaemond on the show.) As for their dragonseed heritage, there was a lovely nod in episode 2, where we got a lengthy shot of Addam admiring his half-brother(?) Laenor's dragon, Seasmoke.

In season 2, episode 6, the silver-gray dragon Seasmoke sets off the claiming of the dragonseeds. Seasmoke was originally bonded to Rhaenyra's husband Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), but after Laenor faked his death, the dragon roamed wild around Westeros, near Dragonstone and Hull. One afternoon, Seasmoke descends on Addam out of the blue and the pair embark on a fearful chase. Once Seasmoke corners Addam, it becomes clear that the dragon has found her new rider. Though we still don't know of Addam's paternal parentage, it seems as though the dragon somehow senses that he is her old rider's half-brother.

At the start of episode 7, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy)hears word that Seasmoke has been claimed and confronts the new rider. Addam quickly bends the knee to the queen, and Rhaenyra forms the idea to search for dragonseeds among the bastard Targaryen children of King's Landing.

Ulf the White

Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) is one of the residents of King's Landing, who we first see among the crowds learning of the ratcatchers' untimely deaths after the incident known as Blood and Cheese. In episode 3, we properly meet Ulf at a tavern, where he's regaling his crowd of friends with the story of his parentage. According to Ulf, he's the bastard son of Baelon the Brave, and therefore half-brother to Daemon (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine). (In actuality, Baelon was Jaehaerys' heir to the Iron Thorne, but he died before his father, leading to the Great Council of Harrenhal where Viserys was chosen as king over Rhaenys.)

Ulf's friends do not believe him, as he doesn't have white Targaryen hair, but Ulf points out that Rhaenyra's son Jace (Harry Collett) is a brunette. He also dubs Jace the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, though he quickly toasts Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) once the usurper shows up at the brothel. House of the Dragon has yet to confirm Ulf's parentage, but Fire and Blood fans know that the loudmouth's claim has some truth to it.

In episode 7, Ulf's friends tell him that Rhaenyra is seeking Targaryen bastards to claim dragons. Though Ulf confesses that he doesn't even know if his claims are entirely true, he has gotten free drinks from his white-haired heritage, so he sets off to Dragonstone partly to save fast. As the attempt to find a rider for Vermithor goes sour, Ulf runs off through the mountain Dragonmont and stumbles upon the unclaimed she-dragon Silverwing. They unexpectedly bond, and Ulf even gets the chance to ride his new dragon over King's Landing.

Hugh Hammer

In the first episodes of season 2, one of the common folk we meet is Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith whose family is struggling through the Velaryon blockade of the Gullet. Upon a first look, he represents the many residents of King's Landing who face starvation, along with his wife Kat (Ellora Torchia) and their ill daughter. However, as you can tell by the uncommon white hair, Hammer has some Velaryon heritage.

Once the recruiting drive for the Blacks begins in King's Landing, Hugh reveals to Kat that he had been hiding the truth of his parentage. He says that his mother was a sex worker with silver hair, who was "granted more freedom than most because of who she was." He also adds, "She used to tell me I was no different to her brother’s boys, Viserys and Daemon, but I was ashamed of her."

In an interview with Decider, Bew confirmed that Hugh's mother is Saera Targaryen, the notoriously sex-positive ninth daughter of King Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter), who fled to become a sex worker in Lys rather than become a Silent Sister. That heritage may have played a part in Hugh claiming Vermithor in the Dragonmont, as the second-largest dragon was previously bonded to the late king. Hugh also impressed the dragon in a show of courage, where he confronted it to give another woman a chance to escape.

Are there any female Dragonseeds?

As of season 2, episode 9, all of the dragonseeds introduced in House of the Dragon have been men. However, the most powerful dragonriders (or at least the most beloved) in the Thrones TV universe have been women—so hopefully there's at least one female dragonseed incoming. Hopefully, they'll make their appearance sooner rather than later.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 ahead. On Sunday, July 8, House of the Dragon gave everyone what they were waiting for. From the fictional lords populating the Green and Black Councils to certain carnage-hungry fans, countless voices have been calling for the Game of Thrones spinoff to bring on the action promised for season 2, as the Targaryens and their dragons face off on the battlefield. In episode 4, "The Red Dragon and the Gold," the war truly began with the highly-anticipated Battle of Rook's Rest, which ended with both the first major death and the first major cliffhanger of season 2.

The battle begins when Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and the Green Army attack one of the castles in the crownlands close to King's Landing, as a detour on his campaign to retake Harrenhal. Ser Criston (who, despite being the worst, is a great tactician) uses the castle as bait to lure out one of the Blacks' dragons, at which point a hidden Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his beast Vhagar will emerge and fight. When Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys arrive to help defend the castle, Criston sounds a signal for Vhagar to storm in, but they're interrupted by King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) on his (much smaller) dragon Sunfyre. The leader of the Greens flies to battle without alerting his family, his council, or his army, and subsequently gets smoked.

House of the Dragon had spent episode 4 (and every Aegon scene since the season 2 premiere), setting the foundation for this rash act. Even before his son Jaehaerys II was beheaded by Blood and Cheese, he was hungry for bloodshed against his aunt Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), leader of the Blacks and rival for the throne. Being a new king and a horrible strategist, Aegon had no idea what he was doing, and his entire council (including his mother Alicent, played by Olivia Cooke) chose to ignore him. Even his new Hand of the King Criston set out to battle as soon as humanly possible. So, Aegon's decision to ride into battle himself is a desperate grab for respect and deference—gone horribly wrong.

Meanwhile, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) has already been pissed at his older brother Aegon all season. Sure, Aemond's base state is intimidation, but it's become clear that he thinks his sibling is an imbecile. In episode 3, there was also that scene in which Aegon tormented Aemond at the brothel. So when Aemond and his beast Vhagar join the battle, Aemond chooses to attack Rhaenys and Meleys without any concern about Aegon getting caught in the dragonfire crosshairs. A fatally wounded Sunfyre crashes to the ground, and several minutes later, Rhaenys and Meleys also crash to their fiery deaths. (R.I.P. Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was.)

After that confirmed death, the episode ends with Criston searching for Aegon and finding Sunfyre's crash site. Aemond stands next to it, sword drawn. He quietly picks up Aegon’s fallen dagger and uses it to point to his brother's unmoving body, framed by the dying dragon. However, the episode ends before it's confirmed whether the king who sits on the Iron Throne is actually dead. Could the Greens have already lost their leader in the war's first major battle? The series wants to keep this a cliffhanger, but luckily for impatient fans, George R.R. Martin's novel Fire and Blood has the answer. Major spoilers for Fire and Blood ahead.

Miraculously, Aegon does survive a faceful of dragonfire at the Battle of Rook's Rest, where he suffers "broken ribs, a broken hip, and burns that covered half his body." As Martin explains, "His left arm was the worst. The dragonflame had burned so hot that the king’s armor had melted into his flesh." Ouch.

Sunfyre also survives(!), but he's grounded for a long while, due to Meleys breaking one of his wings. The dragon stays near Rook's Rest to recuperate, with Ser Criston stationing men to protect Sunfyre and sending him sheep to eat, and eventually, the dragon recovers enough to fly again. However, he's a little off, with one historian later describing him as "a great golden fire-breathing chicken."

So, while not dead, Aegon's down for the count. Per Fire and Blood, he remains on bed rest for over a year, sleeping "nine hours out of every 10" and suffering from burns that "brought him such pain that some say he prayed for death." He remains king in name, but Aemond takes over as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm, with Cole remaining as his Hand of the King.

Considering war stats, the Battle of Rook's Rest can't be considered a win by either side; the Greens (temporarily) lost their king while the Blacks lost their MVP and biggest dragon. The question going forward is whether having Aemond on the throne will turn the tides in either direction.

Of course, there is the dangling question of whether HBO's televised version of the Dance of the Dragons will decide to kill Aegon off after all. It would be the biggest change from Fire and Blood yet, but House of the Dragon has already made some big book-to-film changes in season 2 so far. Also, the major House of the Dragon spoilers that were included in Game of Thrones are vague enough that the prequel series could meet its canon conclusion with or without Aegon. Still, for the sake of some major story twists going forward, the series adaptation will hopefully decide to keep its plot close to the book.

It’s time to head to the pub and pour a bevvy to celebrate: Industry is finally returning for season 3. The HBO financial drama about the young employees and their mentors at the London office of the investment bank Pierpoint & Co. first premiered in 2020 to critical acclaim and has since amassed a devoted cult following who would trust Harper (Myha'la), Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and Eric (Ken Leung) to close any billion dollar deal.

The third season comes just under two years after season 2 arrived in late 2022—and is set to fill a void on HBO, now that Succession is off the air. So if you’re looking for a sexy, messy workplace drama to fill the void of the Emmy-winner, consider this finance series (which is more about corporate greed, ambition, and questionable morality in and out of the workplace) your next must-watch TV show. Ahead of the third season of Industry, here's everything we know about the upcoming installment.

When does 'Industry' season 3 premiere?

Industry season 3 premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, August 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET. HBO announced the show's highly anticipated return in late May.

As with all HBO originals, the drama created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay will air weekly every Sunday throughout its run this season; that way you have time to crunch all those numbers and mull over whatever wild drug-induced poor decisions the young bankers make after hours.

How many episodes are in 'Industry' season 3?

As with seasons 1 and 2 of Industry, season 3 will feature eight episodes. So you can expect the show to be your appointment viewing from mid-August through late September when it wraps up with its season finale on September 29.

Who is in the 'Industry' season 3 cast?

Just about every core cast member of Industry is set to return for season 3, as reported by Deadline. Even though Myha'la's character Harper boldly decided to leave Pierpoint & Co at the end of season 2, she's set to return and you can expect the series to follow her latest venture. Over at Pierpoint, junior employees like Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and Venetia (Indy Lewis) will still be grinding and bosses like Harper's former point person Eric (Ken Leung), Yasmin's irritating manager Kenny (Conor MacNeill), trader Rish (Sagar Radia), and the company's FICC Bill (Trevor White) will still be calling the shots. You can also expect to see more of Nicole (Sarah Parish), the client who was inappropriate with both Harper and Robert, as well as Yasmin's father Charles (Adam Levy).

In the official cast list shared by Deadline when HBO announced the season 3 premiere date, David Jonsson and Jay Duplass' characters Gus and Jesse Bloom, respectively, were notably not included. It seems as though when Gus was fired from Pierpoint & Co for leaking information to Harper, which she passed on to Bloom and inspired him to hire Gus as an assistant, the two flew to the U.S. and completed their arcs in the Industry world.

While some core cast members won't be back, a handful of exciting names are set to join the ensemble. In April 2023, Deadline reported that former Game of Thrones star Kit Harington had been cast in Industry in a major role. According to the outlet, the British actor will portray Henry Muck, "the CEO and Founder of Lumi, an exciting green tech energy company that’s about to go public."

Jon Snow himself isn't the only HBO alum coming to Industry. Shortly after his casting, Variety revealed Barry star Sarah Goldberg as another new addition. She'll play a "portfolio manager at ethical investment fund FutureDawn" named Petra Koenig. You can expect her to share a lot of screen time with My'hala, as Harper is said to work with her following her Pierpoint & Co departure.

Per Deadline, several other new cast members are Miriam Petche as Sweetpea Golightly, Andrew Cavill as Lord Norton, Roger Barclay as Otto Mostyn, Fady Elsayed as Ali El Mansour, and Fiona Button as Denise Oldroyd.

Is there a trailer for 'Industry' season 3?

Yes! HBO dropped the official trailer for Industry season 3 on July 24. At one point, Robert says, "Join us on the ground floor of what is gonna be a spectacular journey"—which sounds like what fans can expect from the forthcoming season. The trailer reveals that Harrington's character Henry Muck is a bit unruly and seems to have just about everybody at Pierpoint & Co in somewhat of a bind. It looks like he's intent on romantically pursuing Yasmin while rubbing it in Robert's face. Meanwhile, the clip teases that the entire company is at its wits' end with crisis upon crisis and a building adversary from Harper's new calculated powerhouse of a boss Petra. "I think Pierpoint might be absolutely fucked," a staffer declares, while Robert responds, "What else is new?"

We couldn't agree more, but we're down for the count!

That's not the only video of new footage available. HBO also dropped a teaser for Industry season 3 in early July. The brief clip offered the first footage of Harington and Goldberg in their new roles. It also showed how Harper is still wrestling with her toxic allegiance to Pierpoint & Co and Eric—who may have since taken Robert under his wing, as he's seen telling him to repeat, "I'm a man and I'm relentless."

In the teaser, there are also gripping chats over dinner and in the office's open floor plan, parties on boats and at casinos, champagne pours into people's mouths, and a shirtless Harington, for good measure. So, it looks like we're in for another unhinged season of Industry.

What will 'Industry' season 3 be about?

The next season of Industry should be as tense and chaotic as the team's sales calls and post-work benders combined. As fans may remember, season 2 ended with the London office facing a reckoning with multiple sexual assaults and abuses of power coming to light, leading to a major changeover in staff. It also culminated in a fallout between Harper and Eric, who fired her upon learning she never graduated college, meaning a large focus of season 3 will be where she landed on her feet. Yasmin similarly experienced a major change at the end of last season, as her father cut her off after she confronted him about his affairs, leading her to turn to Robert for support.

HBO has shared an official synopsis of what fans can expect: "In season 3, as Pierpoint looks to the future and takes a big bet on ethical investing, Yasmin, Robert, and Eric find themselves front and center in the splashy IPO of Lumi, a green tech energy company led by Sir Henry Muck, in a story that runs all the way to the very top of finance, media, and government. Since leaving Pierpoint, Harper is eager to get back into the addictive thrill of finance and finds an unlikely partner in FutureDawn portfolio manager Petra Koenig."

We live in a day and age when nearly every show known to man is at our fingertips. And yet, when we’re feeling down in the dumps, we find ourselves gravitating to the best comfort shows we’ve been watching on repeat for years.

Essentially a balm for your brain, comfort shows are the feel-good, old reliables you put on as background noise when you’re falling asleep. They’re the heartwarming comedies or binge-able reality shows you revisit when you’re sick and laid up on the couch, and your tried-and-true heroes against decision fatigue when you’ve had it with scrolling through your seven subscription platforms. The best comfort shows have dozens upon dozens of episodes—so you never have to dive back into the endless scroll—and are laden with enough quirky characters and low-stakes drama to hold your interest without getting stressed by the storyline; some are even among the best series of all time.

Here, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best comfort TV shows, organized by where you can stream them. (You’re welcome.)

The Best Comfort TV Shows on Apple TV

'Shrinking' (2023– )

If you’re looking for comfort, look no further than Shrinking, which depicts one of the most supportive and compassionate found families. It picks up after the death of a beloved wife and mother, as a quirky array of neighbors, coworkers, and friends step in to prop up father-daughter duo Jimmy and Alice (Jason Segel and Lukita Maxwell) through the ups and downs of their coming to terms with loss and grief.

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'Ted Lasso' (2020– )

Perhaps the most feel-good show in recent memory, Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis in the titular role as an American football coach who’s recruited to head up a British soccer team. He may not know much about soccer, but he does know plenty about teamwork and kindness, meaning that virtually every episode is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings.

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'Trying' (2020– )

Apple TV has developed a knack for greenlighting some of the coziest shows on television today, like Shrinking, Ted Lasso, and this highly underrated series, which is like a warm hug. It follows a very sweet, very British couple (played by Esther Smith and Rafe Spall) on a journey to start a family amid their chaotic—but very loving—life together.

WATCH IT

The Best Comfort TV Shows on HBO Max

'Friends' (1994–2004)

There’s a reason Friends reruns are still on air over two decades after its series finale. While some storylines no longer hold up, the friendships and the will-they-won’t-they relationships between the six main characters transcend time. Plus, you can throw on most of its 200+ episodes (we've already rounded up the all-time best) without much context and still enjoy its various bits.

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'Gossip Girl' (2007–2012)

While most comfort shows earn their title for being cozy and relatable, Gossip Girl is comforting for the opposite reason. It’s full of twisty storylines and high school experiences so unbelievably outlandish that the show makes for a perfect escape from the real world. It's also incredibly satisfying to watch baby Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Taylor Momsen do their thing, knowing they're all about to hit the big time.

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'Schitt’s Creek' (2015–2020)

Family sitcoms are a dime a dozen, but this might be one of the best. It follows the Rose family—mom Moira (Catherine O'Hara), dad Johnny (Eugene Levy), and their adult children David (Dan Levy) and Alexis (Annie Murphy)—as they lose their once-vast fortune and are forced to retreat to the one property they still have left: a rundown motel in the small town of Schitt’s Creek. It’s a classic fish-out-of-water story, and there’s nothing more uplifting than seeing this uppity, out-of-touch family grow and adapt to their quirky new home and neighbors.

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'Sex and the City' (1998–2004)

Like other turn-of-the-millennium series on this list, not every storyline on Sex and the City will hold up for a contemporary audience, and the show is nowhere near as groundbreaking as it was when it first aired. But its central themes of women owning their sexuality, embracing singledom in their 30s, and most importantly, female friendship, will never get old. All in all, this is a solid choice for a lazy weekend rewatch.

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The Best Comfort TV Shows on Hulu

'Abbott Elementary' (2021– )

Abbott Elementary may be a newer entry on this list, but it's already firmly cemented a spot among the feel-good TV greats. The show helmed by Quinta Brunson (who also stars as Janine Teagues) follows the lives of a kooky group of teachers and staffers at a public Philadelphia elementary school. Its equal parts hilarity and heart have already earned it 30 Emmy nominations.

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'The Bachelor' (2002– )

Guilty pleasure comfort at its finest, The Bachelor has just enough romance to make us swoon and just enough drama to keep us invested. While not every couple’s story is a fairytale—we’re still not over that last-minute switcheroo Arie Luyendyk Jr. pulled on Becca Kufrin—we can always take comfort in knowing that if our faves don’t find love, they might find something better. (Like, you know, a shot at being the next Bachelor or Bachelorette!)

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'Bob's Burgers' (2011– )

For those who grew up racing to the TV every Saturday morning to watch cartoons, few things are more comforting than a sweetly silly animated show. Though decidedly more family-friendly than the Adult Swim brand of primetime cartoons, Bob’s Burgers still puts a grown-up spin on those childhood memories with its distinctly bizarre sense of humor and sneakily smart writing.

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'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997–2003)

Sure, there’s a lot that’s unsettling about the hit supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with its vampires, hellmouths, and zombies. But deep down, you already know going in that our girl Sarah Michelle Gellar is going to save the day, and she’s probably even going to do it by the end of the episode. And if she can’t handle it? The Scooby gang can. As such, it gets our vote for a top-notch comfort binge, particularly during spooky season.

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'Full House' (1987–1995)

It doesn’t get much more wholesome than Full House. You’ve got three fun-loving dudes (Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier) coming together to raise three young girls, including baby Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen toddling around in Pampers, and a heartfelt message in every storyline. (It wouldn’t be part of ABC’s iconic TGIF lineup without one.) Throw in the love ballads Uncle Jesse (Stamos) regularly serenades Rebecca (Lori Loughlin) with, and we’re complete balls of mush.

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'Glee' (2009–2015)

Gleeks, assemble! I can think of nothing more soothing in our troubled times than to plop on the couch, turn off your brain, and let a symphony of teenage drama and objectively great show choir performances wash over you. BRB, gotta go revisit Rachel’s (Lea Michele) version of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” for the millionth time.

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'The Mindy Project' (2012–2017)

Certified rom-com lover Mindy Kaling brought the best tropes of the genre to this show, in which she stars as an OB/GYN looking for love. Add in a hefty dose of zany workplace comedy, and you’ve got the recipe for one of the best, most endlessly rewatchable sitcoms of the 2010s.

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'Modern Family' (2009–2020)

How does one begin to explain the hole Modern Family left in our hearts when it ended after its 11th and final season? For more than a decade, the kooky clan that was the Dunphy family drew us into their hearts and homes with their wacky escapades that involved everything from Haley (Sarah Hyland) accidentally bumping into her dad with the car to Cam (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) getting trapped in his law firm bathroom while wearing a Spider-Man suit. Our remotes remain firmly locked when this one’s reruns resurface.

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'The Simpsons' (1989– )

Know what’s comforting? Consistency. And it doesn’t get much more consistent than The Simpsons. Shocking though it may be, America’s favorite cartoon has been running for more than 35 seasons, making it one of the longest-running television shows on air. Bart and the gang keep coming up with satirical chuckles and scathing commentary on everything from politics to pop culture, and we keep comfort watching.

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'This Is Us' (2016–2022)

Like everyone, the Pearsons have their ups and downs. They fight, get into messy situations (we’re looking at you, Kevin), and go through (more than) their fair share of hardships; the whole show centers on how the family copes after patriarch, Jack Pearson, dies young. But no matter what’s happening in their lives, the family always comes together to help each other in their times of need—until the very end.

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The Comfort TV Shows on Netflix

'Emily in Paris' (2020– )

Sometimes, you just need to sit back and watch someone make the most baffling decisions of all time—while wearing extremely enviable outfits. That seems to be the thesis of several shows on this list, including Emily in Paris, which follows the many fumbles and hijinks of the very American titular character (Lily Collins) as she navigates a new life and career overseas.

WATCH IT

'Gilmore Girls' (2000–2007)

Gilmore Girls is everything one could ever want or need in a comfort show. The series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino is set in a small town where it’s seemingly always autumn and wacky townspeople abound, there are endlessly relatable coming-of-age storylines, and, at its core, it's a powerful mother-daughter relationship—need we say more?

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'Grace and Frankie' (2015–2022)

A take on the classic odd-couple trope, this Netflix original stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the titular roles as a pair of septuagenarian frenemies whose husbands fall in love, leaving them to also (reluctantly) start a new life together. Though it qualifies as a laugh-out-loud comedy, Grace and Frankie is also subtly packed with warm-and-fuzzy moments as the two leading ladies come to love and accept each other despite their many (many!) differences.

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'The Great British Baking Show' (2010– )

Easily the sweetest (in more ways than one!) cooking show to ever hit TV screens, The Great British Baking Show is a classic competition series with a not-so-classic attitude. Rather than its contestants actively sabotaging each other, as is the norm in most reality series, contestants at this iconic tent in the English countryside are far more likely to abandon their tasks to give their competitors a hand. (We're not crying, you're crying.)

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'Queer Eye' (2018–2026)

Just try to get through a marathon viewing of Queer Eye without shedding a happy tear. The transformation each person undergoes while working with food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, design expert Bobby Berk (and later, Jeremiah Brent), fashion expert Tan France, grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness, and culture expert Karamo Brown is often profound, giving us every ounce of the feels.

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'Seinfeld' (1989–1998)

They say that misery loves company, and no matter how bad of a day you’re having, there’s a good chance that one of these eccentric New Yorkers will have a worse one than you. After all, have you ever been banned from your favorite delivery joint for life or fired for using your boss’s bathroom? Another beautiful aspect of the show? Chronology doesn’t matter in the slightest. You can fire it up at episode 1 or episode 135, and you’ll be equally entertained—and able to follow along.

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'Virgin River' (2019– )

Watching Virgin River is like receiving a warm hug from a friend through your TV screen: That’s the best way we can describe it. All about an L.A. doctor (Alexandra Breckenridge) who moves to a small town to escape her past, it's a sweet reminder that it's never too late to start over. Not only does Mel find herself in a tight-knit community that comes together in the face of adversity, but she also gets a newfound lease on love—and a reason to hope anew.

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The Best Comfort TV Shows on Peacock

'New Girl' (2011–2018)

With its addition to various streaming services in recent years, New Girl has seen something of a renaissance among a broader audience than it had while on-air throughout much of the 2010s. There’s just something so endlessly watchable (and re-watchable) about the hijinks that Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and her lovable roomies get up to with every episode, and the way they always come through for each other no matter what.

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'The Office' (2005–2013)

It may be a basic choice, but there's no denying that The Office is a classic. Like Friends, this is one where you can jump in anywhere along its 201-episode trajectory and easily slip right back into the rhythms of Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch. Wild though their antics may be, these coworkers truly care for each other at heart, making for one sweet yet dysfunctional family you can't help but love.

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'Parks and Recreation' (2009–2015)

In the same vein as The Office, Parks and Recreation—co-created by Michael Schur and The Office showrunner Greg Daniels—is yet another workplace sitcom that’s full of delightfully unique characters whose relationships with one another range from the obsessive to the openly antagonistic (looking at you, April!). You know, just like a real office. And that's exactly why we love it.

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The Best Comfort TV Shows on Prime Video

'The Brady Bunch' (1969–1974)

We'd be remiss not to mention the classic TV show The Brady Bunch among our comforting faves. Filmed in a simpler time, it will take you back to when life's biggest worries were braces, tattle tales, and setting a record for the longest time spent on the seesaw. We'd venture to say that this ‘70s series about a blended family with six children sharing one roof (and one bathroom!) will be just the reprieve the doctor ordered when you're feeling overwhelmed with everyone and everything.

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'Hart of Dixie’ (2011–2015)

Hart of Dixie’s Dr. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) walked so Virgin River’s Melinda Monroe could run. The storyline is similar: Big city gal Zoe moves to rural Alabama and struggles to adjust to her new surroundings. They also share a local doctor in star Tim Matheson. But the biggest similarity between the two? The feelings you’ll get when Zoe finally starts to let down her walls and embrace her newfound life.

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'Murder, She Wrote' (1984–1996)

Murder may not be the first thing you think of when you think “comfort,” but procedural shows like Law & Order, CSI, Criminal Minds, and more are go-to rewatches for so many people simply for the reassurance that each case, no matter how grisly, will be solved by the end of the episode. Murder, She Wrote is the quainter cousin of those standbys: It stars Angela Lansbury as an amateur detective and professional busybody Jessica Fletcher, who somehow stumbles upon enough murder cases in her sleepy Maine town to fill more than 260 episodes.

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As critically acclaimed as HBO's Girls was during its run from 2012 to 2017, it was also rather misunderstood by some audiences.

Now that the show created by Lena Dunham has been widely reappraised by Gen Z and recognized as the comical look at flawed individuals coming of age that it is, Allison Williams—who starred as perhaps one of the most reviled characters, Marnie—would like to have a word.

Williams appeared in an interview for Vanity Fair with her former costar Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who played her musical partner/secret boyfriend/eventual husband/toxic ex, in which they reflected on the series. During the conversation, she reasoned that "the point" of Girls "got missed a little bit" when it originally aired and now audiences "are just getting it."

"The whole show got a lot of flack when it was airing for everyone being too selfish and self-centered and blah blah blah," Williams said.

"I think that it's actually a bunch of girls trying to create the best environment for each of them to survive and thrive and being wrong, but still trying and caring," she continued. "I think that’s a pursuit that is resonant in a new way, whereas before it just looked like we didn’t know that other countries existed or that anyone had lives that were less fortunate than ours, but that was sort of the point. It just got missed a little bit."

The actress similarly shared how fans who may have discovered the show from clips on social media or are now rewatching it seem to better understand Marnie, who was notorious for being tone-deaf and self-serving. (How could anyone ever forget the scene of her singing a stripped-down version of "Stronger" by Kanye West at her ex's work party?)

She explained, "My theory is what was coded as selfishness among millennials is now coded as self-care. Just being aware of what you need and advocating for your needs and standing up for yourself, and so Gen Z is like, ‘No, we get her. She makes sense to us. I guess she was just before her time."

Williams also opened up about where she thought her character might be today: living outside of Boston, "still trying to have a singing career, in addition to other jobs," having been married twice and considering "to have a baby on her own."

Moss-Bachrach, who is gearing up to star in The Bear season 3, also shared where he thought his destructive, tortured artist character Desi might have gone. According to the actor, he would've left New York City to be doing hosting tours out West, in Arizona perhaps.

Those two aren't the only former Girls stars who have reflected on the show's recent reevaluation and embrace.

Dunham, who helmed the series and starred as aspiring writer Hannah, has also spoken candidly about the series' recent embrace.

In an early 2024 interview with Variety, the filmmaker/actress shared, "It’s crazy and wild and not something I expected. The cast and I, when we get sent a funny meme by someone, we’re sharing them. I’m going to be 38 in May; I started writing this show when I was 23. I felt like, 'If I make a pilot, wow, what a life experience.' So the fact that there’s anyone—I mean, people are still watching a show that came out before Instagram was invented?! What the heck?"

She added, "So to anyone who’s leading the revival: I see your TikTok mashups. I feel grateful for them, even though I’m technologically incompetent and not really on Instagram. I’m getting the love and it’s very felt and appreciated."

When the second season of Euphoria ended in February 2022, cliffhangers loomed over many of the storylines. So when season 3 was confirmed, viewers hoped HBO would tie up those loose ends as soon as possible. Alas, that isn't necessarily the case with the show's time-jump and compartmentalized storylines—but, after an excruciating four-year drought, the wait is finally over, with the third season of Euphoria returning in April 2026.

The new episodes of the gritty drama are set five years after the end of season 2, meaning Rue and company are out of high school and now navigating plenty more chaos in their young adult lives. Rue (Zendaya) is still very much in debt to drug dealer Laurie over the $10,000 worth of drugs that her friends flushed away; Cassie and Nate (Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi) are heading for marriage, and adapting to suburban life; Maddy and Lexi (Alexa Demie and Maude Apatow) are both starting careers in Hollywood; and Jules (Hunter Schafer) is making her way through art school.

With the series rumored to be ending after season 3—and to tide you over between each of the new episodes—we’ve rounded up other shows that are equally loaded with drama, romance, scandals, and general shenanigans, perfect for filling the Euphoria-sized hole in any fan’s heart.

The Best Shows Like 'Euphoria' on Prime Video

'Friday Night Lights' (2006–2011)

Even if you’re not a football fan, you’ll still find yourself sucked into the small-town drama of Dillon, Texas. The classic '00s series follows a cast of high school football players and their friends and family as they grapple with their relationships, as well as issues like racism, teen pregnancy, and addiction.

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'Laguna Beach' (2004–2006)

While airing between 2004 and 2006, this MTV reality show earned countless complaints from media advocacy groups about its portrayal of teens using profanity and talking about sex (so, acting like teenagers). Obviously, between that and its use of Hilary Duff’s “Come Clean” as its theme song, Laguna Beach deserves a permanent spot in the teen show hall of fame.

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'My So-Called Life' (1994–1995)

One of the first “real,” gritty teen shows, My So-Called Life is a one-season wonder that has since become something of a cult classic. Unlike other ‘90s teen shows, with their “very special episodes,” this one addressed issues of abuse, addiction, violence, and more, without wrapping them up in neat little bows at the end of each episode. And it stars a young Claire Danes as our perfectly angsty heroine, opposite Jared Leto as her brooding, floppy-haired love interest. Icons in the making!

WATCH IT

The Best Shows Like 'Euphoria' on HBO Max

'Gossip Girl' (2007–2012)

It may not be quite as intense as Euphoria, but Gossip Girl should still sufficiently fill the “teenagers getting up to no good”-shaped hole in your heart. Like the HBO hit, its ensemble of private school kids is similarly connected by a tangled web of relationships, and the show also made waves in the early aughts for its depictions of teens experimenting with their sexuality and substances.

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'The Idol' (2023)

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson took some time after season 2 to churn out The Idol, which stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a pop star who enters into a messy relationship with nightclub owner and cult leader Tedros (played by Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd). The show was widely criticized for the sleaziness of Tesfaye’s character and its toxic portrayals of abusive relationships, and it lasted only one short season before being canceled. But if you’re curious about all the controversy—and want to hear Depp belt out a few so-bad-they’re-almost-perfect pop songs—it’s a relatively quick watch, with only five one-hour episodes. And, because of Levinson's involvement, the show echoes the same stylized cinematography that defines Euphoria.

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'Industry' (2020– )

Often described as a combination of Euphoria and Succession, this cult-favorite HBO series follows the chaotic personal and professional lives of several fresh-out-of-college workers at a prestigious London investment firm. It’s dark and tense and absolutely impossible to look away from—familiar territory for Euphoria fans.

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‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010-2017)

There’s perhaps no better way to distract yourself from wondering just what’s going to happen to Rue and co. by the end of season 3 than by focusing instead on figuring out who “A” is. It's the perfect time to dive into this soapy, thriller-y teen drama’s seven seasons and get to the bottom of the mystery once and for all.

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The Best Shows Like 'Euphoria' on Hulu

'The O.C.' (2003–2007)

A classic mid-aughts teen drama, The O.C. became something of a pop culture phenomenon. In the years since, it's remained a beloved rewatch for many, thanks to its portrayal of a group of teenagers navigating the nonstop drama of the romantic, familial, and personal identity varieties.

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'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' (2008–2013)

This might as well be the subtitle of Euphoria. If it’s adolescent drama you’re after, look no further than this Freeform classic starring Shailene Woodley. It started in 2008 with a teen pregnancy and progressed throughout its five seasons to include struggles with addiction, religious identity, grief, and plenty of love triangles.

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'Skins' (2007–2013)

This U.K. series has more than a few parallels to Euphoria: It follows the lives of sixth form students (basically, high school juniors and seniors) facing very real issues. The first season alone delves into the teens’s sex lives, drug overdoses, eating disorders, love triangles, and absent parents—to name just a few of the intense topics covered on the show. Though the cast was swapped out every two seasons, the original roster is especially star-studded; look out for Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Daniel Kaluuya in some of their earliest onscreen roles.

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'Tell Me Lies' (2022–2026)

Pretty much everyone on Tell Me Lies is messy and toxic to the extreme—so, it’s kind of a perfect show. Its three seasons span eight years, centered around the turbulent relationship between Lucy (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen (Jackson White) after they first meet in college.

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The Best Shows Like 'Euphoria' on Netflix

'Baby' (2018–2020)

If you’re ever astounded at some of the very grown-up situations the Euphoria teens find themselves in, wait until you watch Baby. This Italian Netflix series kicks off with one of its main characters, Chiara (Benedetta Porcaroli), a student at an elite Roman high school, being drawn into a secret underage sex work ring.

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'Elite' (2018–2024)

Elite, a Spanish Netflix original, follows a handful of working-class scholarship students and their wealthy classmates at a fancy high school. Though it sometimes borders on soap opera levels of dramatics, the thriller series has been lauded for depicting a diverse range of sexual identities and encounters, and for its dual-timeline structure, which gives viewers glimpses of future murders and other dramatic events in flashes forward throughout each season.

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'Everything Sucks!' (2018)

Before she was Cassie on Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney was Emaline on Everything Sucks!, a short-lived dramedy set in Boring, Oregon (a real place!), circa 1996. The show centers on the misfits of the high school A/V and drama clubs, who join forces to make a movie, while grappling with mental health issues and their assorted sexual awakenings along the way.

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'Grand Army' (2020)

There’s serious, gritty drama aplenty in this gone-too-soon Netflix series, which amassed a dedicated fanbase both before and after its unceremonious cancellation after just one season. It’s still very much worth watching, as it tracks the highs and lows of teenagerdom for five students at Brooklyn’s largest public high school.

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'Heartbreak High' (2022–2026)

Heartbreak High is a reboot of an Australian show from the ‘90s. The new version, also set in Australia, centers on the web of hookups that connect a group of high-schoolers—physically represented in a diagram dubbed the “incest map” that’s graffitied on a wall at their school when the show begins. In addition to following their many sexcapades (and the ensuing fallout), the series also explores racism and the fragility of adolescent friendships, among the many other issues plaguing its young characters.

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'Never Have I Ever' (2020–2023)

Much lighter than Euphoria, the Mindy Kaling-created Never Have I Ever leans much more toward smart comedy. The four seasons follow Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) in her final three years of high school, as she grapples with the death of her father, her academic ambitions, and her romantic fantasies—and, hilariously, it’s all narrated by John McEnroe, an icon for emotional teens everywhere.

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'Riverdale' (2017–2023)

Riverdale started like a standard teen drama—but quickly took a turn for the weird and only continued to get more bizarre as its seven seasons went on. By its series finale in 2023, various members of the Riverdale gang had been sent to an alternate dimension, time-traveled, faced down an immortal sorcerer, and developed magical powers that were used to resurrect their fallen friends (just a few of the show’s most bonkers plot points). Hey, whoever said high school drama had to make sense?

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'Sex Education' (2019–2023)

In a refreshingly blunt portrayal of teenage sexuality, this British comedy series depicts a range of high school-aged characters all learning to come to terms with their sexual identities and desires. They're helped along by the sex therapy clinic that main character Otis (Asa Butterfield), the son of a sex therapist (played by none other than Gillian Anderson), sets up at school.

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'Tiny Pretty Things' (2020)

Tiny Pretty Things kicks off with a murder, and the plot thickens from there. It’s set at a ballet school in Chicago, and the students split their time between competing with each other for roles, plotting out their next hookups, and, at one point, taking down an underage sex trafficking ring—all while trying to unravel the truth behind their classmate’s murder. It only lasted one season before being quietly canceled by Netflix, but it’s still worth a watch, even if only to see all of the actors do their own (very impressive) dancing in the ballet scenes.

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'Trinkets' (2019–2020)

This Netflix series is based on a novel by Kirsten Smith and centers on three teenage girls who meet in a Shoplifters Anonymous meeting and form a secret friendship, so as not to completely uproot their positions in the high school hierarchy. Trinkets lasted only two seasons, but that was plenty of time to dive into the issues that Elodie (Brianna Hildebrand), Moe (Kiana Madeira), and Tabitha (Quintessa Swindell) were dealing with, both in and out of school.

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The Best Shows Like 'Euphoria' on Peacock

'One of Us Is Lying' (2021–2022)

Another suspense-filled thriller show, One of Us Is Lying is based on the book of the same name by Karen M. McManus. It revolves around the mysterious death of a high school student named Simon, who dies while in detention with four classmates, each of whom was at risk of having their secrets revealed by Simon's online gossip group and therefore had a motive to kill him. Simon’s killer is finally revealed at the end of season 1, just in time for the students to get caught up in another murder that haunts them through season 2.

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Kate Winslet is an Academy Award winner, a star of blockbuster films like Titanic, and a Hollywood veteran of over 25 years, but she still gets mistaken for another Kate (well, in this case, Cate) in the business—Cate Blanchett, to be exact.

Winslet said the mix-up “happens a lot,” but it doesn’t upset her—in fact, she said, it “is a huge compliment,” per People. Winslet was at the premiere of her forthcoming HBO show The Regime when she told Access Hollywood that not only does the confusion happen frequently, but that she goes along with it: “I say ‘Oh, thank you so much,’” she said. “And they say, ‘Loved you in Elizabeth,’ and I say, ‘Thank you. That’s so kind.’ And she gets the same thing, where people will say to her, ‘Loved you in Sense and Sensibility,’ or ‘Loved you in Titanic.’” Showing reverence to her fellow Oscar winner, Winslet added “To be mistaken for Cate Blanchett is a huge compliment. So, no, I’ll take it. I’ll take it.”

Both Winslet and Blanchett were on The Graham Norton Show last week, and Blanchett confirmed that it’s not just Winslet who gets mistaken for her: “I get it all the time,” Blanchett said of being mistaken for her fellow Cate/Kate. “People will say, ‘Is it you? Is it you?’ and I say, ‘Yes. I think so.’ And then they say, ‘I loved you in Titanic.’”

Winslet recently opened up to PORTER about struggling with fame early in her career, dealing with especially difficult scrutiny on the heels of Titanic’s 1997 release. “I felt like I had to look a certain way, or be a certain thing, and because media intrusion was so significant at that time, my life was quite unpleasant,” she said. “Journalists would always say, ‘After Titanic, you could have done anything and yet you chose to do these small things.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, you bet your life I did! Because guess what? Being famous was horrible.’”

Winslet’s The Regime premieres tomorrow at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO, and will stream on Max. 

Pamela Anderson's decision to regularly forgo makeup is frequently on my mind. The announcement that she'd become a co-founder of natural skincare brand Sonsie thrilled me: partially because it felt like a natural fit for the actress, and partially because I now know her skincare routine. Now, Anderson has a new beauty campaign to discuss—with a makeup brand, ironically enough.

The 56-year-old took to Instagram to share that she's the new face of Smashbox Cosmetics, promoting the brand's original vegan and cruelty-free primer: Photo Finish. The campaign, dubbed "Isn't It Iconic," celebrates Anderson and the '90s-launched product's impact.

"Makeup is a fun extension of who we are, but it isn’t all we are," Anderson wrote in a post announcing the partnership, noting that while the campaign is a fun "wink to the past," the '90s aesthetic is certainly not her go-to today. "But those were the days… Rock’n roll… bedazzled, shiny everything… silver, black and red… oh my ha," she added.

"By bringing together two iconic figures, this collaboration marks Pamela Anderson redefining her self expression through the transformative power of makeup—all on her terms," Smashbox shared in a press release.

Anderson originally met Smashbox founder Davis Factor (who shot the new campaign) at the Roxbury in the '90s, indicating that the partnership has been long time coming.

"I’ve always believed in the transformative magic of makeup and working with icons like Pamela Anderson is a testament to the power of beauty to push boundaries and celebrate individuality. This campaign is a tribute to an era when creativity and innovation shaped the beauty landscape," the founder noted.

In her open journal entry on Monday, February 12 (the Love, Pamela author sends a weekly newsletter), Anderson discussed the implications of being a public "face" over the years.

"I found it bizarre how tabloids would comment at how I was 'aging' badly back then? (When I was 30?)… when, it was just heavy or poorly applied makeup (sometimes at my own hand)… and it was a time when we changed from film to digital photography – I think most women in my boat were slaughtered in the 2000's… it was cruel… and it had an impact," she wrote. "I am prepared now for my body and my face to change… to lose a little energy and elasticity now is normal… as I embrace this chapter… allowing… observing. I'm amused by it."

Whether she's wearing a full face of makeup or sticking solely to her skincare, Anderson is true to herself.

"Freedom is beauty…beauty is freedom," she added. "To be everything we want to be in every stage of life."

Shop Anderson's go-to products below.