In the wake of Meghan Markle’s high-profile $100 million Netflix deal reportedly shifting to a first-look agreement, speculation about her return to acting is gaining momentum. A former “Suits” co-star and friend has confidently told the Daily Mail that Markle’s comeback is imminent.

Veteran actor Eric Roberts, known for his extensive work in Hollywood, expressed his belief that the Duchess of Sussex’s return would be nothing short of spectacular. “She will come back,” Roberts assured, while attending a charity gala with his wife, Eliza, who is both his casting director and manager.

Eliza Roberts echoed her husband’s sentiments, noting, “It is time. Meghan needs to return to work. I believe her entire family will be behind her, and she is truly remarkable.” Their comments come as Markle’s entertainment ventures face a pivot, spotlighting her potential return to the screen.

This renewed focus on Markle’s career prospects comes amid reports of changes to her collaboration with Netflix and her business brand, As Ever. The buzz around her acting future suggests a significant shift may be on the horizon for the former television star.

The couple reflected on Markle’s future amid reports that her Netflix exclusive production deal and business brand As Ever collaboration has been downgraded to a first-look deal.

The brand is continuing independently.

Roberts, 69, who played shady billionaire Charles Forstman on the legal drama, developed a friendship with Markle while shooting the hit USA Network show.

Fans are speculating what’s next for Meghan and Harry after the unravelling of their $100 million deal with Netflix

Eric Roberts, 69, played billionaire Charles Forstman on Suits and formed a friendship with Markle on set

Eliza claimed the 44-year-old stepped away from Suits because the Royal Family had concerns about her ‘very sexy’ screen character, paralegal Rachel Zane.

‘It is tricky because of the monarchy. Her role in Suits was very sexy,’ she said.

‘Her making love with another man, that was just – they’ve never seen anything like that.

‘She worked so hard to get there. That was just too much,’ Eliza said. ‘Women don’t give up their jobs for a marriage anymore.

‘I understand the intention, and she thought she’d be satisfied with doing good works in the world. But she needs to be acting.

‘She is a young woman who needs to be acting. 

‘Meghan is a star,’ added Eliza. ‘From the second you see her, she just has star quality. It doesn’t matter. It was always going to happen.’

Eric Roberts was definitive in his opinion about Markle’s potential comeback.

‘​​I think she should come back. I think she will come back,’ he said. ‘And I think she’s going to be fantastic and blow everybody’s mind.’

Before leaving Hollywood for the Royal Family, Markle starred as paralegal Rachel Zane in the legal drama series Suits

The Duchess of Sussex was seen walking the red carpet at a Beverly Hills charity bash on March 19

In the last few years The Sussexes have seen deals fall apart and have been hit with negative comments from industry insiders. 

The couple signed a reported $20 million deal with Spotify, which produced only one 13-episode podcast, Archetypes, before the parties split. 

Meghan had plans for her ‘passion project’, a Netflix animated series called Pearl, which was canceled before it got off the ground as their lucrative partnership was drastically paired down. 

Reports of the size of the couple’s original deal with Netflix have ranged from $30 million to $100 million, while two sources told Variety last week that the figure was $60 million. 

One Spotify executive labeled them as ‘f***ing grifters’, though there has been no proof of any wrongdoing by the former Royal couple.

Roberts, who has appeared in over 800 films including The Dark Night and The Expendables, described Markle as a ‘really cool person, really easy, laid back, kind, smart’.

He and Eliza, 73, knew her before she and Prince Harry met each other. 

‘She’s a good mom. She is a caring, loving, kind mom. That’s all you need to know about somebody,’ said Eliza. ‘And same with him.’

 They insisted that supportive Harry would back his wife’s career U-turn, after walking away from Hollywood following their 2017 engagement.

Eliza said that the ‘magic’ of Suits could even return – despite the ill-fated Los Angeles-based spin-off being canceled after one season last year.

The powerhouse pair spoke as Roberts, who has been nominated three times for Golden Globes, was honored with a Legacy Award at Charmaine Blake’s The Night Of Many Stars gala in Los Angeles on March 15.

Last year the Duchess of Sussex reportedly shot a cameo – as herself – in the upcoming movie Close Personal Friends with Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding.

The couple reckoned that the door could be open for Rachel Zane to return to screen, teasing that a Suits project may be green-lit in the future.

Roberts was unimpressed with the NBC reworking, Suits LA.

‘I don’t really have anything to say except it was a mistake. They made a boo-boo,’ he said.

Eliza was upbeat that a comeback of the original cast may happen.

‘You never know,’ she said. ‘They may have made offers. 

‘I think they thought starting fresh would avoid the comparison. Instead, that created the comparison. But I think they should try again.

‘There’s magic there.’

The Roberts spoke openly before the luxury event, which benefits the Faber Ryan Youth Foundation empowering underserved youth through arts programs, mentorship, and life-enriching opportunities.

Roberts was honored with the Legacy Award ‘for his extraordinary and enduring career in film and television spanning decades of acclaimed performances’.

Smiling on the red carpet, Roberts graciously attributed his success to his spouse.

‘What do I owe my success to? My wife and the fact that I have the greatest job on the planet’, he said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Roberts and his wife Eliza both predicted a strong return to Hollywood for the Duchess of Sussex 

‘The old days were more fun because they were more precious. Everything mattered more,’ he reminisced.

‘But now that it’s all kind of like instant coffee, it’s about speed. It’s about getting it done in five minutes.

‘It’s very ineffectual now,’ he said. ‘But it’s fun because it’s like a race.’

Eliza, 73, spoke with pride about her husband’s varied career, which includes movies Runaway Train and The Specialist.

‘It’s the diversity,’ she said. ‘I love that he was the character in Suits, and two minutes later he’s the character in Righteous Gemstones. 

‘That’s like old-school acting, without any affectation. It just kind of emerges with good writing.

‘And also, you appreciate it so much when you begin. The first part you get, you’re so elated. ‘Trying to hang on to that feeling. of really appreciating being a working actor, to me that is really important.

‘It’s paramount. That’s the most important thing.’

Roberts was given a standing ovation at the Oscar Sunday celebration, created by Blake, which also saw guests enjoy an elegant three-course dinner, luxury gift bags, celebrity media interviews, and an after-party celebration featuring a high-fashion runway presentation by Beatta J Collection.

For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, what began as a week of minor disappointments quickly turned into a time of genuine sorrow. The anticipated Hulu reboot of the series was halted at the pilot phase, and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s latest film did little to impress. However, the true heartbreak came with the news of Nicholas Brendon’s passing. Known for his role as Xander, Buffy’s loyal sidekick, Brendon’s death adds to the melancholy that has lingered since the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s sister, Dawn, just about a year ago. The two shared memorable moments on the show that are cherished by fans.

The legacy of Buffy is significant, as it represents the pinnacle of many of its actors’ careers. Spanning seven seasons and 144 episodes, the show consistently delivered quality entertainment, thanks in no small part to its talented ensemble cast. For several young actors, the success they achieved on Buffy has been hard to surpass. Nicholas Brendon, although he found roles in the Blank Theatre Company, appeared on Criminal Minds, and contributed to the Buffy comics, never quite reached the same heights. Unlike his peers, such as Alyson Hannigan, who enjoyed a long run on How I Met Your Mother, or Sarah Michelle Gellar, who ventured into teen movies, Brendon struggled to maintain a steady presence in the industry.

Part of Brendon’s challenges stemmed from personal battles with alcoholism and drug use, alongside health issues and legal problems related to domestic violence. Despite seeking treatment soon after Buffy ended, he faced multiple arrests throughout the 2010s and had strained interactions with some of his co-stars. Brendon notably defended Joss Whedon, the series creator, amidst allegations of misconduct, further complicating his relationships within Hollywood.

Brendon’s connection with Whedon makes sense on several levels. Whedon not only provided the actor with his breakout role but also infused Xander’s character with elements from his own adolescence. Xander, the wisecracking, non-superpowered teen with a crush on Buffy, was in many ways an embodiment of Whedon’s younger self. Watching the series now, Xander can appear as the archetype of the ‘nice guy’ who believes he deserves affection simply due to his underdog status, rather than any particular merit.

Despite Whedon’s own controversial reputation, his writing of Xander was nuanced. The show often delved into Xander’s flaws and vulnerabilities, portraying him as well-intentioned yet deeply imperfect. Nicholas Brendon adeptly navigated this complexity, delivering comedic lines with precision while avoiding turning Xander into a mere caricature. He provided depth and authenticity to a character that could easily have been reduced to comic relief, ensuring Xander remained a fully realized, albeit flawed, individual.

One of the most endearing elements of Xander’s character is his insistence on sticking with the so-called “Scooby Gang” on their vampire-and-demon-fighting mission, despite his lack of superpowers (his fellow nerd, the actually-good-at-school Willow, dabbles in witchcraft) – something that is also, as the show will regularly point out, kind of foolhardy. That’s explored most directly and comically in the third-season episode “The Zeppo,” where Xander, smarting from his ex-girlfriend’s insistence that he brings nothing to the Slayer-centric group, heads off on his own adventure while the rest of the character face a largely offscreen apocalyptic threat. Xander’s story occasionally intersects with what would normally be the episode’s A-plot, with Xander only faintly aware of the world-ending threat.

It’s a funny premise, deepened by how Brendon plays multiple levels at once: Desperate for acceptance from anyone, including the undead bros who adopt him as their wheel man; congenitally nervous about the danger he’s in; longing to be involved in whatever’s going on with Buffy and the gang; sure enough of himself, despite his insecurities, to know that when he attracts the attention of a car-obsessed girl with new wheels, she’s ultimately kind of boring. Granted, the episode also finds room form very Whedon-y wish-fulfillment when Xander casually loses his virginity to Faith (Eliza Dushku), but Brendon is also credible in that moment, again in multiple modes at once: Handsome guy who can step up to the plate when a strong woman makes advances; flustered nerd, nervous with inexperience; regular guy who can’t believe his luck.

The specific idea of Xander as a layered and sometimes self-defeating character was further explored a few seasons later in “The Replacement.” In this episode, Xander thinks he’s been replaced by a demon doppelganger but it turns out to be his authentic self, split in twain: One side gets all of his stumbling weaknesses, while the other gets his strengths. Naturally, it’s the stronger, more confident Xander who reads as more “off” (helped along by Brendon’s twin brother playing him in scenes where the two share the screen, though Brendon himself played both versions in most of their solo shots).

Those two Xanders kept showing up, albeit reunited in the same body, throughout the series: Leaving his longtime partner Anya at the altar in “Hell’s Bells”; saving the world by comforting a grieving Willow in “Grave”; shaming Buffy for her relationship choices in the seventh season; quietly making Dawn feel seen in “Potential.” Maybe Whedon gave Xander so many emotional scenes to play because he truly did identify with him, and as such was comfortable with a bit of self-glorification. But Brendon’s performances felt too raw to be an uncomplicated self-insert.

It’s also possible that Brendon’s personal problems emerged after his work on the show; it’s also possible that he related to Xander’s complex and deeply flawed character on a more personal level than anyone would have assumed at the time. Whatever the reasons, Brendon made what could have been a stock part into a multifaceted, entirely believable person, and an integral part of the show’s ensemble. On a horror-fantasy show, he was tasked with playing a non-superpowered human. But he clearly understood demons.

Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn podcasting at www.sportsalcohol.com. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Guardian, among others.

CHICAGO — As Chicago gears up for its mayoral election, scheduled for less than a year from now, the city’s political landscape is beginning to shift.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose future political intentions remain somewhat ambiguous, recently engaged in an exclusive interview to discuss his plans.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

With the February election drawing closer, Johnson is anticipated to encounter several contenders vying for his position. On Monday, he addressed questions about his potential reelection bid while simultaneously critiquing potential opponents.

During a comprehensive interview, Johnson appeared largely indifferent to the 2027 election and any potential challengers he might face.

“I recognize that some people are already starting their political campaigns. I get it,” Johnson remarked. “But when I’m out and about in Chicago, no one is really asking me about my reelection.”

The mayor continued to deflect about his political future.

When asked if he’s planning to run for a second term, Johnson said, “Well, right now, my plan is to continue to drive violence down in the city of Chicago to make sure that we’re investing in communities. As I’ve said repeatedly, there will be plenty of time for politics.”

“I’ve done both at the same time. As a Cook County commissioner, I was governing and I ran for mayor,” Johnson said. “So, it’s clear that I know how to multitask. I can govern and run for something. I’ve done it multiple times. Not only have I done it multiple times, I’ve won every time.”

Since the first of the year, one potential mayoral rival, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, has reported raising nearly $12 million.

By comparison, Mayor Johnson has reported raising just $58,000 during that time.

“Well, what we saw on this last election cycle, you saw people spend multiple millions,” Johnson said. “And it’s evident that money alone does not guarantee someone’s success.”

When talking about successes, Johnson touted the effort to reduce violent crime in Chicago, which happened under the direction of his first deputy mayor for public safety, Garien Gatewood. He was fired last Thursday.

Mayor Johnson addressed that decision for the first time.

“This is about making sure that my vision gets carried out. I’m carrying out that vision. That’s my responsibility, right?” Johnson said.

And while reelection talk may be for another day, Johnson sent a not so subtle signal.

“We have seen many high-profile donors in this city who have been bosses of previous mayors. Right? The difference for me right now is that I’m not bossed by the same people who are trying to boss the electorate. I’m not going to do it, and I’m not going to stand for it,” Johnson said.

The mayor also confirmed that in the search for a new CEO for Chicago Public Schools, he has interviewed the two finalists recommended to him. But he says he wants to talk to them again before making a recommendation to the Board of Education.

This article contains discussions of suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Prosecutors have highlighted that a fellow officer’s survival was due to both tactical expertise and sheer luck: the chamber of Kelsey Fitzsimmons’ firearm was empty at a critical moment.

On June 25, 2025, Kelsey Fitzsimmons, who was serving as a police officer in North Andover, was reportedly involved in a life-threatening incident. She allegedly aimed her weapon at a colleague and tried to discharge it, leading to her being shot by a fellow officer. Fitzsimmons, aged 28, was subsequently arrested and charged with armed assault with the intent to murder, as well as two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

The case moved forward when Fitzsimmons was indicted in Essex Superior Court later that same month. A grand jury reviewed the charges and decided to indict her on a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Fitzsimmons is now preparing to face a bench trial for this charge.

The confrontation that led to these events involved Kelsey Fitzsimmons and her fellow officers. (Image: North Andover Police Department)

Prosecutors allege that she tried to shoot Patrick Noonan as he was serving her a restraining order from her fiancé. Fitzsimmons disputes this version of events, maintaining that she was pointing the gun at herself in a suicide attempt.

Assistant Essex District Attorney James Gubitose told Judge Jeffrey Karp Monday in opening statements that the former North Andover police officer pointed her service weapon at Noonan and pulled the trigger during a confrontation at her home, framing the encounter as a near-fatal assault rather than a mental health crisis.

“The defendant raised her gun,” Gubitose said in opening statements. “There are two reasons that Patrick Noonan is alive today. The first being that Miss Fitzsimmons’ gun, while it had a full magazine, it did not have a round in the chamber. The second reason is that Patrick Noonan had years, decades of training, and experience, reacting in a calm, professional way when he protected both himself and everyone else in that house.”

Fitzsimmons has pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the June 2025 incident, which occurred when officers arrived to serve a restraining order obtained by her fiancé, Justin Aylaian. The restraining order required Fitzsimmons to have no contact with her child and surrender her weapons.

North Andover Police Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons at her arraignment at the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center on Aug. 28, 2025. (Ben Pennington/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

According to the prosecution, Fitzsimmons retrieved a firearm from another room and returned to confront officers. The gun did not fire, prosecutors said, because no round was chambered. Officers then attempted to defuse the situation.

“Kelsey, don’t do it. Drop it. Kelsey, don’t do it,” Gubitose said, describing officers pleading with Fitzsimmons. “She is stepping backwards now.”

At that point, the officer opened fire, prosecutors said.

“He fires twice. She has now moved. He misses, and then strikes her,” Gubitose said.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons is seen in images from the North Andover Police Department.  (North Andover Police Department.)

Fitzsimmons’ defense attorney, Timothy Bradl, painted a different picture. He shared that the mom was struggling with postpartum depression and was suicidal.

“Kelsey, no. Kelsey, no. You don’t say that when you’re staring at the muzzle of a gun pointed at you. You say that to a person who has a gun to their head, and you don’t shoot someone in the chest when they are seeking clearly to only harm themselves,” he said.

“And when you do that, you quickly realize, Your Honor, that you need to adjust the narrative to save yourself. That’s what this case is about, Your Honor.”

Bradl said the events followed a sudden personal collapse for Fitzsimmons.

“On June 30, 2025, Miss Fitzsimmons’ entire world imploded. It was destroyed when her fiancé obtained a restraining order behind her back. The North Andover Police had to serve that order.”

Bradl described her as overwhelmed and humiliated as officers arrived.

“And that day, Your Honor, Kelsey stood in her house, in humiliation, in front of her police colleagues and friends,” he said.

North Andover Police Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons at her arraignment at the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center on Aug. 28, 2025.  (Ben Pennington/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The defense said Fitzsimmons then made a decision to take her own life.

“She made a decision for herself. It’s a decision that takes your breath away. She decides to end her life with her firearm in her bedroom,” Bradl said.

They rejected the prosecution’s theory that she posed a threat: “The idea of harming them, the evidence will show, is ludicrous.”

Bradl also challenged the portrayal of the officer involved, arguing his response reflected panic rather than control.

“The evidence will show that he is not some super cool James Bond type, law enforcement officer, that he has a look of panic on his face, and that he’s flustered.”

“And that’s when the words, Kelsey, no, Kelsey, no, are uttered. No law enforcement officer, judge, the evidence will show, in his right mind, would bargain with someone who has their hand on the trigger and the muzzle in your face.”

North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons’ mother and stepfather hold hands as their daughter’s attorney, Timothy Bradl, answers questions from reporters following her arraignment at the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center on Aug. 28, 2025. (Ben Pennington/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Instead, the defense said, he was trying to stop a suicide.

“The evidence here, judge, will show that he was trying to tell her not to kill herself.”

The defense said Fitzsimmons never pointed the gun at officers and that the shooting resulted from a misinterpretation.

Because she waived her right to a jury, Judge Karp will decide the verdict. Fox News Digital has reached out to Bradl for comment. 

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