We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
When Remember the Titans premiered in the theaters in September 2000, it quickly captured hearts with its compelling narrative and introduced audiences to a fresh-faced Ryan Gosling.
Inspired by real events, the film chronicles the efforts of Black football coach Herman Boone, portrayed by the formidable Denzel Washington, as he strives to integrate a Virginia high school football team in 1971. With Will Patton as assistant coach Bill Yoast, the story also shines a light on star athletes Gerry Bertier, played by Ryan Hurst, and Julius Campbell, brought to life by Wood Harris, as they navigate team dynamics and societal pressures.
This motivational drama not only left an indelible mark on audiences, but it also launched the careers of several young actors, including Gosling, Donald Faison, Kate Bosworth, and Hayden Panettiere.
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In a 2017 exclusive with Us Weekly, Faison expressed his thoughts on the film’s lasting impact: “You want to do movies that teach youth, society, and people about how other people feel and the right way to treat each other. You want to do projects that have topics like that.”
Faison noted that the serious topic was just part of the equation on set, revealing the cast also became a “tight group” after football camp. “It made us very much like a team,” he added.
Scroll through the gallery below to see where the cast is today:
In the months leading up to her untimely passing at 36, Hayden Panettiere was seen relying heavily on crutches and the aid of friends to move around.
The renowned Nashville actress was found lifeless on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, with circumstances surrounding her demise yet to become clear. According to a 911 dispatcher, she appeared to have experienced a ‘cardiac arrest.’
Another dispatcher reportedly suggested that an overdose might have been suspected in Panettiere’s case.
Over the last year, Panettiere battled an enigmatic back injury that left her motionless without assistance, a struggle evident in the months preceding her death.
Video taken in May appears to show the impact the injury had on Panettiere as she struggled to walk while out in New York, her right leg visibly causing her some trouble.
However, she bravely attempted to conceal her struggles, often wearing a bright smile as she made her way into buildings.
While arriving at CBS Studios to promote her memoir that same day, Panettiere also relied on an assistant for support as she emerged from her car.
Hayden Panettiere struggled to walk in the months leading up to her death as she grappled with a mysterious back injury
The actress hobbled about on crutches as she made her way through LAX with her on-off boyfriend, convicted felon Brian Hickerson, in March
She held the woman’s hand tightly as she walked inside the studio, a smile on her face again deflecting attention from her physical troubles.
In March, Panettiere was also seen on crutches while at LAX with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson.
When asked about the crutches, Panettiere explained that she was suffering from ‘some pinched nerves in my lower back,’ in footage obtained by the Daily Mail.
However, she added that she was ‘on the mend,’ offering a smile and a thumbs-up before climbing into a black SUV outside the airport.
It is an injury that Panettiere struggled to find answers for and one that left her fearing she would be ‘paralyzed’ for the rest of her life.
Panettiere opened up about the issue during a May interview with Women’s Health, revealing it all began when she woke up and felt ‘nothing but pins and needles’ from the waist down.
‘I’ve been dealing with an injury for the past year,’ she told the outlet during a barre workout. ‘Some nerve damage in my lower back.’
‘I quite literally woke up and felt nothing but pins and needles from my waist down,’ she said.
When asked about the crutches, Panettiere explained that she was suffering from ‘some pinched nerves in my lower back,’ in footage obtained by the Daily Mail
Panettiere held an assistant’s hand as she made her way into CBS Studios in May
‘I wasn’t able to bend my toes or lift my foot at all. No one was able to give me a solid answer.’
‘It was like that for so long, that I was sitting there going, “Oh my gosh, am I gonna be paralyzed for the rest of my… life?”
‘It’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me physically, for sure.’
The former child star, who was known for her roles on the hit NBC series Heroes and musical drama Nashville, was found dead in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon. She leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter.
Representatives for Panettiere announced on Sunday: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’
Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to the apartment block in Greenville yesterday afternoon after they received a 911 call from an ‘acquaintance’ of Panettiere, describing her as ‘unresponsive’.
In the dispatch audio of the call made at 1.51pm, a female dispatcher described Panettiere as suffering a ‘cardiac arrest.’ A few moments later, a male dispatcher could be heard saying that Panettiere had suffered a suspected overdose at the home in Greenville.
Officers and paramedics carried out chest compressions while trying to save Panettiere’s life.
The actress – who was due to turn 37 this Friday – was pronounced dead at the scene just over 40 minutes later at 2.32pm.
Panettiere previously said she had been suffering from ‘some pinched nerves in my lower back’
The Hollywood icon played cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes
Panettiere made a slew of public appearances promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, earlier this year
Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death, but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.’
Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter called Kaya following a life-threatening birth, but later gave full custody to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
The star first appeared in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.
She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
The star began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before being catapulted further into fame
Panettiere leaves behind a daughter whom she had with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko
On Monday, a spokesman for the City of Greenville Police told the Daily Mail: ‘On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.
‘Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
‘The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
‘The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release.’
Erin Patterson, infamously known as ‘the mushroom killer,’ is set to make a courtroom comeback this week as she seeks to overturn her shocking murder convictions. These accusations stem from the deliberate poisoning of her three family members.
The grisly incident occurred in July 2023, at her home in Leongatha, Gippsland, Victoria, where she served a meal of beef Wellington secretly infused with deadly death cap mushrooms to her relatives.
Patterson was further charged with the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who managed to survive despite becoming critically ill.
In her defense, Patterson insisted that the inclusion of toxic mushrooms was a tragic mistake, asserting that the deadly ingredient found its way into the dish accidentally. She acknowledged trying to conceal her error out of sheer panic.
The case garnered unprecedented public and media attention and was the subject of several books, television shows and podcasts.
Why is Erin Patterson returning to court?
Patterson will face a two-day hearing that starts on Wednesday at Victoria’s Court of Appeal in Melbourne’s CBD.
The hearing is an application for leave to appeal, which is a formal request to the court to hear the appeal.
The prosecution and defence will submit written and oral arguments, before a full panel of three judges will determine whether the case has merit for an appeal.
If Patterson is successful, the court could quash her convictions and order a retrial, or acquit her.
If the court rules against her, her convictions will stand, and she will serve out the remainder of her sentence.
In that instance, she could appeal to the High Court, which is Australia’s highest court and can overturn decisions made in lower courts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is also appealing the length of the sentence, arguing Patterson — who will be 82 years old when she is eligible for parole in 2056 — should be locked up for life.
If they are successful, Patterson could be re-sentenced to life without parole or a non-parole period of greater than 33 years.
Patterson is not expected to attend the hearing in person, instead appearing via video link from prison.
What is Patterson appealing?
In documents lodged with the court last year, Patterson, who has always maintained her innocence, argued she suffered a “miscarriage of justice” during the 10-week trial, laying out seven grounds of appeal.
She claimed the prosecution’s five-day cross-examination of her was “unfair and oppressive”, while the prosecution’s closing address “caused a substantial miscarriage of justice”.
The prosecution “changed its case” by implying there was a motive for murder in the closing address, despite saying there was no motive for the killings in their opening statement, the documents state.
Patterson also criticised key prosecution evidence, including cell tower evidence and sightings of death cap mushrooms in Loch and Outtrim in Victoria, which was used at trial.
The final ground of appeal argued there was a “fundamental irregularity” when the jury was sequestered for deliberations.
The Victorian Supreme Court previously confirmed the 12-person jury was unwittingly staying at the same hotel as the lead detective and two members of the prosecution.
Recent reports suggest Prince Harry is eager to make a cross-continental journey back to the UK “every few months.”
Prince Harry is reportedly organizing additional trips back to the UK
Settled in California with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, the Duke of Sussex recently had a successful trip to his homeland. His July visit involved a meeting with his father, King Charles, and now a fresh report hints that the 41-year-old royal aims to arrange regular returns. His plans include reconnecting with family, engaging in charitable endeavors, and supporting the Invictus Games.
A source told The Sunday Times newspaper: “The template for his visits has been working well, so the frequency of trips will increase, especially in the run-up to Invictus [the Invictus Games] which he’s determined to make the best games yet.
“So he’ll be coming back and forth a lot more, every few months.
A young Australian visitor to New York City experienced a harrowing ordeal when he was stabbed and severely injured during an altercation at a Midtown Manhattan McDonald’s in the early hours of Monday, according to law enforcement officials.
The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. as the 19-year-old was enjoying his meal inside the fast-food restaurant on Eighth Avenue. Suddenly, he was attacked with a knife, suffering wounds to his rib cage and back, as confirmed by authorities.
Police are seen at a McDonald’s restaurant on 8th Ave. and 35th St. in Manhattan. Robert Mecea for New York Post
Though there was some verbal exchange between the victim and the assailant, insiders indicated that the shocking act appeared to be mostly without provocation.
The injured tourist, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was immediately transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Meanwhile, police have detained a person of interest in connection to the incident.
This story is currently evolving. Be sure to revisit for the latest updates.
Today marked an emotional farewell for Bonnie Tyler as her loved ones gathered to bid her goodbye at her funeral.
The iconic Welsh artist, known to family as Gaynor Sullivan, passed away the previous month at 75 years old, with her final resting place being Swansea Minster.
Her passing occurred at a Faro hospital in Portugal, close to her Albufeira home, following a bout of health issues that included emergency intestinal surgery and a medically induced coma.
Tyler spent her years in the picturesque Algarve alongside her husband, Robert Sullivan, a property developer who poignantly led the mourners behind her coffin.
In a tribute befitting her legendary status, her hearse arrived punctuated by a striking floral arrangement bearing her name as Monday’s ceremony commenced.
Another floral tribute provided by her nephews and other family members was presented outside the church, with a black and white piece adorned with the title of her most famous song – 1983’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart.
Featuring a striking black and white image of the star, the order of the service read: ‘She is remembered as a warm, generous artist whose music touched generations and continues to fill dance floors and karaoke booths around the world.’
The back of her order of service featured a picture of her and Robert.
Bonnie Tyler’s family gathered for the star’s funeral at Swansea Minster on Monday, following her death in July
Her husband, property developer husband, Robert Sullivan led the mourners as they headed into the funeral
The back of the order of service featured a sweet picture of Bonnie and Robert who were married for 53 years
Her long-time manager Matthew Davis and Roger Bell, the talent scout who discovered the Bonnie in a club in Swansea, shared tributes at the funeral
The funeral was conducted by the Rev Canon Justin Davies, with the entry music featuring two of her songs – 1978’s If I Sing You A Love Song and 1977’s It’s A Heartache.
Welsh choir Only Men Aloud sang Bridge Over Troubled Water and Total Eclipse of the Heart and Mary Hopkin’s 1968 hit Those Were The Days was played.
He opened her eulogy saying: ‘A cute baby girl took her first breath on 8 June 1951. A star was born to Elsie and Glyndwr Hopkins and the best was yet to come…
‘They just didn’t know it yet. Music filled the family home with their mother’s operatic voice which was heavenly to listen to.’
Her long-time manager Matthew Davis and Roger Bell, the talent scout who discovered Bonnie in a club in Swansea, shared tributes.
Matthew said: ‘How can I possibly celebrate a life as big and as well lived as Bonnie’s in under 10 minutes?’
Roger said: ‘I would not change a thing. Gaynor was one of a kind, you always knew where you stood with her. She said it like it was. I’m sure a lot of people here would have experienced that.’
The Reverend placed a comforting hand on Robert Sullivan’s shoulder as he leaves Swansea Minster
The funeral car arrived with flowers spelling out the star’s name, who was born Gaynor Hopkins
The star’s family requested donations to two charities Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru in lieu of flowers.
The Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea Councillor Penny Matthews paid her respects to the star by attending in her Mayoral chains.
Bonnie had brother Paul and Lynn and three sisters, Marlene, Angela and Avis.
A sweet note on a floral tribute read: ‘Dear Aunty Gaynor, I wish we weren’t writing this card and it breaks our hearts we will get to embrace you again. We loved you yesterday, we love you today and we will love you forever. James and Josh.’
The group followed the coffin into the church as the star’s family requested donations to two charities Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru in lieu of flowers
Bonnie Tyler’s pallbearers held back tears while walking in to Swansea Minster carrying her coffin
Ahead of Monday’s ceremony, a flower tribute was presented outside the church, with a black and white piece adorned with the title of most famous song – 1983’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Bonnie pictured in the The Russell Harty Show in 1977 before her 1983’s hit Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Although Bonnie and Robert never had children, having suffered a miscarriage when she was 39, a note from her nephew Christopher stated that the star was ‘a mother to him in so many ways’.
He wrote: ‘Dear Aunty Gaynor/Mum, Thank you for all the years living with you. Laughter, fun and love always. You was a mum to me in so many ways. I will love you forever. Christopher and John xxx.’
On Saturday, fans sang as they gathered in her hometown in Wales to pay tribute to the singer before her funeral.
Prior to Monday’s private family service, the memorial procession took place in Mumbles, Swansea, as she travelled to her home, Fernhill.
A sweet note on the floral tribute read: ‘Dear Aunty Gaynor, I wish we weren’t writing this card and it breaks our hearts we will get to embrace you again. We loved you yesterday, we love you today and we will love you forever. James and Josh’
The funeral was conducted by Reverend Canon Justin Davies, who stood outside the church holding the order of service
Mourners including family members walked inside the church which was located in front of Primark
Her coffin was adorned with white roses and lilies
Ahead of the procession on Saturday afternoon, fans began gathering near to Fernhill, with many leaving flowers outside along the wall
More notes were left from her family, One note was addressed to ‘Aunt Gaynor/Mum’ with her nephew Christoper stating she ‘was a mum to me in so many way’
A floral tribute was laid by Bonnie’s sister Avis
A statement released by William Pressdee Funeralcare on behalf of the singer’s family ahead of the procession said: ‘Resting at William Pressdee Funeralcare, Mumbles until she returns to her home, Fernhill, on Saturday 15th August at 3.30pm – those who wish to pay their respects are invited to line Newton Road, Mumbles from 3.15pm.’
Referring to Bonnie by her birth name, Gaynor Hopkins, the statement added: ‘A Celebration of Gaynor’s life will be held at Swansea Minster (St. Mary’s Church) on Monday 17th August at 12noon.
‘Gaynor will then return to her “hometown,” and travel through Skewen at approximately 1.20pm en route to a private family service of committal and farewell.’
Ahead of the procession on Saturday afternoon, fans began gathering near to Fernhill, with many leaving flowers outside along the wall.
Bonnie was best known for her hits Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Holding Out For A Hero, and she had planned a new European tour which had been due to start later this year.
A note was left by one of her siblings – with the star branded ‘my beautiful sister’
One fan wore a Bonnie Tyler T-shirt in tribute to the legend, with many fans holding copies of the order of service
The Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea Councillor Penny Matthews paid her respects to the star
Two onlookers could not contain their emotions as they looked on at the funeral from behind barriers
Bonnie was best known for her hits such as Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Holding Out For A Hero
The family requested donations rather than floral tributes from fans but immediate family provided sweet tributes
On Saturday, fans sang as they gathered in her hometown in Wales on Saturday to pay tribute to the singer before her funeral
Another tribute came from more family members with a note saying that she was ‘taken too soon’
Bonnie was first admitted to hospital in May because of complications caused by a burst appendix and perforated intestine that required urgent surgery
The statement said: ‘Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.’
Bonnie was first admitted to hospital in May because of complications caused by a burst appendix and perforated intestine that required urgent surgery.
Her last public concert was in March, when she performed at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.
She released her first single Lost In France in 1976, and went on to have an almost 50-year-long career. Her biggest hit, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, came out in 1983.
At the time, Bonnie was the first Welsh person to reach number one in America.
During the early 2000s, as the DVD market soared to its peak, movie enthusiasts found themselves treated to a plethora of special editions. Films came in varied cuts—extended, unrated, or director’s editions—each offering slight to significant deviations from the original cinematic versions. Released amidst this trend, the 2008 film The X-Files: I Want to Believe soon appeared on DVD featuring an extended cut. This version, as was typical of the time, went unrated, bypassing the MPAA’s review, and added around three minutes of content, providing more gore and deeper character moments, though it didn’t offer major surprises.
Amid this backdrop, news has emerged that has X-Files enthusiasts buzzing: Chris Carter, the series’ visionary and the mind behind the film’s script and direction, has unveiled a completely new director’s cut, premiering recently on Hulu.
In classic X-Files fashion, the narrative twists continued with this development. Despite the existence of an extended cut, Carter’s director’s cut presents a unique take by being notably shorter than its theatrical counterpart. Importantly, this revised version is separate from the Ryan Coogler-led reboot, whose pilot was just filmed. Nonetheless, Carter’s creation marks the first fresh X-Files material since the eleventh season wrapped in 2018—adding more lore a decade after the previous movie, which itself followed the original by ten years. Enter the new iteration intriguingly titled: The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn.
Photo: Everett Collection
To appreciate the journey of The X-Files: I Want to Believe, it’s essential to understand its unique role in the expansive X-Files universe. For many devotees, the series felt complete with its seventh season wrap-up in 2000. Gillian Anderson stayed on for an additional season, but David Duchovny limited his appearances, leading the show into its later seasons notably transformed. By the ninth season’s end, the spotlight had shifted from its central figures, FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, with even Anderson stepping away from certain episodes. The 2002 series finale attempted to tie up loose ends, albeit unsatisfactorily for some, highlighting a sense of the narrative overstretching itself. Ironically, the 1998 film successfully bridged seasons five and six, hinting at a future where its storied investigations might unfold on the big screen, on occasion, as opposed to the weekly grind Anderson and Duchovny were growing weary of.
By the time I Want to Believe came to fruition, fans longed for a revival. However, the once-vast audience seemed to have drifted. The passing years posed a timing dilemma: too brief to capitalize on a nostalgic legacy sequel trend (which hit its stride in the 2010s) but substantial enough since the last episode aired. Released in a year dominated by blockbusters like Iron Man and The Dark Knight, The X-Files struggled to escape the shadow of its earlier glory, landing awkwardly in the shifting pop culture landscape.
It probably didn’t help that Mulder and Scully were returning with a stand-alone storyline that had nothing to do with the show’s signature alien conspiracy. Creatively, this made perfect sense; that storyline was beaten to death by the end of the series, and the show itself always had far greater range than just UFO stories. Its mix of aliens, mythological creatures, psychic powers, and other hard-to-explain phenomena was what made it such a thrilling week-to-week experience.
Photo: Everett Collection
But more casual fans did largely associate the show with sci-fi stuff, so maybe a story about Mulder and Scully, ties with the FBI long severed, returning to the fold to track down a possible serial killer with the questionable help of a pedophile priest claiming to be psychic… Well, maybe that wasn’t the most appealing decision Carter could have made. What’s more, the movie couldn’t help but catch viewers up on Mulder and Scully’s post-series lives, so rather than dropping back into FBI investigations with little fuss, there’s a lot of character-based material about Scully’s religious and scientific faith, and Mulder’s compulsion to investigate the dark and mysterious corners of humanity. It was basically the perfect casual-fan-alienating mixture of continuity, episodic storytelling, and just plain murk (Mulder and Scully haven’t seen each other regularly as the movie begins but also seem to sleep together offscreen?!?). The worst of both worlds, perhaps, especially if fans weren’t really anticipating something like a cross between Silence of the Lambs and Lorenzo’s Oil.
So how does a shorter director’s cut resolve those issues? Honestly, it doesn’t; time does. With the passage of time (and the addition of 16 more episodes’ worth of proper Mulder-and-Scully adventures that arrived in 2016 and 2018), I Want to Believe has less of a burden to contend with. Almost 20 years later, it’s far easier to accept as a mostly-stand-alone small-scale thriller story freighted with the heavy backstory of our pals Mulder and Scully. If it doesn’t have the humor, scope, or playful not-quite-romance of some of the show’s best episodes, well, neither do some of the show’s many other good episodes! This was, as mentioned, a show that could do a lot of things. I Want to Believe chooses a few more serious-minded of those things. That’s less dispiriting now. It’s also clearly Carter’s sensibility; he was never really in charge of the funniest or weirdest episodes of the show.
Photo: Everett Collection
To that end, the tightening up of the director’s cut does make some sense. If the movie is going to function as a supersized episode, it might as well retain the show’s brisk network-TV pacing. At the same time, some of the tweaks do see Carter pushing the material into a more cinematic direction. The opening of the movie is instructive, with definite changes that don’t alter the basic trajectory of the story. Carter still cross-cuts between an FBI agent who gets abducted by mysterious, shadowy figures, and a scene of other agents searching a snow-covered field for her body (and finding someone else’s severed arm). But in the director’s cut, the clever matches between the two scenes (the agent’s pet dog barking in one scene into the canine searchers in the other) come faster, with more jagged back-and-forth that calls greater attention to the pairing. It wouldn’t be completely out of place on the show, but the disorientation feels more like a movie.
That’s about the scale of changes fan can expect to see, or barely see. Yes, there’s a little more violence here and there, but that was true of the previous extended cut, and Carter’s own claim of putting the “scares” back in the movie seems misguided as this version is only mildly creepier. Some of this material might have garnered an “R” from the MPAA in 2008 — Carter claims that was the motivating factor behind all of the tinkering, trying to get that magic PG-13 — but it barely registers as such now. (Hannibal had vastly gorier episodes airing on NBC less than a decade after this movie came out.)
Despite Carter’s efforts to reorient his movie around its actual story rather than ancillary character drama, what pops from I Want to Believe still isn’t the Frankenstein overtones of the movie’s ultimate villains, who are still largely unmemorable as far as X-Files one-and-done characters go. (In general, the fact that other possible psychics are mentioned in the movie’s dialogue is a nice nod to fans but maybe not the best strategy; mentioning Clyde Bruckman, a character in one of the show’s very best episodes, can only end in disappointment by comparison.) Instead, it’s still Carter’s juxtaposition of Mulder and Scully’s respective fixations — his on believing a man who sensible social rules tell us to cast out (Billy Connolly, giving a strong performance), hers on attempting to save the life of an ill child — that makes the movie involving and affecting. Those story threads do seem sharper and clearer in this version, where they’re both slightly more connected to the main storyline. But is that Carter’s re-edit doing the work, or the enduring power of his creation? It’s a mystery, I guess.
Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others. He podcasts at www.sportsalcohol.com, too.
In 2025, when Jeff Hiller received his first Emmy nomination, he was having a typical day at home in New York City, engaged in a phone conversation with his sister. Little did he know, the moment was about to become far from ordinary. Hiller was unaware of the live nomination announcements, and he also missed his agent’s initial attempt to break the news. As fate would have it, he answered the second call, only to discover that his portrayal of Joel in Somebody Somewhere had earned him a nomination from the prestigious Television Academy.
Fast forward to a year later, Hiller basked in the glow of holding his Emmy gold after an unforgettable acceptance speech. His incredible journey continued with a second nomination. This time around, the spotlight found him in Los Angeles, where he was announcing the Emmy nominees alongside Liza Colon-Zayas from The Bear.
“It was surreal,” Hiller recounted over Zoom to DECIDER. “We didn’t announce our names. We didn’t announce those categories… But afterwards, my manager walked over and congratulated me. I was baffled, thinking, ‘For what?!’ because Somebody Somewhere wasn’t airing this season!” he remarked with a laugh.
Between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, the period of Emmy eligibility, Hiller’s versatility shone brightly across several TV hits. Fans saw him as a quirky German candy button factory owner in Stumble, an experienced restaurant waiter in Ghosts, and even a murderer wielding a curling iron in Elsbeth. Beyond network TV, his presence was notable in two of 2026’s critically acclaimed streaming series: Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay garnered 19 Emmy nods, and Pluribus, 18. Hiller’s endearing performance in Katie Dippold’s horror-comedy won fans’ hearts, sparing his character Dale from an expected demise in Season 1. Meanwhile, his impactful guest role as Lawrence J. Kless, also known as Larry, in Pluribus secured him a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series.
Prior to the release of the gripping post-apocalyptic drama Pluribus, creator Vince Gilligan was tight-lipped about the show’s riveting plot twists to maintain mystery. This meant that Hiller remained in the dark about the full extent of his role until a meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with Gilligan and leading actress Rhea Seehorn a day before shooting. Initially, the 50-year-old actor assumed he was cast to play Seehorn’s character Carol’s father, delivering a message about a disapproving mother. To his surprise, his character was actually part of a hive mind revealing to Carol that her late wife Helen (played by Miriam Shor) did not love her books.
“I did believe I was going to play [Carol’s] father,” Hiller said with a chuckle. “But I didn’t think I was going to get the part, because I didn’t think I looked quite old enough. I didn’t think they were doing the math, but then I thought, maybe it’s a flashback! I didn’t know anything about it.”
With filming set to commence on Monday, Seehorn invited Hiller over to her house on Sunday to rehearse with EP Alison Tatlock, who wrote Episode 4, “Please, Carol,” and director Zetna Fuentes. “Because the show was so complicated, we all came together and rehearsed for several hours. And that’s something that you just never get. That was more helpful than anything that I’ve ever had in acting. It was like rehearsing a play,” Hiller recalled. “It felt like I was back in the theater.”
Photo: Apple TV
During roughly eight minutes of screen time, Hiller’s character — wearing a colorful cycling suit — welcomes Carol back home with fellow hive mind members, including one played by Albuquerque’s real-life mayor, Tim Keller. In an effort to learn more about the Others, Carol invites Larry inside, where he — or rather, the world’s collective consciousness — conveys adoration and likens her books to Shakespeare’s work.
“There was a little bit of a challenge to it,” Hiller said of learning his character’s true nature so quickly before filming. “But I think something in my wheelhouse I can play pretty well is warmth and love. So it’s good that I didn’t have to constantly play some emotion that’s more difficult for me to access. But it was complicated.”
Unlike typical shared scenes, Hiller and Seehorn didn’t have the luxury of mirroring or naturally reacting to each other’s performances. As Hiller marvelously maintains Larry’s overly chipper demeanor, positive tone, and palpable desire to please, Carol grows increasingly frustrated and skeptical. The fascinating, revealing, at times comedic ping-pong match of mismatched emotions takes a more serious turn when Larry struggles to share Helen’s honest opinions, because he knows they’ll hurt Carol.
“Even though I was playing a part of the hive mind, there was still this idea that there is still some humanity in them. They know that this will hurt her, and they do not want to hurt her,” Hiller shared. “I found that to be a really good anchor of trying to redirect the conversation and not give you too much. It felt a little politician-y, like we’re not gonna go there, we’re gonna go in this direction…”
Photo: Apple TV
When DECIDER spoke with Seehorn ahead of Pluribus‘ premiere, she piled on praise for Hiller and his complex performance, explaining, “I just adore him. I was a huge fan of his show [Somebody Somewhere], and of Bridget Everett and everybody on it. And so thrilled that he won that Emmy. That guy is amazing, and he’s also just such a lovely person.”
“We had so much fun working on what really was a one-act play by the time he comes in and sits down with me at that table — just two nerdy theater people that would have rehearsed five more days if they let us,” Seehorn told DECIDER. “Jeff trying to navigate the kind of human he’s supposed to be playing, and then that strange human navigating Carol, was just inherently comedic. He has such a gift for comic timing, but he also has such a gift for finding the pathos. He’s a generous actor, and he really receives what you’re throwing at him and responds in time.”
When reflecting on his rare Pluribus set experience, Hiller also took a moment to shout out Seehorn, who received a 2026 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series.
“She’s a great leader. If in some weird, bizarre universe, I become the lead of a show, I gotta be like her. She knew everybody’s name, and it wasn’t performatively knowing their name; it was genuine interest,” Hiller said. “Sometimes it’s long days, and there are actors who are like, ‘Let’s get this going, come on, let’s go.’ And she was never like that. She was always super present and there to act. I don’t know that I’ve ever been in a scene with someone so present as her. She was Carol. But she wasn’t method. As soon as we were off set, she’d be back to Rhea. But she could lock in in a really beautiful way.”
Photo: Apple TV
Though creator Vince Gilligan stressed that he wrotethe show’s concept years before ChatGPT was released and didn’t intend for Pluribus — or this specific scene — to be a commentary on artificial intelligence, some viewers still compared Hiller’s performance to AI. While he can see the parallels, Hiller was adamant that the brilliance of Pluribus could only come from a one-of-one human.
“When you look at this story, it is so complicated that it could only come from a human mind that’s messy, and interesting, and interested. There are times when I watch the show where I’m like, ‘She should just join the hive mind, it’s great, what’s the problem?’ And there are other times when I’m like, ‘Run, Carol! They’re eating bones!’ This is what’s so genius about Vince Gilligan. The fact that he could make my loyalty switch that much shows what an incredible storyteller he is, and the fact that he wrote this from his mind, but with our modern eyes we see all these different things to it, shows how incredibly timeless and interesting this story is.”
Fans will have to wait quite a while for Pluribus Season 2, and though Hiller doesn’t know if his character could ever return, if the opportunity presents itself, he’d be back in a heartbeat. “I would love to be with any of the [characters]. Well, Carlos-Manuel Vesga’s character, I don’t want to [share a scene with] him. He’ll probably kill us,” Hiller laughed. “But Samba Schutte’s character, I think that’d be really fun. He’d be with all those pretty ladies, and Larry’s just there like in a bike uniform being like, ‘How about some grapes?’”
When the Emmy-winning actor looks back on his career, he’d tell his younger self, “Don’t compare yourself to other people. Your journey is singular and your journey matters, too.” The self-aware comedian considers his wise words, then adds, “But I’d be like, ‘Uh-huh, but when will I get my sitcom?’ My younger self would have said that!”
Whether Hiller returns to Pluribus or not, he isn’t taking his time on Carol’s cul-de-sac or his second Emmy nomination for granted. “It’s very exciting. It’s so thrilling,” he said. “Honestly, it’s just nice to keep acting. It always feels like you’re this far away from not ever getting another job. So it feels like maybe this will help me get another job!”
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Decider’s interview with Emmy-winner and 2026 nominee Jeff Hiller, all about his role on Widow’s Bay.
