When it comes to alternative Christmas movies, few are better than the 1984 comedy horror flick “Gremlins.”

Joe Dante’s classic, which was written by “Home Alone” director Chris Columbus, follows a young man Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan), who receives a cute but mysterious pet as a Christmas gift. After Billy fails to follow a series of strict instructions required to take care of the creature, it multiplies and spawns the little green eponymous monsters that proceed to wreak havoc on his hometown on Christmas Eve.

Gremlins’ memorable cast also included the likes of 1980s icons Phoebe Cates and Corey Feldman, folk singer-songwriter Hoyt Axton, and the inimitable Dick Miller.

Let’s take a look at the cast as they were in 1984, and as they were now…

Zach Galligan (Billy Peltzer)

Zach Galligan was a complete newcomer to movie acting when he starred as a 20-year-old in “Gremlins.” He played Billy Peltzer, the young man who receives the mysterious creature (a “mogwai”) that causes all the chaos in the film.

Getty

Galligan is now 61 and, per IMDb, has many more movies to his name.

His film credits now include the likes of 1984’s sci-fi comedy “Nothing Lasts Forever,” 1988’s comedy horror “Waxwork,” 1990’s satirical sequel “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” 1991’s erotic thriller “Zandalee,” 1992’s comedy horror sequel “Waxwork II: Lost in Time,” 1993’s supernatural horror “Warlock: The Armageddon,” 1999’s erotic crime drama “Raw Nerve,” and 2013’s slasher horror sequel “Hatchet III.”

Getty

Phoebe Cates (Kate Beringer)

Per IMDb, “Gremlins” was only the fourth movie Phoebe Cates had been in. She played Billy’s love interest Kate Beringer, and she was a month away from turning 21 when the film hit theaters.

The three movies she’d appeared in before “Gremlins” were 1982’s romantic adventure “Paradise,” 1982’s coming-of-age comedy “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and 1983’s sex comedy “Private School.”

Getty

Cates in now 62 and retired from acting in the early 2000s. She’s been married to actor Kevin Kline since 1989 and her focus is now on her boutique business, located on New York’s Madison Avenue.

Her post-“Gremlins” movie roles included 1987’s fantasy rom-com “Date with an Angel,” 1988’s drama film “Bright Lights, Big City,” 1990’s satirical sequel “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” 1991’s fantasy comedy “Drop Dead Fred,” 1993’s drama “Bodies, Rest & Motion,” and her final film, 2001’s comedy-drama “The Anniversary Party.”

Getty

Hoyt Axton (Randall Peltzer)

Hoyt Axton was arguably better known as a folk singer-songwriter than he was an actor when he appeared in “Gremlins” as a 46-year-old. He played Billy’s father, the struggling inventor Randall Peltzer, in the film. That being said, he did have many movie credits to his name.

Per IMDb, Axton had previously appeared in the likes of 1966’s Western movie “Smoky,” 1979’s adventure film “The Black Stallion,” 1980’s aviation drama “Cloud Dancer,” 1982’s independent action comedy “The Junkman,” 1982’s sci-fi horror “Endangered Species,”and 1983’s independent drama “Deadline Auto Theft.”

Getty

Tragically, Axton passed away on October 26, 1999, at the age of just 61. He had suffered two heart attacks in the space of two weeks.

He went on to appear in many more movies after “Gremlins,” including 1987’s horror flick “Retribution,” 1989’s heist comedy “Disorganized Crime,” 1989’s comedy “We’re No Angels,” 1992’s comedy “Harmony Cats,” 1992’s sci-fi comedy “Space Case,” and 1999’s direct-to-video sci-fi horror “King Cobra.”

There are very few images of Axton in his final years, so here’s a video of him from 1994.

Frances Lee McCain (Lynn Peltzer)

When “Gremlins” hit theaters, Frances Lee McCain was one month shy of her 40th birthday.

Still, she had only been acting for about a decade, and most of her credits were on the small screen. Per IMDb, her only five previous theatrical movie appearances came in 1973’s neo-noir thriller “The Laughing Policeman,” 1979’s comedy mockumentary “Real Life,” 1981’s comedy film “Honky Tonk Freeway,” 1982’s coming-of-age drama “Tex,” and 1984’s musical drama “Footloose.”

Getty

McCain is now 81, and while her acting career has been far from prolific, she has appeared in some memorable movies. They include 1985’s sci-fi adventure “Back to the Future,” 1986’s coming-of-age drama “Stand by Me,” 1996’s slasher horror “Scream,” 1998’s comedy-drama “Patch Adams,” 1999’s mystery thriller “True Crime,” 2018’s comedy-drama “Ideal Home,” 2019’s period thriller “Dreamland,” 2020’s crime comedy “The Comeback Trail,” and 2022’s crime thriller “End of the Road.”

There aren’t many recent pictures of McCain available, but here’s one Zach Galligan took with her in 2019.

Polly Holliday (Ruby Deagle)

Despite playing miserly elderly lady Ruby Deagle in “Gremlins,” Polly Holliday was actually a month away from turning just 47 when the film released in theaters.

Predominantly a television actress, she only had five movies to her name at that point. They included 1975’s comedy “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings,” 1976’s biographical political thriller “All the President’s Men,” and 1978’s comedy “The One and Only” (per IMDb).

Getty

Holliday sadly passed away on September 9, 2025. She was 88 and, following a rapid decline in her health, died from a bout of pneumonia.

After “Gremlins,” movies she went on to appear in included 1988’s rom-com “Moon Over Parador,” 1993’s comedy-drama “Mrs. Doubtfire,” 1996’s romantic black comedy “Mr. Wrong,” 1998’s family rom-com “The Parent Trap,” 2006’s comedy-drama “Stick It,” 2007’s romantic dark comedy “The Heartbreak Kid,” and 2010’s political biographical film “Fair Game.”

Sadly, there aren’t many recent pictures of Holliday, but here’s one from not long ago posted by a friend on social media.

Dick Miller (Murray Futterman)

Character actor Dick Miller — who, rather appropriately, was born on Christmas Day — was 55 when “Gremlins” was released. In the film, he played Murray Futterman, a paranoid World War II veteran and neighbor of the Peltzer family who had believed in gremlins his whole life.

Per IMDb, Miller had dozens of movie credits to his name before “Gremlins.” They included 1960’s horror comedy “The Little Shop of Horrors,” 1963’s independent horror “The Terror,” 1967’s gangster movie “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,” 1975’s dystopian sci-fi action movie “Death Race 2000,” 1978’s comedy horror “Piranha,” 1982’s comedy movie “National Lampoon’s Movie Madness,” and 1983’s sci-fi fantasy horror anthology film “Twilight Zone: The Movie.”

Miller passed away on January 30, 2019, at the age of 90. He was being treated for pneumonia at the time, but the official cause of death was a heart attack.

He remained a prolific actor for most of his life and his credits after “Gremlins” were plentiful. They included 1984’s sci-fi action movie “The Terminator,” 1985’s neo-noir black comedy “After Hours,” 1986’s independent techno-horror “Chopping Mall,” 1986’s sci-fi horror comedy “Night of the Creeps,” 1987’s sci-fi comedy “Innerspace,” 1989’s black comedy “The ‘Burbs,” 1990’s satirical sequel “Gremlins 2: The New Batch,” 1998’s action comedy “Small Soldiers,” and 2009’s dark fantasy horror movie “The Hole.”

Though photographs from Miller’s later life are hard to come by, here’s one of him in his 80s that was posted on social media.

Judge Reinhold (Gerald Hopkins)

Reinhold was 27 when Gremlins was released. He played Billy’s irritating and boastful co-worker Gerald Hopkins in the movie.

Per IMDb, prior to his appearance in the movie, his film credits included the likes of 1981’s war comedy “Stripes,” 1982’s slasher parody “Pandemonium,” and 1982’s coming-of-age comedy “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (the latter of which he starred in alongside “Gremlins” co-star Phoebe Cates).

Getty

Reinhold went onto star in “Beverly Hills Cop” in the same year as “Gremlins,” meaning he appeared in two of 1984’s four highest-grossing movies.

He subsequently appeared in all three “Beverly Hills Cop” sequels, all three movies in “The Santa Clause” franchise between 1994 and 2006, 1988’s fantasy comedy “Vice Versa,” 1991’s erotic thriller “Zandalee” (in which he featured alongside “Gremlins” co-star Zach Galligan), 1997’s comedy “Family Plan,” and a pair of direct-to-video sequels to “Beethoven” in 2000 and 2001 respectively.

Getty

Corey Feldman (Pete Fountaine)

Corey Feldman was a month away from becoming a teenager when “Gremlins” was released. He played Billy’s friend Pete Fountaine in the movie in what was his fourth film role.

Per IMDb, his previous movie credits were 1979’s sci-fi movie “Time After Time,” 1981’s animated buddy drama “The Fox and the Hound,” and 1984’s slasher horror “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.”

Getty

Feldman is now 54 and the 1980s and early 1990s were hugely successful for him after “Gremlins.” He went on to appear in the likes of 1985’s slasher sequel “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,” 1985’s adventure comedy “The Goonies,” 1986’s coming-of-age drama “Stand by Me,” 1987’s comedy horror “The Lost Boys,” 1989’s black comedy “The ‘Burbs,” and 1990’s superhero comedy movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

He’s remained active, but Feldman’s roles haven’t been quite as high-profile since then. That said, he recently featured as a contestant on season 34 of the hugely popular reality dance competition series “Dancing with the Stars.” The former child actor was paired with professional dancer Jenna Johnson, but the couple were eliminated after just two episodes, which was the earliest an elimination could possibly have occurred.

Getty

Make sure you watch “Gremlins” this festive season. It truly should be a festive staple in everyone’s household!

May Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, and Dick Miller rest in peace.

The post PHOTOS: The ‘Gremlins’ Cast Then & Now appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

1990s horror movie heartthrobs Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich got playful on the red carpet while attending the premiere of “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” Rotten Tomatoes shared a video to social media, showing off the “Scream” stars’ off-screen camaraderie. Ulrich is in the middle of an interview when Lillard walks into frame. 

“[Matthew Lillard]’s one of the most incredible human beings,” he said, not knowing his co-star lurked directly behind him. 

“He’s really mean to me most of the time,” began Ulrich. However, the “Scooby Doo” alum then wrapped his arms around Ulrich and pulled him closer for a delicate kiss on the cheek. Lillard gave him a firm hug before beginning to walk away. 

“But because you guys are here he’s playing nice,” Ulrich continued with a laugh. He started to say that Lillard is “an amazing…” but was cut off by Lillard giving him a cheeky squeeze.

“I just grabbed his butt! It’s so tight,” joked Lillard. 

Lillard and Ulrich First Worked Together Almost 30 Years Ago

Lillard and Ulrich first appeared on the silver screen in “Scream,” which was released in 1996. The pair starred as the original Ghostface killers, Billy Loomis (Ulrich) and Stu Macher (Lillard), who terrorized the town of Woodsboro. Both were killed at the end of the first film, but achieved icon status within the beloved horror series.

The scream kings reunited for the 2025 release “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” which also stars Josh Hutcherson. Lillard returns to play the previous film’s villain, a serial killer named William Afton. William died at the end of “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” seemingly closing the door on his story. However, fans of the franchise know that his character’s time isn’t quite over yet.

Ulrich plays Henry Emily, an engineer who co-founded the Fazbear Entertainment with William.

Only One of the Actors will Return to the ‘Scream’ Franchise Next Year

In “Scream 5,” Ulrich returned as a phantom-like version of Billy, who appeared in hallucinations to his daughter, Sam. He also appeared in “Scream 3” and “Scream 6” with small cameos, but is not featured on the cast list for “Scream 7.”

Swapping places with Ulrich, Lillard is set to make his return to “Scream” in the franchise’s upcoming seventh installment. He was announced as an official cast member for “Scream 7” in January 2025 alongside Scott Foley, who played (yet another) Ghostface killer, Roman Bridger. The details remain unknown as to how Lillard or Stu will feature in the film.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is in theaters on December 4. “Scream 7” will be released on February 7, 2026. 

The post Matthew Lillard & Skeet Ulrich Pack on the PDA & Playfulness in New Video  appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

Sony Pictures Entertainment released a new trailer for “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” The teaser previews harrowing challenges for the unfortunate survivors inhabiting a world ruled by the zombie-like Infected. The upcoming horror film continues the story from “28 Years Later” (2025) as the second installment in the series’ new trilogy. 

The harrowing trailer for “The Bone Temple” shows Spike (Alfie Williams), Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and Jimmy (Jack O’Connell) facing off against the terrifying Infected. Sony describes the film, directed by Nia DaCosta, as an “epic story” where the world is “turn[ed] on its head.” 

‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ Builds Upon Relationships 

The preview for “The Bone Temple” shows Kelson attempting to form a relationship with the Infected. The former doctor even comes face-to-face with the Alpha, a key villain from “28 Years Later” and an evolved member of the Infected. The Alpha is both smarter and stronger than the series’ typical foes. 

“I believe the infection can be treated,” says Kelson. The teaser shows him in the titular “Bone Temple,” a sanctuary made of skulls and bones that he calls “a memorial to the dead.” Blood covers Kelson’s face and body, confirming the eerie nature of his character. 

Jimmy Will Play a Bigger Role in the Story 

The end of “28 Years Later” shows Jimmy and his cult saving Spike from a pack of the Infected. The group brutally kill the Infected, performing dramatic flips as they attack. 

Jimmy maintains this cult of his own making, which he attempts to recruit Spike into. The members of Jimmy’s cult also take on his name and don blonde wigs modeled after real-life cult leader and abuser Jimmy Savile.

The original “28 Years Later,” showed Jimmy as a child successfully escaping the Infected. It’s unclear what happened between his childhood and his adult self in the “28 Years Later” franchise, but he developed into a menacing figure.

“I think your name is Jimmy,” he says after the scared Spike introduces himself. The relationship between the two is described as a “nightmare [Spike] can’t escape. 

Additionally, this new trailer shows Jimmy meeting with Kelson, questioning him and appearing confused as the older man describes his temple. The two discuss Kelson’s identity, with the cult leader asking if he is “Old Nick,” who caused “the world of man” to fall when he “released his demons.” 

“You mean Satan?” replies Kelson. This ominous message emphasizes Kelson’s creepy characterization. 

Rife with the Infected, compelling relationships between survivors and chaos, “The Bone Temple” promises to be a thrill ride in a post apocalyptic world. 

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” releases in theaters on January 16, 2026. 

The post Harrowing New ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ Trailer Released appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

Lionsgate has released a chilling teaser trailer for the upcoming “The Strangers: Chapter 3,” with “Riverdale” actress Madelaine Petsch reprising her starring role of Maya.

The brand-new trailer for “Chapter 3” features several dead, bloody bodies and plenty of screaming. Creepy shots show Maya walking through a church before she relays an ominous message.

“I know where they are,” she says eerily as haunting music blasts behind her voice. This moment hints that she may have the upper hand on the mysterious strangers stalking her. 

Petsch’s Maya is a young woman tormented by a group of the titular strangers: Pin-Up Girl, Scarecrow and Dollface. The horror film is the third and final chapter in the “The Strangers” series. The franchise, which is a reboot of the 2008 film of the same name, debuted its first chapter in theaters in 2024.  

Maya Can’t Escape the Strangers  

Maya will no doubt come face-to-face with the group of killers that continue to haunt her. Both “Chapter 1” and “Chapter 2” saw Maya fight for her life, leaving a bloody trail in her wake as she took on the strangers. Because she is the de facto final girl of the series, we can expect Maya to give it her all when the time comes to defend herself in the upcoming “Chapter 3.”

The end of the teaser shows Maya dressed in the Dollface mask, appearing to take on the role of a killer as a terrified man and woman are tied to chairs in front of her. This scene flips the power dynamic of the series on its head. In both the 2008 and 2024 versions of “The Strangers,” the protagonists are tied to chairs before being brutally attacked. 

“Surprise [expletive],” Petsch says in a TikTok video she shared on November 26. “I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.”

Chapter 3 Is the Final Chapter for ‘The Strangers’

“Chapter 3” will mark the end of the franchise’s rebooted trilogy. Starring alongside Petsch in the conclusion to “The Strangers” are Gabriel Basso (“A House of Dynamite”), Ema Horvath (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”) and Richard Brake (“Game of Thrones”). 

Beginning in 2022, the recent “The Strangers” movies were filmed concurrently in Slovakia. Renny Harlin helmed the films, directing all three chapters. The first two installments in the franchise garnered a combined $70 million at the international box office. 

“The Strangers: Chapter 3” releases in theaters on February 26, 2026. 

The post ‘Riverdale’ Star Faces ‘The Strangers’ Again in ‘Chapter 3’ Teaser appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

Matthew Lillard’s iconic character Stu Macher met his end at the of the first “Scream” film, but the actor is back and better than ever for the upcoming “Scream 7.” The new installment in the horror franchise follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as she tries to defeat Ghostface once and for all. However, the masked killer has a new target: Sidney’s daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). The tagline for “Scream 7” teases “Burn it all down.” 

Matthew Lillard was ‘Shocked’ to Return to ‘Scream‘

In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, Lillard spoke about returning to the big screen as Stu. Lillard said it was a “shock” when “Scream” writer and creator Kevin Williamson reached out. He recalled earlier comments from Williamson claiming that Stu was dead and that the “franchise doesn’t need Lillard.” However, Williamson eventually called him and offered him the opportunity to return to the world of “Scream.” 

Lillard believes fans will enjoy “Scream 7.” He praised the film, saying “I think the script’s great. I think Wes [Craven] would be very proud. It’s sort of in the lines of what the franchise used to be.”

While he commended the newer releases in the horror series as being “great” in their own right, Lillard described Williamson’s upcoming movie as “more traditional in terms of the Scream franchise.” Given that Williamson wrote the screenplays for the first, second and fourth films, it makes sense for him to take a more classic approach to directing “Scream 7.” 

Skeet Ulrich will Also Appear in ‘Scream 7‘

Lillard also spoke about the return of his co-star Skeet Ulrich, who plays villain Billy Loomis in the original “Scream.” Billy later returns to haunt his daughter, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), in the fifth and sixth films. Lillard joked that he and Ulrich “are kind of like road husbands” due to the time they spend together attending fan conventions. It’s unknown what role Billy will take on in this new movie.

“I think people are going to love our relationship when it gets revealed,” he teased. In the first “Scream,” Stu and Billy are revealed to be the killers disguised as Ghostface. Sidney kills both of the boys at the end of the film.

Lillard also stars in the upcoming “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” alongside Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”) as well as fellow “Scream 7” stars Ulrich and McKenna Grace (“Regretting You”).

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 releases on December 5. Scream 7 will debut in theaters on February 27, 2026.

The post Matthew Lillard Teases a ‘More Traditional’ ‘Scream 7’ appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

Daisy Ridley, best known for starring as Rey in J.J. Abrams’ installments in the “Star Wars” universe, faces a new deadly force in her upcoming horror film “We Bury the Dead.” The movie, directed by Zak Hilditch (1922, Rattle Snake), is the latest contribution to the zombie survival genre. Mark Coles Smith and Brenton Thwaites star alongside Ridley. 

Daisy Ridley is on the Run in ‘We Bury the Dead’

The “We Bury the Dead” trailer leaps into action, showing Ridley’s protagonist, Ava, traversing an abandoned highway before entering into direct conflict with an agitated zombie. It moves to attack as she sprints away with wild eyes, setting the tone for what’s to come in the horror flick.

Flashbacks reveal that Ava’s harrowing journey centers on the hunt for her husband, who has gone missing in the wake of a military experiment gone wrong–presumably the incident that created the zombie apocalypse.

“Just a little further,” repeats a soft voice throughout the trailer, pushing Ava further into her search for her lost spouse. The remainder of the trailer shows her facing off against humans, zombies and the elements as she continues her passionate pursuit.

‘We Bury the Dead’ Features a New Type of Zombie

Described as a “terrifying yet moving story about grief, loss and the undead,” “We Bury the Dead,” will show Ridley battling a never-before-seen type of zombie. The monsters are shown in various states of decay, with some appearing closer to living humans than others. In one moment, a zombie sprints towards Ava with blackened eyes and a white, veiny body with another instance showing a member of the undead resembling more a disfigured human. A pregnant zombie is even revealed in one harrowing clip, calling to mind this year’s 28 Years Later, which also featured a member of the undead giving birth. 

We hear Ava be warned with a haunting message: “You wanna know why only some of them come back? They’re the ones with unfinished business.” This eerie line hints that Ava will face a complicated, fearsome foe while she searches for her missing husband.

It’s yet to be revealed what specifically separates the zombies of “We Bury the Dead” from others in the genre, but they appear to be speedier than the traditional ambling undead seen in classics like Night of the Living Dead. 

Audiences can prepare themselves to be scared out of their seats when“We Bury the Dead” arrives in theaters on January 2, 2026.

The post Daisy Ridley Battles Zombies in New ‘We Bury the Dead’ Trailer  appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

“Zombieland” director Ruben Fleischer teased in an interview with Deadline that there will be a third installment in the beloved zombie horror-comedy franchise. He said that he is “hoping” to have a “Zombieland 3” ready for release in 2029. Fleischer, who most recently directed the sleight-of-hand romp “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” explained the timing of the upcoming threequel, highlighting the ten year time difference between the series’ previous films.

Getty

Fleischer Hopes for ‘Zombieland 3’ to Arrive in 2029 

“We’re starting to talk about [“Zombieland 3”] because [the first] one was 2009, and then we did the second one in 2019, and we kind of left that one all saying, ‘We’ll see you in 10 years,’” Fleischer said. 

The original “Zombieland” received positive reviews from critics and brought in over $100 million at the box office. Its sequel, “Zombieland: Double Tap” surpassed these numbers while receiving similar praise. The post-apocalyptic hits feature a star-studded cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin. The films follow the ensemble as a rag-tag motley crew fighting for their survival across the zombie-riddled United States. “Zombieland” seamlessly blends multiple genres together, acting as a road trip, buddy-comedy and zombie movie all in one. 

“[2029] is coming up now, and so we’re starting to figure that out, so I’m hoping that’ll come together,” continued Fleischer. The director’s hopeful outlook is a great sign for fans of the “Zombieland” franchise, who eagerly await a new installment in the franchise. 

‘Zombieland 3’ Is Not Fleischer’s Only Upcoming Project 

“I’ve got a few things that are raring to go, so we’ll see which one comes first,” teased Fleischer in the interview. After wrapping work on “Now You See Me 3,” he’s set his eyes on a new project different from his previous works. 

The “Uncharted” director is looking to direct a “vampire-Western” film, which he described as “Like ‘Unforgiven,’ if Clint Eastwood was a vampire.” Fleischer elaborated that the two genres of film he’s most interested in creating are Westerns and gangster movies, the latter of which he accomplished with 2013’s “Gangster Squad.” 

While there is no official timeline for the production or release of “Zombieland 3,” Fleischer’s enthusiasm for the project is a positive sign that fans will get a threequel before the end of the decade. 

The post ‘Zombieland’ Director Ruben Fleischer Shares Exciting Franchise Update appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

In an interview for Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show,” Jacob Elordi, star of director Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” detailed the lengthy time spent transforming into the Creature.

“Frankenstein” features Elordi as the Creature, a human-like invention crafted by the disgruntled scientist Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac. Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and Felix Kammerer star alongside the two in the horror adaptation. Released on Netflix on November 7, “Frankenstein” picked up nearly 30 million views in its first few days. 

Jacob Elordi Spent Up to 11 Hours in the Makeup Chair 

Elordi revealed that he spent a significant amount of time in makeup sessions. Scenes where the Creature is heavily exposed demanded up to 11 hours of cosmetic applications. Portions of “Frankenstein” where Elordi’s body is hidden by oversized, ghoulish garments required less time. However, the actor still clocked in an impressive minimum of six hours in the makeup chair.

“Your body is made up of parts of different humans, and you would think that a lot of it would be done with CGI,” remarked Fallon of the character design. Rather than rely on CGI, del Toro insisted that the Creature be created with makeup and practical effects. Elordi wore up to 42 prosthetics. 

Elordi replied that it is a “rare thing” for a contemporary movie to use such intense practical effects. He praised the “great artists” working behind the scenes on the film’s production design.

Jacob Elordi Fully Dedicated Himself to His ‘Frankenstein’ Role

Getty

Sitting in these lengthy makeup sessions propelled Elordi to further immerse himself in his role. In his appearances as various versions of the Creature, Elordi is unrecognizable. The actor completely separates himself from his charming looks in other projects like “Euphoria” and “The Kissing Booth.” 

“You often don’t get that much time when you’re filming to be able to get into something,” he said. Focusing on transforming into his character allowed Elordi to “leave all of this stuff behind…and become something else.” 

His dedication to the extensive transformation did not go unnoticed. “Frankenstein” director del Toro praised Elordi for his commitment to the role, telling Variety that he “never once” complained about the demanding nature of the film, which sometimes required 20-hour days. The young star is a massive fan of del Toro, going as far as to call the Oscar-winner the “greatest filmmaker alive.”  

After receiving heavy praise for his performance from Fallon, Elordi concluded the interview by describing “Frankenstein” as a “really human” film.

Elordi will soon take on another adaptation of a Gothic classic alongside Margot Robbie in the upcoming “Wuthering Heights,” set to release on Valentine’s Day. 

“Frankenstein” is now available to stream on Netflix.

The post Jacob Elordi Details 10-Hour ‘Frankenstein’ Makeup Experience appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

Fans of “American Horror Story” have been awaiting news about the show’s 13th season for quite some time. This is the case as the most recent installment ended in early 2024. Now, the cast list for the upcoming season has been released, and it features none other than Ariana Grande.

The official Ryan Murphy Productions account on Instagram confirmed the cast on October 31. Not only does it include Grande, but Jessica Lange is also returning. Also on the cast are: Sarah Paulson,
Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, and Gabourey Sidibe.

Based on the cast list, it seems likely that season 13 of “American Horror Story” could somehow relate to the “Coven” season. This is the case as everyone on the list from season 13 appeared in “Coven,” except Grande. Of course, that is also one of the standout installments from the show’s history.

Jessica Lang Previously Ruled Out Returning to ‘American Horror Story’

Lange joined “American Horror Story’ for the show’s first season in 2011. She quickly became a fav favorite and went on to win three Emmy awards for her various roles on the anthology series. However, she announced that she was leaving the show in 2015, with “American Horror Story: Freak Show” being her last season as a main cast member.

According to Deadline, the most recent time she’s been asked about returning to “American Horror Story” was in February 2025. She said at the time, “Oh Christ, no. I mean, I haven’t done it for more than 10 years, 12 years, so, no, I’m not doing it.”

Since leaving AHS, Lange has starred in “Feud: Bette & Joan,” “The Politician,” and “Mother Play” on Broadway. Additionally, she made a brief cameo in season 8 of “American Horror Story.”

It’s Unclear when Filming for AHS Season 13 Will Begin

Naturally, not much is known about season 13 of “American Horror Story” beyond the assumption that it will involve the events of “Coven.” This is also true for the filming schedule. Of course, Grande will be busy over the next month promoting “Wicked,” so it’s likely filming will begin in 2026.

As mentioned, this will be the first season of the show since 2024’s “American Horror Story: Delicate.” That season included Kim Kardashian and was heavily impacted by the actors’ and writers’ strike of 2023. In fact, it was split in half, with the first part airing in 2023.

There have been reports that season 13 could be the final year for AHS. However, this is not confirmed, and its future will likely depend on fan reception for season 13. 

The post ‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 Features an A-List Actress & a Returning Legend appeared first on EntertainmentNow.

“It: Welcome to Derry” is one of the most anticipated shows of the year. This is the case because fans are excited to see the infamous Pennywise character on the small screen. Now, ahead of its October 26 premiere on HBO, critics are heaping high praise on the show.

“It: Welcome to Derry” features Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd as Pennywise, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, Jake Gosden, James Remar, and more. Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs developed the series. Naturally, the story comes from the beloved Stephen King novel, “It.”

Currently, the show’s creators have plans for three seasons, with each focusing on a different time period.

The HBO Prequel Series Has a Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

“It: Welcome to Derry” has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 80% score, earning it the “Certified Fresh” distinction. This puts it on par with the 2017 film, “It,” which currently has an 85 percent rating from critics.

The second film, “It: Chapter 2,” has a 62 percent on the platform.

Critics are Praising ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ on Social Media

The social media review embargo for “It: Welcome to Derry” has been lifted. So far, critics are loving the show. They find it scary, full of personality, and they say HBO spared no expense when it comes to the cinematography.

Courtney Howard wrote about the show on X. She said, “ITWelcomeToDerry’s 1st episode gave me the heebie jeebies. It goes a lot harder than you think: gruesome, gory, unnerving. Gonna be a fun, horrific season. Can’t wait to see more and watch where it goes. (Begins airing on HBO on October 26).”

Simpn Thompson said, “No spoilers, but I’ve just seen the first episode of #ITWelcomeToDerry and it goes HARD! Delivering jaw on the floor[moments] even before the title card hits, it sets things out quickly and cleanly with characters you’re drawn to… and the wild ride begins. This is a winner!”

Kristen “Crypt Keeper” Lopez wrote, “I don’t watch a ton of TV, but I’ll be consuming #ITWelcomeToDerry. Scary as hell. Wonderful child performances. Having only seen 1 episode, I can see the threads being laid out for the rest of the season. Feels like old school @HBO.”

The Beyond Reporter reviewed “It: Welcome to Derry,” saying, “IT: Welcome To Derry Is Insanely Good, Very Very Good, One Of The Best Series Of The Year.”

Another critic, Sarah, said, “I got to watch the first episode of Welcome to Derry last night!! From the jump, it is absolutely brutal and insane. The atmosphere is perfectly set, and the new characters already have me hooked!! I can’t wait for y’all to watch 🩸.”

The Creators Have Opened Up About the Series

The Muschiettis talked to Deadline about “It: Welcome to Derry.” They confirmed that the first season of the show will consist of nine episodes. The duo also discussed this being their first foray into television.

They said, “We never did TV before, but there’s a bunch of TV shows that mean a lot to me and I appreciate the format, having a bigger canvas to tell a story, and the impact that has on audiences.”

The Muschiettis then said, “Our love for the book, and the vacuum created by all these mysteries and question marks in it, mean you end up, as a reader, not understanding everything, including the mystery of IT. What is IT? What does IT want?”

The series will be on both HBO and HBO Max.

The post ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Scores High Praise From Critics appeared first on EntertainmentNow.