Latest news with #HilarySwank
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Hilary Swank Turned Down COBRA KAI and the Creators Are Still Bummed About It — GeekTyrant
Cobra Kai pulled off something few legacy sequels manage to do, reignite the heart of a beloved franchise and bring back nearly every major player from the original Karate Kid films. But, one character never made it back into the dojo… Julie Pierce, played by Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid . Now, the show's creators are opening up about how that door was closed before it ever really opened. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cobra Kai co-creator Josh Heald explained they had plans in place for Swank, but it just never came together. 'We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path [for her to appear]. We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something. ' It was going to feel like it could be a one- or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue, where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship.' The creative team team did a great job managing to pull legacy characters back into the fold. William Zabka and Ralph Macchio were game from the beginning. Yuji Okumoto (Chozen), Sean Kanan (Mike Barnes), and Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver) all returned and got meaningful story arcs. Elisabeth Shue even came back for a key moment. So naturally, they thought Swank might be up for something similar. But that wasn't the case. 'On her end, it was very respectful, but we never got that opportunity to sit down and pour our heart out the way that we typically do when we bring back characters from the legacy. 'She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that. She had had babies. I think she was in production on something at the time, and it was a respectful pass on even the idea of a meeting. 'She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment.' Still, for the creators, it's clearly a missed opportunity. They had the 'beginnings of a genesis of an idea' for Julie Pierce and were eager to see how she could've fit into the larger Miyagi-verse. But they never got to pitch it. For fans holding out hope, all might not be lost. The creators are already developing spinoffs and have hinted there's more story left to tell in the world Mr. Miyagi built. So who knows? Maybe Julie's moment could still come, just not in the way we expected.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Cobra Kai' creators say it was 'disappointing' Hilary Swank turned down an offer to return
The creators of Netflix's Cobra Kai managed to pack in an impressive amount of Karate Kid Easter eggs in the show's final season, but there was one major callback they weren't able to make happen: an appearance from The Next Karate Kid's Julie Pierce, played in the 1994 film by future Oscar winner Hilary Swank. It wasn't for lack of trying. Knowing how much fans wanted Julie to show up — and being huge fans of the Karate Kid franchise themselves — Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Huwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg began outreach to Swank's representatives in the lead-up to the show's sixth and final season. "We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path [for her to appear]," explains Heald. "We had an inkling of an idea about how she could come into this story and not have to commit to 10 episodes or something. It was going to feel like it could be a one- or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue, where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship." Armed with what Heald calls "the beginnings of a genesis of an idea," he, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg reached out to Swank's team "to find out if we could have a discussion with her about it and introduce ourselves." That approach has worked before, not only on Oscar nominee Shue, who reprised her role as Ali — who dumped Johnny (William Zabka) for Daniel (Ralph Macchio) in the original Karate Kid — in Cobra Kai season 3. Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg also brought back Yuji Okumoto (Karate Kid Part II antagonist Chozen Toguchi), Sean Kanan (Karate Kid Part III villain Mike Barnes), Thomas Ian Griffith (Part III's big bad, Terry Silver), Robyn Lively (whose Jessica from KKIII turned out to be the cousin of Daniel's wife, Amanda, played by Courteney Henggeler!), and many more. Unfortunately, the conversation with Swank never happened. "On her end, it was very respectful, but we never got that opportunity to sit down and pour our heart out the way that we typically do when we bring back characters from the legacy," Heald says. "She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that. She had had babies. I think she was in production on something at the time, and it was a respectful pass on even the idea of a meeting. She didn't want us to go through the trouble of flying out to her and putting our heart on the sleeve because it just wasn't something she was ready to do at that moment." But Cobra Kai never dies — and neither do the creators' hopes about a possible visit from Julie Pierce in a future Miyagi-verse project someday. (The trio is already at work on potential Cobra Kai spinoffs.) "It's a big piece of the Miyagi-verse that's still out there," says Heald. "For us, it was a little disappointing because we like getting everybody, but at the same time, we didn't sacrifice any huge story that we had fully developed. It's more fruit on the vine for if we can revisit this universe going forward." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Hilary Swank's ‘Yellowjackets' fate revealed for Season 4
P.S. we love this. 'Yellowjackets' has been confirmed for Season 4 on Showtime, and along with new episodes of the thriller, viewers can expect to see Hilary Swank back on their screens. 'She better be,' Sammi Hanratty, who plays Misty on the series, exclusively told The Post at the 2025 Astra Awards. 'I'm like, I'm pretty sure she signed on for more so we've got to see you!' 11 Sammi Hanratty speaks onstage during the 'Yellowjackets' S3 | FYC Screening Event. Getty Images for Paramount+ 11 Hilary Swank as Melissa in 'Yellowjackets' – Season 3 Episode 8. Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with Swank, 50, plays adult Melissa, who faked her own death and took on a new identity after the wilderness plane crash. But one thing Hanratty, 29, can't share is any spoilers for the upcoming episodes. 'I'm sure people will die,' she teased. 'I'm sure we're going to eat some people but that's all I've got for you.' 11 Hilary Swank as Melissa in 'Yellowjackets.' Darko Sikman/Paramount+ with SHO 11 FYC Event for Showtime's hit show 'Yellowjackets.' FilmMagic The show has a star-studded lineup as is, including Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Simone Kessell, Lauren Ambrose and Tawny Cypress, all of whom Hanratty looks up to on set. 'It's been amazing. I think the best thing about the show is that it really does feel like a team,' the 'Shameless' alum gushed. 'And sometimes I feel like I really am the equipment manager just rooting everybody on. Just honestly, everyone is so talented. I feel like a sponge walking onto set to absorb everyone's amazingness and learning so much. I just wish I could work with the current day cast more, if ever. I never get to. I wish I could.' And in this cast, there's always room for one more powerhouse woman. 11 Lauren Ambrose as Van and Hilary Swank as Melissa in 'Yellowjackets.' Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with 11 Hilary Swank in Season 3 Episode 9 of 'Yellowjackets.' Darko Sikman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME 'I would love to have Angela Bassett on the show,' she quipped. In December, Hanratty welcomed her first baby with husband Christian DeAnda, a son named Levi. Now, she has a village to lean on while balancing life as a working mom. 'Honestly, with Melanie, Christina, Tawny, Lauren and Simone — they are all moms,' explained Hanratty. 'And that's a big thing for me — is that I'm a new mom and just getting to see them walk the walk. It's just inspiring to see working moms kill it and do amazing work. I think more than anything just watching them do what they do.' 11 Sammi Hanratty. Getty Images for Paramount+ 11 Bart Nickerson, Jonathan Lisco, Hilary Swank, Melanie Lynskey, Courtney Eaton, Sophie Nélisse, Warren Kole, Tawny Cypress, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Liv Hewson, Sarah Desjardins, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, Christina Ricci, Ashley Lyle and Drew Comins attend 'Yellowjackets' S3 | FYC Event. Getty Images for Paramount+ The star filmed while pregnant with her son, which posed both enjoyable moments and challenging ones. 'It was crazy. I found out right before we went back [for Season 3], which kind of was my plan. I didn't think I was actually going to get pregnant that quickly but the plan was to get pregnant during the season,' Hanratty told Us Weekly in February. 'It was so hard. I was throwing up the whole beginning half of the show. I felt so bad.' 'Running while being pregnant is not the easiest, [too],' she said. 11 Christina Ricci, Sammi Hanratty and Melanie Lynskey. Starbuck/ / MEGA 11 Sammi Hanratty at the 2025 Newport Beach TV Fest at Lido Theater. BACKGRID 'Especially on uneven ground while in my Misty gear on. But my baby's right next to me right now and he is literally perfect. I'm really proud of myself for getting through this season and I'm really proud of the season,' she went on. 'I kept telling [the director], 'Please don't take away any good work from me. I can do it.'' 'I will say that watching the episodes back, there was a scene that I was watching and I was like, 'I don't remember filming this.' And I was actually in the emergency room the entire time that it was being filmed,' Hanratty reflected. 'We had my body double being me and they never panned to my face in the whole sequence because I wasn't there. So my body double was incredible and really, really stepped up and helped me so much this season. I'm incredibly grateful to her.' Earlier this month, Hanratty, Ricci, 45, who plays the older version of Misty, and Lynskey, 48, took home the award for best ensemble cast at the Newport Beach TV FEST. 11 Hilary Swank arrives at the FYC Event For Showtime's 'Yellowjackets' at Saban Media Center. FilmMagic 'Lovely time with these two gems at the Newport Beach TV FEST!' Hanratty captioned her Instagram post of the trio. 'So honored to be in such an incredible ensemble cast. Grateful for our award for our ensemble🙏🥰.' While talking to Entertainment Tonight at the festival, Ricci said, 'We do have such a huge cast and everyone in our cast tries so hard. We're all so committed and we want the show to be so great.' Hanratty added, 'It feels like two different shows a lot of the time so it's really like an ensemble of of two separate shows as well which is extra epic.'
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
The Karate Kid: All seven films and TV shows ranked from worst to best
After recapturing the zeitgeist with the successful six-season Netflix series Cobra Kai, the Karate Kid saga is returning to cinemas this weekend. Titled Karate Kid: Legends, the legacy sequel will feature original star Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso as well Jackie Chan as Mr Han. The film, directed by Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay with This), also stars Ben Wang as the new karate kid, along with Ming-Na Wen and Joshua Jackson. Ahead of the release of the film, we look at how all the films and shows rank on IMDb, from worst to best – and what we think of them. The Next Karate Kid (1994) IMDb rating: 4.6/10 Starring: Pat Morita, Hilary Swank, Michael Ironside, Walton Goggins Writers: Robert Mark Kamen, Mark Lee While it has largely been forgotten, there was an attempted Karate Kid reboot before the 2010 reboot. Starring Hilary Swank, the film also saw the return of Pat Morita's Mr Miyagi. The movie was a box office bomb, barely recouping its $12 million budget. Our take: If you remember the feeling of accidentally renting the wrong film from the video store, this film encompasses that feeling. Swank shows a huge amount of promise that she later fulfilled in her successful career, but on the whole, it's an unnecessary and disposable effort that pales in comparison to the original. The Karate Kid animated series (1989) IMDb rating: 5.0/10 Starring: Pat Morita, Robert Ito, Janice Kawaye, Joey Dedio Writers: Dorothy Middleton, Michael Maurer As with many popular 1980s children's films, The Karate Kid also received a 13-episode animated series adaptation. However, unlike others from that era such as The Real Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice, it has largely been forgotten. The show was significant for having Morita narrate nearly every episode, though Mr Miyagi was played by Robert Ito. The events of the show are not considered canon, and despite not finding popularity on release, it has garnered a cult fanbase since. Our take: Frankly, I didn't know this existed until today. Watching an episode on YouTube, I can see why few tuned in. But it is charming and has that unmistakable late-1980s sheen. The Karate Kid Part III (1989) IMDb rating: 5.3/10 Starring: Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio, Robyn Lively Writer: Robert Mark Kamen The third film in the Daniel LaRusso trilogy follows a revenge plot by the villain from the first film, John Kreese. Despite waning interest in the series, the film still more than doubled its $12 million at the box office. Our take: The film is a mostly satisfying conclusion to the series, but shouldn't be watched on its own. John G Avildsen, who also directed Rocky, does an admirable job in maintaining the charm through each installment. The Karate Kid Part II (1986) IMDb rating: 6.1/10 Starring: Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio, Danny Kamekona Writer: Robert Mark Kamen In a direct follow-up to the first film, LaRusso and his sensei Mr Miyagi travel to Okinawa, Japan, so Mr Miyagi can bid farewell to his dying father. While there, LaRusso falls in love and makes new enemies in the process. Riding on the coattails of the popular first film, the sequel made more than $115 million at the box office against a $12.5 million budget. Our take: The Karate Kid sequel does not get the appreciation it deserves. Its nowhere near as good as the first, and it is a rehash for the most part, but it enriches the overall story by fleshing out Mr Miyagi's character. The Karate Kid (2010) IMDb rating: 6.2/10 Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P Henson Writers: Christopher Murphey, Robert Mark Kamen After lying dormant for years, the Karate Kid series returned with a reboot starring Will Smith 's son, Jaden, in 2010. Set in China, it also starred martial arts legend Jackie Chan in the sensei role. The film has a lot of the same beats as the original, changing some aspects to fit the cultural shift from Japan to China. But the film was a huge success, raking in more than $359 million at the global box office. Our take: The Karate Kid reboot succeeded in introducing the series to a new generation. The star power of Chan and the surprisingly successful casting of relatively unknown Jaden Smith made for an enjoyable film experience. The Karate Kid (1984) IMDb rating: 7.3/10 Starring: Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka Writers: Christopher Murphey, Robert Mark Kamen Director Avildsen spun an inspirational yarn with the release of The Karate Kid. A young Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who moves with his single mother to a new town and encounters difficulties in integrating. Morita earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Mr Miyagi in this film. Our take: Most millennials remember the first time they watched the original Karate Kid film. Alongside films such as Back to the Future and ET, The Karate Kid is a seminal experience, one that should be shared with each subsequent generation. Cobra Kai (2018-2025) Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Xolo Mariduena, Courtney Henggeler, Lewis Tan Writers: Christopher Murphey, Robert Mark Kamen When Cobra Kai arrived on Netflix in 2018, not many people would have expected it to reach six seasons and 65 episodes, and create a legion of new fans. The show revived the story of the original karate kid LaRusso and his rivalry with Zabka's Johnny Lawrence. The show is different from the original films, though, in that we are looking at the situation from Lawrence's point of view. For years after the original's release, many theorised that LaRusso was the actual bully for his actions against Lawrence. Cobra Kai indulges in this theory and gives Lawrence the space to showcase his experience. Our take: Cobra Kai uses the nostalgia for the 1980s film to present a different understanding of people's experiences, and how circumstance can dictate one's moral position.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hilary Swank Inspires Graduates at Chapman University's 2025 Commencement Ceremony
President Daniele C. Struppa Delivers Final Commencement Address After 19 Years of LeadershipDownload High Resolution Photos Here Download Broadcast Quality Video and Sound Here ORANGE, Calif., May 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Under the lights of Wilson Field, more than 8,000 attendees listened as two-time Academy Award-winning actress and producer Hilary Swank delivered a heartfelt and inspiring keynote address to Chapman University's Class of 2025 on Friday evening, May 23. Swank's remarks emphasized perseverance, purpose, and compassion as she spoke to over 2,600 graduating students, including more than 750 earning advanced degrees. Drawing from her acclaimed career and personal experiences, Swank offered words of encouragement and challenge, urging graduates to embrace their individuality and create impact in their communities and professions. Her remarks were a powerful call to embrace vulnerability, authenticity, and creative perseverance. She spoke to the universal feeling of being an outsider, urging graduates to reframe setbacks as fuel for transformation and to connect through storytelling, empathy, and bold individuality. Her journey – from a trailer park to an Oscar stage – underscored that your beginnings don't define your potential, rather it's how we transform adversity into drive that defines our success. 'It doesn't matter what your career path is,' said Swank. 'It could be wildly creative or methodically linear. There's a language in there that will allow you to connect with people, to improve lives beyond your own, unearth it and become fluent. It will change your perspective on your career when you need it most, and if practice to fluency, it will change your life and the lives around you.' Swank was also awarded an honorary Doctor of the Arts degree in recognition of her artistic achievements and philanthropic work, including her leadership of The Hilaroo Foundation, which connects foster youth with rescue animals. The ceremony also marked a historic moment in Chapman University's history, as President Daniele C. Struppa delivered his final Commencement address before retiring from the presidency in September and returning to the mathematics faculty. Over the course of 19 years, Struppa's visionary leadership helped transform Chapman into a nationally recognized institution with thriving programs in the arts, sciences, business, and beyond. In his farewell to the Class of 2025, he reflected on the deeper purpose of education and the legacy he hopes to leave with every graduate. 'We are here to honor the hard work and the tenacity that brought you to this moment, to toast your future and incredible achievements to come,' Struppa told students. 'But it's a chapter in your lifelong journey to learning, and as you look towards the future, a future that may not yet be clear, please know that you are ready to face the challenge.' Swank joins an esteemed list of past Chapman commencement speakers including comedian, actor, writer and director Bill Hader, award winning actress, director and executive producer Angela Bassett and Nobel Peace Laureate Nadia Murad. With the No. 4 film school in the country, Chapman frequently attracts top talent in the entertainment industry to its Orange campus. About Chapman University Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from over 100 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 'high research activity' institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: Media Contact: Bob Hitchcock, Director of Strategic Communications | rhitchcock@ | Mobile: 407-388-4657 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
