Latest news with #TheWheelofTime
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Pee-wee as Himself': Director Matt Wolf on exploring the duality of Paul Reubens and earning his trust — ‘It was a constant struggle'
When Matt Wolf took on the daunting task of creating a documentary about the enigmatic Paul Reubens, the man behind the flamboyant and charming Pee-wee Herman, the filmmaker never could have imagined just how deeply layered the story would be. Now, in Wolf's Pee-wee as Himself, audiences are given an unprecedented look at a fiercely private artist whose boundary-pushing creativity and resilience impacted an entire generation. The two-part HBO documentary introduces viewers to Reubens in an unexpected way: as an eccentric figure claiming to have been born in 1938 on the banks of the Mississippi River. It's humor that cuts straight to the core of who Reubens was, but also hints at the complicated man behind the bowtie. Wolf admits that the opening moments of a documentary often come together through trial and error: "Oh, I don't know. You just try stuff out and it sticks and we probably tried that immediately as the first thing and it stuck. I mean, it's funny." More from GoldDerby 'Gypsy' and 'Just in Time' producer Tom Kirdahy on serving a 'social and cultural need' through creative work TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' For Wolf, getting a chance to tell Reubens' story required more than just persistence — it required fate. 'People, when you make documentaries, ask who's your dream subject? And mine always was Paul,' Wolf tells Gold Derby. After several unsuccessful attempts to connect with the famously private Reubens, a serendipitous sequence of events involving the Safdie brothers [Benny and Josh], who were at one point rumored to be working on an autobiographical Pee-wee film, ultimately led to Reubens reaching out to Wolf through producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff. From the outset, however, trust was a challenge. Reubens, known for his intense control over his public image, was reluctant to relinquish that same control for the film. "It was hard. It was a constant struggle of trying to earn Paul's trust, but to also accept that there were limits to how much he was willing to trust somebody," Wolf explains. Reubens' fraught history with the media, where he felt his personal story was often misrepresented, left him wary. "I empathized with where he was coming from," Wolf continues, "but trust is a foundation of what we do as documentary filmmakers. ... And Paul was somebody incapable of taking a leap of faith." Over the course of hundreds of hours of conversations, the two worked to find a middle ground, even as Wolf recognized that Reubens would never completely let his guard down. Courtesy of HBO Unbeknownst to Wolf and the crew, Reubens was privately battling cancer while filming the documentary. "I was scheduled to complete a final interview with Paul the week after he died," Wolf shares. "I found out that Paul died on Instagram, the day he died, along with everybody else." The reveal added an even deeper emotional weight to the production. Despite this devastating blow, Wolf pressed on, knowing Reubens wanted the documentary to move forward, giving his blessing in their final conversations. 'I read the 1,500-page transcript of our interview right after [he passed],' Wolf recounts. 'I wanted to rise to the occasion and do justice under these extraordinary circumstances.' The film explores the duality that defined Reubens' career: Pee-wee Herman, the irrepressible, childlike alter ego, and Paul Reubens, the man behind the magic. It's a balancing act few have undertaken successfully, as Wolf points out: 'Somebody else who's in the film that's done that a bit is Elvira, Cassandra Peterson. But it's a small club of people who live as their alter ego. And Paul was kind of the most visible member of that club.' Reubens made a conscious choice to keep Pee-wee a separate entity, a concept born out of both creative and personal motivations. "He wanted people to believe that Pee-wee Herman was a real person,' Wolf explains, 'but on a deeper level, Paul was very protective of his privacy and anonymity." HBO/Pee-wee Herman Productions, Inc. As the documentary delves into Reubens' life before Pee-wee, it reveals the formative influences that shaped not only the character but the artist himself. From his art school days at CalArts to performing as an openly gay man before retreating into the closet for his career, Reubens' trajectory captures the struggles and compromises of a queer artist in the entertainment industry of the 1980s. "He chose to go into the closet to focus on his career,' Wolf notes. 'It was a personal but also pragmatic decision, knowing that in the early 1980s, an openly gay man would not be able to rise in the entertainment industry." Reubens' rejection from Saturday Night Live became the catalyst for Pee-wee Herman's creation. "I think that rejection really kind of emboldened Paul to take matters into his own hands," Wolf observes. From a midnight play at the Groundlings to the cult success of Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Reubens carved out a path that was quintessentially his own. HBO/Pee-wee Herman Productions, Inc. Collaborating with now-iconic director Tim Burton on his feature debut, Reubens enjoyed a type of creative freedom and naïveté in Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Wolf reflects on Burton's experience making the film: 'You're just kind of putting it all out there. And I think there was something very naive about the making of Pee-wee's Big Adventure that allowed it to be very pure." His subsequent Saturday morning show, Pee-wee's Playhouse, broke barriers with its artistic vision and diverse cast. 'In some ways, people recognize that the show was revolutionary,' Wolf says. 'But to watch in more specific detail the types of things that they accomplished and the ambition of it, it will be undeniable how singular it was as a cultural phenomenon.' The documentary doesn't shy away from the controversy that derailed Reubens' career. The incident in an adult movie theater — and subsequent false allegations of child pornography — forever altered public perception. Wolf describes the impacts of that time: "Paul was in a state of shock for a number of years and it had a profound impact on his life... But thankfully we were able to see him in his full breadth of talents as a character actor." Reubens' ability to persevere and work through those challenges is a testament to his resilience. "[He] was a resilient person," Wolf emphasizes. "I didn't see him as a victim. I think he proved over and over again that he could overcome hardship and kind of put his work first." For decades, Pee-wee and Paul existed as two separate beings, a distinction even immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where Pee-wee Herman has a star — Paul Reubens does not. Wolf hopes that his documentary helps fuse these two sides of the same coin. "Paul Reubens created Pee-wee Herman," Wolf reminded us. 'Now that Paul has passed away ... I hope people can respect and appreciate the artist that was always there within, behind, and alongside his creation.' Pee-wee as Himself is currently streaming on Max. Best of GoldDerby TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' 'The Boys' VFX supervisor Stephan Fleet explains why a one-minute shot 'took about 17 hours' to make Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike White, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth announced as ‘Survivor 50' cast members
After months of rumors and speculation (and endless fake spoilers), the wait is finally over. CBS has officially announced the cast of Survivor 50, the landmark golden anniversary season that's due in spring 2026. This is the first all-stars cycle since Season 40's Winners at War (2020), so fans are understandably excited to see who's returning to the island. Host Jeff Probst unveiled the cast list May 28 on CBS Mornings, approximately nine months before the season will actually air. In between now and then, Survivor 49 will debut on CBS later this fall. The 49th and 50th seasons are filming back to back this spring and summer in Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, the reality TV show's permanent home since 2016. More from GoldDerby 'Gypsy' and 'Just in Time' producer Tom Kirdahy on serving a 'social and cultural need' through creative work TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' Drumroll, please! The Survivor 50 cast members are: Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: Seasons 1 (Borneo), 8 (All-Stars) Colby Donaldson: Seasons 2 (The Australian Outback), 8 (All-Stars), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Stephenie Lagrossa Kendrick: Seasons 10 (Palau), 11 (Guatemala), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Cirie Fields: Seasons 12 (Panama-Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 34 (Game Changers) Ozzy Lusth: Seasons 13 (Cook Islands), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 23 (South Pacific), 34 (Game Changers) Benjamin "Coach" Wade: Seasons 18 (Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 23 (South Pacific) Aubry Bracco: Seasons 32 (Kaôh Rōng – Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty), 34 (Game Changers), 38 (Edge of Extinction) Chrissy Hofbeck: Season 35 (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) Christian Hubicki: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Angelina Keeley: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Mike White: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Rick Devens Season 38 (Edge of Extinction) Jonathan Young: Season 42 Dee Valladares: Season 45 Winner Emily Flippen: Season 45 Quintavius "Q" Burdette: Season 46 Tiffany Nicole Ervin: Season 46 Charlie Davis: Season 46 Genevieve Mushaluk: Season 47 Kamilla Karthigesu: Season 48 Kyle Fraser: Season 48 Winner Joseph "Joe" Hunter: Season 48 Player No. 1 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) Player No. 2 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) SEE: The Survivor 50 cast photos above Probst previously revealed that Survivor 50 will be subtitled In the Hands of the Fans. And yes, that means you have all of the power. Viewers voted throughout Survivor 48 for certain aspects of gameplay for the upcoming 50th cycle, including advantages, Buff colors, abundance of food, final four fire-making, and whether the winner will be announced at a live reunion show or on-location at tribal council. SEE 'Survivor' deaths: Full list of castaways we've lost The host and showrunner's main goal in casting the 50th installment was to bring back contestants who "represented the entire series," which began in 2000. Since then, more than 700 people have played the game of Survivor, with each winner taking home a $1 million prize. To date, Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Islands, Heroes vs. Villains) and Tony Vlachos (Cagayan, Winners at War) are the franchise's only two-time champions. In another example of fan support, CBS and Fiji Airways teamed up to award five lucky at-home "tribes" — comprising groups of friends and loved ones — with trips to Fiji to watch the filming of Season 50. Their adventures include roundtrip airfare, four nights of accommodations at a luxurious ocean-front resort, exposure to the rich Fijian culture, a tour of the Survivor sets, and a meet-and-greet with Probst. Robert Voets/CBS SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Launch Gallery: 'Survivor 50' cast photos: See who's back for the historic season that's 'In the Hands of the Fans' Best of GoldDerby 'Survivor' winners list: All seasons 'The Voice' winners: All seasons 'Survivor' deaths: Full list of castaways we've lost Click here to read the full article.
Geek Tyrant
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THE WHEEL OF TIME Showrunner Reacts to Cancellation: 'These Fans Deserve to See the Story Finished' — GeekTyrant
Rafe Judkins, showrunner of The Wheel of Time , has broken his silence following Amazon's unexpected cancellation of the fantasy series just weeks after its Season 3 finale. The news left fans stunned, especially after the show's steady performance and deeply invested audience. Judkins himself is still processing it. In an emotional Instagram post, Judkins shared: 'I wish I could say something clear and tidy that explains to all those who love it why it's coming to an end. But the truth is, I don't really understand it myself.' Judkins went on to celebrate the cast and crew as 'talented and wonderful,' and pointed out something that makes the cancellation sting even more: 'Season 3 spent nearly 20 weeks in the Nielsen Top 10 streaming chart, a feat few shows have been able to match in the last decade.' So, the show was doing very well! Judkins didn't stop at mourning The Wheel of Time , he called out a larger issue plaguing modern TV: 'There is a larger trend in TV toward fewer seasons with less episodes… I genuinely believe that this goes against the fundamental strength of television – long-form storytelling.' It's hard to argue with him. Shows that once had the runway to evolve and deepen such as Lost , Breaking Bad , The X-Files , Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and more, are now expected to make a splash in eight episodes or less. For something as sprawling and layered as The Wheel of Time , that kind of compressed storytelling just doesn't cut it. Still, there's a glimmer of hope. Judkins hinted that the show might yet defy the odds: 'One of the reasons I chose Amazon in the first place was that it had recently picked up The Expanse after SYFY axed it… Who knows, perhaps The Wheel of Time show will do what the books have always managed to do since day one – defy the traditional definitions of 'beginnings' and 'ends.' I certainly hope it does – because this book series and these fans deserve to see the story finished.' For now, there are no official plans to shop the series elsewhere, but fans aren't letting it go quietly. A petition to save the show has already gathered nearly 130,000 signatures, proving that the wheel is still turning. The question is… will someone will step up to keep it spinning?
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Better Sister' Bosses Break Down the Series' Spiderweb of Secrets, Complex Family Dynamics and Mysteries They Can Explore in a Season 2
[This story contains spoilers from all eight episodes of Prime Video's ] When crafting Prime Video's eight-episode limited series The Better Sister, starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks, showrunners Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado asked themselves, 'What is the most uncomfortable path we can take and can we bear telling it this way?' More from The Hollywood Reporter 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks on Wanting the Audience to Root for Their "Messy" Characters and That "Rallying Cry" Ending 'The Better Sister' Review: Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks' Chemistry Gets Squandered in Amazon's Dull Sisterly Mystery 'The Wheel of Time' Canceled at Amazon's Prime Video After Three Seasons That path proves to be a spiderweb of mysteries as Milch and Corrado explore both the unraveling of a whodunit and the trauma and history between two estranged sisters Nicky (Banks) and Chloe (Biel). Adapted from Alafair Burke's novel of the same name, Biel and Banks star as sisters seemingly living opposite lives — Chloe with an established career and devoted family that includes lawyer husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and teenage son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan), while Nicky struggles to stay clean. However, when Adam is murdered, the two sisters must come together, especially when Ethan is accused of the murder. To make matters more complicated, Nicky is also Adam's ex and Ethan's biological mother. When exploring the lingering secrets and complex family and personal history that exist for Chloe and Nicky, Milch tells The Hollywood Reporter that they were really exploring 'the emotional and psychological unraveling' of each character. 'I think so much of the show is about the stories that we've told ourselves about who we are, about who our siblings are, and about what happened,' Milch says, adding, 'As you get to know the characters, you start to understand more and you start to understand how they didn't understand each other at a certain point, how they sort of moved away from each other.' Throughout the series, the audience watches Biel's Chloe and Banks' Nicky fight to save their son from jail while also having to confront their own demons whether personally or ones that spurred from each other and their parents. As for who is actually the 'better sister'? That was a 'real guiding light' for the show, Milch says, adding, 'All of us are trying to sort of be better than our worst selves, and we don't always succeed. These two sisters think things about each other. The world thinks things about them. And, at different moments, one of them is trying to do the right thing, and one of them has made a mistake, and yet they sort of keep finding each other.' Corrado says, 'I think they ultimately have have destroyed the trust between them, and there is this slow rebuilding. But the question remains, can they actually move on from these things that they've done to each other, which are very deep and unforgivable in some ways? Can we forgive, but can I live with you and move forward?' Ahead of the show's premiere, Milch and Corrado chatted with THR about show's spiderweb of mysteries, exploring a complex yet 'perfect alcoholic family' and break down that killer reveal ending — and the new mysteries to explore. How did this project come to you both and what about the story made you want to be a part of it? OLIVIA MILCH Tomorrow Studios, the amazing producers on the project, had sent the book to me in 2019. It's so twisty and turny and fun, and [author] Alafair [Burke] does such an incredible job. Then her prosecutorial background and how well researched all of the trial stuff was, it was just such a fun read. I think for me personally, the thing that I really connected to is this notion that siblings get different versions of their parents, particularly when a parent gets sober, and how that affects one kid getting a sober version of the parent and one kid having experienced a parent when they were in more of an addict or in use. I really connected with that. My dad got sober when I was 10, and my brother was 13, my sister was 15, so I really felt like, 'Oh, I understand that.' And even if you don't have experience with sobriety, everybody, I think can understand that their parents change as people and you are getting them at different stages of their life. As you become an adult, and you look back, you realize, 'Wow, that had such an effect on who I am, and who my siblings are, and also the way that I think of my siblings and the stories that I tell.' Then the idea of getting to work with Regina. Regina is like on the Mount Rushmore of writers to me. Tomorrow Studios was so committed to the project throughout all of these years and just so believed in it. So we're very much indebted to them and grateful to them for helping us see it through, and now we got to make it, which is just crazy! REGINA CORRADO I have a very big family. Each one of us has a different version of the sobriety. My favorite is, 'He wasn't sober.' (Laughs.) You think you had one version of, 'Oh, no, he kicked it.' Everyone's got the real scoop. That's my favorite piece of it. So we connect a lot on the family aspect of this, which is really fun to explore and continue to explore, because the exploration doesn't end. This series is presented as a spiderweb of mysteries where we have the central mystery of Adam's death but also other mysteries including of the sisters themselves, Adam as a person and his job, Ethan's secrets and the detective and her past. And once you think you know something, something else happens to steer you in another direction. Going into this, how did you go about crafting how you were going to explore these different mysteries and present the varied pieces of this overall puzzle we watch throughout the series? MILCH All the characters have a secret pride and a secret shame. At the heart of a lot of the mysteries in the show, which you've done such a beautiful job elucidating how you think you know you're solving one thing and then another thing, is a lot of these characters have secret shame and [exploring] to be seen and to be known once your secret shame is revealed. And to ask, can I still love myself? Can other people still love me? All the characters are asking that of each other at different times. So I think so much of the plot is the emotional and psychological unraveling [and] our exposure of the characters to each other. And the web that you talk about is understanding that they're all in it together and their fates are really intertwined, which is the truth of all of us. We spent so much time thinking about the past and the care of each character that having gotten to know them so well, and then getting to understand the actors and what they were bringing to the characters as we approached every moment of revelation, we understood what that might give us access to in the past, the character, and how that might then come to light in that present moment. That was a lot of fun. CORRADO I think also the shame that one thinks is going to do you in, sometimes has that surprising liberation attached to it. I think that was a theme Olivia and I were very interested in exploring and talking about is that we carry this darkness around, and then when you finally expose [it], whether voluntarily or not, there is a freedom to live in a different way. And we can say that that that applies to every single one of our characters too. The narrative centers on these unreliable narrators, given it doesn't seem like anyone is really trustworthy and there are lingering secrets with everyone involved. Can you talk about creating Chloe and Nicky and the conversations you had with Jessica and Elizabeth in who you wanted them to be? CORRADO I think that they are both very different in their process, both incredibly smart and invested in layering and I think sobriety, particularly for the Nicky character. It's complicated. And it's also complicated for how old they are. I think the conversation was always, how do we make them more interesting and the more courageous choice as writers and as actors? What is the most uncomfortable path we can take and can we bear telling it this way? And I think that they were both very committed to that. I think Elizabeth and Jessica were just delightful to get into it with, because they always showed up on set with something that they had been grappling with. It wasn't like they came in and they were like, 'I got it.' They were like, 'Well, what about this? I have this question.' It's hard work, because when you're honest about it, it's uncomfortable. MILCH There was so much mutual vulnerability that was being brought to the process, and that's what makes it messy in the best way, because it makes it human. I think part of what you were pointing out with the web of all of these characters is that nothing is clean. The unreliable narrator, you're never 100 percent honest with yourself, let alone other people. Both Elizabeth and Jessica, they're so smart, and they're such pros. They've been doing it for so long that I think there was so much excitement and they were so down to go to that place of vulnerability. They weren't afraid of the moments of messiness in the characters. That excited them the most. That's the best you can ask for with creative collaborators. We spend a lot of the show taking the time to understand these characters and their choices and peel back their layers. I think it humanized them because you may at first not have sympathy or even know whether you like them based on what we think we know about them. CORRADO But you hope that those two things can exist at the same time. Your heart is big enough that you feel for them. That's the trick of it: to be unlikable in some instances and moments and then all of a sudden break somebody's heart when they're watching you suffer. You also explore Nicky and Chloe's childhood and upbringing and how the both of them had different experiences, especially given their difference in age. Can you talk about how their childhood shaped how they conceived themselves and each other and what you wanted to get across with their backstory? MILCH I think all of us are products of our mother and father, or lack thereof, and our childhoods. It was so important to us, particularly with the sisters, to go back to those original wounds and those original traumas. I think so much of the show is about the stories that we've told ourselves about who we are, about who our siblings are and about what happened. It was really important for us to be able to start interrogating some of those memories and charting the course of our characters, also tapping back into them and understanding them in a different way. I think that happens for a lot of us. I think it's so potent and so powerful to just even see those glimmers and those moments of childhood, because it makes you understand that inside of us we all have the kid version of ourselves still. Getting to access that rawness and that pain directly is so important for our characters and then so important for our audience. We know there's volumes of story about our characters before we met them. So that was something that was so special for us to be able to do. And I think really starts to complete the picture. As you get to know the characters, you start to understand more and you start to understand how they didn't understand each other at a certain point, how they sort of moved away from each other. CORRADO I feel like to meet their parents it all becomes abundantly clear what happens: It's the perfect alcoholic family (Laughs.) As Chloe and Nicky work together to protect Ethan, their bond grows, but it is a slow progress and almost felt like their relationship was strongest when there were secrets. Can you talk about the progression of their relationship and the complexities of that sibling relationship? CORRADO I think it's a push and pull, like five steps forward, six steps back. I think they ultimately have have destroyed the trust between them, and there is this slow rebuilding. But the question remains, can they actually move on from these things that they've done to each other, which are very deep and unforgivable in some ways? Can we forgive, but can I live with you and move forward? MILCH Or how do you embrace the totality of a person, including that that person was capable of hurting you and harming you in that way? Can you hold the truth simultaneously, that they can love you and that they can hurt you so much? That's really family, right? I think when you're with your siblings, you revert back to being kids immediately, and you have all of the stuff that's happened between you in the present. And so I think that Jess and Elizabeth do such an amazing job of getting at that dynamic where there's so much distrust, so many secrets between them, and yet, the second they get with each other, it's the bickering, and it just comes out. We always talk about the moment on the terrace when Guidry, the cop [played by Kim Dickens], comes out, [and they're like], 'She's such a bitch!' Siblings unite talking shit about an outsider. So I think that was also very important to us to find those moments of humor and levity and the dynamic that is unique to sisters. Adam may have been murdered but he's very much a central character. We learn he went with Nicky's sister, is abusive and involved in a shady business. How did you view Adam and the motivations he had with the choices he made when it came to Nicky and Chloe, Ethan and then his career? MILCH Adam also was always so important to us — not necessarily that there were redeeming qualities about him but that we understood him. He was complex and nobody's all bad. In the eighth episode, you meet his mother and get that glimpse into a little bit of what he came from and what he was trying to leave behind. You're sort of starting to understand how does a kid who has a pretty broken background start to try to piece themselves together and have a sense of control? Even when they have demons that either have been passed down to them or have been developed as coping mechanisms. For us, Adam was somebody who really viewed himself as having a profound sense of integrity and belief that there are ways things ought to be. And as you piece the story together, the understanding that when he was with Nicky, it was such an affront to the way that he thought things were supposed to go. When he says in his sort of apparition ghost figure to Chloe in 107: If it wasn't then it would have been another time she [Nicky] was gonna kill him. We also wanted to show that, yes, Nicky was terribly wronged and horrifically set up, and her child was taken from her, but she also was a drunk. Nothing is totally black and white or has 100 percent moral clarity. When he's with Chloe, this is also a life he didn't sign up for. We have that tension between the two of them, of her comfort in the spotlight and his thinking, 'Okay, now I'm with the right sister. This was who I was supposed to be with.' And then, 'Oh no, wait, this also isn't the life that I want, and this is also a life that lacks integrity, and now I'm at this job that she wanted me to be in that is corrupt.' Just trying to tap into the frustration and the resentment and the anger that he felt, never justifying the choices that he made with that anger but trying to know that the underpinnings of it were real feelings that he was having, and how clearly toxic it can be when you don't have the capacity to process those feelings in ways that are that are healthy or safe. That was super important to us as we were building that and, of course, an actor like Corey Stoll, it's very rare to find somebody who could really bring all of that to light. So we were very fortunate to have Corey help tell that story with us. CORRADO We did also want to explore that he was very aware of the fact that he was very damaged and dangerous. And we went through different iterations of how we could share that, whatever that inner struggle was, and we ended up doing it the way we did. We felt like it was very important to fill that color in, because it's very easy to demonize a character, and then when you demonize them, you write them off. So it was so important to understand him and, as Olivia said, not to justify or to excuse but sort of say, 'This guy is tortured. He wants out too.' Each time this violence happened, he swore it would be the last. Ethan goes through it in the series. His dad is murdered; he's accused of the murder; he has a close relationship with both Chloe and Nicky and in the middle of that dynamic. But then learns that his situation could've been different had Adam never lied about Nicky putting him in danger and he's left to reevaluate his life. By the series' end, where does that leave him? Do you think there's any resentment there with him and Chloe? MILCH There's so many heartbreaking realizations about what he's been through. As you said, there's sort of this onion that's being peeled back and I think when you first encounter Ethan, you think, 'This is kind of a spoiled, wealthy kid. He's sweet. I like him. He's a little bit awkward.' And Maxwell Donovan, who plays him, is just so amazing. But when he does get arrested, you think he's capable. He's tall. He could have maybe taken his dad on. And it's very important to have that kind of all play out as you encountered him as a character and looked at him in a new light. But I think exactly as you're saying, there's so much confusion and there's so much that's unknown for him about the truth of his life. There are stories that you tell kids to help simplify things, especially when there's been trauma that has happened to kids when they're little. And I think Ethan was told a certain story that was convenient and direct, even though it was painful, about what happened with Nicky and then he went on to live a very privileged life. Then at this moment of peak adolescence, the rug gets pulled out from under him. In a certain sense, he's going through something quite similar to what Nicky and Chloe are going through; Reexamining his childhood and reexamining the truth of what happened to him and what he can believe. I think all teenagers have that moment where they look at their parents and they realize, 'You are fallible figures. You are not just abstractions of security and authority. You are people capable of making mistakes and of lying and of doing the wrong thing.' And that is unnerving, but you have to sort of process that in order to become an adult. I think he gets the most extreme version of that and the feelings he has toward Nicky of what does it mean to get to know her and then the questioning of: Was I supposed to stay with her? Would I have made more sense if I had grown up in Ohio with Nicky? I think a lot of people, when they find out things about their childhood, start to ask those kinds of questions. How different would I be if it had been different? But I think you were very smart to pinpoint. I think that there is a lot of resentment and anger toward Chloe, particularly at the end, as he sort of realizes a lot of this was a lie, even if some of that was not her fault or her intention. CORRADO What I think Alafair [Burke] set up for us beautifully, too, was the use of the internet as a place to put his anger that does not bring it into real time. It was actually unusually a healthy outlet for him, so he was able to to voice that: accusing of her hypocrisy and all of the things that he hated about her [Chloe] and he wanted to hurt his father. I think that that, to me, is one of his most interesting aspects as a character, because he has that one very sweet facade, but is capable of a lot of things. Like what is there underneath all of that? It's revealed that Nicky was the one to kill Adam. But why do you think she didn't share that especially given Ethan was arrested and on trial for the murder? MILCH I think there's a question you always ask yourself when you're thinking about characters' choices: What if it all went according to plan? We don't believe that Nicky came there with the intention of murdering Adam. She says, 'I'm getting my sister and I'm getting my son, and I'm getting out of here.' So it really was self defense. It was, 'If I don't defend myself, he's gonna kill me. And I know he's capable of that, and he feels justified in doing that, because he's gonna say I was crazy. He's gonna make up some story about what I came here to do.' I think in the aftermath of that, when she gets that call from the police, there's two ways that call is gonna go. She thinks, 'Oh, my God, are they calling me to say we know that you've murdered Adam Macintosh and we're gonna come arrest you?' But they call her and say, 'You now are the legal guardian of your son' and that is the thing that she's wanted more than anything in her life and here it is. So in a weird way, this spur of the moment decision that she had to make gives her the thing that she wants most. And how is she going to deny that to herself? But I think the thing that Elizabeth does so beautifully and is always at play with Nicky is that anxiety and that fear [of] 'I'm going to be found out.' The second she gets to be with Ethan, it's such a balm and salve to her soul of what she's wanted for so long, and she gets to be back with her sister, which as much tension as there is, I think they both did really miss each other. If she turns herself in, she's going to jail. She doesn't get to be with them anymore. How could she choose that after just getting them back? I think she thinks she would never let Ethan go away for it. But is there a way to salvage the possibility that they can all be together? It's not rational but none of it is. That was always Nicky's North Star; getting to be with Ethan and her sister and protecting both of them. And then ultimately Chloe decides she's going to figure out a way to protect her sister and protect her son. CORRADO I think she could find out if Chloe was the enemy or not because she [Chloe] had betrayed her trust and taken so much from her. Coming in with the truth was probably, in her mind, a ticket right to jail. They worked some shit out. At the end, Chloe and Nicky imply that they're going to tell their story in a book after all. What did you want to get across with their decision to do that? CORRADO This is also a way of healing. They're going to tell this story, and they're going to do it together, and the money is going to be life changing, and they'll have a whole new set of lies they need to sort. But it begs the question of what story are they going to tell? It feels like they're forever bonded by secrets and their relationship is strongest when there are secrets. MILCH I think that's exactly right. At the heart of many families, the secrets are what bonds you together. That question of, what story are they going to tell for us? That's sort of the story of the show. It's this love story with these sisters but it's, what story have you told yourself? What story are you telling together? What story are you telling the world and all of those different versions? That's a big question for how they go forward. At the end of the series, we see Jake (Gabriel Sloyer) lying dead on the beach. It seems to be hinted that he was killed by Bill and Gentry, can you confirm that? MILCH To confirm? (Laughs.) CORRADO Confirm or deny (Laughs.) I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something, but it seems there's another mystery to solve! MILCH I think we very much wanted to deliver a very satisfactory ending for the first season and have it feel like you know what happened, like the mystery is solved. But I think that obviously the truth, particularly around these ladies in this family, is things happen. So there certainly is no definitive answer to that. For now. (Laughs.) We also see Detective Guidry aware that despite Bill being arrested for Adam's murder, that's not what actually happened and knows Nicky has something to do with the murder. Is that something that she just will have to keep to herself going forward or do you see a world where she tries to still expose the truth somehow? MILCH You know, you are asking so many wonderful questions about what it might be like to say, continue to tell this story, which is certainly something that we've given thought on our own. And should we be so lucky to continue to get to explore! But yes, I think Guidry, like [with] so many in this story, there's sort of the version that is out in the public, and then the private truth. Even though at the end of the season, so many secrets have been revealed and so many mysteries sort of have been solved, there's now this new set of lies agreed upon, and secrets and choices that have been made that are setting things in motion. She knows something that isn't out there, and what is she going to do with that information? I think that cat and mouse between Guidry and Nicky is such a fun and satisfying dynamic and relationship in the season. So Nicky gets away, but for how long? Well my other question was going to be whether you envision continuing the story for Chloe and Nicky, but I suppose I got my answer. MILCH AND CORRADO (Laughs.) Given the series is called , I think while watching the series the answer to who is actually the better sister can change and be hard to answer. But what is your take on who is the better sister and why? MILCH I think you nailed it. It depends on any given moment. That was, for us, what we were always interested in exploring. That's also true in your relationships, it depends on the day, and we all fuck up, and we all hurt each other, and then we're all the person who needs something, and we're the person who shows up. That was a real guiding light for us in telling the story: All of us are trying to sort of be better than our worst selves, and we don't always succeed. These two sisters think things about each other. The world thinks things about them. And, at different moments, one of them is trying to do the right thing, and one of them has made a mistake, and yet they sort of keep finding each other. CORRADO It was a great opportunity for other characters to comment on how fucked up they were (Laughs.) Like, 'Oh, these sisters…' The surrogate for the audience is not who's better, it's who's worse? (Laughs.) *** All eight episodes of The Better Sister are now streaming on Prime Video. Read THR's interview with Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Gizmodo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The ‘Wheel of Time' Showrunner Still Hopes Its Story Continues Elsewhere
Fans haven't given up on The Wheel of Time—the Robert Jordan epic fantasy adaptation that was just abruptly cancelled by Amazon after three seasons—and neither has showrunner Rafe Judkins. Prior to what turned out to be the show's final outing on Prime Video, Judkins spoke about his commitment to finishing The Wheel of Time's story, and he's renewing that vow in a new social media post. Judkins took to Instagram to share his reaction to the cancellation (he feels fans' pain, that much is clear), praise his collaborators, and weigh in on the current state of the TV industry. Here's the full statement: 'I've been asked the same questions many times the last week—why was The Wheel of Time cancelled? And the truth is, I don't know. I wish I could say something clear and tidy that explains to all of us who love it why it's coming to an end, but sadly, I can't. What I can say is that the actors and crew on our show are the most talented and wonderful group of people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. And we've all been incredibly lucky to make something that not only was beloved by fans (and even critics! ha!), but was also watched by huge numbers of people all over the world, appearing in the Nielsen Top 10 for nearly 20 weeks, a feat very few shows have been able to match in the last decade. One of my core goals in making this show, even from the earliest crafting of the pitch, has been to tell the whole story. Because the Wheel of Time books do what television has always done best—get better as they go. And as our actors and team came on board, they too could see the potential if we were allowed to finish this incredible story. We made many sacrifices, both personal and creative, along the way to get to that ending, so coming up short feels like a devastating blow for all of us. Much has been written about this larger trend in TV toward fewer seasons with less episodes and finding quicker ways to acquire additional streaming subscribers. But I genuinely believe this goes against the fundamental strength of television—long-form storytelling. It is an art form, much like epic fantasy, which at its very best, gives people a place to go and spend time with the characters that they love year after year. And I believe there are executives, studios, and networks who know that. I believe that we will find our way through this current iteration of the industry and back to what we do best—bringing great characters into people's living rooms and lives every week.' Finally, Judkins offered some hope for Wheel of Time's future, referencing another fan-favorite series that got a joyfully unexpected resurrection after being cancelled. 'Will Wheel of Time get to do that with another network and finish the story? Sadly, it's not something that happens often. But it does happen. In fact, one of the reasons we first chose Amazon as a home for the show was because they were in the midst of picking up The Expanse after SYFY cancelled it. So, who knows, perhaps the Wheel of Time show will do what the books have always managed to do since day one—defy the traditional definitions of 'beginnings' and 'ends'. I certainly hope it does—because this book series and these fans deserve to see the story finished.' We'll keep you posted if and when The Wheel of Time does indeed find a new home on a different streamer. Considering the reason given for the Wheel of Time being cancelled was financial concerns, it'd have to be a deep-pocketed outlet. Maybe Netflix will pull a Lucifer-style rescue and add another fantasy title to its library, especially now that The Sandman is ending soon?
