Latest news with #Yellowjackets'
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Cobra Kai' creators reveal Hilary Swank declined to join show: ‘Disappointing'
Hilary Swank said thanks, but no thanks. The creators of the hit Netflix show 'Cobra Kai' have revealed that they tried to get Swank, 50, to appear in the popular 'Karate Kid' sequel series. But the Oscar-winning actress, who played Julie Pierce in 1994's 'The Next Karate Kid,' politely declined. 10 The creators of 'Cobra Kai' have revealed that they tried to get Hilary Swank to appear in the popular 'Karate Kid' sequel series. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Swank portrayed Julie Pierce in 'The Next Karate Kid' in 1994. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Cobra Kai' creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg opened up about the situation during a sit-down with Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday. 'We did reach out in the very early days before the season to see if there was a path,' Heald said, revealing that they approached the actress shortly before the show's sixth and final season began production in 2024. '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,' he continued. 10 Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi and Swank as Julie Pierce in 'The Next Karate Kid.' ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 The Oscar-winning actress politely declined the 'Cobra Kai' creators' offer for her to appear in the Netflix show. Getty Images 'It was going to feel like it could be a one or two-episode arc, similar to what we did with Elisabeth Shue,' Heald added, 'where you can bring Ali back in at a pivotal moment and affect an important relationship.' Shue, who starred as Ali Mills alongside Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso in the original 1984 'Karate Kid,' reprised her character for the last two episodes of the Netflix show's third season. Although Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg did reach out to Swank's reps to find out if they could have a discussion with her and introduce themselves, the trio never even got that far. 10 '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,' creator Josh Heald explained. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 'She was just in a place where she wasn't looking to do that,' Heald said. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection '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 explained. '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,' he added. '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.' Swank welcomed twins with her husband, Philip Schneider, in April 2023. She joined the cast of Showtime's 'Yellowjackets' for Season 3, which premiered this year. 10 'Cobra Kai' followed Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) 34 years after the events of the original 'Karate Kid' movie. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 10 Many other characters from the six-movie 'Karate Kid' franchise joined Macchio and Zabka on the small screen for 'Cobra Kai.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Despite Swank's refusal, the three creators still hope to see her return as Julie Pierce in a potential 'Cobra Kai' spinoff. 'It's a big piece of the Miyagi-verse that's still out there,' Heald said. '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,' he concluded. The Post has reached out to Swank's reps for comment. 10 'Cobra Kai' premiered on Netflix in 2018 and wrapped up its sixth and final season in February. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Cobra Kai,' which premiered on Netflix in 2018 and wrapped up its sixth and final season in February, followed Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) 34 years after the events of the original 'Karate Kid' movie. While Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg were unable to convince Swank to return, they did bring back other characters from the six-movie franchise to join Macchio, 63, and Zabka, 59, on the small screen. Yuji Okumoto reprised his character Chozen Toguchi from 1986's 'Karate Kid Part II,' and Sean Kanan (Mike Barnes), Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver) and Robyn Lively (Jessica Andrew) all returned to their roles from 1989's 'Karate Kid Part III.' 10 Ralph Macchio with some of his 'Cobra Kai' cast members during a screening of the show in Los Angeles in March 2025. Getty Images Plus, Macchio recently reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso for the 10th time for the franchise's newest film, 'Karate Kid Legends,' which premiered on May 30. The movie also saw Jackie Chan return as Mr. Han from the 2010 'Karate Kid' remake. 'Reprising this role means paying that legacy forward,' Macchio said upon the release of 'Karate Kid Legends' last month. 'It's about spreading that wisdom and knowledge in a good way, in a positive way.' Pat Morita, who played the beloved character Mr. Miyagi in the original 'Karate Kid' trilogy and 'The Next Karate Kid,' died in 2005. He was 73.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Awards Magnet': ‘Yellowjackets' cast on who dies, who has ‘nothing to lose,' and what ‘delicious' Hilary Swank really tastes like
"I took a bite from Hilary Swank, and it was delicious," says Melanie Lynskey. "It was mashed up strawberries and sugar." That's how Lynskey summed up one of the most memorable scenes from Season 3 of Yellowjackets at a recent panel at the Newport Beach TV Festival, where the cast received the award for Outstanding Drama Ensemble. Lynskey, who plays adult Shauna on the Showtime drama, was joined by Christina Ricci (adult Misty) and Samantha Hanratty (teen Misty) for a Q&A moderated by Gold Derby's editor-in-chief. More from GoldDerby 'The Studio' Emmy predictions: How many nominations can it get? Jeremy Allen White is 'Born to Run' in the first trailer for Bruce Springsteen biopic 'Deliver Me From Nowhere' Tom Cruise finally gets his (honorary) Oscar moment: Here's his complete awards history The cast also discussed the one question they would ask the showrunners, the deaths that shocked them the most, and who's going to be left standing at the end. Listen to the full Q&A on Awards Magnet below. SEEHow 'Yellowjackets' brought the shocking 'Pit Girl' hunt to life in Season 3 Lynskey admitted she wasn't interested in the series when she was first presented with it, especially when she learned that she was only going to be in half of the show. "But then I read the script, and I was like, 'Oh, no, it's great." I was hooked, and I wanted to know more," she says. "I was fascinated with why [Shauna] was the way she was." Ricci was lured in by the concept. "I'm fascinated by trauma and PTSD and what it does to people," she says. "And then when I read the script, I was also really fascinated by deviant behavior." Hanratty actually auditioned for Natalie at first — in fact, the producers kept auditioning her, torn over whether she should play Natalie or Misty. "I don't know if they hate me or love me!" she says. "It was a tough time, but I'm so grateful for it." The adult/teen versions end up mirroring each other through "happy accidents," says Hanratty. "It's just kind of instinct," says Lynskey of her conversations with Sophie Nélisse, who plays teen Sophie. "We're very much on the same page about who she was, just fundamentally about a person." Now three seasons in, "it feels second nature," says Lynskey, even though her character takes dark turns this season. "I've never read a script and been like, 'What's happening? I'm just excited to get a script and see what they're going to make me do." The cast is still reeling from the series' extensive death toll, especially this season. SEE'I was terrified — she has an Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby"': Melanie Lynskey on her epic 'Yellowjackets' fight with Hilary Swank "I still haven't come to terms with the fact that showing up next season, we're not going to have all of our actors there, and that's really hard for me," says Hanratty. "A lot of the people, the characters we've lost, they're really good friends of mine. Alexa [Barajas, who played Mari], she's gone, we ate her, but you never know with ghost stuff. I think I'm a little bummed out because Misty doesn't really see people the way everyone else gets haunted." Ricci was especially shocked about Steven Krueger's Coach Ben dying. "I never got to work with him, but I really just loved him," she says. Lynskey was surprised about adult Van (Lauren Ambrose) and Lottie (Simone Kessell). "When it's people you love and enjoy working with, which is everyone in our cast, it's horrible," she says. The '90s cast holds death parties for the actors who get killed off. "We do funeral parties for whoever wants it," says Hanratty. "It's however everyone wants to be honored for their character." Quipped Ricci: "Well, like most things, it appears that the younger generation is more advanced and able to process their emotions in a healthier way than us old ladies. We haven't done anything for anybody." SEE'I do think that I burned down the cabin': How 'Yellowjackets' star Steven Krueger pulled off Coach Ben's mental and physical decline So who's more dangerous, the teens or the adults? Though Hanratty and Lynskey think it's the teens because they have nothing to lose, Ricci disagrees."The writers have kind of put us in a situation where also the adults don't have that much to lose," she says. "[Shauna's] estranged from [her] family, I have nothing and Taissa [Tawny Cypress] has lost everything as well. So it is sort of an interesting situation where finally both sides are balanced in that everybody's got nothing left to lose, so we're all dangerous. So it could be really exciting." The actors also shared what they'd like to see for their characters next season. Lynskey hopes Shauna reunites with her husband, who left her at the end of Season 3. "I do think it's so terrifying for her to be understood and unconditionally loved by somebody, and she was just starting to kind of accept that that might be possible, and then, you know, there's always the consequences of your own actions. So she's facing that right now. She can't help herself. She can't be settled. But I really hope that, at least I hope to have scenes with Warren [Kole]." Ricci appreciates how active Misty is, so she hopes to get to play with that more. "I feel like that is such a realistic thing that I understand doing in response to trauma or any kind of emotional feeling to do instead of sit there," she says. She particularly liked the scenes chasing Swank, for example. "I just had the best day showing everybody how fast I can run." As for teen Misty, Hanratty says, "If there is a rescue. I just really look forward to seeing how everybody acclimates back into society," she says. "Misty's going to have a mixed bag of loving attention and missing her friends. I'd love to do some unredeemable stuff, too. I like when people don't know if they love her or hate her." So who do they think is going to be left standing at the end? Predicts Ricci, "Walter's [Elijah Wood] going to survive us all." Yellowjackets streams on Paramount+ with Showtime. Email your questions to slugfests@ Best of GoldDerby 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') Sam Rockwell on Frank's 'White Lotus' backstory, Woody Harrelson's influence, and going all in on 'this arc of Buddhist to Bad Lieutenant' Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh admit they 'never had the audacity to realize' a show like 'Deli Boys' was possible Click here to read the full article.
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.'
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jennifer Morrison reveals the Netflix drama she's dying to join: ‘I'll do whatever they want'
Once upon a time, Jennifer Morrison starred in a movie with Allison Janney. The pair appeared in the 2017 crime/drama 'Sun Dogs,' and now, the director, 46, would love to work with the 'Mom' alum, 65, once again. This time around, Morrison is interested in joining Janney's hit Netflix thriller 'The Diplomat.' The series' third season is set to air this fall and follows Keri Russell as a diplomat that becomes the ambassador to the United Kingdom. Janney plays Vice President Grace Penn. Advertisement 9 Jennifer Morrison attends Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at Will Rogers State Historic Park on October 05, 2024. FilmMagic 9 Allison Janney in 'The Diplomat.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'I just love her so much,' Morrison exclusively told The Post about Janney at the 2025 Astra Awards on Tuesday. Advertisement 'I mean, the truth is I just want to be on 'The Diplomat' with her. I would do anything to be on 'The Diplomat.'' 'I don't care how. I'll direct. I'll act. I'll do both. I'll do whatever they want me to do,' she added. 'I love that show. It's so good.' Along with being a pro in front of the camera, Morrison has been behind the lens these days. She recently directed the fourth episode of 'Yellowjackets' Season 3, titled '12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis,' and episode seven, titled 'Croak.' 9 'The Diplomat' director Tucker Gates and Keri Russell on set. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement 9 Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell in 'The Diplomat.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection The Showtime Season 3 project stars Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Hilary Swank, and more. The entire experience was nothing short of magical for Morrison. 'It was incredible. I loved the show from the start,' the 'Big Stan' star gushed. 'I've been a fan. The fact I even had a shot at meeting with them and working on the show was a dream come true. That cast is incredible. The showrunners are incredible. Every episode kind of feels like its own film.' 'There's something different and loaded going on in every single episode, so as a filmmaker, it's also very exciting,' she continued. 'You're going to get to stretch and spread your wings a little bit. It was just incredible.' Advertisement 9 Jennifer Morrison attends the 2025 Astra TV Awards. Getty Images Morrison also would love to direct 'Barbie' star Margot Robbie one day. In February, Morrison spoke to The Post about how directing 'Yellowjackets' came about. 'As they were going into Season 3, they had some slots open up and were willing to meet with some new directors,' she explained. 'I had a meeting with [producer] Drew [Comins] and his company, and he saw my passion for the show and saw that I was no joke into it. After all of that, I think we all felt aligned and on the same page.' That's when Morrison began talking about working on her first episode. 9 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 red carpet in Los Angeles. Getty Images for Paramount+ 'At that point, they had asked me to come and do Episode 4, and then sort of in the midst of four, they hadn't quite settled the rest of their season yet. So, as I finished four, they asked if I would also do seven. So then I kind of turned right back around and came and did seven.' Episode four followed the plane crash survivors putting Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) on trial for kidnapping Mari (Alexa Barajas) and burning down their cabin. Advertisement Simultaneously, in the present day, Lottie (Simone Kessell) is then murdered. 9 Hilary Swank as Melissa in 'Yellowjackets.' Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with During episode seven, 'the Yellowjackets face the consequences of their actions. Misty pursues a new suspect and encounters an unexpected turn. Taissa's growing desperation reveals hidden aspects of herself,' per the IMDb synopsis. Directing two different timelines at once was a thrill for Morrison. Advertisement 'The two worlds are so aesthetically different. And it's very different dealing with veteran adult actors who've been in this industry for 30 years for some of them. And then these younger kids, who now feel like veterans after three years of doing this show but are definitely newer to the scene. But I guess aesthetically, it did feel like two different shows,' she recalled. 'But because the writing is just so rich in terms of the character study of it all, you feel like it all arcs together in such a beautiful way.' 9 Steven Krueger as Ben Scott in 'Yellowjackets.' Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME 'So, even though you might feel that tug of the two different visuals, there's just such an emotional throughline that made it feel much more continuous to me.' For Morrison, she was able to bring her vision to life with both the young stars and adult actors. Advertisement 'I think the bottom line in this show comes down to the richness of the writing and all the character development that's there and the nuance of that. But also their incredible ability with casting,' she mused. 'They have picked such specific and interesting people, and they bring things to these characters that no one else could bring. So [working] with that group of women was just intoxicating.' 9 Jennifer Morrison directing Justin Hartley in 'Tracker.' CBS via Getty Images Each time the actors stepped in front of the camera, it added a whole new layer to the scene. Advertisement 'It was so exciting,' Morrison noted to the Post. 'Every take has so much life to it. And they bring something new to every single moment. You can look at something on the page and imagine how it's going to come to life. And then they do it.' 'It's even better than I imagined. So I think the biggest thing in the adult storyline was really just the excitement of watching these incredible veterans just breathe life into these characters in such a specific way.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Pitt' star Noah Wyle entered as actor, writer, and producer for 2025 Emmys; see all the show's submissions
A week after moving into first place in the Gold Derby odds for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Noah Wyle could be in play for several Emmys for The Pitt. HBO Max has submitted Wyle, who plays Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, in multiple categories for acting, writing, and executive-producing the acclaimed series, Gold Derby has confirmed. More from GoldDerby 'Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage' showrunner breaks down season finale surprises, teases Season 2, and details the hit sequel's origins Adam Scott, Ben Stiller, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette and every 'Severance' Emmy submission 'I do think that I burned down the cabin': How 'Yellowjackets' star Steven Krueger pulled off Coach Ben's mental and physical decline Series creator, executive producer, and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill joins Wyle in the Writing for a Drama Series category. John Wells and Amanda Marsalis are submitted for Directing in a Drama Series. Warrick All series regulars, portraying members of the hospital's medical staff have been submitted for Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress in a Drama Series: Shabana Azeez as Victoria Javadi Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa 'Mel' King Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Samira Mohan Gerran Howell as Dennis Whitaker Tracy Ifeachor as Dr. Heather Collins Katherine LaNasa as Dana Evans The show also has three contenders in the Guest Actor/Actress categories: Mackenzie Austin and Rebecca Tilney who portray siblings confronting the complexities of their elderly father's do-not-resuscitate order Shawn Hatosy as physician Dr. Jack Abbot Beyond acting and writing, The Pitt is vying for nominations in several technical and creative categories: Casting for a Drama Series Cinematography for a One-Hour Drama Series Picture Editing for a Drama Series Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One-Hour or More) Contemporary Costumes Contemporary Hairstyling Contemporary Makeup (both prosthetic and non-prosthetic) Music Composition Sound Editing Sound Mixing Best of GoldDerby 'I do think that I burned down the cabin': How 'Yellowjackets' star Steven Krueger pulled off Coach Ben's mental and physical decline 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' star Charles Edwards on his tragic death scene: 'He did single-handedly withstand Sauron' 'It keeps me on my toes': 'St. Denis Medical' star Allison Tolman on walking a fine line between zany and 'incredibly heartfelt' Click here to read the full article.
