Latest news with #BlackWidow
Buzz Feed
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Best Cast Younger Versions Of TV & Movie Characters
Recently, I asked the BuzzFeed Community which actors were the best-cast younger versions of a character. Here are 28 of their top responses: "Violet McGraw as Yelena Belova in Black Widow and Thunderbolts." —Anonymous "Lindsey Gort as Samantha (Kim Cattrall) on The Carrie Diaries. She looked so much like SATC Samantha and had the Samantha vibe for sure; it was uncanny. I did a double-take in the first couple of episodes of The Carrie Diaries." —Anonymous, 45, Oregon "Azriel Dalman in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV show! If you told me that Walker Scobell and he were siblings, I'd believe it!" —rainbowqueen13 "Kyra Adler and Sydney Sweeney as Cassie from Euphoria." —Anonymous, 18, Nice, France "I thought Tom Blyth did an amazing job as the younger President Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. He certainly looked the part, but more importantly, he'd clearly studied how Donald Sutherland played the part before him in intricate detail, as he got his mannerisms, voice, and even the tiniest glances and inflections spot on. It wasn't a carbon copy of his performance, but a realistic portrayal of someone who still has many things to experience and a lot of life to live through before becoming the older version of themself. I'm really interested to see how Ralph Fiennes will play the middle-aged version of the character in Sunrise on the Reaping." —Anonymous, 41, UK "It's obviously Jaidan Jiron as young Cece (Hannah Simone) in New Girl." —Anonymous, 33, Washington "Jack Dylan Grazer as a young Timothée Chalamet in Beautiful Boy." —Anonymous, 18, New Jersey "In A League of Their Own, Geena Davis's older version of her [Lynn Cartwright] was so close that I thought it was Geena just made up older!" —sharpjester79 "Older and younger Kaz Brekker (Fflyn Edwards and Freddy Carter) in Shadow and Bone." —Anonymous, 28, Tennessee "Mythic Quest Season 3, Episode 7 — Isla Rose Hall plays a young version of Poppy Li (played by Charlotte Nicdao). The physical appearance is good, but it is the acting that nails it. The mannerisms and voice patterns convince you that you have gone back in time to see Charlotte Nicadao as a child." —radmagazine667 "Michael Fassbender as Magneto [a role Patrick Stewart originated in X-Men] was pretty much peak in X-Men: First Class." —sonictiger "McKenna Grace and Kate Siegel in The Haunting Of Hill House was PERFECT." —misaamaneyagami "McKenna Grace as Caroline Forbes (Candice King) from The Vampire Diaries." —Anonymous, 15, Portugal The three Righteous Gemstones kids, especially J. Given Wilde as young Danny McBride. He has his cadence and mannerisms absolutely nailed." —barbiesdreamhouse "Snow White in Once Upon a Time. Bailee Madison was the perfect casting for the young Snow White. She looks just like a younger version of Ginnifer Goodwin." —Anonymous, 41, Michigan "Viola Prettejohn as young Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy) in The Crown. They look so alike that I genuinely thought they used CGI to de-age her, and my mind was blown when I found out it was actually a completely different person." —Anonymous, 39, Massachusetts "Sheldon from Young Sheldon [Iain Armitage] and Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory [Jim Parsons]. They never fail to deliver a good laugh." —crispyeggplant465 "Melanie Lynskey and Sophie Nélisse from Yellowjackets! But you could say that for the whole cast — the casting director ATE!!!!!" —Anonymous, 23, Canada "Colin Ford as a young Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) in Supernatural always gave me chills." —Anonymous "Harrison Ford in The Age of Adaline. Anthony Ingruber absolutely nailed the voice. If you closed your eyes, I'm not sure if you'd know the difference!" —buttercupbailey "On Orange is the New Black, a lot of their casting is pretty spot-on for past iterations of the characters, but Barb and Carol Denning were so accurate, it was spooky. I had to look it up to see if they were actually related to their grown counterparts!" —Anonymous, 34 Boston, MA "The younger version of Ray Liotta in Goodfellas (Christopher Serrone), I always thought was a good shout." —barbiesdreamhouse "Taylor Henderson as young Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) in Hocus Pocus 2." —Anonymous, 48 GA "Tiffany Boone and AnnaSophia Robb in Little Fires Everywhere. They were the perfect casting for Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. Especially Tiffany Boone; she had Kerry's personality and mannerisms down to a T." —Anonymous, 29, Houston, TX "Josh Brolin as young(er) Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) in Men in Black III." —luckycat32 "Ben Savage as a younger Gideon on Criminal Minds. He and Mandy Patinkin could be related." —Anonymous "Walker Scobell as the young version of Ryan Reynolds's character Adam Reed in The Adam Project. He characterized him so perfectly, and the two actors are so alike in real life too — just watch Walker's Kraft Mac and Cheese commercial." —Anonymous And finally: "The casting of Now & Then was amazing! I feel like the legendary actors they used as the women when they were grown (Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, Rita Wilson, and Rosie O'Donnell) did such great jobs embodying their younger selves' characters as adults. Their appearances, mannerisms, and personalities were all perfectly matched. The child actors (Thora Birch, Gaby Hoffman, Ashley Aston Moore, and Christina Ricci) were, and are, incredible actresses in their own right. All around, it was such an amazing movie because of the excellent casting." —awfulhouse65 Which other casting choices would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Rewatched Black Widow After Seeing Thunderbolts*, And It Has Me A Lot More Emotional Over Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It's hard to believe, but Fantastic Four: First Steps is the only title left among upcoming Marvel movies before we get our first Avengers movie since Endgame, Avengers: Doomsday. And while I probably wouldn't have believed you if you told me before seeing it, Thunderbolts* is my favorite MCU movie in years, and I have to say a lot of that is thanks to Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova. Never mind the actress already being some of my favorites in movies like Dune: Part 2 or Midsommar, her character is quickly rising in the ranks in the current superhero lineup. And when I rewatched her first appearance in Black Widow, it only made me appreciate her more. I remember digging Black Widow when it came out, but I'll be honest, I've kind of forgotten about it since I saw it. Of course, there's the fact that it probably came out at the wrong time, given the COVID-19 pandemic was still heavily affecting theaters and Disney was experimenting with its Disney+ service, perhaps to the detriment of the movie's performance. But, I need to talk about how seeing Thunderbolts* reminded me to go back to the 2021 release and deepen my love for Yelena Belova further. SPOILERS are ahead for Thunderbolts* and Black Widow. There's a lot to love about Thunderbolts* in my opinion, but the biggest highlight of the movie for me is the relationship between Yelena and her 'dad,' the Red Guardian. My favorite scene was definitely in the third act of the movie when Yelena gets honest with him about how she's been feeling really alone and having a lot of regrets about her life. In response, Red Guardian tells Yelena that when he looks at her, he 'doesn't see' her mistakes. Instead, he remembers who she was as a kid, and how she wanted to be the goalie on her childhood soccer team in order to be the 'person everyone relies on when they make a mistake.' Without that scene in the movie, I just don't think Thunderbolts* would be as good as it is. It had me thinking back to when Yelena and Red Guardian's relationship was established in Black Widow. I remember the two actors being just as funny and grounded in the 2021 movie, and yet I hadn't placed the movie high in my mind to realize this going into seeing Thunderbolts*. So I made it my mission to revisit Black Widow after seeing the latest Marvel movies. When it comes to Marvel movies in order, I had actually forgotten that the movie takes place in 2016 in the MCU timeline, two years prior to the events in Infinity War and the events of Thunderbolts* takes place a little over a decade after Black Widow (with the five-year gap of the snap in between to think about). And after seeing Black Widow again, I think the movie does a good job of establishing an older Yelena who has dealt with a lot more life and loss, and having the context of her upbringing with the Red Guardian and Melina really helped me understand her better. It was so much fun to see how the character was introduced in the movie, because Pugh very much stays true to who Yelena is between them. Oh, and it slipped my mind how quotable Yelena was in Black Widow to the point of actually stealing the thunder off of Scarlett Johansson's MCU sendoff. But the one thing that really caught me off guard is how much Yelena clearly looks up to Natasha Romanoff throughout the movie, even if she's always taking shots at her Avengers position and "posing". While I read it more as MCU banter the first time I saw it, this time I noticed how much that relationship really gives sister energy, and while Natasha kind of brushes Yelena off (as big sisters often do), Natasha means a lot to her. I realized getting to do a mission with her and reunite with their 'parents' is kind of the best thing for Yelena, because she's spent a lot of time alone. Throughout the movie, you see how, while Natasha has kind of lost her respect for her parental figures, Yelena is still attached to them. As she says in one memorable line: "It was real to me." It made me extra sad about the death of Natasha in Endgame, and how in Thunderbolts*, Yelena feels like she wants to make a difference like her sister did, but she's having problems making the transition (inwardly and outwardly). So, when I finished Black Widow, knowing that her second MCU movie ends with her becoming a new Avenger, I found it especially poignant. She still clearly feels the loss of Natasha, now she's going to get the chance to serve with the Avengers and be the person she has always looked up to: her sister! I'm not crying, you are. Disney+: from $9.99 a month w/ ad-supported planYou can stream Black Widow now as I did with a Disney+ subscription. In fact you can check out every MCU movie on Disney+, starting at $9.99 a month for its new ad-supported plan. Go ad-free and pay $15.99 a month or save 16% and pre-pay $159.99 for a Deal While the Thunderbolts* director has suggested the movie isn't a Black Widow sequel, I would argue the new Marvel film wouldn't have worked for me as well as it did if it weren't for the 2021 movie. If I hadn't seen the scene where Yelena and Red Guardian sing 'American Pie' together, I wouldn't have bought into their continued father-daughter dynamic as much, and there's a kind of twisted found family element in the Kate Shortland film that spiritually carries over into Thunderbolts*, I think. The only thing that really bummed me out after seeing Black Widow is how the movie perfectly served Thunderbolts* the chance to feature Scarlett Johansson one more time through the shame rooms created by Sentry. I think it would have been really beautiful if she had shown up for a moment and allowed Yelena to get some closure or something. But, I also understand that Johansson is hesitant to return to the MCU after her long stint, and I was kind of into the fact that Thunderbolts* wasn't packed full of cameos. Because while Yelena Belova kind of sees herself as not as good as Natasha, the fact is she's being given way more to do in the MCU already than her sister was. Sure, it was different times, but I've always felt so conflicted about how Black Widow was handled as a character. She's very much in the center of things going into Doomsday, and I love that for her, but now I'm never getting out of my mind how the character will be constantly missing her sister as she becomes a hero in her own right.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
When will 'Thunderbolts*' release on streaming? What we know so far
When will 'Thunderbolts*' release on streaming? What we know so far Show Caption Hide Caption Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell talk 'Thunderbolts*' Sebastian Stan and Wyatt Russell tell USA TODAY what it was like returning to the Marvel family in 'Thunderbolts*.' The Marvel cinematic universe has gotten a refresh courtesy of its latest film "Thunderbolts*," or as Marvel rebranded it, "The New Avengers." 'Thunderbolts* brings together "an unconventional team of antiheroes," who "after finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts," according to the film's synopsis. "Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it's too late?" it adds. USA TODAY's Brian Truitt gave the film ★★★ out of four, writing Jake Schreier's directorial work is "one of the better recent outings for a cinematic universe that's been dealing with creative wobbles." "The satisfying adventure features side players from past projects like 'Black Widow' and 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' coming into their own, plus skillfully juggles bleak darkness and inspired humor in a surprisingly moving exploration of mental health," his review said. Here's what we know so far about when "Thunderbolts*" will release digitally and be able to stream on Disney+. 'Thunderbolts*' movie review: Florence Pugh leads a heady Marvel refresh Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox. When will 'Thunderbolts*' be released digitally? Disney has not yet specified when "Thunderbolts*" will release digitally. However, the film could follow previous Marvel digital release plans like "Captain America: Brave New World." Based on that timeline, "Thunderbolts*" could arrive on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home some time in early July or even possibly over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, about 45 to 60 days after its theatrical release. "Thunderbolts*" released in theaters on May 2, 2025 and has a run time of 2 hours and 6 minutes. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 'Thunderbolts*' 4K Blu-ray/DVD release "Thunderbolts*" 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release is expected come a month after its digital release, which means we are looking at a date in either end July or early August. Rankings: Where does 'Thunderbolts*' rank among all 36 Marvel movies? When does 'Thunderbolts*' come out on Disney+? Marvel films typically release on Disney+ a few weeks after their Blu-ray/DVD release and more than a month after their digital release. Based on that, "Thunderbolts*" could drop on Disney+ in either late August or early September. 'Thunderbolts*' cast The cast of "Thunderbolts*," according to Marvel Studios, includes: Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost / Ava Starr Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent Lewis Pullman as Robert "Bob" Reynolds / Sentry / Void David Harbour as Red Guardian / Alexei Shostakov Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Wendell Pierce as Gary Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster Chris Bauer as Holt Watch 'Thunderbolts*' trailer 'Thunderbolts*': Marvel castoffs get their own movie adventure Ace assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) teams with her dad, Red Guardian (David Harbour), and other unlikely heroes in Marvel's "Thunderbolts*." We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Time Magazine
The Shocking True Story Behind Netflix's A Widow's Game
On the morning of August 16, 2017, Antonio Navarro Cerdán, a 36-year-old industrial engineer, left his home to go to work in Valencia, Spain. He lived in the Patraix neighborhood with his wife, María Jesús Moreno Cantó—known as Maje. Antonio never even started the car: he was ambushed in the building's garage by a man who had been hiding among the vehicles. Stabbed in the chest, he died at the scene. From the start, police ruled out robbery as a motive—nothing had been taken. The case quickly took a dark turn, revealing a carefully orchestrated plot, with the widow Maje at its center. This real-life story of betrayal, manipulation, and premeditated murder inspired the new Spanish thriller A Widow's Game (La Viuda Negra), premiering May 30 on Netflix. Here's everything you need to know about the true crime behind the Netflix film. The widow At the time of Antonio's murder, Maje was 27 years-old and described as sweet, vain, and charismatic. A nurse at a city hospital, she appeared in the media as a young widow devastated by a senseless tragedy. She publicly expressed disbelief over the brutality of the murder. But investigators were struck by her calm and calculated demeanor during early questioning. Reports noted that her emotional responses didn't align with those of someone in mourning. The investigation focused on the victim's inner circle and soon revealed that Maje was leading a double life. Despite her image as a devoted wife, she was engaged in multiple extramarital affairs. One of them, with Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, a janitor at her hospital, became key to the case. Salvador was deeply in love with Maje, who fueled his feelings with promises of a future together and alleged stories of domestic abuse. Phone taps uncovered incriminating conversations between the two, making it clear they had planned Antonio's murder in advance. The premeditated crime Maje convinced Salvador to carry out the murder. He hid in the couple's building garage in Valencia, armed with a kitchen knife, while Maje was away from the home. Salvador waited, and when Antonio came down, ambushed and stabbed him to death. Maje had told her lover the times her husband usually left, which routes he took, and even gave him the garage keys. The crime was meticulously planned. The murder weapon was discarded in a cesspit on Salvador's property and would only be recovered months later, with his help, after his confession. The fall of the Black Widow of Patraix Maje and Salvador were arrested in January 2018. Initially, Salvador tried to protect her, but changed his story after learning she had become romantically involved with another inmate while in custody. In a new statement, he admitted to committing the murder with Maje's full support and encouragement. 'In my previous statement, I said it was all my idea. But it was both of us,' says Salvador in a real recording from the hearing revealed at the end of the movie. According to Salvador, Maje portrayed herself as a victim of psychological and physical abuse. She told him that if her husband died, she would be free without going through a divorce — which would leave her without a widow's pension or inheritance. Maje denied any involvement in her husband's death. But the court found overwhelming evidence—including text messages, phone calls, and witness testimonies—that dismantled her version and pointed to a jointly planned crime. In October 2020, Maje was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder with the aggravating circumstance of kinship. Salvador received a 17 year sentence, with time reduced for cooperating with the investigation. Both were ordered to pay €250,000 (approximately $282.437,50 USD) in damages to Antonio's family. A jury found them both guilty, highlighting Maje's psychological manipulation of her lover as a decisive factor. After the crime While serving her sentence, Maje became pregnant by another inmate. In July 2023, she gave birth at the General Hospital of Alicante under police custody. After the delivery, she was transferred to the mother-child unit at Fontcalent prison, where she can stay with her baby until the child turns three years old. The baby's father is David, a prisoner convicted of a 2008 murder. Maje and David met during her previous time at Picassent prison, where they began a relationship. The nickname 'Black Widow of Patraix' was given to Maje due to the nature of the crime: she allegedly manipulated her lover into murdering her husband, luring him into a carefully planned trap. The name refers to the black widow spider, whose female is known for killing the male after mating — a metaphor that underscores the cold and calculated betrayal at the heart of the case.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Things to do in Dublin this long weekend (May 30 - June 2)
With a long bank holiday weekend stretching out before us, now is the perfect time to plan your next day out, whether it be to Ireland's premier garden festival or a night on the town enjoying improv comedy. A staple of the June Bank Holiday Weekend, Bord Bia Bloom is an extravaganza of food, fashion, flowers and craft. Now celebrating its 19th year, Ireland's premier garden festival takes place across 70 beautiful acres of Dublin's Phoenix Park from Thursday, 29 May - Monday, 2 June. Full price day tickets cost €30. 2. Marvel Pub Quiz Do you know your Spider-Man from your Hawkeye? Your Ant-Man from your Black Widow? This Saturday, 31 May, Board Dublin - a bar specialising in no and low alcoholic drinks - is hosting a Marvel pub quiz, so put your thinking caps on and get ready to assemble. Free booking, please book in groups of two or more people. 3. Free screening at the IFI Join the Irish Film Institute for free daily lunchtime screenings of films from the IFI Irish Film Archive. Simply collect your tickets online (with a small booking fee) or at IFI Box Office and sit down to something you've likely never seen before. This week's screening is A Church is Built, a 27 minute film shows the construction of The Church of the Redeemer in Dundalk, designed by architect Frank Corr, from the discussion of the first plans to the blessing of the finished building. 4. Solve-Along-A Murder She Wrote The Lighthouse Cinema is hosting an interactive screenings of classic Murder, She Wrote episodes. This Monday will see games, prizes and audience participation as attendees attempt to solve the case of the episode, Old Habits Die Hard. There are 3:30pm and 8:30pm screenings. Tickets cost €25. The Music Presents: Dublin miniFEST — an electrifying night of live music, good vibes, and unforgettable energy taking place in Fibber Magees on Parnell Street. Tickets cost €23.18 and guests can expect local and touring musicians including Lavery, Laura C, and Elvis Poko. 6. Auto-Correbt & Friends BYOB Comedy Show Comedy group Auto-Correbt are hosting a night in Dublin's Pearse Centre featuring a series of sketches, characters and stories - all created in the moment. Don't worry, though, no one will get pulled on stage from the audience, so you're safe as an audience member. This BYOB event will take place on Sunday, 1 June, from 7:45pm - 10pm. Tickets are €12 while student / unwaged tickets are €6. 7. Chappell Roan Themed Pottery Painting Night Taking place on Saturday, 31 May, from 7pm - 9pm in Smithfield, Dublin Pottery are hosting a femininomenon-al event whereby attendees can enjoy a special Chappel Roan-themed night with HOT TO GO! inspired designs, music, suprises and more. €5 guarantees your spot and ceramics can be bought in the studio. Sylvia Ferguson is hosting outdoor yoga in Marlay Park on Friday morning from 9.30am - 10.30am. Tickets cost €18 and the class is a mixed-ability yoga flow that is suitable for everyone. If it's dry, bring your yoga mat. If it's raining, bring a raincoat and sturdy shoes. Warm layers are essential.
