Category: 5. Entertainment

HBO has confirmed that season 3 of The Last of Us will not air until 2027, sparking speculation among fans about the show’s future. The network addressed the rumours during a programming update, stressing that the series remains in active development despite the extended wait.

Adapted from the acclaimed PlayStation video game franchise, The Last of Us debuted in January 2023 to strong critical and audience reception.

Set in a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by a fungal outbreak, the first season followed Joel and Ellie’s cross-country journey, drawing over 37 million viewers per episode worldwide and securing multiple awards.

Season 2, broadcast from April to May 2025, covered the first half of The Last of Us Part II and introduced new characters alongside significant plot changes.

HBO content chief Casey Bloys confirmed the 2027 release date for season 3 but noted uncertainty over whether the remainder of the story will be told across one or two seasons.

The upcoming season will bring notable creative changes. Neil Druckmann, series co-creator and creative lead on the original games, will step back from his role, leaving Craig Mazin as sole showrunner following the departure of executive producer Halley Gross.

In a major narrative shift, season 3 will centre on Abby, a pivotal character from The Last of Us Part II. Kaitlyn Dever has been officially cast in the role, with the story expected to explore the aftermath of Joel’s death and the intertwined arcs of Ellie and Abby.

Although HBO has not released filming dates, production is expected to begin in the next year.

The series will continue its large-scale location shoots, complex visual effects work, and detailed character development, maintaining the high production standards that have defined the adaptation.

Kylie Jenner’s 28th birthday was celebrated by her sister, Kendall.

The reality star received multiple birthday tributes from her large family to mark the day with an intimate party, ditching the luxurious choices other celebrities opt for.

Kendall, the birthday girl’s 29-year-old sister, set up an elegant table for the al fresco meal, with white table clothes, decorated with candles, flowers and fresh tomatoes.

The Mediterranean buffet included a simple arugula and tomato salad, stuffed peppers, olives, pita bread, cucumber salad, couscous as well as more.

“Best birthday ever!!!!!!! I’m so grateful to my family and friends for making this weekend so special and full of love. 28 feels so good!!!!!” she captioned the carousel of images featuring moments from the party.

Expressing gratitude to her sister, Kylie further wrote, “To my sister Kendal Jenner thank you from the bottom of my heart for planning everything so perfectly. I’m so lucky to have you.”

During the celebration, Kylie and her friends enjoyed a cake covered with fresh raspberries, roses and daisies.

As the beauty mogul blew out the candles, a video that was captured by her sister, Kendall, her close pal Hailey Bieber and her husband, Justine Bieber, could be seen, as the Rhode owner captured memories on her phone.

Earlier in the day, Kylie had a sweet gathering with her kids and friends as they enjoyed homemade pie loaded with sprinkles, gummy candies.

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Crocs have always been comfy, but now they’re cozy, too.

The cult-favorite footwear brand has tapped Millie Bobby Brown as global ambassador and the face of its new Surrey Hills-set campaign, highlighting the brand’s latest drop: the Classic Unfurgettable Clog. The fresh silhouette combines the versatility of Crocs’ Classic Lined Clog with the unmatched comfort of Crocs’ Classic Cozzzy Slipper.

Shot by Lillie Eiger, the photographs capture the elevated styling potential for the brand’s newest release. Brown models the Unfurgettable Clog‘s Mushroom and Quartz colorways, but the fuzzy footwear is available in three additional hues as well: Black, Vanilla and Milk Chocolate. Each of the five varieties retails for $59.99 and comes in both women’s and men’s sizes.

In the campaign imagery, Brown explores her bold and whimsical style by adorning her clogs with an assortment of playful Jibbitz charms. The Unfurgettable Clogs can hold eight total Jibbitz in the holes along their faux fur backstraps.

In addition to unveiling the Unfurgettable Clog, Crocs has dropped fresh colorways in other popular fleece and fuzz-lined shoes: the Classic Lined Clog ($44.99-$59.99), Classic Cozzzy Slipper ($39.99-$49.99) and Classic Cozzzy Luxe Slipper ($54.99).

The Millie Bobby Brown ambassadorship announcement comes on the heels of the Lola Tung x Crocs campaign, the brand’s crossover with The Summer I Turned Pretty star, in which she models the Classic Crafted Clog.

Related: This Season’s “It” Shoe Fuses Last Summer’s Top Two Footwear Trends

Shop the Classic Unfurgettable Clog along with the new colorways of the Classic Lined Clog, Classic Cozzzy Slipper and Classic Cozzzy Luxe Slipper now at crocs.com and through Crocs retailers and wholesalers globally. For more inspiration, check out the special Unfurgettable Jibbitz curation.

Popular streamer Asmongold has said he is considering taking a break from streaming for up to six months, citing his father’s declining health and the demands of maintaining a consistent broadcast schedule.

Speaking during an August 2025 livestream, the creator responded to a video from fellow influencer Tectone, which featured an earlier clip where Asmongold described himself as “fried” from streaming obligations and managing his father’s medical care.

“It’s not something I’ve entirely decided on, but I’m being pulled in a lot of different directions,” he explained. “I have no idea what’s gonna happen. For me, there’s a lot of fatigue that sets in.”

The 35-year-old streamer said he had previously been a caretaker for his mother for eight years, and is now supporting his father, whose recovery will still require long-term assistance.

Asmongold confirmed that no decision has been finalised regarding the length or timing of any potential hiatus. However, many viewers encouraged him to prioritise family.

Some suggested he hire an in-home caretaker, but he noted that his father preferred his direct involvement.

Messages from fans urged him to spend quality time with his father, with some recommending activities such as camping or fishing.

Although Asmongold has taken short breaks from streaming before, a six-month absence would be unusual given his current status as the most-watched streamer in the world, achieved through multi-streaming on both Kick and Twitch.

The streamer has built a following since his early days as a World of Warcraft-focused content creator, later expanding into broader commentary.

Whether he steps away temporarily or continues his schedule, his audience has expressed support for his decision-making during this period.

Prince Harry is exploring new ways to support young people in southern Africa, following his resignation from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006.

Prince Harry Plans New Charity Work in Africa After Stepping Down from Sentebale

The Duke of Sussex, 40, stepped down from his role in March this year, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, after disagreements within the organisation’s leadership.

The move followed tensions between Sentebale’s chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka and the board of trustees.

Although a recent investigation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales found no signs of widespread bullying or misconduct, the Commission criticised how the conflict was handled, saying it harmed Sentebale’s reputation and trust in charities more broadly.

Despite the challenges, Prince Harry remains committed to the cause. A spokesperson said, “The Duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago.”

There is no confirmed plan yet, but “all options remain on the table”, according to Harry’s team.

These could include starting a new charity or supporting existing ones that focus on similar work in the region.

How Does The Sentebale Charity Help The Youth?

Sentebale, which means “forget-me-not” in the Sesotho language, was set up in memory of Prince Harry’s and Prince Seeiso’s mothers. The charity has helped children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS, through healthcare, education, job training, and life skills support.

Although he has stepped away from Sentebale, Prince Harry’s dedication to southern Africa appears unchanged.

The Naked Gun has been held up as a bellwether for the viability of studio comedies in the post-pandemic era, and this past weekend, the comedy reboot proved its staying power. The feature, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson, dropped just 50 percent in its sophomore outing, bringing its domestic total to $33 million, and its global haul to $56.4 million.

Producers Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins hope The Naked Gun is the first of a new wave of comedies that will find theatrical audiences.

Outside of Naked Gun, Macfarlane and Huggins-headed Fuzzy Door has a varied slate that runs the gamut from a Peacock series based on the late ’80s horror-comedy The Burbs to a doc on Carl Sagan to Macfarlane’s Frank Sinatra tribute album Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra. Macfarlane says, “To put it this way: You can make spark plugs and breakfast cereals at the same time, and if there’s a market for both, then why not?”

MacFarlane and Huggins talk to THR about the “double-edged sword” of testing comedies, what lessons Hollywood should take from Naked Gun’s performance, and sequel plans.

What has the response been to Naked Gun’s performance?

ERICA HUGGINS I’ve gotten so many incoming calls and texts and emails from well-wishers, and that doesn’t always happen. (Laughs.) For the first time, you can feel the goodwill from every single producer, all the agencies, from actors, from people who just want comedy.

SETH MACFARLANE I just got a text from a retired Family Guy writer, which tells you how long the show has been on the air.  “A retired Family Guy writer.” He said he was at a barber shop at Amherst, Massachusetts. It’s a six-chair place, and everybody was talking about The Naked Gun.

If that isn’t a glowing review, I don’t know what is. What was the biggest hurdle to get the greenlight on this movie?

HUGGINS The biggest thing to overcome was the question: “Will a movie like this — a spoof movie, that we haven’t seen in at least a decade — work for today’s audience?” Then, the next question always became, “Who is the audience? Is it nostalgia only? Is it the older crowd? How do we get the younger crowd?” And then it always came back to budget. The other big part to overcome was that we needed dramatic actors to play the comedy, and play it straight.

How did you convince the studio that Liam Neeson was the right choice?

MACFARLANE I don’t know that we ever did. Eventually, they just got tired of us. There have been other iterations of this franchise attempted over the years and oftentimes it is a comedian, and usually a terrific comedian, who is announced as the lead. One of the fundamental edicts of the [original Naked Gun creators] Zucker Brothers was you played against the comedy. You cast people like Robert Stack, Peter Graves and Leslie Nielsen. There were no comics, and it just worked every single time when they stuck to that.

In the opening weekend exit numbers, nearly half the audience was in the 18 to 34 demo. What do you make of that?

HUGGINS All the previous Naked Guns were PG-13. Akiva was extremely aware of what that did for him as a kid. It allowed him access, even though it was still a little bit risqué.

MACFARLANE Younger audiences don’t really have the same comedy filmography attached to their experience of growing up as we did. We had movies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Caddyshack. In the ’90s, they had comedies like Home Alone and in the early 2000s 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. It’s been a while since a generation has had a comedy or series of comedies that define their decade.

The marketing for this movie leaned into the reality that there haven’t been broad comedies in theaters. Why do you think that played well?

MACFARLANE It was an easy choice for the studio to just dive into, because there has not been a true, hard comedy in a long time. In the ’80s, you had shows like Cheers that were comedies. They had jokes, they had laughs, they were true comedies that would also be recognized during award season. You don’t see that anymore. [Today] you see essentially dramas with a smattering of jokes in comedy categories. I think it was pretty easy for the studio to take that reality and say, “Hey, we know what you’re looking for. Here’s some water in the desert.”

How important is audience testing when it comes to releasing a comedy for modern audiences?

MACFARLANE Testing is such a double-edged sword. It is hugely valuable in the same way that it’s hugely valuable to workshop your stand-up set, to know what jokes work and what don’t, and to take different parts of the country and see how different audiences react. The only downside is some of the stuff that sticks in the long run, that’s the stuff that’s a little weirder, so it doesn’t really land right away.

HUGGINS The things that audiences love the most and hate the most are the things that are most talked about, too. You have to be careful about not just cutting it off because you get a couple of cards that say it offends people. You want to try and find a balance.

The narrative for comedies and movie musicals is that these two genres have to constantly prove themselves every time they go into a theater.

MACFARLANE It sure is!

Heading into opening weekend, did you feel that pressure?

HUGGINS The question was, “Will a comedy work in the theaters?” Because they are so easy to access on Netflix. All the comedies now seem to be accumulating on streaming, and so it’s just a different experience from laughing in a crowd. I think [it’s about] re-teaching audiences to buy a ticket and go to a packed theater and see a funny movie.

MACFARLANE All the great comedies that we look at as sort of these benchmark moments in our culture and in our own lives, they’re all theatrical. I can’t really think of a single streaming comedy that has that kind of collective hold on the zeitgeist. Maybe they’re out there and I don’t know them. Streaming comedies, some of them, of course, being very good, just kind of come and go. There’s a tendency to think of the theater as something that’s on its way out, but I really think that’s a mistake.

What lessons do you want Hollywood to take away from the performance of Naked Gun?

MACFARLANE Take risks. Make movies that aren’t just reboots — wait a second. The lesson is that people want something that’s outside the usual fare. We’re just so deluged with superhero movies at this point that. It’s like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, when he wakes up on that last morning, says, “Anything different is good.” People want a little more variety on their plate.

Fuzzy Door has a varied slate — from a Peacock series based on The Burbs to a doc on Carl Sagan — what are studios and streamers saying they are buying right now?

HUGGINS I haven’t seen a lot of interest in buying a hard comedy. It’s harder to understand what that is if you haven’t done it. People want something that feels original, and then in the same breath, they want something that everybody already loves. It’s about good material, regardless of the genre. We’re betting on our taste.

MACFARLANE Taste is everything. There’s so much examining of marketing data, which, if it was worth a damn, every movie and TV show would be a huge hit. You look at somebody like Dana Walden, who just has really good taste and just continues to succeed and succeed and succeed. At the end of the day, you have this thing called a brain, and if you’re running a production company or a studio it is incumbent on you to use that brain and make decisions based on things that you think are of quality or not, marketing data be damned. People don’t want a genre until they do.

Have there been talks about a Naked Gun sequel?

HUGGINS Absolutely. We’ve now had enough conversations among the filmmakers, and certainly with Pam [Anderson] and Liam, too, when we were selling the movie in the blue sky version of what could happen next, yes, we were thinking about where it could go and what it could be. Akiva and Dan and Doug, our writers, we’re all talking about it.

Paul Schrader‘s next feature, The Basics of Philosophy, is rounding out its cast.

Daniel Zovatto (Woman of the Hour), Bill Pullman (Lost Highway), Shiloh Fernandez (The Odyssey), Dana Delany (Tulsa King) and Karl Glusman (Nocturnal Animals) have been added to the film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Jack Huston (House of Gucci) and Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon) were previously reported as stars of the movie that wrapped principal photography late last month.

The Basics of Philosophy focuses on a repressed philosophy professor (Huston) who has been grappling with lingering guilt over a decision from his past when the victim suddenly returns to his life. The project continues Schrader’s “man in a room” stories that began with his script for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and have also included the features First Reformed, The Card Counter and Master Gardener that count Schrader as writer and director.

Schrader helmed The Basics of Philosophy from his own script. Serving as producers are Braxton Pope and David Wulf, who both previously collaborated with Schrader on The Card Counter, which Focus Features released in 2021 following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Sean Price Williams (Good Time) served as cinematographer on The Basics of Philosophy for his first project with Schrader.

“A character I’ve returned to over the years — the taxi driver, a drug dealer and a card player — is now a professor of philosophy,” Schrader says. “His father’s death free-falls him into the past. A similar man wearing a new mask.”

Adds Pope, “Paul is a singular, original voice in American cinema — creating a new chapter in the book of his creative life with our superb cast has been deeply rewarding.” And Wulf notes, “Schrader’s mastery of the subtlety of characters and experiences drives an authenticity rarely found in modern films — it’s a remarkable feat watching Paul test and transcend generational boundaries and norms tackling troubling issues with ease.”

After his breakout success with Taxi Driver, Schrader worked on the scripts for such Scorsese projects as Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead. Schrader has directed such movies as American Gigolo, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and First Reformed, with the script for the latter earning the filmmaker his first Oscar nomination.

Huston is represented by CAA and 111 Media. Boutella is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and 42 Management & Production. Zovatto is repped by Gersh. Pullman is repped by CAA. Delany is repped by UTA. Fernandez is repped by Untitled Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham. Glusman is repped by Paradigm and manager Ilene Feldman.

The official cause of the death of talent manager Brandon Blackstock, the ex-husband of pop star and daytime television host Kelly Clarkson, was revealed by the local coroner on Monday. 

Blackstock, who was married to the American Idol winner from 2013-22, was revealed last week to have died of cancer as initial reports about his death came out. On Monday, the Silver Bow County coroner announced that Blackstock died of melanoma, a form of skin cancer that had been present for three years. The professional talent manager died Aug. 7 at age 48. 

“The cause of death was melanoma; the manner of death was natural,” Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollos told The Hollywood Reporter by phone Monday when asked about Blackstock. He reportedly died at home under hospice care surrounded by loved ones.  

His death was initially announced by Blackstock’s management company, Starstruck, which was founded by his father, in a statement posted to its Instagram account: “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

Late on Wednesday, Clarkson had announced to her fans that she was postponing the August dates of her Las Vegas residency, citing that Blackstock “had been ill” as a reason. The vocal and TV mega-talent said that she needed “to be fully present” for their two children, whom they have been co-parenting for years. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” she said.

Leading up to the death of her ex-husband, with whom Clarkson has been co-parenting daughter River and son Remy since their divorce, she had missed the taping of several episodes of her hit eponymous talk show, prompting concern from fans. Clarkson and Blackstock first met at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006.

In addition to his children with Clarkson, Blackstock is survived by his two children from a previous marriage and one grandchild.

KARACHI:

After months of buzz, shifting release dates, and political storm clouds, Fawad Khan’s latest Bollywood film ‘Abir Gulaal’ is finally set to hit the screens worldwide, but not in India because of a ban on Pakistani artists.

As per Biz Asia, the film will release worldwide on August 29, with its big premiere set overseas but not in India. According to another Indian media report, the movie will release in theatres in over 75 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, known for Chalti Rahe Zindagi, Abir Gulaal is expected to be a cross-cultural film that highlights the chemistry between Fawad and Vaani. The film is produced by Indian Stories, A Richer Lens, and Aarjay Pictures. It is co-produced by Vivek B Agarwal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy.

Playing the role of a UK-based chef, Fawad appears opposite Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor. Abir Gulaal will be an addition to the romantic comedy genre. It will mark Fawad’s return to Bollywood after nine years. Lisa Hayden, Ridhi Dogra, Parmeet Sethi and veteran Farida Jalal are also part of the cast.

Abir Gulaal was originally slated to release on May 9. However, the film remains banned in India. The ban on Pakistani actors was implemented by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) following the Palagham attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in April.

Many trade organisations, including All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western lndia Cine Employees (FWICE), also pressed for a ban on Pakistani artists in the Indian film industry.

Hence, the release of Sardaar JI 3 which starred Pakistani actor Hania Aamir and Abir Gulaal that cast Fawad in lead role were both halted. The film had generated buzz among fans, particularly due to Fawad’s return to the Bollywood scene.

Fawad made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with Khoobsurat, starring opposite Sonam Kapoor. He went on to appear in Dharma Productions’s Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which was his last Indian project before the ban on Pakistani artists in 2016.