Author: rb809rb

SoundOn Bets on Indie Labels With New Suite of Data, Sub-Label and Distribution Tools

When Temper City’s debut single “Self Aware” first started taking off on TikTok, it looked like the kind of organic breakout moment the platform has become famous for producing.

However, that didn’t tell the whole story behind the track that has become one of the biggest independent success stories of 2026.

Released by independent label Thirty Knots, in partnership with SoundOn, TikTok’s music distribution and promotion platform, “Self Aware” has now soundtracked more than 6.4 million TikTok creations viewed over 11 billion times, helping introduce Temper City to audiences worldwide through repeatable creator formats that tapped into the track’s emotionally charged hook and fast-rising momentum.

The song has now surpassed 136 million Spotify streams while continuing to accelerate across global charts and streaming platforms, including climbing to No. 23 on the Spotify Global Top 50, No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 32 on the official U.K. Singles chart, making it one of the highest-streaming debut singles globally this year.

For independent label Thirty Knots, the speed and scale of the breakout reflect how discovery, fan participation and streaming momentum increasingly feed into one another in today’s music landscape and how SoundOn was instrumental in the track’s success.

“We’re a label that pays close attention to trends, insights and how culture is moving in real time,” Thirty Knots said in a statement. “Working with a team that sees the business through a similar lens has been invaluable. SoundOn understands how to connect momentum with measurable strategy, and that combination has helped us keep pushing for the highest possible ceiling on every release.”

Gabo Llano, Head of A&R Americas, SoundOn at TikTok

Behind the scenes, SoundOn worked alongside the label across distribution, platform insights, music marketing strategy and artist development, helping scale the track’s early creator momentum into sustained global growth across streaming and charts.

The breakout success of “Self Aware” comes at a time when SoundOn is expanding its portfolio of label services for independent music companies in the United States.

Long known for providing artists with global distribution and TikTok-powered promotional support, SoundOn is now introducing a beta suite of tools specifically designed for independent labels looking to scale operations without the infrastructure of a major.

The new offering includes advanced sub-label management capabilities, allowing labels to create and oversee multiple imprints within a single account, alongside expanded reporting and performance analytics across platforms. Participating labels will also gain access to early Spotify Discovery Mode eligibility from an artist’s first release, as well as self-serve marketing tools, enhanced promotional support and streamlined catalog migration.

SoundOn says additional accounting, royalty management and financial workflow tools are also planned as part of the longer-term roadmap, targeting operational pain points that have historically challenged smaller independent operators.

The beta launches initially with a select group of U.S. partners, though the company has indicated broader international ambitions over time.

“As the center of the independent music industry, we wanted to make sure we had the right offering before launching in the U.S. We feel we have the right suite of tools and services to really help independent labels to achieve their goals both on and off the platform and the success of ‘Self Aware’ is evidence of that,” said Gabo Llano, Head of A&R Americas, SoundOn at TikTok.

In an increasingly crowded distribution landscape, SoundOn’s pitch is becoming less about simply getting music onto streaming platforms and more about helping labels sustain momentum after discovery happens. For SoundOn, Temper City’s rise is more than a breakout hit. It is the clearest proof point yet for the model the company now wants to bring to a broader generation of independent labels.

June 3, 2026
GLP-1s Like Ozempic May Help Lower Breast Cancer Risk. Here’s How
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New research suggests that GLP-1 drugs could serve as an effective strategy for breast cancer prevention. ruizluquepaz/Getty Images
A new study found that females using GLP-1 drugs had about a 30% lower risk of developing breast cancer.

The effect may be related to the metabolic improvements associated with this class of medications.

More research is needed before GLP-1 drugs can be recommended for breast cancer prevention.

Experts say that regular screening and a healthy lifestyle remain important preventive measures.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania has found that women who take GLP-1 medications are about 30% less likely to develop breast cancer.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. GLP-1 medications were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but are also widely prescribed for weight loss.

The new research raises hope that GLP-1 drugs could serve as a strategy for breast cancer prevention, especially among higher-risk females with overweight and obesity.

The findings come at a moment when scientists are exploring the use of GLP-1 drugs to treat other conditions beyond type 2 diabetes and obesity, such as sleep apnea and addiction.
The research team conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which includes both academic and community medical sites across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

During this process, they identified 217,624 females who underwent breast imaging between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2025. The study focused on 111,646 females ages 45 to 80 who were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25) and had documented breast imaging outcomes.

Among these participants, 15,264 (13.7%) had been prescribed GLP-1 medications prior to their imaging exam, while 96,382 (86.3%) had no record of GLP-1 use.

To ensure a fair comparison and reduce bias, the researchers performed a one-to-one case-control matching.

Each woman taking GLP-1 drugs was matched with a woman not taking the drugs, based on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, BMI, breast density, and diabetes status. This matching process helped control for variables that could independently influence breast cancer risk, independent of GLP-1 use.

The primary outcome measured was the diagnosis of new breast cancer during the study period.

Statistical modeling was used to analyze the association between GLP-1 exposure and breast cancer incidence.

The researchers’ analysis found a significant association between GLP-1 use and reduced breast cancer risk.

Females taking GLP-1 medications had about 35% lower odds of developing breast cancer compared to those who did not use these drugs in the full cohort.

In the matched cohort, which controlled for potential confounding factors, GLP-1 use was associated with a 30.5% reduction in breast cancer incidence.

Specifically, among the 15,264 females on GLP-1 drugs, 1.62% were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study, compared to 2.47% of the 96,382 females who did not use GLP-1 medications. This translated into an absolute risk reduction of about 0.69%.

The protective effect of GLP-1 medications was consistent across racial groups, including Black and white females, and was independent of diabetes status, age, BMI, and breast density.

The researchers believe several mechanisms could explain these findings.

GLP-1 drugs not only promote weight loss, which is known to reduce breast cancer risk, but they also reduce systemic inflammation, a known contributor to cancer development.

Laboratory studies have also shown that GLP-1 agonists may directly inhibit cancer cell growth and alter metabolic pathways essential to tumor survival.

While the study was observational and cannot prove causation, its large sample size and rigorous matching lend weight to the results.

However, the researchers emphasized that prospective clinical trials are necessary to definitively determine whether GLP-1 medications can prevent breast cancer and to understand the underlying biological mechanisms.

This study opens the door to exploring GLP-1 drugs as a potentially safer alternative to existing breast cancer preventive medications, which often have significant side effects.

Given the widespread use of GLP-1 medications for weight management and diabetes, the findings could have significant public health implications.

Monique Gary, DO, a breast surgical oncologist at St. Luke’s University Health Network who wasn’t part of the research team but did attend the conference, said that GLP-1 could be exerting this effect because multiple factors influence breast cancer risk.

“GLP-1s may be influencing breast cancer risk indirectly by improving some of the metabolic factors we know matter, including weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, and the hormonal environment,” she told Healthline.

Gary further noted that adipose tissue is metabolically active and can affect estrogen production and inflammatory signaling, both of which are involved in breast cancer biology.

At the same time, she said it’s important to note that what was seen was simply a statistical association.

“It does not prove that GLP-1s prevent breast cancer, and these medications are not FDA-approved for cancer prevention or cancer treatment,” Gary explained.

Nevertheless, these findings are important, she said, because they reinforce that breast cancer prevention involves looking at “the full risk picture” rather than just one factor.

“GLP-1s may become part of a larger prevention conversation for some patients in the future,” said Gary, “but they are not a replacement for screening, risk assessment, or individualized medical guidance.”

While GLP-1s may play a future role in breast cancer prevention, Mia Kazanjian, MD, a board certified radiologist and director of Women’s Imaging at Norwalk Radiology Consultants, said there are several steps women can take right now to help reduce their risk. Kazanjian wasn’t involved in the study.

Breast cancer screening is an important part of this process, she told Healthline. Females should generally get annual mammograms, along with an ultrasound if they have dense breast tissue.

“Societies recommend starting at age 40 if average risk, though I recommend a baseline at 35 yo as I practice in CT, which has the highest rate of early onset breast cancer in the U.S.,” said Kazanjian.

She added that females may wish to consider a breast cancer risk assessment using the Tyrer-Cuzick Model by the age of 25, or even sooner if they’re at high risk.

The value of breast cancer risk assessment made headlines in 2024 when actor Olivia Munn shared that it led to her early breast cancer diagnosis.

Additionally, Kazanjian suggested embracing a healthy lifestyle as a part of your prevention plan.

“About 30 minutes of moderate activity a day is ideal,” said Kazanjian. “This can be divided into smaller chunks of time for busy people.”

Kazanjian also suggested following a plant-based diet with lean protein. “Avoid ultra-processed foods,” she added.

Finally, Kazanjian said it’s important to avoid cigarettes and alcohol. “Any amount [of alcohol] increases risk of breast cancer,” she warned.
June 3, 2026
XRP Not Ready for Expansion Yet, Analyst Expects More Range-Bound Trading as Price Slips to $1.19
Analyst CrediBULL believes $XRP may continue trading within its current range before making a decisive move in either direction.

$XRP fell 2.10% over the past 24 hours to trade at $1.19. The decline comes amid a market pullback. Bitcoin dropped 4% to $66,400 during the same period, while the total crypto market capitalization declined by 2.33%.

Key Points
- $XRP fell 2.10% to $1.23 as broader crypto markets weakened, with Bitcoin and total market cap also declining.
- Analyst CrediBULL expects $XRP to remain range-bound and says the asset is not yet ready for a major breakout.
- $XRP could continue trading between roughly $1.11 support and $1.67 resistance before a clearer trend emerges.
- The recent weakness appears tied to broader market pressures, not any $XRP-specific bearish development.
CrediBULL Sees Similarities Between $XRP and $HBAR

In a recent post on X, analyst CrediBULL said he has been closely monitoring $XRP’s lower-timeframe (LTF) trading range. He noted similarities between $XRP’s current structure and $HBAR’s recent price action.

According to the analyst, $HBAR has already swept the highs of its range. $XRP, however, remains trapped between key support and resistance levels.

Sharing a chart of $XRP/USDT, CrediBULL said he expects the token to eventually take both the highs and lows of its current range. However, he is uncertain which side will be reached first.

Despite that expectation, CrediBULL does not believe $XRP is ready for a major expansion move. Instead, he expects consolidation to continue in the near term.

More Volatility Expected Before a Breakout

CrediBULL’s chart highlights resistance near $1.67 and support around $1.11. He suggested $XRP could continue moving between these levels before establishing a clearer trend.

His view is partly based on his outlook for the $XRP/BTC pair. According to CrediBULL, that chart does not yet support an immediate bullish expansion phase.

As a result, traders may experience more “chop” and sideways volatility. Buyers and sellers are still battling for control within the current range.

$XRP Weakness Mirrors Broader Market Conditions

The recent decline in $XRP follows broader market forces. Bitcoin and the wider crypto market have faced pressure from continued institutional selling through U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. For instance, this new month has already seen more than $1 billion in ETF outflows.

The trend reflects a risk-off environment as investors reassess their exposure to digital assets. Market participants have also pointed to expectations that interest rates could remain elevated for longer. At the same time, capital continues to flow into rapidly growing artificial intelligence-related stocks.

In sum, $XRP continues to struggle in recent sessions, but the decline is driven by broader market weakness rather than any $XRP-specific issue. For analysts like CrediBULL, traders should watch the current trading range as it tests support and resistance levels before making its next major move.
June 3, 2026
Bitcoin Whale Moves $207 Million From Coinbase Institutional to Unknown Wallet

Blockchain tracking service Whale Alert reported a significant transaction on Thursday, with 3,102 Bitcoin — valued at approximately $207 million — transferred from a Coinbase Institutional wallet to an unknown new wallet address. The movement of such a large amount of the leading cryptocurrency has drawn attention from market analysts and observers, who are assessing potential implications for the broader crypto market.

Details of the Transaction

According to Whale Alert’s public data feed, the transfer was executed in a single transaction. The sending address is associated with Coinbase Institutional, the exchange’s platform designed for high-volume traders, hedge funds, and other large-scale market participants. The receiving address has no prior transaction history, indicating it is a newly created wallet. The timing of the transfer, occurring during a period of relative price stability for Bitcoin, adds to the intrigue.

Potential Interpretations and Market Context

Large transfers from exchanges to unknown wallets are often interpreted in one of two ways. The first is a custodian or institutional client moving funds to cold storage for long-term holding, a signal of confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value. The second possibility involves a client preparing for over-the-counter (OTC) trades or moving assets to a different platform or service. The lack of immediate market impact — Bitcoin’s price did not show significant volatility following the transfer — suggests the movement was likely not a standard sell order on the open market.

Why This Matters for Investors

Transactions of this magnitude are closely monitored because they can precede shifts in market sentiment or liquidity. While a single transfer does not dictate market direction, it provides a data point for understanding the behavior of large holders, often called ‘whales.’ For everyday investors, such movements underscore the importance of on-chain analysis as a tool for gauging market dynamics beyond price charts. The move also highlights the ongoing role of Coinbase Institutional as a key gateway for large-scale Bitcoin transactions.

Conclusion

The transfer of 3,102 BTC from Coinbase Institutional to an unknown wallet represents a notable on-chain event. While the exact purpose remains unconfirmed, the transaction aligns with patterns of large holders moving assets for custody or strategic rebalancing. As the cryptocurrency market matures, tracking such whale movements continues to provide valuable, albeit incomplete, insights into the behavior of major market participants.

FAQs

Q1: What is Whale Alert?
Whale Alert is a blockchain tracking service that monitors and reports large cryptocurrency transactions in real-time across multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Q2: Why is a transfer from Coinbase Institutional significant?
Coinbase Institutional is a platform for large-scale traders and institutional investors. Transfers from such platforms can indicate changes in holdings by major market participants, potentially affecting market liquidity or sentiment.

Q3: Does this transfer mean Bitcoin is being sold?
Not necessarily. Moving Bitcoin from an exchange to an unknown wallet often suggests a transfer to cold storage for long-term holding or preparation for an OTC trade, rather than an immediate sale on the open market.

June 3, 2026
‘Sonic 4’: Kristen Bell Reveals Peek at Recording Process as She Starts Voicing Amy Rose

The progress on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 keeps rolling along.

Franchise newcomer Kristen Bell took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a photo of herself in the recording studio as she begins dialogue as Amy Rose in the forthcoming sequel feature. Paramount Pictures is set to release director Jeff Fowler‘s Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in theaters March 19, 2027.

“In the booth for @sonicmovie,” the actress captioned the post, adding a raised-hands emoji. “#AmyRose is coming to life!” She also tagged Ben Schwartz, who voices the titular critter in the films, and added, “Wish you were here!!!”

Schwartz shared the post to his Stories with the reply, “Aaaaaaammmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!”

For his part, Schwartz posted a photo last week of himself in a recording studio with Fowler and editor Al LeVine. Schwartz wrote, “Voice records for Sonic 4 have begun! I. Am. So. Excited. For. You. To. See. This. Movie.”

Fowler, who also helmed the three previous Sonic features, posted to social media last month to celebrate that the latest film had wrapped production, calling it “the BEST Sonic Movie yet.” His post included a photo of himself with a puppet of Metal Sonic, an evil robot version of Sonic from the Sega gaming franchise that was teased at the end of the third movie.

The Hollywood Reporter had the scoop earlier this year that Bell would join the property as the hammer-wielding pink hedgehog known from the video games. In addition to Schwartz, other voice stars include Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, Idris Elba as Knuckles and Keanu Reeves as Shadow. Jim Carrey, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter round out the film’s live-action cast. Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher and Toru Nakahara return as producers for the fourth movie.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hit theaters in 2024 and saw Carrey portraying a dual role as Dr. Robotnik and the mad scientist’s grandfather. It surpassed $490 million at the global box office. The franchise, which kicked off with the February 2020 release of Sonic the Hedgehog, has also spawned the Paramount+ series Knuckles.

June 3, 2026
Wim Wenders Pulls Film With Nastassja Kinski Teen Nude Scene Out of Circulation

German director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Perfect Days) has pulled his 1975 film Wrong Move (Falsche Bewegung) out of circulation, citing a controversial nude scene with the then 13-year-old actress Nastassja Kinski.

Kinski has been trying for years to get Wenders to edit the film to cut out the controversial scene, in which she is shown lying on her bed, wearing only panties. In the scene, her 30-something co-star Rüdiger Vogler comes into the room, strips down to his underwear and lies on top of her, slapping her and then caressing her face.

“Although I didn’t know much at the age of 13, I could already tell that it wasn’t right,” Kinski said, in a recent interview with German newspaper the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

On Wednesday, the The Wim Wenders Foundation, which controls rights to the film, announced that it has withdrawn Wrong Move from circulation. “Streaming partners, television broadcasters and distribution partners will be instructed to cease public access to the film,” the non-profit group said in a statement.

Wenders has not said whether he plans to re-edit the film to remove the scene.

Wenders addressed the controversy surrounding the film at the German Film Awards last Friday, where he received a lifetime achievement award. In his acceptance speech, Wenders said he would not shoot the scene today, and said he knew keeping it in the film continues to cause pain to Kinski, an actress, he said, “whom I deeply admired, and still do.” After Wrong Move, Wenders and Kinski would go on to collaborate on the acclaimed, Palme d’Or winner Paris, Texas (1984) and on Faraway, So Close! (1993).

But Wenders stopped short of pledging to remove the scene, questioning whether he had the right to alter film history.

“I can’t blame the 29-year-old young man I was then, 50 years ago, who made a film of his time; wanting, in a way, to capture the zeitgeist,” said Wenders.

Wenders called on the members of the German Film Academy, particularly younger filmmakers, to debate and help him resolve the issue.

In his speech, Wenders cited Steven Spielberg’s regret in digitally re-editing ET: The Extra Terrestrial for the film’s 20th anniversary reissue. In the film’s famous bicycle chase scene, Spielberg replaced the guns held by government agents with walkie-talkies. Spielberg later said it was a mistake and restored the original firearms for subsequent editions of the movie.

In the case of Wrong Move, however, the issue is not simply one of freedom of expression or changing cultural norms. Kinski’s lawyer, Christian Schertz, criticized Wenders’ speech an attempt to evade personal responsibility for his actions and has said he will file suit if Wenders does not remove the scene.

Another observer noted that even though Kinski has always respectfully expressed her wish to have the images removed, in his speech, Wenders made her request sound like she was posing “a threat to the very freedom of cinema itself: the freedom of every single artist in the room. Anyone watching and listening to his words could only feel stunned,” states an editorial piece in Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Another opinion piece in German daily Welt also agreed that it “would be symbolically right to remove the scene.”

June 3, 2026
Why is Lighter [LIT] up today? U.S. licensing plans, perps inflows & more…

Lighter [$LIT], the decentralized perpetuals trading protocol, climbed 19% to a new high of $1.62.

The move came as investors reacted to growing discussion around the protocol’s plans for the U.S. market. Interest also appeared to strengthen across derivatives and spot markets.

Why is $LIT rallying?

The rally followed comments from Lighter founder and CEO Will Price, who confirmed the protocol’s interest in entering the U.S. perpetuals market.

Speaking during an interview on Bankless, Price said Lighter is pursuing regulatory licensing. He added that the $LIT token is issued through the firm’s Delaware C-corp and that the company maintains a presence in Washington.

Price cited the size of the U.S. market as the primary motivation.

The main reason is the size of the U.S. market and our desire to participate in it.

He acknowledged that neither the SEC nor the CFTC has finalized how the sector will be regulated. Even so, Price expects industry participants to contribute to future policy discussions.

According to Price, the onshore perpetuals market represents a roughly $100 billion opportunity. He argued that blockchain-based protocols could compete effectively regardless of the eventual regulatory requirements.

Are traders betting on more upside?

Market activity increased following the interview.

Data showed $63.8 million flowing into $LIT perpetual markets. Funding Rates stood at 0.0325%, suggesting that long positions remained dominant.

Source: DeFiLlama

At the same time, protocol earnings continued climbing. Earnings data showed cumulative earnings reaching $50.4 million.

The figure represents gross profit after accounting for incentives. Rising earnings suggested stronger protocol revenue generation during the period.

Net income allocated to token holders reached $19.05 million.

$LIT on-chain data points to an upside swing

On-chain data shows a strong chance that $LIT swings to the upside, with a rebound likely to take hold in the near term.

At the moment, the spot market data points to a structural setup that raises the odds of a longer-run $LIT rally.

Source: CoinGlass

According to CoinGlass Netflow data, investors accumulated approximately $6.17 million worth of Lighter [$LIT] between the 30th of May and the 2nd of June.

Sustained inflows during that period suggested buyers continued adding exposure despite the token’s sharp advance.

Combined with positive Funding Rates and growing perpetual market participation, the accumulation trend may support bullish sentiment in the near term.

Final Summary

June 3, 2026
Bessent backs summer push for Clarity Act, says bitcoin reserve moving at ‘deliberate speed’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department is moving at a “deliberate speed” to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve while continuing to push for passage of a major cryptocurrency market structure bill this summer.

Speaking on Wednesday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing to discuss the 2027 budget, Bessent pressed lawmakers to “get behind” the bill, called the Clarity Act, and said he wants that legislation passed this summer.

“It’s very necessary to bring U.S. best practices onshore, and we work tirelessly in terms of custodying these assets and making the U.S. the innovation capital of the world,” Bessent said.

Lawmakers have spent the past year working to pass the Clarity Act, which would regulate the digital asset industry for the first time at the federal level. A version of the bill passed out of the full House last year, but has since found itself stuck in the Senate following hurdles around the treatment of stablecoin rewards, software developer protections and how to address conflicts of interest following President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures.

Time is dwindling now to pass the Clarity Act as priorities on Capitol Hill turn to budget bills before the end of the year, and midterm elections in November are expected to take up lawmakers’ time after the summer.

As debate over the bill continues, Bessent told lawmakers on Wednesday that his Treasury Department is moving forward with a strategic bitcoin reserve. In the first few months of the new presidential administration, President Trump signed an executive order to create that strategic bitcoin reserve, funded mainly through bitcoin already owned by the government through criminal or civil forfeitures, and a separate digital asset stockpile.

In April, the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, Patrick Witt, said there would be a “big announcement” coming in the next few weeks on the next steps for the reserve.

On Wednesday, Bessent called the process complicated, but said they are moving forward.

“We are proceeding with all deliberate speed, and we are making sure that as we are doing this in this complicated process, we use best practices and things will be durable for the future,” Bessent said.

June 3, 2026
Javier Bardem on Becoming Max Cady in New ‘Cape Fear’ Adaptation — While Also Shooting ‘Dune: Part Three’

There’s a new Max Cady in town.

The iconic villain, portrayed by Robert Mitchum in 1962’s Cape Fear and by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s 1991 version, is back on screen in the new Apple TV adaptation. The 10-episode series sees Javier Bardem stepping into the role of convict Max Cady, who is released from prison after 17 years and out for revenge on the happily married attorneys (Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson) who put him behind bars.

At the show’s Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday, Bardem admitted that he “would not have dared to touch” the role — which landed De Niro an Oscar nomination — if it was another straight remake, but was drawn in by the appeal of a new interpretation explored over 10 hours instead of two.

The star said he didn’t speak to De Niro while working on the project (teasing, “I talked to him in my mind like, ‘Please forgive me!’”) and is not one to stay in the killer’s mindset off camera, musing “What’s the point? I don’t find it even interesting to do it otherwise. I’m not that guy.”

That ease in shaking off a character was particularly useful for this project, as Bardem had to leave to shoot his scenes for Dune: Part Three in the middle of working on Cape Fear.

“You have a plane trip to just put it out and put it in,” the actor said of switching between Max Cady and his Dune role of Fremen leader Stilgar. “It’s what you do for a living. We are in the pretending department.”

Showrunner Nick Antosca said in casting his Max Cady, he had to reckon with, “You have Robert Mitchum, you have Robert De Niro, two of the most iconic villain roles ever — how do you match that? It’s got to be somebody who is worthy of that legacy, and who out there can bring the magnetism and the menace and the intensity and all of that?”

“I couldn’t imagine anyone but Javier playing this role. It’s got to be one-of-a-kind and it’s got to be something different too,” Antosca continued. “What De Niro did was so different than what Mitchum did; I knew Javier wasn’t going to do an imitation, he was going to bring something new to it.”

Bardem transformed his look with tattoos, contacts and bleached hair and Adams confirmed when he came to set she could “feel that energy sort of step into the room, it was palpable.” Wilson added, “He really locked into the charm and the humor of it, and him being able to switch on a dime into that dangerous mode is something he’s very, very, very good at.”

Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who produced the 1991 version, also gave their blessing on the series and are on board as executive producers, as Antosca said Scorsese in particular “gave amazing suggestions and encouraged Javier and everyone else to make it their own.”

That resulted in the biggest change, which is Max Cady facing off against a couple — who met while working on his case — instead of his solo male lawyer, as had been the case in the films. Antosca said of that update, “Their happiness and their perfect life is built on his suffering. They wouldn’t have everything that they have if he hadn’t been seemingly wrongly convicted. So that’s an interesting change to me because it brings up all these questions about the justice system, fairness and privilege and do we deserve this?”

Cape Fear starts streaming Friday on Apple TV.

June 3, 2026
Sharon Stone on Helping Marc Maron Channel His Grief Over Lynn Shelton With ‘In Memoriam’ and Why Joe Eszterhas’ ‘Basic Instinct’ Reboot Is a Bad Idea

Marc Maron plays a great actor in “In Memoriam,” but the comedian and podcaster worried he didn’t have the chops to pull off a key moment in the new movie.

“I had to cry, but I didn’t know if I had that kind of control as an actor — I didn’t know if I can do that,” Maron remembers. “I really freaked out. I went back to my trailer and was full on DiCaprio in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ I’m like, ‘I suck. What am I doing here?’”

It fell to Sharon Stone, Maron’s scene partner, to help him find his way through the emotional gauntlet. When Maron came back to set, Stone grabbed his hand and encouraged him to draw on the grief he feels over the 2020 death of his girlfriend, filmmaker Lynn Shelton.

“Why don’t you do the scene to Lynn, and I’ll make sure she’s here,” Stone told Maron.

It worked.

“Sharon’s kind of a mystical being,” Maron says. “She’s a powerful force. She said that, and it brought me to a space where I realized that Lynn was my biggest champion as an actor. She loved to direct me. I don’t know that I would have continued pursuing acting if it weren’t for her. So by doing it for Lynn, I got to that place emotionally that I think lands.”

“In Memoriam” debuts at this year’s Tribeca Festival, and Stone is thrilled with the experience of working with Maron, whom she first met during a 2018 interview for his podcast “WTF With Marc Maron.”

“We genuinely partnered in a very profound way on the scene,” Stone says. “In my career, I’ve been put up against the big dogs. They would always bring me in to put me up against the biggest, toughest guys, and oftentimes guys who were kind of a handful, but they knew that I could take it. But it was so different to work with someone like Marc, who was so open and so honest in their real feelings and emotions, and so available to be sincere with me. He was available to be my true partner, not my adversary.”

In the film, Stone plays Maron’s ex-wife, a fellow actor whom he met on a film set. Both have terminal illnesses, and their diagnosis has left them reassessing their lives and work in different ways. Maron’s character is obsessed with making it into the Oscars “in memoriam” segment; Stone’s is more reflective and resigned. Their tender encounter takes place in a grand setting with Stone resting in a chaise lounge in her mansion, outfitted in a robe and turban, looking like Norma Desmond.

“It’s a fulcrum point in the movie, because I have to take this moment to snap Marc out of this place he’s in, where he’s not living in reality,” Stone says.

Stone formed a bond with Maron during her spot on “WTF” and kept in touch with him over the years. She wrote him a condolence note when Shelton died of an undiagnosed blood disorder, which touched Maron greatly.

“It was a terrible tragedy,” Stone says. “He lost her so early, and she was so important to him.”

Even though their scene was complicated to navigate, Stone is thrilled with the finished film.

“Marc is remarkable,” she says. “He’s a real contender in this movie. I was completely blown away. Rarely do I see films that are this amazing anymore, that are about the human condition, and are so brilliant and so beautifully made.”

Going forward, Stone, who has shown she can nail a punchline in films like “The Muse,” hopes to do more comedy.

“I don’t know how many more villains I can really spit out,” she says. “I want to go back to my roots…I started in improv, and I did comedies like ‘Irreconcilable Differences.’ Being a comedic actress was my bag, and then I did ‘Basic Instinct,’ and everybody forgot I could be funny.”

Just don’t expect Stone to dust off her ice pick any time soon. She makes it clear she won’t be reprising her role as femme fatale Catherine Tramell in the reboot of “Basic Instinct” that Joe Eszterhas is reportedly writing for Amazon MGM Studios.

“How old is Joe Eszterhas?” Stone asks as she Googles the screenwriter’s age. “Oh, he’s 81. So I bet he’s really an expert on what’s sexy.”

June 3, 2026