The announcement comes one week after members of Trump’s administration said a report in the Atlantic, stating that Maher would be the recipient, was “fake news.”
“This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time.
“Literally FAKE NEWS,” White House Communications director Steven Cheung said.
On Thursday, the Kennedy Center confirmed Maher as the recipient for the ceremony set to take place June 28 at the arts institution. The program will premiere exclusively on Netflix, with the streaming date to be announced.
Public financial records for The Kennedy Center from fiscal 2024 underscore how the award is a driver of revenue, thanks to its corporate sponsorship and streaming deal with Netflix. The filings show that the Center recorded receipts of $5.2 million from The Mark Twain Prize.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in the same vein as Mark Twain.
Maher has hosted HBO’s Real Time for more than 20 years, after about a decade hosting Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central and ABC. He has received 42 Emmy nominations and won his first Emmy in 2014 as executive producer on the HBO Series VICE.
“For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” said Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations. “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse – one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
“Thank you to the Mark Twain people: I just had the award explained to me, and apparently it’s like an Emmy, except I win,” Maher said “I’d just like to say that it is indeed humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.”
Previous recipients of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize are Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009; rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013), Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019), Jon Stewart (2022), Adam Sandler (2023), Kevin Hart (2024), and Conan O’Brien (2025).
Warner Bros. Discovery has scheduled its special meeting of shareholders to vote on the $110 billion mega-deal by Paramount Skydance.
The company said early Thursday that the special shareholder meeting will be held on April 23 at 10 a.m. ET. The WBD board said that it unanomously recommends that shareholders vote to approve the Paramount deal at the meeting.
It’s the second special meeting scheduled by Warner Bros. this year. The company had previously scheduled a vote to approve the Netflix deal, but announced at the time that it also opened a window to engage with Paramount to try and secure a “best and final” offer.
Ultimately, of course, Paramount’s sweetened bid won the day, and now the WBD shareholders will be able to vote on it.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximizes the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr., chair of the Warner Bros. Discovery board of directors. “This historic transaction with Paramount not only does that, but it will also expand consumer choice and develop new opportunities for creative talent.”
“We look forward to the upcoming Special Meeting,” added WBD CEO David Zaslav. “This transaction is the culmination of the Board’s robust process to unlock the full value of our world-class portfolio. I want to thank our talented team for transforming the business over the last several years. We are working closely with Paramount to close the transaction and deliver its benefits to all stakeholders.”
SPOILER ALERT: Details follow for Season 14, Episode 11 of “The Masked Singer,” “Semi-Finals,” which aired March 25 on Fox.
There was no more fight left in Rachel Platten. The “Fight Song” singer was the latest celebrity to be revealed on Season 14 of the Fox singing reality competition “The Masked Singer.” Platten was unmasked as Pangolin.
Among the panelists, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg got it right with Platten. Ken Jeong guessed Lea Michelle. Robin Thicke went with Michelle Branch. Rita Ora thought it was Vanessa Carlton.
Meanwhile, before she was unmasked, Pangolin also gave one more “crack the case” clue case clue for her identity: Boxing gloves. “I like to stand strong in a fight. Especially when it counts. And this whole thing represents a huge win for me.”
Platten as Pangolin’s final performance was ““It Must Have Been Love,” by Roxette; on previous episodes, she sang “What A Feeling (Flashdance)” by Irene Cara; “Ironic,” by Alanis Morrisette; and “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” by Ozzy Osbourne.
With Pangolin gone, that leaves Galaxy Girl, Cat Witch, Pugcasso and Crane all left for next week’s finale.
Rachel Platten (Pangolin) joins Evan Ross-Næss (Stingray), Judge Greg Mathis (14 Karat Carrot), Alexi Lalas (High Voltage), Jack Wagner (Eggplant), Heidi Montag (Snow Cone), Billy Ray Cyrus (Owl), Teddi Mellencamp (Calla Lily), Claudia Oshry (Queen Corgi), Taraji P. Henson (Scarab), Tone Loc (Handyman), Tiffany Haddish (Le Who Who), Todd and Julie Chrisley (Croissants) and David “Big Papi” Ortiz (Googly Eyes) as the celebrities unmasked so far on “The Masked Singer” Season 14.
Back for Season 14 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists McCarthy Wahlberg, Jeong, Ora and Thicke.
New this season is “America’s Insider,” in which singer, dancer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall will share behind-the-scenes hints and clues for viewers. The twist: Cantrall is in costume as Cat Witch, but will only unmask for viewers — so the audience knows who she is, but the panelists don’t.
“The Masked Singer” Season 14 themed episodes include a tribute to “Star Trek,” the ‘90s comedy “Clueless,” the comic franchise “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and the blockbuster “Twilight Saga” films. Also Fox’s new “Fear Factor” reboot featured host Johnny Knoxville in a “Fear Factor: House of Fear Night,” and an “Ozzfest Night” honored late rocker Ozzy Osbourne, including a special tribute by “Masked Singer” alum Kelly Osbourne (Season 2’s Ladybug) saluting her father’s musical influence.
The 18 Masked contestants in Season 14 include Eggplant, Pugcasso, Queen Corgi, the Croissants, Owl, 14 Karat Carrot, Snow Cone, Galaxy Girl, High Voltage, Googly Eyes, Scarab, Handyman, Crane, Le Who Who, Pangolin, Stingray, Cat Witch and Calla Lily.
Per the show, the Season 14 contestants have sold a combined 94 million records, received 47 Teen Choice Award nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one Tony Award win and one Academy Award nomination.
Here were the performances on Wednesday’s episode.
Nick Cannon and Cat Witch, “The Masked Singer”
Cat Witch
Song: “Run to You,” by Whitney Houston
Previous songs: “Abracadabra,” by Lady Gaga; “Teenage Dream,” by Katy Perry; “It Will Rain,” by Bruno Mars; “Starships,” by Nicki Minaj
Clue: Related to Robin Thicke. “Robin, last time I told you worked with one of my family members. But we know each other because you welcomed my family into your home. You recorded with one of my parents. Also have a connection with Rita.”
Panel guesses: Noah Cyrus, Kylie Cantrall
Previous panel guesses: Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Lisa from Blackpink; Victoria Justice, Ashley Tisdale, Zendaya, Hailee Steinfeld,Jamie Lynn Spears, Katseye members, Vanessa Lachey
Cat Witch voiceover: “My journal, I write all my personal secrets in it. But tonight, turn to page 20 for my top secret entry: A letter for someone special: Mom. All of this is possible because of you. You believed in me as a little girl and showed me exactly who I could be. And when I landed a role in a huge franchise, you were right by my side. The older I get, the more I relate to you. All those lessons you taught me, maybe I didn’t understand them at the time. I think I get it now. And while my life story is still being written, I feel safe following in your footsteps. You’re such a queen. Now watch me go after the crown.”
Galaxy Girl, “The Masked Singer”
Galaxy Girl
Song: “Misery Business,” by Paramore
Previous songs: “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” by Chappell Roan; “Just A Girl,” by No Doubt; “Drive,” by Incubus; Lights,” by Ellie Goulding
Clue: Connected to Nick Cannon. “You’re definitely closer to my husband. We go back early 2000s. I think you’ve probably partied with my husband but not me.”
Panel guesses: Ashlee Simpson, Aly Michalka
Previous panel guesses: Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Emma Stone, Dixie D’Amelio, Anne Hathaway, Hillary Duff, Ashlee Simpson, Kate Hudson, Gwen Stefani, Taylor Momsen, Avril Lavigne
Galaxy Girl voiceover: “There’s a little detail I should probably share with you: This necklace. [Heart necklace with “best” and “friends,” broken in two.] I’ve looked up to one star my whole life. By day, we’d sing karaoke in her convertible. But by night, she’d take the world’s biggest stages by storm. And I watched in awe. I saw the awards, the glitz, the glam. But I also saw the public scrutiny, the headlines. I remember how much my heart would break for her. When it was my turn in the spotlight, I was scared to follow in her footsteps. But she prepared me for what was to come. And she’s always been my guiding light. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some healthy competition. And that’s why I want to get to the finale. She may be a massive star. But finally, I’m the whole galaxy. I win!”
Pangolin, “The Masked Singer”
Pangolin
Song: “It Must Have Been Love,” by Roxette
Previous songs: “Ironic,” by Alanis Morrisette; “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” by Ozzy Osbourne; “What A Feeling (Flashdance)” by Irene Cara
Clue: Connected to Ken Jeong: “This person and I have been on camera together.”
Panel guesses: Lea Michelle, Rachel Platten
Previous panel guesses: Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri, Katy Perry, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Nettles
Pangolin voiceover: “My best friend in the whole world was my nana. She would carry news clippings of me and force people to read them. Like, ‘have you heard about my granddaughter? She’s on the Emmys! She was feisty, funny and full of heart. I lost her a few years ago, and I miss her every day. Like when I became I mom, I went through a really tough time. I would sit there wondering how to get through. But then I think about Nana, and I hear her say, ‘you got this!’ And it really did get me through. That fierceness, it runs in the family. And it’s what’s driving me now to make new headlines. To fight and get to the finale!”
Pugcasso, “The Masked Singer”
Pugcasso
Song: “Bad Dreams,” by Teddy Swims
Clue: Connected to Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg. “We have shared a stage together.”
Panel guesses: Shay Mooney, Darren Criss
Previous songs: “Ordinary,” by Alex Warren; “Fake Plastic Trees,” by Radiohead; “Too Much,” by Spice Girls; “Dreams,” by the Cranberries
Previous panel guesses: Dan Reynolds, Darren Criss, Ryan Tedder, Jack Johnson, Rob Thomas, Pat Monahan, Vance Joy, Charlie Puth, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz
Pugcasso voiceover: “There was a moment where everyone in America had their eyes on me. This hometown boy was thrown into interviews and photo shoots. The problem is, I’ve aways thought of myself as a musician, not a celebrity. I work really hard at a life as normal as possible for me and my family. I mean, my own kid doesn’t know that I’m famous. So you can imagine, I’d love to do the show, and I was lucky to be chosen. For me it’s about the art, the music. That’s why I want to make it to the finale. This has allowed me to do what I do best.””
Crane, “The Masked Singer”
Crane
Song: “Break Free,” by Ariana Grande
Clue: Connection with Rita Ora. “We love a little healthy competition. We were on TV together. Not a talk show, we were competing.”
Crane voiceover: “Take a deeper look at my DNA. When I had my breakout success, I’m talking multiplatinum. There was so much pressure to strike while the iron was hot. But behind closed doors, my world was falling apart. Both of my parents were sick. I had to be there for them. But when I shared my work with them, I could see joy. I didn’t realize it then, but I was inspiring them to fight. And seeing their light pushed me to keep going. We leaned on each other, and after several difficult years, we can finally take a deep breath. That’s why I want to make it to the finale. Being a fighter is in my blood.”
Past “The Masked Singer” winners include T-Pain as Monster (Season 1), Wayne Brady as Fox (Season 2), Kandi Burruss as Night Angel (Season 3), LeAnn Rimes as Sun (Season 4), Nick Lachey as Piglet (Season 5), Jewel as Queen of Hearts (Season 6), Teyana Taylor as Firefly (Season 7), Amber Riley as Harp (Season 8), Bishop Briggs as Medusa (Season 9), Ne-Yo as Cow (Season 10), Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish (Season 11), Boyz II Men as Buffalos (Season 12) and Gretchen Wilson as Pearl (Season 13).
“The Masked Singer” comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are executive producers, while Seitchik serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.
Disney+ has set spring launch dates for two of its anticipated Korean originals, with the romantic comedy Perfect Crown premiering April 10 and the crime thriller Gold Land debuting April 29 as the streamer continues to bulk up its Asia slate with star-driven local productions.
Perfect Crown pairs IU and Byeon Woo-seok for the first time onscreen in a royal romance set against succession politics and chaebol power struggles. Gold Land, meanwhile, is described as a dark thriller: a fugitive saga starring Park Bo-young as a young airport employee who becomes entangled in a smuggling scheme and finds herself on the run with a cache of gold bars.
Perfect Crown follows Grand Prince I-AN, a popular royal drawn into a power struggle within the palace, who enters into a marriage of convenience with Huiju, the heiress to one of Korea’s largest conglomerates. Their arrangement begins as a strategy built on mutual expedience, but gradually develops into something more complicated. IU stars as Huiju, with Byeon playing the prince. The series is directed by Park Joon-hwa and written by Yoo Jiwon.
Gold Land comes from Old Boy screenwriter Hwang Jo-Yoon, making his streaming series debut, and is directed by Kim Sung-hoon. The story centers on Heeju, a woman from a small town whose life appears to be getting on track after she begins dating a pilot and lands a respectable job at a nearby airport. Her world collapses, though, when she is pulled into a smuggling operation and winds up fleeing dangerous pursuers with a trove of gold bars. Park Bo-young stars as Heeju, while Kim Sung-cheol plays Woogy, a member of the criminal organization chasing her. The series will launch with two episodes on April 29, followed by two new episodes each Wednesday through May 27.
Taken together, the projects are part of an ongoing effort by Disney+ to expand its output of high-end originals from East Asia, as the streamer aims to grow its base with a more consistent release cadence in some of the world’s competitive premium drama markets. On Wednesday, the streamer revealed a plan to remake the hit FX series The Americans as The Koreans, a big-swing, local-language reimagining starring Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min.
Hong Kong-based Act3 and Manila-based BlackOps Studios Asia have unveiled “A Thread of Steel,” a historical action drama, as the first major co-production under a newly formalized partnership, with Qymira set to star and director Pedring Lopez attached to helm.
The deal came together at the Hong Kong FilMart, where the companies’ previous collaboration “Shadow Transit” drew strong interest from international buyers and industry partners during a market screening. That response set the stage for the deeper tie-up now underway. APL Films, handling global sales and distribution on “Shadow Transit,” has begun marketing the title to buyers worldwide.
“A Thread of Steel” will be shot at Hengdian World Studios in China. Grounded in a historical setting, the film weaves together action, drama and character-focused narrative, with both companies aiming to deliver a production of international scale built on distinctly Asian storytelling.
“This project represents the true beginning of our long-term creative vision,” Leslie Loh of Act3 said in a statement. “‘A Thread of Steel’ is exactly the kind of cinematic storytelling we want to champion – ambitious in scale, emotionally grounded, and designed for global audiences.”
Lopez, who founded BlackOps Studios Asia and has built his reputation on visceral genre filmmaking, said the FilMart reception to “Shadow Transit” validated the direction both companies are pursuing. “With ‘A Thread of Steel,’ we’re expanding that vision into something even more cinematic – combining historical scope, action, and powerful character storytelling,” he said.
Beyond the lead title, the partnership has a broader slate of genre features in development targeting both theatrical and streaming markets internationally, with further announcements expected in the months ahead.
Disney+ has set an April 29 premiere for “Gold Land,” a Korean crime thriller marking the streaming debut of “Oldboy” screenwriter Hwang Jo-yoon.
Hwang Jo-yoon (“Oldboy,” “Memoir of a Murderer”) wrote the thriller about a woman whose relationship with a pilot leads her into dangerous territory when she’s manipulated into assisting smugglers. Soon she’s fleeing with stolen gold, headed back to the hometown she left behind.
Park Bo-young (“Light Shop”) plays Kim Heeju, with Kim Sung-cheol (“No Way Out,” “Troll Factory”) as Woogy, one of her pursuers from the smuggling ring. Kim Sung-hoon (“Chief Detective 1958,” “Confidential Assignment”) directs.
“Gold Land” debuts with two episodes April 29, then releases two episodes weekly until the May 27 finale.
The streamer has also set an April 10 premiere for “Perfect Crown,” a romantic comedy starring IU (“When Life Gives You Tangerines,” “My Mister”) and Byeon Woo-seok (“Lovely Runner,” “Strong Girl Nam-soon”). The series centers on a beloved royal family member facing internal palace conflicts who enters into a strategic marriage with a corporate dynasty heir, only to find their calculated arrangement complicated by genuine feelings. Park Joon-hwa (“Alchemy of Souls,” “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”) directs from a script by Yoo Ji-won. “Perfect Crown” will stream on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the United States.
Both titles expand Disney+’s Korean programming, which will also feature “Portraits of Delusion” (working title) with Suzy and Kim Seon-ho; “The Remarried Empress” with Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk and Lee Se-young; plus second seasons of “Made In Korea” and “A Shop For Killers.” Current Korean offerings include espionage series “Made In Korea,” political thriller “Tempest” and fortune-telling competition “Battle of Fates.”
So far, Jessi Draper is the only Mormon Wives star to directly and publicly tackle the leaked domestic video, the pause in production on season five of the Hulu show and the cancellation of Taylor’s Bachelorette season. The businesswoman appeared on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday, March 25, of which she was initially booked to speak about her divorce.
At the top of the interview, Alex clarified that they filmed the episode on Friday, March 20, a day after ABC pulled The Bachelorette. Jessi started by noting that the cast knew of the video published by TMZ, but they had not seen it.
“I don’t like to judge someone in their darkest moment. I don’t want to judge the person, I’ll judge the mistake,” she said. “And Taylor really has made a lot of changes, and that’s what’s so hard for me, is this is my real friend, and she does have a really good heart and I love her so much.”
Of seeing the TMZ video, Jessi said it was “so hard.” She continued, “I tell her this all the time, that it’s not who Taylor is. She got caught in a really bad cycle, and just seeing that video, and yes, the child being involved is awful; everyone involved is really hard. But Taylor’s such a good person and she’s made some mistakes, so has Dakota, and I’m not saying any of it’s right, but I know Taylor as a person.”
“I’ve seen Taylor in her darkest moments, holding her, crying, I’ve been there for her, so I know what goes on behind-the-scenes,” Draper continued. “I want this to be maybe a wake up call for them, and let’s get them healthy and happy and move forward, and I believe people can come back from things like this. I just want the kids to be safe and happy and healthy.”
Jessi said she “wasn’t super surprised” when ABC pulled Taylor’s Bachelorette season, but that it made her “so sad” because she saw her while filming for the dating show, “and she was a different person.” She also revealed that right after the news broke, Taylor called her.
The Mormon Wives star also spoke about the filming pause, clarifying that there were two breaks in production on season five. Draper explained that the first pause came from production “when we found out he filed a police report. So this was before it broke,” referring to news that a second domestic assault investigation was initiated by the Draper City Police Department following a February incident involving Taylor and Dakota. (The police told People that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24th and 25th.”)
Jessi said a second pause in production came from the Mormon Wives cast. “A little bit before news broke, but we knew it probably was going to, us girls decided. We went to production and the network and they were all so supportive,” she said.
She admitted she does not know what the current controversy surrounding Taylor and the show at large means for the future of Mormon Wives, but that she would potentially feel comfortable to pick up cameras since the information is now public.
The CEO of Fathom Entertainment, the specialty distributor jointly owned by major theater chains AMC, Cinemark and Regal, is retiring after a nine-year run in the role.
“Now is the right time for me to begin the process of stepping down from a full-time executive role and transition to retirement, while also an opportune inflection point in the history of Fathom Entertainment to find its next leader,” CEO Ray Nutt said in a statement on Wednesday.
Having headed up the specialty distributor of niche theatrical experiences for nearly a decade, the exec is expected to participate in the search for his replacement now underway. He joined Fathom as CEO in 2017 after sitting on the company’s board of directors while serving as senior vp of business relations at then Regal Entertainment Group, now Regal Cineworld.
Colorado-based Fathom Entertainment is owned three ways by the major cinema chains. The company’s theatrical content includes one-off cinematic events, from live broadcasts of opera, stage plays and live concert pics to anniversary rereleases of classic Hollywood films.
Adam Aron, chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment, in a statement said: “Ray Nutt’s longtime leadership of Fathom Entertainment has delivered meaningful benefits to AMC, the broader theatrical exhibition industry, and, most importantly, moviegoers nationwide. Under his direction, Fathom has further strengthened its position as the leading force in alternative theatrical experiences, broadening the scope of content available to AMC guests.”
Eduardo Acuna, CEO of Regal Cineworld, and Sean Gamble, president and CEO of Cinemark, also paid tribute to Nutt with their own statements. Among the exec’s milestones was rebranding Fathom Events, an events-based distributor for cinemas, as Fathom Entertainment, a leading specialty distributor in the U.S. theatrical marketplace for event movies.
HBO’s “Harry Potter” series has released an official trailer, giving a peek into the new take on the Wizarding World as it makes its way to TV.
Newcomer Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter, the 11-year old wizard previously brought to life by Daniel Radcliffe. Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton play his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, as they enroll at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The new show is a massive undertaking by HBO, which is adapting all seven of author J.K. Rowling’s books into seven seasons of television. The first eight-episode season is set to release this Christmas and takes on the first book, which was published in the U.S. as “The Sorceror’s Stone” and in the U.K. as “The Philosopher’s Stone.” (HBO is opting to use the U.K. title.)
The cast also includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts; Janet McTeer as Prof. McGonagall; Paapa Essiedu as Prof. Snape; Nick Frost as Hagrid; Luke Thallon as Prof. Quirrell; Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch; Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge; Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy and more. Many young actors are getting their first major roles on the series as well. Lox Pratt plays Draco Malfoy; Leo Earley plays Seamus Finnegan; Rory Wilmot plays Neville Longbottom; Gracie Cochrane plays Ginny Weasley; and Elijah Oshin plays Dean Thomas.
HBO dropped a first-look image on March 24 that showed McLaughlin as Harry in Gryffindor robes as he approaches the Quidditch pitch on the Hogwarts school grounds, surrounded by other students in their school clothes. The following day, the network released a trailer that introduced several more major characters.
Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
The trailer begins with Harry living in a cupboard under the stairs at the home of his aunt (Bel Powley) and uncle (Daniel Rigby), struggling to fit in with them or with his classmates at school. Soon, he finds a letter offering him admission to Hogwarts. On a train in London, Hagrid tells him how kind and brave his parents were before he sets off on the Hogwarts Express. Once he gets to school, the trailer shows him walking in the woods, taking classes and playing in the snow and unwrapping his first flying broom alongside Ron, Hermione and other classmates.
Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
Ron is first shown in the trailer hugging his mother, Molly Weasley (Katherine Parkinson), as Harry watched through a window from inside the Hogwarts Express. He explores Hogwarts with Harry and Hermione, and at the end of the trailer, while sitting across from Harry on the train, he asks, “Are you really Harry Potter?” When Harry smiles and nods, Ron gestures makes an explosion sound and gestures near his own forehead, marveling at Harry’s scar and grinning.
Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
Hermione is seen in the trailer cheering for Harry during his quidditch match, sitting in Prof. Sprout’s (Sirine Saba) herbology class, exploring Hogwarts with Harry and Ron and riding the Hogwarts Express alongside them.
Dumbledore (John Lithgow)
Dumbledore is only shown for a brief moment in the trailer, wearing a hat and turning around in a candle-lit room. In a photo released by HBO, he wears his official Hogwarts robes and a pinky ring.
Snape (Paapa Essiedu)
Snape also only shows up briefly, illuminating a dark hallway with a light on the tip of his wand, though another photo shows him dressed in black in front of snow-covered trees.
Hagrid (Nick Frost)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /,Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
In the trailer, while riding the metro in London, Hagrid tells Harry about his late parents. “Your parents were the kindest, bravest people I ever met. They were funny and clever, and they stood up for what they believed was right.”
“The next time I see you, we’ll be in Hogwarts,” the half-giant continues before Harry is shown on the next portion of his journey.
Prof. McGonagall (Janet McTeer)
McGonagall stands in front of a massive group of students in the trailer, waiting to welcome them to Hogwarts and oversee the process of sorting them into different houses.
Draco Malfoy (Lox Pratt)
In one shot in the trailer, Draco and his friends menacingly pull their wands out all at the same time — presumably trying to intimidate Harry, who is off-screen.
Dudley Dursley (Amos Kitson)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
Harry is bullied by his cousin Dudley in the trailer. Dudley’s friends pin Harry against the wall of a school bathroom as Dudley approaches him, grinning.
Vernon and Petunia Dursley (Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley)
Image Credit: Photographed by Aidan Monaghan /
Harry’s aunt Petunia berates him and forcibly gives him a haircut in the beginning of the trailer, even pointing the scissors at his face. “I told you: You are a normal boy, and you’re going to start acting like one,” she says. “You think you’re something special? There is nothing special about you.”
Reed Hastings, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, has gone into semi-retirement — and he now spends much of his time attending to the Utah ski resort he bought in 2023.
But he continues to serve on Netflix’s board as chairman of Netflix, and in a new interview, the exec spoke about the biggest risk facing Netflix: if AI-generated free content on platforms like YouTube becomes compelling enough to drive people to stop paying for Netflix.
In an interview with syndicated TV show “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Hastings said that he is “very confident” about the future of subscription entertainment. But he said Netflix has “a couple” of risks, mostly involving AI. He put it this way: “Does AI transform content creation in ways such that young people only watch YouTube, and YouTube content boosted with AI becomes cool and sexy enough that that takes all their time.”
Hastings said that Netflix has to “use AI well enough to improve our content, along with all the talent that we work with, so that we’re worth paying for. So YouTube’s free, and we’re a subscription, and so we have to justify, which has been the history of television, starting with HBO: Why pay for television? That was the initial thing. And HBO proved that they could do content good enough that it was worth paying for. And so the challenge for us is to use AI to improve the storytelling.”
Hastings, who stepped down as CEO of Netflix in early 2023 after leading the company for 25 years, is majority owner of Utah’s Powder Mountain ski resort. He bought the place in a 2023 deal for undisclosed terms under which he assumed the resort’s $100 million-plus in debt, per the New York Times.
About leaving as CEO, Hastings said, “So imagine you’re in a 25-year marriage, like I was with Netflix, and then suddenly you’re cast out. You’re free.”
About taking over Powder Mountain, he said, “this was sort of my rebound business.”
“This opportunity came and this was like somebody to love me, and it was like I could run something and take it over,” Hastings said about buying the ski resort. “I loved this place and, and love it still. So it was [that] I could do something impactful that I cared about, something totally different than Netflix — very visceral, working on everything from menus to lifts to design of different buildings to creating a community, compared to a high scale internet business.”
Also in the interview, Hastings said that after he stepped aside as CEO of Netflix, he cut his alcohol intake from three glasses a day down to one. He said he was self-medicating to deal with the stress of running the company.
“When I was working, I was stress eating and stress drinking,” Hastings told Bensinger. “When you’re self-medicating like that, you don’t know what would it be without it.”
Watch clips from episode of “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” featuring Hastings, scheduled to air across the U.S. in broadcast syndication on March 28:
