Actor and footballer Cristo Fernández prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Ted Lasso star Cristo Fernández made his professional soccer debut in the U.S. over the weekend.
Fernández made his debut for El Paso Locomotive FC in the team's match against New Mexico United at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday. The actor played fan-favorite Dani Rojas in the Apple TV+ series.
As Fernández entered the game, a broadcaster calling the match described the moment as "what everybody came to see tonight ... the long anticipated debut."
"Cristo Fernández: 'Fútbol is life!'" another chimed in, referencing Dani's famous catchphrase in Ted Lasso.
Fernández came on in the 79th minute of the game, which his club ultimately lost 2-0. Fernández recorded a yellow card in the 87th minute, according to the game statistics.
Fernández, 35, joined the USL Championship side after completing what the club described as an "extensive" two-month trial.
During that stretch, the Mexican actor and forward trained regularly with the team and appeared in a preseason match against New Mexico United.
"Yes, it's really him," Fernández's player biography on the El Paso Locomotive FC website states.
Long before his acting career took off, Fernández began a promising soccer career, playing youth soccer for Mexican club Guadalajara Estudiantes Tecos Club and Puerto Rico's Guayama FC before injuries ultimately sidelined him, according to ESPN.
He later decided to pursue acting while attending university in Mexico, and eventually moved to England, where he graduated from the Guildford School of Acting at the University of Surrey.
In recent years, Fernández has shared his journey back to soccer on social media, posting videos of himself training with professional clubs across the country, including teams connected to Major League Soccer organizations.
In an interview posted to social media back in May, Fernández opened up about the opportunity to play for El Paso Locomotive FC.
"I love the city. I love the team. It's a dream come true," he said at the time.
He added, "Since day one they welcomed me, they let me compete, and they treated me like another player, and it's a great team."
Can’t beat it! The Michael Jackson movie has hit another milestone.
Michaelhas surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first biopic to cross that threshold.
In June it claimed the title of highest-grossing biopic of all time, taking over from the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer. It’s also the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody, and the biggest film ever for Lionsgate.
“Audiences have embraced the film from the beginning, turning it into a unique cultural phenomenon in theaters around the world,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement. “Their passion speaks to the enduring appeal of one of the greatest recording artists of all time, and it underscores the continued strength and vitality of the theatrical moviegoing experience.”
Director Antoine Fuqua called the milestone “a deeply humbling moment.”
"This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known,” he continued in a statement. “I am profoundly grateful to the audiences around the globe who embraced this film, showed up in theaters, and connected with this story across generations and cultures. This historic milestone is a testament to the enduring power of cinema to bring us together, and it is a chapter in movie history I will never forget.”
The movie, starring the King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, debuted in April with an impressive $217 million globally.
Warner Bros. Pictures released the new trailer for the upcoming film on Monday. It finds Cruise completely transformed into the character Digger Rockwell, a billionaire who has a thick Southern accent, a potbelly and combed-over white hair.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) director Alejandro González Iñárritu helmed the movie. It is his first English-language feature since The Revenant.
Digger follows "the most powerful man in the world" who "embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything," according to an official description.
The trailer starts with Cruise's Digger enjoying a lavish lifestyle inside of his mansion. We soon learn that the company he owns is responsible for an ecological disaster that is likely to cause a nuclear war.
Digger then sets out to try to save the world, despite how unlikely the possibility may seem.
"If we can't control the course of nature, at lease we can control the narrative," Digger says. "When all else fails, you hit ’em with the truth. You know, the hard truth. Just bang, bang, bang!"
The film's ensemble cast includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde and Emma D’Arcy.
Iñárritu also produces the film, which he co-wrote with his Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) co-writers Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris, along with Sabina Berman. Cruise also serves as a producer.
Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff are crowned the winners of 'Love Island USA' season 8. (Ben Symons/Peacock)
(SPOILER ALERT) Still they rise!
Fan-favorite contestants Trinity Tatum and Bryce Detloff were crowned the winners of Love Island USA season 8 during Sunday night's finale of the reality dating competition series.
Emmy-nominated host Ariana Madix named Tatum and Detloff the winners of the season before awarding them the $100,000 prize.
The winners coupled up on day one inside of the villa. Throughout the season their connection blossomed, with Detloff eventually asking Tatum to be his girlfriend. He confessed his love for her during their date on finale night. Tatum immediately reciprocated by telling Detloff she also loves him.
Contestants Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt were the runners-up, while Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea got third place, and Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou came in fourth.
While this is the end of season 8, the Islanders are set to reunite at the Love Island USA season 8 reunion special, which will be co-hosted by Madix and Andy Cohen.
According to Peacock, the reunion special will bring together "this season’s winners, fan-favorite couples, and this year’s bombshells for an up close and personal look back at their experience in the villa."
The season 8 reunion special will premiere Aug. 31 on Peacock.
Additionally, the spinoff series Love Island: Beyond the Villa has been renewed for season 3. The new season will premiere in 2027 with its cast to be confirmed later in 2026.
In this Oct. 11, 2019, file photo, actor Sam Neill attends a press conference at the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Sitges, Spain. (Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images, FILE)
The Hollywood community is remembering Sam Neill following news of his death Monday.
Toni Collette, who starred with Neill in 2014's A Long Way Down and 2002's Dirty Deeds, called Neill a "legend" in an Instagram tribute.
"I love you, dear Sam. You hero. You legend. You sweetheart. Our great friend. You are already missed so very much. Continue in peace wherever you are," Collette wrote.
Richard E. Grant, who co-starred with Neill in 2019's Palm Beach, remembered his longtime friend in an Instagram post.
"Knew @samneilltheprop for 3 decades and finally worked with him on PALM BEACH in 2018," Grant captioned the post, which included several photos of Neill. "An officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense. Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my Life."
He added, "Sail on, kind Sir."
Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, who worked with Neill on 2022's Jurassic World Dominion, described Neill as a "deeply soulful and beautiful man."
"He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength," Trevorrow wrote in an Instagram tribute. "I'll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters. It's not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful."
Fellow New Zealand actor Karl Urban expressed condolences for Neill's family and friends in a comment on Instagram.
"Sam was truly brilliant. An inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps," he wrote. "A beautiful man, a national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and the to world. God speed Sam."
Neill died Monday at the age of 78, according to a statement shared on the actor's social media account.
The veteran actor had revealed publicly in 2023 that he had undergone treatment for blood cancer, including taking a monthly chemotherapy drug, but had announced he was cancer-free in April this year.
In a statement released Monday, Neill's family and loved ones said the actor was cancer-free when he died.
"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," the statement read. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
The statement also expressed "deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital for their incredible care."
"More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss," it added.
Mark Ballas stars in 'Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.' (Disney/Maarten De Boer)
It's time to head back to the ballroom for the new Dancing with the Stars spinoff, The Next Pro.
The brand-new series, which premieres Monday night on ABC, follows young professional dancers competing for the chance to become a pro on Dancing with the Stars.
Mark Ballas serves as a judge on the new series. He caught up with ABC Audio on the red carpet of the 2026 Disney Upfront, where he spilled details on what fans can expect.
"It's a fascinating show, because it feels like Dancing with the Stars, which it kind of is, but it's also very different because of the format," Ballas said. "We're looking for a pro that's gonna take on the role of being a pro on Dancing with the Stars. Which is very complex, it's very nuanced."
How exactly does The Next Pro do this? Ballas said "the show did a really great job of setting up challenges for these dancers."
"Whether it's from choreographing, group work, chemistry, teaching challenges, these are the things that you face as a pro on Dancing with the Stars," Ballas said.
He isn't the only judge. His mother, Shirley Ballas, sits beside him to help determine who has what it takes.
"My mother is one of the most elite Latin American dance coaches in the world," Ballas said. "Having her level of expertise on the panel is always an asset. No one knows the craft more than her."
That being said, Ballas teased they approached the job in different ways.
"She's been on the side as a judge, and I've always been on side as the pro," Ballas said. "We had a couple of disagreements out in the field ... but we also agreed a lot. She's very good at what she does, she's very direct. And when you're improving on being a professional in this field, you need that."
Obsessed with Obsession? You're in luck. Fans of Curry Barker's horror film will be able to watch it at home starting on July 17 on Peacock. The hit movie stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter. It's made over $400 million at the global box office after two months in theaters ...
House of David has been renewed for season 3 on Prime Video. Season 2 of the biblical drama starred Michael Iskander as David, alongside Ali Suliman as King Saul, Ayelet Zurer as Queen Ahinoam and Stephen Lang as Samuel. Season 3 will find David's journey come full circle from "outcast shepherd to fierce warrior, to his ultimate destiny as King," according to an official description from Prime Video ...
Elle Fanning is teaming up with Julianne Moore. Deadline reports the actresses are set to star in the upcoming film Moonsong: A Life In Seven Verses. Rebecca Miller will write and direct the film that tells the story of famous children's book author Margaret Wise Brown, the writer of classics like Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny ...
In this Oct. 11, 2019, file photo, actor Sam Neill attends a press conference at the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Sitges, Spain. (Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images, FILE)
Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in the Jurassic Park films and Peaky Blinders, died on Monday, according to his official social media account. He was 78.
"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," the statement, which was posted early on Monday, said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
Neill, who was born Nigel John Dermot Neill on Sept. 14, 1947, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, didn't get exposure to acting until he was in college.
As a kid, Neill's parents were in the army, and his father's family owned a vineyard. When he was 7, Neill and his family moved to New Zealand. It was while he attended the University of Canterbury that he gained exposure to acting.
In 1971, Neill landed his first acting role in the New Zealand television film The City of No. He was cast in several TV film roles before his being cast as the lead in the 1977 New Zealand film, Sleeping Dogs, an action thriller.
Following Sleeping Dogs, Neill worked on several TV shows and films in Australia, including the TV show The Sullivans and the 1979 films, The Journalist and Just Out of Reach.
In 1981, he starred in his first international role for Omen III: The Final Conflict, in which he played Damien Thorn.
Of all the roles he's had, his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film Jurassic Park is perhaps his most well-known. The science fiction action Steven Spielberg directed-film, based on Michael Chrichton's 1990 novel of the same name, followed a team of genetic scientists who have created a wildlife park of de-extinct dinosaurs. Neill's character was inspired by paleontologist Jack Horner.
Neill also reprised his character in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominion.
Following Jurassic Park, Neill starred in a number of films including Bicentennial Man alongside Robin Williams, and the 1997 science fiction horror film Event Horizon.
He also starred in Merlin, playing the mythical wizard; the historical drama, The Tudors; and two seasons of Peaky Blinders, playing Chief Inspector Chester Campbell.
Later in his career, Neill appeared in Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder. He also voiced the character, Tommy Brock, in Peter Rabbit.
Throughout his career, Neill received many awards as an actor but the award that was perhaps most meaningful to him was when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991, which he was able to share with his father, just before he died.
In 2022, Neill also earned the title of Sir as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
While promoting his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, in March 2023, Neill told The Guardian that he was being treated for stage 3 blood cancer.
The previous year, he had opened up about his diagnosis, saying he is cancer free, but will continue to receive chemotherapy. While undergoing chemotherapy, he told the outlet that he had experienced "dark moments."
"Those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends," he said. "Just pleased to be alive."
In 2022, Neill was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, "a rare, often but not always, aggressive (fast-growing) form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma," according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
Neill is survived by his children, Elena Neill, who he shared with ex-wife, Noriko Watanabe, and Tim Neill, who he shares with New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow.
The statement on Neill's social media account thanked the staff at St Vincent's Private Hospital, in Sydney's suburb of Darlinghurst, praising them for "their incredible care."
"More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss," the statement said.
Catherine Laga'aia as 'Moana' live-action 'Moana.' (Disney)
Disney’s live-action Moana topped the box office this weekend, although with lower numbers than expected.
The film, which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, brought in $43 million to debut at number one, Box Office Mojo reports.
According to Variety, that amount was well below the projected $60 to $65 million the film, with a budget of $250 million, was expected to take in. It's also well below previous Disney live-action remakes, including 2025’s Lilo & Stitch, which debuted with a box office of over $100 million.
Last week’s number one, Minions & Monsters, brought in another $20.5 million to land at two this week, with Toy Story 5 at three with $18.5 million.
Another new release, the supernatural horror film Evil Dead Burn, debuted at four with a $13.7 million, followed by Young Washington, at five, with $6.4 million.
Here are the top 10 films at the box office:
1. Moana — $43 million 2. Minions & Monsters — $20.5 million 3. Toy Story 5 — $18.5 million 4. Evil Dead Burn — $13.7 million 5. Young Washington — $6.4 million 7. Obsession — $3.8 million 8. Supergirl — $3.6 million 9. Disclosure Day — $3.2 million 10. Backrooms — $1.5 million
Ariana Grande attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frazer Harrison/WireImage via Getty Images)
Surprise, you've seen the last of her. For now, at least.
Ariana Grande will no longer appear in season 13 of American Horror Story, ABC Audio has learned. She has currently not shot any scenes for the new season and she will not. This is due to conflicts with timing changes to production on the horror anthology series, as well as it happening simultaneously with her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
FX and 20th Television had no comment when reached by ABC Audio.
Grande rescheduled select dates of her Eternal Sunshine Tour at the end of June. Her July 12 show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was rescheduled to July 14. Additionally, Grande shifted her July 22 and July 24 shows in Boston to the new dates of July 23 and July 26, respectively.
Despite Grande's exit, Ryan Murphy's horror series has a star-studded cast set for the lucky number 13th season of the show. It will feature franchise regulars Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette star Paul Anthony Kelly is also part of the cast.
If Grande had appeared on the season, it would have marked her reunion with Murphy after appearing in his comedy series Scream Queens over a decade ago.
American Horror Story season 13 will premiere on Sept. 24.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News, FX and 20th Television.
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.' (Lionsgate)
May the odds be ever in your favor securing tickets for The Hunger Games rerelease.
Lionsgate is putting all five films in The Hunger Games franchise back in theaters ahead of the release of the upcoming sixth film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will be available to watch in theaters from Sept. 3 to Sept. 7.
Each film will feature an exclusive look at Sunrise on the Reaping, which arrives in theaters on Nov. 20.
"Before the Sunrise, experience the Mockingjay’s epic adventure on the big screen. Whether you’ve followed the rebellion from the beginning or are meeting Katniss for the first time, the Games await," a description from Fathom Entertainment says.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name. It revisits the world of Panem almost 25 years before the events of the original book and film saga.
The novel begins on the morning of the 50th annual Hunger Games, when Haymitch Abernathy is chosen to compete in the deadly arena. Haymitch eventually wins the games, as he goes on to be the mentor for Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
Joseph Zada stars as a young Haymitch Abernathy in the film that follows his journey through the Second Quarter Quell.
Zada leads a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Billy Porter and Kieran Culkin.
Not vacationing this summer? That's OK — you can have your own Euro summer at home when You, Me & Tuscany hits streaming on Aug. 7. The romantic comedy starring Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page and Marco Calvani becomes available to stream exclusively on Peacock that day. The film follows a woman who impersonates a man's fiancée while crashing at his Italian home only to fall in love with his cousin ...
The trailer for Sterling Point has arrived. This new coming-of-age series comes from creator Megan Park. It's set to premiere to Prime Video on Aug. 5. Ella Rubin, Keen Ruffalo and Jay Duplass star in the show about a young woman who inherits her mysterious grandfather's Canadian island ...
Netflix has released its first look at season 2 of The Gentlemen. The streaming service has also announced that the new season will debut on Sept. 3. Guy Ritchie created, co-writes and also directs the show that stars Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Ray Winstone, Joely Richardson and Vinnie Jones ...
Catherine Laga'aia as 'Moana' live-action 'Moana.' (Disney)
How far will you go to see the live-action adaptation of Moana? Catherine Laga'aia, who stars as the titular wayfinder in the new film, hopes you'll go as far as your local movie theater.
The young actress takes over the role of Moana from Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced her in the original 2016 animated film. Laga'aia told ABC News that she and Cravalho have formed a sisterhood that will always connect them.
"I have sisters. I know what that bond feels like. And it's to have a shared experience with someone. To live through something with someone. It's one of the binding qualities of sisters, and me and Auli'i now have that," Laga'aia said. "We truly are sisters. We've lived through something together, whether or not we did it in the same year, we've experienced something similar, and that's what has bound us together."
Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as the demigod Maui in this new version of the film. He said the songs and the film's dialogue carried a different weight when performing in person and not simply recording them in a voice booth.
"Everything carries a different weight," Johnson said, pointing out that the live-action features "real flesh and blood, human beings" who have "soul behind the eyes."
Johnson understands how beloved the original Moana is and the importance of doing justice to the story.
"It was the opportunity for us to showcase our culture in a real way, live-action way, but also we had a shot to do something pretty cool and different," Johnson said.
Julianne Nicholson attends the world premiere of 'Paradise' season 2 in LA on Feb. 18, 2026. (Disney/Ser Baffo)
Julianne Nicholson has been cast in season 2 of Task.
The actress is set to reprise her Mare of Easttown role as Lori Ross in the upcoming season of Task, ABC Audio has confirmed.
This directly connects the shows Task and Mare of Easttown. Both were created by Brad Ingelsby and take place in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Now they exist in the same universe.
Nicholson won an Emmy in 2021 for portraying Lori Ross, a mother of three children who resides in Easttown, in Mare of Easttown.
Season 2 of Task follows star Mark Ruffalo once again taking on the role of Agent Tom Brandis.
"Tom Brandis takes the helm of a new task force, but the deeper the operation runs, the harder it is to tell who's the target," according to the season's official logline.
Also starring are Mahershala Ali as Eddie Barnes, Harry Melling as Brennan Boylan, Adam Nagaitis as Luke Clemmons, Aminah Nieves as Nataly Zamora and Edgar Ramírez as Miguel Contreras.
In addition to creating the show, Ingelsby serves as its writer, showrunner and executive producer. Ruffalo also executive produces. Task season 2 is currently in preproduction, according to HBO.
Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in 'MobLand' season 2. (Luke Varley/Paramount+)
MobLand is coming back for more.
Paramount+ has released the teaser trailer for season 2 of the action-crime series. The show's second season is set to premiere on Sept. 18.
Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren star in the series about two mob families who find themselves in a war that threatens to ruin their empires and lives.
"The Harrigans, heads of North London’s largest criminal empire, are on the brink of civil war, and their rivals are starting to notice. As tensions within the Harrigan family intensify, their ‘fixer’ Harry Da Souza is the only one that can keep them from falling apart," according to an official description of season 2.
The trailer finds Hardy's Harry Da Souza speaking to a man he's captured in the back of his van.
"This hasn't exactly been a wonderful 24 hours for me, yeah? I'm under a lot of pressure," Harry says. "The people that I work for, the Harrigans, they run North London."
Ronan Bennett created and co-wrote the series, which was executive produced by David C. Glasser and co-written by Jez Butterworth. The show was renewed for season 2 back in June 2025.
“With over 26 million viewers and climbing, MobLand has become a resounding triumph driven by the creative brilliance of Guy, Jez, Ronan and David C. Glasser, and brought to life by the powerhouse performances by Tom, Pierce, and Helen,” Chris McCarthy, the co-CEO of Paramount and president of SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment, said at the time it was renewed. “We are elated to greenlight a second season of this global phenomenon, which has dominated both domestic and international charts and soared to #1 in the United Kingdom."
Ariana Grande attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frazer Harrison/WireImage via Getty Images)
The release date for American Horror Story season 13 has been revealed.
FX has announced that the season will premiere to Hulu on Sept. 24.
Ryan Murphy's horror series has a star-studded cast set for this go-round. Ariana Grande stars in the new season of the anthology series, marking her reunion with Murphy after appearing in his comedy series Scream Queens over a decade ago.
The lucky number 13th season of the show will also feature franchise regulars Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman. Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette star Paul Anthony Kelly is also part of the cast.
This season marks a Scream Queens reunion, as both Roberts and Lourd acted alongside Grande in the comedy show.
Murphy first announced the main cast through a video shared to his Instagram on Oct. 31, 2025. The video featured a black screen with the cast's names appearing in the signature American Horror Story font.
After all of the names were announced, the video referenced one of the most quoted lines of dialogue from the series, spoken by Roberts' character Madison Montgomery in American Horror Story: Coven.
"Surprise, b****. I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me," the video reads.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.
Emily Baldoni and Justin Baldoni attend the 'It Ends With Us' New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 6, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, are speaking publicly for the first time in nearly two years as the legal dispute between Baldoni and his former It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively continues.
In a joint video shared to Instagram on Wednesday, the couple said they had chosen not to speak publicly earlier while the legal process played out.
In April, a federal judge dismissed much of Lively's case against Baldoni, including her claims that she was subjected to sexual harassment, but allowed her to pursue a retaliation claim against Baldoni's public relations teams.
Baldoni, via his Wayfarer Studios production company, and Lively later agreed to settle but remain tied up in a court fight over legal fees.
"So we have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years and it's not because we haven't had anything to say because lord knows we have," Justin Baldoni said in the video. "But it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to -- it just didn't feel like the right time."
Emily Baldoni added, "And this feels like the moment."
The couple said there is "so much to say" but that they were not going to say it all now.
"What does feel important is that we can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people and so many things that have happened to us," Emily Baldoni said.
"Gratitude has saved us," Justin Baldoni added.
Emily Baldoni said that gratitude "doesn't negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years."
"We've had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguise[d] as a fight for women," she said.
Justin Baldoni said the couple chose not to contribute to "the noise" surrounding the case.
"We just wanted to let the justice system run its course," he said.
Emily Baldoni added, "The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves. And here we are."
Justin Baldoni said the family is continuing to recover from the experience.
"We are healing," he said. "And if you've ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn't linear. It looks different every day."
He said the experience has helped the couple focus on "the kids, it's our family, it is our friends, it's our community ... it's our faith."
Justin Baldoni also thanked supporters who stood by the family.
"There were so many of you who, when we didn't have a voice, were our voice," he said. "Thank you does not feel like enough."
Emily Baldoni said the couple plans to continue focusing on their family.
"There is so much more to say, and that time will come. But for now, we are going to focus on continuing the healing and hanging out with our kiddos and enjoying life."
The video comes days after attorneys for Lively said in a court filing that Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, owes the actress $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees connected to the studio's defamation lawsuit against her, which was dismissed in June 2025. According to the filing, Lively is also seeking $539,514.01 in costs and expenses related to the dismissed case.
The filing came after U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman denied Lively's request for punitive damages but allowed her to seek attorneys' fees under California Civil Code Section 47.1, a law designed to protect people who report sexual assault, harassment or discrimination from retaliatory defamation lawsuits.
The legal dispute between the former It Ends With Us co-stars began in December 2024, when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film, which he also directed.
Lively also accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of attempting to orchestrate a smear campaign against her, allegations Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have denied.
The two later filed competing lawsuits against one another. Baldoni accused Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, the couple's publicist, Leslie Sloane, and others of extortion and defamation, among other claims. The lawsuits were consolidated into one case in January 2025.
Baldoni's lawsuit was dismissed by Liman in June 2025. Earlier this year, the judge also dismissed most of Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni while allowing her retaliation claims against Baldoni's public relations team to proceed.
In May, Baldoni, through Wayfarer Studios, and Lively agreed to settle their ongoing dispute. Liman ruled that Wayfarer Studios must pay Lively's attorneys' fees but denied Lively's request for punitive damages. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
ABC News has reached out to representatives for Lively for comment on the Baldonis' Instagram video.
The Cheetah Girls are strutting back to Disney Channel. A new film called The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen has been greenlit at Disney Channel and Disney+. Raven-Symoné will reprise her role as Galleria “Bubbles” Garibaldi and produce the new film. Also returning are Adrienne Bailon, who will once again play Chanel “Chuchie” Simmons, and Sabrina Bryan, who will make a special appearance as Dorinda “Do” Thomas. The movie will follow a new group of teens who want to take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls ... Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
The upcoming Rent revival on the West End has revealed who will star alongside Gaten Matarazzo's Mark. Travis Ross is set to play Roger, Bella Brown will be Mimi, Billy Nevers is set for Collins, Lazy Violet will play Maureen, Danielle Fiamanya will take on the role of Joanne, Jeevan Braich is set for Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes is going to play Benny. The production has been extended to March 27, 2027, with previews staring on Sept. 26 and an opening night of Oct. 8 ...
A spinoff to the film M3GAN will soon be headed to homes everywhere. The film, titled SOULM8TE, is an erotic thriller following an AI robot. Universal Pictures removed it from its theatrical calendar in late 2025 and is now moving forward with a straight-to-digital release for the film. A trailer for the movie is now available to watch. Audiences can rent the movie starting Aug. 1 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment ...
Miles Gutierrez-Riley as Otto, John Slattery as himself, Ben Wang as Caleb, Ken Marino as Vincent and Zoey Deutch as Gail Daughtry in ‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
While Wet Hot American Summer celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer, its director David Wain has a brand-new comedy headed to theaters.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass opens wide in theaters on Friday. It stars Zoey Deutch as the titular hairdresser who travels to LA in hopes of sleeping with her celebrity crush, Jon Hamm, after her fiancé breaks her heart by hooking up with Jennifer Aniston.
Starring in a film directed by Wain and written by him and Ken Marino was "definitely a dream come true" for Deutch, she told ABC Audio.
"I love their sense of humor. I love their world that they've created and how specific it is to them," Deutch said. "It's always impressive to me when an artist carves out their own space in the world and then sticks to it with such integrity. It's really cool and I think comedy is the hardest of all genres and they do it with such brilliance."
Wain said casting the role of Gail Daughtry was "very tough ruby red shoes to fill."
"We wrote such a crazy dumb script and we knew it wouldn't work as a movie unless we had someone at the center of it that could really bring heart and grounding to it," Wain said. He needed someone who knew "how to deliver on the humor and also just have the general charisma to pull off this trick."
Deutch was "the only one we could think of that could actually do it," Wain said.
The actress has had a busy summer. Not only is she the star of this film, she also leads the Netflix hit Voicemails for Isabelle and lends her voice to Minions & Monsters.
"I feel really grateful that people are seeing them and that they're coming out into the world. I make a lot of movies that don't get as seen, and so I just feel really grateful," Deutch said.
