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Lucasfilm canceling “The Acolyte” is yet another sign that Star Wars is unwilling to embrace new, interesting ideas.

For seven glorious weeks in June and July, I was excited about Star Wars again, and it was all thanks to The Acolyte.

Created by Leslye Headland, the latest Star Wars series was a breath of fresh air for a franchise whose biggest live-action TV offerings had mostly devolved into stale Easter egg hunts. (Looking at you, The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.) While The Acolyte certainly wasn’t without its own Easter eggs, it was also primarily original material.

We got our first taste of the High Republic Era in live-action Star Wars, as well as new heroes in twins Mae and Osha (both played by Amandla Stenberg), and a new Sith Lord in the Stranger (Manny Jacinto). A cast of mostly original characters and a lack of gratuitous Skywalker cameos kept The Acolyte feeling fresh from week to week, as did its no-holds-barred action sequences, hints of enemies-to-lovers romance, and interrogation of the Jedi Order. By the time the finale rolled around, teasing exciting new possibilities for the show’s future, I was locked in and burning for more.

But on Tuesday, Deadline reported that Lucasfilm would not be renewing The Acolyte for a second season. According to the publisher, citing “sources”, the reasoning was ratings-based, with the season finale drawing what is believed to be the lowest minutes viewed for a Star Wars finale.

The cancellation might make sense from a numbers standpoint, as The Acolyte‘s budget was reportedly $180 million for eight episodes. (Never mind that a Star Wars show with fewer connections to existing IP was always going to be a riskier bet.) But from a storytelling standpoint, the decision does a major disservice to Star Wars going forward. It sends the unfortunate message that any attempts at original storytelling will be sidelined in favor of more self-referential slogs. Nothing new is allowed, nor is any show given the chance to grow past its first season unless it’s an instant smash hit. So why even bother getting invested in a new Star Wars series in the first place? (Notably, Andor, the best Star Wars series, was guaranteed a Season 2 from the jump. Could you imagine if its low viewership resulted in an Acolyte-style cancellation?)

‘The Acolyte’ gave me hope for the future of Star Wars. Now, I’m not so sure.

The loss of The Acolyte is also a blow to its audience, many of whom, like me, saw the series as a way to reconnect with a franchise that had otherwise lost their trust and interest. Whether people were seeing themselves in The Acolyte‘s diverse cast or rejoicing in Star Wars actually embracing an enemies-to-lovers romance, it was a joy to watch viewers geek out every week over the show’s every twist and turn.

Of course, there is a nasty flip side to that fandom. Bigoted, so-called Star Wars “fans” took every opportunity to attack the series with racist, sexist, and homophobic rhetoric, all because The Acolyte dared center women and people of color. Stenberg has been a target for this vitriol since her role in the show was announced, the same kind of racist attacks Star Wars actors like John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, and Moses Ingram faced before her. Following the cancellation announcement, comments on Stenberg’s social media have been a parade of hateful gloating. (Thankfully, there is still quite a bit of support.) Clearly, this subset of the Star Wars audience views The Acolyte‘s cancellation as a moral victory and as proof that Star Wars remains “theirs.”

That Lucasfilm and Disney did little to speak out against this hate during The Acolyte‘s run speaks volumes. That they continue to push aside audience members eager for something new speaks volumes too. As one of those audience members, The Acolyte gave me hope for the future of Star Wars. Now, I’m not so sure.

The Acolyte Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+.

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A24 has released the trailer for nostalgic teen disaster comedy ‘Y2K,’ featuring Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison.

A24 has released the trailer for nostalgic teen disaster comedy ‘Y2K,’ featuring Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison.

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“Daily Show” host Michael Kosta has given a preview of the Democratic National Committee.

“Daily Show” host Michael Kosta has given a preview of the Democratic National Committee.

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A six-part Apple TV+ docuseries, “K-Pop Idols” follows rapper/singer Jessi, boy group CRAVITY, and girl group BLACKSWAN.

A six-part Apple TV+ docuseries, “K-Pop Idols” follows rapper/singer Jessi, boy group CRAVITY, and girl group BLACKSWAN.

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The trailer for “Azrael”, E.L. Katz’ post-apocalyptic survival thriller about a religious cult trying to fend off eerie creatures, has dropped.

The trailer for “Azrael”, E.L. Katz’ post-apocalyptic survival thriller about a religious cult trying to fend off eerie creatures, has dropped.

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Find out how to watch ‘Inside Out 2’ at home, including its Disney Plus release date, its VOD release, and the best streaming deals.

In 2015, Inside Out explored the emotions inside the head of a young girl named Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman) as she was trying to cope with moving across the country. Nearly a decade later, Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the crew are back — along with some new emotions — to help Riley deal with puberty in Inside Out 2.

The Pixar blockbuster took the box office by storm this summer and now, as of Aug. 20, you can watch the family friendly film from the comfort of your couch. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Inside Out 2 at home.

What is Inside Out 2 about?

Pixar digs into the human emotion hellscape that is puberty in Inside Out 2, introducing a whole new slate of emotions to Riley’s mind. Alongside Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale), and Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), new emotions have emerged to help Riley navigate this difficult time — Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). As Riley attends a hockey camp and is forced to confront some tough decisions about friends, the old emotions and new get into a power struggle, which leads to some emotional turmoil for Riley.

Get a sneak peek at the story in the trailer below.

Is Inside Out 2 worth watching?

Mashable’s Belen Edwards described the film as “the rare Pixar sequel that truly earns its existence and deepens the message of its first film. And even though it may make you deeply, deeply, deeply anxious, it’s also, quite simply, a joy to watch.”

Other critics largely agree, with the film earning a 91 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences love it, too; not only did the film bring in a whopping $1.5 billion at the box office, but it also managed to maintain a 95 percent audience rating. Oh, and no biggie, but it also became the highest grossing animated film of all time.

Read our full review of Inside Out 2.

How to watch Inside Out 2 at home

Just two months after Inside Out 2‘s explosive opening weekend at the theaters, it’s available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase the film for your digital library for $29.99. It’ll also be available to rent at a later date.

The benefit of purchasing the film, besides being able to watch it at your leisure, is the slew of bonus content you’ll have access to. The digital version of the film includes an alternate opening, deleted scenes, behind the scenes of creating the new emotions, and more. However, if you’d rather stream Inside Out 2, keep scrolling to learn more.

As of Aug. 20, you can purchase the film at the following retailers:

Prime Video — buy for $29.99

Apple TV — buy for $29.99

Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $29.99

YouTube — buy for $29.99

When is Inside Out 2 streaming?

While there’s no official streaming date yet, we do know that — like every other Pixar release — Inside Out 2 will be headed to Disney+ eventually. Given its massive success in theaters, there’s a good chance Disney will push its streaming debut to late fall 2024. Stay tuned, as we’ll update this article when the official date is announced.

If you’re not yet a Disney+ subscriber, you can prepare to watch Inside Out 2 or revisit the original film by subscribing ahead of time. Subscriptions start at $7.99 and we’ve rounded up the best ways you can sign up and save some money below.

The best Disney+ streaming deals

Best Disney+ deal for most people

If you’re only interested in watching Inside Out 2 and not sticking around, signing up for a single month of Disney+ is probably your best option. You won’t technically save any money, but you also won’t continuously waste money either — so long as you remember to cancel your subscription after watching. Disney+ with ads will only cost you $7.99 for a single month. If you want to cut out the ads, it’ll cost you $13.99 for the month.

Best Disney+ bundle deal

If you’re already a Hulu subscriber, you can bundle it with Disney+ (with ads) for only $9.99 per month. That’s basically like getting Disney+ for only $2 per month, saving you 37% compared to paying for each separately. You can take things a step further and add Max into the mix for a grand total of $16.99 per month. Or, if you’re more into sports, sub Max for ESPN+ for just $14.99 per month for all three. You’ll have to deal with ads, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. To watch without ads, you’ll have to pay an extra $10 a month for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle and an extra $13 per month for the trio bundle with Max.

Best Disney+ trial

Verizon Fios home internet users on the 2 Gig Streaming or 2 Gig Complete package can score a free year of Disney+ Premium (no ads), while those on the 1 Gig Streaming or 1 Gig Complete package can sign up for six free months. Check your plan and read about eligibility terms over on the Verizon website to activate the offer.

Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers

Verizon Wireless customers can get a stellar deal on Disney+ through Verizon myPlan. Just add a Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN (with ads). All three would usually cost you $18.99 per month, but by signing up through this myPlan deal, you’ll only pay $10 per month.

Best way to get Disney+ for free

If you’re a Total by Verizon customer on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan, you get Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods. Just keep your account in good standing and you get Disney+ included with your account. If you cancel or switch your plan, your subscription will end as well. If you’re on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan, you can also score six free months of Disney+, which is plenty of time to watch Inside Out 2. Want to extend your trial? Just upgrade to the $60/month plan.

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Let’s talk about Alien resurrection. No, not the fourth “Alien” film, but rather the ghoulish real-life resurrection in “Alien: Romulus.”

Let’s talk about Alien resurrection. No, not the fourth film in the Alien series, but rather the ghoulish real-life resurrection at the heart of Alien: Romulus.

The film, directed by Fede Álvarez, brings a familiar face back to the Alien franchise: that of the late Sir Ian Holm. Holm played the Nostromo’s synthetic science officer Ash in 1979’s Alien. In Alien: Romulus, he “appears” as Rook, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who is the same model as Ash, and who serves as the science officer for the Renaissance space station.

I say “appears” because Holm, who passed away in June 2020, is unable to perform in Alien: Romulus. Instead, the film uses an animatronic body and CGI to create a simulacrum of Holm. Actor Daniel Betts also provided facial and vocal performances, which were then altered by generative AI and computer modeling to get closer to Holm’s. The result lives in the depths of the uncanny valley, alongside Rogue One‘s revival of Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin and The Flash‘s cameo from Christopher Reeve’s Superman.

However, Alien: Romulus‘s Rook has far more screen time than these prior examples, playing first an expository role, then an antagonistic one for the film’s young heroes. Each extended appearance is more unsettling than the last, to the point that I dreaded seeing Rook far more than I dreaded any Xenomorph. Not because Rook is a frightening character, but because his presence here snaps you out of an otherwise very fun movie, pointing instead to a disturbing filmmaking practice that mines cheap nostalgia from a late actor’s work — and that could have been entirely avoided in the first place.

Why is Ian Holm’s Alien: Romulus resurrection so troubling?

Let’s start out with the obvious: No matter what permissions an estate may grant, a late actor cannot consent to having their likeness used in a movie. Doing so is an immediate violation of their personhood. In reviving them for the screen, you’re creating a performance in a film they might never have agreed to do, with acting choices they might never have made.

That’s because the version of Holm we see in Alien: Romulus isn’t really Holm. It’s a puppet of a character he once played, being pulled out of the Alien toy box in order to score nostalgia points in a movie that’s already too full of callbacks. Like Reeve and Cushing, Holm becomes an avatar for misguided fan service, instead of remaining an actor with agency. No wonder concerns about digital replicas of actors and their use after death became a key part of SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 contract.

The presence of Holm’s likeness in Alien: Romulus is also a smack in the face to the film’s own themes. Here is a movie that criticizes how corporations work employees to death, with one of its first scenes establishing that Weyland-Yutani keeps moving the goalposts of Rain Carradine’s (Cailee Spaeny, Civil War, Priscilla) contract until it’s effectively a death sentence. Yet Alien: Romulus is awfully comfortable working the image of an actor’s body beyond death. Elsewhere, the great horror of the facehuggers and Xenomorphs remains the hijacking of our own bodies for alien needs. Does Alien: Romulus not see how its use of Holm’s likeness is a similar kind of hijacking?

Alien: Romulus didn’t need Rook in the first place.

An extra frustrating element of this situation is the fact that Alien: Romulus didn’t even need Rook to be effective. Rain and her companions have no idea about the events of Alien on the Nostromo, or who Ash is, so seeing Rook means nothing to them in-world. His presence here is pure fan service, with no actual depth behind it. Sure, the sentiment would have been the same had Álvarez brought back Bishop (Lance Henriksen) from Aliens and Alien 3 or David (Michael Fassbender) from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, but at least then the director wouldn’t have been manufacturing a performance from a deceased Holm.

Just bring in another version of Andy.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Álvarez pointed to a “limited amount of synthetics” as being the reason why he and producer Ridley Scott decided to bring Rook back. Yet even if that limit prevented the creation of another original synthetic beyond Andy (David Jonsson, Industry, Rye Lane), there is still a solution for who could fulfill Rook’s role onboard the Renaissance without stooping to fan service. Just bring in another version of Andy. After all, the movie is named Romulus, after famed Roman twins Remus and Romulus — twin shenanigans would only make sense here!

Yes, the Alien franchise has pulled the synthetic twins trick before, with Walter and David in Alien: Covenant. But out of all the callbacks Alien: Romulus has to other Alien films, I think double Andy has the potential to be the most rewarding.

For starters, another synthetic who looks like Andy would actually mean something to Rain and her companions. They’d have more of a reason to trust him upon first meeting him, just by virtue of his resemblance to Rain’s brother alone. That’s already a step above fan service.

Then, there’s Andy’s reaction to his own doppelgänger to consider. Aside from Rain, Andy is fairly isolated from the rest of the anti-synthetic crew, and from the rest of the Jackson’s Star Colony. What happens if he sees someone who is exactly like him? Does he form some kind of synthetic kinship with his double, especially after learning that Rain plans to decommission him when she makes it to Yvaga?

If there is any trust there, that adds an extra layer of heartbreak to the moment when Andy switches over to being just another vessel for doing Weyland-Yutani’s bidding, powered by Rook’s chip. Think of Andy’s turn there like a reverse Walter and David situation. While David tried to turn Walter against his crew in order to free him from a life of service, Andy’s turned against his crew in order to serve Weyland-Yutani. When it’s his lookalike facilitating that turn, it becomes more of a betrayal of self, instead of a possible self-liberation.

Twice the Andy is just one solution to the question of, “which synthetic should be onboard the Renaissance?” (A solution that would give Jonsson even more room to flex his impressive range.) There are countless others, including just making Rook an original synthetic and casting any other actor in the part. But there’s only one truly incorrect answer, and that’s the route Alien: Romulus takes.

Alien: Romulus is now in theaters.

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Stephen Colbert has broken down the big moments from the Democratic National Convention, day one.

Stephen Colbert has broken down the big moments from the Democratic National Convention, day one.

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Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 20’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Whooooosh

Green: One might spin right round baby right round…

Blue: What’s your star sign?

Purple: Book characters

Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Rush of Wind

Green: Rotate

Blue: Zodiac Symbols

Purple: Dr. Seuss Title Characters

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #435 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Rush of Wind: BLOW, DRAFT, GUST, PUFF

Rotate: CRANK, REEL, TURN, WIND

Yoga Poses: BULL, CRAB, LION, RAM

Zodiac Symbols: CAT, GRINCH, POP, TURTLE

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1158 on August 20, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 20’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

Hold up.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter D.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

DELAY.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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