Andy Serkis has a message for anyone demanding that his new "Lord of the Rings" movie check demographic boxes: he's not doing it. The actor and filmmaker, who will return as Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," told the BBC that the film's announced cast, every one of them white, […] The post Andy Serkis refuses to bow to diversity pressure over all-white cast in new Lord of the Rings film appeared first on American Almanac .
Andy Serkis has a message for anyone demanding that his new "Lord of the Rings" movie check demographic boxes: he's not doing it. The actor and filmmaker, who will return as Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," told the BBC that the film's announced cast, every one of them white, reflects the world J.R.R. Tolkien built, not a casting spreadsheet designed to satisfy progressive critics. The comments, reported by Variety on July 15 , landed in the middle of a culture-war fault line that has run through Hollywood's fantasy adaptations for years. And Serkis didn't flinch. What Serkis actually said Asked directly by the BBC why every announced cast member is white, Serkis pointed to the source material, not a…Open
William Shatner is not dying. He is, however, going metal. The 95-year-old "Star Trek" icon announced he will take the stage at Riot Fest 2026 in Chicago with his heavy metal band, marking a defiant new chapter just months after he publicly fought back against AI-generated fake news stories claiming he had stage 4 brain […] The post William Shatner, 95, books heavy metal debut at Riot Fest after fighting AI-generated death hoaxes appeared first on American Almanac .
William Shatner is not dying. He is, however, going metal. The 95-year-old "Star Trek" icon announced he will take the stage at Riot Fest 2026 in Chicago with his heavy metal band, marking a defiant new chapter just months after he publicly fought back against AI-generated fake news stories claiming he had stage 4 brain cancer. The booking, first reported by Page Six , puts Shatner on the bill for Sunday, Sept. 20, at Douglass Park in Chicago. The performance will be the first live show for his band, The *uckers, a name that leaves little to the imagination about the group's attitude. Riot Fest announced the booking via Instagram with characteristic irreverence: "After years of writing letters... Riot Fest 2026: Now with 100% more…Open
A new book by British author Catherine Mayer argues that King Charles III regarded Queen Camilla's place in his life as beyond debate long before the public came around, and that the monarchy's own rigid expectations helped create the most painful chapter in modern royal history. Mayer's book, "Divide & Rule," examines history's most misunderstood […] The post King Charles viewed Camilla as 'non-negotiable' after Diana's death, new book reveals appeared first on American Almanac .
A new book by British author Catherine Mayer argues that King Charles III regarded Queen Camilla's place in his life as beyond debate long before the public came around, and that the monarchy's own rigid expectations helped create the most painful chapter in modern royal history. Mayer's book, "Divide & Rule," examines history's most misunderstood royal wives. In interviews with Fox News Digital , the author, who previously wrote a biography of Charles, said multiple anonymous friends of the monarch told her Charles "deemed Camilla's role in his life a 'non-negotiable,'" which led to "painstaking" efforts to rehabilitate her public image over the course of decades. Buckingham Palace declined to engage. A spokesperson told Fox News…Open
President Trump has reinstated ICE vehicle stops, citing their importance in safe and effective immigration enforcement, despite ongoing criticism.
President Trump has reinstated ICE vehicle stops, citing their importance in safe and effective immigration enforcement, despite ongoing criticism. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Following a temporary pause on vehicle stops after two officer-involved shootings, President Donald J. Trump has reversed the guidance, reinstating the use of traffic stops as a critical tool for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) deportation operations. DETAIL: A federal ICE special agent, speaking anonymously, told the media that vehicle stops are a routine part of deportation operations because they are often safer than home or street arrests, provide more time to identify targets, and reduce the likelihood of “collateral” arrests involving…Open
Retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, returned to the base where he earned his gold wings, joining Naval Aviation Schools Command in congratulating 29 student naval aviators who completed their introductory flight evaluation training.
U.S. — Fast-food giant Taco Bell introduced Imodium A-D sauce packets to help customers combat the explosive diarrhea caused by consuming the restaurant chain's food.
A strong earthquake struck the southern Mexican Pacific coast on Friday, right on the border with Guatemala, and was felt from Mexico City to El Salvador
President Donald Trump threw his weight behind MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in the Minnesota governor's race, issuing what he called his "complete and total endorsement" on Truth Social, only to see the state Republican Party publicly reject the move within hours. The endorsement, posted Wednesday, praised Lindell as "one of America's greatest and most hard […] The post Trump endorses MyPillow founder Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor as state GOP pushes back appeared first on American Almanac .
President Donald Trump threw his weight behind MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in the Minnesota governor's race, issuing what he called his "complete and total endorsement" on Truth Social, only to see the state Republican Party publicly reject the move within hours. The endorsement, posted Wednesday, praised Lindell as "one of America's greatest and most hard working Patriots" and urged Minnesota voters to back him in a Republican primary already underway. But the Minnesota GOP fired back with a formal statement warning that Lindell is not the candidate best positioned to win in November, citing his finances, his third-place finish at the state convention, and his recent move to Texas. The split marks a rare open break between a state…Open
Gabriel Perez, the White House technical assistant who has loaded President Trump's teleprompter since the 2016 campaign, is under federal investigation for allegedly turning his advance access to presidential remarks into a six-figure payday on a prediction market, and the president himself called the scheme a "disgrace." The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is probing whether […] The post Trump's teleprompter operator placed on leave after allegedly pocketing $100K betting on presidential speeches appeared first on American Almanac .
Gabriel Perez, the White House technical assistant who has loaded President Trump's teleprompter since the 2016 campaign, is under federal investigation for allegedly turning his advance access to presidential remarks into a six-figure payday on a prediction market, and the president himself called the scheme a "disgrace." The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is probing whether Perez placed bets on more than a dozen Trump speeches over a three-month stretch, wagering on Kalshi's "Mentions" market, where users bet on whether specific words, phrases, or topics will come up during a public address. ABC News reported that Perez is believed to have won more than $100,000 using inside knowledge of the president's prepared text. The White…Open
Savannah Guthrie told viewers she is leaving the Today show for several weeks to film the entire first season of NBC's Wordle game show in Manchester, England, her second extended absence from the morning program as her family continues to cope with the unresolved disappearance of her mother from a Tucson, Arizona, home. The 54-year-old […] The post Savannah Guthrie steps away from Today again to film Wordle game show in England appeared first on American Almanac .
Savannah Guthrie told viewers she is leaving the Today show for several weeks to film the entire first season of NBC's Wordle game show in Manchester, England, her second extended absence from the morning program as her family continues to cope with the unresolved disappearance of her mother from a Tucson, Arizona, home. The 54-year-old co-host made the announcement on-air alongside colleagues Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, and Craig Melvin, confirming she would head overseas to shoot the full season over the coming weeks. "Yes, we're about to do it, guys! I'm headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks. We're going to shoot the whole season, and we're super excited. We cannot wait for everyone to see it." The show is expected…Open