Entertainment

The 2022 Netflix fantasy series The Sandman is returning for its second and final season, which will arrive in two parts. Volume 1, with six episodes, debuts July 3 and Volume 2, with five episodes, starts July 24.

Based on the DC comic series, the show follows Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, aka Dream, an immortal being who has power over humanity’s dreams. His siblings, who include Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair and Delirium, are all in the mix this season. You can watch a teaser now.

Showrunner Allan Heinberg says, “This season is about Dream’s having to accept responsibility for his arrogance, for his ignorance, and for his feelings — which he doesn’t even admit to having.”

As for why the show is ending, Heinberg says, “The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream’s story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season.”

It’s worth noting that when Netflix announced in January that the show would end with the second season, the news came amid multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations against The Sandman comic creator Neil Gaiman, who developed and executive-produced the series. He has denied the allegations.

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Lindsay Lohan is headed to the small screen.

The actress will star in and executive produce the upcoming series Count My Lies, based on the 2025 book of the same name by Sophie Stava, according to a representative for Hulu.

Stava is also attached as a producer on the project, which is in development at Hulu from 20th Television.

“When compulsive liar Sloane Caraway fibs her way into a nanny position for the gorgeous and charismatic Violet and Jay Lockhart, it seems she’s finally landed her dream job,” a description of the show reads. “But little does Sloane know, she’s just entered a household brimming with secrets that are about to explode — with potentially catastrophic consequences for all.”

Count My Lies, which was published Scout Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, was a GMA Book Club pick.

The show will also come by way of the writers and executive producers behind This Is Us, Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, as well as executive producer Scott Morgan.

Lohan will appear on the big screen this summer, starring in Freakier Friday, a follow-up sequel to her 2003 comedy film Freaky Friday. The sequel hits theaters Aug. 8.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News, Good Morning America and Hulu.

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is officially coming back for season 17 on July 9. FX has announced that the longest-running live-action comedy series in TV history will premiere with two episodes on FX that evening, with them being available to watch on Hulu the next day. The network also released a promo for the highly anticipated Abbott Elementary crossover episode …

Outlander fans can rejoice: Starz has announced the premiere date for the prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood. The show will debut Aug. 8 on the network. It takes place between the battlefields of World War I and the highlands of 18th century Scotland with two brand-new love stories caught between it all …

Michael Shannon is set to play coach Bill Parcells in an upcoming sports film. Deadline reports that the currently untitled football drama will be about the athlete John Tuggle, who was the last pick of the NFL Draft in 1983. As previously reported, David Corenswet will play Tuggle, while Isabel May is also cast in an unknown role …

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Bryce Dallas Howard directs the new documentary Pets, all about our furry little friends.

The film, which is streaming now on Disney+, explores the relationship between animals and the people who own them all over the world. All types of animals are highlighted in the documentary: from dogs and cats to pigs and birds of prey. Howard told ABC Audio every story highlighted in the film spoke to her in different ways.

“I think that the healing benefits of having a pet in your life is significant,” Howard said. “As you’re getting older and things are slowing down and things can start to feel [like] there’s some loneliness, the relationship with a pet is especially powerful in one’s last chapter of their life.”

If she had to pick a part of the film that really resonated, it would have to be the section that highlighted Dog Duca, an animal shelter in Japan that was founded by Shinobu Takahashi.

The shelter is named after Takahashi’s late pet dog, Duca. It is known for its Senior Dog Supporter program, which connects senior citizens with older dogs who need loving homes.

“Dog Duca and the stories in Japan and whatnot, that really touched me deeply,” Howard said. “I just felt that the way that they spoke to that relationship and that journey and the gratitude that we feel for pets was just very profound.”

As for what inspires her filmmaking, Howard says she likes making movies about relatable topics.

“I like connecting with people about things that we can bond over, that we have in common,” Howard said. “I just am always attracted to that. I’m attracted to it as an actor. I like to make movies that a lot of people are wanting to see.”

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Michelle Trachtenberg died a natural death from complications of diabetes, the New York City medical examiner’s office said Wednesday.

There was no autopsy performed, but toxicology test results gave additional clarity, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The Gossip Girl actress was found dead in her apartment in Columbus Circle in February at the age of 39.

Previously, Trachtenberg’s family objected to an autopsy for religious reasons. Because there was no suspicion of foul play or criminality associated with the actress’s death, the medical examiner did not overrule the family’s objection and limited the investigation to an external examination.

Trachtenberg made her acting debut as a child star with roles in Nickelodeon projects, including the television series The Adventure of Pete & Pete and the film Harriet the Spy.

The actress gained prominence first for her role as Dawn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which she played from 2000 to 2003.

She found further success as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl from 2008 to 2012. For her role, she was nominated as the choice TV villain at the Teen Choice Awards in 2012.

Friends and co-stars of Trachtenberg, including Blake Lively, Rosie O’Donnell, Chace Crawford and more mourned the actress after her death.

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Nate Bargatze has been tapped to host TV’s biggest night.

The comedian will host the 77th Emmy Awards, which honor excellence in television. CBS will broadcast the show live on both coasts from the Peacock Theater in LA on Sept. 14. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

“It’s a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” Bargatze said in a press release.

Television Academy chair Cris Abrego called Bargatze “one of the hottest comics in the business,” saying his brand of humor “deeply resonates with multi-generational audiences around the globe.”

“We are thrilled to be able to leverage his one-of-a-kind perspective to entertain TV fans watching this year’s Emmy telecast,” Abrego continued.

Nominations for the 77th Emmys will be announced on July 15. The Television Academy will stream the announcement live at 8:30 a.m. PT on Emmys.com.

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Benedict Cumberbatch is married to Olivia Colman in the official trailer for The Roses.

Searchlight Pictures released the trailer for director Jay Roach‘s dark comedy film on Wednesday.

It follows the seemingly picture-perfect married life between Theo and Ivy, played by Cumberbatch and Colman, respectively. Beneath their perfect facade, however, tension lingers as Theo’s career takes a hit and Ivy’s own life ambitions begin to soar.

“For you, dear, I’d do anything,” Cumberbatch’s Theo says at the beginning of the trailer.

As it goes on, we see Ivy’s career as a famous chef and cookbook writer take off while Theo is fired from his own job.

“I suppose sometimes I do hate you,” Theo says. After Ivy looks at him incredulously, he immediately follows that with: “Sporadic hatred.”

The Roses is inspired by the Danny Devito-directed 1989 movie The War of the Roses. Poor Things screenwriter Tony McNamara penned the screenplay.

Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Belinda Bromilow and Kate McKinnon also star.

The Roses blooms in movie theaters on Aug. 29.

Disney is the parent company of Searchlight Pictures and ABC News.

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TIME has revealed its 2025 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Demi Moore represents the entertainment community as she graces one of the five worldwide covers of this year’s Time100 issue of the magazine.

Other entertainers to make the list are Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Bell, Adrien Brody, Wicked director Jon M. Chu, Nikki Glaser, Danielle Deadwyler, Adam Scott, Kristen Wiig and Diego Luna.

Ryan Murphy penned the tribute to Moore, writing that her powerful spirit has permeated our lives for decades.

“She is one of the most successful movie stars of all time. I’ve always seen her as more than that,” Murphy wrote. “I’m so thrilled and proud the entire world has woken up and finally recognized her immense and iconic total power. Now in her 60s, Demi has proved that it’s never too late to get the flowers you truly deserve.”

Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill wrote Lively’s tribute, sharing that she does not know the actress from her acting gigs or glamorous red carpet appearances.

“The Blake Lively I know is a philanthropist and a student of our country’s most intractable problems,” Ifill wrote. “I remember an early conversation in which she expressed frustration that so much of our nation’s history was not part of the instruction she had received as a student. Her commitment to filling those gaps — and becoming the most fully informed and prepared citizen — is what I appreciate most about her.”

The world’s most influential people will gather in New York City at the 2025 Time100 Summit on April 23 and the Time100 Gala on April 24, which will then air as a TV special May 4 on ABC. 

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Legendary game show host Wink Martindale died Tuesday at age 91.

According to a press release, he passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, surrounded by his family and wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale.

Martindale got his start in radio, and in 1954, while working at Memphis’ WHBQ, he helped get the station the first interview with Elvis Presley.  He eventually broke into television as host of Mars Patrol, a science-fiction themed children’s show. He also hosted Teenage Dance Party, on which Elvis made an appearance on June 16, 1956.

But Martindale was best known for hosting popular game shows, including Tic-Tac-Dough and Gambit. Other game shows he hosted include Headline Chasers, High Rollers, The Last Word, The Great Getaway Game, Trivial Pursuit, Debt, and Instant Recall.

In 2006, Martindale received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Laura Linney is set to star in the upcoming comedy series American Classic. The show, which will be for MGM+, also stars Kevin Kline and Jon Tenney. It follows a Broadway actor who has a public meltdown and must return to his hometown and the family-run theater where he first fell in love with acting. Michael Hoffman and Bob Martin co-created the show, which begins filming in summer 2025 …

Nicholas Galitzine is joining forces with Bill Skarsgård for the new film Mosquito Bowl. Deadline reports that the movie, which is being made for Netflix, is based on The New York Times bestseller The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. While the roles the actors will play are under wraps, the film is set after the Pearl Harbor attack and follows four top American football stars who set aside their love of the game to enlist in the Marines …

Lucy Hale is set to star in the film adaptation of the novel Dead Letters. Based on the 2017 book by Caite Dolan-Leach, the film will be made for Netflix, Deadline reports. Hale will also executive produce the film along with Call Her Daddy‘s Alex Cooper. The story is a whodunnit thriller that follows identical twin sisters Ava and Zelda, who will both be played by Hale …

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