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X-Men ’97 has what Master of the Universe is missing

In 2026, Marvel and Mattel are both releasing projects designed to capitalize on people’s love for iconic animated heroes from their childhoods. Masters of the Universe has put a live-action He-Man on the big screen, and the second season of X-Men ’97 is about to fling some of Charles Xavier’s mutants into an apocalyptic future. Both projects were clearly made by people who love the source material, and they are similarly filled with nerdy Easter eggs meant to get hardcore fans hyped up. X-Men ’97 and Masters of the Universe are both nostalgia plays, but the biggest difference between the two — and arguably the reason one of them hasn’t been all that much of a success — is the work that has gone into keeping their respective characters and worlds alive in the pop culture consciousness.
In its second season, X-Men ’97 splits its team of mutant heroes up into multiple teams that find themselves stranded at drastically different points in history. While one group winds up in ancient Egypt, another is transported thousands of years into the future. Though both teams want to get back to the ’90s, they’re also desperately searching for a way to stop the virtually immortal mutant villain Apocalypse (Ross Marquand) from destroying the world. And because Apocalypse happens to be alive in both time periods, the two X-Men squads agree that it’s worth spending some time exactly where they are.
Rather than adapting a single storyline from Marvel’s comics, the new season of X-Men ’97 combines narrative elements from a number of different limited series — chief among them The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix from 1994 and 1996’s Rise of Apocalypse. Using beats from those specific comics to expand its story makes some sense given the ’90s of it all. But more surprising is the amount of relatively recent X-Men comics lore the show introduces in order to flesh out the world around its core characters.
While X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, Marvel has made it feel fresh by reworking the established canon in significant ways. Taking that approach is part of what made the series a ratings hit when it first premiered in 2024, but fans’ long-standing fondness and familiarity with the X-Men were also key factors in the equation.
One of the main reasons that fans have been foaming at the mouth for new X-Men projects like ’97 and the upcoming X-Men MCU film is that Marvel has never really let this property fade into the background. Even though 20th Century Studios’ X-Men features tended to be terrible, there were always enough X-Men comics and TV series in the mix to give fans hope that a studio would eventually come up with something excellent. And if Marvel spent less time cultivating the X-Men’s brand, the franchise might have found itself floundering the way Mattel’s Masters of the Universe currently is.
There have been a handful of newer series inspired by the original Masters of the Universe cartoon. But on the whole, He-Man’s pop cultural prominence has waned in the years since Prince Adam and his friends were explaining the lessons behind their adventures on television every weekday from 1983 to 1985. This is likely part of why Mattel’s new Masters of the Universe movie has been underperforming at the box office since its release last week. So far, the movie has raked in a paltry $54.4 million against a $200 million production budget, making it a massive financial dud.
Masters of the Universe has become a case study in Hollywood’s tendency to learn the wrong lessons from its previous successes. People flocked to theaters to see Barbie because it was a funny, feminist deconstruction of an ever-present icon, but Mattel interpreted that a sign that viewers are hungry for stories about toys in general. Masters of the Universe attempts to do some mildly critical exploration of toxic masculinity, but that clearly hasn’t been enough to convince audiences to care about He-Man. Aside from hardcore fans, many people simply aren’t that invested in or emotionally connected to He-Man’s world, and Mattel hasn’t done enough to convince audiences that there’s anything interesting about this latest film.
If He-Man was a fixture in more people’s imaginations the way the X-Men are, the conversation around Masters of the Universe would likely be very different. Mattel would do well to internalize this as a valuable lesson, but there have yet to be signs of that being the case. Between X-Men ’97’s second season and Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel is rolling into a year of massive stories that put mutants front and center. And it’s a moment that the studio has been building toward for years.
The second season of X-Men ’97 hits Disney Plus on July 1st, and Masters of the Universe is in theaters now.

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Knicks NBA Finals win would mean big things for Danhausen

The New York Knicks are one game away from securing their first NBA championship dating back to 1973. They’re up 3-1 on the San Antonio Spurs, having secured the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4. Game 5 takes place tonight (June 13, 2026) in Texas.
A victory would be huge for New York but equally as great for Danhausen.
That’s right, the WWE star who uncursed a team that decidedly felt cursed over the past few decades is getting plenty of credit for their historic postseason. If they can close out the series — and history says it’s all but certain they will do so, statistically speaking — Fightful Select reports WWE has big things in store for the very nice, very evil star who helped them along.
Indeed, there are discussions on how to include Danhausen in the Saturday Night’s Main Event show scheduled for July 18 at Madison Square Garden, the venue the Knicks call home. They’ve also got ideas for merchandise and other content at Fanatics Fest, set for that very same weekend. The man is about to become a New York hero and a staple there when WWE heads to town.
All because he used his powers for the good of the local basketball team.
That deserves all the human monies.

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Rosie O’Donnell opens up about visiting daughter Chelsea in prison

Rosie O’Donnell is detailing the time she’s spent visiting her daughter in prison.
The comedian shared a post on Instagram and Substack reflecting on the anxiety she felt leading up to visiting her daughter, Chelsea, in prison, as well as her experience at the facility itself.
“For months she’s in lockdown,” O’Donnell wrote. “23 hours a day/45 mins of sun/but she must shower then too.”
The League of Their Own star said that she felt like she was “in a movie” when she spoke to her incarcerated daughter on the phone. She said that Chelsea was “scared but [won’t] say so,” adding that she’s “always masking feelings — since forever/Never saying what she needs.”
O’Donnell shared her complicated feelings as she prepared to visit Chelsea, whom she adopted with her then-partner Kelli Carpenter shortly after her birth in 1997. “I’m going to visit her soon,” she wrote. “I have tried to prepare myself/I know it will be difficult/But I must/As she asked me to/A first for her at 28 years old.”
She added, “I can do hard things/And so can she.”
Chelsea, who has struggled with addiction, was sentenced to prison time after her probation was revoked on Oct. 22, 2025. She was previously arrested three times between September and November 2024 on multiple drug charges. She eventually pleaded guilty to one felony count of bail jumping, one felony count of possessing methamphetamine, and one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer.
O’Donnell said that she told Chelsea, “I may cry when I see [you] There in prison clothes,” and that her daughter responded, “Why mom — it’s not bad in here — I have friends now.”
“Hard to hear — but good to know,” O’Donnell said. “She’s somehow not suffering/Making the best of it.”
O’Donnell set the scene of the visitation day. “I arrive early,” she wrote. “It’s very hot/I’m wearing shorts/Waiting for her/In what looks like/A children’s nursery room.”
The actress said that she and her daughter were allowed “A hug hello and goodbye only” and that no money could be exchanged, nor could their hands move below the table.
O’Donnell said that she was overcome with emotion at the beginning of the visit. “My heart skips a beat/She looks good,” she recalled, noting that her daughter appeared “healthy” and “calm” with “rested blue eyes” and “clear skin” when she walked in the room.
“We embrace,” O’Donnell said. “She smells familiar/holds on tight/I stare into her eyes/ Shy smiles all around.”
The Sleepless in Seattle actress said that her daughter’s four children have yet to visit the prison, which she believes “pains” Chelsea.
“As the sky outside blackens/Looking ominous/I realize I’m sweating,” O’Donnell said. “I go splash cold water/On my face/As tears drop from my eyes/I try to shake the sadness/It’s hard enough for her.”
O’Donnell said that the visit, which was supposed to last four hours, was “cut short” by a tornado warning. “Chelsea slumps in her chair,” she wrote. “Crestfallen — we [are] rushed out/A quick hug/And im back in the car.”
The weather didn’t let up. “It storms all the way to the hotel/As I try to process/All that’s happened,” O’Donnell wrote. “It was a big day for both of us/I conk right out/I sleep for hours/Proud of us both.”
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Despite the difficulty of Chelsea’s situation, O’Donnell said that she has “hope” for her daughter’s future.
“She’s not fighting it anymore/This relationship we have,” she wrote. “Her sobriety helps so much/Gives me hope/and hope dies slowly/For families of addicts.”
The Tarzan actress said that her daughter “calls daily,” and that they have “gotten closer” through the “tense times” of her incarceration. “I’m grateful for that,” O’Donnell said. “That she’s alive/Looking forward to her release/Planning her post prison journey /Drug free.”
O’Donnell concluded that “unconditional love” and “forgiveness” are “a must/even when it seems impossible” at times.
“We live — we learn — we grow,” she wrote. “Even at 64.”

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Vanessa Trump Opens Up About Progress in Breast Cancer Battle

Vanessa Trump is staying optimistic amid her breast cancer fight … sharing a promising update after weeks of recovering from surgery.
She took to social media Saturday to let followers know she’s completed the recovery phase following her operation, and is now preparing to begin the next stage of treatment. She also used the post to offer encouragement to others navigating similar health battles. The update comes as she continues her high-profile relationship with Tiger Woods.
In her latest message, Vanessa said she’s spent the last month healing and focusing on her recovery … and while the journey isn’t over, she appears to be keeping a positive outlook as she moves forward.
As TMZ previously reported, Vanessa revealed in May she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had already undergone a procedure as part of her treatment plan. At the time, the former wife of Donald Trump Jr. thanked supporters for their prayers and well wishes while asking for privacy.
We also reported that Tiger temporarily left his rehab stay to be by Vanessa’s side after her diagnosis … underscoring just how seriously the couple has approached her recovery journey.
Vanessa says she’s grateful for the support she’s received along the way and is focused on taking the next steps in her fight. There’s still a road to travel … but she sounds ready for whatever comes next!

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After Milania Giudice Domestic Violence Arrest, ’RHONJ’ Cast Speculates Luis Ruelas Was the Victim

After the shocking news that Milania Giudice, daughter of reality TV legend Teresa Giudice, was arrested for domestic violence back in May, the other ladies of The Real Housewives of New Jersey are speculating about who else may have been involved in the incident.
According to sources who spoke to Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice newsletter, Teresa’s cast mates believe that her husband Luis Ruelas was the alleged victim.”The first question everyone asked was, ‘Was it Luis?'” a source told Shuter. “He’s very controversial, so that’s where the speculation immediately went.”
Milania, 20, was charged with “simple assault” and “purposely/ knowingly causing a bodily injury,” and the alleged incident took place in Montville, New Jersey, where Teresa, 54, and Luis, 51, reside. Milania is currently a student at the University of Tampa, but is presumably home for the summer break.
“Nobody knows who was allegedly injured,” a source told Shuter. “But a lot of people assumed [Luis] could be involved.” Law enforcement has not released any details about the alleged victim, and no one in the Giudice circle has spoken publicly about it. As InTouch previously reported, RHONJ was filming at the time of the arrest, but the altercation was not caught on camera.
“Everyone thinks it is Luis,” said another source. “The secrecy is creating more questions than answers.”
Time will tell if fans get more information when season 15 premieres—currently no date has been set.
Read More From InTouch Weekly
Iconic Celebrities Who Found Lasting Love After Turning 40
15 Celebrities You Didn’t Realize Got Their Start as Child Actors
15 Famous Actors You Probably Didn’t Know Were British

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How David Hockney Taught Los Angeles to See Itself

It was a perfect sunny day for lounging poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The sky was a keen pale blue, with that piercing quality familiar in Southern California. The pool, where a man with straight black hair drifted on a pink and green striped raft, was a deeper, cerulean blue.
It looked a lot like a painting by David Hockney, the British-born L.A. transplant whose death on Thursday drew tributes from all corners of the world.
And Hockney had had a hand in this pool. In 1988, already famous, he spent a day here with a paint brush attached to the end of a broom, painting bright blue swooshes on the pool’s bottom. Now, even though many of the marks have faded, the remaining curves powerfully mimic and accentuate the flickering light on the water’s rippled surface.
The pool mural, which I visited on Friday, is one of the many gifts that Hockney has given us as residents of Los Angeles. In his five decades of living here, becoming as he would say an “English Angeleno,” he made his mark on the city in ways both dramatic and subtle, inflecting our image of the California lifestyle as well as influencing generations of artists. His influence is felt not just on the walls of museum, but everywhere.

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