One of the best characters Christopher McQuarrie introduced to the Mission: Impossible franchise during his tenure was inarguably Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, and I was certainly one of the many disappointed by her death in Dead Reckoning. That being said, McQuarrie's recent explanation that he didn't want to undo her death simply because of the backlash, and wanted to retain the franchise's stakes, actually makes me glad that The Final Reckoning didn't try to retcon that, as it would've betrayed the rest of the high stakes the movie had. 

The likes of Jack Ryan and Reacher have popularized what's become known as the "Dad Show" genre, titles in which, thanks to them tackling everything from spies to one-man armies to wars. With Reacher season 4 currently in development, all eyes are on other shows to fill the void in the meantime, and I feel like the perfect show for people to dive into while they wait is Ray Donovan. Across its seven seasons and movie finale, the 10-year-old series really packed many of the themes and storytelling fans of the dad show genre love, and with an outstanding cast behind its material, it deserves to enjoy a resurgence.

The past few years have seen a real boom in studios and movie theater chains crafting unique popcorn buckets to celebrate the release of new titles, with Dune: Part Two's Sandworm bucket arguably being the start of the recent uptick in competition. Honestly, though, very few buckets over the past few years have really stuck out to me as being worth spending the extra money, feeling like they'll simply take up space in my cupboards, especially since I don't cook popcorn enough at home to justify it. But maybe that's just me?

In a surprising turn of events, Prime Video recently cancelled The Wheel of Time after just three seasons, leaving a wealth of source material unadapted for the screens. Though speculated that the show's viewership numbers weren't enough to justify the cost of renewal, part of me worries that the streamer may consider The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power even more expendable, given it costs more and similarly saw a ratings dip in season 2. With season 3 already filming, there's a chance they may see it through the remaining two planned seasons, but if season 3 doesn't perform well, I'm afraid the character arcs set up won't be completed properly.

The Benedict Cumberbatch-led Sherlock remains one of the most popular adaptations of the titular genius detective, even as it found itself in competition with the Jonny Lee Miller-starring Elementary that premiered two years later. While most debates pit Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes portrayals against one another, I still think when it comes to its titular character, Elementary remains the better adaptation, particularly for how it explores Holmes' issues with addiction. It created a form of emotional stake in the character beyond his need to solve mysteries, and I was truly gripped by his journey.

In a surprising turn of events, a new report indicates Stephen King is looking to terminate the copyright contract Warner Bros. has for The Shawshank Redemption, something that typically only happens if an author is looking to begin auctioning the rights for a new adaptation. Considering just how great the original movie is, part of me hopes that's not the case, as it would be a shame for a new attempt to turn into a disappointing adaptation. However, given there are modern filmmakers who continue to enjoy success adapting King's works, namely Mike Flanagan, I'd be open to the idea if it's someone with a good vision.