Entertainment

Derek Hough opens up on new season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Derek Hough joined ‘Good Morning America’ to talk ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ a new tour and more on July 21, 2026, in New York City. (ABC News)

Six-time Mirrorball champion and current Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough joined Good Morning America on Tuesday to give a sneak peek of the show’s upcoming season, including his thoughts on the new celebrity dancers.

The four celebrity dancers who have already been announced for season 35 include Ciara Miller of Summer House fame, Maura Higgins of Love Island fame, Savannah Bananas baseball player Jackson Olsen, and comedian and talk show personality Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“It’s going to be a good,” Hough said. “Actually, I know some people that are waiting in the wings to be announced, and it’s even going to get better and better and better. It’s gonna be a fantastic season.”

Hough also weighed in on the difference between his judging style on DWTS versus Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, where aspiring professional dancers compete for a pro spot on DWTS.

“It’s different,” Hough said. “With a celebrity, you’re just trying to encourage them. They’re out there trying something new.”

Of the dancers on The Next Pro, he added, “These are, you know, dancers that are essentially professional. And they’re the ones leading the way. So, you know, you got to be kind of tough on them.”

Hough and his wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, are currently on tour and have brought along their 7-month-old baby, Everley.

“It’s the best thing,” Hough said of touring with his newborn.

Hough also announced his next tour, Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays, which will kick off Nov. 4 and continue through Dec. 30, spanning both coasts.

“It’s a great show. It’s festive. We have snow falling down, dancers,” he said.

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Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Entertainment

In brief: ‘Masters of the Universe’ gets streaming date and more

Lewis Pullman is teaming up with Julia Garner. The actor is set to make his return to television by starring opposite Garner in the upcoming thriller-drama series Guilty Creatures for Apple TV. Craig Gillespie is directing the series from showrunner Stuart Zicherman. The series was adapted for the small screen by Sarah DeLappe. It’s based on Mikita Brottman‘s true-crime book Guilty Creatures: Sex, God, and Murder in Tallahassee, Florida, and follows a romance and act of murder between two young, adulterous, God-fearing lovers …

Masters of the Universe has set its streaming debut. The Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel film will be available to stream on Prime Video starting on Wednesday. Travis Knight directed the movie that stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam. The film also features Camila Mendes, Jared Leto and Idris Elba …

We now know who will star alongside Dwayne Johnson in Lizard Music. Deadline reports that fourth grade newcomer Theo Clark Leber has landed the starring role in director Benny Safdie’s upcoming film adaptation of the 1976 novel by Daniel Pinkwater. The film will be made for Amazon MGM Studios. This live-action/CGI hybrid movie will mark 10-year-old Leber’s feature debut. It follows a boy (Leber) who stumbles across a late night broadcast of lizards playing music. This transports him through a hidden door into a new world where he meets The Chicken Man (Johnson). The duo set off on an adventure that becomes a voyage through invisible worlds …

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Entertainment

Kit Connor, Joe Locke share favorite ‘full-circle moments’ from ‘Heartstopper Forever’

Kit Connor as Nick Nelson and Joe Locke as Charlie Spring in ‘Heartstopper Forever.’ (Samuel Dore/Netflix)

Heartstopper Forever bid farewell to Nick, Charlie and friends, but not before revisiting memories of seasons past.

The film is peppered with nostalgic references and callbacks to iconic scenes from the teen romance series — from Nick and Charlie’s (Kit Connor and Joe Locke) first kiss to their first date on the beach. 

“When we shot at Herne Bay on the beach [in Kent, England], it was four years to the day that we had had our final day on season 1 at the beach,” Connor tells ABC Audio. “So it was a strange coincidence that we were shooting at the same beach four years apart, but it was really a beautiful day and quite a full-circle moment.”

Aside from Nick and Charlie, some of the other characters get their full-circle moments, as well. Locke, who served as a producer on the film along with Connor, says he suggested the “really lovely moment” between Charlie and art teacher Mr. Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) in the film.

There’s also a moment between Nick and Tao (Will Gao) — a culmination of poignant scenes between the two unlikely friends that’s been building since season 1. Connor says they only had 40 to 45 minutes to shoot it and they tapped into their real emotions as close friends off-screen. “That final scene is quite meta in a way, because it was sort of me and Will talking about saying goodbye to this experience,” he says.

When it comes to parting gifts from set, Connor and Locke say they’ve both taken some items over the years, including clothes, a Truham tie and a rugby ball. Connor laments not taking anything more sentimental, before quickly changing his mind.

“We didn’t need to,” he says. “We’ve taken each other.” 

Heartstopper Forever is out now Netflix, with the behind-the-scenes special Heartstopper: Ending on a Hi out July 24.

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Entertainment

‘Afterlife with Archie’ series from ‘Riverdale’ creator headed to Disney+

An image representing ‘Afterlife with Archie.’ (Disney+)

The epic highs and lows of high school football aren’t the only triumphs and defeats Archie Andrews will face.

Afterlife with Archie, the bestselling comic book written by Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, has been greenlit for a TV series adaptation at Disney+. It’s set to arrive on the streamer just in time for Halloween 2027.

Afterlife with Archie follows the classic Archie Comics characters in the all-American town of Riverdale as it’s turned into a zombie-overrun apocalypse. In this version of Riverdale, “the only thing scarier than the undead is trying to survive your teenage years,” according to an official description. “When a supernatural spell from a certain teen witch backfires, unleashing an army of the possessed dead upon Riverdale, Archie and his friends must fight to stay alive, testing the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held them together.”

This new series will hail from Warner Bros. Television. Aguirre-Sacasa executive produces alongside Jimmy Gibbons. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman also executive produce while Jon Goldwater executive produces for Archie Comics Studios.

“This was the comic book that started it all. Before there was a Riverdale, before there was a Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there was Afterlife with Archie, which I collaborated on with the best horror artist in the business, Francesco Francavilla,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “Getting to turn Afterlife into a TV series for the amazing team at Disney+ with our incredible partners at Berlanti Productions, WB and, of course, Jon (Goldwater) and his Archie family is truly a full-circle moment — and the ultimate dream project for me. Time to say a prayer for Archie, Betty, Veronica and the whole gang, ‘cause THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!”

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Entertainment

‘Myron Bolitar’ Netflix series cast adds more to its cast

A photo of Jabari Banks. (Ian Buosi) | Chloe Fineman appears in her ‘Saturday Night Live’ season 51 cast headshot. (Rosalind O’Connor/NBC) | A photo of Ben McKenzie. (Scout Tufankjian)

The upcoming Myron Bolitar TV series adaptation has gained several more stars.

Netflix has announced that Jabari Banks, Chloe Fineman and Jamie McShane have joined the cast of the upcoming drama series. Also joining the cast as a recurring guest star is Ben McKenzie.

They join the previously announced stars Colin Woodell, KJ Apa and Diane Guerrero, who will play Myron Bolitar, Win Lockwood and Esperanza Diaz in the show.

Myron Bolitar will be based on writer Harlan Coben’s longest-running series, which spans 12 books.

“After an injury ends his NBA dreams, Myron Bolitar reinvents himself as a sports agent — using charm, smarts, and a ruthless partner to navigate the high-stakes and dirty world of sports, where saving his clients often means risking himself,” according to the show’s official logline.

Banks will play Dwayne Richmond, described as “a charismatic tennis prodigy who experts anticipate will be among the best players in the world,” according to Netflix. “He’s the star client at MB Sports, and the picture of cool, from his signature shoes to his trademarked sunglasses.”

Fineman is set to portray Parker Quinn, “a sports reporter for a major sports publication who has built a stellar reputation through hard work and an undeniable passion for the game,” according to the streamer.

McShane is playing Detective Ray Dimonte, an NYPD homicide detective, while McKenzie will play Gavin Pierce, who’s described as “one of the biggest agents in sports,” according to Netflix. “Gavin was Myron’s agent during Myron’s brief professional career. Following Myron’s injury, Gavin dropped Myron and the two have never reconciled their differences.”

Emmy winner David E. Kelley and Kyle Long are set to co-showrun, write and executive produce the series. House of the Dragon‘s Greg Yaitanes will direct multiple episodes of the show.

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Entertainment

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer assembles Marvel universe to defeat Doctor Doom

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers and Chris Hemsworth as Thor in ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ (Disney/Marvel)

The Avengers assemble in the official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday.

Marvel and Disney released the new trailer for the upcoming superhero film on Monday.

The film follows “beloved heroes from three distinct universes” who are “set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered,” according to its official description.

Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed the film, which finds its tickets now on sale.

The trailer starts with Patrick Stewart back as Professor Xavier. He looks out a window at destruction in the sky. “Something’s coming,” we hear in voiceover. “Something we may not be able to deter. Before this day is done, we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision.”

From that point on, the trailer switches to the point of view of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. As the only OG Avenger left, he rallies the troops to be able to take down Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

“I’ve fought with many warriors in my time. They were far stronger than all of us put together and they died,” Thor says. “Mark my words, we’re going to need a miracle.”

He may just get that miracle in the form of Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. We see him appear before Thor as he says, “Hey pal.”

Thor doesn’t believe it’s Steve until he proves it by taking hold of Mjölnir.

Along with Downey, Evans, Hemsworth and Stewart, the film also stars Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Wesley Holloway, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Alex Livinalli, Mabel Cadena and Tenoch Huerta Mejia.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on Dec. 18.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Marvel Studios.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Entertainment

In brief: ‘Mortal Kombat II’ gets streaming date and more

Sydney Sweeney is headed to Sleepy Hollow. Deadline reports the actress will star in Hollow, a new retelling of the Sleepy Hollow story, for Sony Pictures. The film will be based on Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel. It will be directed, produced and adapted by Beer …

Mortal Kombat II is headed to streaming. The New Line Cinema film will make its global streaming debut on HBO Max on July 24. It will debut on HBO linear on July 25. The film stars Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle and Lewis Tan. It follows the fan-favorite champions and Johnny Cage pitted against each other in a battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn …

Brett Gelman, Rob Morgan and Kevin Nealon are set to star in Mini War. Deadline reports the actors have joined the comedy film also starring Luke Wilson, Vanessa Hudgens and Nick Swardson. The movie follows a likable stoner who inherits a mini golf course from his late uncle. Swardson and Allen Covert wrote the script while Joel David Moore is directing …

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Entertainment

‘The Odyssey’ hits a Homer, debuts at #1 at the box office

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in ‘The Odyssey.’ (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures)

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey made an epic debut over the weekend.

The star-studded retelling of Homer’s 3,000-year-old epic Greek poem topped the box office with $124.5 million, according to Box Office Mojo. That makes it the third-biggest opening of the year, following Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which earned $159 million and $131 million, respectively.

It’s also the biggest debut for a Nolan film since 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises swooped in with $160 million. But as Variety notes, The Odyssey‘s numbers are impressive, since it’s rated R, which limits the number of people who can see it.

The film, starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page and more, was the only new debut in the top 10. Last week’s #1, Disney’s live-action version of Moana, fell to #2 with $19 million. Minions & Monsters tied for third place with Toy Story 5, followed by Evil Dead Burn.

Here are the top 10 movies at the box office:

1. The Odyssey — $124.5 million
2. Moana — $19 million
3. Minions & Monsters — $14.8 million
4. Toy Story 5 — $14.8 million
5. Evil Dead Burn — $5 million
6. The Invite — $3.9 million
7. Young Washington –– $3.7 million
8. Obsession — $2.5 million
9. Supergirl — $1.53 million
10. Disclosure Day — $1.45 million

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Entertainment

Francesca Reale, Roby Attal join ‘This Summer Will Be Different’ Netflix series adaptation

A photo of Francesca Reale. (Ian Lipton) | A photo of Roby Attal. (Chris Labadie)

This Summer Will Be Different has gained a couple more cast members.

Netflix has announced that Francesca Reale and Roby Attal have joined the cast of the upcoming TV adaptation of author Carley Fortune’s bestselling romance novel.

Reale is set to play Bridget in the show, while Attal will take on the role of Felix, who also goes by the nickname Wolf. They join the previously announced star Sophie Nélisse, who is set to play Lucy.

This Summer Will Be Different will be “a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island about Lucy, a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love with her best friend’s brother, the one person she was never supposed to fall for,” according to the show’s logline.

Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart serve as the adaptation’s creators and showrunners. They also both executive produce the show alongside Fortune.

This Summer Will Be Different will film on location in Prince Edward Island and in Toronto. It will span 10 episodes.

“I fell in love with Prince Edward Island first in the pages of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and again when I visited with my best friend in my early 20s,” Fortune told Netflix. “That vacation, the beauty of the island, the warmth of its people, and the friendships that sustain us are the foundation of This Summer Will Be Different. I’m thrilled to bring this sweeping love story to the screen with Netflix and to transport audiences to the glittering shores and windswept beaches of PEI.”

Reale is known for her appearance in the third season of Stranger Things. Attal was most recently seen in recurring roles in Dexter: Original Sin and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

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Entertainment

‘God of War’ will recast lead role Kratos after Ryan Hurst’s on-set injury

Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus on the set of ‘God of War.’ (Leah Gallo/Prime Video)

The upcoming God of War series will recast the actor playing its lead role of Kratos.

Prime Video confirmed the news to ABC Audio on Friday. Ryan Hurst, who was the original actor cast as Kratos, was seriously injured while on set of the video game TV adaptation in late June. The actor tore a bicep while performing a stunt on the show.

After careful consideration, Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios made the decision to recast the role. Production on God of War paused immediately after Hurst’s injury. It remains on pause.

While recovery time for such an injury is unclear, it would likely not have been safe for Hurst to resume filming until 2027. This led to the decision to recast his role. Additionally, the show’s co-lead, Atreus, is played by child actor Callum Vinson. Much of the existing footage will need to be reshot as Vinson is growing and changing each day.

Production started on God of War back in February. It’s based on the popular ancient mythology-themed Playstation video game and has already received a two-season order from the streamer.

The storyline for the upcoming series follows “father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye,” according to an official synopsis from Prime Video. “Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.”

Also starring in the show are Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri and Danny Woodburn as Brok.

Deadline was the first to report the news.

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