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Credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC

Contrary to the hopes of the Mercedes fans, the team’s struggles continue to haunt them. The first two races of the season were far from optimal for the Silver Arrows since the car got slower as the weekends progressed. In Jeddah, however, there was a chance for Mercedes to optimize their performance by double stacking their cars during the Safety car period. However, they opted to only bring in George Russell, raising eyebrows among the fans.

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Addressing the same in a post-race debrief on the official YouTube channel of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Andrew Shovlin analyzed the team strategy. He claimed uncertainty over the rest of the race hindered their thought process. Per Shovlin, the potential of a penalty for choking the pit lane was not worth the risk that early in the race.

“Well, with the benefit of hindsight, yes. We would have done that. Now, what we did not know at the time was whether there would be another incident. And the other thing we didn’t know, which is how durable the tires were going to be.”, said Shovlin.

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Shovlin also detailed that had there been another safety car period, Hamilton would have benefitted most. He would have pitted accordingly and driven on optimum strategy. Meanwhile, other drivers would have been on off-set strategies, making the race more difficult for them.

However, with the luxury of hindsight, Shovlin conceded that a double-stacking strategy would have been much better. They could have gained a couple of positions through it. But there was no way of knowing this at the moment, and Hamilton ended up suffering.

‘Ifs and Buts’ surround Mercedes’ outing in Jeddah

Aside from the choice to not double stack Hamilton, one other decision had the fans scratching their heads. The 7-time world champion started on Medium tires instead of Softs. He started the race in P8, and softer tires would have aided him in gaining places. However, Mercedes decided against it. Per Shovlin, the Medium compound showed promising results in the early laps and carried a good pace.

Meanwhile, softer tires would have led to Hamilton having to pit early and lose time. Shovlin once again asserted that had they known about a safety car, they would have started Hamilton on the Softs and adjusted their strategy accordingly. It was yet again a matter of uncertainties around the race. Hence, the ‘ifs and buts’ that arise after a race all stem from the luxury of hindsight.

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Tire strategies remain a pivotal point in dictating the outcome of a race. A botched strategy can lead to a driver losing race pace despite carrying the potential for a high finish. Hamilton suffered a similar fate, as he finished P9, paling in comparison to his teammate.

Henry Cavill once had to say goodbye to the DCEU’s role as Superman in a way full of disappointment and regret.

Superman of the DC Extended Cinematic Universe (DCEU) is one of Henry Cavill’s most prominent roles to date. The actor once made fans extremely excited when he featured in the after-credits scene of Black Adam, promising a fascinating confrontation between these two all-powerful characters in the near future.

But after James Gunn and Peter Safran became the new presidents of the DCU, they came up with a new project, an entirely new plan — one that didn’t feature Cavill as Superman.

Not only the audience but even those in the profession expressed regret when the talented actor had to say goodbye to DC’s most famous superhero role. Recently, director Matthew Vaughn has shared that he wants to bring Henry Cavill back to the big screen as Man of Steel, in a project that has no connection to the DCU.

Vaughn has previously worked twice with Henry Cavill on Stardust and most recently Argylle, which will be released on Feb. 10. Vaughn was also chosen by Warner Bros. to direct Man of Steel 2, the DCEU’s never-before-released project.

Director Matthew Vaughn wants to make a Superman movie project with Henry Cavill in the lead role.

Speaking to BroBible’s Post Credit podcast, Vaughn said: “I think (Superman) Red Son is one of the best series I’ve ever read. And in today’s world, that series is more authentic than ever, because indifference will always bring more problems. And think about it, what if we did Red Son with Henry Cavill? It’s going to be a very interesting movie.”

Currently, the DCU’s role as Superman has been given to David Corenswet, who will make his debut in Superman: Legacy, which is scheduled to premiere in the summer of 2025. Still, Warner Bros. has a secret weapon in its hands if they really want to bring Henry Cavill back to the role without compromising James Gunn’s cinematic universe plans. That’s the Elseworlds series.

To put it simply, Elseworlds is like a collection of other mini-cinematic universes outside the DCU, with films like Matt Reeves’ The Batman, or Todd Phillips’ Joker. If Matthew Vaughn’s dream of making Superman: Red Son with Henry Cavill becomes a reality, they could bring that project into Elseworlds, and even develop more sequels if they want.

Elseworlds is also an opportunity for Cavill’s version of Superman to take on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Black Adam to meet fans’ expectations. It can be considered the most complete and satisfying ending for the actor’s period of attachment to the superhero franchise, and also brings a more complete ending to the DCEU that has been “killed” unfinished. Obviously, compared to Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom, a Black Adam v Superman project would have a lot more weight to close this cinematic universe.

Henry Cavill could still play Superman in the Elseworlds world to avoid affecting James Gunn’s DCU.

Only time will tell us the official answer about Henry Cavill’s future with Superman – a role that has been with him for almost 1 decade. Currently, the actor is also very busy with his new projects, including the movie Argylle, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and the Warhammer movie universe as executive producer and lead actor.

WATCH: Reba McEntire Delivers Surprise Performance With Boyfriend Rex Linn On Tambourine During Celebrity Cruise

McEntire delivered several surprise performances throughout her time on the Celebrity Adventures’ Amalfi Coast Cruise.

Reba McEntire and boyfriend Rex Linn uesd to live their best lives on a yacht cruising around Italy, and being the country icon that she is, McEntire made time for some music during her vacation.

One clip shared by a fellow cruise goer shows McEntire obliging fans with some tunes during a nighttime event, performing a cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and accompanying herself on the tambourine.

Rex Linn, seated next to her, also had a tambourine in hand, as did another woman further down the table. As the song ramped up to its climax, McEntire stood up to give her performance some extra star power as Linn shook his tambourine in perfect rhythm.

Watch Reba McEntire And Rex Linn Jam Out Below

That wasn’t McEntire’s only vocal moment during her vacation, as additional videos captured by fans show the country star giving a true performance during the cruise, dressed in a white blazer and bedazzled top as she sang hits like “Can’t Even Get the Blues” and “Back To God” on a stage aboard the ship.

Vacation To Italy

The Oklahoma native also used Instagram herself to document the vacation. “#toomuchfun in Italy!” she declared alongside a photo of herself and Linn smiling on a smaller boat, while a snap of McEntire at the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa in Naples shared that she “had a great day” there.

Celebrity Adventures’ Amalfi Coast Cruise

McEntire and Linn’s getaway was part of Celebrity Adventures’ Amalfi Coast Cruise, a 5-night trip around the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy on the brand-new 624-foot super yacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

The trip took place from August 18-24 and was half on Evrima, the first luxury super yacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The boat was chartered exclusively for donors and celebrity guests, who also included Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, John Corbett, Bo Derek, Evander Holyfield, The London Essentials, Katharine McPhee, Michael W. Smith, Pia Toscano, Chris Tucker, John Maxwell and more.

Throughout the five days, the group visited Rome, Naples, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, and Malta. Donations for the trip for non-celebrity guests were $75,000 per person if the donor in question flew on the private charter jet, and $65,000 if they provided their own airfare.

Rex Linn, Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of Instagram

How Did Reba McEntire And Rex Linn Meet?

McEntire and Linn first met in 1991 on the set of the Kenny Rogers movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw and reconnected and began dating in 2020.

In 2022, McEntire called Linn “the love of [her] life” in an interview with PEOPLE, adding that “We’re pretty much inseparable.”

Their bond extends to their working life, as they played husband and wife on ABC’s crime thriller Big Sky: Deadly Trails.

Rex Linn and Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of ‘Big Sky’

“To play husband and wife, it’s natural for us,” McEntire said. “Rex and I rehearse all the time to make sure that when we step on that set, we’re not wasting anybody’s time. We’re professionals. We have our stuff together, we show up on time, we’re ready. We’re not holding up anybody because time is money on the TV set.”

McEntire and Linn also co-starred in the Lifetime movie The Hammer, released in January. Linn told TV Insider that while working on the movie, “every scene was fun for me” because he got to work with McEntire, adding, “We’ll wink at each other in the middle of a scene.”

Rex Linn and Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of ABC

He also praised his girlfriend’s acting ability, noting that McEntire “can look at a page of dialogue for five minutes and she’s ready to go.”

“She doesn’t stop moving,” he added of her work ethic. “I’m telling you, man, she’s like a great white shark. Can’t stop or they’ll die in the water. [Laughs] At least that’s what the scientists tell us.”

They might have returned home to the UK to enjoy Christmas together as a family.

But that didn’t stop Victoria Beckham from sharing pictures of her recent holiday on social media on Boxing Day.

The fashion designer, 49, looked incredible wearing a blue one-shoulder cut-out swimsuit which she teamed with shorts as she cosied up to husband David, 48.

David looked as harry as Larry with a giant frozen margarita in front of him, wearing a khaki T-shirt and a sunhat.

Victoria wrote: ‘I love you all so much.’

Victoria Beckham looked incredible in a one-shoulder cut-out blue swimsuit and shorts as she cosied up to husband David for a holiday snap on Instagram on Tuesday

She then shared a second picture of her son Brooklyn, 24, and David laughing together as they enjoyed a glass of red wine

The latest posts come after Victoria shared a group shot from the family holiday in which she wore the same swimsuit, (L-R) Cruz, Harper, Brooklyn, Nicola, Victoria and David)

She then shared a second picture of her son Brooklyn, 24, and David laughing together as they enjoyed a glass of red wine.

The latest posts come after Victoria shared a group shot from the family holiday in which she wore the same swimsuit.

But now back to normality, the former Spice Girl has been having a little giggle after buying David some chickens for their Cotswolds pad for Christmas.

Speaking from behind the camera Victoria showed off the huge wooden structure in their lavish garden and asked: ‘What did you get for Christmas David?’.

‘Some chickens and a cockerel’ The footballer replied as his wife continued: ‘Beckham’s chickens’.

Before quipping: ‘There’s also a really massive cock in there as well!’ before branding their new feathered friends ‘camera shy’.

And on Tuesday she shared an update about the coop as Cruz Beckham tried to catch one but failed misterably.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz led the Boxing Day celebrations on Instagram on Tuesday as the couple spent time with Nicole’s side of the family.

David Beckham announces festive chicken gift to Instagram followers

The day before, Victoria made a very cheeky quip after buying husband David, 48, a chicken coop and flock of birds for Christmas

Victoria also shared snaps of David looking in his element as he prepared to serve the turkey and enjoyed a large glass of red wine

The former Spice Girl took to her Instagram as her other half  fed the animals complete with a Santa hat on his head

Nicola, 27, took to the social media platform to share several photos of the gathering, including herself and Brooklyn looking glam before switching into matching personalised pajamas.

Their matching blue outfits had red trims and had their names carefully embroidered in red thread on the pockets.

Nicola sweetly wrapped her arms around her billionaire father Nelson Peltz, who wore a dark blue jumper and black glasses.

Also there was the socialite’s sister Brittany, and Brittany’s daughters Lila Buerstedde and nieces Eva Buerstedde.

Meanwhile, their son Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz looked glam led the Boxing Day celebrations on Instagram as the couple spent time with Nicole’s side of the family

Nicola, 27, took to the social media platform to share several photos of the gathering, including herself and Brooklyn in matching personalised pajamas

Their blue outfits had red trims and had their names carefully embroidered in red thread on the pockets

It came after the sweet couple posed in another set of pajamas at Christmas and wore complementing Santa hats, with Nicole’s reading ‘naughty’ and Brooklyn’s reading ‘nice’.

The two announced their engagement in July 2020, which unfortunately garnered negativity due to the couple’s four-year age gap.

After their wedding in April 2022, rumours of a feud between Nicola and Victoria Beckham began swirling.

Nicola quashed those rumours in an interview with The Times towards the end of that year, and the two have been pictured together numerous times since.

Their most recent meeting was earlier this month when Nicola, Victoria, Brooklyn, Harper and David Beckham enjoyed some quality time together. 

And Brooklyn continued to show fans what the world’s most famous clan do while on holiday to the Bahamas.

Joined by his mum Victoria, 49, dad David, 48, brother Cruz, 18, sister Harper, 12, and wife Nicola Peltz, 28, the aspiring chef uploaded a slew of sweet snaps of all of them together.

Notably absent was second son Romeo, 21, who Victoria had mentioned earlier on in the holiday was not there, but that they missed him.

The socialite then wrapped her arms around her billionaire father Nelson Peltz, who wore a dark blue jumper and black glasses

Also there was the socialite’s sister Brittany, and Brittany’s daughters Lila Buerstedde and nieces Eva Buerstedde

Brittany is married to millionaire entrepreneur Franz Buerstedde and the two also share Indy Moon, and Phoenix Blu

The gather came after the sweet couple posed in another set of pajamas at Christmas and wore complementing Santa hats, with Nicole’s reading ‘naughty’ and Brooklyn’s reading ‘nice’

The two announced their engagement in July 2020, which unfortunately garnered negativity due to the couple’s four-year age gap

On Wednesday Victoria Beckham returned to Instagram with some beauty tips for her millions of followers

The former Spice Girl was on hand with a post-Christmas tutorial with her many fans

Victoria Beckham put on a very loved-up display with her husband David as they enjoyed a meal out with their family.

The fashion designer, 49, took to Instagram on Saturday to give an insight into their festive evening out as she shared a gallery of snaps.

Victoria was joined by David, 48, their son Romeo, 21, and his girlfriend Mia, their other kids Cruz, 18, and Harper, 12, and the Spice Girl’s parents Tony and Jackie Adams.

In one snap, Victoria put on a glamorous display in a black ensemble as she cuddled up to David, who looked equally suave in a black turtleneck and blazer.

The couple, who tied the knot back in 1999, looked as smitten as ever as they sat arm-in-arm during the lavish meal.

Victoria Beckham put on a very loved-up display with her husband David as they enjoyed a meal out with their family

The fashion designer, 49, took to Instagram on Saturday to give an insight into their festive evening out as she shared a gallery of snaps, including one of David and Harper

David also shared a sweet hug with his daughter Harper, who wore a grey dress as she wrapped her arm lovingly around her father’s shoulders.

Victoria also shared a snap of Romeo and his model girlfriend Mia, as well as a picture of herself with her beloved parents Tony and Jackie.

Victoria and David’s eldest son Brooklyn, 24, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 28, were missing from the night out after they returned back stateside following Christmas.

Alongside the snaps, Victoria gushed: ‘Special night with my family.I love you all so much x @davidbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham @mimimoocher #harperseven @jackie.adams_ we miss you @brooklynpeltzbeckham @nicolaannepeltzbeckham xx.’

As well as spending time with Victoria’s parents, the family also paid a visit to David’s parents over the Christmas period.

David showed himself to be ever the doting son as he shared snaps of himself doing the dishes with his mother Sandra.

The former footballer took to Instagram on Friday to share a string of sweet snaps of him washing up with his mother, 74, in her kitchen.

The mother and son duo were seen laughing with each other in one shot, while David also snapped a heartwarming selfie.

Victoria was joined by David and her parents Tony and Jackie Adams (pictured) for the evening out

Her son Romeo, 21, was also in attendance with his model girlfriend Mia, and the pair looked as close as ever

Victoria’s mother Jackie looked smart in a white shirt and a black blazer, while her father Tony opted for a suave suit

The pair tucked into a lunch of ham, egg and chips, while being joined by David’s younger sister, Joanne Louise, his wife Victoria and their youngest children, Cruz and Harper.

Captioning the photos, David called out his sister for not helping with the washing up, writing: ‘Lunch with mum & then the dishes with a few laughs love u mum @sandra_beckham49 @jo_jo_beckham_ who didn’t do dishes SHOCKER chips were ok though’.

For Christmas, Victoria treated her husband to a chicken coop and flock of birds and shared a video of David enjoying his present while she made a very cheeky quip.

She took to her Instagram as her other half fed the animals complete with a Santa hat on his head.

Speaking from behind the camera Victoria showed off the huge wooden structure in their lavish garden and asked: ‘What did you get for Christmas David?’.

He replied: ‘Some chickens and a cockerel’ as his wife continued: ‘Beckham’s chickens’.

She then quipped: ‘There’s also a really massive cock in there as well!’ before branding their new feathered friends ‘camera shy’.

As well as spending time with Victoria’s parents, the family also paid a visit to David’s parents over the Christmas period

David showed himself to be ever the doting son as he shared snaps of himself doing the dishes with his mother Sandra

Captioning the photos, David called out his younger sister, Joanne Louise for not helping with the washing up

For Christmas, Victoria treated her husband to a chicken coop and flock of birds and shared a video of David enjoying his present while she made a very cheeky quip

On Friday, Victoria hilariously then took to Instagram to share a photo of David reading ‘keeping chickens for dummies’

And on Tuesday she shared an update about the coop as Cruz tried to catch one but failed miserably.

On Friday, Victoria hilariously then took to Instagram to share a photo of David reading ‘keeping chickens for dummies’.

She wrote: ‘Just a little Friday night reading for @DavidBeckham’.

The book is a much needed gift for David as it provides an introduction to keeping chickens, their correct feeding regime and expert advice from the River Cottage ‘Chicken Whisperer’.

With its faulty script and superficial story, the spy film Argylle disappointed with its low gross. Even actor Henry Cavill appeared faded.

Argylle (Vietnamese title: Argylle Super Spy ) attracted attention when it was invested more than $ 200 million, gathering a star cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson … especially actor Henry Cavill – “the most handsome person in the world 2022”.

Unfortunately, the film could not create a fever when it came out. The work received much criticism for its rambling content, lackluster acting…

Both sales and scores in North America were low, making it Hollywood’s first bombshell, as well as Henry Cavill’s forgettable project.

Limited script, dragged narrative

The film tells the story of writer Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) who wrote a series of famous spy novels. Because of the secret idea, she determined to set out to find her relatives to have inspiration to compose.

On the way, the writer unexpectedly meets super spy Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell). However, subsequent events cause her to repeatedly mistake him for Argylle (Henry Cavill), the character in her book.

Ironically, Elly ends up being Aidan’s companion on her journey to destroy the evil division.

Sam Rockwell (left) and Bryce Dallas Howard in the film.

With the above idea, the screenplay revealed many holes. The crew is greedy in inserting the twist but can’t connect every detail tightly. The characters are superficially constructed, the unconvincing personalities make the story slip faintly.

In the director’s chair is Matthew Vaughn – famous for many action movies such as Kick-Ass (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011) or the Kingsman series (2014-2021).

The filmmaker retains the fun, somewhat bombastic and colorful style, which is what makes his name. However, the direction is not always successful, but it has the opposite effect on the audience.

Despite his long experience, Matthew Vaughn handled the rhythm poorly, making the work lengthy and draggy, lasting up to 139 minutes but less attractive.

The film still uses the familiar motif of Hollywood action blockbusters. The director takes viewers around the world but none of the locations leave an impression. The action scenes sometimes slip, creating a sense of sluggishness instead of drama.

A few images from the film.

The budget of more than $200 million is mainly focused on the visual part. The crew invests heavily in costumes and backgrounds, creating vivid, colorful frames.

The film impresses with its nostalgic fashion style, with a 1980s sound. However, the effects are not well cared for, creating a sketchy feeling, not worthy of a heavily invested project.

Henry Cavill and the star-studded cast

As one of the factors that attracted visitors, Henry Cavill had a meager performance that disappointed many audiences.

In fact, the actor only plays a fictional character from the novel, playing a not so important role. When appearing, the most handsome man in the world also caused a surprise with a strange, somewhat funny shape.

Besides, names like Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Bryan Cranston … neither could shine in the film. Even singer Dua Lipa appeared quickly, leaving many viewers unable to remember the name.

With a big budget and a star-studded cast, Argylle is expected to be the beginning of a new Hollywood spy franchise, following in the footsteps of James Bond series, Mission Impossible or Kingsman …

According to Matthew Vaughn, this is the first part in a trilogy, connected to the Kingsman series to create a new cinematic universe about spies.

That is why a series of magazines such as Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Collider … all predict this is one of the most awaited Hollywood blockbusters in 2024.

Appearing faintly, actor Henry Cavill could not save the film.

Contrary to expectations, Argylle quickly received many criticisms from experts after its launch. The work rated “Rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes with 32% of critics’ votes.

Most underestimated the acting, bad cinematography and patchy story. The stars are just the guise of the crew used to promote the film, attract the audience to the theater.

Variety estimates the film must gross at least $500 million to break even. However, currently the project only collects more than 60 million USD worldwide.

In Vietnam, Argylle debuted just in time for the Lunar New Year and had to confront many Vietnamese films. However, the work was far behind the films Mai and Meet the pregnant sister. Up to now, the blockbuster has only collected more than 5.8 billion VND according to statistics from Box Office Vietnam (an independent box office observation unit).

Overall, Argylle is truly a forgettable film, not only with actor Henry Cavill but also director Matthew Vaughn. Given the current situation, it is unlikely that the film will be made a sequel as originally planned.

As we prepare to be immersed in pumpkin spice everything, more than 40 farms across America are gearing up for fall by paying tribute to a country music icon, Reba McEntire.

Corn is really showing out for the fall season this year — 40-plus farms in 24 different states have teamed up to etch McEntire’s face into their crops, and celebrate the redheaded Queen of Country Music.

TheMaize.com

This idea stems from the MAiZE Inc.: The McEntire-etched corn mazes can be found in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

TheMaize.com

It’s not as easy to appreciate the work while walking through one of the Reba mazes — which are slated to open to the public on September 16 — as it is to check out the aerial views of the designs.

Just imagine how large of an area 5 acres is, then imagine McEntire’s face strewed across in, all beautifully carved in corn.

TheMaize.com
McEntire is proud to be a part of this, commenting:

“Growing up on a ranch in Oklahoma, I know how important agriculture is and I love being involved with something that brings more people out to farms across the country for good wholesome fun!”
You can see the exact locations of each maze, as well as its sketch, here. Each corn maze has a different theme, but with one central topic: Reba.

It’s hard to fathom the work that goes into this — all 40 of these corn mazes are unique and so beautifully done. Maybe someone out there will make it their duty to visit all 40 of them?

Henry Cavill’s setback

“Argylle” was the forgettable bombshell of Henry Cavill’s career. The role of the spy is rigid, dry and not even related to the main plot.

After two weeks of release, Argylle (Vietnamese title: Argylle super spy) only grossed $ 77.5 million worldwide, of which $ 37.4 million came from the North American market. This is a disappointing number for an action movie with a budget of $ 200 million, according to IMDb.

Not only considered a box office disaster, director Matthew Vaughn’s work in the eyes of experts is also a forgettable bombshell both in terms of content and script. The film also saw Henry Cavill’s slide on the path to career development.

Rigid roles

According to writer Louis Chilton, the 3-star review in The Independent is still “light-handed” compared to many critics in general. For example, Insider even called Argylle “unbearably complacent,” calling the 139-minute film “extremely empty.”

Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Empire and Vanity Fair all agree that the talent of the cast is wasted, especially Henry Cavill. “Appearing with a gravity-defying Action Man hairstyle and an ugly jacket, Secret Service Argylle — the character played by Henry — is just the embodiment of the loose idea of super-spies like James Bond,” The Independent reports.

For the past two years, Cavill has been considered a possible successor to the role of agent 007 from Daniel Craig. Without waiting long, the 41-year-old actor soon turned into a spy but in the disaster version Argylle – a rigid, dry spy and not even related to the main plot.

Cavill’s portrayal of the fictional super spy is even more criticized for its lack of depth and caricature than its fully developed character. Despite his extensive appearances in promotional activities, he did not have much acting land on film.

A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle. They have little acting land, only used by the producer for the purpose of promoting the film. Photo: THP.

A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle. They have little acting land, only used by the producer for the purpose of promoting the film. Photo: THP.

Argylle hits theaters at a time when Cavill struggles to find the right direction after a series of previous hit roles. Already famous before the 2010s for The Tudors and making his mark as Superman in Man of Steel, or starring in the hit fantasy series The Witcher, Cavill now needs a role impressive enough to put his career back on track.

Fans speculated about Cavill stepping down from his role as the white-haired Geralt in The Witcher to wait and devote himself to a new Superman sequel. However, in late 2022, the actor unexpectedly revealed he was removed from the iconic role following DC’s strategic overhaul.

“Henry is at the stage where he needs to really prove his acting abilities if he wants to survive as a Hollywood A-lister. Unfortunately, Argylle didn’t help him get there,” commented writer Louis Chilton.

The Independent suggested that it would be unfair to hold Cavill accountable for Argylle’s failures. However, it is impossible to avoid the fact that this work has somewhat made his career precarious.

New movies that promise to shine

Henry Cavill’s case is reminiscent of Chris Evans. Both struggled on their journey to reinvent themselves after parting ways as superheroes. But if “Captain America” fails back-to-back with the controversial series, according to SCreenrant, Henry Cavill has the potential to turn the tide.

On May 4, war film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will be released. Based on the true story of the British Special Action Service (SOE) set up during World War II, Cavill stars Gus March-Phillips, the officer who helped found the legendary SAS regiment.

Under the molding hands of Guy Ritchie – the director who has achieved commercial success with blockbusters Sherlock Holmes, U.N.C.L.E, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Aladdin – The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare promises thrilling content, really a work worth looking forward to.

And while Argylle gave Cavill a forgettable start to 2024, subsequent titles featuring him will shine, observers insist.

Audiences hope the careers of Henry Cavill and Chris Evans both take off after their failed roles. Photo: Pinterest.

Cavill’s other new projects are in the process of taking shape. He is scheduled to star in a reboot of the Highlander series and Warhammer 40,000, which is an adaptation of a video game produced by Amazon Studios. These films were a far cry from the spy genre that had plagued Cavill before.

In particular, Highlander is a long-loved franchise and is commented in accordance with the actor’s abilities. Warhammer 40,000 is a project filled with Cavill’s personal passion.

Screenrant predicted: “The actor has had great success with genres inspired by fantasy genres like the DCEU’s or The Witcher. Now Warhammer and Highlander can both help him overcome the frustration caused by Argylle.”

The Entertainment section introduces Hollywood: The Oral History. This is a book full of on-set stories, technical details, funny anecdotes about the actors, the strategies of studio executives or complaints about critics.

Both independently and together, Blake Shelton and his pop superstar wife Gwen Stefani are used to the fandom that comes along with fame. During something as simple as a family road trip through their home turf in Oklahoma, it’s pretty common for fans to spot them out in public and stop them to say hi.

“We went on a little road trip in Oklahoma just recently, with the boys, and we rolled up to some Dairy Queen,” Stefani recounts during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “Like, you know, ‘Can we get an ice cream?’ And they’re like, ‘Oh my God, it’s Blake Shelton!’”

As Shelton chatted with fans and waiting on the family’s Blizzards, it quickly became clear that as big of a star as Shelton was, there was one local celebrity even bigger: Reba McEntire.

Gwen Stefani on Blake Shelton’s Reaction to Reba McEntire’s Fans

“She’s actually from Oklahoma,” Stefani reminds the show’s studio audience. “Which is funny, because now I’m a transplant because I married Blake, and it’s just kind of interesting, because she’s an Okie!”

That fact became very clear to Stefani and the rest of the crew after they hit the Dairy Queen, as they continued to see evidence of Reba everywhere in small-town Oklahoma.

“She’s like, ‘You should go over and see Reba’s Place [Restaurant], it’s right around the corner,’” Stefani continues. “And then we went into this thrift store, and there was a framed picture of Reba in there, signed. I was like, ‘Oh my God, there she is again!’ Then we went to some other Italian restaurant, and there was another framed picture of her. All in one day! It was everywhere.”

These days, Stefani is spending quite a bit of time with her fellow Okie: McEntire is a coach on the current season of The Voice alongside Stefani, Niall Horan and John Legend. She’s the replacement for Shelton, who ended his tenure as country coach after Season 23.

*This post is updated in 2023

Starting from actor Henry Cavill’s sharing about hating to play hot scenes, the entertainment industry once again erupted into debate whether 18+ segments are necessary in the movie.

Hot scenes overshadow the acting

In early February, while participating in the Happy Sad Confused podcast with director Matthew Vaughn, Henry Cavill declared that he was not a fan of the film’s hot scene.

He admits there are instances where sex scenes actually benefit the film, not just to entice the audience. However, the actor, born in 1983, thinks that sensitive segments seem to be overused in current filmmaking. That led him to question whether it was really necessary or just people wearing fewer clothes.

Henry Cavill argues that movies today are abusing hot scenes. Picture: Allstar.

The 41-year-old Superman added that it is possible for writers and directors to add hot scenes for storytelling purposes, but fans are unlikely to notice that aspect, focusing only on the actor’s naked body.

With 18+ images flooding TV and movies today, Cavill is like a lone moral crusader fighting for his own ideals. However, another character takes the initiative to come to his side. She is a veteran performer, undergoing many changes on screen and has a deep enough understanding of the demands that force actors to undress in the name of art.

On Radio Times, Joanna Lumley said she wanted to cut out sex scenes in the film entirely.

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“The moment you take off your clothes, the audience will look at you, your actors, and your features — what your breasts and genitals look like. You immediately lose the character you built. There’s a playground element in it — pull your pants down and see what you have. I’ll cut them completely. They slow things down. They are rude and terrible,” the actress, who was born in 1946, said.

The British emcee emphasized that nudity is considered something that all female actors have to endure, including veteran stars like Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Christie …

According to Joanna Lumley, the hot scene only distracts the audience, affecting the flow of the film. Picture: Getty Images.

A 2019 study found that films produced in the 2010s had fewer nude scenes than in other years since the 1960s. Specifically, only 1.21% of films produced in the 2010s featured nudity. This may be because the context has changed.

In the past, directors did not think about making a star undress just to get an innocuous moment of agitation that made them face the fact nude scenes would exist forever on the Internet at the present time.

In October 2023, a survey of 1,500 teens conducted by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that demand for on-screen is declining.

The majority of respondents said sex was unnecessary in the film to serve the plot progression, while many expressed a desire to see a greater focus on platonic friendship.

Is Henry Cavill wrong to criticize hot scenes?

However, the above research appears to be outdated. 2023 sees the rise of works filled with bold and unusual hot scenes. Of course, not all of those hot scenes are necessary.

Despite the long and fierce debate about how much she despises women, Poor Things is the story of a woman who uses sex to build her entire personality. So removing the 18+ image will deprive the movie of its heart.

But if we remove the hot scene in Oppenheimer, which includes the scene where Florence Pugh takes off her shirt, we are left with a version of the “father” of the full atomic bomb, only slightly shorter.

The hot scene is considered the heart of Poor Things.

The same is true for television. HBO’s disaster series The Idol feels like it was created as nothing more than a medium for nudity, with the intention of attracting the attention of audiences like other films before it. But the results were terrible, because what remained was just countless meaningless nude scenes.

The focus of the entire production is on the actors’ unclothed bodies. The cost is the characters, the plot and even lackluster acting skills. The film fails for a reason Lumley gave in the Radio Times — which is to “pull down your pants and see what you have.”

If audiences really just want to see nude actors, it’s easy for them to find even more authentic footage on the Internet. Why should they subscribe to an expensive movie streaming service to watch outdated stuff on TV series when everyone has a cell phone and wifi?

In The Guardian, British writer Stuart Heritage has an essay analyzing why Henry Cavill was wrong to criticize the hot scene.

The author of Bedtime Stories for Worried Liberals says this view can be rooted in personal experience. The actor’s first film Hotel Laguna was filled with superfluous, boring sex scenes. Similarly, The Tudors TV project is littered with ridiculous footage.

“Maybe if you spent years of your life unhappily suffering in front of your coworkers knowing that your moment of vulnerability would be forever held on the Internet without any context, you wouldn’t care about the idea of (playing a hot scene)” either,” Heritage writes.

However, Heritage thinks that mindset could change if Henry Cavill works with the right director. The proper encouragement, the good script, and the chance to take home an Oscar probably helped him soothe his attitude towards on-screen sex, even feeling amused.

Heritage points to Poor Things, All of Us Strangers, and Saltburn as exemplifying how hot scenes are essential to the plot and so exciting.

“The Idol” represents movies that contain pointless, lousy hot scenes. Photo: HBO.