This isn’t the first time King’s story has been adapted for the screen. Back in 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in The Running Man, but it was quite different. Instead of keeping the dark and realistic tone of the book, the movie went for a more humorous, over-the-top, and visually flashy approach with plenty of action. While reviews were mixed when it first came out, it’s since gained a dedicated following as a cult classic.
The 2010s saw a remarkable run of excellent sequels. Many of these films surpassed their originals, even when the first movie was already well-regarded. These sequels achieved both massive commercial success and critical acclaim, proving they were improvements on what came before.
The first issue of I Am Santa definitely sets a unique tone for this holiday-themed series. It boldly introduces the genuine Santa Claus into the world of Spawn, but with a dark twist: Santa is tracking a cruel killer who has made things deeply personal.
The practice of using a flashback episode right before a season finale has become so common in TV dramas that it’s time to stop. It’s been done so many times that it’s lost its impact. But more importantly, this trope highlights a frustrating trend in recent television: characters are often reduced to simple puzzles. Instead of complex individuals, we get predictable explanations for their behavior – she’s mean because of loss, he’s violent due to childhood trauma. These explanations feel lazy and rob the characters of depth.
Both Mike Flanagan’s work and adaptations of Stephen King stories had a strong year, despite somewhat disappointing box office numbers. Most of the films received excellent reviews from both audiences and critics. Plus, 2025 saw the start of a promising trend: more successful TV adaptations of Stephen King’s novels.
According to Variety, the movie Wicked: For Good is expected to make between $150 and $180 million during its opening weekend in the United States and Canada. If it reaches the higher end of that estimate, it would be the biggest domestic opening of 2025, surpassing A Minecraft Movie ($162 million) and the live-action Lilo & Stitch ($146 million).
CBS recently announced that Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila are leaving Fire Country after being part of the show from the beginning. This news surprised many fans, but for different reasons. Vince’s death was a shock, especially considering his important role as a leader both at Station 42 and within his family. Gabriela’s departure felt more predictable, as her storyline, particularly her relationship with Bode, had been developing in that direction over the past year.
While at Comic Con Liverpool with his former Smallville co-star Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum discussed the possibility of continuing the series. He explained that he, Welling, and the show’s creators, Al Gough and Miles Miller, are all interested in revisiting Smallville, but they need the right opportunity and a compelling pitch before moving forward.
The creator of the show appeared on the podcast Dark Passengers: A Dexter Podcast. He didn’t reveal much about the plans for Season 2, but he did say a popular character from the first season will be returning.
Netflix’s reality TV shows haven’t consistently maintained their initial high quality. Because of this, I doubted Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge would be as good as the first season.