How Grimes became pop's ultimate tastemaker

Grimes' power as a tastemaker revealed itself early on in her career. In Amoeba’s “What’s In My Bag?” a segment where artists go through their record store purchases Grimes' picks were discombobulating. Credit: Grimes/Youtube They also brought her immediate admiration. “It takes guts to admit you like [Justin Bieber] in front of people. (Keep in mind this was long before Bieber’s critical reclamation in 2015.) But there was no platform more suited to showcasing Grimes' interests than Tumblr....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 217 words · Dylan Giles

How Guillermo del Toro defied genre and tight budgets to createThe Shape of Water

A version of this story appears inEntertainment Weekly#1493, availablehere. For the past 25 years, del Toro has built fantastical worlds of horrible beauty and beautiful horror. The layers are essential to the filmmaker’s process, even if the audience may never notice them. Fox Searchlight “But for me, it is very important that I know why everything is there.” One look at the scaly creature and it’s likely you’ll identify del Toro’s first influence....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 287 words · Tracy Nelson

How Henry Cavill pushed himself to match Tom Cruise's 'tirelessness' inMission: Impossible — Fallout

Henry Cavill nearly got to work with Tom Cruise before joiningMission: Impossible Fallout. I was very excited to finally get the chance to work with Tom, he says. Tom remembered very precise details of our previous conversation, which I did not remember. Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures Hes excellent at that. Its not the only thing theMission: Impossiblefranchises star is excellent at. It required Tom to be performing multiple functions at the same time....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 104 words · Pamela Hunter

How historically accurate isThe Favourite?

If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. Was Queen Anne really a lesbian? (For context, Abigails secret wedding to Samuel Masham was in 1707.) Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images; Atsushi Nishijima/Twentieth Century Fox Spreading slander about the sexual impropriety of ones enemies was par for the course at the time. Alas, theres no concrete evidence suggesting that the relationship between Queen Anne and Abigail was anything but platonic....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 140 words · Monica Ortiz

How Hitchcock, Toto, and Rosamund Pike influenced Mitski's Be the Cowboy

You think you know Mitski, but you have no idea. “We approached it as, We have this sound in mind what can we use?'” Mitski spoke with EW about all the films, music, and moods that inspired her beguiling new sound. Credit: Bao Ngo But she’s already opened up, so she doesn’t know how to close it. At the end of the movie, she stabs herself. Something about that film and character was very inspiring for me....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 352 words · Stacey Porter

How Hollywood is rekindling the rom-com — with the help of romance novels

A version of this story appears in the new issue ofEntertainment Weeklyon stands now, orbuy it here. The big screens loss has been publishings gain, as a rom-com renaissance in books has exploded. At St. Martins Press, Nancy Naigles upcomingDear Santais aYouve Got Mailretelling. Berkley And they appear to be doing just that. Sally ThornesThe Hating Game, Christina LaurensRoomies, and Helen HoangsThe Kiss Quotienthave all been optioned in recent months....

May 1, 2025 · 3 min · 453 words · Nicholas Black

How Hulu'sFour Weddings and a Funeralseries spins a modern, diverse twist on the traditional rom-com

It all begins, as love stories often do, when boy meets girl. Co-creatorMindy Kalingsays they incorporated the titular life events four weddings and a funeral to follow entirely new characters. (See EWs exclusive first look photos from the showhere). Credit: Jay Maidment/Hulu EnterGame of ThronesstarNathalie Emmanuelas Maya andIndian Summersactor Nikesh Patel as Kash. There werent many of us that you saw on screen in movies of that era. For Patel, 33, playing Kash feels like a celebration of his South Asian background....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 181 words · Erica Richard

How Hurricane Irma and a gym mix-up inspired Meg Cabot's new books

They say write what you know, and Meg Cabot has got that down. I just ran out of stuff to say about New York and Indiana. Ive plumbed the depths of Genovia about as much as you’re able to. Credit: Lisa DeTullio Russell Its going to take a while to let that well fill up again. I accidentally enrolled in this class called Bridal Boot Camp, which I did not know....

May 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1121 words · Jerry Higgins

How I Met Your Mother's Slapsgiving: An oral history

You just got slapped Pass the pumpkin pie and a cold compress! Lily (Alyson Hannigan) was appointed Slap Bet Commissioner to oversee the slap count and more. Slapping in high school was our way of having fun. Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS The idea of slap bets definitely came from that era in my life. My friendship with Jason was very back and forth in a gentlemans bet kind of way. KUHN:You throw it up on the board and go, There will be a Thanksgiving episode....

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 965 words · Brandon Watkins

How J.R.R. Tolkien's life helped inspireThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbit

There are no magic rings, wizards, or Hobbits inTolkien. Even when writing about distant lands and strange creatures, J.R.R. Here, we break down how Tolkiens real-world experiences and friends helped inspire Middle-earth. Credit: Fox Searchlight; Pierre Vinet/New Line The pair married anyway and remained together for 55 years. FICTIONAL VERSION:Edithinspired many of Middle-earths brave and kind women. Edith was a very strong-willed woman, Collins previously told EW. Fox Searchlight She didnt go off to war, but she fought for what she believed in....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 114 words · Jacob Bell

How Jasmine Guillory invites readers to celebrate withThe Wedding Party

Now readers are invited toThe Wedding Party, which introduces Maddie and Theo best friends ofDatesheroine, Alexa. The pair hate each other when they first meet, but sparks fly after a one-night stand. Their fling continues, but each agrees to an expiration date: Alexas wedding. Credit: Penguin Random House Ive always loved weddings, she says. But weddings, like Guillorys stories, also center on the power and beauty of female friendship. Brides pick their [best friends] as bridesmaids....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 364 words · Patrick Lopez

How Jason Momoa's kids ended up inAquaman

Jason Momoas kids got the chance spend some time under water (kinda!) While Momoa gears (fins?) My daughter rolled up like, You cut us out of the movie?' To which Wan responded: No, no, no, no, no youre back in the movie! Smart man not to mess with Aquaman. They were really excited to be in it, he says. Now that the movies a family affair, Momoa plans to wait and see it with his kids....

May 1, 2025 · 1 min · 144 words · Steven Cline

How Jessica Knoll is changing what it means to be a successful author

Jessica Knoll knows how to sell a book. She knows how to write a book, too, as her legions of fans will reiterate. Theyll tell you thatLuckiest Girl Aliveshook them to their core. Richard Perry/The New York Times/Redux Theyll tell you it was the ultimate page-turner, that it was dark and deliciously twisted. Theyll tell you that the big reveal made for one of their favorite crimes. But really, she knows how to sell a book....

May 1, 2025 · 2 min · 363 words · Timothy Casey