Olivia Wilde tears up as her new movie "The Invite "gets big standing ovation at Sundance premiere Staff AuthorJanuary 26, 2026 at 1:38 AM 0 Olivia Wilde was brought to tears at the world premiere of her new film The Invite. The Don't Worry Darling actor, who directs and stars in the dramatic comedy, got emotional on stage at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on Saturday night when the audience gave the movie an enthusiastic standing ovation, an uncommon response at the festival.

- - Olivia Wilde tears up as her new movie "The Invite "gets big standing ovation at Sundance premiere

Staff AuthorJanuary 26, 2026 at 1:38 AM

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Olivia Wilde was brought to tears at the world premiere of her new film The Invite.

The Don't Worry Darling actor, who directs and stars in the dramatic comedy, got emotional on stage at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on Saturday night when the audience gave the movie an enthusiastic standing ovation, an uncommon response at the festival.

The film, co-written by Rashida Jones, also stars Seth Rogen as Wilde's husband, along with Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, who play their neighbors. Hilarity and tears ensue when Norton and Cruz's characters arrive for a dinner date and end up propositioning Wilde and Rogen for group sex.

"The standing ovation was very well deserved," festival director Kim Yutani told Wilde as she came on stage for a post-screening Q&A.

When asked about balancing the film's humor and dramatic tones, Wilde said, "I heard a wise person say you're never as vulnerable as when you're laughing. And I think that the great thing about this script was it allowed us to take people on that journey, to let them laugh, let them relax, and then just gut-punch them with divorce."

Rogen later revealed that Wilde initially wasn't interested in starring in the movie, but that he and Norton were able to talk her into it. "Once she decided to cast herself in this film, which she didn't seem to want to do, it really took off," he said.

"And I thought that we were able to especially create a dynamic that was, like, so crackling with energy and the rhythms that we had together," he continued. "It felt so alive. And as we were filming it, I remember just really feeling like we were just really cooking at times."

Tommaso Boddi/Getty

Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen at the after-party for 'The Invite' at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 24, 2026

Norton went on to praise Wilde's ability to direct and act in the film simultaneously. "Seth and I are both people who have directed films that we've been acting in as well. And inevitably, you come to moments where you say, 'This was a terrible decision,'" he said with a laugh.

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"It's hard for me to overstate the grace and wisdom with which Olivia gave that performance and directed us," he added. "She was operating in so many dimensions at the same time, and yet with not a shred of a sense that there was pressure created by any of that juggling act… I just was like, 'Where's the stress? Where's the difficulty?' She seemed to skate so lightly between all of it."

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Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie Lee Curtis, more stars condemn Alex Pretti killing Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 2:10 AM 0 Stars are speaking out about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie Lee Curtis and more celebrities made their voices heard on social media in reaction to video showing Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, being shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on Jan. 24. Rodrigo shared a post on her Instagram Story that said there is a "murderous federal agency terrorizing an American city.

- - Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie Lee Curtis, more stars condemn Alex Pretti killing

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 2:10 AM

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Stars are speaking out about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie Lee Curtis and more celebrities made their voices heard on social media in reaction to video showing Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, being shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on Jan. 24.

Rodrigo shared a post on her Instagram Story that said there is a "murderous federal agency terrorizing an American city." The singer also wrote, "ICEs actions are unconscionable but we are not powerless. Our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota."

Pretti's killing has sparked outrage and protests in Minnesota, which has already been on edge since 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said law enforcement in the state is carrying out a "full, impartial, and transparent" investigation into Pretti's death.

Live updates on Minneapolis shooting: Protests erupt after Alex Pretti fatally shot

After the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, Olivia Rodrigo (seen here at Glastonbury in 2025) wrote, "We are not powerless. Our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota."

On Instagram, Curtis shared artwork paying tribute to both Pretti and Good, writing, "THESE WERE AMERICANS! SHOT BY OUR GOVERNMENT!" The "Halloween" star also posted video of Pretti's shooting as an Instagram Story along with the text, "There's too much going on that needs to be amplified right now for me to be quiet."

Mark Ruffalo posted on Bluesky that the video of Pretti's fatal shooting showed a "cold blooded murder in the streets of the USA by an occupying military gang, creating havoc." He added, "We have fought wars in other countries for less than this."

Pedro Pascal shared numerous posts that were critical of ICE and federal officials' account of the shooting on his Instagram Stories, including one by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said ICE "terrorizes our cities" and should be abolished.

'Counting his bullet wounds.' Witness details Pretti killing in court filing

People mourn at a makeshift memorial in the area where 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal immigration agents earlier in the day in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026.

Several stars, including Janelle Monae and Megan Stalter, provided followers with instructions on how they can call their representatives and urge them to defund ICE. "Keep talking, sharing, praying," Stalter wrote. "I put all my trust in God and what is going on is pure evil."

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda also shared a post by the National Immigration Law Center, which read, "ICE GET OUT."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that Pretti "came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers" and aimed to "inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement." But Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz vowed that "Minnesota's justice system will have the last word on this." In a sworn declaration, filed in federal court hours after the shooting in connection with an ACLU class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, a witness to the shooting said he did not see Pretti "attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind."

1 / 10Vigils held for Alex Pretti, killed in Border Patrol related shootingMourners kneel at a makeshift memorial in the area where Alex Pretti was shot dead a day earlier by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 25, 2026. On January 24, federal agents shot dead US citizen Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.

Pretti's killing occurred as Sundance Film Festival is underway in Utah, and some celebrities spoke out against ICE while promoting their films there.

In an interview with Variety at Sundance, Natalie Portman, who wore "ICE Out" and "Be Good" pins, said, "We're at a moment in our country's history that is quite devastating, and I think it's really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately."

Olivia Wilde also wore an "ICE Out" pin at the film festival, where she told Variety, "I'm appalled and sickened. We can't go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It's outrageous. People are being murdered. And I don't want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet, on film. It's hideous."

Contributing: Michael Loria, N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Kathryn Palmer

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Celebrities speak out about Alex Pretti shooting in Minnesota

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A man is under arrested for assaulting U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost at the Sundance Film Festival LINDSEY BAHR January 26, 2026 at 1:26 AM 0 1 / 22026 Sundance Film FestivalMain Street is seen at the start of the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Charles Sykes/Invision/AP PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A man was arrested Friday night at a party during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, for allegedly assaulting a Florida congressman. Democratic U.S. Rep.

- - A man is under arrested for assaulting U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost at the Sundance Film Festival

LINDSEY BAHR January 26, 2026 at 1:26 AM

0

1 / 22026 Sundance Film FestivalMain Street is seen at the start of the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A man was arrested Friday night at a party during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, for allegedly assaulting a Florida congressman.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost wrote on X Saturday that he was punched in the face by a man who told Frost that President Donald Trump was going to deport him. The altercation occurred at a private party hosted by talent agency CAA at the High West Distillery, a popular venue for festival-adjacent events.

"He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off," Frost wrote. "The individual was arrested and I am okay."

Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress, thanked the venue security and the Park City Police Department for their help.

A Park City Police Department spokesperson identified the man arrested to local affiliate KUTV as Christian Young, who reportedly crashed the party and was not on the list. KUTV also reported that Young was arrested for aggravated burglary, assaulting an elected official and assault.

The Sundance Film Festival representatives released a statement saying that they "strongly condemn" the assault, noting that while it occurred at a non-affiliated event that the behavior is "against our values of upholding a welcoming and inspiring environment for all our attendees."

"The safety and security of our festival attendees is always our chief concern, and our thoughts are with Congressman Frost and his continued well-being," the statement read. "We encourage anyone with additional information on this matter to contact the Park City Police Department."

Axios reported that County Judge Richard Mrazik ordered Young to be held without bail.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that he was horrified by the attack and that "the perpetrator must be aggressively prosecuted."

"Hate and political violence has no place in our country," Jeffries continued.

Messages seeking comment were left for representatives for the Park City Police Department and CAA.

___

For more coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://ift.tt/iWdbLTy

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Dystopian worlds and space voyages abound. The 12 best scifi shows on HBO Max Dystopian worlds and space voyages abound. By Ilana Gordon, Kevin Jacobsen, and Eric Maurer January 19, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SciFiSeriestout4f34854dec244c0db0b94d16246a4227.jpg) Emma Thompson as the Rt Hon Vivienne Rook MP in 'Years and Years'; Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie on 'The Last of Us'; Rick (voice: Justin Roiland) on 'Rick and Morty'.

Dystopian worlds and space voyages abound.

The 12 best sci-fi shows on HBO Max

Dystopian worlds and space voyages abound.

By Ilana Gordon, Kevin Jacobsen, and Eric Maurer

January 19, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

Emma Thompson as the Rt Hon Vivienne Rook MP in 'Years and Years'; Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie on 'The Last of Us'; Rick (voice: Justin Roiland) on 'Rick and Morty'. Credit: Robert Ludovic/HBO/Everett; Liane Hentscher/HBO; Adult Swim

Science fiction can take us to worlds unknown or show us a terrifying glimpse of our future. It's among the more versatile genres across all media, testing the limits of what's possible in storytelling.

HBO Max is home to a selection of fascinating sci-fi TV shows, ranging from dystopian dramas like *The Leftovers* and *Years and Years* to animated genre-benders like *Rick and Morty* and *Robot Chicken*. These series offer an escape from the confines of the real world, reflecting universal truths while entertaining us with original ideas.

Ahead, read our list of the 12 best sci-fi TV shows currently streaming on HBO Max.

Avenue 5 (2020–2022)

Hugh Laurie as Ryan Clark (center) on 'Avenue 5'. Alex Bailey/HBO

Streaming has given high-concept, unique sci-fi shows access to bigger budgets than ever before, but that doesn't mean those projects have to be serious. Exhibit A: *Veep* creator Armando Iannucci bringing workplace comedy and social commentary to space with *Avenue 5*.

Hugh Laurie stars as Ryan Clark, captain of a giant space cruise ship full of snobby, rich tourists, though when the ship's course is changed from a few weeks to more than three years, the classy decorum begins to break down. Also along for the ride is Josh Gad as the vessel's outlandish billionaire owner, plus Zach Woods, Herman Judd, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, and Nikki Amuka-Bird who appear as various passengers and crew members in this one-of-a-kind space farce. —*Eric Maurer*

Where to watch *Avenue 5*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura

Doom Patrol (2019–2023)

April Bowlby as Rita Farr/Elasti-Woman, Matt Bomer as Larry Trainor/Negative Man, Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, and Brendan Fraser as Cliff Steele/Robotman on 'Doom Patrol'. HBO Max

You can never have too many TV superheroes — but this ragtag group of power possessors is not exactly equipped to bring down supervillains. Included in the DC Universe and adapted from the eponymous comic series, *Doom Patrol* is the story of a team of superheroes who have received their abilities through traumatic incidents and are now living on the outskirts of society.

Holed up in the mansion of a medical doctor called the Chief, the Doom Patrol heroes — who include characters like Robotman, Elasti-Woman, Negative Man, Crazy Jane, and Cyborg — spend four seasons learning truths about themselves, the tragic circumstances that led to the creation of their powers, and generally doing their best to engage in heroic activities. A dark, irreverent, and weird exploration into heroes and villains, *Doom Patrol *is one of the best series in the DC Universe. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Doom Patrol*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Alan Tudyk, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser

Dune: Prophecy (2024–present)

Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart on 'Dune: Prophecy'.

Courtesy of HBO

A TV series being greenlit after the success of *Dune* (2021) was as inevitable as the prophecy of Lisan al Gaib. Luckily, this is a worthy installment in the franchise director Denis Villeneuve helped revive, centering on the origins of the oracular group of women known as the Bene Gesserit.

Set 10,000 years before the events of *Dune*, *Dune: Prophecy *offers a thrilling, thoughtful examination of how everything we've come to know was set in motion. It also boasts remarkable craft, with EW's critic praising, "A visual feast, each episode is filled with impressive visual effects that bring chittering thinking machines to life and gorgeous costuming that sees its powerful cast draped in black Bene Gesserit gowns, sand-blasted overcoats, and ruby red wedding dresses." —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Dune: Prophecy*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina

The Last of Us (2023–present)

Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie on 'The Last of Us'. Liane Hentscher/HBO

This highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved PlayStation video game franchise proved to be worth the wait. Released on HBO a decade after the game taught players how to navigate a postapocalyptic world inhabited by undead humans who have been infected with a mutant fungus that causes cannibalism, *The Last of Us* combines the best elements of the game with HBO's legendary access to premium talent and top-notch storytelling. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Last of Us*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Kaitlyn Dever

The Leftovers (2014–2017)

Carrie Coon as Nora Durst and Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey on 'The Leftovers'. Ben King/HBO

While not hard sci-fi in a high-tech or alien sense, this supernatural mystery series is too good to leave off this list. Damon Lindelof, co-creator of *Lost* and *Watchmen*, teamed up with author Tom Perrotta to adapt the latter's book about what happens after a small percentage of the world's population suddenly disappears.

*The Leftovers* revolves around police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and his family, as well as others affected by the "Sudden Departure," like Carrie Coon's Nora and her reverend brother, played by Christopher Eccleston. Amy Brenneman, Liv Tyler, and Regina King also star in this emotional psychological thriller that only gets better over the course of its three seasons. —*E.M.*

Where to watch *The Leftovers*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler

Rick and Morty (2013–present)

Summer (voice: Spencer Grammer), Rick (voice: Justin Roiland), and Morty (voice: Justin Roiland) of 'Rick and Morty'. Adult Swim

There's no relationship quite like the one between a grandfather and his grandson — especially when it exists across multiple dimensions. Fourteen-year-old Morty is an anxious kid whose attempts to lay low and survive puberty are frequently upended by the erratic experiments of his grandfather Rick, an eccentric scientist whose drunken misanthropy and hijinks find the two embarking on travels across time and space.

An adult animated sci-fi comedy from the minds of voice actor Justin Roiland and writer Dan Harmon (*Community*), *Rick and Morty *takes the concept of the traditional sitcom family and blows it up — sometimes literally. Start watching this Adult Swim original for the subverted *Back to the Future* vibes, but don't expect McDonald's to bring back their Szechuan sauce anytime soon. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Rick and Morty*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke

Robot Chicken (2005–present)

Luke Skywalker (voice: Bob Bergen) and Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars'. Adult Swim

When the sun sets, Cartoon Network goes away and Adult Swim — its mature alter ego with content specifically targeted towards an older crowd — comes out to play. Four years after Adult Swim took to the airwaves, the network debuted *Robot Chicken*, a stop-motion sketch comedy show co-created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, with Green voicing the titular character. Since 2005, the show has aired 11 seasons of 11-minute episodes, making this subversive, pop culture-skewering series a perfect option for a generation that came of age in the era of social media-refined attention spans.

Featuring more famous voices than a celebrity charity concert, *Robot Chicken *is an immensely bingeable comedy time capsule, and it remains one of *Adult Swim*'s longest-running and most successful series. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Robot Chicken*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Breckin Meyer, Tom Root

The 30 best sci-fi shows of all time, ranked

The 31 best sci-fi movies of all time

Scavengers Reign (2023)

Azi (voice: Wunmi Mosaku) in 'Scavengers Reign'.

This animated sci-fi series, an expansion of the 2016 Adult Swim short *Scavengers*, is gripping and disturbing all at once. *Scavengers Reign* follows a group of spaceship crew members stranded on an alien planet who must use their wits to survive. Among the separated crew are horticulturalist Ursula and commander Sam; cargo specialist Azi and robot Levi; and Kamen, who meets a telepathic creature named Hollow, who manipulates him using images of his deceased wife. Featuring stunning animation that brings its alien world to life in striking detail, *Scavengers Reign* has been hailed as one of the best sci-fi shows on television today. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Scavengers Reign*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Sunita Mani, Wunmi Mosaku, Alia Shawkat, Bob Stephenson, Ted Travelstead

Station Eleven (2021–2022)

Mackenzie Davis as Kirsten Raymonde (left) on 'Station Eleven'. Ian Watson/HBO Max

What happens when you combine a devastatingly timely story from an award-winning book, the showrunner who wrote the mind-bending and melancholy *Maniac*, and a top-notch cast? Well, you get the gorgeous and singular miniseries *Station Eleven*. The 10-episode story develops over multiple timelines, revealing the immediate aftermath of a deadly flu pandemic and the world that springs up decades later.

Mackenzie Davis stars as Kirsten, an actor in a postapocalyptic traveling theater group who was only 8 when the world as she knew it ended. Himesh Patel, Nabhaan Rizwan, Daniel Zovatto, Lori Petty, and Danielle Deadwyler round out the cast while Hiro Murai (filmmaker and frequent Donald Glover collaborator behind much of *Atlanta* and director of Childish Gambino's "This Is America" music video) helmed the first and third episodes. Meanwhile, the show's creative through-line comes from creator Patrick Somerville, who also wrote for *The Leftovers* and created *Made for Love *— and *Station Eleven* is yet another feather in his impressive cap. *—E.M.*

Where to watch *Station Eleven*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot, Danielle Deadwyler

Titans (2018–2023)

Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing on 'Titans'.

Steve Wilkie/HBO Max

Another offering from the DC Universe, *Titans* is a superhero series and live-action adaptation of the *Teen Titans* comic books. Full of recognizable superhero names (like Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Batman's sidekick, Robin) and less well-known characters (like Rachel, a.k.a. Raven, a young empath), the first season watches as the previously disbanded Titan team reassembles — with a few new additions to the roster — and battles villains, assassins, and their own personal demons.

Boasting a strong cast, more violence than is strictly necessary, and moody vibes, the series feels right at home in the DC Universe, and the show takes its time in digging into characters and backstories over the four available seasons. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Titans*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Ryan Potter, Teagan Croft

Watchmen (2019)

Regina King as Sister Night in 'Watchmen'. Mark Hill/HBO

Who watches the Watchmen? Well, we do, and you should, too. Damon Lindelof's Emmy-winning miniseries picks up 34 years after the events of Alan Moore's *Watchmen* graphic novel as we follow Det. Angela Abar (Regina King) as she attempts to take down a local white supremacist group targeting the police. Her investigation finds her intersecting with familiar faces from the *Watchmen* comic as a grand conspiracy is gradually revealed. "*Watchmen* doesn't overdose on nostalgia, like so many franchise extensions in our reboot-soaked decade," writes EW's critic. "It's dangerous, and invigorating." *—K.J.*

Where to watch *Watchmen*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson

Years and Years (2019)

Emma Thompson as the Rt Hon Vivienne Rook MP in 'Years and Years'. Robert Ludovic/HBO/Everett

Three years after the British populace voted on a referendum to leave the European Union, a limited series called *Years and Years* premiered on BBC One. A dystopian science fiction drama told across six episodes and set over the course of 15 years, the show follows Britain's cultural and economic collapse, as told through the eyes of the Lyons family. The country's decline is accelerated by the likes of Vivian Rook (Emma Thompson) a successful businesswoman turned populist politician whose proposed policies — like one that bars anyone with an IQ under 70 from voting — are a sobering reminder of how tenuous our global democracies are, and how easily freedom can free fall into fascism.

Simultaneously compelling and horrifying, *Years and Years *is a political and social satire that would be a lot funnier if it didn't feel so truthful. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Years and Years*: HBO Max

**Cast: **Anne Reid, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Hynes, Emma Thompson

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The &34;Silence of the Lambs&34; actor said that she has &34;two perfect punctures&34; on each side of her body from the attack: &34;I have many scars.&34; Jodie Foster still has scars from being mauled by lion as a child actor: 'Scariest thing that ever happened to me' The &34;Silence of the Lambs&34; actor said that she has &34;two perfect punctures&34; on each side of her body from the attack: &34;I have many scars.&34; By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at .

The "Silence of the Lambs" actor said that she has "two perfect punctures" on each side of her body from the attack: "I have many scars."

Jodie Foster still has scars from being mauled by lion as a child actor: 'Scariest thing that ever happened to me'

The "Silence of the Lambs" actor said that she has "two perfect punctures" on each side of her body from the attack: "I have many scars."

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 19, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

Jodie Foster in Paris on Nov. 20, 2025. Credit:

Marc Piasecki/WireImage

- Jodie Foster was "mauled by a lion" on the set of *Napoleon and Samantha* in 1972.

- The actress said that she has "two perfect punctures" on each side of her body from the lion's teeth.

- She added, "That was probably the scariest thing that ever happened to me when I was making a movie."

Jodie Foster is reflecting on a terrifying encounter with a lion on the set of her first film.

The *Silence of the Lambs *star recalled being attacked by a massive feline costar while shooting *Napoleon and Samantha*, a 1972 Disney movie that marked her big-screen debut.

"I have many scars," Foster told *W* in a video interview. "I was mauled by a lion when I was eight-and-a-half or nine. The lion picked me up, shook me around, moved me horizontally, and then dropped me. I had two perfect punctures on one side and then two perfect punctures on the other, on my hip."

Jodie Foster and Johnny Whitaker in 'Napoleon and Samantha'.

Courtesy Everett Collection

Foster said that the attack wasn't picked up by any cameras on set.

"No, it was not filmed," she remembered. "It was after the shot was over. I was in shock, so I don't really remember that much."

The film starred Johnny Whitaker as Napoleon, a young boy who embarks on a journey with a lion, a rooster, and his friend Samantha (Foster). Michael Douglas also appeared in the movie in a supporting role.

Foster said that most of the *Napoleon and Samantha *crew wasn't particularly courageous as she found herself in the lion's jaws.

"He picked me up, and then he moved me sideways and shook me around, and so, as he turned me back and towards the whole camera crew, I saw the whole camera crew run — except sideways," she said. "So, I saw them running sideways, taking all their equipment with them, just like, running away from me."

Jodie Foster forgets which network she's on during live interview: 'It's the same letters!'

Jodie Foster 'couldn't believe what they had written' for her 'Simpsons' cameo as Maggie

However, the animal wrangler on set eventually defused the situation.

"I guess the trainer said, 'Drop it,' and the lion dropped me out of his mouth," Foster said. "I think that was probably the scariest thing that ever happened to me when I was making a movie. I'm not sure I had time for fear, honestly."

John Ortega, Arch Johnson, Jodie Foster, and Michael Douglas in 'Napoleon and Samantha'.

Courtesy Everett Collection

The actress also said that she had to continue working with the same lion after she recovered from the attack.

"After I got out of the hospital, and it was deemed I was okay to work and everything, I went back to work with the same lion, but I was carrying a rooster," she said. "And the rooster was not used to working with this particular lion. And I saw the lion turn his head and kind of go like this, like maybe he was going to approach me or something, and I threw the rooster, and I ran. I think that's probably a scarier moment."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Foster's latest film is *A Private Life*, a French-language thriller that also stars Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, and Vincent Lacoste, now in theaters.**

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&34;I became the black sheep,&34; the &34;Barbie&34; and &34;The Copenhagen Test&34; star said. Simu Liu reveals he was banned from family trips after he lost his accounting job and started acting &34;I became the black sheep,&34; the &34;Barbie&34; and &34;The Copenhagen Test&34; star said. By Raechal Shewfelt :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RaechalShewfeltauthorphotoc49d3a3b6aa442f588f2bbc0de804e09.jpg) Raechal Shewfelt Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American Journalism Review and The Shreveport Times.

"I became the black sheep," the "Barbie" and "The Copenhagen Test" star said.

Simu Liu reveals he was banned from family trips after he lost his accounting job and started acting

"I became the black sheep," the "Barbie" and "The Copenhagen Test" star said.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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January 19, 2026 12:30 p.m. ET

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Simu Liu appears on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' Jan. 7. Credit:

Lloyd Bishop/NBC

Sometimes, even a Marvel hero can't catch a break.

Simu Liu, who reprises his role as Shang-Chi in the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* film, recalls he once brought shame to the family and paid dearly for it.

"The level of shame in Asian standards would be like if I was addicted to meth and on the street," he told Seth Meyers on *Late Night* recently. "They're the same. I'm trying to level this out for you guys what it was like in our household. It was bad."

What had he done to upset the family harmony?

He started acting.

Liu related that he recently visited China with his family for the first time in 15 years and was able to visit a grandmother he hadn't seen in a very long time.

"I felt really guilty about not coming back sooner," Liu said. "Although, in my defense, when I lost my job as an accountant and then started to act and audition, I did become kind of like a black sheep in the family. And I was disinvited from these family trips for a really long time."

Simu Liu in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (2021).

Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios

The situation was so bad, no one even wanted to talk about him. Then, some time after he stopped being invited, the China-born actor became busy and didn't have time to go back anyway.

But the star of *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings* finally decided that he had to do it, and had "the best time."

Simu Liu embarrassed by outfit he wore when meeting 'Doomsday' costar Robert Downey Jr.

Simu Liu smolders in EW's 'The Copenhagen Test' cover shoot — see all the exclusive photos

When Meyers asked if the international celebrity was approached by fans, Liu said that he had, although he hadn't expected to be.

"Just cause, for whatever reason, our Marvel movie never came out in China," Liu said. "So I really just thought that nobody would care."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

But they did. After he posted a photo of himself at his hotel, about 40 fans showed up in the lobby.

"It was really overwhelming and also kind of sweet," the *Barbie* and *Kim's Convenience *actor said. "And my parents were absolutely no help at all."

Simu Liu stars as Alexander in 'The Copenhagen Test' on Peacock.

Christos Kalohoridis/PEACOCK

Meyers joked that they were thinking this wouldn't have happened if he had stayed an accountant.

Previously, the actor has noted that, before he was cast on the comedy *Kim's Convenience*, he was also struggling financially.

"I had been in credit card debt for years before. I just kind of had convinced myself that was going to— that was going to be my life, and I had made peace with it. I was okay with the life of a starving artist," Liu said on the *Where Everybody Knows Your Name* podcast in October 2024, per *Newsweek*.

He said he'd cried when he learned he was hired.**

Liu's latest project is spy drama *The Copenhagen Test*, which he starred in and executive-produced. The action series is now streaming on Peacock.**

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Source: Actors

Published: January 25, 2026 at 11:38AM on Source: OPERA MAG

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