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‘Doctor Strange 2’ star Elizabeth Olsen on how Scarlett Johansson taught her to be a superhero

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Actress Elizabeth Olsen’s character Wanda Maximoff in the ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is at her most complex, as her relationship with the title character essayed by English star Benedict Cumberbatch, grows more tangled over the course of the film.

However, Olsen, whose portrayal of the mystical Scarlet Witch has made her a consistent MCU fan favourite, says that no matter what Wanda goes through, she’ll continue to defend the character, reports ‘Variety’.

“I remember people saying at the end of ‘Wandavision’. ‘She has no accountability’,” Olsen told ‘Variety’ senior entertainment reporter Angelique Jackson on the red carpet at the ‘Multiverse of Madness’ premiere on Monday.

“She’s gonna take accountability for herself, she’s gonna isolate, she’s gonna think about it, and she’s gonna grow.”

Although ‘Multiverse of Madness’ is a sequel to the 2016 ‘Doctor Strange’ film, it also follows many of the plot threads of the critically acclaimed Disney+ series ‘Wandavision’, which saw Olsen and Paul Bettany headline as Wanda and the android Vision.

Olsen jumped into filming on ‘Doctor Strange 2’ right after she wrapped ‘Wandavision’.

“Getting to do ‘Wandavision’ and then coming into this film, my priority was, how do we continue the thread, but how do we also make it different?” Olsen recalled.

“How is there an evolution, how can we keep it exciting for the fans? And how can we ground her and show them something they haven’t seen yet? And I’m really looking forward for the fan response after this film. I think everyone’s in for a ride.”

‘Wandavision’ is one of the most well-received MCU projects, garnering multiple Emmy nominations, including nods for Olson, Bettany and Kathryn Hahn.

However, because the series premiered early 2021, amid the Covid pandemic lockdowns, Olsen didn’t get to experience the glitz and glamour of a premiere party or the in-person fan response to the show until the ‘Multiverse of Madness’ press tour.

“It’s really surreal. I keep hearing about the response, but it’s hard to actually connect with it until you’re actually at a premiere like this,” Olsen said.

“It’s wild. This is eight years now for me with Marvel, and I just feel so grateful to still be here and to have grown this character to what she’s become. But I’m also grateful to Kevin Feige for giving me the opportunity to do ‘Wandavision’ and having the idea.”

In addition to continuing Wanda’s story, ‘Multiverse of Madness’ introduces a new superhero, 16-year-old Xochitl Gomez as the reality-hopping America Chavez. Olsen shared how impressed she was by the young actor’s poise when joining the MCU.

“She has such a vitality to her, she has so much confidence being so young,” Olsen said.

“She has so much confidence being so young. I was 25 when I started, and she’s way better off than I was when I started.”

Olsen made her MCU debut in 2015’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’.

Much like Gomez looked to her to learn the superhero ropes while filming ‘Multiverse of Madness,” Olsen studied franchise veteran Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow across several films, reports ‘Variety’.

“I remember being on ‘Ultron’ and seeing how she was with the crew,” Olsen shared.

“I was just amazed by her ease and her comfort and how she includes the crew in everything, and how she makes everyone part of the team and feel excited to come to work. And I’ve really taken that into my life since then.”

Olsen said that it’s a little “shocking” to now be in the position of a pseudo-mentor, but “it’s amazing that we’ve gone through (iterations of the MCU) and it’s been this long, that now we have these different ages of women”.

Entertainment

Alia Bhatt speaks for students, says ‘heartbroken yet filled with hope’

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Actress Alia Bhatt has expressed her support for students amid the ongoing CJP protest. She shared a heartfelt note highlighting their courage, determination, and the sacrifices behind their journeys.

Taking to Instagram, Alia reflected on the emotions of the past few days, saying they had left her heartbroken at times but also filled her with hope. The ‘Raazi’ actress emphasized that behind every student standing up for their beliefs is a dream, a family’s hope, and a journey built on countless sacrifices. Alia shared a note that read, “The last few days have broken my heart and then mended it, again and again, with hope. Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family’s hope, a journey of countless sacrifices.”

“They represent not just themselves but everyone who has supported them while creating a better path for those who will come after them. Their courage humbles me. Their resolve is a mirror held up to all of us, asking whether we are truly listening to the very people who will inherit and shape this country’s tomorrow. For the students. By the students. The future is theirs. Jai Hind,” she added.

Several Bollywood celebrities have come forward to express their support for the students amid the ongoing CJP protest. Through their social media posts, many stars have highlighted the importance of listening to student voices and acknowledged their courage, determination, and aspirations.

Yesterday, Salman Khan extended his support to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest. The superstar took to Instagram to praise the students for participating in the protest “peacefully” and called them “courageous and brave.” Sharing an old grainy picture of himself from his school days, the 60-year-old actor wrote, “It was such a peaceful movement, feel so sad that it had to take a violent turn. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt. Paper leak is a very serious issue, and I am glad to know n see that the kids of our country have come together for a better educational system, and their parents supported them.”

“I truly appreciate the stand they have taken, showing dedication, sincerity, and keenness to study hard n make their future and a greater, educated India. This andolan, this protest, is the right way to go abt it, n the students have done this peacefully. So courageous and brave. Driven and motivated towards education, this generation will make India proud.”

Salman concluded by writing, “This issue is between the students and the educational system, it should not be hijacked politically, the credit should only go to the students of our country, and I am sure the government will also give them all the support n make it a stronger educational system. It’s a win-win situation. Hoping n praying for a positive decision. God bless all of you who wanna be educated. Education should be the next trend and fashion, and should get trendier n more fashionable yr by yr, itna k bahar se log come to India to study and India becomes an educational hub.” (sic)

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‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ actress Kaylee Hottle dies in car accident aged 18

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Los Angeles, July 22: Actress Kaylee Hottle, known for her work in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong and its 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, passed away in a car accident aged 18.

As per The New York Times, her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language, saying that she died in a car accident in Maryland and he was flying from Texas to claim her body.

Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed the news in a statement. Hottle and her father are both deaf and come from a multi-generational deaf family, reports variety.com.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland,” Texas School for the Deaf’s post reads.

The statement further read: “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time. At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee’s family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

Kaylee is best known for playing Jia, a deaf orphan who forms a close bond with Kong and is taken in by Dr. Ilene Andrews, in 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” and 2024’s “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kaylee was from an all-deaf family and got her start in commercials promoting support for the deaf community, including the video interpreting service Convo. She was fluent in American Sign Language and communicated with Kong in both “Godzilla” films by signing.

She started her career with commercials. In 2017, at the age of 9. For the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong, casting director Sarah Halley Finn looked for a deaf actor for the deaf character Jia through a network of casting-directors and theaters, and was guided to Hottle by an assistant director from the earlier film Kong: Skull Island who had seen her in a Convo commercial.

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Bollywood

Randeep Hooda shares heartwarming moments from daughter Nyomica’s first rice ceremony

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Mumbai, July 19: Actor Randeep Hooda shared heartwarming glimpses of a special milestone in his daughter Nyomica’s life.

Taking to Instagram, he posted adorable moments from her first rice ceremony, also known as Chakumba. The ‘Jaat’ actor also expressed his emotions and gratitude towards everyone who blessed her on the occasion. Calling it a moment he wished he ‘could hold on to forever,’ Randeep shared his joy over celebrating Nyomica’s special milestone with loved ones. Sharing a series of images, he wrote, “There are moments you wish you could hold on to forever! Nyomica’s #Chakumba was one of them. Her first taste of rice and a heart full of gratitude for everyone who blessed her.”

The first image from the ceremony featured Randeep Hooda sitting alongside his wife Lin Laishram, who was seen holding their daughter in her lap. The ‘Murder 3’ actor also shared pictures with his parents and other family members. One candid moment captured Lin cradling their daughter while Randeep lovingly played with her. Another picture showed guests sitting on the floor and enjoying a traditional meal as part of the celebrations.

Randeep Hooda was dressed in a traditional white kurta and dhoti for the ceremony, while his wife Lin Laishram complemented him in an elegant pink saree paired with a matching shawl. The couple looked graceful in their traditional attire as they celebrated the special occasion with their family and loved ones.

For the unversed, Chakumba is a traditional rice-feeding ceremony observed in the Manipuri Meitei community. The ritual marks an important milestone in an infant’s life, celebrating the child’s first taste of solid food, particularly rice, and the beginning of the weaning journey.

Randeep and Lin embraced parenthood with the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Nyomica, on March 10, 2026. In an Instagram post, the couple revealed that the name, suggested by the actor’s sister, carries a beautiful meaning—symbolizing “divine grace, freedom, and limitlessness as the sky.”

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