“Home Alone” Star John Heard Has Died at 72

It’s been a sad week in entertainment. On Thursday, music fans mourned the shocking loss of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, and now comes more heartbreaking news, this time from the world of film: John Heard, the beloved dad from Home Alone, has passed away at age 72.

The actor died on Friday in Palo Alto, California while staying at a hotel to recover from “minor back surgery,” which he underwent at Stanford Medical Center on Wednesday, according to TMZ. A spokesperson from the Palo Alto Police Department confirmed that “officers responded with the Fire Department to a hotel in our city yesterday [to] a report of a person in need of medical aid. The person was determined to be deceased. While still under investigation, the death is not considered suspicious at this time.”

The 72-year-old actor, who appeared in over 100 films, beginning with 1977’s Between the Lines, will always be remembered for his iconic portrayal of Peter McCallister, the loving-yet-super-forgetful father from Home Alone, as well as for his work in the hit HBO series Sopranos, in which he played Vin Makazian, a New Jersey detective.

Over the course of his five-decade-long career, the talented Heard acted alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names (John Candy, James Gandolfini) in hit movies that spanned all genres, from The Pelican Brief to Gladiator and even White Chicks.

He will be sorely missed.

What’s your favorite John Heard scene? Tweet us @BritandCo.

(h/t People; photo via Mark Davis + 20th Century Fox/Getty)

Audiences loved the way Greta Gerwig's Little Women brought all four March sisters to life, and Netflix's Anne with an E became so popular that when the show was canceled after season 3, 1.7 million fans signed a petition to revive the series. It all just proves that classic adaptations can make the original story even more powerful.

And the newest movie based on a book is going to be one we think about forever — and not just because of its cast. Emerald Fennell (who you'll recognize from The Crown and her work as writer & director on Satburn) is adapting Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are leading the cast!

The book, published in 1847, continues to grip readers, and it's become the blueprint for moody complexity — just like Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, which won the Oscar for Best Screenplay thanks to its scathing look at sexual assault. Well, the Em's are coming together for this new adaptation.

Here's everything we know about Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights — and your first look at the movie.

Here's Your First Look At 'Wuthering Heights'

The first look at Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights is getting some seriously mixed reactions. The photo features a close-up image of someone (maybe Margot Robbie's) with their fingers and a few blades of grass in their mouth.

"CAN NOT WAIT," one Instagram user said, along with a couple fire emojis. But the intimate (and somewhat shocking) image also has some users asking, "what in the saltburn?"

Is Wuthering Heights going to be in theaters?

Focus Features

It appears director Emerald Fennell and producer Margot Robbie are pushing for a theatrical release, which is why they've reportedly turned down a Netflix offer of $150 million.

Despite the fact Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said theatrical releases are "just not our business," and the company has stuck to at-home streaming instead, they did break that pattern for Knives Out: Glass Onion in 2022. The movie appeared in around 600 theaters the day before Thanksgiving, but left a week later ahead of its December 23 debut on the streamer.

Co-CEO Reed Hastings told The Hollywood Reporter that keeping the movie in theaters could have made Netflix more money, but later said they just wanted to "break through the noise" and get movie lovers excited for the film to come to Netflix.

All that to be said, Margot Robbie (whose Barbie made over $1 billion worldwide) and Emerald Fennell (whose Promising Young Woman nabbed her an Oscar win and two other nominations) know how to capture the imaginations of movie lovers everywhere. And it could definitely be in their favor to stick to a theatrical release. Stay tuned for official news on where you can watch Wuthering Heights!

Who's in the new Wuthering Heights movie?

Frazer Harrison/Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Wuthering Heights Cast

The Wuthering Heights movie will be led by Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie as Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, respectively. Margot will also produce with her production company LuckyChap, which worked behind the scenes on Emerald Fennell's Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.

While some fans were initially excited about the casting, others were concerned about the fact that in the book, Heathcliff is described as "dark skinned." He also tells Nelly that, "I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed, and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!" Um, it looks like Jacob Elordi definitely has fair skin to me.

"Heathcliff is described as a dark-skinned brown man in the book and a major plot point is that he was subjected to racist abuse by his adopted family," one tweet (which has over 8 million views) says. "But yeah sure Jacob Elordi is perfect!"

Another says, "Film studios will say 'We are committed to diverse casting' and then cast Jacob Elordi to play Heathcliff, one of the more famous people of color in literature, whose race is crucial to both his character and the story."

Check back here to see who will play characters like Edgar Linton, Nelly Dean, Isabella Linton, and Lockwood.

When is Wuthering Heights coming out?

Warner Bros. Pictures

Wuthering Heights Release Date

Wuthering Heights will premiere on February 14, 2026. Happy Valentine's Day!

What is Wuthering Heights about?

Amazon

Wuthering Heights Plot

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights follows the Earnshaws and the Lintons, who are living in the Yorkshire Moors in the 1880s. Their lives change forever when the Earnshaws take in Heathcliff. Like any good dramatic novel, passion lies beneath proper connections, marriages, and societal expectations — and despite Catherine and Heathcliffe's feelings for each other, they have to choose between security and love.

Check out 16 New Movies Based On Books To Add To Your Watchlist to inspire your next movie night!

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This post has been updated.

While Barbenheimer was its own cultural phenomenon, no movie has quite captured the summer of it all like Top Gun: Maverick. The 2022 film, released 36 years after the original, reintroduces Maverick (Tom Cruise) to audiences, and shows off a new class of recruits, including Miles Teller's Rooster, Danny Ramirez's Fanboy, Monica Barbaro's Phoenix, and Glen Powell's Hangman.

Hangman's a cocky and competitive graduate who constantly finds himself toe-to-toe with Rooster; he's pushy, determined, and willing to sacrifice a lot to get exactly what he wants. But despite the fact he's the archetype my sister refers to as "The Blond Narcissist," fans quickly fell for Hangman, thanks to Glen's charm.

Top Gun: Maverick made almost $1.5 billion worldwide, and fans have been waiting for a third installment ever since. And we just got an update on the new movie!

Here's everything we know about Top Gun 3, thanks to Glen Powell and Jay Ellis.

Is there going to be Top Gun 3?

Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures/Paramount+

Yes, we're getting a Top Gun 3! At the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards on February 22, Jay Ellis revealed that the team wants the movie to be just right. “In all honesty, they’re still working on the script. They’re still working on the story. They’re wanting to get it right," he told Us Weekly. "[It’s also about] really making sure that this story is not done just to make a movie, but made because these characters are going to make people lean in."

“Tom is a stickler, and that really comes from him wanting to make sure the audience gets what they paid for and that they’re entertained,” he continued. "For those two hours, they can fully disappear in this theater, and the world around them doesn’t exist anymore, and [be] fully entertained. That’s where the focus is."

During a podcast recording at 92nd Street Y with Happy Sad Confused's Josh Horowitz, Glen Powell was asked which would come first: another installment of Daisy Edgar-Jones' Normal Peopleor Top Gun 3. “I mean, I have a date,” Glen shared about returning to the role of Hangman (via Variety). He does not, however, have more details to share.

Paramount Pictures/Paramount+

Even though the movie hasn't started filming yet — and we don't even have a full official cast for the three-quel — the fact Top Gun 3 has a start date means it's farther along in pre-production than we realized! Now MY main question is what kind of shirtless sport this third installment will give us after both Top Gun's beach volleyball scene and Top Gun: Maverick's beach football scene were met with very positive reviews. Even if it's spikeball or pickleball, if the shirts are off, I'll be seated.

“There is going to be some fun stuff being announced soon," Glen told Variety in January 2024. Although at the time he didn't have a start date, he spoke with "[Joseph] Kosinski, [Tom] Cruise, and Jerry [Bruckheimer] all the time. There is stuff happening and it sounds very exciting."

When is Top Gun 3 coming out?

Paramount Pictures/Paramount+

We don't have an official release date for Top Gun 3 yet, but I think it would be the perfect summer movie. Check back here for updates on the film!

Who's in the Top Gun 3 cast?

Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures/Paramount+

Along with Glen Powell as Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Top Gun 3 is sure to feature Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw. We'll keep you updated on the full Top Gun 3 cast as we know more!

Top Gun: Maverick also stars Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Danny Ramirez, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer.

Was Penny in the first Top Gun?

Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures/Paramount+

The short answer to this question is kind of. Even though Penny (played by Jennifer Connelly in Top Gun: Maverick) is mentioned in the first Top Gun movie, we never see her onscreen.

Stay tuned for the latest Top Gun 3 news and check out 8 Times Glen Powell Melted Our Hearts just for the heck of it.

This post has been updated.

Any Hunger Games fan will agree that one of the best parts about Catching Fire is that it offers a whole new look at Haymitch Abernathy's character. The mentor (played by Woody Harrelson in the film franchise) won the 2nd Quarter Quell, and the brief mention of his Games totally captured fans' attention, leading to fan art, fanfiction, and even some viral short films. Well, we're finally getting the full story thanks to a brand new Haymitch Hunger Games book, just in time for spring 2025!

Here's everything we know about Sunrise On The Reaping, coming March 2025.

Who's narrating the audiobook?

Cam McLeod/Paramount

It was confirmed on February 3 that Yellowstone actor Jefferson White will narrate the Sunrise on the Reaping audiobook.

“It's an honor to be a small part of a world I’ve loved for so long — Suzanne Collins is a genius and it's equal parts exhilarating and terrifying to be back in Panem," he told People.

See The Official 'Sunrise On The Reaping' Cover

Amazon

The Sunrise on the Reaping cover was unveiled the morning of October 16 and it's just as beautiful as we hoped! It continues the tradition from the other books of a bold background color with gold and white accents, and I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw the snake and the mockingjay. The snake is obviously a nod to President Snow, and we know that both Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen are two songbirds the President was never able to shake. Will Haymitch Abernathy become one as well?

In the original books, Haymitch starts out as an angry man with no friends or family who always has a drink in his hand, but by the end of Mockingjay, he's a wise, caring father figure for Katniss — and I'm betting Sunrise on the Reaping will show us plenty of those character traits as he has to make his way through the Hunger Games.

One detail on the cover that concerns me is the fact the snake and the songbird are connected, and that a sun sits between them. David Levithan, Scholastic's vice president, publisher, and editorial director told TODAY that just like the other covers, this one features "one of the central themes of the series: how conflicting forces can be connected by their common nature, the songbird and the snake springing from the same source."

When is Sunrise on the Reaping coming out?

Lionsgate

Sunrise on the Reaping will hit stores on March 18, 2025.

What is the Sunrise on the Reaping going to be about?

Scholastic/Instagram

The new Hunger Games book is called Sunrise on the Reaping. According to the official announcement, the story will take place 24 years before The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the 50th Games' reaping. While fans had hoped the story would chronicle Haymitch's victory, it wasn't confirmed until October 16. Read the full synopsis below:

"As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight ... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena."

Can you preorder Sunrise on the Reaping?

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Yes, you can pre-order the book now!

What happened in Haymitch's Hunger Games?

Lionsgate

As a Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games had a twist. Just like the 75th Hunger Games pulled the tributes from the existing victors, the 50th required double the tributes, meaning Haymitch (who was 16 years old at the time) was one of 48 tributes, not 24.

The arena was a breathtaking landscape with a forest, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful flowers. But Haymitch quickly realized the beauty was a trap, and that everything in the arena was poisonous. He was able to outsmart the rest of the competitors, but after he used the forcefield against the other remaining tribute to secure his victory (a move that offended the Capitol), President Snow retaliated by killing his family and his girlfriend.

Is Sunrise on the Reaping about Haymitch?

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Yes, Sunrise on the Reaping is about Haymitch Abernathy and his win during the 50th Hunger Games.

Check out The 27 Most-Anticipated New Books Debuting In 2024 for more titles coming soon!

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This post has been updated.

2024 was the year of the internet boyfriend: Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy), and Glen Powell (Twisters). But it looks like Glen might be taken IRL — but no, it has nothing to do with Sydney Sweeney postponing her wedding (she's got a busy schedule, y'all!). Glen was seen leaving a pre-BAFTA party with Lily James, and the internet is in a frenzy.

Here's everything we know about those Glen Powell and Lily James dating rumors following the 2025 BAFTAs.

Lily James and Glen Powell get cozy ahead of the BAFTAs.

Glen Powell and Lily James starred together in Netflix's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in 2018, where they play lovers, but they were most recently seen together ahead of the 2025 BAFTAs. After a party thrown by Charles Finch and Chanel at Loulous in Mayfair, London, the duo hopped into a car together — and Glen lent Lily his coat (based on the rain on the windshield, he must have been protecting her from the weather. Sweet!).

These two actors match their energies so well, and now that they've been spotted together again, fans are hoping we them in a rom-com sooner rather than later. I could totally see them in a "farm girl meets city boy" love story (or maybe even an Emily Henry movie?)

Only time will tell whether these two are an item, but until we know for sure we'll just have to enjoy these super cute pics!

In the past, both actors have been linked with other stars in the past. Glen Powell dated model Gigi Paris until 2023, which is the same year rumors about a relationship with Sydney Sweeney went viral (Sydney later shut those rumors down).

Lily James has dated Matt Smith and Michael Shuman, and was spotted with Chris Evans in 2020.

Obsessed with celeb romance? Check out 35 Celebrity Couples Who Will Break Our Hearts If They Ever Split.

While trends in everything from fashion to interior design always come and go, certain baby names are on the brink of extinction, and it remains to be seen if they'll make a resurgence.

BabyCenter, a parenting resource website, recently shared its "Baby Names at Risk of Going Extinct" list for 2025, which used data submitted by registered website users.

The list revealed that a specific category of boy names, those ending with "-aden," are falling in usage. Jaden, for instance, hit peak popularity back in 2002 at number 62. Yet, in 2024, this name dropped 162 slots.

More millennial names are on the outs, too. From 1974 to 1996, Jamie was a name that stayed in the top 100 picks. However, it plummeted by 320 spots in 2024.

Plus, not even royal names have managed to evade the fall. Names like Phillip, Anne, and Catherine, all tied to the British royal family, have also seen notable dips.

Here are eight more baby names that could be heading toward extinction in 2025.

Scroll to find out which baby names are nearly extinct now!

1. Remy

Hồng Xuân Viên

This French name may remind you of the lovable cartoon rat from the movie "Ratatouille," but its popularity has still taken a hit.

From 2023 to 2024, Remy, which means "rower" and was historically used to honor St. Remigius, dropped a whopping 277 spots.

2. Guy

Erika Quirino

Despite the charm of this lighthearted yet masculine name, Guy is on the verge of extinction.

It was most popular during the 1950s, with usage steadily declining ever since then. Guy fell 990 spots from 2023 to 2024, landing at number 2,718 last year.

3. Liv

J carter

Short for Olivia, which means "olive tree," this name is Latin in origin and reached its height in 2016.

However, its short length and elegance seemingly haven't been enough to keep it relevant. Liv tumbled 257 spots from 2023 to 2024, landing at number 970.

4. Randall

Helena Lopes

With Old English roots meaning "wolf shield," Randall was once a beloved boy's name. But ever since peaking in 1960, this baby name has continued on a downward trend.

There appeared to be some hope in 2023 when Randall saw a rise of 63 spots. Nonetheless, it was still number 1,753 in 2024.

5. Belle

Subin Cherian

You may associate the name Belle with the classic film "Beauty and the Beast." However, this French name, which means "beautiful," has witnessed a pretty consistent downturn since 1880.

It has dropped 242 spots since 2023 and sat at number 984 in popularity in 2024.

6. Danny

Helena Lopes

Stemming from the more formal name of Daniel, which means "God is my judge," Danny is a classic and friendly name. Even so, it's faded in recent years.

Danny was most popular during the late 1940s and early 1950s. As of 2024, it sat at number 558.

7. Carolyn

Natalia Olivera

Taking inspiration from the names Carol and Linda, which mean "joyous song" and "pretty," respectively, Carolyn was most popular in 1942. A total of 14,794 baby girls per million were given this name that year.

This figure fell to 140 baby girls per million in 2023, landing Carolyn at number 1,568.

8. Arnold

Henley Design Studio

Last but not least is Arnold, a name with Germanic roots that means "eagle power."

According to BabyCenter, it was most used in 1916, but in 2024, it ranked number 3,328 in terms of baby boy name popularity.

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