Chris Rock and Stallone arrive at the Toronto Festival

Lauren Lapkus knows what it means to feel different. The American actress claims that being a “strange child” helped her connect with Denise, the character she plays in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the new spin-off of The Big Bang Theory.

“Being a weird girl helped me a lot for this project. My character is also quite nerdy, so we have a lot in common,” explains Lapkus.

In the series, Denise goes from being secondary to being a key player in an interdimensional adventure. “The series allows you to explore all that strangeness. It’s very unpredictable, each episode takes the characters down completely different paths,” he says.

The plot

The story follows Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), a comic book store owner, who accidentally breaks Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter’s device, fracturing reality. To repair it, Stuart travels between dimensions with Denise, his partner; Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn), a brilliant but clumsy geologist; and Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie), Sheldon’s rival physicist.

The spin-off’s bet is to put characters who were previously on the periphery at the forefront. “We were all secondary characters, now we have the opportunity to take ownership of them, make them bigger and deeper,” says Lapkus.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe arrives on HBO Max on July 23, starring Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie.

A viral misunderstanding

Robbie Williams cleared up doubts about the moment that became a trend during the closing of the 2026 World Cup. A white fragment that fell from his mouth while giving an interview led to speculation on social networks about possible drug use.

The British singer performed on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he performed “Desire” alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini. Minutes later, while speaking to MagentaTV, a pill shot out of his mouth toward the microphone. He took it and, instead of removing it, placed it on his forehead.

The reaction was immediate. Users on social networks suggested that it was cocaine. Williams responded with a video on Instagram where she clarified the incident.

“I was deeply unprofessional and people are worried about me,” he acknowledged. But he explained that it was a mint: “I have several more,” he said, laughing while showing two on his tongue.

Your path to sobriety

Robbie Williams has spoken openly about his problems with alcohol and substances. In 2007 he received treatment for his dependence on prescription drugs. In the Netflix docuseries “Robbie Williams: Raw. Honest. Real,” he recounted using everything from alcohol to ecstasy. He even attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings during his relationship with Geri Halliwell.

“They told me not to date anyone for the first year, and rightly so. If I couldn’t take care of a cactus, imagine a person,” she recalled.

The singer assures that he has been sober for 25 years and is confident that he will not relapse into his old addictions.

The Marvel cinematic universe released the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters in December 2026. The video not only establishes an atmosphere of dimensional crisis, but also confirms the return of key figures of the franchise.

According to the official statement from D23, Disney’s fan club, the plot will reunite the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts, marking a milestone in the density of their lineup. The big surprise: Robert Downey Jr. will play Victor von Doom, the main antagonist.

Cast confirmed

The cast, detailed by the specialized encyclopedia Marvel Cinematic Universe Fandom, includes:

• Classic Avengers: Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man).
• Thunderbolts: Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent), David Harbor (Red Guardian) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost).
• Fantastic Four: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm).
• Allies: Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki).
• Mutants: Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast).

With more than thirty heroes on screen, the film seeks to reconfigure the global box office. Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom adds a nostalgic twist that connects the MCU’s past with its present.