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Sylvester Stallone didn’t initially want to do Creed. When future Black Panther director Ryan Coogler approached him with the idea of doing a Rocky spin-off about the son of Carl Weathers’ Apollo Creed, an actor who’s repeatedly returned to his old beloved characters proved hesitant. Obviously he changed his mind, and the reward was some of the best reviews of his career and his first acting Oscar nomination since the original Rocky. He returned for 2018’s sequel, but will he back for Creed III?

The answer, revealed earlier this year, is no. Neither Stallone nor Michael B. Jordan — who also directed the forthcoming threequel — went into specifics about the reason for Rocky being AWOL. But Jordan intimated that it was Stallone’s idea.

“I think that Sly let it be known that he wasn’t coming back for this one but I think, you know, his essence and his spirit… there’s always going to be a little bit of Rocky within Adonis,” Jordan told IGN in April. “But this is a Creed franchise, and we really want to build this story and this world around him moving forward. So, it’s always respect and always a shit-ton of love for what he’s built, but we really want to push and navigate Adonis forward and the family that he created. So, hopefully you guys will love what I’m thinking… what we’re cooking up. I think it’s going to be something special.”

Stallone has been saying he was done playing Rocky Balboa, the character that made his name, and while Creed II stopped short of giving him a death scene, it did end on a lovely, bittersweet farewell. Since exiting the franchise (at least for now), he’s still weighed in on it. Over the summer, when it was announced that Viktor Drago — the son of Dolph Lundgren’s Rocky IV opponent Ivan Drago and the adversary of Creed II — might be getting his own spinoff. The news sent Stallone into a tailspin, which inspired Lundgren himself to try and talk him down.

The Rocky-less Creed III hits theaters on March 3, 2023.

In July, Red Hot Chili Peppers announced that they’re releasing a new album called Return Of The Dream Canteen. It follows their twelfth album Unlimited Love, which came out earlier this year. First they teased the new LP with the lead single “Tippa My Tongue,” then they unveiled the tracklist, revealing that it’s a double album.

Another single included a heartfelt tribute to Eddie Van Halen called “Eddie.” “Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind,” Kiedis wrote about the song. “Sometimes we don’t realize how deeply affected and connected we are to artists until the day they die. The day after his death, Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bass line. John [Frusciante], Chad [Smith], and I started playing along and pretty soon with all our hearts, a song in his honor effortlessly unfolded. It felt good to be sad and care so much about a person who had given so much to our lives.”

About working on the album, the band said on their website, “We went in search of ourselves as the band that we have somehow always been. Just for the fun of it we jammed and learned some old songs. Before long we started the mysterious process of building new songs.”

The album arrived Oct. 14 and is available now via Warner Records.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The first game of the 2022-23 NBA regular season will pit a pair of East contenders and division rivals against each other as the 76ers pay a visit to Boston to face the Celtics, fresh off of a Finals appearance.

Those two are the favorites in the division, alongside the mercurial but talented Nets, with the Raptors hoping to factor into the race for homecourt in the East playoffs and the Knicks hoping to return to the postseason this year. In order to reach those goals, each has their own hurdles to clear and here we will highlight the one (non-injury related) question that looms largest as the season gets set to begin.

Boston Celtics: How does Joe Mazzulla handle their center rotation?

The Celtics’ offseason, like a number of others around the league, went from brimming with optimism about this season to a mild disaster with haste once Ime Udoka was suspended for the year for an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Joe Mazzulla steps up into the lead chair on the bench and while the Celtics have tons of talent and amplified that with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon this offseason, there is one area that will require the most finesse from the coaching staff, and that is at center. With Robert Williams out for a month-plus (at least) due to knee surgery and then likely needing at least some rest spots throughout the year as he works his way back, the Celtics are going to be thin at center.

Al Horford will move into the starting lineup, but at 36, you don’t want to wear him down too much in the regular season, and behind him the only center on the roster is Luke Kornet. So finding ways to go small with Grant Williams, Blake Griffin, and others, and just generally navigating the regular season rotation with some guys who are older and your best defensive presence in the paint working back from injury will be the tallest order for Mazzulla and the staff.

Brooklyn Nets: What will Ben Simmons look like after a year off?

I just kind of stared at this one for five minutes trying to figure out where to even begin with the Nets, but I’ll go to what I think is the biggest on-court question, which is Ben Simmons and what he looks like coming back from sitting out a year. The Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sagas will be talking points all year, but in their defense, when they play, they’re almost always great — it’s just a matter of keeping them on the floor, which is a bigger issue for Irving than KD. So, from a basketball perspective, I don’t worry too much about how those two play, but Simmons is a much bigger mystery.

In theory, he should be a great connective piece, capable of running a second unit surrounded by shooters if needed. He’s a terrific and versatile defender, an elite transition player, and a very good passer and cutter in the halfcourt. All of those things on paper make a ton of sense on this team, but as is always the case with Simmons, the questions are less about the tangible skillset and more about how he applies that to the court. He showed flashes of brilliance in the preseason, along with some turnover prone outings, and how he plays consistently could very well determine just how much of a threat they are at the top of the East.

New York Knicks: Can Julius Randle get back close to his 2020-21 form?

The big addition in New York is Jalen Brunson, and RJ Barrett was the recipient of a new extension, but for me the Knicks success hinges on the play of Julius Randle, who enjoyed a breakout All-Star campaign in 2020-21 before taking a step back last year (along with the team as a whole). The concern after Randle’s breakout year was always it being an outlier, as he had never shot the ball that well before (41.1 percent from three after being a career 29.5 percent shooter prior) and saw a massive dip in efficiency last year (41.1 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three).

Brunson should help as Randle and the Knicks have desperately been lacking a point guard who can control the game and setup others, and that should help getting Randle some better looks. Still, Randle is this offense’s hub, even if some of that pressure is alleviated by Barrett’s emergence and Brunson’s addition, and if they’re going to bounce back he has to as well. I don’t expect him to return to All-Star form, but he does need to be closer to that if the Knicks are going to be in the playoff conversation in the East.

Philadelphia 76ers: Can Tyrese Maxey and James Harden be one of the NBA’s elite backcourts?

The Sixers believe they are title contenders and have good reason to be confident, most notably because of the presence of Joel Embiid as a perennial MVP candidate. That said, Embiid’s been playing at an elite level for some time and the problem has been finding the right backcourt opposite his frontcourt dominance. Philly believes they’ve solved that with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey.

A year ago had this been the roster, the question would be about Maxey’s ability to hold up his end of the bargain, but he burst on the scene in a big way last year and looks primed for another step this year into potential stardom. Maxey became not just a terrific slasher and attacker last year, but a tremendous shooter at 42.7 percent from deep. He’s continued to show that range in the preseason and it appears he might just be an all-around star who breaks into that next level this season.

That’s what James Harden once was as well, but he showed signs of slowing down last year and the former MVP now has to prove he is not, as Charles Barkley worries, cooked. Harden had a dismal postseason that followed some regular season struggles with efficiency (40.2/32.6/89.6 shooting splits in 21 games with the Sixers), and has plenty to prove about his ability to still be an elite offensive factor. The good news is with Maxey’s emergence and Embiid’s presence, Harden doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all for a team anymore, but whether he can evolve into a secondary piece again remains to be seen. How Harden and Maxey play off each other, while keeping the big fella as the focal point, will be decisive in how far this team can go.

Toronto Raptors: Does Scottie Barnes have another leap in him?

The Raptors are mostly the same group coming back this season, which means they’re once again banking on internal development to push them further. The good news is they have a great track record of doing just that and a few candidates for continued growth. Chief among them is Scottie Barnes, as last year’s Rookie of the Year has people around the league believing he’s on the brink of full-blown superstardom. Barnes is an elite defender already, and showed more in his offensive repertoire a year ago than many believed he would coming out of Florida State.

Still, that’s where Barnes’ biggest area of improvement is needed, as he is a terrific finisher but not a particularly good shooter. Barnes shot 30.2 percent from three last year and was under 40 percent from the midrange as well. If the Raptors are to open up their halfcourt offense more, they need more shooting and Barnes is a prime candidate for where that comes from. That’s easier said than done, but given his jump from college to his rookie year offensively, he certainly seems like the type of player who just might be able to fully tap into his immense potential.

Like her heckling comrade-in-arms Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert is an elected lawmaker who doesn’t make many (if any) laws. Instead, the Colorado representative spends most of her time making a ruckus, on her constituents’ dime. Even when she’s attempted to do something, a new book reveals, her colleagues have so little faith in her that they’ve shot it down.

As per Insider, Robert Draper’s new book Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind features a story in which Boebert managed to almost get something done. According to House Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern, he was shocked when one of her “flurry of nonsensical amendments turned out to be reasonable.” But it was not enough for him to give it a vote, as Draper’s book puts it:

“As McGovern would recall it, his response was, ‘We have a new rule in the Rules Committee. If you’re bats*it crazy, you’re not getting an amendment … ‘I’m sorry. We’re not doing this. We’re not doing this. I’m not going down that road. I’m not going to be part of any effort to legitimize people who are f*cking lunatics.’”

The specifics of Boebert’s punted amendment were not revealed, but perhaps in another era McGovern would have given it a chance. Draper describes him as a Democrat who believed those on the other side of the aisle “deserved an airing of its views.” However, after the Jan. 6 riot — and after 147 Republicans, Boebert included, voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results after a violent mob stormed the Capitol — he “modified” his views.

Boebert is currently up for re-election, but the polling hasn’t been going great, with opponent Adam Frisch creeping up in the polls. But that’s okay, because she always has her rootin’ tootin’ gun-themed restaurant — or, wait, scratch that.

(Via Insider)

In late September, talk show host Drew Barrymore made an off-hand comment about sex that caused an unexpected stir. During a “Drew’s News” segment with Ross Mathews, the two discussed Andrew Garfield’s admission he abstained from sex for six months while filming Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film “Silence.”

“I get abstaining from sex, I mean I did that my entire 20s, right?” Mathews joked, to which Barrymore responded, “What’s wrong with me that six months doesn’t seem like a very long time? I was like, ‘Yeah so?’”

“We buried the lede there, that’s the headline. Drew can go six months, no big deal,” Mathews added. “Years,” Barrymore confirmed.

A woman in Barrymore’s yoga class mentioned her comments in passing, not knowing she was speaking to the actress. “You look just like Drew Barrymore except for you look like you have mental wellness and besides … she hates sex!” Barrymore recounted on her blog.

After the rude comment, Barrymore decided to clear things up on her blog. Her explanation was a mature way of looking at love and intimacy and the challenges faced by single mothers.

She gave some background behind her blog post in an Instagram video.

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“At nearly 48 I have very different feelings about intimacy than I did growing up,” Barrymore wrote. “However, after two kids and a separation from their father that has made me cautious, I have had the pleasure of shifting my focus when it comes to love for myself and my two daughters. I know that does not include a man nor has it for a while. I’ve come to realize through working in therapy (with Barry), he said something and I had to write it down. He said, ‘Sex is not love! It is the expression of love.’”

Barrymore wants to set an example of a healthy view of intimacy for her two daughters, Olive, 10, and Frankie, 8, who she had with ex-husband Will Kopelman.

“I’m also raising two daughters, so how we raise girls to be appropriate and empowered and to love themselves and to realize that we live in an age where the images and messages that they will see will also contradict what I have come to believe intimacy is!” she wrote.

The “Wedding Singer” star divorced Kopelman a little more than seven years ago and it’s taken her time to feel comfortable again in a relationship. While she doesn’t judge those who jump right into new relationships after getting divorced, what feels right to her is what matters.

“Some people can get out of a marriage or relationship and in the near future find themselves in another relationship. There is nothing wrong with that! Not one bit,” she wrote. “I do not judge! I celebrate their journey! Because for some people that really works. It didn’t work for me.”

Barrymore’s decision to open up about her love life and share her deepest thoughts about intimacy are brave, especially in a world where celebrities are expected to flaunt their sexuality. Barrymore is strong to admit that she has scars from the loss of her marriage and that running back into a relationship isn’t right for her at this time.

There are a lot of people who are grieving the loss of a relationship and don’t feel they’re allowed to take time for themselves. Let’s hope that Barrymore’s admission gives them strength to be alone when it’s what’s best for their well-being.

Even if you haven’t heard of Lauryn Hill, you’ve likely heard one or more of her songs. Hill’s music was a staple in the ’90s, from her time with the group The Fugees to her own solo music career. The songs she sang always had deep meaning and touched people in ways they may not have been expecting. In 1998, Hill released a moving song titled “To Zion,” dedicated to her unborn son. Recently, she sang at ONE Musicfest in Atlanta and when she belted out the lyrics to her his song “To Zion,” her son Zion made an appearance.

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The surprise appearance by Zion was a full-circle moment for the singer as her son brought out his children while the emotional Hill introduced them to the audience. When Hill became pregnant with Zion Marley she was at the height of her career and the song was written as a tribute to her son after she had received advice from others to not keep him. The song is pretty thorough in laying out the information the star was receiving along with her choice to keep Zion, whose father is Rohan Marley, Bob Marley’s son.

During the event, Hill teases the audience explaining, “All of these children are making me a very young grandma. I’m like listen. Mimi, they call me Mimi.” Hill, a mother of six, is only 47 years old, which could be considered young for a grandmother. The sweet moment starts at 5:06, watch it below.

Dolphins are one of the most intelligent creatures on Earth, capable of more complex communication and comprehension than nearly every other species. Their intelligence is one reason humans have captured dolphins and trained them for entertainment, but it’s also one reason why keeping them in captivity is seen as cruel.

According to The Korea Times, Bibong, a 23-year-old Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, has just been successfully released into the wild after 17 years of captivity in an aquarium in South Korea. He is the last of his species to be freed by the Korean government after being declared endangered in 2012.

The plans for Bibong’s release were announced in August and Bibong has spent more than two months training to adapt to life in the wide open ocean. Bibong is one of eight dolphins that had been kept in an aquarium on Jeju Island, but the other seven were released in 2013, 2015 and 2017. According to Korea Now, Bibong was seen refusing to obey his trainer’s orders during a performance last year, “possibly due to chronic stress and pressure.”

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This summer, Bibong was moved to a transitional facility where he could learn to communicate with other dolphins and prepare for life in the wild. An estimated 120 Indo-Pacific dolphins live off of Jeju Island, where Bibong was originally captured in 2005.

Now that he’s been released, he will be monitored by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries daily for 30 days via a tracking device attached to his fin, followed by at least five consecutive days of monitoring per month for another six months. Updates on his progress will be provided to animal rights groups, marine mammal experts and government officials, according to the Times.

Both The Korea Times and Korea Now note that a popular Netflix show, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” helped bring the plight of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin into the spotlight when the show’s lead character said, “I want to see an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin near the coast of Jeju someday.”

In August, Korea Now shared footage of Bibong as he was moved from the aquarium to the training facility where he has spent 70 days preparing for life in the wild:

Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan told The Korea Times that the most important thing for the dolphin is to live a healthy and happy life after it returns to the ocean.

“We will fortify marine animal protection policies to improve their well-being,” Seung-hwan said. “The government will continue discussions with the aquarium industry to help a greater number of animals return to where they came from and belong.”

The ministry is also hoping to release a beluga whale named Ruby from an aquarium in South Jeolla Province sometime late next year.

Efforts to save marine mammals from extinction have shown great potential for success. Humpback whales, for example, have made a comeback and have been taken off of endangered species lists after industrial whaling nearly wiped them out in the 20th century.

But even whales and dolphins that aren’t in danger of extinction deserve to live freely in the wild whenever possible.

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The “American Idol” singer expectedly shines in the song—displaying effortless vocal power while retaining Lynn’s signature lilt. But much to everyone’s surprise, her voice paired well—like, superbly well—with The Rock’s, who held his own during the performance as well.

“His voice really actually fits that song,” one listener wrote. “Who would have guessed Dwayne is a countryboy??”

Seriously. Take a listen.

By and large, listeners considered Johnson and Clarkson’s duet to be a sweet and wholesome tribute to the late country music icon.

“Smiling through the whole thing. So unexpected but so wholesome. This makes my heart so happy. RIP Loretta,” commented one person.

“Paying tribute to the WONDERFUL Loretta Lynn with vocals sung by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Queen Kelly is nothing more than AWESOME and I liked how both of them duetted together for this song!” added another.

Perhaps the biggest secret revealed by this performance, however, is that Johnson has been a country boy this entire time, and even once had his own country music ambitions.

During a virtual interview with Clarkson in 2021, the “Jumanji” star shared that “I grew up loving real, traditional country. When I got to Nashville … I used to hang out down there and listen to all the acts, and I did have it in my mind that I was gonna become a country music singer.”

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It was that confession that inspired Clarkson to invite Johnson to sing a duet—so yeah, basically this musical treat was a year in the making. And after this performance, it looks like he might get another chance at that dream, after all. I know I’d buy the collab album. Yeehaw.

Selma Blair might have left the competition early, but in many ways, she’s already won.

The actress had been one of the main celebrities to watch on “Dancing With the Stars” since this season’s first episode, when she and pro dance partner Sasha Farber delighted audiences with a moving waltz number. This feat was, of course, made all the more impressive considering Blair has multiple sclerosis (MS), which affects her motor abilities and coordination.

What has been really inspiring, however, is Blair’s unwavering sense of purpose to, as she shared with ET Canada, “show people with disabilities the joy that can be found in ways you never expected.” Each week she succeeded with that mission. And even though her health condition might have forced an early exit, her resilience has helped others imagine new possibilities for themselves—that’s a much bigger victory than any competition title.

Through tears, Blair broke the news to Farber. “You know I’ve been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process. The results came back and it all just adds up to that I can’t go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could.” Pushing further would risk extensive damage to her body, she explained.

However, Blair was determined to share “one last beautiful dance” on the stage, and she did just that. As they yet again waltzed—this time to “What the World Needs Now”—there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

One person with MS shared in the YouTube comments, “There are times where I feel like my life has ended because I no longer have control of my body. Selma’s journey has empowered me. I cried each time she danced because it gives me hope that maybe I will still be capable in my 40s.”

“This is a dance for everyone that has tried and hoped they could do more, but also the power in realizing when it’s time to walk away,” Blair told the audience after judges gave the duo honorary perfect 10s for their emotional performance.

To her 11-year-old son (and biggest supporter) Arthur, Blair left a special message. “I love you the most and I just want to say, I loved this,” she told him. “Sometimes there’s going to be uncomfortable things to do in life and you just do it with a smile.”

People might watch “Dancing With the Stars” to be entertained by spectacle and technique, but thanks to Blair, viewers became witness to true courage and grace. She will be missed, but has forever made a positive lasting impression, and we will undoubtedly continue rooting for her.

If you follow our food coverage, it’s no secret that I’m no fan of Burger King. In almost every ranking we conduct, from breakfast foods to french fries to cheeseburgers to chicken sandwiches, Burger King tends to hover near the bottom. And trust me, while it might seem like I have some weird vendetta against BK — I don’t! Each time we hit a ranking, I’m rooting for them, hard. I don’t want to be a Burger King hater, but I legitimately can’t understand how this chain restaurant continues to operate, especially with all the sub-par food they serve.

Having said that, Burger King has just dropped a new Whopper and… I’m pretty hyped for it! Will this finally be the sandwich that wins me over (to be fair, the Ch’King sandwich is legitimately good, far from the best chicken sandwich in fast food, but good) or will it be yet another menu item that astounds me in its tastelessness?

We ordered the Ghost Pepper Whopper to find out. The Ghost Pepper Whopper will be available at Burger King restaurants nationwide for a limited time and seems to be themed around Halloween — so we don’t expect this one to last until the end of the year. Here is what to expect!

The Ghost Pepper Whopper

Price: $8.99

Tasting Notes:

While I approached the Ghost Pepper Whopper with genuine excitement, that excitement was tinged with a bit of skepticism. The OG Whopper, as iconic to the Burger King brand as it is, is not a great burger. It’s overcooked, charred to the point of tasting burnt, and dry as gravel. Biting into a Whopper just isn’t an enjoyable experience so my hope going into the Ghost Pepper was that it remedied some of those issues.

Well, I’m happy to say it has!

The build of the Ghost Pepper Whopper consists of a single 1/4 pound hamburger patty topped with Ghost Pepper cheese, bacon, crispy fried jalapeños, and queso sauce on a toasted orange and black sesame bun. The bun is a bit too dense and dry, this burger deserves brioche, but everything else is pretty much on point. The combination of beef and bacon provides a lot of smokey meaty savoriness while the spicy trio of fried jalapeños, ghost pepper cheese, and queso sauce deliver a bouquet of spicy sensations that tickle the tongue and water the mouth.

I’m not sure what they’re putting in this queso sauce, but it tastes hot with a savory and salty flavor that helps to offset some of the heat from the jalapeños and ghost pepper cheese. The burger is so hot that the grease is enough to inject the bun with its own sense of heat. I took a few pinches off the bun to see what it tasted like on its own — it has a strong cheddar-like sharpness — and was surprised when it started to burn my lips from the transferred burger grease. The Ghost Pepper cheese is good, it has a strong spice to it but doesn’t melt adequately, which makes me question the quality. Still, I can’t commend BK enough on those spicy fried jalapeños. They’re spicy, crunchy, and pack so much flavor that they deserve to be a side-order option alongside the fries and onion rings. Put these on everything, Burger King, and you might just save your menu!

The only weak points of this burger are the bun and unfortunately, the beef, but there are enough sensations going on in each bite to make up for the dryness. If Burger King stepped up their beef game, it’d have a real contender for best spicy burger in fast food. As it stands, this is pretty good, borderline great.

The Bottom Line:

Pleasantly surprised that Burger King has finally dropped a sandwich that justifies the existence of the Whopper. This is by far BK’s best burger on the menu, it’s a shame that it’s only available for a limited time.

Find your nearest Burger King here.