'Supergirl' trailer teases David Corenswet's return as Superman

David Corenswethas seamlessly donned his red cape, almost as if he never put it away.

The "Superman" star, 32, reprised the emblematic hero in "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" ahead of its June 26 release in theaters nationwide.

Anofficial trailer on March 31, shows Corenswet's Superman on a video call to his alien cousin Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), telling her, "You're not going to find your stride here if you keep going off-world all the time, Kara. I'm worried you're not going to find your people."

"Well, that's the thing, Clark, I have no people," she pessimistically replies. Comic book fans may recall that Supergirl wasn't raised on Earth like Clark Kent, after the destruction of their home planet, Krypton.

Corenswet is on a super streak as the new DC Studios film is sandwiched by 2025's "Superman" and 2027's "Superman: Man of Tomorrow." The "Hollywood" actor is joined byNicholas Hoult, returning as his arch nemesis Lex Luthor.

What is 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' about?

The new summer blockbuster will follow Supergirl's three-day mission to obtain a cure for her superdog and friend, Krypto, who is poisoned by villainous alien Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).

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In anEntertainment Weeklyinterview published March 31, director Craig Gillespie says the movie will explore the differences between Kara and Clark's upbringings. Unlike Superman, Kara was not raised by a loving human family or taught how to be a hero but is later forced to follow in her younger cousin's footsteps and become a hero.

"Even though they're cousins, you get this almost older-sibling dynamic and that can be adversarial at times," Gillespie told the outlet. "He's the gentle guy that wants to reach out and be patient, and she's having to find a way and find herself."

The movie will also seeJason Momoa's return to DC, not as Aquaman but as intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, who the trailer shows clashes with Supergirl.

Who is the new 'Supergirl'?

Alcock made her debut as the new Supergirl in a post-credits scene of 2025's "Superman." She will take the reins from former live-action Kara Zor-Els, including Melissa Benoist for six seasons of CBS and CW's "Supergirl" and Sasha Calle in 2023's "The Flash" movie.

Alcock previously pursued various TV roles since 2014, but ascended to the next level of fame as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the "Game of Thrones" prequel,"House of the Dragon."Emma D'Arcylanded an Emmy nomination playing an older version of Rhaenyra later in Season 1 and stayed the lead in Season 2, though Alcock also reprised her role as a guest star.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:David Corenswet back as Superman in new 'Supergirl' movie. See trailer

byKris Ronald

in

April 01, 2026

'Supergirl' trailer teases David Corenswet's return as Superman

David Corenswethas seamlessly donned his red cape, almost as if he never put it away. The "Superman...

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“Scream 8” moving forward with writers behind canceled “Buffy” revival

TheScreamfranchise is bringing in new blood for its eighth installment.

Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman will write the screenplay forScream 8,Entertainment Weeklyhas learned. Deadline firstreportedthe news.Kevin Williamson, who directedScream 7and wrote four of the series' installments including the 1996 original, will not return to penScream 8.

The Zuckerman sisters recently served as the showrunners for Peacock'sPoker Face. They previously worked on shows likeAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,Prodigal Son,Suits,Haven,Human Target, andFringe.Scream 8will mark their first theatrical film project, though Nora wrote the 2008 TV movieNightmare at the End of the Hall.

The Zuckermans' names also should sound familiar toBuffy the Vampire Slayerfans, as they were heavily involved with the show's now-shelved revival,New Sunnydale. The siblings penned and executive produced the pilot for the proposedHuluseries, which broughtSarah Michelle Gellarback to play the title role and featuredNomadlandOscar winnerChloé Zhaoin the director's chair. However, Hulu ultimately pulled the plug on the project after production on the pilot was completed.

The Zuckermans will be the first women to write for theScreamfilm series, which has primarily revolved around female protagonists like Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera).

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Scream 7was originally set to star Barrera andJenna Ortega, who were both introduced in 2022'sScream(the fifth installment). However, Barrera wasfired after expressing her views about the Israel-Hamas war, and Ortegaexited the filmbecause "it was all kind of falling apart." DirectorChristopher Landonthen departed the project after the cast shake-up.

After all of those developments, Campbell — who sat outScream VIdue to a pay dispute —announcedthat she and Williamson were returning to the franchise withScream 7.

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

Despite garnering the worst reviews of the series by a significant margin (it currently holds a 31% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 35/100 score on MetaCritic),Scream 7is now the highest-grossing entry in the franchise with over $200 million at the global box office to date.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byKris Ronald

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“Scream 8” moving forward with writers behind canceled “Buffy” revival

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Texas women's basketball coach Vic Schaefer came home to build something lasting

FORT WORTH, Texas — Coach Vic Schaefer understands the legacy of Texas women's basketball.

"I'm all in at Texas," Schaefer said. "And I knew that when I took the job.  I knew what came with it.  I knew what the expectations were, and I wanted that.  I embraced that."

His players, especially point guard Rori Harmon, are right there with him. It was easy to get wrapped up in the celebrations after Texas' 77-41 Elite Eight victory over Michigan on March 30, but fifth-year senior Harmon found Schaefer for a long embrace.

"I don't think he's hugged me that tight — ever," Harmon said. "He's so all in. You want to do it for yourself and your team, but you really want to do it for him."

In 2020, Schaefer decided to give his life to Texas.

Born just down the street from theLonghorns' campus in Austin, there was always a sneaking suspicion he would end up back where it all started.

After previous stops at Sam Houston State and Mississippi State, Schaefer's veteran presence and winning ways translated perfectly to Texas. The Longhorns will be making their fifth trip to the Final Four and last won a title in 1986.

He would join the Longhorns' lineage backed by Jody Conradt, Chris Plonsky and Kathy Harston — a trio of women who built Texas women's basketball from the ground up.

"I don't take being given the opportunity to be the head coach at Texas lightly," Schaefer said. "I understand the history."

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

During the Longhorns' Sweet 16 and Elite Eight victories over Kentucky and Michigan, Schaefer took it all in — a sea of orange filled Fort Worth's Dickies Arena.

"That says a lot about the people that care about our program," Schaefer said. "I carry that. I carry that weight."

With that weight comes passion, devotion and the itch to win.

"Who wouldn't want to play for a coach like that?" junior Madison Booker said. "The team wouldn't be where they are without his loyalty."

Schaefer has carried the Longhorns to five Elite Eights over the course of his six year tenure and consecutive Final Fours. Schaefer isn't alone in his commitment to his program. When college women's basketball coaches say something, they mean it.

They believe in it. They act on it. They devote their lives to it.

And all of it — the loyalty, the love, the commitment — sets them apart from coaches in other major college sports.

It's certainly no secret the landscape of college athletics is rapidly changing. NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment and revenue sharing have created an environment that some fans hardly recognize.

College football coaches are being fired and hired at a rate that can be hard to keep up with.

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The Lane Kiffin saga, Kyle Whittingham's retirement fake-out and the absolute redo of the SEC's coaching staffs are just a few examples.

"I needed Oxford, Mississippi, and Ole Miss more than they needed me," Kiffin once said.

Kiffin had everyone believing he was there to stay. A year later, he was gone.

But not everybody is looking for the next job.

Geno Auriemma, who is in his 41st season with UConn women's basketball, is one of the best to do it.

He's developed WNBA stars Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi. He's created an empire.

And most importantly, he's never left.

"UConn is Geno," freshman forward Blanca Quiñonez said. "He knows that he made this program. He has the ability to help a lot of players grow up, not just as a player, but as a person."

The list doesn't end with Auriemma and Schaefer.

Pat Summitt spent 38 seasons with Tennessee. C. Vivian Stringer coached Rutgers for over two decades. Dawn Staley has led South Carolina for 18 years.

While the transfer portal has made an impact on women's college basketball, players have taken note of their coaches' devotion to their successes.

Flau'jae Johnson spent all four years in Baton Rouge, showing the world what it meant to be "loyal to the soil."

Retirement rumors about LSU's Kim Mulkey floated around on social media following the No. 2 Tigers' loss to No. 3 Duke in the Sweet 16, but she was quick to shoot them down.

Like Schaefer, Mulkey's all in.

"I'm going to be in this game unless LSU fires me — until I can't put a product on that floor that's competitive or my health fails me," Mulkey said.

As college sports dive into an era founded on movement and money, women's basketball coaches have stood their ground.

They aren't just building programs — they're becoming them.

Mia Fishman is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Texas returns to Women's Final Four behind Vic Schaefer's vision and loyalty

byKris Ronald

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April 01, 2026

Texas women's basketball coach Vic Schaefer came home to build something lasting

FORT WORTH, Texas — Coach Vic Schaefer understands the legacy of Texas women's basketball. "I'm ...

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NFL kickoff rules 2026: League makes changes to onside kick, more

The NFL made a significant change to its kickoff in 2024,instituting the "dynamic kickoff"to boost the percentage of returned kicks and make one of the league's most dangerous plays safer.

The league is continuing its efforts to refine the play by tweaking its kickoff rule ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The most notable approved rule change will allow teams to attempt an onside kick at any point during the game. In 2025, teams were only allowed to try an onside kick when trailing, so the rule change will give clubs a bit more flexibility.

NFL REFS:NFL institutes new rule to aid potential replacement officials

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Despite this significant change, NFL teams will still have to declare an onside kick any time they attempt one. This is necessitated by the difference of alignment between the onside kick – which uses the NFL's traditional kickoff formation – and the NFL's dynamic kickoff, where a majority of the players from each team are lined up between the receiving team's 30- and 35-yard line.

With that in mind, surprise onside kicks – like the one Sean Payton famously dialed up to start the second half of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl 44 win over the Indianapolis Colts – will remain out of the sport.

It remains unclear whether the NFL's rule change will result in an uptick in overall onside kick attempts, or if the need to declare them – along with their overall lack of efficacy – will continue to limit their use.

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Just five of the NFL's 52 onside kicks were recovered in 2025, according todata from The Football Database. That was good for a mark of 9.6% and up from three total recoveries and a 6% recovery rate in 2024, the first year of the NFL's dynamic kickoff.

NFL LEAGUE MEETINGS:Latest news, updates, storylines, rule changes

NFL kickoff rule changes

The onside kick rule isn't the only major kicking change the NFL's competition committee has instituted for the 2026 season. The following two rules have also been approved:

• To eliminate the kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.

• To modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone.

The first of these rule changes effectively closed a loophole in the 2025 kickoff rules. Last season, a team kicking off from the 50-yard line after a personal foul penalty on the receiving team would benefit more from kicking a ball out of bounds (which would place the ball on the receiving team's 25-yard line) than they would from kicking a touchback (which would place the ball at the 30-yard line).

Under the NFL's new rule, touchbacks on kicks from the 50-yard line will be brought back out to the 20, eliminating the incentive to purposely sail a ball out of bounds.

Meanwhile, the alignment modifications will simply adjust how receiving team players are allowed to line up within the setup zone. The new rule will require just five players, instead of six, to have their front foot on the setup line – though just two players will be allowed to have their foot off the line in each of the setup zone's three areas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL modifies onside kick rules, other kickoff bylaws for 2026

byKris Ronald

in

April 01, 2026

NFL kickoff rules 2026: League makes changes to onside kick, more

The NFL made a significant change to its kickoff in 2024,instituting the "dynamic kickoff"to boost the percent...

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Gina Gershon says she turned down Friday the 13th role because of topless death scene: 'Exploitat...

&34;It seemed silly to me,&34; the actress shared. Gina Gershon says she turned down Friday the 13th role because of topless death scene: 'Exploitation 101' &34;It seemed silly to me,&34; the actress shared. By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine. EW's editorial guidelines March 29, 2026 4:35 p.m.

"It seemed silly to me," the actress shared.

Gina Gershon says she turned down Friday the 13th role because of topless death scene: 'Exploitation 101'

"It seemed silly to me," the actress shared.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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March 29, 2026 4:35 p.m. ET

Gina Gershon on Feb. 25. Credit:

Gary Gershoff/Getty

Gina Gershon walked away from a beloved horror franchise over an "exploitative" topless scene, the *Showgirls* star recently told *Fox News Digital*.

Gershon was offered a major role in 1981's *Friday the 13th** Part 2,* the second installment in the cult slasher franchise, she recalled to the outlet about the Hollywood experience that taught her how to trust her gut.

"I was offered a lead in that movie," Gershon said. "And, of course, I was so excited to act in movies, but it definitely felt kind of exploitative to me and a little silly that right before she gets killed, her top has to come off."

In her upcoming memoir *AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs*, Gershon goes into detail while describing what the death scene would have entailed.

Actor John Furey in a scene from 'Friday the 13th Part 2' (1981). Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

"At the time, those kinds of slasher movies always had girls dying with their breasts exposed," she wrote, per Fox News. "My character would be killed by a stake through the heart, blood dripping down her t---. That seemed pretty lame to me: exploitation 101."

The offer came early in Gershon's career and would have marked her onscreen debut. But while she would later prove that showing skin was not an automatic no for her, Gershon had a lot of reservations about the *Friday the 13th* death scene. So she turned to her dad, hoping for advice.

"I was really lucky that I had a father who really taught me how to believe in my own decisions," Gershon said. "It wasn't like I had to rebel against my family. I remember asking him about it, thinking he was going to say, 'No daughter of mine is going to do that!' And he said, 'It's your body. If you're comfortable with it, I'm comfortable with it.'"

Linda Cardellini to star as Jason Voorhees' mom in 'Friday the 13th' prequel 'Crystal Lake'

Gina Gershon recalls almost breaking Tom Cruise's nose while filming 'Cocktail' love scene

In the end, it came down to a gut feeling.

"When I sat and thought about it, I just thought, 'I don't really want to do this. I wasn't comfortable with it. It seemed silly to me,'" Gershon shared. "Not that I had anything against nudity — I grew up on European films — but only if it makes sense for the character and the story. But when it just seems silly, I don't know. It just felt like it was something that wasn't for me."

Gina Gershon in 'Showgirls' (1995).

Gershon ended up making her onscreen debut that same year, as a dancer in *Beatlemania: The Movie*. She continued her ascent slowly, snagging another uncredited role in *Girls Just Want to Have Fun* and then making an impression with a small role in 1986's *Pretty in Pink.* After 1988's *Cocktail* and 1991's *Jungle Fever*, Gershon had her big breakout as Cristal Connors in Paul Verhoeven's 1995 erotic cult hit *Showgirls*, which saw her bare skin and take part in a gruesome sexual assault scene.

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

At the time, Gershon offered some pushback over that particular inclusion, but recently admitted that she has changed her tune.

"It is really a comment on like ugly America, and on capitalism and power struggles and dynamics and all those things, that of course that rape scene has to be there," Gershon said during a recent radio show appearance. "It's the grossest thing in there — and the powerful men, they're all protected."

- Horror Movies

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Gina Gershon says she turned down Friday the 13th role because of topless death scene: 'Exploitat...

&34;It seemed silly to me,&34; the actress shared. Gina Gershon says she turned down Friday the 13th role beca...

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Mary Beth Hurt, Age of Innocence and Interiors actress and frequent collaborator of husband Paul ...

Hurt, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015, was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage performances. Mary Beth Hurt, Age of Innocence and Interiors actress and frequent collaborator of husband Paul Schrader, dies at 79 Hurt, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015, was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage performances. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.jpg) Ryan Coleman Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

Hurt, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015, was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage performances.

Mary Beth Hurt, *Age of Innocence *and *Interiors *actress and frequent collaborator of husband Paul Schrader, dies at 79

Hurt, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015, was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage performances.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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March 29, 2026 5:09 p.m. ET

Mary Beth Hurt in 'Interiors' (1978). Credit:

United Artists/Rollins-Joffe/Kobal/Shutterstock

Mary Beth Hurt, who appeared in Martin Scorsese's *The Age of Innocence* and Woody Allen's *Interiors* and frequently collaborated with husband Paul Schrader, has died. She was 79.

Hurt's death was announced on Sunday in a now-deleted Facebook post shared by the *First Reformed *director, per *Variety*. * *has reached out to representatives for Hurt and Schrader.

Hurt was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2015, Schrader revealed in 2023. That same year Hurt moved into a New York City memory care facility, where she spent the last years of her life.

Hurt was among the most sought after film and stage stars of the 1980s and late 1990s, appearing in Oscar-nominated films like *The World According to Garp *and *Six Degrees of Separation*, and racking up three Tony nominations for her stage work.

Paul Schrader and Mary Beth Hurt in 2010.

Neilson Barnard/Getty

Born Mary Beth Supinger in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Sept. 25, 1946, Hurt locked into the acting track at a young age, studying drama at the nearby University of Iowa before graduating to the acting program at Tisch in New York City.

She made her acting debut in 1974 — on stage as Nurse/Uncle Remus in the Vietnam War musical *More Than You Deserve*, and on television as a member of an all-female police squad in the TV movie *Ann in Blue*.

It would be four years until she received her big break on the big screen, which inaugurated an extraordinary run in some of the most most memorable titles from her filmography. But just the next year she picked up her first Tony nomination for her leading role in a revival of the 1898 Arthur Wing Pinero play *Trelawny of the "Wells." *She would later earn two more Tony nods for her turns in *Crimes of the Heart* and *Benefactors*.

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"I first saw Mary Beth Hurt in *Crimes of the Heart* on Broadway and was blown away by her performance," Dana Delany wrote of Hurt on Instagram. "Heart and Midwestern Steel. In *Chilly Scenes of Winter*, she was in command beyond her years. Totally unique. Finally got to meet and work with her in *Light Sleeper*. Still in awe of her singular sharp wry talent. An artist. May she rest in a deserved peace."

Hurt's first film role became her calling card. Her performance as the anxious, cutting Joey in Woody Allen's *Interiors in *1978* *is notable for standing out amid more established actors, including Diane Keaton, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton, and Sam Waterston.

The 1978 film was nominated for five awards at the Oscars, and won Hurt her first major screen acting nomination, for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles at the BAFTAs (that year's award went to Christopher Reeve for *Superman*). Hurt followed *Interiors *up with a co-lead role opposite John Heard in Joan Micklin Silver's *Chilly Scenes of Winter*, and a major supporting part opposite Robin Williams in *The World According to Garp*.

Awards recognition oddly eluded Hurt throughout her career, though it was stacked with acclaimed performances in celebrated films. She later appeared in two films by Martin Scorsese — *The Age of Innocence *and *Bringing Out the Dead* *— *and four by Paul Schrader — *Light Sleeper*, *Affliction*, *The Walker*, and *Adam Resurrected*.

Hurt was married to the actor William Hurt from 1971 to 1982, and then married Schrader in 1983. The couple share two children, Molly Schrader and Sam Schrader.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Death News

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Mary Beth Hurt, Age of Innocence and Interiors actress and frequent collaborator of husband Paul ...

Hurt, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015, was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage performances. Mary Be...

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Ticket prices for the event — which included an appearance by Serena Williams — went as high as $502.50. Fans slam 'heartbreaking' Barbie Dream Fest convention debacle with 'cardboard cutout' experience Ticket prices for the event — which included an appearance by Serena Williams — went as high as $502.50. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiBiophotof93a23298bdd47ba9c13f53815fc469b.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at . Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more. EW's editorial guidelines March 30, 2026 10:11 a.m.

Ticket prices for the event — which included an appearance by Serena Williams — went as high as $502.50.

Fans slam 'heartbreaking' Barbie Dream Fest convention debacle with 'cardboard cutout' experience

Ticket prices for the event — which included an appearance by Serena Williams — went as high as $502.50.

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 30, 2026 10:11 a.m. ET

Barbie dolls. Credit:

Ian Waldie/Getty

Barbie fans aren't a group that can be toyed with, judging by attendee reactions to the weekend's "heartbreaking" Barbie Dream Fest convention in Florida.

After the event — which featured an appearance from tennis star Serena Williams and inclusive ticket packages costing as much as $502.50 — launched Friday at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., fans quickly shared reactions to social media.

*Good Morning America *highlighted a roundup of footage from the three-day affair, including images of a blow-up version of the toy line's iconic "B" logo "deflating" on the show floor, per one attendee named Cherry Bonbon.

Barbie doll at the Barbie Exhibition.

Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty

*GMA *host Lara Spencer described the event as one that "wasn't quite the dream" fans expected. In an interview, attendee Alexandria Dougan described her disappointment with one of the "interactive" experiences touted on on the event's website.

"The interactive Barbie Dream House was a VW bus that you weren't allowed to enter into," Dougan said. "It was a cardboard cutout box of a Barbie house."

Dougan pointed out that Mattel and Barbie are representative of a "big brand that everyone trusts," which she said made the convention "really heartbreaking" for her.

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In a statement obtained by **, Mattel said: "Barbie Dream Fest was created by Mischief Management, which licensed the Barbie brand from Mattel. We are working with Mischief Management, who are managing attendee feedback and issuing full refunds to everyone who purchased tickets. We want every fan experience to be an excellent one."

In a separate statement, Mischief Management said it was "incredibly grateful" to those who attended the event, and that Barbie Dream Fest was "created as an intimate fan convention designed to foster meaningful connection, inspiration, and closer access to Barbie and her world." The company's statement also stressed that it would refund all ticket purchases.

Wonka immersive experience in Glasgow.

EW has additionally reached out to representatives for Williams for comment.

Reactions to Barbie Dream Fest have likened it to Willy's Chocolate Experience, the *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*-inspired event whose cheap decor, inflatable bouncy castle, and lone Ompa Loompa boosted it to online infamy in 2024.

- Entertainment Lifestyle

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Published: April 1, 2026 at 12:38PM on Source: RON MAG

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byKris Ronald

in

April 01, 2026

Fans slam 'heartbreaking' Barbie Dream Fest convention debacle with 'cardboard cutout' experience

Ticket prices for the event — which included an appearance by Serena Williams — went as high as $502.50. Fans slam 'hear...

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