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The Journey Ahead

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The Journey Ahead - Full Cast & Crew

• 1 hr 23 mins
• Drama, Action & Adventure
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A famous Hollywood actress and a young wilderness expert drive from Los Angeles to New York. Along the way both women learn they can't run from their past to create the future they want. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Kaylee Bryant.

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The Journey Ahead

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Linda-Lisa Hayter

Holly Robinson Peete

Kaylee Bryant

Mark Humphrey

Jessica Steen

Chanelle Peloso

Cast of The Journey Ahead

About the journey ahead, full cast of the journey ahead, holly robinson peete plays madeline, about holly robinson peete.

Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete (born September 18, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She's known for her roles...

Kaylee Bryant plays Sarah

About kaylee bryant, mark humphrey plays carl, about mark humphrey, jessica steen plays liz, about jessica steen.

Jessica Steen (born December 19, 1965) is a film and television actress, noted for her roles in Captain Power and the...

Chanelle Peloso plays Katie

About chanelle peloso.

Chanelle Peloso was born on January 21, 1994 and is currently 29 years old .

Natasha Burnett plays Rose

About natasha burnett, dean marshall plays randall, about dean marshall, lochlyn munro plays richard, about lochlyn munro.

Lochlyn Munro is a Canadian actor. His most notable film roles include A Night at the Roxbury, Scary Movie, Freddy vs...

Ash Lee plays Dr. Wiseley

About ash lee, ashley diana morris plays suzy james, ese atawo plays grace ballard, about ese atawo.

Ese Atawo is an actress, known for Legion (2017), The Flash (2014) and See (2019).

Trevor Lerner plays Tow Truck Driver

About trevor lerner, nyla carpentier plays innkeeper, brandon fung plays bar café waitstaff, sean kuling plays hugh, about sean kuling, sean millington plays stan, about sean millington.

Sean Millington is an actor.

Kaelynne Zairah Tangonan plays Jessica

Gabrielle kaur cheema plays counselor ann, rajat saini plays nurse, about rajat saini, crew of the journey ahead, paul mcculloch production design, kim arnott executive producer, jackie lind casting, kerry david executive producer, kate gajdosik producer, braden oberson editor, linda-lisa hayter director, jesse d.e. young director of photography, erin engman writer.

Where Was Hallmark’s The Journey Ahead Filmed? Who is in the Cast?

Directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter, ‘The Journey Ahead’ is a Hallmark road-trip movie that revolves around Madeline, a famous actress, and a wilderness expert named Sarah. When her travel plan to New York from Los Angeles falls through, the former enlists the help of her assistant’s best friend, Sarah, to reach the Big Apple within 12 days. As both women of two different generations embark on their cross-country trip, they learn valuable lessons from each other.

The movie tells a heartwarming story of how people can learn from one another despite their differences and overcome their problems. Apart from its talented cast, ‘The Journey Ahead’ captivates the viewers with eye-catching visuals. Given the movie’s premise, it introduces the audience to various backdrops that help accurately convey the story. Now, if you are interested to know just where the Hallmark movie was lensed, here’s all the information you need!

The Journey Ahead Filming Locations

‘The Journey Ahead’ was primarily filmed in British Columbia, mainly in and around Vancouver, Squamish. The movie’s principal photography commenced under the title ‘The Road Ahead’ in April 2022 and wrapped up in early May of the same year. So, let’s dive in and know more about the details of the filming locations, shall we?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBZvJpF4UG/

Squamish, British Columbia

Squamish, a town north of Vancouver, served as one of the primary production locations for ‘The Journey Ahead.’ The cast and crew utilized the Paradise Valley playground, just a few minutes northeast of town, to record a river-rafting rafting scene. Moreover, they seemingly lensed numerous sequences in the Brackendale Art Gallery on Government Road, as well as The Goat bar and the Squamish Farmer’s Market on Cleveland Avenue.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYcJkdp8yf/

Squamish is highly popular among tourists for its outdoor sports facilities and is full of natural havens that provide breathtaking visuals for moviemakers to use. Surrounded by the Coast Mountains, Squamish provides beautiful hilly backdrops that one cannot help but be in awe of. Naturally, several movies and shows have held their shooting in the area to take advantage of the visual treasure that the region holds. Other movies taped in Squamish include ‘ Antlers ‘ and ‘Final Destination.’

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kaylee Kaneshiro (@itskayleekaneshiro)

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, also hosted the production unit of ‘The Journey Ahead.’ Popularly known as Hollywood North, the city has been used as a backdrop for several movies over the years. Vancouver’s non-descript skyline and well-developed infrastructure lend well to shooting scenes depicting cities worldwide. Hence, you may see the city in the background of several beloved movies, like ‘ Thor: Love and Thunder ‘ and ‘ Honor Society .’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcJbir-vWT0/

Other Filming Locations in British Columbia

‘The Journey Ahead’ was also filmed in and around Harrison Hot Springs village in the province; it is named after Harrison Lake, located to the north of the community. The cast and crew of the movie traveled to the village and the lake to frame scenes for the movie. Additional sequences were taped near Mount Baker in the Waputik Mountains, located on the border of British Columbia and Alberta. Lastly, pivotal portions were apparently recorded near Vancouver in Burnaby and West Vancouver, a city and district municipality, respectively.

The Journey Ahead Cast

The talented Holly Robinson Peete plays the role of Madeline, a Hollywood star. You may know the actress from her work in ‘ Our Christmas Journey ‘ and ‘ Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing .’ Kaylee Bryant essays wilderness expert Sarah in ‘The Journey Ahead’; some of Bryant’s other acting credits include ‘ Legacies ‘ and ‘ Santa Clarita Diet .’ Other cast members include Chanelle Peloso (Katie), Natasha Burnett (Rose), Ash Lee (Dr. Wiseley), and Mark Humphrey (Carl).

Read More: Where Was Hallmark’s Love in the Limelight Filmed? Who is in the Cast?

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'The Journey Ahead' Review: Holly Robinson and Kaylee Bryant stand out in Hallmark's feel-good movie

How many times have you wanted to go on a road trip with your loved ones and explore different cities, and towns that falls in the stop along the way? Lets assume quite a many times. If that is so, then this is the perfect movie for you to watch and get inspired to pack your bags because that is the primary storyline of 'The Journey Ahead'. Hallmark has a wide range of movies which is relatable and makes you feel warm and mushy, and this is no different. 

If you are a fan of good old romantic, and adventure movies then you should definitely check out, ' Love in the Limelight ,' and ' Romance In Style '.

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'The Journey Ahead' on Hallmark: Date, cast, plot and latest buzz about film starring 'Legacies' actress

'The Journey Ahead' on Hallmark: How Kaylee Bryant's role in Legacies helped her come out as queer

As far as the movie goes, 'The Journey Ahead' focuses on a woman named Madeline (Holly Robinson Peet) who is a famous actress and is agitated with her current lifestyle. However, when life throws a curb in Madeline's life she decides to take matters into her hand. When the young wilderness expert, Sara (Kaylee Bryant) shows up to take Madeline on a road trip across the states from Los Angeles to New York. This is a new experience for her, as the actress was scared to board a flight after a horrid experience. From the very start, you will see a shaky behaviour in Madeline which makes it very evident that she is not happy in her present life situation. Soon, we get to see how Sara's influence in Madeline's life helps her open up and be more comfortable and radiant.  They eventually become close friends.

Hallmark's movies stand out especially for their storylines, and 'The Journey Ahead' is another gem added to that list of feel good movies. The best part about the movie is how it shows the journey of Madeline's personality change. It also highlights some important things in life which we often forget to prioritize, like checking in with our parents, live in the moment, and lastly accepting life as it is. The solid writing of the movie is really heart touching. The pace of the movie is really good, and so is the story building along with the journey of them accepting how they can never run from their past.

When it comes to representing the roles, Kaylee Bryant, is seen playing the part of a wilderness expert who was a little star-stumped when she saw Madeline as her client. Still, the way Bryant acted as a confidant and more importantly a friend to Madeline will make you want to call your friends up and talk to them. It also shows that people can be friends regarless their age. Holly Robinson Peete is also seen playing Madeline beautifully in 'The Journey Ahead'.

On the other hand, Mark Humphrey, and Chanelle Peloso has done a splendid job in their supporting roles. 

Directed by Linda Lisa Hayter, 'The Journey Ahead' is definitely worth your watch. As the movie reflects the good writing, the actor's great performances will make you lose track of time. More importantly, the movie has scenes which will definitely make you well up and want to rethink about the bonds you have in your life. It makes you wonder how much time you honestly invest in those relationships, especially with your parents. 

Hallmark’s ‘The Journey Ahead’ Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Kaylee Bryant

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is premiering a brand new road trip movie, The Journey Ahead . This is a movie about friendship, and not running away from your past.

The Journey Ahead stars Holly Robinson Peete ( Our Christmas Journey , American Housewife ), Kaylee Bryant ( Legacies , Criminal Minds ), Mark Humphrey ( When Calls The Heart , The Killer In The Guest House ), Jessica Steen ( Maid , Heartland ), Chanelle Peloso ( Under The Banner Of Heaven , The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco ), Natasha Burnett ( When Calls The Heart , Hannah Swensen Mysteries ), Dean Marshall ( The Walk , Lovers Of Death ), Lochlyn Munro ( Riverdale , Blue Sky River ), Ash Lee ( Bones Of Crows , Devil In Ohio ), Ashley Diana Morris ( The Best Years , The Arrangement ), Ese Atawo ( The Flash , Powderpuff Girls ), Trevor Lerner ( Virgin River , Plains Of Snow ), Nyla Carpentier ( Fort Salem , Molly Of Denali ), Brandon Fung ( Alaska Daily , Suspension ), Sean Kuling ( Arrow , The 100 ), Sean Millington ( Upload , Riverdale ), Kaelynne Zairah Tangonan ( Resident Alien ), Gabrielle Kaur Cheema ( The Christmas Promise , Kamadhenu ), and Rahat Saini in their first role.

Erin Engman ( Sabbatical ) wrote the script with Linda-Lisa Hayter ( Dirty Little Secret , Five More Minutes ) as the director.

What Is Hallmark’s The Journey Ahead About?

According to the Hallmark synopsis , Madeline (Robinson Peete) is at a crossroads in life. She is a Hollywood actress who is watching time go too fast. Moreover, she was always too busy to cultivate friendships and now finds that she lacks any sort of meaningful connection.

Madeline deals with some unlucky situations and now needs to get to New York City for an important medical appointment. Therefore, she hires her assistant’s friend Sarah (Bryant). Sarah is going to drive her from Los Angeles to New York City. Most of all, they have a deadline because she needs to make this appointment.

Wilderness expert Sarah and Hollywood star Madeline could not be more different. They are like oil and water. Between their personalities and their lifestyles, there is no common ground. Thus, the start of this road trip is very rocky.

However, things change when Sarah’s aged vehicle breaks down. Now the two are stuck in a very charming town. There, they begin to find that they have more similarities than differences.

Pretty soon, they learn to trust each other and share their lives. Each has suffered hardships. In sharing that information, the other woman is supportive, and this friendship blooms.

Moreover, each woman learns that they cannot stick their head in the sand. They have to deal with their past head-on and move forward to a better future.

When Can You Watch The Journey Ahead On Hallmark Movies & Mysteries?

The Journey Ahead premieres on Sunday, August 14, at 9 p.m., Eastern, on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Encore showings include Tuesday, August 16, at 7 p.m., Thursday, August 18, at 9 p.m., Sunday, August 21, at 5 p.m., and Saturday, August 27, at 7 p.m., all times Eastern.

Holly Robinson Peete Has A Star On The Walk Of Fame!

Furthermore, just a month ago, HRP was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ! This is quite a distinguished honor, that Hallmark celebrated with a special party for the 21 Jump Street alum.

Don’t miss out on this fun and exciting movie.

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What we know so far about 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Release, cast, lead couple, more

Season 3 spoilers ahead.

Colin Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington and their shippers finally got their happily ever after on Thursday with the final four episodes of Season 3 of Netflix's Regency-era romantic drama "Bridgerton."

With Season 3 done and dusted over what appeared to be an entire social season, all eyes are now on Netflix and Shondaland to announce the lead pair for Season 4 of "Bridgerton." The series is adapted from Julia Quinn's books of the same name , with each book focusing one of the eight Bridgerton siblings: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth.

Anthony, Colin, Daphne and Francesca all have had their happily ever afters in the first three seasons of "Bridgerton," which leaves the remaining four siblings. Gregory and Hyacinth are far too young, which leaves Benedict and Eloise. So, who is it going to be?

Here's what we know about Season 4 of "Bridgerton" so far, including cast and release date.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

'Bridgerton' twist: Does it signal queer romance to come?

Will there be 'Bridgerton' Season 4?

Yes. In April 2021, a few months after the Season 1, Netflix announced that "Bridgerton" would be renewed for Season 3 and 4.

"Esteemed members of the Ton. It seems we have a rather special announcement," Netflix had said in their announcement. "'Bridgerton' shall return for seasons three and four. This author shall have to purchase more ink..."

'Bridgerton' Season 4 release date

Netflix hasn't exactly been consistent as far as "Bridgerton" release dates are concerned.

The first season released in December 2020 and the second season landed a little more than a year after in March 2022. However, Season 3 took its sweet time, coming just over two years later and in separate parts. Part 1 of Season 3 dropped May 16, while Part 2 released on June 13. In between Seasons 2 and 3, Netflix released "Queen Charlotte," a spinoff from the "Bridgerton" series with none of the main Bridgerton siblings.

Netflix has not yet announced the details for Season 4, but showrunner Jess Brownell, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the U.K. premiere for Part 2 Wednesday night, said fans can expect a wait of up to two years.

"We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited and then they have to be dubbed into every language," Brownell told THR. "And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we're kind of on a two-year pace, we're trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range."

In a separate interview with the Los Angeles Times , Brownell revealed that the next season will begin filming in the fall and that the next season may have a warmer vibe to it compared to the pastels and spring-like feel of the last three seasons.

'Bridgerton' Season 4 lead couple

Netflix and the cast and creators of "Bridgerton" have been rather tight-lipped over which Bridgerton sibling will be leading Season 4. Will it be the free-willed Eloise (Claudia Jessie) or the second-born son Benedict (Luke Thompson) or even Francesca, whose story is not yet complete? The producers haven't followed Quinn's chronology, switching things up to surprise audiences.

When the first part of Season 3 released in May, Jessie, in an interview with USA TODAY , said: "I don't know anything. But I'm going to be so brokenhearted when I have to stop playing Eloise. I just want to be here as long as I can."

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At the end of Season 3, Eloise departs for Scotland to live with her younger sister Francesca at her husband, the Earl of Kilmartin's estate there, in order to see more of the world before she can "attempt" to change it. However, she tells big brother Benedict that she will return before their mother's masquerade ball, where Benedict is expected to meet his love interest Sophie Beckett, if the books are anything to go by.

Thompson, meanwhile, in a recent interview with USA TODAY tried to evade the question, coyly saying: "Oh, my God, no. I don't even know if it is next season."

"I couldn't possibly comment. I know nothing," he said, adding that he's excited to eventually "deep dive" into Benedict's character.

Benedict, at the end of Season 3, ended things with Lady Tilly Arnold, telling her that he was enjoying his freedom and wanted to explore more of the world. Tilly was hoping for a more substantial relationship with the Bridgerton brother, telling him that even "merriment can grow tiresome." That conversation seemed to have resonated with Benedict and in his parting shot, he appears to be at a crossroads over his future.

“I’m really excited about what we’re writing," Brownell told THR. "We’re towards the end with the writers room season, with the scripts. And I feel like it’s some of my best work and my writers room’s best work. We’ve just really gelled our collaboration, and we’re firing on all cylinders so I can’t wait for fans to see what we have.”

Interview: Luke Thompson talks 'Bridgerton's' next season, all things Benedict

Who will play Sophie Beckett?

Netflix has not yet announced if Benedict will be leading Season 4 and have also not revealed who will be playing his love interest from the books, Sophie Beckett, the illegitimate daughter of Richard Gunningworth, the Earl of Penwood, and a maid.

Brownell told TVLine that “for any character’s season, we try to save all the big building blocks of their season for their season."

"When we start out any season, we want our protagonists to be at the very beginning of their journey in many ways and to still have a lot of room for growth so that we can really dig in," Brownell said.

'Bridgerton' cast

While Netflix has not yet announced cast details for Season 4 of "Bridgerton," it is likely that much of the recurring cast would be returning for the new season, though some of them may have limited screentime, based on previous trends. Viewers can also expect to see new characters such as Micheala Stirling, who made a brief appearance at the end of Season 3.

Meanwhile, here's a list of actors and their characters in Season 3 of "Bridgerton":

• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
• Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
• Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
• Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton
• Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton
• Victor Alli as Lord John Stirling (the Earl of Kilmartin)
• Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, Lord John's cousin
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
• Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
• Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
• Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown
• Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley
• Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington
• Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
• Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper
• Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
• Polly Walker as Portia Featherington
• Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson
• Sam Phillips as Lord Debling

Who is Michaela Stirling?

At the end of Season 3, viewers are introduced to a new character Michaela Stirling, who is the cousin of Earl of Kilmartin, Lord John. Michaela, who will be accompanying Eloise, John and Francesca to Scotland, leaves Francesca slightly flustered as she introduces herself.

Brownell, in an interview with Glamour , confirmed that Michaela will be playing Francesca's love interest, and that they have planned a queer romance for the character.

The showrunner, in her interview, said when she first read Francesca's book "When He Was Wicked," she "really related to it as a queer woman," explaining how the book "talks a lot about how different she feels."

"I think Julia Quinn's intention in the book is just that Fran feels different because she's introverted. But for many of us in the queer community, that sense of feeling different is a part of our stories," Brownell said in the interview, adding that she felt like "there was fertile ground thematically in her book to nod toward telling a queer story" with a happy ending.

"It was important for me in telling a main queer story for us to be able to give them a happily ever after, as we have with every other couple," Brownell said.

In the books, John and Francesca have a blissful marriage, until John dies from a brain aneurysm. His best friend, Micheal, who is secretly in love with his wife, becomes the Earl and takes over the estate. However, devastated from his friend's death, Michael flees to India to grieve. However, when he returns years later, Francesca is seeking a second husband to start a family and the two end up falling in love and getting married.

How many seasons will 'Bridgerton' have?

"Bridgerton" is slated for eight seasons, given that there are eight books in Quinn's "Bridgerton" series.

Brownell told TVLine that the producers are "aiming for eight seasons," and "want every sibling to have their own season."

Executive producer Shonda Rhimes also previously said they plan to adapt all eight Bridgerton books into eight seasons for Netflix.

So, stay tuned, gentle reader.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

2024 DreamWorks Movie Did Pixar's Classic Formula Better Than Any Pixar Movie In The Last 9 Years

• Pixar's signature " What if X had feelings? " formula struggled post- Inside Out , with both sequels and originals falling short of expectations.
• DreamWorks' Orion and the Dark successfully carries on Pixar's legacy by personifying a boy's fears and tackling difficult concepts with depth.
• Inside Out 2 faces high critical standards after Orion and the Dark , but it can rekindle Pixar's success and signature story formula.

Over the last 9 years, Pixar has struggled to nail its once-successful story formula. Starting with 1995's Toy Story , Pixar Animation Studios' first feature-length outing, the filmmakers have consistently struck gold with the " What if X had feelings? " formula . In 2015, the tried-and-true recipe resulted in one of Pixar's best movies — the Academy Award-winning Inside Out . Directed by Pixar vet Pete Docter, Inside Out is a somewhat meta culmination of the studios' efforts in that it personifies a young girl's emotions, essentially asking, " What if emotions had feelings? "

Set in the mind of a preteen named Riley, Inside Out 's core cast of characters are Riley's basic emotions — de facto leader Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Anger (Lewis Black). As Joy works to mitigate Sadness' influence, an unexpected journey through Riley's mind pushes Joy to understand that it's okay to be sad sometimes. Inside Out garnered $858.8 million at the global box office, making it one of Pixar's highest-grossing films. However, a 2024 DreamWorks movie carries on Pixar's post- Inside Out legacy better than any other animated film .

DreamWorks' Orion And The Dark Nails The Classic Pixar Formula

Orion's personified nighttime entities are as memorable as inside out's emotions, orion and the dark.

Director Sean Charmatz

Release Date February 2, 2024

Studio(s) Mikros Animation, DreamWorks Animation

Distributor(s) Netflix

Writers Emma Yarlett, Charlie Kaufman, Lloyd Taylor

Cast Werner Herzog, Ike Barinholtz, Natasia Demetriou, Paul Walter Hauser, Jacob Tremblay, Colin Hanks, Angela Bassett

Rating Not Rated

Runtime 92 Minutes

Genres Family, Animation, Comedy

Where To Stream Netflix

Produced by DreamWorks Animation and animated by Mikros Animation, Orion and the Dark centers on an 11-year-old boy with an extensive list of irrational fears. Penned by Charlie Kaufman, the mastermind behind searing films like Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , Orion and the Dark is an incredibly ambitious film. Much like Inside Out , the DreamWorks project isn't afraid to tackle difficult moments or existential concepts , taking the " What if X had feelings? " concept to new heights. Although Orion and the Dark doesn't personify a child's emotions, it tackles something similar.

Orion And The Dark Review: Jacob Tremblay Leads A Stellar Voice Cast In Uplifting Animated Adventure

From its endearing animation style, which blends 2D aesthetic with 3D technology, to poignant & refreshing writing, Orion and the Darkis a true joy.

Orion is greeted by the personification of his worst fear: Dark.

One night, a blackout strikes, leaving a fearful Orion (Jacob Tremblay) in total darkness. Soon enough, Orion is greeted by the personification of his worst fear: Dark (Paul Walter Hauser). Annoyed with Orion's complaints about nighttime, Dark decides to take the terrified kid on an eye-opening trip. On the journey, Dark introduces Orion and the Dark 's other characters — his fellow nighttime entities Sleep (Natasia Demetriou), Insomnia (Nat Faxon), Quiet (Aparna Nancherla), Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel), and Sweet Dreams (Angela Basset). Although the other entities are reluctant about having a visitor, Dark convinces them to let Orion tag along.

Why Pixar's Formula Hasn't Worked Since Inside Out

Pixar's more recent movies have strayed from its signature approach.

In the wake of Inside Out , the studio released a rash of Pixar sequels less-than-stellar originals, like The Good Dinosaur , Finding Dory , and Cars 3 . While the Finding Nemo and Cars sequels still hold some charm, especially where characters and world-building are concerned, Pixar didn't totally justify the films' existences. Instead, Finding Dory and Cars 3 rehashed familiar concepts without bringing anything fresh to the table. After that, Pixar shifted its focus to human character-led films, like Coco , Incredibles 2 , Luca , and Turning Red . Of course, films like Soul and Toy Story 4 are exceptions.

Pixar's decision to revisit [Toy Story for a fourth time] seemed a little more financially-motivated.

In some ways, Toy Story 4 falls more into the Finding Dory / Cars 3 camp: It's fun to see the Toy Story franchise's characters again, but Pixar's decision to revisit the property seemed a little more financially-motivated. Soul , on the other hand, tried to replicate Inside Out 's success. Helmed again by Docter, Soul sees jazz musician Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) exploring The Great Before — a realm where newly born souls receive all the quirks and personality traits to make their humans into unique individuals. Unlike Inside Out , Soul 's concept was too nebulous and opaque to resonate with audiences.

Inside Out Ending Explained: Sadness, Anger & Well-Balanced Emotions

The ending of Inside Out shows the inner workings of several characters and demonstrates how "negative" emotions like Anger and Sadness are important.

Orion And The Dark Sets A High Critical Bar For Inside Out 2

The inside out sequel must justify its existence by balancing the familiar & the fresh.

Ahead of its release, Inside Out 2 's Rotten Tomatoes score was high , and the film's success continued over its opening weekend. Still, that success is impressive given how high of a bar Inside Out set — and how much Orion and the Dark raised that bar just a few months ahead of Inside Out 2 's release. As Orion and the Dark 's ending shows, a well-executed film about abstract, challenging concepts can be both accessible and deeply moving . That said, Inside Out 2 's choice to introduce new emotions, like Anxiety (Maya Hawke), proves that Pixar can rekindle its signature story formula.

Inside Out 2

Director Kelsey Mann

Release Date June 14, 2024

Studio(s) Disney

Distributor(s) Disney

Writers Meg LeFauve

Cast Amy Poehler, Diane Lane, Maya Hawke, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black

Runtime 96 Minutes

Genres Animation, Comedy, Adventure

Franchise(s) Disney

prequel(s) Inside Out

Main Genre Animation

Kaylee Bryant

Though she hasn’t been in the business long, Kaylee Bryant is quickly making a name for herself with her comedic timing and ability to perform.

Kaylee recently wrapped production on the independent crime drama The Locksmith, opposite Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth, Ving Rhames and Charlie Weber. Directed by Nicolas Harvard, the film follows a thief fresh out of prison as he tries to work his way back into the life of his daughter and ex-girlfriend, who is now a police detective. Determined to make a clean start, he is forced to use his only skills as a gifted locksmith only for things to quickly get complicated after an unexpected kidnapping.

Bryant appeared on The CW’s “Legacies” for four seasons. Created by Julie Plec (“The Vampire Diaries”), the series is a spinoff of “The Originals” and continues in the tradition of “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals.” The show told the story of the next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted as they came of age in the most unconventional way possible. Other past credits include Netflix’s “The Santa Clarita Diet,” “The Real O’Neals,” “Speechless,” “Criminal Minds,” “Chasing Life,” “Suburgatory,” “Body of Proof,” “American Horror Story: Murder House,” Disney’s “Kickin’ It” and the CBS pilot “What Goes Around Comes Around” opposite Alyssa Milano.

The daughter of a Foiles Breger dancer, Bryant has been singing, dancing and participating in musical theater productions starting at a very young age. At the age of nine, Bryant signed with Ford Models and soon became the face of Ralph Lauren for seven seasons. It was after a talent manager saw her in an advertisement for the fashion house that she entered the acting space.

A Southern California native, Bryant currently lives in New York.

‘Game Changer’ Season 6 Cast Talks Emmy Aspirations, Favorite Moments and When Dropout’s First Original Movie Is Coming (EXCLUSIVE)

By Clayton Davis

Clayton Davis

Senior Awards Editor

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The cast of contestants and comedians from the sixth season of “Game Changer” can best be described as reminiscent of the old stop-motion holiday special, where the titular reindeer meets a group of outcasts on the Island of Misfit Toys. This diverse and eclectic group embodies a modern, inclusive ethos that starkly contrasts the early days of CollegeHumor.

Sam Reich, CEO of Dropout and host of “Game Changer,” reflects on the company’s evolution from its early days of CollegeHumor before rebranding as a standalone, ad-free subscription service. “You saw a gigantic sea of white men,” Reich notes, highlighting the transformation to a more diverse and representative ensemble. “We get a lot of credit for stuff that happened organically.”

Today, Dropout’s vast array of content is lauded for reflecting the world’s true diversity. Throughout the game show’s sixth season, viewers find a spectrum of ethnicities, creeds, sexual orientations, and genders represented.

In addition to Reich, seven of this season’s cast members—Ally Beardsley, Raphael Chestang, Katie Marovitch, Vic Michaelis, Oscar Montoya, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Jacob Wysocki—sat down with Variety for an afternoon at the Dropout studio. The interview was followed by a game mimicking the unpredictable rules of the show, with rules the cast members did not know.

CollegeHumor launched its streaming service Dropout in Sept. 2018, knowing traditional advertisers and streamers wouldn’t support the content they aspired to create, so they “dropped out.” In late 2019, Barry Diller’s IAC planned to sell the business, deeming it no longer suitable for their broader strategy. By January 2020, after failing to find a suitable buyer, they sold the business to Reich, then Chief Creative Officer of CollegeHumor. Unfortunately, this transition resulted in over 100 employees being laid off, with just seven remaining, including Brennan Lee Mulligan, the creator of “Dimension 20.”

The pandemic hit shortly after. While most productions halted, Dropout continued to deliver content to its growing fanbase by creating virtual shows and digital content. The company’s subscriber base now stands in the mid-high six figures, reflecting steady growth.

Reich truly differs from CEOs in the media business because he shares his success with everyone. In 2023, Dropout introduced profit-sharing, benefiting anyone who earned even $1 with the company throughout the year. The company even pays for actors to audition for any of its shows. Dropout now operates with around 20 full-time employees, supplemented by numerous contracted creatives who help bring its diverse array of shows to life.

The show has been submitted for Emmy consideration, including Outstanding Game Show .

Read about some of the best moments from Variety’s interview with the cast and creators below.

Part 1 of the Season 6 “Game Changer” finale is now available on Dropout.

Read : All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s  Awards Circuit .

Ally Beardsley

Ally Beardsley (they/them) is a talented writer and improviser affiliated with the Upright Citizens Brigade, a comedy institution and training center founded by Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh in 1996. Despite finding the term somewhat “allergic,” their courage in embracing their authentic self in front of Dropout’s large and passionate audience across multiple seasons of “Game Changer” and other programs demonstrates their determination to make people laugh.

Looking back, how do you view your transition so publicly on Dropout?

I feel like I had the horrifying pleasure of transitioning very publicly and being in sketches regularly.

It was very scary, especially when some parts of your body feel very out of your control. My advice is that kind of old and cliche thing—being is becoming. There is no final form, or I’m “whole” now. I’m figuring it all out, and now I feel comfortable. You’re always going to feel a little bit uncomfortable, and that’s great—that’s being alive.

What has been your experience on the show?

What’s been fun about this is two realities are going on: all of us having fun, and then as “Game Changer” continues to go for more seasons, there’s the “lore” of the show, which I think is inflated because it’s funny. So, messing with Brennan in real life would be less fun than messing with the version of Brennan that appears on Dropout shows. If we get nominated for an Emmy, it would be like Pirate Radio winning a Grammy.

Raphael Chestang

Raphael Chestang has been writing in the digital landscape for over a decade. In 2017, he became a cast member at CollegeHumor. Before that, he was a writer for ETonline. Aside from appearing in multiple “Game Changer” episodes, he also served as the official “referee” for the game the cast played with Variety. Recently married, he had to book a new venue for his wedding day with only four days’ notice because the owner of the previous venue was “on the run.”

How many unread emails are in your inbox today?

4,900, which is a lot better because I had over 11,000. The good thing is that it’s created this movement online where people are now sharing their 49,000 or 110,000 emails. It’s almost like I’ve allowed the people to release themselves from their shame.

Congratulations on your wedding. What is the status of your lawsuit?

It’s ongoing. We have to find them [laughs]. They were on the run.

Katie Marovitch

Katie Marovitch has been around since the early days of College Humor and has continued to shine with appearances in its vast offerings, including the new show “Smartypants.” The comedy writer, actor, and director performs improv and standup across Los Angeles. One of the best facts is her short appearance on the “Second Place” episode, where the contestants had to Venmo her the most money for points, which has continued to deliver ten-fold after the producers put her code on the screen. She regularly receives funds from random people (with a few requests that she ignores).

When did you know you had to make people laugh for a living?

I know the exact moment. I was trying to work in finance in college. I was the valedictorian in high school and got to give a speech at Northwestern. I always thought I would go the money route and work in finance. I had a third-round interview at Nielsen, which they flew me out for in New York. While I was answering the questions, the woman interviewing me said, “You are a very strange person.”

I said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I thought I had answered everything professionally and was coming off as intelligent. When I left, I called my dad and said, “That was weird, right?”

He said, “There’s no way they won’t hire you after that because that would have been rude.”

And then I did not get the job. I was like, I guess that’s not the world for me because I can’t be the little freak I am. And I went to LA soon after.

Also, can you share why you Venmo’d ‘Vagina Chocolate’ to Ally on one of the episodes?

I know exactly why… I was buying shrooms from Ally, and they were heart-shaped and reminded me of a vagina, so I wrote vagina chocolate.

Reich : You’re answering this as if you’re in a deposition.

I mean, I do not recall.

Vic Michaelis

Vic Michaelis (they/them) hosts the web series “Very Important People,” which was submitted for outstanding short-form series (comedy, drama, or variety) and outstanding performer in a short-form series. One of the most hilarious moments of the day was when Michaelis revealed they did not have a mail application on their iPhone. Instead, they opened the web browser to access their Gmail, which sent fellow castmate Brennan Lee Mulligan into a spiral.

How does “VIP” differ from other shorts that are out there? And what did it feel like to break character so much when Zac Oyama became “Tommy Shriggly?”

It’s a long-form improv show, mostly involving scenes cut into smaller sections, and I don’t think there are a lot of improv cuts like that. When it came to Zac, I saw him upstairs. I walked in, and I didn’t say anything. I looked at him, and I walked out of the room. Do you know when people get bad news in movies, and they slide down the door and collapse? I did that — twice. The interview is about an hour. We get a lot of comments asking what was cut for time, and there isn’t much that’s cut.

Oscar Montoya

Oscar Montoya’s big breakout role was as Richie on the HBO/Max comedy series “Minx,” for which he was honored last year with the Supporting Actor TV Award at the Critics Choice Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television. His talent is only surpassed by his kindness and love for his fellow comedians. In many ways, he has become the heart and soul of Dropout, consistently demonstrating an ability to make people laugh without resorting to meanness.

Were you frustrated by the journey and cancellation of “Minx?”

“Minx’s” journey felt like the equivalent of an uphill climb while a mudslide was happening simultaneously. The critics responded positively, but unfortunately, it didn’t click with the masses. Working on the show made me understand that if you’re happy with the work you’re putting out there, and it resonates with at least one person — that’s the biggest takeaway.

This season of “Game Changer” was a showcase for how loving and nice you are. Is that genuine?

I’m incredibly non-competitive. Being in a contest with someone like Brennan is different because I feel like a bystander watching when he takes it seriously. Ally knew exactly what buttons to push on Brennan. All I had to do was agree and support the chaos, and it was just so fun. But yeah, I love it when other people succeed. I still feel like being a part of Dropout is a dream, and I am so lucky to do this. Every time, with every show, I can’t believe I’m on set with the best people around. How can I not have the best time and show my love and appreciation? My love language is words of affirmation, so I always take advantage of that. I often tell people I love them because people don’t hear that enough.

Brennan Lee Mulligan

Host of the indie streamer’s highly popular “Dungeons & Dragons” series “Dimension 20,” the creator and game master Brennan Lee Mulligan has become a cherished staple and a big part of Dropout’s rising success. His appearances on “Game Changer” are among the most watched on the company’s social channels.

What are your feelings about the state of Hollywood and making content?

There’s a funny thing that traditional legacy media does: it goes as you come to a cattle call casting. “I’ll tell you who you are,” they say. I remember a commercial casting director at UCB in New York who went down the line and pointed at people before we even spoke. The idea that some casting robot wouldn’t know what these people’s gifts are—or the comedic personalities that each of these artists has spent years crafting—is something that I hope dies. And I hope that we’re the ones to kill it.

What will you tell your child when they find your “Yes or No” monologue or “Roseate Spoonbill” online when they’re older? Is there a lesson to be learned?

The fun thing about the “spoonbill” was that I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was subbing in for Raphael. The things I do on “Game Changer” are very similar to what I do on “Dimension 20,” which is that, as someone who’s worked with kids my whole life as a camp counselor, the big thing you want to do, especially if you’re an older brother figure for people, is lose and lose well.

The hysteria and mania surrounding being “bamboozled” are similar to what I do behind a dungeon master’s screen. I play big, scary villains so that people feel like heroes when they get clowned on in the last episode. In a society obsessed with success and victory at all costs, embracing losing is a lovely thing.

How far away are we from seeing Dropout’s first feature film?

I think the first thing we need to do is figure out our path into the scripted period, which we are doing. We’ve got a few “irons in the hopper.” The fun of thinking about scripting right now is that we know these people so well — that writing for them will be a fun exercise. Typically, when creating a show, you’re thinking about it, writing forward, like, “Who will we get to play this role?” Here, we get to think about it as casting backward, which is fun. We’ve got a few ideas that we’re working on. We’ll take our time developing them to make sure that by the time we’re ready, it’s going to be great.

I have a pitch for this group: I would love to use a model like “The Big Chill” as an approach to making a feature film. I would take a group of people, rent a house, and do some loosely scripted, structured scenes where we’re all playing the closest versions of ourselves. I think that would be incredible.

Where did you come up with your signature opening line: “I’ve been here the whole time?”

What it actually means is that I’m announcing the show, but the camera doesn’t cut to me until I say it. I’m telling the audience that I’m having fun with the fact that I’m hosting the show. But people seem to think that it has a deeper meaning, which makes me want to indicate that it does.

Jacob Wysocki

Jacob Wysocki began his career in the independent film scene, starring in Azazel Jacobs’ coming-of-age dramedy “Terri” (2011) alongside John C. Reilly. This role earned him a Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor. Since then, Wysocki has pursued acting across various platforms, including roles in TV shows like NBC’s “Superstore.” He was also considered for larger roles, such as the quirky but memorable Shawn in 2017’s “I, Tonya,” a role that ultimately went to Paul Walter Hauser.

With your career starting in the indie circuit with Azazel Jacobs’ “Terri,” what kinds of things are you looking to make?

It sometimes feels like people don’t know I existed before Dropout—which is fine, and I understand why that is true. But the reality for me is that I’ve been doing this very seriously since I was 20. I did “Terri” when I was 20; it was the first movie I had ever done. The only professional work I had done before was TV or my own projects. It was the first time in my life that I knew exactly what I needed to do for the rest of my life. It was extremely affirming and placed me exactly where I needed to be in the universe.

What was it like to watch this season’s episode where you were transformed into “super Saiyan Jacob?”

It was like a child’s version of me was somewhat healed. I don’t think it’s a particularly masterful act of comedy, but I think it’s relatable. Every person of a similar age probably did that when they were kids. It’s also fun to scream and matches up well with being rambunctious. If anyone had the opportunity, they would do that as well. Katie’s husband did the Super Saiyan animations. What sucks for me is that I don’t know how to do something cooler, funnier, or better than that. That’s my own challenge.

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