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FOR RELEASE JUNE 8, 2026
BYLINE: By Tony Rizzo
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of History
PHOTO CAPTION: Alexander Ludwig in "Vikings" (2013-2021)
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HOLLYWOOD -- Are you ready to meet the next superstar in "The White Lotus" universe? Season one gave us Jennifer Coolidge, while season two gave us Theo James and LEO Woodall. Season three made stars out of Patrick Schwarzenegger and Walton Goggins. Get ready for Alexander Ludwig, who was part of the first cast announcement for season four. The 34-year-old Canadian star of "Vikings" (2013-2021) also has an upcoming role in "Killing Castro," opposite Al Pacino. It's premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9.
In addition, Netflix will soon drop "Unabomber" with Ludwig, Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay and Shailene Woodley. Then Ludwig has the horror film "Night Comes" from actor/director Jay Hernandez (star of the "Magnum P.I." reboot), as well as "What the F*ck Is My Password?" with Stephen Dorff and Kate Walsh.
Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger wrapped the rom-com "Love of Your Life" in October 2025. He also wrapped the psychological thriller "Bunker" with Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Stephen Graham and Paul Dano on Feb. 9 of this year.
Season four of "The White Lotus" will drop sometime in early 2027; Laura Dern, Kumail Nanjiani, Steve Coogan, Rosie Perez, Heather Graham and Ben Kingsley will star alongside Ludwig this season.
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Andy Garcia directed, wrote and stars in "Diamond," which garnered rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival. It's a 1940s film-noir-style flick with Brendan Fraser, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Demian Bichir, Rosemarie DeWitt and Danny Huston. Danny is the son of John Huston, who directed the film-noir classic "The Maltese Falcon."
Garcia's also starring in "72 Hours" with Kevin Hart (out on July 24) and "Maserati: The Brothers" with Michele Morrone and Anthony Hopkins.
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James Franco is trying to make a comeback. After an Oscar nomination for "127 Hours" (in 2010) and hosting the Oscars in 2011 with Anne Hathaway, his career came crashing down in 2014 when a 17-year-old girl accused him of sexual misconduct. In 2018, five more women accused him of inappropriate sexual or exploitative behavior. In 2019, two of his former acting students in his film class filed a lawsuit against him, which he settled in 2021 for $2.2 million.
In 2021, Franco underwent treatment for sexual addiction so that he was able to film "Castro's Daughter" in 2022. In 2024, he co-starred with Vincent Gallo in "Golden State Killer." In 2025, Lionsgate acquired it, and they have plans to release it this year. In 2024, Franco also shot "The Razor's Edge" with Tommy Lee Jones in Georgia.
There may be hope for him yet. He was added to "John Rambo," which stars Noah Centineo and David Harbour and wrapped in mid-May.
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Also attempting a comeback is Armie Hammer, who was out of Hollywood for three years due to his sex scandal. He's since come back to shoot "Frontier Crucible" with Thomas Jane and the Canadian thriller "Citizen Vigilant" with Costas Mandylor, which opens this summer. Maybe he should make a sequel to his 2017 hit -- "Call Me by Your Name ... Cause My Name's Tainted!"
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
