Alan Cumming Says He Kept in Touch with “X2 ”Costars Over the Last 20 Years Since They Were 'Bonded in Trauma' (Exclusive)

Alan Cumming says filming X2 was "miserable" but helped bond the cast, many of whom he remains close with

NEED TO KNOW

• When talking with PEOPLE at the TriBeCa Ball in New York City, he shares that the cast is "bonded in trauma"

• Avengers: Doomsday, featuring returning X-Men actors, is set to release in theaters on Dec. 18, 2026

Alan Cumminghas kept in touch with hisX2castmates despite their traumatic on-set experience.

At the TriBeCa Ball at the New York Academy of Art on April 20, Cumming opens up to PEOPLE about reprising his role as Nightcrawler from theX-MenmovieforAvengers: Doomsday.

When asked what it was like to reconnect with past cast members, the Emmy winner notes that he has actually remained in contact with several of them over the last 20 years.

“The ones that I did reunite with, I've seen them since,” he tells PEOPLE.

“I also didn't reunite with that many because we did it all sort of separately; it was a bit of a modern way of doing things," he says. "I'm very chummy with Ian [McKellan], I've seen Rebecca [Romijn] over the years. Patrick [Stewart], I've seen quite a lot. Jimmy [Marsden], I've seen a lot of them actually."

"It's one of those films where I think we all were so traumatized we were bonded in trauma, so we stayed in touch,” Cumming adds.

Last year, Marvel announced that Cumming was one of the actors reprising their roles in the forthcomingAvengersfilm, which is set to arrive in theaters in December 2026, over two decades after Cumming's first appearance as the mutant in 2003'sX2.

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Recently, Cumming toldPEOPLEat the TIME100 Gala that it was “really lovely to go back to something all those years later that I never thought I was going to go back to and I actually think, 'Oh, I really enjoyed playing this character.' "

"It was really nice. And the people who made it, the brothers, are really lovely and very conscious of making sure everyone on set feels valued and what more could you ask for," he added.

While speaking with PEOPLE before apanel forThe Traitorsat the Televerse2025 conference last year, however, the actor noted that his experience filming the first superhero film was much different. Cumming said filmingDoomsday"was amazing" and, "in a sort of ooey, gooey way, it was really healing and really nice to go back to something that it was a terrible experience when I did it the first time."

TheTraitorshost emphasized that he was "miserable" makingX2,which was "awful for a variety of reasons that I have talked about at length" — such as having to spendup to five hours in the makeup chairand difficulties working with directorBryan Singer.

The returningDoomsdaycast is set to include the likes of Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez,Paul Rudd,Tom Hiddlestonand Simu Liu, as well as Cumming, Romijn andKelsey Grammer, who costarred with Stewart, McKellen and Marsden in theX-Menmovies released in the 2000s and 2010s.

Avengers: Doomsdayis in theaters Dec. 18, 2026.

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 04, 2026

Alan Cumming Says He Kept in Touch with “X2 ”Costars Over the Last 20 Years Since They Were 'Bonded in Trauma' (Exclusive)

Alan Cumming says filming X2 was "miserable" but helped bond the cast, many of whom he remains close with NEED TO KNOW...

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“$750 A Week”: ‘The Pitt’ Star’s Shocking Salary Confession Leaves Fans Absolutely Furious

The Pittmay have wrapped its second season, but the medical drama is back in the spotlight after one of its stars made a surprisingsalary revelation.

Patrick Ball, who playsDr. Frank Langdon, recently made his Broadway debut alongside Alden Ehrenreich in the dark comedyBecky Shaw. During a conversation with his co-star, he opened up about his financial struggles before landing his breakout role onThe Pitt.

However, his comments sparkedonline backlash, as some fans interpreted them very differently.

The Pittstar Patrick Ball opens up about financial struggles

Image credits:HBO Max

Patrick Ball’s Dr. Langdon is one ofThe Pitt’s most popular characters, largely due to his performance. In an interviewwithVariety, Balldiscussed his work on the show with his Broadway co-star Alden Ehrenreich.

He admitted to struggling with student loans before landing a role onthehit medical drama.Ball, who graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2022, revealed that he was $80,000 in debt at age 35.

Image credits:HBO Max

After graduating, Ball worked almost exclusively in theater, earning only $800-$900 a week, leading to financial instability that strained his personal relationships.

However, his salary fromThe Pittallowed him to pay off his debt and pursue artistic work without financial pressure.

He said, “It put me in a position to make $750 a week onHamletand not worry about it.

“Having something likeThe Pitt, which hopefully will continue to be part of my life for a long time, is really empowering.”

Patrick Ball’s confession about hissalary made some fans furious

Image credits:HBO Max

Ball’s comments drew widespread attention online, with many praising his honesty about early struggles. However, his remarks about financial freedom didn’t sit well with some viewers.

“Would be nice if brown and black actors on the show were given financial security for years too,” one user saidonX.

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Other fans pointed to the sudden departures of cast members like Tracy Ifeachor (Dr. Heather Collins) and Supriya Ganesh (Dr. Samira Mohan), questioning why only women of color were written out.

Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill explained thatthedecision was madeto accuratelyportray the reality of a teaching hospital.

Image credits:HBO Max

A second user commented, “Supriya Ganesh moved to LA for the show, only for the rug to be ripped out from under her when it wasn’t even planned. Financial security for the white actors.”

In April2026,Ganesh’s exit sparked backlashafterit was revealed she wouldn’t return for season three. At the time, many fans argued that it was unfair for Moahn to be written out despite both her and Ball’s character being 4th-year residents.

“A long time? He’d better be gone by the end of season 3. Just like Heather and Samira,” a third person said.

Amid the backlash, several fans defended Ball, arguing that he couldn’t be held responsible for the unplanned exits of other cast members.

Patrick Ball reveals financial advice he received from Noah Wyle

Image credits:HBO Max

In the same interview, Ball discussed receiving financial advice fromThe Pittco-star, Noah Wyle, who plays his on-screen mentor, Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch.

He recalled Wyle told him, “Save your money. Stay cheap. Keep your overhead low.”

Wyle also advised him to keep his cost of living low, despite earning far more than he did in his theater days.

Ball admitted to following Wyle’s advice, revealing that he had moved in with his old roommate in Brooklyn during his stint on Broadway.

Meanwhile,The Pitthasbeenrenewed for a third seasonwith Ball expectedto reprise his role as Langdon.

The Pittis currently streaming on HBO Max.

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 04, 2026

“$750 A Week”: ‘The Pitt’ Star’s Shocking Salary Confession Leaves Fans Absolutely Furious

The Pittmay have wrapped its second season, but the medical drama is back in the spotlight after one of its stars made a surprisingsala...

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“Saturday Night Live” recap: Olivia Rodrigo doubles as host and musical guest

We are in the home stretch! It’sSNLin Review, for the first of the final three episodes of season 51. Olivia Rodrigo isback at 8Hand this time she’s hosting! She’s been the musical guest twice before, includingduring season 46.

Double duty can be tricky, and that’s why tonight I’m glad to be joined again by formerSNLcast member John Milhiser. His season had a few examples of this — including,as previously discussed, Lady Gaga. Milhiser offers tonight that “if you're a big enough star and personality, of course, you can do double duty. It's rare, and it's about the moment. Olivia is having her moment. Let her cook.”

Besides Gaga, Milhiser saw two other cases of hosts pulling double duty. The second episode of the season, in fact, was Miley Cyrus. Milhiser recalls really enjoying his time with Cyrus, and “she visitedSNLa few times that season. She was young, having fun, in her "wild" days. I never thought she was that wild, to be honest. ‘Wrecking Ball’ was the best song. Her performance of ‘Wrecking Ball’  is legendary. From her, when she did double duty. I still have herBangerzCD she signed for me. I've never played it because I didn't have a CD player. Another fun fact, for some reason, I kept herBangerzCD in my sock drawer for years.”

Then, months later, was Drake. He “was HUGE when he hosted. It was the era of DRAKE,” says Milhiser. “Everyone was obsessed. My cousin Keith and his son Morgan came as my guests to that show. Morgan was a big fan of Drake. I wanted to be the cool uncle, so I made it a priority to introduce Morgan to Drake.  Luckily, Drake was sitting at a table by himself, a few tables away from us. The stars were aligned. I said to Morgan, ‘You ready to go meet Drake?’ We walked over to Drake's table, and just when I was about to open my mouth to say ‘Hi!’ Drake's bodyguard steps in front and PUSHES me away. Very embarrassing. Drake stepped in and said, ‘No! It's okay. He's on the cast.’ The bodyguard didn't recognize me. Can you blame him? Anytoot, Drake was very nice to my cousin's son. Morgan got a great picture with him. I became a cool uncle that night thanks to Drake. He'll always hold a special place in my heart.”

Scroll below for more insights —hopefully we get some memories out of tonight that rival John’s!

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Cold Open

You’re watching a span of your life watching C-Span. We join Karoline Leavitt (Ashley Padilla), who is four, five seconds from wilding — or actually, introducing a very cringe Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost). “Is it true you suck?” he asks the press. He proceeds to call them virgins and theater kids. Hegseth just clashed for a few days with Democrats in Congress over the Iran war.

Ah, time for some stunt casting: Aziz Ansari comes out as the under siege FBI Director Kash Patel. This is precedent-setting. He’s the first Indian person to suck at their job. We touch on recent headlines, Ansari does a commendable job, given the obviousness of the casting. (He hosted back in season 42 FYI!)

Monologue

Rodrigo’s favorite cast is from when she was in high school —so, Sarah Sherman, Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson, and Chloe Fineman were cast members! Ha.

When she was 6, she began acting in Old Navy commercials, even joining a Disney Channel show opposite Jake Paul. We get a fake outtake from the ad, and she lands a nice joke about Netflix. She mentions the time she fell off stage at a concert.

Mentioning “Drivers License,” she performs a spoof sequel. This time, she’s going to the DMV. Pretty entertaining! John Milhiser comments, “Love O-Rod. For a young artist, she brings a remarkable blend of self-assuredness, vulnerability, and musical reverence. Her kind of sugar-coated pop punk with just rough-enough edges is the perfect vehicle for her Gen Z blasé confessionalism, and humor is all throughout her songwriting.”

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 03, 2026

“Saturday Night Live” recap: Olivia Rodrigo doubles as host and musical guest

We are in the home stretch! It’sSNLin Review, for the first of the final three episodes of season 51. Olivia Rodrigo isback at 8Hand th...

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Adam Scott Says He Thought There Was 'No Way' He Would Land Role in “Step Brothers” Until Another Actor 'Had to Bail'

Adam Scott is sharing more about landing his role in the 2008 film, Step Brothers

NEED TO KNOW

• In a new interview, Scott says another actor was originally slated for the role, but "had to bail"

• Scott plays Derek Huff, the successful and arrogant younger brother of Brennan, played by Will Ferrell

Adam Scottis pulling back the curtain on how he landed one of his most memorable early comedy roles.

Speaking on a recent episode of theBig Bro With Kid Cudipodcast, theSeveranceactor, 52, revealed that getting cast in the 2008 comedyStep Brothershit comedy alongsideWill FerrellandJohn C. Reillycame down to unexpected timing.

The film, directed by now–Oscar winner Adam McKay (The Big Short), tells the ridiculous story of two middle-aged man-children: Brennan (Ferrell) lives with his mom Nancy (Mary Steenburgen) and Dale (Reilly) is still at home with dad Robert (Richard Jenkins). The two butt heads when Nancy and Dale get married, merging the two families under one roof.

Scott plays Derek Huff, Brennan's successful and arrogant younger brother,

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Man, that was so exciting gettingStep Brothers. Oh my god. I did not think I would get that part,” Scott said on the podcast. “And I think that's probably part of the reason I just went into the audition and just kinda went for it is because I was like, ‘There's no way.’ ”

As he explained, he wasn’t the original choice for the role.

“Someone had the role and then scheduling, they had to bail, so they had to cast it pretty quickly,” he explained. “So I got the part, and suddenly I was like, ‘Holy s----, I'm in this like Will Ferrell movie.’ ”

The comedy was a hit thanks in large part to its absurd humor and heavy reliance on improvisation — something Scott admits he was not prepared for at the time.

“And John C. Reilly and Adam McKay [were] directing, it was a big deal. It was so fun,” Scott said. “It was kind of terrifying because those guys ... they improvise a lot, and they're like the best improvisers in the world.”

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He continued: “And I didn't know what I was doing. I never really even been in a comedy before. I couldn't get auditions for like sitcoms and stuff. Like, I just had no kind of comedy credentials whatsoever.”

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Thrown into the deep end of improv comedy, Scott said he had to learn on the fly.

“So I was there, and so kind of had to learn to figure it out, figure out improvisation on the set ofStep Brothers,” he said. “So I equate it to, like, learning how to do the high jump at the Olympics. You know? It was crazy.”

Despite the initial nerves, the experience ultimately became a turning point.

“But I felt like, I went from having no idea what I was doing to, by the end of the four months or however long the movie took, I felt like I was starting to get the hang of it,” Scott shared.

He added that moment in particular felt like something of a breakthrough.

“I think it was like the dinner scene, and John Reilly and I started improvising about something — I don't think it's even in the movie, but we just started kind of going back and forth and kind of just flowing,” he recalled. “And you're not even thinking about it, you're just going.”

He added: “And towards the end of the shoot, and I remember after cut, John C. Reilly was like, ‘Alright. That was fun. Like, wasn't that cool? That was fun. Right?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, man.’”

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 02, 2026

Adam Scott Says He Thought There Was 'No Way' He Would Land Role in “Step Brothers” Until Another Actor 'Had to Bail'

Adam Scott is sharing more about landing his role in the 2008 film, Step Brothers NEED TO KNOW In a new interview,...

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27 Amazing Met Gala Throwback Looks You've Totally Forgotten About

Before the stars walk up those famous Met Gala steps, we're looking back at some head-turning looks from years past.

TheMet Gala, which was founded in 1948, has managed to consistently bring together the most sought-after people in fashion and entertainment over the course of its 78-year-run.

Themes were first introduced in 1973, and have included everything from 1992's "Fashion and History: A Dialogue" to 1998's "Rock Style," to 2010's "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity." Stars and designers have interpreted each in their own way, giving us some of themost unforgettable momentson the carpet — thinkZendayain Zac Posen in 2019,Rihannain Guo Pei in 2015, andDamson Idrisin Tommy Hilfiger last year.

Still, for every jaw-dropping moment, they've been some equally eyebrow-raising ensembles that might have missed the mark. Below, check out 27 amazing Met Gala looks you may have forgotten about— the good, the bad and the ones who were truly just products of their eras.

Timeless Chic

Former first lady Jackie Kennedy continued to be a major style-setter at all the most major fashion events in New York, long after leaving the White House. Above, she is pictured at the 1979 Met Gala themed, "Fashions of the Habsburg Era: Austria-Hungary."

Turning Back Time

Cher looked otherworldly as she was accompanied by designer Bob Mackie for the 1985 Met Gala.

Glitz and Glam

It takes a true supermodel to outshine a dress so sparkly, it's practically galactic. Naomi Campbell was that supermodel at the 1995 event, whose theme was "Haute Couture."

'90s Classic

The relationship between Claudia Schiffer and David Copperfield may have lost its magic, but the photos of them from this era (is that a scrunchie?) sure didn't. The former couple pulled up in all-black for the 1995 Met Gala.

Always Classic

It's a tribute to the star's enduring fashion icon status that she could repurpose this 1995 number today, and we wouldn't bat an eye.

Young Star

Brandy's shimmery two-piece mini suit with matching silver boots at the "Haute Couture"-themed event was so out of this world, it might have been the inspiration for the costumes onXenon: Girl of the 21st Century.

A Royal Appearance

A lady who knew a thing or two about good jewels,Princess Diana accompanied her fashion editor friend Liz Tilberis(and outshone the celebs) in a Dior gown and her famous pearl-and-sapphire necklace in 1996.

Golden Girl

Barbara Walters made allover gold sequins appear timeless as she made her into the event in 1996.

Keeping It Simple

Even at an exhibit dedicated to one of the most flamboyant designers of all time (Gianni Versace), Sandra is going to do Sandra — and we love her for it. The actress kept her ensemble simple and wore all black to the event in 1997.

Art of Seduction

When the Met Gala honored Gianni Versace in 1997, Salma Hayek stunned in leather and was not shy about showing some skin.

Icon Living

Long before fashion faceoffs were a thing, Donatella gave 1999 viewers a preview of the dress Jennifer Lopez would make immortal at the Grammys the next year.

Feeling Blue

A dark-haired Gwyneth Paltrow made waves in a form-fitting, snakeskin-patterned dress for her 1999 appearance.

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Going with the Flow

Jessica's interpretation on the Jacqueline Kennedy theme of 2001 was a decidedly beachy one.

Goddess Chic

For the "Goddess: The Classical Mode" theme in 2003, Victoria Beckham struck a pose in a sheer Dolce & Gabbana mini, five years before she'd reinvent herself as a major designer.

Just Heavenly

With her backless white Stella McCartney gown, halo of curls and tiara, Kate Hudson looked positively angelic at the 2003 Met Gala.

Young Love

Between Jake Gyllenhaal's rumpled, tie-free suit and Kirsten Dunst's knit beanie, could these fashion faux pas from 2003beany more millennial-coded?

Serious About Fashion

Some themes are best left to the supermodels, as Amber Valletta proved in 2004, by making her "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century"-themed attire look killer rather than costume-y.

Showing Love

Karolina Kurkova understood the assignment, bringing the drama and opulence to 2005's "The House of Chanel" theme.

It's a Twin Thing

Before firmly establishing their caftans-and-oversized-jewels aesthetic, Mary-Kate and Ashley, then-NYU freshmen, opted for floaty boho dresses and a lot of eyeliner at the 2005 Met Gala.

Big Hair, Don't Care

The theme for 2006 was "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion," which should help put Eva Mendes' sexy tribute to Jane Austen novels in context.

Laced to Perfection

Suffice it to say, no one could have rocked this perfectly-fitted Oscar de la Renta strapless gown like Drew Barrymore in 2006. And the pop of red on the lips took the look to the next level.

All About the Gild

Once again, Cate Blanchett proved she can look transcendent in gowns mere mortals can't even approach as she wore this gilded Balenciaga gown for 2007's "Poiret: King of Fashion" gala.

Red Hot

The best part of this gorgeous red Valentino gown with its cape-like train Jennifer Garner wore in 2007? She could have totally recycled it the next year for the Superheroes theme.

Going for Gold

It's a bold star who chooses a mini for the Met Gala, but Kate Bosworth has never played it safe. The actress opted for custom Prada when she attended in 2007.

Style Starts

She might have been better known for being the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet back in 2008, but theVogueteam saw her potential early: In the decades that followed, Zoë Kravitz has clearly established herself as a style superstar.

Made for This

There's pretty much nothing more rock 'n' roll than establishing your credentials the way Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney did at 2009's "Rock Style" themed gala via their "Rock Royalty" tees and trousers. (And they came by that title naturally: Dads are Steven Tyler and Paul McCartney.)

Strike a Pose

Blake Lively was draped in Chanel as she took her "red carpet goddess" status super-literally at the Alexander McQueen-themed event in 2011.

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 02, 2026

27 Amazing Met Gala Throwback Looks You've Totally Forgotten About

Before the stars walk up those famous Met Gala steps, we're looking back at some head-turning looks from years past. TheMet G...

Read More