Latest news with #TheWalkingDead
SoraNews24
20 hours ago
- Science
- SoraNews24
Highly toxic plant found for first time in Japan on Hokkaido University campus
Just a little touch will pack a punch. The Hokkaido University campus in Sapporo recently had a brand new visitor in the form of a gigantic and highly toxic plant. It's called the giant hogweed and its name is no exaggeration as the ones found were identified by their height of around three meters (10 feet). The giant hogweed can get even taller, up to around five meters (16 feet), and has a rather innocuous weed-like appearance that belies the dangers that lurk within it. The plant's sap contains a phototoxic substance that, when in contact with the skin and exposed to sunlight, causes severe swelling and blistering. ▼ News report on the discovered giant hogweed Hokkaido University quickly cordoned off the area and cut down the plants, but the unexpected presence of them could suggest that there's giant hogweed elsewhere in Sapporo or even in other parts of Japan. It's unclear how the plants got to the campus in the first place but an expert suggested that seeds may have been accidentally carried on someone's shoes or clothing. News reports have been calling the giant hogweed 'one of the most dangerous plants in the world' and if you google 'most dangerous plants in the world' it actually does appear among hemlock and nightshade in the top nine. However, it's not known to be lethal, with the worst effect being temporary blindness if the sap gets in your eyes and is activated by UV rays. ▼ In The Walking Dead , Aaron gets attacked by a zombie with giant hogweed on it and is blinded by the plant. However, that's a scientific goof because it was at night and he probably wouldn't have been blinded until the following morning when the sun activated the phototoxins. He also would have had to wear sunglasses for a long time afterward (warning: this video contains lots of violence). The other good news is that giant hogweed is only dangerous when the sap is touched. Its phototoxins cannot be spread any other way, such as over the wind, but nevertheless, the effects of touching it are about as unpleasant as it gets. If you happen to come into contact with it, wash the area as soon as possible, doing so carefully to avoid spreading it to other parts of your skin. Also, handle clothing carefully while cleaning it. If skin irritation does occur it can be alleviated with topical steroids, but for the most part you'll just have to wait it out for a few days. Affected areas will also be extra sensitive to sunlight possibly for years after exposure, so sunblock or long sleeves may be needed, even if it does draw the attention of the police. You're better off preventing it from ever happening by keeping your eyes peeled for plants that look like the giant hogweed and reporting them to your local authorities as soon as possible so they can dispose of them safely. There is a good chance it might just be a less hazardous hogweed species, but better safe than blistery. Source: STV News NNN, Itai News, Gouvernement du Quebéc Featured image: Wikipedia/ ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Walking Dead: Dead City' Boss Breaks Down That Maggie-Negan Game-Changing Choice in Season 2 Finale
[This story contains spoilers from season two finale.] Almost a decade ago, The Walking Dead took a baseball bat to its sprawling ensemble and changed the course of the show forever. Hard as it is to believe, Steven Yeun's Glenn was smashed out of the story all the way back in 2016. Nearly 10 years on, Lauren Cohan's Maggie has yet to satisfy vengeance against Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the man who giddily beat her husband to death. At long last, Maggie finally had Negan dead to rights in the season two finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City, the spinoff show starring these two blood-crossed rivals — and just as she got up at bat, she decided to walk away from the plate. More from The Hollywood Reporter Norman Reedus to Lead Canneseries Jury Jon Bernthal to Return in 'Punisher' Special for Marvel and Disney+ 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 3 First-Look Previews Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride's Long Journey Home Sunday night's Dead City finale, titled 'If History Were a Conflagration,' sees Negan deciding to go full heel in order to defeat Bruegel (Kim Coates), the franchise's newest psychopath, in a battle for supremacy over the post-apocalyptic New York City. Both men are vying for control over a game-changing supply of methane produced by walkers that could power the city back online. Maggie, meanwhile, is tasked by the Dama (Lisa Emery) with finding and assassinating Negan so she can finally move on from her decades-long grudge. With her son Hershel (Logan Kim) spurring her on, Maggie takes on the assignment, and even makes it as far as stabbing Negan in the back — only to suffer a crisis of conscience, realizing killing the man won't bring Glenn back, and finally accepting that the only way to move forward is to truly let go and find peace with Negan. If anyone thought Maggie would actually go through with killing Negan then good, showrunner Eli Jorné and team did their job. But killing the character off was never truly on the table — according to executive producer Scott M. Gimple, who oversees the Walking Dead franchise in its many iterations. 'We wanted you on the edge of your seat,' he tells The Hollywood Reporter. But ultimately, he says, this Walking Dead spinoff series is 'as much about Negan as it is about Maggie.' According to Gimple, the story choice boils down to wanting to find a new iteration of Negan and Maggie who can finally set aside their past and move forward toward a future where New York actually stands a chance of returning to civilization. 'For these two characters, if keeping Negan alive is holding on, is killing him actually letting go? I like how this goes right up to the edge of that choice, almost like it's A Christmas Carol, where she's all-but killed him, and has found that it's not fulfilling the journey she's been on for herself — the journey of who she was and who she's becoming. 'This has been a very long story,' he adds. 'It's been years and years that we've seen Maggie and Negan in this cycle. Maggie has been completely and totally justified in her hate and anger and trauma, but for the audience, we've been watching her live with that for so long. It's been eight years [of real time], and I want to see Maggie surmount this thing and evolve from it.' While a third season of Dead City has not yet been announced, Gimple ensures that any future stories told about Negan and Maggie won't be overly friendly now that the two have buried the hatchet. 'They're not going to be skipping and holding hands,' he says, 'but hate is corrosive to the person hating, and I think that's what this season portrayed. It's not necessarily sunshine and rainbows, but I do think this is a happy ending.' Maggie ends the season finding resolution with Negan. But her son? Not as much. Hershel is deeply disappointed in his mother's choice, and decides to stick with the Dama, the deadly woman who continues to corrupt the late Glenn's teenage son. Here, Maggie makes another choice, deciding to let Hershel follow his own path for the time being. 'It's funny to think about it this way, but this situation boils down to being a very difficult parenting decision,' says Gimple. 'It's kind of like letting your kid go off and follow a jam band. 'I don't approve of this, but it's your choice.' It's an enormous amount of faith Maggie's putting in Hershel at the end here. If she had killed Negan, maybe she'd get to have a relationship with her son right now. But if she had killed Negan, would she still be herself? And if not, what does that relationship with her son look like? It's complicated stuff.' How will Maggie and Negan, and even Maggie and Hershel, navigate the new turns in their relationships? Again, Gimple won't confirm a third season of Dead City just yet, but he does think about what the future holds for these characters. 'Where do they go from here? What do these choices mean, and what kinds of stories help us harness that relationship, that challenge, that showcase their new dynamics?' he asks. 'The last two seasons featured a dynamic that's now concluded [with Maggie and Negan settling their score]. Now, it's time to show you something different.' *** Walking Dead: Dead City season two is now available via AMC and AMC Plus. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Rick Hurst dies at 79: Dukes of Hazzard actor's net worth and legacy explored
Veteran actor Rick Hurst, widely remembered for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, died on June 26 at the age of 79. His death was announced by Cooter's Place, a museum dedicated to the Dukes franchise, where he was scheduled to attend a fan event just days later. The news was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Known for his warm demeanour and comedic charm, Hurst had built a loyal fan base both on and off the screen. Following his death, interest has surged around his life and career, especially regarding his financial legacy. At the time of his passing, Rick Hurst's net worth was estimated at $500,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Though not as high as some of today's TV stars, Hurst earned steadily over decades through guest roles, commercials, and regular appearances at fan conventions-particularly those linked to The Dukes of Hazzard. Hurst began his television journey in the early 1970s, making guest appearances on shows like The Doris Day Show, Sanford and Son, and The Partridge Family. His big break came in 1975 with the sitcom On the Rocks, where he played Cleaver. But it was his casting in 1979 as Cletus Hogg that brought him widespread recognition. He remained on The Dukes of Hazzard until 1983 and returned for reunion specials in 1997 and 2000. At the time, the show was a ratings juggernaut, though television salaries had yet to reach today's blockbuster levels. Beyond Dukes, Hurst was seen in several popular shows, including Happy Days, MASH*, Gunsmoke, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Wonder Years. On the big screen, he appeared in films such as Steel Magnolias, The Karate Kid Part III, and Earth Girls Are Easy. In 1983, Hurst played Earl Nash in the short-lived ABC version of Fawlty Towers. Though the show was cancelled after only 10 episodes, it marked another chapter in his diverse career. Hurst is survived by his son, Ryan Hurst, known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. Tributes from fans and peers continue to pour in, celebrating the life of a man whose charm and talent made him a beloved figure in American television. Rick Hurst had an estimated net worth of $500,000 according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was best known for playing Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard. He passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 79. Rick Hurst's son is actor Ryan Hurst, known for Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's Steven Ogg returns to the dead (sort of) in Revival
Steven Ogg first heard about the new supernatural-horror series Revival when he received a flattering note from co-creator Aaron B. Koontz, who told him that he wanted the Calgary-raised actor to take on the role of the wonderfully named Blaine Abel. Article content It's the sort of note that every actor would love to receive. Article content 'He actually wrote a really lovely letter to me,' says Ogg, in an interview with Postmedia from Montreal. 'I find it interesting when people approach with, 'Well, I know I could never afford you,' or 'You're too busy.' Of course, neither is the truth. But he had written a letter saying he was a big fan of my work and wanted to chat with me about if I was available. It was just a really lovely letter that moved me to tears, with him being so gracious and lovely. I spoke to him and he described the concept of the show, and then he also said this character was a preacher, a preacher's son. That opportunity to play a preacher, I was already interested. They had my interest with that.' Article content Article content Revival, which was filmed in New Brunswick and is currently airing Thursdays on Syfy, is based on the comic book series of the same name by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. It's a novel take on the undead subgenre. In a small Wisconsin town, the recently deceased are resurrected on Revival Day and appear to maintain their memories and personalities. So they are not really the 'undead,' but mysterious 'Revivers' who divide the small town. At the centre of the show is a murder mystery that finds our protagonist, single mother and cop Dana Cypress, played by Wynonna Earp's Melanie Scrofano, investigating the death of her troubled sister Em, played by Romy Weltman. Em, like many of the recently departed, doesn't stay dead for long. Article content Article content While the Hollywood Reporter described the series as Syfy's midwestern zombie mystery, the Revivers are not the mushy-brained nuisances of the variety Ogg faced as Walking Dead chief antagonist Simon in seasons 6 through 8 of AMC's The Walking Dead. Nevertheless, Blaine Abel considers them to be demons and the work of Satan. He begins to attract a cult-like following among the townsfolk and, at least as of episode 3, is setting the stage for what he calls a 'holy war.' Article content For now, it's hard to tell if Blaine will become a full-blown villain in the show. Ogg has a talent for playing bad guys, of course. He not only played Simon in The Walking Dead, but also a murderous synthetic android named Rebus in HBO's Westworld. He is also adept at playing characters that reside in a morally ambiguous grey zone, such as Pike, the former criminal turned rebel leader in TNT's runaway-train sci-fi series Snowpiercer. Whatever the case, Ogg traded in his trademark facial hair for a stringy mullet to play Blaine, and he manages to exude maximum creepiness in the role. Article content 'We collaborated quite easily and effortlessly, and he became more of this character who, as you will see, progressed throughout the series, and literally and figuratively becomes bigger,' Ogg says. 'Revival Day, for Blaine, gives him this mission in life to save souls, essentially. The Revivers are the devil's children for him. So it really brings back this passion and devoutness to a cause. That all appealed to me. When you get to speak verse from the Bible, it's Shakespeare in a sense with the language. So all of that was super exciting for me.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Walking Dead: Dead City 'finale ending with Negan and Maggie explained
This article contains spoilers about season 2 finale, "If History Were a Conflagration." What's old is new again. That's because The Walking Dead: Dead City brought back the most infamous moment in franchise history when Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) assembled a two-man lineup to play another deadly round of eeny-meeny-miny-moe in the season 2 finale. This time, it was Kim Coates' Bruegel and Gaius Charles' Armstrong down on their knees as Negan decided whom to kill. Even though his bat landed on the latter with moe, the former Sanctuary leader decided he wanted to kill Bruegel first. And Negan made it even more brutal by stuffing Bruegel full of methane and watching him burn from the inside before finishing the job with Lucille. Worried that Armstrong would eventually endanger Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), Negan tried to then finish off the New Babylon marshal-turned-colonel, but was stabbed in the back (literally) by Lauren Cohan's Maggie — who had promised her son Hershel (Logan Kim) she would finally end the man who murdered her husband. But once the group noticed that Ginny had already died and turned to a zombie, Maggie could not finish the job, and instead handed her knife to Negan to finish off the young girl. With a second wave of New Babylon forces marching through Manhattan, Maggie, Negan, and Armstrong holed up in apartment and ended the season with a joint proclamation. 'The truth is there is only one way forward, one way to move on. We got to work through what was, to get to what will be,' Maggie and Negan said, alternating lines as flashes of their journey over the past two seasons appeared on screen. 'We help each other up and the path becomes much clearer now. We move on, together. And we get there.' Ah, but where is there? Entertainment Weekly spoke with Walking Dead chief content officer and Dead City executive producer Scott M. Gimple about what went down in the finale, and what that big ending speech means moving forward. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Tell me about going back to the eeny-meeny-miny-moe scene and giving Negan another lineup with Bruegel and Armstrong. SCOTT M. GIMPLE: The biggest thing in The Walking Dead is change. If you look at Rick Grimes when he started, and you look when he ended, you're haunted by who you were, those ghosts. And Negan is especially haunted by that. I mean, he was told to become that again. He is like, 'I don't want to become that again.' And yet, here we are. He resisted it, but here we are. What about putting the twist on it where he lands on Armstrong but then kills Bruegel instead? Well, I guess maybe that does represent change. The relationships between those two characters in Armstrong and Negan, even with everything, they're pretty good. I mean, Armstrong did him a major solid. Bruegel is charming and funny, but there were no solids given. Whose idea was it to do another Negan lineup? Was that showrunner Eli Jorné and the writers? There are things I go to all of the shows with, whether they're little ideas or whether they're universe things, but this was the twisted mind of Eli, and I think it was brilliant. We've seen a whole lot of methane on this show, but not used that way. And I remember Kim Coates being like, 'How is this going to work?' And I remember Greg Nicotero being like, 'Oh, I know exactly how this is going to work!' I thought it was one of the more incredible gags we've seen in a while. And I hate to see Bruegel go. I think with The Walking Dead at its best, you're always hating to see the character go because you're like: I want that. I want to keep seeing that. I got to know Kim throughout this whole thing, and he's a remarkable dude. And one of the funniest, most sneakily charismatic dudes I've met. He's so good. If the Emmys actually honored shows like this, just hand him the Emmy now. He's so good in this role. Oh, I would bang that drum. Listen, if it's not at the Saturn Awards, I am going to flip out. It's a fantastic world. It's a crazy situation. Yet his portrayal of the character surmounts all of that. You know what I mean? We're in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and there's insane walker fights, and even the twists that we have on the walker fight, there's crazy stuff going on, but it's just like, 'Oh no, that's a real person. That's a real, magnetic person.' And that's the thing that grounds these fantastic worlds into reality for the audience. The reason for me why replaying the lineup act works here is the fact that Maggie has to watch it again. That's sort of the real impact of her having to go through that again. Talk a little bit about her role in that scene. There's a lot going on there with Maggie. She's bringing some major baggage into that. And I'm not just saying of the past, I'm saying of the last hour, and it's a tribute to Lauren to play all those different levels. Reacting to things is some of the hardest acting there is. You could say a line, you have this thing to do, but to play an expression, to play a feeling, not an easy thing. I don't worry about it with Lauren. Here's the question for me: If Negan was not about to bash Armstrong's head in, do you think Maggie goes and stabs Negan in the back? If she doesn't have to go at that second to save Armstrong, does she go through with it and stab him? That is a fantastic question. I mean, I can answer it. I've told you this many times: I totally can answer that question, but I'm not right in as much as that the audience is right. And, of course, same thing with anybody who works on it. Once it goes to the audience, it's theirs. So I can tell you what I believe. I think she would've anyways. From where she's at, and considering what shook her from finishing the job with Ginny — yeah, it's my opinion that she would've, because she hadn't yet changed. What can you say about closing the season on this speech that Armstrong starts and then Maggie and Negan kind of lob back and forth on? I always advocate on these shows, especially these short order shows, for real conclusion, and the network and the showrunners can take it where they want. I advocate for it. If I ruled with some kind of iron fist, I would have conclusion, but I was in the role and I want people to express themselves as they must. That said, this bit felt like a very important emotional conclusion, that real change had finally been achieved between these two characters. That Maggie had gone to the very brink of extinguishing Negan. She didn't. Negan had gone through a journey where he was forced to become something he really didn't want to be. And I think there's been a big, big change between the two of them and then within themselves, which I like quite a bit. Does that mean moving forward that they're not going to be ping-ponging as much in terms of like, 'Alright, we're working together, but now we're not'? Are you saying that they're sort of forming more of a — I don't want to call them a cohesive unit, which would be sort of a weird term for these two…. I would use the word détente. Okay, that works. I think they'll forever be in a better place. Whether or not it's like, 'Okay, I'm not going to kill you' — I mean, that's a big achievement. Whether or not it extends far beyond that, we're all just going to have to wait and see. I don't think they're going to be fist-bumping anytime soon, but I think I see at the end, they have to have this reconciliation. It is such a funny thing because it's been so many years since that happened, and when I say so many years, I'm saying in our world watching the show — anybody who that happened to would be completely justified for the rest of their lives to completely and utterly hate the person who did that to them. There's no doubt about it. But in this story, you can see how corrosive that hate or that anger can be to the person who is hating. And I think it's been a long road for the audience and a long road for the character. And it seems that this is the beginning of another way. You are indicating that there is more story to tell, so does the immediate story after this include a fight against New Babylon? Is that what the next chapter in this story appears to be? They're marching on the island. We see the second wave coming in. Is that what our protagonists are going to be up against? I don't like saying one way or another, but I will say we've surprised you in the past as far as, it seems like they're going to be a Terminus forever, or it seems like this or it seems like that. You never know. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
