Mashable

An artificial intelligence replica of Val Kilmer, the Hollywood icon who died from pneumonia in 2025, will star in the forthcoming indie film As Deep as the Grave. Variety reported the news Wednesday.

Kilmer had originally been cast as a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist in the movie, which faced pandemic-related delays. The role was based on a real-life man who played a part in the 1920s archeological excavation of Arizona's Canyon de Chelly, the heart of the Navajo Nation.

The actor ultimately never filmed a scene as his health worsened due to throat cancer.

SEE ALSO: Review: 'The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist' is a panic attack, in a good way

Writer/director Coerte Voorhees and producer John Voorhees, who are brothers, said they've used previously recorded material to create a "photorealistic digital model of Kilmer," according to the New York Times.

The Voorhees said they relied on generative AI programs to manipulate the trove of images, video, and audio. The Times reported that they inserted Kilmer's replica into previously filmed scenes using standard editing software. They also deployed AI to generate new scenes featuring Kilmer.

Kilmer's estate and daughter have been supportive of the decision to include an AI version of Kilmer in the film.

"He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling," Mercedes Kilmer told Variety. "This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part."

The filmmakers said that Kilmer's estate had been compensated for the appearance and that the production had followed Screen Actors Guild guidelines. Mashable contacted SAG and the Voorhees' production company for comment via email, but did not hear back as of publication.

In 2021, years after Kilmer lost his voice due to throat cancer treatment, he partnered with a software company to create a synthetic voice based on hours of recorded audio of him speaking.

When Kilmer appeared in Top Gun: Maverick as his character, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, his line of dialogue was powered by that voice.

TL;DR: Live stream Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A number of fascinating NHL fixtures are taking place this weekend, including Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes. On paper, the Carolina Hurricanes should take the win here comfortably, but the Scotiabank Arena could always inspire the Toronto Maple Leafs to an upset.

If you want to watch Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes?

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL starts at 7 p.m. ET on March 20. This fixture takes place at the Scotiabank Arena.

How to watch Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes for free

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now to live stream the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

Numerous reports, including Mashable's own coverage, were published on Wednesday about a new hacker tool called DarkSword that is being used to target iPhones. 

Apple has now shared with Mashable some important information regarding the threat and how the company is addressing it.

According to Apple, the company last year patched the underlying iOS vulnerabilities that the spyware exploited. In addition, Apple also pushed out an emergency software update for iOS 15 and iOS 16 on March 11 meant for older iOS devices that were not able to update to the more recent, patched versions of iOS.

Apple says that any user running iOS 15 through iOS 26 are protected from DarkSword spyware. 

SEE ALSO: Hackers target millions of iPhones with new DarkSword spyware

However, users running iOS 13 or iOS 14 need to update to iOS 15 in order for their device to receive these same protections. Apple says users still using these older versions of iOS will receive an alert to install a Critical Security Update within the next few days.

Apple also shared that security researchers confirmed that DarkSword spyware and other similar exploits do not work on devices with Apple’s optional Lockdown Mode protection enabled. In addition, iPhone 17 users were protected from these attacks thanks to the lineup's Memory Integrity Enforcement feature.

On Wednesday, Google, along with cybersecurity firms Lookout and iVerify, published detailed reports about DarkSword, a new hacking toolkit being deployed by bad actors, such as a notorious hacking group with ties to the Russian government. One of DarkSword's most concerning aspects is that the spyware did not require the target to download any malware or other malicious file. DarkSword is deployed by a target simply visiting a compromised website.

According to Apple, Apple Safe Browsing in Safari blocks all known malicious URLs identified by Google.

Apple also provided other general security and safety tips, such as using two-factor authentication for logins, never clicking on unknown links or attachments, and always keeping your devices' software up-to-date.

Apple has also published more information about how it's protecting users from these web-based attacks in a post found on its website.

Reddit appeared to be inaccessible to some users Thursday afternoon, with attempts to access the site showing a "server error" message.

At 3:20 p.m. ET, more than 30,000 users have reported problems with accessing Reddit, according to Downdetector. However, as of 3:50 p.m., user issues appeared to have been resolved.

While Reddit's status page shows no reported issues, attempts by Mashable to access Reddit by both desktop and app were met by errors shortly after 3 p.m. ET. Users on other social media sites also reported issues.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Should user-reported issues spike again, this story will be updated.

Pokémon Pokopia is arguably the first real Nintendo Switch 2 sensation, but it doesn't spell out everything about its various systems right away.

Case in point: upgrading abilities. Pokopia showers you with a handful of important abilities during its tutorial, and then doles out some more over the course of its story, but what it doesn't make clear up front is that you can upgrade those abilities to make them much more useful.

Rock Smash is one of them. At first, you can punch through most types of materials to clear them out and collect what's inside of them, but you'll also encounter some harder or bigger types of rocks that can't be smashed. What gives? Keep reading to find out how to fix that problem.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the coolest and weirdest 'Pokémon Pokopia' builds we've seen so far How to upgrade Rock Smash in Pokémon Pokopia

Upgrading your abilities in Pokopia is kind of an involved process if you're starting from the beginning. The main thing you need to know is that it's done through cooking, as different types of dishes upgrade different abilities. Specifically, you want to cook a hamburger steak of any kind because eating one will upgrade Rock Smash for you.

SEE ALSO: 'Pokémon Pokopia': How to get the Suck ability to move water around

If you don't already have the ability to cook, you'll need to simply progress through the main story until you unlock the Rocky Ridges area. Keep doing the story and eventually you'll meet a friendly Greedent who teaches you how to cook. Sorry for being somewhat vague about this, but it really is just a matter of doing what the game says until you unlock cooking.

SEE ALSO: A cool 'Pokémon' GameCube game is now on Nintendo Switch 2, but there's a catch

In order to make a hamburger steak, you need a frying pan and some beans. The former is what you use to cook hamburger steaks, and the latter is the primary ingredient for them. Once you have both of those, plop the frying pan down over a flame, put beans and another ingredient in it if you like, and then you'll have what you need. Eat your creation and Rock Smash should upgrade itself.

Once it's upgraded, you can punch through those troublesome rocks and collect rare ores from them. Congratulations!

Online betting platforms have users betting on nuclear war — and now, apparently, they'll be able to bet on humanity's destruction in person.

Prediction market site Polymarket announced on social media yesterday that its bar The Situation Room will open in Washington, D.C., tomorrow.

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Polymarket calls it "the world's first bar dedicated to monitoring the situation," referencing the meme of looking at the news or, for bettors, the market.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

In a follow-up post, Polymarket stated, "Imagine a sports bar… but just for situation monitoring — live X feeds, flight radar, Bloomberg terminals, and Polymarket screens." The concept artwork features not just a bar with screens on the walls, as is typical of any sports bar, but also additional screens on columns and what appears to be a globe in the center of the room (it seems to be a screen, like a mini-Vegas Sphere).

As Mashable has reported, online gambling is everywhere now. The wave that began with sports betting has exploded into wagering money on basically everything — including aforementioned nuclear fallout, but also which movie will win Best Picture, how many times Elon Musk will post on X in a given month, and more.

Given the gambling boom, it makes sense that Polymarket is capitalizing on it and turning it into an IRL experience. And it's not the first; in February, Polymarket opened a free grocery store in New York City for five days.

Who wants to bet on how odd that bar will smell?

Best early creator-approved deals to shop before the Amazon Big Spring Sale Best drone deal DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo $309 at Amazon (save $140) Get Deal Best portable mic deal DJI Mic Mini (2 transmitters + 1 receiver) $59 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best podcast mic deal Logitech Creators Blue Yeti Microphone $98 at Amazon (save $41.99) Get Deal Best portable power station deal DJI Power 1000 V2 $364 at Amazon (save $335) Get Deal Best gimbal deal Insta360 Flow 2 Plus Gimbal $99.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best camera bundle deal DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $549.99 at Amazon (save $79.01) Get Deal Best storage deal SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $188.79 at Amazon (save $94.20) Get Deal

Creators are well known for having an arsenal of great gadgets. From cameras to mics to clip-on lighting options, creator-approved tech makes the job a whole lot easier. Not only does it help with making the process more streamlined, it can level-up the polish on content creations.

SEE ALSO: Snag some serious DJI discounts before the Amazon Big Spring Sale lands

Not all of this gear comes cheap, which is why it's smart to make upgrades during major shopping events like the upcoming Amazon Big Spring Sale. Fortunately, we're already seeing nice discounts on creator-approved gear before the sale officially begins. Here are some of the best early creator-approved deals to shop ahead of the event.

Best drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo $309 at Amazon
$449 Save $140   Get Deal Why we like it

Finding DJI drones in stock has been an issue since the brand faced an FCC ban late last year. However, not only is the DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo in stock at Amazon right now, it's down to a new record-low price. Instead of paying the list price of $449 for the combo drone package, it's down to $309 which is a major 31% discount.

The bundle includes the DJI Mini 4K drone, three batteries for a total of 93 minutes of flight time, a carrying case, the DJI RC-N1C remote controller, and plenty more accessories for getting you drone in the air and capturing content.

Best mic deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini (2 transmitters + 1 receiver) $59 at Amazon
$79 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

Over the last few years, the DJI Mic Mini has become the creator-approved mic. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard tested out the DJI Mic Mini to see if it lived up to hype and found that it is, indeed, a great asset. She wrote, "If you need any degree of portability with your mic setup, the DJI Mic Mini offers a lot of versatility, and for a great value. That makes it a solid option for making vlogs and TikToks, and for anyone who feels less than confident with their tech skills."

Before the Amazon sale kicks off, the DJI Mic Mini with two receivers and one transmitter is on sale for $59, marked down from the list price of $79. This sale price matches the record-low at Amazon.

In 2023, Jury Duty stormed onto our screens as a surprisingly wholesome prank show, one where subject Ronald Gladden was treated not as the butt of the joke, but rather as the hero of a bizarro story. From its ultra-committed cast (including a stellar James Marsden) to Gladden's impeccable straight man work, the series felt like lightning in a bottle.

That is, until now.

Jury Duty is back for its second season, titled Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat. And thanks to its larger scale and an endearing new lead, it's proof that lightning can, in fact, strike twice.

SEE ALSO: 'The Comeback' Season 3 review: Lisa Kudrow warns us of the AI apocalypse What's Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat about? Alex Bonifer, Jerry Hauck, and Anthony Norman in "Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat." Credit: Prime Video

Company Retreat remixes Jury Duty's original premise, swapping a court trial for a company's annual week-long bonding trip. That company is small business Rockin' Grandma's Hot Sauce, and all but one of its employees is an actor.

The one non-actor is Anthony Norman, who's been brought on as a temp assistant to help out on the company retreat. This year's retreat is a big one: Rockin' Grandma's CEO (Jerry Hauck) is officially handing the reins to his son, Dougie Jr. (Alex Bonifer). Dougie has spent the last few years living in Jamaica as part of a Rastafarian band, and he's returned with questionable accent choices and almost no business experience. Will he be able to make a good first impression to the rest of Rockin' Grandma's employees?

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (March 20, 2026)

The wider staff is chock-full of standout characters, including remote IT worker Claire (Rachel Kaly), whose efforts to stave off the sun grow increasingly outlandish; receptionist PJ (Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur), who's planning to become a snack-fluencer; and warehouse manager Jimmy (Jim Woods), whose relentless virtue signaling is what cringe comedy dreams are made of. The entire cast delivers memorable moments, with a workplace ensemble akin to the oddballs of The Office. So much of the fun of this season is witnessing them commit so fully to their roles over the course of a week. It's truly an Olympic feat of comedy.

Another draw to the season is its scale. Aside from a trip to Margaritaville, Jury Duty mostly stayed within the courthouse or the hotel where its cast was sequestered, giving the crew a tight, controlled space in which to operate. In Company Retreat, the show is operating across a larger outdoor campus. There are far more moving parts, meaning more ways in which Anthony could discover the jig is up. On top of this presenting an exciting technical challenge, it also helps set Company Retreat apart from the original Jury Duty and proves that this format has potential as a greater anthology series, as long as it can find the right lead.

Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat's star Anthony is a delight. Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur and Anthony Norman in "Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat." Credit: Prime Video

Thankfully, Company Retreat has found the right lead in Anthony. Like Ronald, he doesn't push away the odder characters he encounters. Instead, he befriends them and even walks them through the wildest of situations. A season highlight is the burgeoning friendship between him and Dougie. While Bonifer often takes Dougie to annoying extremes, there's an endearing quality to his desire to excel as CEO. Anthony latches onto that in the hopes of helping him achieve that goal, making for a sweet bromance.

Like the cast, Anthony commits hard — not to the performance, since he's unaware this is all fake, but to Rockin' Grandma's itself. Even though he's only been working there for a few days, he's fully ready to do whatever it takes to uphold the "family" at the heart of the business. When a sketchy venture capitalist firm shows up to potentially acquire Rockin' Grandma's, Anthony is ready to throw down for his fellow staffers.

It's a testament to his character, but also to the immersive quality of Company Retreat's elaborate ruse. At times, that immersion means the season can feel more manipulative than the original Jury Duty, especially with its focus on (fake) team bonding. Like with Ronald, the final reveal winds up more heartwarming than anything, but you do have to wonder what impacts Truman Show-ing a guy will have.

However, it helps that Anthony is constantly willing to roll with the punches. More than that, he's the perfect audience stand-in, unafraid to laugh in disbelief at some of the season's wildest one-liners. Rarely have I laughed harder at someone laughing.

"You couldn't even make this up for a TV show, honestly," Ronald says during a talking head confessional. "This is so authentic and real. Nobody could sit down and write a script like this."

Well, turns out they did, and it makes for great TV — but just like with Ronald and Jury Duty, it's Anthony who takes it over the top.

The first three episodes of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat premiere March 20 on Prime Video, with new episodes weekly.

In Feb. 2026, the UK government announced a ban on incest porn, as well as other bans to do with explicit images, as part of the UK's Crime and Policing Bill. While it's not currently law yet, it's already dredging up discussion online — especially considering last year's Online Safety Act, which established age verification in the country.

Mashable spoke with experts about what these bans entail and why they matter.

What is the incest porn ban in the UK?

On Feb. 23, Lord Hanson and Baroness Levitt announced a ban on incest porn and other explicit content in an open letter to Lord Davies at the House of Lords, the upper house of UK Parliament. 

SEE ALSO: Teens sue xAI for Grok's reported sexual image generation issues

Specifically, the amendment (numbered 297 in the marshalled list of amendments from Feb. 23) makes the possession and/or publishing of pornographic images of sex between relatives illegal — even if the people in the image are pretending to be related. This also applies to adopted relatives and, as of March 2, step-relatives. Possession can result in a fine and/or a prison sentence of up to two years, and publishing such an image can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.

This ban in particular has faced backlash on social media, with one Bluesky user posting at the time of the announcement, "im really upset and idk what to do [sic]." Another Bluesky user said, "I find it rich that any country with a royal family would try to ban incest art."

The proposed ban fits into a different category of reforms that the government is making around the content of mainstream pornography, like the strangulation porn ban the UK announced in Nov., according to Clare McGlynn, law professor at the University of Durham. McGlynn, an expert in the legal regulation of porn in the UK, has worked with various parliamentarians and made suggestions about legislation. 

"Incest pornography is…another part of that," she said, "Really trying to change the content that is online." 

What are the image-based sexual abuse bans?

In addition to the incest porn ban, the new amendments seek to ban what the government is calling intimate image abuses, specifically, banning screenshotting temporary intimate images without consent and semen-defaced images (known as "cum tributes" or "hatewank videos").

SEE ALSO: How 'hatewank' videos became a tool for harassing women in the public eye

"The introduction of new image-based sexual abuse legislation is essential for protecting fundamental human rights," sex educator Jessie Gretener told Mashable. "The right to bodily autonomy extends beyond physical experiences, and therefore, legal frameworks need to reflect the harmful and degrading acts that compromise the safety and agency of people — online and offline."

The latest reporting from the UK's Office of National Statistic state that 900,000 sexual offenses were reported over the course of 12 months from 2024 to 2025, but Gretener said, "The reality is always significantly higher."

One crucial point, according to Gretener, is that the number of sexual offenses recorded by the police increased by 11 percent, which is partially attributed to prior image-based abuse legislation introduced under the Online Safety Act. 

Screenshotting temporary nudes

This amendment (281) would make it an offense for someone to create a copy of an intimate photograph or film that is shared with them temporarily without consent. An exception is if the image or film was uploaded in a more public place, or if the person photographed doesn't have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or if the person had consented to previous sharing. 

Should someone commit this offense, they'll face up to six months in prison, and/or a fine.

"Having your screenshots and your privacy leaked by someone that you feel you can trust is incredibly damaging," sex educator, sex worker, and host of the podcast Come Curious, Reed Amber, told Mashable.

This law "will protect more people from fearing that sharing an enjoyable, exciting, intimate moment with somebody won't be used against you in the future," she said.

Semen-defaced images

This amendment (278) would make it illegal to share a semen-defaced image if the person whose image it is doesn't consent to it, or the sharer doesn't reasonably think they do. This also includes graphics generated by a computer. In her interview with Mashable, McGlynn mentioned Grok and AI-generated images of semen on X. 

As with screenshotting without consent, this act faces a maximum prison sentence of six months and/or a fine. 

Amber said that she's personally had two images of her with semen on them sent to her non-consensually. 

"As a sex worker, this is the kind of content I see on a regular basis and in my in-person sessions, but to have somebody non-consensually do that without giving me a warning or without having a conversation around it first, it felt like a real personal invasion of privacy," she said. She fully stands by a ban on these non-consensual images. 

"It's part and parcel of that kind of ecosystem, of the ways in which technologies and… images are being used to abuse and harass women," McGlynn said. "The offense is about trying to say to survivors, 'We recognize this is happening to you. It's harmful, it's wrong, it's violating. It shouldn't be on the platforms, and it'll be a criminal offense.'"

A ban on nudification tools in the UK

In addition to the aforementioned amendments, another one (272) is that it'd be illegal to make or supply "nudification tools," or "purported intimate image generators," as the bill calls them. This offense carries a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison and/or a fine. 

This ban comes after a Jan. report Center for Countering Digital Hate found that Grok generated millions of sexualized images, including of children, in only 11 days. The UK is investigating Grok, as are Ireland, Brazil, India, and France. This month, three teens filed a lawsuit against xAI, which produced Grok, in a federal California court due to generating sexualized images of them.

The Crime and Policing Bill still has to go through several stages before becoming law. But given how the Online Safety Act has changed porn-viewing in the UK — such as Pornhub blocking itself, and non-pornographic content becoming age-gated — this will likely continue that trend. 

The best ways to watch 'The Housemaid' at a glance: Watch now Rent or buy 'The Housemaid' on Prime Video $9.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy 'The Housemaid' on Fandango at Home $9.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy 'The Housemaid' at Apple TV $9.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch as of April 1 Starz semi-annual plan $23.99 for 6 months (save $22) Get Deal Watch as of April 1 Starz monthly plan $6.99/month for three months (save $12) Get Deal Watch for free as of April 1 Starz (Prime Video add-on) free 7-day trial Get Deal

If you love a twisty popcorn thriller, Paul Feig's adaptation of The Housemaid is a wild ride. The Lionsgate box office hit stars Sydney Sweeney (Christy) and Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee), who go head-to-head in a tense battle of wits. It also features Brandon Sklenar (Drop), Indiana Elle, Elizabeth Perkins, and Michele Morrone in supporting roles.

You can officially stream Freida McFadden's over-the-top domestic thriller at home this spring. Here's everything you need to know.

What is The Housemaid about?

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid follows a young woman named Millie (Sweeney) with a criminal past who is hired as the live-in maid for Nina and Andrew Winchester (Seyfried and Sklenar), a wealthy, picture-perfect couple. Of course, their "perfect" life is far from what it seems behind closed doors. Prepare for a ton of twists and turns, in true Freida McFadden fashion.

Check out the trailer to get a taste:

Is The Housemaid worth watching?

The Housemaid took theaters by storm and became a smash hit for Lionsgate, crossing the $350 million milestone at the global box office and becoming Sweeney's highest-grossing film to date. Audiences and critics are mostly loving it; it currently holds a 92 percent audience rating and 73 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Is it over the top? Yes, but in the best way. If you've read The Housemaid, or any Freida McFadden book for that matter, then you know the fast-paced, twisty, borderline ridiculous popcorn thriller-style story you're in for. If not, buckle up. It certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea — in fact, Mashable's own entertainment editor was not a fan — but I personally think it's a blast.

Read Mashable's review of The Housemaid.

How to watch The Housemaid Credit: Lionsgate

The Housemaid hit theaters on Dec. 19, 2025, and made its at-home debut about a month and a half later via digital-on-demand platforms. It will also be streaming this spring. See the details below.

Rent or buy on digital

Lionsgate released The Housemaid on video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV on Feb. 3. You can purchase the film for $19.99 or rent it for $9.99, which gives you 30 days to watch and just 48 hours to finish once you begin.

Quick links to rent or purchase The Housemaid:

• Apple TV — $9.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Fandango at Home — $9.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Prime Video — $9.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• YouTube — $9.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

Stream it on Starz

The Housemaid is a Lionsgate film, which means it'll make its streaming debut exclusively on the Starz streaming platform on April 1, 2026. This follows the same timeline as other recent Lionsgate theatrical releases (The Long Walk, The Strangers: Chapter 2) — about 3.5 months between its theatrical and streaming debut.

Since it's not the most popular streaming service, there's a good chance you don't already have a Starz subscription. Fortunately, there are several deals to sign up — shop the best streaming deals below.

The best Starz streaming dealsBest long-term deal: Save $22 on semi-annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz semi-annual plan $23.99 for 6 months (save $22) Get Deal

Starz typically offers a semi-annual plan for $45.99, but you can knock that cost down to only $23.99 for six months with the streamer's latest special offer. That breaks down to just $3.99 per month. After the six-month promo period is up, the price will jump back up to full cost unless you cancel. New and previous subscribers are eligible to secure this offer for a limited time.

Best short-term deal: Save 36% on three months of Starz Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz monthly plan $6.99 per month for three months (save $12) Get Deal

If you'd rather not commit to half a year, you can sign up for three months of Starz for just $6.99 per month for a limited time. That's a total of just $20.97 — a savings of 36%. The price will jump back up to the full $10.99 per month after three months, so be sure to cancel before that to avoid charges.

Best trial: free 7-day Starz trial via Prime Video Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz (Prime Video add-on) free 7-day trial, then $10.99 per month Get Deal

If you're a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber, you can sign up for Starz as an add-on subscription and secure a free seven-day trial. If you align your trial period to the official streaming release for The Housemaid (April 1), you'll be able to watch for free. Just remember to cancel before the week is up, or you'll automatically be charged the full $10.99 per month.

Spring is just around the corner, and that means that the iPhone 18 is almost within reach.

While we still have about six months left to wait to get our hands on Apple's latest mobile devices, the rumor mill is in full swing. 

Here's everything we know so far about what's (potentially) coming with the iPhone 18 lineup that's different from the current and previous models.

The iPhone Fold joins the family

The name "iPhone Fold" is not yet a guarantee, but an all-new iPhone line is pretty much a sure thing for September's big Apple event.

The iPhone Fold, Apple's first foldable smartphone, has been speculated about for years. However, over the past few months, there have been numerous leaks from respected reporters and other Apple insiders that seem to cement the iPhone Fold's impending arrival.

Everything from the iPhone Fold's design to a potential retail price has leaked at this point.

The latest reports point to the iPhone Fold functioning as an iPhone when closed and presenting very much like an iPad mini when opened up, with apps running side-by-side.

If the rumors surrounding why it took so long for Apple to develop a foldable device are accurate, the iPhone Fold will likely have no visible crease when opened.

The iPhone Fold will also likely have two rear 48MP cameras (main and wide-angle) and two selfie cameras, one for when the device is closed and another for when the device is unfolded.

iPhone 18 Pro's different Dynamic Island

A mistranslation of a leaker's report originally set off some controversy among Apple fans as it appeared the company was maybe looking to get rid of the iPhone 18 Pro's Dynamic Island feature.

The iPhone 18 Pro will very likely still have the Dynamic Island. However, based on the correctly translated leak, the iPhone 18 Pro model may have a redesigned Dynamic Island that's smaller than the base model's.

It's still unclear exactly what changes are coming to the pill-shape Dynamic Island design, but it seems like it will be a bit different from its predecessors.

Variable aperture

Photographers should rejoice if this comes to fruition. Recent leaks suggest that Apple will be upgrading the iPhone 18 Pro's main camera with a variable aperture.

Typically, smartphone cameras have a fixed aperture due to limitations in fitting everything into such a small device. However, with the expanded camera plateau that was introduced with the iPhone 17, Apple has more space to work with.

It appears Apple is looking to utilize this by adding a variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro. A variable aperture would allow users to increase or decrease the size of the hole that lets in light to the camera sensor.

This will allow iPhone 18 Pro users to take more stylized photos, like allowing blur or bokeh effects to occur directly within the camera instead of in post-processing. A variable aperture can also improve the camera's shutter speed and reduce noise in the images as well. 

iPhone in 'Deep Red'

According to a report from Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman, Apple is testing out a new "deep red" color for at least two upcoming iPhone models.

This would be the first iPhone in any shade of red since the iPhone 14 came in red as part of the (PRODUCT)RED lineup. 

Apple's new affordable laptop, the MacBook Neo, has been a hit with its new vibrant "fun" color offerings like Citrus and Blush. While Apple may consider some iPhone colors in a similar vein, Gurman says the iPhone Fold will likely only come in more traditional color variations like space gray or black.

The A20 and A20 Pro chipset

An all new-generation of iPhones means an all-new generation of Apple's mobile chipset. The A20 is expected to come to the iPhone 18 lineup, while the A20 Pro chip will be found in the iPhone 18 Pro models.

While specs are still unknown, the A20 and A20 Pro chipsets will certainly be more powerful, faster, and more efficient than their predecessors. This is thanks to the TSMC's 2nm process that the A20 will use.

According to MacRumors, TSMC uses Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, which means that the iPhone's RAM will be "integrated directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than the RAM being adjacent to the chip and connected via silicon interposer."

For users, the result of this technology is faster performance for many features, including Apple Intelligence, as well as increased battery life. This design also provides increased space within the iPhone for other technologies.

Analysts believe that the chipset will have 12GB of RAM embedded in it across the board. This means that the base model iPhone 18 would get an upgrade from last year's base model iPhone 17, which only had 8GB of RAM.

Along with the A20 chipset, the new iPhone 18 models will reportedly have a new N2 chip for increased Wi-FI and Bluetooth performance as well as a new C2 Modem, which will upgrade the iPhone's 5G and satellite connectivity.

Apple's next big-ish iOS update is purportedly just days away, and we finally have a good idea of what it will contain.

The update, officially called iOS 26.4, is expected to launch next week, per 9to5mac. Accordingly, Apple has released the latest beta with a list of new features you can expect. A lot of them are small and not particularly exciting, but here are the three that stood out to us the most.

SEE ALSO: iOS 27 update: Liquid Glass haters should prepare for disappointment New emoji Distorted face is really good. Credit: Unicode

Easily the most exciting new part of iOS 26.4 is the addition of several new emoji. These include a trombone, a funny distorted face that I'm sure will get used a lot online, a ballet dancer, an orca, and a sasquatch. I'm a big fan of the sasquatch, personally, but all of them are very good and will be welcome additions to the emoji portfolio.

SEE ALSO: Apple iOS 26.4 update: No Gemini-powered Siri yet, report suggests Apple Music enhancements

Apple made some enticing changes to Apple Music for iOS 26.4. First off, a new Concerts feature will help you find nearby shows for artists you listen to on a regular basis. Sure, you could also just Google that, but hey, might as well cut out the middleman.

There are also new automatically generated playlists based on user descriptions, as well as new full screen backgrounds for album and playlist pages. This isn't a massive overhaul for Apple Music by any means, but it should make the app better overall.

SEE ALSO: Here's how the MacBook Neo compares to older MacBook Airs Another change to Liquid Glass

Lastly, there's a small but hopefully helpful setting for Liquid Glass called "Reduce Motion." This will, naturally, reduce the intensity of UI animations for people who are sensitive to that sort of thing. This isn't a revolutionary change, but considering how many people still don't like Liquid Glass for a variety of reasons, this should hopefully give them some peace of mind.

TL;DR: Get a Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air (2017) for $199.97 (reg. $999).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03   Get Deal

If you’ve ever wished you had a second laptop for travel, coffee shops, or everyday browsing, you’re not alone. Carrying your primary computer everywhere can feel risky — and buying a brand-new MacBook just to have a backup isn’t exactly budget-friendly.

That’s why refurbished models like this Apple MacBook Air (2017) can be a smart option. It’s available for just $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.

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The MacBook Air has long been known for its thin, lightweight design, which makes it especially convenient for working on the go. This model features a 13.3-inch display with a 1440×900 resolution, giving you plenty of space for documents, browsing, and streaming.

It runs on a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 128GB SSD storage, which is well-suited for everyday tasks like email, writing, spreadsheets, video streaming, and web browsing. The SSD storage keeps things running smoothly, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to stay connected and transfer files. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of battery life, which is helpful for flights, long workdays, or study sessions.

This refurbished model carries a Grade A/B rating, meaning it may show light cosmetic wear but remains fully functional.

At this price, it’s a practical way to add a portable extra computer to your home, travel bag, or workspace. Get this Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air while it’s $199.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time with free shipping.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: On March 19, fans can score a free vanilla soft-serve cone at participating Dairy Queen locations nationwide.

The birds are singing, the temperature is climbing, and yes, that is the sun you can see peeping through the clouds. Spring is here, and so is Free Cone Day.

Dairy Queen's Free Cone Day is making a triumphant return in 2026. On March 19, you can celebrate this special occasion by enjoying a free vanilla soft-serve cone at participating Dairy Queen locations. Simply stop by your local DQ restaurant to score this delicious treat — there's really no catch.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away an exclusive Steering Wheel for free. Here’s how to get yours on March 9.

We recommend visiting Dairy Queen or downloading the Dairy Queen App to find a local restaurant that's participating. Now that the day is here, you don't want to be messing around looking for a restaurant. You want to be prepared. On Free Cone Day, the focus should be on free ice cream and nothing else.

The promotion runs all day while supplies last and there's a limit of one free cone per person. This free giveaway is not valid on delivery or mobile orders and it's worth noting that U.S. Mall locations require a purchase to qualify.

Celebrate Dairy Queen's Cone Day with a free vanilla soft-serve cone on March 19.

Apple's AppleCare One is perhaps the best way to keep your Apple gadgets insured, especially if you're deeply invested in Apple's product ecosystem. Unfortunately for Europeans, the feature — which launched in the U.S. in July 2025 — wasn't available to them, but this might change soon.

MacRumors noticed that the AppleCare One trademark was registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on Thursday. While this doesn't necessarily indicate that Apple is about to launch the product in the EU, it is the sort of thing that typically precedes a launch overseas.

SEE ALSO: Apple launches AirPods Max 2 with improved noise cancelling and smart features

There's no timeline for the launch, and nothing has been officially announced. Also note that Apple filed a similar application with the EUIPO for Apple Pay Cash (now Apple Cash) back in 2017, and that particular service never launched in Europe.

Still, we have our fingers crossed, because AppleCare One is a very good way to protect your Apple gadgets. In the U.S., it costs $19.99 per month, allowing customers to protect up to three products in one plan, with the option to add additional gadgets for $5.99 per month per device.

The cool thing about this plan — which includes all the benefits that come with AppleCare+, and includes theft and loss protection for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch — is that you can remove and add devices into and out of the plan whenever you want.

The best unlocked phone deals to shop ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best Google deal Google Pixel 10 Pro XL $1,299 (save $250) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE $666.89 (save $293.10) Get Deal

From March 25 for a whole week, Amazon will be discounting a wide range of products as part of its Big Spring Sale.

Robot vacuums, drones, TVs, and a whole lot more will be discounted, so it's a great excuse to upgrade your tech for less. The same goes for mobile phones. If you're been hoping to get a great price on a phone you can buy outright, Amazon already has some great deals live on unlocked phones. From Samsung, Google, and Motorola, here are some of the best early deals we've spotted.

Best Google unlocked phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro XL $1,299 at Amazon
$1,549 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

This is a seriously powerful phone with a 6.8-inch Super Actua display, next-gen Tensor G5 chip, and built-in Gemini AI. It has a pro camera system that gives you sharp 50MP photos and 8K video as well as a 100x zoom. And if you're a regular phone dropper, this one should withstand most bumps and drops thanks to its durable aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 build.

Best Samsung unlocked phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE Cell Phone $666.89 at Amazon
$959.99 Save $293.10   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE brings back the era of flip phones in the best way. It's a compact, foldable phone with a 50MP camera and FlexMode functions that let you shoot hands-free without needing a tripod. And despite its size, it’s incredibly powerful, thanks to its strong processor and long-lasting battery.

More unlocked phone deals

• Motorola Moto G Play — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)

• Samsung Galaxy A17 5G — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)

• Google Pixel 9a — $439.99 $499 (save $59.01)

• Google Pixel 10 — $549 $799 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 — $1,809.99 $1,999.99 (save $190)

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $60. That's close to market value ahead of the March 20 release date.

Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $59.75 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

The challenge in the trading card game is finding new products for anything close to market value, and that goes double for Pokémon. It's tough out there, so we'll take what we can get right now.

The good news for collectors is that the Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $60. No that's not market value, but it's close and you're getting that sweet convenience of buying from Amazon. For a lot of buyers, that makes all the difference.

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This preorder celebrates the bond between Trainer and Pokémon with a booster pack containing three of nine illustration rare-style promo cards. This consists of first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola region. Buyers will also get two more Pokémon TCG booster packs and a fun sticker sheet featuring first partner Pokémon friends. You're getting a lot for around $60.

Score the best Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 preorder deal at Amazon. For more Pokémon deals ahead of Amazon's Spring Sale, we've lined up everything on offer in a helpful hub page.

Stephen Colbert may spend the majority of his time unpacking serious stories about politicians' deleted tweets and gratuitous defense department spending, but that doesn't mean he has no time for some occasional monkey news too.

The Late Show host has already embraced Punch, the viral monkey from Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo, purchasing the same IKEA orangutan Punch famously uses for emotional support — and in the clip above, he discusses an intriguing new simian development.

"Rumors are swirling that Punch the monkey has a girlfriend," says Colbert. "Which means this update isn't merely ooh-ooh ahh-ahh, it's ooh-ooh la-la."

"News of the monkey romance started spreading when folks caught Punch and Momo-chan sharing a smooch," continues Colbert. "Boy, I hope somebody taught him how to put a condom on a banana."

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Have you ever heard that ol’ country song “Who gets the family bible when two grownups lose heart?”

Well, we may need a new version for the Gen Z era, because according to a litigation strategist I met at SXSW 2026, it’s actually the family TikTok account creators should be worried about.

That's right, TIL that creators should consider adding TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram accounts to their prenups.

Attorney Michelle May O’Neil said exactly that during a SXSW panel she hosted, “Who Owns Me? Legal War Over Identity in the Creator Economy.” O’Neil is a nationally recognized lawyer and expert on NIL (name, image, likeness) topics, and she warned creators to take proactive steps to protect their identities, including prenuptial agreements.

SEE ALSO: How creators can protect their identity in an age of AI clones

This isn’t a hypothetical situation, either.

O’Neil highlighted the case of Kat and Mike Stickler, married influencers who ended up in a bitter custody feud, not over their children, but over their followers — all 4 million of them. In covering the case, the Wall Street Journal asked, “Who Gets the TikTok in the Divorce?” (FWIW, Kat ultimately retained ownership of the original TikTok account and has gone on to amass an even larger following as @katstickler.)

And if your TikTok or Instagram accounts do become the subjects of a contentious divorce like the Sticklers, don’t expect family court to provide a solution, O’Neil said during her SXSW panel.

“We don't have case law authority. There's no legal doctrine for this. So their individual identity became joint property, and nobody thought about what it looked like to divide it.”

Here’s another worrying scenario: What if you’re romantically involved with a creator and appear occasionally in their content? Eventually, you break up or get divorced. Does your ex then retain the right to keep using your likeness however they see fit?

“I think it's a really good idea to have a clause in prenups that says that each spouse maintains the exclusive right to their name, image, likeness, and does not, by virtue of marriage, transfer their rights over to the other spouse because of marriage. And the reason for that is my experience representing high-profile people."

So, what else can creators and public figures do to protect their digital likeness?

In addition to creating a prenup, O’Neil advised creators to create an LLC or other legal entity to protect their core asset — their identity.

“This is another reason to have an entity structure before marriage, but if you're making money on your image, name, likeness, voice, whatever, before you get into a marriage, it's a pretty good idea to put that in the prenup…And I don't really know of a lot of lawyers that actually do this in prenups,” O’Neil said at SXSW.

Prenups are the kind of safeguard you hope you never have to use. But if you and an ex ever get into a legal battle over social media assets or NIL issues, you might be glad you have it, O'Neil said.

"That one clause in a prenup that says I have license, I have the rights, I own my name, image, likeness, my voice, my writings, everything that comes from me. I still own it, it's my property, and just because I marry you, I'm not giving you license to use it."

This article and the quotes in it are not legal advice. Talk to your own legal representative before making any decisions.

SAVE $500: As of March 19, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

The ban on DJI imports it naturally causing stock to drop, but it's still possible to find popular models on Amazon (for now). And you can still find deals on some of the best drones from the brand, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. This bumper bundle has hit a record-low price on Amazon .

As of March 19, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price for a limited time.

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We have seen this low price before, but we don't know how long this sort of deal will stay live. Stock is going to dwindle at some stage. At that point, prices will surely jump. Until we reach that moment, we're going to take every opportunity we can get to shop.

This bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. You're getting everything you need to start flying and capturing footage in one convenient package.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro features a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can opt for 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming, and night flying is a possibility thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function.

It's a truly stellar option for content creators and anyone looking to capture epic footage.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro.