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Brand New Day,’ starring Tom Holland, is out in 2026

LAS VEGAS – Tom Holland might not officially be on the massive “Avengers: Doomsday” cast roster – at least not yet – but his young web-swinger is definitely coming back to the big screen next year.

On Monday, his fourth film as the Marvel superhero received a brand-new title – “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” – and a release date of July 31, 2026. Director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) was on hand to make the announcement at CinemaCon, the annual convention for theater owners and studios, while Holland sent in a video message from “across the world” where he’s filming another project. Holland called the movie “a fresh start” for his main character, after Peter Parker sacrificed his identity to save his friends in the cliffhanger of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

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Principal photography is set to start this summer on “Brand New Day,” and while in pre-production, “daily, we’re nerding out over the suit, how to swing, how to create an emotional story and a ride we haven’t seen before,” Cretton said.

The filmmaker acknowledged that his 1-year-son’s first word recently was “Spider-Man” − or, “Minah-Man” in infant speak – after seeing a Spider-Man comic book on Cretton’s side table. “It feels a little bit like early brainwashing but there is something about this character,” Cretton said, adding that his own obsession came from Peter Parker’s “messy humanity,” which “made me believe the hero behind the mask wasn’t so different from me.”

After debuting as teenage Peter Parker alongside Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War” Holland headlined a trio of “Spider-Man” films – 2017’s “Homecoming,” 2019’s “Far From Home” and 2021’s “No Way Home” – and also appeared in the “Avengers” blockbusters “Infinity War” and “Endgame.”

The final animated ‘Spider-Verse’ movie gets a release date

In other Spider-news, the anticipated “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” the third and final installment in the acclaimed animated trilogy, snagged a release date as well: June 4, 2027. The movie again features Shameik Moore voicing Brooklyn teen Miles Morales and Hailee Stainfeld as Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Gwen, Miles’ pal from an alternate dimension. The original 2018 film, “Into the Spider-Verse,” won an Academy Award for best animated feature, while the sequel “Across the Spider-Verse” was one of the top-grossing films of 2023.

Like the two other “Spider-Verse” films, the third movie will “break the boundaries of animation again,” said producer Phil Lord. “Beyond” picks up exactly where the second film left off with a cliffhanger, as Miles confronts a different version of himself from a parallel world, where he’s the supervillain Prowler (Jharrel Jerome).

Lord also introduced a first look at the new film, a trippy animated montage featuring Miles battling the Prowler, The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) running destructively amok, and Miles reuniting with Gwen, plus a voiceover from Miles: “Everybody keeps trying to tell me how my story will go. I’m going to do my own thing.”

April 1, 2025
Crossword Blog & Answers for April 1, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! On Top-ic
Constructor: Hannah Slovut-Einertson

Editor: Anna Gundlach

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

APRON (27A: Garment that might say “Best flippin’ dad ever”) This is a great clue for APRON.

READ (35A: Left on ___ (spurned over text)) If a person has the “READ receipts” option turned on, people that text that person will be able to tell whether the message has been READ. If a person has READ a text and hasn’t responded, you might have been “left on READ,” as they say.

DARIA (37A: Title girl of a “Beavis and Butt-Head” spinoff) DARIA is an animated TV show aimed at adults that originally aired from 1997 to 2002. The show was a spin-off from Beavis and Butt-Head, on which DARIA was a recurring character. The show revolves around two teenage girls, the title character and her best friend Jane Lane.

ALMOND (40A: Marzipan nut) Marzipan is a paste made of ground ALMONDs and sugar.

AZTEC (42A: Itzcoatl’s empire) Itzcoatl (1380-1440) was the founder of the AZTEC Empire, which he ruled from 1427 to 1440. The AZTEC Empire, which lasted until 1521, was an alliance of three city-states in what is now southern Mexico: Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan.

LIAM (47A: “Lonely Planet” actor Hemsworth) Lonely Planet is a 2024 movie in which Laura Dern stars as a reclusive novelist who travels to a prestigious writer’s retreat in Morocco, hoping to work through writer’s block. There she meets a younger man – LIAM Hemsworth’s character – and typical romance movie situations ensue.

ASIA (48A: Bhutan’s continent) Bhutan is a landlocked country in South ASIA. It is located between China and India. The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. Since this is the first day of April, this is obviously the first appearance of our crossword friend ASIA this month. This is the seventh time we have seen ASIA in 2025.

GIN (62A: Negroni ingredient) A Negroni is an Italian cocktail made of one part each GIN, vermouth, and Campari. GIN is making back-to-back puzzle appearances, as we saw it yesterday clued as [Juniper-flavored spirit].

ICHABOD CRANE (4D: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” protagonist) Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” was originally published in 1820. In addition to ICHABOD CRANE, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” introduced the character of the Headless Horseman. In the story, ICHABOD CRANE was on his way home one night when he was chased by the Headless Horseman. The Headless Horseman throws his pumpkin head at ICHABOD CRANE, who mysteriously disappears without a trace.

ICE CREAM CAKE (10D: Frozen dessert like Fudgie the Whale) Fudgie the Whale is an ICE CREAM CAKE sold by the ICE CREAM franchise Carvel. As you might expect, the ICE CREAM CAKE is shaped like a whale. Carvel’s other ICE CREAM CAKEs include Cookie Puss (a space alien with cookies for eyes and an ice cream cone for a nose) and Hug Me the Bear. The Fudgie the Whale ICE CREAM CAKE has received mentions on several TV shows, including Archer, The Office, The Simpsons, and How I Met Your Mother.

LEE (26D: “Parasite” actor Sun-kyun) The 2019 movie Parasite is about a family that insinuates itself into a wealthy household. The movie was directed by Bong Joon Ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won. LEE Sun-kyun portrays Park Dong-ik, the father of the Park family.

HIT SHOW (39D: Broadway play that sweeps the Tonys, e.g.) Tony Awards honor excellence in Broadway theatre. The 2001 musical The Producers, was a HIT SHOW that won 12 Tony Awards, the most of any show to date.

BIG CAT (46D: Cougar or panther) Here’s a photo of my cat, Willow, staring off into the distance and thinking of her BIG CAT cousins.

EHOW (56D: DIY website with articles like “Make Your Own Popsicle Chalk”) EHOW is a website founded by Courtney Rosen in 1999. The online guide features instructional articles and videos on a variety of topics including how to “Make Your Own Popsicle Chalk.” Popsicle chalk – in case you were wondering – is not chalk made of popsicles, but sidewalk chalk shaped to look like a popsicle, complete with a handy craft stick for holding the chalk while you draw.

A few other clues I especially enjoyed:

SAGE HEN (55A: Smart-sounding female bird)

OH GREAT (60A: “Just what I wanted to hear…”)

WOE IS ME (64A: “My life sucks!”)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

ICHABOD CRANE (4D: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” protagonist)

I CAN EXPLAIN (7D: “There’s a perfectly good reason for this”)

ICE CREAM CAKE (10D: Frozen dessert like Fudgie the Whale)

ON TOP-IC: The letters IC are ON TOP of each vertical theme answer: ICHABOD CRANE, I CAN EXPLAIN, and ICE CREAM CAKE.

This is a fun set of theme answers for this ON TOP-IC theme. I appreciate the choice to align each vertical theme answer with the top of the grid so that the letters IC are not only ON the TOP of each theme answer, but also ON the TOP of the puzzle. Thank you, Hannah, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
April 1, 2025
See who will play the band

LAS VEGAS – A new Fab Four has arrived.

Monday night at CinemaCon, the annual convention for theater owners and studios, Sony Pictures finally spilled details about its ambitious four-movie “The Beatles” event. And because it involves what director Sam Mendes considers “the most significant band of all time,” he brought out his entire supergroup of actors, Avengers style, starring in these intersecting music biopics: Paul Mescal is playing Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn inherits the guitar of George Harrison, Barry Keoghan will be drumming as Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson has been cast as John Lennon.

“The Beatles changed my understanding of music. Pretty much, they made up my first memories,” Mendes said. He revealed that all four films – which will be in production over the course of a year – will come out in April 2028, calling it “the first binge-able theatrical experience.”

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The filmmaker added that the quadrilogy will be told from the perspectives of “four different human beings,” characters and events will cross over between the movies, and “seeing all four films in proximity tells the story in a unique way.”

The Beatles biopics were first announced in February of last year, with McCartney, Starr and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison all signing off on the project through the band’s Apple Corps. Ltd. (Sony Music Publishing, by the way, controls the rights to the majority of Beatles songs.)

The Beatles and movies go way back, appearing in five movies themselves between 1964 and 1970, including “A Hard Day’s Night” and the animated “Yellow Submarine.” There have been a few attempts at the biopic treatment, from the 1994 indie drama “Backbeat” – which centered on Lennon’s relationship with Stuart Sutcliffe before the Beatles were superstars – to 2009’s “Nowhere Boy” with Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenage Lennon. And then there are the many documentaries over the years, including Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” in 2021 and “Beatles ’64” last year.

Mendes allowed that, while a lot of the Beatles story has been told, “I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore.

“The music will be astonishing and I promise you it’ll be worth the trip.”

April 1, 2025
CinemaCon: See Paul Mescal, more stars unveil their new moviesMovies

CinemaCon: See Paul Mescal, more stars unveil their new moviesMovies

April 1, 2025
Bill Burr strikes gold in debut

NEW YORK — If coffee’s for closers only, then Bill Burr deserves a double espresso.

The irreverent standup comic sets off fireworks in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” an exceedingly straightforward yet savagely entertaining revival of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which opened March 31 at the recently restored Palace Theatre. Like many of this spring’s top-dollar productions, Burr is joined by a megawatt cast that includes newly minted Oscar winner Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”) and Michael McKean (“Laverne & Shirley”).

Mamet’s play premiered on Broadway in 1984 and was later adapted into a 1992 movie starring Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin, whose oft-quoted character was added solely for the film. (So if you’re waiting to hear “third prize is you’re fired,” you’ll just have to settle for steak knives projected on the house curtain.)

Like its big-screen counterpart, the show follows a group of weaselly real-estate agents in cutthroat pursuit of the “premium leads” (in other words, names and phone numbers for the most lucrative potential clients).

Odenkirk brings palpable despair to Shelley Levene, a washed-up salesman pleading for better leads in hopes of reversing his chronic losing streak. It’s a role not dissimilar to his “Better Call Saul” protagonist Jimmy McGill, another bungling sad sack trying to keep his moral compass from spinning amok. In interviews, the affable actor has repeatedly expressed his desire for a lighter, broader spin on “Glengarry,” but it’s Odenkirk who really grounds the comedy in its heartbreak.

Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated). The boisterous comedian lights up the stage with sly wit and brazen confidence, conveying Moss’ righteous fury over being bottom of the office food chain.

Culkin, meanwhile, takes on the agency’s top dog Richard “Ricky” Roma, portrayed with barking machismo onscreen by Pacino. It’s a cliché, at this point, to say Culkin is up to his same old “shtick,” after some critics griped that his “Real Pain” performance was a mere photocopy of his petulant Roman Roy in HBO’s “Succession.” “Glengarry” certainly won’t silence the naysayers: As Roma, the live-wire actor gets to slam desks, detonate F-bombs and slather on his signature snark, all while hurling racial abuse at cool-headed office manager John Williamson (Donald Webber Jr.).

He never fully taps into Roma’s seductive undercurrent, as the salesman traps an unsuspecting client (John Pirruccello) while soliloquizing about the futility of life. But Culkin fares much better in the propulsive second act, as all the characters uncoil in the pressure cooker of the office, and Roma goes toe-to-toe with Burr’s equally hotheaded Moss.

Despite its small cast and intimate setting, the production rarely gets swallowed up by the cavernous Palace, which has typically housed splashy musicals and diva residencies. That’s thanks in large part to Scott Pask’s richly ornate production design, which captures the glow of a Chinese restaurant and the austerity of a musty office, down to the rusted pipes and water-stained walls.

The direction by Patrick Marber (“Leopoldstadt”) is entirely safe and unfussy, almost to a fault. In playing up the material for laughs, you lose some of the agony and desperation that’s lurking just underneath Mamet’s spiky crowd-pleaser. And with its brisk running time ‒ the first act clocks in at roughly 35 minutes ‒ you may feel somewhat cheated forking over hundreds of dollars for something that feels relatively slight.

Still, you can’t deny the sheer delight of watching the stars that Marber has aligned. With a dynamite cast firing on all cylinders, these “Glengarry” leads are ultimately worth the investment.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” is now playing at the Palace Theatre (160 W. 47^th Street) through June 28, 2025.

April 1, 2025
Olivia Munn had a ‘breakdown’ as 3-year-old Malcolm had a fit

Olivia Munn is learning both the joys and pitfalls of being a mother of two.

On Monday, she joined Jenna Bush-Hager as a guest host on “Today with Jenna and Friends” to kick off her weeklong cohosting gig, and they opened the episode by commiserating over parenthood. In September, Munn and her husband, John Mulaney, welcomed their second child, Méi June, who is younger sister to 3-year-old Malcolm.

“It is so much fun every single day,” Munn told Bush-Hager about the past six months with a family of four. “With one child, as we all know, it’s awesome. It’s difficult; you’re learning new things. Your life is changing.”

She continued, “But then two, it’s like I just landed on Mars. This is insane. How does anybody do this?”

Munn, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, admitted that she “did have a moment of a real breakdown, a real big breakdown,” while in New York in December for Mulaney’s two weeks of daily Broadway rehearsals.

“My 3-year-old hit his limit,” she said. “It was, like, screaming, crying, and saying things to me where my feelings were getting hurt. … And he didn’t want me to be with my daughter because the jealousy was coming in, and I just broke down crying. A cry that I have never cried.”

However, the “X-Men: Apocalypse” actress found a silver lining and started to see the humor in her children’s tumultuous emotions.

“I was so distraught, but then I had this realization. I said, ‘You know what? God willing, we get to work as much as we are working now forever. God willing, we’re shifting and jumping around and moving everywhere.’ And we’re so lucky,” she told Bush-Hager. “Every time there is a breakdown or a fit or whatever, it makes me laugh. It’s so much that I have to turn away so I don’t condone it, but everything just makes me really happy.”

Bush-Hager – who has three children, 12-year-old Mila, 9-year-old Poppy and 5-year-old Hal – relayed advice for when Munn’s kids get older.

“I’m not going to be in all of my kids’ memories, (and) I shouldn’t be. We should make our kids feel confident so they can go and be their own people,” Bush-Hager said, calling it a “crazy realization” that happened when her pre-teen daughter wanted to trick-or-treat with her friends.

In what could be read as a bid at co-hosting the “Today” show, Munn also said at the top of the show that she loves “being live. I love that I can say whatever I want to say,” noting too that she’d gotten her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.

Since Hoda Kotb’s departure from NBC in January, Bush-Hager has had a rotation of co-hosts, from Scarlett Johansson to Amy Poehler, Savannah Guthrie, sister Barbara Bush, Wynonna Judd and Taraji P. Henson.

April 1, 2025
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ revived after Warner Bros. shelved film

It seems as though Wile E. Coyote will get his star turn after all.

The Looney Tunes villain, best known for his merciless pursuits of Road Runner, will star in the revived feature film “Coyote vs. Acme,” Ketchup Entertainment confirmed in a press release Monday. The production company acquired the worldwide rights to the live-action/animated hybrid from Warner Bros. Pictures, which shelved the movie from release in late 2023.

“‘Coyote vs. Acme’ is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation,” Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West said in a statement. “We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

‘We’re not doing guns’: Elmer Fudd loses his rifle in HBO’s ‘Looney Tunes’ cartoon reboot

Ketchup Entertainment did not share a release date for the film, which stars John Cena, Lana Condor, Will Forte and Tone Bell. The Dave Green-directed flick centers on Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for its “countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner.”

The acquisition of “Coyote vs. Acme” comes after Ketchup Entertainment distributed the 2024 Looney Tunes film “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.” The film grossed $10.5 million at the global box office.

Why was ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ shelved?

“Coyote vs. Acme’s” silver-screen debut came to a screeching halt in November 2023 after Warner Bros. announced it was no longer releasing the film. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported the news at the time.

The move followed the studio’s shocking 2022 decision to shelve a trio of films: “Batgirl,” which was mostly completed and scheduled for release on HBO Max, along with DC’s “Wonder Twins” and “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt.”

“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group spokesperson told the outlets. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”

Why was ‘Batgirl’ shelved? Warner Bros. Discovery chief explains, and details DC Comics’ future

In a February interview with MovieWeb, Forte blasted Warner Bros.’ cancellation of the film, telling the outlet, “It is such a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than it got. I can’t tell you possibly why the decision was made to not release it. But it makes my blood boil.”

“I appreciate them letting us make it, but don’t let us make this thing that we fall in love with and then not show it. I would understand if the thing sucked, but it’s really good,” Forte continued. “Maybe somehow we get to see it at some point. I hope people do. I was really proud of it.”

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY

April 1, 2025
‘American Idol’ Hollywood Week eliminates half of the contestants
“American Idol” delivered a bloodbath Monday night as more than half of the 144 contestants were cut from the competition.
But that’s Hollywood, baby. Hollywood Week, that is. The singers entered the “Idol Arena” for a follow-up performance to their auditions, which would either convince Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan to keep them in the running or send them home to hone their skills.

Some of the aspiring stars who blew away the judges in the auditions round choked and failed to give their best showings, which led to the end of the road for standouts like Landynn Kennedy, Sam Sparks and Mikaela Bautista.

Last time on ‘Idol’: Teen blows Lionel Richie away from his desk, earns platinum ticket

Meanwhile, contestants like Josh King and Jamal Roberts, whose auditions showed more promise than fully-formed, ready-for-Hollywood talent, stepped up to the plate and wowed not only the judges but made their competition quake in their boots.

Here’s who shined in Episode 5, who survived the “biggest cut in ‘Idol’ history” (a declaration from Ryan Seacrest, who said the same thing last year) and who’s out of the competition.

Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell tears up during son’s tribute song for grandma

It’s been a few episodes since we saw Baylee Littrell, 21, step out of dad Brian Littrell’s Backstreet Boys shadow in the season premiere. And he came back to remind us what he’s made of.

He performed a song called “Hey Jesus,” which he’d written for his late grandmother, who was his best friend. As he sang about how she “gave me wings to fly,” his mom and dad were in the audience, with Brian Littrell teary-eyed with pride and singing along to the original song.

“Baylee, you’re so good,” Underwood said, noting his “heat” and “genuineness.”

Isaiah Misailegalu shows impeccable control in ‘Lose Control’

Isaiah Misailegalu again showed he’s got talent — and stage presence — beyond his 17 years when he adeptly navigated the vocal gymnastics required for Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control.”

As the high schooler delivered the first chorus, he held back a bit from full-on belting out, teasing us with the promise of more. When he circled back for a second go at the chorus, he mixed things up by delivering a falsetto. Both stylistic choices paid off.

“You have such a git, and you’re so confident on the stage,” Underwood told him. “I love you.”

Mattie Pruitt, the youngest ‘Idol’ contestant, leaves Luke Bryan in disbelief

When Mattie Pruitt, the 15-year-old high schooler from Tennessee with 12 siblings, opened her mouth to sing Chris Stapleton’s “Cold,” Underwood and Bryan gave each other looks that said “We’re in for a treat here.”

Her voice rang pure and clear throughout downtown Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre, compelling one of her fellow contestants to disbelievingly say, “Fifteen?!” Carsen rubbed his arms as if he had goosebumps.

“Nothing about that (is) 15. (There are) so many right things going on,” Bryan said, complimenting the “rasp and pain and heart” in her voice.

Airport pianist Josh King finds his main character energy

Josh King, the 24-year-old airport pianist who squeaked by with two yeses after the judges pushed him outside his jazz lounge comfort zone, had something to prove during Hollywood Week.

The show is “testing you (to see) how you react under pressure,” he accurately noted about the Idol Arena setup that called on singers without notice. He stepped on to the stage with Rick Astley’s “Hopelessly” on his lips, and what do you know? The man who is used to playing music in the background found his main character energy.

He hit all the right notes to close out the love song. “Josh! If you had done that in your audition, you would have gotten three yeses, absolutely,” said Underwood.

Who was eliminated from ‘American Idol?’

The show didn’t dedicate much time toward identifying the dozens of people who were either staying or leaving. As such, we tried our best to identify those who were sent packing. These people included:

Carsen Webb

Landynn Kennedy

Sam Sparks

Insite

Freddie McClendon

Pat Johnson

Lola Sofia Bonfiglio

Mikaela Bautista

Sophia Humbert

Who’s going to Showstoppers week?

Again, the show did not name all 60-plus people who are moving forward to the next round alongside Platinum ticket winners Canaan James Hill, Filo and Kolbi Jordan, who were able to sit back and relax during Hollywood Week. Here are some of the survivors we spotted:

Slater Nalley

Amanda Barise

Thunderstorm Artis

Breanna Nix

MKY

Jamal Roberts

Sonny Tennet

Gabby Samone

Baylee Littrell

Victor Solomon

Crews Wright

Josh King

Nina Daig

Drew Ryn

Grayson Torrence

Lashon

Isaiah Misailegalu
April 1, 2025
‘Full House’ star celebrates ‘amazing news’

Dave Coulier is celebrating a major victory in his health journey — with the help of his “Full House” family, of course.

Coulier, who was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2024, is “cancer free,” the actor’s former co-star Candace Cameron Bure revealed on social media Monday. Bure played D.J. Tanner opposite Coulier’s fun-loving Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom from 1987-1995.

“DAVE IS CANCER FREE!!!!”, Bure wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of herself with Coulier and his wife, Melissa Coulier. “Join me in celebrating this AMAZING news — let’s shower him with all the love in the world! ❤️❤️❤️”

Kelly Rizzo, wife of Coulier and Bure’s late co-star Bob Saget, joined the celebration in the comments section. “I knew we would get this good news soon!! We all love you so much, Dave! I know Bob is smiling down big,” she wrote.

A representative for Coulier confirmed his cancer status to People magazine. USA TODAY has reached out for comment.

The news comes after Coulier, 65, opened up about his condition’s progress in an interview with Parade published Monday. The comedian told the outlet he had undergone a biopsy for a lymph node in his neck, which came back with “no sign of cancer.” He jokingly added, “One of the few times in my life when ‘zero’ has been a great number to hear.”

Coulier’s improved health also means he’ll be able to be a doting grandfather.

Per Parade, the “Full House” alum’s son Luc, who lives in California, welcomed his first child with wife Alex on Thursday. “We’ll be making multiple trips to see that little boy,” Coulier told the outlet.

Dave Coulier’s house just got fuller: Comedian announces he is a grandfather

Coulier revealed his cancer diagnosis in November 2024 in an episode of his podcast, “Full House Rewind,” and accompanying interview with People magazine.

In the episode of “Full House Rewind,” Coulier was wearing a hat, telling viewers he had begun chemotherapy and cut his hair as a “preemptive strike.” He said he wanted to talk about his “personal battle” because “cancer has affected nearly all of us,” noting he lost his sister, niece and mother to cancer. In the People interview, he revealed his older sister was also battling cancer.

“I saw what they went through, and if I can be even half as strong as they were during their battles, I’m going to put up a pretty good fight,” he said on the podcast.

Read more: ‘Full House’ star Dave Coulier diagnosed with stage 3 cancer

Coulier told People magazine his wife Melissa and his friends devised a “very specific plan” for treating his cancer and that he received positive news when his bone marrow test came back negative, at which point his “chances of curable went from something low to 90% range.”

Contributing: Brendan Morrow and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

April 1, 2025
Diddy lawsuit dismissed after accuser refuses to reveal identity

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is counting a small win in civil court after a woman’s anonymously filed sexual assault lawsuit was dismissed due to her decision not to reveal her identity.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman issued an order closing Jane Doe’s case, according to a filing reviewed by USA TODAY. Liman noted that on March 6, he ruled that Doe could not proceed with her case anonymously and ordered for her to re-file her initial complaint using her real name.

“As of today, March 31, 2025, (Doe) has not filed a complaint in her own name, nor has she sought an extension of time to do so,” Liman wrote.

According to her legal team, Doe decided not to come forward due to fear of public scrutiny.

“In this particular case, Jane Doe opted not to proceed. There is a lot of fear amongst these plaintiffs. I thus can’t blame her,” Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement to USA TODAY.

He continued, “These are tough cases and they are many times re-traumatizing for those who pursue them. Each case stands on its own merit. This woman chose not to proceed and subject herself to the media circus and the perceived danger she felt. We have to respect that.”

In her Oct. 14 lawsuit, Doe claimed that Combs had raped her at a 1995 party in New York for a Biggie Smalls music video.

Combs’ legal team responded to Monday’s ruling by denouncing anonymous complaints against the hip-hop mogul.

“Today a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Mr. Combs by Texas attorney Anthony Buzbee and his local counsel Antigone Curis on behalf of an anonymized plaintiff. This is now the second case brought by these attorneys against Mr. Combs that has been dismissed in its entirety,” Combs’ attorneys said in a statement. “It will not be the last.”

The statement continued, “For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by attorneys more focused on media headlines than legal merit. The other claims, like the one dismissed today, also will not hold up in a court of law.”

Combs’ attorneys have maintained his innocence as he faces dozens of sexual assault lawsuits that date back to the 1990s, as well as his criminal sex crimes charges. Combs is currently in jail after being denied bond multiple times and is scheduled to head to trial for his sex trafficking and racketeering charges on May 5.

Several of Diddy’s anonymous accusers have been ordered to identify themselves

Combs’ team has made efforts in various cases, including his upcoming criminal trial, to unmask his accusers. In response, some judges have cast doubt on some of Combs’ anonymous accusers’ arguments for proceeding with their cases without disclosing their identities. A few cases have been dismissed, while some accusers have publicly identified themselves to see their cases move forward.

Last November, a John Doe — who, like the aforementioned Jane Doe, was represented by Buzbee, local New York counsel Curis Law, PLLC, and the San Diego-based AVA Law Group — saw his case dismissed by a federal judge a day after his lawsuit was filed because the man did not obtain authorization from the court to file the lawsuit anonymously.

In October, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil said a woman suing Combs over an alleged 2004 rape could not remain anonymous. Vyskocil cited Combs’ interest in investigating the woman’s credibility and the public interest in open court proceedings. The woman then re-filed the suit with her real name, Candice McCrary.

Another woman, Anna Kane, also identified herself as one of Combs’ accusers last year after a federal judge said Kane “failed to demonstrate particularized harm or current vulnerabilities” that would occur if she were to name herself. Meanwhile, in December, another judge, Analisa Torres, allowed another Buzbee client to remain unnamed in her lawsuit against Combs and Jay-Z due to the sensitivity of the circumstances.

That same Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case in February; weeks later, Jay-Z sued Jane Doe, Buzbee and another attorney for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation.

Buzbee, who announced in a press conference last year that he is purportedly representing more than 100 alleged victims of Combs, has faced other roadblocks in court, including on the issue of whether he is allowed to represent clients in the Southern District of New York.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

April 1, 2025