As ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ enters its final chapter, actor O-T Fagbenle—who has played Luke Bankole since the very beginning — is taking it all in with a deep sense of appreciation. Speaking with Hollywood Melanin, Fagbenle opened up about his experience on the groundbreaking series, what it meant to him, and how his character evolves as the story comes to a close.
“My overall feeling is one of gratitude,” he shared. “So few people get to be part of a big show, let alone one that means so much to so many people. And you know, everything ends—that’s the ephemeral nature of the universe. The fact that we’re ending it in style, the way we want to, and in a way I think the audience will find really satisfying, makes me happy.”
O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole, Jordana Blake as Hannah Bankole, Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / The Handmaid’s Tale, HULU
Filming the final scenes was both emotional and physically demanding, especially in the freezing Toronto weather, where the show is filmed.
“I’ll never forget how cold it was—my goodness, Toronto can get freezing!” he recalled. “But what really stood out was having Lizzie [Elisabeth Moss] direct the final episode. Watching her blossom into this powerhouse artist—acting, producing, directing—she does it all so brilliantly. Everything started with her. The very first scene of the show was her, Hannah, and me in the car. So this final season feels like a full-circle moment.”
Throughout the series, Luke has faced intense emotional and moral challenges. His journey mirrors the reality of many displaced people around the world—those caught in the chaos of war and political upheaval, struggling with a lack of power and control.
“One of Luke’s biggest challenges has always been his sense of helplessness—his inability to act,” Fagbenle explained. “He can’t get his daughter back, he can’t get his wife back. That reflects the reality of so many refugees today who have no power over the machinery of big governments. But what’s satisfying in this final season is that you finally get to see Luke take some chances—he starts to make a bit of a difference.”
As ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ enters its sixth and final season, Fagbenle’s reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the emotional depth and cultural relevance the series has carried since its debut. With new episodes dropping weekly from April 8 through May 27 on HULU, fans can expect a poignant and gripping conclusion to the story of June Osborn and those around her. For Fagbenle and viewers who’ve followed Luke’s journey from the beginning, this season promises a payoff that’s both meaningful and hard-earned.
Last Friday, May 16, Disneyland launched their 70th Anniversary celebrations and we had to check out all the fun. After arriving and settling in at the Disneyland Hotel, we headed straight to the welcome center, which was set up at Disney’s Grand Californian. The welcome center served as a one-stop shop to grab our credentials and tons of great merch – then it was off to California Adventure Park for the new Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!
“Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
This parade featured many of our favorite characters from Luca, Turning Red, Up, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc, Coco and Toy Story. After the parade we had a few hours until our dinner plans so we headed to Guardians of the Galaxy Breakout ride — which is definitely something you want to do on an empty stomach. The ride features some pretty serious drops, so anyone with motion sickness should be forewarned. That said — we had a ball and are now adding this one to the list of rides we’ll be returning to over and over again for every Disneyland/ California Adventure park trip.
Next stop was the Incredicoaster — which is one of our favorite rollercoasters at ANY park. So much fun and the view of the park from the top is amazing. Pixar Pier is such an incredible feature — but honestly California Adventure Park is just a vibe all its own anyway.
Never ending fun at the Most Magical Place On Earth
After such satisfying thrills, we were starving so we headed to Downtown Disney District for a quick dinner at Naples Ristorante. The Caesar salad and shrimp penne hit the spot, along with a spicy margarita style cocktail. We’d packed in so much fun already, but there was no time for a nap. Next we headed to check out the Disney Junior: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Show. This one is designed for the kiddos and there is a big carpet where everyone sits as Mickey and Minnie go looking for their friends Goofy and Pluto and bust out some dance moves along the way. There are also some special treats like bubbles and fake snow that make for great entertainment for the little ones in the audience. This was so much fun, but the fun wasn’t done!
“Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!,” at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
There’s nothing like Pixar Pier at night — and we had the perfect viewing spot facing the Mickey Ferris Wheel to watch the new World of Happiness show featuring an intro by the Muppets and appearances from the Inside Out characters. The colorful projection and light show plays out over the bay at the pier, with lights dancing on top of the water and projecting out into the sky. There’s some amazing effects with smoke and fireworks and it’s the perfect way to close out the night.
“World of Color Happiness!” at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif., (Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort)
The following day we had lunch in Downtown Disney at the Vista Parkside Market. We tried so much good food, but the chicken sandwich from GG’s Chicken Shop and the beef dumplings from Seoul Sister were my favorite. We also sampled a butterfly pea flower coconut vanilla slushie called The Monarch from Sip + Sonder, the Black woman owned coffee café there that serves lattes, fresh treats, frozen drinks and Caribbean-inspired bites at Parkside Market. Co-founders Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas were on site answering questions.
“It’s been cool to see the expansion in a space that has such a wide variety of visitors,” Nicholas told Hollywood Melanin about bringing Sip + Sonder to the Downtown Disney District. The venue is their third, with other locations in Inglewood and Downtown Los Angeles.
“It’s a place of joy and that’s so centered in the company’s ethos,” Nicholas added. “Having joy, sharing joys even when there are difficult times, you can infuse joy with family and friends and community, Disneyland and joy go together.”
We can’t wait to go back and try The Hummingbird, Sip + Sonder’s Jamaican Sorrel Slushie.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. (Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort)
Once we got properly fueled up it was time to hit Disneyland, where we caught the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, another day-time parade which now features some new characters, before hitting Space Mountain and Indiana Jones for some thrills, we did Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and got soaked!
A little water didn’t stop us from turning up at The Happiest Dinner on Earth over in Fantasyland, where we ran into some of our favorite creators. After dinner we previewed the Tapestry of Happiness projection show and then caught the Paint the Night Parade – so cool – Ariel’s float was our favorite. A trip to Disney is never complete without fireworks and the Wondrous Journeys Nighttime Spectactular at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle was the perfect way to close out.
Tyler Perry’s iconic Madea is back; this time, she’s bringing her signature chaos to a tropical paradise in ‘Madea’s Destination Wedding’! Set to premiere on Netflix on July 11, this 13th installment in the Madea cinematic universe promises a hilarious blend of family drama, heartwarming moments, and Madea’s unmatched wit.
What Is Madea’s Destination Wedding About?
The ‘Madea’s Destination Wedding‘ trailer gives fans a sneak peek into a whirlwind of comedy and chaos as Madea and her crew head to the Bahamas for a shotgun wedding. The story centers on Madea’s nephew, Brian (played by Tyler Perry), and his ex-wife, Debrah (Taja V. Simpson), who are stunned to learn their daughter, Tiffany (Diamond White), is engaged to a rapper she met on a yacht—and the wedding is just two weeks away!
As the family travels to the Bahamas, tensions rise, and suspicions about the legitimacy of the marriage grow. Tiffany begins to doubt her fiancé, Zavier, while Debrah’s strange behavior adds to the drama. True to form, Madea stirs up trouble with her no-nonsense attitude, delivering laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt family lessons. The trailer teases a mix of raucous comedy, familial conflicts, and the tropical backdrop, making this holiday movie a perfect blend of festive fun and Madea’s signature shenanigans.
The New and Returning Cast
Perry once again takes on multiple roles, portraying Madea, Joe Simmons, and Brian Simmons. The trailer showcases familiar faces from the Madea franchise alongside exciting new additions, including Cassi Davis Patton as Aunt Bam, David Mann as Mr. Brown, Tamela Mann as Cora, Taja V. Simpson as Debrah, Diamond White as Tiffany, Jermaine Harris as B.J., and Xavier Smalls in a supporting role
The iconic Wisteria Lane is making a comeback, and this time, it’s under the creative vision of powerhouse producer Kerry Washington. Titled ‘Wisteria Lane,’ the ‘Desperate Housewives’ reboot is in development at Onyx Collective, known for putting out shows like Reasonable Doubt, Deli Boys, and Unprisoned.
With Washington’s Simpson Street production company steering the project, alongside writer Natalie Chaidez, this reimagining is set to deliver a stylish, provocative blend of dark comedy, mystery, and modern storytelling. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming reboot.
A Modern Take on a Beloved Classic
The original ‘Desperate Housewives,’ created by Marc Cherry, was a cultural phenomenon, blending soapy drama, biting humor, and shocking plot twists. Set in the seemingly perfect suburban cul-de-sac of Wisteria Lane, it followed the lives of Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) as they navigated love, betrayal, and hidden secrets. The show ran for eight seasons, earning 38 Emmy nominations and seven wins, including a Best Actress award for Huffman.
The reboot, ‘Wisteria Lane,’ is described as a “fun, sexy, darkly comedic soap/mystery” that echoes the tone of its predecessor while introducing a fresh perspective. According to Variety, the series will center on “a group of five very different friends and sometimes frenemies” living on the iconic Wisteria Lane. On the surface, these neighbors appear to have it all—beautiful homes, picture-perfect families, and shiny SUVs—but behind their curated Instagram posts lurk dark secrets waiting to unravel.
Washington, known for her role as Olivia Pope in ‘Scandal’ and her producing prowess on projects like ‘Little Fires Everywhere‘, is executive producing through her Simpson Street banner. Natalie Chaidez, who served as co-showrunner on ‘The Flight Attendant,’ is writing and executive producing. The project is backed by 20th Television, the same studio behind the original series, ensuring a connection to its legacy.
What’s New in Wisteria Lane?
While the reboot retains the iconic Wisteria Lane setting—a real street built on Universal’s backlot that remains a tourist attraction—it’s designed to reflect “new times” and “new challenges.” During an appearance on The View on May 2, 2025, Washington teased, “The idea is that it’s new times, there’s new challenges, it’s like, what happens on that cul-de-sac now? And so it’s exciting.”
Unlike the original, which focused on a core group of women in their 40s, the reboot promises a diverse cast of characters, though details about their identities remain under wraps. When pressed by The View co-host Ana Navarro about whether the show would feature “new women, old women,” Washington remained coy, directing fans to follow Simpson Street on social media for updates.
Will The Original Cast Return?
Fans hoping for cameos from Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, or Felicity Huffman may be disappointed, as the reboot focuses on new characters. However, the original cast has expressed mixed feelings about a revival. Eva Longoria told Entertainment Tonight in June 2024 that she’d be “the first to sign up,” while Teri Hatcher has been less enthusiastic, though she praised the Wisteria Lane set as “a gorgeous place to work.” So, until casting is confirmed, the door remains open for surprise appearances.
Are you excited for the Desperate Housewives reboot? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know who you’d love to see join the cast of Wisteria Lane!