It's been a stressful time to have student loans. Between payment pauses and the courts disputing the legality of the Biden administration's SAVE repayment plan, there's a lot of uncertainty about what'll happen next. Elaine Rubin, a higher education policy expertAs a student loan expert with more than 15 years of experience in the industry, I understand the uncertainty. I've witnessed my fair share of program changes, but I've never been through a period more complicated and tumultuous than the policy tug-of-war we've seen over the past two years.With so many factors up in the air, how should you approach your student loan repayment strategy?You can't control the fate of debt relief programs or income-driven repayment plans, but there are steps you can take to regain control of your student loans. Here are five things you can do right now and one thing you shouldn't do. Review your student loan balanceDo you know how much you owe in total on your student loans? You might have an idea (or think you do), but it's important to check.Many borrowers I've worked with are surprised to find they owe more than they initially borrowed when it's time to start repayment. This is because most loans, except subsidized ones, begin accruing interest from the moment they are disbursed. Outstanding interest, which has not been capitalized or added to your loan, is listed separately from the principal balance. To fully understand your loan balance, it's important to carefully review your statements.If you know who your student loan servicer is, you can log into your online account to check your balance. If you're not sure, you can find out by logging into your Federal Student Aid account and visiting the My Aid page.Read more:5 Ways to Pay Off Your Student Loans Even Faster Get ready to restart paymentsIf you are enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, your loans have been in an administrative forbearance since this summer due to the plan's legal challenges. You haven't been able to make payments, and your interest rate has been set to zero. This payment hold is temporary, and I expect it to end soon.If you haven't done so already, reevaluate your monthly budget to accommodate your student loan payments.Compare all income-driven repayment optionsIf you're worried about SAVE disappearing or looking to adjust your budget to include your monthly loan payments, it's a good idea to explore all available repayment plans. You can use the US Department of Education's Loan Simulator to estimate your payments and check eligibility for specific plans. This tool will let you explore available income-driven payment options.Update: The department recentlyrestored the Pay as You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment options, two IDR plans that were previously phased out. You can now apply for them online (if you're eligible). Look into the PSLF buyback programThe Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offers debt cancellation for teachers, nurses and other public service employees who work in a qualifying job for 10 years and make 120 payments on their loans. If you're enrolled in SAVE and were close to reaching your 120 total payments, the recent payment pause may have delayed your forgiveness. In this case, you might benefit from the PSLF buyback program.The PSLF buyback program lets you "buy back" months where your loans sat on hold during a forbearance period but only if doing so brings you to 120 total payments.For example, let's say you had already made 115 qualifying payments before your loan entered the SAVE Plan forbearance. You could apply for the PSLF buyback program to buy back five of the months where your loans were in forbearance to reach the 120-payment requirement. You'll apply for the program online, and once approved, you'll have 90 days to pay off what you owe for the number of months you buy back. So, if your monthly payment was $100, you'd need to pay $500 to receive forgiveness.You'll need to also make sure you meet all other PSLF eligibility criteria, such as working for a qualifying employer and having the correct loan type. If you think you're eligible and want to confirm your payment count, you can find qualifying payment amounts in yourStudentAid.gov account. Expert tip: If you qualify for forgiveness through the buyback program, you will not pay any federal taxes on the forgiven amounts through 2025. However, certain states may tax student loan forgiveness. Pay interest while you're still in schoolIf you're still in college, your student loans likely haven't entered repayment yet. While it's difficult to predict what repayment options will be available in the future, there are proactive steps you can take now.One recommendation is to pay off any interest that accrues while you're still in school. Even small contributions can help reduce the overall cost of your loans in the long run.If your federal student loan hasn't yet entered repayment, you won't be eligible to enroll in a repayment plan yet. Repayment starts six months after graduation or if your enrollment drops below half-time, unless you enroll in another program, like graduate school, before the grace period ends. Don't count on forgivenessMany borrowers have turned to income-driven repayment plans to reduce their monthly payments and potentially qualify for student loan forgiveness. However, forgiveness is not guaranteed, especially as legal challenges continue to threaten the SAVE repayment plan. Programs like PSLF and forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment Plan carry less risk, since they would require congressional action to be altered or eliminated.That said, it's always wise to plan for full repayment of your student loans, regardless of any current potential forgiveness opportunities. More student loan advice

Fortnite is about to get more punk. The phenomenally popular battle royale game already had some big crossovers this year, with Marvel, Fallout and even the NBA, and it's about to bring the two main characters from Cyberpunk 2077 into the game.Skins for iconic rockstar-turned-revolutionary Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves, as well as the female version of the game's protagonist, V, will be available for purchase Monday night in the Fortnite shop,Eurogamer reports. No pricing has been set yet, but each skin will likely cost 1,500 V-Bucks, or approximately $12, as detailed in images found by data miners of the game. There will also be accessories available to purchase along with the skins.The official Fortnite X account posted about the crossover on Sunday with a message saying, "We're expecting some guests from Night City."This will be the second time Reeves has been available to play as a character in Fortnite. Back in 2019, the battle royale game had a crossover with the John Wick franchise, which added the in-game skin for the title character, as well as adding a replica of Wick's house to the map.These crossovers with franchises, celebrities and other entities can last for an entire season, which can be in play for up to 10 weeks, or in some cases, only for a day. Fortnite developer Epic Games hasn't provided details about the Cyberpunk crossover yet, so it's unclear how long the skins will be available for purchase.While in-game purchases are what makes Fortnite worth billions of dollars, those purchases also landed publisher Epic Games in trouble with the federal government. The company settled with the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 over years of unwanted purchases made in the game that affected thousands of individuals. Earlier this month, payments totaling $245 million were sent out to those affected as part of the settlement. Watch this: Best Gaming Consoles of 2024 03:37

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing Walmart and payroll service provider Branch Messenger for alleged illegal payment practices for gig workers. The bureau says Walmart was opening direct deposit accounts using Spark delivery drivers social security numbers without their consent. The accounts also can come with intense fees that, according to the complaint, would add either 2 percent or $2.99 per transaction, whichever is higher. It also says Walmart repeatedly promised to provide drivers with same-day payments through the platform starting in July 2021 but never delivered on that.The Bureau alleges that for approximately two years starting around June 2021, defendants engaged in unfair, abusive, and deceptive practices in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, including by requiring Spark Drivers to receive their compensation in Branch Accounts, opening Branch Accounts for Spark Drivers without their informed consent or, in many instances, on an unauthorized basis, and making deceptive statements about Branch to Spark Drivers.Walmart made false promises, illegally opened accounts, and took advantage of more than a million delivery drivers, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in a statement. Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees. The agency sued both companies in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota.Spark delivery workers have been complaining about Walmarts Branch Messenger account requirements for years, which forced workers to use these accounts with no option to direct deposit to a preferred credit union or local bank. Walmart allegedly told workers theyd be terminated if they didnt accept the Branch accounts.

Last month, AI founders and investors told TechCrunch that were now in the second era of scaling laws, noting how established methods of improving AI models were showing diminishing returns. One promising new method they suggested could keep gains was test-time scaling, which seems to be whats behind the performance of OpenAIs o3 model but it comes with drawbacks of its own.Much of the AI world took the announcement of OpenAIs o3 model as proof that AI scaling progress has not hit a wall. The o3 model does well on benchmarks, significantly outscoring all other models on a test of general ability called ARC-AGI, and scoring 25% on a difficult math test that no other AI model scored more than 2% on.Of course, we at TechCrunch are taking all this with a grain of salt until we can test o3 for ourselves (very few have tried it so far). But even before o3s release, the AI world is already convinced that something big has shifted.The co-creator of OpenAIs o-series of models, Noam Brown, noted on Friday that the startup is announcing o3s impressive gains just three months after the startup announced o1 a relatively short timeframe for such a jump in performance.We have every reason to believe this trajectory will continue, said Brown in a tweet.Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said in a blog post on Monday that o3 is evidence that AI progress will be faster in 2025 than in 2024. (Keep in mind that it benefits Anthropic especially its ability to raise capital to suggest that AI scaling laws are continuing, even if Clark is complementing a competitor.)Next year, Clark says the AI world will splice together test-time scaling and traditional pre-training scaling methods to eke even more returns out of AI models. Perhaps hes suggesting that Anthropic and other AI model providers will release reasoning models of their own in 2025, just like Google did last week.Test-time scaling means OpenAI is using more compute during ChatGPTs inference phase, the period of time after you press enter on a prompt. Its not clear exactly what is happening behind the scenes: OpenAI is either using more computer chips to answer a users question, running more powerful inference chips, or running those chips for longer periods of time 10 to 15 minutes in some cases before the AI produces an answer. We dont know all the details of how o3 was made, but these benchmarks are early signs that test-time scaling may work to improve the performance of AI models.While o3 may give some a renewed belief in the progress of AI scaling laws, OpenAIs newest model also uses a previously unseen level of compute, which means a higher price per answer.Perhaps the only important caveat here is understanding that one reason why O3 is so much better is that it costs more money to run at inference time the ability to utilize test-time compute means on some problems you can turn compute into a better answer, Clark writes in his blog. This is interesting because it has made the costs of running AI systems somewhat less predictable previously, you could work out how much it cost to serve a generative model by just looking at the model and the cost to generate a given output.Clark, and others, pointed to o3s performance on the ARC-AGI benchmark a difficult test used to assess breakthroughs on AGI as an indicator of its progress. Its worth noting that passing this test, according to its creators, does not mean an AI model has achieved AGI, but rather its one way to measure progress towards the nebulous goal. That said, the o3 model blew past the scores of all previous AI models which had done the test, scoring 88% in one of its attempts. OpenAIs next best AI model, o1, scored just 32%.Chart showing the performance of OpenAIs o-series on the ARC-AGI test.(Image credit: ARC Prize)But the logarithmic x-axis on this chart may be alarming to some. The high-scoring version of o3 used more than $1000 worth of compute for every task. The o1 models used around $5 of compute per task, and o1-mini used just a few cents.The creator of the ARC-AGI benchmark, Franois Chollet, writes in a blog that OpenAI used roughly 170x more compute to generate that 88% score, compared to high-efficiency version of o3 that scored just 12% lower. The high-scoring version of o3 used more than $10,000 of resources to complete the test, which makes it too expensive to compete for the ARC Prize an unbeaten competition for AI models to beat the ARC test.However, Chollet says o3 was still a breakthrough for AI models, nonetheless.o3 is a system capable of adapting to tasks it has never encountered before, arguably approaching human-level performance in the ARC-AGI domain, said Chollet in the blog. Of course, such generality comes at a steep cost, and wouldnt quite be economical yet: you could pay a human to solve ARC-AGI tasks for roughly $5 per task (we know, we did that), while consuming mere cents in energy.Its premature to harp on the exact pricing of all this weve seen prices for AI models plummet in the last year, and OpenAI has yet to announce how much o3 will actually cost. However, these prices indicate just how much compute is required to break, even slightly, the performance barriers set by leading AI models today.This raises some questions. What is o3 actually for? And how much more compute is necessary to make more gains around inference with o4, o5, or whatever else OpenAI names its next reasoning models?It doesnt seem like o3, or its successors, would be anyones daily driver like GPT-4o or Google Search might be. These models just use too much compute to answer small questions throughout your day such as, How can the Cleveland Browns still make the 2024 playoffs?Instead, it seems like AI models with scaled test-time compute may only be good for big picture prompts such as, How can the Cleveland Browns become a Super Bowl franchise in 2027? Even then, maybe its only worth the high compute costs if youre the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, and youre using these tools to make some big decisions.Institutions with deep pockets may be the only ones who can afford o3, at least to start, as Wharton professor Ethan Mollick notes in a tweet.Weve already seen OpenAI release a $200 tier to use a high-compute version of o1, but the startup has reportedly weighed creating subscription plans costing up to $2,000. When you see how much compute o3 uses, you can understand why OpenAI would consider it.But there are drawbacks to using o3 for high-impact work. As Chollet notes, o3 is not AGI, and it still fails on some very easy tasks that a human would do quite easily. This isnt necessarily surprising, as large language models still have a huge hallucination problem, which o3 and test-time compute dont seem to have solved. Thats why ChatGPT and Gemini include disclaimers below every answer they produce, asking users not to trust answers at face value. Presumably AGI, should it ever be reached, would not need such a disclaimer.One way to unlock more gains in test-time scaling could be better AI inference chips. Theres no shortage of startups tackling just this thing, such as Groq or Cerebras, while other startups are designing more cost-efficient AI chips, such as MatX. Andreessen Horowitz general partner Anjney Midha previously told TechCrunch he expects these startups to play a bigger role in test-time scaling moving forward.While o3 is a notable improvement to the performance of AI models, it raises several new questions around usage and costs. That said, the performance of o3 does add credence to the claim that test-time compute is the tech industrys next best way to scale AI models.

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Identity theft concept with thumb print and red scanner lights over black backgroundgettyIf safeguarding your identity from theft is a top priority, freezing your credit is one of the smartest actions you can take. This straightforward but highly effective measure stops creditors from viewing your credit report without your direct authorization. By cutting off access to your credit file, you create a strong barrier that makes it far more difficult for criminals to misuse your personal details to open accounts or secure loans under your name.Secure Your Credit with a Freeze TodayThink of a credit freeze as a virtual lock on your financial profile. Once in place, it restricts access to your credit report entirely, preventing unauthorized parties from exploiting your Social Security number or credit information.When your credit is frozen, lenders cannot check your credit score, which renders your Social Security number and credit details useless to would-be fraudsters. In essence, a credit freeze acts as a barrier, preventing criminals from opening new lines of credit or accounts in your name.If your personal information has already been compromised, freezing your credit can be a vital step to stop thieves from exploiting your identity further. The good news is that lifting the freeze is quick and straightforward. You can easily lift the freeze whenever needed, using the personal PIN issued by the credit bureau, allowing access to your credit report for loan or credit card applications. While it might seem like an extra step, the process is free and takes just a few minutesan incredibly small effort for such a substantial benefit.Please remember freezing your credit is entirely free. There are no hidden fees or costs involved, so there is no reason to delay taking this critical step to secure your financial future.Another important thing is that freezing your credit does not affect your credit score. The freeze simply restricts access to your credit report without changing your existing accounts or their status. Your existing creditors and authorized entities can still conduct "soft" credit inquiries, which have no effect on your credit score. These checks are often used for account reviews or pre-approved offers, ensuring that freezing your credit will not interfere with your existing financial activities.MORE FOR YOUWhy Choose a Credit Freeze Over a Fraud Alert?While fraud alerts can provide some level of security, they are far less effective than a credit freeze. A fraud alert is temporary, lasting only one year, and does not block identity thieves from accessing your credit report. It merely notifies creditors that your information could be compromised. A credit freeze, by contrast, offers stronger, more comprehensive protection, blocking unauthorized access altogether.Your Credit with the Main Credit BureausFollow these steps to place a credit freeze with the three primary credit bureaus:Equifax: Freeze your credit with Equifax hereExperian: Freeze your credit with Experian hereTransUnion: Freeze your credit with TransUnion hereDo not forget about Innovis, the fourth credit bureau that is often overlooked. Freezing your credit with Innovis follows a process similar to the three major bureaus and is completely free. Click here to freeze your credit with Innovis.Do Not Forget About the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities ExchangeProtecting your identity goes beyond the major credit bureaus. The National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) is an important organization you should also keep in mind. Many mobile phone providers and utility companies rely on NCTUE for credit checks. This means that even if your credit is frozen with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, identity thieves could still use your information to open accounts through these providers.You can safeguard yourself by placing a freeze on your NCTUE account. The process involves verifying your Social Security number and other details, but it is typically automated and straightforward. Once your account is frozen, your NCTUE credit report will be secured, adding another layer of protection against fraud. To freeze your NCTUE report, you can call their toll-free number at 1-866-349-5355 or attempt to do it online here: NCTUE Freeze (though some users report that the link may not always function smoothly).Secure Your Bank Accounts With A ChexSystems FreezeAnother key step in protecting your identity is freezing your report with ChexSystems, a consumer reporting agency that banks use to evaluate applicants for checking and savings accounts. Freezing your ChexSystems report blocks unauthorized access to your financial data, helping to minimize the risk of fraud.Keep in mind that freezing your ChexSystems report only protects your banking information. For complete protection, it is essential to also freeze your credit with the major bureaus. You can freeze your ChexSystems report here.Stop Pre-Approved Credit Offers With Opt-Out PrescreenYou can take additional precautions by opting out of pre-approved credit offers. These offers, while convenient, can be a goldmine for scammers if they gain access to your mail. To opt out, you can call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT or visit OptOutPrescreen.com.Prevent Employment Fraud with myE-Verify's Self LockThe Department of Homeland Security's Self Lock service is another valuable resource for protecting your identity. This service allows you to lock your Social Security number, preventing it from being used fraudulently for employment purposes. If someone attempts to use your locked Social Security number, it triggers a mismatch in the system, flagging the activity as suspicious. The lock remains in effect for one year and can be conveniently renewed each year. To learn more or set up a lock, visit Self-Lock Freeze.Protect Your Social Security Benefits From FraudCreating an online account with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is a proactive step to protect your benefits and personal information. Through your SSA account, you can track your earnings history, review future benefits, and stay informed with key updates.Be wary of fraudulent calls or emails claiming to be from the SSA. They will never issue threats of arrest or request immediate payment. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a communication, log in to your SSA account or call their official number to verify.Take Control of Your Identity TodayFreezing your credit is a straightforward yet powerful way to safeguard yourself against identity theft. By limiting access to your credit report, you greatly reduce the chances of criminals opening accounts in your name. Combine this with other measuressuch as freezing ChexSystems, locking your Social Security number, and securing your SSA accountto build a comprehensive shield against identity theft.Do not wait for fraud to happentake these steps today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your identity is secure.

The Zeigarnik Effect traps you in a loop of unresolved feelings. Understanding why they linger helps ... [+] you break free and take action.gettyHave you ever found yourself thinking about a past relationship, long after youve moved on? Perhaps a breakup felt unresolved, or there was a conversation you never got to finish. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing the Zeigarnik Effecta psychological phenomenon that explains why unfinished emotional business tends to linger, particularly when it comes to matters of the heart.This term originates from psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, who discovered that people are more likely to remember unfinished tasks than completed ones. Relationships mirror this phenomenon when unresolved emotions or unanswered questions remain in your mind far longer than those from relationships that ended with a sense of closure.But why does this happen? And more importantly, how can you move forward? Here are three reasons unresolved feelings persist, and actionable steps to help you find closure.1. Incomplete Emotional ProcessingWhen a relationship ends abruptly or without closure, it often leaves unresolved emotional threads that can feel like an open loop in your mind. This lack of resolution taps into the brains natural drive for cognitive closure, which according to 2014 study, is the innate desire to resolve ambiguity and make sense of unfinished experiences.When relationships end without clarity, the unresolved elements can lead to mental loopingreplaying conversations, analyzing arguments or imagining alternative outcomes. These repetitive thought patterns often feel compulsive and emotionally draining, as the brain attempts to complete an incomplete narrative.MORE FOR YOUHowever, finding closure isnt always contingent on external factors, such as receiving an apology or a final conversation with the other person. The human brain is remarkably adaptable and capable of creating resolution internally. With intentional effort, you can address these emotional loose ends on your own.Processing emotions fullyby acknowledging them, exploring their roots and reframing the narrativehelps to close the mental loop. This doesnt erase the memories or negate their significance, but it reduces their emotional intensity. By actively engaging in this process, you free yourself from the grip of unfinished business, creating space for emotional growth and healing.2. The Need For ResolutionWhen a relationship ends, it often leaves behind unanswered questions like, What went wrong? or Could we have tried harder? These lingering thoughts reflect our innate need for resolution, which is frequently complicated by ambiguity or the inaccessibility of answers.Unresolved endings can leave individuals yearning for clarity, even when its unattainable. A former partner may be unwilling to provide explanations, or the reasons for the breakup might be too complex to untangle. Yet, the mind clings to the belief that further reflection will eventually bring closure, creating a mental loop that is both emotionally draining and counterproductive.This cycle keeps individuals tethered to the past, hindering personal growth and limiting their ability to embrace new opportunities or relationships. While the pursuit of clarity is instinctual, it often acts as a barrier to moving forward.Breaking free requires reframing your understanding of closure. Accept that you may never have all the answers and focus on finding peace in your own narrative. True closure comes not from external validation but from within.3. Emotional InvestmentDeep emotional connections in relationships often involve significant investments that dont just disappear after a breakup. A 2020 study published in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, suggests that small positive moments, like shared activities or laughter, build emotional capital, which helps buffer against relationship difficulties by reducing reactivity to partner transgressions and strengthening bonds.These shared experiences, trust and vulnerability create lasting emotional ties, making it challenging to let goespecially when unresolved issues persist. These attachments can feel even more profound when the emotional investment was initially meant to protect the relationship from disruption.Beyond the emotional capital, the routines, memories and habits intertwined with the relationship become deeply embedded in daily life. This often leads individuals to revisit past interactions, replay conversations or wonder about alternate outcomes. The difficulty of moving on is further heightened by the grief of losing a part of ones identity that was deeply connected to the relationship such as shared dreams, specific roles or envisioned futures.Detaching from these bonds begins with acknowledging their significance. Letting go isnt about erasing the past but about honoring the emotional depth while accepting its conclusion.Allow yourself to grieve and understand that the lingering feelings are natural. Gradually, you can redirect that emotional energy toward yourself and future opportunities. Releasing the attachment means choosing to reinvest in your own growth while carrying forward the lessons of the relationship with compassion and strength.Closure isnt always straightforward, especially when ambiguity surrounds the end of a relationship. However, there are certain mindset shifts that you can work on to regain emotional balance and move forward.Here are some actionable strategies to help you process unresolved feelings and cultivate your own sense of closure.1. Acknowledge the unfinished business. Before you can move on, you need to acknowledge whats still weighing on you. Are there specific feelings or situations that you havent fully processed? Make time to reflect on these, whether through journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or even therapy. Acknowledging whats left unresolved helps you begin to untangle the emotional knots.2. Get comfortable with the unknown. Sometimes closure doesnt come with all the answers we expect. In relationships, we often want clear reasons or explanations for why things ended the way they did. But reality isnt always so neat. Getting comfortable with ambiguity can be liberating. Accepting that not everything has to make sense or have a tidy conclusion allows you to let go of the need for perfection and move on.3. Write your own closure. One effective way to address unresolved emotions is to write a letternot necessarily to the other person, but to yourself. Write down everything you wish you had said, everything youre feeling now, and everything youve learned. The act of writing can be therapeutic, helping you process emotions and feel heard, even if its only in your own words.4. Practice Forgiveness. Whether its forgiving yourself or the other person, forgiveness is crucial in finding closure. Holding onto anger or regret can keep you mentally stuck. Even if you cant forget what happened, choosing to release negative emotions allows you to free yourself from unresolved feelings. A 2023 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that positive forgivenessreleasing negative emotions like anger or resentmentimproves mental health by reducing rumination. Conversely, reduced unforgiveness, or holding onto grudges less, was linked to improved physical health, likely because it reduces stress and its harmful physical effects.5. Create a ritual of letting go. If youre struggling to move on, it might help to create a physical or symbolic act of closure. This could be as simple as burning a letter or keeping a small personal memento of the relationship and then deciding to release it. The key is that the ritual allows you to mark the end of that chapter, both emotionally and symbolically, helping you move forward.6. Practice self-compassion. Its easy to blame yourself for not getting closure or for not being able to get over someone quickly. But its important to be kind to yourself. Relationships are complicated, and emotional wounds take time to heal. Treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend going through a similar situation. Be patient with your process.Wondering if you have the resources to combat the Zeigarnik Effect? Take the Coping Strategies Scale test to understand your coping style and take appropriate action.

One of the biggest mysteries in Hollywood has been solved. Christopher Nolans next movie will be The Odyssey,an adaptation of the Greek epic poem by Homer.In a post on X, Universal Pictures, the studio that will distribute Nolans next movie, wrote, Christopher Nolans next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homers foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.Recommended VideosThe Odysseydates back to the 8th century BC and follows the saga of the Greek hero Odysseus and his venture home after the Trojan War. The tumultuous journey deals with themes of loyalty, vengeance, and hospitality. The Odysseyis commonly associated with Homers other epic poem, The Iliad.Please enable Javascript to view this contentSome of the notable adaptations include 1954s Ulysses,with Kirk Douglas in the titular role; 1997s The Odyssey, a television series starring Armand Assante as Odysseus; and The Coen Brothers comical crime musical O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which isloosely inspired by Homers epic. In 2024, Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche starred in The Return, a dramatization of the last sections of The Odyssey.RelatedChristopher Nolans next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homers foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhereon July 17, 2026. Universal Pictures (@UniversalPics) December 23, 2024The Odysseysconfirmed cast includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyongo, and Charlize Theron. Nolan will write and direct The Odyssey. Nolan and his wife, Emma Thomas, will also produce under their Syncopy production banner. Production is expected to begin in the first half of 2025.The Odysseymarks Nolans first movie since 2023s Oppenheimer, the biopic about the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). Oppenheimer won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, and grossed over $976 million.Editors Recommendations

The gaming laptop deals of the holiday season arent over yet, as there are still some excellent offers, such as Dells discount for the Alienware m16 R2 with the Nvidia RTX 4070. From its original price of $2,600, the machine is down to $2,100. Its still pretty expensive, but its actually a steal at that price, and the $500 in savings is huge. Youre going to have to be quick in completing your purchase though, as theres no information on how much time is remaining before this bargain expires.We highlighted the Alienware m16 R2s great gaming performance in our review of the gaming laptop, and this configuration thats on sale comes with the mighty Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. Combined with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and 64GB of RAM, which doubles the recommended specification from our guide on how much RAM do you need, the Alienware m16 R2 wont have trouble running the best PC games at their highest settings. Its going to be ready for the upcoming PC games of the next few years as well it will be a while before you need to start thinking about making any upgrades.The 16-inch screen of the Alienware m16 R2 will give justice to all of the power under the gaming laptops hood, as QHD+ resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate will offer an amazing look at the graphics of modern titles. The gaming laptop ships with a 2TB SSD for enough storage space for several AAA games, and with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded, you can start downloading and installing them right after unboxing the Alienware m16 R2.RelatedIf you want a powerful gaming laptop, you cant go wrong with the Alienware m16 R2, which is a tempting option right now with Dells $500 discount. Its on sale for $2,100 from its sticker price of $2,600, but like with most Alienware deals, were not sure when the stocks that are up for sale will run out. With most gamers still in a shopping mood for the holiday season, that can happen very soon, so if you want to get the Alienware m16 R2 gaming laptop for a lower price than usual, youll need to push forward with your transaction for it right now.Editors Recommendations