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Wildwood, a legend gone, and Latin music's big night

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

Travis Knight has repeatedly said Wildwood took 16 years to make, noting development began in 2011 when Laika optioned the book, while production started in 2021. He has made the joke that a child born when they started could have driven him to the premiere.

Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson on the 1970s Shazam! TV series, has died at 75. The series ran from 1974 to 1976 with John Davey as Captain Marvel and Les Tremayne as Mentor. This is a personal reaction/joke about a stream interaction; there's no factual claim to check. This is a personal opinion/joke about a TikTok video; no factual claim to check. This is a promotional announcement for a new single; no factual claim to verify. This is a personal promotional post about a new single; no factual claim to check. This is an announcement about a school choir concert; no factual claim to verify. This is a personal promotional post about a new single; no factual claim to check. This is a promotional description of a Billboard red carpet interview; no factual claim to verify beyond the even

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

Travis Knight has repeatedly said Wildwood took 16 years to make, noting development began in 2011 when Laika optioned the book, while production started in 2021. He has made the joke that a child born when they started could have driven him to the premiere.

“Wildwood” director Travis Knight on the movie taking 16 years to complete: “Sixteen years is a long time,” Knight said. “As I’ve said before, this film is old enough to have driven me to the premiere tonight. But it’s a funny thing because it’s a big fantasy story. It’s a big ht

Original post · @Variety

[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/wildwood-director-animation-16-year-journey-london-premiere-1236908166/)

VERIFIED TRUE

Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson on the 1970s Shazam! TV series, has died at 75. The series ran from 1974 to 1976 with John Davey as Captain Marvel and Les Tremayne as Mentor. This is a personal reaction/joke about a stream interaction; there's no factual claim to check. This is a personal opinion/joke about a TikTok video; no factual claim to check. This is a promotional announcement for a new single; no factual claim to verify. This is a personal promotional post about a new single; no factual claim to check. This is an announcement about a school choir concert; no factual claim to verify. This is a personal promotional post about a new single; no factual claim to check. This is a promotional description of a Billboard red carpet interview; no factual claim to verify beyond the even

Michael Gray, star of the 1970s “Shazam!” television series, has died at 75. In 1974, he joined the cast of “Shazam!” as Billy Batson, starring alongside John Davey and Les Tremayne in the series, which ran for three seasons until 1976. https://t.co/gqZELqzfMH https://t.co/G7B8uK

Original post · @Variety

[variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/michael-gray-shazam-star-dead-75-1236909015/) POST 2112611729150816497: NOCLAIM None POST 2112232917678035249: NO

Sources

What the hosts said

CTravis Knight keeps telling this one joke about Wildwood, and I still laugh every time.
CSixteen years, he says. The movie's old enough to have driven him to the premiere.
LWhich is genuinely true. Laika optioned the book in 2011. A kid born that year could absolutely be behind the wheel.
CHe's also been pretty blunt about AI this week. Variety asked, and he just said... well, 'AI can go—' let's say he's not a fan.
LBig stop-motion guy saying AI can take a hike. Surprising no one.
CBut here's the thing I respect: he's not preachy about it. He's like, we did this by hand for sixteen years because the hands matter.
LThe new clip's out, by the way. First PG-13 Laika film. Opens October 23rd.
CSpeaking of people worth remembering: Michael Gray has died at 75. He played Billy Batson on the seventies Shazam show.
LThree seasons, from '74 to '76. Saturday mornings with John Davey as Captain Marvel.
CFor a certain generation, that show was pure magic. Saying one word and becoming a superhero.
LAnd Gray was the bridge. The normal kid who made you think, wait, maybe I could—
CExactly. Rest in peace, Michael Gray.
CDifferent world entirely: the Billboard Latin Music Awards red carpet was buzzing tonight.
LTito Double P was out there telling Billboard he thinks Anuel AA is... let me get this right... 'the goat of the game.'
CBold words in a room full of goats. He also teased new music, so he's clearly feeling himself.
LOkay, hear me out. Anuel changed the sound. The raw, unfiltered, trap-from-the-streets energy. Tito's not wrong.
CBut he's on a red carpet, Laura. Everyone's the goat on a red carpet. It's like saying your date is the most beautiful person in the room.
LOh, come on. Tito Double P doesn't need to gas anyone up. He's got his own thing.
CI'm just saying, context matters. You don't see Elvis Crespo out there calling anyone the goat. He was too busy singing 'Pa' Bailar' live.
LElvis Crespo just shows up and does Suavemente energy for the rest of his life. That's the real flex.
CHonestly? Tito's new music is the one I care about. Whatever the goat talk says, the man makes hits.
LFair. And you know the rule: talk on the carpet, prove it on the charts.
LOne more thing before we wrap. Culture Tonight is up next, and I hear they're doing a whole thing on... let me just say, someone big walks into a room full of Grammy voters.
CThat's your tease? Fine. I'm in.

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