Wyatt Russell, the actor and son of Hollywood legends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, has found himself mistakenly at the heart of a political firestorm. A viral TikTok video showing an impassioned man confronting National Guard troops in Downtown Los Angeles during the ongoing anti-ICE protests set social media ablaze — but the man in the clip wasn’t who people thought he was.
Sorry, That’s Not Wyatt Russell in the Viral L.A. Protest Video
A man with a passing resemblance to the Thunderbolts* star lit up social media with an impassioned speech amid ICE raids and National Guard deployment
The protests, which erupted following former President Donald Trump‘s controversial deployment of the National Guard amid ICE raids in Latino-heavy communities, quickly drew celebrity attention and online commentary. In the now viral video, a bearded man in a Los Angeles Kings hoodie can be seen passionately addressing uniformed officers:
“You’re on the wrong side of history… You took an oath to the Constitution, not the fascists in the White House!”
Look as much as I would wish for Wyatt Russell to be at these protests speaking up, this guy is NOT Wyatt and I’ve seen this incorrect information spread like wildfire all over Twitter pic.twitter.com/Rhg9IsrjwJ
— captain taco-chu🖖 ᐰ #ThunderboltsEra 🌮 (@CaptainPikeachu) June 9, 2025
The footage, originally shared by TikTok user @only__loo, rapidly gained traction across platforms, with countless posts identifying the protester as the Thunderbolts actor Wyatt Russell. “Kurt Russell’s son just looked the military in the eye and called them out — legendary,” read one viral tweet, echoing similar sentiments across X (formerly Twitter).
But now, Russell’s team has set the record straight. Speaking to Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, the actor’s publicist confirmed that the man in the video is not Wyatt Russell. The misidentification, while unintentional, spread like wildfire.
So, who is the man behind the moment? According to verified sources, the individual in the video is Aaron Fisher, a progressive political strategist and partner at Statecraft Media, a firm specializing in digital campaigns for left-leaning candidates.
Fisher, when contacted about the mix-up, laughed off the confusion but remained focused on the bigger picture.
“I found the mix-up pretty humorous, but I’m glad it helped amplify the message,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
He continued, stressing that the deployment of military forces against peaceful protesters is a threat to democracy, adding:
“The proliferation of the words themselves and the movement behind it is what matters most.”
UPDATE – Rolling Stone is reporting that this is not in fact Wyatt Russell.
Regardless of who it is this message is GENERATIONAL and hope it hit home to others like it did to me.
The anti-ICE protests in LA intensified after ICE agents raided a downtown clothing warehouse, leading to widespread outrage. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass both condemned the federal action, with Newsom calling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” The Governor has since vowed legal action.
Other stars likeFinneas O’Connell, Chrissy Teigen, and Mark Ruffalo joined the protest or voiced their outrage online. Finneas, notably, claimed he was tear-gassed shortly after arriving at what he described as a peaceful protest.
While Wyatt Russell wasn’t at the protest, the passionate speech by Aaron Fisher and the subsequent misidentification underscores the emotional intensity and national spotlight surrounding these demonstrations. In a time when misinformation travels faster than official statements, this incident serves as a reminder to verify before we amplify.
How ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Returned to Cinemas and Reclaimed Box Office Glory
Seven years after its original release, Avengers: Endgame has unfinished business at the box office.
The Marvel Studios blockbuster has overtaken James Cameron’s Avatar to become the highest-grossing film worldwide once again. According to The Walt Disney Company’s October 4 announcement, Endgame now holds an estimated $2.9255 billion, narrowly ahead of Avatar’s $2.9237 billion. That puts just $1.8 million between two of cinema’s biggest hits.
The lead is small. The comeback, however, is substantial: a film released in 2019 has drawn enough fresh ticket sales to rewrite the all-time chart.
The ‘Encore’ release that tipped the balance
The latest theatrical run, titled Avengers Endgame: Encore, has earned $126 million worldwide, according to TheWrap. That includes $36.2 million in North America and $89.8 million from international markets—the extra business that pushed the film back into first place.
Audiences also had a reason to return beyond revisiting a familiar blockbuster. TheWrap reports that the reissue features a modified ending and three new scenes during and after the credits, connected to Avengers: Doomsday. The release therefore serves two purposes: bringing an established favourite back to cinemas and giving viewers a bridge to the next Avengers story.
This is another change of leadership in a box office contest that has lasted for years.
Endgame first displaced Avatar in 2019. Cameron’s science-fiction epic regained the crown following its Chinese re-release in 2021. Now, another theatrical return has swung the result in Marvel’s favour. Re-releases have become a decisive part of the competition, extending both films’ earning lives well beyond their original runs.
The distinction matters: this is the record for worldwide theatrical revenue without adjustment for inflation, including re-release earnings. It measures money collected rather than the number of tickets sold.
Why ‘Endgame’ matters to ‘Doomsday’
The timing gives Marvel’s comeback an added significance. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to reach cinemas on December 18, 2026, and Disney has positioned Endgame as an important foundation for that next chapter.
Explaining the connection, Anthony Russo said: “You really need to pick the story up from where you left it in Endgame.”
That makes this return more than a victory lap. A film remembered for closing a major chapter of Marvel’s story is now helping introduce the next one—and, along the way, has taken back Hollywood’s most closely watched box office title.
Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Faces a Tough Opening: Could ‘Verity’ Take the Lead?
Tom Cruise has spent years persuading audiences to watch him attempt the impossible. With Digger, the challenge is different: convincing moviegoers to embrace an eccentric, darkly comic character who bears little resemblance to his familiar action heroes.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film arrives in US cinemas on October 2, 2026, carrying considerable expectations. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon confronting a catastrophe connected to his company’s actions. It is a conspicuous departure for an actor whose recent screen identity has been shaped by spectacular stunts and blockbuster franchises.
Yet the conversation before release has increasingly turned from Cruise’s transformation to a more uncomfortable question: how many people will buy a ticket?
According to Koimoi’s September 30 report, Digger was tracking for a North American opening below $15 million, against a reported production cost of approximately $125 million. These are reported estimates, rather than confirmed earnings or a final accounting of the film’s costs.
That gap explains the concern surrounding Warner Bros.. An expensive production needs sustained attendance, and a subdued debut would place greater pressure on subsequent weekends and overseas markets.
An opening forecast cannot establish a film’s eventual profit or loss. It can, however, reveal how much work remains for the campaign.
Reviews have complicated the pitch
The critical response has been sharply divided. People reported reactions ranging from admiration for the film’s audacity and Cruise’s commitment to criticism of its scale, coherence and tone.
For potential ticket buyers, that creates an uncertain proposition. Cruise’s presence attracts attention, but attention does not automatically translate into enthusiasm for an unfamiliar kind of film.
The promotional campaign has leaned into that disagreement. The Guardian described advertising that places harsh reactions alongside praise, using the controversy itself to generate interest. Whether that approach encourages curiosity or deepens hesitation remains an open question.
Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, Verity is also scheduled to open on October 2. Its psychological-thriller premise centres on a writer who discovers a disturbing manuscript while completing another author’s book series.
From a marketing perspective, an established novel and a recognisable thriller setup could offer a more immediate hook. Digger, by comparison, asks audiences to take a greater leap into unfamiliar territory.
The audience verdict is still ahead
Cruise has clearly committed to that leap. At the London premiere, Reuters reported that his transformation involved prosthetics and a padded bodysuit, alongside a demanding performance.
The commercial outcome remains unresolved. Strong audience recommendations could give Digger momentum beyond its initial forecasts. A weak response would make its financial challenge harder.
For now, the film’s biggest suspense lies beyond the screen: whether curiosity about Cruise’s unusual gamble becomes an opening-weekend ticket purchase.
‘Verity’ Could Outopen ‘Digger’: Why Tom Cruise Faces a Tough Contest
Tom Cruise has spent years persuading audiences to watch him attempt the impossible. With Digger, the challenge is different: convincing moviegoers to embrace an eccentric, darkly comic character who bears little resemblance to his familiar action heroes.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film arrives in US cinemas on October 2, 2026, carrying considerable expectations. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon confronting a catastrophe connected to his company’s actions. It is a conspicuous departure for an actor whose recent screen identity has been shaped by spectacular stunts and blockbuster franchises.
Yet the conversation before release has increasingly turned from Cruise’s transformation to a more uncomfortable question: how many people will buy a ticket?
According to Koimoi’s September 30 report, Digger was tracking for a North American opening below $15 million, against a reported production cost of approximately $125 million. These are reported estimates, rather than confirmed earnings or a final accounting of the film’s costs.
That gap explains the concern surrounding Warner Bros.. An expensive production needs sustained attendance, and a subdued debut would place greater pressure on subsequent weekends and overseas markets.
An opening forecast cannot establish a film’s eventual profit or loss. It can, however, reveal how much work remains for the campaign.
Reviews have complicated the pitch
The critical response has been sharply divided. People reported reactions ranging from admiration for the film’s audacity and Cruise’s commitment to criticism of its scale, coherence and tone.
For potential ticket buyers, that creates an uncertain proposition. Cruise’s presence attracts attention, but attention does not automatically translate into enthusiasm for an unfamiliar kind of film.
The promotional campaign has leaned into that disagreement. The Guardian described advertising that places harsh reactions alongside praise, using the controversy itself to generate interest. Whether that approach encourages curiosity or deepens hesitation remains an open question.
Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, Verity is also scheduled to open on October 2. Its psychological-thriller premise centres on a writer who discovers a disturbing manuscript while completing another author’s book series.
From a marketing perspective, an established novel and a recognisable thriller setup could offer a more immediate hook. Digger, by comparison, asks audiences to take a greater leap into unfamiliar territory.
The audience verdict is still ahead
Cruise has clearly committed to that leap. At the London premiere, Reuters reported that his transformation involved prosthetics and a padded bodysuit, alongside a demanding performance.
The commercial outcome remains unresolved. Strong audience recommendations could give Digger momentum beyond its initial forecasts. A weak response would make its financial challenge harder.
For now, the film’s biggest suspense lies beyond the screen: whether curiosity about Cruise’s unusual gamble becomes an opening-weekend ticket purchase.
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