{"id":16220,"date":"2026-07-25T00:12:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16220"},"modified":"2026-07-25T00:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:12:34","slug":"franchise-fatigue-gives-original-stories-a-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16220","title":{"rendered":"Franchise fatigue gives original stories a boost"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-243a7a\" class=\"body-graf\">Comic-Con kicked off in San Diego on Thursday, and in a sign Hollywood may be moving beyond Peak IP, some of this year\u2019s buzziest panels aren\u2019t for superheroes or cute droids, but for visionary creators.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5a21aa\" class=\"body-graf\">Apple TV\u2019s \u201cWidow\u2019s Bay,\u201d the <strong>Katie Dippold<\/strong> horror-comedy that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/emmy-nominees-2026-analysis-takeaways-rcna353384\" target=\"_blank\">just collected 19 Emmy nominations<\/a> and proved that 2026 audiences like their TV a little weird, will mark the streamer\u2019s debut in the San Diego Convention Center\u2019s cavernous, high-stakes venue, Hall H, on a prime Saturday afternoon slot.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-cddcbf\" class=\"body-graf\">Other projects getting a big room treatment include: Netflix\u2019s animated neo-noir sci-fi film, \u201cRay Gunn\u201d from <strong>Brad Bird<\/strong>; Neon\u2019s sci-fi action thriller \u201cHope\u201d from South Korean director <strong>Na Hong-jin;<\/strong> and A24\u2019s thriller \u201cOnslaught,\u201d from <strong>Adam Wingard.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-c2669f\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1667\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-Widows-Bay-ew-351p-fd6b81.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-Widows-Bay-ew-351p-fd6b81.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-Widows-Bay-ew-351p-fd6b81.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-Widows-Bay-ew-351p-fd6b81.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-Widows-Bay-ew-351p-fd6b81.jpg\" alt=\"Matthew Rhys in &quot;Widow\u2019s Bay,&quot; now streaming on Apple TV.\" height=\"1667\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Matthew Rhys in &#8220;Widow\u2019s Bay,&#8221; now streaming on Apple TV.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Robert Clark \/ Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-c9a39d\" class=\"body-graf\">Those of us old enough to have been sitting in Hall H <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/archive\/6908364\/where-iron-man-and-beowulf-roam\/\" target=\"_blank\">nearly 20 years ago<\/a> when <strong>Jon Favreau<\/strong> unveiled footage from the first \u201cIron Man\u201d movie remember the feeling of a culture quake beginning as the era of comic book movie dominance took hold in Hollywood and studios raced to shore up their supplies of superhero-driven intellectual property.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b9a2c6\" class=\"body-graf\">IP still matters, of course, with franchises remaining some of the biggest audience draws. This year\u2019s blockbuster hits include video game adaptation \u201cThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie\u201d and the fifth installment of the 30-year-old animated \u201cToy Story\u201d franchise. Marvel also has two heavy hitters on deck: \u201cSpider-Man: Brand New Day,\u201d opening next week, and \u201cAvengers: Doomsday,\u201d due in December.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-92faba\" class=\"body-graf\">But recognizable properties are not the reliable earners they once were, as evidenced by the underwhelming performance of recent movies such as \u201cStar Wars: the Mandalorian and Grogu,\u201d \u201cSupergirl\u201d and \u201cMasters of the Universe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-75893d\" class=\"body-graf\">And films driven by the visions of their directors, such as <strong>Christopher<\/strong> <strong>Nolan\u2019s<\/strong> \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d and <strong>Curry Barker\u2019s<\/strong> \u201cObsession\u201d have ignited audiences.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-548087\" class=\"body-graf\">All of that means change at Comic-Con, which since its launch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/movies\/movie-news\/comic-cons-first-star-wars-panel-1976-was-a-sleepy-affiar-1022849\/\" target=\"_blank\">in the 1970s<\/a> has been both a driver and an indicator of pop culture winds. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-7e93cf\" class=\"body-graf\"><strong>Marc Bernardin<\/strong>, who has attended Comic-Con for years as a fan, journalist and writer-producer on shows such as \u201cStar Trek Picard\u201d and Marvel\u2019s \u201cEyes of Wakanda,\u201d sees a disturbance in the force.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e69620\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThere is no new \u2018Star Trek\u2019 in development, no new \u2018Dr Who\u2019 in development. \u2018Star Wars\u2019 doesn\u2019t have its footing,\u201d Bernardin said. \u201cThese venerable franchises that used to be the solid double hit you would get out of Comic-Con aren\u2019t there anymore, so it does leave the door open for new, unexpected things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b9570c\" class=\"body-graf\">Comic-Con also has more competition than it once did, as studios have launched their own fan cons, such as Disney\u2019s D23 and Netflix\u2019s Tudum, or other similar events have popped up around the world, like the increasingly buzzy CCXP in Sao Paulo. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-eadc5b\" class=\"body-graf\">But according to one studio source who is bringing a project to Comic-Con this year, the real transformation is among the fans. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-3ead89\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThe fandom is shifting from franchises to creators,\u201d said the source, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on the record. \u201cWho fans are, what they come for, it\u2019s all changing and studio engagement is going to need to change too.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-a5f46e\" class=\"body-heading\"><em><strong>Welcome back to ON THE LOT. <\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-c1aa5f\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>Also in this edition, a big screen smackdown and the AI blockbuster alternatives.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b5c48e\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>Got tips (on where to park when the Arclight comes back to Hollywood or where to go for dinner after seeing A24\u2019s new Anthony Bourdain movie). You can reach me at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/mailto:rebecca.keegan@nbcuni.com\" target=\"_blank\"><em>rebecca.keegan@nbcuni.com<\/em><\/a><em> or on Signal at thatrebecca.82.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-6addb3\" class=\"body-heading\">GO BIG OR GO HOME<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-d47a58\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1611\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260716-imax-ww-1729-649003.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260716-imax-ww-1729-649003.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260716-imax-ww-1729-649003.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260716-imax-ww-1729-649003.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260716-imax-ww-1729-649003.jpg\" alt=\"A darkened movie theatre hallway with blue lighting.\" height=\"1611\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">The Regal Irvine Spectrum&#8217;s IMAX theater on September 17, 2020 in Irvine, Calif.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-a4ec57\" class=\"body-graf\">Selecting a movie ticket has gotten a lot more complicated in the last few years. According to <strong>Charlotte Jones<\/strong>, senior principal analyst of media and entertainment at Omdia, there are now 79 different movie theater brands to choose from in North America, and more than 285 brands worldwide. Can\u2019t get into IMAX but wanna see a movie in 4DX, ScreenX or RPX instead? The Xs alone are dizzying.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-cdf440\" class=\"body-graf\">As \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d heads into its second weekend at the box office, fueled in buzz and dollars by its IMAX ticket sales, I did a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/imax-the-odyssey-disney-infinity-vision-doomsday-premium-format-race-rcna587940\" target=\"_blank\">deep dive<\/a> this week on the premium large format phenomenon.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-ff6e04\" class=\"body-graf\">Disney is introducing a new label it is calling Infinity Vision, essentially the studio\u2019s version of a Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a movie theater with a big screen, laser projection and high-quality sound.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2a1b5b\" class=\"body-graf\">There\u2019s been a fair amount of skepticism of Disney\u2019s motivation for creating this new certification, which coincides with the studio getting shut out of IMAX screens for its December release of \u201cAvengers: Doomsday.\u201d Those screens will be taken by Warner Bros.\u2019 \u201cDune: Part III,\u201d which had a contract for them before Disney moved its Marvel sequel onto the same date.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-90fb88\" class=\"body-graf\">In an interview with IMAX\u2019s <strong>Rich Gelfond<\/strong> about Disney\u2019s new label, he said, \u201cThey came up with Infinity Vision as marketing so they could bundle a lot of disparate companies with X\u2019s after their names and communicate a way to compete with IMAX. It\u2019s just kind of a way they can capture more dollars, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019re really replicating our experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-787d9d\" class=\"body-graf\">But Disney\u2019s head of distribution, <strong>Andrew Cripps<\/strong>, described Infinity Vision to me as a way of simplifying life for moviegoers. \u201cIt\u2019s good for consumers if we can offer them the choice of better screens, better experiences,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c80758\" class=\"body-graf\">This week, just as Disney began selling advance tickets for \u201cAvengers: Doomsday\u201d in the format <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/video\/shorts\/how-does-disney-s-infinity-vision-compare-to-imax-267123781608\" target=\"_blank\">I headed into<\/a> one of the theaters that has earned the Infinity Vision designation. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e84408\" class=\"body-graf\">We\u2019ll have to wait until September, when the studio rolls out Infinity Vision with a re-release of \u201cAvengers: Endgame,\u201d to see if the label becomes a meaningful tool to moviegoers. For my part, I can confirm that the Infinity Vision theater\u2019s reclining seats were pretty comfy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-cb184c\" class=\"body-heading\">AN \u2018ODYSSEY\u2019 FOR EVERYONE<\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-4dc88d\" class=\"body-graf\">If you don\u2019t like Hollywood\u2019s version of a story, try AI\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-145829\" class=\"body-graf\">NBC News culture and trends reporter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/author\/angela-yang-ncpn1287851\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Angela Yang<\/strong><\/a> explored the emergence of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/tech-news\/the-odyssey-christopher-nolan-critics-turn-to-ai-gener%20%20ated-version-rcna587943\" target=\"_blank\"> the AI blockbuster alternative<\/a>, an idea getting a boost from right-wing critics of <strong> Nolan\u2019s<\/strong> version of \u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d including <strong>Elon Musk<\/strong>. This week Musk said Grok Imagine, his AI video generator, \u201cwill make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-c7ef84\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"600\" data-original-width=\"1200\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260717-odysseus-the-fall-odyssey-2x1-mn-2315-257117.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260717-odysseus-the-fall-odyssey-2x1-mn-2315-257117.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260717-odysseus-the-fall-odyssey-2x1-mn-2315-257117.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260717-odysseus-the-fall-odyssey-2x1-mn-2315-257117.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260717-odysseus-the-fall-odyssey-2x1-mn-2315-257117.jpg\" alt=\"Odysseus in the AI-generated film &quot;Odysseus: The Fall&quot; and Matt Damon in &quot;The Odyssey.&quot;\" height=\"600\" width=\"1200\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Odysseus in the AI-generated film &#8220;Odysseus: The Fall&#8221; and Matt Damon in &#8220;The Odyssey.&#8221;<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Fountain 0; Universal Pictures <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-5bf15c\" class=\"body-graf\">What \u201chistorically accurate\u201d means in a story that includes a one-eyed monster and a sorceress who turns people into pigs is really anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5e2b25\" class=\"body-graf\">But Musk\u2019s friends on Grok aren\u2019t the only AI auteurs mining Homer\u2019s work. <strong>Ash Koosha<\/strong>, director of \u201cOdysseus: The Fall,\u201d a 135-minute feature film due from AI movie studio Fountain AO later this year, told Yang that his AI Odyssey movie is not intended as a response to Nolan\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8f03f6\" class=\"body-graf\">Instead, Koosha said, it\u2019s a creative exercise of its own that has been swept up in the culture war, just like Nolan\u2019s film.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-fb1039\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThat world is coming, where we all have the ability to tell our version, so it\u2019s no longer exclusive to a few people who have hundreds of millions of dollars to tell the story,\u201d Koosha said. \u201cThere will be parallels in different sizes and budgets. And I think that is very fulfilling for the same people that like to go online and start shouting at each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-219742\" class=\"body-heading\">THE DIALOGUE<\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-542991\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThere is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome.\u201d \u2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO <strong>Ravi Ahuja<\/strong> in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment-arts\/business\/story\/2026-07-22\/sony-alamo-drafthouse-are-reopening-hollywoods-cinerama-dome\" target=\"_blank\">statement announcing<\/a> that the studio\u2019s theater chain and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema have teamed up to reopen the historic Hollywood landmark.. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0a60d0\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cIf I went through a yellow light, 15 cars would go through the red behind me. They would drive up onto people\u2019s lawns, even on a hillside. We were trying to have our little one play soccer, and the association asked us to stop because there were 20 cars coming. So it wasn\u2019t just about us. It was just an industry that had gotten out of control.\u201d \u2014 Actor <strong>Jennifer Garner<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecut.com\/article\/jennifer-garner-paparazzi-danger-to-kids.html\" target=\"_blank\">in an interview on the \u201cShut Up Evan\u201d podcast<\/a>, describing the lengths paparazzi would go to snap photos of her and her children<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-3970d9\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cChildren deserve laws that protect them. They shouldn\u2019t have to become adults before realizing the law should have protected them all along.\u201d \u2014Media personality and reality TV star <strong>Courtney Stodden<\/strong> in an Instagram post calling out actor <strong>Jason Alexander<\/strong> over a lewd 2012 comedy sketch the two made when Stodden was 17. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/jason-alexander-apologizes-courtney-stodden-inappropriate-skit-was-17-rcna588741https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/jason-alexander-apologizes-courtney-stodden-inappropriate-skit-was-17-rcna588741\" target=\"_blank\">Alexander apologized<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0f55c7\" class=\"endmark body-graf\"><em>That\u2019s a wrap. See you next week.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comic-Con kicked off in San Diego on Thursday, and in a sign Hollywood may be moving beyond Peak IP, some of this year\u2019s buzziest panels aren\u2019t for superheroes or cute droids, but for visionary creators. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Apple TV\u2019s \u201cWidow\u2019s Bay,\u201d the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260723-san-diego-comic-con-ew-530p-e381e0.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}