A new film about Martha Stewart is in development, with Cate Blanchett set to take on the lead role. The project, currently titled Good Thing, centres on Stewart’s rise within the American lifestyle industry and her expansion into publishing, television and retail.

The film will be directed by Janicza Bravo. Reports suggest the story will follow Stewart’s career from her early work into building a large-scale lifestyle business. Production details remain limited, but the focus is expected to stay on key stages of her professional development.

Cate Blanchett – Instagram

Stewart began her career as a model before moving into catering, where she established a business that gained attention for its presentation and organisation. That venture later expanded into books and television, eventually leading to the creation of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The company became a major force in lifestyle media, covering food, home design and entertaining, and played a central role in her commercial success.

The film is also expected to include the legal case that affected her public image. In 2004, Stewart was convicted on charges related to insider trading and served a five-month prison sentence. Following her release, she returned to television and business, rebuilding her brand and continuing to expand her media presence.

Cate Blanchett – Instagram

Blanchett has previously portrayed real-life figures in film and has received two Academy Awards, along with multiple nominations. The working title Good Thing references Stewart’s well-known catchphrase, which became closely associated with her brand.

The project follows renewed interest in Stewart’s life after the 2024 documentary Martha, directed by R. J. Cutler. A release date for the biopic has not yet been announced.

Day one of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival shifted focus beyond performances, with high-profile attendees using fashion and public appearances to set the tone during the festival’s opening hours.

Kylie Jenner arrived early in the evening in a fitted look that was widely shared online. The focal point was a printed top carrying a blunt, profane message referencing Justin Bieber. It signalled public support at a time when Bieber has kept a relatively low profile, with limited public appearances.

Kylie Jenner – Instagram

This reflects a growing pattern at Coachella. Celebrity attendees are increasingly using the festival to show support or address public speculation. Jenner’s appearance fit that approach, clearly intended to spread quickly across social platforms.

Bieber was not widely seen at the festival during the day, but discussion of his recent absence from major events and speculation about his career plans gained traction as images of Jenner’s outfit circulated. The message was clear.

Photo: Instagram

Elsewhere, the first day continued to serve as a networking space for the industry. Artists, influencers, and executives moved between private events and branded installations, with appearances often timed around sunset to draw a crowd. The balance between music and image-making continues to define the opening day, where outfits and public pairings carry as much weight as on-stage moments.

Justin Bieber – Instagram

This year, there was less focus on over-the-top outfits, with many opting for looks that felt intentional and considered. Several attendees chose pieces that conveyed a clear idea without overdoing it.

As the festival progresses, attention is shifting from who attends to how they present themselves. Day one suggests that at Coachella 2026, appearances are being handled with a tighter sense of purpose.

The cancellation of the latest season of The Bachelorette has triggered internal restructuring at ABC, with Maura Higgins emerging as the leading candidate to take over a franchise facing reputational challenges.

The disruption centres on Taylor Frankie Paul, who had already completed filming as the lead for season 22 before the network abruptly pulled the show days before its scheduled premiere. The decision followed public attention on a 2023 domestic violence incident involving her former partner, with footage that resurfaced leading to criticism.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

ABC responded by cancelling the broadcast. Despite having invested heavily in production, promotion and scheduling, the network confirmed it would not proceed, citing concern for those involved and the impact of airing a season tied to an active legal controversy. The move raises questions about the future of the franchise, already under pressure from declining ratings and changing audience habits.

It halted a fully produced season and disrupted ABC’s primetime schedule, forcing executives into emergency planning to replace an established reality format. It also highlighted how off-screen issues can affect the show.

Paul’s casting was presented as a change in casting approach. She was the first lead drawn from outside the traditional Bachelor ecosystem, brought in with an existing audience from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. That visibility, however, increased the reaction once the footage resurfaced, linking the show to the controversy.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

Maura Higgins is being considered, a reality television figure with existing audience recognition. Known for Love Island and more recently The Traitors, Higgins represents a different casting choice rather than a direct replacement.

Reports around her potential casting are based on speculation rather than confirmation. Following the cancellation, attention has focused on whether ABC may explore a revised format, potentially including a live version, with Higgins as the lead. Her response, limited to a brief social media reaction, has kept attention on the speculation.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

Higgins differs in that her public profile is already established through reality television. Unlike Paul’s situation, which brought off-screen issues into focus, Higgins is not currently linked to controversy that could affect production.

Even with a replacement, there are broader concerns. Recasting a lead does not resolve the issues exposed by the cancellation. Reports suggest ABC is weighing whether to revive the format, with some indicating the franchise could face a hiatus or end if issues persist.

Audience interest is also a concern. Bringing in a known personality like Higgins may maintain short-term interest, but it continues a change away from the show’s original premise of introducing unknown participants into a structured format.

Higgins remains not confirmed. ABC has not announced a replacement lead or clarified whether the cancelled season will be reworked or cancelled.

The franchise has changed. The cancellation has led to changes where casting decisions are now influenced by risk management, public scrutiny and the ability to sustain a production after release.

If Higgins steps into the role, it will be as the person responsible for helping the show recover, at a time when it is unlikely to return in its previous form.