1

The mythical "Kill Bill Vol. 3"

Image: Til Man

Ah, yes, the revenge of the revenge. Quentin Tarantino has been teasing Kill Bill Vol. 3 for nearly two decades. He’s talked about giving the character of Nikki time to grow up and take center stage in the third installment, even floating the idea of casting Zendaya or another grown-up actress in the role.

But as of now? It’s all smoke and samurai swords. Tarantino claims he has one more film left in him, and every fan theory points to Vol. 3 as the final strike.

2

The loaded history of "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote"

Image: Iuliia Dutchak

Johnny Depp and Jean Rochefort were originally set to take the leads, battling windmills as Cervantes’ mad knight and his companion. But this is another case of a film that seemed hexed.

Terry Gilliam first attempted the project in 2000, but many disasters ensued. Health issues, floods that wrecked the sets, and insurance company failings led to the project's dramatic collapse. In 2018, Gilliam finally released a version starring Adam Driver and Jonathan Pryce. But fans agree—it wasn’t that version.

3

Kubrick’s "Napoleon"

Image: Nicolas HIPPERT

The holy grail of unmade epics. Stanley Kubrick devoted years to this project—allegedly reading over 500 books, creating a card catalog of Napoleon’s daily life, and scouting locations across Europe.

He wanted Jack Nicholson in the lead and even planned to use actual armies to stage the battles. MGM said yes… then said nope. The budget was colossal, and Kubrick ultimately shelved it. Though he carried the idea to his grave, the script survived. Steven Spielberg has since talked about adapting it into a miniseries.

4

The irony of "Superman Lives"

Image: Yogi Purnama

Superman Lives was meant to reboot the Man of Steel, with Tim Burton at the helm and Nicolas Cage sporting long black hair and a glow-in-the-dark suit.

But after years of rewrites, studio shake-ups, and ballooning budgets, the whole thing collapsed under its own weight. Though it was never filmed, test footage of Cage in costume became internet legend. And if you really want the full story, the documentary The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? is the way to go.

5

Jodorowsky’s "Dune"

Image: Francisco Gomes

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune was meant to be a 10-hour odyssey, starring Salvador Dalí as the Emperor, Orson Welles as Baron Harkonnen, and featuring music by Pink Floyd. Yes, really.

However, as one can imagine, the budget grew past sanity. No studio could afford Jodorowsky’s vision. The 2013 documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune explores how this unmade film went on to influence countless others—from Star Wars to Blade Runner .

6

The true "The Thief and the Cobbler"

Image: Fabian Centeno

Richard Williams, the man behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit , spent nearly three decades working on _The Thief and the Cobbler_—a painstakingly hand-drawn masterpiece, inspired by Persian art and silent comedy.

However, by the 1990s, delays and mounting costs led the studio to reconsider its decision. The film was recut, rewritten, and released under various titles, with added songs and jarring voice-overs. The truth is, the original version was never fully completed.

7

The cursed "Blood Meridian"

Image: Erik

So many doomed attempts have been made that Cormac McCarthy’s brutal novel is often labeled "unfilmable." Blood Meridian is a violent fever dream, soaked in sun and sand—which might sound easy to bring to the screen.

Ridley Scott tried. So did James Franco and Todd Field. But each version was ultimately abandoned. In 2024, New Regency announced a new adaptation was in the works. As of now, however, it still seems cursed— Blood Meridian remains untouched by the screen.

8

Orson Welles’ "The Other Side of the Wind"

Image: Andre Moura

Yes, a version was released by Netflix in 2018… but it wasn’t quite what its director originally envisioned.

Orson Welles began shooting The Other Side of the Wind in the early ’70s, imagining a satirical, semi-autobiographical tale about a fading director staging a comeback. But financial chaos, legal snarls, political drama, and even missing reels meant that Welles never lived to finish it.

9

"At the Mountains of Madness" featuring Tom Cruise

Image: Balazs Busznyak

Imagine Tom Cruise battling ancient, brain-melting monsters in Antarctica—based on H.P. Lovecraft’s most mind-bending novella. Now picture Guillermo del Toro directing that nightmare in IMAX 3D. So what happened? It’s not entirely clear, though budget concerns likely played a role. You never know, though. Del Toro has shared some original concept art and designs that just might be revived someday.

10

The Rat Pack’s "The Rogues"

Image: Brice Cooper

A film called The Rogues , starring the Rat Pack, appears in fan lore and anecdotal sources—though there’s little documented proof. Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin. Sammy Davis Jr. The Rat Pack was Hollywood’s smoothest syndicate, both on and off-screen.

In the mid-’60s, they began filming The Rogues , a heist flick in the spirit of Ocean’s 11 . But egos clashed, schedules frayed, and the project derailed mid-production, as legend has it.

1

1776

Image: Bureau of Engraving and Printing., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

During the American Revolution, the Grand Union Flag, also called the Continental Colors, was created to represent the colonies. It featured 13 alternating red and white stripes (symbolizing the original colonies), but instead of stars in the upper left corner like we see today, it displayed the Union Jack.

2

1777

Image: Bureau of Engraving and Printing., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1777, following the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress adopted the first official flag of the United States. It featured 13 alternating red and white stripes, which still honor the original colonies today. Replacing the Union Jack, it introduced a new element that would be key for the rest of its history: 13 white stars set in a blue field, or canton, arranged in a circle to symbolize equality and unity among the states.

3

1795

Image: Nyttend, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It wasn’t until 1795 that the flag changed again, when two more stars and two additional stripes were added to represent the recently admitted states of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792). This version was the only US flag to feature more than 13 stripes and later became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner", since it was the very flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that would later be the lyrics of the national anthem.

4

1818

Image: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1818, the flag’s design changed once again. The 15 stripes were reduced back to 13 to permanently honor the original colonies. Five new states had joined the Union, bringing the total number of stars to 20. These stars were sometimes arranged in straight rows and other times in the shape of a large star, which earned this version the nickname "The Great Star Flag."

5

1912

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Each new state joining the Union meant one more star on the flag. In 1912, when New Mexico and Arizona were added, the number of states reached 48, so their stars also took their place. That year, President Taft issued an executive order setting the official proportions of the flag and specifying that the stars should be arranged in six horizontal rows of eight.

6

1960

Image: chris robert

The most recent design change came in 1960. After Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union in 1959, two more stars were added, bringing the total to 50. They were arranged in nine alternating rows of six and five stars, like the official flags you see displayed across the country today.

7

Flag time

Image: Jon Sailer

Beyond its official design, the US flag follows a set of protocols established over the years. One key rule specifies the time to display it: generally, the flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset. If displayed at night, it must be properly illuminated.

8

Weather conditions

Image: Anandu Vinod

The flag code doesn’t just set the time of day; it also indicates the proper weather conditions for display. According to the protocol, the flag should not be flown in bad weather, such as rain, snow, or storms, unless it’s an all-weather flag designed for such conditions.

9

Position

Image: Roger Starnes Sr

Of course, the flag must always have the blue canton in the upper left corner. But there are more rules for its position. When flown with other symbols, such as state flags, the national flag must be in the center and slightly higher. Additionally, if it needs to be lowered from the flagpole, the flag must never touch the ground.

10

Don'ts

Image: Alex Martinez

If you need to handle the flag, it’s important to know the proper way. But it's also crucial to know what not to do. Some of the key "don'ts" include never letting it touch the ground, avoiding creasing it, not writing or drawing on it, and one that might surprise many: don’t use it as clothing or decoration.

1

There are 52 states in the U.S.

Image: Chris Lawton

Remember that Friends episode where the characters were racing to write down as many state names as they could? When they asked Joey how many he’d gotten, he leaned back and proudly announced: "Fifty-six."

While not many Americans would share Joey’s confusion, believe it or not, some people are lost about the exact number . Many, when asked, reply that the country contains 52 states! Nope, it’s still just 50. People often mistakenly include Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. as states.

2

The Declaration of Independence was signed by everyone on July 4th, 1776

Image: Ryan Wallace

You’ve seen the paintings—quills raised, scroll unfurled, patriotic ambiance in full bloom. You probably pictured the famous document (scribbled on dramatically aged paper) being passed around the table and filled with names.

But reality was less cinematic . While July 4, 1776, is when the Declaration was adopted, only a few signatures made it on the page that day. Most of the 56 signers added their names over the course of weeks, and some not until August... or even later!

3

The Founding Fathers were all old men with powdered wigs

Image: The New York Public Library

You’d think the Founding Fathers were all 60-something aristocrats in wigs , sitting by candlelight. But many were in their twenties and thirties—Alexander Hamilton was just 21, and James Madison 25. Wigs weren’t as common as Hollywood would have you believe. Most preferred their natural hair, styled with a bit of 18th-century flair.

4

The U.S. Constitution was signed on July 4th, 1776

Image: Tara Winstead

It’s easy to jumble up America’s important dates , but this one’s a whopper. July 4th marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. The Constitution came along in 1787, over a decade later, and was signed on September 17.

5

The Statue of Liberty belongs to New Jersey

Image: Avi Werde

You’d be right to observe that Lady Liberty is surrounded by Jersey’s waters. But there’s a caveat: Liberty Island itself is federal property administered by the National Park Service. And while the island is closer to the shores of New Jersey, it remains under the sovereignty of New York State .

6

Benjamin Franklin was a U.S. president

Image: Adam Nir

No! He may have earned his place on the $100 bill, but it wasn’t for being the POTUS. He will always remain, however, one of the most recognizable Founding Fathers . He flew kites in storms, and he founded institutions like it were a hobby. He was a diplomat, inventor, philosopher... basically everything but president.

7

The Liberty Bell cracked on the first ring

Image: Joe Richmond

Not exactly. But it sounds poetic, right? A symbol of freedom breaking as it sounded its first call. Except... not true. The Liberty Bell didn’t crack on its first ring. It cracked years after its arrival and was recast twice before the famous fracture, which likely developed in the early 1800s, during a routine toll.

8

The Grand Canyon is visible from the moon

Image: Tim Hart

The Grand Canyon is not visible from the moon. At least not to the naked human eye! Neither is the Great Wall of China, as great as it may be. In fact, no man-made structure or geological feature is visible from the moon with the naked eye.

9

Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen

Image: Steve DiMatteo

Disney was cremated in 1966, and his ashes rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. No secret cryo-labs under Disneyland. Just a very enduring urban legend. But the myth persists ; some even think he's buried under Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

10

Hawaii is the westernmost state

Image: Roberto Nickson

Alaska is officially considered the westernmost state, even when counting Hawaii. That’s because the Aleutian Islands stretch so far west that some cross the 180th meridian, which is the line that separates the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. And here’s the twist: since those islands wrap around the globe’s edge, they also make Alaska the easternmost state.

11

Hollywood is a city

Image: De'Andre Bush

It might feel like its own world (glamorous, chaotic, full of paparazzi), but Hollywood isn’t its own standalone city. Sure, it has its own sign and red carpet events, which led people around the globe to believe it was independent from L.A., but "Tinseltown" is technically a neighborhood within Los Angeles

12

Mount Rushmore is a natural formation

Image: VERONICA LIVESEY

Finally, the unbelievable one. Some tour guides from Mount Rushmore report that tourists have, indeed, looked them straight in the face and asked about the natural phenomenon that carved those profiles into the mountains. Nope —Gutzon Borglum and his team spent 14 years blasting the four former presidents into the rock.