Lauren Rouse

Lauren Rouse

Writer

Lauren Rouse has been a writer at The Direct since the site launched in 2020. She has a huge passion for everything pop culture and currently writes news articles for the Marvel, Star Wars, DC and video game branches.

Lauren also works as a journalist at Lifehacker, Gizmodo and Kotaku in Australia, where she covers entertainment news, reviews, and interviews talent. She previously served as a freelance writer at Game Rant and she holds a Master's degree in Screenwriting from AFTRS.

You can follow Lauren’s articles, entertainment opinions and Comic-Con adventures over on Twitter (@LRouse19).

About The Direct

The Direct is a leading independent entertainment news outlet covering the biggest franchises in pop culture. The Direct reaches over 10 million page views a month on its website, thedirect.com, and millions more on social media. Learn more about The Direct here!


Lauren Rouse's Latest The Direct Articles

Why Stranger Things Season 5's Release Got Split Into 3 Parts

Here's why Netflix chose a three-part split for the final season of Stranger Things.

By Lauren Rouse -


Marvel Confirms Phase 5's Final Villain Has a Major WandaVision Connection

Marvel's next Disney+ show will share some similarities with its first streaming series, WandaVision.

By Lauren Rouse -


MCU: The Thing Loses His Shirt In New Merch (Photos)

The Thing is sporting a new look in the latest Fantastic Four: First Steps merchandise.

By Lauren Rouse -


Disney+ Makes MCU History With Return of ABC Marvel Actor

One actor from Marvel's ABC era of TV shows will make history when they return in a new MCU series on Disney+.

By Lauren Rouse -


Jeff the Shark Finally Makes His Marvel TV Debut

Fan-favorite Marvel Rivals character Jeff the Land Shark is finally coming to television.

By Lauren Rouse -


James Gunn's New Justice League Team Reveals Matching Costumes (Photos)

Several new superheroes in Superman can be identified as teammates thanks to their matching outfits.

By Lauren Rouse -


Jurassic World: Rebirth Trailer Confirms a Scary New Power for the T-Rex

Jurassic World: Rebirth's island of new dinosaurs includes a T-Rex with a surprising advantage.

By Lauren Rouse -


New Fantastic Four 2025 Video Wants You to Do 2 Things Before the Movie

A new Fantastic Four movie PSA makes some requests of viewers ahead of the film's release.

By Lauren Rouse -


2026 WandaVision Sequel Will Bring Back 1 Forgotten Spider-Man Character

An actor has been cast to play a surprising Spider-Man character in Disney+'s Vision Quest.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us Producers Explain Why Season 2 Is Only 7 Episodes

The Last of Us producers have explained why Season 2 has a much shorter episode count than Season 1.

By Lauren Rouse -


Last of Us Season 2 Finale: [Spoiler]'s Death Explained by Showrunner

The Last of Us showrunners explain why they had to say goodbye to one beloved character in Season 2.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us Season 2: Mel's Baby Father Identity Addressed by Showrunner

The Last of Us showrunners speak on the identity of the father of Mel's baby in the TV show adaptation.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us: 'Monster at the End of This Book' Meaning Explained

Ellie's choice of book in The Last of Us Season 2 has a deeper meaning.

By Lauren Rouse -


Wednesday Season 2 Will Give 3 Main Characters Even Bigger Roles (Confirmed)

Several Wednesday characters will have expanded screentime in Season 2 of the Netflix series.

By Lauren Rouse -


Star Wars: Mon Mothma & Daughter Reunion Chances Addressed by Andor Star

Is there hope for a Mon and Leida reunion? One Andor star shares their thoughts.

By Lauren Rouse -


Disney Removes 3 Marvel Studios Movies From 2026 & 2027 Release Calendar

Disney has removed three Marvel Studios films from its slate amidst a release calendar shake-up.

By Lauren Rouse -


New Spider-Man 4 Report Reveals Black Widow Connection

Spider-Man: Brand New Day shares an unexpected similarity with Marvel's Black Widow film.

By Lauren Rouse -


Peacemaker Season 2: Every DC Character Now Confirmed to Appear

New faces will join familiar heroes in the second season of John Cena's DCU TV show.

By Lauren Rouse -


Handmaid's Tale: Why Lawrence Gets on the Plane

Commander Lawrence's plans went awry in Season 6 Episode 9 of The Handmaid's Tale.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Bear Season 4 Trailer Omits One Major Cast Member

The Bear is returning for Season 4, but it may be without Carmy's longtime love interest, Claire.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us Actor Confirms What We All Suspected About Abby In Season 3

HBO's The Last of Us Season 3 will go in an expected direction, according to one of the show's stars.

By Lauren Rouse -


Lilo and Stitch 2025 Soundtrack Reveals 8 Hit Songs

The Lilo & Stitch live-action remake borrows several songs from the original soundtrack.

By Lauren Rouse -


Thunderbolts Post-Credits Scene Originally Featured Avengers 5's OG Villain

The post-credits scene for Thunderbolts* looked very different in earlier drafts.

By Lauren Rouse -


Last of Us Season 2: Ellie's Moth Tattoo Meaning Explained

The meaning of Ellie's moth tattoo was revealed in The Last of Us Season 2's sixth episode.

By Lauren Rouse -


Robert Downey Jr. Is No Longer the MCU's Most-Recurring Superhero Actor

Several MCU stars have beaten Robert Downey Jr.'s record for Marvel appearances.

By Lauren Rouse -


Avengers: Doomsday Confirmed to Include 2 Motion-Capture Characters

Two actors in Avengers: Doomsday will be unrecognizable as their characters.

By Lauren Rouse -


Marvel Boss Explains Why So Many Disney+ Shows Don't Get Second Seasons

The list of Disney+ shows with a second season is small and the Avengers might be the problem.

By Lauren Rouse -


Disney Confirms Its 6 Biggest Movies Releasing In the Rest of 2025

Disney CEO Bob Iger has highlighted the movies the studio is most excited for on its 2025 slate.

By Lauren Rouse -


2026 Spider-Man Show Announces Its 7 Main Actors

The next Spider-Man TV show is weaving an impressive web of cast members.

By Lauren Rouse -


Marvel Studios Confirms 9 Netflix Characters Are Now in the MCU

Marvel Studios is continuing to bring characters from Marvel's Netflix shows into the MCU.

By Lauren Rouse -


Marvel Studios' Newest Trailer Is Getting Dislike-Bombed

The trailer for Marvel's next Disney+ show, Ironheart, is receiving backlash online.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us Reveals Why Joel Shot Eugene (And His Reasoning Makes Total Sense)

The mystery of Eugene's death will be solved in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6.

By Lauren Rouse -


The Last of Us Season 2: Here's Where Abby Went After Ending Joel's Life

Fans wanting to know Abby's location in The Last of Us Season 2 can turn to Naughty Dog's game for the answer.

By Lauren Rouse -


Star Wars' Newest Lightsaber Has a Record-Breaking Blade Count (Photos)

Fans will soon bear witness to an epic lightsaber in the new season of Star Wars: Visions.

By Lauren Rouse -


Thunderbolts Movie Reveals First Look at Bucky's Trauma Room (Photos)

A key detail about Bucky's character may have been hiding in Thunderbolts all along.

By Lauren Rouse -


Avengers: Doomsday Confirmed to Include 6 MCU Disney+ Characters

The next Avengers movie will feature some MCU heroes from the small screen.

By Lauren Rouse -


Peacemaker Season 2: Here’s Why There Are 2 John Cena Peacemakers

John Cena's Peacemaker comes face to face with himself in Season 2 of James Gunn's superhero show.

By Lauren Rouse -


Avengers: Doomsday Director Gives Blunt Response About Elizabeth Olsen's Return

Avengers: Doomsday director Joe Russo has a cryptic answer about Wanda Maximoff's MCU future.

By Lauren Rouse -


Avatar 3 Movie Confirmed to Bring Back 11 Major Characters

Almost a dozen familiar characters make their return in James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash.

By Lauren Rouse -


Thunderbolts Director Reveals Tom Holland's Spider-Man Secretly Impacted the Movie's Story

Spider-Man: No Way Home made it difficult for Marvel to stick to the origins of a significant character in Thunderbolts.

By Lauren Rouse -