March 2026 has been a month of surprises, nostalgia, and poignant farewells in the entertainment world, as a string of high-profile cameos, heartfelt tributes, and major returns have captured the attention of Hollywood and fans worldwide. From Meryl Streep’s playful voice work in two blockbuster films to Elisabeth Moss’s enigmatic stance on her future in a beloved series, and the industry’s ongoing remembrance of James Van Der Beek, the month has offered both celebration and reflection.
Perhaps the most talked-about surprise came from none other than Meryl Streep, whose unmistakable voice graced not one but two of the month’s biggest theatrical releases: Pixar’s animated comedy Hoppers and the sci-fi spectacle Project Hail Mary. According to The Playlist, Streep’s involvement in Hoppers was the result of director Daniel Chong’s long-held vision. He admitted, “The minute I started pitching the story, she was just laughing the whole way through, and loved the tone. She understood the humor, and she understood what her role in the movie would be.” Streep voiced the monarch butterfly Insect Queen—a character whose fate is as brief as it is hilarious. When Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) accidentally squishes the Queen, the film’s plot takes a wild turn, and Streep’s cameo becomes an inside joke for audiences in the know. As Chong recalled to The Playlist, Streep responded to her character’s untimely demise with characteristic good humor: “I am ready for all that.”
Meanwhile, in Project Hail Mary, Streep’s voice appears during a montage where astronaut Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) tests out various options for translating the alien Rocky’s speech. The film’s directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, managed to secure Streep’s participation through producer Amy Pascal, who has collaborated with the actress on several occasions. Lord told Inquirer, “We were like, Amy, you’ve got to ask Meryl. It’s a magical moment in the movie. And Meryl said yes and couldn’t have been more playful and fun. She did so many different takes.” Adding to the fun, Gosling never knew which voice would come through his earpiece next, keeping even the star on his toes.
These roles mark Streep’s first big-screen appearances since her lauded turn as Aunt March in 2019’s Little Women. Over the past seven years, she’s kept busy with documentary narration, streaming releases like Let Them All Talk and Don’t Look Up, and recurring appearances on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. But her voice cameos in Hoppers and Project Hail Mary signal her official return to theatrical movies—a return that will become even more pronounced on May 1, when she reprises her Golden Globe-winning role as Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Streep is also set to portray Joni Mitchell in an upcoming biopic directed by Cameron Crowe, a project already generating considerable buzz.
While Streep’s cameos have delighted fans, another beloved television figure has kept audiences guessing. On March 19, Elisabeth Moss appeared on The View alongside Kerry Washington and Kate Mara to promote their new project, Imperfect Women. The conversation quickly turned to The Handmaid’s Tale and its much-anticipated spinoff, The Testaments. Moss, who starred as June Osborne for all six seasons of Hulu’s acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel and won two Emmys for the role, is now serving as executive producer on the sequel series. When pressed by cohost Sunny Hostin about whether she would reprise her iconic role, Moss played coy, giving no confirmation either way. What is known is that The Testaments will star Chase Infiniti and Ann Dowd, with Moss’s involvement behind the scenes ensuring that the spirit of the original show remains intact.
The uncertainty around Moss’s on-screen future only seems to have heightened anticipation for The Testaments. Fans and industry insiders alike are speculating whether Moss’s June Osborne will make a surprise appearance—a move that would surely electrify the show’s devoted following. For now, viewers must content themselves with the knowledge that Moss remains deeply involved in shaping the series, even if her acting role is still up in the air.
Amid these headline-grabbing developments, Hollywood has also been mourning the loss of James Van Der Beek, whose sudden passing at age 48 was announced in February by his wife, Kimberly. Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek (which aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003), left an indelible mark on television and film. One of his most memorable big-screen moments came in the 2000 horror parody Scary Movie, where he made a brief but hilarious cameo as his own character from Dawson’s Creek. The scene, which lampooned Scream and featured Anna Faris and Jon Abrahams, saw Van Der Beek’s Dawson appear at Cindy Campbell’s window, only to realize he was on the wrong set and exit to laughter from the audience.
Marlon Wayans, who co-created the Scary Movie franchise and starred as Shorty Meeks, recently reminisced about Van Der Beek’s willingness to poke fun at himself. “He was cool as hell for even doing it,” Wayans told Entertainment Weekly. “He was huge on Dawson’s Creek. He was like, ‘Oh, I’m game,’ and I was like, ‘bet.’ It was quick, but the audience loved it. ‘Oh! Wrong, wrong, wrong set!’ And he just leaves. It was just the coolest moment.”
Van Der Beek’s legacy continues to be celebrated as Scary Movie 6 prepares for its June 5 premiere, with Wayans reprising his fan-favorite role. The actor’s family, in a statement shared on Instagram, wrote: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
From the laughter sparked by Streep’s unexpected cameos to the bittersweet memories of Van Der Beek’s comedic timing, and the intrigue surrounding Moss’s next move, March 2026 has proven that Hollywood’s magic lies as much in its surprises and heartfelt moments as in its blockbusters and awards. As audiences look ahead to new premieres and the return of familiar faces, these stories remind us just how much the industry—and its fans—cherish both the legends and the legacies left behind.