Paul Feig went into the final stages of his latest film fully prepared for disappointment, never expecting Taylor Swift to say yes to a song he believed was too perfect to be approved. 

But to his surprise, the pop superstar not only watched the movie, she signed off on the track he had hoped for all along.

Speaking during the red carpet premiere of The Housemaid on Monday, the four-time Emmy nominee admitted he had little faith that Swift would clear the use of her 2017 Reputation track I Did Something Bad for the film’s shocking ending. 

As Feig explained, securing a Taylor Swift song is never simple. 

“Well, that’s the thing; you want to put a Taylor song in your movie, but she and her company have to approve it,” he said while discussing the editing process.

Even with that reality in mind, Feig and his team took a chance. 

“So, we were tempting with it, and we were like, ‘It’s so perfect, but she’s never gonna clear this,’” he added. 

The unexpected twist came after Swift and her team were shown the finished film. 

“Then we showed she and her people the movie, and she approved it. So, I guess she likes it. Thank you Taylor!”

The approval turned a long-shot wish into a defining moment for The Housemaid, which is now playing in theaters. 

The film’s soundtrack leans heavily into emotionally charged and recognisable music, blending Swift’s song with tracks like Lana Del Rey’s Cinnamon Girl, Renée Rapp’s Why Is She Still Here?, Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone, and Linda Ronstadt’s Tumbling Dice and Blue Bayou.

Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, the thriller stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie, a housekeeper who steps into what appears to be a flawless household run by the Winchesters, played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. 

As the story unfolds, dark secrets begin to surface.

Rob Reiner’s circle was wide and eclectic, spanning comedians honing punchlines and Oscar-winning actors and filmmakers shaping Hollywood itself. 

As the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, he entered the world of entertainment early – but went on to make a name for himself as a director, filmmaker, and actor in his own right.

He’s perhaps best known for his breakout role at age 23 as Archie Bunker’s liberal son-in-law, Michael “Meathead” Stivic in the hit 1970s sitcom “All in the Family,” though others may know him more recently as Bob Day, the father of the quirky Jess Day in “New Girl.” Reiner also directed iconic films such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me” and “A Few Good Men.”.

Friends and colleagues who worked with Reiner through the years sat down with CBS News to share their personal anecdotes and fond memories of him following the news of his tragic death. Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14 and their son, Nick, was charged in their murders.

Here’s a look at some tributes from those who knew Reiner best, featured in “CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life,” a one-hour special that will be broadcast Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks said he’s still in disbelief over the death of his good friend, who he’s known since the pair attended drama class together at Beverly Hills High School more than 60 years ago.

“Rob was my oldest friend. It’s that simple. He’s the person that I’ve known the longest. I met him when I was 14 years old. So I’m still in that not believing it stage,” he told CBS News.

Brooks said he still finds himself dialing his pal’s number to chat, and then freezes when he realizes what he’s done. 

“I know it happened, but, you know, I’m driving around and all of a sudden – I actually two days ago, I called his number,” he recalled.

Kathy Bates

Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates has credited Reiner with changing “the course of [her] life” by directing her unforgettable performance as Annie Wilkes in “Misery” in 1990.

“If I hadn’t done ‘Misery,’ it would be like George Bailey going back and seeing what his life would have been like if he had never been there,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had some of the friends that I have now. I wouldn’t have had the richness in my life. I quite frankly probably would have stayed in the theater and I doubt I would have had a movie career. I might have dropped out altogether.”

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland who played Lt. Jonathan Kendrick in the 1992 legal drama “A Few Good Men” said Reiner had an unforgettable presence on set as director. He recalled the tense courtroom scene where Jack Nicholson – Colonel Nathan Jessup – had to deliver his now famous line, “You can’t handle the truth!” 

After the first moving take, Sutherland recalled Reiner asking Nicholson if he wanted to go again.

“No one said a word, and Rob went up to Jack Nicholson and whispered in his ear, ‘Do you want to do another one?’ And Jack Nicholson said, ‘Well, we’re here,'” Sutherland recalled. “So they did another one, and it was just as extraordinary.”

The actors planned a marathon filming day, but Sutherland said Reiner was so blown away by Nicholson’s performance that day that he sent everyone home early.

“They had planned to shoot the whole day, and Rob looked at everybody and said, ‘I couldn’t ask for anything more, so you guys all have the rest of the day off,” Sutherland said.

David Harbour seems to be greatly affected by the public scrutiny over his life this year, after his estranged wife, Lily Allen, released her album, West End Girl.

The 50-year-old actor reportedly exhibited erratic behaviour during a night out in Encinitas, California, over the weekend.

The Stranger Things star was seen stealing a hat at Encinitas Ale House, as he entered and quickly left the venue, yelling, “C’mon, dude! F–king get me!”

The surveillance cameras caught Harbour and the man whose hat he took coming face to face as he asked the actor, “What the f–k did I do to you, dude?” as per TMZ.

Although there was no “physical” altercation between the two, the Hellboy star shocked eyewitnesses with his attitude.

The strangeness of the evening seemed to only increase with the moment, as Harbour spiked the guy’s hat on the floor, and asked people about the Iraq war, before kneeling to pray emotionally.

An insider who knew of the situation told the outlet that Harbour’s bipolar disorder could have been triggered. “David has always been honest about managing his bipolar disorder. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what he’s dealing with here after working non-stop all year and having his personal life under public scrutiny,” they said.

The Black Widow actor has previously talked about being diagnosed with the disorder at 25.