Craig Melvin wanted to ask Parker Posey about horror movies.
She thought he had called her a whore. Both laughed at the misunderstanding during her October 26 appearance on Today, before the conversation brought another surprise.
When Melvin asked about Sleepover, Posey revealed she was no longer making the film. Her answer caught the host off guard because his interview notes still listed it among her upcoming projects.
The actress, 57, was visiting the NBC morning show to discuss her reality competition series The Mob and Martin McDonagh’s film Wild Horse Nine. She also appeared on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle later in the broadcast.
Horror was a familiar subject for Posey. She played actress Jennifer Jolie in 2000’s Scream 3 and vampire Danica Talos in 2004’s Blade: Trinity, two credits Melvin mentioned as he introduced the question.
A Misheard Word Sent the Interview Off Course
Melvin said they needed to discuss horror before Posey left. She leaned forward for clarification, and he tried again, separating the word into syllables. Posey put a hand to her chest and laughed as she explained what she had heard.
“I thought you called me a whore!” she said, according to Entertainment Weekly. Melvin immediately denied it and spelled out the word he intended: H-O-R-R-O-R.
Posey teased him about the exchange happening on NBC’s morning show. “I did not enunciate well,” Melvin acknowledged before trying to return to her work.
Her ‘Sleepover’ Update Left Melvin Checking His Cards
Asked to describe her next horror movie, Posey answered, “I’m not doing it.” Melvin pointed to the card naming Sleepover, and she confirmed that she had previously been attached. She then asked to borrow a card, saying she was sweating, and used it to fan herself. “It’s not happening anymore. Something came up,” she explained, giving no further reason for leaving.
Posey tried shifting the conversation to Melvin’s recent selection as PEOPLE‘s Sexiest Morning TV Host. He remained concerned about his notes, asking once more whether she was really out of the film before calling on co-host Carson Daly to “save us please.” Daly declined and predicted another viral clip, while Posey reassured Melvin that everything was fine.
Variety had announced her casting on October 13. Universal had set an October 8, 2027, release for the Blumhouse-Atomic Monster production. According to TheWrap, Jacob Chase is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with Bryce McGuire, adapted from McGuire’s short story.
Their Earlier ‘White Lotus’ Interview Was Already a Fan Favorite
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Posey and Melvin first drew attention with their March 2025 conversation about her role as Victoria Ratliff in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus. She demonstrated the character’s exaggerated Southern accent, stretching out words while Melvin struggled to stop laughing.
Her delivery of “Piper, no!” became particularly recognizable. The interview also featured her pronunciation of “tsunami,” with members of the crew laughing off camera as she continued the demonstration.
During their latest reunion, the show replayed footage from that visit. Posey recalled how widely the moment had circulated and mentioned fans making T-shirts from it.
Posey Is Hosting ‘The Mob’ and Appearing in ‘Wild Horse Nine’
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The Mob premiered on Hulu on October 26, with Posey serving as host and executive producer. Hulu describes a competition in which celebrities tackle assignments inspired by mob movies at an Italian villa, competing for up to $250,000. Their chosen don controls who earns money and who remains in the game. Among the contestants are The Sopranos actress Aida Turturro, Debi Mazar, Bruno Tonioli and Selling Sunset‘s Chelsea Lazkani.
In Wild Horse Nine, Posey appears alongside John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. McDonagh wrote and directed the film, which follows two CIA agents dispatched to Easter Island shortly before Chile’s 1973 coup. Searchlight Pictures will release it in theaters on November 6.