If you’re wondering just who that anthropomorphic otter was that our beloved Rocket Raccoon gave a warm embrace to in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 trailer, wonder no more. In all likelihood, that otter is Lady Lylla, a character that originated in Marvel Comics. They often described her as Rocket’s “soulmate.” Lady Lylla made less than 10 appearances in the comics. However, she remains a crucial part of Rocket’s backstory, something that Guardians 3 will no doubt explore. Here’s the lowdown on the Marvel Comics history of Rocket’s one true love.

Lady Lylla, Otter and Toy Empire C.E.O.

Lylla first appeared back in 1982’s The Incredible Hulk #271, which was only the second appearance of Rocket Raccoon. In those early appearances, Lylla was the heir to an enormous intergalactic toy company, Mayhem Mekaniks, on the planet Halfworld. They named the planet that due to it being half industrial, half natural. Think “half Coruscant/half Dagobah,” to use Star Wars terminology.

Once, the planet was a giant asylum, where robot caretakers looked after the patients. The robot caretakers eventually became sentient, and experimented on the patient’s animal companions in an effort to evolve them. Eventually, Halfworld became a planet occupied entirely by anthropomorphic animals, similar to what we saw in the Guardians 3 trailer. We have a feeling James Gunn is fusing Halfworld with Counter-Earth, another similar Marvel Comics concept from the same era.

Meeting Her Soulmate

Eventually, a hostile takeover over Mayhem Mekaniks occurred, by the malevolent half-man/half-mole Judson Jakes, and Lylla’s parents were murdered. She needed help, and she received it from our favorite swashbuckling “trash panda.” Although Lylla regained control of Mayhem Mekaniks after that, she fell in love with Rocket. The two went on to become a couple. They went off into the galaxy to have adventures together, getting a “happily ever after” style ending.

Reunion with Rocket

There were many years between these adventures, which took place in the four-part Rocket Raccoon series, and Rocket’s return to the Marvel Universe in the ongoing Guardians of the Galaxy comics. In those comics, we learned that Rocket and Lylla split up before he became partners with Groot and joined the Guardians of the Galaxy. However, Rocket and Lylla reunited in 2011’s Annihilators #4.

There, Rocket learned that his former love had married an anthropomorphic rabbit named Blackjack O’Hare. Ultimately, Rocket accepted that Lylla had moved on, and the two parted ways, as Rocket continued his adventures with the Guardians. In fact, Rocket discovered that many of the memories he had of his girlfriend Lady Lylla were implanted, putting into doubt whether they were really soulmates after all. It’s now been a decade since Lady Lylla appeared in a comic, the previously mentioned Annihilators #4.

It is likely that James Gunn will heavily revise the backstory of Lylla for the MCU. While we expect her and Rocket to have a history together, we doubt that Halfworld or her giant toy empire will be a part of it. It’s far more likely that both Lylla and Rocket were subjects of the High Evolutionary’s experiments, and formed a bond as test subjects in his laboratory. We’ll find out how much of her backstory remains when Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 hits theaters in May, 2023.

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After departing from the Witcher series and now officially out as Superman in the DC Universe, it looks like Henry Cavill has already set his sights on his next project: Warhammer 40K. The former Man of Steel will be partnering with Amazon, Vertigo Entertainment, and Games Workshop to bring the world of Warhammer 40K in film and television projects in which Cavill will star and executive produce. Dan breaks down all the details along with 4 Warhammer storylines that would be perfect for Henry Cavill on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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Earlier this year Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain. (The original version. Not the Disney one who wears a red shirt.) When a famous property becomes free for all to use, any and every project you can imagine becomes a possibility. Artists can make almost anything they want when copyrights are no longer an issue. I know all of that, and yet I was still unprepared for what entering the public domain would mean for the beloved bear. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are set to become slashers in Blood and Honey. And the only thing weirder than that sentence is what I’m about to write next: Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey‘s newest trailer looks pretty damn good.

Remember when Ewan McGregor played an adult Christopher who reunites with his old little animal friends in the Hundred Acres Wood in the feel-good Christopher Robin? Yeah, Blood and Honey is the complete opposite Winnie the Pooh movie. In fact, it might be even more grotesque than the opposite of McGregor’s sweet film. Because this Blood and Honey trailer goes hard. Jason Vorhees hard.

In the Winnie the Pooh trailer, we see that Pooh and Piglet turned “wild” after their favorite human child abandoned them years earlier. When Christopher Robin returns as a grownup, he finds Pooh and Piglet have grown into giant monsters. And they’ve developed a taste for murder. What follows that discovery is a classic slasher flick. This movie even features young coeds imperiled during a getaway in the woods.

There’s lots of blood, a little honey, and some genuinely creepy masks. But while this Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey horror movie trailer is equal parts funny (how can it not be?) and scary, there’s an underlying idea here that could make this movie so much better than just a gimmick. Blood and Honey could explore the dangers of revisiting the things we loved as kids and holding on to an idea of what they should be rather than dealing with what they are.

Yeah, I really did just make the case the Winnie the Pooh horror movie might have something meaningful to say about the pitfalls of modern fandom and nostalgia. Entering the public domain really does lead to some weird stuff. And, hey, if it’s trailer is anything to judge by, we can’t wait for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey to release in full. Catch it in theaters on February 15, 2023.

Originally published on August 31, 2022.

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Every title in the Marvel Comics universe has a massive catalog of stories and adventures, but—due respect given to everyone else—the X-Men have the biggest. Debuting in 1963, once Chris Claremont took over the title in 1970, the team of merry mutants has had some of wildest and most exciting serialized stories in all of comics. Naturally, several of these major storylines have made their way to film. But not all of them, not by a longshot. (This is a fun reference for ’80s-’90s fans.)

With Mutants now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the X-Men destined to join in the near future (we’d bet Phase VII, VI at the earliest), it’s high time for more of the X-folks’ greatest stories to hit the big screen. We will leave out any storyline that has had even hints in the now-defunct Fox universe. Trust us, there are still plenty of good ones. Here they are in order of comics release.

Sauron and the Savage Land

The Savage Land had been part of the Marvel Comics universe since 1941. Jack Kirby himself came up with it, as a primeval tropical area nestled within Antarctica where dinosaurs and things continued to exist. In 1969, writer Roy Thomas and artist Neal Adams took our heroic band of mutants there to fight a new threat. The mad Dr. Karl Lykos wished to conquer the Savage Land and to do so mutated himself to a giant bipedal Pteranodon. He chose the name of Tolkien’s great villain, Sauron, as his new moniker.

Now, obviously, the MCU can’t—and mustn’t—make the Tolkien reference. He’s a dinosaur; he can just be Saur-on (rather than Sow-ron). The Savage Land has always been one of the more out-there ideas for places in the Marvel Universe. However, given how the MCU has gone very cosmic, exploring more of the unseen parts of the movie world’s Earth would be really fun. Plus it immediately would give an excuse for the X-Men to work as a team; dinosaurs are not to be taken lightly.

“The Phoenix Saga,” Starjammers, Shi’ar Empire

You may be about to yell at me and say “But Kyle, we’ve seen the Phoenix Saga a million times!” Not so, fool. While “The Dark Phoenix Saga” has been on screen (badly) in the movies before, the preamble never has. And it’s way more fun!

Even among comic book heroes, the X-Men universe has the room to go very sci-fi. “The Phoenix Saga” introduces the intergalactic Shi’ar Empire and the Civil War between the Imperial family, specifically the insane Emperor D’Ken and his younger sister, Lilandra, who becomes romantically entangled with Professor X. We also meet the Starjammers, a group of interstellar adventurers who take Lilandra’s side against her family. The dashing leader of the Starjammers, Corsair, we later find out, is Cyclops’ dad. It’s a whole weird thing, the Summers clan lineage.

Murderworld

A deadly amusement park? Why yes, sign me up! And it’s even franchised, something Disney knows a thing or two about. The mastermind behind these theme park-style death traps is Arcade, the flamboyant assassin who doesn’t care about much besides causing pain and havoc. Utilizing sophisticated robotic and holographic systems, Arcade frequently pitted various superheroes against Murderworld. Sometimes he does it for money and sometimes merely for the challenge.

Arcade is one of the best all-around Marvel villains who hasn’t appeared anywhere in the movies yet, and scant few TV shows. His penchant for lavish attraction-themed murder machines and conniving intellect make him a really fascinating choice to take on the X-Men. He’d have to devise specific death traps for each specific mutant, which could be represented in a really fun visual way onscreen.

Mojoverse

The ’80s were a hell of a time in the X-Men comics. Whatever wild ideas the writers could come up with, they’d put the X-Men through it. Like putting them in another universe where they have to battle for their lives while people watch on TV. Mojo, one of the most revolting villains ever, first began in the pages of the Longshot book from creators Ann Nocenti and Arthur Adams. He’s like if Jabba the Hutt ran Videodrome. He has his own universe and plucks various warriors, like Longshot, to fight to the death for his and his captive public’s viewing pleasure.

The X-Men were unfortunate enough to be chosen for this horrifying exercise on the day the New Mutants graduated from Xavier’s School. Mojo would subsequently become a recurring thorn in the X-Men’s side. It’s rare for such a godlike entity to find so much glee in the relatively mundane act of making television, but that’s why Mojo’s so much fun!

Mutant Massacre

Far and away the best X-Men villain who hasn’t made it to the big screen yet is Mister Sinister. In the comics, he was a Victorian scientist who predicted the coming of mutantkind, and feared what it could mean for humanity. He was then bestowed powers from Apocalypse, became nigh-immortal, and continued his genetic research, incorporating mutant DNA into his own. He even worked from the shadows, manipulating the lives of many X-Men, including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Havok, Gambit, and even Professor X.

His first appearance in the comics coincided with the first X-Men crossover event, “Mutant Massacre,” which introduced an evil team of mutants called the Marauders. Sinister, the leader of the Marauders, orders them to slaughter the Morlocks, a mostly peaceful group of subterranean mutants to remove “wild card” mutations from the gene pool. The combined efforts of the X-Men, X-Factor, New Mutants, Power Pack, Thor, and Daredevil attempt to thwart this scheme but the heroes sustained heavy losses.

Mister Sinister always thinks several steps ahead and killing off the Morlocks was part of a long game. He could easily be the MCU’s next big villain given this and we’d love to see it.

E Is for Extinction/New X-Men

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s run on New X-Men in 2001 made a lot of big changes to the continuity. It narrowed the roster to only Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine, Beast, and former villain Emma Frost, and made the focus less on them saving humanity from evil mutants and more on saving mutants from humanity. It also introduced the mysterious Cassandra Nova, Xavier’s formerly unseen twin sister whose evil schemes are varied and nefarious.

Nova gains access to Sentinels and destroys the mutant population of the island of Genosha, seemingly to draw the X-Men and swap bodies with Charles. She then uses Charles’ body to tell the world the X-Men exist. This leads to the creation of the U-Men, a team of villains who seek to augment human bodies with mutant body parts. It’s a grisly and gnarly and very Grant Morrison.

Dawn of X

When Jonathan Hickman relaunched the X-universe with his “House of X/Powers of X” miniseries, it ushered in a brand new world for mutants. Utilizing Krakoa, the living island, and the latent Groundhog Day-style mutant powers of Moira MacTaggart, Charles Xavier and Magneto are able to bring every mutant back from the dead on the condition they all work to secure the future of their existence. They announce themselves as a sovereign nation.

This split off into several new titles and team-ups, but the core themes were radical and exciting. Mutant kind would no longer have to worry about being wiped out, least of all by each other. It would make for a really great way to bring mutants properly into the MCU, with all the best characters doing all sorts of things people haven’t already seen from the former Fox film franchise. It might be too heady for a new audience, but we have faith they’ll get it. If you aren’t currently reading this version of X-Men, you’re missing out.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Star Trek is a pop culture franchise that just won’t quit. Now over five decades into its existence, it has outgrown its humble beginnings as a low-budget sci-fi show with a loyal cult following, and into a true cultural juggernaut. Who doesn’t know the phrases “beam me up” or “live long and prosper?” It’s ingrained in our collective psyche. And the franchise is going stronger than ever, with several shows currently airing. But of all these new series, and the many that came before, which one is the cream of the crop? It’s time to evaluate each of the eleven series set in the Final Frontier from the past 55 years.  Here’s our ranking of every Star Trek series, from worst to best.

11. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1975)

Yes, it’s at the bottom, but I’d never say this is a bad series. There are some smart sci-fi scripts spread throughout the show’s two-season run, notably the time-travel episode “Yesteryear,” which gave us a glimpse into Spock’s childhood. But the animation was really limited due to budget constraints, and the voice actors didn’t even record together (and it shows). We give it points for keeping the Trek flames burning in the long decade between the original series and Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but it still ranks last. If only because there’s simply not enough of it.

10. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-Present)

We’re now three seasons into the first animated Trek show since the ’70s, and also the first overtly comedic show in the franchise’s history. Lower Decks centers around a second-tier starship’s junior crew, and so far, it has gained quite a cult following. The mix of irreverent humor and lovable characters has made it very endearing. It’s also very faithful to Star Trek lore (if not Star Trek storytelling sensibilities.) But the show is ultimately too fluffy to place any higher. That could change down the line of course. But for now, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos is near the bottom. They’re probably used to it.

9. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)

This is the fourth and last Star Trek series of the Rick Berman era. The show ran on UPN for four seasons, making it the shortest run of the modern Trek series (so far). Despite a winning cast lead by Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, this prequel show to the original Trek felt stuck in the television tropes of the prior decade. It didn’t really even feel like a true Star Trek prequel until the show’s wonderful fourth and final season. But that season’s not enough to save the show’s legacy as a whole. Also, the theme song was pretty cringe-worthy and out of place for a Star Trek series.

8. Star Trek: Picard (2020-Present)

This live-action series saw the return of Sir Patrick Stewart as the (now retired) Jean-Luc Picard. Although the series started out promisingly, its plot about a race of artificial lifeforms was ultimately way too similar to Battlestar Galactica and Blade Runner, both of which did the same story, but better. It also showed the once-Utopian world of the 24th century as a place now filled with bitter, broken people, which was a bummer. Stewart is fantastic as always, and his inner journey helped the show remain very watchable. But the promise of a full TNG cast reunion in the third and final season could push this series much higher. 

7. Star Trek: Discovery (2017-Present)

Star Trek: Discovery is the franchise’s current “flagship show.” Four seasons in, the show is definitely a mixed bag. On the pro side: the cast—headed by Sonequa Martin-Green—is truly fantastic, and it has the best production value of any Trek to date. But like too much modern Trek, it often feels like it’s cribbing from other (more popular) franchises. Its prequel timeline/continuity was also handled messily from the get-go.

The series’ first two seasons are set about a decade before the original series. But in season three, the show went way past where any Trek has gone before, by jumping 1,000 years into the future. This was ultimately a good thing, as the journey past the prequel timeline and into an unknown future gave the show a much-needed shot in the arm. And season four further improved upon the third. Maybe with time, Discovery will move up higher on this list.

6. Star Trek: Prodigy (2021-Present)

Star Trek: Prodigy is the first animated all-ages Star Trek series since the 1973 Saturday morning cartoon show. Because of this, many fans dismissed it offhand before it ever aired. But Prodigy, about a group of misfit kids who commandeer a prototype Federations starship, the Protostar, in the far reaches of space, turned out to be absolutely delightful. And very true to the core, exploratory spirit of the franchise.

The camaraderie between the main cast of kids is always heartwarming, and this series has more ties to greater franchise lore than most other modern Trek shows. Of course, the addition of Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway, both the “training hologram” version, and the actual Admiral Janeway, that’s just the cherry on top. One of the best modern Star Trek shows, “kid’s show” or not.

5. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-Present)

It almost feels like cheating, putting a show with just one season behind it so high on this list. But so far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the best Trek series of the modern streaming era. It also has had the best first season of any Trek since the original series. Technically a prequel to the original show, SNW fulfills the promise of that first unaired pilot episode “The Cage,” by focusing on Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his Number One (Rebecca Romijn). Of course, young Spock is there too, played by Ethan Peck. Together, they’ve created a new trio of instantly likable headliners.

SNW returns to the “one and done” story format of classic Trek, but gives it all a modern sheen. The color scheme and ship designs may be retro, but it’s never done in a dismissive, kitschy way. In many ways, SNW reminds us why the original format of the show, about a crew of diverse people engaged in pure exploration and diplomacy, is still the best way to go. The characters are great, the actors are great, the writing is great. So we only expect SNW to climb further up this chart as more seasons roll in, assuming they don’t drop the ball.

4. Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

Let’s get this out of the way: Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway was a great Captain, and the rest of the cast was terrific as well. But this series never fully lived up to its premise. It was supposedly about a Federation starship lost in space, years from home. A ship with a crew made up of former enemies, now forced to work together. But you’d almost never know it watching the show, which often felt like a series desperately trying to capture the glory of the TNG years.

Many episodes of Voyager, especially in the first few seasons, felt very familiar to those that had aired just a couple of years earlier on The Next Generation. However, enough episodes scattered throughout are indeed quite terrific, but there really should be more of those for a series that lasted seven seasons. We’re glad the legacy of Voyager lives on with Seven of Nine on Picard, and with Janeway as a principal character on Prodigy.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

This show had everything going against it when it premiered in 1987. How does one follow up on something as iconic as the original Star Trek? And with all new characters and a new starship Enterprise? Well, after a very wobbly first two seasons, the show found its footing in season three. It then became a true standout sci-fi series with dozens of classic episodes. Seasons three through seven are, in many ways, as good as this franchise gets.

Patrick Stewart is arguably the best actor ever to sit in the Captain’s chair, and the characters of Picard, Data, Worf, and the rest have all become pop culture icons. It also has one of the best series finales of any show ever. TNG represented Star Trek at its peak mainstream popularity, and no show before or since has matched its ratings power. The only reason this doesn’t rank slightly higher is that the first two seasons really are kind of a mess, and lower the value ever so slightly.

2. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Much like TNG before it, Deep Space Nine took about two seasons to find its footing. This despite always showcasing a stellar cast, headlined by Avery Brooks, playing the first African-American lead in a Star Trek show. But man oh man, despite the rough start, when it finally did click, it became one of the most ambitious science-fiction series ever produced for television. It did serialized, complex genre storytelling a good decade before that became the norm.

DS9 dealt with themes of religion and war and politics among the usual Star Trek tropes. Not one character was the same at the end of this series as they were at the start of it. The same can’t be said for most other shows on this list, even the best ones. It also expanded and deepened our understanding of the many different species introduced in previous Trek shows. Plus it gave us the franchise’s best villains in Gul Dukat, and later, the Dominion. This is one Trek series that broke the mold.

1. Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

Without Gene Roddenberry’s original series, there simply is no Star Trek franchise, period. It created the template that eight of the series that followed it picked up on. The original series was ground zero for modern nerd fandom, and it made pop culture icons of William Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Mr. Spock. But beyond all that enduring cultural legacy, the character dynamic of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy remains one of the greatest ever seen in popular entertainment.

Looking back, we can see that Star Trek’s first season was nearly flawless, with almost thirty amazing episodes written by legends of the science-fiction genre. Season two is great as well, and season three is…well, it is less so. Regardless of that wonky last season though, the iconic nature of Star Trek: The Original Series, which spawned six feature films and a 21st century reboot of the characters, still wins hands down. Forget the dated music, visual effects, and occasionally cheesy acting. When it was at its best, you just couldn’t beat the original series.

Featured Image: CBS

Originally published in 2019.

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After delivering the biggest box office grosses yet for a Mission: Impossible movie with its last installment, Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are returning for two more. McQuarrie will write and direct Mission Impossible 7 & 8, which are being shot back-to-back.

Most recently, we got a special look at Mission: Impossible 7. This Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One featurette revealed what is said to be “the biggest stunt in cinema history.” Take a look at the antics below.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Mission: Impossible films.

Title

In Mission: Impossible tradition, we expect these films’ titles to feature a colon and an em dash. And, in fact, Mission Impossible 7‘s official title has been revealed to be Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. We assume this means Mission Impossible 8‘s title will be Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two. But we will have to wait a little bit for that confirmation.

Mission: Impossible 7 and 8‘s Plot

We don’t yet know too much about the plot of the upcoming Mission Impossible movies. But judging by the franchise’s history, they’ll like involve a lot of action, many stunts, and at least one daring escape.

Behind the Scenes

Christopher McQuarrie is returning to write and direct both Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8. He previously who previously wrote and directed Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible — Fallout. Like the franchise’s fifth and sixth installments, the next two are filming back-to-back.

Mission: Impossible 7 and 8‘s Cast

Naturally, Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, as is the other franchise staple Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell. Also reprising their characters in the upcoming films are Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Angela Bassett and Frederick Schmidt. One major returning figure is Henry Czerny’s Eugene Kittridge, who hasn’t appeared in the franchise since the first installment in 1996. Kittridge was the IMF director hunting Ethan, under the impression he was the agency’s mole. McQuarrie confirmed Czerny’s return on Instagram.

Among new faces joining the franchise, which McQuarrie also announced on Instagram, are Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Charles Parnell, Indra Varma, Mark Gatiss, Rob Delaney, Cary Elwes, and Shea Whigham. Morales will play Ethan Hunt’s next foe, replacing Nicholas Hoult, who departed due to scheduling conflicts.

In August we learned that Nick Offerman and Janet McTeer would join Mission Impossible 8. We don’t know details about their roles yet.

Additionally, Mariela Garriga will come aboard both films as well.

Mission: Impossible 7 and 8‘s Release Date

The upcoming pair of Mission: Impossible films are caught up in yet another wave of pandemic-related delays. Mission: Impossible 7 will debut on July 14, 2023. Mission: Impossible 8 will now open on June 28, 2024. 

The Franchise’s Future Beyond the Next Two Installments

No official word yet if these two films will serve as the “series finale” for the franchise. But Variety is indicating that this is, indeed, the end for Ethan Hunt and his comrades. A report from the trade suggests that Mission: Impossible 8 will wrap up the long-running franchise. Paramount Pictures has not commented on the news but Nerdist has reached out for confirmation.

If it is the end for the franchise it’s quite a feat—one that lasted eight films and nearly thirty years. Tom Cruise will be over sixty by the time Mission: Impossible 8 hits theaters, so its the perfect time to hang up his Ethan Hunt coat, and hopefully go out on a high note. And we mean a literal high note, as he’ll probably be going out while hanging off the side of a mountain or a skyscraper one last time.

Originally published on January 14, 2019.

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Doctor Who’s next era—which we are totally calling the Bad Wolf era—is already setting the stage for something epic. First, there’s the bizarre turn of events that David Tennant will be the Fourteenth Doctor alongside Donna Noble for a bit. But, what’s even more exciting is to see the incredibly delightful Ncuti Gatwa step into the role as the Fifteenth Doctor. He will be joined by Millie Gibson, who will portray his companion Ruby Sunday. (What a fun companion name!) Fans have been very curious about what Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor costume would look like since his announcement. It makes sense, considering he’s a very fashionable guy with eclectic taste. And now we finally know what the Fifteen Doctor will look like with some first-look photos and videos of his costume! 

Surprisingly, Doctor Who‘s Fifteenth Doctor doesn’t have an outfit full of brightness and colors. But, when you think about it, that makes sense considering Thirteen was all about rainbows. Instead, Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor costume is giving stylish and sexy professor with his costume. Love to see it. The brown and black plaid trousers, along with a long coat that will surely flow in the wind while he’s running, are perfect on him. It is virtually law for the Doctor to have an iconic jacket.

If you’re looking to nab the screen-accurate version of this Doctor Who costume, then you may not have luck. It is Nanushka (according to eagle-eyed cosplayers) and sold out on the US website. But, this is a look that can possibly be replicated easily with another brand or, for the intrepid and talented cosplayers among us, made by hand. And Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor costume also includes a very cozy-looking cropped orange sweater, which some fans have IDed as an H&M item. The Fifteen Doctor outfit caps off with Grenson boots that will set you back around $520… if you can find them on the website. Good luck!

Now, for the details that we really love. First, there’s the set of five rings that the Fifteenth Doctor is wearing to complete his outfit. There doesn’t seem to be a significance to wearing five specifically, but they look incredibly cool. It is not the first time we’ve seen the Doctor wear rings as part of their costume. Both Three and Twelve wore them too! What does have more significance is the Gallifreyan artwork on the Fifteenth Doctor’s fingernails. Right now, there is no definitive word on what these symbols mean. A couple of fans speculate that show hints, including something about 13 episodes in Gatwa’s first season, lie hidden in there. But we will have to wait and see if we get further confirmation. 

And, for the greatest part of all. Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor has a mustache. I repeat, there is a Doctor with a mustache. We’ve seen Doctors who don’t fall into the numerical lineup (like the War Doctor) have facial hair; however, this is the first numbered Doctor to have a mustache on Doctor Who. We saw him wearing it in a previous teaser, and, thank the Gallifreyan gods, he kept it. 

Of course, we also love Ruby Sunday’s very cosplayable outfit. From the standout jacket with a fur collar to that sold-out Topshop sweater and those really cute shorts, we can imagine that there will be a lot of Ruby Sundays showing up at conventions in 2023. Costuming is one of the most fun elements of Doctor Who and we can’t wait to see our new Doctor Who and his companion rocking their costumes and running off for wild adventures.

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Season two of The Mandalorian introduced a live-action Ahsoka Tano. First introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (voiced by Ashley Eckstein), the character is beloved by many Star Wars fans. And Ahsoka’s appearance in The Mandalorian was just the beginning. Ahsoka Tano got her very own live-action series. Ahsoka is coming to Disney+.

Recently, we got our first look at Ahsoka in a Disney+ trailer previewing its 2023 year.

Here is everything we know about Ahsoka so far.

Title

The logo revealed by Disney and Lucasfilm on December 10, 2020 simply says Star Wars: Ahsoka. But, we have a feeling that everyone will just call it Ahsoka.

Ahsoka‘s Plot

When Ahsoka turned up in “The Jedi” episode of The Mandalorian, she revealed she’s searching for the missing Grand Admiral Thrawn. Who, as Star Wars Rebels fans know, disappeared into the Unknown Regions with Ezra Bridger at the end of that series. The epilogue of Rebels sees Ahsoka and Sabine Wren take off together to search for their missing Jedi friend, and the genius Imperial leader. Ahsoka is likely to pick up those story threads.

The official title card for the show as seen above seems to hint at the World Between Worlds factoring in somehow. This realm outside of time comes from an episode of Rebels and was the means by which Ahsoka escaped her fate at the hands of Darth Vader. If it appears, it would mean the very first use of time travel in a live-action Star Wars. Wouldn’t that be something to see?

Director Dave Filoni told Vanity Fair the following about the series:

Ahsoka is a continuous story. It is definitely driving toward a goal, in my mind, as opposed to being little singular adventures. That’s what I want the character to be doing, and I think that’s what fans want now. They have such a relationship with her. I’ve only recently started to understand that all those kids that watched Clone Wars are now a lot older—they’re very excited about all the things they grew up with, as they should be.

Ahsoka‘s Cast

Rosario Dawson will star as the title character, reprising her introduction on The Mandalorian. Joining her is Hayden Christensen, reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. We actually don’t know what version of the Anakin Hayden will be playing. Will it be Clone Wars flashbacks? Force Ghost Anakin? Maybe a flashback to her climactic fight with Vader on Rebels? Heck, it could be all of the above. (We hope it is!)

Joining Ahsoka is her Rebels cohort, Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren. In live-action, she’ll be played by Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. In an unknown role, Ukrainian actor Ivanna Sakhno has also joined the cast. Word is, she’ll portray an entirely new character. Rumors are circulating that Ezra Bridger, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Hera Syndulla have already been cast. Cinelinx learned Eman Esfandi will play Ezra. We can’t wait to see Ahsoka and Sabine search for their lost friend.

Meanwhile, Birds of Prey star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has joined the cast, per The Hollywood Reporter. Who she’s playing is still firmly under wraps, leaving ample room for speculation. Ewan McGregor confirmed this news in a recent Vanity Fair article. He notes, “My partner, Mary, is doing that Star Wars series with Rosario and she’s about to start.”

Ray Stevenson has joined the cast as well, reportedly as the villain, but we don’t know who yet.

Behind the Scenes 

The Mandalorian’s Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau are running the show for Ahsoka. Additionally, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Peter Ramsey, co-director of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, will direct at least one episode of the show. We still don’t know how many episodes Ahsoka will comprise of, though. But since Ahsoka as a character is a co-creation of Dave Filoni’s along with George Lucas, we’d say she is in excellent hands.

Ahsoka‘s Release Date

Ahsoka will debut in 2023.

Originally published on December 22, 2021.

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The first season of Loki on Disney+ brought back Tom Hiddleston as the seemingly unkillable Asgardian God of Mischief. And it was a huge success. It introduced MCU fans to the Time Variance Authority, or TVA, who watch over the timeline of the known universe. Loki also formally introduced the concept of the Marvel Multiverse. Something that will play a big part in the MCU going forward. The series also gave Loki a perfect foil in the form of his variant Sylvie. Perhaps most importantly, So far it’s the only MCU series to get a second season. But what wild adventures through the spacetime continuum will Loki’s second round include?

We can see our first look at footage from Loki season two in this Disney+ teaser.

Here’s everything we know about the continuing misadventures of Loki Laufeyson.

Title

As far as we know, Loki season two is simply going to be titled Loki as well. Although since it’s the only second season of any Disney+ MCU show thus far, they may choose to have a subtitle, similar to how they title most of their big screen sequels. But as of right now, all we know is that the show is still just called Loki.

Loki’s Plot

The first season of Loki ended with Sylvie killing He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), thereby erupting the Sacred Timeline and unleashing the Multiverse in full. When Loki returned to the TVA, it was altered in the timeline, and no one remembered him. Not to mention, statues of He Who Remains (or one of his variants more likely) stood tall in the TVA’s halls.

We imagine that season two will deal with the fallout of not just the events of the first season, but the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness. As Kevin Feige confirmed at SDCC, the MCU is now in the midst of the Multiverse Saga, and we expect Loki season two to factor heavily into its development.

Behind the Scenes

Season one writers Michael Waldron and Eric Martin are coming back as well, with Martin now the head writer instead of Waldron, and Waldron serving as executive producer. One of the creatives from season one not returning is showrunner Kate Herron, according to a report from Deadline. Co-directing several episodes in season two, also according to Deadline, are Moon Knight’s Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Natalie Holt is also back as the series composer.

Loki’s Cast

Tom Hiddleston returns of course as the titular Loki. Also returning is Owen Wilson as Mobius, Sophia DiMartino as Sylvie, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ravonna Renslayer. Eugene Cordero as ever-present TVA employee Casey (he’ll play a series regular in season two), and Tara Strong as the voice of Miss Minutes will also come back. No word yet on Jonathan Majors as one of the Kang variants, although the giant statue of him at the end of season one suggests we will see him. However, we will see him first in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

We learned at D23 Expo that Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once is in season two of Loki, but we don’t know details about his role yet. Additionally, Deadline reports that Game of Thrones‘ Kate Dickie will likely play the villain in Loki‘s second season.

Loki Season 2 Release Date

Confirmed at Comic-Con 2022, the second season of Loki is set to hit in the summer of 2023.

Originally published on August 24, 2022.

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Come on, Barbie, let’s go party. Whether we want it to or not, that iconic Aqua song is pulsing through our veins as we anticipate the upcoming big-screen Barbie movie. She is no stranger to the screen, though. The iconic Mattel doll is, after all, the star of a whole animated cinematic universe. But now she’s getting the Hollywood treatment with a live-action film. Margot Robbie stars as the titular blonde girlboss, and she has a whole lot of star power with her—both in front of and behind the camera. Here’s everything we know about Barbie.

Title

Warner Bros. and Mattel are keeping it simple with this one, calling the film Barbie.

Barbie‘s Plot

So far, Warner Bros. and Mattel are keeping on the down low about Barbie‘s plot. But given the castings we know the ensemble film will include at least a few familiar figures from the Mattel world. In addition to the titular character, her on-again/off-again boyfriend Ken is a major figure. And there may even be more than one. Plus, this is a film from Greta Gerwig (and Noah Baumbach). So it wouldn’t be too surprising if they throw in a couple surprises. Will we see a wistful or melancholy Barbie, trying to move on from her himbo love? Or will we follow Barbie on a coming of age journey as she figures out what her dream job really is? With Gerwig at the helm and this stacked cast, we’re game for just about anything.

Barbie‘s first teaser offered us a lot to think about as well. You can watch below and check out our full breakdown of Barbie‘s trailer, including its 2001: A Space Odyssey references and recreations.

Behind the Scenes

Greta Gerwig will write and direct the film, with real-life partner Noah Baumbach co-writing the script. Robbie and Tom Ackerley are also producing the film through their LuckyChap Entertainment production company. Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and David Heyman also produce.

Barbie‘s Cast

 As stated above, Margot Robbie, who is also producing the film, is Barbie. Ryan Gosling is playing Ken. Joining them are Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Ncuti Gatwa, Emerald Fennell, Sharon Rooney, Scott Evans, Ana Cruz Kayne, Connor Swindells, Ritu Arya, Jamie Demetriou, Kate McKinnon, Ariana Greenblatt, Emma Mackey, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and Hari Nef. It is quite a cast, to say the least!

In addition, we now know that Will Ferrell will play “the CEO of Mattel.” According to the actor, the role is “that guy who’s just insensitive but weird.”

Barbie’s Release Date

Barbie releases on July 21, 2023.

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The Hypno-Hustler is one of the most obscure, not to mention ridiculous, Spider-Man villains out there. And he is often ranked as one of the worst too. Despite sharing a creator with the man who gave the world Rocket Raccoon, Bill Mantlo. And yet, this musical criminal is going to be the subject of a live-action movie, starring none other than Donald Glover. The news comes straight from The Hollywood Reporter. But just who the heck is this obscure Spider-Man villain? We’re here to explain it all to you.

Hypno-Hustler, the Disco Devil

The Hypno-Hustler was one of many attempts during the peak of the late ‘70s Disco music craze to try to cash in on the phenomenon. (the other, far more famous example, is the mutant Dazzler). After Saturday Night Fever, everyone from Mickey Mouse to Count Chocula was cutting a Disco album, so Marvel wanted in on some of that action. Hence, the Disco-themed villain Hypno-Hustler made his debut in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #24 way back in 1978.

The Hypno-Hustler’s real name was Antoine Desloin. He was the lead singer of a Disco musical group called the Mercy Killers. They were scheduled to headline at a popular nightclub called “Beyond Forever.” But the club’s manager caught the Hypno-Hustler robbing his safe, so Desloin used his high-tech hypnotic equipment on the manager. He had a guitar that could emit hypnotic soundwaves, and also had some boots that spewed out knockout gas. He even had retractable knives in the soles. Later up on stage, Hypno-Hustler and the Mercy Killers used their hypnotizing equipment on the audience in order to rob them all. And it would have all gone according to plan, if not for that meddling wallcrawler.

A Fateful Encounter on the Dance Floor

As luck would have it, Peter Parker was dancing away at the club on that fateful night. And so, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was there to challenge the Hypno-Hustler. In the brawl, Spidey discovered that the Hypno-Hustler’s headphones protected him from his own hypnotic sounds, rendering him immune. Spidey then took his headphones off, therefore causing him to become a victim of his own hypnosis. In traditional Spidey fashion, Peter left Hypno-Hustler all webbed up for the police to take into custody. Interestingly enough, they introduced a Disco-themed villain who used music to hypnotize and steal on the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman TV series that same year.

Not Exactly an A-List Spider-Man Rogue

Hypno-Hustler did not exactly become one of Spidey’s recurring villains after this encounter. Within a year of his introduction, the Disco bubble burst. By the end of 1979, the terms “Disco Sucks” and “Dead as Disco” were on everyone’s lips. Everything pertaining to this genre instantly became tacky and passe. Thus, the Hypno-Hustler, with his all-silver costume and period-specific hairdo, seemed like an instant relic of a pop culture fad gone by. He has appeared a handful of times in the decades since. Usually as a background character cameo as the butt of a joke. He sadly did not survive the implosion of Disco like his fellow cash-in character Dazzler did. We last saw the Hypno-Hustler at a Vil-a-Non meeting for reformed villains.

We imagine Donald Glover will be able to have a ton of fun with a character like Hypno-Hustler. Especially if he makes the film an homage to the glorious excess of the Disco era. Maybe they make the movie a throwback period piece. Or maybe it takes place in the modern day, at a retro-themed nightclub. If we get a Spidey dancing cameo, that would make it all worth it. As long as Donald Glover wears a very close reproduction of the original Hypno-Hustler costume and embraces the absurdity, we’re here for it.

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When it comes to anthology genre TV, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone is the one most people hail as the best. It was by no means, however, the only show of its kind. In the wake of Zone, shows like The Outer Limits, Thriller, and One Step Beyond flooded TV in the 1960s. Alfred Hitchcock himself even had two separate series of suspense stories. By the 1970s, however, the well had started to run dry. It’d come back in the ’80s, but the last gasp of the first rash came in the form of Night Gallery, Serling and producer Jack Laird’s pure-horror (within reason) series. All three seasons of this oft-forgotten show are out on glorious Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, and it’s really worth a look.

History of Night Gallery

The production history of Night Gallery is fascinating and super complicated, so I won’t try to get into it too much, but suffice to say, unlike The Twilight Zone, this was not a full Serling joint. He hosts and he wrote a good number of segments, along with producing, however.

The premise of each episode has Serling walking around the titular “Night Gallery,” a huge and mostly empty space with paintings hanging from the ceiling. Each painting is a macabre interpretation of a different story. Serling sets up in front of a painting and gives a trademark opaque introduction for whatever story we’re about to watch.

The Night Gallery Pilot

The first Night Gallery episode was a feature length TV movie. It featured three separate stories; the first, “The Cemetery” is a riff on the M.R. James story The Mezzotint in which a painting changes, indicating something scary will soon attack. It features Ossie Davis as the long-serving butler of a wealthy Southern landowner on his deathbed and Roddy McDowell as the wealthy man’s nephew who stands to inherit everything.

The second story in the pilot is “Eyes,” directed by a young Universal contract director named Steven Spielberg. It finds Joan Crawford as a high society with vision impairments matron who undergoes an experimental surgery that offers her 12 hours to see. And the final story, “Escape Route,” has a fugitive Nazi facing ghostly comeuppance for his past crimes.

The Night Gallery pilot is very straightforward, though executed incredibly well, and was popular enough to get the series greenlit. The interesting thing, however, is that as the show went on, the kinds of stories got a lot wilder, with far fewer “gotcha” twists and more proper horror. The first season consisted of only six episodes, the second a full 22, and the third would be cut down to 30 minutes rather than 60, and has 15 episodes.

The Best Night Gallery Segments

In total, the show had 96 separate segments. Rather than try to talk about all of them, instead I want to talk about some of my favorites, to give you an idea of why I think Night Gallery is so special and why it deserves to be talked about in the same breath as The Twilight Zone.

Season 1, Segment 3b: “Certain Shadows on the Wall”

This is an excellent riff on a classic ghost story. Agnes Moorhead is an aged woman who dies under mysterious circumstances and, inexplicably, her shadow remains on the wall to taunt her sinister brother. This features some truly creepy visuals and mood, great work from director Jeff Corey.

Season 1, Segment 5c: “The Doll”

An adaptation of an Algernon Blackwood story, “The Doll” finds a child’s toy terrorizing a Colonial officer in Queen Victoria’s army. A lot of Night Gallery‘s best segments fit into traditional Victorian, Gothic horror tropes, which coupled with the ’70s TV aesthetic produces an especially unsettling effect.

Season 1, Segment 6a: “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar”

The longest single segment on the show, and also the most atypical. Serling wrote this tale of a has-been salesman (William Windom) who longs for “the good old days” when his life had promise. Upon hearing that his favorite bar will be torn down, the man begins experiencing ghostly visions of the past. This segment earned Night Gallery an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Single Program” in 1971.

Season 2, Segment 10a: “The Dark Boy”

Night Gallery adapted several “weird fiction” stories from the early 1900s. “The Dark Boy” is one such, adapted from August Derleth’s story of the same name. In it, a young school teacher at the turn of the century takes up a position at a rural community. The welcoming committee tells her she’ll have 16 students, however when she gets to class she learns there’s a 17. Despite her attempts, this boy never seems to get what she’s teaching. Eventually she, and the audience, learn the sad and spooky truth of who this child is.

Season 2, Segments 11a and 12a: “Pickman’s Model” and “Cool Air”

In successive episodes, Night Gallery adapted two H.P. Lovecraft stories. The first, “Pickman’s Model,” finds an artist depicting terrible and nightmarish things in his paintings. Guess what? They’re real. This one would later end up in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which I think is actually the better version.

The second, “Cool Air,” adapted by Serling, turns one of Lovecraft’s very short horror stories into a romantic, supernatural drama. In it, a young woman falls for her father’s colleague. The man has a very specific aversion to heat of any kind, pumping his rooms with a rudimentary air conditioning system. There is, of course, a reason for his needing cool air, and as you might expect, it’s not a happy one.

Season 2, Segment 17b, “The Ghost of Sorworth Place”

Another excellent ghost story for the series. This one sees an American tourist happen upon an estate in Scotland owned by a comely young widow who seems petrified of something. The man soon learns the woman fears the return of her husband, who died one year prior. It’s Night Gallery, so you can guess this probably isn’t just paranoia. The ghost effects here are some of the series’ best.

Season 2, Episodes 20-22

While looking over the segment list, I realized that all seven segments in the second season’s final three episodes are brilliant. They include: a student of sorcery trying to ensure a life of leisure; a “sin eater” in the Middle Ages meeting a grim fate; robots getting revenge for mistreatment; an expat in Borneo plotting a gruesome end to a romantic rival; and a psychiatrist who has to help a scientific genius process grief. All of them are just superb.

Season 3, Episode 2, “The Girl with the Hungry Eyes”

By the third season—saved from cancellation at the last moment—the network mandated the show go to 30 minutes. That meant, aside from two outliers, that was only one story per episode. Generally these episodes are not as good; however, the second episode is a crackerjack entry. It finds a photographer whose latest muse is not merely a beautiful woman, but the beautiful woman whom every ad agency wants as their spokesmodel. The trouble starts when, as the photographer gets more and more money, more and more men end up mysteriously dead. Succubus, babyyyyyy!

Season 3, Episode 6, “The Other Way Out”

An old man lures a murderer to a secluded farm house where the man seeks to enact his revenge. He places the murderer in a pit with no way out. All the old man (played by Burl Ives, no less) tells his prisoner is that he’ll be dealt with when “Sonny” arrives. We learn the extent of the murderer’s crime and hear his pleas for mercy, only to be met with an absolute gut-punch when Sonny indeed arrives.

These are just some of the best episodes of the show. Give it a look and see for yourself. All three seasons of Night Gallery plus the pilot movie are available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. Just as they did with The Outer Limits and Kolchak: The Night Stalker, they’ve poured dozens of hours of commentaries and extras for fans of horror media and old American TV. They are the best sets of their kind on the market.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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A hero is only as good as their villain, and in the world of Marvel Comics, there are plenty of both. But who has the best rogues gallery of them all? Kyle takes a closer look to determine which hero is the best of the best when it comes to the worst of the worst on today’s Nerdist Now!

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What’s that saying? The lyrics change, but the song remains the same? Well, in the first teaser for Netflix’s That ’90s Show, the characters have changed, some of them anyway, but the song literally remains the same. The That ’90s Show teaser treats us to a look at a new generation, all while playing a 90-ified version of the familiar That ’70s Show theme song, “In the Street.” And honestly, it feels like we never really left the Forman basement in this first look at the spinoff series. What’s that sound, really? It’s nostalgia.

That ’90s Show Teaser Trailer

Take a look at the first That ’90s Show teaser below.

It’s the same old thing we did last week, only fast-forward a couple of decades. Red is still threatening people with feet in their unmentionables. Kitty is still delightfully oblivious. And the kids are still… doing what kids do best. Although this show feels a little younger than That ’70s Show, we can’t wait to see how That ’90s Show will fill the big couch left behind.

That ’90s Show Synopsis and Release Date

A release accompanying the That ’90s Show teaser trailer shares many more details about the show.

It’s 1995 and Leia Forman is desperate for some adventure in her life or at least a best friend who isn’t her dad. When she arrives in Point Place to visit her grandparents, Red and Kitty, Leia finds what she’s looking for right next door when she meets the dynamic and rebellious Gwen. With the help of Gwen’s friends, including her lovable brother Nate, his smart, laser-focused girlfriend Nikki, the sarcastic and insightful Ozzie, and the charming Jay, Leia realizes adventure could happen there just like it did for her parents all those years ago. Excited to reinvent herself, she convinces her parents to let her stay for the summer. With a basement full of teens again, Kitty is happy the Forman house is now a home for a new generation and Red is, well…Red.

That ’90s Show has also shared its release date. The show will first stream on January 19, 2023. It will feature 10 episodes, each running for 22 minutes.

That ’90s Show Cast and First Look Photos

Netflix has also shared character descriptions and first-look images of our favorite Point Place residents and co. You can take a look at them below and then get to know the motley crew we’ll meet in That ’90s Show.

Click To View Gallery

Kurtwood Smith as Red A classic never goes out of style. When the new kids bring out the old Red, the spring in Red’s step puts a spring in Kitty’s too!

Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty A whole new world opens to Kitty with the new generation and she is right at home. It has never been cooler to be Kitty.

Callie Haverda as Leia Forman Smart like her mom, awkward like her dad, Leia is craving adventure. She’s just not quite sure where or how to start. Until she discovers a best friend in the most unlikely of places: next door to her grandparents’ house in Point Place.

Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen Life gets more interesting for Leia when she meets this Riot Grrrl. Equal parts loyalty, rebellion and heart, Gwen is a dynamic powerhouse and the unofficial leader of the new generation of Point Place kids.

Maxwell Donovan as Nate When you first meet Nate he seems like a big, dumb jock… but he’s actually not that athletic. Nate has a huge heart and it’s hard to tell who he loves more: his girlfriend, his best friend, or his beat-up, old van.

Mace Coronel as Jay Jay is charming and flirty – at least, he tries. It doesn’t always come out right. He considers himself a deep thinker, nobody else does.

Reyn Doi as Ozzie Everyone loves them some Ozzie. He’s insightful, sarcastic and has perspective beyond his years. Ozzie is gay and impatient with the world for not being as accepting as his friends.

Sam Morelos as Nikki Nikki is focused, smart, and driven. She approaches maintaining her GPA with the same energy an MMA fighter brings to a cage match. She can truly relax when she’s with her boyfriend, Nate and his friends, even though sometimes she’s not laughing with them, she’s laughing at them.

Andrea Anders as Sherri This single mom to Nate and Gwen is warm and breezily blunt. She rolls through life in a state of “pretty sure” – pretty sure the kids ate, pretty sure there’s gas in the car… When Leia makes friends with her kids, Sherri makes friends with Red and Kitty, and their coffee, and their couch, and their advice.

Of course, we already know we will also get to see familiar faces from That ’70s Show in the mix. Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama will all return to That ’90s Show. And most recently, we learned that Don Stark would reprise his role as Bob Pinciotti as well.

We can’t wait to see our first look at our favs, all grown up, sometime very soon.

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Feel old, yet? After a quarter-of-a-century journey to be the best like no one ever was, Ash and Pikachu will hang up their hats and lightning bolts as they leave the Pokémon anime behind. Unlike other similar anime series, which refresh their protagonists after a season or two, these two were lifers. It seemed like Ash and Pikachu would always remain on our screens. But all good things must come to end. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel sad about this change in the bedrock of our pop culture. Even though Ash and Pikachu will leave the Pokémon anime, they will not be forgotten.

A special Pokémon trailer highlights the coming changes to the franchise’s world. It reminds us of the journey that Ash and Pikachu have gone on. There is a lot to look back on. After all, Pokémon began to air in Japan in 1997. And it came shortly thereafter to the US in 1998. VCRs were in vogue, then! But, although becoming a Pokémon Master is a dream that never ends, Ash and Pikachu will have their final chapter soon.

Pokémon will end Ash’s story with 11 episodes that will air in Japan beginning on January 13, 2023. And these episodes will mark the end of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series. According to a release, they will also “provide a glimpse of what the future may hold for the world’s strongest Trainer. The forthcoming special episodes not only celebrate our hero’s monumental achievement but they also serve as an expression of gratitude from Pokémon to all the fans who have joined Ash and Pikachu along the way.”

In short, have your tissues and cuddly Pikachu pillows ready as we prepare to say goodbye to Ash and the rest of the Pokémon gang. This one will make us cry harder than when Ash let Butterfree stay behind without him. (Although we feel glad that the pair finally reunited.)

And then, after that, a new dream will begin. 25 years later, Pokémon will center on fresh heroes. According to GameSpot, they are named Riko and Roy. The duo of protagonists will continue unraveling the mysteries of the Pokémon world. And the new series will feature more modern Pokémon, like those we met in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

We suppose Ash did finally become the world champion of the Pokémon world. And unless there was some kind of universal tournament for him to enter, that’s probably the pinnacle of achievement. So it makes sense to bring his story to a close. We guess the only way to properly say goodbye is to dig out our copies of Pokémon episode one.

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“Life comes at you fast.” Well, sometimes, it comes at you faster than a proverbial speeding bullet. That’s certainly the case for Henry Cavill lately. In a whirlwind only Superman himself could keep up with, the actor quickly went from two high-profile jobs to none. First, he was back as the Man of Steel in the DCEU. But right after his cameo in Black Adam, he was out as Geralt of Rivia on Netflix’s The Witcher. Only, now he’s also out as Clark Kent. Don’t feel too badly for Cavill, though. Another idiom now applies to his roller-coaster career: all’s well that ends well. His next series will turn his personal passion into a paying gig. Henry Cavill will headline Amazon Studios’ Warhammer 40,000 live-action franchise.

Amazon Studios has confirmed earlier media reports are true. It has acquired the rights to Games Workshop’s wildly popular miniature universe Warhammer 40,000. The deal includes future shows, movies, “and more.” The arrangement, a first-of-its-kind agreement, didn’t go small with its leading man. The newly available Cavill will both star in and executive produce the Warhammer franchise. Considering his well-established love for the hobby, it’s hard to think of anything that will help Henry Cavill overcome his disappointment at no longer being Superman.

“I have loved Warhammer since I was a boy, making this moment truly special for me. The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honour and the responsibility,” said Cavill in a statement about joining the Warhammer world. “I couldn’t be more grateful for all the hard work put in by Vertigo, Amazon and Games Workshop to make this happen. One step closer to making a nigh-on lifelong dream come true.” 

And Cavill even has the videos of him nerding out over Warhammer miniatures to prove it.

Warhammer 40,000 takes place in the “far future, where humanity stands at the edge of what might be its brightest future, or its darkest age. The threats to humankind’s empire are many—traitors driven by the fires of ambition, alien empires sworn to reclaim the stars, and the corruption of reality by malevolent gods.”

Sounds like a place that could really use both a witcher and a super man. Now it has both. Congratulations to Cavill and all the other fans of the Warhammer 40,000 world.

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We’ve seen glimpses of what Barbie has in store for us already. And we knew we were in for some kind of journey through the absurd and entertaining. Of course, with Greta Gerwig at the helm, a straightforward movie about a cheery doll was not in the cards. But we could not have expected the deep meditation on the meaning of Barbie that Barbie‘s trailer offered. Nor could we have expected the homage to the opening scene from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Barbie meets sci-fi? Hand it over.

Take a look at the first teaser trailer for Barbie, below:

Given that Barbie‘s trailer emulates Kubrick, it brings us many layers of meaning. In the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, early man was greeted by a mysterious monolith that they began to worship. Though this encounter freed them from the mercurial whims of nature, it made them servants of something else. The monolith awakened insatiable aggression and greed in man. In the Barbie trailer, Barbie herself takes the place of the monolith. And she awakens something furious in the young girls quietly playing with their baby dolls.

We suppose this teaser trailer offers a meditation on how the figure of Barbie gives some kind of power to those she touches with her perfect, plastic presence and also brings something ugly out in them all at once… In 2001, the monolith also appears as a very masculine presence, whereas, in Barbie, Gerwig has evolved the concept for the feminine. And that feels like an interesting thematic start. Based on this trailer, we smell a coming-of-age in a cruel world narrative just around the corner for Barbie and co.

But we suppose we’ll have to see the movie. In addition to its 2001: A Space Odyssey portion, the teaser trailer for Barbie does offer us a quick montage of some of the more fun aspects of the movie. We get to Barbie waving at her city of Barbie Dreamhouses. Ryan Gosling as Ken appears with, potentially, other Kens in absurd ’80s aerobics wear. And the Barbie trailer also features lots of dancing, sequins, and pink. We already know this movie will also likely go in and out of Barbie‘s world, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel. So we expect nothing but shenanigans.

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In all, our brains our spinning. But one thing feels certain. If the teaser trailer for Barbie can bewilder and delight us in this way, we can’t wait to get the entire movie. Barbie releases in theaters on July 21, 2023.

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DC Studios’ co-head James Gunn has announced that DC Studios’ upcoming Superman movie, which he is currently writing, will focus on a young Clark Kent just starting out, bypassing the origin story. We’re all for this, as between the 1978 Richard Donner movie, Smallville, and Man of Steel, they’ve covered the origin story of Superman pretty thoroughly in media. But doing a story about Kal-El’s early days in Metropolis is not as played out yet.

But where to find inspiration? Often, the best Superman stories actually were about his origins (Birthright, Man of Steel) or his final days (The Death of Superman, All-Star Superman). Or they were way off-brand Elseworlds stories, like Red Son. But there are examples of “early years” Supes stories that would be great for the big screen. Stories where they might incorporate aspects of them into film, if not the whole thing. Here are but a few of our favorites.

Superman and Action Comics by John Byrne (1986-1988)

In 1986, writer/artist John Byrne did the first radical reinvention of Superman’s mythology, largely based on the streamlining done in Superman: The Movie. His mini-series, Man of Steel, retold the origin story. But his next two years on Superman and Action Comics fast-forwarded a bit. They told new stories of a young Clark Kent. Many of those could serve as inspiration for a young Superman film, including tales of his first encounters with kryptonite, and updated versions of classic villains like Brainiac, Metallo, and Bizarro. Many consider these some of the best Superman stories ever. They would serve as an excellent foundation for a new big-screen reinterpretation.

Superman: For All Seasons (1998)

This four-part, 1998 series came to us from writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale, the very same creative team behind the legendary Batman: The Long Halloween. A less grandiose story than that one was, For All Seasons follows a young Clark Kent. However, the four chapters were not told from his POV. Instead, they broke up each chapter into seasons; Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each one narrated by a different person close to Superman, like his father Jonathan, his enemy Lex Luthor, and his love Lois Lane. It’s not really action-packed enough to make for a big-budget movie. Nevertheless, several elements of it could play into any young Superman story.

“New 52” Action Comics by Grant Morrison (2011-2012)

DC Comics’ New 52 reboot remains controversial to many fans. Still, Grant Morrison’s 18-issue run on Action Comics thrilled most readers. Here, Morrison told a new version of Superman’s earliest days in Metropolis, bringing him back to his roots of 1938 as a champion of the oppressed, and something of a blue-collar hero. His Superman didn’t even start out wearing a costume, he wore a t-shirt with the S-logo and jeans. This was a bold and modern retelling, and largely skipped the Krypton/Smallville stuff. Some stuff wouldn’t translate, but enough would to at least consider it.

Superman: The Animated Series “Stolen Memories” (1996)

Most of the first episodes of Superman: The Animated Series dealt with a young Man of Steel in his early days, and the show remains one of the best examples of the character in any media. But if we were to pick one episode to adapt and expand on, it’s “Stolen Memories.” This episode introduced Brainiac to Superman’s rogues gallery. The series’ version of the evil A.I., which had ties to Krypton and Jor-El, is maybe one of the best versions ever. If I were James Gunn, I would definitely rewatch the whole animated series from start to finish. And I’d pay special attention to this chapter.

Superman: Peace on Earth (1998)

Writer Paul Dini, together with Kingdom Come artist Alex Ross, created a timeless story that got to the core of Kal-El’s character with Peace on Earth. The one-shot story focused on Superman wanting to do more than just punch villains and stop disasters on Christmas. He proposed the United Nations help to end world hunger by spending a day delivering as much food as he can to those that need it anywhere in the world. Of course, some greeted with resistance even that kind gesture. It’s not a very action heavy story, but certain elements of it may inspire a new live-action portrayal of Superman.

Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes (2009)

One aspect of Superman’s lore they have never explored in live-action (except in one episode of Smallville) was Clark Kent’s connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes. His time as a young man with the super team of the far future was formative in helping him become the hero he is. In Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s story, Clark’s childhood friends come back for him. They take him to the 31st century, when a new xenophobic movement has risen on Earth. They need the future to remember that its greatest hero was actually an alien immigrant himself. This one might be a bit too “out there” for some. But we also think James Gunn would knock the future stuff out of the park.

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Though season one of Yellowjackets has ended, this ending is only the beginning. Yellowjackets’ finale raised as many questions as it answered and fans are buzzing. This is a true testament to the show’s “slow burn” nature. And a mark of its confident serialized storytelling. Questions (and theories) keep us ready to consume Yellowjackets season two. And we are hungry.

Here’s our breakdown of the biggest questions from the Yellowjackets‘ finale and season one overall. So let’s shed some light, my beautiful friends, on the answers, theories, and speculation this season brought to life. And let the darkness set us free.

Yellowjackets Season One Questions and Theories 

Yellowjackets Season Two and Beyond // Are There Supernatural Powers at Work on Yellowjackets? // Who Is Yellowjackets’ Antler Queen and Who Is the Girl in the Pit? // Who Killed Travis and Kidnapped Nat? What Is the Meaning of Yellowjackets’ Symbol? //  Will Lottie Become Evil? Is She Possessed? // Who Was Adam on Yellowjackets? // Does Shauna’s Baby Survive the Wilderness //  Is Taissa Sleepwalking, Possessed, or in Possession of a Whole Other Personality? // Is Jackie Really Dead on Yellowjackets? // Where Is Javi? Where Are Van, Mari, and Akilah in the Future? // Where Did the Girls Crash on Yellowjackets and How Will They Be Rescued? // Who will Play Adult Versions of the Surviving Cast?

How many seasons of Yellowjackets will there be?

Right now, the showrunners are discussing five seasons of Yellowjackets. We don’t know if the multiple timeline format will continue throughout but we’re excited to find out. All the forest sigils are pointing in the direction, too. Because, happily, Yellowjackets received an early renewal for season two and season three.

When does season two of Yellowjackets return?

As mentioned, Yellowjackets was renewed for a second season before the finale. Though initially, Yellowjackets season two was set to premiere at the end of 2022, that timeline changed. According to showrunners and co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, who spoke with The Wrap, “We’re looking into the first quarter of 2023 [for Yellowjackets season two]… We are on a very similar production track in terms of time as we were last season, although, of course, we have to shoot an additional episode because we had already shot the pilot the last time. I believe that we are going to finish shooting in about February, and we’ll be airing sometime shortly after that.”

They add, “Nobody wanted to get back on the air quickly more than we did. But we really rolled directly from finishing up Season 1 into Season 2… It’s a deeply serialized story, and we wanted to make sure we didn’t rush it, and that we got it right. And so this was the earliest we could accomplish that.”

And they have delivered on that timeline. Yellowjackets announced via social media today that the show will return on March 24, 2023. So the answers we seek are near. It may be a little later than we’d hoped, but we want Yellowjackets season two to deliver its absolute best.

Are There Supernatural Powers at Work on Yellowjackets?

One could argue this is the core question Yellowjackets asks of its characters and audience. The belief in a greater force seems to directly correlate to another question. How do the Yellowjackets end up breaking into multiple tribes? This division likely forms between those who believe there are supernatural forces at play, with Lottie as their leader, and those who refuse this explanation. But which Yellowjackets join Lottie and which do not are questions we still can’t answer with certainty.

Based on the Yellowjackets finale, it seems like our main characters, Shauna, Taissa, Van, Nat, and Misty, were all somehow involved in Lottie’s tribe. Travis, conversely, was not. In an earlier episode, 2021 Nat says, “He never believed in any of that.” Seems like pretty unbalanced numbers, though. We don’t know what other characters like Mari, Akilah, and Javi believe. But only time will tell who ends up on Team Fae Cannibalism.

Like with the girls lost in the wilderness, this question divides fans, mirroring the show. Some feel strongly that there is no magic in Yellowjackets’ world and only the power of the mind. Others feel there must be something more powerful at play, when looking at Van’s survival, Lottie’s bear slaughter, and how the woods tie together blood and feast.

Given this core debate, the answer is “whatever you make of it is true.” The supernatural equally exists and does not exist on Yellowjackets.

Who Is Yellowjackets’ Antler Queen and Who Is the Girl in the Pit?

Who is the Antler Queen, glimpsed in the first episode of Yellowjackets? And who is the unfortunate victim we see dead in a pit? Although Yellowjackets fans had many theories, one of these questions has an answer. Her Majesty Lottie donned a first draft of the antler crown in episode nine, “Doomcoming.” And judging by the finale, she is ready to ascend to her throne. That said, the crown and power could always pass hands again.

The girl in the pit, meanwhile, is harder to identify. Many Yellowjackets fan theories pointed to Jackie as the unfortunate victim, but we can now rule her out. Based on a process of elimination, the girl seems to be Mari, at this point. It makes sense since Pit Girl wore Jackie’s necklace. Short of Shauna, Mari had the most notable interactions with Jackie. But who gets Jackie’s necklace and how they end up in the pit remains in the realms of speculation for now.

Who Killed Travis and Kidnapped Nat? What Is the Meaning of Yellowjackets’ Symbol?

“Who the f*** is Lottie Matthews?” Well,  it seems like our Antler Queer is Travis’ killer and Nat’s kidnapper. Although Natalie is ready to believe the official story by the Yellowjackets finale, a well-timed sequence reveals that Lottie actually had something to do with his death. Simultaneously, a group of people draped in cozy neutrals appears and drags Nat away. Around their necks hangs Yellowjackets’ mysterious forest symbol.

But what does this symbol mean and where did it come from? Yellowjackets fans have been hard at work sharpening their theories on this one. They’ve invoked everything from Hobo Code to trigonometry in a quest for meaning. And though we may learn where Yellowjackets’ symbol came from… Ultimately, the symbol’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder. We suspect Lottie will begin to use it in the wilderness, a mark of her tribe.

Will Lottie Become Evil? Is She Possessed?

So will Lottie become the big bad of Yellowjackets season two? Signs point to yes. She is inviting the darkness, after all… And killing people and kidnapping them. Still, “evil” is a subjective moniker.

Showrunner Jonathan Lisco shares some insights with Variety about the women’s time in the woods:

With all the gender conventions coming down, and the savagery of high-school hierarchies coming down in the woods, when they actually have to be themselves — a true version of themselves and try and find out how to survive, oddly, they self-actualize in ways that surprise them, surprise their peers. Like, who are they?

That doesn’t sound so evil. Perhaps Lottie wants for her found family to come back together on Yellowjackets. To be themselves again, free of society. By her side, cannibalizing people. You know, Hannibal Lecter style.

We also can’t count possession out. Lottie was speaking French at the end of the finale. Which we also saw her speak after her séance episode. But whether this is put-on or demonic remains unknown.

Who Was Adam on Yellowjackets?

Another generator of many Yellowjackets questions and theories, it seems like Adam was only himself. Showrunner Bart Nickerson confirmed to Vulture that Adam is not involved in Lottie’s cult and Lisco shared with Decider that he is not Javi either. Still, Lisco offered that Adam’s backstory is in flux, and “they’ll follow whatever storyline they think is the most compelling” going into season two.

Does Shauna’s Baby Survive the Wilderness?

At the end of Yellowjackets season one, Shauna’s baby remains alive. But its ultimate fate is a question for Yellowjackets season two.

Is Taissa Sleepwalking, Possessed, or in Possession of a Whole Other Personality?

Like Lottie, Taissa contains multitudes. In the 2021 timeline, we meet her as a polished, ambitious politician trying to put away her time in the wilderness. But by the finale, we know she’s been climbing trees, eating dirt, and creating blood alters complete with Yellowjackets’ wilderness symbol in her spare time. And honestly, we love it.

As Taissa wins her hard-fought election, a delicious smile lingers on her face. Lisco describes the moment to Variety:

[Taissa thinks] wow, for many, many years, I’ve been suppressing this knowledge of my alter ego. If not repressing it. And yet now, holy cow, I have a feeling that there could be advantages to what I’ve kind of subconsciously known all along — that I’m a bifurcated personality. And should I or should I not capitalize on the advantages of that dark power moving forward?

Taissa’s son refers to her alter-ego as “The Lady in the Tree.” And we see Tai become that lady a few times in the wilderness as well. We may even see her become the Lady in the Tree more full-time while in the wild. Taissa seemed strangely squeamish when it came to handling Adam’s body… If she were on Team Cannibal, perhaps her other side took over in the wild.

This final scene signals a turning point in how the two Taissas co-exist, though. Could Taissa join Lottie’s wilderness cult? Could she be unknowingly in touch with Lottie already? And who is the man with no eyes Tai keeps seeing in visions? (He even appears in the opening credits.) These questions remain for Yellowjackets season two to know and for us to create more theories about.

Is Jackie Really Dead on Yellowjackets?

Alas, our resident pretty/mean girl Jackie is dead on Yellowjackets. We see her pass in the dream/vision that she and Shauna seem to share. Interestingly this highlights Shauna’s connection to the supernatural. Many fans also wonder who the man in the dream was. Could he be the dead hunter the team found in the cabin?

In any case, dead doesn’t mean gone on Yellowjackets. We feel confident we’ll see Jackie again soon.

Where Is Javi? Where Are Van, Mari, and Akilah in the Future?

We don’t see Javi in the finale of Yellowjackets, so where is he? For now, no one knows. But Travis’ bank account was easily emptied in 2021. Could Javi be a part of Lottie’s cult?

As for the other Yellowjackets MIA in 2021, we don’t know what they’re up to. Van could be with Lottie if she’s still alive. Mari, the pit girl who never made it. As for Akilah, we hope she is somewhere out there thriving.

Where Did the Girls Crash on Yellowjackets and How Will They Be Rescued?

We know the team crashed in the “northern wilderness.” Where they are exactly is almost immaterial, although the Canadian Rockies are the prime suspects. How they get rescued remains a total mystery. Are they closer to civilization than they think? Will the wilderness let them go? In a slow-burn series like Yellowjackets, we were never going to have all our questions answered in season one. But one thing we’re interested in knowing, will the girls ever discover Misty broke the plane’s black box? And what will happen when they do?

Who will play adult versions of the surviving cast?

The most exciting question for many fans is who will play the adult versions of any surviving Yellowjackets. Fans hope more nostalgic ’90s stars appear. For now, we have one piece of casting news, Lauren Ambrose will play Adult Van. In addition, adult Lottie will be played by Simone Kessell. We’ll have to wait and see if any other adult survivors join the cast in Yellowjackets season two. We can’t wait to hear all your Yellowjackets theories in the meanwhile.

Our final thoughts? Buzz, buzz, buzz.

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Hello, Sidney… or should we say Sam? The Scream franchise is rolling full steam ahead after a 10 year hiatus. The “requel” Scream (2022) brought in a new generation of fresh meat and a new pair of final girls, Sam and Tara, as this ongoing saga moves forward. Shortly after the film’s release, we got big news about a sixth Scream film coming our way. Who can resist more Ghostface, more slicing and dicing, and keeping up with the many horror movie rules?

We recently got an exciting taste of the upcoming movie, when Scream 6‘s first teaser trailer hit our screens. Interestingly, a closer look at Ghostface revealed a new rendition of the iconic mask. In Scream 6, Ghostface is donning an aged, weathered-looking incarnation.

Director Tyler Gillett had this to say about Ghostface’s new look.

It will all make sense in the context that you see it in the movie…That was another one of the really interesting risks and creative approaches in this movie. It’s meta in a different way, and the mask very much factors into that.

Fellow director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin concluded, “It was not an arbitrary choice.”

Here’s everything we know about Scream 6. 

Title

Right now, the working title for this film is Scream 6. But, with the last film sharing a name with the 1996 one, we don’t know what direction they will go for this title. So, for now, we will use Scream 6.

Scream 6’s Plot 

The plot for Scream 6 is pretty vague: Four survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start. This doesn’t give us much to work with; however, we do know that Scream 6 will take place in New York City. So that evens the score with three films in Woodsboro and three taking place elsewhere. And, we do know two of those survivors must be Sam and Tara because, well, they are the new faces of this franchise. The other two are pretty easy to figure out as well. Randy Meeks’ niece and nephew Mindy and Chad are the only other people from the teen friend group to live, so it’s obviously them. For new cast, Dermot Mulroney will portray a cop while Samara Weaving and Spider-Man‘s Tony Revolori have also joined the cast in undisclosed roles.

We get our first look at everyone in action in the first teaser for Scream 6.

Recently, Melissa Barrera revealed when exactly Scream 6 would take place within the timeline of the Scream franchise. She noted during an interview with Deadline, which we saw on Collider, “It’s (Scream 6) like almost directly after the last one. Basically, the amount of time that has passed between one movie and the other is the amount of time that has passed in, you know, Scream time.” 

That’s fascinating to hear. Sometimes time jumps can enhance a movie, but sometimes its best to keep the timeline tight. In any case, we’re excited for this Scream 6 timeline because it will allow us to really see how the characters are dealing with and evolving from the horrors they encountered in the previous movie.

Behind the Scenes 

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will return to direct Scream 6, with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the script. The film was shot in Montreal and finished filming in August 2022.

Scream 6’s Cast

Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega will return as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are also reprising their roles as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin. Unfortunately, Neve Campbell will not come back Sidney Prescott, citing salary dispute issues. It will be the first Scream movie to not have Sidney, which is rather sad. However, Courteney Cox is bringing the infamous Gale Weathers back in some capacity. And, in perhaps the biggest delight for fans, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back Kirby for Scream 6. There’s been speculation that Kirby survived the events of Scream 4 and, after a couple of clever Easter eggs in Scream (2022), it became certain. It’s not clear how Kirby will fit into the picture at this time. 

In November 2022, Ortega spoke to Entertainment Weekly about how the film is so “gore-heavy” that fans may not notice Sidney’s looming absence. She also affirms that Scream 6 will still honor Sidney’s legacy. “But it’s very clear, like, there’s references to Sidney, of course,” said Ortega. “You know, it’s nice because there’s still a protectiveness in the script and that’s something that the actors had naturally over her because obviously we respect her and we want the best for her. She’s missed and thought of.” So it will be interesting to see what references come up about Sidney in this film.

Scream 6’s Release Date 

Scream 6 will release on March 10, 2023. 

Originally published on September 30, 2022.

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As news continues to surface on the future of the DC Universe, it now appears the once Man of Steel will be Superman no more. Dan dives in to break down all the latest on the news of Henry Cavill’s departure and what James Gunn’s new Superman project could mean for the future of DC on today’s Nerdist News!

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Buzz, buzz, buzz. What’s that sound? Oh yes, it’s the sound of the Yellowjackets hive rising from the ground. We won’t see Yellowjackets season two until 2023, a little later than we’d hoped, it sounds like progress for the next season of the hit series is going well. So well that we have our first exciting bits of Yellowjackets season two casting news. We now know who will play the adult counterparts of some of our favorite characters in the show’s next outing.

Skip to: Elijah Wood on Yellowjackets // Adult Lottie // Adult Van // Other Season Two Cast

Elijah Wood Will Play a Character Named Walter

According to EW, Elijah Wood will join the cast of Yellowjackets season two. He will play a character named Walter, “whose arc will intertwine with Misty (Christina Ricci) in significant ways.” That’s an intriguing prospect given how season one ended. They go on to say he’ll be “a dedicated Citizen Detective who will challenge Misty in ways she won’t see coming.” (As a reminder, network synopsis, “citizen detective” does not need to be capitalized.)

Adult Lottie Will Be Played By Simone Kessell

Bow down to your antler queen. Adult Lottie will be played by Simone Kessell in Yellowjackets season two. When we last saw Lottie in the past timeline, she was assuming her rightful place as the ruler of the forest, otherwise known as the Antler Queen. As things began to turn dark for our survivors, Lottie placed herself in charge, insisting there were magical powers in play in the wilderness.

We didn’t see the adult version of Lottie in the future timeline, but we saw her crew of minions kidnapping Natalie to the dulcet sounds of “Who the fuck is Lottie Matthews?” And now we know we’ll definitely see her in season two.

Simone Kessell most recently appeared on Obi-Wan Kenobi playing Breha Organa. But we can’t wait to see her take on the adult version of our bloodthirsty queen, a much different kind of role. And we can’t wait to see more of Courtney Eaton’s Lottie either. Eaton has been promoted to series regular.

Adult Van Will Be Played By Lauren Ambrose

Meanwhile, Six Feet Under and Servant‘s Lauren Ambrose will play the grown-up version of Van in Yellowjackets season two.

This is really fun news because one of the best parts about Yellowjackets is seeing how the older and the younger versions of the characters exist in the world. And Lauren Ambrose absolutely fits the bill for Yellowjackets‘ adult Van. In fact, Ambrose was a favorite to play Van’s older self here at Nerdist. She’ll make for the perfect addition to our cast of adult survivors, which includes Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, and Tawney Cypress. Both Vans, the newly-cast Lauren Ambrose and the returning Liv Hewson, will be series regulars in Yellowjackets season two.

Van has a special place in our hearts. Her romance with Taissa was one of the absolute best parts of Yellowjackets. Toward the end of the first season of Yellowjackets, though, Van defected from team “there’s a rational explanation for all of this” to team “magic forces are at work.” And honestly, that’s the better team, but it might put a crack in the pair. When we last saw Van, she was kneeling behind her Antler Queen Lottie, some might say, like a knight.

Of course, Van’s casting as an adult is technically a spoiler that Van survived the team’s time in the wilderness. But it doesn’t tell us anything about what she’s up to. Our bet? She’s currently involved with Lottie’s cult of white-clothed henchmen who bear the sign of the Antler Queen. Maybe she’s even second in command. We honestly would root for a Lottie and Van adult romance.

Yellowjackets Season Two Casting News

We can’t wait to hear more Yellowjackets season two casting news soon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Ashley Lyle shared, “In terms of other survivors, we plant the flag that Lottie is lurking in the shadows and meeting her in the near future. Ideally, we will probably meet at least one other.” Additionally, adult Ali will also be a part of the season.

Most recently, Yellowjackets season two has revealed that Nuha Jes Izman has joined the cast of the show. Izman “will play Crystal, a member of the JV squad and a hardcore theater enthusiast, who makes the dubious decision to bond with Misty.” We really hope Crystal knows what she’s doing.

Additionally, Kevin Alves who plays Travis Martinez on the show, will be a season two regular.

Season two of Yellowjackets premieres on March 24, 2023. Happily, the show has already been renewed for season three.

Originally published on August 11, 2022.

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DC Comics films are in a state of transition. Despite announcing just a few months ago that he was back, Henry Cavill is not returning as Superman. New DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed the news, saying in a tweet that his new Superman will be a young hero just starting out, played by another actor. All pretty much confirming that his DCU will be a reboot. Many fans, including us, think a full-scale reboot is the best way forward. Continuing to put bandages on the existing DCEU doesn’t seem to work. It’s time to start fresh.

Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022

However, we believe that since a full-scale reboot is likely on the horizon, the versions of these iconic heroes we’ve seen on film this past decade deserve a fitting ending. Especially Henry Cavill, who they had only just announced as returning as Kal-El. Shouldn’t he get at least one more great film for his version of the iconic hero? Especially after so many fans cheered his long-awaited return. It would just be a sad ending if his last time in the role is a walk-on cameo in Black Adam.

And then, there’s the issue of Wonder Woman. After becoming a global icon thanks to her solo film, doesn’t Gal Gadot’s Diana deserve a proper final act too? Especially as WB canceled whatever Patty Jenkins had planned for a third film. Before any possible reboot happens, we think the Princess of Themyscira deserves a glorious sendoff as well. And that sendoff should be an adaptation of one of DC Comics’ most beloved stories, Kingdom Come (spoilers for the original comics).

Kingdom Come: A rebuttal of ’90s comic book nihilism

Originally published in 1996, Kingdom Come was creators Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ statement on the state of superheroes at the time. Ever since Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, comics saw “grim ‘n gritty” anti-heroes surpassing traditional ones. The late ‘80s, and especially the early ‘90s was an explosion in popularity with these kinds of characters. Chief among them the Punisher, Wolverine, and gun-toting Cable. When the Image Comics boom happened, new characters like Spawn and others leaned heavily into the dark antihero vibe. It became a cliché, and eventually, a joke. Waid and Ross told a story about where a continued obsession with these kinds of “heroes” might lead us.

“They chose the man who would kill over the man who wouldn’t. And now they’re dead.”

Kingdom Come was set in a relatively near future. Violent, often gun-wielding heroes spend more time fighting each other than fighting criminals or saving innocent lives. The old guard of Justice League heroes have mostly retired. The reason for this was thanks to Superman abandoning his post as Earth’s protector, after humanity deemed his brand of heroism outdated. When the Joker killed dozens of reporters at the Daily Planet, including Lois Lane, Superman apprehended him.

But a new vigilante named Magog, a not-so-subtle take on Marvel’s Cable, decided to kill the Joker in cold blood. Superman arrested him for murder, but the public wanted Magog’s style of punitive justice. The world picked Magog over Superman, who they now considered a relic. So he retreated to his Fortress of Solitude for a decade, leaving the Earth to a new breed of not-so-heroic heroes.

With Superman and many of his fellow old-school Leaguers following suit, either gone or operating in the shadows, the world falls apart. Things come to a head when a reckless incident from Magog results in millions of lost lives. Superman returns to the world, which welcomes him back. He seeks to see a return to a time of virtuous heroism. But his methods for returning to “the old ways” isn’t exactly right either, as he seeks to force this new generation to see things his way, or suffer the consequences. His old friend Batman realizes he’s in way over his head.

A truly apocalyptic generation gap

This upcoming battle between generations of superpowered people is witnessed by our POV character, a kindly old pastor named Norman McKay. He, with the help of the unearthly Spectre, try to prevent the upcoming Armageddon. One that will happen thanks to two generations of superpowered people clashing in battle. Without giving the whole story away (really, you should read it), Kingdom Come’s final act is a dark one. Although its ultimate ending denouement is one of hope. One that celebrates the pure heroism of DC’s Trinity, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and what they represent to pop culture. Oh, and Shazam too. He plays quite a role, but that one’s a bit spoilery. (Again, read Kingdom Come).

A rousing end for Cavill’s Superman and Gadot’s Wonder Woman

So, why attempt Kingdom Come as the finale for the old DCEU? For starters, Henry Cavill truly deserves a great Superman story, and Kingdom Come is that story. Clark has a full character arc, and the story ultimately explains why Superman is the greatest superhero of all time. It’s the Superman story Cavill deserves. It’s also a great Wonder Woman story. The Amazon goddess must reckon with whether her skills as an ambassador of peace or as warrior of righteousness are more effective in this world. It’s a much better conclusion to Gal Gadot’s version of Diana than Wonder Woman 1984.

In Kingdom Come, Batman must also reckon with the toll decades of crime fighting has had on his body. And how it hindered his ability to keep Gotham City safe. And he must also be the voice of reason when his old allies cannot see the flaw in their methods. Now, Ben Affleck could or could not return to play Bruce Wayne in this. In the original comic, Bruce is an old man. But thanks to their respective Kryptonian and Amazonian DNA, both Superman and Wonder Woman have aged very little. While it would be nice to see Affleck return to the role, we don’t see it as a deal breaker if they recast him with someone older.

The DCEU was perfect for Kingdom Come as a finale from the start

It also makes sense for the DCEU’s endgame (pardon the marvelous phrase) because it’s simply always been a darker version of these characters than the comics. In the original comic, it seemed almost a stretch to believe that world of the Justice League could cause such a violent new generation of heroes. It’s not much of a stretch to believe the world started in Man of Steel would result in this new breed of metahumans.

Although there are dozens of DC heroes in Kingdom Come, they are mainly background soldiers in Superman and Wonder Woman’s army. (They will all make for great action scenes, and even better toys). However, The focus of the story is entirely on Clark and Diana, along with Bruce Wayne and Billy Batson. Not to mention our human guide, Norman McKay. All versions of these characters exist in the DCEU as is, except for Norman, and deserve a proper conclusion.

Making plans. pic.twitter.com/cubPgga066

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 30, 2022

A certain breed of fandom will no doubt take issue with certain portrayals of the characters, chiefly Superman. His arc, where a tragic piece of his past forces him into self-imposed exile, before returning triumphantly when the world needs him, was hated by many when applied to characters like Luke Skywalker and Captain Picard. However, one thing those fans won’t be able to say is that it’s not true to the comics. It’s straight from one of DC’s most beloved comic book tales. Cavill, Gadot, and even Zachary Levi’s version of these heroes deserve some kind of closure, even if it’s years from now. Based on some of his recent posts, we know James Gunn is a Kingdom Come fan. Here’s hoping he loves it enough to allow for it to be the old DCEU’s swan song, after a new cinematic DC Universe is ushered in.

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That’s right, the world’s most confusing game will soon arrive on the big screen. Famous for its winding, multi-layered, sometimes confusing, but definitely genius gameplay, Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding turned a lot of heads when it arrived on consoles. And now, it’s setting out to turn even more because Death Stranding will soon get a live-action movie adaptation. How one movie will manage to bring together all of Death Stranding‘s twists, turns, and nuances is a question only Hideo Kojima can answer. But we sure hope that when the Death Stranding live-action movie lands, it will reunite the all-star cast from the video game.

This game’s story might not lend itself simply to a cinematic adventure. But Death Stranding‘s cast begs for a live-action outing on the big screen. Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo del Toro, Léa Seydoux, and Margaret Qualley all appear in the game. Of course, Guillermo del Toro will have to be voiced by a different actor. But maybe he can voice the baby. More seriously, we’d give a lot to see Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen together on our screens. If Kojima can get even one of the Death Stranding actors to come back from a movie, it would make for one good movie.

We guess we will have to stay tuned. For now, the plot of the Death Stranding movie is under wraps. But Deadline reports it will “introduce new elements and characters within the Death Stranding universe.”

While we wait for more on the movie, the official Death Stranding synopsis gives us more to think about:

Sam Bridges must brave a world utterly transformed by the Death Stranding. Carrying the disconnected remnants of our future in his hands, he embarks on a journey to reconnect the shattered world one step at a time. With spectral creatures plaguing the landscape, and humanity on the verge of a mass extinction, it’s up to Sam to journey across the ravaged continent and save mankind from impending annihilation.

This marks Kojima Productions’ first ever feature film. Kojima has partnered with Hammerstone Studios and Alex Lebovici, executive producer of Barbarian, on the Death Stranding movie. Lebovici notes “Unlike other big budget tentpole video game adaptations, this will be something far more intimate and grounded. Our goal is to redefine what a video game adaptation could be when you have creative and artistic freedom.”

Sounds exciting to us.

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It is truly the age of Spider-Man… Or is it the age of Venom? During its 2021 PlayStation Showcase, PlayStation showed fans a tantalizing first look at Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game. The Spider-Man games have been a huge success to this point, allowing fans to embody both Peter Parker’s Spidey and Miles Morales. Now it looks like they’ll be teaming up against a familiar frenemy, Venom.

The trailer opens on a dark New York Street with our two Spideys taking care of business as usual. But not all is well in the world and something dark is lurking in the shadows. A creepy voice hovers over the trailer saying:

For as long as I can remember I have looked for an equal. One who could push me, one who could surprise me, one who could even beat me, yet all I found is disappointment. Will one of you finally give me what I desire?

And an equally creepy voice, one that no doubt belongs to Venom answers, “Yes. We will.”

Well, double the Spider-Men must surely mean double the foes to fight. It certainly sounds like there are two different baddies talking to one another in this first look. But who does the first voice belong to? We vote Kraven the Hunter. But anyone could be Venom’s better? (worse?) half at this point. We won’t know for sure until later. Other than the villain tease and the look at our two heroes teaming up, information is pretty scarce. But we’re very ready to learn about the gameplay, story, costumes, and more this game will surely offer.

For now, what we do know is that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will release in fall 2023. That might seem like a long way from now, but this first glimpse is so good, we’re getting excited anyway.

Originally published on September 9, 2021.

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The movie M3GAN doesn’t come out for several weeks, but already, the killer robot doll is a star. What can we say, from the moment the first images and trailers dropped, the internet deemed her a meme-worthy icon. And the early buzz on the film suggests it’s actually as fun as the trailers suggest. Now, the folks at Alamo Drafthouse are using M3GAN to urge their patrons to not talk or text during the movie. Because if you don’t, she might take matters into her own hands. No one wants that. We have the exclusive debut of the special Alamo Drafthouse M3GAN “Don’t Talk” PSA right here:

Look, if you talk or text during a movie, you’ve got whatever M3GAN has planned coming to ya. And if she does a little creepy dance after she takes care of business, we’re not going to judge her. There is simply nothing worse about going to movies in this modern era than people talking and texting during the show. They should really just go ahead and make that a crime. And if they don’t, we’re just going to need cute killer robot dolls to enforce the house rules.

Although the movie is not out yet, we already rank M3GAN over most other killer dolls. Annabelle? She just sits there and things happen around her. Just not the same. (Plus, M3GAN has better hair). Talky Tina from The Twilight Zone? She’s the OG evil doll, of course. But M3GAN takes her creepy factor and bumps it up several notches. Chucky of course is still the monarch of all killer dolls. But watch out Charles, we think M3GAN is coming for your crown.

M3GAN is produced by James Wan and Jason Blum, and directed by Gerard Johnstone. It hits theaters on January 6, 2023.

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Henry Cavill has had a tumultuous end to his 2022. First, we heard in a shocking announcement that Cavill would not return as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s hit show The Witcher. This marked the most major recast in recent history. Then it was announced that Cavill would return as DC’s Superman. Cavill made his appearance in a loudly-hinted-at after the credits scene in Black Adam. Now that will not come to pass either. There will, however, be a new Superman movie coming to the DCEU. Henry Cavill and James Gunn took to social media to share their respective Superman news.

Cavill notes that returning as Superman seemed confirmed from his perspective. And so he announced he would once again play the epic role. However, a recent meeting seems to have changed this. It makes sense that things are shifting in DC’s world, but this feels like one evolution no one could have expected.

As Cavill notes, James Gunn and Peter Safran recently took over as co-CEOs of DC Studios. And their charge is to put together a master plan for DC’s cinematic outings. Since Gunn has been dropping hints about the new world he is creating on-screens for DC. Everyone expected that after Black Adam, this plan would include Cavill as Superman, though. But it sounds like the refreshed DCEU will have a brand-new Man of Steel.

But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 15, 2022

Gunn offers, “In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.” However, he makes sure to clarify in a later post that the new Superman movie coming to the DCEU is not an origin story for the hero. But he does go on to say, “But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future.”

Whether that’s placating or promise, we’ll have to wait and see. But ultimately, we feel sad for Cavill, who clearly hoped to return as Superman for a long time. But as he reminds us, we can feel sad for a bit, but must remember Superman goes on. Whoever wears the cape in the future, we can’t wait for the next chapter of the character’s legacy.

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It’s finally time to jump back into the Spider-Verse, and the all-new trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse offered the best look yet at all the multiversal mayhem in store for Miles Morales. Not only will Spider-Gwen and Peter B. Parker be making their return in this latest adventure, but the trailer also showcased a whole pack of Peter Parkers with tons of new variants from across the multiverse. Dan swings into action to break down every last spider-person he could find on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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What if we lived inside The LEGO Movie? A few things would certainly be different. For example, Chris Pratt would be a leading man, Will Arnett would be our favorite Batman, and every part of the world around us would be made of LEGO. Maybe our reality isn’t so different after all. The Brick Wall YouTube channel seems to believe in a world where LEGO Technic pieces can build anything and everything. And that includes items like the washing machine they assemble in the video below. It’s quite a complicated build just to wash six socks, but there’s no denying that it does the job.

The business of washing socks seems like quite the undertaking with this project, which we came across on Laughing Squid. Technic pieces hold and rotate a plastic drum. Mechanisms pour a metal water bottle and detergent into wash to ensure a hands-free operation. It’s even capable of draining the water between cycles.

Removing the excess water proves to be a big obstacle though, as spinning the drum just isn’t enough. Why not try squeezing the socks on a conveyer belt and rollers? When that doesn’t work, there’s yet another overly complicated solution. A device picks up one sock at a time and holds it by the toe. Once it’s loaded up, it spins very quickly and you can see the water streaming right out of the socks. We’re not sure if the minifigure riding a LEGO alligator is a necessary part of the contraption, but we love it. 

Other wacky but effective LEGO automations we’ve seen from The Brick Wall YouTube channel include a pizza making factory and one that makes pancakes. Another interesting washing machine-related story we covered recently is the tiny version from Lay’s that automatically washes your fingertips after eating greasy chips. Clean socks, full bellies, can’t lose! 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Star Trek‘s technological legacy is vast. Kids watching back in the ’60s grew up and invented the cool things they saw in the show. Tablets, video calls, and flip phones are all real-life gadgets inspired by Star Trek tech. Food replicators and medical tricorders are not far off. But did you know that automatic sliding doors belong on that list as well?

Those of us who were not alive yet when the original series came out may have no idea that this technology blew people away at the time. Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has even said it was the least realistic part of the show to him. When he watched as a kid, space travel and warp drive were believable enough. However, doors that knew when you wanted them to open seemed truly too good to be true. Let’s explore a bit about the history of those automatic doors, both in Star Trek and in real life.

When Were Automatic Doors Invented?

An engineer in ancient Greece actually invented the earliest known version of automatic doors nearly 2,000 years ago. It involved fire, pulleys, and a priest. The mechanism was designed to give the illusion that a divine power opened the temple doors. The next automatic door wasn’t around until 1931 but only existed in one restaurant in Connecticut. It swung open and closed to allow waiters back and forth to the kitchen.

Engineers invented the first automatic sliding doors in 1954 and they became commercially available in 1960. But they used a mat on the floor to trigger the doors, which is definitely not the case in Star Trek. They didn’t really catch on until the addition of motion sensor technology in the 1970s, after Star Trek‘s run. In the ’80s and ’90s, infrared technology advanced. Most automatic doors now use that to determine when to open and close.

Their use in popular places like gas stations, grocery stores, and airports increases accessibility. It also removes the need to touch door handles and other surfaces. But because the infrared devices monitor a large space around the doors, they still open even if you’re just walking by. And that’s something that makes the doors in Star Trek smarter still than what we have today.

How Do Doors Work on Star Trek?

There’s some continuity questions about the doors in Star Trek. Some come with a button, others respond to voice commands, and then there’s those that magically know when to open and close. Private quarters have a chime and some sort of voice recognition. Other doors only open when characters actually intend to go through them, something that sets them apart from modern automatic doors. There are many scenes of people loitering near doorways that don’t open. With real-life automatic doors, people walking by, animals, or even a strong breeze can trigger them.

Since the beginning, a distinctive sound has accompanied the doors. It has changed over time but is likely still dubbed rather than the actual on-set audio. The whooshing certainly implies some sort of pneumatic air-powered door. Rumor has it that the original foley is actually the sound of someone pulling paper from an envelope. We do see a few manual doors, like those in Wesley Crusher’s dorm at Starfleet Academy, though characters in universe consider them antiquated relics.

Does Star Trek Use Automatic Doors on Set?

In the original series, a stagehand operated the doors behind the scenes. Wires attached to the doors ran through a series of pulleys. The assistant director triggered a light, the person in charge of the door pulled on the mechanism, and the doors would open. It seems that the same setup was used on The Next Generation, which likely means it was on Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and movies during that time as well. Enjoy the blooper compilation below where mis-timed doors on both shows trigger late, early, or not at all. Just like in our reality, perhaps the on-set doors should come with caution signs.

Much of the publicly available information about the sets of the more recent shows and movies are actually from blooper reels. Chris Pine grappled with a door during at least one of the Star Trek movies. Based on a set tour of Strange New Worlds available to watch on Paramount+, it appears the doors slide open at the push of a button. Since they open automatically in universe, most likely an on-set crew member triggers the door out of frame when Pike and his Enterprise crew need to pass through.

Automatic sliding doors are present from the pilot episode (both of them) of the original series to the finale of Strange New World’s inaugural season (the most recent live-action episode to air). Of all the many questions we have about Star Trek, the most pressing is: when did automatic doors come to the set?

Gene Rodenberry’s Star Trek legacy is many-fold and ever-lasting. Important people were molded by their love of the show. The diverse casting in every series advances civil rights around the world. And then there’s the technology. That something as ubiquitous as automatic sliding doors are now was once a science fiction dream is just one more testament to Star Trek‘s lasting legacy.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. Her text messages arrive to the sound of TNG’s door chime. Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Some films are obviously Christmas movies, like Klaus and Spirited. But that designation is not so clear cut for others. They may be set during the holiday season, and they may even touch upon Christmas themes, but does that mean they truly qualify in the traditional sense? To find out we’re putting those movies on trial and laying out all the evidence for and against them by answering some pertinent questions, just as we did with Die Hard, Gremlins, Edward Scissorhands, Iron Man 3, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. And the latest movie to take the stand in our great Christmas movie debate is doing so in Mother Russia. That’s right, it’s time to ring the holiday bell on Rocky IV.

Members of the jury, ask yourself…

How much of Rocky IV takes place at Christmastime?

The last third of the 91-minute movie, so a pretty significant chunk. However, that’s easy to forget. Following the death of Apollo Creed on August 31, 1985, Rocky agrees to fight Drago on Christmas Day in Moscow. All of his pre-fight training also takes place in Russia, which appears to start shortly after Thanksgiving. The only way we know that general start time is because soon after Rocky and his team arrive in their isolated cabin in the snow, Paulie roasts marshmallows by the fire while listening to “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late).” It’s the only Christmas song in the whole movie.

The only other elements of Christmas found anywhere in the film are decorations at the Balboa home in the US. And we only see them briefly when the film shows Rocky’s son watching the fight. It’s Christmastime, but no one seems to care about that. Especially the parents who both went to another country, leaving their 10-year-old alone for the holiday so he could possibly watch his dad die on live television.

Would Rocky IV be fundamentally different if it were set at any other time of the year?

Not even a little bit. The only thing the Christmas Day fight does is add to the overall absurdity of the movie. Everything Rocky does following the death of Apollo is bonkers. He abdicates his heavyweight title to fight Drago in an unsanctioned bout, a match he doesn’t even tell his wife about. Rocky also agrees to have it take place on Drago’s home turf on a day chosen by the Russians, then trains under the watchful eye of the KGB. The Russians picking Christmas is just the ridiculous icing on this Siberian Cake of silliness. I love it so much.

If you want to give the movie way more credit than it deserves you can say there’s real meaning in the Soviet Union picking Christmas for the bout. They expected Drago to win easily, and what better time to stick it to the greedy capitalists than on their favorite commercialism-loving holiday? Only, Rocky pulls off a miracle and chops the Russian down… so, uh, it’s like the spirit of mankind or something? I don’t know. We’ve already given Rocky IV a lot more depth than it probably even wants.

Do any of the film’s major themes apply to Christmas?

Revenge, “nature vs science,” “East against West,” “man against man,” and perseverance make for a wildly entertaining Cold War boxing movie, but they are definitely not Christmas themes.

The closest the film comes to a holiday idea comes at the end of the film. During the fight the hostile Russian crowd comes to not only respect the American, some begin rooting for him. It’s amazing. And that’s before Rocky caps the whole thing by telling the thousands in attendance (most of them soldiers!), “If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!”

That’s basically Scrooge’s transformation in A Christmas Carol boiled down to 11 words. It’s just Rocky’s way of saying, “Goodwill towards men,” and, “God bless us everyone!” IT COUNTS!

Does watching Rocky IV at Christmastime enhance the experience?

Look, I love this film. I love it like a child loves Santa Claus. But if you watch Rocky IV on Christmas Day you’re as ridiculous as the movie. I mean, who wants to spend the holiday watching Apollo Creed die because his friend couldn’t throw in the damn towel!

Fortunately the other 364 days of the year are perfect times to put it on. Yes, that includes Christmas Eve, but only after the kids go to sleep. You can also listen to the soundtrack, which should have won the 1986 Grammy for Album of the Year, any damn time you please.

Has this film been accepted as a Christmas movie tradition?

It’s more likely the Soviet Union will actually reform, start a second Cold War, pit a giant Russian boxer full of steroids against a beloved Italian-American champion on Christmas, and then have its own soldiers start cheering for the foreigner in Moscow before Rocky IV becomes a Christmas movie tradition.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Rocky IV is mostly a collection of montages interspersed with an absurd plot and lots of punching. It stars an all-time great movie villain and a classic Sylvester Stallone hero at his over-the-top best. It’s one of the most wonderful gifts in the history of cinema. But it’s not a Christmas present. It has to settle for simply being a sports movie that ended the Cold War.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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The goblin shark is one of the strangest animals in the deep ocean, and that’s really saying something. In a dark world of wild wonders, the goblin shark’s long nose really stands out. Unlike what people typically think of as a shark silhouette, its snout extends well beyond its jaws. That is, until the goblin shark snaps up prey. It can extend its jaws forward to grab prey like deep sea fish and squid. The video below from National Geographic shows slow-motion video of goblin sharks gobbling food in this very alien way.

There’s limited information about goblin sharks because they live in the deep sea and don’t interact much with humans. Only recently have scientists managed to filmed them eating and learn more about their behavior. Most of the sightings are sharks 10 to 13 feet long, though they can likely grow to be more than 20 feet. Goblin sharks are referred to as living fossils, with similar species dating as far back as 125 million years. Many other interesting sharks lived during that time, though many lines have since died out and are known only from fossils. 

So what is that giant beak used for? Shark snouts in general have sensors on them, and the goblin shark’s sizeable one is no exception. It helps them sense even weak electric fields of the world around them. Goblin sharks, which we learned about on Boing Boing, aren’t the only strange-looking deep sea shark. But they do have the most remarkable schnozz of any we’ve seen.

Some other remarkable facts we’ve learned about sharks recently include that Greenland sharks live to be more than 500 years old and there’s a glow in the dark shark in New Zealand. Whether or not you have a favorite shark, there’s no denying the goblin shark’s snoot is the most boop-able.  

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Pinocchio co-director/writer Guillermo del Toro sits down with Nerdist’s Adam Murray to discuss his new adaptation, what draws filmmakers to this classic story, working with Gris Grimly, and the challenges of working in the entertainment industry on today’s Nerdist Now!

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Do you dare anger the gods? Players of the God of War video game franchise have confronted that question with each new installment. The first ever God of War debuted in 2005 set in the world of Greek gods. In 2018, though, the game series moved to Norse mythology with a deeper narrative for the powerful god Kratos. And now the award-winning game will make the jump to the screen in a different way. Amazon has ordered a God of War live-action adaptation television series for Prime Video. The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins will be at the helm. We first saw this news at Variety.

This God of War live-action adaptation will pick up from the gorgeous 2018 installment from Sony Santa Monica Studios. Kratos retires to Midgard with his family. His wife dies and Kratos and his son, Atreus, go on a quest to fulfill his wife’s dying wish. It’s quite the adventure, rich with Norse mythology characters and lore. Twists and turns along the way deepen Kratos and Atreus’ bond as the god learns how to best be a father. In short, it’s wonderful material for a live-action TV series. The larger-than-life god fights equally larger-than-life monsters and meets fascinating characters. The duo’s journey continues in the recently released God of War Ragnarök.

The God of War live-action TV series has Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (creators of The Expanse) on board to write. God of War director Cory Barlog will serve as executive producer for the show that is a co-production between Amazon Studios and Sony Picture Television in association with PlayStation Productions. Addtionally, Variety reports Playstation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan and Santa Monica Studio’s Yumi Yang and Vertigo’s Roy Lee as executive producers. Santa Monica Studio’s Jeff Ketcham is co-executive producer.

The Wheel of Time is in its second season (which is expected to air in 2023). Showrunning two epic fantasy television series seems like it would be quite the challenge. As excited as we are for God of War, we hope Judkins is able to execute his vision for The Wheel of Time adaptation.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Editor-in-Chief for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Art of God of War Ragnarök, and more. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Fans of the fae, the time has come. Carnival Row season two is coming to Prime Video soon! The fantasy television series premiered on Prime Video in 2019, and now it’s time to find out what happens next. Prime Video announced on Monday that Carnival Row‘s second and final season will premiere on February 17. The 10-episode season from Legendary Television and Amazon Studios will air weekly. We have a brief teaser that takes us back into the grim, fantastical world of Orlando Bloom’s Philo and Cara Delevingne’s Vignette.

We’ll continue the hunt for answers and maybe peace in season two—whatever counts for peace in this world. That glimpse of Carnival Row season two shows Vignette dropping Philo after a tender kiss. With this series, that could be a literal moment that happens. However, it could also be symbolic of the divide between humans and creatures. Perhaps it’s even both.

It’s certainly not going to be easy. The synopsis for season two is as follows:

In a fantasy world where humans and creatures clash, Season Two of Carnival Row picks up with former inspector Rycroft Philostrate a.k.a. Philo (Orlando Bloom) investigating a series of gruesome murders stoking social tension. Vignette Stonemoss (Cara Delevingne) and the Black Raven plot payback for the unjust oppression inflicted by The Burgue’s human leaders, Jonah Breakspear (Arty Froushan) and Sophie Longerbane (Caroline Ford). Tourmaline (Karla Crome) inherits supernatural powers that threaten her fate and the future of The Row. And, after escaping The Burgue and her vengeful brother Ezra (Andrew Gower), Imogen Spurnrose (Tamzin Merchant) and her partner Agreus Astrayon (David Gyasi) encounter a radical new society which upends their plans. With humans and fae folk divided and freedom on the line, each hero will face impossible dilemmas and soul-defining tests tests in the epic conclusion of Carnival Row.

First-look photos give us even more of a peek into Carnival Row season two.

Click To View Gallery

Originally published November 7, 2022.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Here we go! The countdown to the opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is almost over! The themed land officially opens to the public on February 17, 2023. Which is so soon! Until now, we had only been told “early 2023.” We cannot wait to finally race an IRL version of Mario Kart on one of the best tracks ever, Bowser’s Castle. Who doesn’t want to navigate the land of Koopas, Piranha Plants, and wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom? February 17th can’t come quickly enough!  

The good news, which we saw on GameSpot, also includes more about the interactive elements of the land. You can buy Power-Up Bands to rack up coins and punch Question Mark Blocks. That’s something we’ve never considered doing in real life, but now we can’t wait to make that famous jumping motion and see what we get. Based on the video below, it looks like you can represent Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Daisy, Princess Peach, or Toad. 

The announcement also includes details about food and retail shops. At the Toadstool Cafe, you can sit on a small mushroom under tall mushroom umbrella to chow down on the themed food. If the menu is anything like the Japanese park, we can’t wait to see what the options are. And it’s a sure bet that we’ll be buying merch and gifts at the 1-Up Factory.   

There’s tons of little details that are sure to make a visit to Super Nintendo World fully immersive. You even enter through a Warp Pipe! Character meet and greets include Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. We also spotted Goombas, Thwomps, and Chain Chomps lurking in the preview video above. The Japanese park opened to rave reviews in 2021. Versions in Singapore and Orlando, Florida are also on the way. Let’s-a go!

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She is SO excited to visit Super Nintendo World! Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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The biggest dreamers among us all have spent the past decade casting wishes for a Party Down revival. The dry-witted comedy series got the axe after just two seasons due to generally paltry ratings, critical adoration notwithstanding. In the now 11 years since its cancellation, Party Down’s brainy humor and brawny Guttenberg have attracted more and more attention. Enough attention, in fact, that its original network, Starz, has opted to bring the show back for another season.

Party Down will return to Starz in the form of a six-episode limited series. The original creative team—showrunner John Enbom and his co-producers Rob Thomas, Paul Rudd, and Dan Etheridge—will return for the program. The limited series will premiere on February 24, 2023.

Ken Marino, Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Megan Mullally will reprise their roles. Many of them reunited for a retrospective at the 2019 Vulture Festival. According to a press release, this event inspired the idea to reconvene for a new stretch of episodes. Rob Thomas said, “We had such a good time that we wanted to find a way to get the team back together again.” We owe you big time, Vulture Festival.

The lone original cast member not returning is Lizzy Caplan, who could not make it due to scheduling issues. However, the show has added a handful of new characters. Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Zoë Chao will also star in the series. Meanwhile, James Marsden will recur in a key role, per Deadline. Chao is playing Lucy, a cater waiter and aspiring celebrity chef; Garner is Evie, a producer and Henry’s love interest; and Williams is Sackson, a wannabe influencer. Marsden, meanwhile, plays the lead in a superhero franchise, who we can only assume will throw some sweet parties. And, someone Ron (very likey) aspires to be best friends with.

At present, Party Down‘s exceptional first two seasons are available to watch on Starz and Hulu. Now that we can stop wishing for more Party Down, we have the pleasure of imagining what will happen on the next season of Party Down. And that’s a lot more pleasant; it’s safe to say that we’re having fun yet.

Originally published March 4, 2021.

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Could we have a better word scramble to describe a trailer? I don’t think so. But that is exactly what happens in the trailer for sci-fi thriller 65. Adam Driver’s character adopts a young girl after their space travels go awry. Luckily for them, the planet they land on has drinkable water and a breathable atmosphere… It’s actually Earth. Unluckily for them, this planet is earth 65 million years ago, and it also has dinosaurs. Who may or may not be of an extra-killer variety? When we think about futuristic space travel movies, we don’t often think of adding pre-historic creatures into the mix. But really, why not have dinosaurs running around? And they are just the backdrop to Adam Driver’s journey toward understanding the meaning of family? Sign us up.

Check out the first trailer for 65, right here:

As if all of that weren’t enough, the trailer description for 65 reminds us that this movie comes “from the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Sam Raimi.” So we know that although the premise seems absurd, this movie will likely offer us an amazing adventure. A Quiet Place became a sensation in 2018 and offered us one of the most interesting horror conceits in recent history. And, of course, we know Sam Raimi knows what’s what. Of course, we trust Adam Driver’s acting with our lives. So altogether, 65 has one strong team.

The full synopsis of the movie reveals a little more about its plot and clarifies what we saw already in the 65 trailer.

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive. From the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Sam Raimi comes 65, a sci-fi thriller starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, and Chloe Coleman. Written, directed, and produced by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods – the film is also produced by Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling and Zainab Azizi.

Space travel and time travel do go hand in hand. The further you get out into space from a point, the more differently you experience time as compared to your original location. We’re not sure how Adam Driver achieves time travel at one point in time and space in 65. But, hey, we’re game to find out. And to watch him take on the dinos. And to watch him become a good dad. Basically, we feel ready for this move.

65 releases in theaters on March 10.

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It feels like Scream 5 (or, as they prefer to call it, just Scream), just came out. But here we are, about to get a follow-up sixth film in 2023, just one year later. And now we have our very first trailer for Scream 6 (Scream VI). Ghostface is back to terrorize once again, but this time, they are out for blood in the big city. The only thing more terrifying than Ghostface masks on an empty subway is Ghostface masks on a full one. If you’ve ever been on one, you know there is literally nowhere to run. And that’s what our favorite new gang of heroes quickly find out. You can watch the new trailer right here:

As always, who is under the mask and wielding the knife is a big mystery. Will they be related to a previous killer? A previous victim? Or is this just going to be a fanboy/fangirl thing? Although, they kind of did that in the last movie. We don’t think they’ll repeat themselves. The bigger question the Scream 6 trailer poses is where in NYC can one change into a Ghostface outfit in private? It’s true no one would even blink if someone wearing the mask fled down the steps… But getting access to a public toilet is nearly impossible.

In this latest installment, the description for the Scream 6 trailer shares, our survivors of the most recent Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start. (And really, we can’t blame them, we wouldn’t want to stay there either). Neve Campbell/Sidney Prescott will not be around this time. However, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (currently ruling as Wednesday Addams), will return as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding also return as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin from the previous film.

Although we are absent one Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox is bringing the infamous Gale Weathers back, although just how much she’s going to be in it is a mystery. We don’t yet see her in the Scream 6 trailer. And, in perhaps the biggest delight for fans, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back Kirby from the fourth film for Scream 6. Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to direct Scream 6, with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the script. And, hopefully, we could even see Scream 7 going into production right on the heels of part six. For now, we can’t wait to learn more about Scream 6 and the big city mysteries it holds.

Scream 6 will release on March 10, 2023.

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Welcome back, Rick and Morty fans! The season six finale is here, and Dan’s breaking down all the shocking reveals, easter eggs, and everything else you might have missed in Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation on today’s Nerdist News!

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Wonder Woman 3, at least with Patty Jenkins at the helm, will not be happening at Warner Bros. after all. The news comes from a report in The Hollywood Reporter, that claims that the script by Jenkins and Geoff Johns did not line up with whatever new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran have in store for their new DC shared universe. Whether Gal Gadot continues on as the Amazing Amazon remains a question mark. Gunn and Safran might want to give the DCU a total makeover, and recast all the original Snyderverse characters.

2017’s Wonder Woman hit big, both critically and at the box office. However, the 2020 follow-up Wonder Woman 1984 did not receive as much love from fans and critics. It debuted in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time, at the height of the pandemic, which killed its box office prospects (it did receive high viewership on the streaming service, however). Warner Bros. still wanted Jenkins to return for a third film, but it didn’t work out. Patty Jenkins shared some insight into Wonder Woman 3 in a tweet on December 13.

Jenkins states she didn’t kill the movie or walk away. She says she was open to considering anything DC Comics asked of her, but she understands there was nothing she could do to move it forward at this time. Jenkins goes on to wish the future of Wonder Woman at DC well and thank Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot.

The original report from The Hollywood Reporter suggests that Henry Cavill might not return as Superman after all, despite his recent comeback. It even goes so far as to suggest that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might be the end of the road for Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry. Which seems wild, as the first Aquaman made a billion dollars at the box office. Whatever new universe Gunn and Safran cook up creatively, here’s hoping that Gadot, Cavill, and Momoa all stick around. Why throw the super babies out with the bathwater? Especially as they’re so identified with those characters now? We expect this story to take many turns before DC Studios unveils its multi-year plan next year.

Originally published December 7, 2022.

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For a while now, the theatrical future of Star Wars has remained unclear. We have live-action TV series on Disney+, but as far as what’s coming to the big screen, it’s hazy. Lucasfilm has announced a few potential films, but none of them are a lock. That includes Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron. The movie doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s still in active development. Here’s everything we know about Rogue Squadron so far.

Title

This Star Wars film is called Rogue Squadron.

Rogue Squadron‘s Plot

We know very little about the plot of Rogue Squadron so far. But one sneaky detail did make it into StarWars.com’s writeup about the film. “The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy.” Future era, you say? It seems likely, then, that the film is set after The Rise of Skywalker.

In an interview with IGN, Jenkins revealed that the film will be influenced by the 1998 video game series and Legends books. But it will ultimately tell its own story.

Behind the Scenes

Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins will direct Rogue Squadron. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced the exciting news at a Disney shareholders event in 2020. Jenkins’ involvement is also a personal one. Her decision to make the leap to the galaxy far, far away has ties to her father. Here’s Jenkins’ full statement, straight from StarWars.com:

It’s been a lifelong dream as a filmmaker to one day make a great fighter pilot film. As the daughter of a great fighter pilot myself, some of the best memories of my life are of seeing my father’s squadron take off in their F4s every morning, and hearing and feeling the awe-inspiring power and grace. When he passed away in service to this country it ignited a burning desire to one day channel all of those emotions into one great film. When the perfect story arrived in combination with another true love of mine, the incomparable world of Star Wars, I knew I’d finally found my next film. I’m extremely honored and excited to take it on, and grateful to Lucasfilm, Disney, and the fans for extending that thrill to me.

Rogue Squadron’s Cast

No casting announcements have been made so far.

Rogue Squadron‘s Release Date

Rogue Squadron was removed from the release calendar; it was originally slated for December 2023.. As of December 13, 2022, Jenkins confirmed the movie is still in active development but doesn’t know if the movie will happen.

Originally published on December 11, 2020.

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Engineer and YouTube star Jake Laser scaled a 400-foot-tall building in his homemade Spider-Man suit. On top of that, he also managed to beat a real Spider-Man to the top. David Elson, the stunt double for Tom Holland, also completed the feat of strength and engineering in the end, but was a few minutes behind Laser. A Marvel stunt team including Martin De Boer, Benedict Cumberbatch’s stunt double and the stunt coordinator for Avengers: Endgame, oversaw the race. It’s a real-life action sequence.

Laser’s video of the Spider-Man suit build includes more details about the suction cups and air pumps involved in his Spidey suit. He did scale a smaller building back then, but he wasn’t racing the clock or anyone else. This time around, the stunt left him exhausted and slightly burned. The suit needs some repairs before it can leap back into action.

The JLaservideo YouTube channel also shows off his other Spider-Man suit that shrinks to fit the user. He’s even constructed functional Doc Ock arms. There’s other wild builds inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well, like Shuri’s silent sneakers from Black Panther and a version of Thor’s hammer that shoots lightning. Most recently, he built an Iron Man suit that flies to him on command.

Laser doesn’t necessarily make the whole endeavor look easy, but the stunt was undoubtedly even more taxing than it looked. And based on the video above, it looks like he will have to do the climb at least one more time. MrBeast, one of the most popular YouTubers, originally challenged him to complete the race but then things fell through. Members of his team didn’t make it more than a few stories up the building before tapping out. Now it’s back on in a rematch.  

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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There’s nothing better than meeting up with thousands of people who love the same things as you do and celebrating your fandom together. Pokémon enthusiasts in Singapore recently got to do just. A light show made up of hundreds of drones lit up the night sky with Pikachu, Corsola, and others. The video below starts off with a Poké Ball and covers a bunch of cute Pikachu images. It all takes place high above the already stunning downtown Singapore.

Unlike a firework show, drone light shows don’t come with booms. This one doesn’t seem to have any music so the only noise is that coming from the appreciate crowd. The gasps and cheers are taking place atop the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel. Also known as the super swanky rooftop bar seen at the end of Crazy Rich Asians. It’s a breathtaking view even on a bad day. It’s definitely the perfect spot to overlook the drone show twinkling above the beautiful Marina Bay and city lights.  

The show was made up of a reported 500 drones and was part of a Pikachu Week celebration in Singapore. It also marked the sixth anniversary of the popular game Pokémon GO. It’s not the first Pokémon drone light show we’ve seen. The emerging tech also led to a Pikachu versus Charizard battle over Dallas earlier this year.  

Beloved Pokémon characters aren’t the only ones getting the drone light show treatment. A baseball game in Oakland, California hosted a Star Wars one featuring R2-D2, dueling lightsabers, and more, all set to music from the franchise. Paramount put a show on in Sydney, Australia featuring images from Star Trek, Top Gun, Paw Patrol, and more. We’ve even heard about personal shows people put on, like this Halloween one featuring Ghostbusters and Stranger Things. 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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The Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer is chock-full of cameos from arachnid heroes from across the multiverse. Spider-Man 2099 joins Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy this time, as does Spider-Woman and Spider-Punk, who you can see in the production art below. But who else did we spot in the new trailer? Quite a few. Here are just some of the Spider-Man variants and variations that stuck out to us in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer.

The PS4 Spider-Man Variant Joins the Spider-Verse

We saw the distinctive red, white, and blue Spider-Man costume from the Insomniac PS4 game in the trailer, making the game a canonical part of the Spider-Verse. It’s not just the MCU where “it’s all connected” these days. Our own spidey-sense told us this very popular variant of Peter Parker would show up, and it seems we were not wrong.

Spider-Cop, at your service

At first, we thought he was a gag made just for the movie; a “Spider-Cop” directing traffic in the multiversal hub. But no, there was a Spider-Cop in the comics once. Not that long ago, in fact. The NYPD’s Spider-Cop debuted in 2018’s Spider-Geddon #4 and 5.

The Amazing Spider-Clones

There have been several notable “Spider-Clones” over the years. The most famous of these was Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider. But there wasn’t just him. There was Kaine, Ultimate Spider-Woman, and the Spider-Girl who was April Parker, yet another Peter clone. The last two with their Y chromosome taken out, of course. We see what appears to be all of these genetic copies in the trailer.

Spider-Man Unlimited‘s Distinctive Spidey Costume Appears

Although not as beloved as the 1994-97 Spider-Man: The Animated Series, the follow-up cartoon, 1999’s Spider-Man: Unlimited, does have its fans. It’s a weird show, where Peter Parker wore a nanotech suit designed by Reed Richards, and had adventures on the High Evolutionary’s Counter-Earth, populated by human/animal hybrids (and which will appear in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3). The show was very short-lived, but we spotted the distinctive costume swinging around in the trailer. We can’t wait to see more of this new Spider-Man variant in Across the Spider-Verse.

Flash Thompson, Spider-Jock.

The beefy Spidey we saw walking around in the letterman’s jacket? We’re pretty sure he’s a nod to “Captain Spider,” a version of Spider-Man who was Peter’s high school tormentor, Flash Thompson. He first appeared in What if? #7, way back in 1977.

Spider-Girl (May “Mayday” Parker) Joins the Spider-Verse World

In the MC2 universe, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson married and had a daughter. Young May “Mayday” Parker inherited her dad’s powers and embarked on a heroic career as the amazing Spider-Girl. We’re pretty sure we saw someone wearing her signature web shooters and costume in the trailer. We definitely saw Peter B. Parker with a baby (art below), which confirms is the infant version of Mayday. It seems we might get two versions of Peter’s ginger kiddo. But, hey, two Across the Spider-Verse baby Spider-Man variants? Sign us up.

Lady Spider Is One of the Spider-People in the Trailer

Hailing from Earth-803, Maybelle Reilly (a young version of Peter’s Aunt May) is a kind of steampunk arachnid hero Spider-Man variant. She doesn’t have spider-powers, but instead built web-shooters and mechanical spider arms in a perpetual Industrial Revolution-style world. She debuted in the first issue of the Spider-Verse comic series back in 2014 and became a member of the Web Warriors. Given the Spider-Man films’ tendencies to age Aunt May younger and younger, having Lady Spider pop up as a new variant in Across the Spider-Verse makes sense.

Superior Spider-Man a.k.a the Doc Ock Variant Joins Spider-Verse

Although we only see a glimpse of his costume, we spotted the unmistakable color scheme of the Superior Spider-Man. For a year or so, Peter Parker’s old foe, Doc Ock, took control of his body. But when Dr. Octopus had access to his mind, he gained access to his memories. Changed by the knowledge of Peter’s heroism, he became the Superior Spider-Man. He was still a total jerk, though.

Spinneret and Spiderling Are a Spider-Family in Spider-Verse

In yet another universe from the pages of Marvel Comics, Peter and MJ married and had a different child. But this version of Mary Jane had spider-powers, gained through a suit that siphoned some of her husband’s abilities, and she went by the name Spinneret. Her daughter, Anna May “Annie” Parker, inherited her parent’s powers and became Spiderling. You can clearly see these two Spider-Man variants walking together in the new Across the Spider-Verse trailer.

’90s Silver Armor Spider-Man Variant Briefly Appears

In the early ’90s, everyone in comics had a moment where they needed armor. Even Superman, for some reason. Keeping with the trends of the day, Spidey had a suit of silver and black armor, that although short-lived, lived on as many an action figure. We’re pretty sure we saw ’90s armored Spidey in the mix as one of the new Across the Spider-Verse Spider-People.

Mangaverse Spider-Man Joins the Spider-Verse Variants

In the early 2000s, Marvel created manga versions of their iconic heroes, Naturally, one was “manga Spider-Man.” This version of Peter Parker, hailing from Earth-2301, was a member of the ninja warriors known as the Spider Clan. His Sensei, Ben Parker, trained him in their ways. He became the last member of the Spider Clan after Venom kills Ben under orders from the Kingpin. We spotted the Mangaverse Spider-Man variant walking alone in the Spider-Verse trailer.

2003 Animated Series Spider-Man Gets New Life

Another often dismissed Spidey came from the 2003 MTV Spider-Man animated series. Many folks have probably forgotten about this Spider-Man cartoon. His costume is pretty classic, so it’s hard to tell him apart from the classic Spider-Man look. But the physicality of one of the Spider-People we saw in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer suggests to us it’s that very same Peter Parker variant.

Flipside Is Spider-Man 2099’s Foe

Flipside was an android who could mimic the powers of anyone it came in contact with (kind of like DC Comics’ Amazo). In the future, he copied Spider-Man 2099’s powers and became a thorn in his side. We’re pretty sure we saw him wandering around in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer. And with Spider-Man 2099 playing a big role in the movie, we’re even more convinced Flipside will appear.

The Spidey Who Howls at the Moon

Yes, Peter Parker has more than one animal inside him. That’s a werewolf version of Spider-Man we see among the others. This furry and fanged Spidey hails from the Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness comics. We don’t think Ash will fight him in the movie though. Just a guess.

Spider-Man MK II “Bulletproof” Armor Variant Exists in the Spider-Verse

Back in 2011, Peter Parker lost his spider-sense, which is what enabled him to dodge bullets the way he does. So he concocted a black and gold “bulletproof” armor, similar to Tony Stark’s. Although the technical name for it was the Spider-Armor MK II. We see a new Spider-Man variant wearing that very armor in the Spider-Verse trailer, sitting down and chillin’ with another Spidey.

Anya Corazón (Spider-Girl, Araña) Is One of Spider-Verse’s New Spider-People

Going by the names Araña (Spanish for spider) and Spider-Girl both, Anya Corazón was a Mexican Puerto Rican teen living in New York, who got spider powers when a group called the Spider Society performed a ritual on her. This happened when the Society gave Anya a mystical spider tattoo. She’s been a fairly regular part of the Spider-family ever since, and one can see her distinctive black and white costume in the trailer. We’re really excited to see this one of Spider-Man’s variants come to life in the Spider-Verse.

The Bombastic Bagman Is Our Favorite New Spider-Verse Variant

“The Bombastic Bagman” was the name Peter Parker jokingly took when his costume was damaged. So as to not swing around New York City naked, he borrowed a Fantastic Four costume from their HQ and put a brown paper bag over his head. Sadly, Sony does not have the rights to the Fantastic Four, so they obscured the FF logo on Bagman’s chest. But we love that this Spider-Man variant made the Spider-Verse cut anyway.

Earth X Spider-Man Creator Hints at Spider-Verse Variant

Earth-X was another multiversal comics story from the 2000s, that saw a version of Peter Parker that retired after a series of tragedies. Could the familiar-feeling Spider-Man variant we saw in the trailer be the one from Alex Ross’ series? Alex Ross seems to think so.

Spider-Man: India‘s Spidey Variant Arrives in Style

Another Spidey from the comics who got a total redesign for Across the Spider-Verse is the Spider-Man from India. Pavitr Prabhakar definitely got a costume upgrade, as seen in this production art. We dig it.

Of course, we expect many more surprise Across the Spider-Verse Spider-people before it’s all said and done. Maybe we could even see Tom, Tobey, and Andrew variants appear in the Spider-Verse? As long as the ’70s Japanese Spider-Man shows up, we’ll be happy.

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse blew everyone away in 2018, introducing mainstream audiences to Spider-Man Miles Morales, as well as a host of multiversal variants of everyone’s favorite wall-crawler. The film was a hit at the box office, and won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Now, after several delays, the first of two sequels is finally hitting theaters next year, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A third film, Beyond the Spider-Verse, arrives in 2024. Here is everything we know about the first, long-awaited continuation of Miles Morales’ adventures across the multiverse.

Title

The title for the first sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s Plot

In this movie, Miles Morales will reunite with his friends Spider-Gwen and Peter B. Parker, and also team up with Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Punk, and the original Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew. Whatever multi-dimensional shenanigans the story entails will see multiple animation styles at play. The villain is an often mocked villain from the comics, called the Spot. But for the film, they have given the Spot a power upgrade. Now he has abilities that allow for him to create portals to other realms of the multiverse. Early toy reveals for also show that Ben Reilly, the so-called “Spider-Clone” from the ’90s, as well as a Cyborg Spider-Woman also feature in the plot.

Of course, we will also see many new Spider-Man variants in Across the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Cast

Across the Spider-Verse will see many returning cast members from the first film, like Shameik Moore (Miles Morales), Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacy), Jake Johnson (Peter B. Parker), Oscar Isaac (Spider-Man 2099), Brian Tyree Henry (Jefferson Davis), Luna Lauren Vélez (Rio Morales), Issa Rae (Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman), Jason Schwartzman (the Spot), and Daniel Kaluuya (Spider-Punk). Shea Whigham is also part of the cast, as police captain George Stacy, Gwen’s father. Jorma Taccone plays the Vulture, as a secondary villain.

There’s no official word yet if we’ll see cameos from some characters from Into the Spider-Verse not officially listed in the cast for the sequel. As far as the official cast listing, there’s no indication that Spider-Man Noir or Peter Porker will appear again. But it would not surprise us to see some of them. It would also not shock us to see and hear animated versions of the live-action Spider-Mans like Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire, although none of them are confirmed.

Behind-the-Scenes

Across the Spider-Verse is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, in their feature directorial debuts. The script comes from the original film’s writing team of Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and David Callaham. Like the first film, this one is a Sony Pictures Animation production, and Marvel Studios had no involvement.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Release Date

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2, 2023. 

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The reach of the High Table is vast in the John Wick universe. The Continental and its sister organizations connect countless hired guns from around the globe in a complex and sprawling underground criminal world of rules and customs. And while we might most often experience it through the eyes of John Wick, each time he takes to the streets, he affects the lives of so many others.

Now, Lionsgate is going to tell one of their tales with Ballerina, a big-screen John Wick spin-off. The spin-off will focus on a ballet dancer who also wants vengeance for the loved ones taken from her. And, officially, Ana de Armas will star in the upcoming Ballerina movie. And most recently, it was announced that The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus would join the John Wick movie. We have our fingers crossed hard for a scene between him and Keanu Reeves, should he appear.

Catalina Sandino Moreno will also star opposite of de Armas. On top of this, Ian McShane will reprise his John Wick 4 role as Winston, the manager of The Continental Hotel, in the Ballerina movie. And, in an extremely exciting piece of news, Deadline reports that Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to appear in Ballerina as John Wick himself. Anjelica Huston will officially reprise her role as The Director in the John Wick movie as well. And she’ll will be joined by Lance Reddick, who returns as Charon, one of the concierges at the Continental Hotel.

The film has also now begun production. Lionsgate has tapped Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard) to direct Ballerina. According to franchise star Keanu Reeves, Ballerina takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and the upcoming Chapter 4. The John Wick film will focus “on a young female assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family,” and is based on a character we briefly saw in the third John Wick film. It’s not clear who that is, but as Deadline notes, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum lists Unity Phelan in the role credits as “Ballerina.” Phelan is a trained New York City ballet dancer who was seen performing for Angelica Huston’s Director, but we don’t know for certain if Phelan will return alongside Armas, Huston, and McShane in any capacity.

Aside from the possible appearance of Keanu Reeves as John Wick, Huston was always the character most likely to crossover. As the head of the Ruska Roma in New York City, a collection of orphans who she trained both as dancers and assassins, she was punished for helping the excommunicated John Wick get safe passage to Casablanca. Not only did she get stabbed through both hands by Zero after the Adjudicator’s ruling, but many of her men died during the attack on her theater. Whether through blood or adoption, those slain men could be the family the ballerina wants to avenge. Shay Hatten, who also penned John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, will write the script for Ballerina. Additionally, Promising Young Woman’s Emerald Fennell has come aboard to help write the movie’s script.

Unlike the John Wick prequel TV series The Continental, which is currently in development, Ballerina would have an even stronger connection to the franchise. It would not only have a direct line story-wise to the main films, but it would also expand the number of associations who are ready to wage war on the High Table. John Wick 3 ended with Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King also getting ready to rise up against the all-powerful leading body. If more groups join them and John Wick, there might be no way for the High Table to dance their way out of this battle. Ballerina will release on March 23, 2023.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike, and also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

Originally published December 5, 2022.

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The second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise isn’t the only new entry into Dune‘s world coming our way.  Warner Media, together with Legendary Television, is creating a tie-in series titled Dune: The Sisterhood. The show will serve as a prequel to the films and focus on the Harkonnen Sisters as they create the mysterious order of the Bene Gesserit. Villeneuve will even serve as an executive producer.

Here’s everything we know about Dune: The Sisterhood so far.

Title

The title for this Dune series is Dune: The Sisterhood.

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Plot

We do not have too many specifics about Dune: The Sisterhood‘s plot. But, as mentioned, we do know it will serve as a prequel to the story taking place in Dune and Dune 2. A logline for the show reveals more about what we can expect:

Set within the mystical world of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

The series synopsis for Dune: The Sisterhood feels appropriately mysterious for a show about the founding of the Bene Gesserit.

Behind the Scenes

To help cement the connection between the series and movies, Denis Villeneuve will serve as an executive producer on Dune: The Sisterhood. Meanwhile, Alison Schapker will be the showrunner and an executive producer of the series. Schapker previously worked as an executive producer on Westworld. She also had a hand in Netflix’s Altered Carbon and other series like Fringe, Lost, and Almost Human.

Additionally, Warner Media shares that “Diane Ademu-John serves as creator, writer, and executive producer. Emmy Award-winner Johan Renck will direct the premiere episode and executive produce.”

Finally, according to a release:

Academy Award-nominated writer Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Mark Friedman and Matthew King will executive produce with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson will co-produce. The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that released its first installment to critical acclaim in October 2021 and garnered six Academy Awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Cast

So far, we’ve seen quite a few exciting casting announcements for Dune: The Sisterhood.

Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson will act as leads in the show. Watson will play the role of Valya Harkonnen. Meanwhile, Henderson will play Tula Harkonnen. Deadline notes that these are “the formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.”

Additionally, Indira Varma will feature on Dune: The Sisterhood as well. The Obi-Wan Kenobi, Game of Thrones, and Carnival Row actress will play Empress Natalya. The character is described as “a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino.”

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea also joined the cast, per Deadline. The publication reveals more about these new characters, noting:

Boussnina plays Princess Ynez, an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne.

Brune-Franklin portrays Mikaela, a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she’s never known.

Cunningham is Sister Jen, a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core.

Hinds plays Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood.

Lea portrays Lila, the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years.

Vikings‘ Travis Fimmel will also be a part of the Dune: The Sisterhood cast. Fimmel will play Desmond Hart. Hart’s description reveals more about him. It notes he is “a charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past, who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust at the expense of the Sisterhood.”

The show also recently cast a trio of actors which includes Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason. Here’s who they will play:

Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino, a man from a great line of war-time Emperors, who is called upon to govern the Imperium and manage a fragile peace.

Jade Anouka plays Sister Theodosia, a talented and ambitious acolyte at the Sisterhood who harbors a dangerous secret about her past.

Chris Mason plays Keiran Atreides, a Swordmaster to a Great House whose ambition to live up to his family name is disrupted when he forms an unexpected connection to a member of the royal family. 

Finally, the most recent additions to the cast include Josh Heuston and Edward Davis, who join in recurring roles. Here are the descriptions of their characters.

Hueston will play Constantine, according to Deadline, “is the illegitimate son of the Emperor (Strong). His character is described as being ‘torn between seeking his father’s approval and his own happiness.'”

Meanwhile, Davis will play Harrow Harkonnen, who is a “rising politician from a once-great family, who harbors a strong desire to elevate his House to its former glory.

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Release Date

Dune: The Sisterhood does not yet have a release date. However, production has officially begun.

We can’t wait to hear more about this Dune show as it continues to come to life.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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The wildly popular board game Gloomhaven had elements of a role-playing game from the start. Its choose your own adventure style and massive worldbuilding leads to intricate characters, epic quests, and grand battles. Now it’s officially getting an RPG version. Gloomhaven: The Role Playing Game is getting its own crowdfunding campaign starting in April 2023. If it’s anything like the original game or its sequel, Frosthaven, it’s likely to raise millions. If you’re ready to step into the role of Gloom Master and start a new epic journey, here’s your chance to get in on the ground floor. 

Cephalofair shared the news that the RPG will launch on crowdfunding platform Backerkit. The game will continue using cards instead of dice, rewarding player ingenuity rather than relying on luck. According to the game’s designer Isaac Childres:  

…this isn’t just the board game with a GM. First of all, we’ve opened up the playing field to allow for any class and ancestry combination. You can be an Inox Spellweaver, an Orchid Cragheart, or anything else… And this newly developed system integrates card management into the role-playing experience. That’s right, we’ve added a third skill check action to these cards, which lets you perform great feats out of combat, but also opens up a new dimension in combat, letting you swing from chandeliers, kick through walls, or even convince the bad guys to stop fighting.

For those who have already spent countless hours playing Gloomhaven games, there’s yet another way to update the experience. A second crowdfunding campaign will also launch in April 2023. This one is for a line of miniatures that can be used in the role-playing game or any of the other titles, replacing cardboard pieces in the board games. There are more than 500 figures in all and they work with the original board game and its sequel and multiple spinoffs. 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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Marvel Comics may rule when it comes to their assortment of superheroes (at least, in some folks’ opinions. We know, it’s all subjective). But what is almost certainly not up for debate for most people is who has the best villains. And the answer is almost always DC. Heck, just for the villains of Gotham City alone! But figure in all the other DC Rogues Galleries? It’s nearly unbeatable. But not every hero, or hero team, has the same level of villainy to fight against. Here are our top ten choices for the best DC Comics’ rogues galleries, from least to most impressive.

10. Shazam

Once upon a time, Shazam (or Captain Marvel, as he was called then), was so popular he even outsold Superman. And at his 1940s peak, he had a lot of bizarre and imaginative villains. Characters like the intelligent worm from Venus, Mister Mind, and his Monster Society of Evil, or the evil giant robot Mister Atom. Many of those villains were very era-specific. These days, the only ones still around much are Sivana, Sabbac, and Black Adam (who, somehow, got his own movie recently). Still, Shazam has more memorable villains than Aquaman, who pretty much has only two that people remember. So Billy Batson’s baddies made the cut for tenth place.

Notable villains: Doctor Sivana, Black Adam, Mister Mind, Ibac, the Monster Society of Evil, Mister Atom, Sabbac, Captain Nazi.

9. Wonder Woman

Much like Marvel’s Iron Man, Wonder Woman is a fantastic character with only a handful of iconic adversaries. Her main classic villains, Ares, the Cheetah, and the witch Circe, are all indeed great. But many of her other enemies don’t seem worthy of the Amazon princess. Silver Swan and Doctor Psycho are ok, and Doctor Poison always had potential. Yet, almost all of them seem too easy to defeat for an Amazon goddess. Newly created adversaries who could give her a run for her money are often discarded after just one storyline by the next creative team. And it’s a true shame, because Diana herself rocks. She deserves so much more.

Notable villains: Cheetah, Ares, Circe, Paula von Gunther, the Silver Swan, Doctor Psycho, Medusa, Veronica Cale, Angle Man, Giganta, Maxwell Lord, and Hercules.

8. The Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America was DC’s first super team, and their villains had to be pretty hardcore to take on so many of America’s best “mystery men.” In the 1940s, the JSA faced off against quirky bad guys like Rag Doll, Solomon Grundy, and the intelligent ape the Ultra-Humanite (DC loves its intelligent apes). Not to mention, many random Nazis during World War II. In the modern era, they faced off against criminal kingpin Roulette, and the mental powers of the Psycho Pirate. They also upgraded C-list villains from random DC titles like Eclipso and Kobra into truly worthwhile adversaries.

Notable villains: The Ultra-Humanite, Vandal Savage, Solomon Grundy, Rag Doll, the Shade, Roulette, Kobra, Eclipso, The Injustice Society of the World, the Axis Powers.

7. The Legion of Super-Heroes

The super teens of the 30th century were one of DC Comics’ earliest superhero teams, and were a cult favorite for decades. The LSH faced super villains and super villain teams from across the cosmos, many of which had to be pretty formidable to take on a super team that often had at least 20 members. Both Suberboy and Supergirl were on the roster. But the best recurring Legion villains often were worthy of their adversaries, and included a demigod that controlled time and space, and even a future version of Darkseid himself. Not too shabby.

Notable villains: The Fatal Five, the Time Trapper, the Legion of Super-Villains, Universo, Mordru, Computo, Darkseid (future version), Starfinger, the Dominators, the Khund Empire.

6. The Teen Titans

In their original ‘60s incarnation, the Teen Titans had mostly forgettable villains. But when their ‘80s reboot as the New Teen Titans became a big success, they suddenly fought bad guys worth their salt. We’re talking about characters like the interdimensional demon Trigon, and the alien Blackfire. (Both characters were related to members of the Titans). But when you also factor in the mercenary Deathstroke, suddenly the team’s baddies feel like they’re on a whole other level. In recent years, they have elevated the Titans villains thanks to media exposure on the animated Teen Titans series, and the more recent Titans live-action show.

Notable villains: Deathstroke the Terminator, Terra, Trigon, Brother Blood, Blackfire, the Fearsome Five, the Brotherhood of Evil, Cheshire, the H.I.V.E., Superboy-Prime.

5. Green Lantern

For much of his first few decades, the Green Lantern had only a few notable villains to his name. Characters like the yellow-ringed Sinestro, G.L. Hal Jordan’s love interest/enemy Star Sapphire, and the magnetically powered Doctor Polaris. Since the ‘90s, however, GL’s enemies have grown more formidable, and have added characters like the Red Lantern Atrocitus, the Orange Lantern Larfleeze, and the fear parasite entity called Parallax (which once famously possessed Hal Jordan). Now, Green Lantern’s villains are worthy of inclusion when it comes to DC’s best villain collectives.

Notable villains: Sinestro, Black Hand, Star Sapphire, Goldface, Doctor Polaris, Hector Hammond, Sonar, the Manhunters, Krona, Effigy, Fatality, Nekron, Parallax, Atrocitus (Red Lantern), Larfleeze (Orange Lantern).

4. The Justice League

The World’s Greatest Superheroes need the World’s Greatest Supervillains to fight against. And luckily for DC readers, the Justice League has had quite the assortment of those to battle. From alien conquerors like Darkseid and Despero, to “anti-Leagues” like the Injustice League/Legion of Doom, their villains go hard. They even fought a giant alien starfish. The foes the League faces are usually the worst the galaxy has to offer. They even have evil versions of themselves to fight against, such as Earth-3’s Crime Syndicate, and an android with all of their powers. The League requires top-notch baddies, since it takes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and several others combined to stop them.

Notable villains: Darkseid, Despero, Starro, the White Martians, the Injustice League (a.k.a. the Secret Society of Super-Villains/the Legion of Doom), Doctor Light, the Crime Syndicate of America, the Key, the Royal Flush Gang, Felix Faust, Amazo, Prometheus.

3. Superman

Folks love to parrot the idea that Superman only has one or two “good” villains, Lex Luthor and General Zod. Well, those who say that are only people who know the movies and TV shows. Kal-El’s enemies in the comics are actually pretty darn great. We’re talking about a rogues gallery that includes the malevolent alien A.I. Brainiac, and Superman’s own distorted doppelgänger, Bizarro. Add in the killing machine Doomsday, the kryptonite-powered Metallo, the reality-altering imp Mr. Mxyzptlk, and the Man of Steel has one of the superhero genre’s best assortment of bad guys around. It’s just unfortunate that Hollywood hasn’t recognized there are more than two great Superman enemies to use.

Notable villains: Lex Luthor, Brainiac, General Zod and the Phantom Zone criminals, Bizarro, Doomsday, Cyborg Superman, the Eradicator, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Silver Banshee, Metallo, the Parasite, Mongul, Titano, the Toyman.

2. The Flash

The Scarlet Speedster’s villains, collectively known as “the Rogues,” have a strong similarity to Spider-Man’s adversaries at Marvel Comics. Most of them, like Captain Cold or Heat Wave, are blue-collar criminals. Some are DIY scientists who happen to have a high-tech gimmick to use in their criminal activity. But what makes them different from Spidey’s bad guys is that they have a sort of mutual respect society with their super fast enemy. That makes them all almost frenemies of a sort. Add the Rogues to the manipulative evil of the Reverse Flash, and a brilliant ape in Grodd, and you’ve got DC’s second-best rogues gallery of all.

Notable villains: Reverse-Flash, Mirror Master, Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Trickster, the Top, Golden Glider, Zoom, Gorilla Grodd, Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard, Killer Frost, Abra Kadabra, the Thinker, Cobalt Blue, Savitar, Doctor Alchemy, Pied Piper, the Black Flash, Cicada, Godspeed.

1. Batman

C’mon, who else was going to be at the top of the list? Batman has not only the greatest villains in DC Comics, but also all of comics in general. (Actually, in all of pop culture). Between live-action TV, animation, feature films, and video games, the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery is a smorgasbord of visually memorable and psychologically fascinating criminal minds. Since 1939, Batman’s villains have been the best of the best (or is that the worst of the worst?) Even when listing his most famous enemies, we’re still leaving some big names off the table. That’s how great they Batman’s villains really are. They are truly in a class all their own.

Notable villains: The Joker, the Penguin, Ridder, Catwoman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Hugo Strange, Poison Ivy, Deadshot, Firefly, Mister Freeze, Man-Bat, Clayface, Bane, Scarface, the Mad Hatter, Hush, Black Mask, Court of Owls, Carmine Falcone.

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