From one M.K. to another, Moon Knight‘s head writer Jeremy Slater will soon pen Mortal Kombat 2. In news we first saw on Deadline, we learned that New Line will move ahead with a sequel to their gaming blockbuster. Simon McQuoid will also return as director, per the publication.

Mortal Kombat released in 2021, to the delight of the game’s many fans. Of course, no movie adaptation will please everyone. But the world of Mortal Kombat is rich and beloved. And a sequel can continue to explore that in film form. And hopefully, whatever lessons the first Mortal Kombat film learned, Mortal Kombat 2 can improve upon.

The first movie featured a blend of new and familiar characters. And likely, a sequel will follow the same format and introduce new characters for the audiences to meet. But a sequel will probably make sure to continue to add in Mortal Kombat franchise Easter eggs for die-hard fans.

We don’t yet know what story Mortal Kombat 2 will tell. Or who it will spotlight. But last we saw the characters, Shang Tsung (Chin Han) was undeterred by his losses and determined to proceed with his plans for a tournament. Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) ordered his warriors to recruit new champions to defend the Earthrealm. And Cole headed off to Hollywood, hoping to find Johnny Cage. Johnny Cage, of course, is a well-known figure from the games—one of the original characters from the first Mortal Kombat arcade game. Recently, it was reported that Karl Urban was in talks to play Johnny Cage.

Additionally, You‘s Tati Gabrielle is in final talks to play the assassin, Jade. Jade is a character from Mortal Kombat II and serves as a confidant and protector of Princess Kitana. Speaking of the latter, Adeline Rudolph will portray Kitana. Rounding out the cast are Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen, and Damon Herriman

So, all in all, things feel well set up for a sequel. Raiden’s warriors will find new characters from the games. Johnny Cage will arrive. Probably, we’ll see a tournament. And there you have it, Mortal Kombat 2. Hopefully, we’ll hear more about the plot and production of the new movie very soon. Until then, we have one movie and a rich history of games to keep us occupied. A win/win scenario for us all. A flawless victory, as it were.

Originally published on July 21. 2022.

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The time has come to dust your hat off. Because Timothy Olyphant is officially heading back to our screens. Olyphant will reprise his iconic role as US Marshal Raylan Givens in a Justified revival. This limited series, titled Justified: City Primeval, will take fans back to the iconic franchise in a new story. And we now have an official first look at the series. The Justified: City Primeval teaser trailers remind us it’s all about the hat, the stare, the walk, and the bad guy takedown. And they let us know exactly when this series will release.

The teaser trailers don’t give us much, but they do get us excited. The Marshal is ready for action. And they confirm the show premieres July 18 on FX. The first two episodes begin airing at 10 pm ET/PT on FX, and they will stream the next day on Hulu.

A release for the Justified revival offers a little more. This time, the FX limited series will be inspired by the late Elmore Leonard’s novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit.

Having left the hollers of Kentucky eight years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 14-year-old girl.  His hair is grayer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind.

A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit.  There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again.  Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.

It sounds like Justified: City Primeval will feel every bit as intense as the original.

The release also shares that Olyphant will reunite with Justified producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner. The duo will serve as “Showrunners, Writers and Executive Producers, with Dinner directing.” Graham Yost, Sarah Timberman, and Carl Beverly also join as Executive Producers. In addition, Peter Leonard, Taylor Elmore, and Chris Provenzano will write for the series.

We’re excited so much of the original team can come back together for this revival. Getting back the people who created the show to begin with is often key to these revivals. And although this Justified revival is a one-off season for now, Olyphant and Timberman recently noted they would be open to expanding to more seasons. Olyphant noted of doing more of the revival, “I’d show up. I had a good time. Every time we’ve done this I’ve had a good time. And Timberman agreed saying, “If he shows up I show up—we all show up.”

Hopefully, Justified: City Primeval will capture the drama and the modern western spirit that the original show executed so well. As mentioned, Justified: City Primeval releases July 18.

Originally published on January 14, 2022.

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It’s not exactly a total shock, since The CW has been slowly putting an end to most of its superhero shows, but according to Deadline, the Batman series Gotham Knights has been canceled after only one season. It turns out that not even the star power of fan-favorite Misha Collins was enough to save Gotham from its fate.

Of course, ironically, in Gotham Knights‘ one and only season, Collin’s character Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face, was destined to become Gotham’s worst nightmare. But now, cancellation has achieved what Batman’s numerous foes could not, at least not fully.

Gotham Knights mainly focuses on the story of Batman’s adopted son Turner Hayes after Bruce Wayne’s murder. Turner joins forces with unlikely allies, the children of Batman’s enemies, after they are all framed for the hero’s murder. Generational stories always hold a lot of promise, but we guess we’ll have to wait for the next, next generation to arrive to get more of this tale. Especially since Gotham Knights was unable to find a new home.

The showrunners have been trying to find a future for Gotham Knights, but they have not had success (via TVLine). They shared the below on social media. Ultimately, they said The CW wasn’t able to renew the show, and the studio wasn’t able to find a new home for it.

Previously, The CW’s Entertainment President Brad Schwartz noted, “We love all those shows, and they all do very well for us in different ways.” But apparently not well enough. Ultimately, it seems like the writing was on the wall for Gotham Knights to end up canceled. However, we’re crossing our fingers we do get to see Misha Collins go full Two-Face before the last episode airs. Then it will all have been worth it.

Originally published on June 13, 2023.

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Ticketmaster will no longer surprise you with an exorbitant, expensive shock at the end of your purchase. As we learned via Variety, Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and other ticketing interfaces have promised they will now display the full price of a ticket upfront. Of course, Ticketmaster and the like will still have fees; the fees just won’t be hidden until the last minute anymore. And perhaps that will somewhat discourage the ticket-selling platform, famous for revealing its high additional fees just as a consumer is about to check out, from tacking on enormous extra costs. (Although probably not.)

Still, hopefully, this, at the very least, will allow consumers to more accurately understand what they’ll be paying and to plan accordingly… Whether that means planning to purchase or not to purchase a ticket. There’s nothing worse than seeing your total double after you’ve already imagined yourself at an event. Although a better step would be to move on eliminating Ticketmaster fees altogether, or at least moving to limit them, we’ll take the lessening of unpleasant jolts where we can get them. With any luck, this will just be the start of a better consumer experience when it comes to ticket buying from Ticketmaster and others.

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It’s about to be a “hot vampire summer.” At least if our favorite FX blood-suckers have anything to say about it. (And they always do have something to say.) Because season five of What We Do in the Shadows will arrive this summer, it will release on July 13, to be exact. And, in celebration of this, we finally have an official trailer for What We Do in the Shadow‘s upcoming season. Take a look below.

We’ve been dying, for one thing, to know if fan-favorite Harvey Guillén’s Guillermo will finally become a vampire or not in What We Do in the Shadows‘ next season. And it looks like the trailer for season five seems to hint that he will without much ado. However, the transformation isn’t going exactly as imagined. Does that mean maybe he isn’t becoming a vampire after all? Or perhaps Guillermo is just the world’s most peculiar vampire. We wouldn’t count it out.

The What We Do in the Shadows season five trailer also catches us up with all of our other favorite vamps. Laszlo, for instance, is taking on the mall. And he’s throwing around giant pictures of Ryan Seacrest. We’re cracking up already.

Honestly, we’re counting down the days (or is that nights) until the release of What We Do in the Shadows season five. It’s all celebrating the undead from here on out, especially since we already know we’ll get What We Do in the Shadows season six. That’s a lot of pressure off.

What We Do in the Shadows season five will premiere on FX and stream on Hulu next month. The first two episodes will arrive on July 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and will stream the next day on Hulu.

Originally published on May 15, 2023.

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There has been a flurry of recent activity in the world of DC. First, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over the cinematic DC Universe and announced an ambitious slate of projects. Next, work on Superman: Legacy began right away, with casting in progress and the script itself completed. But ardent fans of James Gunn’s hit show Peacemaker have been eagerly anticipating news of the project’s second season. Of course, Peacemaker was mentioned briefly in the announcement of DC’s slate. But it did not receive a coherent update about the status of its second season. Happily, James Gunn recently shared more about the status of the series on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast. Here’s what Gunn had to say about Peacemaker season two and when fans could expect forward motion on the show.

Rosenbaum asks Gunn about Peacemaker season two at the 1:16:20 mark. He questions, “Is Peacemaker really coming back, or is there just no time for it?” To which Gunn replied straight away, “No, Peacemaker‘s coming back right after Superman. That’s my next thing.” Gunn adds, “I’ll go straight from Superman to Peacemaker.”

Of course, there are no present dates on the timeline, at least no public ones. We know Superman: Legacy is currently slated to release on July 11, 2025. But we don’t know exactly when the movie will be in a place such that Gunn can move on to Peacemaker season two. We’d bet that would put the second season of Peacemaker into 2026, with a smidge of hope it could release in 2025. Still, there’s an urgency in which Gunn suggests he’ll head from Superman to Peacemaker that makes it feel like the series is definitely a priority on Gunn’s full dance card.

Of course, everything Superman will have to come first. But hopefully, we’ll start to hear more about Peacemaker season two sooner rather than later. It really is hard to believe that Peacemaker has only had one season to date. With any luck, though, we’ll see a second season and many more.

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It’s time to defend the galaxy from a whole new evil. Star Wars: Villainous is evolving its ranks with three all-new notorious Star Wars villains as a part of its first game expansion. Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy is the second installment of the Star Wars Villianous game line and its first announced expandalone game. But just who is joining us in our dark side fun? Why, it’s one of our favorite guns for hire, the bounty hunter Boba Fett, as well as Inquisitor The Seventh Sister and Cad Bane.

A release about the game shares that Boba Fett was “the most highly requested villain in the galaxy” when it came to who should join the Star Wars Villainous ranks. But he’s not the only baddie we’ll see in Scum and Villainy. The game has now also “reveal[ed] two more notorious ​Star Wars​ characters that fans are sure to recognize,” The Seventh Sister and Cad Bane.

In the meanwhile, here’s more about what we can expect from the game.

In the Star Wars™ Villainous: Scum and Villainy game, for those who choose to play as Boba Fett, players can switch sides of the board, mimicking how Bounty Hunters often fight against each other. Players stepping into the role of ruthless mercenary Cad Bane will be forced to rely on their allies for initial attacks so that they can deal the final blow. Finally, for The Seventh Sister, players will have to use every ounce of their Ambition to defeat her specific Heroes who are always just one step ahead.

As an expandalone game, this version of the game functions all on its own. Or it can be mixed into the larger universe that has already been released for even more fun and adventures.

Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy is available for pre-order now. The game will release on July 30th.

Originally published on May 4, 2023.

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Who is the leader of Uhh-Earth? Well, after a series of miscommunications, the universe thinks it’s Elio, who is definitely not a child. Definitely not. But he is definitely in for the adventure of his life after he ends up representing Earth in a galactic trial. We assume the fate of the planet is at stake. But since Elio is a Disney and Pixar movie, we also assume things will go alright for Earth and its newest ambassador. Take a look at the teaser trailer for Elio below.

Elio‘s animation already takes our breath away, and we’ve just seen a glimpse of it in this teaser trailer. We can tell we’re in for a delightful romp through this imagined universe. And we can’t wait to meet all of its fantastical creatures and out-of-this-world settings. Of course, we’d expect nothing less from a Disney and Pixar movie. The synopsis for Elio shares more about what we can expect from the story itself.

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie “Elio,” the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be. 

Although Elio is about to go on a coming-of-age adventure all on his own, we know home is where the heart is. And we can tell from the trailer that Elio and his mom have a bond like no other. One that no doubt can conquer even the hardest of alien hearts.

Elio releases in theaters on March 1, 2024. The Pixar movie features the “voices of America Ferrera as Elio’s mom, Olga; Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa; Brad Garrett as Ambassador Grigon; and Yonas Kibreab as the title character.” Elio, we recognize your true leadership of Uhh-Earth.

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If you haven’t watched Foundation‘s first season, it’s time to catch up. Because season two will soon arrive on our screens in fine fashion. Foundation has officially revealed its summer release date and shared the first teaser trailer for its second season. This futuristic sci-fi series on Apple TV+ had us at the edge of our seats during its first ten episodes. And we are absolutely ready to blast off into more Lee Pace, Jared Harris, and Foundation as a whole. Take a look at season two’s trailer below and get ready for an uprising.

Foundation Season Two Trailer and Release Date

“All empires fall,” reads the description for Foundation season two. And we certainly see there are many struggles ahead for the universe and its characters. A release from Apple TV+ shares:

More than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy in “Foundation” season two. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire. The monumental adaptation of “Foundation” chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.

Foundation season two releases on July 14.

Foundation Season Two First Look Images

Foundation season two also shared a slew of first-look images. The above was our very first glimpse of Foundation‘s second season. We won’t say the most important part is Lee Pace in a fishnet shirt… But we will say, it doesn’t hurt. The show knows how to deliver an aesthetic. And it knows its audience.

Foundation Season Two Cast

Joining the original cast in Foundation season two are also ten new stars. We also have descriptions of their characters that add a bit of context to what next season might entail. (Please note, the three images directly above come from Foundation season one).

Isabella Laughland as Brother Constant, a cheerfully confident claric whose job is to evangelize the Church of the Galactic Spirit across the Outer Reach. Constant is a true believer, whose courage and passion make her hard not to love.

Kulvinder Ghir as Poly Verisof, High Claric of the Church of the Galactic Spirit. Whip-smart and sardonic, he’s also a terrible drunk—intelligent enough to see the path he’s on, but too cynical to change.

Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Enjoiner Rue, the beautiful, politically savvy consigliere to Queen Sareth. A former courtesan to Cleon the 16th, Rue parlayed her status to become a royal counsellor.

Ella-Rae Smith as Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion. Used to being underestimated, Sareth employs it to her advantage, charming her way into the Imperial Palace with biting wit, all while on a secret quest for revenge.

Dimitri Leonidas as Hober Mallow, a master trader with a sarcastic personality and questionable morals, who is summoned against his will to serve a higher, selfless cause.

Ben Daniels as Bel Roise, the last great general of the Superliminal Fleet and would-be conqueror of the Foundation. Bel is noble to a fault, but his fealty to the Galactic Empire is waning.

Holt McCallany as Warden Jaegger Fount, the current Warden of Terminus and guardian of its citizens against external threats.

Mikael Persbrandt as The Warlord of Kalgan, a monster of a man, coiled with muscle and possessing powerful psychic abilities, and fueled by hate in his quest to take over the galaxy.

Rachel House as Tellem Bond, mysterious leader of the Mentallics.

Nimrat Kaur as Yanna Seldon.

It looks like we’ll be seeing many new players in season two. From sarcastic cynics to angry warlords to savvy politicians. The world of Foundation is about to grow even more. And we feel excited about that. After all, the more mysterious leaders and quests for revenge in space, the better. Sci-fi interstellar dramas have always brought us excellent world-building. And we have no doubt season two of Foundation will follow in that tradition.

If you have watched season one already, and feel impatient for more, here’s something to tide you over in the meanwhile.

Lee Pace may not don fishnet in this interview, but he certainly has a lot to say about the show and his character. We can’t wait to hear what he has to say about the show as season two approaches.

Originally published on May 11, 2023.

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Reports indicate that, unfortunately for consumers, Netflix’s long-anticipated password-sharing crackdown is working. According to data from research company Antenna, which we saw via Variety, sign-ups for new Netflix accounts are at a four-year high. And this comes directly as a consequence of the company’s efforts to curb password sharing. The increase in subscriptions has an even higher spike than the subscription increase Netflix saw during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We guess many people sharing accounts still want to access Netflix.

According to Antenna, since Netflix began its US password-sharing crackdown in earnest on May 23, subscriptions have skyrocketed. Netflix’s average daily sign-ups increased 102% (over the last 60-day days) from May 25 to May 28. And average daily sign-ups hit 73,000. That is indeed astronomical. Antenna reveals that Netflix hasn’t seen numbers this high since January 2019.

Of course, cancellations also increased as a result of Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown. However, the rate of cancellations was less than the rate of new subscriptions, leaving Netflix the winner. Although, there is a natural cap to this increase as well. At some point, all the Netflix sign-ups that will happen as a result of the password-sharing crackdown will happen. And then growth may cease. However, Netflix previously estimated that 30 million households in the US and Canada share passwords. Perhaps some households even share with multiple people. So, there are many new subscriptions to come.

In the event you are sharing passwords, Netflix will let you know you had better pay up or expect not to be able to use the account any longer. Subscribers who have been sharing Netflix accounts can either transfer their accounts to a whole new Netflix subscription or add an extra member for $7.99/month. We’re just crossing our fingers that other streamers aren’t inspired by Netflix to have their own password-sharing crackdowns.

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If you’re like me, the sheer scale and majesty of the Gates of Argonath from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie always steal your breath. More than any other moment, this one makes me feel as though I’m immersed in a real world. A sense of rich history steeps into the land itself. And now, NZ Post has captured the majesty of that scene, and a few others, and miniaturized their wonder. You couldn’t carry around the Gates of Argonath to show your love for The Lord of the Rings. However, you can don this enamel pin and highlight the beauty and intricacy of the movies in a whole new way. Let’s take a look at these precious pins.

The three new pins from NZ Post come in celebration of The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King‘s 20th anniversary. The New Zealand-based organization has already treated us to a myriad of The Lord of the Rings fancies worthy of the best dwarven hoard, including stamps that are more like tiny artworks, gorgeous collectible coins, and past pins that us pledge our allegiance to Sauron, if that tickles our fancy. Along with Argonath, these latest The Lord of the Rings pins reveal other moments of hope and wonder from the franchise.

The “Gwaihir Go” pin “[features] an homage to the moment in The Fellowship of the Ring when Gandalf sent a moth as a messenger to the eagle Gwaihir, asking for rescue.” We know, of course, that Gandalf is rescued. The little moth actually symbolizes one of The Lord of the Rings‘ prominent themes. There is always hope in the darkest of times. We love seeing him take flight.

Meanwhile, the Treebird pin gives one of our favorite characters his due. Treebird rises as an unlikely ally right as Merry and Pippin believe that all hope is lost. The Ents are a delightful Middle-earth race, and they make for a lovely pin too.

I have to say, the color work on these pins is marvelous. Each one is incredibly different but evocative in its own right. We can feel the magic of The Lord of the Rings seeping out of these enamel pins. NZ Post’s The Lord of the Rings collectables continue to be on point. And it’s no wonder, with New Zealand as the very inspiration for the look of the movies. Recently, I learned that New Zealand was an early adopter of pictorial stamps, bringing to life stamps that were beautiful as well as practical. And that legacy continues with the country’s The Lord of the Rings celebrations. We can’t wait to see what homages NZ Post will release next.

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Back in 2022, Sony had a busy day at CinemaCon. Among many other announcements, Sony had exciting news for two other franchises, Venom and Ghostbusters. Although we wouldn’t exactly call it shocking news, Sony shared that Venom 3 and Ghostbusters 5 were officially on the way. This year at CinemaCon, we didn’t get any news on Venom 3, but the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel saw a fresh tease.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel

We still don’t know too much about Ghostbusters 5. But at CinemaCon 2023, we saw video footage from the set of the new Ghostbusters movie. The video featured Director Gil Kenan, writer Jason Reitman, as well as the core cost of the Afterlife sequel, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, and Finn Wolfhard. The cast was all dressed in the iconic Ghostbusters uniforms. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the set video “revealed they would be living under one roof in New York at the Ghostbusters firehouse.” The movie has also revealed a new logo. It hints at a chilly time to come.

We previously learned the movie would follow Afterlife and continue the story of the Spenglers. At Ecto-Fest, Jason Reitman shared we will see “the next chapter in the Spengler family story.” Additionally, this upcoming movie will take place in New York City. The thought of more heart-filled, ghost-busting shenanigans have us ready to head to the theater. Here’s hoping that Ghostbusters 5 will continue the legacy Afterlife left for it.

As noted above, Jason Reitman will not direct this next Ghostbusters installment. Instead, Gil Kenan will take the helm. Kenan co-wrote Afterlife’s script with Reitman, and the pair also co-wrote Ghostbusters 5. Additionally, per Deadline, the Ghostbusters: Afterlife has cast Kumail Nanjiani And Patton Oswalt. James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind have also reportedly joined the cast, but no word yet on their roles.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, we also learned that Ghostbusters 5 will arrive just in time for Christmas next year on December 20, 2023. It’s a no-brainer that it comes during a season of joy, given that Ghostbusters: Afterlife hit such a high note among fans. We need things to look forward to these days.

In the meanwhile, we’ll revisit Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Honestly, two very quality movies. In a world of sequels and franchises, these absolutely stand out. And with more on the way, we have to get ready to dive back into these excellent worlds. Here’s hoping for some casting news, release date information, and maybe even some footage sooner rather than later. But for now, we’ll content ourselves with the news that this duo of movies will grace our screens.

Venom 3

As far as Venom 3 is concerned, fans of the franchise rejoiced at the news of a third movie. Venom and Eddie went on some multiversal travels when we last saw them. And they jumped back and forth from Sony’s world to the world of the MCU. Some fans feared this would mean the duo would get swallowed up into the world or separated permanently.

Most recently, Deadline reported that Chiwetel Ejiofor will co-star alongside Tom Hardy in Venom 3. But no further details were revealed. The publication also reported that Ted Lasso‘s Juno Temple is in negotiations to join the cast of Venom 3. It seems she is set to play a lead role.

Additionally, Tom Hardy recently shared a post that indicated he had a hand in creating the story for Venom 3.

Fingers crossed for more intel on Venom 3 very soon. 

Originally published on April 22, 2022.

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In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, we learned that Pokémon all become teeny tiny before they go into a Poké Ball. But most of the time, these creatures come in all shapes, sizes, and heights. Of course, some Pokémon are always teeny tiny, but others are veritable monoliths towering over the world. But which Pokémon are the smallest of all? And which Pokémon are the tallest/biggest of them all? The latest entry from Global Data is here to put some of your favs into perspective. Check out the Pokémon size comparison video below.

So, who are some of the smallest Pokémon? Well, according to this size comparison video, Pokémon like Joltik, Caterpie, and Diglett are some of the most diminutive of the bunch. That makes sense because Joltik and Caterpie take their inspiration from real-life insects and bugs. Everyone’s favorite friend Pikachu is also pretty tiny; Pikachu comes in at just 1.3 feet tall. We are cooing over this fact. Imagine having a real-life Pikachu companion that’s only the size of a ruler. That’s too cute.

The size comparison video slips Ash in as a comparison point for the Pokémon here and there. And that does help to understand what exactly we’re looking at. The video also offers some unexpected insights. For instance, Charizard is actually under six feet tall. But we’d have guessed a much greater size for this ferocious creature. Meanwhile, the elegant Dragonair is over 13 feet long! It’d be scarier than we thought to meet this lengthy Pokémon in the wild.

On the tall end of the Pokémon spectrum are some truly towering giants. There’s the ferocious Gyarados, the grinning Steelix, and the massive Rayquaza. Wailord is listed here as the second biggest Pokémon. But the tallest Pokémon of all is Eternatus. This legendary Pokémon comes in at 65.6 feet tall. We’re honestly starting to think that Pokémon could give us a pretty good horror movie if it tried.

Of course, the world of Pokémon is always expanding. Soon there could be even smaller and even bigger Pokémon to explore. So we’ll just have to keep our Pokédex handy and hope that even the most giant of Pokémon can fit into our Poké Balls.

Feature Image: Global Data

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There’s nothing more untimely than typing out an impassioned speech only to see autocorrect has changed your carefully chosen words into “duck” and “ducking.” Sure, it could bring a laugh in a tense situation. However, the gulf between the word you probably intended and “duck” is most likely large. Telling jokes is not really autocorrect’s purpose. While it may feel like Apple’s autocorrect is there to sanitize your speech, Apple sees the issue. The company will finally make sure the word “duck” will only appear when you’re alluding to the charming animal. If your intention is to swear, Apple’s latest autocorrect update for iPhones and the like will learn that about you and stop bringing out the duck.

Duck yeah, autocorrect! Craig Federighi, the Head of Apple’s Software Engineering, shared this evolution at WWDC 2023. He noted, “In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too.” This new version autocorrect will come to Apple’s products as part of the iOS 17 software update coming in September. Autocorrect will now function using artificial intelligence technology. It will better learn a user’s speech patterns, including when they’d like to swear instead of quack. Although, who knows, some of you may have just adopted “ducking” into your daily lives thanks to autocorrect.

In addition to making autocorrect more swear-friendly, the update will add other enhancements to the feature. Autocorrect will also receive “a refreshed design to better support typing, and sentence-level autocorrections can fix more types of grammatical mistakes. Users will now receive predictive text recommendations inline as they type, so adding entire words or completing sentences is as easy as tapping the space bar, making text entry faster than ever.”

Well, duck. We just hope we won’t start to see autocorrect adding swears in when we’re just trying to appreciate wildlife.

The post Apple’s Autocorrect Update Will Finally Let You Swear, It’s About Ducking Time! appeared first on Nerdist.

Is Nicolas Cage secretly playing Lucifer in Sympathy for the Devil? Because he’s giving a performance befitting of the darkest demonic hellspawn. But in true Nicolas Cage style, the performance is over-the-top and hilarious and yet somehow chillingly unhinged, all at once. Of course, Nicolas Cage could just be a regular person gone wrong in Sympathy for the Devil— humans are the most dangerous creatures after all. Or, in a twist of fate, perhaps it is the meek driver, played by Joel Kinnaman, who is actually the devil for whom we will feel sympathy. The Sympathy for the Devil trailer plays with all these ideas and more while letting Nicolas Cage be his purest self. Take a look below:

The description for the trailer doesn’t share much more about Sympathy for the Devil. It only notes:

After being forced to drive a mysterious passenger (Nicolas Cage) at gunpoint, a man (Joel Kinnaman) finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse where it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.

But that does not even begin to capture the manic energy of the movie we see before us. Nicolas Cage’s character may not need any stress put onto his night, but he’s truly bringing the tension. And this trailer really does invite us all to wonder what we would do if we were in this intense situation. Will the driver make it to the birth of this child? What does the passenger want? Will Nicolas Cage recover the 50% sexy he lost throughout his night? To find out, we’ll have to watch Sympathy for the Devil when it releases in theaters and on-demand on July 28.

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Villains, we love them—especially Disney villains. And that’s why we’re excited to see two new Disney Villainous games releasing this year. And even better, one 2023 set will help beginner players more easily join this universe of malevolent fun, and the second will celebrate the best villain holiday (and best holiday, full stop), Halloween. Disney Villainous will soon release Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil (Disney100 Edition) and Disney Villainous: Filled With Fright.

Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil (Disney100 Edition)

The description for Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil (Disney100 Edition) shares:

Commemorating 100 years of Disney, Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil (Disney100 Edition) reintroduces four captivating Villains – Maleficent, Captain Hook, Ursula and Prince John – in a limited-edition version of the game that features a streamlined gameplay crafted to help first-time players.

Those are some classic villains in this Disney Villainous game, an array of O.G.s, if you will. Prince John isn’t usually a Disney villain that’s given too much love, so we’re happy to see him get his due in Disney Villainous. Streamlining the game is also an excellent idea. Disney Villainous has spawned a massive gameplay world, including Marvel and Star Wars Villainous spinoff games. A game that big could feel intimidating to beginners, but this will welcome them to play.

The set will be available for pre-order at Target beginning on June 20.

Disney Villainous: Filled With Fright

This is Halloween! The new Disney Villainous: Filled With Fright game celebrates Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The official description shares:

In Disney Villainous: Filled With Fright, players take on the role of Oogie Boogie in an attempt to dethrone Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, both iconic characters from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Disney Villainous: Filled With Fright, the first single-character expansion in the Disney Villainous line, will be available in October 2023 – just in time for Halloween.

We could think of no better characters to honor on that auspicious day. And if you’re all full of candy, a little bit of gameplay could be just the thing.

The post DISNEY VILLAINOUS Reveals Two New Games Coming in 2023 appeared first on Nerdist.

Solidarity is in the air, and we feel happy to see it. In May, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike after the studios refused to meet proposals for better pay and equity. And now, a second strike is possible. SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild, voted recently on a strike authorization for members of the organization. This means that a SAG-AFTRA strike is now also possible. In fact, like with the Writer’s Guild, the Screen Actors Guild voted in overwhelming numbers in favor of a strike: 97.91% of SAG-AFTRA approved.

So what does this mean? Well, as SAG-AFTRA’s official website explains, this does not mean that the guild is calling a strike yet—merely that a strike is possible should the studios and SAG-AFTRA be unable to meet an agreement. The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Contracts currently in place will expire at midnight on June 30. If no new contracts are accepted, as was the case with the WGA, then a strike will begin. Should a SAG-AFTRA strike occur, all union productions must stop filming.

Like with the writers of our favorite movies and TV shows, actors are facing times of unprecedented challenges. SAG-AFTRA’s website notes, “Streaming, inflation, and out-of-control self-taping requests have actors working longer and harder than ever, struggling to make ends meet.”

Additionally, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland shared the following about the strike authorization:

I could not be more pleased with this response from the membership. This overwhelming yes vote is a clear statement that it’s time for an evolution in this contract. As we enter what may be one of the most consequential negotiations in the union’s history, inflation, dwindling residuals due to streaming, and generative AI all threaten actors’ ability to earn a livelihood if our contracts are not adapted to reflect the new realities. This strike authorization means we enter our negotiations from a position of strength, so that we can deliver the deal our members want and deserve.

As with any form of labor, people deserve, at base, to make a living wage from their work and to be given respectful benefits and protections. We hope to see the solidarity between the guilds continue and a fair resolution for SAG-AFTRA and the WGA achieved soon.

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Isn’t that what we always dreamed of? Apple’s first new major device in nearly ten years is a new AR or mixed reality headset called “Apple Vision Pro.” This new device is “a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.” It sounds like a bit of a headache to us, but on the plus side, it does let you look like a futuristic beetle. Guilty as charged, our eyes are already glued to our iPhone’s much of the time, but we’re not sure if having those capabilities literally on our eyes will hinder or hurt. Here’s Apple’s introductory video for AR headset. Apple released the device as part of WWDC23. Here’s what the Apple Vision Pro can do.

What Is Apple Vision Pro?

According to Apple, Vision Pro “creates an infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice.” And has visionOS, “the world’s first spatial operating system.” The company shares that this will bring digital content into the real world in a whole new way. Apparently it will make digital content look and feel more like it is present in actual reality. But don’t worry, if someone approaches, the device will become transparent—allowing you to interact with the real world if that’s what you want.

Fun with This AR Headset

Among other things, VisionPro also also gives you infinite screen real estate, which, again, sounds vaguely like a threat, and brings all your favorite apps to life around you to allow for even more productivity…

The Vision Pro will also have space for fun, though. The product’s description shares:

With two ultra-high-resolution displays, Apple Vision Pro can transform any space into a personal movie theater with a screen that feels 100 feet wide and an advanced Spatial Audio system. Users can watch movies and TV shows, or enjoy stunning three-dimensional movies. Apple Immersive Video offers 180-degree high-resolution recordings with Spatial Audio, and users can access an exciting lineup of immersive videos that transport them to entirely new places.

Over 100 Apple Arcade games will be available to play on the Vision Pro at launch. And the Disney+ app will be available on Apple Vision Pro from “Day One.” It looks like there will be some new capabilities on the Vision Pro, such as watching games from different angles and learning more information about the content viewed while watching. Users will also be able to access their photos via the Vision Pro and view them at life-size scale. We do smell a Black Mirror episode coming. But we can’t help but wonder will Din Grogu look even cuter via this device?

When Will Apple Vision Pro Release and What Does It Cost?

“Day One,” a.k.a. the release date of Apple Vision Pro, is still uncertain. Apple only shares that it will be available early next year. However, we do know what it costs. If you want Apple Vision Pro, the new device will begin at $3,499. But can you really put a price on forgetting reality exists?

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In the next obvious move, Mattel has released a collection of Barbie dolls and accessories from the upcoming Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Now all we need is a movie about the Barbie movie Barbie dolls, and we’ll have gone full Barbie-ception. Of course, the merchandise line for the Barbie movie had to happen, but we also feel there’s a funny kind of irony to the collection. We have a feeling the movie will poke some fun at Barbie as a brand and her doll-like fantasy existence. But she got us because we’ll still take her home to play with anyway. From full Kenergy, pastel-striped Ken to Barbie’s dreamhouse (no walls or doors here), check out the Barbie the movie doll collection.

Barbie the movie’s Mattel doll collection gives you everything a Barbie (who is everything) and Ken (who is just Ken) could want. There’s President Barbie, Pink Power Pantsuit Barbie, Denim Matching Set Ken, and even a couple of corvettes. There’s even a Hot Wheels Corvette you can actually drive. We have to wonder if Hot Wheels will cameo in the Barbie movie.

Click To View Gallery

What we don’t see is John Cena’s mermaid Barbie… And “wrangling with the concept of death” Barbie and “Existential Crisis” Barbie are also nowhere to be found in this movie line. And honestly, if Mattel could put out some Barbie dolls with that Kenergy, we would be first in line.

The Barbie movie releases on July 21.

The post The BARBIE Movie Releases Barbie Dolls in Full Meta Moment appeared first on Nerdist.

At some point, nearly every member of an ardent fanbase dreams that they’ll get more of their favorite show sooner than expected. The idea that there may be a secret episode or an extra bit of footage just waiting to be released is a tempting one. But, in most cases, a movie is a movie, and a season of TV is a season of TV. But Yellowjackets, Showtime’s latest hit about a team of teens surviving in a desolate wilderness (and also magic, cannibalism, and trauma), has broken that mold. Yes, the rumors, this time, are true. Yellowjackets season two does have an episode 10. An extra, secret, bonus episode of Yellowjackets will air sometime soon, but probably closer to season three than season two.

Co-creator of Yellowjackets, Ashley Lyle, took to Twitter to reveal the bonus episode of season two was coming. Lyle did not want fans staying up all night waiting for the release of a secret episode that wouldn’t air. But it turns out episode 10 of Yellowjackets season two simply wouldn’t be airing right now. Lyle noted, “There will be a bonus episode between seasons, but I love you guys and I don’t want y’all to lose sleep thinking it’s tonight.” And when asked for more details, Lyle added the secret season two episode was coming, “Closer to S3. I’m not being coy, there’s a strike and things are complicated!”

Now we must all wait and see when we will get more of the show. Fans are already speculating wildly about what the bonus episode of Yellowjackets could include. Some wonder if Yellowjackets episode 10 will just be a full musical dream sequence. And we would not feel mad at that. In the meanwhile, season one and season two of Yellowjackets stream on Showtime or Paramount+ with Showtime.

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It’s happening… Everything old is new again. Predictions of streaming platforms bundling their services, as cable first did, bubbled up in the landscape for a long time. And although we have seen certain kinds of streaming bundles emerge, primarily between streamers owned by the same companies, we haven’t yet seen that kind of prophesied bundling… At least, until now. Verizon has introduced a streaming bundle between rival streamers Netflix and Paramount+. Of course, this offer is exclusive to customers of Version Wireless in the US. This bundle will allow users to purchase Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime at a lower price than subscribing individually to both streamers.

According to Variety, those Verizon customers who subscribe to the bundle will pay $25.99/month for Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime. On its own, Netflix Premium is $19.99/month, an incredibly expensive option. Meanwhile, Paramount+ With Showtime costs $11.99/month. All told, the new Netflix and Paramount+ bundle will save subscribers $5.99/month, which works out to be nearly 20% savings. When we look on the scale of years, that’s a lot of money saved.

The Paramount+ and Netflix combo is good deal, but it definitely flips a page in the streaming landscape. We wonder how many bundles we’ll soon see forming and whether their existence will ultimately help or hurt the consumer. After all, cable bundles seemed to become hugely unpopular after a time. And, essentially, we’re seeing that happen again here with streamer bundles. Still, it must be said that the amount of streamers and subscriptions one needs to keep up with all the media releasing is immense. Perhaps bundles done right could offer a relief from that. If you’re a Verizon customer who watches both Netflix and Paramount+, you’ll welcome this option and its lower price point.

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It’s summertime. And that puts us in mind of beaches, boardwalks, and sweet treats. And now, at least for the summer, you can enjoy the sweet taste of cotton candy and its perfect pastel presence without all the mess of sugar staining your fingers. Cotton Candy Oreos are back to celebrate the hot weather. And honestly, they must be good because they’ve remained fan favorites even though they’ve been gone for almost a decade.

Some Oreo flavors and ideas come and go. But Cotton Candy-flavored Oreoes arrived on shelves in April 2015, and fans haven’t stopped asking for them since. Literally, some Cotton Candy Oreo fans say they’ve been thinking about these cookies every day for the last eight years.

Well, we can’t argue with that. And neither can Oreo because the cotton candy flavor is back, baby!

The official description of this Oreos shares:

Nostalgia, commence! OREO Cotton Candy sandwich cookies are officially returning to shelves for the first time in nearly a decade, available this June wherever OREO is sold while supplies last. Inspired by the iconic carnival treat, this limited-edition cookie features a delicious golden OREO basecake double-stufed with side-by-side pink and blue cotton candy flavor creme.

These pink and blue cookies will be available for purchase beginning on June 5. And we have to say, of all the Oreo flavors we’ve seen out there, these are also definitely the prettiest of the bunch. So we’re glad to have them back. And with such a following, we’re really hoping these Oreos also taste good. But there’s only one way to find that out for certain.

In addition to cotton candy, Oreo has also brought back its S’moreo Sandwich Cookies for the summer. S’more’s flavored, or is that themed, Oreos also make good sense. We’ll be glad to take a bite out of both of these.

The post Cotton Candy Oreos Are Back This Summer After Almost a Decade Away appeared first on Nerdist.

Just how many Spider-Mans and Spider-People (and Spider-animals!) can we expect to see in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse? Well, the trailers and teasers for the movie gave us some idea that it would be quite a few. And in a recent interview, co-director Justin Thompson gave a more specific number for us to look out for. He said that, at last count, about 280 Spider-People were running around in Across the Spider-Verse. Of course, not all of them have leading roles.

More specifically, Thompson shared:

The exact number? Oh boy, we kept adding, like all the way up until the very end. Honestly, I’m gonna be level with you, we just finished the film, like in the last like two weeks, and I don’t think I’ve had time to pause and actually take a final count. But I think it was about 280 the last time I looked in. Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean specific, unique characters that you might recognize, it might mean variations as well. But if you’re just talking about named characters, then I think there’s probably about 95.

95 is a whole lot of characters to name. But the Spider-Man fun won’t stop there. Across the Spider-Verse is only part one of the Spidey mayhem we have coming our way. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse will release in 2024. And co-writers and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller want us to know, they’ve saved some Spider-People to add into the next movie.

Lord notes, “Believe it or not. You thought that you’ve seen every Spider-Person that you could imagine, but not every Spider-Person we can imagine.” Meanwhile, Miller adds, “We saved several!”

Our heads are spinning just thinking about it. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will feature Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Cop, Spider-Cat, Spider-Jock, Spider-Girl, Spider-Byte, Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, The Bombastic Bagman, Spider-Rex, and many, many more. But we guess they’d all better make some space at the table for new Beyond the Spider-Verse friends.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and its many Spider-People and Spider-Mans hit theaters on June 2.

The post There Will Be Over 250 Spider-People in ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE with More to Come appeared first on Nerdist.

At the center of Yellowjackets‘ many mysteries has always been the question of cannibalism. In season one, we got a major flash forward to heavily implied cannibalism in the series’ very first episode. Could we call this confirmed cannibalism? Maybe not entirely. But it certainly feels like cannibalism is coming. And even though the series’ creators assure us, no one is eating Shauna’s baby… It seems like someone will get eaten on Yellowjackets. But who will it be? And who will do the eating? Well, to help you keep track of whether or not cannibalism has yet occurred on Yellowjackets, how likely it is more will come, and who is probably on the menu, we’re putting together this cannibalism tracker for season two.

So has cannibalism happened yet on Yellowjackets? We’re about to find out.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode One: Yes, There’s Cannibalism

Well, that didn’t take long. A minor act of cannibalism was committed in the very first episode of Yellowjackets season two. Shauna’s morbid pull to sit with dead Jackie’s corpse took an even more lurid turn when Shauna accidentally broke off Jackie’s ear. Anyone who has seen Hannibal could feel what comes next. Shauna kept the ear in her pocket, but the siren song of it was too much to resist. At the very end of the episode she pops it into her mouth like a candy bar. Yellowjackets cannibalism confirmed. Welcome to season two.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode One: Hoo Boy, Is There Cannibalism

After a slow start to the cannibalism in Yellowjackets, Yellowjackets episode two of season two, “Edible Complex,” takes everything to a new level. The team wants to burn Jackie’s frozen body so they can finally lay her to rest. But either by the supernatural hand of the wilderness or by wild coincidence, they end up slow cooking her instead. As the ravenous teens catch the scent of burning meat, they can no longer resist. Everyone except for Coach Ben partakes in a feast of flesh. On Yellowjackets, Jackie gets eaten—and how. Although the experience is literal, it is also spiritual and almost religious. Engaging in the act of cannibalism seems to elevate the girls and Travis to godhood.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Three: Cannibalism Lingers in the Air

No further new cannibalism happens in this episode of Yellowjackets. But the team is dealing with the fallout of their feast. We see that Jackie is basically bones and nothing else. And Natalie takes all that remains of her to the site of the plane crash. Everyone is processing their descent into cannibalism differently, with Taissa taking it especially hard. But Coach’s obvious distaste for it doesn’t seem to sit well with the team.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Four: The Threat of Cannibalism

There hasn’t been any more people eating since Jackie, but the conversation about it is more casual than ever. Coach Ben asks the team if they’d eat him, and Mari seems to feel like the answer is yes. Cannibalism is officially a viable option on Yellowjackets. Additionally, since neither Nat nor Lottie were able to procure more sustenance for the team this episode, it could be on the table again very soon. Everyone is starving after all.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Five: Murder But No Cannibalism

Although no actual cannibalism happened in Yellowjackets season two, episode five, death did strike. After revealing she destroyed the plane’s flight recorder, thus trapping them in the wilderness, Misty’s new best fried Crystal turns on her. Rightfully, of course. But Misty doesn’t seem to have expected it. Although Misty doesn’t actually push Crystal off the ledge, she sure backs her up toward it. And the result is another frozen body in the wilderness. We guess Crystal is next on the table if the Yellowjackets intend to commit more acts of cannibalism.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Six: Dream Cannibalism Only

The creators of Yellowjackets promised no one was going to eat Shauna’s baby. But this was only kind of true. As Shauna fights to survive giving birth in the wilderness, she has visions of a life where her baby is born safe. But unfortunately the baby doesn’t survive fake reality or real reality. In the visions though, the team eats the baby in secret, committing Yellowjackets‘ first case of dream cannibalism. Although it wasn’t real, technically we did see cannibalism on our screens in Yellowjackets‘ sixth episode of season two.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Seven: Cannibalism Is in the Air

There isn’t any actual cannibalism in episode seven of Yellowjackets‘ second season, but everyone is much more open to the idea than they were at first. The team knows Crystal is missing, but they don’t know where she went. The idea of finding her corpse though, appeals to a certain hunger in them and the idea of cannibalism looms large. Misty, for once, is in opposition, but in the end, no one finds Crystal in the woods. Cannibalism will have to wait for another episode of Yellowjackets.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Eight: Medium Hard Cannibalism

In episode eight, we see the girls finally succumb to the idea they may have to kill and eat one another to survive. They draw cards to see who will be dinner and Natalie gets picked. But just slitting each other’s throats is still not something the team is totally comfortable with… In the end, Javi falls into frozen lake water and the girls don’t try to save him, saying instead that it’s the wilderness’ decision for their next meal. Javi died so they could live. It’s notable they still haven’t directly killed in order to eat someone else… But it’s definitely heading in that direction.

Yellowjackets Season Two, Episode Nine: Cannibalism Has Arrived

There’s no turning back from this cannibalistic feast. The team and even Travis commit to consuming Javi. Shauna butchers him like a deer, and they feast. They are starving; after all. It’s a solution for now, and it’s all fun and games when someone else is on the table, but how long till everyone realizes they could be next. We guess that’s a cannibalism question only season three of Yellowjackets can answer. But we have to wonder, will we see cannibalism come to the adult timeline as well? Only time will tell.

Dinners to Come on Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets season two had its fair share of cannibalism. But there are only so many characters that can still be consumed. Still, we feel like we haven’t seen the last human heart on a platter. And if the team ever finds out that Coach Ben set their cabin home on fire… Well… we saw what happened to Javi.

Originally published on March 24, 2023.

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All good things come to an end. And Ted Lasso was a good thing—a very good thing (usually). The show touched many people at a time when some levity and heart were seriously necessary. Ted Lasso left us all with some excellent and inspirational catchphrases that really helped us all to believe. But having aired the final episode of season three, it seems like it’s time to say goodbye to Ted Lasso. Although the season three finale hasn’t actually been officially called the last episode of Ted Lasso, it sure does seem like a series finale to viewers and cast alike. If Ted Lasso is over now that season three has ended, well, we were glad to know it.

Brett Goldstein took to Instagram to say a proper-sounding goodbye to the show. That feels like some good evidence that Ted Lasso season three is its final season. He posted some emotional images and offered, “Ted Lasso was a truly magical experience. A show about love, made with love, by the funniest, most beautiful and kindest people on the planet. From all the writers, to every member of the crew to every single actor, no matter how small their part, to all the post production team, everyone brought their A game and their warmth to the making of Ted Lasso. I will miss getting to live in that world with them.”

Earlier in the year, Jason Sudeikis also discussed whether season three was the ending of Ted Lasso. He said, “This is the end of this story that we wanted to tell, that we were hoping to tell, that we loved to tell. The fact that folks will want more and are curious beyond more than what they don’t even know yet—that being Season 3—it’s flattering. Maybe by May 31, once all 12 episodes of the season [have been released], they’re like, ‘Man, you know what, we get it, we’re fine. We don’t need anymore, we got it.’ But until that time comes, I will appreciate the curiosity beyond what we’ve come up with so far.”

As we know, it could happen. Since season three has not officially been declared the final season of Ted Lasso, technically Ted Lasso has not yet ended. However, given the events of the episode and all the storylines tied it up, it seems like a return to Ted Lasso will be in spinoff form from here on out. Sudeikis notes, “I think that we’ve set the table for all sorts of folks…to get to watch the further telling of these stories.”

Until we get to dive back in, we’ll just remember to always be a goldfish.

The post TED LASSO Says Goodbye with Seemingly Final Episode appeared first on Nerdist.

The first official trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem gives our favorite turtles a whole new vibe. For one, the animation style of Seth Rogen’s Ninja Turtles movie is a departure from the usual bold colors and graphic forms of the Ninja Turtles. Instead, the trailer for Mutant Mayhem treats us to something more artistic. The animation feels almost scribbly but in a good way. And it calls to mind parts of the popular Spider-Verse films. For another, these Ninja Turtles are at the earliest stages of their heroic journeys in Mutant Mayhem. And they still have a long way to go… And some important choices to make.

Take a look at the trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem below:

A synopsis for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie reveals more about the plot, shedding more light on the trailer. Here’s what we can expect from Mutant Mayhem:

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Our favorite teenage turtles just want to be heroes. And, of course, they want to feel loved. It’s understandable since they’ve been living in the sewers. But should they even be defending the human world from harm? Maybe the super-villainous Superfly has a point in this Mutant Mayhem trailer, as villains so often do. The normal humans out there probably will never accept them. But we assume somewhere along the way, the TMNT gang will learn that they only need to accept themselves. And that anyone worth knowing will accept them as well. It’s an important lesson, but not as important as remembering not to say the phrase “rat me out” in front of a humanoid rat.

The movie also features a star-studded cast that includes, among many other names, John Cena as Rocksteady, Jackie Chan as Splinter, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, and Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko. We can’t way to see this team in action.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem will release in theaters on August 2. As they say, cowabunga!

The post TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM Trailer Brings Cool Animation and Big Bad appeared first on Nerdist.

Pokémon Squishmallows always create quite the stir. In fact, they usually sell out in minutes flat, causing fans to go on real like Pokémon journeys in order to catch ’em all. So, if you’re a big fan of the Pokémon Squishmallows, we suggest you get your Poké Balls and coins in order because two new Pokémon Squishmallows are heading our way. Next in this soft collectible line-up, we’ll get a Piplup Squishmallow and a Winking Pikachu Squishmallow.

Obviously, just one kind of Pikachu Squishmallow isn’t enough. We need at least two varieties of this squishy friend. And Piplup seems like a great choice to join the ranks of Pokémon Squishmallows. Just look at that face. Nothing says adorable like huge eyes and little wings. We’re ready to snuggle this one already. And it’s nice to have a different type of Pokémon in the mix.

Although Squishmallows is happy to tease us with these new Piplup and Winking Pikachu stuffed animals, they’re less forthcoming with when we should expect them to appear in stores. We suspect, though, we’ll find out more sometime soon. In the meanwhile, hug the Pokémon Squishmallows you’re lucky enough to have caught already and get some room ready on the shelf.

The post New POKÉMON Squishmallows Piplup and Winking Pikachu Are Coming Soon appeared first on Nerdist.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when a new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie was announced. Yes, we’re getting a cinematic outing that will continue the story of all our favorite characters from the original series. The Gaang, a.k.a Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, Toph, and company, will grace our screens again in a brand new movie coming in 2025.

Of course, a key question in everyone’s minds is whether the original voice cast will return for this new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. And while we still don’t know the answer for sure, Toph’s original voice actress Michaela Jae Murphy, also knowns as Jessie Flower, noted she didn’t believe the original cast would return. She said, via Game Luster:

Yeah, I mean, listen, if you’re an actor, you’re always interested in being called back for a project… I think they’re going to be recasting for pretty much everything, and, you know Mike [DiMartino] and Bryan [Konietzko] do what they want. So it’s not like people are going to clamor and be like, ‘Bring back the originals!’ and they’re just going to change their minds. Not that I’m thinking that’s gonna happen. But they very much have a vision and this is something they feel is best for the show and so they do it.

That’s what happened with the original. It was three seasons and then people were like ‘make a fourth, make a fourth!’ and they were like ‘no.’ They did make a new show [The Legend of Korra], but they were like, ‘We are not going to mess with the integrity of the story just to give you a fourth season.’ So they have a vision and they execute it the way they want to… I’m sad because of course I would come love to come back and do stuff but, you know I’ll be cheering from the audience with everyone else!

Of course, there’s not yet official confirmation the original voice cast won’t return, either to their original roles or in other capacities. Hopefully, they will have a role to play yet.

Here’s everything we know about the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie.

Title

The upcoming movie doesn’t have a title yet. So, for now, we’re simply referring to it as the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie‘s Plot

There hasn’t been too much revealed about the plot of the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. However, a glimpse at artwork from the film revealed at CinemaCon 2023 showed us all our favorite characters looking a little older than we left them. Possibly the group is somewhere in their late 20s. That will certainly be an interesting age to explore the dynamics between them all.

We assume the movie will reveal to us Aang, Zuko, and pals’ continued quest to bring peace to the four nations after the intense upheaval Fire Lord Ozai wreaked upon the world. A lot still needs fixed, after all. We hope this movie can continue the series’ legacy of delivering exactly the right story to its fans.

Additionally, we know that this movie is one of three animated Avatar movies that Nickelodeon’s Avatar Studios will create. Avatar Studios is “a newly formed division designed to create original content spanning animated series and movies based on the beloved world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.” We don’t know, however, if the movies will serve as sequels to one another or each will be a stand-alone.

What we do know, though, is that we better see more of Appa and Momo. In fact, sign us up for a full Appa and Momo movie. We know from the series that they can carry it. Just think of the cuteness overload.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie‘s Cast

We don’t have any word yet on who will voice our heroes in the movie, but we hope to see some of our original favorites reprise their roles. Dante Basco is Zuko, after all.

Behind the Scenes 

Lauren Montgomery will direct the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. Additionally, series co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino will produce the film alongside Eric Coleman.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie‘s Release Date

One thing we do know is when we can expect the new Avatar: The Last Airbender animated movie. The movie will release on October 10, 2025.

Originally published May 2, 2023.

The post Original Voice Cast Unlikely to Return for New AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Animated Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

Rejoice, fellow Straw Hats, Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation has found its core cast. Previously, Netflix shared that it was partnering with Tomorrow Studios and Shueisha to bring to life one of the best-selling manga ever. And now, this pirate adventure has found its core live-action cast in Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar. Netflix has also announced the casting of other One Piece friends and foes. Additionally, the platform has confirmed that One Piece will arrive on Netflix in 2023 and revealed a first-look character teaser.

Jump to: First-Look and Release Date // Straw Hats Casting // Other Casting // More About One Piece

One Piece First-Look Teaser, Status, and Netflix Release Date

Netflix recently teased its One Piece story with a first-look image of live-action Monkey D. Luffy. Of course, this look is more of a teaser because we only get to see this iconic character from behind in the artwork. But there’s no mistaking that straw hat. We’ll take what we can get.

Additionally, Netflix commented on the release date window for One Piece in a release. Although it didn’t give much specific information yet, the streamer has confirmed that live-action One Piece will be arriving to stream in 2023. At least it’s something to look forward to!

Recently, One Piece‘s creator, Eiichiro Oda shared an update with fans about there series, confirming they were in the final process of finishing the show’s eight episodes.

Hopefully, all of this means a trailer soon.

One Piece‘s Straw Hat Pirates Casting

Here’s how the One Piece live-action casting breaks down. Firstly, Iñaki Godoy (he/him) will play Monkey D. Luffy.

Next, Mackenyu (he/him) will play Roronoa Zoro.

Mackenyu is Zoro pic.twitter.com/g3BGmjNvz8

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Additionally, Emily Rudd (she/her) will play Nami.

Emily Rudd is Nami pic.twitter.com/Jz33qbhemU

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Jacob Romero Gibson (he/him) will play Usopp.

Jacob Romero Gibson is Usopp pic.twitter.com/my1WozJK5B

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

And Taz Skylar (he/him) will play Sanji.

Taz Skylar is Sanji pic.twitter.com/u5HlUDAnNP

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Other Members of One Piece‘s Live-Action Cast

Recently, Peter Gadiot joined the One Piece live-action cast as Shanks. Shanks is a “legendary and powerful pirate in the Grand Line” and Monkey D. Luffy’s childhood idol. So we feel there are great things in store for Gadiot. Here’s what he had to say about the show.

Additionally, six more actors will round out the One Piece cast.

In a release, Netflix shared the following information:

Morgan Davies (they/them) will play Koby.

Ilia Isorelýs Paulino (she/her) will play Alvida.

Aidan Scott (he/him) will play Helmeppo.

Jeff Ward (he/him) will play Buggy.

McKinley Belcher III (he/him) will play Arlong.

Vincent Regan (he/him) will play Garp.

From the sound of things, some of these new characters will cause trouble for our favorite Straw Hat pirates. Additionally, this casting seem to reveal Netflix is setting sail towards One Piece‘s Romance Dawn arc.

More about Netflix’s One Piece

In a release, Eiichiro Oda, the author of the manga series and executive producer of the show excitably shared more about the show. He wrote:

We’ve been working with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios on the massive project that is the Hollywood live action series adaptation of ONE PIECE! How many years has it been since it was announced, right? I know, I know! But rest assured we’ve been making steady progress all along! It’s not easy when you’re working with people from different cultures! But it’s precisely that process that can yield something special! For now, we’re able to announce the main cast! Rather, we need to hurry and announce it or else it’ll be leaked, apparently! Hilarious, lol.

Their face, the size of their mouths and hands, their aura, the way they carry themselves, their voice, their acting skills, their height, the balance amongst the Straw Hat Crew, etc…! We decided on this cast after numerous discussions involving people around the world! These are the people who will be our Straw Hat Pirates! It’ll take a bit more time to get this show done, but we’ll continue to do our best to deliver a show that we’re confident will be enjoyed by everyone around the world! Look forward to more updates in the future!

Oda even created special shirts for the equally excited, newly minted-cast. And with all this excitement, we can’t help but be excited ourselves.

Showrunner, writer, and executive producer Steven Maeda and writer and executive Producer Matt Owen added:

Finding the right people to pull off the looks, emotions, and actions of the iconic Straw Hats was a long and challenging (and fun!) process. Much like the search for the One Piece itself. But we have finally found the perfect fits! They have already begun working very hard to bring these characters to life. You will come to know and love them just as much as their manga counterparts. All of us can’t wait to show you what we’ve come up with! Onward to adventure!

We can’t wait to join the Straw Hats and see how this tale of the high seas unfolds. Ahoy, live-action One Piece.

Originally published on November 9, 2021.

The post Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Finds Its Cast, Shares Plot and Production Updates appeared first on Nerdist.

Keanu Reeves recently traded in John Wick’s weapons for a bass guitar as he took the stage to perform with the band Dogstar for the first time in many years. Right now, there are many whispers about the possibility of John Wick 5 and whether we’ll see Keanu Reeves step into the role of everyone’s favorite assassin again. But if John Wick 5 does get a green light, we probably won’t have to wait over 20 years for it. But for fans of Dogstar and Reeves as an indie rock star, it has been a minute. Reeves’ performance with Dogstar is the first the band has given in 23 years. That is a long time to wait for a sequel. But, hey, it’s never too late for the next chapter.

You can check out some of the band’s reunion and Reeves’ performance with Dogstar below:

Keanu Reeves’ return to the rock stage happened at the 2023 BottleRock Napa Valley festival at Napa Valley Expo. Reeves took the stage along with his Dogstar bandmates, singer Bret Domrose and drummer Robert Mailhouse, also an actor.

According to SFGATE, “Reeves played the role of stoic bassist, barely speaking during Dogstar’s one-hour set.” But the crowd was incredibly happy to see him anyway. And Reeves did give a little hop of excitement while on stage with the band. We love it.

Somehow, being part of a ’90s alt-rock band feels like the correct hobby for Keanu Reeves. Maybe it has to do with the perfectly grungy bangs that take a starring role in this performance. And hey, if John Wick does come back, perhaps we’ll find out he’s been hiding in plain sight as a musical sensation. We wouldn’t mind seeing Keanu Reeves put his musical skills to work with Dogstar, or a fictional version of the band, on the big screen.

In the meanwhile, we’ll just hope Dogstar‘s next performance doesn’t take place 20 years from now. We’d wait, but we wouldn’t like it.

The post Keanu Reeves Reunites with Band Dogstar for First Show in 20 Years appeared first on Nerdist.

We got our first look at season two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with a teaser chock full of emotion, adventure, and Spock being Spock. But now, the full trailer for Strange New Worlds season two has been released. And in addition to showcasing more of our favorite familiar faces, this trailer also gives us a look at a highly-anticipated Star Trek crossover event. Yes, the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks is going live-action and crossing over into the Strange New Worlds universe. In the trailer for season two, we get a glimpse of live-action Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler, played by Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid. We can also expect to see animation coming into the live-action world of the show.

You can watch the full Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season two trailer below.

The synopsis for the season shares a bit more about what we can expect to see. It notes:

Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), Spock (Ethan Peck) and the rest of the Enterprise crew are back exploring strange new worlds and boldly going where no one has gone before.

Short and to the point! But the trailer promises we’re going to go deep into the crew’s adventures. A blog post on Star Trek‘s official website notes that “In Season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, confronts increasingly dangerous stakes, explores uncharted territories and encounters new life and civilizations. The crew will also embark on personal journeys that will continue to test their resolve and redefine their destinies. Facing friends and enemies both new and familiar, their adventures will unfold in surprising ways never seen before on any Star Trek series.”

In addition to a season trailer, Paramount+ also released a clip showcasing the beginning of the trial of Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn). Starfleet arrested Number One at the end of the first season after learning she is an enhanced human, something wholly illegal. The clip shows various members of the crew giving testimony as to Una’s alleged sedition. While La’an (Christina Chong) and Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) highlight Una’s sterling character, Spock (Ethan Peck) alludes to her hiding something. We’ll have to wait for the season to find out what he says.

Well, that’s basically everything we love most about Star Trek. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season two releases on June 15. The series streams exclusively on Paramount+.

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Since the very first episode of Yellowjackets season one, one question has been on the mind of viewers. Who is the infamous Antler Queen? The Antler Queen, a mysterious figure we see presiding over ritualistic cannibalism deep in the wilderness, has become something of a phantom on Yellowjackets. And with every new episode revealed, fans continued to wonder if the darkness would ever offer us an answer. But with season two at an end, do we truly know who the Yellowjackets‘ Antler Queen is? Well, not exactly. But we do have some educated guesses. Let’s take a look at where things stand.

Is Lottie the Antler Queen on Yellowjackets?

Going into season two and throughout the season, Lottie seemed the odds-on favorite to be the face below the antlers. After all, in the present timeline, she disappeared for years while the other women kept in loose touch. And when she reappeared, she was running a cult of sorts. We even saw antlers seemingly sprout out of her shadow at one point. And Lottie was personally visited by visions of the Antler Queen during Yellowjackets season two.

In the past timeline, Lottie continued to channel the wilderness early in the season. She became a spiritual leader for the community of survivors, and the other girls showed her deference and heeded her words. They even believed she had supernatural powers over the forest. But being a spiritual leader doesn’t necessarily make you royal. Separation of Church and State can be a good thing, we suppose. In the Yellowjackets season two finale Lottie appears to remove her crown and bend the knee to a new sovereign. She notes that the wilderness no longer needs her as a conduit since all the girls have learned to listen to its whispers. Instead, she proclaims that, having protected Natalie from death, It has chosen a new leader.

Still, Lottie’s initial spell might yet hold some sway over the team. Lottie and Natalie will likely be two very different kinds of leaders. And it’s possible some faithful will want to revert to the old ways. We wouldn’t count Lottie out as Antler Queen just yet.

Could Natalie Be the Antler Queen?

At the end of Yellowjackets season two, all of the survivors curtsy to Natalie as though she is a queen, and so, right now, Natalie does look like she’s heading for Antler-hood. However, Lottie looked like that, too, at the end of Yellowjackets season one. The wilderness, unfortunately, is fickle. And the title of the Yellowjackets season two finale, “Storytelling,” reminds us that a tale is constantly being woven. At any time, a new author could jump in and shift everyone’s perspective on matters. It’s entirely possible Natalie becomes the Antler Queen, but whether she can stay the Queen for long on Yellowjackets is a different matter entirely.

Could Shauna Become Royalty?

A new writer could change the story altogether. And who do we see writing all the time? Why it’s Shauna. At the end of Yellowjackets season two, we see Shauna furiously journaling that she thinks the wilderness should have chosen her as the group’s leader. And sometimes, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Queen Natalie appears to have one naysayer already. With hunger gnawing at their critical thinking skills, the survivors are all very suggestible. Shauna could still become the Antler Queen if she plays her cards right.

Is Yellowjackets‘ Antler Queen Determined by a Card Pull?

Speaking of cards, there’s only one Queen in the deck right now: the Queen of Hearts. Pulling the Queen means death is on the horizon for you. But perhaps the Yellowjackets will find another Queen card in the woods. The team was already using cards to determine chore tasks before violence set in on them. It’s possible they could also use the cards to determine roles in their soon-to-form ritual of the hunt. Perhaps the Antler Queen isn’t one figure at all but an ever-changing position that each team member wears on rotation. Having the Antler Queen become a role and not a person would definitely add to the mythos of the figure, a deity greater than any one of its parts.

Ultimately at the end of Yellowjackets season two, we don’t know who exactly the Antler Queen is. But, more than ever, the series wants to keep us hungrily wondering who will wear the crown.

The post Who Is the Antler Queen at the End of YELLOWJACKETS Season 2? appeared first on Nerdist.

We’re about to head into the Spider-Verse like never before. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse promises a bigger Spidey adventure than we’ve ever seen on our screens. We’re talking about meeting hundreds of different Spider-People in many incredible worlds; all brought to life in varied and awe-inspiring animation styles. But, of course, at the heart of it are the characters we’ve grown to know and love and a very human set of fears and relationships. It’s Miles Morales that’s our true hero. And there’s nothing like a little closet cosplay to show your love for your favs. BoxLunch‘s latest Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse collection wants you to bring some of the movie’s magic into your universe as it celebrates our Brooklyn-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Click To View Gallery

Take a look at some pieces from the collection above, and, of course, keep your eyes peeled. You never know when an Easter egg may have snuck into a design. It’ll also be good practice because Across the Spider-Verse is sure to be chock full of references and subtle details at every turn.

You can check out the full Spider-Verse collection on BoxLunch. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse releases in theaters on June 2.

The post Celebrate Miles Morales and Co. with ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE BoxLunch Collection appeared first on Nerdist.

We’ve been on the edge of our seats wondering just what the highly-anticipated Barbie movie will actually be about. We’ve seen a few atmospheric teases but nothing that gives us as good a look at the movie’s plot as this latest trailer. And now that we have more of the story in front of us, it makes perfect sense. Barbie is a Barbie girl in a Barbie world in the Barbie movie. But she’s about to take on reality, whether she likes it or not. There might be some cold showers and flat feet to endure in the real world, but we have a feeling Barbie is about to learn that there’s also real beauty outside the enduring nature of plastic. However, as the Barbie movie trailer beautifully puts it, “Humans only have one ending. Ideas are forever.”

Take a look at this joyous and mildly existential-crisis-inducing trailer for the Barbie movie below.

We already love every Barbie and every Ken in this movie. Although we must admit, this Barbie trailer gives us some Life-Size vibes. Not that that’s a bad thing. The official description for the Barbie movie shares:

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

Honestly, that’s exactly what we got out of Barbie‘s trailer. We can’t wait to find out what truths Barbie will discover in her movie. And, of course, we’re sure she’ll teach some important lessons along the way. Ken, however, is probably doomed to stay exactly as he is for life. But that’s really what we need out of Ken, when it comes right down to it.

This film, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, among many other famous faces. The Barbie movie releases in theaters on July 21. And we have our best heels (or flats, this is the real world, after all) ready for the occasion.

The post Barbie Takes on the Real World, Death, and More in BARBIE Movie Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s not often that a movie comes around and kickstarts decades of blockbuster hits and a whole cinematic universe. But Iron Man is that rare movie; one that we can point to and say, wow, that really started it all. Now, on the 15th anniversary of Iron Man‘s release, there’s much to look back on. And who better to walk us through the origins, creation, and legacy of the MCU’s first true film than Marvel Studios President and Producer Kevin Feige and Executive Producer/Director Jon Favreau? Feige and Favreau recently sat down for a twenty-minute chat that’s all about 2008’s Iron Man. 20 minutes might seem long for a video, but it’s not nearly enough to capture the true impact of the movie.

Take a look at the retrospective below:

In addition to pure conversation, behind-the-scenes clips and other fun Easter eggs are interspersed throughout this 15th-anniversary Iron Man video. Feige and Favreau touch on many fascinating topics in this video. They include talk of how Robert Downey Jr. initially auditioned for the Fantastic Four role of Doctor Doom, the inception of the after-the-credits scene, and how Ryan Coogler figured into the release of Iron Man.

It’s always amazing to think that, at its inception, Feige and Favreau were taking a huge gamble on this movie and the idea of the MCU. On its 15th anniversary, we can definitely say, though, that Iron Man was worth the risk. We can’t wait to tune back in for the 40-minute, 30-year retrospective. Hopefully, we can get Robert Downey Jr. to join Feige and Favreau for that MCU lookback.

The post 15 Years Later, Kevin Feige and Jon Favreau Reflect on IRON MAN appeared first on Nerdist.

Recently, Nic Cage went on the record saying he didn’t need to be part of the MCU. Because, well, he’s Nic Cage. But apparently, being Nic Cage won’t stop Nicolas Cage from being in the DCU. Because, well, he’s Nic Cage, but it’s about time he is also Superman. Nic Cage is, of course, his own kind of Superman every day. But Cage almost played the Man of Steel in Tim Burton’s Superman Lives over two decades ago. The movie, of course, did not come to fruition. But now Nicolas Cage will become Superman, and he will do so by having a cameo in The Flash.

The Flash‘s director Andy Muschietti recently revealed to Esquire Middle East, “Nic [Cage] was absolutely wonderful. Although the role was a cameo, he dove into it.” Muschetti also noted, “I dreamt all my life to work with him. I hope I can work with him again soon… He is a massive Superman fan. A comic book fanatic.”

Cage recently revealed that in Superman Lives, his version of Superman “was more of a 1980s Superman with like, the samurai black long hair. I thought it was gonna be a really different, sort of emo Superman, but we never got there.” Honestly, we can dig it. But we don’t yet know how closely this emo version of Superman will resemble the cameo character that Cage will play in The Flash. However, we would like to see Cage with long black hair blasting Taking Back Sunday. Batman and Spider-Man have both gotten to go emo before. So why not Superman?

You can see a little glimpse of what could have been/what will be below. The video reveals Nicolas Cage doing some costume tests for Tim Burton’s Superman and maybe gives us a glimpse into his The Flash looks to come. And yes, we see the long hair and the eyeliner.

And soon, we guess we will get to see the real thing. Cage’s cameo and The Flash itself head to theaters on June 16.

The post This THE FLASH Cameo Is a Super Surprise Built Over Decades appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s here. The big change we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would merge HBO Max and Discovery+ content to create a new streaming product. And that streaming platform has finally launched on May 23 under the name Max. For many, this decision seems like a strange one. But despite what the masses think, they have no choice but to crown a new streamer. R.I.P. HBO Max, long live Max.

But what is Max? How is Max a different platform than HBO Max? And, most importantly, what will you have to pay for it? Well, those are all great questions. And Warner Bros. Discovery has some answers.

What Is Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max, How Do You Get It, and What Content Will It Have?

In the simplest terms, Max is a service that combines the offerings of HBO Max and Discovery+. However, while Max will replace HBO Max, it won’t replace Discovery+. Users can continue to subscribe to Discovery+ on a standalone basis, but HBO Max will transform into Max on May 23. This was likely done in an effort to allow users of Discovery+ to continue to subscribe at a lower cost.

According to Max’s website, all HBO Max users will get Max on May 23. And if you sign up for HBO Max now, Warner Bros. Discovery will “transfer your account information to Max when it arrives.” On certain devices, you will also need to download a new “Max” version of the app. On other devices, the Max app will appear automatically.

Max shares:

Amazon, Cox, Roku, VIZIO TV, Xfinity: Find the Max app and open it.

Android, Apple, DIRECTV, LG TV, PlayStation, Samsung TV, Xbox: Open HBO Max and choose Download.

Additionally, the platform notes:

Your HBO Max profiles, watch history, and your settings (including parental controls) are available in Max.

There are two things that don’t transfer to Max:

HBO Max downloads: You’ll need to download your shows and movies again with Max.

Custom profile pictures: If you had a custom profile picture in HBO Max, you’ll see a generic profile icon in Max (Max doesn’t support custom profile photos). If you’d like to choose a different profile avatar, go to Add and manage Max profiles.

As far as content goes, Max will contain HBO Max’s entire library plus “Discovery favorites,” defined as “the best real-life shows from your favorite TV brands: HGTV, the Food Network, TLC, ID, Magnolia, Discovery, and more.”

The Cost of a Max Subscription

Happily, or however you choose to feel about it, this move to Max will not include a price increase for most HBO Max users. HBO Max raised its price in January to $15.99/month for ad-free viewing, and that remains the Max pricing as well. Max with ads will cost $9.99/month. Meanwhile, “Ultimate Ad-Free” Max will cost $19.99/month. The difference between Max Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free is down to quality, device usage and downloads. Ad-Free Max allows you to “stream in Full HD on 2 devices at once, up to 30 offline downloads.” Ultimate Ad-Free Max meanwhile allows you to “Stream in 4K UHD on 4 devices at once, up to 100 offline downloads.”

Max Promises Max with Ads will Really Be “Max Ad-Lite”

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav recently noted that Max will have one of the “lightest ad loads in streaming.” In fact, he referred to Max with Ads as Max Ad-Lite, an interesting branding choice. Zaslav noted, “Max Ad-Lite subscribers get all the same content as ad-free subscribers. See only three or four minutes of ads per hour and pay just $9.99 a month.” Is that a good deal? It’s hard to say at this point.

The Verge reveals that viewers will see 15-second pre-roll ads that play before your content, 30-60 second mid-roll ads that arrive in the middle of viewing, and additional static ads that pop up when a program has paused. Additionally, there could be instances where brands pay more to offer fewer ads to viewers.

When Will Max Replace HBO Max?

As mentioned, HBO Max evolved into Max on May 23.

Why Did HBO Max Lose the HBO to Become Max?

Give that HBO Max has some pretty significant brand awareness, the rebrand seems strange for fans of the platform. It seems like the Warner Bros. Discovery’s perspective, however, is that if the HBO stayed, users wouldn’t understand that the platform now also contained a different kind of content. In an effort to appeal to as many subscribers as possible, HBO was removed from the title of the streamer. Of course, to many HBO symbolizes a kind of prestige and quality. So we will have to wait and see how users respond to the rebrand, and, ultimately, whether it was a good idea.

The post HBO Max Officially Renamed Max—Streamer Loses Letters, Adds Discovery+ Content appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s the age of change, and it’s enough to make your head spin. Streaming platforms and network television have been at odds since their inception. By and large, streaming is now a part of most people’s everyday lives, but despite rumors of its demise, network and cable TV continues to hang in there. But that doesn’t mean everything stays just the same, as we saw on Deadline. In a mind-bending move, the Paramount+ streaming channel and the Showtime network channel will merge together to create two platforms named Paramount+ with Showtime. And this merge is coming to the US on June 27.

Of course, this will have an impact on the content and pricing of the two platforms… And the subscription price consumers will have to pay. Confused yet? Let’s break it down.

Jump To: What Is Paramount+ with Showtime? // Subscription Costs for the Streamer // Content Changes

Paramount+ with Showtime to Replace Separate Streamers and Showtime Channel

Right now, on the streaming side, there’s the Showtime streaming service and the Paramount+ streaming service. And both those products are going to come together to create Paramount+ with Showtime (the streamer). The premium tiers of Paramount+ with Showtime will have Showtime content available alongside Paramount+ content. This merge will occur on June 27. And, officially, the standalone Showtime app will cease to exist by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Showtime is also currently a cable network. That network will no longer be Showtime and will instead become Paramount+ with Showtime (the TV channel). On that end, the TV network’s profile will receive a boost by also airing “Paramount+ originals in addition to the SHOWTIME originals, as well as Paramount Pictures movies that come to the services.”

Subscription Price Increases for Paramount+ with Showtime

Paramount+ with Showtime will see a price increase from Paramount+’s current cost. According to Variety, the premium tier, which currently costs, $9.99 on Paramount+ will rise to $11.99 for Paramount+ with Showtime’s ad-free offering. Of course, this will contain both Paramount+ and Showtime content.

Meanwhile, the essential plan, which contains ads and will not include Showtime content, will see its subscription cost increase from $4.99 a month to $5.99.

Content Changes for Paramount+ with Showtime

Content-wise, cancellations at Showtime have begun to occur, according to Deadline. The shows Three Women, Let the Right One In, and American Gigolo are reportedly canceled or heading for cancellation. Additionally, it was reported that Dexter: New Blood received a cancellation at Showtime. However, this may no longer be the case.

Regardless of the fate that awaits New Blood, it sounds like a Dexter prequel series is coming. This Dexter outing will focus on a younger version of the character. Executive Chris McCarthy notes, “The origin story will be set in Dexter’s hometown of Miami, and will touch on stories of real-life serial killers of the time period.” Additional Dexter spinoff series could also hit the new streamer. These could focus on “the back stories of compelling Dexter characters,” including one featuring the Trinity Killer.

Additionally, it looks like Paramount+ is also removing content from its platform. Per Deadline, among other things, Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone, which ran for two seasons, is no longer available on the platform. Also missing are The Real World: Homecoming, Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, and The Harper House.

Luckily, our personal favorite Showtime offering, Yellowjackets, seems thankfully safe. According to executive Chris McCarthy, it exemplifies one of Showtime’s strengths (complex characters) alongside shows like Billions. Well, we like the sound of that, anyway. Because we need Yellowjackets season two, and we will not take no for an answer. Angry buzzing will ensue.

Now that we’ve mostly wrapped around this change, we’ll have to wait and see what these latest landscape shenanigans bring to all of us. We’ll cross our fingers for only good things.

Originally published on January 30, 2023.

The post Paramount+ With Showtime Launching in June, Standalone Showtime App to Shut Down in 2023 appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s a complicated time for the prospect of artificial intelligence. More than ever, it seems like all the movies warning us about the threat of A.I. have more than a little merit to them. The latest of this ilk, a movie called The Creator seems to really understand the dangers posed by giving A.I. too much power and control over our lives. But at the same time, it also goes out of its way to humanize the artificial intelligence—a fascinating prospect. Where exactly The Creator falls on the morality of A.I. isn’t clear from its first teaser trailer. But we’re excited to explore more of this new sci-fi world.

Take a look at The Creator‘s first trailer below.

The synopsis for The Creator illuminates more of the plot we see in the trailer. It shares:

Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (John David Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Gemma Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself.  Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory… only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child. 

Joshua even reminds the A.I. child to buckle its seatbelt in The Creator‘s teaser trailer. But does a childlike form really change anything? We’ll just have to wait and see. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘s Gareth Edwards directs the movie, so it definitely has that going for it.

20th Century Studios‘ The Creator releases in theaters on September 29.

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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 have arrived at their final chapter.

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.”

We don’t yet know when the dubbed version of Ash’s final episodes will air, but the next round of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series arrive on Netflix on June 23. And according to Ash’s English-language voice actor, Sarah Natochenny, work on the final episode dub has begun—a bittersweet moment for all.

If you don’t want to be spoiled for Ash’s final Pokémon episodes, look away now!

Old Friends Join Ash for His Final Episodes

Recently, it was also revealed that Brock and Misty would join Ash and Pikachu for their final episodes as Pokémon‘s heros. And, of course, Ash’s first rival will make a comeback just in time for Ash’s last stand. It’s a fitting way to go.

Crunchyroll shares that the second episode of Ash’s last stand, Pokémon: Aim to Be a Pokémon Master,  will bring Misty back into the fold. Snippets of her appearance are teased in the above trailer. Meanwhile, episode three of Ash’s swan song will reveal the return of Brock and Cilan. GameRant indicates Misty will also appear, marking the reunion of our favorite trio. The first clips of Misty’s return have begun to surface on the internet.

In addition, joining the trio and their Pokéon will also be Team Rocket, the Squirtle Squad, and other old favs.

We’re not surprised Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and more will all come together to see out this chapter of the series, but we are emotional.

Ash’s Rival Gary Returns for Ash’s Very Last Episode

Sometimes in the world of anime, it’s not a hero’s friends who are their most powerful relationships, but their rivals. Ash and Gary started their Pokémon adventure on the very same day, and their relationship has woven through the series. And now, Gary will be back to help close Ash’s chapter on the show.

A synopsis from a Japanese TV guide for Ash’s last episode titled “Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!,” shared by Kotaku, notes:

When Ash and Pikachu return to Pallet Town, they reunite with Gary who asks Ash the question: How much closer to becoming the Pokémon Master are you now that you’ve become the Champion? Becoming a Pokémon Master has been Ash’s dream ever since he set off on his journey with Pikachu. Will Ash be able to find the answer to this question?

We bet we will see one final battle between Ash and Gary, but probably not an antagonistic one. No, we imagine this one will feel more bittersweet and poignant, capturing Ash’s growth on his long journey.

When Will Ash’s Last Pokémon Episodes Air

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. Ash’s final episode aired in Japan on March 24. There is no date set yet for when Ash’s final Pokémon episodes will arrive on Netflix in the US. But we know 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.)

The Future of Pokémon

And then, after that, a new dream will begin. 25 years later, Pokémon will center on fresh heroes. We now know they are named Liko 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.

Originally published on December 16, 2022.

The post After 25 Years, Ash and Pikachu Are Leaving POKÉMON appeared first on Nerdist.

The iconic. The fan-favorite. Those are just some of the ways Hard MTN Dew’s official page describes its drinks. And these descriptions speak the truth about these alcoholic sodas. Hard MTN Dew’s offerings roared to life in 2022, and they’ve only gotten more exciting. Since the release of the O.G. delightfully green and deliciously sweet flavor, Hard MTN Dew released three more alcoholic flavors for our enjoyment, four in total. And that, of course, includes the beloved Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast. And this summer, we’ll get even more ways to delight in a boozy Baja Blast. A brand new Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast variety pack is coming for our coolers, and now we can enjoy the drink in Pineapple, Mango, and Punch.

Those new hard Baja Blast flavors certainly say summer to us. We definitely feel ready to sip them on a beach. And delightfully, as always, these bubbly offerings contain no sugar and also no caffeine. But they do contain “the hard kick of alcohol.” Fair enough. This spin on the classic has 5% ABV. We’re delighted to have these three new Baja Blast varieties bring the total of Hard MTN Dew flavors to seven. One for whatever color we’re feeling most at any moment.

Of course, the four previously released flavors of this drink are still available for our enjoyment. Hard MTN Dew flavors already in existence include, of course, Baja Blast, but also Mountain Dew (all vowels included), Watermelon, and Livewire (orange). As mentioned above, all contain no sugar and have the same level of strength when it comes to their alcohol by volume.

Hopefully, we can find time to try them all… MTN Dew is already promising there will be another line-up next summer. Hard MTN Dew is currently available in a variety of shops.

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It’s time for Hellboy to make yet another cinematic comeback. Although the last Hellboy reboot didn’t go as well as hoped, it’s never too late for the next one to make a big splash. This go around, we’re going to see our favorite red demon appear in Hellboy: The Crooked Man. And this adaptation promises to be a unique cinematic take on the story, one that stays loyal to its comic origins.

Millenium Media will shepherd the production. And Brian Taylor will direct. But most importantly, Mike Mignola, who created the Hellboy comics, will write the script alongside his collaborator Chris Golden. According to Deadline, Hellboy: The Crooked Man will “expand Hellboy’s world through one of the most beloved issues of the comic series.” In addition, the movie has found its Hellboy. Deadpool 2‘s Jack Kesy will play this younger version of the character, per The Hollywood Reporter. In other casting news, Yellowstone‘s Jefferson White will star as Tom Ferrell and Resident Evil‘s Adeline Rudolph will act as Bobbie Jo Song. Hellboy: The Crooked Man has also officially wrapped principal photography, and Mignola assures us this adaptation does his work justice.

The Hollywood Reporter noted further details of the plot, sharing: “The new film will see Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. There, they discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy’s past: the Crooked Man.”

For those not in the know, the Crooked Man is bad news. In the Hellboy comics, the Crooked Man was named Jeremiah Witkins. Witkins was an evil man who profited from war and the troubles of others, which he sought to create for his own benefit. Eventually, he was hung for his dark deeds. But he returned to the land of the living as a demonic soul collector.

Millennium Media’s President Jeffrey Greenstein shared, “The Crooked Man is a departure from all previous Hellboy films where Mike Mignola and the creator of the comics will finally shepherd an authentic version of his stories and characters in film form. This is the first in the series of films that will captivate audiences in familiar (and new) ways. Brian Taylor is an expert across the board, and I couldn’t think of a better person to bring this story to life to show our audience this different and original Hellboy slate of films.”

Speaking with Collider, Taylor himself added more about the Hellboy reboot, promising to lean into the horror of it all. He offered:

So, first of all, I love the character of Hellboy, and my favorite run of the character is this particular era. The Guillermo del Toro movies were massive-scale space operas and just pure del Toro through and through.

But some of the comics Mike (Mignola) was doing at the time had a very different feeling. More lean and mean creepy folk horror. A younger Hellboy, wandering the dark corners of the world… Paranormal investigator, night stalker… The Crooked Man, in particular, is just such an iconic book—written by Mike, drawn by Richard Corben, another legend. Set in the late ’50s. For me, it’s my favorite version of the character. So the appeal of this one, to me, is to go back to that and do a real reset and really give us that version of Hellboy, which I just don’t think we’ve seen yet.

Additionally, Taylor teased the movie won’t shy from gore. He says, “I pitched an R-rated folk horror movie, and the team here at Millennium have been nothing but supportive. It’s a great group of people, and they love horror.” He added that his movie will have three leads. Alongside Hellboy, the movie will star Tom Ferrell and a mystery character created for the movie.

It certainly sounds like we’ll see something different coming our way with this Hellboy reboot… Something straight from hell.

Originally published on February 21, 2023.

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We’ve heard whispers of a Beetlejuice 2 movie for a long time. And although we still know almost nothing about the sequel movie, we do know that Beetlejuice 2 is now officially in the works at Warner Bros. Recent reports from The Hollywood Reporter indicate new activity on the long-anticipated sequel movie. Horror’s new queen Jenna Ortega, who has recently acted in Netflix’s Wednesday and the Scream franchise, will reportedly star as Lydia’s daughter in a Beetlejuice 2. The film currently has a September 6, 2024 release date.

In addition, the publication shares that Tim Burton, who directed the original Beetlejuice, is expected to return. Burton, of course, also directed Ortega in Wednesday. Alongside him, Michael Keaton is reportedly donning his stripes once more for a Beetlejuice sequel.

Reports also indicate that Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci have also joined the cast, as well as Willem Dafoe. Obviously, it’s too early to know what this movie will look like when complete. But if Beetlejuice 2 does happen, adding Ortega to the mix seems like a great decision. We imagine she and Keaton could crush a scene together. Maybe a Beetlejuice dance scene could even join her Wednesday number and successfully break the internet again.

Originally published on March 10, 2023.

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Adult Van arrived into our Yellowjackets lives to the sounds of “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes—a song that famously asks, “What’s going on?” And we’ve all been asking the same question about adult Van since she first appeared on Yellowjackets. Vanessa Palmer is no longer the teenage goalie who always had a smile for anyone, nor is she the wilderness believer we see emerge later in the woods. No, even though she’s running an incredibly cool video store, Adult Van feels shut down. She’s not paying her bills. She’s not taking of herself. And in episode seven of Yellowjackets season two, we find out a terrible truth about adult Van: she’s fighting cancer.

Earlier in the season, Tai found a bottle of oxycodone in Van’s medicine cabinet prescribed to V. Palmer. But Van waved off her suspicions, noting that it was actually her mother Vicki’s medication. Van explains her mother passed away and left behind the pills. But ultimately, we see her in great pain fishing the medicine out of the trash. For the keen viewer, it seemed clear that this was some good old fashion foreshadowing. Although Van’s mother may have been ill as well, adult Van was facing down the ailment she’d assigned to her mother, cancer.

While in Lottie’s compound, Adult Van and Tai get closer again and end up kissing. But Van admits that she can’t wait for Tai to figure out her life so they can get together again, literally. Although Van doesn’t specify what kind of cancer she has, it seems like it’s not the kind that can be easily cured. According to adult Van, she has only months before the cancer kills her.

The big question is, however, will adult Van actually die on Yellowjackets, in season two or beyond? On some levels, having the survivors die from a mundane cause after everything they’ve been through has some poetic irony to it. It does seem like at least one of the adult women is doomed to a fatal end. However, we hope that Van ends up last on that list, despite the ominous cancer diagnosis. Although Yellowjackets is an incredibly queer show, it does not actually have that many queer characters.

Coach Scott’s days already seem numbered. And to have Van survive so much in the wilderness, reach adulthood, and then meet death would be an unfortunate turn into the Bury Your Gays trope for the show. We’d like it much more if Lottie and the wilderness could somehow cure Van instead. We want Van to get her faith and her life renewed. Adult Van deserves so much more than the darkness she’s stuck in. Our fierce, queer icon deserves, instead, to really live.

Forget adult Van; we’d like to see elderly Van on Yellowjackets, please and thank you.

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Disney+’s ad tier is here, but it’s not exactly the good news consumers hoped for. Ostensibly, an ad tier for Disney+ should have lowered subscription costs, but that’s not exactly what it feels like is happening. Disney’s new ad tier, instead, costs the same as its ad-free tier previously did. And Disney+’s ad-free tier costs more. And it’s about to cost even more.

At a recent Disney earnings call, CEO Bob Iger revealed that Disney+’s ad-free tier was about to see a significant increase in cost. This is in order to “widen the delta” between what Disney+ costs with and without ads. Iger noted:

We plan to set a higher price for [the Disney+] ad-free tier later this year to better reflect the value of our content offerings

The exact magnitude of this Disney+ price increase is not yet known. But let’s take a look at what’s happening right now.

You can click to the area that interests you: The Price of Disney+’s Ad Tier // The Price of Disney+’s Ad-Free Tier // Hulu’s Cost Increases // The Price of Bundles

How Much Does a Disney+ Subscription Cost for Ad and Ad-Free Tiers?

The Price of Disney+’s Ad Tier

Disney+’s ad option is officially here. We first learned of the streamer’s plans to add an ad tier in May, but the streamer noted it hoped to use ads sparingly. Additionally, Kareem Daniel, former Chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, noted that “Expanding access to Disney+ to a broader audience at a lower price point is a win for everyone – consumers, advertisers, and our storytellers.” But now it’s looking more like just a win for Disney because, ultimately, there is no “cheaper” version of Disney+ coming to consumers.

Instead, the ad tier on Disney+ will cost $7.99 a month, the previous price of Disney+ without ads. Consumers will be paying the same amount, but now ads will also be included in the proposition.

The Price of Disney+’s Ad-Free Tier

Meanwhile, the cost of Disney+’s advertising-free tier, which we all currently experience with our subscriptions, rose the previous cost of the “ad-free tier.” To experience Disney+ with no advertisements, consumers pay $10.99, a three-dollar increase on the previous subscription price.

Although it may not seem like that much, given the number of streaming platforms consumers pay for these days, every increase is felt. Additionally, the addition of the ad tier ad feels like it fails to expand access but simply keeps access the same, with a better experience coming at a higher cost. Not ideal.

The cost of the ad-free tier will also increase soon, we’ll have to wait and see by how much.

How Much Does a Hulu Subscription Cost?

Hulu has also seen price hikes in its subscription costs. Hulu’s current ad-supported tier will go from a cost of $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year to $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year.

Meanwhile, Hulu’s ad-free tier, which currently costs $12.99 a month, will see a leap to costing $14.99. Hulu’s cost increases will come into play on October 10.

The Cost of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Bundles

Bundled plans will also see price increases. Disney is offering a package of Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $9.99/month. Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu, all without ads, will cost $19.99/month. Bundles with Hulu + Live TV and the other two platforms will also see an increase in cost to $69.99. This previously ad-free bundle will now include ads.

Soon Disney+ and Hulu will also join their content in one app, although both services will be available as standalone products. We don’t yet know what the join Hulu/Disney+ offering will cost consumers.

Disney+ Ad Tiers Have Arrived, But Streaming Still Costs More

In summary, Disney+’s advertising-based tier has now launched. In the meanwhile, Hulu, ESPN, and bundling will all cost more as price hikes kick in. This is probably not what consumers had in mind when they heard more options were coming to the streaming platform.

Only time will tell how these changes in subscription costs will affect Disney+, Hulu, their audiences, and their platforms. We’ll also have to wait and see what effect this ad tier has on other streamers, like Netflix, exploring ad tiers. Good luck to everyone navigating the streaming world out there.

Originally published August 10, 2022.

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What is grandma hiding? Probably nothing good. But Detective Pedro Pascal is on the case in the latest Merge Mansion ad. Taking on his latest and greatest role, Pascal transforms himself into overly dramatic investigator Tim Rockford for this parody ad, which doubles as a short story. And he doesn’t even have words for the crimes before him. And honestly, neither do we.

A normal family, many knives, a set of nefarious knitting needles… Everything points to grandma. As the trailer notes, “This is not your average game of canasta.” We can’t say we are going to rush to download the game now. But we can say that casting Pedro Pascal in this ad is the best decision Merge Mansion ever made. Because now people will clamor for a Merge Mansion Knives Out-like movie with Pedro Pascal as an overly serious and yet perfectly goofy detective. And you know, we’re clamoring too.

Tim Rockford also returned for two more delicious and mysterious shorts. All three videos are equally full of Pedro Pascal giving his best detective and, of course, of hilariously high camp. It’s really a genius enticement for us to play Merge Mansion.

Metacore also brought its game to life. The company hosted an immersive experience at the Legendary Paramour Estate in Los Angeles, “which was part live-action theater, part escape room and part lore museum.” You can catch a glimpse of it below. Ashley Benson and Jesse Williams also join in the fun. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal doesn’t seem to have come to this adventure as Detective Rockford but, instead, arrived as himself. And that’s a lot of fun to watch too!

To all of this, we say, bring on Detective Pedro Pascal in every form possible.

Originally published on March 10, 2023.

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Who doesn’t love a good origin story? Superheroes get them all the time. So why not give one to a true hero of our age, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? Directed by Eva Longoria, the movie gives us a spicy tale of how one of Frito Lay’s most iconic products came to exist.

Take a look at Flamin’ Hot‘s trailer below.

The official synopsis for the film shares more about what we can expect to see in Flamin’ Hot. It notes:

FLAMIN’ HOT is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia), the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon

Some reports indicate that this story might be more urban legend than pure fact. But we guess that’s what Hollywood is for. Either way, who doesn’t want to celebrate Cheetos? Hopefully, the movie is as red-hot as the snack behind it. The Cheetos movie will stream on Hulu and Disney+ on June 9.

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Recently, we had a lot of Star Wars excitement when Lucasfilm announced three new upcoming movies. But in addition to those movies, there are a handful of Star Wars films that have been in the works for quite some time. These long-awaited projects include Star Wars movies helmed by Taika Waititi and Rian Johnson, and a movie, with an actual title, Rogue Squadron, from Patty Jenkins. In addition, other Star Wars projects, such as a Lando Calrissian Disney+ series, have been heavily discussed but haven’t seen much progress. Recently though, a slew of Star Wars projects received brief updates from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

Here’s what she said, speaking to Empire (via Slash Film) about these movies and TV shows.

Rian [Johnson] and I talk all the time. […] [He] just keeps getting more and more successful, and it keeps moving things back further and further. One day we’ll figure this out. And Taika [Waititi] is working away. He’s just, and he won’t get mad at me for saying this, slow. We’ve got a couple of acts, we need a third. And Lando is still on the books, and Rogue Squadron is still on the books. We just want them to be great.

A series of very interesting updates. It’s good to know all these projects are still on the books. And at least Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie sounds like it’s inching along surely, if slowly. Of course, things could change, for better or for worse, at the drop of a hat. Hopefully, though, we’ll see some of these Star Wars movies and series come to life sooner rather than later, or at least we hope to get more updates on where they stand. We sure have had much time to imagine what they might be like.

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Good news, everyone, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has completed development. The long-awaited game is ready to go. And to celebrate, Nintendo gave us a good look at the gameplay that awaits us when Tears of the Kingdom releases. Tears of the Kingdom brings us back into the gorgeous open world we first saw in Breath of the Wild, but, of course, this Zelda game also brings many changes for players to discover.

Let’s take a look at our best tease yet of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and its multifaceted gameplay.

The Tears of the Kingdom gameplay demonstration walks us through this Zelda game’s many new settings, abilities, weapons, enemies, and more. We especially love the beautiful golden trees that feature in the game’s Sky Islands. They remind us a bit of The Rings of Power‘s Lindon. But, of course, peril also awaits in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. So we can’t get too caught up in all the beautiful artistry. Instead, we’ll fuse weapons to take on strange foes and try out new skills. Our favorite new weapon is the long-stick pitchfork. Although the Tears of the Kingdom‘s puff-mushroom shield, which we saw in the gameplay trailer, is pretty good too.

In this The Legend of Zelda game, you can even craft your own transportation based on objects you find lying around. We now know that this ability is called Ultrahand. And don’t worry, it appears there is a way to easily recreate designs you’ve already created, as long as you have the necessary materials on hand. Honesty, we like this Tears of the Kingdom feature a lot.

Additionally, Tears of the Kingdom will have some exciting and diverse dungeons, a feature that Breath of the Wild did not emphasize as much as other Zelda games. In fact, they’ll offer experiences that weren’t available in the previous Zelda game. Developer Takuhiro Dohta shares in a recent interview, “We’ve made dungeons unique to their respective environments, so we think you’ll be able to enjoy the wide variety of regional characteristics.” And additionally, developer Satoru Takizawa notes:

Making a “wide variety” was pretty challenging. The four Divine Beasts were the dungeons in the last game, and they shared similar designs. This time, the dungeons are huge and each carry their own regional look and feel, just like traditional The Legend of Zelda games. We think they will provide a satisfying challenge for players. They were certainly a challenge to develop!

It certainly sounds exciting to us. You can see some of the game’s features and abilities in a recent tease from Nintendo.

In addition, the Nintendo presentation revealed another surprise. A brand new limited edition OLED Nintendo Switch celebrating Tears of the Kingdom. The console was released on April 28, slightly before the game’s release, and is now available for purchase. Not to mention, it sure is pretty. Additionally, a limited edition Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and carry case for the game will become available on May 12.

Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom‘s gameplay looks incredible. Honestly, after watching someone actually play, we want to get our hands on this game right now. But we’ll have to wait a little while longer for that. Tears of the Kingdom releases on May 12, and you can pre-order it today.

Originally published on March 28, 2023.

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The Guardians of the Galaxy, especially Rocket and Nebula, have had an unexpected relationship with Bucky Barnes in the MCU. No, the three characters, who all have many backstory commonalities and hardships, haven’t connected over their shared pains. Instead, in the MCU, Rocket and Nebula tie into Bucky Barnes via his metal arm. This connection led fans to speculate that Nebula’s new arm (also metallic) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was actually related to Bucky’s. But this turned out not to be the case.

The saga of the Guardians and the arm began in Avengers: Infinity War. The movie had some interesting franchise mashup scenes, including between Rocket and Bucky. And Rocket expressed great interest in “getting that arm” off Bucky, for sale or not.

In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the story of Bucky and Rocket continued. Nebula gifted Rocket Bucky’s arm to make his holiday dreams come true. Director James Gunn confirmed that Nebula “took a trip to earth and tore it off his [Bucky’s] body because she was feeling so Christmasy.” Although we have no doubt Nebula can beat Bucky in a fight, we much prefer a vision where Bucky lends her a spare arm for Rocket. Bucky’s arm is, after all, his arm.

With all this armstory between them, when fans saw Nebula had a new arm in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, they suspected it might be related to Bucky’s stolen/borrowed limb. But James Gunn has confirmed that is not the case. Nebula’s arm is not Bucky’s; instead, it is its own creation.

However, Gunn also confirmed that Rocket built Nebula her new arm. And given that Rocket is now the proud owner of Bucky Barnes’ arm, it’s possible he may have taken some inspiration.

Perhaps one day, Black Panther Shuri and Rocket can have a meeting of the minds over the best arm designs. We’d love to see how that conversation plays out.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

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