Victor Timely’s stay at the TVA was both short and long. Soon after arriving he tried to stop the Temporal Loom’s complete failure but before he could, temporal radiation turned him into human spaghetti. What exactly happened to Victor? And what does his demise mean for Loki, the TVA, the Sacred Timeline, and the entire MCU? His un-Timely death just unleashed total chaos—and infinite Kang Variants— on the multiverse.

What Happened to Victor Timely on Loki?

Victor Timely provided the final component O.B. and Casey needed for the device they’d built to expand the Temporal Loom’s capacity. The Throughput Multiplier that Victor designed would ensure the Loom could handle more strands of universes safely, stabilizing the Sacred Timeline.

Just like in the season two premiere with Mobius and the Temporal Extractor, someone needed to physically place that piece of equipment on the Loom. That meant going outside the TVA and risking exposure to extreme temporal energy and “fatal corporeal de-husking.” (A term we know from an official show poster featuring O.B.)

Despite the risk, there was no time to waste. The Loom was ready to burst under the strain of too many branches. Victor, whose temporal aura had unlocked the blast doors, offered to go. Sadly his bravery led to his death. Even with a suit on, the instant Victor stepped outside he burst into ribbons. The amount of temporal radiation had become too much.

Why did Victor turn into spaghetti instead of simply exploding or having his skinned peel off, though? In the show’s season two premiere, Loki asked O.B. what would happen if the Temporal Extractor failed to the pull the Asgaradian out of the time stream. Ouroboros answered with a question. “Well, have you heard about how if you fall into a black hole you turn into spaghetti?” Loki had not, but we have.

What Is “Spaghettification?”

“Spaghettification” is a theoretical concept introduced by Stephen Hawking in A Brief History of Time. It hypothesizes what the immense density and gravitational pull of a black hole would do to someone or something who crossed the black hole’s event horizon. As NASA explains, “This effect essentially stretches out the object more and more as the object gets closer to the black hole, creating a long, thin shape.”

That is what O.B. warned Loki about, but it’s not exactly what happened to Victor Timely. For one Victor wasn’t caught in the time stream like Loki had been. Victor also wasn’t stretched into one long Variant noodle. Temporal radiation caused Victor to burst into multiple spaghetti-like ribbons, something we’ve seen before in the MCU.

Who Else Was Turned Into Spaghetti in the MCU Before Victor Timely?

Thanos used the Reality Stone in Avengers: Infinity War to briefly transform Mantis into loose ribbons.

The Scarlet Witch also used her dark magic to brutally murder Reed Richards of Earth-838 in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Magic. Wanda stretched Reed out into long spaghetti-like pieces before making his head explode.

Reed Richards’ slower, painful splintering more resembled Victor Timely’s instant death in many ways. However, the Kang Variant’s fate will have far greater ramifications for the entire multiverse. That starts with what Victor failed to stop.

What Happened to the TVA at the End of Loki Season 2 Episode 4?

Without the Throughput Multiplier in place the ever-increasing number of branches overwhelmed the Temporal Loom. The “heart of the TVA” could no longer weave all those strands of existence into one neat timeline. The result was an explosion of all branches and unrefined time that seemingly destroyed the TVA.

Without the Time Variance Authority there is no one to help manage the chaos of a multiverse that also lacks the guardrails offered by the Sacred Timeline. And we know that means because we know what happened before the TVA existed.

What Does the Implosion of the Temporal Loom Mean for Loki and the MCU?

The Temporal Loom’s explosion literally threatens all threads of reality in the MCU. In Loki season two, episode six, we learn that no branch of existence is safe after the Temporal Loom’s meltdown, they are all dying. We see both Sylvie’s and OB’s separate branches disintegrate into nothing before our eyes. Sphagettification is now happening across branching timelines, essentially destroying every MCU universe and every variant in existence.

But that’s not the only threat that exists for the MCU. He Who Remains created the TVA after defeating his Variants in the Multiversal War. Their battle nearly resulted in the end “of everything and everyone.” The TVA was He Who Remains’ solution to avoiding total annihilation, because without the organization, his Variants would always be a threat to existence. Without the TVA, Kang Variants always live since time is a circle. The TVA alone eliminated them as threats forever. (Except possibly Victor, who might have been He Who Remains’ backup plan specifically because Victor was not a threat, though we need more information to know for sure.)

The breaking of the Temporal Loom, and therefore the Sacred Timeline, means the system created to prevent Kang Variants from existing is gone. That means they might all have come back the second the Loom exploded. That would explain the existence of the Council of Kangs at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. All those infinite strands of existence that just broke free of TVA control represent infinite Kangs.

That might ultimately explain why Victor himself turned into strands.

Is Victor Timely’s Spaghetti Fate Related to the Branching Timeline?

Temporal radiation is not a black hole, so Stephen Hawking’s theory doesn’t fully explain why Victor Timely became spaghetti in Loki. There’s also too much we don’t know about how time works in the MCU, specifically at the TVA, to explain exactly what happened to him and why. And since we know the season did not end with the Loom’s explosion, there’s still more to learn. But we can’t ignore that Victor literally branched out right before every branch of reality broke free.

Did Victor splinter into strands because the branches of reality did that to him? Or did the Loom finally burst because He Who Remains’ Variant did? If so, does that mean Victor’s temporal aura spaghetti-ed and brought all the Kangs back? Did He Who Remains actually want that so he’d come back, too? The last thing he told Sylvie after she stabbed him was that he’d see her “soon.” Was Victor his backup plan to restore himself rather than save the TVA? Does He Who Remains just assume he’ll win the next Multiversal War same as before?

Whatever answers await us during the final episode of Loki season two, one thing is clear: the untimely death of Victor Timely unleashed infinite strands of chaos on the multiverse. Fortunately, if anyone knows how to deal with time chaos it’s the God of Mischief, who already knows what it’s like to slip through time.

Originally published on October 26, 2023.

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

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It’s probably not a hard sell getting big names to sign on for a Hayao Miyazaki movie. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the legendary filmmaker’s Studio Ghibli legacy? No one is too famous for that. But even though we know that to be true, we’re still floored by the newly announced cast for the English-language dub of the iconic director’s upcoming The Boy and the Heron. It features some of Hollywood’s most popular and beloved stars, a list too impressive to pick only one or two to highlight. And in its first trailer for the english-language dub of The Boy and the Heron, this Miyzakai movie shows off its steller cast.

GKIDS, which handles North American distribution for Studio Ghibli recently announced the cast for the English dub of The Boy and the Heron (A film we here at Nerdist described as a “truly mesmerizing feat of animation.”) And now we can hear them in action. The list of voice performers—fittingly—speaks for itself. It includes: Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. The full list of who plays who is below, but we especially cannot get over Robert Pattinson playing the gray heron.

The film will also feature Luca Padovan, as well as Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens as the Parakeets. Yeah, Dan Stevens is the last person they mentioned.

The Boy and the Heron‘s Famous Cast and Their Character Roles

Here is the breakdown of The Boy and the Heron‘s cast and the characters they play. See if you can hear their voices in the trailer for this Studio Ghibli movie’s English dub.

SHOICHI MAKI is played by Christian Bale

THE PARAKEET KING is played by Dave Bautista

NATSUKO is played by Gemma Chan

NOBLE PELICAN is played by Willem Dafoe

LADY HIMI is played by Karen Fukuhara

GRANDUNCLE is played by Mark Hamill

GRAY HERON is played by Robert Pattinson

KIRIKO is played by Florence Pugh

MAHITO MAKI is played by Luca Padovan

THE PARAKEETS are played by Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens

More About The Boy and the Heron

If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, which debuted at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, here’s its official synopsis:

A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Both the original Japanese and new English language versions will come to North American theaters on December 8. (Some special preview screenings will begin earlier on November 22.) Which version should you watch: the Japanese version or the English dub? Why choose when you have the perfect excuse to see a new Hayao Miyazaki movie twice? We doubt the biggest names in the industry would pass on that opportunity, either.

Originally published on October 17, 2023.

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The House of the Dragon is about to get a lot bigger on HBO. Warner Bros. Discovery has ordered another Game of Thrones prequel set during the Targaryen dynasty to series. Based on George R.R. Martin’s collection of novellas, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it will bring the beloved duo of Dunk and Egg to life. But unlike its two predecessors, they won’t be moving around like their famous family members. This will be the first Game of Thrones show not to feature dragons. Instead it will feature a famous One-Eyed Raven.

HBO has finally settled on a second Westeros spinoff. Currently known as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, the show will follow two legendary figures in the Realm’s history: Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire/secret Targaryen prince, Aegon. (Yup, another Aegon.) The show has been in development for more than two years. Martin and Ira Parker will write and executive produce the show. Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis will also serve as executive producers. According to Variety, at a recent press event, HBO CEO Casey Bloys shared that the series will begin production in spring 2024, pending the resolution of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Hopefully, the studios will soon agree to fairly compensate and protect their actors.

HBO also shared an official logline for the prequel:

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Martin has released three novellas about Dunk and Egg’s adventures together, which came in the immediate aftermath of the Blackfyre Rebellion. That was the second famous Targaryen civil war in Westeros, the one fought after dragons went extinct. The three stories were later collected in the book that lends its name to the show’s title.

While we know the fate of Dunk and Egg many years later (which you can read about here if you don’t mind spoilers), there’s so much of their earlier time together we do not. Beyond the three stories Martin has published, he has long said he had/has plans for many more entries. Even if he never writes them, he can now use those ideas as a basis for storylines on the show.

Recently, HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi noted more about how the series would structure itself. She offered that it would run “ideally year-to-year and arcing out a three-season series, which maps out the three novellas that George wrote… Of course, we’d like more beyond that, and George is continuing to think about the remaining novellas that he still wants to write, but at this point, we have our eye on three seasons that would map out each book, each novella.”

Even if we simply get adaptations of the three we have read, though, they will provide a fascinating look at the Seven Kingdoms during an important era in its history. The first Blackfyre Rebellion split the Realm in two. But the end of a war does not guarantee peace. And while House Targaryen did not have dragons during this time period, they did have magic. Also, the actions of family members also had major implications on their ancestors 100 years later during the events of Game of Thrones. A couple of them were still around then, too.

Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch was Egg’s brother. (He called out to Egg while dying.) And the Three-Eyed Raven (known as the Three-Eyed Crow in the novels) was one of the most important figures before, during, and long after the Blackfyre Rebellion. Long before he became part of a tree far beyond the Wall he was an infamous sorcerer and political figure. Just getting to see him in his heyday will make this spinoff worth watching.

Not that it needs any more reasons than Dunk and Egg. Warner Bros. Discovery didn’t need a Three-Eyed Raven to tell the people love this duo for a reason. Or that another Game of Thrones spinoff is a good idea.

Originally published on April 12, 2023.

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Summer is nothing but a memory now and fall is coming to a close. It’s time to start preparing for a long Hoth-like winter. It’s also time to start filling out our holiday wish lists. Fortunately Columbia Sportswear is back to help us with both. The company has announced its newest Star Wars winter collection. This year’s lineup celebrates the iconic flightsuit worn by one of the greatest Jedi ever. The new special-edition Skywalker Pilot Collection is an orange-ode to Luke’s X-wing garb.

And this set is Columbia’s biggest Star Wars one ever.

On December 1, 2023 Columbia wants you to take on both the elements and the Empire. That’s when it’s launching its special Skywalker Pilot Collection. The nine-piece orange and white set will keep you toasty from head to toe in the style of the famed Rebel. (It will also lead to you explaining Aurebesh to those unfamiliar with that galactic alphabet.)

The five big ticket items include:

• Skywalker Pilot Ski Suit ($500) – Luke flight suit inspires this online, limited exclusive. It’s Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable and has Omni-Heat Infinity lining. It also comes with multifunctional pockets and Star Wars extras like a T-65 X-wing Starfighter and R2-D2 blueprint graphics.
• Skywalker Pilot Ski Jacket ($350) – Luke Skywalker’s flight jacket is the foundation of this ski coat. It also features all the same features as the collection’s Ski Suit.
• Skywalker Pilot Lightweight Jacket ($200) – This is the set’s second coat based on Luke’s flight jacket. It has Omni-Heat Infinity lining, as well as comfort cuffs and zippered pockets. And it is comes adorned with a T-47 Airspeeder/Snow Speeder graphic on the security pocket.
• Skywalker Pilot Pullovers ($150) – This zippered sweatshirt is made of heavyweight cotton-blend fabric and has high-loft fleece backing. It also includes a utility chest pocket with flak-vest inspired baffling. Plus it has the same Star Wars details as the Ski Suit
• Skywalker Pilot Snow Goggle ($300) – This limited snow goggle takes its inspiration from Luke Skywalker’s helmet and visor. It comes with two interchangeable lenses with Swiftlock lens change system. It also has an anti-fog treatment and a triple-layer face foam and armored venting. It comes with a carrying pouch that features T-65 X-wing Starfighter and T-47 Airspeeder/Snow Speeder blueprint graphics. The snow goggle has its ow custom box, a Rebel patch, Star Wars logo on the inner strap, and silicone and prints inspired by helmet insignia.

Fans who want to stay warm this winter can also grab four other items. That includes a Skywalker Pilot Long Sleeve Shirt ($70). You can also opt for the short sleeve version (55). And you can round everything out with Skywalker Pilot Ball Cap ($40) and adjustable Pilot Crossbody Bag ($50)

Like we said, Columbia’s yearly winter Star Wars collection really makes filling out your holiday wish list easy. Just so long as you don’t lose track of time filling it out and get ambushed by some TIE fighters. The Skywalker Pilot Collection does not include a way to call Han Solo for help.

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McDonald’s jingle is as famous as its Chicken McNuggets, but the company might need to update its tune ahead of a new collaboration. We’re not talking about a big rewrite or anything. We’re thinking something like, “Ba da ba ba ba, I’m wearin’ it,” because the fast food chain is getting into the comfortable footwear business. The latest line from Crocs gives McDonald’s mascots their own signature shoes. And while these clogs might sound very silly (they are), they are also strangely stylish.

Crocs is about to serve up a tasty new line of McDonald’s footwear. Their latest partnership (which we first learned about at Hypebeast) transforms McDonald’s characters, foods, logos, and colors into four different pairs of clogs. Each shoe—which has no business looking as good as it does—also comes with its own custom Jibbitz charms. The four McDonald’s Crocs options include:

• McDonald’s red and yellow classic clog with Big Mac, french fries, drink, Chicken McNuggets, and Golden Arches Jibbitz
• Birdie yellow and pink classic clog with Birdie figure, lashed eyes, scarf, and yellow wrapped burger Jibbitz
• Hamburglar black-and-white striped classic clog with yellow interior and Hamburglar figure, red tie, white wrapped burger, hat, and smiling mouth Jibbitz
• Grimace purple Cozzzy Slide clogs with a lined interior and Grimace figure, shake, eyes, and smiling mouth Jibbitz

No, you aren’t wrong. Those Grimace Cozzzy Slide clogs are straight purple fire.

The collection is expected to go on sale to the public at the end of this week starting on November 2. You can grab your McDonald’s Crocs at select retailers and Crocs’ online shop. Hypebeast says they will range from $70 to $75.

I doubt they’ll be available for long. With billions of customers served and everyone in the world looking for comfortable footwear, this seems like a very happy (meal) meeting of brands. I know I’m going to try and snag the pair that celebrate my personal hero, the Hamburglar. However, unlike him, I am willing to pay for a product I love. Why? Ba da ba ba ba, I don’t feel like wearin’ an orange jumpsuit with my new McDonald’s Crocs.

The post Crocs Serving Up New Line of McDonald’s Mascot Clogs appeared first on Nerdist.

Considering it made roughly 40 gazillion dollars at the box office, earned rave reviews from critics and viewers alike, and might very well garner multiple Oscar nominations next year, it’s hard to imagine Barbie could have been any better. But there’s at least one way to make it awesome in a different way: add a cat. That always improves any film or show. And if you doubt that, the latest video from the YouTube channel OwlKitty shows why. It edits a black cat into Barbie to serve as the true object of Ken’s affection.

Sorry Stereotypical Barbie, you had your chance. You are no longer Kenough for Barbieland’s lovesick blonde beacher. Not after OwlKitty finally gave Ken what he wanted in life and reciprocated his love.

Well, at least this cat (real name Lizzy) is willing to do that some of the time. Every furry feline owner knows you can never get your cat to appreciate you 100% of the time. Sometimes they just want to be left alone to nap. But this cat’s love is still a huge improvement over the lack of attention Ken got from Barbie in the film. Honestly, it’s a great solution for everyone.

This video is the latest piece of fantastic internet silliness from a channel that has also re-imagined Top Gun: Maverick, Titanic, and Jurassic Park with a cat as the main star. And despite this new entry being so short, it touches on some of the best parts of the movie. From replacing Margot Robbie in the opening sequence to editing the cat into some of Ken’s best moments, this Barbie mashup is among the YouTube channel’s best. Especially since it seamlessly adds OwlKitty into one of 2023’s best movie moments, Ken’s big musical number “I’m Just Ken.”

I’m already on record as having an out-of-body experience the first time I saw that sequence. It is perfect in every way. Now it’s perfect in a second way, the only way anyone possibly could have improved Barbie. It now has a cat.

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The members of U.S. Outpost #31 might have been exhausted from fighting an extraterrestrial foe and not knowing who they could trust, but we’ll never get tired of watching John Carpenter’s The Thing. His seminal 1982 sci-fi horror film is still one of our favorites. It had always, and will always scare us. But while we’d normally be loathe to invite any of that arctic encampment’s personnel home (you really can’t be too careful when shape-shifting aliens are involved), we’re definitely going to make an exception soon. Mondo’s incredible new figure of Kurt Russell’s R.J. MacReady is ready to protect us with his flame thrower. And we’ll need him to. He’s coming with two of the movie’s most iconic monsters.

Mondo’s newest collectible (first announced by SyFy) brings a truly iconic character to life. The Thing‘s MacReady is getting a highly-detailed 1/6 scale figure designed by Joe Allard. It also features sculpts by Pichet Pitsuwan and Matt Black, painting by Viola Wittrocka, Hector Arce, and Ed Bradley, and clothing from Tim Hanson. And it comes with a ton of accessories to allow personalization. Here’s everything in included in the base figure:

• Fabric Faux Leather Jacket 
• Fabric Flight Suit 
• Fabric Under Shirt 
• Faux Leather Belt 
• Standard Head 
• Frozen Head 
• Shot Gun 
• Pistol 
• Pistol Holster 
• Flame Thrower Pack 
• Flame Thrower 
• Detachable Flame Accessory 
• Hand Sets – Fist, Trigger and C-Grip 
• Gloved Hands 
• Figure Stand 

Never has a figure looked so cold but also been so fire. Our bet, though, is not many fans of The Thing will opt to get the Regular Edition base figure ($235). Not when the limited Timed Edition version ($265) also comes with an articulated replica of the Spider-Head Creature as well as a mini-figure of the film’s Mutated Dog.

Click To View Gallery

Shh. No one tell Mondo we would have paid waaaay more to get those two monsters. And maybe don’t mention our fear they’ll come alive in the middle of the night is greater than zero.

Fittingly pre-orders for The Thing: MacReady Timed Edition will open at MondoShop.com on Halloween at 12 noon CT. It will be available for just ten days, with sales ending at Friday, 11/10 at 11:59 PM CT. Both editions are estimated to ship next summer in July 2024.

That’s not too long, and yet we’re already tired of waiting.

The post New Mondo THE THING Figure Brings MacReady and Monsters to Life appeared first on Nerdist.

Paramount+’s newest trailer welcomes you back to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger, for Good Burger 2. Sure, that might be a mouthful to say, but at least it was written by a human. Dexter and Ed won’t be lucky enough to deal with actual people in the sequel to their beloved 1997 kid’s comedy. A big corporation wants to turn their jobs over to robots. But as we all know, while he’s a dude, and she’s a dude, machines aren’t. And they definitely aren’t as funny. Take a look at the official trailer for Good Burger 2 below.

More than 25 years after All That‘s best buds went from TV to the big screen, Good Burger‘s most famous employees are back on the job. At least temporarily. Their reunion doesn’t go as planned when Dex inadvertently sends them both to the unemployment line. Here’s the official synopsis of Good Burger 2 that Paramount+ released with the movie’s trailer:

The highly anticipated film sequel follows Dexter Reed (Kenan Thompson) and original cashier Ed (Kel Mitchell) as they reunite in the present day at fast-food restaurant Good Burger with a hilarious new group of employees. In Good Burger 2, Dexter Reed is down on his luck after another one of his inventions fails. Ed welcomes Dex back to Good Burger with open arms and gives him his old job back. With a new crew working at Good Burger, Dex devises a plan to get back on his feet but unfortunately puts the fate of Good Burger at risk once again.

The sequel also features Lil Rel Howery, Jillian Bell, Kamaia Fairburn, Alex R. Hibbert, Fabrizio Guido, Elizabeth Hinkler, Emily Hinkler, and Anabel Graetz. The film will also mark the return of original Good Burger stars Josh Server, Lori Beth Denberg, and Carmen Electra. And as this Good Burger 2 trailer reveals, we’re also getting served up some famous celebrity cameos.

Not that we need them. Just getting Dex and Ed back together is enough for us. So long as it’s the human thems and not robot thems. Machines are not dudes, dude.

Good Burger 2 debuts at Paramount+ on November 22. That’s also where you can stream all four seasons of All That and the 1997 film.

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The Simpsons aren’t the only animated characters to make themselves an indelible part of the spooky season. This year marks the 20th(ish) “Ween” installment from Homestar Runner. Normally the site’s October holiday videos conclude with Homestar incorrectly guessing what everyone else dressed as. But this year The Brothers Chaps turned their traditional ending segment into an entire ‘toon. Their clueless star made his costume ignorance into a game show. And while it doesn’t end the way you expect, this Halloween cartoon is as funny as you’d hope.

Homestar Runner‘s new “The Show: Ween Edition” cartoon isn’t your normal TV game show. Rather than simply have Homestar guess everyone’s Halloween costumes—which always leads to zero correct answers and much hilarity—players must predict the exact way Homestar will get their ensemble wrong.

From obscure pop culture characters to Halloween costumes worn by fictional characters in a very famous movie, there’s a full range of identities for Homestar to mess up here. That’s always true of the site’s “Ween” cartoons, though. What makes this year’s installment especially fun is the chance to play along. If you know Homestar Runner well enough, like his friends clearly do, you have a decent shot at guessing his guesses.

I even got one right! I was all over Homestar’s “Devo Construction Worker” answer for Coach Z. However, as is always the case, I also had no idea who some characters are dressed as. I’ve spent a lot of time obsessing over the Halloween costumes of Homestar Runner characters over the years, and every year there are those I don’t recognize at all.

Does that make me as dumb as Homestar? No. No, I am much dumber. There’s no way I’d be smart enough to turn my own costume ignorance into a game show that I both host and guarantee I win.

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Friends has been such a phenomenon for so long it’s hard to remember it was once just another new sitcom, most of which come and go without anyone noticing. It’s not as though a coveted spot in NBC’s legendary Thursday night “Must See TV” ’90s lineup guaranteed lasting success, let alone a place in TV’s proverbial Pantheon, either. When’s the last time you watched a rerun of The Single Guy or Suddenly Susan? But after nearly three decades as an omnipresent juggernaut it’s easy to forget Friends was once just hoping to find an audience big enough to keep it on the air. And that’s why it’s also easy to forget just how important Matthew Perry was in making that happen. All of Friends‘s stars are now TV icons, but without his Chandler Bing the show never would have become the sensation it still is.

The outpouring of grief after the sad passing of Matthew Perry at just 54 years old has shown just how much he and Friends mean to so many. That’s not surprising. The series’ longevity has created multiple generations of fans. Some viewers have been watching reruns for most of their lives. Friends is one of those shows, even in the streaming era, that seems to always be on somewhere. For the millions who watch it again and again, the six stars of the show have become a comforting presence. To lose one of them is really like losing an old friend who always made them laugh.

The series’ popularity and unbroken, ubiquitous spot in pop culture have made it so all six actors are equally important to its lasting success. With good reason. Friends wouldn’t be Friends without all of them. Even with six standout individual performances the show’s sum is still greater than its parts. But that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing stood out from the group. Not just within the show, either. He wasn’t merely the “funny one” on Friends. His charming, sarcastic, emotionally scarred Chandler was instantly one of the funniest characters on TV. He was the one who elevated Friends above other sitcoms at a time when network shows ruled pop culture.

Perry’s role in turning a new show into a sensation, all while playing a normal character in an ensemble, is still just as impressive three decades later. He made us laugh with nothing more than a well-timed eyebrow raise. He made Chandler Bing a comedic genius with timeless, perfectly delivered one-liners. Most importantly, he was a comedy anchor on a show that was not universally loved during its first season. Without Matthew Perry Friends might never have even truly become Friends. Without Chandler the show might never had had the chance to grow into what it became. It certainly wouldn’t have been as good.

For those who weren’t around when Friends debuted this could easily sound like hyperbole bestowed on a beloved actor who left us too soon. For those who watched from day one this is actually an understatement. Chandler Bing was without question one of the best, funniest, most singular characters on TV. And it didn’t take Perry long to establish himself as one of the best ever. All of which made him standout even more. If you asked anyone who cared about comedy in 1995 which TV star was destined for greatness, he would have been the number one answer. He really was a revelation. On the page the phrase “could I be anymore :blank:” is less than nothing. There’s nothing inherently funny about that line. Yet he made it an all-time famous gag you can only hear (and impersonate) in his voice.

If he could be that funny saying that, what else could he do? Could he be any funnier?

Watching Matthew Perry during Friends‘ early seasons was like watching a young Ken Griffey Jr. play centerfield for the Mariners. It did not seem like a ceiling existed for Matthew Perry. He might never have matched his Friends success elsewhere, but how many actors ever create a character a fraction as memorable as Chandler Bing once, let alone twice? How many people ever star on something anywhere near as popular and enduring as Friends, period? The early promise of Chandler Bing delivered exactly the kind of success everyone predicted for Matthew Perry. It just came on Friends, a show that is still as loved as ever.

Chandler Bing is not the legacy Matthew Perry hoped would define him. He didn’t think starring on Friends was his greatest accomplishment in life. To him that honor went to his work helping other addicts recover. That’s a testament to who he was as a person, and it’s the memory fans who loved him should carry in their hearts.

What he did off-screen mattered more than what he did on it. But the reaction to his passing has proven what he did professionally mattered to a lot of people, too. So we can honor his wish while also celebrating his amazing career. He created an incredible character who elevated a show that has brought immeasurable joy to countless people for nearly 30 years. And it will continue to bring them joy for many more, because Chandler Bing was a phenomenon who became a legend. That won’t ever be easy to forget.

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

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This news might pose a danger to your bank account. However, after some cold, dispassionate calculations we’ve deemed the risk acceptable. Star Wars’ most resilient villain finally returned to the galaxy far, far away on Ahsoka. Now he is ready to come to your home with Hot Toys’ new Grand Admiral Thrawn figure. Only this version of the Imperial Chiss won’t arrive with an entire catacomb of mysterious cargo.

Hot Toys’ latest 1/6 scale Ahsoka figure is an “ultra-detailed” recreation of Lars Mikkelsen’s blue-skinned, red-eyed character. He recently made his live-action debut on the Disney+ series, and this figure looks like he walked right off the screen.

The miniature Thrawn, which stands nearly 12 feet 6 inches, features 30 points of articulation. It also has a hand-painted head sculpt and comes with Hot Toys’ “innovative rolling eyeball system which allows fans to adjust the figure’s gaze, creating more nuanced and lifelike poses.’ (If you thought Thrawn was imposing before just wait until someone in your house moves his eyes without telling you. That’ll be fun to realize the Grand Admiral is actually staring you down.)

This figure also wears a screen-accurate pristine white Imperial officer’s uniform that includes a belt, boots, and blaster holster. The set comes with a Star Destroyer hologram miniature, a blaster pistol, datapad, and a specially designed figure stand that has the Star Wars logo and character nameplate. And the Grand Admiral has seven interchangeable hands for you to choose from for your display.

Pre-orders are already available ($255). Unfortunately you’ll have to wait to get your hands on your figure. While it won’t take nearly as many years to ship as it did for Thrawn to get a ride back to his own galaxy, this collectible won’t arrive until March 2025.

A lot can change with that much time, we know. Empires can fall and rise in less time. But don’t worry about Thrawn not showing up. The Grand Admiral is a survivor.

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“There can be only one,” unless we’re talking about Highlander. In that case Hollywood will just keep making new versions again and again. And now we know for sure it soon will. Deadline reports a big screen reboot starring Henry Cavill as its titular Immortal, from John Wick‘s Chad Stahelski, is moving forward. That is the a huge step in fulfilling the director’s ultimate plan of making sure this movie won’t be the “only one” that gets made. The real prize for Highlander fans could be a whole new franchise.

Stahelski recently gave an update on his long-awaited Highlander reboot movie when he stopped by Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast. During the interview (which we first learned about at IGN), Horowitz asked Stahelski about the status of his Highlander movie. At the time he said the Highlander reboot is still in development. Now Deadline says Lionsgate is definitely “moving forward” with the project. It’s going up for sale at AFM. If everything goes to plan (and SAG-AFTRA gets a fair deal), it could begin filming in 2024.

The film will also have a big-time budget topping $100 million, so this is a serious investment from the studio. That points to this being the start of something much bigger, just as Stahelski hoped. He has said his ultimate goal is to launch an entire Highlander franchise rather than a single stand-alone film.

These new films will also touch upon elements long-time fans know and love about the franchise. Stahelski told Horowitz, “Our story engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that. But we’ve also brought in elements of all the TV shows, and we’re trying to do a bit of a prequel, a setup to The Gathering. So we have room to grow the property.”

Exactly how much the new rebooted franchise will connect to the previous Christopher Lambert Highlander show and movies is still unknown even if we now know it’s definitely happening. The exact nature of Cavill’s role on the show, which we first reported on in 2021, is also unclear.

A whole series of movies seems is definitely possible for him more than ever. A lot has changed in the actor’s career since he first became attached to Highlander. He’s no longer DC’s Superman or The Witcher‘s Geralt. But both taught him how to defeat powerful enemies and wield a sword, so he’s ready to be an Immortal. And he likely will be multiple times. There can’t be only one new Highlander movie, right?

Originally published on August 29, 2023.

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Stick to the plan and don’t give a f**k. That sounds like a good rule of thumb, especially for a professional assassin. But what happens when the plan goes wrong? What do you stick to then? Can you plan for not having a plan? And whose plan even matters at that point? These life-or-death questions are not ones we expected to ponder today, but we also didn’t know we’d be getting the trailer for David Fincher’s next film, The Killer. Now those questions are all we’re going to think about until we see the movie. Netflix’s intense full look at Fincher’s The Killer, an action thriller starring Michael Fassbender, finds a world-class hitman in a deadly situation he never prepared for.

When you’ve directed films like Se7en, Fight Club, The Social Network, Gone Girl, and more, you mostly just have to tell us when your next movie comes out to have us planning to buy our ticket. “Directed by David Fincher” is a surefire sales pitch. That doesn’t mean we’re not grateful for this fantastic trailer, though. Even just this brief tease of The Killer looks and sounds like one of Fincher’s movies in the best way. What exactly is going on here, though, besides great aesthetics and an amazing by soundtrack Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross? This is the film’s official logline from Netflix:

After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.

Yes. YES. “Just hook it to my veins.”

The Killer also stars Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton. The script— based on Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel series of the same name—comes from Andrew Kevin Walker. It will have its world premiere on September 3rd at The Venice Film Festival. Fincher’s The Killer will then arrive in select theaters this October before finally releasing on Netflix on November 10.

How and where will you see it? Our advice is to make a plan and stick to it… If you can.

Originally published on August 29, 2023.

Featured Image: Netflix

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For 25 generations the Ruling Stewards of Gondor sat atop the white city of Minas Tirith. However, they never claimed its throne. For while they lorded over the kingdom it had no monarch after Eärnur disappeared forever behind the gates of Minas Morgul. That was until Elessar Telcontar, known to some as Strider and others as Aragorn, claimed his birthright after helping to defeat Sauron once and for all. And if you already know all that Middle-earth history you’re definitely going to want to know about PureArts’ newest collectible. You can now honor The Return of the King with a full-sized The Lord of the Rings replica Crown of Gondor.

And is if that wasn’t good enough, it comes with one of the best stands an heir of Isildur could ever hope for.

You can now honor King Elessar and all the rulers of Gondor with a 1:1 scale crown based on the one worn by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s Best Picture-winner. The latest collaboration between PureArts and Warner Bros. Discover Global Consumer Products is a faithful recreation of the silver and gold winged crown.

Don’t plan on putting this on a shelf. Nor will it rest on the head of someone with no royal claim. This crown sits atop a highly detailed, LED-lit replica of Minas Tirith. It’s an amazing item unto itself. All it’s missing is Gandalf and Pippin worrying about what awaits them tomorrow.

This gorgeous movie collectible is made of metal for the crown and polyresin for the base. It also comes with an embroidered replica of the Gondor Banner.

If you want your own Crown of Gondor you probably don’t want to wait to order yours. This is a very limited-edition item. Only 150 are available for purchase. And at a price of $749.99 we don’t expect them to last long. Forget 25 generations, it might not last 25 hours.

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Halloween is just around the corner, and that means more than just candy and realizing your costume is not weather-appropriate after it’s too late to change. The spooky season isn’t complete until we hear from Springfield, USA’s most famous cartoon family, The Simpsons. This year will mark the iconic series’ 34th Halloween special. Now we know exactly what scary stories await both them and us. Fox has provided seven images from this year’s Halloween episode of The Simpsons, “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV.” These first looks tease a cyberworld showdown, a spoof of a legendary film, and a plague that doesn’t actually sound all that bad.

As always, Halloween doesn’t end until we get a new “Treehouse of Horror” episode from The Simpsons. This year the beloved special will arrive will at Fox on Sunday, November 5th, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The network has now provided both images and synopses for this year’s three segments. Here’s what Fox has to say about “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV:”

After Bart is turned into an NFT, Marge fights though the blockchain to rescue her son. To track down a gruesome serial killer, Lisa turns to a murderer from her past. An outbreak transforms Springfielders into a plague of lazy, beer-loving oafs in the “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV” episode of The Simpsons.

That middle short is pretty clearly a The Silence of the Lambs parody starring Lisa and Sideshow Bob. How it took this long for The Simpsons to spoof the 1991 Best Picture winner in its “Treehouse of Horror” episodes is genuinely shocking. It’ll be worth the wait, though, if Ralph is Buffalo Bill as that image suggests he might be.

NFTs and a terrifying outbreak are obviously a little more timely, even if NFTs already seem as dead as Zombie Shakespeare. (Yes, that’s a very old “Treehouse of Horror” reference. LOOK IT UP.)

Click To View Gallery

While Lisa finding a personalized greeting written in intestines is legitimately unsettling, the single scariest image of this “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV” batch is a scared Homer running after a rolling donut.

Even after more than three decades of these The Simpsons Halloween specials, we can think of no greater nightmare for him to endure. Halloween isn’t over until we find out if he catches it or not.

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Who is the rootinest, tootinest, shootinest, hootinest cowboy around? Sheriff Woody. And don’t you f***ing forget it.

Yeah, we know, that’s not a lyric from “Woody’s Roundup.” It’s not exactly a tagline that has ever applied to the leader of Andy’s toys, either. And it’s definitely not one we expect to see on any posters for Toy Story 5. But it’s the one Woody deserves for starring in a ridiculous new fan mashup. This crossover video sends Pixar’s iconic plaything into Red Dead Redemption 2, and the result is some delightful Old West silliness.

YouTube user eli_handle_b․wav combined the magic of Pixar’s animated world with the violent video game realm of Rockstar Studios to create something that has no business being this good. This shoot ’em up edit (which we first learned about at Boing Boing) sees Woody as a sometimes fearsome, sometimes cowardly gunslinger willing to do what it takes to survive a hostile environment. Whether robbing a train with John Marston, playing dead when a grizzly bear shows up, or throwing down with another ruffian, Woody doesn’t look out of place in the open-world adventure game.

Minus the part where he totally does. He still is just a toy after all. There’s only so much Sheriff Woody can do to blend into normal surroundings. That’s exactly why this video works so well.

We don’t need a character who looks like Woody if he existed in Red Dead Redemption 2. He’d be just another character for us to deal with during our trails. But a giant talking toy who sometimes looks like his limbs are made of jelly? Now that’s a memorable figure we want to meet at a random brothel or tavern.

We do not expect to see Woody at any place like that in Toy Story 5, but after watching this video Pixar might agree with us that it sure is fun to see him do just that.

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Christmas Eve seems like a really stressful time for Santa Claus, right? Every December 24th Kris Kringle delivers toys to billions of kids around the world. Even with time zones that would be hard to do in a single week, let alone a single night. So the last thing he needs on his busiest evening is something else to worry about. You know, something like an evil local politician chasing you down. That wouldn’t be fun for Old Saint Nick, but it should be hilarious for those of us who loves holiday movies. Disney’s first trailer for Dashing Through the Snow, starring Ludacris and Lil Rel Howery, finds Christmas magic in a madcap search for Santa.

Don’t worry, our committee to determine the greatest Christmas movie Santa of all-time is already on high alert after this trailer. Lil Rel Howery has real potential to break into the Papá Noel Film Pantheon. To do that, though, he’ll need to both save himself and restore a cynical dad’s Christmas spirit at the same time. Why is Mr. Claus dealing with so many problems all at once? And on his most important night of the year? Here’s the film’s official Dashing Through the Snow synopsis from Disney:

Eddie Garrick (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is a good-hearted man who has turned his back on Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. At the request of his wife Allison Garrick (Teyonah Parris), from whom he is separated, Eddie takes his 9-year-old daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) out with him on Christmas Eve, where they meet a mysterious man in a red suit named Nick. Eddie, who is a social worker, thinks the man is delusional and needs professional help, but when he evokes the wrath of a local politician (Oscar Nuñez), he and his daughter are taken on a magical adventure that just might restore his faith in Christmas.

Dashing Through the Snow comes from director Tim Story and writer Scott Rosenberg. It also stars: Ravi V. Patel, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Gina Brillon, Sebastian Sozzi, Kevin Connolly, and Zulay Henao. The movie comes to Disney+ on November 17.

That’s plenty of time for Santa Claus to watch it before Christmas, which we hope he does. A good holiday comedy is the perfect way to release stress ahead of the biggest night of your year, especially when there’s extra trouble on your tail.

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Disney’s animated villains are really good at using music to express how bad they are. From Ursula’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls” in The Little Mermaid to Gaston’s self-titled track in Beauty and the Beast, Disney evildoers prove again and again that, despite being horrible, they do know how to sing. Now the Mouse House has given us a preview of their next antagonistic number. It’s an early listen to a charming baddie’s big number sung by a charming Hollywood favorite. Disney has shared an early listen/look of Chris Pine performing its latest villain song “This Is the Thanks I Get?!” from Wish.

Anyone who watched the big screen adaptation of Into the Woods knows Chris Pine should be in way more musicals. Now his latest chance to show off his theatrical vocal chops will come in Disney’s Wish. He voices the seemingly benevolent King Magnifico, a dashing ruler who grants his subjects wishes.

As “This Is the Thanks I Get?!” shows, all the monarch asks for in return is a little gratitude. Well, that and total control over his mostly unsuspecting subjects who don’t realize he’s a power-hungry monster.

We both love and hate him already.

Disney also shared a behind-the-scenes video of Chris Pine recording the Wish song, written by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice.

In a press release screenwriter and executive producer Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios, also offered insight into the King and his big song. “He’s charismatic; he’s handsome—and he knows it—but I think he truly believes their wishes are safest in his hands,” she says. “So when [the film’s protagonist] Asha exposes the flaw in his philosophy, he feels under-appreciated and threatened.”

He’s not getting any sympathy from us! Neither King Magnifico nor Chris Pine. Not when both can believably sing, “I can’t help it if mirrors love my face.” That might be true, and it might sound good, but saying so in song is something only a villain would do.

Wish comes to theaters on November 22.

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Coach Lasso told his players to “be a duck,” but now him and a couple of friends are going to be a different four-letter “d” word instead. Mattel Creations is bringing Barbie to the pitch with an original collection of dolls inspired by Apple TV+’s award-winning series. Ted Lasso, A.F.C. Richmond owner Rebecca Walton, and PR guru Keeley Jones are heading to shelves as the iconic toy line’s newest figures.

Ted Lasso Barbie dolls reunite our favorite Greyhounds in style. Each Gold label collectible comes from designer Suim Noh. They all feature original face sculpts, articulated bodies, and stands to help them remain upright. More importantly each wears a signature look from the series and comes packaged in a unique show-inspired box. Here’s the official description for all three from Mattel Creations:

• Ted Lasso: Our Ted doll is wearing a sporty blue tracksuit with sneakers. He also has removable aviator shades, a whistle, and trusty soccer ball. Commemorative packaging features the AFC Richmond locker room complete with “BELIEVE” sign and Nate’s homemade suggestion box.
  
• Rebecca Welton: Our Rebecca doll is dressed for her morning “Biscuits With the Boss” in a chic champagne blouse with black tailored pants and classic black pumps. Statement golden earrings and a handbag complete her sophisticated look.

• Keeley Jones: Our Keeley doll is dressed for a night on the town or a chic day in the office wearing a satiny pink midi dress, chic golden heels, and black faux fur cape. Her fabulous style is complete with her trademark high ponytail, signature golden hoops, and darling pink clutch.

All three figures ($50 each) are available to order from Mattel. Ted’s is already on sale. Meanwhile the Rebecca doll ships on November 10 and Keeley’s follows on December 8. Customers can only buy two versions of any one figure in an order, a sign the company expects them to sell out.

We do, too. So if you want these don’t be a duck and forget to buy them before Ted moves back to Kansas for good.

The post Barbie Takes the Pitch in New TED LASSO Doll Collection appeared first on Nerdist.

Video game fans have been safely enjoying the excitement/terror of a post-nuclear wasteland since 1997. That’s when Fallout and its ’50s-era Cold War aesthetic first came to stores. Since then countless sequels and spinoffs have turned the game into one of genre’s most successful franchises. Now Fallout is ready to conquer another medium entirely. It’s getting its very own show from Amazon. What kind of story can gamers expect from the adaptation? Who’s behind it and who will star on it? And when will we get a chance to see it? Here’s everything we know about Prime Video’s Fallout series so far.

Title

Prime Video’s adaptation will share the same name as the original game, Fallout.

Fallout‘s Plot

Prime Video has yet to release an official synopsis for the show, but the streamer has shared some major details about the adaptation. The series is “set in the future post-apocalyptic Los Angeles and world of Fallout.” It will also tell an “original story based on Fallout that will be part of the canon of the games.” 

The first look at the show also featured a look at the franchise’s all-new Vault 33.

Behind the Scenes

Fallout comes from Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and Kilter Films. The latter is the production company of executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, creators of HBO’s Westworld.

Writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner will also serve Fallout co-showrunners and executive producers. Nolan directs the first three episodes.

Fallout‘s Cast

The show stars: Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight), Aaron Moten (Emancipation), Moisés Arias (The King of Staten Island), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Sarita Choudhury (Homeland), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Leslie Uggams (Deadpool), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance), Johnny Pemberton (Ant-Man), Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O’Hagan (Law & Order: SVU), and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). 

Fallout‘s Release Date

Prime Video celebrated the 26th “Fallout Day” by announcing when the series will premiere via a Pip-Boy-style message. The show begins its post-apocalyptic adventure on April 12, 2024.

That’s a lot closer than it sounds, which means we should start getting trailers and more information soon, too. When we do you’ll find everything you need to know about Prime Video’s Fallout right here.

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Most of us are at least generally familiar with the concept of an “elevator pitch.” Whether starting a new business or trying to make a movie, it refers to the concept of selling someone on your idea in the short time it takes to ride an elevator. Well, a new project from Intrepid Films doesn’t need an elevator. It doesn’t even need a step ladder. All it needs to do is share its all-star list of names working on the project. Because a list including “Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Mike Flanagan, and Stephen King” is among the easiest sales jobs in movie history.

Deadline reports horror luminaries Mike Flanagan and Stephen King are joining forces. Flanagan will direct, write, and produce a film adaptation of King’s novella “The Life of Chuck.”

The author published it in his 2020 anthology If It Bleeds. King’s official website describes “The Life of Chuck” as “three separate stories linked to tell the biography of Charles Krantz in reverse, beginning with his death from a brain tumor at 39 and ending with his childhood in a supposedly haunted house.”

Flanagan completed the script before the WGA went on strike, and the movie is already in development. Per Deadline, it recently went into production under an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA. Loki’s Hiddleston will play the doomed Chuck, with Hamill joining him as Albie. This will be the latest project between the Star Wars legend and director. Hamill also stars in Flanagan’s The House of Usher at Netflix. Joining Hiddleston and Hamill in the Flanagan cast of this Stephen King adaptation are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan and Jacob Tremblay. Their roles in The Life of Chuck are currently unknown.

Don’t expect a true horror film. Deadline also states the movie will “draw tonally” from previous King adaptations such as Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.

That’s more than fine by us. “Mike Flanagan directs Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill in a Stephen King adaptation that reminds us of The Shawshank Redemption” is such a good elevator pitch that the elevator doesn’t even have to move to get us onboard.

Originally published on May 9, 2023.

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Nick Fury assembled an impressive Avengers squad to protect the MCU. However, that version of Earth’s mightiest heroes is just one of an infinite number of super teams spread out across the multiverse. A few others are surely better, and a lot more are likely worse, but one stands out because of how it was built. And by that, we mean it’s built from little plastic bricks. Now those heroes are getting their very own special at Disney+, LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

The film’s new Easter egg-filled trailer puts together an incredible lineup with a special member. It will have Marvel fans wondering when they’ll get to see such an X-citing unit in live-action.

The Collector is back! The LEGO Variant of the character is looking to add Marvel’s Avengers to his vast library of intergalactic goods. That’s a big problem on its own, but one they can manage. It’s a far bigger issue that will lead to the superheroes asking for help. Here’s the synopsis for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red from Disney:

The Avengers gather to celebrate their latest victory, but their celebration is quickly interrupted by the mysterious disappearance of Black Widow’s father, Red Guardian. As the Avengers investigate, they discover that Red Guardian isn’t the only one missing when they meet a dangerous new foe quite unlike anything they’ve ever encountered before.

That new foe is Red Phantom. He’s why LEGO Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, two Captain Americas, the Incredible Hulk, and the Black Panther will reach out to a “quirky” Marvel counterpart. And oh, is he quirky. The LEGO Avengers will turn to a grumpy, self-healing, hot dog-loving Marvel legend who has yet to appear in the MCU: Wolverine.

Sorry Hulk, we know you really don’t want to deal with “that guy,” but he does have special skills. And also knives in his hands. Indestructible hand knives are always helpful, especially against plastic. Plus, with Wolverine joining the LEGO Avengers, it might push his MCU Variant to get in on the action sooner rather than later. We really want to see that happen. Wolverine makes every team better in every universe.

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red stars: Laura Bailey, Trevor Devall, Steve Blum, Will Friedle, James Mathis III, Liam O’Brien, Laura Post, Bumper Robinson, Roger Craig Smith, Fred Tatasciore, Travis Willingham, Mick Wingert. It debuts on Disney+ on Friday, October 27. 2023.

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Celebrities are not, in fact, just like us. If you doubt that ask yourself the following: when’s the last time you celebrated your friend’s birthday by getting them a public park? How about a special cameo from Chris Pratt? The answer to both those questions is almost certainly a resounding “never.” But that’s exactly what Rob McElhenney, famous actor and co-owner of the English football club Wrexham A.F.C., got for his celebrity friend’s birthday this year. The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star also got Parks & Rec‘s Andy Dwyer to help him announce the Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park in honor of the Deadpool star’s 47th birthday.

This announcement is no joke (even if the continuing birthday prank war between these famous friends is). The Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park is a very real place planned for the town of Wrexham in Wales. That’s the home of the football club Reynolds co-owns with Rob McElhenney, the one that has its own FX docu-series, Welcome to Wrexham.

The unofficial page for the public space, called “Parks & Wrex” says the location is under development in conjunction with the Wrexham County Borough Council. Once completed, it will offer an open green space for the community to enjoy. It will also host a number of events, such as restaurant pop-ups, movie screenings, farmer’s markets, and more.

Despite this announcement coming on Reynolds’ 47th birthday, the park won’t ultimately bear his name. The park’s website says the final moniker will “probably” be “something Welsh, not Canadian.” FAIR.

It’s not yet known when the town will break ground on the park, located at the old Hippodrome location on Henblas Street, let alone when it will open. But you can already order merchandise for it. Proceeds will go towards the park’s development.

In the meantime, you can also enjoy this delightful video of McElhenney and Chris Pratt. It proves celebrities are at least a little bit like us. They all want to meet Danny DeVito, too.

The post Rob McElhenney Got Ryan Reynolds a Park (and a Chris Pratt Cameo) For His Birthday appeared first on Nerdist.

Usually it’s a bad thing when new characters turn your favorite fantasy world into a dystopian wasteland. This is not one of those times. In fact, this is one of the very rare occasions when that will be a good thing. Magic: The Gathering has announced its latest crossover will bring a beloved post-apocalyptic video game world to tabletops. The trading card game is partnering with Fallout for a big S.P.E.C.I.A.L. new collection.

Load up your Pip-Boy with plenty of mana (you figure out how!) because Magic: The Gathering – Fallout is coming next year. When it arrives it won’t show up with just a few fun cards like some other Magic: The Gathering collaborations, either. This is a considerable union of two very popular games. Here’s how Wizards of the Coast describes its upcoming Fallout collection:

Magic: The Gathering – Fallout celebrates elements of all Fallout games since 1997 and represents the first “modern view” of some of the classic Fallout games, including updates to characters and settings from Fallout and Fallout 2. We hope to pay homage to Fallout‘s high-energy, high-action, post-nuclear RPG roots. Whether you join the side of some of Fallout‘s most infamous characters or choose to play as a Vault survivor fighting gangs of raiders, super-mutants, irradiated monsters, and pre-war robots, life in the wastes won’t be easy!

The Fallout collection will feature four Commander decks, each with its own theme. That will include the Dogmeat-centered Scrappy Survivors deck, Mutant Menace, Hail, Caesar, and Science! They’ll be sold individually and as a bundle.

They’ll be supplemented by Collector Boosters with Booster Fun. Collector Boosters will come in both traditional foil and surge foil cards. They’ll also be where fans can find non-foil, full-art basic lands that depict five “isometric environments like those seen in the classic Fallout games.” And Magic: The Gathering – Fallout Collector Boosters will see the return of extended-art cards in non-foil, traditional foil, and surge foil.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the collection will also include cards for Bobbleheads, which are getting the “serialized treatment.” That will include seven cards with serialization on 500 copies each. They’ll look too good for a wasteland, too. These cards are getting the double rainbow foil treatment.

In addition to providing an early look at many cards in the set, Magic: The Gathering also went deep with a video on what fans can expect.

Magic: The Gathering – Fallout won’t be available until March 8, 2024. However, you can already pre-order your decks and Boosters now.

While you wait we recommend playing both Magic: The Gathering and Fallout as much as you can. Preferably at the same time. That way it won’t be jarring to realize it’s a good thing your favorite fantasy world has become a post-nuclear dystopia.

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You can only play “Monster Mash” and Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters theme so many times at your Halloween party before you scare your guests away. Nobody likes a spooky shindig featuring a tired playlist overstuffed with cliche classic horror tracks everyone uses. Don’t worry though, Nerdoween is here to help your ghoulish gala rise above the usual macabre musical malaise this year. We’ve put together a collection of creepy songs from a source you might not have considered before: horror comedies. Some of our favorite frighteningly funny movies have fantastic, fiendish soundtracks of their own. Here are 12— including great title themes and memorable haunting hits—that will keep your Halloween party rocking this year.

1. An American Werewolf in London – “Traveling to East Proctor/Werewolf Theme”

We’re starting with a song from one of the best horror-comedies of all-time, An American Werewolf in London. The film features a great soundtrack of songs with the word “Moon” in them, but we’re going to set the right one for our party with composer Elmer Bernstein’s super creepy werewolf theme song. No one would go to the moors if they heard this playing. (For the record, avoid all moors in October just out of an abundance of caution.)

2. Shaun of the Dead – “The Blue Wrath”

It’s no surprise Edgar Wright found the perfect track for the opening title sequence of his zombie comedy classic Shaun of the Dead. I Monster’s unsettling “The Blue Wrath,” with its jaunty beat and inhuman “la la la la” lyrics, is a as catchy as a virus.

3. Tremors – “Main Title”

You can easily make your Halloween party a musical success by just putting on the entire Tremors score , but our favorite entry on the soundtrack is composer Ernest Troost’s title track. It’s an unnerving song that builds slowly to a dramatic crescendo. It’s so good your guests would never guess it came from a horror movie that is also hysterical.

4. What We Do in the Shadows – “You’re Dead”

This perfect mockumentary about the banal lives of vampires features a tremendous soundtrack, but we’re obsessed with Norma Tanega’s fantastic pop folk song “You’re Dead.” It’s a fun number that is inherently unnerving thanks to its repeated lyrics that scream Halloween. It’s so good the movie’s spinoff FX series also uses it as its theme. And we never, ever skip the opening credits because of it.

5. The Evil Dead – “Ascent & Infection”

We’re following up one of our most dance-able selections with one of our scariest. It’s one of the many great, terrifying tracks from composer Joseph Loduca’s score for the cult classic The Evil Dead. You can’t go wrong with any part of this soundtrack, but the long notes in the middle of this scary synth song genuinely leave us on edge wondering when the nightmare will end.

6. Zombieland – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”

Metallica’s “Sandman” might be a classic Halloween track, but there’s a reason Zombieland went with this song from the band’s 1984 album Ride the Lightning. It’s dark, heavy, and everyone knows church bells are inherently scary. It’s no mystery why “For Whom the Bell Tolls” remains one of the band’s most popular songs ever.

7. Gremlins – “Too Many Gremlins”

Some of these horror-comedy soundtracks, like composer Jerry Goldsmith’s Gremlins soundtrack, are consistently great. That makes it hard to choose just one song from each. Ultimately we went with “Too Many Gremlins” because of its attention-grabbing start. Plus, even though it is unsettling and weird, it has the perfect energy for a party. It also gets bonus points for its title. We will always laugh at the mere thought of an exhausted character looking at the camera, shrugging their shoulders and sighing, “Too many gremlins.”

8. The Cabin in the Woods – “Last”

As with Metallica, you can make an entire kick-ass Halloween playlist simply from Nine Inch Nail’s songs, so we’re pumped Chris Hemsworth’s meta horror-comedy about a group of friends-turned-test-subjects includes this track. If we were trying to escape a killer cabin in the woods “Last” would help us run through a wall.

9. Killer Klowns From Outer Space – “Hidden Klown Ship”

Since our last track runs the risk of creating a Halloween mosh pit we want to calm things down a little without turning down the creepiness. Composer John Massari’s scary score for the wonderfully absurd Killer Klowns From Outer Space is perfect for that. We could have chosen any of his songs, but we went with “Hidden Klown Ship” because it has an operatic feel to it. The song tells its own frightening story.

10. The Frighteners – “Superstar”

The Frighteners with Michael J. Fox is an underrated classic. As is Sonic Youth’s slow, methodical, very disturbing cover of the classic song “Superstar.” It’s impossible to listen to this without shuddering. This is what ghosts plays when you visit an abandoned rock venue. This is included on playlists for Halloween parties in Hell.

11. Creepshow – “Welcome to Creepshow (Main Title)”

Did you know the word “haunting” was created to describe the sound of a piano? Okay, that might not be true, but it should be. But even beyond the off-putting notes of Creepshow‘s main title from John Harrison’s fantastic score are the theme’s classic Halloween shrieks and cries. Everything about this upsets us, which is why we love it so much.

12. Planet Terror – “Cherry´s Dance Of Death”

Our final track, “Cherry’s Dance of Death” from Grindhouse‘s Planet Terror, is a dynamic instrumental number that’s equal parts rock, mariachi, and horror. Written by director Robert Rodriguez and performed by the Mexican rock band Chingon, it’s the perfect song for both a movie where a woman fights zombies with her machine gun leg and your Halloween party.

Like the rest of this playlist, it’s the perfect way to keep your Halloween party rocking better than anyone else’s.

Originally published October 8, 2018.

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Halloween is about more than just secret rituals in abandoned forests and summoning demons from the netherworld. Those are great fun and obviously important. But there are also plenty of other pastimes to partake in during October. Some events and celebrations are so beloved by people of all ages they’ve become staples of the proverbial “spooky season.” Which one is the best, though? To help you plan your creeeeepy holiday festivities this year we ranked classic Halloween activities by how much fun they are! Or, in some cases, by how much fighting a werewolf during a full moon instead sounds like a better use of our time.

LAST: Bobbing For Apples

How in all that is holy was this ever a thing? We’ve known about bacteria since 1676, but we needed the last few years to piece together the contaminated puzzle of Halloween’s great germ swap? Forget ghouls and ghosts, is there anything scarier than the thought of putting your open mouth into a big tub of room temperature water full of partially chewed food after 17 people just did the same thing? I’d rather vacation in literal Hell on New Year’s Eve. We should call it “Bobbing for Infection.”

9. Pranks!

There are two types of people in the world. The first group thinks pranks are fun. The second consists of decent people who deserve happiness. No one has ever actually enjoyed having a prank pulled on them. If someone said differently they were simply being polite, because, again, they are decent folk. All prank lovers should be forced to live together on a remote island. We can call it Prank Isle. Or even better, let’s send them there and then never speak of it again! Happy Halloween to us, the good ones!

Note: Halloween pranks are different than “revenge,” a fun activity you can, and should, enjoy 365 days a year.

8. Visiting a Pumpkin Patch

Did you enjoy giving up a relaxing Sunday in September to spend way too much money and time picking your own apples at an overcrowded orchard? Did you love paying a farmer you don’t know to work for him in unseasonably warm weather just so you could end your day with an apple cider donut you remembered being a lot better? You did? Weird, but great news! You can enjoy that experience all over again in October by visiting your local pumpkin patch. It’s a place where instead of hurting your back by reaching up you can hurt your back by bending down. And don’t forget guests of all ages can also get tetanus for free by cutting themselves atop an old broken tractor that’s been rusting for thirty-seven years.

7. Attend a Halloween Parade

Imagine explaining a parade to aliens. Now imagine explaining Halloween to them. Now imagine explaining a Halloween parade. Feel silly? Don’t, it’s not like you’re currently at a Halloween parade*, an event that replaces the best parts of a Halloween party with formal start and end times, standing, not being able to see, and road closures.

*If you are currently at a Halloween parade please let us know if you’ve been kidnapped or just make bad life choices. If it’s the former we’re also curious why your captive is letting you browse the internet. Aren’t they afraid you’ll send an email or alert someone? Also, why aren’t you doing that already? You have our blessing to finish reading this later! So long as you keep this tab open and share it on social media with #ParadesAreWeird.

6. Carving a Jack-o’-Lantern

Nothing says Halloween like a carved pumpkin (except maybe a Dracula). That’s because everyone rightfully loves jack-o’-lanterns. And so long as you don’t pick your pumpkin at a patch, they’re affordable fun for the whole family. The problem is actually making one is no walk in the cemetery. The interior of a pumpkin is a vile realm of smelly mush and second-thoughts. There’s also the matter of actually carving them. No matter how much you think you’re going to slice up an amazing, unique pumpkin, most end up looking exactly alike for a reason. Artfully cutting a thick round gourd takes real skill most of us don’t possess. That’s why the majority of jack-o’-lanterns have wide eyes and big mouths. Those are easy to cut… but not as easy as cutting your thumb.

5. Visit a Haunted House/Castle/Maze/Location

Now we’re getting somewhere! (Literally and metaphorically.) A haunted locale—whether a real place people pretend is full of ghosts or a seasonal exhibition full of great costumes and local theater enthusiasts—offer plenty of excitement, as a terrifying romp full of scares truly captures the spirit of All Hallow’s Eve. Unfortunately that’s also the downside of these creepy spots.

They can leave young visitors with nightmares that haunt them long after they’ve left. They can also cause cardiac events in older guests who forgot how much Jason Voorhees jumping out of a closet can disrupt your normal heartbeat. A haunted “house” of any kind should be something you enjoy only while you are there. It shouldn’t follow you home. And it definitely shouldn’t lead you to an early grave.

(If it does they should bury you at the haunted house. You earned it.)

4. Wearing a Costume

Life is suffering. We, and everyone we will ever love, begin to die the moment we’re born. All any of us can truly hope for are a few brief moments of calm waters during a never-ending struggle to survive in a sea of sadness. But none of us truly survive. We’re all simply waiting for the waves of existence to carry us back into the waters of the cosmos’ infinite and cold black ocean. Don’t worry, though. Once there the universe won’t forget we ever existed, because it never noticed we lived in the first place.

…What better way to forget all of that than by getting creative and dressing up as a totally different person for a night? That’s right! Costumes.

3. See a Scary Movie

What kind of sales job do you need for movies? Movies rule. Horror movies specifically rule. Even bad ones can be super fun. That all seems sort of obvious, no?

So…uh….you ever see Poltergeist? That movie is soooo good. “This house…is clean.” Iconic line. You know some people think Steven Spielberg really directed it? I don’t. Even saying that is unfair to Tobe Hooper. Well, anyway…scary movies…highly recommend ’em.

2. Halloween Parties

Costumes? Candy? Cavorting? Halloween parties might be the best type of parties period. Whether family-oriented gatherings or adult-only soirees, they’re far less stressful than their equivalent Thanksgiving or Christmas events. And unlike weddings you won’t run into any Bridezillas, just maybe the Bride of Frankenstein! (We like to have fun here at Nerdist Dot Com.)

Also, what other type of celebration includes listening to “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” eight times in a single night? Check. Mate. Halloween parties are so good it’s incredible they aren’t number one on this list.

1. Trick-or-Treating

If you’re a kid trick-or-treating is the single greatest thing in the world. You get to dress up, go out at night with your friends, and strangers GIVE YOU FREE CANDY. And unlike Christmas, it’s no strings attached. No adult ever says, “If you want candy you better be good for goodness sake, because a magical elf is watching you while you sleep like a total creep.”

But here’s the thing. Trick-or-treating still rules even when you grow up. Either you take adorable kids out and see them experience true joy, or adorable kids come directly to you and think you’re the greatest person alive. Plus you can steal their candy. Kids are, like, super easy to outsmart. Everyone wins! It’s the best Halloween activity out of all the other activities. It might be the best activity of any month, not just October.

The reverse is true of bobbing for apples. What the hell were we thinking all these years?

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

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Most adaptations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein famously feature a scene that doesn’t appear in the novel. It’s an infamous moment when an angry mob chases the “monster” through the streets. We don’t know if that exact hunt will happen in the next film to take inspiration from the sci-fi horror classic, director Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, but we doubt it. Not because we’re positive it won’t take place, but rather because his creation is far more likely to dance through the streets instead of running. The film’s newest trailer focuses on the growth of Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter, a woman who must learn how to live so she can truly live.

Even if we didn’t know this movie comes from the director of The Lobster and The Favourite we think we’d probably be able to guess he’s behind it. This visually stunning film looks weird and surreal, but also entirely humanistic. And it’s themes of individualism, family, feminism, bigotry, love, and self-discovery should make for a rich story. Plus it has Willem Dafoe playing a mad scientist with a reconstructed face. That’s more than enough to get us into a theater seat.

What exactly is happening here? This is the film’s official synopsis from Searchlight Pictures.

From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Poor Things also stars Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, and Christopher Abbott. It dances its way into theaters this fall, September 8. If it lives up to the promise of this trailer there won’t be any angry mobs leaving the theater.

Originally published on June 8, 2023.

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I know the old saying “money can’t buy happiness,” but I’m not so sure about that. It’s true money can’t buy certain things that bring me joy. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t pay for lots of stuff that does, though. And you know what would make me very happy after a lifetime of watching sci-fi movies and TV shows like Aliens and Gundam? Owning my very own operational mecha suit, that’s what. Do you have any idea how much I’d like that? Of course you do! It would bring you tremendous pleasure, as well. Now back to the original problem: that giant mecha source of happiness costs three million dollars.

The “transformable” ARCHAX robot from Tokyo’s Tsubame Industries makes science fiction an engineering reality. The machine (which we first heard about at Kotaku) stands more than 14.7-feet tall and weighs an imposing 3.5-tons. It’s impressive as a piece of art, except this is no stationary device. It has two working modes, as it can go from upright robot mode to vehicle mode when a pilot climbs into the steel cockpit inside the four-wheeled device’s chest.

From there the operator can use a joystick and foot pedals to make it go. Pilots can move the robot’s articulated arms and hands, which is when it really comes alive. (Good luck watching that video and not geeking out.) ARCHAX can only get up to six miles-per-hour but, considering its weight, that’s really best for literally everyone.

The air-conditioned cockpit also comes equipped with four monitors attached to nine cameras. They provide a live look at your surroundings, that way you can safely show off your pricey mecha suit to friends and also keep an eye out for rogue Xenomorphs. Honestly, even a monster alien would find this impressive. They might even ask to use it. ARCHAX is somehow even cooler than it sounds.

You and your fellow super wealthy friends can pre-order your ARCHAX now. For three million dollars you’ll also get to choose from one of six colors: Sapphire Blue, Pearl White, Spark Red, Atlantis Green, and Midnight Purple.

No matter the color you opt for, I hope yours brings you much joy. For the record, it would make me feel very good to take your mecha suit out for a test drive if you buy it for three million dollars. Your money can certainly buy me happiness.

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Forget busting out your best silly walk. Don’t bother racing a double decker bus, either. It’s time for Monty Python fans to grab some coconuts and hit the road, because later this year they’ll be heading out on a famous quest. Again. The legendary sketch comedy group’s beloved 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail is returning to movie theaters. It’s coming back to the big screen for two days to celebrate the exact kind of absurd occasion you’d expect them to commemorate: the movie’s 48th-and-a-half anniversary.

Iconic Events has announced with a new trailer that it wants us to bring out our dead this year. Monty Python and the Holy Grail will screen in more than 500 movie theaters in the U.S. on Sunday, December 3. Those who miss out on this unique holiday treat that day can still catch encore screenings on Wednesday, December 6.

Moviegoers will also get to choose from one of two versions of the movie. The first is a normal, standard cut of the film from members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Those Monty Python theater screenings will be the best option for people who have never seen the film. We also recommend it to anyone who simply wants a normal theatrical experience.

The other version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail that will hit movie theaters is for everyone else, especially the most die-hard Monty Python fans. Iconic Events is also hosting a special, all-new “quote-along” cut. It will encourage audiences to “enjoy an interactive and uproarious cinematic experience in a way that only Monty Python can delivery.”

So, you know, it’ll be like watching the movie with your friend who quotes Holy Grail every day of his life already. Except there will be hundreds of people just like him.

That’s more than fine with us. Well, so long as engaged fans are all we have to deal with. Hopefully, theaters don’t sell Monty Python tickets to any Killer Rabbits or snooty French soldiers.

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“Some people see things as they are and say, ‘why?’ I dream things that never were and say, ‘why not?’”

I can’t prove it, but I believe the late Robert F. Kennedy Sr.’s famous quote was the inspiration behind an infamous 2021 Van Leeuwen flavor. That’s when the company introduced the world to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream. Sure, crediting RFK Sr. for its creation might sound absurd, but that makes as much sense as any other origin story. “Why” would anyone want a sweet treat that tastes like mac and cheese? “Why not?” Apparently enough people felt the same way, too, because Van Leeuwen is bringing the mac and cheese ice cream back this month.

Van Leeuwen is turning a toddler/tired adult dinner staple into a frozen dessert once again. In news we first heard at People, the ice cream shop has partnered with Kraft to bring their unusual culinary crossover back to your freezer. The Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream is authentic, too. It’s made with the same cheese powder you add to tiny boiled pieces of elbow macaroni.

Unlike its initial run, the frozen treat won’t start as an online exclusive before heading to stores. Starting on October 23 curious customers can grab a pint of the mac and cheese ice cream at their nearby Walmart. Don’t worry if you want to give this as a holiday gift (to someone you love or hate, either works). The $5 pints will be available until December 26.

It’s one of seven limited-edition flavors the retailer—frequent home of Van Leeuwen exclusives—will have for sale. The others include another absurd flavor alongside some downright delicious sounding options. The full lineup features:

• Dill Pickle
• Peanut Butter Fudge Pretzel
• Peppermint Stick
• Caramel Sticky Bun
• Kettle Corn
• Holiday Cookies & Cream

I would very much like to eat five out of seven. (Guess which five! I bet you can! Very easily!) But I am willing to try them all. Why would I want to eat Dill Pickle and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream? The answer should obvious by now.

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I’m starting to think being Kris Kringle is not exactly a walk in the North Pole. Sure, there’s the adulation from millions and millions of kids around the world. And yes, St. Nick gets all the credit despite only really working one day a year while loyal servants toil the other 364. That’s all great. Obviously. But on the other mitten there’s always something! Sometimes you’re forced to find a spouse if you want to keep your job. Other times Jack Frost comes calling. And family, am I right? As if all of that isn’t enough, the trailer for season two of The Santa Clauses reveals that sometimes a Mad Santa will show up unexpectedly to reclaim his old job.

That doesn’t make the job of Santa sound very enticing, but it should make for a good season of the Disney+ series.

It’ll be yet another fraught holiday season in the North Pole this year, as Scott Calvin will once again need to deal with the strangely serious matter of succession. Here’s Disney+’s official synopsis for season two of The Santa Clauses:

The Calvin family is back in the North Pole as Scott continues his role as Santa Claus after retirement plans were thwarted when failing to find a worthy successor in season one. Now that Scott and his family have successfully saved Christmas, Scott turns his focus towards training his son Calvin to eventually take over the “family business” as Santa Claus.

As The Santa Clauses season two trailer reveals, Father Christmas will have bigger concerns than just training his nepo baby. The Mad Santa is coming and he seeks (sweet) revenge against the “fraud” who has his job. Not ideal for either Santa, but getting fired is better than losing your job because you fell off a roof and died.

Like I said, being Santa isn’t easy. Minus the part where you get to meet Tracy Morgan. That’s pretty awesome.

The Santa Clauses stars Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Devin Bright, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, and Eric Stonestreet as Magnus Antas, a.k.a. The Mad Santa. Season two premieres with two episodes at Disney+ on Wednesday, November 8.

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There are lots of ways to make an effective movie trailer, but every good one has the same thing in common: they make you want to see the film. That’s it. That’s the entire reason for their existence. Trailers are designed to entice would-be viewers to spend their time and money on one particular movie rather than a near infinite number of other options. It doesn’t matter how much dialogue they include or how much they reveal about the plot. It doesn’t matter if they’re modern or retro in style. A trailer’s only job is to get us into a seat. And Mark Edward Fischbach, the YouTuber better known as Markiplier, has given us one that does exactly that. His fantastic new promo for his upcoming film Iron Lung is an unsettling and blood-soaked tease at a horror video game come to life.

Deadline reports popular online content creator Markiplier is currently in production on a self-financed film. He’s adapting David Szymanski’s 2022 submarine horror game of the same name. The “short” game lets players “pilot a tiny submarine through an ocean of blood on an alien moon.”

Yup. Sign us up for that premise in any medium you want.

While Fischbach has yet to reveal many official details about the film, he is both starring and directing in it. Deadline says Caroline Rose Kaplan (The Plot Against America) will also appear in the movie in currently unknown role.

This is obviously a big swing for anyone. But with more than 35 million followers on YouTube alone Markiplier already has a built-in audience for any project he undertakes. And with a trailer this good he’s going to draw in plenty more fans.

This creepy promo full of blood and the promise of war and death doesn’t actually feature a lot of specifics about what we can expect from the film, but it tells us plenty. Most importantly that we want to see it.

Iron Lung doesn’t have a set release date yet.

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Rick and Morty‘s season seven premiere marked a new era of the show. It was the first time co-creator Justin Roiland did not voice any characters, including the two titular characters. Adult Swim fired Roiland earlier this year after serious allegations. That included now-dismissed legal charges and other accusations of impropriety. Despite everyone knowing about the upcoming recasting, though, Adult Swim didn’t announce who was stepping into the roles of Rick and Morty until the seventh season actually debuted. Now Rick and Morty has revealed its new lead voice actors. Ian Cardoni is the new voice of Rick, and Harry Belden is playing Morty. But how did the two actors get these coveted parts in Rick and Morty? It took half a year and thousands of candidates to find two actors who sound like the characters we’ve always known.

Animation’s biggest secret is out of the squanch so Rick and Morty is pulling back the curtain on how it replaced, well, Rick and Morty. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Dan Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder said the series ultimately heard thousands of possible replacements over a six-month process. They were looking for two actors instead of just one. That was in part to help preserve each performer’s vocals. They said doing both voices took a toll on Roiland, and it was unfair to do to anyone else. Harmon also said hiring two new people to play Rick and Morty was less disruptive than finding one person to replace both roles, and the show was very much focused on making the change as seamless as possible. That’s why they always wanted to recreate Rick and Morty’s voices rather than change them in any way.

They thought recasting would be easy, but it was anything but. While many people could do exact imitations of the characters in small doses, they couldn’t maintain the voices in conversation. The “exhaustive” search ultimately led them to pick Cardoni as the new voice of Rick. He’d been part of the “first wave” of auditions. Belden came along much later, but both underwent a grueling process that whittled thousands down to the hundreds.

(John Allen replaced Roiland as Mr. Poopybutthole in the premiere. Harmon and Marder didn’t want their new stars to have to deal with also learning another part, though they might do more voices in the future.)

Harmon only got involved in the recasting near the end. He wanted to spare himself from the emotional process of trying to match the voices to their previous iterations. He then listened to potential replacements without knowing who anyone was. When Harmon finally did meet his young new Rick and Morty actors he found their ages shocking, considering they have a big task on a very popular show with some very passionate fans. (Understatement intentional.)

Harmon and Marder think their eager and enthusiastic new actors are why the show could run “30 more years” now. They say their new Rick and Morty have brought a fresh energy to the series. And with time they’ll only get more comfortable in the parts, which will include at least two more seasons. Harmon said they’re already writing season nine. Season nine!

For a show that used to take two years between seasons, that might be the most surprising news. Finding a new Rick and Morty was hard. But getting a new season in a timely fashion once seemed impossible.

The post RICK AND MORTY Reveals Its New Lead Voice Actors appeared first on Nerdist.

Earlier this year, 80-year-old Martin Scorsese told Deadline why he’ll quickly get to work on to his next film rather than take a break after Killers of the Flower Moon. Scorsese said he’s “got to” because “the whole world has opened up to me, but it’s too late. It’s too late.” When asked to expand on that inherently sad thought he referenced something another legendary director said near the end of his career.

I read stuff. I see things. I want to tell stories, and there’s no more time. Kurosawa, when he got his Oscar, when George [Lucas] and Steven [Spielberg] gave it to him, he said, “I’m only now beginning to see the possibility of what cinema could be, and it’s too late.” He was 83. At the time, I said, “What does he mean?” Now I know what he means.

I haven’t stopped thinking about that quote since I read it. How could one of the greatest directors of all-time—someone responsible for films like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull—only now be seeing the possibility of what cinema can be? He’s already changed the possibility of what cinema can be, so how could that be true? It seemed impossible. That was until I saw Killers of the Flower Moon. Now I get it. Martin Scorsese has made a stunning, timeless work of art about humanity and how we see and treat one another. He made a gorgeous, heartbreaking film that is both intimate and epic in scope. And he did so in a way that is unlike anything else he’s done in his career.

It’s impossible to explain exactly what Scorsese accomplishes and how in Killers of the Flower Moon without discussing major spoilers. Even if this review was not meant to avoid them, I still wouldn’t want to share any. I wouldn’t want to rob someone of the experience of seeing this movie the way I did. You should go in knowing as little as possible about it. That includes even if you know the real horrific story behind it or read David Grann’s book of the same name it’s based on.

What I can do is tell you how I felt over the course of Killers of the Flower Moon‘s three hour and 26 minute runtime. It’s a length the film doesn’t just earn, but one that is intimately tied to the movie’s themes. Halfway through, I thought the film was really good. It looks incredible, as though you’ve actually transported to 1920s Oklahoma and Osage Nation.

It also features a fantastic cast with three commanding leads. Leonardo DiCaprio seems slightly miscast at first through no fault of his own. He’s almost too big a star for the role of a simple man who doesn’t fully understand what it means to love someone and to be a good person. It’s almost an anti-leading man part. But DiCaprio’s so good that by the end of the film you forget he’s “Leo,” a testament to his abilities to fully embrace a character and embody them honestly.

Meanwhile, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone dominate the screen the second they appear. They represent the two opposing sides of this morality tale, both literally and figuratively. Each is so powerful in their own way that everything they do feels real and authentic. It’s the best De Niro performance in a long time, a reminder why he’s a true industry legends. And if Lily Gladstone doesn’t emerge from this movie as a major A+ star shut down all Hollywood until someone fixes that. She’s truly incredible and the emotional core of the entire film.

As the movie got closer to its conclusion, I had come to think it was truly great. The heinous mass murders of Osage tribe members by greedy white men takes on even greater importance as the true depth of depravity comes to light. As the outside world finally wakes up to the ongoing atrocity, the film goes from being about the cold, unfeeling cruelty people are capable of to also being a treatise on power dynamics that couldn’t be anymore relevant to the world today. This is a big story about big, timeless ideas that touch all of us. And it works because it’s told from a personal and human perspective that centers an Osage woman’s impossible resolve and trauma.

If that’s all this movie was, it would be one of the year’s best. It would also be one of Scorsese’s best, a huge accomplishment unto itself. But when the credits rolled and the full picture Scorsese painted revealed itself, I knew I’d just seen a true masterpiece. This is a work of art whose genius is impossible to appreciate until it is finished. This isn’t just a heartbreaking story about greed, power, and how we treat one another. This is also a story about whose stories get told and how they are remembered.

This is a movie about history and us today just as much as it is about the Osage and the past. It’s a movie about the people we see in old sepia photographs who feel like they were historical figures rather than the living, breathing people they were. The members of the Osage Nation brutally killed for literal oil money were real, just as we are. They laughed, they cried, they had hopes and dreams, and they suffered same as anyone. And other people—people also just as real as you and I—took all of that from them for two reasons. One because they didn’t see the Osage as real people, and two because they could.

I wish I could talk specifics about how Scorsese conveys all of that and why this movie shattered me. I want to talk about every aspect of this film with anyone willing to listen. I’d like to tell you exactly why I think this film is important in a way unlike all of his previous films. It has stuck to my ribs since the moment it ended. It will be there for a very long time. This is a movie that makes it impossible for you to forget the humanity of the very real people it’s based on. And it does so in a way that’s so powerful, smart, and effective it really did change how I fee about the possibility of cinema.

When the credits at your screening roll, you’ll understand why. And that’s when you’ll also understand what I finally do after all these months. The wisdom and perspective of age opened up the whole world to Martin Scorsese. The result is Killers of the Flower Moon, a truly stunning work of art I don’t think he could have made before now. That’s not sad to think about, it’s beautiful.

No wonder he’s got to get going on his next film. He’s got too much to say to us before it gets too late.

Killers of the Flower Moon ⭐ (5 of 5)

Killers of the Flower Moon premieres in theaters on October 20.

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

The post Martin Scorsese’s KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Is a Moving and Timeless Masterpiece appeared first on Nerdist.

The Spider-Verse has shown “anyone can wear the mask.” It’s a beautiful sentiment, but let’s face it, the odds a radioactive spider grants us super arachnid powers is probably close to zero. (Yes, “probably.” We refuse to give up all hope.) That doesn’t mean we can’t experience what it’s like to be a friendly neighborhood hero, though. We can be a beloved webbed-slinger in video games, and the next chance we’ll have to do that will expand our horizon—and our wardrobe. Three new trailers for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reveal a ton of drama and many foes, a full closet worth of incredible Spidey-suits, and an even bigger map to explore.

Villans Are Everywhere in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Slightly Spoilery Launch Trailer

It’s almost time for the web-slinging to begin. And in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launch trailer, we’re thankful for our team of Spidey heroes because there sure will be many villains for them to fight. Beware, though, this new trailer is slightly spoilery.

Kraven, Lizard, and Venom all take a starring role in this upcoming game, and we can see their full strength in Spider-Man 2‘s latest look. But we also get a couple of surprises. The nefarious Spider-Man villain Sandman appears in this trailer, and he is absolutely terrifying (and enormous). Not to mention we see Mister Negative fighting Miles. Any spider-donning hero in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 better watch out.

A synopsis released with the trailer shares:

Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise for the PS5 console. Nine months after the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, we find Miles still enlisting Peter’s help, but when the mysterious symbiote appears, Peter and Miles’ relationships are put to the test. Peter begins to change as he gains symbiote powers, and Miles, Mary Jane, Harry, and the rest of the friend group must help Peter while also facing the impending threats from a cast of new villains like Kraven, Lizard, Sandman, and Venom!

We can hardly wait.

MANY New Spider-Man Suits Are on the Horizon

The second new trailer from Insomniac Games and PlayStation for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 highlight the game’s Digital Deluxe edition. This promo features the many, many, many suits players can opt to use in the game, which will see “Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.”

The game will include the following options for Spidey-ware:

• 5 unique Miles Morales suits
• EnC0ded Suit design by Kris Anka
• Biomechanical Suit design by Jerad Marantz
• Tokusatsu Suit design by Julia Blattman
• Agimat Suit design by Anthony Francisco
• Red Spectre Suit design by Sweeney Boo
• 5 unique Peter Parker suits o Aurantia Suit design by Raf Grassetti
• Apunkalyptic Suit design by Jerad Marantz
• Tactical Suit design by Joel Mandish
• Stone Monkey design by Victoria Ying
• 25th Century Suit design by Anthony Francisco

Pre-ordering Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will also get a few more suits. Those who buy it ahead of its October 20 release will nab an Arachknight Suit for Peter with three color variants and a Shadow-Spider Suit for Miles that also comes with three color variants. Pre-orders will get an early unlock Web Grabber gadget.

Is that…too many suits? No, no, that’s not a thing. We truly need all the suits. Especially since we’ll have even more places to show them off.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Reveals Expanded NYC Gameplay Map

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2‘s last new trailer, narrated by Insomniac Games’ Senior Creative Director Bryan Intihar, shows the expanded map players will encounter in the game.

Peter and Miles’ open-world adventures will let them go to their respective home burrows, Queens and Brooklyn. Those long-overdue additions to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will double the original release’s New York City’s map. And how will you traverse so much ground fast enough to save the day? With new web wings that will help each Spider-Man zip through the air.

These new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 trailers provide even more insights into the new aspects players will find in the game. But the most important one remains the same. It will let us wear the mask. Many, many, many versions of the mask.

Originally published on September 15, 2023.

The post Launch Trailer for MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 Reveals More Villains, Venom, and Lots of Drama appeared first on Nerdist.

Carol Danvers joined the MCU in 2019 with her own standalone movie, but the powerful superhero won’t be the only “marvel” appearing in her sequel. Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau will star alongside the former pilot in The Marvels. How will these three come together? What moments in their past led them to a future working together? And will Nick Fury be a part of their story? Here’s everything you need to remember from Captain Marvel, WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion before The Marvels flies into theaters.

Who Are the MCU’s Marvels?

The Marvels will feature the trio of Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau. While they have shared specific superhero monikers at various times in Marvel Comics, each goes by a different name in the MCU. (One of which we know for sure thanks to official toys.)

Captain Marvel – Carol Danvers

Nick Fury paged Carol Danvers for help in Avengers: Infinity War before Brie Larson even made her MCU debut. Captain Marvel then revealed how the United States Air Force pilot became one of the most formidable cosmic beings in the universe. She gained incredible powers when an explosion of energy exposed her to the space stone inside the Tesseract. The Infinity Stone, along with an infusion of Kree blood, imbued her with super strength, speed, agility, durability, and more.

She also gained the ability to fly (including through space without a helmet), emit energy blasts, and generate intense heat. Once she unlocked her full potential Carol Danvers was strong enough to overwhelm Thanos. He needed the Power Stone to fight her.

The explosion that gave her powers also caused Carol to experience total memory loss. That made it possible for the Kree to manipulate their powerful new soldier, whom they called “Vers” thanks to her partially ruined military dog tag. Vers was loyal and dedicated, but she turned on the Kree after learning the truth about her past and mentor. Carol then became an ally to her former enemies the Skrulls. She and her new friend Nick Fury helped save the Skrulls before she left Earth again. Carol Danvers returned to her home world after the Snap and joined the Avengers, but she soon returned to space so she could help maintain order on other planets. Her many years away from Earth led to a rift between Carol and the daughter of her best friend, Maria Rambeau.

Carol Danvers last appeared in the MCU as a hologram during a Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings mid-credits scene.

Ms. Marvel – Kamala Khan

The Disney+ series Ms. Marvel introduced young Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan to the MCU. Jersey City’s biggest Avengers fan joined the superhero ranks herself after she accidentally unlocked innate powers while wearing a magical wrist bangle. Kamala’s special abilities, which include stretching her own body, let her both manipulate and generate light into physical matter (“hard light”) both big and small. She does that by accessing energy from the parallel Noor Dimension. That extra-dimensional world was her great grandmother’s original home.

Kamala Khan’s abilities do not come solely from the Noor Dimension. Other Noor people like her grandmother had been stuck on Earth for decades without being able to access their home dimension’s powers. In the show’s season one finale, Kamala’s best friend Bruno figured out why. He discovered Kamala is different because she has a strange genetic mutation. If there were any doubt what that meant for both Kamala and the MCU, part of the X-Men: The Animated Series theme song played during the scene. That all but confirmed Kamala as the MCU’s first official mutant.

Read more about the MCU’s superhero-loving superhero with Kamala Khan’s Powers In Ms. Marvel, Explained, as well as our piece Why Ms. Marvel’s X-Men Revelation Is Exciting.

Photon – Monica Rambeau

Monica Rambeau made her MCU debut in Captain Marvel, which took place in 1995. Akira Akbar played the young version of the character in the film. Teyonah Parris took over the role as the adult Monica on Disney+’s WandaVision, set in 2023. The show revealed Monica’s mother Maria had died after the Snap (which turned Monica to dust) and before the Blip. During Carol Danvers long absence, the former pilot Maria had established S.W.O.R.D. Her daughter ultimately followed in her mom’s footsteps by joining the government organization.

(A Variant of Maria appeared in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. In that world Maria became Captain Marvel rather than Carol.)

On WandaVision Monica passed through the Scarlet Witch’s Hex—the magical barrier around Wanda’s false utopian sitcom city—multiple times. Each time she did it rewrote her body’s cells on a molecular level. Monica Rambeau’s third and final push into Westview ultimately turned her into a super powered being. The Hex tried to rip her apart, but Monica fought back by focusing on her past and her mother. When she emerged intact on the other side of the Hex she had super reflexes, energy absorption, and intangibility, which makes it so she can let objects pass through her. Monica also gained spectral vision that lets her see energy waves. Her eyes glow when she uses her powers.

In WandaVision‘s closing moments Nick Fury had a secret Skrull operative tell Monica he wanted the new superhero to join him on the S.A.B.E.R. station in outer space.

Dive deeper into Photon’s story with our explainers on Monica Rambeau’s Super Powers and our piece on Wandavision’s Mid-Credits Scene.

How Ms. Marvel’s Season One Finale Set Up The Marvels

The story of The Marvels began during a mid-credits scene in Ms. Marvel‘s season one finale. It began when Kamala’s bangle started glowing. Kamala then disappeared as someone crashed into her closet. It was Carol Danvers, whose hands were emanating the same cosmic glow as Kamala’s ancient artifact.

Why Is Kamala Khan’s Bangle So Important?

Kamala’s bangle is one of two we know exists. Ms. Marvel never fully explained where it came from or why it’s so important, other than the Noor wanted both and Kamala’s grandmother used magic to send it to Kamala. It also sends Kamala where she needs to go even if she doesn’t know why. That’s how she went to the past to save her family long before she was born.

We do know her grandmother found it in a temple that has connections to Shang-Chi’s magical Ten Rings (which very well might be of alien origin themselves). More importantly, the Noor ClanDestine outcasts found the bangle on a severed blue hand that looked a lot like a Kree body part. The bangle also shares many traits with Marvel Comics Nega-Bands, which could explain exactly what it is and why it switched Kamala and Carol’s places in the universe.

To learn more about Kamala’s bangle, her swap with Carol Danvers, and the Nega-Bands read Ms. Marvel Finale’s Mid-Credits Scene Explained.

Where in the MCU Timeline Does The Marvels Take Place?

The Marvels will take place after Ms. Marvel, which took place in the fall of 2025. The Captain Marvel sequel will also take place after Secret Invasion. That ended with Nick Fury returning to outer space aboard the S.A.B.E.R. ship. He’ll be working with his old friend and her two unexpected partners in the film. All three of them are stuck in a quantum entanglement together.

Trailers for The Marvels revealed Monica Rambeau not only took Fury up on the job offer at the end of WandaVision, she was also part of the switch that took place with Carol and Kamala. When that bangle began to glow Carol ended up in Kamala’s room, Kamala took Monica’s place in space, and Monica went to wherever Carol was at the moment. When one of them uses their powers it causes all three to swap places across the universe.

Not exactly a marvelous situation for the three of them. Especially Monica who doesn’t have much love left for her “aunt” Carol. But that’s exactly why their entanglement should make for an entertaining film when The Marvels go higher, further, and faster together on November 10.

Get ready for the MCU’s new team with Everything We Know About The Marvels. It explains why the film’s villain might already answer some of our biggest questions.

The post What to Know From CAPTAIN MARVEL, MS. MARVEL, and WANDAVISION Before THE MARVELS appeared first on Nerdist.

In a perfect world we’d be waiting for a very specific movie this fall. We’d be waiting for the premiere of a followup to the 2022 MCU Halloween special Werewolf by Night. The creepy black-and-white tale of monster hunters and their prey remains one of the franchise’s best and most original post-Infinity Saga releases. But while we don’t live in a perfect world, it’s not all bad either. Disney+’s 2023 “Hallowstream” lineup will include the newly announced Werewolf by Night in Color, a special version debuting this October.

And it now this colorful rendition has a scary good trailer.

Hulu subscribers can now catch the original Werewolf by Night on the streamer. Disney added the special starring Gael García Bernal to the site as part of its “Huluween” collection. But customers of the Mouse House’s flagship streaming service will be getting a very different version on October 20.

Marvel Studios’ Werewolf By Night in Color will give viewers an opportunity to see the film in a whole new way. Disney is giving its spooky story a companion version that comes in “vibrant color.”

On Twitter X, director Michael Giacchino said they “spent a lot of time working on this color version” because they “wanted to pay homage to the incredible vibrant color in horror films like the ones Hammer made.” Giacchino said the result is “a whole new look for the film.”

Prior to this trailer we had only seen colorized images from the set thanks to the behind-the-scenes doc Director By Night.

Before we learned of this colorized version we were planning to rewatch the black-and-white original a couple times anyway. Now? We’re still going to do that, we’re just also going to enjoy Werewolf by Night in Color.

Hopefully next year we also have a second original movie to enjoy, too. That won’t make the world perfect, but like this special colorful version it will get us one lycanthrope step closer.

Originally published September 15, 2023.

The post Marvel’s WEREWOLF BY NIGHT IN COLOR Special Scares Up First Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Loki‘s first season established the TVA as a place outside of normal time and space. He Who Remains and his servants didn’t age over eons inside the Machiavellian bureaucracy. Mobius wasn’t even sure exactly how long he’d been protecting the Sacred Timeline, since “time moves differently” at the TVA. Combined with Multiversal War, the Citadel at the End of Time, Variants, branches, and pruning it was a lot to make sense of. Now Loki‘s second season is showing we didn’t even know as much as we thought.

What exactly is going on with time at the Time Variance Authority? What does all this new information mean for the MCU’s multiverse? The TVA’s own past, present, and future? Here’s what every episode of Loki season two has revealed about how time does—and sometimes doesn’t—work in the strange world of the TVA.

Episode 1

Time Slipping

Time slipping is when someone is violently ripped through the past, present, and future. It’s supposed to be impossible inside the TVA, a place where magic doesn’t work and countless Infinity Stones are nothing more than colorful paper weights. O.B. and Mobius solved Loki’s time slipping problem by extracting a pruned Loki out of “every strand of time and space.”

The TVA’s Own Linear Timeline

Loki’s time slipping explained why Mobius didn’t recognize the God of Mischief at the end of season one. It also revealed the TVA still has its own self-contained timeline. The organization exists outside of normal time and space, but people in the TVA still live a linear timeline with a past, present, and future.

When Loki went into the past he went into the same TVA’s own past. That was a period when He Who Remains didn’t hide his identity from his workforce. When Loki went into the future it was the same TVA’s future. His travels through TVA time also made it possible for Loki to help save himself from time slipping. He told O.B. about his problems in the past, which made it so O.B. in the present had the Temporal Aura Extractor ready to go.

Mobius attached the Extractor to the most important device in the TVA, machine that weaves entire branches together.

Temporal Loom

The “heart” of the TVA is the Temporal Loom, a device that refines raw time into a “physical timeline.” The death of He Who Remains caused the Sacred Timeline to branch off. Those new strands then began to overload the Temporal Loom, which is not designed to handle that many strands at once.

Read More About Loki Season 2 Episode 1

• How Loki’s Season 2 Premiere Explains Season 1’s Ending
• Does Loki’s Season 2 Premiere Have A Post-Credits Scene?
• Loki’s Post-Credits Scene Ties Into A Classic Thor Comics Location
• Loki’s Temporal Loom: What Is It And What Are Its Marvel Comics Inspirations?
• Who Is Loki’s Ouroboros? Ke Huy Quan’s Character O.B. Ties Into Mythology And Marvel Comics

Episode 2

The Secret Brad Wolfe Life of Hunter X-5

The season premiere saw heavily armed TVA hunters under General Dox’s command go through a Timedoor. Episode two revealed their mission was to blow up all the new branches. One of the Hunters who went on that mission originally was X-5, but Mobius learned he’d abandoned his post entirely in the second episode, which took place immediately at the first within the TVA’s own timeline.

That’s not how much time had passed for X-5, though. He’d left the TVA to make a life for himself as a actor on the Sacred Timeline in 1977 London.

X-5, now known as famous Zaniac star Brad Wolfe, had much longer hair than he had in the first episode. Between his notoriety, success, and lengthy follicles it was clear he lived a long time on the Sacred Timeline even though very little time had passed for his former colleagues in the TVA. The same was true of Sylvie. Despite killing He Who Remains just days prior within the TVA’s own timeline, she’d already established a life on a new branch in 1982 Oklahoma.

Time Discrepancy Between the TVA and Normal Life

The implications of this time discrepancy between normal life and the TVA are terrifying. Someone could theoretically leave the TVA, live an entire life on a branch for many years, and then return to the TVA mere moments after they originally left it. What kind of damage could someone do to the Sacred Timeline if they could do what they wanted for decades before the TVA even knew they were gone?

We’ll have to wait for future episodes to find out. That’s also when we’ll learn whatever else it is we don’t already know about time in the TVA.

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

The post How Time and Time Travel Work in LOKI’s TVA appeared first on Nerdist.

Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher doesn’t pay tribute to Edgar Allan Poe only by adapting the author’s characters and stories. The Netflix series also features an original figure who honors one of the writer’s signature techniques. Poe’s works, including some his most famous, often employ ambiguity. His tales blur the lines between reality and fantasy, nature and the supernatural, logic and madness so that that it’s sometimes impossible to know what’s real in his narratives. The unknowable elements of his stories not only elevate their horror, it forces readers to engage with them on a deeper level. That’s a big reason why so many of his tales endure to this day and always will. Just as The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna will.

But who is Verna really in The Fall of the House of Usher? Well, it’s not clear who or what Carla Gugino’s mysterious, ageless harbinger of doom really was. Compelling arguments can be made for her being various famous mythological figures, an amalgamation of them all, or something new entirely. But while it’s fun to guess at Verna’s real identity, not knowing makes her far more interesting and terrifying in the best tradition of Edgar Allan Poe.

Who or What Is The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna?

Despite the series briefly teasing she might be a regular human woman, The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna is a supernatural being. Verna said she’s not actually a woman and existed before humans. Carla Gugino also described her character as “the executor of fate or the executor of karma.”

What Did The Fall of the House of Usher Reveal About Verna?

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Verna’s many powers include stopping people from dying, killing them in elaborate manners, mind manipulation, and knowing the future. She can also give people whatever they want and is responsible for the rise of some of the richest, most powerful, most heinous people of all-time. Verna offered Roderick and Madeline Usher their wildest dreams along with total, lifelong legal immunity, but that meant their bloodline would all die right before they both did. She also offered to keep Arthur Pym out of jail if he offered collateral as leverage. Interestingly, on The Fall of the House of Usher Verna knows the lives people would have led had they not accepted her offer.

Does The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna Directly Appear in Any of Poe’s Works?

No one named Verna appears in any Edgar Allan Poe story or poem, nor does she directly resemble any of the author’s countless characters. However, the name “Verna” comes from arguably the single most famous figure in the author’s entire bibliography, and Mike Flanagan’s Verna is intimately connected to that creature.

Where Did Verna Get Her Name?

The Fall of the House of Usher‘s “Verna” is an anagram of “Raven,” and she is clearly connected to the cawing animal of Edgar Allan Poe’s seminal poem. Verna often transformed into a raven on the show or had stuffed ravens and raven images surrounding her. Also, after Verna killed Lenore, the coulda-been-a poet Roderick Usher began reciting (what we know is) “The Raven” to express his grief as an actual raven appeared. That was certainly Verna, too. She also changed back into a raven after the collapse of the Ushers’ childhood home in the series finale.

If the two are connected, what does Poe’s “The Raven” tell us about Verna’s true identity?

What Does the Raven Symbolize in Edgar Allan Poe’s Poem?

At it’s core Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” is about grief. Some believe the bird crying out “nevermore” on that dreary night is the physical embodiment of the speaker’s own grief. Ravens have also long been associated with death and ill omens of the future. Both apply to the raven. In the poem the bird seems to portend a lifetime of sadness for the speaker who will never recover from losing Lenore.

Others think Poe’s raven symbolizes loss itself, or the madness that comes from living with it and embracing it. There’s a valid argument the bird represents the speaker’s guilt about something.

Verna touches upon all of these many interpretations. However, Poe’s raven has no physical control over the speaker and his fate. The bird could just be a bird looking for warmth from the rain. It might simply reflect the speaker’s feelings and lot in life because the speaker gives it meaning. Mike Flanagan’s Verna has far more tangible influence over the course of human lives. She has a “job” to do. But what job is that exactly? Like Poe’s works, the Netflix series invites us to consider multiple interpretations.

Was The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna the Devil?

Roderick and Madeline Usher made a deal with a supernatural being who killed innocent people who never consented to the Faustian bargain. And Verna often killed them a brutal manner that maximized their suffering. That all points to The Fall of the House of Usher‘s mystery woman being the actual Devil who, like Verna, existed before humans.

Why Is Verna on The House of Usher Not the Devil?

Verna certainly talked about herself at various times as though she is, like when she mentioned “loopholes” and unbreakable pacts. When she made an offer to Arthur Pym she even mentioned having to “come up” to see his infamous Transglobe Expedition, as though she came from Hell to Earth. However, for as much evidence that points to Verna being the Devil, there’s just as much that indicates she’s not.

Verna has no interest in souls—the most common currency of the Devil—and said they aren’t real. She seems to like making offers out of a genuine curiosity to explore human limits. Verna also possesses a real sense of right and wrong. She’s not cruel for cruelty sake. Verna is capable of love and compassion, like when she comforted Lenore. Verna loves much about her “job,” but she also has responsibilities that bring her no joy.

Why would the Devil, tasked by God in some religious teachings to tempt mankind, care about Lenore in that moment? No one else was around, so Verna didn’t need to put on a phony performance to hide her true intentions. Why let Lenore know about the millions of lives she’d help save after her death? Even the least heinous interpretations of the Devil define Satan as a creature devoid of good rather than one of active evil. If Verna were evil or devoid of goodness why would she resent not being able to give all the Usher children peaceful deaths, including the worst of them? Why would she hate to get her hands “dirty” when killing someone?

And why would Verna find Roderick Usher’s tower of bodies so reprehensible if she enjoyed human suffering? Why would she save the workers at Prospero’s party and tell Morelle to leave? Wouldn’t the Devil revel in such misery? Wouldn’t the Devil try to maximize human pain at all times?

Maybe Verna isn’t the Devil. (A conclusion we can only reach if we believe what she always says, which is exactly how the Devil might trick us!) But what is she? Why does she call herself a “creature of symmetry” who is not a “broker of suffering” the way the Devil is, but rather a “witness” to suffering? Because she might instead be a figure that ultimately comes for all of us, good and evil alike.

Was The Fall of the House of Usher‘s Verna Death?

The Grim Reaper is the ultimate witness of suffering. Death is there to meet all of us in the end, just as Verna was there at each Usher family member’s end. Death is also neither inherently good nor evil, same as Verna. Both simply “are.” Death is also a creature of symmetry. It takes us from a world that existed before our birth and will continue on after we’re gone. If Verna—who cannot be killed and can be everywhere at any time—is Death, it’s no wonder she finds people so fascinating and knows what lives they could have lived had they chosen a different path. All paths lead to her.

And who but Death could refuse death, like when Verna wouldn’t let Roderick die. The Devil is a tempter, not a merchant of death. Meanwhile, Verna can chose the nature of someone’s final moment. She can make their demise simple and pain free, ushering the dead across with a gentle and loving hand. She can also intervene directly to punish the wicked. Even when she does the latter, she offers words of wisdom, like with Freddie. “You’ve been scared your whole life,” she said to him. “And now you get to put that down. It’s here Frederick. I’m finally, finally here.” Yes, Death was there.

Death would also laugh when asked to name its price as Verna did because Death has none. You can’t bargain with Death, it simply has a job to do. And in Verna’s case, she both loves and hates her job. She shepherds a species she finds endlessly fascinating because she knows all of us, who we could have been, and what we are capable of.

Madeline thought Verna might be Death, too. But just like the case with the Devil there’s reason to doubt Verna is the Grim Reaper. Could Death make the kinds of offers to the living Verna did? Could Death directly influence life on Earth? Does Death have that kind of power over the realm of the living?

If she’s not Death, then is she simply a new interpretation of Death, the Devil, or a combination of both? Another figure of mythology or religious doctrine? A demon? An angel? A being totally new created solely for the show?

We’ll never know. But each time we think about the show or rewatch, we might become convinced of a different answer. That’s why Verna is the The Fall of the House of Usher‘s best tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. Not knowing what she is means more than if we did.

What Role Did Verna Play on The Fall of the House of Usher?

We might fear both the Devil and Death. But as they say, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t,” because dealing with the unknown is often far more terrifying. An enemy you can see is an enemy you can plan for. Even knowing they’re an enemy is better than being unsure if they’re a friend. There’s a type of comfort provided by certainty, even the certainty of unmistakable horror, the unknown can never provide.

The unknowable is a special kind of terror. It can make us doubt what is real and who we can trust. It makes us wonder how much are the shadows we’re seeing tricks of our mind and how much are the harbingers of doom? Is that black cat in the wall real or imagined? Does the doppelganger we see in the mirror actually there or not? Are the ghosts we see really haunting us or is it just our grief? And did the beautiful bartender actually offer us the world in exchange for our children’s lives? Once we begin to doubt our ability to know anything for certain we risk losing ourselves entirely. Unlike a monster we can see and therefore maybe defeat, not knowing what’s real creates a nightmare in our mind we can escape “nevermore.”

Verna’s identity might be unknowable, but that’s why her role on The Fall of the House of Usher is clear. She symbolizes the ambiguity that comes with both life and death, of not always knowing where what separates good and evil, of the horror of never being sure if we’re free or puppets of fate, of the fine line between peace and pain. We’ll be debating who and what she is long after the finish clearing away the fallen remains of the Usher house.

So while she might not be a character directly out of an Edgar Allan Poe stories, she is very much a character of them.

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

The post Who Is Verna in THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER? Her Name and Purpose, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Some horror movies employ a slow burn. They start quietly and carefully build tension scene by scene until they crescendo with a nightmare finale. But other horror movies grab us immediately with a truly terrifying opening. Before we’ve even had our first Raisinets, they let us know what we’re in for with beginnings that set the tone for the film and stay with us long after it ends. There are many horror movie openings but a select few have done it better than anyone. And those films hold a special place in cinematic history. To celebrate them, Nerdist staff picked the best opening scenes in horror movie history.

Get Out (2017)

Tai Gooden: Get Out is a brilliant examination of the discomfort that Black people feel outside of our safe spaces. The legitimate fear that being the “only one” or “out of place” puts us in imminent danger. Andre’s kidnapping plays into this brilliantly, allowing him to be the audience surrogate in this brief yet effectively terrifying opener. The quick shift from hoping he will find his way to safety to seeing him attacked and dragged into a man’s car while Flanagan & Allen’s “Run Rabbit Run” plays is unnerving and nauseating. For a Black person, it’s our worst fear. For others, it is a window into the unprovoked hostility and attention we often feel while simply existing. And for all of us, it sets the stage for a film that examines racism, subjugation, fetishization, and more in a body horror narrative.

Jaws (1975)

Eric Diaz: Although I think of Jaws as an adventure film with horror elements, without a doubt the opening scene is one of the scariest ever in film history. Without a single mechanical shark in sight, Spielberg finds a way to create pure terror as nighttime swimmer Chrissie meets her fate in the form of a hungry Great White. To this day, her unheard screams for help in her final moments send chills down my spine, in a way very few horror scenes do, because it feels so damn real. If there was an Oscar for “most believable death,” it should have gone to Susan Backlinie.

It Follows (2014)

Mikey Walsh: It Follows’ monster isn’t terrifying because it wears a scary mask or carries a deadly weapon. It’s a true nightmare because it slowly and relentlessly tracks its prey. All while often taking on the appearance of a normal stranger or loved one only a future victim can see. But that ghoul is at its scariest before we ever learn what it really is. The movie opens with a perfectly paced, hauntingly scored shot of an otherwise peaceful suburban street. A girl we do not know, yet instantly care about, runs from her house in undergarments and heels from an invisible monster. Her fear is palpable as she assures her family of her safety. All while we know something terrible is coming for her.

While we never see her death following a sad farewell message to her parents, made from a beach where the tide rolls in endlessly like the killer she knows is coming. Her mangled body lets us know exactly why she was right to be so scared. This incredible opening scene lets us know what will follow for the rest of this unsettling film.

Suspiria (1977)

Kyle Anderson: Even when it’s just showing credits over a black screen, Dario Argento’s Suspiria starts to ratchet up the tension. The main theme from Goblin is equal parts music box and industrial saw. Rattling the nerves and creating dread. The colors pick up immediately as Suzy makes her way out of the airport and into Argento’s nightmare world. But that’s just mood and color, the stark red and blue of gels over lights. What makes the beginning of the movie the best in horror is the dream-logic deaths of two characters we only meet briefly.

The girl Suzy sees running away in the rain, meets her fate by a pair of disembodied eyes outside her window, along with a sudden, violent thrash of a hand. Stabbed in the heart, thrown through plate glass, and hanged via telephone wire in a matter of seconds, this death is brutal and vibrant. And her friend’s demise, impaled with pieces of the plate glass, just proves the maestro of horror isn’t messing around.

Smile (2022)

Tai Gooden: Parker Finn’s Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020) is one of the most effective and intense horror shorts in recent history. So I expected greatness from Smile, which mostly delivered on its promise to expand the tale of an unseen and transferable evil. The film is rife with jump scares and disturbing imagery but there’s nothing quite like its captivating, disturbing, and lengthy opening scene. Caitlin Stasey stuns as Laura Weaver, a student experiencing a mental health crisis after witnessing her professor’s suicide. Her ebb and flow from agonizing paranoia to unbridled panic before settling into that stoic and menacing smile sets this scene as a new horror opening classic. The chilling exchange between Laura and Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) lays a strong foundation for a relentless curse, a harrowing inheritance, to creep its way to the next victim. 

Scream (1996)

Meaghan Kirby: It goes without saying, really, that Scream has one of the most iconic opening scenes in all of cinema. But for this list, I’ll reiterate that particular stance. The scene is the stuff of legend: The increasingly menacing phone calls; the abandoned Jiffy pop roasting on its foil in the background; Drew Barrymore giving us an iconic scream queen performance in just 10 minutes!

It’s an homage to When a Stranger Calls with a delightfully brutal twist, signaling the many tributes to beloved horror films and tropes to come. Casting one of the biggest movie stars, sticking her front and center on all marketing materials, and brutally murdering her at the top of the film—what a move. So many others have since tried to pull off similar stunt casting shenanigans. But few have come close to sticking the landing.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Amy Ratcliffe: Leaves rustle amid filtered light. Strange animal noises permeate the air. A team of wranglers looks nervous AF. Jurassic Park may not be a pure horror movie, but the 1993 film’s opening scene sure causes terror. The few minutes showcasing the transport of a deadly velociraptor set the movie’s tension and hints at the danger ahead. It makes sure the audience knows from the beginning that the dinosaurs John Hammond shows off so proudly are not cute pets. Just beneath the wonder of these creatures’ existence lies danger and a longing for human-flavored snacks. The chilling raptor screams, Robert Muldoon’s desperate “shoot her,” and John Williams’ ominous music with its increasing tempo etched this scene into my memory.

The Hitcher (1986)

Rosie Knight: A young man (C. Thomas Howell) drives down a rainy highway, his eyes closed as he tires from the long drive. He’s awoken by a massive truck that almost runs him off the road. It’s a terrifying moment, but nothing compared to what’s coming. After his brush with death, he picks up a hitchhiker, played with devastating ferocity by Rutger Hauer. Two people inside a car in a storm shouldn’t be able to instill the kind of fear that Hauer and Howell do. But as the former torments the latter by playing a demented game of mind control, there might not be a scarier sequence in cinema. However, it’s when Hauer says, “That’s what the other guy said,” as Howell asks, “What do you want?” that you know you’re really in trouble. Hauer might never have been better than playing this cinematic sociopath.

Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)

Tai Gooden: The opening scene for the first film in Fear Street‘s trilogy is a combination of R. L. Stine book nostalgia, homage to the heyday of shopping malls, and a neon soaked tribute to ’90s slashers. Mall bookstore worker Heather Watkins lengthy struggle against a skull masked killer and her heartbreaking death at the hands of a friend is chilling and intriguing. But what really makes this opening scene stand out are the intricate details you notice upon subsequent viewings. Ryan hearing the whisper of the Shadyside curse calling his name. Stephen King’s Insomnia on the bookshelves. Casting Maya Hawke only to kill her off, just like Drew Barrymore in Scream (1996). Heather desperately saying “It’s me…” to Ryan as blood oozes from her mouth is truly haunting.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Kyle Anderson: How do you top the horror grandeur of George A. Romero’s magnum zombie opus? Well, for one, you make it faster-paced and generally funnier (thanks screenwriter James Gunn). For two? You open it with lengthy short film that introduces your main character, the escalating zombie outbreak, and the imminent chaos that unfolds because of it. After we meet nurse Ana and her husband Luis, we see their seemingly blissful life get turned upside down when they wake up to a neighbor girl in their house.

She looks hurt, but it’s worse than that. She’s dead. She bites Luis who bleeds out quicker than Ana can save him. Then he gets up just as quickly. As Ana runs outside she sees the entire neighborhood has gone to hell, running undead feasting on everyone. Ana drives away only to see it’s more than just the neighborhood. It’s everywhere! This is one of the most impressive shorthands for zombie outbreaks ever put to screen, and still might be Zack Snyder’s crowning achievement.

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Rotem Rusak: Though Hannibal’s presence looms over the film, The Silence of the Lambs belongs to Clarice. Throughout the movie, the scales fall from her eyes, as it were. As she faces evil in its most overtly horrifying and most quietly mundane forms. And while she purportedly has allies as she heads into these battles, at the end of the day she is solitary in her fight. The opening scene of The Silence of the Lambs perfectly conveys this uneasy tension. As Clarice runs alone in the woods, a sense of crawling dread fills the screen. We feel she is being watched because we are watching her. And something, it seems, is about to go very wrong.

Despite this, Clarice runs on, unbothered by her position alone and vulnerable as we perceive her to be. She forges on, confident in herself and her strength, even as the ominous music picks up its pace and birds and wild animals chatter in the trees. The opening sequence concludes with the iconic shot of Clarice entering an elevator full of men. Overtly othered but determined nonetheless to carry on. No safer within the halls of the FBI than she is without.

Halloween (1978)

Tai Gooden: Everything about this opening scene (and its scary score) confirms why John Carpenter’s Halloween is the foundation of slasher films. It transpires through the POV of what we believe is a voyeuristic stalker, lurking in the darkness and waiting for the optimal time to attack a young couple. But the Pandora’s box of horror opens quietly, revealing the shocking hand of a child grabbing a butcher’s knife. Those terse minutes stretch on with you knowing where this will likely go, but endlessly curious about how it will get there. The clown mask slipping over his face, obscuring the most heinous parts of Judith’s murder, and his heavy breathing as he trudges back downstairs is a chilling, unforgettable masterpiece.

But, it’s the last shot of a small blond Michael Myers wearing a bright Halloween costume, staring listlessly and holding the knife with his sister’s blood on it, that packs the biggest punch retrospectively. We witnessed the birth of a silent, relentless, and enduring killer.

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Eric Diaz: A lot of horror sequels are pale imitations of their predecessors. But not A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. We’re introduced to young Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette), who, as soon as the credits roll, dreams herself into Freddy’s nightmare world. We get all the Freddy tropes in the opening scene. The Elm Street house, the creepy little girl, and the basement filled with murdered teens. But long before Inception, this scene introduced us to “the dream within the dream,” concept. As Kristen wakes up (or so she thinks) only to find her bathroom faucet handles are an extension of Freddy’s clawed hand. When he uses them to cut open her wrist, it’s hard to not feel queasy. And all of this is just in the movie’s first five minutes.

Final Destination 2 (2003)

Mikey Walsh: Every Final Destination movie opens with a terrifying “what-if.” But it’s the second and best installment of the franchise that delivers an all-time opening horror scene. The vision of a deadly highway pileup reminds us that a normal drive can instantly end in tragedy. But what makes Final Destination 2‘s first scene worthy of inclusion on this list is how it will stay with you for the rest of your life. It’s impossible not to think about that crash when you find yourself driving alongside a massive truck ferrying something large and terrifying (trees or anything else) that you’re not fully confident it can handle. Even a small pickup with something tied up in its bed can conjure the memory of that scene.

Final Destination 2 forever made every trip on a highway a potential drive full of genuine dread. It truly is—fittingly for a car crash scene—nightmare fuel.

The Ring (2002)

Kyle Anderson: I can’t think of a modern horror movie that had as effective an opening scene as either version of The Ring, based on the Japanese film Ringu. Talk about a way to sell your premise as concisely and impactfully as possible. The concept, of a cursed VHS tape that kills anyone who watches it a week later, is pretty out-there, and so you need to show it. Two teenage girls talk about the tape as a modern urban legend, like a Bloody Mary thing, about what happens when you watch the tape. One of the girls has already watched the tape and her blood runs cold as her friend describes exactly what happened. Just through dialogue and moody music, we get a sense that the end is possibly nigh, even despite a fake-out scare halfway through. When the TV turns on all by itself, even before we see the tape itself or the ghost girl, we’re scared to death. Literally in the girl’s case.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Tai Gooden: The Evil Dead franchise often leans into the sillier and splatter-loving side of horror. However, the latest installment, Evil Dead Rise, is an excellent marriage of horror tropes, humor, and a downright disturbing sequence of events. We’ve got young adults in a creepy lakeside cabin, including the jerky/annoying boyfriend and the girl who doesn’t want to be there. Things go awry as we realize that there’s something wrong with Jessica. Her back turned as she reads words from wuthering heights, her voice getting deeper and warbling lets us know that we are in for something disturbing. And boy do things get demonic, leaving us with a harrowing shot over the lake before the film brings its title to visual fruition. 

Originally published October 20, 2021.

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I don’t want to sound dramatic, but the thought of Captain Jean-Luc Picard with hair is the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Patrick Stewart’s perfectly shaped bald head is as iconic as the USS Enterprise. No, check that: it’s more iconic. I wouldn’t trade his scalp for any ship in the Federation’s fleet. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love everything from a story in his new memoir about how he auditioned for the legendary Star Trek role while wearing a toupee. It’s not just amazing that executives originally wanted to see him with hair. It’s amazing because the wig he wore for them traveled from the UK to Los Angeles all by itself on an airplane.

Patrick Stewart’s new memoir Making It So continues to provide delightful tales from his long and lustrous career. The latest tidbit (which we first learned about at Insider) gets into the follicle aspect of his Star Trek audition. (The one that led to the role Ian McKellan advised him not to take.) In the book Stewart says that while he was already flying to Los Angeles to audition for Jean-Luc Picard his then wife Sheila Falconer got a call from his agent. “Paramount people had been in touch, asking if I owned a hairpiece, and if I did, could I bring it to the audition?” he wrote.

He did, so she boxed up what Stewart calls his “audition wig.” She then put it on a British Airways flight to LA. Stewart doesn’t know if the toupee flew first class, but we’d like to think it did.

What he does know is what happened when it arrived. Patrick Stewart picked up his wig at LAX when it landed. He then wore it during audition where he only did a single scene before executives dismissed him. He thought that was not a good sign. But in a truly beautiful ending to this story, it was the hairdresser at the audition who realized he’d aced it.

After he finished three executives came by Stewart’s dressing room, where he’d already removed the wig, to say goodbye. He believed that meant his audition had gone poorly, but his overjoyed hairdresser said it was the opposite. She told him they wanted to see him without the wig and clearly liked what they saw.

She was right. And thank goodness she was. It’s delightful to imagine Patrick Stewart auditioning with a wig that flew solo across the Atlantic. But the thought of Jean-Luc Picard with hair is anything but.

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Professional wrestling’s long history includes many famous clans who made the sport a family affair. Fans know all about the Harts, the McMahons, the Anoa’i, the Funks, the Guerreros, and the Rhodes. Lots of famous households strapped up their boots and got in the squared circle together. They then taught the family business to new generations of stars. But while fans can debate the best, most talented, most important pro wrestling families ever, there’s no question over the industry’s most tragic. The name Von Erich is as synonymous with talent as it is with grief. Now the legendary Texas clan’s sad story is coming to the big screen in A24’s The Iron Claw, which just released its first trailer. Our first look at The Iron Claw teases a story whose depth of heartbreak is hard to believe even though we know it’s true.

The Iron Claw is the pro wrestling movie that needed to be made. But it will be hard for those who don’t already know about the Von Erichs to believe what happened to the family. Even the official synopsis for The Iron Claw, which released alongside the trailer, only hints at the fate of a family who made a lasting mark both in the ring and out of it.

From A24:

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports. 

Unfortunately, pro wrestling is no different than life: immortality doesn’t always come the way you hope.

Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene) both wrote and directed this movie. The Iron Claw stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, and Lily James. It climbs into the ring later this year when it premieres in theaters on December 22, 2023.

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Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One forced Ethan Hunt to face the demons of his past. The film also forced him into a tiny alley with two henchmen. And it did all of that at the same time with dual fights in Venice. That sequence was one of the movie’s best. It was also one of the most challenging to put together. How did the filmmakers combine two encounters—each filmed with different techniques and different actors—and make it feel like one coherent scene? Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton explain how in this exclusive look at a bonus feature from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One‘s home release.

The alley fight between Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and the team of Pom Klementieff’s Paris and another Entity henchman would have been a standout moment in a stand out movie all by itself. It was both beautiful and brutal. The same is true of the bridge duel between Haley Atwell’s Grace and Esai Morales. But by splicing them together the film heightened the intensity of both while also highlighting just how dangerous the Entity really is.

In this bonus feature with commentary from McQuarrie and Hamilton, we learn what went into making both halves work as one cohesive moment. The key turned out to be a simultaneous start to sync the two very different kinds of fights. From there, music cues, pacing, camera work, and the actors’ commitment came together to make movie magic.

Well, it’s magical so long as we don’t think about what happened after these two fights. (Though we’re hopeful Ilsa is actually just fine and enjoying this bonus feature right now.)

From Paramount Home Entertainment, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One One will be available to purchase on Digital 10/10. All bonus features will be available with a digital purchase. The blockbuster hit will debut on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 31^st.

The post Learn How MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Pulled Off Two Fights at Once in Blu-ray and Digital Bonus Feature appeared first on Nerdist.

For some Halloween means trick-or-treating, horror movies, and bobbing for apples. For others the spooky season is defined by haunted houses, costume parties, and hay rides. But, for those who will always love Chicken McNuggets more than snack-sized Snickers, Halloween is all about plastic containers you get from a fast food restaurant. That might sound weird, but not if you grew up with McDonald’s iconic Boo Buckets. Those adorable Happy Meal containers were a staple of countless childhood celebrations. Now they’re becoming a staple of adulthood, too. McDonald’s has announced it is once again bringing back Boo Buckets. Only this year the collection includes a fourth option not seen for a very long time.

McDonald’s USA Menu Spotter website revealed Boo Buckets are coming back again this year. Starting on October 17, guests hungry for spooky nostalgia can grab one of four new Halloween Happy Meal designs. The 2023 lineup includes: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire. The company says its fanged fourth bucket is the first purple option “since the OG purple Boo Bucket.” (The original featured a witch rather than a vampire.)

OG Boo Bucket lovers will also appreciate this year’s set come with lids. That hasn’t always been the case since McDonald’s first introduced them in 1986.

This latest batch of Boo Buckets will be available at participating restaurants nationwide. Don’t wait to grab yours, though. And not just because they’ll only be in stores shortly before Halloween. The fast food chain says, “They’ll be gone faster than you can say ‘boo,’ so head to your local McDonald’s to get a festive pail while supplies last.”

We agree and will definitely be in line on the 17th ourselves. There are millions and millions of other kids who are now adults with jobs, too. It won’t surprise us if these boo Buckets are all sold out by the 18th.

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Whatever promise streaming services once offered is not just dead, it has been replaced by existential dread. Viewers no longer have to only worry their favorite films and TV shows will get pulled from sites at month’s end. They now have to worry new, finished films and TV shows will never see the light of day. Warner Bros. shelving the completed Batgirl film was not an isolated incident. It was a harbinger of things to come. Disney+ canceled its The Spiderwick Chronicles series before it could debut, despite the fact it was already completed.

The only good news was another studio or platform could ultimately bring it to the small screen. And happily, in this increasingly rare case, that has come to pass. The Roku Channel has “landed the exclusive, premiere U.S. rights to The Spiderwick Chronicles.” Roku will release the now-saved The Spiderwick Chronicles series in early 2024.

We first learned about Disney+’s decision not to release its live-action The Spiderwick Chronicles show in August. It’s based on the children’s fantasy novel series from Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. All eight episodes—starring Christian Slater, Jack Dylan Grazer, Lyon Daniels, Noah Cottrell, Joy Bryant, and Mychala Lee—are totally finished. But in 2023, that simply doesn’t matter much of the time. In this case, Disney+ treated The Spiderwick Chronicles as a write-off, as it continues to service investors at the sad cost of creatives and fans.

The good news is that, unlike Batgirl, this show had a chance to live again. It was developed at Disney but comes from Paramount Television Studios and 20th Television. And these studios worked to find a new streaming home for The Spiderwick Chronicles. We’re glad it will appear on The Roku Channel. In 2008, we saw a movie version of The Spiderwick Chronicles, but a series will allow us to journey even deeper into the magical world. As mentioned, The Spiderwick Chronicles series will release on The Roku Channel in early 2024.

Of course, despite this saving, The Spiderwick Chronicles series might not be available for good. Even shows and movies that do make it to streaming don’t always stay there very long. That’s the complete opposite of what streaming seemed to be offering not too long ago. But, at least for the previously canceled The Spiderwick Chronicles series, there’s a happy ending for now.

Originally published on August 28, 2023.

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Not that long ago in this galaxy, Guillermo del Toro hoped to make a Star Wars movie. The Oscar-winning director wanted to tell a story about the franchise’s notorious crime lord Jabba the Hutt. It’s one of the great “what ifs” in Star Wars history. The film would have featured one of Hollywood’s best filmmakers exploring a truly iconic character in-depth. What would that have looked like? Sadly we’ll never know, but in a recent interview del Toro offered new insights into what he had planned for Tatooine’s larger-than-life gangster.

During a recent sit down with Collider Guillermo del Toro discussed his scrapped Jabba the Hutt project. He said his movie would have covered “the rise and fall” of Return of the Jedi‘s crime boss. The director also said his team “designed a great world” full of “great stuff” del Toro was very happy with.

What that all means exactly will remain the stuff of dreams for now and possibly forever. We don’t have to guess nearly as much as to why the feature film never went into development, though. Del Toro said ultimately it didn’t happen because “it’s not my property, it’s not my money, and then it’s one of those 30 screenplays that goes away.”

Translation: Lucasfilm didn’t like it enough to go into production.

How much of the studio’s decision had to do with the reaction to the franchise’s other standalone films at the time? Had Solo done better at the box office would del Toro’s Jabba the Hutt movie have happened? The director isn’t sweating it. He said when he tries to answer why his movie never moved forward he tells himself, “The more you swim upstream with the universe, the less you’re gonna realize where you’re going.”

That’s a great attitude for him. (And probably also Jabba, but for a different reason. We imagine the Hutt was not a great swimmer.) But that doesn’t make us feel better about what could have been. We wish every galaxy in the universe got to see del Toro’s Star Wars movie.

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The chaos of Loki‘s season two premiere began during season one’s finale. When Sylvie killed He Who Remains she upended both the Sacred Timeline and the entire TVA. And yet, the rogue Variant responsible for all that turmoil didn’t appear during season two’s debut until it was already over. A post-credits (more specifically a mid-credits) scene in Loki season two’s first episode revealed where Sylvie headed after leaving the Citadel at the End of Time. She went as far away from the royal court of Asgard as possible. At the very end of Loki’s first episode, Sylvie travels back to 1982 and visits a McDonald’s in a small Oklahoma community on a branch of reality that only exists because of her. This Loki season two, episode one post-credits scene location already had major ties to Marvel Comics. Now it’s home to one of the MCU’s most beautiful scenes.

What Happened in Loki‘s Season 2 Premiere Post-Credits Scene?

Sylvie ended Loki‘s first season in He Who Remains’ Citadel. At the time, she also had the dead TVA’s leader’s TemPad, which was how she opened up a Time Door to kick Loki through. Loki thinks that TemPad might have unique abilities (and he’s almost certainly right).

So what exactly did Loki‘s post-credits scene reveal to us? Well, in its only after-the-credits moment, the show’s season two debut shows us where Sylvie went next after the events of Loki season one. In it, we learn that Sylvie used a Time Door to go to Earth on a new branch that broke from the Sacred Timeline after she murdered He Who Remains. That place was Broxton, Oklahoma, in the year 1982. Her Loki armor would have stood out even in the 21st century, but she made for quite a spectacle when she walked into an ’80s-era American McDonald’s.

Sylvie had spent plenty of time on Earth before, but always under the worst circumstances. She successfully hid from the TVA inside apocalyptic events. Her best method of evasion involved mass casualties with no survivors. But in Loki season two’s post-credits scene, inside that normal McDonald’s, she saw peaceful Earthlings eating and laughing with friends. She then asked the young restaurant manager—who admirably did his job under strange circumstances—how “this works” so she could order food. When he asked her what non-rat and non-possum option she wanted to try, Sylvie smiled and said, “Everything.”

Why Did Sylvie Go to Broxton, Oklahoma on Loki?

Sylvie spent her whole life running from the TVA. The organization took her as a kid without ever telling her what her Nexus Event was. She spent decades fighting to survive, all while planning to bring down the TVA itself.

Once she seemingly did that by killing He Who Remains, she opted for a quiet, easy existence in a place that is the proverbial antithesis of an Asgardian god’s life. The place she sees in Loki‘s post-credits scene is also the antithesis of her own experiences. The TVA is a lifeless, emotionless bureaucracy of death where Variants and timelines are pruned to a Void where a monster eats them. The opposite of that is the quiet beauty and ease of a place like Broxton, Oklahoma on Earth in 1982, a time before cellphones and computers that never knew alien invaders.

Even that McDonald’s, a place totally unremarkable from any of the chain’s other locales, had a simple grace to it. A fast-food burger joint is as unpretentious as the TVA is arrogant. It’s a place designed for people to enjoy a simple pleasure that is so easy to take for granted.

But why Broxton specifically? Why an unincorporated community in Oklahoma’s Caddo County (a real place with less than 7,000 residents) versus the countless other similar locals on Earth? Because Broxton’s Marvel appearances aren’t just limited to Loki season two, episode one’s post-credits scene. Broxton was actually a major location in J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor comic series.

You can read more about Broxton’s Marvel Comics history and how it was briefly New Asgard in our own Eric Diaz’s deep dive.

What Was the Meaning of Loki Season 2’s Post-Credits Scene?

He Who Remains had Loki debating the merits of taking control of the TVA as a necessary evil. Sure, pruning Variants and entire branches might be awful, but isn’t the alternative worse? Aren’t some terrible sacrifices in the name of order better than all-out chaos?

It was easy for Loki to think that way because he never had to deal with being one of those sacrifices. But Sylvie had. She had her entire life stolen from her. She was a person with a home and a family, and the TVA took that away from her, just as it had to every Variant it pruned or stole to do its dirty work. A necessary evil is still evil, and it’s not even clear the TVA was necessary.

When Sylvie walked into that McDonald’s in Loki season two’s post-credits scene, she was finally free. No more running. No more TVA. And no more death. Instead, she found a simple life, the kind where you can sit down and eat a cheeseburger without worry. And while those people didn’t know it, they owed their entire existence to her, one brave individual who wanted nothing more than to let others live.

It was the culmination of Sylvie’s entire life. All that hard work fighting for survival and refusing to give in to evil led to a truly beautiful moment of hope and appreciation. And that was before she got to find out just how good Chicken McNuggets are.

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

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Loki‘s first season ended with He Who Remains dead, the Sacred Timeline in chaos, and Mobius not knowing who Loki was. It seemed Sylvie’s decision to kill the TVA’s leader upended the entire multiverse and all of time itself. Even worse, it seemed Kang the Conqueror or one of his Variants had risen to power amid all the upheaval. But the show’s season two premiere revealed that’s not actually what happened. Loki didn’t end up in a new TVA under a different ruler; he ended up in the same exact TVA’s past. How? Why? When? From time slipping to Temporal Looms, here’s what the premiere of Loki‘s second season revealed about the God of Mischief’s struggle to save both himself and everyone.

What Happened at the End of Loki Season 1?

Loki‘s season one finale revealed He Who Remains, the secret head of the TVA, wanted Loki and Sylvie to replace him. Loki came to believe the Time Variance Authority was a necessary evil after hearing about the Multiversal War. However, Sylvie wanted to free the infinite universe from TVA control. After a lifetime of running from hunters and agents she refused to even discuss taking over the TVA. Instead, Sylvie killed He Who Remains after kicking Loki through a Time Door.

When He Who Remains died the Sacred Timeline went haywire. Mobius and Hunter B-15 watched as a monitor showed the neat, orderly stranding of the multiverse began branching off into total chaos.

Moments later Loki found Mobius and B-15 in a different part of the TVA. He warned them about all the terrible Variants who would now be coming. Except the two TVA employees didn’t know Loki at all. It was as though they’d never met. In the midst of their confusion Loki saw the TVA itself had undergone a transformation. It now featured giant statues of someone who looked like He Who Remains.

Why Was Loki Time Slipping?

Loki‘s season two premiere clarified what actually happened in the show’s season one finale. The murder of He Who Remains did not reset the TVA, time itself, or the multiverse. His death did not cause anything that dramatic. At least not yet. When Sylvie kicked Loki through the Time Door he went to the same TVA’s own past. That’s why Mobius and B-15 didn’t recognize him at the end of season one. That’s also why Loki saw those massive statues. Earlier in the TVA’s history He Who Remains did not hide his identity behind robot Time-Keepers. His face was once everywhere, including on the walls inside TVA offices and in Ozymandias-sized public idols.

Loki thinks he might have ended up in the past because Sylvie opened that Time Door with He Who Remain’s special TemPad. O.B. thinks the branching overloading the Temporal Loom might be responsible. It’s possible one, both, or neither contributed to Loki getting ripped across time in the TVA’s past, present, and future.

As painful as it was to watch, though, Loki’s involuntary journey through time also helped Loki save himself. And it also taught us more about He Who Remains and the TVA’s creation.

What Did Loki‘s Season 2 Premiere Reveal About the TVA’s Past?

Loki listened to an old recording while trapped in the TVA’s past. It featured He Who Remains speaking to Ravonna Renslayer. On the tape He Who Remains said, “For us. For all time.”

After she answered “always,” He Who Remains said, “Ravonna Renslayer, you are quite a marvel. I will be proud to lead with you. You made a difference in this war. Thank you for being on my team.”

During season one of Loki, Renslayer did not know about He Who Remains. Clearly, though, she once knew him quite well. She not only fought for He Who Remains in the Multiversal War, she was marked to co-lead the TVA with him. But at some point after that conversation He Who Remains wiped the memories of Renslayer and everyone else in the TVA.

Loki correctly recognized He Who Remains wiped TVA employees’ minds more than once. None of them remembered the prominent He Who Remains paraphernalia that once adorned the organization. Present day Casey also had no memory of how the floor got cracked despite being there when it happened. That blind spot in Casey’s memory shows least one mind wipe happened after Loki showed up in the past, which is why none of the TVA employees remembered meeting him then. And Mobius also did not fully remember visiting O.B. 400 years prior. (Though it’s unclear if Mobius’ confusion is the result of mind wipes, forgetting the details of a four century old encounter, mixing up similar memories, or a combination of all those things.)

It’s not clear how often or why He Who Remains erased everyone TVA workers’ memory more than once.

Who Is Orobourous and What Is the TVA’s Temporal Loom?

Ke Huy Quan’s Orobourous (O.B. for short) is the lone employee of the TVA’s Repairs & Advancements division. He also wrote the TVA guidebook and is an expert on the device currently holding all of time together.

Despite the Sacred Timeline’s countless branches that began to sprout with the death of He Who Remains, the entire multiverse has yet to collapse. That’s because the Temporal Loom is barely keeping the multiverse from exploding. O.B. called that device “the heart of the TVA.” It refines raw time into a “physical timeline.” It’s not constructed to weave together so many new branches, though, so it’s overloading. To keep the TVA itself safe from that possible blowup, O.B. needed to close the building’s blast doors. But first Loki needed access to the Temporal Loom to save himself.

How Did O.B. and Morbius Stop Loki’s Time Slipping?

Time slipping should be impossible in the TVA since time works differently there. It’s a place that is timeless, as people working inside those walls don’t age over eons. Yet, Loki‘s second season has revealed the TVA still has its own linear timeline with a past, present, and future.

Loki’s time slipping also provided him with a solution. It sent him to the past where he met O.B. During that meeting—which O.B. notably only remembered when confronted with its existence—the technician was able to build the Temporal Aura Extractor, a device that ultimately solved Loki’s problem.

At great personal cost to his own skin, Mobius attached the Extractor to the Temporal Loom. When someone or something then pruned Loki—violently ripping the god from “every strand of time and space”—it sent him out of time. The Extractor then pulled him back into the present and crashing into Mobius. That sent them both behind the safety of the blast doors before they closed.

Without the Extractor in place Loki would have been “lost to time forever.” Instead he’s in the present with Mobius, B-15, and the other TVA employees who do not want to prune branches anymore. They know pruning timelines kills billions of innocent people.

Not everyone at the TVA agrees with this new approach. Dox and her band of heavily armed Hunters headed through a Time Door on a mission. B-15 thinks they’ve accumulated too much fire power to only be going after Sylvie, but what exactly they have planned is unclear.

What is clear is that a lot of what we thought we knew at the end of Loki‘s first season was wrong. Clearly we don’t/didn’t/won’t slip into the past ourselves after seeing the show’s season two premiere.

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

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Ahsoka featured some of the franchise’s best characters, yet it was a newcomer who was my favorite figure on the show. Baylan Skoll is among the most interesting, most complex Force users to ever grace a Star Wars screen. And in a less cruel universe I’d be writing this piece entirely about why, what the season one finale meant for his quest on Peridea, and why Baylan might end up a truly seminal figure in the galaxy far, far away. Instead the episode marked the late Ray Stevenson’s final Star Wars appearance. It shouldn’t have been. It doesn’t seem possible it was. Not only was he far too young, he looked to made out of the same kind of stone as the Father’s statue. “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” shouldn’t have been his farewell. It should have marked the start of a much longer journey with him.

But while life isn’t fair in any galaxy, it at least it gave us one final chance to appreciate an immense talent. Ray Stevenson’s graceful and moving performance imbued Baylan Skoll with a humanity that will ensure the actor’s memory forever lives on with Star Wars fans.

We don’t know details about Baylan Skoll’s past, but his history with the Jedi contributed to him being a fascinating character. Some Jedi survived Order 66, but unlike most of them, as far as we understand, Baylan knew the truth about Anakin Skywalker. He knew the most revered and admired Jedi had been the one to destroy the Order. One of his own killed everything Baylan ever believed in, a knowledge most were not burdened to live with during a terrible period.

That horrifying fact and all the pain, sadness, fear, and anger it likely created in Baylan didn’t cause him to become disillusioned. We don’t know Baylan’s entire history, but it seems he did not fully embrace the dark side like other good Jedi who lost their souls to hatred. Baylan didn’t respond in the other usual ways, either. He didn’t carve out his own path as a rogue Jedi like Ahsoka. Nor did he go into hiding and turn his back on the Force. We believe Baylan Skoll followed a path unlike any other Force-user.

Anakin’s betrayal showed Baylan the destructive power of the dark side. Yet, despite still appreciating the best ideals of the Jedi, Baylan’s firsthand knowledge of the Order’s own failures also pushed him away from the light side of the Force. The Jedi had no business turning Knights like him into generals. The Jedi were meant to be guardians of peace and justice for everyone. Instead they let themselves becomes soldiers in a war with innocent victims on both sides. That Jedi arrogance blinded them and left the Order vulnerable to a Sith Lord. To Baylan that might have made the Jedi just as guilty as Vader and Palpatine. The Order’s action created widespread death and destruction on the galaxy, too.

Rather than letting his lost “faith” define him, Baylan instead seemingly let it focus him. He gave up on the ideals that had cost him everything and became a pragmatist. He became the galaxy’s Machiavellian figure, a warrior who thought of war as evil but necessary. Baylan could kill New Republic soldiers without remorse yet still honor a deal made with a captured enemy. He was neither good nor evil, yet both at the same time. He was a man of contradictions who used them to form a new outlook on life. For Baylan straddled the line between the light and dark side of the Force. Only in the middle did he see a way to free everyone from suffering.

Baylan’s desire to offer his galaxy something better than the Jedi or Sith ever gave it brought him to Peridea. Baylan was looking to something on that ancient planet for “the beginning” of all his galaxy’s problems. He believes those problems began when a group of people learned how to harness the Force and formed the Jedi Order. Whatever the statue of the Mortis god known as the Father is pointing to, it offers Baylan hope.

Others spent their entire lives fighting for a power that blows like the wind. Only Baylan—who kindly freed the apprentice he taught to be more than a Jedi or a Sith from following him on a journey without guarantee —is searching for a peace that lasts.

That all made Baylan Skoll a fascinating character. But that’s not what made Baylan Skoll a truly great one. Ahsoka needed Ray Stevenson to do that. He brought all those contradictions—interesting elements that easily could have been clunky and unbelievable in less skilled hands—to life. Stevenson did that with deftness that made a complicated figure feel accessible, both repugnant and sympathetic at once. He turned a great idea into righteous disappointment, heartbreak, quiet focus, and a sense of purpose that felt real. He made Baylan feel as tangible as anyone in any galaxy. It was the kind of performance only an immensely talented performer who understands at their core what it means to live and feel alive could give.

That came from Stevenson’s ability to always convey Baylan’s inherent sadness. That even though Baylan was almost always in control of his emotions. With his eyes, face, and the way he physically carried himself, Ray Stevenson showed the many painful burdens and traumas the former Jedi carried at all time. That ability to emote while keeping his composure made for a powerful presence. Baylan was terrifying and compassionate all at once. We understood and sympathized with him even if we detested much of what he did. And that ability to convey so much while doing or saying so little made Baylan’s brief explosions of anger and quiet moments of sad reflection stand out that much more. He was a volcano of emotions holding it together. Because he knew allowing himself to erupt would lead to to the death and destruction he so desperately wanted to end forever.

No, not “was.” He “is.” Because stories, even those from a long, long time ago, live forever. Every time we pick them back up they are there, unfolding in the moment. So right now and always Baylan Skoll is in a galaxy far, far away from his own. He’s standing on the Father’s arm looking out to the horizon where he sees hope for a better future. He sees the possibility to create a universe that’s less cruel than the one he knows. It’s a universe where a complicated man can turn his pain into something better. Onenot defined by death.

It’s a beautiful thought that needed a beautiful performance full of humanity to bring it to life. So while we will always wish Ray Stevenson got to finish telling that story, we’ll forever be grateful we got to meet his Baylan Skoll. He made Star Wars a better place than he found it, and for that he’ll forever live on in the galaxy far, far away.

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

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Ahsoka brought Star Wars’ World Between Worlds to live-action. That strange dimension first introduced on Star Wars Rebels is also intimately tied to another important realm in the franchise. The World Between Worlds has deep ties with Mortis, a mystical place where powerful Force users known as the Mortis gods once called home. Who were Star Wars’ Mortis gods, and why are they so important to Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and the Force itself? And why did Baylan Skoll discover statues of them on an ancient planet in a distant galaxy? They might hold the key to understanding why Ahsoka is so important to the galaxy far, far away.

Where Is Mortis Located?

Mortis, spoken of only as legend for millennia, defies normal description. It’s technically located in uncharted space, but not really. Star Wars‘ Mortis is an ethereal, dream-like dimension unto itself that sits outside of normal space and time, just like the World Between Worlds.

Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano’s story on Mortis began when they answered an ancient Jedi distress signal in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. When they arrived at the origin of the call’s signal, a nearby Republic ship couldn’t locate them on radar. A giant black and red monolith resembling two pyramids stacked opposite each other then appeared. It pulled them into Mortis, which serves as a “conduit” of the entire Force. (Some believe the Force itself came from Mortis.) During the day, the world appeared as a paradise. At night everything died as it transformed into a dark nightmare.

Mortis is ultimately better understood not by what it is like but by those who once ruled there.

Who Are Star Wars’ Mortis Gods from The Clone Wars?

Known as “The Ones” in Star Wars‘ world, the Mortis gods were a family of three immensely powerful Force-wielders. The Clone Wars indicated The Ones were at least 2,000 years old, but their real age was likely at least 25,000. Jedi images of the Mortis gods date that far back, to the Order’s founding.

Together the three Mortis gods represented the living embodiment of the Force.

Who Was Mortis’ The Father?

The wise, immensely powerful Father loved both of his children equally. His Daughter represented the light side of the Force, while his Son represented the dark side. The Father represented balance between both. His need to control his kids brought them all to Mortis. There he was able to keep their outsized power in check, protecting the galaxy.

The Father’s children also gained their power and immortality through his own.

Who Was Mortis’ The Daughter?

The kindly Daughter could transform into a massive griffin. She did so when kidnapping Obi-Wan as part of her Father’s test of Anakin. (The Son kidnapped Ahsoka.)

The Daughter, a great Force-using warrior, tried to stop her equally powerful dark side-embracing sibling from killing their Father. She died when her brother accidentally stabbed her while attacking their dad.

Who Was Mortis’ The Son?

The Son, who could change into a giant flying gargoyle, had begun to further embrace the dark side even more. That led him to try and escape Mortis and rule the galaxy. It also led him to trick others by disguising himself as their loved ones. The Son even possessed and then killed Ahsoka Tano as part of his efforts to flee Mortis. (We’ll get to how she survived later.)

His attempt to kill his Father resulted in the Son accidentally killing his sister, whom he loved. Her death left the Son heartbroken.

The Son lost his power and then his life after the Father killed himself so he could stop his child from bringing darkness to the whole galaxy. As the Son screamed out in pain, Anakin stabbed him with a lightsaber, killing the last Mortis god.

The Mortis Gods Star Wars History on The Clone Wars and Rebels

The Mortis gods only appeared as living creatures during a three-episode arc on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. That didn’t stop them from making their presence felt on Star Wars Rebels.

What Happened With the Mortis Gods on The Clone Wars?

In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Father lured Anakin Skywalker to Mortis after hearing rumors Anakin was the Chosen One. The Father was dying and needed someone to take his place and keep his children in check. Anakin passed the Father’s test, proving he could take up his mantle on Mortis so he could keep the Force in balance. Anakin refused, setting the Mortis gods’ deaths in motion.

During the Mortis arc, the Father made Anakin forget the vision the Son had shown the Jedi. The Son had revealed the possible future where Anakin became Darth Vader, a path Anakin ultimately followed. But the three Jedi remembered everything else that happened to them on Mortis.

What Happened With the Mortis Gods on Star Wars Rebels?

In Star Wars Rebels, Ezra Bridger traveled to the World Between Worlds via a portal created by a painting of the Mortis gods. The ancient mural at the Jedi Temple on Lothal, a planet with a strong connection to the Force, showed the three Mortis gods along with Star Wars’ Loth-wolves. The painting began to light up and move when Ezra touched the Daughter’s open hand and connected with the Force. The painting’s Loth-wolves then began moving along the rock wall, eventually creating a magical doorway for Ezra—and Ezra alone—to travel through.

He wasn’t alone when he got there.

Ahsoka Tano’s Connection to Mortis and the World Between Worlds

The Daughter’s last act was to help save Ahsoka Tano’s life. After her brother’s fatal blow, the Father and Daughter let Anakin transfer the Daughter’s last remaining life force into the dead Ahsoka. It worked, as Anakin resurrected his Padawan with the help of the Mortis god.

The metaphorical connections between Anakin (dark side) and Ahsoka (light side) and the Son and Daughter were obvious. They then became far more tangible on Star Wars Rebels.

How Does Morai Bind Ahsoka Tano and The Daughter From Mortis?

Ahsoka had a companion in Star Wars Rebels, the convor named Morai. The little green-feathered sidekick seemed to watch over the Jedi even before it became clear Morai was not a normal animal.

Morai—whose name comes from the three Fates of Greek mythology—appeared in ancient images alongside the Daughter, including the painting on Lothal. She was either the Daughter’s servant or a manifestation of the Mortis god. Either way, Morai represents the light side of the Force and the Daughter.

She was also there when Ezra Bridger arrived in the World Between Worlds.

How the Mortis Gods Connect to the World Between Worlds and Ahsoka

Inside the World Between Worlds, Ezra found Morai resting atop a portal. That doorway then opened to show the moment years prior when Ezra wrongly believed Darth Vader had killed Ahsoka Tano. Viewers knew she’d survived, but not how. She lived because Ezra pulled Ahsoka into the World Between Worlds right before Vader’s deadly blow.

When the two left the dimension—itself a conduit of the Force, like Mortis—Morai rejoined Ahsoka. The bird then immediately led Ahsoka back into the World Between Worlds. (The specifics of that journey, only shown via canonical Topps Trading Cards Dave Filoni designed, remain a mystery.)

Why did Morai join Ahsoka in the first place? Why did the bird then usher Ahsoka in and out of the World Between Worlds? Did Ahsoka take the Daughter’s place when Anakin transferred the Mortis god’s essence into his Padawan? Is that why Ahsoka didn’t die when she fell from that henge in Seatos? Is she a kind of Star Wars Force god like the Mortis gods were? Does she at least have some god-like powers? An unbreakable connection with the World Between Worlds and the Force so strong it saved her?

Those were all of the questions we had before Ahsoka‘s season one finale, which raised even more about the Mortis gods’s role in both Star Wars‘ past and future.

What Did Ahsoka‘s Season One Finale Reveal About the Mortis Gods and Baylan Skoll’s Quest?

Baylan Skoll is a former Jedi who hates both the Jedi and Sith. He’s now a Force-user who straddles the line between light and dark. He is also searching for “the beginning” on Peridea in a quest to find a power far greater than anything Thrawn seeks.

What Are the Statues Baylan Skoll Encounters in Ahsoka‘s Season One Finale?

Ahsoka‘s finale revealed that his quest and that strange Force-sensitive planet are both connected to the Mortis gods. Peridea, an ancient world in a distant galaxy with a mysterious past that predates the Jedi Order’s creation, is home to giant statues of the Father, the Son, and the Daughter.

What Do These Peridea Statues in Ahsoka Tell Us About Star Wars‘ Mortis Gods

Is Peridea where the Mortis gods came from? Did they help create the Jedi? Did the Mortis gods cross the universe via the World Between Worlds? How are the Mortis gods connected to Peridea and, therefore, the Force? Why is the statue of the Daughter missing its head when the other two gods remain intact on Ahsoka? Does that have anything to do with why Morai appeared before Ahsoka Tano there? And what is the Father’s statue on Peridea pointing to? Is it guiding Baylan Skoll to the beginning he seeks?

Ahsoka revealed more about the galaxy far, far away’s origins than we ever knew. It showed it began in a galaxy far, far away from itself. The series also revealed the Mortis gods own history is even more important than we knew. But Ahsoka also raised even more questions about those powerful figures and their intimate connections with the Force Mortis, the World Between Worlds, Peridea, and Ahsoka Tano.

What does it all mean? We don’t know yet. But we do know she said she’s right where she’s supposed to be. And where she is is on a world in need of a Daughter who represents the light every galaxy needs.

Originally published on September 11, 2023.

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

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