Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 107

THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Sets May 2026 Release date

Disney+’s two biggest stars are headed to the big screen. The next adventure for Star Wars‘ Din Djarin and his little green son will take place in theaters. What awaits the two when they get there? Who else will join them in making the move from television to cinema? And who will tell this new chapter in their story?

In case you missed it, Star Wars Celebration reminds us that The Mandalorian & Grogu is coming on May 22, 2026.

Here’s everything we know about The Mandalorian & Grogu so far, including its release date.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s PlotWalt Disney Studios

The movie’s official announcement did not include a plot synopsis or any specifics about its story. It’s also unknown how it might connect to other Disney+ shows, characters, and other planned featured films. The only insight came from Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s statement in the press release. She said The Mandalorian & Grogu will tell a “new story” she describes as a “perfect fit for the big screen.” The movie’s first official artwork does show Din and Grogu fleeing an exploding ship, but that might be just a normal Thursday for them.

At D23, we saw a sneak peek of The Mandalorian & Grogu. It did not show too much, but it did reveal that Zeb would be back in the Star Wars movie, as would the Razor Crest, despite the ship’s season two destruction in The Mandalorian season two. Additionally, the teaser focused on something that looked like a giant battle on Hoth, complete with AT-ATs and Snow Troopers. At one point, Din Djarin infiltrates an AT-ST walker as it bounds through the snow. We also see a shot of Grogu in a tiny ship with two Anzellans.

Until we get any actual details about the film’s plot, any speculation about The Mandalorian & Grogu will be based on where the Disney+ show left the characters after season three, as well as the known state of the galaxy far, far away during the time period of the early days of the New Republic and what we know followed it.

Behind-the-Scenes

The Mandalorian creator and showrunner Jon Favreau will direct the film. He’ll also serve as a producer along with both Kennedy and longtime Star Wars stalwart Dave Filoni. 

Production is set to begin in 2024. It will shoot for a scheduled 92 days in California, where it has received one of the state’s biggest tax credits ever for a movie. Reports say work on The Mandalorian & Grogu will include 500 crew members, 54 cast members, and 3500 background players.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s CastLucasfilm

Pedro Pascal’s voice is all but certain to be a part of the movie. It’s unclear how much, if any, he will physically play the role, though. At this point on the Disney+ show the part of Mando is primarily a voice-over one for Pascal. Actors Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder share responsibility for playing the masked Din Djarin on film. If Din never removes his helmet in the movie, Pascal’s involvement could take place entirely off-screen. He did physically play the character in the past. Maybe he’ll put on his beskar armor once again for a big budget film.

Star Wars has yet to announce any official cast members for the movie. Other members of The Mandalorian are likely to also star in the film, however. Those alums include Katee Sackhoff, Emily Swallow, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Ahsoka stars like Genevieve O’Reilly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, and Eman Esfandi are also obvious candidates to appear, as is Boba Fett himself, Temuera Morrison.

20th Century Studios/Lucasfilm

Recently, Sigourney Weaver confirmed her place in the Star Wars universe. Yes, Sigourney Weaver, the Alien icon, will be meeting a much nicer space creature this time around in The Mandalorian & Grogu. Weaver shares, “I’m playing a role in The Mandalorian & Grogu [which will be directed by Jon Favreau]. I got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day.” We love to hear it.

FX Networks/Lucasfilm

Additionally, Jeremy Allen White has also joined the cast as Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta.

Lucasfilm

The latest bit of casting news provides some insight into the film’s plot. Deadline reports Jonny Coyne (Bodies) will reprise his role as the Imperial Warlord. The character first appeared as part of The Mandalorian‘s Shadow Council in season three. The group of high-level officers remain loyal to the Empire after its fall and hope to restore it to power. Coyne’s character was also doing well for himself personally thanks to hit-and-run plundering of hyperspace lanes.

We expected the Shadow Council to return for the film in some capacity, and this confirms the group will make its presence felt.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s Release DateLucasfilm

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to come to theaters on May 22, 2026.

Originally published on February 26, 2024.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Sets May 2026 Release date appeared first on Nerdist.

STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Coming in 2027; New STAR WARS Movie From Ryan Gosling & Shawn Levy

Drumroll, please! A new Star Wars movie is coming to theaters in 2027. At Star Wars Celebration 2025 Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni announced that in 2027, Star Wars: Starfighter will release in theaters.

Who Will Star in and Create Star Wars: Starfighter?Warner Bros./Lucasfilm

Star Wars: Starfighter will be directed by Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling. So, it has our attention. We’re obsessed with the idea of Ryan Gosling in Star Wars honestly. This Ken’s job is space. We hope Star Wars: Starfighter is able to capture Gosling’s weirder and more comedic aspects, honestly. He really seems to excel in them.

What Will This New Star Wars Movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, Be About?

But what will this movie be about? According to Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Starfighter is “a standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.” Very mysterious, but we’re in.

When Will Star Wars: Starfighter Release in Theaters

This new Star Wars movie will release in theaters May 28, 2027.. Star Wars: Starfighter begins production in the fall. We can’t wait to see this new Star Wars movie adventure take shape. We’ll keep you updated as we know more.

Warner Bros.

In the meantime, you can check out all the latest Star Wars movies that are in the works, here. It really feels like Lucasfilm is pulling back from the Disney+ TV world and heading back to the glorious universe of the big screen. But hey, if it means Ryan Gosling will be in a universe, far, far away, we are totally in. And fresh stories, unrelated to what has come before, also feel like the right way forward.

The post STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Coming in 2027; New STAR WARS Movie From Ryan Gosling & Shawn Levy appeared first on Nerdist.

A CLUELESS Series Is in the Works with Alicia Silverstone Returning

Thirty years ago, Amy Heckerling’s Clueless helped revive the teen movie comedy, after a post-John Hughes lull in the early ’90s. Clueless popularized slang (“As if!”), girl’s fashion, and made a star of Alicia Silverstone, who played the main character, Cher Horowitz. And if you ever wondered what became of Cher and her Beverly Hills friends after 1995, you’re in luck. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a Clueless sequel series is in the works at Peacock, with Silverstone returning as Cher. Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl, The O.C.) and Jordan Weiss (Freakier Friday) are producing, with original director Amy Heckerling also involved.

Paramount Pictures

It is currently unknown which other cast members are going to be involved, and in what capacity. We imagine Paul Rudd is too busy these days to play Cher’s former stepbrother/boyfriend Josh as a series regular. But hopefully, he’ll put in some kind of appearance. He owes his stardom to his adorable turn in the original movie after all. As for Cher’s friend group, sadly Ty is no longer with us as actress Brittany Murphy passed away years ago. And Stacey Dash, who played Cher’s BFF Dionne, well, we’d be surprised to see her again. She’s now something of a polarizing person in real life. Scrubs star Donald Faison also got his start in the original film, and he could return.

There are no plot details for this Clueless revival yet. Certainly, a version with Cher as the mother of her own teenage kid, who is as delightfully clueless as she once was, seems likely. This is actually not the first Clueless television show. A series version came out just a year after the movie, with a mostly different cast. It lasted three seasons. Rachel Blanchard played Cher in the series, with Stacey Dash reprising her role as Dionne. Donald Faison also came back as Murray. Other stars from the film like Brittany Murphy and Breckin Meyer made one-off appearances. Development began on a different TV revival of Clueless in 2020, with Dionne searching for a missing Cher. But this Peacock version is an entirely new take. We’ll see if this one make it to the screen, and does justice to the beloved teen movie.

The post A CLUELESS Series Is in the Works with Alicia Silverstone Returning appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Celebrates “The Summer of Superman” with Variant Covers from Several Iconic Artists

DC Comics will continue their “Summer of Superman” celebration this year with a series of variant covers showcasing different artist’s interpretations of the new Man of Steel, David Corenswet, as he appears in James Gunn’s Superman. Each one of these artists has contributed significantly to Superman comics in the past, and now put their unique stamp on this new cinematic Kal-El. The artists featured include Nicola Scott, Jim Lee, Dan Jurgens, Dan Mora, Jerry Ordway, Jorge Jiménez, Kevin Maguire, and Frank Quitely, DC Comics‘ new “Superman Movie” variant covers will publish between May and July beginning with Supergirl #1 on May 14. You can check them all out below.

Action Comics #1087 Superman Movie Variant Cover by Dan Jurgens, publishing on June 11DC Comics

Dan Jurgens, who is writing the upcoming Superman 2025 – Hero for All, and who illustrated the iconic Death of Superman story in the ’90s, shows off our new Man of Tomorrrow in his Fortress of Solitude in his cover.

Superman #27 Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jerry Ordway, publishing on June 25DC Comics

Jerry Ordway (Crisis on Infinite Earths) helped relaunch Superman to great success in the ’80s in Adventures of Superman. He illustrates this cover showing Superman and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) outside the Daily Planet.

Justice League Unlimited #9 Superman Movie Variant Cover by Frank Quitely, publishing on July 23DC Comics

Much of James Gunn’s new Superman is drawing inspiration from Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman, which was drawn by Frank Quitely. So it’s only fitting that Quitely should return the favor and give us his version of Corenswet’s Kal-El.

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Dan Mora, publishing on June 18DC Comics

Dan Mora is currently killing it with his version of the Metropolis Marvel is the pages of Superman and Justice League Unlimited, after a run on World’s Finest. He draws Supes with his loyal superdog, Krypto.

Batman #161 Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jorge Jiménez, publishing on June 25DC Comics

Jorge Jiménez has drawn a metric ton of Superman stories, including an incredible run of Supersons, featuring Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, the sons on Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. His cover is an homage to Frank Quitely’s cover for All-Star Superman #1.

Superman Unlimited #1 Superman Movie Variant Cover by Jim Lee, publishing on May 21DC Comics

DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee reinvented Superman’s costume for the New 52, which influenced the James Gunn version. So it’s only fair he should give us his interpretation of Superman and Krypto flying about.

Supergirl #1’s Superman Movie Variant Cover by Nicola Scott & Annette Kwok, publishing on May 14DC Comics

And finally, Nicola Scott has been killing it on DC series like Titans and Wonder Woman: Historia. She also designed the Superman costume for the series Earth-2. On this cover, we get to see her version of the new cinematic suit as well.

Kevin Maguire’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #41 Superman Movie Variant Cover, publishing on July 16, will be revealed soon. You can preorder these variant covers when you visit your local shop.

The post DC Celebrates “The Summer of Superman” with Variant Covers from Several Iconic Artists appeared first on Nerdist.

MARIO KART WORLD Shares More Game Features

I realize the Super Mario Bros. franchise is, quite literally, kid friendly. However, some news deserve language reserved for adults. So let me just say, “Letsa f***ing goooooo!” Today during today’s Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2, the company provided our best and most in-depth look yet at the next installment of Mario Kart. Get ready to drive wherever you like—with whomever you like and for as long as you like—with Mario Kart World.

And you’ll be able to that very soon. The game is arriving with the Switch 2 right in time for summer, on June 5, 2025.

Nintendo took center stage in the gaming world today with a big update for the Switch 2. That began with a fantastic trailer full of gameplay footage for Mario Kart World. The company also provided tons of information about new features coming to the beloved series.

The “World” in the game’s title refers to it’s various regions “that span the globe.” Racers will be speeding off all around the planet. It will matter when they do, too. “Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the atmosphere will change.” No more perfecting a single course by knowing it inside and out. You’ll have to adjust on the fly to your surroundings. You’ll also get to explore all of those surroundings. Mario Kart World will let players go off the track and drive “virtually everywhere.”

New Additions and Things We Learned About Mario Kart World During a Later Nintendo Direct

There are a few new tracks, including Crown City, the Salty Salty Speedway, the very icy Starview Peak, and Boo Cinema, a drive-thru theater. There is also a new mode called Knockout Tour. It includes long and multi-track races that knock off players as they progress, like a battle royale. If you make it to a checkpoint too late, you could get the cut.

There are new things to give you a competitive edge. The Coin shell puts coins on the track for you to grab, the Ice Flower freezes your enemies, Hammers can smash opponents where they land, and Mega Mushrooms make you, well, mega so you can run over others. There are also Feathers that let you float in the air longer and scope out new pathways. Finally Kamek is a wild card item that can do a few different things. There’s also smart steering capabilities for newer players or those who need extra assistance.

Different meals will allow you to unlock outfits related to the cuisine. You can do some cool things, like drive on walls and rewind, too.

Click To View Gallery Nintendo Nintendo Nintendo Nintendo Nintendo

A new setting, “Free Roam,” will also let you drive around to “new areas and routes.” You can even go for a leisurely drive of exploration to scenic spots with friends so you can take photos together.

While the game is not abandoning it’s classic four-track Grand Prix tournament, it will let racers speed off to the next course as part of the competition. Races will also feature a whopping 24 competitors, most in franchise history. That will be especially fun during “Knockout Tour.” That will let you “race nonstop from one corner of the world to another.” Just make sure you’re hitting checkpoints along the way. If you come up short on a placement you’ll be eliminated.

And you thought the Rainbow Road was stressful.

Nintendo

A new Mario Kart with new features, new courses, new ways to play, and so much more? And it’s coming out in two months? Like I said, “Letsa f***ing go.”

Just, you know, don’t say that if you play Mario Kart World with children. It is a kid-friendly game after all.

Originally published April 2, 2025.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post MARIO KART WORLD Shares More Game Features appeared first on Nerdist.

PACIFIC RIM Live-Action TV Series by Legendary Television in Development at Prime Video

Legendary Television and Amazon MGM Studios are teaming up to bring Pacific Rim to Prime Video. Variety reports that the live-action Pacific Rim television series is officially in development, with Eric Heisserer as its writer and executive producer. We don’t know any further specifics about plot details at this time. However, the series will be a prequel to the two previous films, which were released in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

The franchise made its way to TV via Netflix’s animated series Pacific Rim: The Black back in 2021. That show ran for two seasons, ending in 2022. For those who aren’t familiar with Pacific Rim, here’s a quick breakdown of what this universe is all about. Basically a rift opens up in the Pacific (get it?) Ocean that allows kaijus from another dimension to enter our world.

Legendary Entertainment

They begin taking out humankind and I really love that for them. Collectively, we are not the greatest species, ya know? Humans then make these big ole robots called Jaegers to fight against the big ole monsters. It is all a ton of fun. 

We cannot wait to hear more details about this Pacific Rim TV series as Legendary Television and Amazon MGM continue to develop it for Prime Video.

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

The post PACIFIC RIM Live-Action TV Series by Legendary Television in Development at Prime Video appeared first on Nerdist.

TWISTED METAL Season 2 Reveals July Release Date in Teaser Trailer and First-Look Images

There are many video games that are enjoying success in live-action. Everyone raves about The Last of Us and Fallout, and rightfully so. They are incredible shows. But, I believe the most underrated—and the most fun!—show based on a gaming franchise is Twisted Metal. The first season’s adventures with Anthony Mackie’s John Doe, a witty milkman (re: delivery driver) who goes on a mission in hopes of securing a better future, were a phenomenal ride. Now, we finally have a release date teaser trailer and first-look images for Twisted Metal season two. 

In the teaser, we see John and Quiet in a warehouse that looks almost like an airplane hangar. Like, it is huge. The doors slowly open and there’s a single guy standing at the opening dramatically. He is, of course, none other than Calypso. John asks how long this is gonna take and Quiet tells him to shut up and enjoy the drama.

And, from that point, we get a peek into Twisted Metal season two’s drama for real. From Sweet Tooth back on his BS to a swath of car explosions, we are ready to start our engines and get into the tournament. This trailer reveals that Twisted Metal season two has a release date that’s super close on July 31. What a way to heat up the summer. 

Additionally, there are first-look images of all our Twisted Metal faves and newcomers, too. John’s sister, who goes by Dollface, looks like she’s gonna have a great time. There’s also Quiet with a group of women whom we’ve never seen before. She’s out on the road before getting into the tournament, so who knows what shenanigans are going on. We also get a few peeks into the infamous Twisted Metal demolition derby tournament!

Check out the photos below: 

Click To View Gallery Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock

And, here’s a season two synopsis for this series: 

Following the revelations in the season one finale, John and Quiet find themselves entering the deadly TWISTED METAL tournament, a sinister demolition derby hosted by a mysterious man known as Calypso. As they try to survive an onslaught of dangerous new foes and familiar faces alike, including the murderous clown Sweet Tooth, things get complicated for John when he reunites with his long-lost sister, the vigilante Dollface.

What Is the Release Date for Twisted Metal Season 2?

Twisted Metal‘s sophomore season will crash on Peacock on July 31.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post TWISTED METAL Season 2 Reveals July Release Date in Teaser Trailer and First-Look Images appeared first on Nerdist.

Camp Grizzly Is Getting a Second Edition and We Have an Exclusive Deep Dive Into the Game

Horror’s biggest reboot is launching this summer. And we’re not talking about a movie remake or a new TV series adaptation. No, we have our eyes on something that tells way more stories than that. For years, Camp Grizzly has been a holy grail game for tabletop players out there, especially in the horror community. Camp Grizzly, for those not yet in the know, is a (mostly) cooperative survival horror board game in which players take the roles of Camp Counselors who find themselves stalked through a maze of cabins and camp trails by ‘Otis’, a homicidal killer with an unhealthy bear fetish.

Camp Grizzly borrows from the traditions of ALL our favorite ’70s and ’80s horror movies and brings them to life on the game board in delightful and story-heavy ways. But alas, Camp Grizzly had a VERY limited original release, leaving many who wish to play it contending with high second-market costs or simply unable to find the game.

But now, that’s all about to change. Camp Grizzly‘s original designer, Jason Topolski, and artist, Austin Madison, have partnered with Trick or Treat Studios to bring a Camp Grizzly Second Edition to life via Kickstarter. This Kickstarter will be launching on July 8 and heading to retail in 2026. The Second Edition will include a cleaned-up, updated, and expanded vision of the game. And we at Nerdist have your first exclusive look at the mock-up of the game box, card previews highlighting the revamped graphic design/layout for cabin cards, survival cards, and counselor cards. We’ve also chatted with those closest to Campy Grizzly‘s Second Edition to get you all the scoop on what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what Easter eggs you should keep your eyes out for in the new world of the game.

Trick or Treat Studios

Check out our exclusive images of Camp Grizzly Second Edition below, and then let’s dive into the next evolution of this modern classic horror board game experience. Please note that everything is still in progress and not final.

Click To View Gallery Trick or Treat Studios Trick or Treat StudiosTrick or Treat Studios Trick or Treat Studios Trick or Treat Studios Trick or Treat Studios

Here’s what Camp Grizzly Second Edition will include: The original base Camp Grizzly game, all of the expansions (6!), including original stretch goal extras, finished art where there had only been placeholder art, a new double-sided game board with the original map on one side and a new map on the other, some rule updates with options to preserve the original ruleset (ie, options to play with or without player elimination), revised graphic design/layout, some fun new stretch goals that will be a part of the Kickstarter campaign.

As mentioned, Camp Grizzly is a unique game, and it’s extremely accessible for casual or non-gamers who are intrigued by the “horror movie in a game” experience. Camp Grizzly‘s rules are simple, but the game oozes theme and tells a unique story every time you play. It even allows you to get deeply into your characters, which, of course, we love.

Original game designer Jason Topolski shares of why people love the game so much, “Through all the early play tests we had done at conventions and with friends, the survival horror theme drew people in. But it really “clicked” when players, even groups of strangers, treated the experience as if they were creating their very own campy 70’s slasher film together.” And that honestly sounds so appealing to us. Topolski adds, “Sometimes, it would be an uncooperative free-for-all, while other times, a tightly organized group would cheer each other along and make sacrifices to ensure the best chance of survival.  In either case, players would be laughing together about the ridiculous situations. We even got a lot of repeat players at the conventions who became attached to their favorite Counselors.”

Trick or Treat Studios

In fact, it makes us think of a genre of game we know well, Dungeons & Dragons. Of course, Camp Grizzly isn’t nearly as complex as a game of D&D, but for players in the horror community looking to engage in a little bit of story and world building, it could be just the thing.

Trick or Treat’s Will Frank agrees and shares, noting it’s an apt comparison. “I think that’s honestly, that’s the perfect audience and the perfect attitude to come into the game with, to want to get into your character a little bit. I mean, it’s not something as complex as having a character sheet, it’s even simpler than that, but there’s so much opportunity for that light role-playing and for just creating funny moments or leaving someone behind.”

Topolski treats us to an example of the kind of story that can develop while playing Camp Grizzly, offering, “One of my most memorable games involved “Electric Steve” about 7 years ago at Comic Con. To this day, we still talk about it. My friend Evan was playing as Steve. Over and over again, he kept “fooling around” which gave him a survival card each time he did it. Then Steve would slip away from the fight each time, only to make things worse for everyone else. Eventually, Steve was caught and killed, but, of course, Evan was holding on to “Unfinished Business” so Steve returned as Ghost Steve. In the end, the players drew the Boat finale, “The Proposal,” where Otis (randomly) declared his love for Ghost Steve. Steve accepted Otis’ offer. So, together, Otis and Ghost Steve killed the other Counselors and lived happily ever after. The end.”

Trick or Treat Studios

Well, we certainly ship Otis and Ghost Steve, and even though we can’t recreate this specific experience for ourselves, the beauty of Camp Grizzly is that our story will find us.

In the second edition, the story’s playground will be bigger and more accessible than ever. Topolski shares that the new board is incredible, noting, “Trick or Treat Studios has created an amazing new map for Camp Grizzly that is gorgeous. I only wish the original looked anywhere as good.” And bonus, the game board is a two-in-one. A second map will be attached to the backside of the original board. Just “Flip the board for a new experience!”

But what is that second Camp Grizzly game board experience like? It’s still coming together, but graphic designer Jody Henning teases, “It still has all of the same types of buildings except for it’s going to be centered around one core building that’s multiple rooms in one building, not just like, here’s a cabin, here’s a cabin. So kind of like if you’re in a camp, it’s the main gallery building and then it’s going to branch out from there.”

Trick or Treat Studios

Color us incredibly intrigued. But it’s not all about new experiences, it’s also about enhancing the Camp Grizzly that players already know and love. “What we are trying to do is keep the game as true to the original as possible, but give things a revamp where they’ll benefit. Some of the cards, just the readability in playing them and making sure the font is a big enough size, that things are formatted correctly on the card, and so on, so you have a better user experience. That’s a big push on what we’re doing with this version.”

Frank adds. “And then on the board, more detail has been added to it in cases. If you look at the original dining hall, you have very simple tables and some plates there. And then if you look at the new dining hall, there’s much more detail there, and that’s the same with all the different cabins. Just breaking up the one block that was on the original board into different squares makes it feel a little more distinct, as okay, these are the spaces. And it’s actually more functional, too, as you play.”

Trick or Treat Studios

In all, any changes made to the original vision of Camp Grizzly are in service of keeping things, “more vibrant and more interesting to look at, but also more functional.” Some of the changes will even give users more naunce and detail, as mentioned above, and more and more finished artwork to enjoy.

Ultimately, this Camp Grizzly Second Edition considers both new and old players. Frank notes, “There were a couple of things that we did want to update, but then also preserve the original game for people who want that and know exactly what they want. So maybe the best example is “player elimination,” which was in the original game. It’s a crude way to push toward an ending where your character dies and then you’re just sitting there for the rest of the game, which is no fun. But of course, some people are like, well, that was in the original, and that’s how I want to play.”

Happily, Trick or Treat Studios found a compromise. “So what we did,” Frank explains, “is we have new rules that are optional to get rid of player elimination, where if you’re character die, you drop all your stuff. Same as normal, same as always, but then you return as a new character. And there are no shortage of new characters because we have all these expansions. There are so many counselors. So you’ll never run out of new characters to bring in, and you get to keep playing rather than having to wait for the game to finish. But for people who want to keep with player elimination, that’s still an option. So I think that’s a good demonstration of our thinking about the Camp Grizzly‘s Second Edition.”

And then, of course, there’s the true beauty of Camp Grizzly, which we’ve already touched on, but will return to as we conclude our deep dive. And that’s the magic of getting to live out your own horror movie. Topolski shares, “I love it when people recount their games for me as if it’s a movie they watched.” But what kind of Easter eggs can we expect to be inspired by when we play. Friday the 13th, of course, jumps out.

Frank further notes, “I was going back and looking at old trailers for Friday the 13th and one of the old trailers counts off the days as victims are victims are disappearing in the trailer and the movie announcer is like one and then a big red one, flashes and two, all the way up to 13. And if you look at that image of the board, as body count piles up, it actually goes to 13 in those big red letters. So it’s such a direct homage, especially to the original Friday the 13th movie, and almost everything feels referential, which is really fun.”

The classic slashers of the ’70s and ’80s lend a lot to Camp Grizzly, but modernity sneaks in during the Second Edition. Topolski begrudgingly gives us one little sneak peek at Camp Grizzly‘s Easter egg trove. “I absolutely love the movie Ready or Not. Fans can expect a reference for sure, but that is all I will say about it!”

There are also other kind of fun Easter eggs to look out for in Camp Grizzly. Topolski notes that one of his favorite experiences “so far, has been digging through all the old files and finding unused or REALLY early content. For fun, here’s an unused “Mad Magazine” style concept we were playing around with. It was for the Barn Dance Finale. You can see a reference to our favorite Becky game, where she chased Otis around the board with a chainsaw, defeating him every time until she had one bad roll and ran out of gas at the worst possible time. “

Jason Topolski

Additionally, Frank shares, “At one point, in the last Kickstarter, in the original campaign, you could pay to get yourself made as a camp counselor. And for some people, those for sure, are favorite counselors. I’m unsure if we’re going to be doing that for this one.”

Ultimately, Topolski concludes, “There are people who look at it as a grail game, either they’ve already gotten it as their grail game or they’ll be excited to finally be able to get it because they’ve been wanting it. So it’s like you have the hardcore board game fans, a segment of them who are super excited. But then this also ultimately is an amazing game for people who are not hardcore gamers. [Camp Grizzly] is easy to pick up and play and get invested in the narrative and the storytelling aspect of it. It’s really not that super complex game rules wise. It’s more about the sort of emergent narratives and the funny moments can’t be moments that come out as you play. And especially if you have one person who can lead the group and be a little bit more experienced. Anyone can can play.”

Trick or Treat Studios will launch the Kickstarter campaign for the Camp Grizzly Second Edition on Tuesday, July 8. Anyone interested in signing up to be notified when the campaign is live can enter their email on this page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/trickortreatstudios/camp-grizzly-second-edition.

Camp Grizzly is a (mostly) cooperative survival horror board game for 1-6 players in which players take the roles of Camp Counselors who are being stalked through a maze of cabins and camp trails by ‘Otis’, a homicidal killer with an unhealthy bear fetish. Working together, the Counselors explore the campgrounds while searching for a combination of objectives that can trigger one of four different game endings. Those who survive the finale win the game!

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post Camp Grizzly Is Getting a Second Edition and We Have an Exclusive Deep Dive Into the Game appeared first on Nerdist.

DEXTER: RESURRECTION Drops New Images to Welcome Us Back to Chaos

Dexter will never die, apparently. Dexter: Original Sin brought Michael C. Hall back to narrate the prequel series about his early life. But wait, there’s more. There is yet another new sequel series, Dexter: Resurrection, that will have Michael C. Hall return to his infamous role yet again. Yes, we are also wondering how this will happen but we are along for the ride. In addition to Hall, it also sounds like this spinoff will have an incredible cast.

And we get to see this cast in Dexter: Resurrection‘s new images:

Click To View Gallery SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME SHOWTIME Dexter: Resurrection‘s Cast

The newest star to join the cast of Dexter: Resurrection is Nerdist favorite David Dastmalchian. Dastmalchian will play the role of “Gareth” and will be a guest star on the show.

Neil Patrick Harris was also announced to guest star on Dexter: Resurrection in the role of “Lowell.” He joined Krysten Ritter as a part of the series. The Marvel’s Jessica Jones actress will play the role of “Mia” in the series. No other information is yet available.

Also part of the cast is Peter Dinklage. Dinklage will play Leon Prater, a character who is described as “a billionaire venture capitalist. To the world, Leon is a generous philanthropist, but behind his polished exterior lies dark intrigue.” Sounds like a great role for Dinklage.

In addition to the star studded list of names above, Uma Thurman will have a starring role in Dexter: Resurrection. According to Deadline, she will portray Charley, the Head of Security for a mysterious billionaire named Leon Prater. Charley is a former Special Ops officer who worked for high-level private security jobs before taking on her position under Prater.

What Is Dexter: Resurrection About? Paramount+/SHOWTIME

There aren’t many details about Dexter: Resurrection at this time. According to Variety, it takes place in modern day and is a follow-up to 2021’s Dexter: New Blood, which took place ten years after the original show’s events. This is very, very interesting, considering Dexter literally died at the end of New Blood. The name of this new series is very on the nose, indeed. 

“We are thrilled to have the brilliant Michael C. Hall reprise his iconic role as Dexter Morgan in Showtime’s most successful series ever,” said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO, about Dexter: Resurrection. “While Dexter: Resurrections will appeal to the tens of millions of longtime fans, Dexter: Original Sin will introduce a whole new generation of viewers into this iconic series by starting from the beginning, which is sure to satisfy existing audiences as well.”

What Is the Release Date for Dexter: Resurrection and Dexter: Original Sin?

Dexter: Resurrection will hit Paramount+ with SHOWTIME in summer 2025 after Dexter: Original Sin’s December 2024 release. 

Originally published in 2024.

The post DEXTER: RESURRECTION Drops New Images to Welcome Us Back to Chaos appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Comics’ SUPERMAN 2025-HERO FOR ALL Tells a Classic-Style Story in Oversized Format

Thanks to James Gunn’s upcoming Superman hitting theaters this July, the Man of Steel is getting his biggest moment in the spotlight in years. But when it comes to Kal-El, we must remember it all started with the comics. And this summer, DC Comics will unleash “the Summer of Superman” across their various Superman (and Superman adjacent) titles. Perhaps the most exciting is Superman Treasury 2025 – Hero for All. This oversized comic harkens back to the Treasury Edition comics of decades past, which published special tales of iconic heroes. This one-shot is written by Dan Jurgens, with art by Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas. Below, you can see art from Hero for All, as well as read the official synopsis from DC Comics:

DC Comics

When a vicious armada of extraterrestrial extremists launches an all-out invasion of Earth, only Superman can stand in the way of total annihilation. But there’s something different about this attack—it’s deadly from both without and within. This is a tale so titanic it must be told at treasury size (10 1/8″ x 13 5/16″) to celebrate the Summer of Superman in style! This must-have one-shot features a main cover by Redondo and will feature images and info from the highly anticipated Superman movie from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures, a movie-themed photo variant cover, a variant cover by Dan Jurgens, and a stunning “friends and foes” variant cover by Scott Koblish

Click To View Gallery DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics

Here’s what writer and Death of Superman artist Dan Jurgens had to say about working on this special edition:

Since Superman is the cornerstone on which our entire industry is built, the term ‘Treasury Sized Edition’ seems to be the perfect vehicle for him. As a kid, the term ‘Treasury Edition’ meant that it was sure to be a special project and one that I just had to have. From the very start, most of those projects focused on Superman. It started with the first Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man team-up and continued with Superman vs. Shazam, Superman vs. Wonder Woman, and one of the best comic projects ever, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. It was an honor, years later, to be able to add to that lineup of Treasury Editions with Superman vs. the Fantastic Four.

This current project, Superman Treasury 2025 – Hero for All, is our attempt at trying to recapture the spirit of what made those earlier, epic projects something that we remember with such fondness. We have a grand story that is wide in scope, action and visual drama that also takes a deeper look at Superman’s character and verifies his status as the preeminent hero in the DCU. The larger page size gives the artist every opportunity to push the scope of the story into something that explodes off the page and that is just what Bruno Redondo (Nightwing) is working overtime to do. He has a wide range of characters and plenty of big story moments to play with and he’s going all-out to give readers a visual treat that they’re sure to love. In short, the idea of a ‘Treasury Sized Edition’ feels like the perfect way to acknowledge and celebrate this Summer of Superman.

DC Comics

DC has also announced five new Superman-themed corner boxes that will appear on DC’s “Summer of Superman” comics. The new corner box images celebrate the classic look of beloved DC comic book covers, which traditionally featured at least one of the stars of the title in miniature on the upper left corner of the comic! The new corner box art, by Superman artist Dan Mora, will appear first on Supergirl #1, Superman Unlimited #1, Superman #26, Action Comics #1087, and Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1

DC Comics

.Hopefully, Hero for All sparks a new era of oversized Treasury Editions. There’s just something about holding a giant comic book in your hands that makes it that much cooler. Hopefully, with a new DC/Marvel crossover on the horizon, we can get an oversized Superman vs. Spider-Man rematch in this format. In the meantime, Superman Treasury 2025 – Hero for All hit comic book shops and digital on July 2.

The post DC Comics’ SUPERMAN 2025-HERO FOR ALL Tells a Classic-Style Story in Oversized Format appeared first on Nerdist.