Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 116

DEATH STRANDING Live-Action Movie In the Works at A24 and Kojima Productions

That’s right, the world’s most confusing game will soon arrive on the big screen. Famous for its winding, multi-layered, sometimes confusing, but definitely genius gameplay, Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding turned a lot of heads when it arrived on consoles. And now, it’s setting out to turn even more because Death Stranding will soon get a live-action movie adaptation. The Death Stranding movie is officially in the works, coming from A24 and Kojima Productions. How one movie will manage to bring together all of Death Stranding‘s twists, turns, and nuances is a question only Hideo Kojima can answer. Although, A24 does feel like the right studio to help bring it to life.

But we sure hope that when the Death Stranding live-action movie lands, it will reunite the all-star cast from the video game. Adding to our excitement, A24 announced in April 2025 that Michael Sarnoski will write and direct the film. Sarnoski made his directorial debut in 2021 with the critically acclaimed Pig and followed that up in 2024 with A Quiet Place: Day One.

PlayStation

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

In a release, Hideo Kojima shared:

A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other. The films they are delivering to the world are high in quality and very innovative. I have been attracted to their creations and they have even inspired my own work. Their innovative approach to storytelling aligns with what Kojima Productions has been doing for the last 8 years. Now, we are making a Death Stranding movie together. There are a lot of ‘game adaptation films’ out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game. The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.

PlayStation

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

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

This marks Kojima Productions’ first-ever feature film. We feel sure whatever comes of the Death Stranding live-action movie, A24 and Hideo Kojima will deliver something unexpected.

Originally published on December 15, 2022.

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Light Cycles Hit the Real World in Trailer for TRON: ARES

In the 15 years since the premiere of Disney’s first big legacy sequel, TRON: Legacy (a sequel to 1982’s TRON), the entire film industry changed. Now not only are these late-stage follow-ups to beloved (citation needed) movies commonplace, they sort of rule the franchise roost. So now we’ve gotten to the point where Disney is making a legacy sequel to its legacy sequel. TRON: Ares lands in a time when AI has become a real threat to humanity. Not, of course, through war and subjugation, but the more insidious method of making bullshit art. But this trailer looks cool at any rate.

The trailer immediately shows us a different take on the TRON thing. Specifically, the iconic light cycles from the computer world are on the real streets of reality. One of ’em splits a police car in half! That’s bang out of order! The color scheme here for the computery stuff is all red all the time. If you recall, red is the traditional color of bad guys. We also get to see Greta Lee run from a big red airship thing. Which is quite cool too.

Disney

TRON: Ares is directed by Joachim Rønning, who is no stranger to Disney sequels. He’d previously directed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Here he has Jared Leto as the lead, playing the titular Ares, a sentient program looking for answers to a mystery in the real world. Along with Leto and Lee, the cast includes Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges. Naturally, we hear Bridges’ trademark growl in the trailer’s closing moments.

The biggest selling point here for me is a brand new score by Nine Inch Nails. Not only is Trent Reznor one of the best film composers working today (along with Atticus Ross), a heavy, industrial score will set this movie apart from TRON: Legacy which had a superb Daft Punk score. Famously Daft Punk has broken up, so it was a non-starter to have them back for this movie. But NIN is an immediate shift in tone from Daft Punk, so that really speaks to the movie’s darker vibe.

Disney

The two previous TRON films have been dazzling visual feasts, so I’m definitely hoping this one lives up to that. Bringing the black-on-neon vibes of the digital world into the real world will take some getting used to. But we’ve played Cyberpunk 2077 so it should be an easy transition.

TRON: Ares, filmed for IMAX, will hit cinemas October 10, 2025.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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Vincent D’Onofrio Says His Kingpin Legally Can’t Appear on the Big Screen

Vincent D’Onofrio’s character of Wilson Fisk is easily one of the greatest Marvel villains of all time. Not just across three seasons of Daredevil, but also Hawkeye, Echo, and now, Daredevil: Born Again. But if you’re hoping that the Kingpin will make the jump to the big screen, we have bad news. According to D’Onofrio, Fisk can’t ever be in a movie. Via IGN, we learned that while D’Onofrio was a guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said that Fisk can’t appear in any movie. All due to rights and ownership of the character. Here’s what he told host Josh Horowitz:

I’m only usable for television shows. Not even a one-off Wilson Fisk movie. It’s all caught up in rights and stuff. I don’t know when that would work out — or if it ever would work out at all.

Marvel Television

We are not privy to the legality of this situation, but we can make an educated guess. Kingpin made his debut in 1967’s Amazing Spider-Man #50, and for several years, was a primary Spidey villain. It wasn’t until the early ’80s, that writers like Frank Miller transitioned him into Daredevil’s world. Eventually, he became Matt Murdock’s main adversary. However, because he debuted as a Spider-Man bad guy, Sony may still own the movie rights to the character, just not the TV rights. This is why he’s the “Big Bad” of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This may be how he was able to appear in the original Daredevil show in the first place.

Twentieth Century Studios/Marvel Television/Sony Pictures Animation

However, this is where our theory falls apart a bit. The character of Wilson Fisk first appeared in the 2003 Daredevil movie, played by Michael Clarke Duncan. 20th Century Fox produced that film, and Sony had the Spider-Man movie rights by then. Was Kingpin a character two specific studios co-owned, like Quicksilver? Remember when two different actors played the same character in an X-Men movie and an Avengers movie within the same year? Whatever the situation is, the result is the same, and we can’t get a big screen Fisk. Which is a darn shame. At least D’Onofrio gets to shine in so many Marvel TV shows as such a rich character. Film’s loss is TV’s gain.

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Nintendo Switch 2 Sets a June Release Date

The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated gaming consoles of 2025. After many months of rumors swirling, the gaming giant finally decided to give us more information. On April 2, a livestreaming event, Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2, revealed its release date of June 5, 2025. That’s oh-so-close.

Nintendo

The Switch 2 will have a 1080p screen with HRD Support and up to 120fps for select games.  If you want to secure your copy, you’ll want to grab it via preorder. That date was supposed to be April 9, but recent tariffs led to Nintendo pushing it to an undetermined date. The Switch 2 costs $449.99 and is $499.99 for the bundle. There will be new games, including Mario Kart World, which releases on June 5 as well and comes with the aforementioned bundle. Additionally, fave games will get upgraded versions, like the popular The Legend of Zelda games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. There will also be a new Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, coming this winter.

In the meantime, we are not so patiently waiting for that Switch 2 release date to arrive.

Originally published April 2, 2025.

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Everything We Know About the Nintendo Switch 2

The long-awaited Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2 aired April 2. It showcased new features of the upcoming console and many different games releasing on or after launch day. Speaking of launch day, we finally got confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 hit shelves on June 5, 2025.

Nintendo

The suggested retail price is listed at $449.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle is priced at $499.99. Pre-orders for the system were supposed to start April 9 at North American retailers. However, due to recent tariffs by Trump, that date is delayed for now.

If you want to purchase the Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store, you can register your interest on their website. If selected, you’ll get an email invitation to shop for the system. The first batch of invitations will be sent out starting May 8.

Here’s everything we learned about the Nintendo Switch 2, from its features to the new games that are coming to this console.

What Are the New Features of the Nintendo Switch 2?

The Nintendo Switch 2 improves on the original console by having a bigger display of almost eight inches, which is 1080p. Even though the screen is bigger and more powerful, the thickness of the console remains the same. When you plug the Switch 2 into your TV, it can output 4K video with up to 60 frames per second (FPS). However, the console can go up to 120 FPS when the resolution is lower. To mitigate the heat from the higher performance, Nintendo added a cooling fan in the Switch 2’s dock that stabilizes performance.

Nintendo

Nintendo has also seemingly solved a problem that plagued Switch users before: the dreaded kickstand. The original Switch had a very flimsy, thin plastic stand to hold it up in tabletop mode, which many users reported broke or became loose. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a large stand that covers the entire console width for stability. It is also adjustable, allowing for different angles going back to 150 degrees. Speaking of tabletop gaming mode, there is now a USB-C port on the top of the console to charge it while playing. The USB-C port on the bottom still lets the Switch charge while an accessory is connected.

New and improved Joy-Con are the other big change to the Switch’s second iteration. Instead of sliding into place on a plastic rail, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers snap into place using magnets inserted in the system. The SL and SR buttons are made from steel, forming a strong magnetic connection when snapped into place.

Nintendo

SL and SR buttons are bigger now, too, so it’s easier to play Joy-Cons held on its side. The L and R Buttons are now longer and the joysticks are also larger, so it’s easier to rest your thumbs on them. Additionally, there is a new wrist strap that utilizes a magnetic connection to snap into place easily. The Joy-Con 2s are adding new ways to play games as well. With new technology, the Joy-Con can transform into a mouse. You can face it down on a surface and slide the controllers around to use them.

Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges are red instead of black. The Switch 2 will have 256 GB of internal storage, which is eight times more than the first Switch. The Switch 2 will also use microSD Express cards for faster processing speeds and smoother gameplay.

The GameChat Feature for the Switch 2, Explained

GameChat is a new key feature on Switch 2 that allows you to play with friends interactively. GameChat lets you voice chat, screen share, and video chat with other players. There’s a built-in microphone allowing two-way communication between you and your friends. The mic features voice isolation technology, ensuring that your friends hear only your voice, even if the washing machine, dishwasher, and vacuum are all running at the same time while you’re playing.

Nintendo

Additionally, you can screen share in real time even if you are all playing different games. The right Joy-Con even has a “C button” allowing you to access the feature and start an online chat quickly. For video chatting, Nintendo uses a new accessory fittingly called the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. Sadly, it’s sold separately. Up to four people can video chat and screenshare with each other at once. The camera is also used for in-game purposes, such as in Mario Party, where players’ reactions are on the screen.

However, keep in mind that GameChat is only available with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Since the feature will be so new, Nintendo is initiating a limited time “Open-Access Period” for GameChat. From launch until March 31, 2026, all players can use GameChat, regardless of membership.

All the New Games Announced For Switch 2: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong, New Zelda, and More

Nintendo announced a plethora of different games and game upgrades during their Nintendo Direct.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Pokémon Legends Z-A are all getting Switch 2 editions. If you already own any of those games for the first Switch, you can purchase an update pack. Below are some of the most memorable new titles.

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Every Nintendo Switch 2 Game We Know About So Far Mario Kart World

The game will be available on launch day and in a bundle with the console. Mario Kart World, the highly anticipated sequel to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, arrives more than seven years after its predecessor. Mario Kart World‘s courses are connected to one another, allowing players to explore an entire world with their kart. There is different terrain and weather for players to go through. The trailer below outlines many new game modes. The game will retail for $79.99.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

A new Zelda game is in the works! The game is the prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Koei-Tecmo is producing the game in collaboration with Nintendo. It appears as though you can play as Princess Zelda, King Rauru, or Mineru. So far, the developers have released little information about the game, except that it’s coming out in the winter. To see the graphic and some gameplay, check out the trailer below.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong Bananza releases a little after launch on July 17. It’s an all-new 3D platforming action game starring Donkey Kong. The description of the game says, “Help Donkey Kong make his way through the depths of the Underground World. The deeper he goes, the more amazing places he finds!” Donkey Kong Bananza will retail for $69.99. Check out the trailer below to see Donkey Kong smash everything.

The Duskbloods

From Software, the creators of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, produced this game. It will launch exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. There is not much known about this title, but the graphics look great, depicting a gothic world. The character you play as seems like a vampire because in the trailer it appears he sucks blood from someone’s neck and the title points towards something vampire-related. Check out the trailer below.

Nintendo Partner Games for the Switch 2

Many other games were announced by Nintendo’s partners, including one by the creators of the Hitman series, who are making a James Bond-themed game called Project 007, which will have its own original Bond story.

Other highly anticipated titles include Street Fighter 6 and Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Borderlands 4, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and much more. Check out some of Nintendo’s partner games below.

You can find all the games Nintendo announced on its website.

Originally published April 3, 2025.

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Everything We Know About THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, lo those many years ago, that immediately meant all the X-Men characters could appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also meant Fox’s other (and let’s face it, far less successful) Marvel property, the Fantastic Four, was joining the fray. However, aside from a Reed Richards cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Fantastic Four have been MIA. But, hope is on the horizon! The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be part of the MCU’s Phase Six.

Marvel celebrated 4-4 day on April 4 with a new poster for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Hopefully, a trailer from CinemaCon will hit the internet sometime soon.

Marvel Studios

Here’s everything we know about the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie.

TitleMarvel Studios

All the initial branding from Marvel indicated the movie’s title would be Fantastic Four. Now, we know that the MCU’s Fantastic Four movie will be called The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Plot

The film takes place in a retro-futuristic 1960s NYC, which we see in this trailer.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Marvel Comics

Marvel also dropped some photos:

We have liftoff.

Marvel Studios' #TheFantasticFour: First Steps lands in theaters July 25. pic.twitter.com/xfjGJeteFv

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 4, 2025

We have liftoff.

Marvel Studios' #TheFantasticFour: First Steps lands in theaters July 25. pic.twitter.com/bW9EH5vDqs

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 4, 2025

Behind the Scenes

In August 2022, Marvel named Matt Shakman—who had directed WandaVision for Disney+—as the film’s director. Feige confirmed this at the D23 Expo in September of that same year.

Later in September, Marvel said Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer were writing the script for The Fantastic Four. By March 2023, Terminator franchise and Avatar: The Way of Water screenwriter Josh Friedman was at work rewriting the script. In October 2023, Cameron Squires’ name was added as co-writer.

Speaking to The Official Marvel podcast, Kevin Feige confirmed exactly when The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie would begin to film. He revealed, “We start shooting at the end of July… The day after [San Diego] Comic-Con is the first day of filming on Fantastic Four.” That means The Fantastic Four: First Steps begins filming on in late July. He also confirmed that the movie would be a period piece set in the 1960s.

Feige mentioned during a panel at Disney APAC Content Showcase that filming would wrap in late November.

The fantastic quartet—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach—are already hanging out for their “first mission.” Pascal shared the candid photo of the cast on his IG page.

As Deadline reports, during the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Marvel boss Kevin Feige made a virtual appearance to talk about the MCU and bringing this collective to the big screen.

“Finally, [we’re] bringing Marvel’s First Family into the MCU,” said Feige. “They wrap next week, the movie comes out next summer, and then all those characters go right into the next Avengers movies, so I’m very excited for the future of the Fantastic Four.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Cast

The MCU’s Fantastic Four team has officially set its cast. Pedro Pascal will play Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby will play Sue Storm, a.k.a. the Invisible Woman. Ebon Moss-Bachrach will play The Thing. Finally, Joseph Quinn will play Johnny Storm, a.k.a. the Human Torch.

Netflix/Marvel Comics

Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna) will play the Shalla-Bal version of Silver Surfer. In the comics, Shalla-Bal appeared as Norrin Radd’s partner, but at one point, she received the same powers as the Silver Surfer and they were both Galactus’ heralds.

Paul Walter Hauser has also joined the cast, as have John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne. We don’t know who these actors are playing. We do know Ralph Ineson will be playing Galactus.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Release Date

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will release on July 25, 2025.

Originally published on December 22, 2023.

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THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Won’t Have MCU Easter Eggs and Other Heroes

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is lifting off this summer with a retro-futuristic story about a famous quartet fighting a deadly cosmic being. It may be the 37th film in the MCU but this film will be different from what we’ve gotten recently. Typically, an MCU film includes a cameo (or five) and loads of MCU Easter eggs for fans to spot and analyze. However, in an interview with Empire Magazine, director Matt Shakman said that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will exist separate from everything we’ve seen in the MCU and not connect in with previous films. 

“We are our own universe,” Shakman confirmed. “Which is wonderful and liberating. There’s really no [other] superheroes. There’s no Easter eggs. There’s no running into Iron Man or whatever. They’re it, in this universe. I love the interconnected Marvel Universe, but we get to do something so new and so different. Eventually this world will meet up with other worlds—but for now this is our own little corner.”

Marvel Studios

Of course, we know that the Fantastic Four will be in Avengers: Doomsday and fight alongside many, many other heroes. But it is nice that their first film will get to be its own thing that you don’t have to do lots of homework/prep to enjoy. In fact, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will truly be an origin story that shows this quartet as heroes who are famous for being skilled astronauts, not saviors of the universe with superpowers. 

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Marvel Studios Announces AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Cast

“This is very much about the spirit of the Space Race,” said Shakman. “It’s about JFK and optimism. It’s imagining these four going into space instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. This idea is that they are the most famous people in America, because they’re adventurers, explorers, astronauts — not because they’re superheroes. And they come back and they’re superheroes on top of it. But primarily they’re astronauts, they’re family.”

The film will hit theaters on July 25.

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NOT JUST A GOOF’s Trailer Unveils the Story Behind A GOOFY MOVIE

A Goofy Movie is somehow celebrating its 30th anniversary on April 7, 2025. The film about Goofy and Max’s great adventure across America to reconnect became a cult classic among many Millennial kids. Who can forget those classic Powerline songs and Max’s attempts to woo his crush Roxanne? To this day, fans show up at Disney Parks and on TikTok videos to do Powerline’s “Stand Out” dance routine. Disney is celebrating the film’s big milestone with Not Just a Goof, a documentary telling the untold story of A Goofy Movie. 

The clip follows the creative team, including director Kevin Lima, who didn’t have any directing nor head of story experience. He wanted to make a John Hughes-style movie about contemporary teens but using anthropomorphic characters.

Back then, this film felt totally different from other films because Max and Roxanne were relatable characters. They had crushes, thought their parents were embarrassing, and just wanted to vibe to their favorite singer. It also didn’t hurt that Tevin Campbell, who was one of the biggest R&B stars at the time, sang the very catchy songs by Powerline. Now, some of us may even see a little of Goofy in ourselves as parents/adults who may not be cool in the eyes of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Disney+

We find out the real-life inspirations about the story and even see some of the voice cast recording their lines. And seeing those traditionally animated bits brings back such nostalgia for the way that movies were made back then. Overall, it seems like a sweet ode to a film that means so much to a generation who grew up as Disney kids. (It’s me, a ‘90s Disney kid!) 

Not Just a Goof will hit Disney+ and give us our first big documentary about A Goofy Movie on April 7.

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Arby’s Newest Custom Dice Set Will Serve Up Delicious D20s

Arby‘s already has meats. They have the meats on lockdown. But man cannot live on roast beef alone. We require bread and circus. So the fast food chain partnered with Norse Foundry to give us just that. They are now serving up another new custom Arby’s dice set. And these fantastic metallic pieces look mighty tasty for game night.

Norse Foundry/Arby’s

As if it wasn’t already delicious enough to roll a natural 20, it will taste extra good when you do so with this red and silver Arby’s dice set. Norse Foundry’s seven polyhedral dice set (d20, d12, 2x d10 (00-90 and 0-9), d8, d6, and d4) feature the restaurant’s cowboy hat logo embossed on the pieces. They’re also quite snazzy, y’all. They come with with red enamel, a zinc alloy base, and silver plating. Here’s the official description on how they were “flamed and forged.”

Crafted with care, these all-metal dice are a force to be reckoned with. Inspired by Arby’s iconic menu, they are the perfect addition to any tabletop player and Arby’s lover’s collection. The seven-piece tabletop set is strong enough to defeat enemies while you enjoy Arby’s Classic Roast Beef sandwiches.

Norse Foundry/Arby’s

They also say “the red accents make the numbers easy to read in dark rooms, caverns, and creepy castles.” We are also going to go right ahead and assume they’re also super easy to make out when sitting at a table in Arby’s. (We won’t be using these dice much where we actually eat Arby’s though.*)

It’ll be awhile before we can find out just how they look in person, though. This dice set ($40) proved an instant hit with gamers and diners alike. It’s unavailable right now. Fortunately you can sign up to be notified when it is back in stock.

That’s right, Arby’s still has the meats. It just doesn’t have any Arby’s dice at the moment.

*In our car late at night like a starving raccoon.

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YELLOWJACKETS Season 3, Episode 9 Recap: New Revelations & Questions From ‘How the Story Ends’

Revelations From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 9—“How the Story Ends”Past Timeline: Shauna Orders the Team to Stay in the Wilderness and Has Gone Full Dictator

Shauna has been unlikable for most of Yellowjackets season three, but in episode nine, she really reaches new depths of abhorrent. Not only does she force her teammates who want to leave the wilderness to stay, but she becomes downright CRUEL. When Melissa just barely disagrees with her, she literally shoots her. And she calls her nothing and other mean names in front of everyone. Shauna needs to be stopped.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast Timeline: Misty Can Fix the Satellite Phone

Van brought the broken satellite phone from Hannah and Edwin back to camp, but the problem is that it’s broken. However, Misty still has the transponder she broke way back in season one of Yellowjackets and its presence just became important again in season three. It looks like a part from the broken transponder can help fix the broken satellite phone.

Past Timeline: Hannah Kills Kodi and Wants to Be a Part of the Wilderness

What?! Hannah, Nat, and the part of the team that wants to head for rescue slipped Hannah a knife in order to free herself and Kodi and leave the wilderness. But turned on them in front of Shauna, stabbed Kodi to death in the face, and then begged to join the wilderness commune. Was she bluffing to stay alive? Or does she genuinely wish to be a part of the group? She did say it was a fascinating study of survival.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast Timeline: Travis Tries to Kill Lottie

Murder was also on the mind of Travis, who tried to use that infamous wilderness pit to kill Lottie. Travis lures Lottie onto the covered pit, but she doesn’t fall through. We guess It is looking out for her.

Present Timeline: Misty Locked Shauna in the Freezer

One Yellowjackets season three mystery is solved. It was actually Misty who locked Shauna in the freezer. That doesn’t rule out someone (Melissa) still trying to kill Shauna on season three of Yellowjackets. But at least one of the circumstances was not what it appeared.

Present Timeline: Melissa Believes in It and the Wilderness

Surprise! Melissa has been pretending to be normal all along. But secretly, she still believes in the wilderness and It. She convinces Van not to kill her by telling her the wilderness sacrifices and rewards were all lies, but then she stabs her instead. We’re not sure what rewards Melissa is after in this case, but she certainly seems to have some agenda.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPresent Timeline: Van Dies at Melissa’s Hand

R.I.P. Van. We are truly sad to see you go. In episode nine of Yellowjackets season three, Van meets her death at the end of Melissa’s blade. We wouldn’t call it a fitting death, but we hope she heads somewhere good in the afterlife. (Although Yellowjackets does make it seem bleak.)

Questions From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 9—“How the Story Ends”Past Timeline: Why Is Everyone Listening to Shauna?

We just have to ask, why is everyone letting Shauna call the shots. Sure, Lottie and Van are backing her up, and she has the gun. But couldn’t they just bum rush her and take it away? She is only one unhinged person. Instead of making secret schemes in the night, they should have just tackled her.

Past Timeline: Why Did Hannah Turn on Kodi?

What is Hannah playing at? She truly does have a daughter and seemed to want to get home. But all of a sudden, she wants to play house in the wilderness? We guess the wilderness attracts a certain kind of person, and we can kind of see the appeal. But not while Shauna is in charge with her gun.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast Timeline: Will Misty Fix the Satellite Phone?

Misty has the parts to fix the satellite phone but will she actually be able to? And won’t that mean crossing her new BFF Shauna? We’ll have to see how this one plays out.

Past Timeline: Will the Team Find Out Misty Detroyed the Transponder?

It’s been a minute since season one, but we haven’t forgotten that Misty broke the transponder so that it wouldn’t call for rescue. Of course, depending on the logic you believe, the transponder was never going to get through because It didn’t want it too. But we feel like the team might be more inclined to blame Misty. Will they find out she broke it? And what will happen if they do?

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPresent Timeline: What Did Misty See on Lottie’s Phone?

Walter gives Misty his clone of Lottie’s phone. She takes a look through it and immediately bolts. But just what could Misty have seen on Lottie’s phone in the episode? We suppose the finale of Yellowjackets will hinge on that point.

Present Timeline: What Is Melissa’s Deal on Yellowjackets Season 3?

Melissa clearly isn’t who she purports to be, but what exactly is she after? Does she want to kill all the other Yellowjackets? Why did she send Shauna that tape? What kind of allegiance does she still feel to the wilderness and it? And truly, what about her family?

Present Timeline: Who Killed Lottie?

The big question on Yellowjackets season three remains open in episode nine. Who killed Lottie? Signs seem to be swinging away from Shauna and onto Melissa. But we probably have more of the story to uncover.

Yellowjackets season three only has its finale left, and who knows what could happen.

Previous Recaps: Premiere/Episodes One and Two, Episode Three, Episode Four, Episode Five, Episode Six, Episode Seven, Episode Eight

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