Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 134

Who Is Marvel Comics’ Sentry? (A.K.A the MCU THUNDERBOLTS*’ Bob)

The upcoming Thunderbolts film from Marvel Studios is slated to introduce one of the most powerful characters Marvel Comics has ever produced, the Sentry. Essentially, he’s Marvel’s Superman, but with a dark secret. He’ll be portrayed by actor Lewis Pullman in the upcoming MCU film, and we officially have our first look at Pullman as the character from the MCU’s Thunderbolts* trailer. But who is Sentry, a (relatively recent) Marvel character, and what is his strange origin story, both on and off the page?

The Bizarre Backstory of Marvel Comics’ SentryMarvel Comics

The Sentry began his comic book existence as an elaborate trolling by Marvel Comics editorial. Back in the ’90s, the Marvel Knights line of comics helped save the company after bankruptcy. Edgy titles like Kevin Smith’s Daredevil got critical acclaim and big sales. In 2000, creators Paul Jenkins and Rick Veitch came up with the Sentry series for Marvel Knights, about a superhero in a more classic DC Comics mode than a Marvel one. His costume suggested Superman’s, or Shazam’s. Although he’s not the only analog for Superman at Marvel (Hyperion predates him) he is the most powerful. He may be stronger than Superman himself.

Sentry, The “Lost” Stan Lee Marvel HeroMarvel Comics

When the Sentry mini-series was announced, Marvel touted the series as a discovery of a “lost” concept by Stan Lee and a forgotten artist named Artie Rosen from the early ’60s that never made it to print. When Rosen “died” in 1999, writer Paul Jenkins discovered his original creation with Lee, a classic hero named the Sentry. He decided it was time to give the hero a proper Marvel debut in his own mini-series. Marvel EIC Joe Quesada even used the octogenarian Stan Lee himself as part of the promotion, giving interviews to comic book media about how even he had forgotten he co-created this hero. Of course, all of this was complete nonsense. Sentry was a pure creation of Jenkins. The whole backstory was a marketing gimmick.

Sentry Is Marvel’s Superman, with a Dark SideMarvel Comics

In Marvel Comics’ Sentry original limited series, we meet Robert Reynolds. He’s an out-of-shape, middle-aged man living a bleak existence. Reynolds starts remembering a superhero career in his younger days, when he was the Sentry. Having taken “the Golden Sentry Serum,’ an advanced version of Captain America’s Super Soldier Serum, he now had “the power of a million exploding suns.” His arch nemesis was a dark presence called “The Void.” He was a contemporary of early Marvel heroes like the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four. In fact, he was very close friends with Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four’s genius leader. As Sentry encountered each Marvel hero in the present, they all slowly began to remember him. But why did they forget him in the first place?

After a deadly attack by the Void that resulted in high casualties during his heroic heyday, Sentry disappeared from the Marvel Universe when his mind was wiped, along with the memories of everyone on Earth, to make everyone forget that he ever existed. This was because of Reed Richards and Doctor Strange realizing that the Void was not just Sentry’s arch-foe, he was also a part of him. The only way to get rid of the Void was to make everyone forget that both Sentry and Void existed, including Bob Reynolds himself. So for years, he lived a life of anonymity, forgetting his heroic past entirely.

Sentry Becomes the Mightiest Avenger in Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics

In the New Avengers series in 2005, writer Brian Michael Bendis brings Sentry back to the Marvel Universe. We see Reynolds in a cell inside the supervillain prison the Raft, where he has voluntarily imprisoned himself for murdering his wife, Lindy Lee. When a huge jailbreak occurs, the Avengers catch several of the escaping villains. During this time, Daredevil finds the Sentry, and the powerful hero saves several others from Carnage, whom he flies into space and rips in half. Later, the Avengers discovered that X-Men villain Mastermind, who was at fault for Jean Grey’s descent into Dark Phoenix, was responsible for what happened to Sentry. He implanted a psychic virus in Robert Reynolds’ mind that created the delusion of the Void, but it was all really an aspect of his own repressed personality, unleashed by the serum.

Readers learn that the psychic virus does not allow Reynolds to remember his life as he lived it. Instead, he subconsciously implants his memories into the mind of comic book writer Paul Jenkins, a meta-commentary on the real-life Marvel creator of the same name who invented Sentry. Eventually, the Avengers show Reynolds that his wife, whom he confessed to murdering, is still alive. Sentry runs away, going to a house in the suburbs he shares with his wife Lindy. The Marvel heroes find him there, and attempt to reason with him. But he insists the Void is coming, and will destroy the world. Ultimately, X-Men telepath Emma Frost frees Reynolds from the psychic virus and restores his memories, and the Sentry joins Marvel’s Avengers. The rest of the world does not regain their memories of Sentry. To them, he’s a brand new hero and new addition to the Avengers.

The Many Powers and Abilities of Sentry in the Marvel UniverseMarvel Comics

The Sentry is one of the most powerful superheroes in the Marvel universe, even more powerful than his DC counterpart Superman. His powers supposedly came from a more advanced version of Captain America’s super soldier serum. Later, it is revealed that an alien intelligence actually infused itself with the serum, making Reynolds its host body. Whatever the true origins are of his Marvel powers, Sentry has super strength, enough to subdue the Hulk at his most powerful. He can fly, has super speed, has telepathy, and can even shapeshift. He can also project light and project energy blasts. Sentry can also pass on a portion of his power, as he did to his kid sidekick, Billy Turner, a.k.a. Scout, an amalgamation of DC’s Robin and Captain Marvel. Jr. He even passed on powers to his Welsh Corgi, Watchdog, a riff on DC’s Krypto the Superdog. Sentry is the definition of the phrase “OP.”

Sentry’s Death and Rebirth in Marvel

Sentry remained an Avenger for many years in Marvel Comics, although he constantly battled the emergence of the Void, a symptom of his own mental illness. Eventually, he joined former Green Goblin Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers as Osborn’s secret weapon. Thanks to Norman’s mental manipulations, he is able to break down the barriers that keep Robert Reynolds’ darker Void persona at bay. In the Siege storyline, Osborn and the Dark Avengers, together with Loki, attack Asgard itself. Osborn uses the powers of the Sentry to destroy Asgard, which was hovering above Oklahoma at the time.

Marvel Comics

The Dark Avenger Ares, the actual Greek god of war, attacks Sentry for his loss of control. Then, Sentry literally rips the god in half. (It’s a pretty gross panel too). Sentry then murders Loki, although he is eventually reborn as Kid Loki. Realizing what he’s done, upon reverting to his Bob Reynolds persona, Sentry asks the Avengers to kill him. Thor obliges and carries his body to the sun to be cremated. But Sentry is effectively immortal and can’t truly die. He eventually merges his Sentry half with his Void half, now seemingly more in control, but also elevated to godhood. In the comics, it seems it is the destiny of the Sentry to effectively never die.

Sentry in the MCU’s Thunderbolts* MovieMarvel Studios

The MCU Thunderbolts* trailer officially gave us our first look at Lewis Pullman as the Sentry. But we really don’t know too much about him yet. All we know about Sentry in the MCU for now is that he’ll be a part of the Thunderbolts* film. We have no idea what role he’ll play, but we imagine a scenario similar to the comics. We foresee a situation where the government assigns Sentry to the Thunderbolts team. But when the ultra-powered hero loses control of his darker half, the former assassins will have to find a way to stop him.

Recently, Florence Pugh shared about her character Yelena’s relationship with Pullman’s Bob/Sentry. “Yelena sees parts of herself in him. She’s always been someone that wants to look after people. She has a sweet spot for him, and essentially likes looking after him because he’s useless. He’s absolutely useless.” Useless until he’s not that useless anymore, we imagine.

The scene in the Thunderbolts* Super Bowl trailer where people on the street vanish, leaving just shadows, feels like Sentry absorbing them into the Void. But that’s just us guessing. We’ll know for sure when Thunderbolts* hits theaters in 2025.

Originally published on February 2, 2024.

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New BLACK BAG Clip Invites Us to Dine with an Attractively Amoral Table (Exclusive)

What are the components of a perfect dinner party? You might say… A beautifully set table. The cozy ambiance of candlelight. A delicious meal. But, to us, that feels like it’s lacking a little something. A bit of excitement, some delicious thrill. And our exclusive clip from Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag helps us put our finger on exactly what it takes to make an evening exciting. After all, it’s a dull dinner without a little bit of attractive amorality at the table.

You can take a look at our exclusive new clip from Black Bag below and enjoy the buffet of well-dressed, very charismatic, and quite devious characters we’ll meet in the movie.

“Cause that’s what bad b**ches do.” Marisa Abela’s Clarissa exclaims at the table, much to the amusement of the rest of those seated. Is it just an overwhelmed exhalation? Or is it a devious disguise to create exactly the persona she wants her “friends” to see? You’ll have to watch Black Bag to find out. But undoubtedly, even from just this small Black Bag clip, we know there are, indeed a slew of “bad b**ches” seated at the table.

This new snippet of Black Bag features all six of the movie’s major players: Abela’s Clarissa, Tom Burke’s Freddie, Naomie Harris’ Dr. Zoe (a psychologist among spies), Regé-Jean Page’s James, and, of course, the gracious hosts of the evening, Michael Fassbender’s George Woodhouse and Cate Blanchett’s Kathryn St. Jean. Each of these characters sizzle off the screen in slightly different, alluring ways. And all of them make us feel like they have daggers hidden in their sleeves, ready to be pulled out at any moment. We get a sense there are many games afoot at this table… and we like it.

Focus Features

What is morality in the face of electric sexiness? Harris’ Dr. Zoe insists the former is much more important than the latter, and yet she’s seated at the table. And honestly, Cate Blanchett’s husky voice, enigmatic smiles, and implications of very competently executed violence and deceit have us pulling out a chair as well. And this is just one small clip from Black Bag. The full movie might be too much lethal goodness for us to handle. But we’ll try.

Black Bag releases in theaters on March 14, 2025. It stars Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan. Black Bag is directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp. Its synopsis shares, “From Director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.“

Focus Features

For more information on Black Bag, check out the film’s official site or follow it on social. (Instagram | Twitter | Facebook)

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Jenna Ortega Opens Up About Lady Gaga on Set for WEDNESDAY Season 2

The supreme Addams family member is coming back to our TV screens in two snaps. Well, not quite that fast. But soon enough, Netflix’s Wednesday will return for season two and we cannot wait to hear Jenna Ortega’s snappy one-liners once again. At the end of season one, Wednesday and her friends defeat Laurel Gates. Meanwhile, Tyler is set to escape his very short time in custody. Nevermore Academy is understandably closed for the remainder of the semester as a result of all the drama. But what will happen when the school opens up once again? We don’t know yet.

We do know that Lady Gaga is going to be in a mystery role in Wednesday season two. Ortega opened up about working with Gaga on Wednesday and what her personality is like.

“It’s the best. She’s the best, definitely one of the most talented individuals I’ve ever worked with,” Ortega said to IndieWire. “It was just a really, really special environment to be there with her and Tim [Burton], two people that I respect and have been inspired by so much….Then just finding out that she’s such a sweetheart and really kind and reserved, it’s very strange. I love that you never know what to expect from her, but you can always expect kindness and generosity.”

Here’s everything we know about Wednesday season two. 

Wednesday Season Two’s Plot Netflix

Of course, we don’t know much about Wednesday season two’s plot at this time. It’s pretty clear that Wednesday, Enid, Xavier, and others will return back to Nevermore. We also know that someone is watching Wednesday and threatening to kill her, based on a text message she received while leaving Nevermore. There are still some secrets in Jericho to uncover, indeed.

Netflix recently gave us our first footage from Wednesday season two. It is only five seconds but we see Wednesday visiting Tyler Galpin a.k.a. The Hyde at Willow Hill psychiatric hospital.

You're not ready for Wednesday Season 2. #NextOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/ZDx2501wIm

— Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2025

During the 2024 Emmys, Jenna Ortega revealed that the next season of Wednesday will pack in lots of horror, have more wonderful quotes, and that each episode will feel like its own movie. 

What I can say … [is] we’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror,” the Scream actress teased. “It’s really, really exciting because all throughout the show, Wednesday does need a bit of an arc, she never really changes, and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

Ortega previously stated this, saying the show will leave romance in the rearview mirror. As much as we love a good romance triangle, Wednesday is at her best when she’s investigating and verbally skewering people. 

Season two’s first episode is titled “Here We Woe Again,” which we discovered in this cute announcement video.

https://twitter.com/wednesdayaddams/s...

We probably won’t get getting another infamous dance… at least, not as far as Jenna Ortega knows. Ortega talked about Wednesday season two during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and she wasn’t aware of another big dance break; however, the show still has a ways to go for filming. Ortega did open up about her fears of returning and promised big moments this season.

“I was a little terrified just because it had been years since Wednesday, since we shot the first one. We did that like two or three years ago in Romania,” Ortega said. “So, I didn’t really know how I… I just was, I think, overthinking it.  But as soon as you put on the costumes by Colleen Atwood, you get hair and makeup done, and then you take all the expression out of your face, it’s like, ‘Oh, okay. I kind of, I know how to do this. Yeah. Yeah.'”

Behind the Scenes

Jenna Ortega will join Tim Burton and Steve Stark, and others as an executive producer. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will continue as co-showrunners. It remains to be seen who will direct its episodes. As of May 2024, Wednesday season two filming began in Ireland in May 2024 and wrapped in December.

https://twitter.com/netflix/status/17...Wednesday Season Two’s Cast Vlad Cioplea/Netflix

Alongside Ortega, Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair), Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay), Jamie McShane (Sheriff Galpin), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), and Hunter Doohan (Tyler Galpin), Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester) will return. Uncle Fester is reportedly getting his own spinoff, so an episode this season could serve as a backdoor pilot for that show. It doesn’t seem that Christina Ricci will return as Laurel Gates but anything is possible.

In recent news, Lady Gaga is joining the cast for season two in some capacity that is not fully known at this time.

According to Netflix, Billie Piper (who will play a character named Capri), Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, and Noah Taylor are joining the cast in a full-time capacity. Addams Family alum Christopher Lloyd is joining as a guest star alongside Joanna Lumley, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, Thandiwe Newton (as Dr. Fairburn), and Joonas Suotamo

Deadline reports that Steve Buscemi has joined the cast as well, and “will play the new principal of Nevermore Academy.” His character’s name is Barry Dort.

Last year’s TUDUM event revealed that we will meet a new Addams family member. We had a few ideas about which Addams family member could show up in Wednesday. And now we know that Joanna Lumley will portray Grandmama in Wednesday‘s second season.

Wednesday Season Two’s Release Date

Wednesday season two will tentatively start filming in April 2024, so we can probably expect a 2025 release date.

Originally published on January 16, 2024.

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BDX Droids, an Anzellan Animatronic, and the Mandalorian and Grogu Coming to Disney’s STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE

For a brief glorious moment in 2024, BDX droids roamed Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. Now those adorable little robots are coming back and going to more than just Anaheim, California. Disney has announced BDX droids are coming to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re also going to make their live-action debut in The Mandalorian & Grogu movie. Just in case all that work in Hollywood and amusement parks causes BDX droids to feel rundown, Disney is also bringing in a new animatronic to fix them. Auto the Anzellan is also heading to Disney parks.

And that means they’ll all be there when the Mandalorian and Grogu arrive on Smuggler’s Run in 2026.

Disney

At this year’s SXSW, the Mouse House shared some big Star Wars park news during its “The Future of World-Building at Disney” panel. BDX droids are going to make their presence felt in the galaxy far, far away, both in-person and onscreen.

Described as “playful, curious, and cute,” the colorful two-legged robots will be joining three Disney parks. They’re also going to appear in Jon Favreau’s upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie. Favreau was on hand in Austin to celebrate the news.

BDX droids are exactly the type of addition Galaxy’s Edge needs. Despite being one of the best themed-lands ever created, Disney’s Star Wars area often lacks kinetic energy. Encountering a bunch of cute robots waddling around will help fix that.

Also coming to Galaxy’s Edge to help is a new animatronic of a species first introduced in The Rise of Skywalker (and later seen on The Mandalorian). An Anzellan named Auto will also join the parks. Anzellans are especially handy, so if a BDX droid breaks down they’ll get it back up and running.

Auto won’t have to help with a big update on Smuggler’s Run until at least 2026, though. Disney also revealed that’s when its previously announced reskin for the ride featuring Din Djarin and Grogu will happen. It will kick in on May 22, 2026, the same day the pair make it to big screens. And there will be a crossover between the two.

“Opening an attraction and such a massive movie on the same day wouldn’t be possible without the relationships we have inside Disney,” said Imagineer Asa Kalama. “Jon and Dave (Filoni) have shared their story with us, and now we’ve all worked together to come up with a new mission for Smugglers Run that plays into this narrative.”

Galaxy’s Edge is already an incredible amusement park attraction, but forget a long time ago. The future for Disney’s Star Wars land looks better than ever.

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Brennan Lee Mulligan Answers the Internet’s DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS Questions

Dungeon Master for Dropout’s Dimension 20, Brennan Lee Mulligan, recently participated in WIRED’s Tech Support series. He answered everyone’s burning questions on Dungeons & Dragons, effectively becoming D&D Support. Mulligan goes through over 30 of the internet’s most burning questions, from interesting D&D lore to how to play as a newbie. You can watch the video in its entirety below.

Have you ever wondered what D&D‘s most iconic monster is? In Mulligan’s opinion, it has to be a mimic, a monster disguised as a treasure chest because of how many adventurers are fooled by its appearance, hoping for loot instead of instead of a scary mouth. However, this is in opposition to Mulligan’s favorite monster, which is the Owlbear. “Why would you mix an owl and a bear together? Bears are more dangerous than owls. Just have a regular bear, but no, we made them half-owl,” joked Mulligan.

Also interesting is a Reddit user asking what pop culture representation of D&D has been best in movies or TV. Mulligan shouted out Stranger Things as one of them for showing people how D&D is “inherently social.” Additionally, the video game series, Baldur’s Gate, that takes place in the Forgotten Realms D&D campaign was a big eye-opener to those who don’t play the table top RPG on the nature of the game. Of course, no discussion of D&D pop culture is finished without mentioning Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which Mulligan says was good at highlighting the more goofy nature of a real D&D game.

WIRED

Another question highlight: What is the golden rule for D&D or any TTRPG? Mulligan’s answer: “You’re playing with other human beings at the table. Stay tapped into what their experience is. Are they having fun? Are you all telling a story together? That is the measure of a great tabletop game.” I would have to agree and say that that advice extends past TTRPGs to all games you play with others.

Mulligan answers a variety of other questions in the video that he explains in depth, for example, the difference between a critical roll and nat 20. He also shouts out his new Dimension 20 show, Dungeons and Drag Queens, which recently concluded its second season. For more of Mulligan, check out his new series premiering April 2, Dimension 20: Titan Takedown, where four WWE wrestlers play a campaign with Mulligan at the helm.

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The Monsterverse Continues in Comic Book Form in RETURN TO SKULL ISLAND This Summer

Attention, all of you giant monster aficionados out there. While we eagerly await news of the latest Godzilla x Kong continuation on the big screen, the world of the Titans will continue to expand in other media. Titan Comics and Legendary Comics are expanding the Monsterverse later this year in Return to Skull Island, a brand-new comic book series set in Legendary’s Skull Island: The Animated Series universe, currently streaming on Netflix. The first Issue will arrive in comic shops later this summer. It showcases a gorgeous cover by artist Inhyuk Lee, featuring our favorite giant ape in battle with a sea creature. You can check out the cover, as well as several interior pages from issue one, in our gallery down below:

Click To View Gallery Titan Comics/Legendary Comics Titan Comics/Legendary Comics Legendary Comics/Titan Comics Legendary Comics/Titan Comics Titan Comics/Legendary Comics

Here’s the official description from Titans Comics and Legendary Comics on Return to Skull Island:

Set against a backdrop of giant monsters and deadly intrigue, the comic follows a group of survivors stranded on the perilous island in the South Pacific. As they uncover its dark secrets, they face life-threatening challenges and fight for survival in a land where every creature is a threat—including Kong himself. The series is written by Simon Furman (Transformers) and illustrated by Christopher Jones (Doctor Who: Once Upon a Time Lord).

Legendary Comics/Titan Comics

So where exactly does the new Return to Skull Island comic book series fall in the overall Monsterverse timeline? At this point, there have been five live-action films in this saga, starting with Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla in 2014. Not to mention an animated show, as well as the series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Fortunately, we have a handy infographic that shows exactly where Return to Skull Island takes place, which you can see above. This comic is a ’90s flashback, set in 1993, right after the events of the animated show. So we say put your earbuds in, and read along while listening to some TLC or Nirvana tunes.

The first action-packed issue of Return to Skull Island hits comic book shops on June 4, 2025.

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

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BLACK BAG Is a Sexy Mediation on Manipulation and Love (Review)

The trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag immediately caught my eye. There was something very enthralling about its sleek restraint and its overwhelming sexiness, delivered more in the twinkle of Cate Blanchett’s eye and the polished repression of Michael Fassbender’s rigid spine than in any kind of baring of skin. And it is exactly this energy, a blend of actors with crackling chemistry, a polished, minimalist aesthetic, and an at once smoothly jazzy and thrummingly percussive soundtrack, that makes the movie an enjoyable 90-minute experience. Although the specific details of Black Bag‘s plot are largely indiscernible throughout the film, it doesn’t matter that much because the movie’s purpose is more to mediate on manipulation and relationships than to worry too much about the logistics of spycraft.

Black Bag offers a new entry into an increasingly popular genre of fiction, which includes the likes of the Knives Out movies and The White Lotus series. In this genre, a collection of truly terrible people, played by truly magnificent actors, suck you into the dramas and interpersonal relationships of their world as a mystery of a kind plays out. Watching these creations leaves you feeling disgusted, enthralled, and totally captivated. In my opinion, there cannot be enough of this on-screen energy out there—one part gossipy, one part thriller, one part romance, shaken altogether and poured into a tall glass.

Focus Features

But Black Bag‘s offering ups the ante. The players are far more competent than in the usual fare, elevating the conceit. In Black Bag, the main characters are smart, master manipulators. They have a certain elegance which promises violence in a heady way that carries throughout the movie. And so, their deceptions and alliances are that much more striking.

Black Bag is steeped in a more grown-up kind of sexiness and relational dynamic than what we usually see on our screens. The idea that there’s nothing more attractive than someone committing to something, be it a profession, a romance, or a personal ethos, drives the allure of the story. This facet is clearest in the intoxicating tangle between Cate Blanchett’s Kathryn St. Jean and Michael Fassbender’s George Woodhouse. They are two of the best agents in the business and are both agonizingly good at what they do. The only thing more important to them than the work is one another… but what if doubt enters that equation? Well, then, sparks will truly fly.

Surrounding the pair, and appearing as both friends and enemies at once, are a whole cabal of sociopaths. These include Tom Burke’s philandering Freddie, Marisa Abela’s Clarissa, a seemingly brash and naive cyber comms expert who is Freddie’s current girlfriend, Naomie Harris’ Dr. Zoe, a psychologist among spies, and Regé-Jean Page’s James, a rising star with a devilish smile. Black Bag weaves an intricate and tangled web between the six figures (and the three couples) that is the film’s true heart. Not a one of them is less devious than the next. Somehow, all present their amorality in totally differing, and yet incredibly attractive ways.

Focus Features

For me, second to Blanchett, Abela’s Clarissa truly steals the show, offering a masterclass on developing a character and unfurling unexpected depths. Of course, I am always a fan of any performance that Regé-Jean Page delivers. This role allows him to flex a new kind of acting muscle. He offers a shrewder and colder performance than we’ve seen in his other major turns.

Focus Features

As important as the characters is Black Bag‘s very specific aesthetic. The movie paints us an incredibly minimalistic backdrop, perfectly highlighting the close-to-the-chest game its main actors are playing. Everything feels very austere and angular, often empty, and sharp-edged, to be sure. But every so often, the jazzy slide of David Holmes’ soundtrack comes in to offer lushness around the edges, hinting at hidden secrets leaking out. Steven Soderbergh, of course, serves as cinematographer and editor, in addition to director. And his deft hand crafts the movie with incredible certainty. Finally, we would be remiss not to also mention costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. The extensive, immaculate array of turtlenecks, leather jackets, watches, and glasses that parade through this movie, all in a tasteful palate of neutrals, were key to that efficient erotic energy Black Bags exudes—quiet luxury on high.

Focus Features

Less critical to the movie is its plot. Ostensibly, the whole film hinges on the theft of a cyber-program called Severus, which we eventually learn can destabilize nuclear reactors. But this part of the movie is fairly difficult to understand fully and to really keep track of. It almost seems like Black Bag isn’t that interested in explaining to you the intricacies of spy work and international tensions at play here. More so, the movie seems to hope that you can just come aboard to the idea that something important has gone missing and bad things could happen because of it. Isn’t that enough? If the movie had been any longer or less well acted, no. In this case, we’ll give it a pass. Cate Blanchett’s half-smile will have us agreeing to just about anything.

Black Bag pulled us into a world of erotic menace and masterful manipulation. Though the movie didn’t care too much about every detail, the ones it chose to focus on were delivered with breathless precision. It knew exactly how to deliver on its strengths and left us wondering how we would fare in a world full of so many sharks. We may never know, but we can enjoy a brief foray into the fray with Black Bag.

Black Bag releases in theaters on March 14, 2025.

⭐ (3.5 of 5)

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New RESIDENT EVIL Movie Coming in Fall 2026, RPatz Says He’s ‘A F**cking Old Batman, and Other News

Somehow, it’s three months into 2025, and the year is really getting started. Here are some entertainment news tidbits that dropped in March. (You can check out February’s round-up here)

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Movie Coming Fall 2026, Lands at SonyCapcom

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot is heading home to Sony Pictures and producer PlayStation Productions. The Resident Evil cinematic franchise has long been under Sony’s purview, but to keep it, the studio had to participate in quite the bidding war. Nevertheless, Sony prevailed and will bring us the next Resident Evil movie, which is helmed by Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger.

The release date for the next Resident Evil movie is September 18, 2026.

Robert Pattinson Says He’s Going to Be “A F**cking Old Batman” in The Batman—Part IIWarner Bros.

The Batman—Part II has had some delays. Rumor has it that it will begin filming soon(ish), and one person who hopes so is Robert Pattinson. He shares, “I fucking hope so,” when asked if he’ll return to Batman’s world soon, “I started out as young Batman, and I’m going to be fucking old Batman by the sequel. I’m 38, I’m old.” Oop, well, we also love an old Batman.

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ONE-PUNCH MAN (Finally) Reveals Season 3 Release Window and New Teaser Trailer

Long gone are the days when we’d get a season of TV and the next one would come out within a few months. Unless you’re watching soap operas, you will not get near-constant new episodes of a beloved show. In fact, it could take 2-3 years for a new season… unless it is One-Punch Man. All fans deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for their patience, tbh. One-Punch Man season three not only has a first-look trailer but also an October 2025 release window. The wait is finally over to see this formidable fighter again. 

The show’s second season came out way back in 2019 and it took three years to even get a renewal announcement. After that, there were several delays that kept the next season from coming out.

Back in December 2024, which marked the 10th anniversary of One-Punch Man, the series promised that new episodes would arrive in 2025. Understandably, some viewers felt a bit skeptical that it would ever happen at all. But now they can rest those fears aside, as the official X account for One-Punch Man confirmed an October 2025 release as well as a link to a trailer. Let’s gooooo. 

EMOTION Label Channel

The short trailer shows Saitama and the heroes of S-Class get their own spotlights. They will prepare to battle Garou and the Monster Association. The art style appears to be much better than season two and the music hits. And, October is far enough away that you can go back and watch the previous two seasons, which only total to 24 episodes. That sounds like a fun weekend marathon watch to me. In fact, it is currently available through Disney+ to stream. How absolutely convenient is that?!

Hopefully, this season will be worth the extremely long wait for One-Punch Man fans.

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YELLOWJACKETS Season 3, Episode 5 Recap: New Revelations & Questions From ‘Did Tai Do That?’

After a very tense and dramatic episode four of Yellowjackets season three, episode five was a little bit quieter, moving our pieces along in the story. That’s not to say there weren’t some incredibly suspenseful moments in play, especially toward the end. Still, it definitely felt like a softer entry that focused more on shading out some aspects of the Yellowjackets’ world, like introducing us to Lottie’s father and showing a more sympathetic side to Shauna. Here is our recap of Yellowjackets season three, episode five, “Did Tai Do That?” and all the revelations and questions it contained.

Revelations From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5—“Did Tai Do That?”Past: The Wilderness Wants Blood in Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5

Of course, we know the Wilderness/”It” wants blood, but watching Tai casually slaughter a rabbit is one of the most cogent examples of the team killing with the intent of bonding with the wilderness. Tai’s efforts to become one with the dying animal in order to give the wilderness what it hungers for was a really visceral moment. It drives home exactly what killing turns into for the Yellowjackets.

Past: Evil Tai Comes Out for the Killing

Tai and Van were trying to get other/evil Tai to come out the entire episode. But it wasn’t until the gun was firmly in Tai’s hand and an intent to kill in her heart that Evil Tai made her full appearance. It makes us continue to wonder just what kind of an entity this other part of Tai is.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast: The Girls Were Really Going to Kill Ben in Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5

Damn. Even though they had a trial and found him guilty, we weren’t sure if the team could really kill Ben. But, nope. The Yellowjackets intended to put Ben in front of the firing squad and go through with shooting him in the skull in “Did Tai Do That?” With so many doubts at play, it seems wild. But we suppose the team is trying to keep as much control over their uncontrollable circumstances as possible. Still, had they killed Ben, this would have been another major line crossed by the Yellowjackets. But their intent to do it also speaks volumes.

Past: Coach Ben is “The Bridge Home” for the Team

Akilah has a gas-induced vision in which she sees a giant, Gulliver’s Travels-style Coach Ben bound across a ravine between the wilderness and the real world. From this, she and Lottie take away that Coach Ben is “the bridge home” for the team. How or why is yet to be determined, but everyone seems to believe it deeply.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast: Shauna and Melissa Are Bloodthirsty and Together

The Yellowjackets are all ready to kill, but none more so than Shauna and Melissa. Shauna actually suggests they burn Coach Ben at the stake. At the end of the episode, when they can’t kill him, they cut his ankle badly and walk off holding hands. We guess Melissa and Shauna are savage and hooking up. And honestly, we can’t hate them for that.

Present: Lottie Was Lying About Having Nowhere to Go

In the present timeline of “What Did Tai Do?”—we learn that Lottie’s father is alive, although not in full control of his mental faculties. Lottie told Shauna she had nowhere to go, but Misty, Shauna, and Walter learn that she was lying. She could have lived with her dad but chose not to. We will say, she did end up dying in the building, so maybe there was something to it.

Present: Sammy Thinks Tai Isn’t His Mother in Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Sammy, Tai’s son, asks to see her, but quickly pulls away. He tells Tai, “Are you not my mommy anymore?” Gulp. It seems like Sammy thinks Tai isn’t Tai at all.

Questions From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5—“Did Tai Do That?”Past: What Does Travis’ Trial Drawing Mean?

In Yellowjackets season three, episode five, Travis’ drawing returns. The drawing features three figures looking over one prone one. It’s a haunting vision, and he says it’s the outcome of the trial. But what does Travis’ drawing actually mean on Yellowjackets? We can’t say for sure.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIMEPast: Did Travis Really See Something in Akilah, or Did He Just Want Lottie Off His Back?

Travis was readily pointing out Akilah’s connection to the wilderness before Yellowjackets season three, episode five. But now he seems to recant a little bit, saying that going into the gas caves is not a good idea. Does Travis sense anything in the wilderness at all, or is he just going along with the status quo? Similarly, did he see anything in Akilah, or did he just want to stop being Lottie’s only project?

Present: Why Did Lottie Take Out $50,000?

Could Lottie have known something bad was about to happen? “Did Tai Do That?” reveals to us that Lottie took out $50,000 before she died, but to what end?

Present: Why Did Lottie Lie to Shauna About Having Nowhere to Go When She Could Have Stayed with Her Father?

Shauna brings up this fair question during the Yellowjackets episode. But why did Lottie insist she had to stay in Shauna’s house? Did she simply want a friend, or did she know something or someone was coming for all of them?

Present: What Is Walter’s Deal?

Is Walter just so into Misty that he’s mixing himself into all her problems? He seems too good to be true. Not that he isn’t totally weird, but still, we feel like there should be something more to his story and motives. We guess we’ll have to wait and see if Walter is who he says he is.

Present: Does Shauna Have Something to Hide?

Shauna won’t give Walter her hair as DNA evidence on Yellowjackets season three, episode five. Is that just because she thinks he’s a nut, or does she actually have something to hide?

Present: Is Tai Not Tai?

Sammy seems to think that Tai is not his mother. And we know that’s very possible. Is evil Tai inhabiting Tai right now? And if so, how long has Tai been her other self?

Present: Who Killed Lottie?Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

The question of the hour remains: Who killed Lottie Matthews and why? Shauna looks shifty, but she always does. Tai has all that time she can’t account for. Could she be guilty? Or is it whoever is trying to hunt Shauna down? Surely, we’ll find out this season on Yellowjackets, but not in episode five.

Previous Recaps: Premiere/Episodes One and Two, Episode Three, Episode Four

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