Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 139

You Can Have the Taco Bell Wedding of Your Dreams in Las Vegas for $777

Do you love Taco Bell more than anything in this world… except maybe your partner? Have you ever wished you could get married to the love of your life within the other love of your life? Well, you’re in luck. Taco Bell unveiled new wedding packages for its Cantina location on the Las Vegas strip. The package includes many benefits and quirks that the biggest Taco Bell lovers will be sure to enjoy for the reasonable price of $777.

Taco Bell

Don’t worry about having an intimate ceremony. The wedding will take place on the second floor of the Taco Bell Cantina. Flora Pop, Taco Bell’s exclusive wedding partner, coordinates and officiates the wedding in a half-hour ceremony. The minimum time needed to set everything up is only four hours. So you can have your wedding officiated and celebrate with friends and family in no time.

The Taco Bell Cantina Chapel room is where it all goes down. It’s a reception area that can house up to 25 of your closest family and friends. If you need more time or have more guests, Taco Bell has additional event packages that allow you to extend the time or size of the event. If this seems a little weird, that’s how Taco Bell rolls. I mean, the company did add a giant Cheez-It to their menu.

Taco Bell

Along with getting a wedding venue in the form of the Taco Bell Cantina on the Vegas strip, patients will also get Taco Bell-themed wedding merchandise. Along with “Just Married” couples’ T-shirts, you also get a Taco Bell sauce packet garter and bowtie that includes all the greats: Mild, Hot, and Fire. In addition, you get a pair of champagne flutes.

Taco Bell

Of course, the wedding isn’t complete without food, and who better to cater than the host? With all that Taco Bell swag, you also get a Cinnabon Delights cake and the Taco Party Pack. Amazingly, it doesn’t end there. The bouquet features a Taco Bell twist: sauce packets make up its design. However, no guest will luck out in the bouquet toss because you aren’t allowed to keep it.

Taco Bell

It is important to note that Taco Bell does not provide marriage licenses, so you’ll need to get that elsewhere before the ceremony. Although, if you are just renewing your vows, then no worries. Also, you have to come wedding-ready as there is nowhere to change or do your hair and make-up at the venue. At least one guest must be present at the ceremony as a witness. To get more information about the Taco Bell wedding package, you can contact cantinaevents@drgfood.com or head to their booking page.

The post You Can Have the Taco Bell Wedding of Your Dreams in Las Vegas for $777 appeared first on Nerdist.

Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Fight the System in THE ELECTRIC STATE’s Final Trailer

Millie Bobby Brown is trading in one set of famous directing brothers for another. The Stranger Things actress will star in The Electric State, with Joe and Anthony Russo directing. Additionally, more cast have been announced to join this star-studded film, including Michelle Yeoh and Stanley Tucci. Based on the illustrated sci-fi story by Simon Stålenhag, The Electric State follows a girl and her toy robot on a journey through a bleak(er), futuristic US.

Netflix recently released a sneak peek clip and a final trailer of The Electric State where we see Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown go for a little ride.

I do appreciate the robot’s scathing remarks right before the danger of a flying fridge interrupts their chill day.

We also have photos of The Electric State, which feature a blond-haired Millie Bobby Brown and robots.

Click To View Gallery Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix

Here’s the synopsis for The Electric State book:

In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in.

Joining Brown and Pratt in the cast is a whole slew of famous names. We’ll see Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate in The Electric State, per Deadline. According to the publication, the movie will also have Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, and Billy Bob Thornton, whom have signed on for voice acting roles.

A24/Netflix/CNN

Alongside the Russos, we’ll also see a pair of very familiar names behind the scenes. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who worked with the brothers on several Marvel movies and The Gray Man, are behind the script.

Simon & Schuster

It’s quite the Netflix crossover, seeing the Russos and Brown collaborate for the streaming platform. In addition to starring in one of the streaming platform’s biggest hits, Brown also leads the Enola Holmes films, produced by Legendary, for Netflix. And the Russo brothers’ teamed with Netflix for The Gray Man, which releases on July 15. That film, with a $200 million dollar budget, is currently Netflix’s most expensive film. But it may have some competition in The Electric State. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming film boasts a staggering budget—beyond The Gray Man‘s. Apparently Netflix scooped up The Electric State after Universal Pictures let it go over the hefty price tag.

This film will release on March 14, 2025.

Originally published on November 2, 2022 with original reporting by Meaghan Kirby.

.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 Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Fight the System in THE ELECTRIC STATE’s Final Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Trailer Teases Big Mysteries, Space Chaos, and Dark Games

Ncuti Gatwa’s second season as the Fifteenth Doctor will continue when Doctor Who hits Disney+ on April 12. That date is not too far away so it was inevitable that we’d soon get a closer look at what to expect this season. Doctor Who season two’s official trailer gives us a deeper look at the Doctor, Belinda Chandra, and a bevy of adventures and mysteries that we cannot wait to uncover. 

Of course, it is always hard to glean much about a season from a Doctor Who trailer. There’s usually some larger overarching arc, but that gets interwoven into quite a few different conundrums. We do know that the Doctor is trying to get Belinda Chandra back home and, of course, they have to go the long way around to get there. We also know that there’s more to explore with Ruby Sunday and the very weird and mysterious Mrs. Flood, both of whom make a brief appearance in this clip. Mrs. Flood’s appearance is particularly interesting considering she is at an interstellar space show and having a great time.

The Doctor Who season two trailer also acknowledges that there’s a reason why Belinda Chandra looks just like Mundy Flynn, an Anglican marine that Fifteen and Ruby ran into in the previous season. I get the feeling that Belinda is not human… This season seems like it could go in a much darker direction than the first one. There’s always the general lightheartedness that we get in a trailer but a few more serious moments as well.

BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf

And hello Mad Auntie Mel! A UNIT series is still in the works (at least, as far as we know), and perhaps this season with her and Kate will set that up in some way. All in all, it is exciting to get more Doctor Who soon.

.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 DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Trailer Teases Big Mysteries, Space Chaos, and Dark Games appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About DOCTOR WHO Season Two

The Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday’s adventures will continue in Doctor Who’s second season (which some are still calling season fifteen). For now, Ruby is back home and getting to know her birth mom but something will draw her into the TARDIS once again. Thankfully, the Doctor’s spaceship is bigger on the inside, which means there’s plenty of room for Belinda Chandra, a new companion coming to Doctor Who next season, which will release on April 12.

BBC

Here’s everything we know about Doctor Who season two so far. 

Doctor Who Season Two’s Plot

As usual, the plot for any Doctor Who season is a bit in flux but there is a main synopsis now:

The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-traveling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before.

In addition to the Belinda storyline, there could be more mystery to unveil with Ruby Sunday’s family, especially her father. And her neighbor Mrs. Flood is an enigma who does appear in the Doctor Who season two trailers.

Right after the 2024 Christmas special, we got to get our first look at Doctor Who season two in a trailer with the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda Chandra. Based on what we see here, it appears that the Doctor is trying to get Belinda back home but there are some strong forces preventing that from happening. We get a glimpse of Ruby herself rocking an interesting haircut. We also see Kate Lethbridge-Stewart from UNIT, so perhaps we will see other faces from there as well. And one of those villains gives serious Cuphead vibes. Love to see it.

Behind-the-ScenesDisney+/Bad Wolf Studios/BBC

APeter Hoar (“A Good Man Goes to War”) and Amanda Brotchie are directing two episodes each. Ben A. Williams and Makalla McPherson will direct one episode a piece to round out the six episode season. Of course, Russell T Davies will continue as the showrunner. 

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson opened up about Doctor Who season two in a Variety interview. Gibson says that the fourth episode was a favorite onset moment. “That [episode] was the first one I filmed and the biggest challenge,” said Gibson. “So I was so proud of how it came out.”

Gatwa said he truly got to soar as the Fifteenth Doctor in this next season. This totally makes sense now that this new era has a solid foundation. “Season two felt like a chance to flex the muscles properly,” Gatwa said. “So exciting. You’re fueled by the writing and by each new story, each new monster, each new addition into our world, there’s many in Season two. It’s just the fun of the show. I think that just drives you growing into the character.”

This is the first time that a TARDIS team has not included at least one white person, so it is only right that the episode writers reflect this milestone. Juno Dawson, Pete McTighe, Inua Ellams, and Sharma Angel-Walfall are now a part of the Doctor Who writers’ room.

Doctor Who season two finished filming in May 2024. 

Doctor Who Season Two’s Cast

Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa will continue their roles as Ruby Sunday and the Fifteenth Doctor. In addition to Varada Sethu’s role as new companion Belinda Chandra, Jonah Hauer-King will appear in the series. Alan Cumming is also coming to Doctor Who season two as an animated character named Mr. Ring-a-Ding, who looks like he belongs in the Cuphead universe.

RELATED ARTICLE

DOCTOR WHO Reveals Season Two Release Date, Alan Cumming As a Cartoon Character

In the aforementioned Variety interview, Russell T. Davies shed some light on how Belinda Chandra will fit into the Doctor Who season two dynamic. “We see The Doctor and Ruby in a new light, and with a new friend,” Davies affirmed. “Like you’re saying, different friends bring out different aspects of you.”

Doctor Who Season Two’s Release Date 

Doctor Who season two will hit BBC One and Disney+ on April 12.

Originally published July 29, 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 Everything We Know About DOCTOR WHO Season Two appeared first on Nerdist.

The LEGO Marvel AVENGERS: ENDGAME Final Battle Set Recreates Iconic MCU Moment to Perfection

The final battle of Avengers: Endgame was one of the all-time fist-pump moments in movie history. Maybe not since the Death Star blew up and the Ewoks threw a big party have we ever heard an audience cheer so loud for the good guys. And now, kids can recreate that iconic MCU superhero battle with this new LEGO build-and-play set. LEGO revealed the latest Marvel set at this year’s Toy Fair in New York City. The Avengers: Endgame Final Battle LEGO set has 621 pieces, measuring over 7 in. (19 cm) high, 12 in. (32 cm) wide, and 8 in. (20 cm) deep. (And contains a whole lot of fun.)

You can check out the first images of this new set right here:

Click To View Gallery LEGO/Marvel Marvel/LEGO LEGO/Marvel Marvel/LEGO LEGO/Marvel

The official description of the new LEGO Marvel Avengers: Endgame Final Battle set shares:

Expanding upon the LEGO Marvel collection is the LEGO Marvel Avengers: Endgame Final Battle. Builders ages 10 and up can fly into battle through the sling ring portals with Captain America, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wanda Maximoff, Doctor Strange, Iron Spider, Black Panther and Falcon to take on Thanos and his evil horde. Featuring superpowers and a supersized Ant-Man mech, the final showdown from Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame is a test of heroic powers. The versatile building set allows builders to rearrange the structure and characters, enhancing play-and-display possibilities.

The Captain America minifigure comes with his broken shield, and Iron Man wears his MK85 armor, wielding his sword and shield. There’s also a Chitauri alien with an arm-mounted shooter, Ant-Man, Wanda Maximoff (with energy display elements), Doctor Strange, Peter Parker in his Iron Spider costume with 4 movable ‘legs’ on his back, and Black Panther and Falcon. LEGO super-sized the Thanos minifigure for this Avengers: Endgame Final Battle LEGO set, befitting a villain of his stature. Also included is a fully jointed Ant-Man mech, and 2 rock-explosion functions. Honestly, it’s pretty cool. We love LEGO Thanos’ angry purple face. And the LEGO Sling Ring portals courtesy of Doctor Strange are really cleverly done in this Avengers: Endgame Final Battle build.

LEGO/Marvel

The LEGO Marvel Avengers: Endgame set will be available for purchase for $99.99 on LEGO.com and LEGO Stores on May 1st, 2025.

The post The LEGO Marvel AVENGERS: ENDGAME Final Battle Set Recreates Iconic MCU Moment to Perfection appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Comics’ BATMAN: HUSH 2 Shares Trailer, Animates Jim Lee’s Iconic Artwork

Back in 2002, the writer/artist duo of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee rocked the world of the Dark Knight with their 12-issue storyline called Hush. It has since become a modern Batman classic. Not only did it introduce a new iconic member of the rogues’ gallery in the titular Hush, but it featured nearly every major Bat villain and ally in one epic mystery. It originally ran in the pages of Batman (vol.1) #608-619, and was one of superstar artist Jim Lee’s first ongoing Batman projects. Now, two decades later, the same creative team of Loeb and Lee is reuniting for the long-awaited sequel, Hush 2 (or H2SH). DC has even released a trailer, showcasing both creators, and animating some of Lee’s art for the project.

You can watch it right here:

This six-part story begins in the pages of DC Comics’ Batman #158 in March. Loeb and Lee, with collaborators Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, and Richard Starkings, are keeping story details under tight wraps. but have revealed an inked preview page from Batman #158 to give fans a taste. You can check it out below, along with Lee’s cover for Batman #159, showcasing Jason Todd/Red Hood:

DC ComicsDC Comics

Batman #158, written by Jeph Loeb with art and main cover by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair, will feature variant covers by J. Scott Campbell, Gabriele Dell’otto, Dan Mora, Lee Bermejo, Simone Di Meo, Tony S. Daniel, and Sean Gordon Murphy, in addition to several new variant covers by Lee, Williams and Sinclair. You can check them all out in our gallery below:

Batman #158 H2SH Variant Covers Click To View Gallery DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics

DC will also publish a series of Hush-themed variant covers throughout the month of February by artists Mitch Gerads, Kaare Andrews, Dustin Nguyen, Leirix, Jorge Fornés, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Tyler Kirkham. These celebrate the original Hush storyline from back in the day. These variants will feature in issues of Batman, Detective Comics, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Superman, Nightwing, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. You can preview those right here:

Hush Homage DC Comics Variant Covers Click To View Gallery DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics

Batman #158 will be available at retail for $4.99 US (40 pages), and will also feature a foil variant cover by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair, a “Courtside” card stock variant cover by Tony S. Daniel, and a blank sketch variant cover. Card stock variants will retail for $5.99 US, foil variants will retail for $7.99 US, and the connecting card stock gatefold will retail for $7.99 US. DC will also offer a foil wraparound DC Showcase variant by Sean Gordon Murphy (below), available from local comic book shops and online retailers, limited to 2500 copies for $24.99 US.

DC Comics

Batman #158 goes on sale at comic book shops and digital retailers Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Originally published on December 18, 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 DC Comics’ BATMAN: HUSH 2 Shares Trailer, Animates Jim Lee’s Iconic Artwork appeared first on Nerdist.

GAMBIT Star Reveals New Information About the Canceled Marvel Movie

Lizzy Caplan, a star of the canceled Marvel project Gambit, revealed new details on what the film would have been if made. Magic Mike star Channing Tatum would have played the title role of Gambit, which, of course, we all knew. But what we didn’t know was that Marvel’s Gambit was going to be a 1930s-style screwball romantic comedy with Tatum in the middle of it all, according to Caplan. However, Tatum finally got to play his beloved character in Deadpool & Wolverine—and that was kind of a screwball romantic comedy, so at least we have that.

Marvel Studios

Caplan shared, “”They wanted to do, like, a ’30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun.” And honestly, we know Tatum can do charming, romantic comedy lead, so that plus superhero would have been extra amazing.

Gambit started ideation in 2014, staying in development hell until 2019, when Disney shelved the Channing Tatum project indefinitely. Caplan’s role in the film is unknown, but she revealed the film had progressed significantly until Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Originally, people thought the film never made it past script development, but Caplan revealed that it went much further. She shared

IIt was a really cool idea. It’s kind of odd that it got scrapped. Those movies don’t seem to ever get scrapped, but it did. We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it. I think there was a start date. I had had meetings with Channing, and there were a couple different…we had a director, then we didn’t, but I had multiple meetings with Channing and the other producers.

Marvel Studios

Tatum has also expressed sadness over the cancellation of the film. Honestly, sadness is an understatement. Due to his love for Gambit, Tatum stopped watching Marvel films. Simon Kinberg, a producer for the film, echoed Caplan’s thoughts about the movie’s genre, saying it would have a “romantic or sex comedy vibe” in a quote to IGN. Screenwriter Reid Carolin previously described the project as “mutant Goodfellas.” Just give us (and Channing Tatum) the Gambit movie already, you cowards!

After Tatum’s appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, Disney is reportedly very happy with his performance. Ryan Reynolds stated, “I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I do know that they’re obsessed with him in that role.” Hopefully, it’s a precursor of what’s to come, and a Gambit movie will be back on the cards soon. Having proven himself in the role already, maybe Disney will be more inclined to make a Gambit film come to life these days.

The post GAMBIT Star Reveals New Information About the Canceled Marvel Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

What the MCU Can Learn From CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLDS’ Best Story: Thunderbolt Ross’ Atonement

Captain America: Brave New World failed to deliver a great Sam Wilson story because it didn’t really deliver a Sam Wilson story at all. The film’s main character didn’t have much of an arc in his own movie. His old nemesis did, though. Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ desire to live long enough to earn back his daughter’s love made a previously unlikable character more complex and sympathetic. It also gave the movie an emotional anchor.

Ross’ story wasn’t a perfectly developed subplot, but it was still effective for some very basic, very important reasons. And both its strengths and shortcomings provide lessons the MCU should learn from going forward.

Marvel StudiosThe MCU Should Tell More Stories From Non-Hero Perspectives

The MCU doesn’t often tell stories that center non-heroes. But when it does it finds a whole lot of success, both critical and commercial. Aveners: Infinity War, one of the most impressive superhero movies ever made, is told from Thanos’ point of view. Black Panther, another box office smash and the franchise’s only Best Picture nominee, is just as much Killmonger’s story as it is T’Challa’s.

The franchise has also found success by investing in their antagonist’s story. A big reason Captain America: Civil War is one of the MCU’s best is because it shows exactly why Baron Zemo has a genuine reason for hating the Avengers. His story, given real thought and weight, forced us to reexamine Earth’s mightiest heroes in a way that made the group more dynamic and interesting well past the film’s own runtime. Meanwhile Loki became a face of the franchise because the Thor series made us understand why he did evil things. Just as Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings wouldn’t have been half as good if it didn’t treat its villain, Tony Leung’s Wenwu, with genuine reverence.

Marvel Studios

Thaddeus Ross might have held a few defensible positions before, but he was never a hero in the MCU. At best he was always an obviously unlikeable antagonist. It wasn’t until Captain America: Brave New World that he became actually interesting because the film treated as more than just a cigar-chomping general filling a stock role in someone else’s story. He became an actual person with a story of his own worth caring about.

He was one of the best parts of a very flawed film because for the first time the MCU humanized him. It showed even a macho general in a world of “enhanced individuals” elected to the highest office in the nation was still just a person with normal failings and vulnerabilities. He wasn’t driven by an ambition few will ever understand. He was driven by something far more relatable. A sick old man was just a dad trying to make things right before it was too late.

Despite his presence and power, Ross had only ever filled a position in the MCU. He posed an obstacle to the real heroes. Any high-ranking soldier/politician could have done that without changing any film he’d appeared in. This time he was an actual character with a story worthy of our emotional investment. That made the movie better, which is something Marvel Studios should remember. Because while the MCU has told plenty of great stories about heroes, it’s also really good at telling stories about non-heroes, too. And since they’ve told so few of them, there’s more creative opportunity on the dark side of the hero/villain divide.

Remember to Give Major Characters an Actual ArcMarvel Studios

This seems so very, very obvious, and yet….

Captain America: Brave New World is not the first MCU film to forget about a basic element of storytelling. Lately the franchise has a tendency to forget main characters should get an actual story, not just something to do. The central figure of a story should undergo some kind of change as a result of dealing with a specific conflict. That’s where themes comes from, and those are the entire point of telling stories.

That didn’t happen with Sam Wilson in his own movie, just as it didn’t happen with Scott Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Instead both were just sort of present as stuff happened to other people. They began and ended those movies as the exact same people they started as. That’s bad on its own. It’s even worse when M.O.D.O.K. gets way more of an arc in an Ant-Man movie than Ant-Man.

Marvel Studios

(Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also suffered from a less egregious version of this. The movie abandoned Shuri’s very personal, very emotional arc halfway through the film before suddenly remembering it in the third act. She did undergo a change, but it had less impact than it should have.)

President Thaddeus Ross’ story in Captain America: Brave New World wasn’t exactly a masterclass in storytelling. (We’ll get to why and the lessons Marvel can learn from its shortcomings.) But it got the basics right. He had a logical, relatable (though not wholly defensible) motivation for everything he’d done and planned to do. Then a new conflict—which was especially poignant since he was ultimately responsible for it—interrupted those plans. He then dealt with the problem and emerged from it changed. The Ross at the start of the film never would have publicly admitted to his wrongdoings like the Ross at the end. As a result he actually did achieve the one thing he wanted. He regained his daughter’s trust and love, a result that evoked genuine pathos.

That’s a simple concept, one the most successful movie studio in the world shouldn’t need to be reminded of. But lately the MCU has forgotten that basic principle of storytelling.

Don’t Sacrifice Story for SpectacleMarvel Studios

Ross might contribute Captain America: Brave New World most interesting story, yet it would have been more impactful if the movie spent even more time on it. Since he’s not the main character, we didn’t get as many scenes of his internal turmoil and self-reflection as his story deserved. (Also it doesn’t help when two vital scenes we did get are so unnatural you have to swear a real human was on set to film them.) But the arc the film chose to tell also would have been even more impactful if we never saw the Red Hulk. That monster’s appearance undercut the story the film told.

It’s hard to tell a superhero movie to not show a big red rage monster fans have waited more than 15 years to see. MCU movies are not quiet little dramas. They are big, bold, entertaining mythological tales of gods and monsters literally fighting one another. Red Hulk’s entertaining White House destroying sequence was certainly that. But it wasn’t entirely honest with what preceded his arrival.

The conclusion to his internal conflict—about fighting his worst natural instincts in a desperate end-of-life attempt to atone for past mistakes—would have been far better if Ross’ story had actually overcome his worst instincts. Sure, the Leader had unknowingly fed him gamma radiation, but the Red Hulk only came out because Ross lost his temper. That’s what the old Ross always did. Seeing him become a better man would have had more meaning if he’d successfully done that without becoming a big red rage monster first.

Marvel Studios

The MCU instead sacrificed a part of its story (which again, it chose to tell) for the sake of spectacle. It wanted it both ways. Marvel wanted to show us Red Hulk and then have Ross change with anoff-screen confession. It still worked, just not as well as it could and should have. It wasn’t as honest a development as it should have been. And in a movie where its main character didn’t get his own story, it needed the best version of Ross’s it could deliver.

The MCU has always delivered great spectacles. That was true in Captain America: Brave New World. But plenty of meaningless movies and forgettable franchises can deliver that, too. A great cinematic universe can only continue telling stories if it continuously makes us care about the people in them. That’s what keeps us coming back.

Embrace Your Characters’ Deep MCU PastMarvel Studios

The MCU has a problem few franchises will ever face: it got really old really fast. Iron Man came out in 2008. Since then Marvel Studios has released 34 more movies (and counting). To appreciate how incredible that is, just compare that to another Disney-owned behemoth. The first Star wars film came out in 1977. So far Lucasfilm has “only” released 12 movies. When you also factor in all of the MCU shows, specials, and other Marvel releases that are now part of the franchise thanks to the multiverse and that’s a whole lot of story. It’s really hard for the MCU to avoid completely rehashing old releases, let alone making new ones that feel fresh and original.

But Thunderbolt Ross’ story in Captain America: Brave New World shows the MCU’s age can also be a great asset. Ross’ story had more resonance than another antagonist with a similar arc would have because viewers have a past with him. We’ve known who he was for a long long time. That made the very act of seeing him try to change meaningful by itself. It also meant something that we knew just how long he’d been estranged from his daughter. And by bringing back two characters from long ago the film also reminded fans that the more you invest in the entire franchise the more you’ll get out of it.

Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

At a time when the MCU has abandoned the serialized storytelling it used to build an empire, drawing on its characters’ rich and lengthy past is a way to recapture that. By having the seemingly forgotten Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns be a major part of Ross’ story even after all these years the movie made clear that what happened before matters and always will. That gives us more reason to invest our time, energy, and care into these stories going forward.

And that’s all we want even after all these years. That’s all we’ll want for as long as Disney keeps making MCU films and TV shows. Give us a reason to keep caring. Give us stories and characters worth caring about. If, after all this time Marvel Studios can do that with Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, it can do it with anybody.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He believes now is the time for a Justin Hammer MCU redemption arc. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post What the MCU Can Learn From CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLDS’ Best Story: Thunderbolt Ross’ Atonement appeared first on Nerdist.

The Best SIMS 4 Expansion Packs, Ranked

I have logged a ridiculous number of hours on the Sims 4. Although the base game is great, the expansion packs that have been coming out year after year are what keep the game new and exciting. Downloading a new expansion pack always means new actions, items, and places to explore. I still remember when Get to Work came out and completely changed the time my Sim spent at work.

In honor of the franchise’s 25th anniversary, I thought I would take a trip back through my favorite expansion packs. Below are my personal favorite Sims 4 expansion packs up until now.

6. Discover UniversityElectronic Arts

This Sims 4 expansion pack has a special place in my heart, therefore I believe it is one of the best. As a current university student, I love living an alternate reality with my Sims. I was a big fan of the Sims 3 University Life expansion pack, so it makes sense that I liked Discover University, too. However, I will say that this pack can get old quickly. It took a long time actually to finish university, and whenever I played with multiple characters in university, it was hard to keep up with all of them. Living in a dorm is fun though, and your roommates are always characters.

5. Cottage LivingElectronic Arts

Okay, I know people really like Cottage Living. I like it, too, but not as much as some other packs that gave me things I really wanted to see in the Sims 4. Cottage Living was an expansion pack that I did not expect to like as much as I did. Features like growing your own food and cosplaying as Snow White, making animal friends really made the pack fun. This almost feels like a whole different simulation game.

4. Cats and DogsElectronic Arts

I love pets, so there is no reason I wouldn’t want my Sim to not have them. The pets in the Cats and Dogs expansion pack are very customizable, so I was able to make my Sims dog look like the dog I live with in real life. Also, the items that come from this pack are so cute! I’m obsessed with all of the cat and dog sweaters… and that one shirt that is giving Galaxy Wolf, LOL. All my Sims have pets, so this pack is a no-brainer.

3. Growing TogetherElectronic Arts

This is probably one of the most influential and best Sims 4 expansion packs as it completely changes the way you play, making all your decisions much more intentional. Growing Together adds much more nuance to the family aspect of the Sims. Getting milestones and having younger Sims with more of a personality makes the game more interesting. The social dynamics included in the pack overall make the game more realistic.

2. City LivingElectronic Arts

Part of me thinks this should be in the base game because you should be able to pick between a town and a city. I personally love living in an apartment and having interactions with my neighbors. A lot of the added build items in this pack are modern and become a staple even when building outside the city. Speaking of the city, San Myshuno is a great place to have your Sims live, with different festivals to take part in. Additionally, the social media career is a favorite of mine.

1. SeasonsElectronic Arts

My top expansion pack is Seasons, which I would also argue deserves to be in the base game, but regardless, it’s a great expansion pack. From weather to holidays to new activities, Seasons is jam-packed with features and additions. This is probably mainly because it doesn’t include a world. In my opinion, seasons add the most variety to playing the game. If you want to get an expansion pack, make it this one!

The post The Best SIMS 4 Expansion Packs, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Season 2

Daredevil: Born Again is bringing back Matt Murdock and company for more NYC adventures. The show’s first season on Disney+ was so long that it needed to be split into two parts. Therefore Daredevil: Born Again will indeed have a season two that’s probably coming sooner than most would expect. 

Here’s everything we know about Daredevil: Born Again season two.

Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s Plot Marvel Studios

Considering season one is not finished, we do not know what the plot of season two is at this time. 

Behind the Scenes 

As reported by Collider, producer Brad Winderbaum confirmed that Season one directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead will return for Daredevil: Born Again season two. 

They’re directing a block of episodes, just like they did in Season 1,” he confirmed. “They are fundamental in establishing the tone of Born Again. Those guys are tonal masters.”

Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s Cast 

Assuming none of them die in the first season, we are sure Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Jon Bernthal will return for next season. According to Deadline, Scream alum Matthew Lillard will also be in Daredevil: Born Again season two. Details about his role are being kept under wraps. 

Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s Release Date 

There is currently not a release date for this season. 

The post Everything We Know About DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.