Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 140

Every New STAR WARS Movie Update From Kathleen Kennedy

Reports of Kathleen Kennedy’s imminent retirement are not true. At least not entirely. The Lucasfilm President told Deadline that, while she’s discussed her potential successor she isn’t ready to give up her job quite so soon. She also said she’ll “die” still doing what she loves, making movies. And that’s a topic Kennedy also touched on in her lengthy interview. She provided some new tidbits, insights, and updates about future and potential Star Wars movies and how they will, both literally and metaphorically, move the franchise forward.

Star Wars Faces a Unique Problem Developing Movies and Other Projects Lucasfilm

Kennedy addressed the very public and unique way potential movies and other projects are discussed in regards to Star Wars and no other studio. “What’s troubling and frustrating is that our development gets scrutinized, and I don’t know any other production company where their development gets scrutinized like that,” said Kennedy. Kennedy says that because every possible project becomes “public before you even want it to become public,” Lucasfilm also has the extra challenge of “managing the message.”

Lucasfilm Knows Star Wars Is a “Generational Brand”Lucasfilm

Kennedy says the studio is very much aware and focused on the concept that Star Wars has always been a “very generational brand.” She said they “work hard to sustain that.” Kennedy also said Disney+ has given them a chance to be experimental with Star Wars in ways movies can’t.

Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Movie Will Follow The Mandalorian & GroguAlan Markfield/20th Century Studios

Even if Kennedy were to step down from his job this year, a decision she says is 100% her own to make, she’s still going to executive produce The Mandalorian & Grogu movie as well as the next Star Wars film after, director Shawn Levy’s standalone big screen project. It will follow Din and The Child into theaters.

Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Movie Takes Place After The Rise of SkywalkerLucasfilm

Speaking of Shawn Levy’s standalone Star Wars movie, Kennedy says it takes place five or six years after the sequel trilogy. She also said while it “may bring some of the characters back from the sequel saga,” it will “pretty much” feature new characters.

Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Movie Trilogy Is the “Next Iteration, The New Saga”Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm is “absolutely rolling fast and furiously” on Simon Kinberg’s recently announced new Star Wars trilogy. Kennedy said it is the “next iteration, the new saga” for Star Wars. Like Levy’s movie, it will also take place after Episode IX.

Kinberg is “going to script” right now. Kennedy expects to get it “around June.” She is already very happy with the the state of the project. “That has gone exceptionally well,” she said.

James Mangold Is Working on His Prequel Movie Script “Right Now”Marvel

Kennedy provided an update on James Mangold’s Star Wars prequel movie about the start of the Jedi Order. She said that after being busy with A Complete Unknown and awards season, he is working on the script “right now.”

It’s Hard to Tie Taika Waititi Down, Even For a Star Wars Movie20th Century Studios

Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie is not nearly as far along as even Mangold’s. Kennedy said they are “waiting for Taika” who “is working with another writer now.” That doesn’t have Kennedy worried, though. “He’s so busy. I love him,” she said. “I think if we ever do get a script from Taika, it’s going to be fantastic.” Kennedy has already seen a first act from Waititi that she “loved, but tying him down, it’s tricky.”

There Are “Three or Four” Other Projects In Early DevelopmentLucasfilm

As for how many other potential projects we don’t know about are in some kind of development, Kennedy said “to play it safe” Lucasfilm has “three or four right at the moment.”

One of those is a possible story set during the New Republic. That’s the era The Mandalorian takes place in. “We have other development going on in that space as well,” she said. “So that’s the space that we’re pretty much focused on right at the moment, because obviously with Mandalorian we have a pretty good sense of where that’s going.”

A problem Lucasfilm runs into with a lot of these Star Wars projects and movies is having to wait for talent. Kennedy said Star Wars can take up two or three years of someone’s life, so it’s not always easy to put things into production right away.

That means a whole lot of these projects will be the next Lucasfilm’s President’s problem. That person just won’t have to worry about them just yet.

The post Every New STAR WARS Movie Update From Kathleen Kennedy appeared first on Nerdist.

Watch Legends of Avantris’ Music Video for ‘Dead Trees’ From THE CROOKED MOON Soundtrack (Exclusive)

If there’s one thing that indie publishing company and Actual Play powerhouse Avantris Entertainment, also known as Legends of Avantris, knows how to do, it’s set the scene. Just one glance at any of its creations or one second spent listening to one of its campaigns, and that much is clear. And it turns out we’re not the only people who think so. Legends of Avantris’ recent Kickstarter for their incredible The Crooked Moon Folk Horror tabletop campaign was funded in ONE minute. And in total, 21,793 backers pledged $4,020,234 to bring the gorgeously creepy 5e masterpiece to life.

There’s a lot we could praise about The Crooked Moon, from its iconic Halloween-themed races to its folklore-inspired monsters, but our favorite thing about this campaign is that it comes with its own soundtrack. Yes, if you pre-order Legends of Avantris’ The Crooked Moon campaign, you also get a thematically perfect soundtrack from The Blasting Company. And today, it’s our pleasure to exclusively reveal the lyric music video for the third single from The Crooked Moon, “Dead Trees.”

You can check out this haunting tune and its perfectly illustrated music video below. This song tells the story of Gorthos, the Beast of Blight. (And a character that I literally love on sight.)

Legends of Avantris’ The Crooked Moon Single “Dead Trees” Tells the Tale of Gorthos, the Beast of Blight

Okay, but is any story more tragic or moving than a tale of beauty in decay? We can’t wait to get to know Gorthos better when The Crooked Moon finally releases, but just by “Dead Trees” and the illustrations that Legends of Avantris shares in the lyric music video, we can tell there’s a lot of depth and pain there. And we must know more. “Judge me not for what I’ve become,” the haunting lyrics of “Dead Trees” implore, “Roses once blood-bloomed/Wither in ashen heaps.” Be still our beating hearts! I’m about to set Gorthos on the shelf next to the rest of my favorite anti-heroes.

Offering just a little bit more insight about The Crooked Moon‘s Gorthos, the Blighted One, Legends of Avantris shares that this character is a sinister archfey embodying corruption and decay. Gorthos manifests as a towering, skeletal stag, her form an eerie fusion of plant matter, rotting flora, and animal remnants, which you can take a look at below.

Legends of Avantri

Gorthos’ rasping voice echoes like wind through dead leaves, and her antlers twist like gnarled wicker. Deep within the Hartsblight Forest, a devout cult of druidic worshippers tends to her will, spreading her blight across the land. If these eerie but captivating descriptions of Gorthos combined with the resonating haunting quality of her song don’t paint the picture of the full folk horror experience that The Crooked Man will bring to your next Dungeons & Dragons adventure, we don’t know what will.

Mikey Gilder, CCO of Avantris Entertainment, shares:

The story of Gorthos in The Crooked Moon is one that is so beautifully tragic that we knew we had to get her song right on the album. It was a very difficult and long process going back and forth and exploring different musical avenues to find the right vibe and spirit to capture the character and her narrative. But although Dead Trees had a rocky start, I am so thrilled where we landed and it’s one of my favorite tracks on the album.

Legends of Avantris and The Blasting Company Teamed Up for This Single and a Whole The Crooked Moon SoundtrackHolly Lucero

The winding and mesmerizing notes of “Dead Trees” really transport you into a realm of fantastical horror. And it’s no coincidence the song makes use of some complex and rare instruments. In fact, the song calls for Uilleann Pipes (the national bagpipe of Ireland), the Hurdy Gurdy (hand-turned crank spring instrument), and Nyckelharpa (a “keyed” fiddle). These are all incredibly difficult instruments to find on their own, and finding someone talented enough to play them is even harder. But when they come together, they really create that transportive sound that takes you out of our world and into a magical realm.

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This Medieval Sound Sampler Is Full Middle Ages Music and Sounds

In fact, some magic and fate came into play to achieve this song from The Crooked Moon‘s soundtrack. The Blasting Company’s Josh Ross Kaufman and Justin Rubenstein share that on a vacation in Ireland, Kaufman just happened to be passing by a cozy pub, when he heard exactly the sound he’d been looking for. Inside the pub, Siobhan Hogan was playing the Uilleann pipes. And though she’d never recorded music for anything like “Dead Trees,” she agreed to come on board and add her talents to The Crooked Moon‘s track. You can hear Uilleann pipes, a notoriously difficult instrument to play, adding intensity and depth in the final third of the song. Truly, the spirits of the folklore word conspired to make this tune a reality.

Where Can You Listen to “Dead Trees” and Other Songs From The Crooked Moon‘s Soundtrack?

“Dead Trees” is now available to stream on all platforms. It was written by Josh Ross Kaufman & Justin Rubenstein of The Blasting Company. As mentioned, it is the third single released from The Crooked Moon soundtrack. Make sure to check out the other two songs because they are total bops. You can also pre-order the full soundtrack for $15, right here.

Full Song Credits for “Dead Trees”Written by: Josh Ross Kaufman & Justin RubensteinProduced by: The Blasting CompanyMixed by: The Blasting CompanyMastered by: Tom Rogers at Atomix MediaPerformers:Ekaterina Shelehova – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals Eliana Athayde – Double BassCory Beers – TapanSiobhán Hogan – Uilleann PipesKim Nguyen – HarpJustin Rubenstein – Cello, Nyckelharpa, Classical Guitar, WhistleJ.R. Kaufman – Hurdy Gurdy, Classical Guitar, Whistle, Backing VocalsPre-Order The Crooked Moon Today and Make Your Next Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign Folk Horror-riffic

Of course, all this atmosphere exists because there’s a campaign to run and an incredibly eerie journey to embark on, full of folklore, mythology, monsters, Halloween excitement, and SO much aesthetic excellence. To make sure you have your ticket to all the excitement, make sure to pre-order The Crooked Moon, Folk Horror in 5E by Legends of Avantris today.

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YELLOWJACKETS Season 3, Episode 4 Recap: New Revelations & Questions From ’12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis’

Yellowjackets season three continues to unravel its tale with episode four, “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis.” In this episode, we get an even better look at the team’s new society in the past timeline and see the thickening of tension and mystery in the present. Although the fourth episode of Yellowjackets season three was not as jam-packed with revelations and questions as some of the other season three episodes so far, acting as more of a series of fascinating character explorations, it certainly did give us some major shocks, including one huge one. Yellowjackets season three, episode four, brought us a major character death in its final moments. But what exactly went down? Here’s our recap of Yellowjackets season three, episode four, “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis.”

Revelations From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 4—“12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis”Past Timeline: We See More Origins of Yellowjackets‘ Antler Queen in Episode FourParamount+ with SHOWTIME

One of the most important aspects of the trial we see the Yellowjackets team hold in the wilderness involves Natalie’s garb as the Judge/Queen. Natalie dons long white robes and a proto-antler crown to preside over Ben’s trial. It’s no huge pronged affair like the one that will manifest later in Yellowjackets, but “12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis” definitely offers us our latest glimpse of the team’s vision of the Antler Queen’s outfit and role. We’ve seen Lottie wear a proto-Antler Queen look before as well, but this time, the outfit and the power of the role feel more crystallized.

Past Timeline: Shauna and Melissa Are Bloodthirsty

Phew! We knew Shauna was angry and that Melissa was interested in her, but this episode really crystallizes that they are both out for blood or at least power. Although they might truly believe that Coach Ben set fire to the Yellowjackets‘ cabin, they both seem to be enjoying condemning him to his fate and bullying others into agreeing with them. “This is what I’m talking about,” Melissa tells Shauna after two-thirds of the group finally agrees with their perspective. “That’s fucking power.”

We feel like the Melissa and Shauna bond is what you might call a toxic relationship, one that might get bloodier and more poisonous before the Yellowjackets‘ time in the wilderness is up.

Present Timeline: Someone Is REALLY Trying to Kill Adult ShaunaParamount+ with SHOWTIME

Meanwhile, in the present, someone is REALLY determined to kill Shauna. Although the mechanic claims Shauna’s breaks just happened to break, and Jeff thinks it’s karma, we know better. Between the tape in the wilderness-marked envelope, the creepy bathroom incident, the broken breaks, and now the freezer, someone is actively hunting Shauna. And somehow, this creepy figure knows exactly where she is and how to get her alone at pretty much all times.

Present Timeline: The Queen of Hearts Returns, Implying Cannibalism and Murder Are on the Horizon

Tai and Van bring out the Queen of Hearts to serve as a conduit for “It.” No one dies this time, but the return of the wilderness ritual to the present day, this time with civilians involved, gives us a bad feeling. Clearly, pleasing the wilderness is still heavily on the women’s minds.

New Questions From the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 4—“12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis”Past Timeline: If Coach Ben Didn’t Set the Yellowjackets Cabin Aflame, Then Who Did Set the Cabin on Fire?Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

We feel like this question was asked in Yellowjackets season three, episode four, but not nearly with enough gusto. If some of the girls did believe Coach Ben is innocent of wrongdoing, then who do they think set fire to the cabin? It feels like an important question that needs to be pursued with a bit more urgency. But with Coach Ben’s innocence obvious to the audience, we bet the question of who DID start the fire and set the Yellowjackets‘ cabin burning will get answered in season three.

Past Timeline: Is Natalie the Antler Queen? (It Doesn’t Look Like It)

Natalie is currently “Queen,” and she is the latest to don the ceremonial garb of the Antler Queen, or a version of it, in Yellowjackets season three, episode four. But the show makes a point of showing us the antlers are uncomfortable on Nat’s head, and she takes them off. If the Antler Queen antlers don’t fit on Nat, then who exactly will wear them? As always, we’re left asking—just who is Yellowjackets‘ Antler Queen?

Present Timeline: Were Van and Tai Really About to Commit Murder for the Sake of “It”?Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Tai and Van’s desire for blood certainly escalated quickly. It’s one thing to experience a very bizarre death around you, like that of the waiter’s sudden heart attack in Yellowjackets season three’s earlier episodes. That does feel a bit fated or supernatural. But it’s quite another to leave a card on the ground and think that someone picking it up is a sign that they should be marked for death. But Tai and Van do exactly this in Yellowjackets season three, episode four. They leave the Queen of Hearts card on the ground and follow the man who eventually pockets it all the way back to his apartment. But were they really about to commit murder on Yellowjackets? It seems like a really intense leap, regardless of how desperate Van is to be healthy and how much Tai longs to keep her alive.

For Van, the answer appears to be no. But the jury is still out on Tai. Could Tai’s other self be influencing her toward killing? Or is Tai really just that addled by the thought of losing Van? We don’t really know what “It” wants, but we have a feeling that leaving a card on the dirty sidewalk doesn’t have nearly enough ritual to it anyway.

No murder was committed this time, but will the women try something like this again? It feels likely.

Present Timeline: Who Trapped Shauna in the Freezer on Yellowjackets Season Three, Episode Four?

Once again, we must ask the obvious question that “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis” leaves for us: Who locked Shauna in the freezer during Yellowjackets season three, episode four? The shadowy stalker following Shauna and threatening her death must really be a ghost to have managed to get into the retirement home, locate Shauna, and be present at just the right moment to shut the freezer door on her. Whoever is tormenting Shauna also managed to sabotage her car in a way that seemed super accidental. Or was that just a coincidence? Ultimately, this is one of Yellowjackets season three’s major question, but the antics in episode four have us asking it once again.

Present Timeline: What Did Shauna Do When She Got Back From the Wilderness That Was So Bad?Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Ella Purnell’s Ghost Jackie returns to torment Shauna in the freezer. And she tells Shauna, “Someone’s trying to hurt you, Shauna. For what you did. Not just in the wilderness but what you did when you got back.” But what exactly does that mean? What did Shauna do that was so terrible upon her return from the wilderness? Did she seek to keep the wilderness rituals going among the team even when they were safely back from the woods? Did she kill someone in civilization? Only time will tell.

Present Timeline: Who Killed Adult Lottie and Why?

Alas, Yellowjackets season three, episode four brought us Adult Lottie’s sad death. We’re not really sure that Lottie had to die in “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis.” It felt like a premature loss of a fascinating character, especially given the relationship that was developing between Callie and Adult Lottie. But the “why?” that we’re asking about here is a bit more textual. How did Adult Lottie really die in Yellowjackets? Who killed her? And what was their motive for it? Is it the same person who wants to kill Shauna? That much seems likely unless there are two Yellowjackets killers running around in season three. But we’ll have to see the rest of the episodes to find out.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

And that is our recap of Yellowjackets season three, episode four, “12 Angry Girls And 1 Drunk Travis.” Join us next week as we continue to unfold the mysteries of Yellowjackets.

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

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Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy NOT Retiring But Has Begun Process to Find STAR WARS Successor

This week Hollywood went into hyperdrive after a report said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy would retire by year’s end. That led to speculation over who would replace her in one of the industry’s most high profile jobs. There was even some question as to whether or not she was leaving voluntarily or if Disney was pushing her out. Now, Kennedy has addressed that report head-on. Kathleen Kennedy says she is not retiring as the head of Star Wars just yet. She also said she’ll never stop making movies. But Kennedy said she’s had discussions with her bosses for a couple of years about who her eventual successor will be. And it sounds like even if she’s still Lucasfilm President in 2026, her tenure at the helm of Star Wars is ultimately getting close to the end.

Lucasfilm

“The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring.” That’s what Kennedy told Deadline‘s Mike Fleming Jr. about the report she’s stepping down as the leader of the Star Wars franchise and Lucasfilm this year. Instead, she says she has long talked with very supportive superiors, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger and the company’s Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, about who will take over for her… eventually.

Kennedy wouldn’t confirm if any one candidate is the favorite to be next in charge of Star Wars’ world as Lucasfilm’s next president. But she did say the studio has “a bench of people internally to handle the business, the creative side.”

Walt Disney Studios

She might name her successor relatively soon, too. While Kathleen Kennedy is focused on producing both The Mandalorian movie and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film, she said an announcement about when she will step down is probably “months or a year out.” Even when that happens, though, she said, “I have every intention of sticking around to help that person be successful.”

Kathleen Kennedy’s time leading Star Wars is not over, but it is getting close to the end. And even then, she’s not really leaving, which is fitting for a franchise where “no one’s ever really gone.”

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YELLOWJACKETS Delivers a Shocking Major Death That Changes Everything

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Yellowjackets episode four ended with quite the explosive revelation. Throughout the episode, we watched the trial of Coach Ben in the Wilderness where Shauna used her best bullying powers to find him guilty of burning down the cabin. We hate to see what his punishment/likely death will be. In the present day, Shauna and Jeff are trying to rebalance their karma by doing good and volunteering with the elderly. And honestly, who knows what the hell Van and Tai are doing at this point. But, Yellowjackets ended this episode with a truly shocking revelation that Lottie is now dead. 

Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

The death of Lottie in Yellowjackets is quite the wild turn of events, especially considering we didn’t see very much of her in this episode at all. In one scene, she stands alone and practices an apology, seemingly meant for Shauna after their big argument last episode. We also see her leaving the bank and having a very brief phone call with Tai, who asks Lottie what she meant by saying that she and Van will see about whether It was pleased or not. Lottie says she doesn’t remember and rushes Tai off the phone to catch a ride.

At the very end of the episode, Misty is on the Citizen Detective board when she gets a message from Walter asking if she’s okay. He says he heard about Lottie, Misty clicks on a photo, and it shows a dead Lottie on a floor. We go to the crime scene, which appears to be at the bottom of basement stairs. She’s surrounded by burnt out candles and there’s blood coming from her head. The death of Lottie and her body are the sad last images of this episode of Yellowjackets.

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It isn’t impossible that Lottie could have decided to take her own life. She’s been living with frightening visions most of her life and is probably going through a lot after losing her community and her Yellowjacket friends. Maybe she decided that It wants her, after all. Or, Lottie’s death could be a murder. There’s someone clearly messing with Shauna and targeting the group once again.

Either way, it is wild that Lottie, who almost seemed like Yellowjackets’ most invincible character, is now dead. We will see how it all shakes out as the season progresses.

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SEVERANCE Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: New Revelations and Questions From ‘Chikhai Bardo’

….Yup, let’s just get right into it all of that. These are the biggest revelations and questions—both old and new—from “Chikhai Bardo,” the emotional, shocking, upsetting seventh episode of Severance season two.

[image error]Revelations From Severance Season 2, Episode 7, “Chikhai Bardo”Gemma Is Alive and Knows Who She IsApple TV+

She is alive! Ms. Casey is not especially weird because she doesn’t have an Outie. Gemma Scout is not dead. She’s not in some kind of stasis, either. Gemma is living on the Testing Floor at Lumon, just as Petey once surmised people might be. She also knows who she is and that she is married to Mark Scout.

She doesn’t have much of a life down there, though. At the start of the episode she seemed resigned to a lonely, sterile existence being more of a lab rat than a person. Every day she undergoes painful trials she can’t remember because of her unique severance chip.

Even after this episode revealed so much about Lumon’s “mysterious and important” work, it remains unclear exactly why Gemma is down there. It’s also unclear why she willingly agreed to participate in any of company’s tests. At least she did until the episode’s end. She tried to escape after Dr. Mauer lied about Mark remarrying and having a child. Before that she was frustrated and tired, yet seemed to think Lumon would eventually let her out to return to her old life. Mauer’s non-answers to her direct questions and his private conversations with Drummond reveal the company will never allow her to do that.

MDR’s Files Are Actually Rooms Full of Painful ExperiencesApple TV+

The files that refiners work on in MDR, which have names like “Wellington” and “Cairns,” are not people. They are rooms where Gemma role plays highly specific scenarios, each set in different time periods, that cause pain. (At least the ones we got to see did.)

Gemma is also a totally different person in each room. She does not have a single Innie. Her severance chip allows Lumon to turn her into someone different in each room. Gemma and her many Innies have no memory of what happens in each rooms or the many roles Dr. Mauer plays in them. That means, for example, one Innie is always at the dentist while another is always “celebrating” Christmas. It’s a truly horrifying personal Hell for each version of Gemma/Ms. Casey.

Those different personas indicate Gemma’s severance chip is both new and special. Mr. Drummond asked if “the severance barriers are holding” and Dr. Mauer said “the technology works.” Drummond wouldn’t ask if Gemma was not unique among the people who previously, and likely currently, also serve as subjects on Lumon Testing floors. The company has refiners around the world. They must also unknowingly be working on test subjects of their own, but none quite like Gemma.

Every Refiner Has a “Watcher” Who Vaguely Looks Like ThemApple TV+

MDR computers connect to the Testing Floor. There, a “watcher” (as listed in the episode’s end credits) monitors a single refiner. These analysts can toggle between observing refiners directly, their work being done on files, or Gemma. Each watcher also vaguely looks like the refiner they personally track. These pseudo-doubles also seem to be the “twins” the refiners encountered during the ORTBO.

It’s unclear why Lumon would find it necessary to have watchers who dress and look like refiners. There’s no answer that won’t be weird.

Dr. Reghabi Left with Mark’s Reintegration IncompleteApple TV+

A desperate Devon wanted to turn to Harmony Cobel for help with her brother. That forced Dr. Reghabi to leave for her own safety. She called Cobel “a soldier” who is Lumon “through and through.” That leaves Mark’s reintegration incomplete and without a doctor to look after him. Petey died from reintegration when he left Dr. Reghabi’s care.

Ricken Wasn’t Always Like That (But He Sort of Was)Apple TV+

Turns out Ricken wasn’t always so….Ricken. Kind of. Before he became an exhausting self-help guru, he was a slightly less exhausting hiker. He still had a Kier Eagan-like fondness for grandiloquent* words.

*We had to use a thesaurus for that one. We’re not Ricken. For good and for ill.

New Questions From Severance Season 2, Episode 7, “Chikhai Bardo”Does “Chikhai Bardo” Refer to Someone Who Literally Died?Apple TV+

The episode’s title, “Chikhai Bardo,” is a Tibetan Buddist term. It refers to the fourth of sixth stages in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Chikhai Bardo is the fine line between life and physical death. It’s when consciousness moves away from the body right after a person dies.

That’s also reminiscent of the story in Leo Tolstoy’s novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. That was the book Gemma and Mark discussed when they first met and the one Dr. Mauer picked up in her Testing Floor room. Mauer was right. The main character dies after some profound reflections on life and death on his death bed.

Why so many connections to the concept of a dead person who is moving on to the next stage of their existence? Is it simply metaphorical and thematic? Is it just about the concept of “ego death” Gemma spoke of? Or is that concept quite literal on Severance? Are these all clues a major figure in this story physically died? A sign Lumon has brought, or is trying to bring, a dead person back to life?

Why Are Gemma’s Fertility Issues So Important?Apple TV+

Mark and Gemma’s relationship was certainly defined by more than just their attempts to have a child. Yet that was the focus of the episode’s flashbacks. It showed the couple’s struggles to conceive and even suggested the stress that caused contributed to why Mark wasn’t with her the night she “died.”

Why exactly are her fertility issues so relevant to Severance? What does that have to do with why Gemma and Mark are both so important to Lumon? That might now be the single biggest question on the show, and it raises even more questions about how and why she ended up on the Testing Floor.

Why Does Lumon Need To Check Gemma’s Vitals Every Day?Apple TV+

Gemma is sad and angry, but she seems fine physically. So why is Lumon checking her vitals every single day? Why is the company testing her strength and “intensity?” What’s the point of doing eye exams? Why does her physical health need to be constantly monitored as though she’s sick or especially vulnerable? Even with all the residual pain she experiences inside Testing Floor rooms she doesn’t seem to be at any special health risk. So why the need to constantly check?

Did Lumon Cause Gemma’s Miscarriage?Apple TV+

We have plenty more questions about Lumon’s activities and possible/likely covert recruitment of Gemma, but the most heinous question the episode raised is whether or not Lumon caused her miscarriage. The company ran the fertility clinic she went to after she lost her pregnancy, but even before she went there, they knew about her. Lumon ran the blood drive where she met Mark, a man who is also vitally important to Lumon’s ultimate goals. (The machines used at the drive had Lumon’s drop logo, which was also on the fertility clinic form, and the medical professionals wore Lumon blue and white.)

If the powerful, omnipresent, evil Lumon did cause her miscarriage and prevented her from getting pregnant after, then why? Did the company want to drive them apart? Or did it want to make sure she did not give birth? And if so, is that because….

Is Lumon Trying To Turn Gemma Into the Perfect Vessel for a New Kier?Apple TV+

Drummond said when “Cold Harbor” (which somehow Mark’s mere nosebleed prevented from being finished) is done, Mauer will have to say goodbye to Gemma. Mauer loves Gemma but knows his work will have to stop then. He even said why: “For Kier.”

Why “for Kier?” Why not in memory of Kier or Kier’s honor? “For Kier” might just be a turn of phrase, but what if both men meant that literally? What if all of this is literally for Kier, a messianic figure who died decades ago? Considering the episode’s title, connections to death and rebirth, and Gemma’s fertility issues, it’s not outrageous to wonder if Lumon is trying to make Gemma into the perfect vessel to give birth to a reborn Kier Eagan.

MDR refines the emotions Gemma experiences in those Testing Floor rooms. Those digital buckets are all related to Kier’s Four Tempers which he believed a human must conquer to achieve happiness. Does Lumon want to make sure Gemma has completely conquered her own Tempers so she can give birth to Kier whose early life as a carpenter has obvious connections with the life of Jesus Christ? Is this why a baby Kier shows up at the end of the season two opening credits?

Apple TV+

“Lumon is turning Gemma into its personal god’s mother” sounds absurd for obvious reasons. And yet it sounds less ridiculous than ever after this episode. Lumon’s “mysterious and important” work is obviously super strange and creepy so much so it requires de facto slaves who can’t remember anything when they leave the office.

Old Questions We Still Have After Severance Season 2, Episode 7, “Chikhai Bardo”How Does Outie Irv Know About the Testing Floor?Apple TV+

Now that we know what goes on in the Testing Floor, it’s even more surprising Irving knows anything about it. Who told him what goes on there? Was he ever down there? Did he ever work there? We don’t know what Irving knows or how and we want to know more than ever.

Did Gemma Ever Actually Die or Did Lumon Fake Her Death?Apple TV+

The easy explanation for how Gemma ended up at Lumon is also the most likely. It makes the most sense that the company faked her death and took her prisoner. She was alone that night and it was the perfect opportunity. And yet, that wouldn’t explain why she’s so docile and why she was willing to work with Lumon in any way. Also, despite the episode revealing so much, it clearly refused to reveal what happened the night of her “crash.” At one point it even made an obvious visual connection between Mark’s memory of the tree she supposedly hit with her experiences on the Testing Floor.

Severance is giving us plenty of reason to think Lumon took Gemma against her will. It seemed to know she was the perfect recruit for whatever it is they are doing. They had her blood work. They ran the fertility clinic she went to. (Why was Lumon running a fertility clinic in the first place?!) And they sent her those Bardo cards, the exact same ones Dylan stole from in O&D in season one. Those cards were so crucial and dangerous it made Milchick utilize the Overtime Contingency Protocol when he thought Dylan snuck it out of the building.

By very intentionally not simply telling us what happened the night of Gemma’s “crash,” Severance is making it so we must still ask if she did actually die. Which brings us to the most pressing issue the one that might explain everything.

Seriously, What is “Cold Harbor?”Apple TV+

Gemma says she’s never been in the new room labeled “Cold Harbor.” Yet when Mark completes that file, Lumon believes it will be one of the greatest moments in the history of mankind. Has she been in it and doesn’t remember? Can she only enter rooms once they’re entirely refined? (That seems the more likely explanation based on something else Mauer said.) Or is it a fluid process where a person goes in and out multiples times, which could explain why some files expire before refiners can complete them?

Somehow we know more about Macrodata Refinement than ever and yet have more questions about what the hell it does. The biggest of which is “Seriously, what is ‘Cold Harbor; all about?” What’s in there?”

The phrase “cold harbor” still conjures images of death. We can’t help but ask if that room contains Kier Eagan’s body or even Gemma’s original body. (We’re not ready to give up on those cloning theories juuuust yet). But trying to guess seems futile. Lumon’s plans and activities have proven almost impossible to figure out. Mark S. was right. Lumon is always one step ahead of us.

Apple TV+

Mauer literally told us in this episode what will happen when Gemma goes into “all the rooms.” Yet we still don’t have any idea what he means. We just know we don’t like or trust it.

The creepiest doctor on the planet, working for the most evil company ever, told Gemma, “You will see the world again, and the world will see you.” He then said (emphasis ours), “Mark will benefit from the world you’re siring. Kier will take away all his pain, just as Kier has taken away yours.” We don’t have to know what any of that means to know it doesn’t sound good.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. Despite everything he wants to eat the weird Lumon Testing Floor food. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Nathan Fielder’s THE REHEARSAL Season 2 Gets a Teaser, Premiere Date

The Rehearsal, the dark comedy series created by Nathan Fielder (The Curse), made a splash with critics and viewers on HBO back in 2022. The show focuses on a program that allows people to “rehearse” future difficult conversations and personal interactions. And Fielder is not only the star, but also the writer, director, and executive producer. What makes these rehearsals particularly hilarious is that they’re all done using actors and expensive sets. HBO renewed the series for a second season that same year. But it’s been a long, three-year wait for its arrival. Well, via Variety, we’ve learned that season two of The Rehearsal finally drops on HBO and Max on April 20. The network also released a brief teaser 35-second teaser trailer for the second season, which you can watch right here:

Here’s the official description from HBO and Max for season two of Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal:

The Rehearsal follows one man’s journey to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Fielder helps ordinary people prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. In season two, the urgency of Fielder’s project grows as he decides to put his resources toward an issue that affects us all.

HBO

We have no idea what this “issue that affects us all” is. But we have a feeling it’s going to be something rather mundane that’s blown out of proportion. In season one, they recreated a bar and someone’s house for use in a rehearsal. We’ll see if they take it even further in season two. The six-episode second season of The Rehearsal premieres on Sunday, April 20 on HBO, immediately after a showing of The Righteous Gemstones. Episodes will be available on Max on Sundays beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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LOST ODYSSEY: GODFALL Reunites Tabletop Legends for Actual Play Charity Game Special

The Book of Knowledge opens once again… and from deep within its pages comes a new one-of-a-kind actual play game special from Lost Odyssey, the star-studded celebrity gaming series. But this new one-shot legend, titled Lost Odyssey: Godfall, isn’t just any ordinary tabletop roleplaying experience. Oh, no. It’s extraordinary in many ways. First, and most importantly, Lost Odyssey: Godfall reunites tabletop icons in support of Extra Life for Kids, a program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. And second, Lost Odyssey: Godfall will bring you two immersive experiences you won’t want to miss, incorporating VR into the game in a way that will bring you right to the table.

To get the full sense of what’s in store for you in Lost Odyssey: Godfall, check out the campaign’s first-look trailer below.

Lost Odyssey: Godfall, presented by Pathfinder & Demiplane, is coming soon to Geek & Sundry. This actual play game special will showcase a new Pathfinder story set in War of Immortals. Pathfinder, by Paizo, is one of the world’s top fantasy role-playing game systems, and a Pathfinder game is always going to be an incredibly good time.

But we bet you want a recap of who exactly will be seated at the table. Well, this Lost Odyssey entry reunites some of the absolute greats. Lost Odyssey: Godfall will star Matt Mercer as Ghentros, Reggie Watts as Bronwyn, Deborah Ann Woll as Audrey, Felicia Day as Sylph, & Brandon Routh as Palanon, alongside Game Master Bill Rehor (Beadle & Grimm’s). And they’ll be embarking on an adventure that will have you at the edge of your seat.

Lost OdysseyLost Odyssey

Showrunners DiMuccio & Miller have adapted the game into two immersive experiences, joining together with the teams of Lost Odyssey & Light Sail VR. First, the game special, is described as “a cinematic journey where audiences will see our heroes join together in the aftermath of the cosmic events born of the new Pathfinder landscape.” And two, the VR experience, “where for the first time fans get to sit down with the players at the table and feel the adventure around them. The magic of a home game, next to tabletop legends.” Stay tuned to learn more about both journeys.

Of course, as we mentioned, the most important aspect of all is that the Lost Odyssey: Godfall campaign’s chief mission is to support Extra Life. You can help support the work Extra Life does by checking out Lost Odyssey’s Extra Life Superteam page at lostodysseyevents.com, where you’ll find treasures in a collection of games, show exclusive props, tabletop gear, and more. Just to be clear, 100% of all proceeds benefit Extra Life for Kids, a program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Whether or not you secure a fun treat, you’re welcome to donate to this good cause. Extra Life is “mobilizes passionate gamers to help treat sick and injured kids in their local communities.” We invite you to immerse yourself in the campaign action and help save lives. What could be better than that?

Lost OdysseyLost Odyssey

As we mentioned, Lost Odyssey: Godfall and all the Matt Mercer, Felicia Day, and co. fun will be coming soon to Geek & Sundry‘s channels. And you, of course, you’re the most important part. Welcome back to the table.

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A MINECRAFT MOVIE’s Latest Trailer Shows a Battle to Save Creativity

The Last of Us. Fallout. Sonic the Hedgehog. Arcane. We are truly in the golden age of video game adaptations. Now the best-selling game of all-time is ready to build its own case for why it belongs in that group. And the latest Easter egg-filled trailer for A Minecraft Movie shows it will do just that by going to war with the Nether world for the very thing the game represents: creativity.

This latest look at A Minecraft Movie features the first glimpse at the film’s villain Malgosha. Rachel House voices the leader of the Piglin. This trailer is also stacked with too many Easter eggs to name. From bamboo eating pandas becoming parents and a water bucket clutch, to elytra wings that don’t immediately open and a nitwit not looking when he crosses the road, there are lots of goodies in here for gamers. The best Easter egg, though, might be the chicken jockey fight inside the woodland mansion. We might finally know what really goes on in there!

As for the film, it will see Jason Momoa and Jack Black trying to save a world of wonder full of fun, creativity, and originality from its very antithesis. Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, Henry, Natalie, and Dawn—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve. Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.

Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Entertainment

Directed by Jared Hess (Nacho Libre), the film also stars Emma Myers (Wednesday), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Sebastian Hansen (Just Mercy), and Jennifer Coolidge (White Lotus).

This trailer also came with a special bonus announcement for fans. Starting today, for a limited-time moviegoers in the U.S. who purchase tickets to A Minecraft Movie via Fandango will get “access to an exclusive in-game jetpack add-on for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.” Don’t worry if you’re outside the U.S.. Fans across the world will get similar offers at local ticket sites.  

That’s, fittingly, a creative way to generate interest in both the game and the movie. The latter of which will build its case as the next great video game adaptation when it arrives in theaters on April 4.

Editor’s Note: A Minecraft Movie comes from Legendary Entertainment. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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In Defense of THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008) and Its Unique Exploration of Bruce Banner

Talking about what’s overrated is boring. What does it even mean, really? It also feels mean… and we’ve got plenty of avenues rewarding odious behavior already. Instead, we should focus more on encouraging everyone’s inner Sicko. Forgive the Ready Player One-esque dialogue, but I’ll take a hipster over a hater any day. It is with that I must confess my secret love for 2008’s The Incredible Hulk—a film that is often besmirched, and dismissed, by our needlessly cruel society.

The movie is more often seen through the lens of a meme telescope. Edward Norton did not reprise his role as Bruce Banner again. Therefore, many MCU lovers don’t take him seriously as the Hulk. But that’s a mistake, because it’s not only a solid flick, but one that should get more appreciation following the release of Captain America: Brave New World. 

Universal Pictures

For starters, Edward Norton is—hold on to your pants for this one—great actor. While he may not be the first choice that comes to mind for the iconic character, he does an admirable job with what he’s got to work with. He doesn’t fully capture the galactic nerd vibe of Banner the way Ruffalo would in The Avengers. But there’s a certain fragility to the performance juxtaposed to the enormous green rage monster residing in him. It is both underappreciated and a far cry from the rollicking, almost buddy-cop-like adventurer of Thor: Ragnarok. 

Norton’s Banner exudes a blend of exhaustion and optimism (super relatable!). It fundamentally works because being the Hulk is, unlike most Avengers, an extremely not-fun time. I’ve always seen the character as an allegory, of sorts, for dealing with illnesses. It’s something you have to try to adapt to and live with—for your sake and the people around you. 

And boy, is it a lonely road. While the current MCU Hulk is more bubbly and composed, The Incredible Hulk is Pennywise the Clown by comparison. The rage is understood and the film embraces it. After watching some of Ruffalo’s films, you think of the Hulk as a fun brute. But this movie makes you more fearful of the power. Even the opening credits, which quickly and efficiently summarize how Banner got to this point, give off brilliantly disturbing horror vibes. Frankly, with the allegations of the modern day MCU feeling like “homework,” maybe some stylized openers in the same vein could become a true calling card. 

Also unique for this particular film is a sort of down time. It shows Bruce backpacking his way across the world, wearing nothing but cargo shorts and receiving charity from random strangers. It’s all of this and the little things—from scenes of him doing yoga training and learning a new language by watching Sesame Street—that give the film its soul. Natasha Romanoff would later, quite beautifully, state in Avengers: Age of Ultron that Banner “runs from the fight because he knows he’ll win” and this film makes such a characterization feel all the more real.

But perhaps one of the film’s best attributes is its antagonist, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, played by the late William Hurt, who is about as evil as you can be. “Now she’ll see” states Ross upon intentionally releasing the horrific violence of the Hulk, in a tone that implies awe and potential, when all he’s stoking is fear and inevitable destruction. Ross is essentially an avatar for the military—a common foe in Hulk stories—and the quest for power, believing it, because Merica’, can wield it righteously. 

Marvel Studios

In Brave New World, Ross (now played by Harrison Ford) gets a sort of redemption arc. It’s a decision that, for a myriad of reasons, feels not only like a betrayal of the character, but of everything we learned from The Incredible Hulk. Forget that the movie is incredibly (ha! HA!) old, because that’s a separate discussion about the MCU’s over-reliance on fan service entirely. It’s about the narrative decision here, and one that doesn’t feel targeted towards anyone. 

Harrison Ford’s performance is admittedly is quite fantastic, all things considered. However, it’s hard to take seriously that Ross’ redemption can be an emotional pull because he …wants to broker a deal to give equal access to adamantium to the most powerful nations on Earth? This feels like a half-measure echoing that of the Game of Thrones finale. The relationship between the MCU and the military industrial complex has been discussed ad nauseum. But it feels a lot more blatant than it did in the early days. 

The politics of The Incredible Hulk are right in your face simply by observing its antagonist’s actions and what he represents. But for Captain America—whose politics are about what’s underneath the surface and ripe for exploration in a sequel—this brazen ignorance feels like a major missed opportunity, and I can’t help but see just how intentionally lackluster it all felt. 

RELATED ARTICLE

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Won’t Make You Angry, Just Disappointed (Review)

I wouldn’t say Brave New World is outright terrible, exactly. It is much less bad than it could be? For sure. I’m a sicko, so plenty of rewatches are likely in store. I like seeing that gorgeous shield go ricochet and bouncy-bouncy. However, its resolution almost entirely amounts to an obnoxiously simplistic “Hey, sometimes people make an oopsie!” and that’s not great. This is far less gratifying than the Edward Norton flick. Instead of Ross obtaining forgiveness in this 2008 flick, his daughter Betsy practically cuts him out of her life entirely. It’s bleak but necessary, and all the more bold by today’s standards. 

And we got something bittersweet for Bruce. He once again leaves his life, and the woman he loves, behind in order to safeguard this incredible, potentially world-ending power inside him from the evils that seek to exploit it. In a final scene that calls back to the globe-trotting scenery of the film’s earlier moments, we see Bruce living in the mountains, finding some level of peace. He resides in a humble cabin making his little sweet coffee. Bruce continues his yoga and meditation and we see his eyes turn green, but this time with a smile. 

The Incredible Hulk is story about overcoming the horrors that illnesses can beseech upon us and a lesson of balance. We can’t exorcise some of these demons, or our past, entirely. But what we can do is work at it, and find some level of control. And it’s worth it. Forgive the cheesiness to close this out, but hey, just because something’s trite doesn’t make it any less true. 

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