Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 147

Every TWILIGHT Star’s Best Movie (In Our Opinion)

Twilight may not be the best movie franchise in history, but its cultural impact is undeniable. Most of the actors from the franchise have gone on to much bigger and better things despite their beginnings in the young adult vampire romance adaptations. For example, Robert Pattinson said he wants everyone to just move on in a recent interview.

Summit Pictures

For some actors, Twilight was a stepping stone, and for others, it was a career highlight. The list below will take a look at some of the first film’s most iconic actors and their career-best performances. These picks range from the critically acclaimed to the ones that are Oscar-worthy in my heart.

Kristen Stewart in SpencerNeon

Kristen Stewart’s role as Bella in Twilight propelled her to international fame, but it is far from her best role. Over the years, Stewart has really shown her range as an actor with roles like Melinda Sordino in Speak and Tracy in Into the Wild. However, where she really shines is in the Princess Diana biopic, Spencer. Biopic is a strong word for this film. Stewart even clinched an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance.

The film itself suffers in the portrayal of Diana as it’s a psychological fanfiction first before being a biopic. Nevertheless, Stewart gave an incredible performance that uplifted the entire film, transforming her character into a highly distressed yet resilient force. I hope Stewart takes on more roles like this that showcase her range beyond teenage girls caught up with the wrong people.

Robert Pattinson in Good TimeA24

Robert Pattinson has been trying to shed his Twilight image for years, and after his upcoming role as the lead in Parasite director Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey-17, this is a strong possibility. Pattinson is well-known for not having the best opinion of the Twilight series, but he has also made the strongest effort of the cast to distance himself from the franchise and show off his series acting chops.

Now, I know what you may be thinking: How did you NOT pick his role as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter!? Just kidding, I know the bigger shocker is why his best role is not as Batman or in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse. For full transparency on the latter, I haven’t seen it. I know, I know–I need to. However, I believe Pattinson’s performance in the Safdie brothers’ Good Time is mind-bogglingly different from his other roles. He breaks free from his broody typecast and is a desperate and loyal brother.

Taylor Lautner in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3DMiramax Films

Yes, I am completely serious about this take. I am a Sharkboy and Lavagirl defender till I die. This cinematic masterpiece has been too hated on for far too long. The film seems corny, but it’s actually camp when you think about it. The highly exaggerated Planet Drool, along with the Dream Graveyard, hold important real-life messages about never giving up. Taylor Lautner as Sharkboy transcends just our childhoods and remains one of the best Halloween duo costumes ever.

It’s funny because I would also consider Twilight camp in today’s age, but I guess that’s Lautner’s style. Today, Lautner is working on a show that feels like it was taken from the Dream Graveyard. Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter is a real series currently in development at Amazon, with Lautner playing the lead. It takes place in an alternate timeline where, after playing Jacob Black, Lautner is recruited by werewolf hunters because of his knowledge of playing one.

Nikki Reed in ThirteenSearchlight Pictures

Nikki Reed played Rosalie Hale in Twilight, which is probably the role she is most known for. However, her role as Evie in Thirteen is so underrated. Thirteen is one of those movies that is only recognizable when you see the poster. This is one of those movies that you watched with your friends at a sleepover and didn’t know it was going to be as deep as it was.

Most people, including myself, are surprised to find out that Reed wrote the screenplay for Thirteen along with its director, Catherine Hardwicke. (Hardwicke, of course, went on to direct the first Twilight.) The 14-year-old Reed co-wrote Thirteen partially based on her own experiences as a teen. In many ways, this felt like a precursor to Euphoria.

Anna Kendrick in Pitch PerfectUniversal Pictures

A year after finishing up The Twilight Saga as Jessica Stanley, Kendrick went on to lead the Pitch Perfect films. Pitch Perfect genuinely changed pop culture as we know it, from the cup song that ruled my elementary school to Hailee Steinfeld singing “Flashlight” when no one asked her to and still paying the price for it today.

Every time I watch this movie, it just gets better and better. Also, Kendrick’s style in this film is making a comeback. Aca-scuse me?! Don’t pretend we all didn’t want to have her clothes growing up. Now that I am grown up, I am back in the same situation. Kendrick made acapella cool, and I can’t lie and say I’m not excited for the upcoming fourth installment of the series.

Ashley Greene in…Well, Honestly, TwilightSummit Entertainment

To be honest, Ashley Greene’s best role is Twilight, and that’s not a bad thing playing fan-favorite Alice Cullen.

Twilight is really a universe of its own, but seeing how so many of the actors made it past their roles in what is, according to Robert Pattinson, a “weird” series and story goes to show that even in a film panned by critics, acting ability can shine. It’s still hard to believe actors like Stewart and Pattinson got their start as Bella and Edward. Fingers crossed for a Pattinson acting nomination soon.

The post Every TWILIGHT Star’s Best Movie (In Our Opinion) appeared first on Nerdist.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD’s Carl Lumbly on Isaiah Bradley’s Emotional Story, MCU Fame and More

Carl Lumbly’s first on screen acting credit came with a single line in 1979’s Escape from Alcatraz. Since then he’s been in countless movies and TV shows, in a career that has seen him play many superhero characters, including prime time television’s first-ever Black superhero on M.A.N.T.I.S. Now he’s a major figure in the latest film from the world’s biggest franchise. How is he preparing for the notoriety that comes with starring in an MCU movie? And what changed for his character Isaiah Bradley since we last saw him on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? We asked him about that, Isaiah’s arc in Captain America: Brave New World, what happened to his mustache, and a whole lot more when Nerdist got the chance to talk to him about the film.

Marvel Studios

Nerdist: I want to get into some serious stuff, but MCU fans need to know: What happened to Isaiah’s mustache and who’s responsible for him going clean shaven?

Carl Lumbly: :laughs: I would say the universe is responsible for him going clean shaven. It’s in part because he’s back in the world in a way that he wasn’t. He’s not hiding anymore. And Sam Wilson is responsible for that. For better or worse.

Did you miss it, though?

Lumbly: To tell you the truth, no.

Cause it looked good. It’s a good one.

Lumbly: Thank you. :laughs: Thank you very much. But no, no. I was always a mama’s boy and even though my mother has passed for some years now, in my mind there’s still this image of what she preferred me to look like and it was clean shaven. She would always say something like, “Oh gosh, you didn’t shave?” Or, “You look so scruffy.” So I pretty much always try to be clean shaven.

It was kind of a joy to be all beard-y and ruffish in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. So while I understand the principle, you always like to see yourself a little different, especially when you’re doing a film or a project.

Marvel Studios

You’ve been doing this for more than 45 years and , but being part of an MCU movie is a totally different kind of famous that not even the Disney+ series could convey. Are you ready for just how many people around the world are going to recognize you now?

Lumbly: No, I’m not. I am not. In a way, the reason is because I’m not cognizant of it. You only meet people one at a time. Or in groups at a rally, Comic-Con, or at D23. It’s just that room. You don’t really have a sense of it even moving around in the world.

What I do notice is frequency of recognition. So there’s been an amplitude running through my career. More so sometimes. As an example, Alias, a television show I did, that seemed to be a pretty big bump initially. When I started doing Cagney & Lacey that was a thing that I was not at all used to, just the idea of somebody calling your name, or calling your character’s name to get your attention. This, though, the frequency already from the trailer, is notable and kind of unlike anything I’ve experienced. Now I wish I had a beard.

Are you excited or scared? How do you feel about what you kind of know is coming even though you don’t exactly know what it’s going to entail?

Lumbly: I’m not at all scared. I don’t love always being recognized, but I’m so proud to have been in this project. It’s significant in ways that I think I know, and maybe in ways that I’m not aware of. I suppose the audiences will determine that, but I’m not scared of it. I welcome it.

There are some projects I have done where, I don’t like to lie, but I might deny that it was me. “Well, it was an actor who looked a lot like me. I’m not sure that was me.” But not this one. Or from The Falcon and Winter Soldier. I have been really proud because I love this character, Isaiah. I love what he stands for. And I love the Marvel universe took the opportunity to do right by a character that they had already taken the opportunity to do right by including in the canon. So I welcome it.

I also have a sense that it’s much more than I have ever experienced and we’ll see how that goes. I’m a little bit of an introvert. Perhaps even a lot of an introvert. And we’ll see which direction this pushes me. Maybe right into recluse.

Marvel Comics

At the start of this movie, Isaiah seems to have found a peace that he didn’t know on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Can you explain how you thought about the character’s evolution from the last time we saw him to the start of now, and how you approached the part in Captain America: Brave New World?

Lumbly: I felt that in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier he was definitely in hiding. Even though he had been released from prison he was still imprisoned in his mind. He was fearful of what his expectation was based on the fact that he had been betrayed. What’s that thing? Even if you’re paranoid, they still might be out to get you.

One of my favorites.

Lumbly: Yeah. And Sam is such a phenomenon to him as a Black man, why Sam has the hubris and believes he can just have agency to do whatever he wants. It’s kind of stunning to Isaiah and he kind of wants to protect [Sam]. Then after Sam clearly, as Falcon, has no need for protection he opens Isaiah’s mind to the idea it really is a different day in a different world. It’s beyond recognition.

Isaiah feels like the little piece of love that he has held onto, represented by his wife Faith, that’s still in his heart, perhaps means his love is not dead. His love for all the things he loved when he enlisted in the Army, when he wanted to fight for his country, when he took on a suicide mission not expecting to return but expecting to do some good, to stand in the place of Captain America. That betrayal, that 30 years of experimentation, those things he went through, he thought they had killed his heart. And Sam has expanded his love again and made it possible for him to believe that he can be at peace in the world. He doesn’t need all the recognition. He doesn’t need the mustache.

Yes, he is at peace at the beginning, and it’s just simple. He’s got a function in the world. He can help people, he can train them. He can go to basketball games, he can hang with his grandson when his grandson is willing. But yeah, he’s content. He’s happy to be where he is.

Marvel Studios

After some genuine joy, his peace is quickly replaced by just devastation and sadness.

Lumbly: Same old same old.

What did you draw on to get to that place emotionally?

Lumbly: If I’m being honest, it’s kind of my sense of my own lived history where you make gains and you have fallbacks. You sometimes trust people who don’t have your best interest at heart, and they lead you down a path and then knock you over the cliff at the end of that path. And you are falling and you get hurt and you can’t believe it, but you get back up. That’s my experience of it. I don’t assume that everyone does that. I know there are a lot of people who go over the cliff and don’t come back. Who are damaged and who are broken and betrayed. It’s kind of like, “Fool me once….” Some people don’t learn after twice.

But Isaiah has been betrayed at such a level, and what it took to come back to a place of comfort in the world was so great, he can’t accept it. It’s un-reality. And even though it’s familiar, it just can’t be. He can’t trust in anyone anymore. In that moment, trust is gone. Love is dashed and he feels like a fool.

Marvel Studios

That brings me to a couple of specific scenes I want to talk about that are two of my favorites in the movie. The first is the scene with you and Sam when you’re in the jail cell and you tell him to stay away. What was it like filming that?

Lumbly: It was very emotional. I try to commit to the reality of the character, not my own reality. So in a situation like that, if someone is offering me help, I would be really, really very happy to accept it. Grateful. And especially because he essentially brought me to a place of comfort. He should be able to do it again. But he’s only human. And if the forces that work in my life, if my fate is to be constantly betrayed, I don’t want to be an agent of betrayal to a man I love and respect. And he has much more to lose than I do.

What more can be done to Isaiah? He’s just returning to a place where he didn’t want to be, but maybe it was madness on his part to think that he could ever not be in that situation. So to have made a friend like Sam, and to have to say to a friend who is in anguish about what has happened to you and makes you a promise to help, to say, “No, no, you have too much to lose. I don’t care anymore. Go.” It’s not really true. But it’s what Isaiah has to say because he does not want to visit whatever his karma apparently is on Sam. Not when Sam is so vitally important.

Marvel Studios

The other scene is a moment late in the film where you are in the jail cell by yourself. There’s no dialogue and the sun is on your face. Can you tell me what’s going through Isaiah’s mind in that moment? Because it was just a couple seconds and I found it incredibly powerful and emotional.

Lumbly: I was just “running the tape.” Isaiah, at base, was taken away from so much. And the one thing that he has is Faith. Literally, his wife Faith, that memory. He has his grandson, Eli, and they have a future. And in that moment he’s thinking about a kind of brightness that might exist in another realm. The reality is he is caged. But even a death sentence is going to be freeing. So it’s a combination of peace and a kind of hope, a hope for a future, not in this realm.

You mentioned Faith. Isaiah’s suit is a very meaningful part of his story and it is very effective. Did you have any input into picking the suit? Did it have any personal meaning to you?

Lumbly: Yes, I did get a chance. Firstly, I should say when people watch the film they should stay for the credits, because each one of those names represent someone operating at top level to contribute to the overall look/feel/impression that this film leaves. So , who did the costumes, presented ideas. “It could look like this. It could look like that.” And the boldness of that [suit], as a young man at that time believing that his life was ahead of him, married, and at that point not even going with the idea of going away or going into the service, but just in the world…

In the comics it starts with them at Negro Week at the New York World’s Fair. And even though for me now, a contemporary individual looking at it, I say, “Okay, that was a sign of the times.” I guess it was a kind progress, a little bit. But for them it was about the future. It was about their presence in America. And the bright promise for every young couple is, “We are going to make our mark and we’re going to leave something for our children.” So that was his “man suit.” It was like plumage.

Marvel Studios

Is there any part of Isaiah’s story, or just the way you developed the character, that’s really important to playing him that maybe the audience won’t learn about him in this film?

Lumbly: He’s aware of what’s in his blood. And he’s making his way in the world without completely knowing what might be coming. He’s been freed from prison. He is in the process of freeing himself from his own imprisonment. But it’s tentative, right? It is delicate. It’s not something that you just assert. So there is a kind of caution with which he operates.

My father’s biggest piece of knowledge for me, delivered probably every two days, was “measure twice, cut once.” And the idea is to be as thoughtful as you can be so that when you make whatever move you’re going to make it is precise. Not just because you want to be right, but because you don’t want to waste material. You don’t want to make a cut and damage a piece of wood that now you’re going to have to discard and then take another piece of wood. I mean, that’s not the way resources are supposed to be utilized. “Measure twice, cut once.”

That’s been a large part of what Isaiah is doing now because when he was a younger man, he was much more reckless. He had that sense of invincibility that I had as a younger man. So he did whatever needed to be done, and if that was his instinct, if that was his impulse, boom, he was gone. And it cost him.

Marvel Studios

What did you learn about Harrison Ford that you weren’t expecting?

Lumbly: Oh man. That he’s quiet and thoughtful. My impression was if you are an icon like he is, you expect a certain sort of ballistic force. And nothing could be further from the truth. He was one of the most genteel, courteous, and thoughtful people. He’s just a beautiful cat and he works as hard or harder than anybody. And we were all, I include myself, younger. He is just a joy. And I suppose I didn’t expect it because I thought if anyone was entitled to be… a little full, he would be. I’ve met smaller people who are much more full.

I have to ask this. It’s almost legally required. Isaiah is still really strong and the world has many enemies. Has Marvel talked to you about returning for another film or TV show? And is that something you would want to do?

Lumbly: That would be proprietary information. I can’t speculate or divulge. And I don’t know. I didn’t know after Escape from Alcatraz that I would ever do another film period. I was a stage person and for me doing film and television was about gathering coin for rent. That enabled me to do as much stage as I wanted to do and I thought that was going to be it. So like Isaiah, I don’t know what’s coming.

Marvel Studios

Considering you have been doing superhero stories for a long time, I imagine you’re a fan of the genre. Is it safe to say that you would be open to coming back as Isaiah Bradley again?

Lumbly: Does the sun rise in the east? :laughs:

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who has seen Escape from Alcatraz roughly 500 times. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD’s Carl Lumbly on Isaiah Bradley’s Emotional Story, MCU Fame and More appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About 28 YEARS LATER

The chaotic world of 28 Days Later is back again after many years with 28 Years Later. What is the world like after nearly three decades of the Rage Virus? We will get the answer to this question as we follow Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character Jamie from a secure island to the chaotic mainland. Here’s everything we know about 28 Years Later so far. 

Title Sony Pictures

The title of this film is indeed 28 Years Later because, well, it is 28 years after the Rage Virus first spread. 

28 Years Later’s Plot 

Here’s an official synopsis for 28 Years Later: 

It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

Additionally, the absolutely fantastic trailer for 28 Years Later certainly sets the tone for this sequel: 

It seems that Sony Pictures is very, very confident in this film’s success. There’s already a sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, that is not only filmed but also has a January 2026 release date. 

Behind the Scenes 

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are the director and writer, respectively, for 28 Years Later. It marks their first return to the franchise since the original film’s release. 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy, who was once rumored to be in the film but will not be, serves as its executive producer. 

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Cillian Murphy Is Not in 28 YEARS LATER But Could Appear Later in New Film Trilogy28 Years Later’s Cast 

28 Years Later stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer as Jamie and Isla, a married couple living with their son Spike (Alfie Williams) on Lindisfarne island in Northumberland. Ralph Fiennes is Dr. Kelson, a survivor who is up to something strange, and Jack O’Connell plays Sir Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader with a dark past. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Ralph Fiennes Opens Up About His 28 YEARS LATER Character Who Will Appear in the Next Sequel, Too28 Years Later’s Release Date 

28 Years Later will hit theaters on June 20.

The post Everything We Know About 28 YEARS LATER appeared first on Nerdist.

The Ecology of Survival: YELLOWJACKETS’ Lessons on Climate and Community

The world is chaos. It always has been. Since the dawn of the natural world necessitated a hierarchy of survival, living things have been… well, fighting for survival. And what rises to meet chaos? Order. Intelligent life finds a way of navigating the perils of what disasters and predators might do to them. Be it by brunt action or philosophical negotiation, we learn to cope with the inexplicable and uncontrollable forces that be—what other choice do we have?

Our day-to-day in the dystopian future that is now is defined by living with chaos of all sorts: personal, political, but especially ecological. That is the truth ever-simmering in the background, between each natural disaster and rising temperature. The climate crisis is the definitional tragedy of our time, a great clock ticking in the proverbial universal corner. For those of us tuned into its taunting frequency, it bleeds into everything we think on and consume, even our pop culture—whether said culture is dealing with it directly or incidentally. 

Yellowjackets is a show that invites this kind of deeper ecological read because it’s a show entrenched in the wilderness. The series, about to enter its third season, is a survivalist horror-drama about a team of New Jersey girls’ soccer players who survive a plane crash on their way to a championship. They don’t know exactly where they are, have no means of communication with the outside world, and have the outdooring skills of any suburban teenage kid, i.e. barely any. But survival kicks in, as is nature’s way, and they become resourceful. They find guns to hunt with, a cabin to make camp in, gather water and other food sources that keep them fed just enough to live another day. 

But because this is a cable drama, of course there’s more going on here. In the tradition of Lost, the story is split between the past (the crash) and the future, where the survivors now contend with what happened to them in the wilderness those years ago. And it’s all set against the backdrop of a mysterious cult formed by some of the girls, and other possibly supernatural-tinged occurrences. Because survival for them meant a troop of desperate young women imposing meaning on the chaos they were forced to face. Cults and factions formed, interpersonal dramas and betrayals played out, and relationships formed whose tendrils still coil into their present, two decades later.  

But beneath the genre undertones of Yellowjackets there is a notable commentary on humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Here, the wilderness is both a provider and a destroyer, a mirror of real-world ecological conflict. Through the characters’ struggles for survival, the show provides lessons on sustainability, community action, and the dangers of ignoring nature’s true purpose. The survivors face starvation, unrelenting (and surprise) winters, and arguments over dwindling resources, just as our real-world climate crisis threatens food security, natural disasters, and cultural and political divide. It’s a window into what happens when we give into the same urges as these girls—we wind up desperate, divided, and at nature’s mercy.

Yellowjackets and the Wilderness as Provider and Destroyer

In the beginning of the series, we watch the basics play out. The girls, bloodied and terrified, feel the panic of circumstance, but slowly shift into “let’s choose to live” mode. Leaders emerge, and not necessarily the leaders you’d expect. Team captain Jackie Taylor is more or less unhelpful in this circumstance without the preselected order of the high school caste system. Her best friend Shauna has an anger inside that presents itself fiercely and necessarily in the woods, where she takes initiate with skinning their food and making tough choices. The other girls like Taissa, Natalie, Lottie, Van, and Misty fall into their various roles, each with inherent skills that together make a strong-enough survivalist team. 

Showtime

For a time, the girls manage to eke out an existence in their new home. They hunt deer, forage berries, and use natural resources for warmth and shelter. In these quieter moments, nature feels benevolent, as if its offering them these means of life. It’s a dynamic recognizable to us in the real world. How our ability to survive as a species is contingent on our ability to harness and make use of natural resources. 

But the same wilderness that sustains them is also their number one threat. Animals start to attack. A frigid winter encases them in the cabin they find buried near the lake. Food runs out and the threat of starvation looms. It’s a reminder that for as much as nature provides, it’s also, ultimately, an indifferent force. An encounter with a bear late in the first season embodies this. The bear arrives like a harbinger of death, but when it’s killed becomes their major food source. 

It aligns with the existential threat we all face in the midst of climate collapse. Like the recent Los Angeles wildfires, which singed large swaths of the city and shadowed the rest in grief, or the uptick catastrophic floods, as the world grows increasingly unstable, we are forced to confront the consequences of our own inaction as a species. Just like the Yellowjackets, we are at nature’s mercy—we rely on it while ping-ponging between its extremes.

Survival, Scarcity, and Social Order

In the Yellowjackets wilderness, food scarcity is a daily threat, and in the absence of regular nutrition, social hierarchies continue to shift. Power struggles emerge over the crumbs left to fight for. Shauna becomes the team butcherer, a role of significance—whoever yields the knife wields influence. It’s a mirror of the real world, where resource location and the ability to excavate it dictates power. 

Showtime

Yellowjackets is perhaps best known to outsiders as “that cannibal show.” And cannibalism is indeed invited into the fold in season two with the death of Jackie. She freezes to death after a stubborn refusal to accept her powerlessness. The girls mean to cremate her, but a snowdrift swoops in and turns Jackie’s frozen body into a roast. It’s a shocking moment when the girls decide to indulge in her flesh, but it isn’t merely a moment of horror.

It shows what happens when the desperation to survive overrides morality. It’s not so dissimilar from deforestation, overfishing, and other measures we take to provide resources as a terrible cost. We are knowingly but also ignorantly assisting our own collapse, letting desperation dictate our scope of humanity. 

The Rise of Ritualism

Yellowjackets isn’t just “that cannibalism show” but is also “that cult show”, an idea teased in the opening minutes of the first episode. We witness what appears to be a ritualistic ceremony, the survivors dressed in hides and furs and masks assembled from animal parts. They watch as another girl runs through the forest barefoot before falling into a trap made of sharpened twigs. Who is this girl? It remains a central mystery, although the pieces are coming together as the show moves forward.

RELATED ARTICLE

YELLOWJACKETS’ First Foray Into Cannibalism Is a Religious Transmutation

We know that Lottie, the most mysterious of the survivors—a young woman from a wealthy family who suffers from schizophrenia—emerges as a major player in the cult. So much so that she takes it out of the wilderness into the real-world in the present day of the second season. But this idea of ritual, which Lottie invites by leaning into the magic of fate they keep encountering, starts getting weird fast. It’s as if they are mentally tapping into some power source they can’t explain. They use this divine headspace to rationalize their circumstances. The why of why they wound up there in the first place.

This is similar to our own human response to natural disaster. The way religion and “God’s plan” is used to explain away suffering. How conspiracy theories run rampant with their denial. It is hard to face down the reality of our ecological situation. It’s much easier to invite fate and purpose into the conversation. And this isn’t just a modern coping mechanism. Ancient civilizations performed human sacrifices to appease gods, hoping for healthy crop and rain. 

Yellowjackets shows that these belief systems can provide structure in a landscape of terrifying wilderness. It’s a balm for the girls who need something to believe in. But it also permits its own kind of suffering as they turn on one another. Their cultish devotion starts to block more rational responses to their circumstances. Sound familiar? 

Kailey Schwerman/Showtime

The ritualism also paves way for an almost authoritarian level of control. Parts of the group become dependent on Lottie for guidance. But Lottie is just as likely grappling with her mental illness as she is receiving supernatural guidance. She doesn’t really know what’s going on, but leads as if she does. It’s similar to what we see in the news. There are inept politicians who exploit disasters for their own greed, downplaying the climate crises along the way. We live in our own kind of cult. A cult of personality similar to what Lottie leads, sure to invite a similar downfall. 

Yellowjackets Gives Us Lessons for Survival 

As much as these comparisons might stoke panic, they should also provide a form of relief. Entertainment can do more than just fill our time—it can be a resource for mapping and understanding the world we live in. There’s much to glean from Yellowjackets, both what to do and what not to do as we face our own ecological threats. 

A big one is learning to respect nature’s balance. The survivors in Yellowjackets make the mistake of mishandling this with their poor resource management skills and struggles with parsing out the food they receive. Sustainability is not just a consideration but a tool of necessity in their conditions. Exploiting nature without considering its limits is what creates these hierarchical and ideological divides that cause longterm harm. 

Yellowjackets also shows the need for collective action and cooperation as tools for survival. When the girls work in tandem, they successfully create irrigation systems, learn to handle laundry, make meals that feed everyone equally. It’s in their fracturing that they invite in violence. If the world could only learn the same lesson—that we’re all in this together—our problems would surely minimize. No individual country or person can face down climate collapse. But unification can at least initiate a process of mutual survival. Greed seems sure to stomp out many of these opportunities. But fighting for environmental justice and investing in community is a way for us to counteract or at least protest what’s being done to us by our leadership. 

Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with Showtime

It’s through each other, and humanity as a collective, that we can forge through. It sounds almost simplistic to say, because duh, of course. But it’s a principle we must adhere to now more than ever. If there’s one singular slice of hope in these recent disasters, it’s seeing how quickly people will step in to help one another. During the L.A. wildfires, communities came together to give out free food, create clothing drives, and lend shelter to those who lost their homes. GoFundMes and other grassroots crowdfunding measures provided tiny reliefs to those who lost everything. 

People want to help each other. People want to save each other. But we have to avoid the pitfalls that spring up to tempt us in the other direction. We have to outright, loudly reject distractions: the misinformation that pops up around climate change, the superstitions that might lure us to woo-woo coping instead of real-world action, reflecting inward instead of stepping into the real world, and getting our hands dirty in the muck of it all. Putting our faith in unscientific solutions, be it religion or capitalist lies, will only escalate our suffering and put our losses on speed-dial.   

In this way, Yellowjackets is a cautionary tale. The girls’ struggle for survival is a mirror to our present day woes—our vulnerability to nature’s extremes and our desire to place meaning on its inherent chaos. In the series, we see the consequences of such things. It is baffling how easily our ignorance can lead us into bloody pits or packs of wolves. Without community—not of the cult variety but of the science-forward, reality-facing sort—we are just bear meat awaiting our roast. 

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We Reveal Two Covers for THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: PLAN B, the Long-Awaited Sparrow Comic Storyline

Netflix’s live-action hero series The Umbrella Academy is done, and the ending still hurts our hearts. It is highly unlikely that we will get a spinoff series. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything more to explore with the Hargreeves siblings. As we all know, The Umbrella Academy actually started as a Dark Horse Comics series written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. Now, the creative duo is teaming up with Dark Horse again for the long-awaited fourth volume, The Umbrella Academy: Plan B, and we have two awesome covers to reveal as well as more details about this six-issue story. 

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How Does THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY Season 4 End the Hargreeves Siblings’ Stories?

The Umbrella Academy: Plan B picks up after the events of Volume 3’s Hotel Oblivion arc from 2019. In that volume, we got a rather soft introduction to the mysterious Sparrow Academy. The plans for this volume have been in motion since 2020, and we’re so glad that it’s finally happening! Plan B will focus on the Sparrow Academy, another group of siblings who call Reginald Hargreeves their father. We met the Sparrow Academy in season three of the Netflix show, and, well, things didn’t go well for them. Their existence expanded this bizarre world in so many ways. 

RELATED ARTICLE

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: Who Are the Sparrows?

The “Plan B” part of the comic title also came up in the TV series’ third season. It refers to Reginald’s plan to reset the timeline to a yet another reality where he could control an outcome. He got into cahoots with Alison, who was really trippin’ hard all season anyway.

Here’s more about what the comic book series will explore: 

After the mass release of The City’s greatest foes and the chaos that followed in Hotel Oblivion, the Umbrella Academy faces their most fearsome challenge to date–their other brothers and sisters. Known only as The Sparrows, they share a different connection to Sir Reginald Hargreeves and Mom. No one knows how to hurt each other more than family, and this powerful, ruthless brood will spare no brutality in favor of their sole objective—control and the obedient glare that comes with it. 

Gabriel Bá shares of The Umbrella Academy: Plan B. “I haven’t felt this excited about our story since the early days of Apocalypse Suite. “This is Umbrella Academy at its finest.”

Meanwhile, Gerard Way notes, “Telling this story with Gabriel would become, as it is today, such a special part of my life. This is not only because we would evolve as artists— but because we had the opportunity to grow up over a pretty crazy adventure together. Each chapter of this story seems to form and coalesce into its own organism— sometimes it’s a screaming baby on a subway car, other times a great big metal bird falling from the sky — and because of this, I am just as excited for Plan B as I was when we went on this trip together with Apocalypse Suite.”

The first of our two cover reveals for The Umbrella Academy: Plan B is illustrated by David Aja. It has, of course, a black umbrella to represent our fave siblings along with a few sparrows sitting on top. There’s a little splatter of poop on one side as a single sparrow tweets a tune. Lovely.

David Aja/Gabriel Bá/Gerard Way/Dark Horse Comics

The second one, by Jill Thompson, has the comic versions of the Hargreeves siblings sitting in a nest as a giant sparrow swoops toward them. Both The Umbrella Academy: Plan B covers certainly hint that this new collective will be a pain in the butt. And, it will be interesting to see what the comics do with this storyline. 

Jill Thompson/Gabriel Bá/Gerard Way/Dark Horse Comics

The Umbrella Academy: Plan B’s first issue will drop on June 11 and you can pre-order it for just $4.99 at a comic shop near you. It should soon hit the web for orders as well.

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A SAILOR MOON Musical Is Setting Sail in the U.S.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live is a new “2.5D” musical entertainment show coming to the United States in March. It is based on the manga of the same name made by Naoko Takeuchi, who also made the anime. The show’s previews start March 12 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show is in Japanese with English subtitles. Sailor Moon’s musical adaptation follows a recent wave of anime musicals like last year’s Attack on Titan one.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live officially opens March 15 in Austin, Texas, in partnership with South By Southwest. Anime veterans populate the crew of the show. Kaori Miura, known for their work on other anime musical adaptations like Tokyo Revengers The Musical and Musical: The Prince of Tennis, wrote the book and lyrics and directed the production. Go Sakabe and KYOHEI will compose the music for the show. Go Sakabe has provided music for anime like Digimon Adventure tri. in the past.

“At its very basic, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is about five girlfriends banding together to fight for what they believe in… that’s timely,” said writer and director Kaori Miura. “Sailor Moon and her fellow guardians are equipped with powers that help them defeat evil and the characters are imbued with the self-determination to have agency and make their own confident decisions. In short, they are the ultimate example of ‘girl power.'”

“Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live”

Sailor Moon is one of the most popular manga ever. Since starting in 1991, it has sold over 46 million copies and has been translated into over 17 languages. The manga led to the equally popular anime series and a live-action series. Now, the Sailor Moon franchise is reaching new heights with its transition into stage.

The show is currently playing in the United Kingdom before it crosses the pond. Tickets are available for purchase starting January 31. Prices range from $30 to $120, depending on the location of the show. To purchase tickets and for more information on the show, go to the musical’s website.

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Why SEVERANCE’s Seth Milchick Is No Different Than His Severed Employees

Lumon trusts Seth Milchick. They’ve put him in charge of the severed floor and Macrodata Refinement at the company’s headquarters. He not only leads the department working on “Cold Harbor,” he knows his employer’s grand plans and why Mark Scout’s completion of his wife’s file “will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of this planet.” Yet, despite the Board’s confidence in Milchick and the control it has granted him over Innies, he’s no different from severed employees. Severance‘s Seth Milchick is not a person to Lumon. He’s just another tool for the company to use and abuse. And he knows it.

AppleTV+

Seth Milchick never gave viewers a reason to doubt his complete devotion to Lumon during Severance‘s first season. He faithfully executed his many, many duties for the company while wholeheartedly extolling the teachings of Kier Eagan. He was Lumon through and through, something the Board and CEO Jame Eagan certainly believed. During a genuine moment of crisis, the Macrodat Uprising, they entrusted him with taking over for Harmony Cobel. He’s also one of the few people who knows what the “mysterious and important” work of MDR is actually about.

Considering what and who he’s overseeing, Milchick might now have arguably the most important job in the entire global conglomerate. But that promotion also led to the first visible cracks in Seth Milchick’s faith in Lumon. To celebrate his new role, the Board sent him the same offensive, dehumanizing gift they sent Natalie, another trusted Black employee with a high-ranking sensitive position. Lumon gave both “re-canonicalized paintings” of its Kier Cycle. These re-imagined paintings depict a Black man who resembles Milchick himself as the company’s white founder.

Apple TV+

Natalie, the Board’s literal mouthpiece, proxy, and public face said the paintings were meant to help Milchick see himself in Kier. But she clearly had the same misgivings about her own “gift.” A woman who previously who never gave us a reason to doubt her Lumon bonafides either, was visibly uncomfortable as Milchick opened them. Why wouldn’t she be? They’re a grotesque thing to give anyone. They erase a person’s humanity. They tell someone they only have worth when seen through another. “Re-canonicalizing” a Black person as a white messianic cult leader makes a terrible thing that much worse.

Milchick put those paintings in storage, but he couldn’t get them out of his mind. In season two’s fifth episode, “Trojan’s Horse,” he asked Natalie how she feels about them. Once again she let her face say everything she wouldn’t dare utter out loud: she hates them, too. The way Milchick asked her also revealed the two most prominent Black employees at Lumon have long dealt with this kind of degrading treatment. He said, “I’m thinking our experiences here have been similar in some ways. We face similar challenges. And perhaps the paintings and the somewhat complicated feelings they evoke….”

Apple TV+

Lumon’s Board is both too arrogant and too stupid to realize why depicting a Black person as a white man (who is also their employer’s religious figure) is vile. So it’s not a surprise minorities have faced additional challenges while working there. But part of that is because Lumon doesn’t see any employees, severed and non-severed alike, as people. They are merely cogs in the Lumon machine.

You don’t scold a person for putting paperclips backwards. You don’t criticize someone for “using big words” when your Founder produced the most overwrought prose ever printed and someone needs a dictionary to understand you personally. Those are things you do as a form of control to keep someone in their place. That’s what those paintings were meant to do, too. They weren’t meant to let Seth or Natalie see themselves in Kier, to celebrate their promotions, or to show appreciate for their hard work. They were meant to remind Mr. Milchick and Ms. Kalen that they serve Kier, the Eagan family, and Lumon.

Lumon’s blatant disrespect for even its most trusted employees shows that, to the company, there is difference between Innies and the people in charge of them. Mr. Drummond might hide it better, but he views Seth Milchick the same way he views severed employees. They aren’t human beings worthy of respect and autonomy. Severed employees only exist for a “greater purpose.”

Apple TV+

Because they do, Drummond has essentially severing Milchick himself, separating Seth from the kind of boss he’d like to be and the monster he thinks Cobel was. The new severed floor manager, in his own twisted way, was trying to treat Innies like people. He implemented “kindness reforms” and organized the ORTBO. Drummond pushed Milchick to instead “go back to the basics” and “treat them as what they really are.” As far as Lumon is concerned, what they really are is a bunch of biological tools who only exist for Lumon’s purpose.

He might not want to admit it, but Seth Milchick knows all of that. Just as he knows, especially after those paintings made it impossible to ignore the truth any longer, that Lumon doesn’t respect him as an individual, a Black man, or a human being. He’s not “Seth” or even “Mr. Milchick.” He’s just an employee with no more or less work than an office computer or coffee machine.

Until now, the Board was probably right to wholly trust Seth Milchick. For reasons we don’t yet know, he completely believed in Lumon’s plans and the teachings of Kier Eagan. But just as the Innies who work for him rose up against their employer when they realized the company didn’t see them as humans, Seth Milchick might one day realize he shouldn’t put his faith in people who don’t see him as a person.

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Mia Goth Joins Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY

What is a director, even one of Hollywood’s best, supposed to do after delivering an epic Best Picture winner? For Christopher Nolan, the answer is making one of the most famous epics ever. After some wild speculation and some big name casting news, we finally know exactly what story he will after Oppenheimer. Universal Pictures announced Nolan’s next movie is an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.

Christopher Nolan’s next film ‘The Odyssey’ is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.

— Universal Pictures (@UniversalPics) December 23, 2024

The Latest Casting News From Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Most recently, Mia Goth came aboard The Odysseys‘s cast, increasing the brightness of an already massively star-powered cast. There is no casting yet for Goth.

A24

Additionally, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin and Samantha Morton have joined The Odyssey. Once again, we don’t know who they will play in this film, but we do have some guesses.

AMC/Netflix

Deadline also revealed that Oppenheimer‘s Benny Safdie will reteam with Christopher Nolan on The Odyssey. In Opphenheimer, Safdie played physicist Edward Teller. But there’s no telling yet who the actor will play in this upcoming adventure.

Christopher Nolan Is Heading to Real-Life Odysseus Stop, Goat Island

Christopher Nolan isn’t known to do anything by halves, and for his latest movie, The Odyssey, he’s taking his crew to the real-life location that Homer supposedly imagined Odysseus visited, Goat Island in Siciliy—also known as Favignana island. Reports indicate the movie will also film in Sicily’s Eolian islands, U.K. and Morocco.

But what could measure up to a real-world location that Odysseus wandered through in his epic tale, cooking goats and gathering supplies? Nothing, if you ask us.

More About Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan is moving on after Oppenheimer by going back. Way back. Described as a “mythic action epic,” his version of the ancient epic poem The Odyssey will rely on cutting edge technology to bring the story to life. Universal Pictures said the longtime IMAX enthusiast will be using “brand new” tech to shoot for the large-scale format.

But how he will shoot the film isn’t nearly as interesting as to what the film is actually about. It’s hard to imagine anyone would have guessed Nolan would adapt The Odyssey even if they had 20 years to figure it out. (If you don’t get that reference, this movie will be very educational for you!) Even then, there’s still so much we don’t know about the project. Will this be a traditional, faithful adaptation? Will it be a modern take on the story? And will Armand Assante and George Clooney appear for a Spider-Man: No Way Home style crossover?

Universal Pictures

While we don’t know any setting or style specifics, we can guess who is playing Odysseus. Matt Damon is set to lead the star-studded film. Nolan’s The Odyssey will also feature Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, and Charlize Theron. We also know the movie will arrive in theaters on July 17 2026.

Netflix

That gives us plenty of time to start guessing which legendary characters from Homer’s epic everyone is going to play. (Theron as Circe, Calypso, Penelope, or Athena? She’s perfect for literally all of them.) It also gives us time to wonder just how good this movie will be. No one delivers epics live Christopher Nolan. What’s he going to be capable of when he makes one of the most famous epics ever?

Originally published January 2, 2025.

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Tide Brought Red Hulk to Life in Muddy CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Screening of Our Dreams

There were some mixed reviews when it came to Captain America: Brave New World, the latest MCU movie to hit theaters. But we feel there’s not a person alive who wouldn’t come around to thinking the newest Captain America movie was a lot of fun after experiencing a Tide Collateral Stains Screening of the film. And what is a Tide Collateral Stains Screening of Captain America: Brave New World, you ask? Well, here’s what went down.

Nerdist

To celebrate Captain America: Brave New World’s release in theaters, Tide hosted a very special screening that revealed why the true hero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is laundry detergent. The Tide Stain Screening was a fun take on an immersive moviegoing experience, but this time mud was involved. You know, because supervillains likely leave collateral stains behind. It’s your move Regal 4DX.

Wait for it… (and yes, we were invited to record!) pic.twitter.com/b9stKV4JQM

— Rotem Rusak (@Moondancer1626) February 14, 2025

There’s nothing to make you truly appreciate how hard it is to be Captain America than getting actual mud and water flung at you as Red Hulk roars on screen. It really puts you in the action as do the shrieks of surprise that echo all around you. But don’t worry. Your supersuit is safe because Tide is always ready to swoop in and save the day. 

We have to say, the mud really took things to another level. But this Captain America: Brave New World Tide Collateral Stains screening also highlighted dramatic moments by adding in realistic camera flashes, lighting, and other effects. It also brought to life a particular poignant moment that involved Cherry Blossoms in a beautiful way, filling the theater with driving confetti . 

But the point is, things can get dirty when fighting Red Hulk, Leader, or any other number of threats. We bet Sam Wilson has a dry cleaner for his Captain America suit, but what about the rest of us? Tide teamed up with Marvel to interrogate this very important MCU question. And you can check out its collaborative videos with Marvel below. 

So, if you find yourself wanting to enjoy Captain America: Brave New World in a whole new way, we suggest going the immersive route… Er, only when it comes out on digital, though. Please don’t bring mud to the theater. And if you do plan to recreate the experience, make sure you have some good laundry detergent on hand. 

Captain America: Brave New World is in theaters now.

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4 Things to Remember From THE INCREDIBLE HULK Before Watching CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD

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The Incredible Hulk came out in the summer of 2008, the same year as Iron Man. But the Green Goliath didn’t make the same box office splash that Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark did. As a result, there was no direct sequel. Original Bruce Banner actor Edward Norton didn’t return to the role, replaced by Mark Ruffalo for The Avengers. But The Incredible Hulk is still 100% MCU canon. The events of that film factor quite heavily into the events of Captain America: Brave New World. You could even call it a stealth sequel to The Incredible Hulk, some 17 years after the fact. If you haven’t watched it in some time, here are four key things to remember from The Incredible Hulk before watching Captain America: Brave New World:

Marvel Studios/Universal PicturesThaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross Is the “Hulk Hunter”

Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, was introduced as the U.S. Army general obsessed with tracking down Dr. Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk. Oscar-winner William Hurt played him in the film, and four other MCU follow-ups. After Hurt’s passing, Harrison Ford took on the role in Brave New World. As explained in the 2008 film, Ross was obsessed with recreating the World War II-era super-soldier program that gave Steve Rogers his powers. Only this time, using gamma radiation.

Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

These gamma experiments accidentally turned the scientist working alongside Ross, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton), into the Hulk. Ross then spends years trying to hunt him down, putting a wedge between him and his daughter Betty (Liv Tyler), who had been dating Bruce. Because of the years spent hunting down Banner, the media gives him the nickname “Hulk Hunter.” The “Hulk Hunter” reputation is something that comes up frequently in Captain America: Brave New World. And not in a good way.

The Harlem Incident Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

The Harlem incident, where the Hulk and the Abomination tore several blocks of the famous New York neighborhood apart in battle, nearly destroyed General Ross’ career. Ultimately, the media blamed Ross for the creation of both the Hulk and the Abomination. When we see Tony Stark meet Ross in a dive bar at the end of the film, Ross is a broken man already. However, the creation of the Hulk ended up being a good thing in the end, as the Jade Giant helped save the world several times over. So Ross’ career clearly made a turnaround, fast. First, to become Secretary of State, and later, to become President of the United States. However, in some circles, the “Harlem Incident” still follows Ross around in a negative light, Oval Office desk or not.

Dr. Samuel Sterns and His Unfortunate AccidentMarvel Studios/Universal Pictures

Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) had a secondary role in The Incredible Hulk, as another brilliant scientist who is in communication with Bruce Banner, during the years he is on the run from the army. At first, they communicate only over emails, with Sterns using the name “Mr. Blue” and Banner using the name “Mr. Green.” Together, they hope to find a cure for Banner’s monstrous condition. They finally meet in person in New York City, however Sterns was not entirely truthful to Banner about what he intended with the antidote. He hoped to create a serum that would make people immune to most genetic diseases.

Sterns tried to cure Bruce Banner, but despite initially looking like it worked, it didn’t take. Not long after, the soldier Emil Blonsky forced Sterns at gunpoint to inject Banner’s blood into him, creating the Abomination. In the ensuing chaos, some of Banner’s blood infected a gash in Stern’s head. We saw his head pulsate as he lay unconscious, but that was the last we saw of him on screen. In the comics, the gamma exposure makes Sterns as smart as Hulk is strong, becoming the villainous Leader. But Marvel Studios has left fans with 17 years of questions as to what became of Sterns after that moment. Those questions now have answers.

Betty Ross and Thaddeus Ross’ Damaged RelationshipMarvel Studios/Universal Pictures

Betty Ross was Bruce Banner’s romantic partner in The Incredible Hulk, played by Liv Tyler. In the film, she was estranged from her father due to his obsession with hunting down her sexy scientist boyfriend. General Ross said he was angry at Banner because Betty was injured in the accident that created the Hulk (which you can see in the film’s opening credits). But ultimately, he blames himself as much as he blames Banner. The events of the film create a bigger emotional gap between father and daughter, and when we see now-President Ross in Brave New World, we learn he has remained estranged from his only child. That estrangement weighs heavily on him, despite winning the Presidency of the United States.

Is The Incredible Hulk a bad film? Honestly, we don’t think so. It was made when Marvel Studios was still figuring itself out, as well as their broader plan for the MCU. So it’s messy, but decent. But if you have thoughts about revisiting it in preparation for Brave New World, there’s no time like the present. The Incredible Hulk is now available to stream on Disney+.

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