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DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Promises Intense Violence (Even More Than Netflix Delivered)

When the Netflix Marvel shows moved to Disney+, fans hoped they might see some familiar faces incorporated into the MCU’s world. Although there were many good iterations of Marvel characters in the Netflix shows, one hero that fans particularly hoped would return for a solo show or movie was Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Happily, Marvel Studios didn’t make us wait very long. At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, the studio announced that Daredevil would receive a new MCU series on Disney+, Daredevil: Born Again. Since that announcement, the series had some ups and downs, including an overhaul of its creative team. But now it is 2025, and the series is just around the corner.

If there’s one thing we know about the series in its final form, it’s that it promises to be very violent. Yes, Daredevil: Born Again will be even more violent than its Netflix predecessor and we didn’t think that was possible. Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane shares, “The level of violence is way up there for a Marvel/Disney show. I don’t think there’s anything else even in the ballpark. There’s a moment in this that is just absolutely batshit, and way past anything Netflix ever did.” 

Marvel Studios

Star Vincent D’Onofrio adds, “There’s a world in which you might think that if that show kept running, we’d be in this place eventually, or something like it. But we’ve gone further in the darkness, the action, the nastiness.”

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

Disney+/Marvel StudiosTitle

The title of the MCU Daredevil series will be Daredevil: Born Again. This is also the title of one of Daredevil‘s famous comic arcs.

Marvel StudiosDaredevil: Born Again‘s Plot

Daredevil: Born Again will have eighteen episodes and pick up a few years after where the Netflix show left off. In an interview with Empire, Charlie Cox opened up about the status of Matt, Karen, and Foggy. ” A lot of the history follows on,” said Cox. “The relationships and dynamics set up in the previous seasons still exist… A few years have passed. In that time, Matt, Foggy, and Karen have found a pretty good rhythm.”

Click To View Gallery Netflix/Giovanni Rufino Netflix/Giovanni Rufino Netflix/Giovanni Rufino Netflix/Giovanni Rufino Netflix/Giovanni Rufino Netflix/Giovanni Rufino

Things are great at Nelson, Murdock, & Page… until Kingpin comes along.  “Matt’s made peace with his role both as a lawyer and a vigilante,” Cox affirmed. “Then, of course, shit hits the fan.”

Here’s a trailer for Daredevil: Born Again:

Daredevil: Born Again‘s official synopsis reveals the following:

In Marvel Television’s “Daredevil: Born Again,” Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course. The series also stars Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, with Ayelet Zurer and Jon Bernthal. Dario Scardapane is showrunner. Episodes are directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and David Boyd; and executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Sana Amanat, Chris Gary, Dario Scardapane, Chris Ord & Matt Corman, and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead. “Daredevil: Born Again” launches on Disney+ on March 4, 2025.

Marvel Studios

Brad Winderbaum, the head of streaming, television, and animation at Marvel Studios, spoke at D23 about the upcoming Daredevil series on an ABC panel. The video for that panel hit the internet recently and he had something quite interesting to say.

Marvel Comics

“Imagine if New York City was as intricate and problematic and scary as the world of Game of Thrones,” he said. “All these forces vying for control, and it can be really hopeful at times, and really violent at times, and dark-but also there’s light at the end of the tunnel if you could just fight for it.”

Marvel StudiosBehind the Scenes

The Hollywood Reporter shared the superhero crime series has added Dario Scardapane as its showrunner. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead will direct the rest of the episodes for the first season. Scardapane has experience with The Punisher, while Benson and Moorhead directed episodes of Loki season two.

Netflix/Marvel StudiosDaredevil: Born Again‘s Cast

Charlie Cox returns as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Punisher in the MCU series as well, and Deadline shares that Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye will also make the leap. Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson will return as Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, respectively.

Marvel Studios

Also joining the Daredevil show are Nikki M. James, Michael Gandolfini, Margarita Levieva, Sandrine Holt, and Lou Taylor Pucci. Their roles remain unknown as well as Carnival Row‘s Arty Froushan as part of the cast. Genneya Walton will reportedly play “a young journalist with connections to a character from the original series.” Clark Johnson, in addition to directing, reportedly has a recurring role in the series.

Marvel Comics

At D23, we learned a male White Tiger is coming onto the scene in Daredevil: Born Again. We glimpsed White Tiger in a sneak peek from the series, but no casting information was yet revealed. This White Tiger is likely Hector Ayala who uses ancient amulets to transform into White Tiger, a “master of martial arts.” Perhaps we will see Daredevil defend him this season, as White Tiger is often mistaken for a criminal and gets into tight spots.

Daredevil: Born Again‘s Release Date

Daredevil: Born Again will debut at Disney+ on March 4, 2025.

Originally published January 5, 2023.

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YELLOWJACKETS Season 3 Photos Show Shauna Biting Mari and More

Bzzz bzzzz, Yellowjackets fans. Season three will continue to feed us with more mysterious happenings in the wilderness as the group scrambles to seek shelter and survive. In the present day, our favorite survivors will grapple with last season’s shocking death as they try to work through their many interpersonal issues 25 years after their life-changing plane crash. What will we learn about those woods? What is the true meaning behind that weird symbol? Will Other Tai and the Man with No Eyes resurface once again? The next round of episodes will surely provide answers to our burning questions. 

These photos certainly tease some strange duos, like Lottie and Travis, as well as Shauna taking a bite out of Mari.

Here’s what we know about Yellowjackets season three so far. 

Yellowjackets Season Three’s Plot 

Right now, we don’t know anything about season three’s plot. As previously stated, the timeline in the past will be dealing with the group losing shelter during winter. A recent Yellowjackets teaser trailer shows that Shauna will once again take center stage, as we see a few scenes of teenage Shauna acting a bit feral. Teen Natalie is now the leader in the wilderness, so we will see just how savage everyone gets. 

The present timeline will have to deal with Natalie’s death and how that affects everyone in the present day. We can assume we will return back to Wiskayok to catch up with family members and unresolved issues there. Tai kinda needs to go back to her wife (if she’s even alive) and son. 

This Yellowjackets trailer gives us even more insight. There’s someone threatening the group once again in the present day and, in the past, things are getting even more feral. And yes, the Man with No Eyes is back again along with newcomer Hilary Swank being seen for the first time in her mysterious Yellowjackets role.

The group is certainly getting into some more coven-like activities, as evidenced in this photo shared on Instagram. We wanna know how they made these cute matching outfits and lanterns with little resources.

Behind-the-scenes

Yellowjackets creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson will continue as its executive producers and co-showrunners alongside Jonatha Lisco. We assume the same team of writers is back for season three. 

Yellowjackets Season Three’s Cast Showtime

The teen and adult ensemble cast members are coming back, including Melanie Lynskey (adult Shauna), Christina Ricci (adult Misty), Tawny Cypress (adult Tai), Lauren Ambrose (adult Van), Sophie Nélisse (teen Shauna), Jasmin Savoy Brown (teen Tai), Sophie Thatcher (teen Natalie),  Samantha Hanratty (teen Misty), Courtney Eaton (teen Lottie), Liv Hewson (teen Van), Steven Krueger (Coach Ben), Warren Kole (Shauna’s husband Jeff), Kevin Alves (teen Travis), Sarah Desjardins (Shauna’s daughter Callie) and Simone Kessell (adult Lottie). 

It is not impossible for adult Natalie to make an appearance, perhaps in some sort of dream or flashback. We will see. Elijah Wood is returning in a recurring role as Walter Tattersall. Hilary Swank and Joel McHale will join the cast in currently unknown guest star roles.

Yellowjackets Season Three’s Release Date 

Yellowjackets will release will hit Paramount+ for those with the SHOWTIME plan on February 14 with two episodes. Others will be able to watch it live on February 16.

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Stitch Causes Half-Time Mayhem in Live-Action LILO & STITCH Super Bowl Trailer

2025 is shaping up to be a big summer for aliens from outer space arriving on Earth and making a big fuss. We’ve got Kal-El in Superman, Galactus in Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the bloodthirsty Xenomorph in Alien: Earth. But perhaps the alien we should be excited about the most in Stitch, in Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming live-action remake of the animated Lilo & Stitch. And during the Super Bowl, a chaotic teaser trailer for the highly anticipated summer family movie arrived.

You can watch the new Lilo & Stitch trailer right here:

The original animated Lilo & Stitch, about a wild alien who befriends a young Hawaiian girl and rocks out to Elvis songs, became a surprise hit in the summer of 2002. In fact, it was one of Walt Disney Animation’s last high 2D animated hits, before pulling the plug on 2D animated features after The Princess and the Frog. The director and writer of the original Lilo & Stitch, Chris Sanders, also provided the little guy’s voice. At first, Disney was going to cast someone else as the CGI version of Stitch’s voice for the new reboot. Ultimately, wiser heads prevailed, and they realized no one could play Stitch better than the man who created him.

Disney

This Super Bowl trailer for Lilo & Stitch really captures the energy of Stitch in its full live-action glory. Who but Stitch could cause such halftime chaos at the big game? We have to say, this Lilo & Stitch live-action teaser trailer is SO adorable. It really got us good.

The rest of the Lilo & Stitch cast includes Maia Kealoha as Lilo, and Sydney Agudong as Lilo’s older sister Naki. Also in the cast is Tia Carrere as social worker Mrs. Kakoa. Carrere actually played Naki in the original animated film. Zach Galifianakis plays Stitch’s creator, Dr. Jumba Jookiba, with Billy Magnussen playing Agent Pleakley. We didn’t see them in this Lilo & Stitch live-action Super Bowl trailer, but we can’t wait until we do.

Will the new version of Lilo & Stitch become as beloved as the original? Most of these Disney live-action remakes never really surpass the original animated versions. Here’s hoping that Lilo & Stitch will be the one that does the trick.

Walt Disney Pictures

Lilo & Stitch hits theaters everywhere on Memorial Day Weekend.

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JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Trailer Takes Scarlett Johansson on a Dino Hunt for a Miracle Cure, Plus the Super Bowl Trailer

Humans never learn. It doesn’t matter how many times giant prehistoric creatures eat them, humans just never learn. That much is clear in the first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth starring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. But at least this latest ill-fated journey to an island full of killer dinosaurs is for a good cause. (Or so they claim.) The newest era of Jurassic Park franchise is on the hunt for a medical miracle, in an action-monster-heist film where the cure is definitely more dangerous than the disease.

They’re back! And—what a surprise!—more terrifying than ever! But even this new era of dino-fun hearkens back to the original film. Jurassic World Rebirth will see an extraction team heading to an island research facility built for the original Jurassic Park. It’s where “the worst of the worst that were left behind.” It’s also the only place those prehistoric beasts are living now. How and why?

We can see even more from Jurassic World Rebirth in the Super Bowl trailer for the movie, which promises, “Big game. Bigger dinosaurs. 🦕🦖”

Here’s Jurassic World Rebirth synopsis to go along with the trailer:

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind. 

Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure the genetic material. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on a forbidden island that had once housed an undisclosed research facility for Jurassic Park. There, in a terrain populated by dinosaurs of vastly different species, they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that has been hidden from the world for decades.  

Universal Pictures

The film comes from director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) with a script by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp. It also stars Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain, and Ed Skrein.

Jurassic World Rebirth roars it’s way into theaters this July. No human in the movie will learn anything from the events of this film when it does.

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Live-Action HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Flies Into Battle in New Trailer

Vikings and dragons? What more could anyone want? Universal Pictures is hoping the answer is “actual people.” The studio’s betting How To Train Your Dragon will once again prove a box office smash with a live-action remake. And the film’s Super Bowl trailer gives us reason to believe the studio will cash this ticket with How to Train Your Dragon. Even amid fiery battles, the Isle of Berk and its unlikely partnership still makes us as emotional as ever.

Check out the How to Train Your Dragon Super Bowl teaser trailer below.

Super Sunday is always a big (game) day for movie trailers and fun commercials, and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon got in on the fun this year. While it includes footage seen in previous teaser trailers, this latest look at How to Train Your Dragon has new action sequences and characters to enjoy. The more we see of this movie, the more confident we are that director Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the animated films, has made his fantasy realm of Berk feel real.

It might help that, as we see in the trailer for How to Train Your Dragon trailers, he essentially brought the animated Toothless with him, but that’s fine. If you’ve seen DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, you know why we would never complain about any version of that lovable young dragon. But if you haven’t, here’s this iteration of the movie’s official synopsis from Universal Pictures:

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

Universal Pictures

How to Train Your Dragon, the human version, stars Mason Thames as Hiccup. Nico Parker plays Astrid. Nick Frost is Gobber. And Gerard Butler is making the leap from animation to live-action to once again play Stoic. We see these guys and more in the How to Train Your Dragon teaser trailers.

The film also features Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Murray McArthur (The Rings of Power).

 The live-action How to Train Your Dragon flies (and sails) into theaters this summer, June 13, 2025. And considering how emotional this promo made us, when it does we think Universal will be cashing in.

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New Look at Cassian Andor From ANDOR Season 2 in Super Bowl Disney+ Trailer

The first season of Star Wars: Andor ended in 2022, and fans have been patiently waiting to learn the fate of its lead character, Cassian Andor. Well, not his ultimate fate–we saw Rogue One, we know how it ends for Diego Luna’s rebel hero. But we are still dying to know how he got from where we left him off at the end of season one of Andor to the determined rebel warrior of Rogue One.

We can catch a new look at Andor season two from a Disney+ trailer from the Super Bowl. Check out the image and trailer below. In the new Andor season two image, we see Diego Luna return as Cassian Andor, and we must say, he’s looking dapper.

Lucasfilm

Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming second (and last) season of Andor.

Andor’s Season Two PlotLucasfilm

The end of Andor’s first season saw Cassian finally embrace becoming a true fighter for Luthen’s cause. All putting him one step closer to the character we first met in Rogue One. Showrunner Tony Gilroy has confirmed that they will split up the second season into four three-episode installments. Each of these three-episode chapters would cover a 12-month period. A year that is crucial to the development of the Rebel Alliance.

Lucasfilm

In Andor season two we’ll see how Cassian met his trusty droid buddy K-2SO. We’ll also visit the Rebel Base on Yavin IV, a location familiar well-known to viewers of A New Hope and Rogue One. We also expect that early on in season two, Mon Mothma and Cassian Andor will finally meet face-to-face. Thanks to set photos, many fans believe Queen Amidala’s homeworld of Naboo will play a role in the second season as well. Ultimately, season two will cover five years, dovetailing right into Rogue One’s beginning.

The official synopsis for the series reveals:

“Andor,” the acclaimed thriller, returns for its long-awaited conclusion. The twelve episodes of Season Two will carry the story of Cassian Andor and the emerging rebel alliance over the climactic four years that lead to the discovery of The Death Star and the events of “Rogue One.” Season One followed Cassian’s reluctant journey from cynical nobody to revolutionary volunteer. “Andor” Season Two will see him transform from soldier to leader to hero on the way to his epic destiny. From the very first scene, Cassian’s story has activated an ever-widening ensemble of allies and enemies. Season Two will see these relationships intensify as the horizon of galactic war draws near. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound. Who will live to see their dream realized? Who will realize what that dream cost?

Behind-the-ScenesStar Wars YouTube/Lucasfilm

Andor season one creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy returns for season two, closing the chapter on Cassian’s story. Directing episodes in the second season are Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios. Kleiman is directing six of the 12 episodes overall. Tony Gilroy, Dan Gilroy, Beau Willimon, and Tom Bissell are the known writers for the second season episodes. Delays from the SAG-AFTRA strike and the WGA strike caused the series to delay shooting for months. But shooting commenced as soon as the last strike ended.

Andor’s CastLucasfilm

Of course, Diego Luna once again portrays our titular hero Cassian Andor. Joining him once more are Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael, and Genevieve O’Reilly as Senator Mon Mothma. Benjamin Bratt is said to join the series in an undisclosed role. Rogue One actor Forest Whitaker returns as Saw Gerrera, as does Alan Tudyk as the droid K-2SO. Ben Mendelsohn is rumored to return along with other as yet undisclosed Rogue One cast members.

Even though it appeared his days were numbered by the end of season one, Andy Serkis has hinted that he’s returning as former prisoner Kino Loy. Also returning is Kyle Soller as Syril Karn, Denise Gough as ISB agent Deedra Meero, and Adria Arjona as rebel Bix Caleen. Faye Marsay (Vel Sartha), Varada Sethu (Cinta Kaz), Elizabeth Dulau (Kleya Marki), and James McArdle (Timm Karlo) round out the cast for season two.

One character we did not expect to see again was Director Orson Krennic as played by Ben Mendelsohn. Previously, the actor said Disney had not contacted him about being in the series. However, The Playlist recently interviewed director Alonso Ruizpalacio, one of season two’s directors, who spilled the beans, unwittingly, it seems.

Lucasfilm

The Playlist details, “[Ruizpalacio] said directing episodes of the series was a treat, especially directing heavyweight actors like, ‘Stellan Skarsgård, Forest Whitaker, and Ben Mendelsohn,’ presumably not realizing he was revealing something of a spoiler (and sorry to blow up your spot).”

In addition to Mendelsohn’s return, we also learned that K-2SO will also be back in Andor‘s second season. Ben Mendelsohn’s Andor season two appearance as Krennic was confirmed at Disney’s D23 event.

Andor’s Release Date

On April 22, 2025, #Andor returns to @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/c6P3pdNBi6

— Star Wars (@starwars) November 9, 2024

Star Wars: Andor’s second season will release on April 22, 2025.

Originally published on January 16, 2024.

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THUNDERBOLTS* Super Bowl Trailer Promises Even Misfits Can Land on the Wheaties Box

Slightly grungy yet epic/heartwarming music, check. A barrage of black, baggy clothing and hoodies, check. Many, many guns and explosions? Check and check. Well, it must be the Thunderbolts*. The MCU’s latest super-ish team of almost-heroes (almost-villains) is back in a brand new trailer for the aptly named Thunderbolts* movie, which played during the Super Bowl. We feel like none of these fellows would put much stock in the big game. But they sure did take center stage during it.

You can check out the latest trailer for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* below.

Honestly, even though I personally swore I would never get taken in by Bucky Barnes again… I’m kind of glad to see him. Incredibly, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is one of the most OG, OGs left. And who would have ever thought Bucky would have that honor? Will Bucky Barnes fans finally get their Black Widow/Winter Soldier romance after all this time? It would definitely have that perfect hint of Thunderbolts* irony to it if it did. But this Thunderbolts* trailer isn’t telling.

Marvel Studios

What it is giving, though, is action galore. We see the whole Thunderbolts* team really going for it during this Super Bowl trailer. As a reminder, that team consists of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)

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

What’s Sentry up to? What does the asterisk mean in Thunderbolts*? And how is David Harbour in every single movie trailer we see? We’ll have to sit with these questions in our hearts. Although we can mull over this Thunderbolts* synopsis as we do:

In “Thunderbolts*,”  Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Marvel Studios

What we do know is that the Thunderbolts* trailer pulls us in. We’ll surely be seated (in our best grunge and black eyeliner) when Thunderbolts* releases on May 2, 2025. This team may not be able to fly and can only punch things, but we sure do love them.

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Luke Skywalker Coming to STAR WARS Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland at Last

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Walt Disney World is a Star Wars fan’s dream come true in many ways. But one thing about it that no one is happy with is the fixed timeline to the sequel trilogy. Now, we’re not sequel haters here. We love seeing Rey and Kylo Ren in the land. But what about characters from the other two trilogies?? Park guests really want to see them too. Well, according to the Disney Parks X account, it looks like Luke Skywalker is officially coming to Galaxy’s Edge. The official account teased Luke’s arrival in a post on social media. The follow-up post mentions Season of the Force, a Disneyland-only promotion. So maybe Luke won’t come to Orlando, just Anaheim.

A Jedi… like his father before him pic.twitter.com/nbxXn8W1Zp

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) February 7, 2025

This very much looks just like Luke Skywalker in his Return of the Jedi robes, with his trusted Astromech R2-D2 by his side. R2 does occasionally stroll through Galaxy’s Edge, although to be fair, he is a character who covers the entire Skywalker Saga. This Luke appears to be the one we meet in season two of The Mandalorian, when he answers Grogu’s Force call. True, we’ve seen other non-sequel trilogy characters in Galaxy’s Edge over the last few years, like Ahsoka, Sabine, Boba Fett, and Mando and Grogu. But they’re usually tie-ins to promote a Disney+ series. Characters from the other Star Wars trilogies have been famously absent.

Disney Parks

This looks to all change with Luke’s arrival. Does this mean we’ll finally see Han, Leia, and Darth Vader himself? What about Obi-Wan and Queen Amidala? Disney does have the costumes on hand. They tend to bring them out on special event nights, like Star Wars Disneyland After Dark Nite. But shouldn’t they always be in Galaxy’s Edge? As long as a Phantom Menace-era Anakin isn’t standing around next to Darth Vader, we think it’s high time the entire film saga was represented. Hopefully, Master Skywalker’s arrival in Galaxy’s Edge means those old rules are finally loosening up.

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STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Co-Creator Bryan Fuller Dishes on His Brief Time Running the Series

Star Trek: Discovery, which began the streaming era of Star Trek in 2017, ended last year after five seasons. But the series we got was significantly altered from the original pitch by Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller. When Paramount announced the series in 2016, they also announced Fuller as showrunner, for what was then the first Trek series since Enterprise ended eleven years earlier. Ultimately, Fuller left the project, although he does have a screen credit as co-creator. So what was going to be different? Well, on an appearance on The D-Con Chamber Podcast, Fuller shared some details on his vision for Discovery, which you can watch him discuss below:

From the sound of it, he didn’t approve of the blue tracksuit-looking Starfleet uniforms they ultimately went with, and he rejected the Klingon redesigns they did go with. The updated Klingons were ultimately so unpopular, that Strange New Worlds (which is a Discovery spin-off) just went back to the old Klingon makeup, without any explanation. Speaking of the Klingons, he envisioned Laurence Fishburne as a Klingon character. Honestly, that would have been genius casting. Someone needs to make that happen.

Other castings that didn’t happen were Richard Armitage as Spock’s father Sarek and Gillian Anderson as a Starfleet Captain. Fuller also eyed Hannibal’s Hugh Dancy for an unspecified role. He did take credit for casting Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou, as well as pushing for Soneequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham. These two choices certainly paid off for the series. In Fuller’s vision for Discovery, Anthony Rapp’s character was going to be a blue-skinned Andorian. We wonder if that character eventually evolved into Strange New Worlds’ Andorian Engineer Hemmer?

Paramount+

Will we ever see a proper Bryan Fuller Star Trek project ever come to fruition? Maybe some of those discarded ideas for Discovery can make their way into another series or film some day. Something that’s not so safe, but that doesn’t desperately try to mimic what’s popular in other sci-fi franchises. (Yes, we’re looking at you specifically, Section 31 movie.) As the franchise quickly approaches its 60th anniversary, we hope a creator with vision takes it into a new and exciting future. Or, at the very least, greenlights Star Trek: Legacy at last. Star Trek fans are still waiting patiently for that one.

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THE SIMPSONS Actor Hank Azaria Is Scared of AI Taking Over Voice Acting

Hank Azaria, who has voiced over 100 different characters on The Simpsons, fears that artificial intelligence will steal the likeness of voice actors. Azaria penned an op-ed in The New York Times about the worries about artificial intelligence taking over voice acting and the art losing its humanity.

“There’s a human behind our favorite animated characters. But as AI comes to Hollywood, that could change,” writes Azaria.

The New York Times

Azaria has been an actor for a long time, voicing Simpsons characters for nearly four decades. In that time span, he was behind characters like Chief Wiggum, Snake Jailbird, Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel, Professor Frink, Superintendent Chalmers, Comic Book Guy, the Sea Captain, Duffman, and many more. Having so many different tones and paralinguistics of characters frequently in the show makes it easier for AI to train from.

AI could probably replicate voices exactly, but could it really steal a performance? Not tone, cadence, and modulation separately, but all combined, separates me, making a bad impression at home, from the actual voice actors of our time. AI is exactly what its name says it is – artificial. Which leaves Azaria and I both wondering how it could capture the “humanness” of it all.

LetsPlayNintendoITA/YouTube

“It can be as simple as running in place if your character’s running. If your character is crying, you work up real tears, real emotion. A lot of my characters have thrown punches or been punched in the face. If your character’s talking while he throws a punch, it’s hard to fake unless you actually throw a punch. Sometimes we’ll pick up a prop if it helps us get into the reality of the scene. I played a character who was cigar-chomping, so I stuck a highlighter in my mouth while I talked.”

If voice acting just consisted of talking a lot and reading lines, I would’ve been the greatest of all time as a certified D1 yapper. However, it’s a lot more than just the neck up, as said by Azaria.

Fox

Azaria also touched on how improvisation is hard to replicate because you’re following an unspoken rhythm. Additionally, he mentioned most of the voices he comes up with are based on people he knows and experiences he’s had. In the article, Azaria recalls the story of him coming up with the voice for Agador, the shoe-challenged butler. He said it came from his own grandmother.

CBS

I think we’ll still need someone who in his mind and heart and soul knows what needs to be done. AI can make the sound, but it will still need people to make the performance,” Azaria reflected. “Will the computer ever understand emotion on its own, what’s moving and what’s funny? Now we’re getting into science fiction – because for that, I think, the AI would have to be alive.”

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