Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 154

We Want These 6 MCU Characters to Come Back Soon

At this point, the MCU has introduced hundreds of named characters, both prominent and supporting. And we always look forward to seeing who returns to this universe and how/why it happens. But some characters are gone for so long, it feels like there’s no way they’re coming back… unless they suddenly do. For example, Captain America: Brave New World’s cast includes Tim Blake Nelson and Liv Tyler, who reprise their roles as Samuel Sterns/The Leader and Betty Brant, respectively. They are returning a remarkable 17 years after the one and only time we saw them in the MCU in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Considering their return, here are six more characters that we think the MCU should bring back.

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The Marvel Comics History of CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Villain The Leader, Explained

Important Note Alert: We’re sticking to Phase 1-3 of the MCU. Yes, there are huge question marks about so many characters more recently introduced in Phase 4 or Phase 5 (Hercules, Clea, Starfox, etc.) who seem poised for more but have yet to actually show up again, but this list is reserved for those earlier days. Also, the animated series What if…? deserves applause for including some deepcut characters, including a couple on this list, but that show—and any other multiverse shenanigans—don’t count in this list. We’re talking about characters in the core MCU. You know, the Sacred Timeline! 

Leonard Samson / Doc Samson

Last Seen: The Incredible Hulk, 2008

Marvel Studios

Poor Leonard’s gotta feel left out at this point! After Mark Ruffalo replaced Edward Norton as the MCU’s Bruce Banner, it felt like the supporting characters from Norton’s one and only Hulk film might all be discarded. But then Thunderbolt Ross popped back up in Captain America: Civil War, Emil Blonsky/Abomination eventually returned in She-Hulk, and now the Leader and Betty are back too. That leaves Leonard as the most prominent character from The Incredible Hulk to still not return. In the comics, psychiatrist Leonard becomes Doc Samon, a gamma-powered superhero with great strength. (It is not Hulk-sized strength, which is reflected by him only having green hair and not green skin.)

For those who knew his comic book history, Ty Burrell was an offbeat choice to play Leonard in The Incredible Hulk to be sure. But look, if they can turn Indiana Jones into a huge red monster, the MCU can finally turn Phil Dunphy into a buff dude with long green hair. 

Justin Hammer

Last Seen: All Hail the King (2014)

Marvel Studios

Iron Man 2 is a mess of a movie. But there were still some good elements that came from it. One of the more entertaining aspects of the film was Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. It was an inspired bit of casting because Rockwell was able to bring his own weird energy to the role of a guy who’s very much a wannabe Tony Stark. He was lacking the same genius or inspiration but willing to pay to try and replicate it. 

Hammer’s plans were thwarted in Iron Man 2, but he made one surprise cameo since in the 2014 short All Hail to the King, which explained how his fellow prisoner at Seagate Penitentiary, Trevor Slattery, would come to be abducted by the Ten Rings (and return himself in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings years later). 

Yes, we saw a variant of Justin Hammer on What If…? but it feels like it’s time to bring the original version back. Tony Stark is now dead in the MCU. A guy like Hammer seems like someone who’d be doing his best to exploit that vacuum. 

The Collector

Last seen: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

We’ve got a situation where an actor returned playing a different (or in this case false) version of their character. In actuality, the Collector hasn’t really been seen since his role in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The guy Star-Lord and Gamora encountered in Avengers: Infinity War was actually an illusion created by Thanos after he got one of the Infinity Stones from Collector. 

There’s been one mention of the Collector since in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. We learned he sold Knowhere to the Guardians, so he did survive his encounter with Thanos at the least. But you can’t have Benicio Del Toro as one of Marvel’s Elders of the Universe and Jeff Goldblum playing another and never have them meet, right?! We have to experience the weird energy of that team-up on screen! 

The Howling Commandos

Last seen: Agent Carter, “The Iron Ceiling” (2015)

Marvel Studios

When Captain America: The First Avenger first hit theaters, there was some talk about the possibility of doing more stories of Cap during his World War II battles. Those stories would be told independently from Cap’s modern-day Avengers adventures. Obviously that didn’t come to be. But there is still plenty of promise left in exploring more in this era, both during and after the war, via the Howling Commandos. 

Introduced in The First Avenger, this special international unit fought both alongside Cap and Bucky and on their own. After that movie, we saw different groupings of the Commandos pop up in flashback form in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, though the most consistent presence was Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough). 

The Howling Commandos allow us access to a specific time period and type of adventure the MCU could benefit from, featuring a group of characters with plenty of potential. (One of their team members, James Montgomery Falsworth, becomes the hero Union Jack in the comics.) Whether alongside familiar faces like Peggy Carter, Bucky, Cap, or on their own, it feels like there’s plenty more that could be done with them.

Mac Gargan / Scorpion

Last seen: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016)

Marvel Studios

One of the more blatant “Oh, this guy’s gonna become a big deal supervillain” set ups to be ignored so far, Spider-Man: Homecoming introduced Mac Gargan (played by Michael Mando). The determined criminal sporting a scorpion tattoo on his neck who got sent to jail thanks to Spidey. A mid-credits scene then showed him plotting his revenge in prison, clearly planting more seeds for him to return in his comic book guise as the Scorpion.

Except we’ve never seen Gargan again. It is wild considering his fellow prisoner, Adrian Toomes / Vulture did briefly pop up again in, sigh, Morbius, thanks to some bizarre multiverse-hopping wackiness. The current animated series, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, does include Gargan going full Scorpion, so he is at least being kept in mind by Marvel Studios. Here’s hoping we get to finally see him use that lethal tail in live-action at some point. 

Karl Mordo

Last seen: Doctor Strange (2016)

Marvel Studios

If you’re thinking “But wait, we did see Mordo again in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” that’s not quite true. Yes, Chiwetel Ejiofor was in that movie, but he only appeared as a variant of Mordo who Strange encountered in the same universe where Scarlet Witch decimated the cameo-packed Illuminati. 

This is, well, strange (forgive the pun), because the first Doctor Strange film spent considerable time building up Mordo. That film depicted his disillusionment with his fellow sorcerers and their misuse of powers, in his opinion. The movie gave fans a post-credit scene depicting his new quest to strip magic from those he deemed shouldn’t have it. 

Multiverse of Madness has Strange acknowledge Mordo and he have fought since, but we never see the actual Mordo, so Doctor Strange is having an entirely offscreen ongoing war with one of his primary foes. It’s time to remedy that and bring this MCU character back!

The post We Want These 6 MCU Characters to Come Back Soon appeared first on Nerdist.

Listen to an Hour of Ambient Sounds from Disney’s Space Mountain

Last month Walt Disney World celebrated the original Space Mountain‘s 50th anniversary. That’s a whole lot of years and a whole lot of people flying through the dark. But in five decades its doubtful many, if any, guests have ever described the thrill ride as “relaxing.” Why would they? It wouldn’t be a famous thrill ride if it were. And yet, it might now help you do exactly that. Disney paid tribute to its iconic amusement’s Golden Anniversary with a Space Mountain Soundscape. It features ambient noise from versions of the ride from around the world, and they make for one soothing and serene experience.

You can have a listen below:

If you ever find yourself daydreaming about standing in line for Space Mountain, this video will help you actually dream about doing exactly that. Despite including the sounds you hear while getting onto a roller coaster, this strangely calming video has more of a Spaceship Earth at EPCOT vibe. Here’s how Disney describes its Space Mountain Soundscape:

Welcome aboard traveler. It’s the 50th anniversary of Space Mountain at Walt Disney World Resort, which means it’s time to kick off those space boots and lean back as we shuttle you through the sights and sounds of Space Mountain and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain across Disney parks.

Disney

This video features the noises of four versions of the ride: Space Mountain Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain Disneyland Park, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain Disneyland Paris, and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain Hong Kong Disneyland. Missing from this collection is Toyko Disneyland’s Space Mountain, which currently doesn’t exist. The Japanese park is currently in the middle of building an entirely new version of the ride that looks amazing.

That new version, with its “enhanced performance and immersive special effects,” is scheduled to open in 2027. We’ll be dreaming about riding until it does. And now we know how what soundscape will make sure that’s all we dream about when we fall asleep.

The post Listen to an Hour of Ambient Sounds from Disney’s Space Mountain appeared first on Nerdist.

Live-Action GUNDAM Movie From Legendary and Bandai Namco Is Officially Coming (Poster and All!)

A live-action Gundam movie is one of those adaptations that fans have long been hoping for but just hasn’t seemed to come together. Incredibly, the Gundam franchise has existed since April 7, 1979. That means it has been around for over 40 years. Phew! Nearly half a century seems like a lot of time for Gundam to have gotten into the live-action movie game. But although we’ve heard of efforts now and again, none of them were meant to be. But now, finally, a live-action Gundam movie is officially moving forward with Legendary and Bandai Namco Filmworks.

There’s even a Gundam poster to seal the deal. And isn’t that the best news you’ve heard all day?

Bandai NamcoA Live-Action Gundam Movie Is Officially On the Way

A release shares, “Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. and LEGENDARY have signed an agreement in
January 2025 to co-finance “GUNDAM (tentative name)” (referred to as “GUNDAM”), a Hollywood live-action film adaptation of the Mobile Suit Gundam series.” The official statement further reveals that Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth) will write and direct the Gundam movie. Legendary Pictures will produce the movie, and it will be release in theaters worldwide. We have not received any further information about story, casting, or anything else. But Bandai Namco promises “to steadily announce details as they become finalized.”

Bandai Namco

Bandai Namco, of course, has been the stewards of Gundam since 1980, only a year after the franchise first came into being. With the company so involved, this Gundam live-action movie will no doubt fulfill all of fans’ many wishes. Meanwhile, Bandai Namco’s partner Legendary, has also proven itself a great keeper of fan-forward franchises, creating the much beloved Monsterverse and shepherding Dune to live-action greatness. Together, this union will no doubt create a movie that evolves the legacy of Gundam and takes it to new, out-of-this-world heights.

The release confirms that this movie marks the first-ever Gundam live-action movie.

The Poster for the Live-Action Gundam MovieBandai Namco

As mentioned and seen above, to cement that a live-action Gundam movie is really happening, Bandai Namco even release a poster for the film. We don’t see too much in it, just a swooping ball of firey light darting across a planet. But we’re already getting a sense of the scope and epic scale that this movie aims to achieve. The poster also notes, “Co-production of the live-action Gundam movie has begun.” Cue the cheering from all over the galaxy.

The History of This Live-Action Gundam Movie

When last we first heard of the live-action Gundam movie in 2021, it was heading to Netflix. Netflix even shared our first look at a 3D-rendered version of the famous RX-78-2 Gundam created for the movie. Y: The Last Man and Runaways writer Brian K. Vaughn was involved at that point. In 2024, reports indicated that Vaughn and Netflix were no longer a part of the film and that, indeed, Mickle had come aboard to helm the movie instead. But it’s good to hear all this news officially confirmed.

More About GundamGundum Factory Yokohoma

Gundam is a franchise that has a sprawling history and complex continuity. Of course, with 25 anime series, 34 movies, 27 OVAs, streaming content, event-exclusive footage, TV specials, and more produced for over 40 years, it’s not surprising that this is the case. In a very abridged summary, the original Mobile Suit Gundam series focused on a war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation. The Earth Federation, in the hopes of winning the war, creates a new giant robot known as the RX-78-2 Gundam, which is piloted by a teenage civilian mechanic, Amuro Ray. In its many spinoffs and sequels, Gundam has retained the running theme of young humans piloting mecha armor—an aspect that will no doubt come into play in the live-action movie.

The main Gundam continuity takes place in the  “Universal Century” timeline, but again, we have no way of knowing how a movie will fit into what the franchise has already established. We’ll have to wait and see which stories and characters, if any, cross over into live-action. There’s always an all-original story in the world that could come to life.

When Will the Live-Action Gundam Movie Release?Bandai Namco

For now, the Gundam live-action movie does not have a release date. It sounds like we are in the early days, but hopefully, this time, the film take off with great purpose.

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

The post Live-Action GUNDAM Movie From Legendary and Bandai Namco Is Officially Coming (Poster and All!) appeared first on Nerdist.

Nicolas Cage Warns of the Dangers of AI in His Saturn Awards Acceptance Speech

Iconic actor Nicolas Cage won Best Actor for his performance in Dream Scenario at the annual Saturn Awards recently. He then used the opportunity of his acceptance speech to speak out against the encroaching threat of AI. Especially as it pertains to actors and other creatives. Not to mention, just the entertainment industry as a whole. Via Variety, we learned that after he thanked the film’s director, Kristoffer Borgli, for “The hilarious and disturbing world he created” in Dream Scenario, he had this to say:

But there is another world that is also disturbing me. It’s happening right now around all of us: the new AI world. I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit, an inch will eventually become a mile and all integrity, purity and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can’t let that happen.

A24

It’s Hollywood-produced sci-fi movies and TV that have, ironically enough, been warning us about the dangers of AI for decades. Everything from The Terminator and The Matrix franchises to more recent movies like M3GAN. And yet, it seems no one in charge has bothered to ever listen to their own dire warnings. Sure, we’re less concerned with AI wiping us out in some atomic apocalypse. But they can wipe out human creativity in the name of saving money. That’s insidious enough in its own way. It’s not too late to set rules down so that the studios don’t spit on the human creative minds that have made all this all happen. So everyone, just listen to Nicolas Cage for once. He seems to know what’s up.

The post Nicolas Cage Warns of the Dangers of AI in His Saturn Awards Acceptance Speech appeared first on Nerdist.

Live-Action ONE PIECE Shares Season 2 First-Look Image of Straw Hat Pirates

Ahoy, maties! We absolutely adored Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two. It was really one of our favorite live-action adaptations ever. And that’s why we were extra thrilled to see it get renewed for season two. Yes, Luffy and the gang will be back for more adventures as the huge manga/anime series gets translated into a new form. We have no doubt Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two will continue to deliver on all the wonder of season one.

For now, we have a lot to celebrate because our Nakamas are back. Netflix released a first-look image of the Straw Hat Pirates from season two. They don’t look very different than they did in season one, but we sure are incredibly happy to see them. (Sanji’s hair is look extra floppy.)

Netflix

In addition to the first image from season two of One Piece, Netflix shared the following note, “Straw Hats, our course is set! Season 2 production has officially wrapped, and the Grand Line is fast approaching! Destiny awaits, are you ready to answer the call?” We don’t yet have a release date for One Piece season 2, but “fast approaching” feels positive.

While we wait to know more, join us as we sail into the high seas of what is confirmed about the series. Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two.

Live-Action One Piece Season 2’s PlotNetflix

We don’t know too much about live-action One Piece season two’s plot. As mentioned, there is a lot of story to choose from. What we do know is that the Baroque Works crime syndicate will feature in some capacity in live-action One Piece‘s second chapter, and that includes the villainous Crocodile. Additionally, last season of the show teased Smoker on the horizon. Dr. Kureha, Dr. Hiriluk, Chopper, Crocus, Brogy, Dorry, Tashigi, Wapol, Dalton, and Nefertari Cobra have also been cast.

NetflixBehind the Scenes

Joe Tracz joins Matt Owens and together they act as showrunners on Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two.

Live-Action One Piece Season 2’s CastNetflix

The Straw Hat pirates we’ve come to know and love will all be back in action in One Piece season two. Inaki Godoy stars as Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji. Additionally, we’ll see like see the following returning One Piece cast in season two: Morgan Davies as Koby, Aidan Scott as Helmeppo, Vincent Regan as Vice Admiral Garp, Langley Kirkwood as Captain “Axe Hand” Morgan, Craig Fairbrass as Zeff, Peter Gadiot as Shanks, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida, Jeff Ward as Buggy the Clown, and more.

Netflix

Of course, as mentioned above there is a ton of new characters and cast joining One Piece in season two. Here is a list of everyone coming on board, and you can read more about each new character, here.

Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton) as Miss WednesdaySendhil Ramamurthy (Never Have I Ever, Do Aur Do Pyaar) as Nefertari CobraKatey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, The Conners) as Dr. KurehaMark Harelik (Presumed Innocent, Preacher) as Dr. HirilukDaniel Lasker (Raised by Wolves) as Mr. 9Camrus Johnson (Batwoman) as Mr. 5 Jazzara Jaslyn (Warrior) as Miss ValentineDavid Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) as Mr. 3Werner Coetser (Getroud met rugby) as DorryBrendan Murray (Raised by Wolves) as BrogyClive Russell (Game of Thrones) as CrocusCallum Kerr (Monarch) as Smoker Julia Rehwald (Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures) as TashigiRob Colletti (The Many Saints of Newark) as WapolTy Keogh (24 Hours To Live) as DaltonJoe Manganiello as Mr. 0Lera Abova as Miss All-Sunday

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We don’t yet know when season two of Netflix’s live-action One Piece will release. However, filming for season two has officially wrapped.

Originally published in December 2024.

The post Live-Action ONE PIECE Shares Season 2 First-Look Image of Straw Hat Pirates appeared first on Nerdist.

Will ONE PIECE Season 2 Release in 2025?

We had a hunch we might be seeing season two of One Piece sooner rather than later. But as of right now, it looks like we may have to wait for 2026 to arrive before the second season releases. For a minute, it seemed like Netflix officially confirmed that season two of its live-action One Piece would arrive in 2025. In a piece about upcoming LEGO x One Piece sets, Netflix originally shared in January, “The Lego Group, Netflix, and Tomorrow Studios are teaming up to bring you treasures you can cherish while you wait for new episodes of ONE PIECE, which arrive later this year.” But alas, as of right now, our pirate portends point to this not being the case, or at the very least to nothing confirmed. Here’s what we know about One Piece season two’s release date and whether it will occur in 2025 or 2026.

Netflix Did Not Include One Piece Season 2 in Its Official 2025 Slate

Netflix recently released its 2025 television slate and One Piece season two was not a part of it. This is the strongest signal that we’ll likely see the second season of One Piece arrive in 2026. Every other show we expected to see come to Netflix in 2025 was present in this announcement. It is possible, of course, that the currently released 2025 Netflix slate simply did not include One Piece on it… yet. And with time, we could see an updated version. Luffy would want us to keep dreaming.

Netflix Removed Mentions of One Piece Season 2 Having a 2025 Release Date From Its Website

Cementing a 2026 release date view, Netflix removed the original article that mentioned 2025 as One Piece season two’s release date year. Instead, the streamer replaced the piece with one that does not specify any release date information for One Piece season two. LEGO’s version of this release also does not exactly confirm when the season will arrive, but it does say that more information about the One Piece LEGO sets will land in “the coming months.” It seems like we might get LEGO One Piece in 2025, but One Piece season two itself in 2026.

Could One Piece Season 2 Still Release in 2025?

Despite all these negative signs, Netflix recently shared the following about One Piece season two, “Straw Hats, our course is set! Season 2 production has officially wrapped, and the Grand Line is fast approaching! 🌊 Destiny awaits, are you ready to answer the call?”

“Fast approaching” does feel a bit more imminent than a whole year away… but the fact that production only just wrapped implies a lot of post-production still to go on the series. Earlier reports seemed to indicate that One Piece wrapped in late 2024, but this new messaging from Netflix reveals otherwise. We feel this is a more positive 2025 hint than the rest, but it also makes it feel like the show isn’t exactly ready to float onto our screens yet.

So Far, One Piece Season 2 Does Not Have an Official Release Date in 2025 or 2026Netflix

For now, Netflix notes it has not set an official One Piece season two release date. For all we know, it could release in 2027. Just kidding! (We hope.) But whether One Piece season two’s release date comes in 2025 or 2026, we’ll be happy to see more of the series whenever it arrives.

The post Will ONE PIECE Season 2 Release in 2025? appeared first on Nerdist.

Is John Malkovich Playing Marvel Villian the Red Ghost in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS?

One of the surprises for many in The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer was the appearance of John Malkovich. We only see the esteemed actor for a brief moment, but given his long white hair and bald head, it seems to confirm certain rumors about who he’s playing. And the top guess is that he’s the classic Fantastic Four villain, the Red Ghost. The Red Ghost is one of the earliest enemies the team battled, debuting around the same time as major villains like Dr. Doom. But why have we never seen him before in live-action? It’s likely because he’s the most “of his time” bad guy the team fought. But with the MCU’s FF now set squarely in the ‘60s, it makes perfect sense to include him at last.

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THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Launches First TrailerThe Marvel Comics Origin of the Red Ghost and the Super ApesMarvel Comics

Like most of the most iconic Marvel Comics villains, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Red Ghost. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #13, in 1963. He’s a villain exhibiting all the Cold War tropes, the kind we saw in James Bond movies of the time, only dialed up to the max. In the original Fantastic Four comics, Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny went to space to beat the Soviets to the Moon. Remember, this was 1961, the height of the Space Race. Ivan Kragoff was a Soviet scientist determined to get to the Moon before America, and was aware of how the FF got their powers with cosmic rays. So he attempted to replicate their accident… with himself and three apes.

The Red Ghost Is a Truly Cold War-Era Marvel VillainMarvel Comics

So why apes? Back in the late ‘50s/early ‘60s, using primates for test launches wasn’t uncommon. The notion of a mad scientist from Leningrad going into orbit with apes was less silly-sounding than it is now. Ivan Kragoff took off in a rocket with Mikhlo (a gorilla), Igor (a baboon), and Peotr (an orangutan), hoping to replicate the incident that gave the FF their abilities.

Marvel Comics

And it worked. All four gained powers, although not identical to the FF’s. Kragoff could now become intangible/invisible, taking the name Red Ghost. Mikhlo gained super strength, while Igor could shapeshift. Peotr could now attract and repulse objects. The Red Ghost and his Super Apes became frequent FF villains for a time, although their ties to Soviet Russia meant their relevance became less and less over the years. And it’s why they never considered them for any previous movie iteration of the FF, until now.

The Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four: First StepsMarvel Comics

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps set squarely in the ‘60s, a Russian Cold War villain actually works. We don’t think he’ll be the main antagonist, as we know that’s Galactus. But we think he’ll have a key but relatively minor role. Rumors abound that we’ll see some of the FF’s Silver Age villains like the Red Ghost and the Mole Man in a minor capacity throughout the film. Perhaps in a montage of the team’s exploits over the years? Maybe that’s how we encounter other FF villains from the same era, like Molecule Man and maybe even Puppet Master. And Malkovich has the perfect energy to bring this ‘60s “Ruskie” bad guy to life.

We’ll find out for sure when The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25.

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DOCTOR WHO: WORLDS OF WONDER Curator Steven Swaby Takes Us Inside the Comic-Con Museum Exhibit

Doctor Who has taken fans across time and space for more than 60 years. Now, the long-running British sci-fi series is preparing to land in a brand new place: the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego, CA. On March 15, Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder will bring its extensive and interactive exhibit to the US for the first time. Ahead of its premiere, Nerdist spoke with the exhibit’s curator–and mega Doctor Who fan!—Steven Swaby about prop selections, making Doctor Who accessible to all, and why fans will love this new Comic-Con Museum offering. 

Sarner International

But, before we get into that, here’s a bit more about what Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder will include: 

The exhibit features an extensive array of original props and sets, and a unique collection of behind-the-scenes resource materials from the world’s longest-running science fiction show. This multi-sensory exhibit invites visitors to experience the Doctor’s adventures, come face to face with a selection of iconic characters, and explore some of the worlds visited on screen, all while learning about the real-life science behind the show’s memorable moments. A wealth of scientific “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey” topics like the concept of time travel, artificial intelligence, DNA manipulation, and cloning can be explored throughout the exhibit.

Additionally, Swaby revealed to Nerdist that this exhibit will have all 17 Doctor costumes in one place! 

Nerdist: What is your personal connection with Doctor Who? 

Steven Swaby: It’s a lifelong relationship. I think probably my earliest memory of absolutely anything at all was watching John Pertwee in about 1973 on TV and just being immediately captivated by this guy in tunnels with giant maggots. I was kind of hooked for life then, really. And it has obviously been a great pleasure many years later to get the opportunity to work on this exhibition.

I love it. What is it about Doctor Who that makes it the perfect show to bring to the Comic-Con Museum as an exhibit? 

Swaby: I was really excited when I heard it was going to Comic-Con because obviously there’s a big fan base in the States these days. It’s grown exponentially over the years, and it’s this kind of locus for fantasy and sci-fi. So if it’s going to debut anywhere in the United States, what better venue? It’s already been to England, Scotland, and New Zealand, so it’s gradually working its way around the planet!

Click To View Gallery Phoebe Mackenzie/Wellington NZ Phoebe Mackenzie/Wellington NZ Phoebe Mackenzie/Wellington NZ

Yes, the American audience is truly continuing to grow even more with it being on Disney+ Plus! Comic-Con is the gathering place for the sci-fi lovers among us, indeed. Now, from a curator’s perspective, what are the elements that are needed to be able to build an effective and memorable exhibit experience for guests?

Swaby: I think for this one in particular, it was making sure that it was accessible to people who weren’t necessarily hardcore fans of the show. If you have a vague idea of who and what Doctor Who is, and go in and still have a good time, that’s the goal. Parents and grandparents could go along with the kids.

I wanted to make it as accessible as possible, but the prime ingredients that make it really important for fans are lots of real stuff, real costumes, real props. And for me it was very important to take in the entire history of the show. So from the 1960s through today, I wanted a long view of science and Doctor Who’s relationship from the very beginning. That’s obviously a bit of a challenge when you’ve got 60 years of material to haul into one room. It was a process of working out what we could include and what we could leave out, and what we had to leave out. And in a way, we were led by the props and the costumes and the things that we had available. That kind of helped shape it and narrow it down a little bit.

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I was wondering about the prop selection process! Was there anything that you really wanted to include that you were not able to? 

Swaby: Yes, there were a few things. I mean, having a look around the props warehouse, which is a secret location in the UK, I was like a kid in a candy store! There was just stuff packed in there everywhere. But there were a few things we couldn’t find. For example,  the original Siluran costumes from 1970 had long since perished. They weren’t built to last… And there were other costumes and props that have perhaps gone to auction and private collectors over the years that are very difficult to track down. 

The other thing which I really tried hard with was to get some of the original Radiophonic Workshop stuff from Delia Derbyshire’s collection [Editor’s Note: Derbyshire made the electronic arrangement for Doctor Who’s theme music.]

And again, a lot of that stuff is either in private hands now or just ended up somewhere and the BBC threw them out many years ago thinking they were of no value whatsoever. So yeah, there were a few disappointments like that, but we had an embarrassment of riches to draw on from other aspects of the show!

Sarner International

There are so many wonderful things that did get included! Thankfully, we have YouTube to at least give us more insight into Derbyshire’s work. I’d love for you to take us through the entire process of building this exhibit from inception to completion. 

Swaby: My starting point was with my colleague Adam Sanders [of Sanders Exhibition Services], who originally came up with the idea with Sarner International. He got in touch with me and said, “We’re thinking about doing something with Doctor Who and science that hasn’t been done before for a touring exhibition. Can you just send me a list of ten things where science relates to Doctor Who?” 

I immediately dropped the really boring piece of work that I was doing at the time and just hammered away at the keyboard. There was a list a lot longer than just ten items! That was our starting point… We wanted to look at things like technology and space science, obviously. But I felt looking at environmental science, biology, and how the natural world has influenced a lot of what you see in Doctor Who in terms of planets and creature designs and things like that.

In a way, we ended up dividing the exhibition into two halves, space science and technology, and then life science and looking at the human relationship with technology and the future of us as a species, which is obviously still a massively ongoing concern with AI. Are we surrendering our humanity to technology? What have we gained? What do we lose? And you can see that as a strand in Doctor Who that’s still there today. 

I love that you were able to fuse all of those things together! From a fan’s perspective, what did it feel like to be a part of such a wonderful project? 

Swaby: It was a dream come true, really, and it was a dream job to work on. It was a pleasure all the way through the process. The BBC was fantastic to work with because they just trusted me as a fan of the show to just go with it…On the actual day the exhibit opened in Liverpool and I walked around was actually overwhelming because for the first time it was real for me. It wasn’t just stuff on paper. And seeing all that stuff together in one room and seeing people of all ages taking such delight as well was just a fantastic moment. And it is definitely one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on. 

To grab your tickets for Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder exhibit, head over to the Comic-Con Museum’s website.

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Everything We Know About HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 3

House of the Dragon‘s second season will go down as one of the most controversial in HBO history, but the prequel isn’t worried about the past. It’s moving forward with its next season. What can we expect when the series returns? What will happen and who will it happen to? Which newcomers will join the returning stars? And will George R.R. Martin hate everything about it? Here’s everything we know about House of the Dragon season three so far.

House of the Dragon Season 3’s PlotHBO

Depending on your own feelings, House of the Dragon‘s second season either ended with some great teases of battles to come or a lot of disappointment. Showrunner Ryan Condal understands both reactions. He apologized to fans who expected the season finale to deliver on some big moments from George R.R. Martin’s story “The Dance of the Dragons.” Readers of Fire & Blood know which events he’s talking about, but viewers also got a tease of clashes that will take place when the show returns. Armies all across Westeros and beyond are headed towards all-out war.

Season three will also see the fallout of Queen Alicent’s decision to give up her son Aegon to Rhaenyra in the name of peace. However, while Aegon’s mother was busy trading her son’s life for her own freedom, Aegon fled King’s Landing with Larys Strong. As for Alicent’s father Otto Hightower, he is currently locked away in an unknown cell by an unknown captor. (Of course, we have our own theory on who jailed him and where.)

The show’s third season will also be its penultimate season. House of the Dragon will end with season four.

Behind the ScenesWarner Bros. Discovery

Co-creator and executive producer Ryan Condal continues to serve as showrunner. It’s unclear if (and probably doubtful) George R.R. Martin will have any involvement with the series going forward after he publicly shared his major issues with the adaptation and the people making it. However, he HBO’s official show page still lists him as co-creator and an executive producer. Sara Hess, Alan Taylor, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere, and Vince Gerardis also serve as executive producers.

The eight-episode third season began pre-production in fall 2024. Filming is expected to begin in March of 2025, which lines up with Condal’s own previously stated timeline.

House of the Dragon Season 3 CastHBO

Season three will mark the return of stars Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Rhys Ifans, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham. Other cast members coming back for more dragon dancing include Abubakar Salim, Gayle Rankin, Freddie Fox, Simon Russell Beale, Clinton Liberty, Jamie Kenna, Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, and Vincent Regan. Tom Taylor could also reprise his role as Cregan Stark.

Variety first reported James Norton (The Nevers) will join the show as Ormund Hightower, the Lord of Oldtown. The character has only been reference on the show previously. But he is currently leading the marching Hightower army, which did appear in season two’s closing moments.

House of the Dragon Season 3 Release DateHBO

House of the Dragon season three is not likely to debut before spring 2026. It’s also possible it premieres in summer 2026 like season two.

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The BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Characters We Want to See Most in Hulu’s Reboot Series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is coming back to TV screens in a reboot from the makers of Poker Face and Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. Sarah Michelle Gellar will return as Buffy Summers, but what about the rest of the cast of the original Buffy? No shade toward Gellar (we adore her), but Buffy‘s stellar ensemble cast made the show great. Here’s are the characters we think need to make an appearance and be apart of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel reboot series.

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Note: We did not include any dead characters from the series, for the most part. We feel like the deaths of characters like Joyce Summers, Anya, and Tara should be respected and not undone in any way. We do have one exception to that rule, but you’ll have to read to the end for that one. Now, on to the Buffy characters we hope to make a comeback for the new Hulu reboot.

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)Twentieth Century Television

Willow Rosenberg has been Buffy Summers’ ride-or-die bestie since the very first episode of the original series in 1997. Well, except for that one time she tried to end the world and she and Buffy threw down. (But we’ll just forget all that for now.) If there’s any one character fans would want to see most in a reboot, we imagine it would be Alyson Hannigan’s Supreme Sapphic Witch. Willow must have grown even more powerful when it comes to magic in the decades since the original series ended. And we’re dying to see her return in full Elphaba strength. Of all the characters fans would revolt over the most if she never appeared in some capacity, we think it would be Willow Rosenberg.

Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head)Twentieth Century Television

Rupert Giles was Buffy’s Watcher and mentor for most of the original series run. Technically, the stuffy British librarian quit during the show’s sixth season. Yet he always came back around whenever his Slayer needed him most. If Buffy no longer needed a Watcher after season five, she definitely doesn’t need one in her middle age. But we can’t imagine Anthony Stewart Head being totally absent from any kind of Buffy continuation. Let’s say the new series features Buffy mentoring new Slayers (a likely scenario). She’d probably call her old mentor and father figure for assistance at least once. We must admit, we’ll get emotional when we see Rupert get flustered, take his glasses off, and clean them again all while being exasperated at the youth’s slang and music preferences.

Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon)Twentieth Century Television

In the years since Buffy ended, her best male buddy, Xander Harris, has become a controversial figure. Maybe because much of his toxic male behavior, often played for laughs, is no longer seen as cute and funny. Still, Xander fought by Buffy’s side for the entire run of the classic show. Not to mention, he even lost an eye in battle fighting on Team Slayer. In the post-series comics, he married Buffy’s sister Dawn. We doubt the new show would go that route, but you never know. We should note, that actor Nicholas Brendon has led a very troubled life since Buffy ended. He’s had many run-ins with the law over domestic abuse, among other personal problems. Some fans might not want him to return for that reason alone, and we acknowledge that. But we’d be remiss not to mention the fourth member of Buffy’s “Core Four.”

Angel (David Boreanaz)Twentieth Century Television

One of the most important characters in all of Buffy lore is the Slayer’s first love Angel, the vampire with a soul. Played by David Boreanaz for the show’s first three seasons, then in his own spin-off series that lasted another five years, Angel and Buffy’s tortured love affair was the source of much angst, drama, and teary speeches from Sarah Michelle Gellar. David Boreanaz has gone on to a legendary TV career, essentially going from Angel to Bones for 12 seasons, then straight from Bones to SEAL Team for another seven years. This guy has literally been on TV for 25 years straight. He’s like the male Betty White.

The question remains if he be willing to reprise the role that made him a star. He and Sarah Michelle Gellar remain friends to this day, so we can imagine he would say yes if she asked. Of course, there is one big hurdle with Boreanaz returning as Angel. As a vampire, Angel simply doesn’t age. And as a regular human, Boreanaz obviously has. Good-looking daddy type or not, he can’t pull off “Forever 25” anymore. Sure, there’s digital de-aging tech. But that often looks funky. Maybe the prophecy from his own series came true, and Angel became human? It would be fun to see how they’d pull this off. It’s hard to imagine a Buffy reboot with no appearance by her one true love.

Spike (James Marsters)Twentieth Century Television

On the subject of “vampires with souls,” James Marsters as Spike is perhaps the character with the greatest arc in the original series. Appearing in five seasons of Buffy and one of Angel, the bleached blonde “William the Bloody” went from a murderous villain, to an annoying sidekick, to a sexy and twisted love interest, to a heroic vampire surpassing Angel. We simply can’t imagine Buffy without him. Like David Boreanaz, Marsters would have to undergo serious digital de-aging to play Spike again, since he’s an immortal vampire. But we could see them pulling it off. Simply because Spike is just too important to leave out. Assuming the comics aren’t canon anymore, the last time Spike saw Buffy, she told him she loved him before he died saving the world (He got better on Angel.) There’s not a Buffy fan alive who doesn’t want to hear that reunion conversation.

Faith (Eliza Dushku)Twentieth Century Television

For a lot of Buffy fans, the original show’s third season remains its crown jewel. A big part of the reason why is the story arc with Buffy’s fellow Slayer, Faith (Eliza Dushku). Halfway through season three, Faith turned to the dark side and became one of the show’s best villains. Buffy and Angel were eventually able to pull her back into the light over several more seasons, and she fought with Buffy against the First Evil in the series finale. We have no idea what became of Faith since then, outside of comics which may no longer be canon. (A spin-off was discussed for her at one point.) Would Eliza Dushku be willing to help “B,” as she teasingly called Buffy, train a new generation of Slayers characters in a reboot? We know a lot of fans would love to see Faith’s redemption arc continue in that specific way.

Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter)Twentieth Century Television

Ok, I know we said “no dead characters” for this Buffy character reboot list. But we feel Cordelia Chase is an exception to that rule. Why? For starters, Charisma Carpenter is an OG Buffy cast member, and Cordy was the best “mean girl turned hero” in TV history. For those reasons alone, we feel she deserves her flowers. Secondly, her “death” in the last season of Angel was, shall we say, somewhat dubious both for the character and the actor who played her. That episode did leave what we feel is a cracked door for her possible return, as Cordelia had become a “Higher Being” in earlier seasons of Angel. Her final appearance suggested she simply moved on from her corporeal form to a higher plane of existence… a higher plane she could always come back from. We want our fabulous Cordy back, looking stunning, and trading barbs with the Scoobies one more time.  

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