Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 160

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN Puts an Ominous Twist on the MCU’s Peter/Tony Stark Relationship

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The MCU’s introduction of Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War came in a now-iconic scene. After a title card tells us we’re in Queens, New York, we cut to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. He gets home and finds his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) sitting with none other than RDJ as Tony Stark on the couch. We all know what happens next. Stark recruits Peter and becomes his mentor, giving him access to a high-tech Spider-Man suit he created. The rest, as they say, is history. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, however, that history all plays out differently.

Marvel Studios

In the first episode of the new series, we see Peter Parker walking into his apartment after school, just as in Civil War. In fact, he’s listening to the same song on his earbuds. But instead of Iron Man sitting on the couch with his “unusually attractive aunt,” as Tony called May, she’s sitting with Oscorp CEO Norman Osborn. Spider-Man fans of course know that traditionally, the billionaire scientist/industrialist becomes Spidey’s arch-nemesis the Green Goblin. Osborn’s green suit is a not-so-subtle hint at that future.

Marvel Animation

Norman Osborn invites Peter Parker to intern at his company in a special science division for genius youth. The special internship at Stark Industries is the story that Tony Stark sold to May to get her to allow Peter to go with him. But in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, it’s a real thing. Other kids in the program are known names to Marvel fans, like Amadeus Cho, who later becomes the (Totally Awesome) Hulk. The head of this lab is Dr. Bentley Wittman, who in the comics is the Fantastic Four villain the Wizard. By episode two’s end, it’s clear Norman Osborn knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man. He will likely be his mentor, much like Stark was for the 616 Peter.

Marvel Comics

So what does this all mean for the future of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man? Well, comic book fans know where this is all going. Sooner or later, Norman will take enhancements himself and gain super strength. And, also, he will totally lose his mind in the process. When he becomes the Green Goblin, it will be even harder for Peter, as this version of Norman really will be like a father to him. The Willem Dafoe version of Osborn in the Sam Raimi films told Peter he was “Like a father to him.” But we never really saw fatherly love on display like that. He was mostly just a little nicer to him than he was to his own son, Harry. Here, we suspect it will be different.

Sony Pictures

This also raises the question, does a Norman Osborn exist in the MCU? So far, the reality that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man exists in is very, very similar to the MCU. Characters refer to major MCU events like the Chitauri invasion from Avengers, among other things, suggesting they have an almost parallel history. But in No Way Home, the Raimi-verse Norman Osborn said Oscorp didn’t exist in the MCU. Norman said he couldn’t find his son Harry either. But just because Oscorp doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean the characters don’t. It will be interesting to see if an MCU Norman Osborn appears at some point. We could see his voice actor, Colman Domingo, convincingly play him in live-action as well. We’d certainly be into that idea becoming reality.

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Where are MJ and Ned? Why Peter Parker’s Classic Supporting Cast Isn’t In YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN

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In the MCU, Peter Parker’s group of friends and frenemies has been pretty consistent since 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. Peter’s best friend Ned Leeds, his eventual girlfriend MJ, and his frenemy Flash Thompson were a big part of Peter’s life throughout his trilogy of films. But they are not around in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. True, Marvel did not set the series in the Sacred Timeline of Earth-616. However, it’s an almost identical timeline, except for a few big twists, and with mostly the same characters. Even the “Do a flip!” guy on the street from Homecoming exists on this Earth. So where are Spidey’s best buds? Here’s why we haven’t seen them. At least, not yet.

Sony/Marvel Studios

The answer is (sort of) revealed in the first episode, even before the credits roll. In the MCU, Peter goes to Midtown School of Science and Technology, a special school for genius kids. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter also gets admitted to Midtown during his freshman year. Before setting foot on campus, however, an alien symbiote being destroys much of the school (and he gets his spider powers at the same time). The episode then flashes forward a few months later, with Peter and his new BFF Nico now enrolled in Rockford T. Bales High School. It’s explained that while Midtown is under repair, the school district enrolls the kids in different local high schools. And it seems like Ned, MJ, and the others simply go to school elsewhere.

Marvel Animation

This all allows for the creative team of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to give Peter Parker a whole new supporting cast. This frees them from the constraints of repeating all the same storyline beats as the MCU Peter. But are we ever going to see Ned, MJ, and the rest? It’s still entirely possible. Eventually, Midtown will be rebuilt, and Peter and Nico will presumably be sent back to that school. And one assumes, so will Ned, MJ, and Flash. It’s possible that in the future, the two supporting casts will merge. But it’s also just as likely that the Peter Parker of this universe never meets them. Which we admit, makes us a little sad, as those are pretty great characters.

Marvel Animation

In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, it already feels like they are going the Buffy the Vampire Slayer route with the supporting cast. Based on the comics, we know some of these characters will get powers of their own. Peter’s friend Nico Minoru, a character from the comic Runaways, will exhibit supernatural powers at some point. This would make her a take on Buffy’s witchy best friend Willow. And Lonnie Lincoln is the real name of the Spider-Man villain Tombstone in the comics. This suggests he’ll be the schoolmate who goes to the dark side, shades of the Buffy character Faith. If the Buffy template is what they’re working off of, there just might not be room for Ned and MJ. With two more seasons of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man already greenlit, we’ll just have to wait and see if Ned and MJ ever appear.

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Did the First Episode of YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN Already Introduce Other Spider-Heroes?

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Even before the introductory credits rolled on the first episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, we might have just gotten a broad hint at future spider-heroes coming in the series. In the opening moments of the first episode, “Amazing Fantasy,” we get an alternate version of Spidey’s classic origin story. Instead of being bitten by an enhanced spider during a school field trip, during his first day at Midtown School of Science and Technology, a portal opens up in the sky, and an alien symbiote creature emerges out of it. It instinctively attacks the school, until Doctor Strange arrives to stop it. But out of that same portal, a spider emerges…and promptly bites Peter Parker, giving him his powers.

Marvel Animation

However, right after, it crawls off of Peter Parker’s body. We then see it creep into the backpack of another, unknown Midtown student. We only see the backpack at their feet, so we don’t know if this student is male or female, or anything else about them really. But judging from Marvel Comics’ history, that spider is going to bite the owner of that backpack and give them spider powers all their own. But who might be the owner? We have narrowed it down to three potential Spider-heroes. Let’s go down the list of arachnid suspects:

Silk (Cindy Moon)Marvel Comics

In the comics, the Spider-Man writers eventually revealed that the spider also bit another student who was there on Peter Parker’s field trip, Korean-American student Cindy Moon. Unlike Peter, Cindy Moon hid her abilities for many years, only becoming the heroine Silk as an adult. But it was the very same spider that bit Peter that gave Cindy Moon nearly identical powers. Unlike Peter, she has organic webbing and displays a stronger spider-sense. A live-action show about Silk called Spider Society was in the planning stages, but was abruptly canceled last year. That leaves the character free and clear for the producers of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to introduce her in future seasons. We think Cindy Moon is perhaps the most likely candidate as to who owns that backpack.

Miles Morales Sony Pictures Animation

The other likely suspect who may own the backpack is Miles Morales. Now, in the comics (as well as in Spider-Verse films) Miles is significantly younger than Peter Parker. But we don’t know his age in this universe. The universe in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is very similar to the Sacred Timeline of the MCU. And in the MCU, we already know Miles Morales exists. The character of small-time crook Aaron Davis (Donald Glover) mentions having a young nephew. We know that nephew to be Miles. But “young” could mean a teenager Peter Parker’s age for all we know. It’s entirely possible that backpack belongs to a future Spider-Man in Miles Morales. The only reason we think Miles doesn’t show up is that Sony Animation may keep him off-limits until his Spider-Verse trilogy is completed.

Gwen Stacy (Ghost Spider)Sony Pictures Animation

Gwen Stacy is famously the love interest of Peter Parker who later dies tragically. But Spider-Gwen (Or Ghost Spider) is an alt-universe version of Gwen Stacy who received the spider bite instead of Peter. Although usually living in an alternate reality where Peter never became a superhero, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man may introduce Gwen as someone else bitten by the enhanced spider, who gets powers alongside him. They’ve never done it this way before in comics or animation, but we could see Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man introducing Gwen this way.

Marvel Comics/Marvel Animation/Sony Pictures Animation

Of course, that spider could make the rounds, and bite all three of them. Future seasons could introduce multiple Spider-heroes, all the same age as Peter Parker, and all sharing in his secret. They might want to rename the series in future seasons to Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. We feel Peter Parker is going to be keeping interesting company very soon.

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GODZILLA x KONG x FORTNITE Brings the Iconic Kaiju In to Do Damage

Godzilla and Kong have fought each other, Mechagodzilla, and many other deadly kaiju recently. But they are about to enter a new arena of battle that is new for the two titans—the world of Fortnite. Yes, Godzilla and Kong are arriving in Fortnite Battle Royale with v33.20. Players will now be able to unlock the Godzilla Evolved Outfit from Battle Pass Quests. Beginning January 17 through February 21, the occasional portal will appear on the Battle Royale map. If one jumps through that portal, they will emerge the other side as the King of the Monsters, Godzilla.

Legendary

Epic Games originally set Godzilla’s spawn rate in Fortnite at roughly 20%, but that is now no longer the case. Now, your chances of becoming Godzilla stands at a whopping 100%. As the King of the Monsters, you can reveal nearby players with Roar, kick their butts with a Mighty Stomp Attack, and waste other players with the Heat-Ray. Only one player can actually become Godzilla in the game, so it’s up to the other players to do damage and knock off Godzilla’s Fragments.

Click To View Gallery Legendary Legendary Legendary Legendary Legendary Legendary Legendary Legendary

Now, with the arrival of Godzilla and Kong to the world of Fortnite, comes a metric ton of new merchandise celebrating their arrival. The King of the Monsters and the King of Skull Island stand ready to fight in a series of t-shirts, posters, mugs, and lots more. (We can hear that atomic battle growl already). There’s even a Godzilla x Kong x Fortnite blanket to get snug on the couch with. The hoodies are $46.95, and the t-shirts will set you back $26.95. For more products and their respective prices, head on over to the Legendary online shop. And you can check out several images of these new products in our gallery above.

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

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James Gunn Clarifies ‘Absolutely Zero CG’ in Superman’s Face After His Flying Expression Comes Under Scrutiny

Soon, the world will meet a new Clark Kent in Superman. (Formerly titled Superman: Legacy). DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the most famous superhero in the world as they transition the franchise from the DCEU to the DCU. Who will play the Man of Steel on the big screen this time around? What kind of story will we see him in? And who will bring it to life? We’re keeping track of all these answers and more.

In case you were worried about too much CG obscuring our Clark Kent/Superman in Superman, you don’t have to be. James Gunn put recent fears that there would be a ton of digital shenanigans in Superman to rest after a sudden uproar over a specific still of David Corenswet’s face that seemed to be unnaturally still in the face of wind and flight.

It begins July 11th. #Superman pic.twitter.com/ey5Bwhnt6D

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 26, 2025

But Gunn revealed on Threads, “There is absolutely zero CG in his face. People’s faces can look different when you put a wide angle lens up close. The background plate in Svalbard is 100% real as is David.” Svalbard is the location in Norway where Superman was filmed. TL;DR: Superman is as real a movie as one about a flying superhero in a suit can get, baby! Honorable mention to Lex Luthor looking very fashionable in this sneak peek.

Here’s everything we know about Superman so far.

TitleWarner Bros.

The DCU’s first official movie (though not its first official release) is now titled simply Superman. Of course, the movie began its life as Superman: Legacy. It will kick off the film side of what James Gunn has called the franchise’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” He has also called this movie “the true beginning” of the DCU.

Superman‘s PlotDC Comics/Frank Quitely

While the film still has no official synopsis, Warner Bros. did provide a description of what we can expect from the story, which James Gunn says is not an origin tale.

Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn announced the film with art from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Whether or not that means the story is influenced, inspired by, or adapted from the 12-issue comic series in any way is unclear. What Gunn has said is the movie will focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” where he is still old enough to already be working for the Daily Planet.

We also have our first look at David Corenswet as the DCU’s Superman.

James Gunn

We also have our first look at Nicholas Hoult’s Lux Luthor. The menacing villain looks to be in fine form as he scowls around our first glimpse of the Superman movie. Check him out above in all his in all his glory, and you can then take a look at the character in action in the trailer itself. (We break it down here)

Warner Bros./DCSuperman‘s CastNetflix/DC Comics/Prime Video

David Corenswet will play Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

In addition, four more actors have joined the cast of Superman. Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi will play Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan will play Metamorpho. María Gabriela de Faría will play the villain The Engineer in the movie. Also known as Angela Spica, the character has nanotechnology built into her body. Additionally, Sara Sampaio will play Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen, and Wendell Pierce will play The Daily Planet boss Perry White. Saturday Night Live‘s Beck Bennett will play The Daily Planet‘s sports journalist Steve Lombard. James Gunn has also confirmed that Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor.

James Gunn recently confirmed that one exciting canine character would join the world of the DCU’s Superman this summer. Gunn shared that Krypto the Superdog would be a fixture of the movie and that he would be a pup who is a “not-so-good-good-boy” inspired by Gunn’s own real-life dog, Ozu.

In full, Gunn notes:

Krypto arrives on screens in Superman this summer. Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman. Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs & never knew human beings, was problematic to say the least. He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture – he even ate my laptop. It took a long time before he would even let us touch him. I remember thinking, “Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?” – and thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life. What better time to debut the not-so-good-good-boy Krypto than #AdoptAShelterDog month.  Btw, Ozu today, is, fairly often, a very good boy.  #Superman

Gunn also recently confirmed the casting of Ma and Pa Kent on Threads. Pruitt Taylor Vince (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will play Jonathan Kent, a.k.a. Pa Kent. Meanwhile, Neva Howell will play Martha Kent.

Behind the Scenes 

James Gunn wrote the (definitely completed) script and is directing.

Superman‘s Release Date

Thanks to the efforts of our talented crew, who never lost faith during the longest strikes in Hollywood history, and who never let their foot off the pedal, continuing to barrel forward, creating the most amazing character and set designs I’ve seen in my entire career,… pic.twitter.com/ntnEbA2fC0

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 11, 2023

Superman will soar into theaters faster than a speeding bullet on July 11, 2025.

Originally published on April 11, 2023.

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Christopher Nolan Taking THE ODYSSEY Cast to Real-Life Odysseus Isle, ‘Goat Island’

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 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.

The Latest Casting News From Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Netflix

The latest casting news from Deadline reveals that Jon Bernthal will star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey film in a role that’s unknown at this time. We aren’t sure if he will be punishing others or not, but in the meantime we will watch him do that in Daredevil: Born Again.

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

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.

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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YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN: Trailers, Cameos, Season 2 & 3 News

Every neighborhood needs a hero and, when it comes to one with special powers, there’s no one more beloved than Spider-Man. He’s a mostly regular dude who can sling web, soar through the sky, and thwart the attempts of bad guys trying to destroy the city. We’ve seen Spidey in many forms and played by quite a few actors in live-action. But Marvel is taking the hero back to one of my personal favorite formats: an animated series. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is coming soon and its official trailer delivers a lot of humor, heart, and, of course, some good old-fashioned street fighting. Meanwhile, other glimpses at the series tease the arrival of some of our other favorite Marvel characters.

In the clip, we meet Peter Parker, a nerdy kid who attends Midtown High and lives with his Aunt May. But, underneath his ample social awkwardness lies a secret hero who goes around saving the city from bad dudes. The updated version of the Spider-Man theme song along with the quips and gorgeous animation makes this a series that piques our curiosity. The voice cast includes Hudson Thames, Colman Domingo, Eugene Byrd, Grace Song, Zeno Robinson, Hugh Dancy, and Charlie Cox. 

Further looks at the series allow us to glimpse more of what’s to come, including Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man‘s Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Doc Ock, and even a recreation of the MCU’s airport fight from Captain America: Civil War. Very intriguing.

Not your average high school freshman.

Stream Marvel Animation's all-new series #YourFriendlyNeighborhoodSpiderMan January 29 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/rCUsAedsUo

— Spider-Man (@SpiderMan) January 23, 2025

Here’s a quick synopsis of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to go along with that trailer: 

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming a hero, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots.

What Is the Release Date of Marvel Animation’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?Marvel Animation

We don’t have long to wait before Peter Parker swings across our TV screens. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will hit Disney+ on January 29. 

Season 2 & 3 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Are on the Way

But there’s even more good Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man news!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is greenlit through Season 3! Marvel Studios’ Brad Winderbaum says he’s meeting with @MrJeffTrammell soon to hear the pitch.

Scripts for Season 2 are also done and animatics are halfway finished.

Full interview Tuesday on #TheMoviePodcast pic.twitter.com/j3xpINfxOJ

— The Movie Podcast (@TheMoviePodcast) January 26, 2025

Speaking to The Movie Podcast, Marvel Studios head of streaming, television, and animation Brad Winderbaum confirmed that season two and season three of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have been greenlit. He noted, “I’ve now read all of the scripts for Season 2; we’re halfway through the animatics. What [lead writer and executive producer Jeff Trammell] is building brick by brick in this show starts to pay off.” And added, “We’re greenlit for through season 3, so in a couple weeks I’m going to hear [head writer Jeff Trammell’s] pitch for the third season.”

That’s exciting stuff for any web-heads out there!

Originally published January 2, 2025.

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DUNE Leaving Netflix But Will Be Streaming FREE on Tubi

It’s a morning filled with Dune news. The first part of this news might feel a little bit sad. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune will be leaving Netflix on January 31. If Netflix was your go-to streamer for the award-winning movie, that might leave you wanting to dig a hole into the ground and hide under some sand. But fear not. Dune will surface again as resplendent as any Shai-Hulud. On February 1, Dune will officially be available on Tubi—and Tubi means free.

Warner Bros./Legendary

Dune, of course, remains available on Max. But not all folks have Max and Netflix on the go. And though Tubi is a FAST channel, and that means ads during your Dune viewing, let’s be real…Aren’t you watching ads on Max and Netflix at this point? Having Dune stream on Tubi for free opens up a whole new avenue for viewers to watch the Villeneuve film and makes it accessible to a fresh audience.

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As a reminder, a FAST channel is a Free Ad-supported Streaming TV channel. And given that streamers are more or less ad-supported these days, that “free” really goes a long way. We sure are happy to hear that Dune is heading to Tubi. While Dune: Part Two is not yet making the leap to free TV, it did recently score five 2025 Oscar nominations. (Although not for “Best Director.”) But you can’t get watching Dune: Part Two without enjoying Dune first.

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

For those not in the know, 2021’s Dune is considered a true hit and a great sci-fi movie of our time. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adapts Frank Herbert’s monumental novel series and brings to life the fantastical world to perfection. And for all of that good stuff, there’s no better price than watching Dune for free. Dune‘s synopsis shares, “The son of a noble family travels to a dangerous planet to avenge his father’s death and protect the most precious resource in the galaxy in this visually stunning adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel.” Dune, of course, features a tremendous cast which includes Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, and Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

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We can’t wait to watch Dune for free online when it arrives on Tubi.

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

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Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara Hustle Pickleball Players for Michelob ULTRA Beer in Super Bowl Ad

The Philadelphia Eagles are NFC champs. The Kansas City Chiefs are AFC champs. So you know what that means! It’s time for giant corporations to spend a mountain of money for a big game commercial starring celebrities! This year, Michelob ULTRA is getting in on the Super Bowl fun with Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara. The beer company’s pricey promo has the two beloved actors stalking pickleball courts to hustle players White Men Can’t Jump style. And they’re doing it with some weird Challengers-esque sexual energy tossed into the mix.

Young, unsuspecting, and arrogant pickleball players are no match for the chaotic energy of Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara in Michelob ULTRA’s Super Bowl LIX ad. In the commercial, the two veteran actors roam pickleball courts looking for suckers. Their goal? Free beer. And they’re out to not just win, they’re out to destroy their enemies. Because while Dafoe and O’Hara might look DaFriendly and O’Vera the hill, they’re anything but. They’re absolute killers on the court.

And it’s not just nameless butts they’re whooping with a combo of little paddles and unsettling intensity. NFL great Randy Moss, WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, and three-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser are also no match for the two Hollywood legends.

Michelob Ultra

That’s just what the commercial can show, though. There’s more going on in this ad. Unaddressed during their reign of terror reign of dominance and beer winning is the sexual tension they have with both each other and the defeated. This isn’t a Challengers parody at all, and yet…

Of course, this is a Super Bowl commercial, so there’s only so much Michelob Ultra can do. Even when you spend a mint-worth of money hiring famous celebrities for a single commercial there are still limits to what you can show. Our imaginations know no such limits, though.

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The Complete and Spectacular History of Spider-Man in Animation

Spider-Man has been swinging through comic book pages since 1962, with his massive popularity leading to a staggering amount of monthly solo books, various team books and guest star appearances. In live-action, there’s been plenty of Spidey as well, including three different TV versions in the 1970s and then a consistent run of feature films in the past 25 years starring three different actors.

But aside from the comic book source material, it’s animation where Spidey has been pretty much a mainstay through nearly every decade since his debut. With the new Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man about to debut on Disney+, here’s a look back at the many animated versions of the wall-crawler so far, including multiple ongoing shows and an Oscar-winning move into animated feature films. 

Spider-Man (1967-1970)

It may have featured relatively cheap and frequently reused animation, but the first-ever Spider-Man animated series impressively continues to resonate. Part of that is thanks to an iconic and ever-catchy “does whatever a spider can!” opening theme song, which has been included and/or adapted in a ton of Spidey media since. But these days, it’s also because of a scene featuring Spider-Man and an imposter that spawned a certain finger-pointing meme that has become ingrained into social media and pop culture for the past decade-plus. 

Spider-Woman (1979)

The 1970s stand out as the only decade since Spider-Man’s comic book introduction that no new animated series starring the character debuted. Yet he still managed to get in a couple of appearances in the Spider-Woman animated series, again voiced by Paul Soles, who played him in the 1960s series.

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Oddly enough, Spider-Man had two different animated series debuting on the same day in 1981, sharing identical animation styles and character designs, yet not strictly connected. The solo Spider-Man series didn’t have the impact of the other show (more on that below), even as it had Spidey encountering his own rogue’s gallery, original foes, and familiar Marvel villains like Magneto and Red Skull, while meeting guest stars like Sub-Mariner and Captain America. 

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)NBC/Marvel Productions

Making the bigger impression was this popular team-up series, in which Spider-Man formed the “Spider-Friends” with Iceman and Firestar. Even more than the simultaneous solo series, Amazing Friends was filled with guest stars from all across Marvel like the X-Men, Doctor Strange, Black Knight and more, evoking the biggest feeling yet in any Marvel adaptation of the larger shared universe the comics contained. 

Muppet Babies (1989)

In a show all about the power of imagination, the Muppet Babies episode “Comic Capers” had Rowlf and Skeeter both imagining themselves as Spider-Man (or Spider-Dog and Spider-Girl, respectively) and running into the real Spidey along the way. On top of that, an animated Hulk and a live-action Stan Lee also popped up. 

X-Men: The Animated Series (1994)

It was literally just his hand, but it’s clearly Spider-Man shooting a web in a quick moment in X-Men: TAS’ “The Phoenix Saga – Part V: Child Of Light.” With the many 1990s Marvel animated series eventually proving to be interconnected, this can thus be seen as a cameo introduction for the same Spidey who would then star in the next series on this list…

Spider-Man (1994-1998)

Still held in high regard by all who grew up with it, the 1990s Spider-Man animated series was easily the most faithful to the comics to that point, packed with both familiar villains and involving adaptations of iconic storylines from the source material. Its visual style and the specific looks it gave its characters remain iconic—and frequently merchandised—to this day. 

Spider-Man Unlimited (1999-2001)

A bit of a head scratching curiosity, this kinda-sorta sequel to the earlier 1990s Spider-Man show (but not really if you don’t want it to be) found Peter Parker wearing a fancy new suit while trapped on the bizarre “Counter-Earth.” There, he faced the High Evolutionary’s human-animal hybrid Bestials and encountered strange versions of familiar characters. Not resonating with Spidey fans, a cliffhanger couldn’t save Unlimited from cancellation. 

Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)Sony Pictures Television

Neil Patrick Harris voiced Spidey in this MTV CG-animated series that positioned itself as a follow-up to Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie, continuing from where that film left off while introducing villains like Kraven, Lizard and Electro… before Spider-Man 2 would contradict it and firmly set this show in its own reality. 

Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (2007)

Though he’s never named due to TV rights restrictions, it’s amusingly clear the freelance photographer Johnny Storm hires to follow him around throughout the episode “Frightful,” hoping to improve his image, is meant to be Peter Parker. 

The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)

Living up to its title, this truly spectacular animated series nailed its depiction of a high school-aged Peter Parker, backed by an endearing cast of characters, great storylines, and excellent action sequences. Sadly, the Sony-produced series ended far too soon after two seasons when Marvel got back TV animation rights to Spider-Man. 

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Its 104-episode run is currently the highest of any Spider-Man animated series, with Ultimate also kicking off a new group of interconnected Marvel animated shows in the wake of Disney buying the company. As with Spectacular, this series put Spidey in high school, which has remained consistent in most of his shows since.

Featuring Spider-Man heavily connected to S.H.I.E.L.D., it eventually offered up its own animated version of the comic book’s Spider-Verse storyline. This version of Spidey, voiced by Drake Bell, also appeared on the series Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2012)

Near the end of its run, Spider-Man would show up a handful of times on this animated Avengers series. There was a bit of fan controversy when Josh Keaton, who voiced Peter on the beloved Spectacular Spider-Man, was replaced after first recording the episodes with Drake Bell. It was an apparent attempt to mesh better with Ultimate Spider-Man, despite Earth’s Mightiest Heroes clearly existing in its own continuity.

Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel (2013)

In one of the wackier results of Disney buying Marvel, Phineas and Ferb met a whole mess of Marvel heroes in this crossover, Spider-Man included. Drake Bell and the casts of the other Marvel animated series at the time reprised their roles here, though it feels safe to say this is not canon to Ultimate Spider-Man. Probably. 

LEGO Specials (2013-2020)

There have been a bunch of LEGO specials featuring Marvel characters, and Spider-Man has appeared in a few of them – including one, 2019’s LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Vexxed by Venom, focusing specifically on the world of Spidey and his enemies, LEGO style. 

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (2014-2015)

This Japanese anime had a very distinct spin on the Avengers – here trapped inside disks that some plucky kids can briefly free them from – and boasted frequent appearances from Spider-Man. Unlike his high school-aged contemporary animated US counterparts, this version of Peter Parker was a Stark Industries scientist. 

Marvel Future Avengers (2017-2018)

The next Japanese-produced Marvel animated series followed the Avengers training a group of teens who were Hydra defectors. Spider-Man appeared for a multi-episode story arc also involving his archnemesis, the Green Goblin. 

Spider-Man (2017-2020)

Beginning almost immediately after Ultimate Spider-Man, this series incorporated Spider-Verse types like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen as ongoing characters, removing their multiverse origins. Its version of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man, voiced by Robbie Daymond, would also appear in the animated Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse / Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2018 / 2023)Sony Animation

When Spider-Man finally made his animated feature film debut, it couldn’t have gone better. This adored, Academy Award winning multiverse story focused on Miles Morales, though with plenty of Peter Parker included too, along with Gwen Stacy. The sequel was an even bigger hit, while retaining the critical acclaim, making everyone psyched for the third film… whenever we get it!

What If…? (2021)

Peter Parker made one appearance on What If…? in an episode where he was one of the few survivors of a zombie apocalypse – and temporarily ended up wearing Doctor Strange’s Cloak of Levitation. 

Spidey and His Amazing Friends (2022-Present)

Aimed at preschoolers, this show also heavily incorporates Miles and Gwen, who team with Peter here – except they’re all little kids. Filled with heroes and villains from both Spider-Man lore and Marvel at large, Spidey had become quite the sensation with its young audience.

X-Men’ 97 (2024)

The revival of the 1990s X-Men animated series has managed to sneak in two silent cameos from the 1990s animated Spider-Man as well, first showing him in full costume reacting to Magneto’s magnetic pulse at the end of episode 8. We then found Peter Parker alongside Mary Jane Watson and Flash Thompson watching a harrowing news report in the Season 1 finale.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025-?)Marvel Animation

Originally intended as a prequel to Tom Holland’s live-action Spider-Man films, this new series was retooled to exist in its own universe, freeing up this newly-powered Peter Parker to encounter characters like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Daredevil that MCU canon would not have allowed for. A second season is already confirmed for this Disney+ TV show.

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