Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1759

SOLO Film Premiere Gets a Life-Size Millennium Falcon

It feels like it was just yesterday that a Star Wars movie was hitting theaters, but just a mere five months since The Last Jedi hit multiplexes around the globe, Solo: A Star Wars Story is set to make its debut this week. And if you’ve followed any of the coverage of the last three Star Wars premieres since the House of Mouse took over Lucasfilm, you know that Disney goes all-out for these red carpet premieres for movies set in the galaxy far, far away.

But now, for the big reveal of Solo, they might have outdone themselves. Disney and Lucasfilm  are currently building a life size Millennium Falcon right on Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the El Capitan and the TCL Chinese Theater, where the film will be screened tonight. Tons of Star Wars fans have taken photos of the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” being constructed, and have been posting them to social media. You can see examples of these Millennium Falcon premiere pics down below.

The Millennium Falcon is currently parked on Hollywood Boulevard

 

Millennium Falcon getting built on Hollywood Blvd for the Solo Premiere!! #StarWars #HanSolo #Solo #Lando #Chewbacca #Qira #SoloAStarWarsStory #MillenniumFalcon #SoloSWS #LosAngeles #CA #Hollywood #Lucasfilm #Disney pic.twitter.com/Vp3BzAZ1Qd

— Andrew Wester (@AndrewWester24) May 9, 2018

A full scale #millenniumfalcon is being built on Hollywood Boulevard! Watch my next vlog and watch the process! #solo pic.twitter.com/BUwZoy2bzJ

— Erik Peter Carlson (@erikpcarlson) May 10, 2018

SQUEEEEEE LOOK IT’S A GIANT #MillenniumFalcon for the #SoloAStarWarsStory Premiere tonight! The red carpet runs inside the ship

Stay Frosty with New Self-Chilling Cans of Coffee

Are you ready for the apocalypse? I sure am. I have essentials like food, water, and shelter prepared, but let’s talk about real survival: life without caffeine is no life at all. Now you can prep for the end times with the knowledge you’ll still be able to have cold iced coffee whenever you want, refrigeration be damned.

7-Eleven, purveyor of rotating hot dogs and mind-freezing Slurpees, is rolling out a ground-breaking product: Fizzics Sparkling Cold Brew Coffee. You may say, big deal, it’s coffee in a can—but hold on, because this is the very first self-chilling can available to the public in the U.S. and it’s currently being tested at 15 LA area stores.

Self. Chilling. Coffee.

The Chill-Can containers are room temp to the touch; the magic happens when they’re activated. The patented technology utilizes reclaimed CO2 and the process automatically chills the can and the delicious sparkling coffee beverage inside. In other words, it’s pure sorcery.

So how do we mortals go about performing this feat of caffeinated wizardry? Simply place the can on a flat surface upside down, then twist the base to activate. Don’t be frightened by the hissing sound; that’s part of it. Then have patience and leave it alone until the hissing stops, because the warmth of your human hands might inhibit the cooling process. When the magical hissing is over, then you can turn the can over (don’t worry it’s only about 90 seconds of your life) and pop a cold one. Literally. Literally cold. Do you understand what you just witnessed? Spellbinding java magnificence.

The coffee drinks come in three flavors: Regular, French Vanilla and Caramel, and are available exclusively at select participating 7-Eleven stores.

What do you think of these self-chilling containers of coffee? Are you willing to take it by the can and walk into the future? Let us know in the comments and and tag @nerdist and @justjenn on Twitter to show us if you try it out!

Image: 7-Eleven, Warner Bros., Rafael Saldaña

Stay caffeinated with these stories!

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Genius Student Assigned to Write Paper as a Marvel Character Chooses Groot

There’s a popular legend about a student who got an “A” after answering his philosophy professor’s lone final exam question of “Why?” with a simple “Why not?” It’s a story so old there are multiple versions of it with different questions and different answers, but they all revolve around a young person bravely giving as sparse an answer as possible to an important test. However, like most great myths, who knows if there’s any truth to it? Or at least we didn’t, until we learned about a high school student who turned in the greatest, gutsiest paper we have ever seen.

Because when you have to do your assignment as any character from Marvel, there’s only so much you can do when you choose Groot.

Principles of Engineering teacher Jeffrey Scott Davis assigned his students at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, to write a resume and cover letter as an MCU character of their choosing (what a great assignment!). He then shared the absolutely brilliant, crazy, courageous paper one (obviously genius) student passed in.

My students had to pick a Marvel character to embody within a resume and cover letter. The idea that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take lives within one particular student of mine. @RobertDowneyJr @prattprattpratt @vindiesel #iamwfisd #wfisdengineering @WFISD_CEC pic.twitter.com/7pddcxebsK

— Jeffrey Scott Davis M. Ed. (@ROBODAVISWFISD) May 8, 2018

Somebody get Harvard on the phone, because we just found the smartest kid in America. Also, we should probably alert the White House because they will want to give this student the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

So far Mr. Davis has stayed mum on what grade he gave this ingenious assignment, and while we certainly hope this student got the “A” they deserve, it would probably be more fitting if they got it back with a different mark at the top: one that reads “I am Groot.”

Would you ever have been willing to do something like this when you were in school? Tell us in the comments below the biggest risk you ever took with an assignment.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

Stories to guard your galaxy:

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Guardians of the Galaxy pet cosplay.

Mike Myers Wants to Make a Dr. Evil-Focused AUSTIN POWERS Movie

It’s been 16 years since the release of Austin Powers in Goldmember, the most recent installment of Mike Myers‘ Austin Powers franchise. That means 16 years without Dr. Evil’s cartoonish brand of nefariousness, but it looks like Myers wouldn’t mind donning the bald cap one more time. In fact, he’s super on board: The actor spoke with ET at the premiere of Terminal, and he sounded very enthusiastic about a potential fourth Austin Powers movie.

“I would love to do a movie from Dr. Evil’s perspective,” Myers said. “So it would be Dr. Evil 1, Austin Powers 4, is how I would roll. Start the campaign, please. Thank you.”

As exciting as this prospect is, there is one significant factor to consider: Verne Troyer, who played Mini Me in the films, just passed away a few weeks ago. Mini Me was a perfect Dr. Evil sidekick, and it’s tough to picture one without the other. That said, though, maybe a Dr. Evil-centric Austin Powers movie could be an origin story and focus on a period when he hadn’t yet met Mini Me? The good news is aside from Mini Me, Myers himself plays virtually every major character, so getting the rest of the old gang back together wouldn’t be too difficult. Actually, the whole gang has made it very clear that they’d love for this to happen, so who knows!

Would you like to see another Austin Powers movie? What do you think would be the best way for the film to confront the passing of Troyer? Let us know what you’re thinking down in the comments!

Featured Image: New Line Cinema

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Celebrate Mother’s Day With a Terrifying Trailer for HEREDITARY

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day, that annual celebration when we all let our moms know just how much they mean to us. Some of us do it with flowers, some with chocolate, and some with the perfect card that says everything that’s in our hearts. But this year why not get the woman that raised you something different? Like two ticket movie tickets for a fun night out. Though based on the new “Happy Mother’s Day” trailer for the horror film Hereditary, you might need to find a less traumatizing way to say “I love you.”

The latest teaser for Hereditary–a movie so scary it had audiences at the Sundance Film Festival losing their minds, and (hilariously) terrorized parents and children when a trailer for it accidentally aired before Peter Rabbit–wishes all the moms out their a Happy Mother’s Day this year. But hopefully none of our moms will be haunted by demons and burning men on their special holiday–or any other day–the way Toni Collette is here.



Aww, c’mon! I was going to get my mom a video of me being consumed by ants this year! Now it will just seem trite. And obviously I can’t go out and make her another creepy sculpture with a bird head.

As for the movie, while we can’t wait to see when it comes to theaters on June 8th, it might not be the best way to tell our moms we love them. Not unless we accidentally buy them some demon flowers by accident.

Would you take your mom to see this movie? Don’t be afraid to tell us why in the comments below.

Featured Image: A24

We’ve got more to fear here:



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Universal Studios Hollywood Prepares a Fully Revamped JURASSIC WORLD Ride

It’s been over 20 years since the iconic Jurassic Park ride debuted at Universal Studios Hollywood, and ever since then it’s been terrifying small children and entertaining adults with a riotous water ride through an ever more dilapidated park. That’s why it makes a lot of sense Universal Studios Hollywood announced today that the beloved–if slightly worn out–ride will be replaced next year with a brand new water ride based on the Jurassic World franchise! Check out the announcement video below.

According to the Universal Studios Hollywood website, the ride will be high-tech and feature a number of new creatures including the terrifying Mosasaurus: “On this river-raft adventure, get doused as a colossal Mosasaurus dives for its great white shark snack. But the real danger lies ahead when the brutal Indominus rex escapes its enclosure. Be prepared when a 50-foot Tyrannosaurus rex comes to your rescue… right before your final plunge down a treacherous 84-foot waterfall.” Sounds both horrifying and amazing TBH, and we’ll be at the front of that line when the ride opens next year!

You have until September 3rd to revisit the classic Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios Hollywood before it becomes extinct forever. The Jurassic Cove and Jurassic Outfitters stores will also be revamped as the lower lot is reimagined to fit the new Jurassic World theme!  Will you be checking out this brand new dino-centric adventure? Too scarred by your first ride on the Jurassic Park experience as a child? Just want to see a giant Mosasaurus eating a great white shark? Let us know below!

Images: Universal Studios

It’s a Jurassic World of news.

Some fun Jurassic World LEGO sets.
Jurassic World LEGO sets.
Also, Jeff Goldblum will be in the video game.

Should AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Have Included a Certain Reunion?

Infinity War gave us a lots of great new pairings, but originally it also included a meeting between two old friends. On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we discussed if Marvel was right to delay Steve Rogers and Tony Stark’s reunion, along with the latest from Solo: A Star Wars Story, and whether an unlikely source just leaked a bunch of new video games.

Joining host Jessica Chobot today was editor Amy Ratcliffe, social media director Michelle Buchman, and producer Derek Johnson. They assembled to talk about some things we didn’t see in Infinity War, including a brief scene with Iron Man and Captain America that was initially in the script. Do we wish it was included, or was Marvel right to hold it back for Avengers 4? Also, Falcon was originally supposed to end up on Titan instead of Spider-Man. How different would the ending have been if they hadn’t made that change? And are you surprised a movie of this size let Dave Bautista improv his amazing “Why is Gamora?” line?

From one major Disney franchise to another, we got a new, historic scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story, when Han met Lando for the first time. What do we think? Does it have us more excited for the movie? Is Lucasfilm sharing too much from the film at this point? Was Alden Ehrenreich put in an impossible situation? And will the look and feel of the movie be enough to make it work even if the plot and performances don’t?

Finally, the website for Walmart in Canada might have leaked the announcement for a whole bunch of new video games, including for Borderlands 3, Gears of War 5, an untitled Assassin’s Creed, as well as a certain remake we’ve been waiting on. Is this totally bogus, or did they just spoil E3? If they are real, are we surprised by any of these titles? Which one are we most excited for? And will this truly be the year we finally get the long-awaited Final Fantasy VII remake?

Remember Nerdist News Talks Back airs live every Monday through Thursday on our YouTube and Alpha channels at 1PM PT, and we end the week in entertainment with Nerdist News What the Fridays at 1PM PT, only at Alpha.

We still want to hear what you thought about today’s show, so talk back to us in the comments below.

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How the SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Soundtrack Reveals Key Details

Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for Solo: A Star Wars Story !

Solo: A Star Wars Story is flying into theaters in just under two weeks. We’re getting what feels like a brand new clip everyday (Wednesday’s focused on the first meeting of Lando and Han), and Lucasfilm has revealed the Solo soundtrack titles. Today’s Nerdist News is all about how the Solo track names may offer spoilers about what’s to come.

Join host and  previous owner of the Millennium Falcon, Jessica Chobot, as she runs down the intel we’ve managed to glean from Solo‘s soundtrack, scored by John Powell, with one suite from John Williams. The good news is none of the names give away huge plot points. But some of the new track listings have us scratching our heads. “Lando’s Closet” is not something we ever pictured seeing or hearing. But since we know Lando’s Millennium Falcon has a cape closet, maybe we’re in for some kind of smuggler fashion montage.

Some of the titles aren’t going to surprise anyone who has been watching the trailers. Obviously, the “Train Heist” has been hinted at in the footage. Although that track name is a little on the nose, isn’t it? And if the soundtrack is presented in chronological order, then this scene takes place way earlier in the movie than we would have expected. A few of the other tracks have us thinking that Han may not be winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando until pretty late in the film.

People Can’t Stop Making Thanos Dance in FORTNITE

A major development has rocked Fortnite: Thanos, the super-powered baddie from Avengers: Infinity War, has made his way into the game. The limited time event went live yesterday, and it’s pretty straightforward: The game is played as normal, except somewhere on the map is an Infinity Gauntlet, and the first player to find it is instantly transformed into Thanos.

The battle begins now! Drop in solo, then squad up for the movie.

Infinity Gauntlet Blog: https://t.co/KyqPCNNug7
v4.1 Patch Notes: https://t.co/KtVzsZmint pic.twitter.com/Quhcl9acZr

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) May 8, 2018

As you’d imagine, being Thanos is a huge advantage, as he’s so physically superior to every other player in the field. In fact, that was actually a bit of a problem: It turns out that he was way too strong, so Epic downgraded his abilities some. Specifically, his shield cap decreased from 300 to 200, and his laser damage versus players went down from 15 to 20, although his max health was raised from 700 to 800.

Before and after the wrinkles were ironed out, fans have been having a ton of fun wielding Thanos’ powers, and it appears his strongest power of all is his ability to dance. Fortnite is famous for its dancing emotes, so of course players have been uploading clips of Thanos busting out some sick moves. Basically, if you’ve ever wanted to see Thanos do the Carlton dance from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, this is your chance.

@Rhymestyle @Jdantastic @Nanogenix you can use your emotes as thanos #PS4sharehttps://t.co/x4dnsdtQHI pic.twitter.com/Xwabf2EB49

— NightShadeGaming (@NightShadeGamil) May 8, 2018

"Did you do it?"
"Yes."
"What did it cost?"
"Everything." pic.twitter.com/b2e2z4CEtD

— Polygon (@Polygon) May 8, 2018

Some more ambitious fans have even edited Thanos into other Marvel movies, so watch him as he blends in with the Avengers and has a dance-off with Chris Pratt:

Thanos using the reality stone to live out his wildest dreams from r/marvelstudios

It’s a dance battle, Thanos. (x-post from r/FortniteBR) from r/marvelstudios

Have you gotten the Infinity Gauntlet in Fornite and transformed into Thanos yet? If so, what’s your go-to emote? Let us know down in the comments!

Featured image: @ForniteGame/Twitter

More from the MCU!

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POWER RANGERS 25th Anniversary Set is Legitimately More Phenomenal

1993 was an enormous year for kids programming, which made it the year I, as a 9-year-old, became media aware. On top of shows like Animaniacs, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and Exosquad (and seriously like a million more, look it up) there was a show that became the obsession of everyone for a very long time: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Twenty-five years of children have enjoyed some version of Power Rangers, but the OG crew remains the most beloved and celebrated. And what better way to say “It’s Continually Morphin Time” than with an enormous commemorative DVD set?

The good folks at Shout! Factory–who’ve been the shepherd of Power Rangers media for many years now, are commemorating the 25th anniversary of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with a collectors edition steelbook complete series box set which gathers all 155 original episodes–all three seasons of MMPR plus the 10-episode miniseries Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers–as well as the 1995 feature film, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, out on Blu-ray for the very first time ever, with an all new making-of documentary featuring interviews with actors Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam) and Paul Freeman (Ivan Ooze).

If you were to pre-order your set from Shout Factory directly, you’d get the above exclusive lithograph, measuring 18×24 inches, featuring art by Paul Skipper. The set is available for pre-order now and is slated for release on August 7.

It’s rare to say a 25-year-old show for kids that heavily featured re-dubbed footage from a Japanese series with vastly different storylines has in fact become a cultural phenomenon, but Mighty Morphin Power Rangers certainly did. They didn’t make a brand new feature film of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. last year, I’ll tell ya that much.

Images: Shout Factory

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s written the animation retrospectives Batman: Reanimated, X-Men: Reanimated, Cowboy Rebop, and Samurai reJacked. Follow him on Twitter!

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