Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 177

This Acapella X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Theme Song Is Pitch Perfect

The X-Men animated series theme song is truly iconic. We’d like to think of it as the unofficial national anthem for Gen X and Millennials. Even the imagery that accompanies it is unforgettable in every frame. There have been many remixes of the X-Men theme song, but none of them are quite like MayTree’s acapella version. 

Of course, any good acapella collective is going to have excellent harmony and vocal intonation. But MayTree takes the X-Men theme song to a new level by recreating all the intricate sounds that you hear in the opening credits in addition to the overall acapella take.

MayTree/YouTube/Marvel

Everything from the laser sounds to explosions to the Mister Sinister laugh are there. The chopstick claws are also a nice touch! Honestly, we would pay good money to see this live.

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Deluxe STAR WARS Tables Bring the Force Into Your Living Room

So your Star Wars collection has grown too large, and now needs its own room in your home. It happens. Well, if you’re going to have a room themed to the galaxy far, far away, might as well Star Wars-ize every part of it. Yes, even the furniture itself. The folks at Backyard Resin have created a series of high-end tables showcasing Star Wars elements, and they are each a true work of art. Three of them prominently feature the Millennium Falcon in action, but one pays homage to the Jedi’s greatest weapon. You can check out each item down below:

Star Wars – Millennium Falcon End Table and Coffee TableBackyard Resin

The first Backyard Resin table features the Falcon and a rebel X-Wing fighter, pursued by TIE fighters through space. This beautiful dark walnut Star Wars end table starts at $1,140.00 for the 24″ x 24″ version, and there are four other larger coffee table sizes to choose from at varying prices.

Walnut Star Wars – Millennium Falcon Cutting BoardBackyard Resin

If the table costs too many Imperial credits for your comfort, then this cutting board is a more economical alternative. Like the table above, it showcases the Millennium Falcon, an X-Wing, and an Imperial TIE fighter flying through space. Perfect for the scoundrel-infested cantina (or kitchen) in your home. This 12” x 24” dark walnut Star Wars cutting board will set you back $414.00.

Ocean Star Wars Coffee Table Backyard Resin

The next dark walnut coffee table features the Falcon, an X-Wing, and a TIE fighter skimming the surface of the ocean. This recreated a scene very similar to one in The Force Awakens. Similar to the previous tables, this one starts at $1,140.00 for the 24″ x 24″ end table version. The four other larger sizes have varying prices.

Star Wars Lightsaber Coffee TableBackyard Resin

The final Star Wars table, our personal favorite, features the most elegant weapon in the galaxy, the lightsaber. This stunning piece features a meticulously airbrushed blade and a 3D-printed lightsaber handle embedded in the table. You can choose between two colors for your blade — Luke Skywalker’s green, or Darth Vader’s Sith red. The 24″ x 24″ end table costs $1,140.00, with the larger coffee tables priced higher.

To purchase these amazing pieces of Star Wars home furnishings, head on over to Backyard Resin.

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This JOHN WICK Duck Is Suited Up and Splattered with Blood

It’s no secret that we are big John Wick fans at Nerdist. The ongoing bloody adventures of the very stylish yet also scary Baba Yaga bring us into a world that we wouldn’t mind being a part of. Keanu Reeves is one of the best action heroes ever as John Wick, so much so that he should have a zillion figures in his honor. And yes, that includes this very adorable yet gruff John Wick duck by Tubbz. 

Tubbz

This duck has all the trademarks of John Wick, from its black suit to its goatee to that glorious hair that Keanu rocks so well. And, just for extra giggles, he’s sporting a few drops of blood on his face and a scowl as he wields a gun. 

Here’s the official description of the John Wick duck from Tubbz:

The duck you were yesterday should never be the duck you are today! John Wick has hit the big time as he becomes a cosplaying TUBBZ collectible. It’s been a rough day in the pond. He’s splattered with blood, wielding his pistol, but still his hair looks good and suit is sharp!

This official First Edition John Wick TUBBZ collectible is part of the TUBBZ range, a highly collectible series of your favourite gaming, movie, TV show and pop culture characters in duck form!

Sadly, this version is sold out but the description suggests there will be more to order in the near future.

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BALDUR’S GATE 3’s Neil Newbon Gets Candid About Astarion’s Most Emotional Scene, Head-Canons, and How ‘Darling’ Came to Be

I don’t know about you, but Baldur’s Gate 3 took my life by storm just about exactly one year ago. The game captivated me, as it did many others, and led me on an epic Dungeons & Dragons-inspired adventure. There were many excellent facets of Baldur’s Gate 3, but for me, and (again for many others) the character of Astarion was what truly sold me on the game. Astarion is one of the most complex, well-written, and, of course, well-performed characters out there in any medium. He appears as a hedonistic vampire, only out for himself, but the truth, of course, is much more complicated than that. And so it was my great pleasure to interview Neil Newbon, the esteemed voice of Astarion, and dive deep into the character with him—now that some time has passed since his inception.

Larian Studios

Newbon shared his candid, emotional, funny, and intensely thoughtful perspectives on creating Astarion, building a life for the vampire, some of his personal perspectives on the character, and other fascinating insights that no doubt true lovers of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Astarion will absolutely adore. Newbon even went into how “darling” became an Astarion trademark.

So strap in, darling, and enjoy our full interview with Neil Newbon below.

Nerdist: Astarion is my romance of choice, along with Halsin.

Neil Newbon: Excellent taste.

So, I have to ask, what is your favorite facet of Astarion and Halsin’s relationship?

Newbon: I don’t know. I don’t really think about stuff like that. But I definitely enjoyed the surprise bear scene because I didn’t know they were going to use Astarion’s model for the partner of the bear scene. Because I also directed Dave Jones in that scene. Not necessarily all of it, but a big chunk of that scene, I directed Dave in. And Dave was a real champ, actually. He was very professional, very lovely, very talented guy, very nice. And we got to work together as a director-actor. And then I found out that my character was the character in that scene, it was very funny.

Dave sent me a photo of it actually afterwards. We spoke about it afterward, then we met up in, I think we met up in Brighton for a development conference. And I think we tried to destroy the internet temporarily by posting he and I together in a photo.

So it went really well. Yeah, it was very funny.

Larian Studios

Of course, as you were saying, you don’t really get mixed up in sort of the choices of the game when you’re recording the character, but if true neutral Astarion had to describe each of his companions and himself in a few words, what do you think he’d say about them?

[Neil Newbon went into the Astarion voice for this answer, so I had to share the audio]

Newbon: Well, you see that my companion—work colleagues, they’re rather wonderful. A mixed bunch of people. Lae’zel is feist, Shadowheart is a little sad, but beautiful and everything. Gale, great hair, lousy bloody wizard. I don’t know. They’re okay. Although I do have to save them from time to time. Gets rather tedious, darling.

I love that.

Newbon: I’m not going to say it as Neil, it has to be Astarion.

Is there any aspect of Astarion that you feel you specifically created in him?

Newbon: I think it’d be remiss of me to say I brought this to Astarion. I took Stephen [Rooney]’s words, which were beautiful, and I did things with them. This is what Stephen told me after the initial demo when I sort of quasi-auditioned, demo-ed for Asatarion. Stephen reviewed it. He liked what I was doing… He didn’t predict the things that I was doing with the character. So they were a surprise to him, which he liked. He then started writing towards the rhythm that I was trying out with the character because he liked it. I think the word “Darling” became more of a thing after he heard me say one line that had the word “Darling” in it, and it wasn’t supposed to be like a thing for him, but it sort of became like an anchor point for Astarion, which I think was really interesting.

Newbon: I didn’t improvise any of the lines. The lines of dialog were beautifully written. But what I did do is the cadence, the habits, the mannerisms, the different jumps and changes, the theatricality, the facade of him, all that kind of stuff I brought in, which isn’t scripted per-se, but I’m obviously following Stephen and the other writers who contributed towards the Astarion’s words and just brought my own take on it, my own flavor on it.

I did a lot of background work, I did a lot of character creation work myself. I spent a long time, over four years, really cultivating different aspects. And I thought a lot about his habits. I brought in a lot of different methodology, from method work, movement work, creature and character design. I spent a lot of work.

This was not something that I just switched on and got into. This took a lot of experimentation to find what was right, especially with things like the voice and particular habits he would do for deflection or dismissing you. I wanted to build very strong habits into him so that even if he was saying one thing, his body might give himself away or what his real intent was. And I think largely we got pretty successful at that because I think you can watch his physicality and realize he’s saying the opposite of what he’s saying.

There was a lot of fun to be had. But yeah, I worked my socks on this role and it was great. It was four years of joy. It was great. Four and a half years of joy.

So, speaking of that work, you did building his lore…

Newbon: Not his lore, the lore is set by the writers, building his life, I think.

Larian Studios

Perfect, building his life. Given all that work, do you have, in the fandom, we call it a head-canon? Do you have any headcanons about Astarion that are not explicitly said in the game?

Newbon: I have his background, and I developed aspects of his background that aren’t talked about because that’s a method tool to help live the character’s life. Okay, well, in the past, he used to do things like this. Therefore, that’s a habit that he would carry on into this new life, being a vampire and being a slave, essentially.

So, I took habits from his past that aren’t scripted and developed those myself. Nobody knows that. Nobody needs to be told that. But what it does do is that if I’m put into a new context of a new scene, I know how he’s going to react habitually and also his wants and needs and objectives, anyway. All of that factors into the choice I will then make in-line with physical movement because I have his life in my head. So, if you want to call that a head-canon. That’s kind of like a historic head canon.

What I don’t do is head-canon the future of beyond the story because that story’s happened.

Is there anything you can share there? He loves wool and socks or something.

Newbon: Yeah. There’s a thing where Astarion always checks his nails when he is trying to just dominate people. He dismisses them with a head turn, usually to the left. He does this to put people in their place. To make very them acutely aware that he’s in control.

Larian Studios

Actually, one thing I can tell you, the base pose that he has, which is this very upward movement, arms open. That was something that we experimented with, that was actually a combination of myself and Josh Weeden, who’s one of the directors on the game. We came up with that together. They wanted a unique base pose. The footing is different from everybody. But then I add this sort of open arms up and his head up, looking down his nose at everybody.

So the reason that his head stands like this is a psychological thing. He thinks everybody else is beneath him. So he looks down his nose, which is why the head is slightly angular. So, that is a very particular habitual choice that we made to inform more about the character. That literally, I look down my nose, and that’s sort of why his stance is like that.

I think there are a couple of the characters that have unique bass bases, but most have the same bass post. He’s one of the unique ones.

Baldur’s Gate 3 performance director Thomas Mitchells recently shared that in the scene where Astarion kills Cazador and then sobs, the sobbing moment was not scripted but kind of a raw impulse from you. Do you remember what you were kind of feeling at that moment and what led you to that response?

Newbon: Well, I mean, I believe that actors live fictional truth. So in the safe confines of knowing in one part of your brain that you are in a set and you’re in a volume and that it’s not like you are actually having a psychotic break where you believe that you are actually there and you don’t see anything other than the walls. I think you have to willing suspension of disbelief yourself into that place as an actor, which is what tools are for, which is what craft is for, that you are living that moment for real. It is a fictitional truth, which is why it’s safe and it’s not your life, it’s the character’s life. But for that moment in time, it is real. And your imagination takes you there. It’s like playtime again.

Larian Studios

So, it was an impulse that came out of the experience. I was having as Astarion, for helping his story along, and it was just an impulsive reaction to the experience that I’d created with Thomas. Well, I asked Tom to let me do the whole scene complete. I knew it was such a big powerful moment that doing it line by line, which is often how we do these things, doing three takes in a row of a line and moving on, it wasn’t going to work. It needed that flow and the energy flow through it to be able to go from start to finish to really captivate and understand where he was at that one time. I’m pretty sure that was take one. And we didn’t do it again because I’m pretty sure Thomas was happy with it.

And he just went, we’re not doing it again. That was what we needed. So we only did it one time. We did it 20 lines pretty much. I think it was like 20 lines straight through the scene for that particular branching pathway because, I think, again, doing it line by line wouldn’t have worked. And he was so happy with it and I was happy with it as well. I thought it was really honest and truthful without being melodramatic, without being over the top, without trying to say, “Look at me. I’m a great actor.” It was more like, this is really raw and exactly how he feels, and it’s slightly understated. People could have gone way bigger, or I could have gone way big with that choice, but it didn’t feel appropriate. It felt very appropriate. Like this is a release.

I’m actually getting the memory of it right now. Yeah. It was very affecting.

So Baldur’s Gate 3 also grapples a lot with this idea of generational trauma for many of its characters. Do you think Asatrion sort of knew that Cazador had been tortured by Velioth during the time when he was in that enslavement? And how did it impact him when he found out?

Newbon: I don’t know, actually. It’s something that didn’t come up during it, and I think from Asarion’s point of view, I don’t think he would’ve given a shit. I think had you asked Astarion, what do you think about Cazador’s own trauma, blah, blah, blah. I think he would’ve told you like, “Who cares? It’s meaningless. It doesn’t matter because that’s not the point. He’s doing this to me.”

A big part of Astarion’s objective is to be free. And I think there’s this kind of ruthlessness that comes in sometimes with the character that he’ll be free at any cost. And I think his developing friendship or romance with the player, depending, changes that aspect a bit. But up until things like that happen, his goal is to be free. He doesn’t care why this person is doing this to him. The fact that he’s doing it to him is the thing. So I don’t think Astarion really gives a shit about whether Cazador suffered or not. The point is he made him suffer.

And he shouldn’t.

Newbon: Yeah, exactly. I think it’s difficult, isn’t it? Because it comes into I always believe that people should take responsibility for their actions. There may be a reason why, but it’s not an excuse. The excuse is kind of difficult to justify when the actions are so terrible. Do you know what I mean? Especially if the person is cognitive and intelligent, which Cazador is, it’s like cool, but you’ve got to take responsibility.

On a sort of lighter note, I think the queerness of Baldur’s Gate 3 is such a beautiful thing.

Newbon: It’s a beautiful thing.

Did you sort of imagine Astarion when you were creating that he would be such a meaningful and representative character?

Newbon: No, not really. I don’t really think of the end game of a project. I’m not thinking, “Oh, I wonder if the audience will like this or that,” because the problem with that is that you start judging the character, and then you start trying to play to the audience. That’s not a good idea when you’re trying to play a character’s truth because you start judging the character. So if you start making judgments morally or excitedly about, “Oh, I think they’ll like this,” then you are not actually playing the truth of the moment of the character.

I’m very, very good at not judging my characters about loving them, even if they’re the most reprehensible beings on the planet. I still love my characters, and I play them as truthfully as possible. Nikolai Zinoviev (from the Resident Evil 3 Remake) is a good example of that. He’s a mercenary and he’s a fun character. He’s not a good person. So if I start judging him and trying to slant it one way or the other for the audience or for myself or blah blah blah, then you’re not really playing his story properly.

Larian Studios

So no, I didn’t expect it. Really. My main thing with Astarion, and Stephen Rooney and I talked about this, was that I just hoped that people got it. That it was the conceit of the hedonistic vampire, and then actually take that off, take that layer off, and you realize Asterion is a lot more complicated and a lot more interesting than that. So, for me, and that was my only worry that people weren’t going to get it, and just going to kill my character off straight away.

I can’t believe people who do that!

Newbon: Which is also okay, by the way.

No, of course, of course. It’s completely okay. I don’t understand, you understand.

One relationship that is kind of niche, but I love, is the one between Astarion and Sebastian. Was there ever any sort of more to interactions between them, or was it just that?

Newbon: Everything that’s in the game was in the game. There’s no hidden content or deleted content, especially from my point of view. There’s nothing that we did that didn’t make it in some form or another.

Absolutely. Do you have a favorite ending for Astarion?

Newbon: No. The reason is I played every single possible ending for Astarion. So coming back to judgment, I lived every ending in its full entirety. So, for me, all the endings are possible, depending on what the player chooses and what’s right for their story. Same thing with head-canon beyond the end of the story; I don’t have an opinion, actually. It’s now the audience; once we finish our performance as a director or actor, we hand it over to an audience. At that point, we must let go and step back. And for me, the only way to do that is to not have any presumptions or have any head-canon or anything like that about what should happen. It’s more like “What do you think should happen?” as the audience and the players, because that’s more interesting to me.

So Astarion’s been popping up a little bit in the greater D&D world in Magic cards and other exciting stuff, is there anywhere where you’d be particularly excited to see him appear?

Wizards of the Coast

Newbon: Sure. I mean, Wizards a great company to work with. They’re very supportive, and I really like them a lot. Larian have amazing as well, obviously,. So for me, I don’t mind. I’d love to keep playing him in different things. I don’t get to choose that.

But one thing I would love to do is play him live-action. I’d love it because I also look like him, which is very useful. I’d love to play Astarion in live-action. That would be a real hoot. I just dunno if it’s going to happen or not.

Is there anything that you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about? Anything next up for you you can share?

Newbon: I’ve got about eight projects on as an actor. My production company’s got two projects on. There’s another thing I can’t talk about. And yeah, I’m directing a thing as well. None of which I can talk about apart from Greedfall 2, which I’m allowed to say I’m in, but I can’t tell you what I’m doing.

Is there a character that you’ve played that you wish people would find and give more attention to?

Newbon: No, not really. Anybody? No, not particularly. I’ve got lots and lots and lots and lots of different characters. I’m very lucky that I’m a character actor. People find my characters. I had somebody come up to me with a Star Wars Dosk, which was a first. Somebody wanted me to sign a Major Dosk, which is an Imperial Star Wars character; I think it was in Star Wars: Old Republic. And somebody brought a picture of him. He was first in life. That was the first time anybody’s ever asked for that obscure character.

Lucasfilm

Amazing.

Newbon: Well, I don’t talk about that character very much. It was just a fun little silly thing I did. And he found him. So, not really. I think it’s fun when people find random mini-characters. I was in one of the LEGO games and I played a caveman. It was a Brummy. And I think it was the only Brummy character I’ve ever played. No, that’s not true. I’ve got to play another character whose a Brummy. But yeah, I made the caveman a brummy. That means, from Birmingham.

A Brummy is a colloquial for a person from Birmingham. I don’t think that game exists anymore though; I think it. got shut down.

I’m sure the internet will be on it.

You can catch Neil Newbon’s performance as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 and make sure to keep up with his latest endeavors on his social media channels.

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The post BALDUR’S GATE 3’s Neil Newbon Gets Candid About Astarion’s Most Emotional Scene, Head-Canons, and How ‘Darling’ Came to Be appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About DC Studios’ LANTERNS Series

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is officially off and running. We have movies and TV shows to look forward for the foreseeable future, and some of them are already in the works. Creature Commandos is already streaming on Max. Superman will hit cinemas in July while Peacemaker season two will premiere in August. The next series we have to look forward to doesn’t have a release date as of yet. However, it’s the project we’re maybe the most excited for at the moment. That is, of course, Lanterns, at last a full scale prestige drama series focusing on the oft-overlooked intergalactic police force.

This is everything we know so far about Lanterns.

DC StudiosTitle

The title of the series is simply Lanterns. The green is implied, I guess.

Lanterns Plot

In his initial video announcing the DC Studios slate, James Gunn described the show John Stewart and Hal Jordan investigating a “terrifying mystery” that has huge ties to the entire franchise. He likened the “Earthbound” story to True Detective.

Later descriptions include a fuller look at the plot. “Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

Behind the Scenes

Ozark showrunner and True Detective: Night Country producer Chris Mundy will serve as Lanterns‘ showrunner. Mundy along with comic writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) and Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) have written the series pilot and bible.

James Gunn and Peter Safran said of the announcement: “We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”

“When we first started the DCU, the first couple of weeks of heading this out, we got together with a group of writers, and Tom King was one of those writers, and we were in this room, and we came up with sort of this concept for Lanterns. It’s a much more it’s a very grounded series, a very real series, which is a strange thing to say about a Green Lanterns show. But it’s going to be something like nobody’s ever seen before.”

James Hawes, director of series like Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful, and Black Mirror, will direct the the first two episodes of Lanterns. He, along with the writers above, will serve as executive producers.

Filming is expected to take place from January to June 2025.

Lanterns‘ CastNBC/DC Comics

The series will focus on the veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan working a case with rookie GL John Stewart. In order to play these roles, DC would need some heavy hitters. And heavy hitters they got! Kyle Chandler (Bloodline, Friday Night Lights) has been cast as Hal Jordan.

To play the role of John Stewart, DC cast Aaron Pierre. Pierre had a big 2025 with both the Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge and as the titular voice in Disney’s not-live-action live action film Mufasa.

“Aaron Pierre is somebody who I’ve wanted to work together with for a long time,” said James Gunn during an NYCC panel. “People don’t know, but he was almost cast as Adam Warlock. He’s an amazing actor, and I just really admired him from the beginning of his career. Seeing him read with Kyle was one of those miraculous moments. I don’t care what they’re saying, I just love what they’re saying together.”

Max PR/Warner Bros Animation

Boardwalk Empire‘s Kelly Macdonald also joins Lanterns as “Sheriff Kerry, a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town. Her resilience, shaped by a complex past that’s hardened her resolve, anchors her when the community’s secrets begin to surface.” According to Deadline, Kelly Macdonald’s character may also “be a potential love interest for Chandler’s Hal Jordan.” Very interesting.

Lanterns‘ Release Date

As of yet, Lanterns has no official release date. However, James Gunn gave us a hint as to when it will likely drop. He intends for the series come out around the same time as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which currently looks to bow in June 2026.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post Everything We Know About DC Studios’ LANTERNS Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Video Compares the Ridiculous Running Speeds of Marvel Characters

We all know superheroes the Flash and Quicksilver are very, very fast. It’s their whole deal. Were you aware that, apparently, the rest of the Marvel universe is also absurdly flight of foot? That’s the supposition of a video from YouTube channel Data Ball. I’m not entirely sure how one can be certain of the groundspeed of a fictional character, but this video makes some very bold claims. For example, Daredevil can apparently run 84 km/hr. That’s just over 52 miles per hour. DAREDEVIL. Now he’s in good shape, and the radioactive accident that took away his eyesight heightened his existing sense. But is running a sense?!

Watch the video below and then we can discuss the wildly overpowered characters afterward.

I dunno, folks. I think some of these are out of hand. All of the speeds here are in km/hr but because I’m a dumb American who can’t visualize the metric system, I converted the speeds. Would I buy Captain America could run 56 miles per hour? Probably; super soldier serum has some incredible effects. But Spider-Man running 68.6 miles per hour? Only slightly slower than Thanos’ 72 miles per hour and well behind Thor’s 119 mph. I do like that the jump up to Thor flying is so much, at 767 mph.

For reference, a commercial airplane has a cruising speed of between 547 and 575 mph. Supersonic jets fly anywhere between 750 and 1500 mph. (767 is the speed of sound, aka “Mach 1.”) This is all to illustrate how frigging incredible it is that Iron Man Mark III armor can evidently fly at 2300 miles per hour, or nearly Mach 3. Quicksilver’s looking at Mach 10, and Iron Man Mark L suit cruises at Mach 50.

I don’t care how well you build a suit, a human being cannot withstand speeds that fast. The literal fastest vehicle in history, NASA X-43 experimental jet, clocked in at just under Mach 10. Five times that much, Mr. Stark?

Data Ball

Anyway, I know this is all fictional but it’s absurd. But in a fun way.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The Best Acted Scenes in GAME OF THRONES and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

House of the Dragon‘s second season might not have been everything everyone wanted. But no matter its flaws, it still featured some truly amazing performances. Which ones stood out in a (Narrow) sea of great acting how? And how do they compare to the very best the Realm has offered before? To find out we put together a list of the best acted scenes from both Game of Thrones and its dragon-filled prequel.

NOTE: We limited every character/actor to a single entry so we could share the wealth. Also, we forced ourselves to shorten our own massive list in half. So if someone didn’t make the cut just know we’re mad at ourselves for not including them.

HBO GAME OF THRONES Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell – “I Will Be Your Champion”

Pedro Pascal only appeared in season four, but that was enough to deliver one of the show’s most iconic characters. We could choose literally any of his scenes for this list. Since we’re limiting ourselves to one we’re giving it to his jailhouse visit with Tyrion Lannister. That’s where the vengeful Oberyn told the story of meeting Tyrion as a child. It was a quiet yet wholly powerful monologue. And that before it ended with one of the greatest lines in show history: “I will be your champion.” Just thinking about it gives us chills. Thinking about how that battle with the Mountain ended does not.

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark – The Red WeddingHBO

The Red Wedding is the most infamous moment in Game of Thrones history, but it wouldn’t be if not for Michelle Fairley’s all-time great performance during the massacre. As Catelyn’s Stark’s unease turned into anger, fear, and ultimately horror, Fairley captured all of the terrible emotions a mother would experience in that unimaginable moment.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister – Hot Tub Confession

In a single scene of raw vulnerability and honesty, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau turned one of the show’s most detestable characters into one we wanted to root for. The arrogant, incestuous King-Slayer who once threw Bran Stark from a tower was secretly one of the Realm’s greatest heroes, and Coster-Waldau’s hot tub confession to Brienne was a powerhouse performance that was both big and nuanced.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister – Walk of ShameHBO

You could make a lengthy list of just Lena Headey’s best scenes as Cersei Lannister and it would still be incomplete, but since we’re limiting ourselves to just one we’re going with her iconic performance during the Queen’s “Walk of Shame.” She’s both strong and weak, vulnerable but determined. It’s truly an incredible moment that highlighted just how special the acting on the show really was.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow – Hardhome Attack

Kit Harington always excelled during battle scenes, and the old gods and the new know he had plenty of those on Game of Thrones. What makes his performance during the White Walker attack on Hardhome is what he did when the fighting stopped. As the Lord Commander’s boat pulled away as he watched the Night King raise the dead, with just a quiet look of resigned awe and terror, Harington conveyed the true darkness that was coming for the living. The Night King might have emerged victorious during that scene, but it’s Harington’s fantastic performance that makes that all-time memorable moment so effective.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen – “A Dragon Is Not a Slave”

Some actors are on this list for giving great monologues or for memorable interactions, but it’s only fitting Emilia Clarke’s best scene stands as the opposite side of the ice and fire coin of Kit Harington’s. Her performance during the “exchange” of a dragon for the Unsullied army in Astapor was an acting tour de force. Clarke’s captured the anger, rage, and cunning of the Mother of Dragons with nothing more than a presence that said more than any words ever could.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister – Courtroom Confession

Peter Dinklage earned an Emmy nomination for all eight seasons of Game of Thones and he’s the only member of the cast to actually win, so picking his best scene is no easy task. But the one moment that will always stand out is his “confession” during his trial for Joffrey’s murder. In one powerful, enthralling monologue, Dinklage conveyed the pain and anger Tyrion had always lived with and the defiance he has turned into armor against a hateful, spiteful world that would never forgive him for being born a dwarf.

Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell – “Tell Cersei. I Want Her To Know It Was Me.”

Olenna Tyrell was no warrior. She fought no battles. But thanks to the great Diana Rigg she wielded a tongue sharper than any sword in the Realm. The Lady of House Tyrell was always a powerhouse on the show, but she saved her greatest performance for her last one on the show, when she used her final breathes to tell Jaime Lannister she had been the one to poison Joffrey. In doing so she turned, “Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me,” into an all-time iconic line.

Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister and Maisie Williams as Arya Stark – “My Lord”HBO

Two of the show’s best characters, played by two of its best actors, got to match wits when Arya Stark secretly served as Tywin Lannister’s servant during his time at Harrenhal. Their interactions—nothing but loaded words, hidden agendas, and unspoken tension inside a single room—was everything we loved about the show. Game of Thrones excelled not because of magic and dragons, but because of the people at the heart of its story. And Charles and Dance and Maisie Williams were among the very best to call Westeros home.

Sean Bean as Ned Stark and Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon – “There’s a War Coming, Ned”HBO

Neither Sean Bean nor Mark Addy made it one full season on Game of Thrones, but both made a lasting impression on the show as Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon. So it’s only fitting they share an entry, with a fantastic scene that established that while the series existed in a fantasy world it was full of very real people, people with pasts and secrets, people with meaningful friendships who could disagree even with those they loved. There private meal in the woods is a quieter scene that said so much thanks to their layered performances.

David Bradley as Fake Walder Frey – Winter Comes for House Frey

David Bradley helped make Walder Frey an all-time great villain, but his best performance on Game Of Thrones when he technically played someone else. The show tasked him with playing Arya Stark pretending to be Walder Frey when she used her Faceless Men skills to get revenge for the Red Wedding. Bradley’s truly incredible in the scene, in a completely believable performance where we as the viewer knows what’s really going on. It might be the most under appreciated acting in the Realm’s history.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower – An Eye for an Eye

The two figures at the center of the Dance of the Dragons are also responsible for two of the best performances in the history of Westeros. Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke’s opposing frenemy Queens are both outstanding in all their scenes, but they’re even better when they shre the screen. And the best of their best moments came during their intense showdown after Rhaenyra’s young son took the eye of Alicent’s. In that moment years of frustration and anger boiled over in a truly amazing moment that showed just how good both D’Arcy and Cooke really are.

Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys – Battle of Rook’s RestHBO

House of the Dragon, like its predecessor, overflows with outstanding acting all across the Realm. But even amid all that greatness the appropriately named Eve Best managed to stand out every time she was onscreen. That was especially true during her final episode. She put on an acting clinic without even speaking during Princess Rhaenys’ fateful dragon fight above Rook’s Rest. Best’s emotional performance powerfully conveyed all of the many emotions she experienced during her final moments.

Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower – Aegon Fires Otto as HandHBO

It’s really hard to love Otto Hightower, but it’s really easy to love Rhys Ifans’ portrayal of the man who served three separate kings as Hand. But for all of his success, Otto’s greatest moment came when his own grandson stripped him of his position. That intense scene served the best performance in the single best acted episode of House of the Dragon. Ifans perfectly captured Otto’s exhaustion, disgust, regret, anger, and even his honor, with both humor and deep humanity, in an outstanding sequence.

Paddy Considine as King Viserys and Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen – Two Brothers Defend Rhaenyra’s HonorHBO

George R.R. Martin has constantly praised Paddy Considine for bringing a vastly superior version of King Viserys to life. It was easy to see why during the actor’s most memorable sequence. An ailing Viserys surprised his royal court when he showed up to defend his daughter’s honor. His emotional performance was only made stronger by his brother Daemon, played by the great Matt Smith. He got to show off both his Daemon’s gentler side as well as his rage. During the intense scene before the Iron Throne each Targaryen got a chance to blaze with fire and blood. Vaemond Velaryon’s insults of Rhaenyra turned an already great sequence into an all-time Westeros’ moment.

Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II – The King Learns About His Son’s MurderHBO

King Aegon II is an unworthy monarch, a monster. Only, during House of the Dragon‘s second season, Tom Glynn-Carney added layers to the character we didn’t even know he had. He made a wholly detestable villain into a complex, rounded figure. And no moment better captured Aegon’s depth—or in some ways his lack of it—than the King’s response to his son’s murder. The bess actors make a character’s emotions feel real. But Glynn-Carney’s performance during was so incredible because he perfectly captured how Aegon didn’t know how to feel real emotions. It was a truly remarkable scene from a remarkable actor.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He’s so mad about some of the performances he had to leave off. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Everything We Know About Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2

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.

Netflix

So join us as we sail into the high seas. 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

RELATED ARTICLE

David Dastmalchian Talks His DCU Dream Role, KNIGHTS VS. SAMURAI, and Latest D&D CharacterLive-Action One Piece Season 2’s Release DateNetflix

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.

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Everything We Know About IT: WELCOME TO DERRY

Pennywise is haunting a new generation of horror fans thanks to the recent-ish IT films directed by Andy Muschetti. Like many small towns, Derry is indeed a scary place with a dancing clown that lures children into dark and dank places. Now, we are going back in time with IT: Welcome to Derry, a prequel television series coming to Max in 2025. 

Here’s everything we know about IT: Welcome to Derry so far. 

Title

The official title for this series is IT: Welcome to Derry. 

IT: Welcome to Derry’s Plot

New teaser for ‘WELCOME TO DERRY,’ featuring Bill Skarsgard’s return as Pennywise.

Releasing in 2025 🎈 pic.twitter.com/EI2TI9AsW5

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 11, 2024

Right now, there’s not a specific synopsis for this series. We do know that it is supposed to take place in the 1960s and dive into the origin story of Derry’s curse. We have seen a couple of very brief teasers that show an ensemble of kids, which isn’t shocking at all. One girl asks a boy what he saw and he simply says “a clown.” We see something pull him into what looks like lake water and the final shot is of one kid screaming with a bloody face. 

Behind the Scenes

Andy Muschietti will direct several episodes of the nine-episode series, including its first. He is also an executive producer alongside fellow co-creators Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs and Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård.

IT: Welcome to Derry’s Cast

In addition to Skarsgård, the cast will include Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar. Madeleine Stowe and Stephen Rider are also in recurring guest and series regular roles, respectively.

Check them out in these first look photos.

Click To View Gallery Max Max Max Max Max Max IT: Welcome to Derry’s Release Date 

IT: Welcome to Derry will hit Max sometime in 2025.

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Daniel Stern Lives on a Tangerine Farm Where He Makes Sculptures (And He’s So Good!)

If you once starred in Home Alone you might be tempted to rest on your laurels. (And also those residual checks.) The same is true if you narrated The Wonder Years. But Daniel Stern isn’t sitting around reminiscing about his past works. His long and impressive career, which has included some truly beloved, truly iconic projects, is far from over. It’s also expanding into new mediums. He’s found a different kind of creative outlet to express himself away from the screen He lives on a tangerine farm, and when he’s not busy making fresh juice for friends he’s busy sculpting.

And just like his acting, he’s really freaking good at it.

Daniel Stern

For All Mankind’s Daniel Stern has started his own TikTok page where he posts about his life on his farm. . Subscribe to it. Now. Like him it’s absolutely delightful. His short videos blurs the line between humor and insanity, between sincere and performance. Sometimes he simply films himself shooting hoops in his old man shorts and t-shirts. Other times he lets us see how hair can make someone go from looking like a mad scientist to a……slightly less mad scientist.

@realdanielstern0

This is what happens when you have to share your hoop space with horses and other creatures. . . . #viral #goviral #celebrity #trending #fyp #foryou

♬ original sound – Daniel Stern

None of that is surprising. But what might catch some fans off guard is just how talented a sculptor he is. He shared a couple videos about his work on a piece tentatively titled “Dancer On A Chair.” The life-sized piece made of clay is simply stunning. The woman, wearing an intricately designed dress, looks as though we’ve caught her mid performance. Any second it seems like she’ll get up and start swaying her hips to music on she can hear.

@realdanielstern0

I thought I would share this work in-progress video of a new sculpture I am creating. Thinking of naming it Dancer On A Chair, unless any of you have a better idea… Follow my backup account @Daniel Stern #foryou #goviral #clayart #danielstern

♬ original sound – Daniel Stern

@realdanielstern0

What do you think ? . . #danielstern #goviral #trending #clayart #trending

♬ original sound – Daniel Stern

When we heard “Daniel Stern is now a sculptor” we didn’t know what to expect, but whatever we had in mind this absolutely exceeds it. But maybe that’s because we know if we had Daniel Stern’s resume we’d be sitting on a chair rather than sculpting a piece on one.

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