Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 178

POKÉMON and Aardman Set a Collaboration Coming in 2027

Two of our favorite things are coming together to create something wonderful. That’s right, The Pokémon Company is teaming up with Aardman for an exciting joint venture. We honestly can’t wait to watch a Pokémon evolve out of clay. This one is going to be good. We’ve seen all kinds of Pokémon adventures to date, including a cozy stop-motion Pokémon series, Pokémon Monopoly, and more. But we haven’t yet seen Pokémon made of clay. Aardman, of course, has created some of our favorite animations ever, and the studio’s unique style always brings us joy.

We’ll have to wait a little bit longer because Pokémon and Aardman’s collaboration won’t be coming until 2027. But good things come to those who wait! According to a release, “Aardman [will bring] their unique style of storytelling to the Pokémon universe in brand-new adventures.” We love it.

The Pokémon Company

Taito Okiura, VP of Marketing and Media at The Pokémon Company International, shared, “This is a dream partnership for Pokémon. Aardman are masters of their craft, and we have been blown away by their talent and creativity. What we have been working on together ensures our global Pokémon fans are in for a treat!”
 
Meanwhile, Sean Clarke, Managing Director of Aardman, noted, “It’s a huge honor to be working with The Pokémon Company International — we feel sincerely privileged to be trusted with bringing their characters and world to life in a brand-new way. Bringing together Pokémon, the world’s biggest entertainment brand, together with our love of craft, character and comedic storytelling feels incredibly exciting. Aardman and TPCi share an emphasis on heritage and attention to detail as well as putting our fans and audiences at the heart of what we do, which we know will steer us right as we together create charming, original and new stories for audiences around the world.”

We only get a small taste of the Pokémon and Aardman collaboration for now, just one clay Poké Ball. But we can already tell it’s going to be amazing. We’ll update you on this special project when we can.

The post POKÉMON and Aardman Set a Collaboration Coming in 2027 appeared first on Nerdist.

CREATURE COMMANDOS Episode 5 Introduced Us To the Clayface of the DCU

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Eventually, Batman will make his live-action debut in the DCU, probably in the film Brave and the Bold. But one of his most well-known villains just made his DCU debut in Creature Commandos episode 5, “The Iron Pot,” which introduced us to Clayface. The comics have had several shape-shifting villains named Clayface, with the original, Basil Karlo, first appearing in Detective Comics #40 in 1940, only a year after Batman’s debut. Recently, DC Studios announced a Clayface film, written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan. But is the Clayface from this upcoming film the same one from Creature Commandos? Quite possibly, but it could just as easily be one of the many other Clayfaces. And there have been many, eight in total.

Clayface in Creature Commandos DC Studios

In Creature Commandos, Task Force M’s head honcho Amanda Waller receives professional advice from an expert in Themyscira named Professor MacPherson. She convinces them that Circe’s proclamations of Princess Ilana’s plans to conquer the world are, in fact, all true. But in episode five, Rick Flag and Eric Frankenstein discover that the professor is actually Clayface in disguise. Flag recognizes Clayface as a known super villain. The pair gets into a huge fight with Clayface (voiced by Alan Tudyk, who also voices him on Harley Quinn). This fight leaves Clayface (and Flag) a little worse for wear. The episode never actually reveals which version of Clayface they fought, leaving many possibilities.

The Many Clayfaces of DC ComicsDC Comics

The first Clayface in the pages of DC Comics was Basil Karlo. He was a Hollywood actor who used the name of his horror film character and became a serial killer. In the sci-fi Silver Age of the ’60s, DC introduced another Clayface as a Batman foe, Matt Hagen. He was a treasure hunter who gained shapeshifting abilities from a radioactive pool. A third Clayface, Preston Payne, later appeared in the Bronze Age, in a 1978 issue of Detective Comics. He gained his powers by using the DNA of Hagen.

A variety of other characters with similar powers all used the name and look of Clayface since, although mostly for brief periods. Among them were Cassius “Clay” Payne, Peter Malley, Todd Russell, and Sondra Fuller, the only female Clayface. Their powers all differed somewhat, but almost all of them could only change into something (or someone) else for brief periods. They almost always reverted to a muddy, clay being as their default form. The character gained the most fame when they combined Basil Karlo with Matt Hagen for the seminal Batman: The Animated Series in 1992.

Batman: The Animated Series Introduced the Most Iconic ClayfaceWarner Bros. Animation

In the B:TAS episode “Feat of Clay,” the series producers reimagined Matt Hagen as a Hollywood actor, not an adventurer, much like Basil Karlo. However, his power set was definitely like Hagen’s in the comics. He turned into a hulking blob of clay, and that visualization is what the comics eventually adopted. Various media since Batman: The Animated Series has used different people using the name Clayface. However, the look they invented for the character has stuck around, from Batman: Brave and the Bold to Harley Quinn. Only the recent Batman: Caped Crusader went back to the original Basil Karlo iteration for their period piece series.

Creature Commandos‘ Clayface Hints Toward His DCU FutureDC Comics

So who is the Clayface we meet in Creature Commandos? He’s definitely visually inspired by the Matt Hagen version from B:TAS. But they never say his civilian name, likely on purpose. He could be Hagen, Karlo, or even one of the less famous ones. He’s possibly Johnny Williams, the former firefighter Clayface of the early 2000s. He was a little more crass, like the Clayface in Creature Commandos. It’s impossible to say for certainty if this is the one who will star in a solo film. This version is a cold-blooded murderer, not a tragic figure. However, if “it’s all connected” in this new DCU, even if they are not the same literal person, his appearance is likely giving us our first look into what the live-action DCU Clayface looks like. We’re just excited to see what the future of this iconic villain is in the DCU.

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Are Ruby Sunday or New DOCTOR WHO Companion Belinda Chandra in the Christmas Episode?

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Doctor Who’s Christmas special introduces the Fifteenth Doctor to a brief new adventure partner, Joy. In “Joy to the World,” the duo battle with Villeguard and a suitcase that threatens to wipe out humanity. Of course, the Doctor comes out on top while Joy finds life and light in a new form. While fans enjoyed this standalone adventure, many were wondering if Ruby Sunday or the Doctor’s new companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, would appear in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special. 

BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Studios/Disney+Is Ruby Sunday in the 2024 Christmas special?

Yes, Ruby Sunday does appear in this year’s Christmas special, but only for a brief moment at the end. She sees the brightest star in the sky, thanks to Joy’s sacrifice, and calls her mom at that moment. It’s clear throughout the episode that the Doctor has been thinking of his old friend and we know that Ruby will be in Doctor Who season two. “… Her set was still there,” showrunner Russell T Davies told us in a recent interview. “That kitchen and flat were still sitting in the studio right next to UNIT HQ. They’re all under one roof… The resources are there and it was just irresistible to bring the beautiful Millie [Gibson] back. I love the fact that she’s not in the billings or the credits. So it should have been a complete surprise for fans, which is lovely!”

Is the new Doctor Who Companion Belinda Chandra in the Christmas episode? James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

No, Belinda Chandra does not make her Doctor Who debut this time around. Not even a glimpse of her is in this episode, and that’s totally fine. This story was focusing on the Doctor and friends Anita, Trev, and, of course, Joy. It gave us a chance to see the Doctor have a very John Smith-esque adventure and get a reminder that his thought process isn’t always the right one. 

Now, the countdown is on for Doctor Who season two!

The post Are Ruby Sunday or New DOCTOR WHO Companion Belinda Chandra in the Christmas Episode? appeared first on Nerdist.

DOCTOR WHO’s Steven Moffat and Russell T Davies on Christmas Special Script Changes and Surprises

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Doctor Who is back again with yet another fantastic Christmas special. “Joy to the World” takes the Fifteenth Doctor on quite the time-traveling adventure, thanks to his arrival at the Time Hotel. It’s there where he crosses paths with Nicola Coughlan’s Joy, a woman whose life changes forever after she checks into a hotel alone for the holiday season. This special brings former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat back together with current showrunner Russell T Davies to craft a story that both works on its own yet also builds a bridge to the future. We caught up with the duo to do a very spoilery deep-dive into creating this Christmas special and what’s next for Doctor Who.

Bad Wolf Studios/Disney+/BBC

Nerdist: This episode is such a fun ride! It took us to so many incredible places, most specifically the Time Hotel. Can either one of you talk more about how you came up with that concept and worked with production to bring it to life? 

Steven Moffat: I genuinely have always been fascinated by the locked door in the hotel room. I’ve always worried about it. Well, actually, when I was a kid, I was excited by it. I loved Narnia and I thought maybe Narnia was through there. And I loved Doctor Who, and this show is all about magic doors, isn’t it?… So to get an opportunity to explain what that was about and create the Time Hotel. Then once you’ve done that, you have presented the production with an enormous problem. [laughs] 

You’ve got so many different locations to go to, which isn’t just expensive in terms of money. It’s difficult in terms of [filming] schedule. That was one of the big problems of this episode was getting it to fit in the schedule. Originally, we had a submarine and went to ancient Egypt with half-built pyramids. 

Wow that would have been amazing to see!

Moffat: Yes, we had all that because Russell [T Davies] told me at the beginning that we have lots of money. He said it, and he spent it… And [director] Alex Pillai did such a brilliant job shooting the hell out of it all. The dinosaur room and [the Fifteenth Doctor and Joy] sliding down towards the giant dinosaur, which is my favorite shot, were entirely his idea. Just brilliant stuff. 

Russell T Davies: Doctor Who is an enormous test of the design department. It is insane. They work to death on it. We’ve got one set that we use every week for about a minute. Right. Everything after that they have to build or find. And this one was an extraordinary proposition by any standards. 

It is incredible what they are able to do. In “Joy to the World,” we go on this journey with the Doctor. For the first time, Fifteen has this “John Smith” experience where he gets to live like a normal person. How do you think that this experience will affect Ncuti’s Doctor going forward?

Davies: When you have any lead character and actor who is this good, the whole point is to stretch them in all sorts of different directions. So yes, let’s see him live as a John Smith!… You’re thinking about the show in exactly the same terms. What haven’t we done? Where haven’t we been? What mood haven’t we done or genre haven’t we done? It just keeps jumping and hopping and changing and being brilliant. And that’s built into its very DNA. There is magnificent stuff to come. I’m sure we’ll talk about it again when that comes around time. Let’s do an interview then!

Bad Wolf Studios/Disney+/BBC

I look forward to it! I think the Doctor and Joy quickly form a great relationship and have good chemistry. But I really adore the smaller relationships that were in this episode with people like Trev and especially Anita. I’d love to hear more about developing those characters.

Moffat: Anita’s an interesting example because she was barely in the first draft. [The final episode] doesn’t change a hell of a lot except for that sequence, which used to be a sort of globetrotting sequence as the Doctor looks for a hotel with an access to the Time Hotel. We couldn’t afford it and couldn’t fit it in the schedule. So he ends up staying in the Sandringham Hotel as a handyman. And I’m glad that happened because we get this very close, very warm relationship with Anita for a year in which the Doctor isn’t doing anything. I mean, he’s been stuck in one place before, but usually because fighting a war or defusing a robot or something. He’s just unblocking toilets and he actually quite likes it. He’d never stay. But he likes it. 

From the Doctor’s perspective, he knows Joy for a very short time and Anita for a year. It’s a very different shape of story from his point of view. It’s a miracle he even remembers Joy’s name by the time he gets back to the hotel. It’s beautiful. It’s heartbreaking. That relationship I love. In between two moments, he has a whole little life. 

Davies: Yes! Obviously [Joy actress] Nicola Coughlan is wonderful but Steph de Whalley plays the most lovely part as Anita. 

Moffat: Steph was so good that she ended up with a bigger and bigger part. She came in and I think when she auditioned and got the part, it was maybe seven or eight lines. And then at the end of it, she’s got a huge chunk of the episode in which she’s the leading lady. And I think the very last thing I wrote was fantastic…

James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios/Disney

Yes, I loved it and her ending is certainly great inspiration for fanfic. So I want to talk about Joy’s decision at the end of the episode to take on the star seed and save the world. How did you come to the decision about the way you’d wrap her story? 

Moffat: Originally, the Doctor was going to grab the case at some point and fling it out the TARDIS’ doors and it would explode over Bethlehem. But it seemed more exciting for Joy, a woman who was bottling all her love and her devotion to people because it was hurting her too much, to explode like a star and bring love and joy to everyone. It launches every single Christmas thereafter. The woman who hides from Christmas ends up creating it. It was just an irresistible idea. And also it’s a good character note for the Doctor as well, who views everything in a rather “pragmatic scientist” way. He says to Joy, “Stars burn, you don’t want to burn!” She says, “No, they don’t burn. They shine and they look down and they bring light to people.” He’s saying, “No, no, it’s really, really a complex explosion of gas.” And she’s right and he’s wrong. I like it when the Doctor’s wrong…

Me too, because the Doctor certainly isn’t perfect. And there’s usually more than one truth to many things. At the end of this episode, we get a little glimpse of Ruby Sunday. Considering this is a Christmas special and they tend to be self-contained, why did you all bring her back? 

Moffat: I did go through a phase—we both did—of fussing about why the Doctor doesn’t contact anyone for a year when he’s living in London. And we came to the conclusion that he’s just not that guy. He’s the one who gets us for help, not the opposite. He doesn’t go around and annoy his friends. He just gets on with it. So he lets them get on with their lives, as he says. But having thought about Ruby, if the star was going to be shining down, it made sense that Ruby would see it too.

Davies: We knew she’s coming back, so she was booked and under the contract. It’s not like we had to go, “Hello, do you want to come back for one scene?” [laughs] Her set was still there. That kitchen and flat were still sitting in the studio right next to UNIT HQ. They’re all under one roof… The resources are there and it was just irresistible to bring the beautiful Millie [Gibson] back. I love the fact that she’s not in the billings or the credits. So it should have been a complete surprise for fans, which is lovely!

It was a lovely surprise for everyone, indeed.

The post DOCTOR WHO’s Steven Moffat and Russell T Davies on Christmas Special Script Changes and Surprises appeared first on Nerdist.

Everything We Know About Live-Action AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Season 2

Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series blew into our lives with season one in 2024. And happily, the cartoon-adaptation series was renewed for season two and a final season three. Avatar: The Last Airbender season two will, of course, bring back all our live-action favorites, including Aang, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, Uncle Iroh, and more. But, new faces and friends, including the highly-anticipated live-action version of Toph will come to join them on their journey. Season one of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series took us on a journey that we happily really enjoyed. And so, we can’t wait for more.

Netflix

Here’s everything we know about Avatar: The Last Airbender season two.

 Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2’s Plot

We don’t know for sure what Avatar: The Last Airbender season two’s plot will bring us. But if season one was any indication, we’ll be following the journey of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon’s Book Two: Earth. In Book Two: Earth, the Gaang spent a lot of time in the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se, where not all was as well as it seemed. In the Earth Kingdom, Team Avatar faced the dangerous Dai Li, encroaching threats from the Fire Nation, and the true threat of all ignorance and fears.

In Book Two of Avatar: The Last Airbender, as will happen in the live-action, Toph also joined Avatar Aang’s group as his Earthbending master. Additionally, Prince Zuko continued his journey toward the side of goodness and redemption, but not without a few setbacks. We can’t wait to see if “Zuko Alone” features in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season two.

Netflix

Of course, as with season one, the live-action series is unlikely to deliver a perfect replica of the cartoon but instead will make some changes and additions of its own. We’re excited for that.

Behind the Scenes

Co-executive producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani will be helming season two of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series as showrunners. Season one showrunner Albert Kim will remain an executive producer on the show.

Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2’s CastNetflix

All the main cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender season one will return in season two. That means we’ll see more of Gordon Cormier as Avatar Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, and Dallas Liu as Zuko. Additionally, Daniel Dae Kim will likely return as the villainous Fire Lord Ozai. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee will be back as the wonderful Uncle Iroh, and Elizabeth Yu will reprise her role as the fiery Princess Azula.

Netflix

Joining the core cast will be Miya Cech, who will play the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Toph (a master Earthbender) in season two. Additionally, several other Earth Kingdom roles have been cast. Those include the following:

Chin Han (Mortal Kombat, Skyscraper) plays Long Feng Hoa Xuande (The Sympathizer, Top of the Lake: China Girl) as Professor ZeiJustin Chien ( The Brothers Sun , The Great Leap) as King KueiAmanda Zhou (Spinning Out, The Handmaid’s Tale) plays Joo DeeCrystal Yu (Doctor Who, Good Omens) plays Lady BeifongKelemete Misipeka (Sons of Thunder) plays The BoulderLourdes Faberes ( The Sandman , Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) as General SungRekha Sharma ( Yellowjackets , Battlestar Galactica) as AmitaLive-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2’s Release Date

We do not yet know when Avatar: The Last Airbender season two will release on Netflix.

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2024 Proved Why Genre TV Actors Deserve More Emmy Recognition

It’s easy to say “acting awards don’t matter,” because in some ways that’s true. A great performance does not need a golden statue for validation just as a trophy can’t improve a lesser performance. But that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to win, or, at the very least, get nominated. Who doesn’t want to be recognized for their work? For too long, the Television Academy has been ignoring some of the its own medium’s best. Intentional or not, there’s a built-in bias against genre TV. But that shouldn’t be the case after 2024. Shows like The Penguin, Agatha All Along, Dune: Prophecy, and House of the Dragon featured some of the absolute best acting to appear on the small screen this year. And that should be reflected in next year’s Emmy nominations.

Macall Polay/Max

How hard is it for actors on genre shows to get close to an Emmy? Game of Thrones (59) is only behind Saturday Night Live (87) for the most Emmys wins by a single show. That doesn’t actually convey the HBO fantasy’s series domination at TV’s premier awards event, though. It only ran for eight seasons and 73 episodes. SNL has racked up its wins over 40 seasons and 930+ (and counting) episodes. And yet, despite universal acclaim for the entire ensemble, only Peter Dinklage ever took home an acting Emmy for Game of Thrones.

Think about what his four wins represent. They are the only times arguably the most successful show in history—a global phenomenon everyone agreed in the moment featured one of the finest casts ever assembled—ever earned the highest award for a television performer. And Game of Thrones‘ actual recognition was even worse than that. The show’s final season got a flood of nominations for the cast. It was as though the Academy tried to fix its major oversight at the last possible second.

Marvel Studios

Things haven’t improved much for genre TV since. It’s not that a fantasy, sci-fi, horror or superhero actors never earn nominations. It’s that it’s surprising when they do. And even then it seems to require something extra special for them to break through. It’s not enough to just be great or one of the year’s best. It helps to be a great actor playing a memorable, unique character like Walton Goggins’ the Ghoul on Fallout. Being on a successful prestige TV show also helps. It did for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey on The Last of Us. Something like HBO’s Watchmen, another prestige series based on a beloved IP, is the exception that proves the rule. But if you’re just doing great work on a show considered niche, silly, or not as “serious,” you probably have no shot.

That’s why, when traditional shows like Succession and The Bear are monopolizing acting nominations, there’s no room for Tom Hiddleston’s incredible performance as the God of Mischief in either season of Loki or Elizabeth Olsen’s on WandaVision. Just as What We Do in the Shadows, an all-time great comedy, has earned just one measly acting nod (Matt Berry in 2024). The Boys also has zero Emmy acting nominations, despite its amazing ensemble led by Antony Starr who’s been giving an historically great performance during the show’s run. (Starr did get a recent Best Actor in a Drama Series for the Critics Choice Award.) And, somehow, there hasn’t been room at the Emmys for a single cast member from any of Mike Flanagan’s shows, which consistently overflow with amazing acting.

HBO

It’s absurd we know someone like The Wheel of Times‘ Madeleine Madden or Gen V‘s Jaz Sinclair have no shot at a nomination even when they are the best part of a big budget show from the studio owned by Amazon. Same for The Rings of Power‘s Charlie Vickers who is making Sauron—best known as a giant eye—one of the most complex villains in TV history. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and 2024 could finally help change the status quo that refuses to treat genre TV like every other show.

The Penguin and Agatha All Along weren’t just two of the best superhero shows of 2024. They were among the best shows of any kind this year. And a big reason why is they got world class performances from stars and supporting actors alike. Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti were both outrageously good on The Penguin, two tremendous performers at the absolute peak of their powers in incredible roles. The same was true of Kathryn Hahn on Agatha All Along. The show asked her to do everything in-between the silliest of comedy to the saddest of drama and she excelled at all of it.

HBO

Meanwhile no one gave a better, more heartbreaking, layered supporting performance this year than Deirdre O’Connell as Oz Cobb’s mom. But some people did match her, like Patti LuPone as Lilia the Divinations witch in Agatha All Along. And the rest of her coven—Sasheer Zamata, Joe Locke, Ali Ahn, and Aubrey Plaza— were just as good.

And that’s just two genre shows worth of Emmy-worthy performances. House of the Dragon and Dune: Prophecy also had performances as good as anything that aired on TV this year. For all of its issues in season two, House of the Dragon didn’t have to worry about acting. Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Needham, Bethany Antonia, and Tom Glynn-Carney all turned in memorable, stellar performances. Same for Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, who delivered some of the best work of their long careers on Dune: Prophecy. Each mastered challenging roles requiring the kind of depth and nuance that can only be given after years developing their craft. In lesser hands, the show would not have worked.

Max

Whether any or all of them are getting Emmy nominations next year won’t matter in the most important ways. It won’t change how good they were. It also won’t change how we feel about their performances. But if we’re going to bother recognizing TV’s greatest performers, let’s actually do that. And in 2024, it was more obvious than ever genre is home to some of TV’s best acting performances.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He demands the Academy nominate Cristin Milioti for The Penguin. 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 BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD

While Matt Reeves’ The Batman saga will continue at Warner Bros., the new DCU will also have its own Dark Knight. This version of Batman will also have a “Bat-family” of partners, living in a world with other superheroes. DC Studios will introduce this new Caped Crusader in a film called The Brave and the Bold. Here’s everything we know about the DCU’s introduction to Batman and Robin:

DC ComicsTitle

As far as we know, the title is The Brave and the Bold, named after the old DC team-up comic book series. However, DC Studios may name it Batman: The Brave and the Bold, similar to the 2008 animated series. James Gunn has referred to it both ways. If Warner Bros. didn’t use the Batman brand name, we’d be very surprised.

Warner Bros. Animation The Brave and the Bold’s Plot

All we know of the plot is that it will focus on the relationship between Batman and his son Damian Wayne, a.k.a. Robin. In the comics, Damian is the fourth main Robin, and the only one that’s Bruce Wayne’s biological son. Here’s what DC Studios co-head James Gunn had to say about the film, when DC Studios announced it in January, 2023:

The Brave and the Bold is a story of Batman and his actual son, Damian Wayne. This is based on Grant Morrison’s great comic book run, Damian Wayne is my favorite Robin, he’s a little assassin who Batman tries to get in line and so this is the story of the two of them, and the beginning of sort of the Bat Family in the DCU.

Behind-the-Scenes DC Comics

The announced director for The Brave and the Bold is Andy Muschietti, director of It and It: Chapter Two, and The Flash. No screenwriter is officially attached yet. And according to recent comments made by James Gunn, there’s no timeline for production to commence either. Here’s what he had to say:

There’s no set timeline for anything. The one thing that I’ve tried to make clear to people from the beginning, in the way that I hope we’re different, is that everything in DC is going to be based on the writers. Until we have a screenplay that I’m totally happy with, that movie is not going to get made , no matter what it is. So, we have been really fortunate with some screenplays. You know, ‘Supergirl‘ came in and just, wow Ana [Nogueria] did such an amazing job, the ‘Lanterns‘ pilot came in, and now the whole ‘Lanterns‘ series came in, and it’s like ‘Wow that’s wonderful, wonderful work.’ And there’s a couple of other things that people don’t know about, a couple of movies and TV shows that are greenlit or near greenlit. But it’s going to be based always on that, on the story, because at the end of the day if we’re happy with the story that we’re telling, that’s what matters most. And once ‘The Brave and the Bold‘ gets to that point, then we’ll make the movie.

The Brave and the Bold’s Cast

DC Studios has not cast anyone in any of the roles yet. But we imagine the casting of a new live-action cinematic Batman and Robin will once again cause much controversy. As well as potential villains like Ra’s al Ghul and his daughter Talia, Damian’s mother and grandfather.

The Brave and the Bold Release Date

There is no release date yet for The Brave and the Bold. We imagine Warner Bros. might not want two competing Batman live-action franchises in theaters, and could wait until Matt Reeves’ The Batman saga is over.

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The 10 Greatest Flash Comic Book Runs, Ranked

DC Comics’ Scarlet Speedster, the Flash, is one of the publisher’s longest-running characters (no pun intended). The original Flash, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in 1940, only 18 months after Superman. After being canceled in 1952, the character was reinvented four years later, with a new costume, a new civilian identity, and a new sci-fi angle. The second Flash, Barry Allen, truly launched a legacy that continues to this day, which includes two live-action TV series, and a movie. And sooner or later, he’s guaranteed to appear in James Gunn’s new DCU. Before that happens, however, you might want to take a deep dive into some seminal Flash comics. We rank DC Comics’ Flash runs, from worst to best, below.

DC Comics10. Flash: The Fastest Man Alive by Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo, and Marc Guggenheim with Ken Lashley, Tony Daniel, Art ThibertDC Comics

Something had to go to the bottom of this list, and sadly, it was the Flash run by the creative team of Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. The writing partners actually had a good Flash pedigree when coming on board to launch Flash: The Fastest Man Alive in 2006, as the showrunners of the 1990 -91 Flash TV series. But where the TV series focused on Barry Allen, Fastest Man Alive centered on a new Flash, former Impulse, Bart Allen. You see, Wally West died in the event series Infinite Crisis. (Or more accurately, he vanished.) Soon after, Barry’s grandson from the future, teen speedster Impulse, received a speed accelerated boost past adolescence into adulthood. He then became the fourth Flash.

There were a few nice concepts in this run, like the Speed Force now residing solely in Bart Allen himself. The art by Ken Lashley and others was definitely decent. But the stories and new villains in this run were very uneven. Even future Arrowverse writer Marc Guggenheim couldn’t fix it when he took over. Fans quickly begged DC to bring back Wally, which they did. By the end of this short-lived series, the Bart Allen Flash was dead, making him the shortest-lived hero going by the name. Wally would be back within months, and DC revived Bart and regressed him back to being Impulse soon after, making The Fastest Man Alive perhaps the most forgotten-about Flash series ever.

Issues in Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo, and Marc Guggenheim’s Flash run:

Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1-13 (2006-2007)

9. The Flash (Vol.4) by Robert Venditti and Van Jensenwith Brett BoothDC Comics

The second New 52 run of The Flash, by writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen, followed up Francis Manapul’s well-liked run. And while it’s not one for the ages, it has enough good stuff to recommend reading it. The art by penciler Brett Booth gives the book a distinctly ‘90s flavor, but that’s not really a bad thing. Perhaps the most noteworthy part of this era of The Flash is the introduction of a new Kid Flash. This new speedster sidekick had the familiar name of Wallace West. This Wallace was a bi-racial teenager, and a distinctly different character from the adult Wally West. (Although, that wasn’t made explicit for several more years.) This run has some fun stories featuring Weather Wizard, and the Reverse Flash. Nothing groundbreaking here for the character, but it’s a fun enough read.

Issues in Robert Venditti and Van Jensen’s Flash run:

The Flash vol. 4 #30-52 (2014-2016)

8. The Flash Vol. 2 by Grant Morrison and Mark Millarwith Paul Ryan, Pop MhanDC Comics

In 1997, writer Mark Waid had been writing the adventures of Wally West for five years, and needed a recharge. So for one year and 12 issues, Doom Patrol and JLA writer Grant Morrison, along with a relatively new writer who would go on to big things, Mark Millar, took the reins of Flash. Together with former Fantastic Four artist Paul Ryan, and later Pop Mhan, gave Wally a cosmic adventure for the ages. This run also had a crossover with Green Lantern and Green Arrow, who at the time were younger legacy heroes in the same mold as Wally West.

One of the best stories in this brief run, “The Human Race,” has Wally having to represent the Earth in a race that spans the entire cosmos. Another great storyline, “Emergency Stop,” has Wally breaking both of his legs, leaving the other speedsters to watch out for his hometown of Keystone City while he recovers. Speaking of the other speedsters, OG Flash Jay Garrick has a nice one-off story here, where he must face one of his Golden Age villains in an unexpected way. The coolest (and longest-lasting) contribution from this run is the Black Flash, the Speed Force’s embodiment of death. All in all, a very brief but extremely fun series of issues, written by two titans of the comics industry, both just having a good time with big concepts.

Issues in Grant Morrison and Mark Millar’s Flash run:

The Flash vol. 2 #130-141 (1997-1998)

7. The Flash (Vol.4) by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato DC Comics

After the events of 2011’s Flashpoint, Barry Allen changed the past, resulting in a new present with a new continuity. This is the era DC labeled as “the New 52.” Launching the Flash into this new era, DC recruited the creative team of writer/artist Francis Manapul and co-writer Brian Buccellato. Manapul had already drawn the previous pre-Flashpoint run of the Flash with Geoff Johns, giving him a strong speedster pedigree. He presented Barry as a much younger character without all the baggage of continuity (or having died to save reality). In many ways, this run was a breath of fresh air. These stories had a fun energy to them, even if they did play a bit like a “Flash Greatest Hits,” with heavy reliance on the Rogues, evil speedsters, and other classic Flash staples. But Manapul’s art was always incredible, elevating this brief run to loftier heights.

Issues in Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s Flash run:

The Flash Vol.4 #1-29 (2011-2014)

6. The Flash (Vol.5) by Joshua Williamsonwith Carmine Di Giandomenico, Howard Porter, Rafa Sandoval, Christian Duce, Davide Gianfelice, Pop Mhan, Scott Kollins, Jesus MerinoDC Comics

Writer Joshua Williamson took over writing duties for The Flash in 2016, during DC’s Rebirth era, which restored much of the classic DC continuity that the New 52 had erased. Williamson wrote The Flash for 101 consecutive issues, making him the writer with the longest consecutive Flash run ever. During his tenure, Williamson added interesting new villains like Paradox to the rogues gallery, while also giving new layers to Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, a character who had become a wee bit one-note. Williamson also cleverly expanded on the Speed Force mythology by introducing other primal forces, like the Still Force and the Strength Force. Another interesting Williamson concept was the Speed Force storm, which granted several people super speed, among them the intriguing new villain Godspeed.

Like any iconic DC hero, Williamson finally gave Barry Allen a definitive modern retelling of his origin story, in “Flash: Year One.” But the best story in Williamson’s run was “Flash War,” which pitted the two most famous Flashes, Barry and Wally, against each other. This story determined at long last who was truly the Fastest Man Alive. Williamson worked with a lot of artists during his run, due to the book’s bi-weekly schedule. Chief among them were Carmine Di Giandomenico and Scott Kollins. However, his best creative pairing was Howard Porter. All in all, Williamson’s take on Barry Allen is the best one since the character returned from the grave.

Issues in Joshua Williamson’s Flash run:

The Flash: Rebirth Special #1, The Flash Vol. 5 #1-88, The Flash Vol. 1 #750-762

5. The Flash (Vol.2) by William Messner-Loebswith Greg LaRocque DC Comics

Former Kid Flash Wally West took over the mantle of the Flash in the final issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, after Barry Allen’s heroic sacrifice to save reality. But when Wally finally got his own series a year or so later, by writer Mike Baron and artist Butch Guice, Wally was kind of a womanizer and an immature jerk. At this time, he was supposed to be only 20 years old. Still, he just wasn’t very likable, and making him an indulgent lottery winner and new money bro didn’t help endear him to readers. Luckily, writer William Messner-Loebs took over Flash Vol. 2 with issue #15, and started a rehabilitation of the character.

During his tenure, Wally became friends with some of his mentor’s worst enemies, and forged new relationships with former enemies of his own like Chunk. He even started dating an older woman who was a genius scientist. Under Messner-Loeb’s guidance, Wally truly learned to appreciate life in the slow lane thanks to an elderly (and ordinary) neighbor named Mason. Artist Greg LaRocque drew almost the entirety of this run, and while his work wasn’t super dynamic, it got the job done. This was a soapy version of The Flash, but it helped pave the way for bigger and better runs down the line. And most importantly, it made Wally West someone the readers could root for.

Issues in William Messner-Loebs’ Flash run:

The Flash Vol.2 #15-61 (1988-1992)

4. The Flash (Vol.1) by Cary Bateswith Irv Novick, Alex Saviuk, Don Heck, Carmine InfantinoDC Comics

By the time writer Cary Bates took over The Flash, the series had become quite stale. Barry’s mostly bland personality was no longer in step with the times. Much like Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams did with Green Lantern, Bates infused the series with some serious drama and major status quo changes for the lead character. Cary Bates took over as writer in 1971 with Flash #209, early in the comic book Bronze Age, then spent a whopping 14 years on the title until its cancellation in 1985. Bates, along with his regular artists like Irv Novick, Alex Saviuk, and Carmine Infantino, took Barry Allen’s life into a darker and more adult direction.

The Bates run reached its crescendo when Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, murdered Barry’s wife Iris in cold blood. This led to the Flash getting revenge on his longtime enemy, killing him by snapping his neck. Needless to say, this was a big no-no in the superhero community. This was followed up with the intense “The Trial of the Flash” storyline, where our hero had to go before the court charged with first-degree murder. Before it was all over, Barry would reunite with his dead wife in the most bizarre way possible, as she was reborn in a new body 1,000 years in the future. Bates’ time on the title would end shortly before Barry Allen sacrifices himself to save all reality in Crisis on Infinite Earths, but he certainly left his mark on the adventures of the Scarlet Speedster.

Issues in Cary Bates’ Flash run:

 The Flash (Vol.1) #209–212, 216, 218–292, 294–305, 307–312, 314–350 (1971-1985)

3. The Flash (Vol.2) by Geoff Johnswith Scott Kollins, Howard PorterDC Comics

Writer Geoff Johns became synonymous with DC Comics throughout the 2000s. He wrote game-changing runs on Teen Titans, JSA, and most famously, Green Lantern. But he made a name for himself first by taking over the reins from writer Mark Waid on The Flash in 2000. In a very short time, he proved he was a worthy successor to Waid’s already iconic run. During Johns’ tenure, during which he worked mostly with artists Scott Kollins and Howard Porter, he introduced memorable new villains like Cicada and Girder, expanding the Rogues. Meanwhile, he made a Flash foe for the ages in Hunter Zolomon, a.k.a. Zoom, who was an adversary who believed that only tragedy could make Wally West a better hero—so he attempted to cause the tragedy himself by hurting those he loved.

Great storylines continued in quick succession like “Rogue War,” where the Flash’s main villains go to battle with each other. At the end of Johns’ run, he did what was once unthinkable at DC. He brought Barry Allen back to life after two decades dead and buried in Flash: Rebirth. This story cemented the modern idea of Barry Allen losing his mother as a child when she was killed, with his father framed for her murder. He capped off eight years of Flash with the first ongoing Barry Allen series in three decades. This would inform not just the Flash TV show and movie, but also lead to Flashpoint. That event would change the entire DC Universe. Johns’ love for Wally as a character and Flash history pours through every issue, making this one of the very best runs ever for any Scarlet Speedster.

Issues in Geoff Johns’ Flash run:

The Flash Vol.2 #164-225 (2000-2005) The Flash: Rebirth #1-6 (2009-2010) The Flash Vol.3 #1-12 (2010-2011)

2. The Flash (Vol.1) by John Broome, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino DC Comics

In 1956, DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz ushered in the Silver Age of comics when he reinvented the 1940s super speedster hero the Flash for a new era. Reimagined by writers John Broome, Gardner Fox, and artist Carmine Infantino, the Flash was now police scientist Barry Allen instead of college student Jay Garrick. The nerdy and perpetually late Allen was splashed with chemicals while being hit by lightning in his lab one night. Gaining super speed and becoming the Flash, he fought a colorful assortment of villains. Many of these villains ended up as the best in comics history. He did this all while trying to maintain a relationship with his reporter girlfriend Iris West.

During the Broome/Fox/Infantino run of The Flash, the entire stage for DC Comics’ Silver Age was set. Everything from the multiverse, to Gorilla City, to other ‘40s heroes like Green Lantern and Hawkman getting modern updates started here. Which, of course, led to the Justice League of America forming. Broome’s stories were simple but fun, and tried to incorporate many science facts for kids (a.k.a. “Flash Facts”) as to be educational and entertaining. In addition, Infantino’s art was dynamic, leaps and bounds over most other DC Comics pencilers at the time. Sure, Barry himself was a bit one-dimensional. Maybe even a little bit boring. But these stories of “The Human Thunderbolt” set the template for all Flash runs to come in later years. And they are still a blast to read, decades later.

Issues in John Broome and Gardner Fox’s Flash run:

The Flash (Vol.1) #105-174 (1956-1967)

1. The Flash (Vol.2) by Mark Waidwith Greg LaRocque, Mike Wieringo, Oscar Jimenez, Salvador Larocca, Paul Ryan, Paul PelletierDC Comics

Writer Mark Waid would eventually become a comics legend thanks to his work on titles like Kingdom Come, among many others. But his greatest run on any one character came with Wally West’s The Flash series, from 1992-2000. During his tenure, Waid created the Speed Force, where speedsters draw their power. It becomes a major aspect of Flash lore going forward, particularly on TV and film. For much of Wally’s comics career until Waid, he lived in the shadow of the deceased Barry Allen. He saw himself as never as fast as “St. Barry,” or as good a hero. Waid blew that all up, revealing that Wally is not only a worthy Flash, he’s the greatest Flash. Perhaps most importantly, he took Linda Park, (a character created by William Messner-Loebs) and made her the true love of Wally’s life, his wife, and his tether to this world.

If all that wasn’t enough, Waid’s run introduced Bart Allen/Impulse, Wally’s cousin and protégé, who would become a major character in his own right. Among the seminal stories in this run are “The Return of Barry Allen,” which forced Wally to finally come to terms with his heroic legacy, and “Terminal Velocity,” which introduced the Speed Force, but also the speedster cult leader Savitar. Other great stories in Waid’s run include “The Dark Flash Saga,” which introduced Walter West, an alternate version of Wally with a tragic past. Waid even did the “evil twin” trope the right way with “Chain Lightning,” a story introducing Barry Allen’s twin brother, Cobalt Blue. The artists with whom Waid worked in his run, Mike Wieringo, Oscar Jimenez, Paul Pelletier, and others, were all complimentary to his storytelling style. When most people say Wally West is the greatest Flash, it’s because of this seminal run.

Issues in Mark Waid’s Flash run:

The Flash (Vol.2) #62-129, 142-162 (1992-2000)

   

                                                                                 

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Everything We Know About FALLOUT Season 2

Fallout brought ghouls, vault dwellers, and the Brotherhood of Steel to Prime Video to craft one of the best shows of 2024. But just like the video game franchise, its story did not end after just one installment. The hit adaptation is returning for season two. Who is coming back for more post-apocalyptic wasteland fun? And where will we meet up with them this time? Here’s everything we know about Fallout season two so far.

Fallout Season 2’s Plot Prime Video

Unlike the video game side of the franchise, which follows new figures with each installment, Fallout season two on Prime Video will be sticking with the same characters and continuing their story.

They will be moving to a new place, but it’s one gamers know well. Season two is officially moving to New Vegas. Not only was that the site for one of the series’ best games, it’s where Kyle MacLachlan’s Hank MacLean headed in the season one finale. He flew off to find his unknown boss after his daughter learned the truth about his work for Vault-Tec, the company that destroyed the world.

Oh yeah, and we’re definitely getting Deathclaws.

Behind-the-ScenesPrime Video

Fallout on Prime Video comes from executive producers Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Graham Wagner, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Wagner and Robertson-Dworet also serve as co-showrunners.

Season two began production in December 2024.

Fallout Season 2’s Cast

Kyle MacLachlan isn’t the only character who remembered the before times returning to Fallout. The Ghoul (nee Cooper Howard) is getting “back in the saddle,” too, as Walton Goggins is riding in for more wasteland vengeance. Co-star Ella Purnell is also coming back as the no-longer-naive Vault Dweller Lucy MacLean. Moisés Arias is expected to rejoin her as Lucy’s brother Norm. And Aaron Moten will reprise his role as Maximus, new hero of the Brotherhood.

Many season one supporting characters are also expected back. (Leslie Uggams and Johnny Pemberton have already made comments all but confirming their returns.) One confirmed newcomer we know is joining the show in a recurring role is Macaulay Culkin. Prime Video has not revealed his character officially. Initial reports only say he’s playing a “crazy genius-type.” In Fallout, that will make him pretty normal.

Fallout Season 2’s Release DatePrime Video

Fallout season two does not yet have a release date. But it might be sooner than you think. Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner said they are “going as fast as we possibly can” to get the show back on the air. They also said a lot of the “heavy lifting” is already done because they “have sets, assets, visual effects” from season one already built. “We are hitting the ground running this season,” they said. “We’re going to be pedal to the metal to get season two out as fast as humanly possible.”

With that outlook we can’t rule out a late 2025 release, but the first half of 2026 seems more likely.

The post Everything We Know About FALLOUT Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

DUNE: PROPHECY Season Finale Recap: Murderous Deaths, Thinking Machine Threats, and Everyone’s Final Fates (For Now)

Welcome, everyone, to our final Dune: Prophecy recap for season one. Yes, the Dune: Prophecy finale is here, and we are ready to share one more deep-dive, breakdown, recap of everything that went down in “The High-Handed Enemy.” Dune: Prophecy has been full of twists and turns this whole season, and so, of course, its final episode had to deliver in a big way—and deliver it did. Setting the stage for Dune: Prophecy season two, its season one finale brought us shocking deaths, new questions, and even a few answers. In the end, all the stories paid off in satisfying ways that left us ready for more. One chapter is closing, but the stage is set for the next to open. Here’s our full episode recap of Dune: Prophecy‘s season one finale, “The High-Handed Enemy.”

HBOThe Dune: Prophecy Season 1 Finale Answers Our Burning Backstory Questions with Final Flashbacks

The Dune: Prophecy finale episode took us back to the past one more time, so we could get the final answers we need to the question of how did our current story come to pass. Here’s what we learned.

After Valya Harkonenn killed Dorotea, Valya, Tula, Francesca, and Kasha Lied About It

Murder is a big deal, even in Dune: Prophecy‘s world, but Valya got away with killing Dorotea by telling the truth in a convenient way. She, Tula, Francesca, and Kasha shared parts of the situation that were true, but spun them to cover up Valya’s murder.

MaxValya and the Sisters Loyal to Her Murdered All But on the Sisterhood Loyal to Dorotea in the Dune: Prophecy Finale Episode

But lying was not quite enough to cover up the death of Sister Dorotea. Valya and her followers cornered the Sisters still loyal to Dorotea and her religious ways and used the Voice to force them to choose between killing themselves like Dorotea had or joining Valya and declaring her Mother Superior. All but one of the sisters agreed to this. The rest were murdered by Valya, Tula, Francesca and Kasha. They met brutal deaths at the end of their own blades, forced by the voice to execute themselves.

This finale episode of season one reveals that this is how Valya ended up Mother Superior and in command of the sisterhood as we see her in Dune: Prophecy.

Tula Tells Valya She’s Pregnant, But Pretends to Miscarry and Sends the Child Away, Giving Us Desmond Hart’s Dune: Prophecy BackstoryMax

In addition to all the death, there is also life. Tula Harkonnen is pregnant with Orry Atreides’ baby, and its the first time the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines have mixed. The genetic archive predicts the baby, who we now know is Desmond Hart will be very powerful. Valya wants to raise the baby together with Tula and harness the powers of the child. But Tula has other plans. In Dune: Prophecy‘s final episode, we learn that Tula pretended to miscarry and sent Desmond, her son, away to live far from the Sisterhood, Harkonnens, Valya, and herself. Of course, this didn’t turn out so well for Desmond Hart. But we guess Tula could not have know.

And now, thanks to the season one finale of the series, we have a full understanding of how all our main characters got to where they are on Dune: Prophecy.

Valya Harkonnen Destroys Her Old Plans as The Power Continues to Shift on Dune: Prophecy

In the present day, Valya Harkonnen recognizes that her old Dune: Prophecy plans are over now. She learns that Princess Ynez has been arrested for trying to help free Kieran Atreides, who was uncovered as part of the rebellion and named a traitor. Ynez is Valya’s top concern as she still believes that she is meant to rule the Imperium as a Sister. Valya now plans to have Sister Francesca murder Emperor Corinno and kickstart a new era of rule. She gives Francesca a Gom Jabbar to kill Javicco Corinno with. Francesca accepts it but doesn’t look very happy about it.

Max

Valya herself takes Theodosia with her to help Ynez escape from prison. Theodosia is confirmed in this Dune: Prophecy season one finale episode to have been bred by Tlulaxan geneticists and is a version of Dune‘s Face Dancers. Valya goes to the Emperor and tells him harsh truths about his life, especially that Fransceca doesn’t really love him and was merely working for the sisterhood. She gets herself arrested and is brought to the cells where Ynez and Keiran are being kept.

HBO

Theo, meanwhile, transforms into Ynez, and she and Valya spring the princess free, but, of course, Ynez insists that Keiran Atreides be freed as well. Begrudgingly, Valya allows this. Theo stays behind to buy the three of them time while Valya, Kieran, and Ynez escape. Valya explains they will head to Arrakis, ordering them to get to an escape pod, but Valya herself goes off to face Desmond Hart.

What is Dune‘s Gom Jabbar?

One of Dune‘s most famous weapons, the Gom Jabbar, is also called “the high-handed enemy,” which happens to be the name of Dune: Prophecy‘s final episode. The Gom Jabbar, although not named in this episode, is a handheld needle tipped with meta-cyanide poison. Valya offers exactly this description of the weapon she gives Francesca to kill Javicco. And see the Gom Jabbar arrives on Dune: Prophecy.

Desmond Hart Betrays Emperor Corrino and Supports Empress Natalya InsteadHBO

Elsewhere in Salusa Secundus, more strife ensues in Dune: Prophecy season one’s finale episode. Desmond Hart thought the Emperor was going to listen to him when it came to ridding himself of the Sisterhood. But it turns out Emperor Corinno is having second thoughts, motivated greatly by the arrival of Sister Francesca, whom he has imprinted with. Desmond Hart does not like this very much and switches his loyalties to support Empress Natalya instead, and they intend to control Javicco and the Imperium together. Alas, Emperor Corinno finds himself without friends.

Dune: Prophecy Delivers the Shocking Deaths of Emperor Corrino and Sister Francesca

Sister Francesca goes to Emperor Corrino after all of this, but reveals Valya Harkonenn’s plan to him. She says that she does not intend to kill him, but it is too late. Valya’s words and Desmond Hart and Empress Natalya’s words and actions have struck the Emperor hard. Even though Francesca does truly love Javicco, he does not believe her anymore.

In a moment of pure agony and helplessness, the Emperor takes the Gom Jabbar and arranges for his own death. Francesca tries to help him, but Empress Natalya comes in and stabs her as well. And thus, both Emperor Corrino and Sister Francesca meet their deaths on Dune: Prophecy.

Tula Learns Desmond Hart’s Powers are Really a Machine-Based Disease Motivated By FearMax

Over on Wallach IX, Tula delves deeper into what she now believes to be an airborne virus which has resulted in the burning deaths on Dune: Prophecy throughout the season. She discovers that the virus is not human or organic, but instead made up of machines. These nano-machines react to fear and destroy their hosts when they gave into it. And it seems Desmond is able to pass and trigger the machine virus in other people. Fear is the mind-killer, after all. Armed with this knowledge, Tula decides to head to Salusa Secundus to try to save or heal her son, Desmond Hart.

Sister Dorotea Returns Through Lila and Leads a Sisterhood Mutiny Against Valya Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy‘s Finale Ending

With Tula and Valya Harkonenn both away, the path is clear for a mutiny in the Sisterhood. Sister Lila’s ancestors have been cycling through her since she underwent the ritual of The Agony. And, of course, Sister Dorotea has now emerged to seek revenge on Valya for her death and also to restore the Sisterhood to what she believes is its rightful functioning.

Sister Dorotea learns and reveals to the other Sisters that Valya murdered so many of the Sisters that came before them in her quest to control the Sisterhood. And, rightfully, they are shocked and dismayed.

Valya Is Able to Overcome Desmond Hart’s Powers and the Machine Disease with the Help of TulaHBO

Tula arrive in Salusa Secundus with just enough time to help Valya make it through the machine virus Desmond Hart releases onto her. The trick, of course, is to allow fear to overcome you and not give into it. While trapped in her memories and fears, Valya is also able to see what happened to Desmond Hart and how get got his powers and this machine virus in the first place.

Valya wants to kill Desmond, as he triggers the virus, but Tula stops her with the voice. Valya agrees to let Tula handle Desmond Hart as she sees fit and leaves. In the end of Dune: Prophecy‘s finale episode, Desmond orders Tula arrested.

The Finale of Dune: Prophecy Reveals What Happened to Desmond Hart and Presents Us with a Shadowy New Enemy (And What Were Those Nefarious Prophecy Lights?)

But how did Desmond Hart come to possess his powers? Well, it turns out that Desmond Hart was kidnapped by a shadowy enemy using thinking machines. The mysterious Dune: Prophecy space lights that everyone sees in their prophecies of doom are actually the lights of a machine that Desmond saw as he lay on an operating table. The machine infected Desmond’s eye with this machine virus, giving him the power to infect others with it. We don’t yet know who is responsible for doing this to Desmond.

Dune: Prophecy‘s Final Episode Finally Takes Us to ArrakisMax

At the very end of Dune: Prophecy we finally get to a very important location, Arrakis itself. Valya Harkonnen, Princess Ynez, and Kieran Atreides end up on the planet as they try to unravel what exactly happened to Desmond Hart and who their enemy really is.

Dune: Prophecy Season One Finale Recap: Here’s Where Our Main Characters Ended Up

Here’s where all of Dune: Prophecy‘s main characters ended up in Dune: Prophecy season one’s final episode:

Valya Harkonnen’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – On Arrakis determined to track down her new enemy.Tula Harkonennen’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Imprisoned by Desmond Hart in Salusa SecundusDesmond Hart’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Desmond Hart now answers to Empress Natalya Corrino, he’s the Bashar for the Imperium and still free for now, although meeting his mom did seem to impact him.Emperor Javicco Corrino’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Dead at the hands of his wife Empress NatalyaSister Francesca’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Dead at the hands of Empress Natalya Corrino alongside her lover Emperor Javicco CorrinoEmpress Natalya Corrino’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Natalya killed her husband, has Desmond’s loyalty, and presumably will now rule the Imperium.Ynez Corrino’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Ynez is with Keiran Atreides and Valya Harkonenn on Arrakis.Constantine Corrino’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Constantine is set to lead the Imperium’s army to Arrakis… at least if Empress Natalya allows it.Sister Theodosia’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Sister Theodosia has been arrested by Desmond Hart and will likely be held prisoner.Sister Lila’s Dune: Prophecy finale fate – Sister Lila is still alive on Dune: Prophecy but she is not in control of herself anymore, for now Sister Dorotea is in charge of her body.

Dune: Prophecy season one is now streaming in full on Max.

Check out our Dune: Prophecy Episode One Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Two Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Three Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Four Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Five Recap

All Dune: Prophecy recaps can be found here.

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

The post DUNE: PROPHECY Season Finale Recap: Murderous Deaths, Thinking Machine Threats, and Everyone’s Final Fates (For Now) appeared first on Nerdist.