Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1838

Did the New Hulkbuster LEGO Set Spoil AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR?

Warning: There are potentially big spoilers ahead for Avengers: Infinity War !

In less than four months, some serious *bleep* is going down in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thanos is coming to Earth for the final Infinity Stones, and it looks like the latest LEGO toy leak may have finally unveiled the resting place of the Soul Stone. But that’s not all it revealed. Remember that awesome Hulkbuster Iron Man shot from the trailers? Today’s Nerdist News is looking at the possibility that Tony Stark’s not under the hood of that armor!

Join host and the Black Order’s anger management specialist, Jessica Chobot, as she tells us how Bruce Banner may end up piloting the Hulkbuster suit. Now, Tony Stark’s not the kind of guy who willingly shares his toys…or anything, for that matter. However, Stark and his fellow science bro co-created the Hulkbuster armor some time prior to Avengers: Age of Ultron. Somehow, we doubt that either of them could envision a reason for Banner to wear the armor himself. But we can!

Think back to Thor: Ragnarok. Banner literally lost years of his life to Hulk’s gladiator phase on Sakaar. And while Banner was willing to transform back into the Hulk to save the Asgardian refuges, he may have good reason to believe the Hulk will attempt to permanently reclaim their shared body if he changes again. Getting into the Hulkbuster armor would allow Banner to stay in the fight against Thanos, and it may also allow the Russo brothers to restore one of Joss Whedon‘s unused ideas from Age of Ultron: Hulk bursting out of the Hulkbuster armor. That does sound like it would be a cool moment!

It should be noted that every one of the LEGO Infinity War sets is coming with their own Infinity Stones. But the one packaged with Wakanda seems to make the most sense. The trailer revealed that one of the film’s major battles will take place with the reunited Avengers joining forces with Black Panther and the Wakandan army. Thanos and his children wouldn’t bother with Wakanda if there wasn’t an Infinity Stone around. And we’re thinking that the Soul Stone has to be at the heart of the Vibranium meteor that gave Wakanda’s signature metal its almost metaphysical qualities. That would also give Black Panther and his subjects a more personal stake in the final battle.

What do you think about the potential identity of the Hulkbuster’s pilot? And will the Soul Stone show up in Wakanda? Share your theories below!

Images: Marvel Studios

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You Can Help Make This ADDAMS FAMILY Mansion LEGO Set A Reality

Hard to believe, but it’s been over fifty years since The Addams Family moved over from the pages of Charles Addams’ oddball little comic strip to television, becoming instant icons to all the freaks and geeks of the world. Now, one Addams Family super fan is hoping to celebrate the spooky, kooky family with an amazing modular LEGO recreation of their iconic mansion. And maybe if we’re lucky, it will become something we Addams fans will actually be able to own.

Thanks to Daily Dead, we’ve learned about Addams fan Hugh Scandrett, who a year ago celebrated 50 years since the airing of the last episode of the classic Addams Family series by creating a LEGO set replica of the original Addams Family mansion. Scandrett has now returned to the iconic Addams home and created a modular version of the mansion, scaling back from the original 7,000 parts to just under 3,000 bricks, but still keeping all the details that hardcore Addams aficionados would want from the home of Gomez, Morticia, and the rest of the Addams clan.

So if you want to display this super cool Addams mansion and impress all your friends one day, you can support this fabulous modular version by clicking the “Support” button on its LEGO Ideas page. Once a project surpasses 10,000 supporters, it is officially reviewed by LEGO and if we are lucky, then it could actually make it onto the market as an official LEGO  product. Scandrett lowered the number of parts for the modular version to meet the LEGO Ideas limit of 3,000 parts or less. To make sure this doesn’t go the way of the LEGO Golden Girls set, be sure to show your support. Do it for Cousin Itt!

You can see the proposed pics of Scandrett’s Addams Family Mansion down below in our gallery.

What do you think of this super cool LEGO project? And do you want to own it as badly as we do? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Hugh Scandrett / MGM 

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THE PRINCESS BRIDE’s Rodents of Unusual Size Do Exist

When we were kids the enormous, vicious, terrifying Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.) in The Princess Bride gave us more than a few sleepless nights. But eventually we learned they were merely fictional creatures that could never really hurt us. Or so we thought. Because their real-life equivalents are currently threatening to overrun California by spreading like giant rats who eat all our crops and poison our water.

We're asking for the public's help in reporting nutria sightings or signs. This invasive species poses a real threat to California's remaining wetlands, among other dangers: https://t.co/TSanTW4m5G pic.twitter.com/Aj0P6TydAW

— Cal Fish & Wildlife (@CaliforniaDFW) February 8, 2018

In a story we came across at Fox’s affiliate KTVU in Oakland, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public’s help in stopping the outbreak of nutria, “large, semi-aquatic rodents that reach up to 2.5 feet in body length, 12-inch tail length, and 20 pounds in weight.” Don’t worry, they’re much worse than they sound. Oh wait, no, you should worry. Native to South America, the invasive species are a problem in some parts of the U.S., but they were thought to be completely eradicated in California in 1960. However, since last March as many as 20 of them were spotted across the San Joaquin Valley.

That might not sound like a lot, but one single female “can result in more than 200 offspring, which can disperse as far as 50 miles,” which would prove devastating for the state, since nutria “are destructive, wasteful feeders that destroy up to 10 times the vegetation they consume.” If not contained, these beaver-muskrat looking nightmares threaten wetlands, cause extreme soil erosion, and more, plus they can also “contaminate drinking supplies with parasites and diseases transmissible to humans, livestock and pets.”



While they likely will not attack you the way they did Westley in The Princess Bride, these Rodents of Unusual Size could do far more lasting damage. That’s why the Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking help in spotting them, so the infestation can be stopped before it gets out of control. Even without coming across one personally, here’s how you can tell if one has been nearby:

“Signs of presence typically include cut, emergent vegetation (e.g. cattails and bulrushes), with only the base portions eaten and the stems left floating. Nutria construct burrows with entrances typically below the water line, though changing water levels may reveal openings. Similar to other aquatic mammals, nutria often create runs, or paths in and out of the water or between aquatic sites. Nutria tracks have four visible front toes and, on their hind feet, webbing between four of five toes. Tracks are often accompanied by narrow tail drags.”

Another sign is locals sobbing and ranting about giant rats eating all their food and poisoning their water. That’s a really good sign. You can report your sighting through the department’s website , by e-mail at invasives@wildlife.ca.gov, or by calling (866) 440-9530.

How would you react if you saw one of these in person? Don’t be afraid to tell us the truth in the comments below.

Featured Image: Wildlife Facts

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6 BLACK PANTHER Comics to Read Before and After The Movie

Marvel’s Black Panther is about to explode onto screens across the globe, and it has a lot to do with Wakanda. Though King T’Challa will not be the first Black superhero on the big screen, Wakanda will be the first all Black superhero community on the big screen. The country is filled with incredible tales of scientific discovery, fearsome warriors, and true love: stories usually reserved for alabaster skin in worlds that look like ancient Europe.

But T’Challa’s story, hasn’t always been uplifting as some. His animated form in early cartoons can be best described as tone deaf. (Africa has major cities and the most technologically advanced country should have a city to match its title.) But, a lot of people have gotten the story of Wakanda right over the years. At the press junket for the upcoming Black Panther film, writer and director Ryan Coogler, stated that he took inspiration from multiple series. Here are some of the books that may have inspired the film.

Black Panther: World of Wakanda (2016)

Roxane Gay knows that a superhero’s greatness is directly correlated to their supporting team. Consequently, she kicks off he incredibly powerful series Black Panther: World of Wakanda with a quintessential question no one had thought to ask before. What is daily life like for the Dora Milaje? The women who protect the king of Wakanda are also expected to be available for marriage to the king. It is a job that requires total dedication of the mind, body, and soul. The exploration of that life was long overdue, and is a helpful window into the warrior class that shines in the film. Under Gay’s pen and Yona Harvey’s pencils the Dora Milaje come to life in stunning fashion.

Black Panther and the Crew (2017)

A bridge between Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther and World of Wakanda, Black Panther & The Crew features the adventures of Storm and Luke Cage, Misty Knight, and Manifold. The best part of the book follows Knight on her beat where she says cool lines like, “Ezra was the fourth person to die in police custody that summer. Autopsy results were slow. Cops were on edge. I kept waiting for Harlem to blow.” The pulpy thriller is well worth a read and Yona Harvey’s art is fantastic. There are no Avengers in the Black Panther film, but the with Avengers: Infinity War around the corner it might be nice to freshen up on how T’Challa plays with others.

Black Panther #1-3 (2017)

Ta-Nehisi Coates began writing Black Panther in 2017, a couple years after Between the World and Me became a bestseller. In that novel, Coates tell his son about the beauty and horror the world will hold for him as a black man. But in telling T’Challa’s story, Coates explores what it means to be a king, and all its complicated ramifications. After the death of his father, T’Chaka, T’Challa must decide how he will rule and reckon with the parables that were passed on from a previous generation. The Black Panther film picks up right where we left him in Captain America: Civil War. Learn what kind of King T’Challa truly is.

Fantastic 4: The Way it Began! (1974)

For those looking to discover T’Challa’s origins, read The Fantastic 4: The Way it Began! Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s Fantastic 4 #53 introduces T’Challa, vibranium, and Klaw. Klaw is out to steal as much vibranium as possible so he can begin creating an arsenal of weapons. Black Panther as we know him relies heavily on this original mythos and the film brings the main principles to the big screen. In reading this comic, not only can you brush up on your comic book history, but you also have a perfect excuse to stare at Kirby’s beautiful art.

Who is Black Panther?

Reginald Hudlin is a black filmmaker, best known for writing cult classics like the House Party franchise and Bebe’s Kids. In 2005 he began writing the Black Panther comic book with the goal of making T’Challa an unapologetic black man. Hudlin reworks the original Kirby and Lee creation, updating it slightly for new readers. Who is Black Panther can meander on its way to answering its titular question, but the way Rudlin manages themes of colonialism, African diaspora, and black love makes it all worth it.

Christopher Priest Black Panther #1-4 (1998)

There’s only one quintessential run of Black Panther. As the first Black man to write T’Challa Christopher Priest had a lot to say about the state of America, the Black community, and the struggle of being a decent ruler. The modern era of the character was defined by Priest, and the film will likely synthesize many of the thematics issues and dynamics that Priest wrote about. There are a host of talented artist that work on the book throughout Priest’s run, but Sall Valluto is by far the best. His work is classic Marvel style imbued with a high gloss finish. Think Kirby meets Jen Bartel. I want to live inside of these pages.

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Dad of the Year Carves HOGWARTS from Ice for His Kids

Most parents, within reason of course, like to help their children indulge in their loves and fandoms. Whether it’s getting them the latest toys and books or standing in line for hours to get an autograph, parents want their children to be happy. Some could say Kelly Davies from Edmonton, Alberta went a little overboard for his kids, but we think he went the extra mile and nailed it.

#ICYMI: Alberta man sculpts icy ‘Hogwarts’ for his daughters. Watch more: https://t.co/PJj11oivmT pic.twitter.com/LUXmwSpgO4

— CTV News (@CTVNews) February 13, 2018

Via Twitter, Davies, an ice carver, took what was left of a recent Deep Freeze Festival  in the city (Canada celebrating the cold? What is this madness?) and created his family their own personal Hogwarts castle in their front yard. He made replicas of Dumbledore’s chair, as well as the Great Hall. He’s spent 40 hours so far creating the Harry Potter play area.

A front-yard icy Hogwarts — dad carves out winter wonderland for the community: https://t.co/Qx6iFd1BIQ #ShPk #Strathco pic.twitter.com/CBvQoIkPhV

— Sherwood Park News (@ShPk_News) February 12, 2018

He also made a custom “Hogwart’s couch” at his wife’s behest. And what kind of winter wonderland would it be without an ice slide? A giant ice slide. Davies included that for an extra layer of magic. This makes us wonder if any wizards in the world of Harry Potter specialize in ice carving. There has to be someone, right?

Alberta ice carver uses recent snowfall to create Harry Potter scene in his front yard: Kelly Davies is an ice carver who lives in Sherwood Park and he decided to create a Harry Potter-themed ice display outside his home for his kids. https://t.co/6Fp99tpad8 pic.twitter.com/knATK7QV2q

— Politics Edmonton (@POLSEdmonton) February 8, 2018

What do you think? Would this be the coolest thing to have in your front yard? What do you wish you parents would have sculpted for you? Let me know on Twitter at @donnielederer or sound off in the comments below.

Image: CTV News

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A QUIET PLACE’s New Trailer Shows First Glimpse of its Monster

The first look at A Quiet Place managed to scare us with silence. But in the newest full trailer for the film we learn just how awful the terrors that have turned the world quiet really are, and get a glimpse of just how monstrous they look.



This second trailer builds off the movie’s Super Bowl ad by giving us more background on how the world ended up full of monsters who prey on noise. It opens with a shot first seen in that commercial, which reveals that while blind, these creatures might be truly unstoppable. Emily Blunt’s character comes across a wall of monitors showing previous military actions, where a whiteboard hints at why this family is seemingly all alone in this nightmare.

“Blind. Attack sound. Attack in packs? What is the weakness. Why don’t they [eat?] their kill.”

If that obscured word is eat, does that mean their victims are used as slaves? Or are they transformed into soldiers into their army? If so, that might explain the two newspaper articles that flash by next, giving us an idea of what has happened to life on the planet and why so few survivors remain. Mainly because these invaders appear to be invincible.

From there we see lots of new footage showing some of the safety precautions this family takes, which foolishly didn’t include taking the batteries out of a toy airplane. We’re not optimistic for this little guy’s survival.

But that’s only the start of the terror, because from their we see glimpses of these monsters–fast, big, and equipped with terrifying claws. And being pregnant while they are swarming doesn’t make childbirth, or survival, any easier.

 

What do you make of this trailer? Don’t stay mum with your thoughts, share them with us in the comments below

Images: Paramount Pictures

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Our Theories on the X-MEN/Kitty Pryde Movie That Brian Michael Bendis May Be Writing

Although writer Brian Michael Bendis has jumped ship from Marvel Comics to rival DC Comics to take on the Man of Steel, it looks like he still has one more Marvel-inspired project on the horizon. According to Deadline, 20th Century Fox has hired Bendis to develop a script for Deadpool director Tim Miller. Right now, the movie in question is under a cloak of secrecy, but the folks at Deadline seem to have confirmed it is an X-Men universe-based film, and it already has a title: 143.

Either this is the easiest mystery to crack or that title is a big red herring. But I think they are spelling out for us fans just what this movie is. For starters, it was only a few months ago that Tim Miller was rumored to direct a movie centering on Kitty Pryde of the X-Men. As it so happens, one of Brian Michael Bendis’ favorite Marvel characters happens to be Kitty Pryde. When he was writing Ultimate Spider-Man, he made her Peter Parker’s girlfriend, and wrote a lot of stories featuring Kitty during his X-Men run. Sources at The Hollywood Reporter have seemingly confirmed that 143 and the Kitty Pryde movie are one and the same.

So what does the number “143” have to do with anything? This must be referring to Uncanny X-Men issue #143 from 1980. When it was announced that Miller was developing a Kitty Pryde movie, we here at Nerdist picked Uncanny #143 as the best issue to adapt as a solo Kitty film. This issue, the final installment of the legendary Chris Claremont and John Byrne run on the book, centers on 14-year-old Kitty’s first Christmas Eve as an X-Man; she spends the night housesitting at the X-Mansion while everyone else goes out to celebrate. This is the night a N’Garai demon chooses to attack the mansion, and an untrained and terrified Kitty has to defeat the monster all by herself.

Yes, the source material was but a 22-page story, but then again, X-Men: Days of Future Past was just a two-parter in the comics. Uncanny #143 could be expanded upon to include how Kitty discovered her powers and was recruited by the team in the first place, before getting into the horror movie of it all. This story could not only be another great showcase for a beloved female hero, it could serve as a great X-Men horror film, similar to what they are trying to do with The New Mutants, and be the first official superhero Christmas movie to boot (although I guess Iron Man 3 kind of counts, though I’d bet this will turn out better).

What do you want to see in a Miller/Bendis X-Men collaboration? Are you hoping it’s an adaptation of the classic Uncanny X-Men story, or are you hoping for a new, fresh story centering on Kitty instead? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics

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A STRANGER THINGS Kid Battles a Haunted House in the MARROWBONE Trailer

We recently reported Stranger Things 3 will only include eight episodes, which should free up Charlie Heaton to lend his haunting features to more horror films like this one.

Marrowbone, the directorial debut of The Orphanage and The Impossible writer Sergio G. Sánchez, releases in theaters and digitally on April 13 and stars Heaton as one of four siblings hiding a deadly secret in order to stay together in a dilapidated estate. Family solidarity is inspiring, right? Bad news, though. There’s a dark spirit who’s not that happy about them staying in the house.



Including Heaton (who gets to use his natural British accent), the cast is a tour of up-and-coming young talent, including George MacKay (Captain Fantastic), Anya Taylor-Joy (The VVitch), and Mia Goth (A Cure For Wellness). If the trailer is an accurate vision into the world of the film, we’re in for a country ride that’s far more atmospheric and jump scare-heavy. The whole set up and the lines about sticking together evoke a “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” vibe, with Taylor-Joy playing a curious outsider getting close to a potentially dangerous family. Or are the orphaned kids innocent? Misunderstood weirdos longing for and deserving of our sympathy?

We’ll have to see. Sánchez has delivered several stirring stories as a writer–stories particularly focused on families holding tight while being ripped apart. It will be interesting to see whether he can deliver as a director, too. Fortunately, Marrowbone features cinematography from seasoned DP Xavi Giménez, who created grisly portraits and landscapes for The Machinist, Transsiberian, and the criminally underseen Intacto. If nothing else, it should be gorgeous, but The Orphanage is an indication that Sánchez can bring the ghost story goods.

What are your initial impressions of Marrowbone? Share them in the comments.

Images: Magnet

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Brew a HARRY POTTER Love Potion Cocktail for Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air. For this Valentine’s Day, you can cast a spell your family, friends, and other loved ones without having to get accepted into Hogwarts. No potions class necessary. Though many fans probably wouldn’t mind Professor Snape looking over their shoulders while they mix and stir, adults of legal drinking age can brew this take on the Harry Potter elixir unsupervised. All it takes to replicate the sparkly liquid sold at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes is a little special juice and a bit of shimmer.

For this recipe, I was inspired by the idea of chocolate-covered strawberries with a twist. I wanted something simple but elegant, which this sweet drink definitely delivers. You can increase the proportion of raspberry vodka to your tastes.

Love Potion

1 serving

Ingredients

2.5oz crème de cacao

1.5oz raspberry vodka

1/8 tsp pink luster dust

Optional: chocolate covered strawberries

Add creme de cacao, raspberry vodka, and pink luster dust (I got orchid pink luster dust from Sunflower Sugar Art, and now I want to put luster dust in everything I drink) to ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 20-30 seconds. You can stir the ingredients together, but the luster dust won’t mix with the liquids as well.

Strain love potion into a coupe or martini glass. It would also look lovely in vials or Glencairn whisky glasses. Serve cold and stir before serving to agitate luster dust. If desired, garnish with chocolate covered strawberries.

Using a wand may or may not make the cocktail taste better. Don’t accidentally leave the drink out for Ron Weasley.

What other potions do you want to turn into cocktails? Apparate to the comments and share your thoughts. If you make Love Potion, share your pictures with us on Instagram and Twitter.

Images: Warner Bros., Aaron Fairbanks

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

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First Look at Thor’s New Hammer in INFINITY WAR

Warning: This post contains minor spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War . 

Last year, Thor lost his iconic hammer, Mjolnir, during the events of Thor: Ragnarok. And while the God of Thunder eventually found his power within, it’s just not the same watching him go into battle without a mighty hammer in his hand. Fortunately, a new toy leak from Avengers: Infinity War appears to show us Thor is getting a new hammer, and it’s not the one you may have expected. Today’s Nerdist News is all about Mjolnir 2.0, which is better known as Stormbreaker.

Join host and the goddess of hammers, Jessica Chobot, as she lays out the history of Stormbreaker. During the classic Walt Simonson run on Thor, an alien named Beta Ray Bill proved he was worthy to wield Mjolnir and the powers of Thor. Eventually, Odin created a new hammer for Bill he called Stormbreaker, and Bill has used it to defend the universe ever since. Sharp-eyed fans may have noticed Bill’s likeness as one of the previous champions of the arena in Thor: Ragnarok, but he has yet to make his official MCU debut.

Many fans expected Thor to get his hands on Jarnbjorn, the magically powered axe that can take down a Celestial’s armor. But as you can see in the image above, Stormbreaker has part of an axe as well. Curiously, the leaked toy’s version of Stormbreaker looks like it has a wooden handle that resembles Groot. Perhaps teenage Groot will play a role in helping Thor acquire his new weapon in Infinity War. And maybe this is why Disney included Stormbreaker in the ride queue of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT.

What do you think about Thor’s new hammer? Call down the thunder in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel

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