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Will the Animated SUPER MARIO BROS. Movie Strike Gold (Coins) for Nintendo?

There’s so much going on in the video game world, we dedicated today’s Nerdist News Talks Back to breaking down all of it, including the Super Mario Bros. animated movie, Nintendo‘s online Switch service, and Red Dead Redemption 2‘s delayed release. But don’t worry, we took some time to address about the most important thing in the world, the missing Solo trailer.

Joining host Jessica Chobot was Nerdist News writer Joey Clift, producer Derek Johnson, and science editor Kyle Hill. They hit play on today’s show with the confirmation that we’re getting an animated Super Mario Bros. film from Illumination, the studio that made Despicable Me and Minions. Are we excited for this? How much of that is because Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto is co-producing? Will Mario have worldwide appeal? Who should voice him? Should they try another live-action movie too? And are we actually more excited to play Mario Kart on our smartphones?



That wasn’t it for Nintendo though, because the company also announced their online service for the Switch. It’s going live this September for $19.99 a year, and will be similar to X-Box Live and Playstation Plus. What do we think of this new service? Is the price right? Is there a big enough market for it? Will we be drawn in by the offer to play classic games free for a month? Do we want those older games to rotate, or have a smaller group that are always available? And are we surprised by the massive sales numbers for the Switch?

In the non-Nintendo video game news department, Rockstar has apologized for another delay of Red Dead Redemption 2. Originally due out last fall, its spring release has now been pushed to this October. Is this bad news, or are we glad they’re taking their time to get it right? What do we hope to see in the game when it finally hits stores?

Finally, the mixed reports about whether or not we will actually get the elusive trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story during the Super Bowl has led to an absurd bet with Derek, who is positive it will air during the big game. But how confident is he really? And when on Sunday does he think it could be shown?

Remember Nerdist News Talks Back airs live on our YouTube and Alpha channels every weekday at 1:00 p.m. PT. That way you can be a part of the conversation when Nintendo decides to announce everything, and also when Lucasfilm refuses to release one single trailer.

What did you think about today’s topics? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Featured Image: Nintendo

Why Everyone is Overreacting About Captain America’s New INFINITY WAR Shield

Everyone who saw the first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War should know by now that Captain America is getting a new shield. Black Panther specifically said “get that man a shield!,” and he was serious. Now, thanks to another toy leak, fans have received their first glimpse of Steve Rogers’ latest shield…and they’re freaking out a bit. Well, make that “freaking out a lot.” People are actually acting like this is the permanent Captain America shield from now on. Fortunately, today’s Nerdist News is here to remind everyone why Cap will eventually throw his mighty OG shield again!

Join host and Chitauri life-hacker, Jessica Chobot, as she takes us back to the bygone days of 2016 when Steve Rogers abandoned the Captain America identity at the end of Civil War. It was also the end of his beautiful bromance with Tony Stark over the whole “Bucky killed my parents” thing. We recently learned that the MCU’s Cap has been going into battle without any shield at all, and his new Wakandan shield may actually be an upgrade compared to the original.

Both of Cap’s shields are made from Wakanda’s wondrous super metal, Vibranium, but the new one has the advantage of being designed by Shuri, Black Panther’s sister. You may have heard that she’s possibly smarter than Stark—well, that’s not an exaggeration. Shuri’s the real deal, and we suspect that her new shield may actually retract into the gauntlet on Cap’s arm. That’s potentially very useful, and it may have other tricks as well.

But what about Cap’s classic shield? Well, there was a throwaway line in Spider-Man: Homecoming about Stark creating a new shield for Captain America. There’s really only two reasons for Stark to pursue that: to give Steve a new shield when they eventually reconcile or to pass on the mantle of Cap to someone else. Given the fact that the core Avengers’ Marvel contracts are coming to an end, it’s distinct possibility that we may eventually see a familiar face step up as the new Cap. But we think there will definitely be a chance for Cap to dramatically reclaim his real shield just in time for the final throw down with Thanos. So everybody can chill out! And maybe we’ll even some heroic reconciliation between Cap and Iron Man as well.

What do you think about Cap’s Wakandan shield? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Need More Avengers News?

Meet Patriot, the young avenger who almost came to Black Panther!
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Images: Marvel

Horror Short YOUR DATE IS HERE Warns You Not to Play Old Board Games

A mother (Rebecca Flinn) and her young daughter (Dani Tiernan) settle in for a game night at home with a dusty old board game called “Your Date Is Here.” Pizza’s on the way, mom’s making drinks, and the game is probably going to kill them both.

This new short film from writer/directors Zak White and Todd Spence utilizes the same clever angles to create tension and scares as their FaceTime horror Where Is It, but Your Date Is Here offers a little more information on its characters. It’s not overly anxious to get to the punchline, which allows the hairs to stand up on the back of your neck and stay there.

Turns out you really don’t want to get The Dweeb as your date.



The star here is the board game, which was designed to retro perfection to mimic Mystery Date as handled by eager pre-teens and worn down by moths in the back of the dark closet. Its grimy door with its curvy plastic question mark is an amazing icon for piquing a fearful curiosity, and even when they show what’s behind it, Your Date Is Here hangs on to its bigger revelations, not so much to go in a surprising direction, but definitely to place the big scares at unexpected moments.

This played at Fantastic Fest last year, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a tidy, frightful riff in a fun package. There’s a horrific-looking supernatural monster, and the little girl’s last line is deeply unsettling. Does anyone know what happened to grandma when she played?

Images: Midnight Video

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Is RIVERDALE About to Go Full FIGHT CLUB?

Riverdale isn’t exactly known for its subtlety, and when a new character shows up out of nowhere, there’s reason to be suspicious. When that character also happens to be in the FBI, that suspicion grows tenfold.

Agent Arthur Adams (John Behlmann) arrived in the town of Riverdale midway through the current season with an agenda: to get crucial information about Hiram Lodge’s criminal activity with the help of Archie Andrews (KJ Apa). As the boyfriend of Hiram’s daughter and the son of a man employed by Lodge Industries, Archie is in a unique position to assist. And he’s not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, which could make him FBI malleability material.

But Archie’s lack of prowess also makes you wonder why Agent Adams trusts in him at all. Surely there are better people to safeguard an FBI masterplan than a high schooler with a history of bad decision-making. Wouldn’t Agent Adams know about the Andrews family’s ties to the Black Hood? The kid is still getting over the shock of seeing his father gunned down and almost killed, an event that triggered a violent protective streak and a brawl with the South Side. A brawl that involved Archie purchasing a gun off the black market.

via GIPHY

But maybe those events have more to do with Agent Adams arrival than we’re lead to believe. Put your theory caps on and hear us out…

What if Agent Adams is Archie?

Sure, it would be a little out there. And even though Riverdale can get whacky from time to time, it’s never gone the full-blown hallucination route. But it wouldn’t be totally out of line for the show to introduce a storyline that reckons with Archie’s PTSD. Remember that earlier this season, shortly after his dad’s encounter, he brushed off the suggestion of therapy. Has his mind created some sort of coping mechanism? A way of feeling important, like he’s protecting his girlfriend and father?

Think about it: No one has seen Agent Adams besides Archie. He’s always filmed in a vaguely dreamy way, with light pouring in over his shoulders. He conveniently sneaks into the Andrews’ soundproof garage unnoticed by Fred and presumably the neighbors. And what do we really know about the guy? Well, he’s originally from Riverdale, for starters. When he first meets Archie in the park, he tells him how he used to come there with his dad and dog. Archie lives with his dad and has a dog. The also both have the same initials. Arthur Adams. Archie Andrews.

What’s more, Agent Adams is constantly assuring Archie that Veronica and his father will be protected when the Lodges go down. This is exactly what Archie wants and needs to hear. That his loved ones are safe. That he’s doing his best to protect them.

It’s a big leap for sure, but Riverdale also loves its movie references, and a big twist ala Fight Club seems like just the sort of juicy call-out the writers would go for. And the show is already dipping into conversations about mental health with “Dark Betty,” who made her wigged reappearance this week.

Maybe we’re thinking too hard about this, but on a show where Veronica sings “Bittersweet Symphony” in a virginal white dress at her own confirmation, surely anything is possible.

Images: The CW

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Tom Hardy Got a Leonardo DiCaprio Tattoo After Losing a Bet to Him

Tom Hardy seems to be living a pretty nice life. He’s a huge star who has been in a bunch of great movies, he has tons of fans around the world, he’s received critical acclaim for his work, and he can play a wide range of compelling roles, especially characters with obstructed mouths that you can’t understand when they speak. But even he makes mistakes sometimes, and the kind that that have lifelong consequences. We know because there’s definitive proof he paid off a losing bet to his friend and The Revenant co-star Leonardo DiCaprio by getting a tattoo about how smart Leo is.

Andrew Calisterio shared a selfie with Hardy on Instagram, that we first saw at IndieWire, and if you look at Hardy’s right bicep you can see a tattoo that reads “LEO KNOWS ALL.”

A post shared by Andrew Calisterio (@boozehoundcc) on Jan 28, 2018 at 6:50pm PST

We’re sure there are plenty of fans who have Leo’s name tattooed on their body, but Hardy has to be the most famous person on that list. But why would he do that? Apparently Hardy lost a bet to DiCaprio about whether or not Hardy would receive a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for The Revenant. Hardy bet he wouldn’t, and he was so sure he wagered a lifelong tattoo on it.

Oops.

But because he is an honorable person he kept his word, and now for the rest of his life he will be a walking display for how smart Leonardo DiCaprio is. Of course, we don’t feel too badly for him, since losing the bet meant he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Like we said, Tom Hardy seems to be living a pretty nice life.

What actor’s name would be the best to have tattooed on your arm? Who would be the worst? Tell us your picks in the comments below.

Featured Image: Warner Bros.

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Who is PATRIOT? The YOUNG AVENGER Who Was Almost in BLACK PANTHER

We’ve all been waiting for Black Panther—it’s already broken all records for presale tickets and the early responses are fantastic. And just when we thought we couldn’t be more excited, Ryan Coogler dropped the name of one of our favorite superheroes in a recent interview. “Crazy enough, for comic book fans, we toyed with the character Patriot for a little bit. Early on we were interested to get our hands on him, Joe [Robert Cole] and I, but that ended up going away so we could focus on Wakanda a little more,” Coogler told Cinemablend. So just who is the hero who could’ve starred alongside T’Challa and company in Coogler’s upcoming movie? If you’ve yet to come across Patriot, a.k.a. Eli Bradley, then you’re in for a treat.

The Patriot mantle has been held by three characters in Marvel history. First, he was a golden age hero inspired to put on the cowl by Captain America. Most recently, a new Patriot cropped up in 2017 as a part of Nick Spencer’s much maligned Secret Empire story. But it’s safe to say that Coogler was talking about Eli Bradley, created by Jim Cheung and Allan Heinberg in 2005 for their iconic Young Avengers run. The story saw the core team of the Avengers reimagined by introducing young heroes with corresponding powers, but the twist of the book was that each character had a secret and was actually much closer to a different Avenger in powerset and personality. The original team saw Iron Lad recruit Hulking, Patriot, and Wiccan to his new iteration of the team, and that was our first introduction to Eli Bradley’s iteration of Patriot.

Eli joined the Young Avengers after Iron Lad tried to recruit his uncle, Josiah X, who was previously a member of the short-lived (and super underrated) Christopher Priest penned superhero team up book, The Crew. Eli joined the Young Avengers in Josiah X’s place, telling Iron Lad he gained superpowers from a blood transfusion from his grandfather. And this is where Patriot’s story gets really interesting, because Patriot is the grandson of Isaiah Bradley, who was introduced in Kyle Baker and Robert Morales’ incredible Truth: Red, White & Black. The 2003 miniseries introduced Isaiah Bradley, a survivor of brutal Super Soldier experiments on a Black regiment of the American military during WWII. The book was a parable about the horrors of the Tuskegee Experiments and the realities of the exploitation that Black people have historically experienced in the name of “science and progress.” The most radical thing about Baker and Morales’ book was that Isaiah survived all this, taking the fight directly to the Nazis and Hitler as Captain America while Steve Rogers was stuck in the Pacific.

Eli felt the legacy and responsibility of his grandfather’s suffering heavily, and was desperate to tell his story. That’s why, when Iron Lad knocked on his door that fateful day, Eli lied to him. Eli didn’t actually have any powers, but instead was using the street drug Mutant Growth Hormone, which gave users powers for a short period of time. Writer Allan Heinberg said his own experience with addiction inspired Eli’s journey. As Patriot, Eli was an important part of the team. But his deception and addiction left him feeling empty, and he ultimately left the team. By the end of the run, however, Eli rejoined and ironically ended up getting an emergency blood transfusion from his grandfather, leaving him with real superpowers.

Patriot and the Young Avengers played a part in Marvel’s massive Civil War event, captured by S.H.I.E.L.D for refusing to register their powers. After most of the other Young Avengers agreed to register in exchange for amnesty, Patriot was one of the few heroes who stuck to his guns and refused to follow the Superhero Registration Act, though he was given amnesty after the event. Following Civil War, Eli searched out Bucky Barnes after learning that the former Winter Soldier had met his grandfather. The story revolved around the idea of what it means to be a Patriot when you disagree with everything that your government says and does, as well as looking back at the very first Patriot, Jeffrey Mace.

Eli became the de-facto leader of the Young Avengers during Dark Reign. The team battled Norman Osborn as he attempted to create a new team of Avengers and their Young counterparts. During this arc it was also confirmed that Eli and Kate Bishop, a.k.a Hawkeye, were dating and deeply in love. Eli’s time with the Young Avengers and the Patriot mantle came to end after Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, when he left the team after attempting to stop Scarlet Witch from going back on her “no more mutants” spell which left millions of mutants de-powered. Eli was scared of the ramifications of mutants gaining their powers back with no warning or preparation, but the interaction ended up with Doctor Doom gaining Wanda’s omniscient powers instead.

Eli was an incredible part of the Young Avengers, but was last heard of during Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson, and Kieron Gillen’s fantastic Young Avengers relaunch in 2013. When that iteration of the lineup was being stalked by a character in the Patriot costume, the team contacted his mother, who informed them that Eli was bedridden and ill. As we’ve now seen Rayshaun Lucas take on the Patriot mantle, we’d love to see Eli brought to life on the big screen. Though he won’t be making an appearance in Black Panther, we dream that a Young Avengers movie might not be too far away!

Is Patriot one of your favorite Marvel heroes? Do you wish he was making an appearance in Wakanda? Or just super excited to see Black Panther hit the big screen? Let us know below!

Need More Comics News?

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Images: Marvel Comics

RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Shares 1st Look at New Character Designs

Last fall, Nickelodeon announced that that our favorite heroes-in-a-half-shell would be returning in 2018 in the new animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. To make matters more exciting, the news included the fact that Ben Schwartz, who also voices Dewey on Disney’s Ducktales reboot, would be joining his second famous cartoon team as the voice of Leonardo. On Thursday, the network revealed the first glimpse of the sewer-dwelling crime-fighters, along with the likes of April O’Neil and Splinter. It’s the Turtles like we’ve never seen before.

Nickelodeon held a Facebook Live event to show off a brand new direction in character design for the Turtles; notably, this design features greater variety among the four brothers. This is fitting, since the team dynamics have also changed, with (a very large) Raphael now leading the brothers.

“The Turtles’ hold distinct personality traits and skills, including: Raphael, as the oldest and biggest brother, he is the leader full of enthusiasm and bravado; Leonardo, the self-professed ‘coolest’ brother possesses irreverent charm and a rebel heart; Donatello, a mechanical genius and tech wizard whose ninja skills are second only to his coding; and Michelangelo, the youngest brother, a skateboarder and artist who is wild and imaginative.”

Along with the Turtles, we also get a first look at this series’ version of April O’Neil, who is now black, and ostensibly younger than her original iteration. The show is calling April “a street savvy native New Yorker.”

One thing that hasn’t changed: Splinter is still the turtles’ sensei and father-figure. And he looks amazing.

You can see the rest of the team in our gallery below.

In addition to Schwartz as Leonardo, the cast includes Omar Miller (Ballers) as Raphael, Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) as Donatello, Brandon Mychal Smith (You’re The Worst) as Michelangelo, Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as April O’Neil, and Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Splinter. WWE’s John Cena will also be voicing Baron Draxum, “an alchemist warrior mutant who seeks to turn all of humanity into mutants.” (Good thing Raphael is so big since he has to go up against John Cena.)

The 26-episode first season, which our very own host of Talkin’ Toons and the former voice of two different Turtles, Rob Paulsen, is serving as voice coach for, will debut later this year.

And even if the Turtles look a little different than we remember them, as long as they’re being cool, rude, kicking butt, and eating lots pizza, they’ll still be the same characters we’ve always loved.

What do you think of the new art? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Nickelodeon

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SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS’ Latest Trailer Offers Stunning Look at the Remake

If you missed out on Shadow of the Colossus the first time, then you’re about to get a second chance to play one of the all-time greatest video games. Next month, Sony is dropping its Shadow of the Colossus remake in glorious high definition, with graphics that were remade from the ground up while retaining the gameplay. The heart of the game is also intact, as players battle the statuesque creatures known as the Colossi. And in the new story trailer for the remake, we see the hero’s dangerously self-destructive journey.



The trailer reintroduces us to Wander, a young man who recently lost his lover, Mono. To bring Mono back to life, Wander accepts a devil’s bargain to slaughter the sixteen remaining Colossi. They’re not evil creatures, but they won’t go down without a fight. But before he can go into battle, Wander will have to ride his horse across the land and seek out his targets.

Additionally, the developers of the remake have released a video that explains why they wanted to tackle this modern classic, while offering another tantalizing glimpse of the beautiful visuals of the game.



Shadow of the Colossus will be released exclusively for the Playstation 4 on Tuesday, February 6.

What did you think about the new trailer for the remake of Shadow of the Colossus? Mount your steeds and share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Images: Sony

POKÉMON Come to Westeros in This GAME OF THRONES Mash-Up

The worlds of Pokémon and Game of Thrones are so vastly different that, at first glance, they may not seem compatible on any level. But that hasn’t stopped some dedicated fans from coming together for an unlikely animated mash up: Pokémon Ice and Fire, which re-imagines George R.R. Martin‘s epic fantasy with a few familiar creatures from Nintendo’s iconic franchise. The story is seemingly based on the seventh season of Game of Thrones, as Jon Snow bids his bannermen to go out and catch ’em all.



We first spotted this video on io9, and it is the creation of YouTube user Cash Sonny. And it not only gives A Song of Ice and Fire a retro makeover, it also includes voice-over actors for some of the primary characters, including Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jon Snow. In this world, it’s probably a lot more exciting to send a raven than it is in the show. While Daenerys’ dragons were natural choices for Pokémon, Jon and his allies have a few pocket monsters of their own to call upon.

Amusingly, random battles are also a part of this realm, which makes the long voyage to Westeros more eventful than it needs to be. And unfortunately for the living, the Night King is coming to the North with his own army of undead Pokémon.

You can find more Pokémon inspired parodies on Cash Sonny’s YouTube channel, but this is definitely one of our favorites.

What did you think about Pokémon Ice and Fire? We choose you to leave a comment below!

Images: Cash Sonny

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Love, Alexi #98: Charlie McDowell

Writer / Director / Author Charlie McDowell (The One I Love, The Discovery, Dear Girls Above Me) joins Alexi to talk movie making, family, instagram, Larry David, Alexi’s neurosis and MORE. Check out The Discovery available now on Netflix. Follow him on Instagram & Twitter @CharlieMcDowell

Follow @alexiwasser on instagram & twitter, send emails for Alexi to read on air: DearLoveAlexi@gmail.com!