Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1854

MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD is Hilariously Confusing Cats in the Real World

As anyone who has ever owned multiple cats can tell you, domestic felines don’t tend to meow at each other. That vocal interaction is solely reserved for their human caretakers. However, that doesn’t mean that cats can’t recognize a meow when they hear it, even within the context of a video game.

Capcom’s recently released Monster Hunter: World has a few feline-like sidekicks called Palicos, which communicate via meow. And Japanese gamers are capturing some very amusing pictures and videos of their cats getting freaked out by the sounds coming from their screens.

Via Kotaku, it’s almost impossible not to laugh at these adorable cats as they try to understand how to interact with their computer generated counterparts.

自分そっくりに作られたアイルーが気になるきなこさん..

ANDRE THE GIANT Documentary Trailer Shows Burden of the World’s Biggest Star

Andre the Giant wasn’t just the biggest star in the world because he was massively famous and beloved around the globe, he was literally bigger and stronger than almost any athlete who has ever lived. The stories about his physical prowess and memorable performances–as well as his drinking–are so legendary it often doesn’t seem possible he could have been real. Andre the Giant seemed like a god among men, which is why people have been hoping for decades for a documentary to explore his unbelievable life. But now that HBO is making that dream a reality, the first trailer for the film shows that being the biggest star in the world came with almost impossible, oversized burdens for a giant who was just a human.

The documentary, which is said to include never-before-seen footage of Andre performing, is a joint venture between HBO, the WWE, and the Bill Simmons Media Group. It features interviews with WWE figures such as CEO Vince McMahon, and wrestlers Jerry Lawler, Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan (believe me, I know, but this documentary would have been incomplete without him). There are also insights from Andre’s The Princess Bride costars Cary Elwes and Billy Crystal.

But if Andre’s incredible life seemed like the stuff of fantasy, the very traits that made him a star burdened him with a life of pain and discomfort he always knew would end early.

Because the perks of being the biggest star in the world–both literally and metaphorically—are only outweighed by its burdens.

Andre the Giant comes to HBO on April 10.

What do you think of when you hear the name Andre the Giant? Share your favorite memories of him in our comments below.

Images: HBO/WWE

Rey and Kylo Ren Fighting to Popular Songs is the Hilarious Meme You Need

The Last Jedi had so many incredible scenes–like Holdo’s legendary maneuver, the Battle of Crait, and Luke’s final act–we’d be hard-pressed to name one as our favorite. But the unlikely alliance of Kylo Ren and Rey took our breathe away. Watching the two of them team up to fight Snoke’s Praetorian Guard was like watching two dancers perform a beautiful ballet together with lightsabers but not any music. It was a perfect moment, and we couldn’t possibly imagine it being any better.

Until someone started setting it to actual music, turning it into the most ridiculous new internet meme. Because you haven’t truly experienced that scene until you’ve watched them fight to Dirty Dancing‘s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" from Dirty Dancing pic.twitter.com/3MngCorEnW

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 26, 2018

Twitter user @rachlikesbands has transformed the stunning moment into a hilarious sequence by picking a series of ridiculous songs to play while Rey and Kylo learn that no one is alone when they have a dance partner. Although it’s tough to imagine Blink 182 making a Star Wars soundtrack.

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "All The Small Things" by Blink-182 pic.twitter.com/CVThgiCeuu

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 26, 2018

As you can guess, just like with those amazing dancing Pennywise memes we can’t get enough of these.

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Hey-Ya" by Outkast pic.twitter.com/1myulsYazh

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 26, 2018

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers pic.twitter.com/ZHBwRShEF3

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 25, 2018

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Starships" by Nicki Minaj pic.twitter.com/vlDhC4MWs8

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 25, 2018

We’re not saying we inspired this next one, but we also noticed the similarities between Kylo Ren’s story and Kevin Bacon in Footloose.

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Footloose" pic.twitter.com/MWnIg4kVbk

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 25, 2018

While these are all totally absurd, it’s really crazy how differently they play out based on the song choice.

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac pic.twitter.com/4XzpfVBLbr

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 25, 2018

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Bet On It" from High School Musical 2 pic.twitter.com/piiYvovw9e

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 25, 2018

Rey & Kylo Ren fighting the Praetorian Guards to "Toxic" by Brittany Spears pic.twitter.com/5qY5XNInnq

— you’re not alone in everything Saw TLJ x4 (@rachlikesbands) January 23, 2018

You can find the rest here, where people have started putting in requests for specific bands and songs. Because the only way to improve a perfect Star Wars scene is making it totally ridiculous.

Which song should Rey and Kylo fight to next? Tell us in the comments below what song you’d play.

Featured Image: Lucasfilm

The Game Boy is Back and Better Than Ever

Time is a flat circle. Everything that was once old is new again. The XFL is coming back in 2020, Tamagotchis are returning to store shelves this year, and now the grandfather of portable gaming—the Game Boy—is making its triumphant return thanks to one enterprising retro console maker. Revealed at CES 2018, the Ultra GB from Hyperkin is exactly like the Game Boy that you used to have in the ’90s, but revamped with some distinctly modern twists. While at CES, I went hands-on with the sleek, new retro console prototype and like the protagonist of a Proust novel, I was instantly transported back to a simpler time, a better time, a time when I wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ultra GB comes with a sturdy aluminum case that makes it feel more durable and fancier than the original console. It also adds a much-needed backlight, a USB-C port, and a battery that will give you an estimated six hours of gameplay. It will also have a specialized stereo jack geared towards musicians who want to make those sweet, sweet chiptunes. The console, which is not officially licensed by Nintendo, won’t run ROMs; you’ll need to have your old Game Boy game cartridges in order to play the games you used to love. It is expected to retail for approximately $100.

via Giphy

Although the console is still in the prototype stage, Hyperkin tells us that they will have more to announce at this year’s E3 in June. What we played was loads of fun and perfectly scratched our nostalgia itch. It seems ideal for anyone whose mom “accidentally” threw out their old Game Boy when they moved away, or folks who have been holding on to old Game Boy cartridges for years without any way to play them. But what do you think? Would you plunk down $100 for a new Game Boy? What Game Boy games are you most excited to play again? Let us know in the comments below.

Image: Hyperkin

What else is happening in gaming?

This Super Mario Bros. clone is insanely difficult
Final Fantasy is celebrating its 30th anniversary with custom whiskey
A Duke Nukem movie with John Cena might be on the way

Why do video game movies always suck?

Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@DanCasey).

ANNIHILATION Cast Explains Terrifying “Shimmer” in New Featurette

If you’ve seen any of the amazing, mysterious trailers for Ex-Machina director Alex Garland’s adaptation of the novel Annihilation, it’s not hard to understand why the horror/sci-fi film is one of our most anticipated movies of 2018. It not only has an amazing cast and looks absolutely stunning, the fact that we aren’t completely sure what is really going on totally freaks us out. But if you thought it was scary not knowing about the strange “Shimmer” that is turning the world into some bizarre new place full of horrible monsters, hearing about what is happening inside it from the cast only makes it more terrifying.

In this new featurette from Paramount, that we first came across at io9, stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, and Tuva Novotny talk about the mutations and horrors taking place inside the “The Shimmer,” the unexplained phenomenon that has claimed the lives of almost everyone else who has entered it before them. Because for every gorgeous new animal or flower that it contains, there’s something far more insidious lurking close by.



“I definitely think Annihilation is something we haven’t seen quite yet,” said Rodriguez, and we agree. Especially because every time we get new footage from the film the things inside “The Shimmer” seem more bizarre and awful, like if all of evolution took place in a couple of months instead of millions of years.

And if that’s the case, all that shimmers certainly won’t be gold.

Annihilations, which is an adaptation of author Jeff VanderMeer’s first novel in his Southern Reach Trilogy, also stars Oscar Isaac and comes to theaters on February 23rd.

What do you make of this new featurette? Mutate our comments section with your thoughts.

Images: Paramount

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Revisit the History of CHRIS CLAREMONT’s X-MEN in New Documentary

For over forty years, the X-Men have been one of Marvel’s biggest comic book franchises. And while the success of most comics can be attributed to several creative teams, the X-Men’s journey from forgotten heroes to mainstream movie stars stems directly from one man: Chris Claremont. Starting in 1975, Claremont embarked on an unmatched 14-year run on Uncanny X-Men that revitalized the existing characters and unleashed a new generation of heroes.

Next month, the new documentary, Chris Claremont’s X-Men will explore the author’s contributions to Marvel’s mutants through extended conversations with Claremont and many of his collaborators. In the first trailer for the film, the late Len Wein recalls how Claremont volunteered for the book when no one else wanted it. And from there, history was made.



This documentary was directed, produced, and edited by Patrick Meaney, with Jordan Rennert as an additional producer and the director of photography. Ann Nocenti and Louise Simonson will also be featured in the documentary, since both women have made inumberable contributions to the X-Men legacy as writers. Additionally, artists Rob Liefled, Marc Silvestri, and others will weigh on Claremont’s tenure with the book, and their part in continuing the franchise.

Within this video, Claremont briefly touches upon his exit from the X-Men books in 1991. Claremont went on to return to the franchise on multiple occasions, but it was his initial run that continues to serve as an inspiration for adaptations in Hollywood. Even the upcoming X-Men: Dark Phoenix movie is loosely based upon Claremont’s epic tale with artist John Byrne.

Chris Claremont’s X-Men will be available on VOD beginning on February 6.

What did you think about this trailer? Activate your mutant powers in the comment section below!

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Images: XLrator Media

THE WALKING DEAD’s Andrew Lincoln to Narrate QUIDDITCH THROUGH THE AGES

The Wizarding world of Harry Potter is about to welcome The Walking Dead. Andrew Lincoln, you know, Sheriff Rick Grimes, is set to narrate the first ever audiobook version of Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling, a.k.a. in-universe author Kennilworthy Whisp. The book, first released in 2015, is a definitive guide to the wizarding sport. It covers the history, the highlights, the development of various racing brooms–all the insider info you want to know if, like me, you’re into fictional sports. And the audiobook will level up the experience with sound design and exclusive Quidditch match commentary from Ginny Potter and Rita Skeeter.

In a release, Lincoln shared his excitement: “The Wizarding world is one that I always wanted to get the chance to step into. What makes this project so special is not only that it allowed me opportunities to create something my kids love and enjoy, but it also supports great causes, like Comic Relief and Lumos.”

A portion of the proceeds from this Pottermore audiobook will go to Comic Relief and Lumos. If you don’t want to quittich, you can place your pre-order for the Quidditch Through the Ages audiobook exclusively from Audible. The title will be released on March 15.

Are you looking forward to hearing Lincoln’s soothing voice tell you all about the history of Quidditch? Fly to the comments and let us know if you’re planning to listen to this audiobook.

Images: Warner Bros., AMC, Pottermore

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist and a proud Hufflepuff. Follow her on Twitter.

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How Captain Marvel Could Appear in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

Could Captain Marvel make a surprise appearance in Avengers: Infinity War? We broke the possibility down on today’s Nerdist News Talk Back, along with more from Marvel, the new name and huge stunt for Mission Impossible 6, and Bill & Ted 3.

Host Jessica Chobot welcomed Mothership writer Amy Vorphal, Nerdist News writer Joey Clift, and producer Jason Nguyen on today’s show. They started with Infinity War co-director Anthony Russo’s comments that Carol Danvers might make an appearance in the movie. We’ve heard mixed reports about whether Captain Marvel will be show up, so does this confirm it or is he just teasing us? How would she even be introduced into the story? By Nick Fury or after the Guardians picked her up in space maybe? And do we really need a prelude comic to the movie to catch us up on all the characters?

Tom Cruise also joined Instagram just so he could release the name of the sixth Mission: Impossible, now called Fallout, as well as a sneak peek at his crazy new stunt for it. What do we make of the name? When do we think this movie will actually come out following all of Cruise’s injuries while shooting? What are we more excited for, the big helicopter stunt or Henry Cavill’s mustache? And how would we rank the first five films?

Finally, once again there’s talk of a third Bill & Ted, with new insights from screenwriter Ed Solomon. Bill & Ted Face the Music would see the guys in middle age dealing with their unfulfilled potential. Do we want to see this, or is it a blatant cash grab? What about the plan to include the late George Carlin with old, unused footage? Should they just leave him out, or is this a great way to keep Rufus involved? And how should they update a ’90s comedy for today?

Nerdist News Talks Back airs live every weekday at 1:00 p.m. PT on our YouTube and Alpha channels. We might not be expecting Carol Danvers to make a surprise visit to the studio, but we’re always happy when we get to talk about Captain Marvel.

You can still share your thoughts on today’s topics though, by talking back to us in the comments below.

Images: Marvel, Orion Pictures

Fans Photoshop CAPTAIN MARVEL Photos in Comics Accurate Colors

Fans have been waiting to see what actress Brie Larson looks like all suited up in costume as Captain Marvel ever since Marvel Studios first announced her in the role of Carol Danvers, the cosmic Avenger. Finally, this week we got to see our first photo of Larson in her costume on set….only the costume was green, not her traditional red, blue and gold.

Most hard core Marvel Comics fans didn’t freak out too much at this, because we know that the alien Kree uniforms are green, and in fact the Mar-Vell, Carol Danvers’ predecessor in the role, once wore a green costume before switching to red, blue and gold himself. So this is probably from an earlier point in the movie, before she starts wearing her more well known color scheme.

First look of @brielarson in her #CaptainMarvel suit. pic.twitter.com/jhVyRerJpS

— Marvel Universe (@YVNGPatrickB) January 25, 2018

Of course, in this era of Photoshop, it didn’t take fans too long to show us what Carol Danvers’ costume would look like in her proper colors, and she looks amazing of course. One of these early fan Photoshop edits came from the fan art section of Reddit, and was posted to Twitter via the Marvel Universe fan account, which you can see above.

Since the design of the green costume is pretty much identical to the costume she wears, minus the color change, this gives you a pretty good idea what she’s going to look like in the final film. Another fan, this one going by the name Sneaky Zebra, also made their own fan edit of Captain Marvel’s costume, which you can check out down below.

One quick photoshop later, add’d some red to the Captain Marvel photo. pic.twitter.com/rW2DmLKPhd

— Sneaky Zebra (@The_SneakyZebra) January 25, 2018

What do you guys think of these fan edits? Isn’t this more like it? And are you as excited for Captain Marvel to finally reach theaters as we are? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics

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Funko Unleashes a New Wave of OVERWATCH Pops

“I need healing!” Or at least a Mercy Pop to along with the rest of the Overwatch figures that Funko has already released. Blizzard came up with such a great cast of characters for Overwatch that it’s hard for any company to make collectibles out of all of them. But later this year, Funko is gonna try with a brand new wave of Overwatch Pops, including Mercy…and she’s not alone!

Via the official Funko blog, the next Overwatch Pop figures will consist of six figures. From left to right, Funko’s lined up Overwatch’s resident healer (and one of our favorites) Mercy, followed by the hacker known as Sombra, and the Russian soldier, Zarya.

For the guys, Funko has the anarchist thief, Junkrat, on the far left, followed by the imposing Roadhog, and the “wandering guru,” Zenyatta.

Note that Roadhog will be a 6″ “super-sized” figure, which means that he will likely be the most expensive character in this batch. Pricing for this wave hasn’t been announced, and these figures aren’t currently available for pre-order, although we suspect that will change in the near future. There’s also likely to be a few variant figures in this wave that will only be available at certain stores.

The next wave of Overwatch Pops will be officially released in March, and we may learn about additional characters from Funko at the upcoming Toy Fair in New York.

Which Funko Pops in the new wave of Overwatch figures has captured your eye? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Images: Funko

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