Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 1908

Nerdist Podcast: Jon Bernthal

Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, Wolf of Wall Street) and Chris talk about why Jon chose to take the part on The Walking Dead, how Rick’s character has changed from season 1 and how he relates sports to acting. Jon also talks about studying acting in Russia, starting a family and playing The Punisher!

Image: Frazer Harrison / Getty

Final Trailer For THE SHAPE OF WATER Teases Forbidden Love

Next month, director Guillermo del Toro‘s newest film, The Shape of Water, will deliver perhaps the strangest love story that we’ve seen in a while. Over the course of this movie, a lonely woman named Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) will discover a humanoid sea creature that is held captive at a government instillation. And while Elisa and the creature eventually come to have romantic feelings for each other, there are plenty of threats that stand in the way of their love. Fox Searchlight has released a spoiler-filled final trailer for The Shape of Water, which does seem to spell out some of the film’s major beats. But it looks like it’s going to be a wild and eclectic ride.

Del Toro set The Shape of Water at the height of the Cold War in 1962. From the trailer, we can see that Elisa and her friend, Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer), work at the government lab where the sea creature currently resides. It’s hard to see the Amphibious Man and not be reminded of the Creature From the Black Lagoon. But frequent del Toro collaborator Doug Jones brings a lot of humanity to his otherworldly character. He also brings a real sense of danger as well.

Michael Shannon‘s Colonel Richard Strickland is the primary obstacle between the Amphibious Man’s freedom and his relationship with Elisa. It seems pretty likely that Strickland will be the true monster of this story, but he isn’t the only one who is capable of great cruelty.

The Shape of Water will a hit a limited number of theaters on December 8.

Are you excited to see del Toro’s latest dark fable? Swim to the comment section below and share your thoughts with us!

Images: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Merriam-Webster Settles The ‘Octopuses v. Octopi’ Debate Once And For All

If you see one octopus, you’re probably going to call it an octopus, yes? Makes sense. But what happens if out from behind that octopus emerges one more? Now, you’re looking at two… what? Octopuses? Or is it octopi? It’s a grammar question that snobs have been annoying their friends about for years, but which term is the correct one to use when referring to more than one octopus?

It would be fair to call Merriam-Webster an authority on language, so when the dictionary maker speaks, we listen. They’ve provided an answer to the “octopus v. octopi” debate, and the proper word to use is… well, both of them are fine, but technically, “octopuses” is “more right.”

In the video above, Kory Stamper, an associate editor at Merriam-Webster, explains how we even got to this point. When “octopus” was first mentioned in the English language in the mid-1700s, it was pluralized as “octopuses.” That said, some grammarians wanted English to be like the less irregular Latin language, so they started putting Latin pluralizations on Latin-based English words, which led to “octopi.”

However, “octopus” actually comes from Greek, so it later got the super-rare pluralization, “octopodes” (pronounced ock-TOP-uh-deez). Here’s the kicker, though: Ultimately, octopus is an English word, and as such, it has an English pluralization, meaning that “octopuses” is correct according to the conventions of the English language.

The verdict: Say whatever you want (even octopodes, we suppose), but know that in modern English, “octopuses” makes the most sense. What other grammar questions would you like a definitive answer to? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Featured image: Octopus by Scott Ableman

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Breaking Down the First Look At Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor

Earlier today, the creative team behind Doctor Who released the first look at Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. Whittaker is the first female Doctor in the show’s fifty plus years, so it’s not too surprising that her outfit is a bit of a departure from her predecessors. Except for the boots, of course. She’s the Doctor now, and that means that she’ll be doing a lot of running. Today’s Nerdist News is keeping up with the new Time Lady by examining the way that her costume references the show’s deep history.

Join guest host and known Zygon collaborator, Steve Zaragoza, as he takes us step-by-step through the Doctor’s new ensemble. At first glance, it could easily be mistaken for something that the Doctor stole from a hospital or hastily assembled from the TARDIS’ wardrobe. But a closer examination reveals that nothing was chosen at random. Even the eye-catching rainbow colors on her shirt remind us of the Fourth Doctor’s famous multicolored scarf.

The Thirteenth Doctor’s suspenders and boots also seem like a direct shout out to Matt Smith‘s beloved Eleventh Doctor. Considering that costume designer Ray Holman put both outfits together, that seems like a fitting tribute to his earlier creation. It also looks like she’s wearing some high waist pants, which was something that Patrick Troughton‘s Second Doctor was known to do.

Thankfully, the new Doctor’s coat isn’t a technicolor nightmare like the Sixth Doctor’s infamous look. That said, her jacket does seem to combine elements from multiple Doctors. It’s got a floor length hem, like the Tenth Doctor’s favorite trench coat and a hoodie like the one that the Twelfth Doctor briefly wore. As for the light grey color, it seems to be coming straight from the Seventh Doctor’s tailored jacket. The end result is a Doctor who can probably blend into modern crowds a little bit more easily, and we’re pretty sure that her pockets are bigger on the inside.

What do you think about the Doctor’s new costume? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: BBC

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A Live-Action STAR WARS TV Series is Finally Coming

After years of rumors and false starts, the long-awaited live-action Star Wars TV series is about to become a reality. Disney has revealed that it plans to go forward with an original Star Wars series for its currently unnamed streaming platform that will launch in 2019.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney CEO Bob Iger delivered the news about the Star Wars TV show during an earnings call with stockholders. It may have been briefly overshadowed by the announcement of a brand new Star Wars trilogy by writer-director Rian Johnson, but make no mistake: this is a big step forward for the Star Wars universe. If Johnson’s new trilogy is completely free to carve out its own place in the galaxy, then perhaps the TV show will be able to do so as well.

This is clearly meant to entice fans to subscribe to Disney’s new streaming service, and it will probably work. CBS All Access tried a similar tactic with Star Trek: Discovery, but the new Star Wars show already has a larger fan base that is hungry for more content from the galaxy far, far away. It also helps that there hasn’t been a live-action Star Wars adventure outside of the films and a few TV movies in the ’80s.

George Lucas and the team at Lucasfilm previously developed a Star Wars live-action series and reportedly stockpiled scripts that would have carried it through several seasons. However, it’s far likelier that the TV series currently in development will be something brand new. There are currently no details known about the writers and producers behind the show, but we would happily suggest that Star Wars animation maven Dave Filoni get a chance to guide the new series. Through The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Filoni and his team have proven that they can bring the best aspects of the franchise to television. And that is everything that we want to see from this new series.

Are you excited about the new Star Wars TV show? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Lucasfilm

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Rian Johnson Will Write & Direct a Brand New STAR WARS Trilogy

The Force is strong with Rian Johnson, it seems. In advance of the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Disney announced that it has tapped Johnson to create a brand new trilogy of films in the Star Wars universe. This trilogy will be set in an unexplored corner of the Star Wars universe, focusing on a new cast of characters, and tell a wholly original story. Johnson, who is set to write and direct the first film in the new trilogy, will produce the films alongside his longtime producing partner Ram Bergman. The news, which we saw via Deadline, was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger during a company call to discuss its yearly and quarterly earnings with financial analysts, and later confirmed in an official post on StarWars.com.

“We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi,” said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in a statement. “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”

The fact that Disney wants to work with Johnson again isn’t surprising given his talent as a filmmaker and his apparent ability to play within the sandbox that has seen directors like Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Josh Trank (the untitled Boba Fett spinoff), Colin Trevorrow (Star Wars: Episode IX), and Gareth Edwards (replaced on Rogue One reshoots by Tony Gilroy) removed, replaced, and repurposed to fit the seemingly strict Lucasfilm master plan.

The surprising part is that this story will seemingly, finally deviate from the existing Star Wars storyline as we know it. The Skywalker saga, when completed, will span nine core films and god knows how many spinoffs, but the prospect of a new trilogy in a different part of galaxy raises a whole host of narrative and logistical questions and may excite fans who thought that the series was too cyclical. What part of the Star Wars galaxy will this take place in? Will it be set in the distant past or the far-flung future? Only time will tell. After all, as Lucasfilm notes in their statement: “No release dates have been set for the new films, and no porgs were available for comment.”

What would you want to see from a brand new Star Wars trilogy? Let us know in the comments below

Image: Disney/Lucasfilm

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

The JUSTICE LEAGUE Cast Talks Mustache Envy, Joss Whedon’s Influence, and More

In just a few short weeks, DC Comics’ seminal superheroes will unite on the big screen for the very first time to defeat Steppenwolf and the forces of Apokolips in Justice League. To promote the film, Warner Bros. invited Nerdist to cover the film’s press conference in London where stars Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Ben Affleck, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and producers Deborah Snyder and Charles Roven assembled to discuss the most important film in the DCEU to date.

Moderated by DC All Access host Tiffany Smith, the lively panel talked about bringing the iconic superheroes together on the big screen for the first time, how they came closer together as cast members, what it was like when Joss Whedon took over for Zack Snyder as director, Ben Affleck’s Henry Cavill-induced mustache envy, and much more. You can watch the complete press conference in the video above, and keep your eyes on Nerdist in the day’s ahead for our full review of DC Comics’ latest feature film adaptation.

What’s your biggest question about Justice League? Let us know in the comments below.

Justice League opens on November 17.

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Images: Warner Bros.

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

HEY ARNOLD: THE JUNGLE MOVIE Trailer Will Hit You Right in the Nostalgic Feels

With timeless bits of knowledge like “Never eat raspberries” and the wealth of neighborhood lore we got from the keeper of all the tales, Gerald, Hey Arnold! was a seminal cartoon for a lot of nineties kids. Of course, for all that the show gave to us, it also left quite a bit unexplained after it left our lives. Questions about the actual fate of Arnold’s parents, whether or not Helga would ever own up to her feelings for Arnold, and what Arnold’s actual last name was hung in the air for years. Thankfully, with the latest trailer for the new Hey Arnold! movie, Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie, it looks like some answers (and adventure) will be coming our way. Take a look:

Reviving a well-loved cartoon after over a decade is a risky move for Nick, considering how precious many viewers can be about the beacons of their nostalgia. However, from the looks of the trailer, they’ve managed to capture what made us all fall in love with the show in the first place while also inviting a new generation of fans into the fun.

Hey Arnold was always a show about a bunch of precocious kids getting into outrageous adventures—adventures that the average parent would likely not allow their kids to participate in—and doing amazing things in their urban neighborhood. The Hey Arnold! kids saved lost souls around the city, cleaned up a local park, investigated local urban legends, and much more. From the looks of Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie, that fun spirit of adventure (along with new kernels wisdom from Arnold’s grandpa Phil) will definitely still be in play.

What do you think of the trailer? Were you a fan of the original show? Does the trailer feel like it recaptured the awesomeness of Hey Arnold? Tell us what you think, and what you hope to see in Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie in the comments!

Featured Image: Nick

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BLACK PANTHER Character Posters Embrace “Wakanda Forever”

While Thor: Ragnarok is currently rocking the box office, Marvel Studios’ next film is bringing the action back to Earth in Black Panther. However, fans may find that Wakanda is just as mysterious to outsiders as Asgard. What we know is that Wakanda is the most advanced country on the planet, but the royal family’s control will be tested now that T’Challa is the new king.

The primary cast members from Black Panther have released new character posters on their respective Twitter accounts, branded with the words “Wakanda Forever.” In the first poster, Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa takes over his father’s role as the latest in a long line of Black Panthers.

Angela Bassett is playing T’Challa’s mother, Ramonda, in the film. In the Marvel Universe, Ramonda was T’Challa’s stepmother, with whom he shared a deep bond.

The Wakandan royal family does have a princess, but Letitia Wrigh‘s Shuri is more like the “Q” to her brother’s Bond. Shuri designs many of the high tech gadgets that T’Challa will use in the film. And if she follows the path of her comic book counterpart, Shuri may one day become the Black Panther as well.

In Wakanda, the royal family is protected by the Dora Milaje, an all-female group of elite warriors and spies. Think of them as the CIA and the Secret Service rolled up into one. And who would be better to lead that organization than The Walking Dead‘s Danai Gurira? She’ll be appearing as Okoye in this film.

In the comics, T’Challa’s history with Nakia is complicated, to put it mildly. Like Okoye, Nakia is a member of the Dora Milaje, and she is devoted to protecting T’Challa. During Christopher Priest‘s run on Black Panther, Nakia had very one-sided romantic feelings for T’Challa, which sent her down a dark path. In the film, Lupita Nyong’o will potray Nakia as a former lover of T’Challa’s, which suggests that their relationship might be more equitable in this incarnation.

T’Challa won’t face the challenges ahead alone. Daniel Kaluuya is portraying T’Challa’s best friend W’Kabi, a warrior who serves as the head of security for the Border Tribe.

Forest Whitaker will have a large presence in the film as T’Challa’s mentor, Zuri. He is also a spiritual leader and the keeper of the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives the Black Panthers their enhanced strength and agility.

Martin Freeman made his MCU debut alongside Boseman in Captain America: Civil War, where his character, Everett K. Ross, had a somewhat antagonistic relationship with the Avengers and company. In the comics, Ross was introduced as an unwitting ally to T’Challa who went on to become one of his closest friends. But there were always a lot of jokes at Ross’ expense, and that’s probably going to stay the same in the movie.

Within the Marvel Universe, Michael B. Jordan‘s Erik Killmonger is one of the few foes who can match T’Challa mentally and physically. Killmonger is an exile who attempts to overthrow T’Challa, and he may actually be able to pull off the coup.

Killmonger isn’t the only enemy that T’Challa has to worry about. Winston Duke is playing M’Baku, the leader of the Jabari tribe that is already openly protesting T’Challa’s reign. While M’Baku won’t become the villain known as Man-Ape in the movie, he’s still going to be a major thorn in T’Challa’s side.

Finally, Andy Serkis is reprising his role as Ulysses Klaue from Avengers: Age of Ultron. That film set up Klaue’s history with the people of Wakanda, and that may have given him the desire to strike back at T’Challa so early in his time as king. In the poster, Klaue teases his new artificial hand, applied to replace the one that he lost to Ultron.

Black Panther will hit theaters on February 16, 2018.

What do you think about the new character posters? Let us know in the comment section below!

 Images: Marvel Studios

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RIVERDALE Goes FULL DARK, NO STARS in Important Female-Centric Episode

Warning: Spoilers follow for season two of Riverdale.

Ever since its announcement, it’s been clear that Riverdale isn’t your daddy’s Archie show. But even though the first season included murder, gangs, and some seriously creepy family drama, season two has managed to get progressively darker. We’ve seen the arrival of Riverdale’s very own serial killer, a war brewing between two sides of the town, and in the most recent episode we see Veronica’s old beau, Nick St. Clair, arrive in the small town and quickly reveal himself as an attempted rapist when he drugs Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and tries to assault her.

Including assault can often be a way for shows to further the arcs of male protagonists or just to exploit the bodies and trauma of the women involved. Riverdale did neither of those in “When a Stranger Calls,” instead using the attempted assault to bring the women of the cast together, giving them a chance at some surprisingly violent and cathartic retribution. On our recent set visit, we spoke to the cast about how it felt to portray such a vital and relevant story, one that they’re clearly passionate about.

Josie and the Pussycats play a large role in episode five’s retribution, and for Ashley Murray, who plays the Pussycats’ leader, it was a vital moment. “It meant a lot to me. We all know what’s going on right now. Our society tends to preach politeness and staying quiet. I think that–and the fact that girls are often pitted against each other–means we don’t stand up for each other. I think that it spoke volumes for all of us to get together to go and save Cheryl the way she needed to be saved. I think oftentimes that doesn’t happen, and I’m happy we got to show that strength,” Murray said.

She continued, “I’d never advocate violence in any case, but sometimes you’re in a situation and you have to make a choice. I think the way we handled it was good. It gave us this girl power, especially because we were in our performance outfits and our heels and we’re f**king this kid up. It was great, cause he deserved it. He deserved to get that ass whooping. I really enjoyed that scene; it was empowering and it showed a camaraderie and togetherness that women don’t often have, especially young women,” Murray smiled, as she shared her inspiring words with us.

Though Betty has been distracted with her experience with the Black Hood, it was still something that Lili Reinhart felt strongly about and that set her up to make a colossal decision at the end of the episode. “It wasn’t exactly my story to tell, it was Madelaine and Cami’s. But it’s such a topical issue right now, unfortunately. I think it’s weirdly strange timing, and I guess it just goes to show it exists and that it’s out in the open and people are talking about it,” Reinhart said thoughtfully.

Though the episode is rightly centered on the female characters, it had a huge impact on the whole ensemble, with both K.J. Apa (Archie) and Casey Cott (Kevin Keller) talking about how the storyline impacted them. K.J. saw the intense and powerful story as a chance to create an authentic representation and shed light on the realities of sexual assault. “I think it’s a really cool storyline to show, that all these characters are here for each other and that they back each other up. When we read that storyline, we were really happy to put it out there for the fans, and I think it’s a really meaningful storyline. There are people out there who can relate to that story. People can learn a lot from it by the way we play those kinds of scenes,” Apa told us emphatically.

For Cott, the episode was a chance to showcase the strength of the women in the show. “I think the beauty of that story is watching all the characters come together and help someone who’s in a pretty intense situation, and to me that was really beautiful. I think there are really strong girls in our show, and I’m really proud of how they played that. I think it’s going to be great,” Cott emotionally stated.

Images: The CW

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