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Playstation Bundled GRAN TURISMO SPORT with an Actual Car

This week, Gran Turismo Sport made its big debut on Playstation 4 and brought the series into virtual reality as well. But there’s at least one fan driving around in their very own Gran Turismo Sport-branded car, which came with one of the wildest gaming bundles that we’ve ever seen.

Via GameSpot, Sony Interactive Entertainment Taiwan offered a Gran Turismo Sport bundle that included the game itself, a Playstation 4 Pro, Playstation VR, a year membership in PS Plus, a Bravia 4K high definition TV, a Thrustmaster T-GT racing wheel, an APIGA AP1 racing seat, and a limited edition 2018 Mazda MX-5. The MX-5 is street ready, and features the Gran Turismo logo on the sides and hood, as well as a PS4 logo on the front.

All things considered, $46,000 wasn’t a too bad of a price to pay for that bundle. And somebody did go for it, as it was sold almost immediately to a private collector. Sadly, that appears to be the only bundle of its kind currently available for this iteration of Gran Turismo. But for high end gamers with cash to burn, maybe this is a viable way to sell some cars in the future.

This is far from the craziest video game deal that we’ve ever heard. That honor belongs to the Saints Row IV bundle (with its own fortress) that had an asking price of $1 million in 2013. But we’d love to see someone try to top that in the future!

What do you think about Gran Turismo Sport‘s limited edition bundle? Drive off in the comment section below!

Images: Sony

Thor and Loki Play a Practical Joke in THOR: RAGNAROK Preview

Through the first two Thor films, Chris Hemsworth‘s God of Thunder kept trying to find some measure of redemption for his step-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). But in the newest preview scene from Thor: Ragnarok, we get a glimpse of the brothers’ new dynamic as Thor seems willing to simply write off their relationship for good. And that’s something that Loki appears to be upset about.

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The First Trailer for MICHAEL JACKSON’S HALLOWEEN Gets Weird

The King of Pop may be gone, but Michael Jackson‘s music lives in a new animated special coming later this month. CBS has unleashed the first look at Michael Jackson’s Halloween, and we’re not entirely sure what to make of it. There are some small signs of Jackson’s presence within the trailer, but the focus seems to be on a pair of teenagers and some increasingly wacky characters including a dancing pumpkin man played by The Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons.

Here’s what we do know: Lucas Till and Kiersey Clemons are voicing the lead characters, Vincent and Victoria; the special will chronicle their first meeting as they find themselves at This Place Hotel on 777 Jackson Street on Halloween. Within a spooky hotel, Vincent and Victoria will eventually cross paths with Jackson himself, or at least an animated recreation. But first, they’ll have to get past a witch voiced by Lucy Liu.

Alan Cumming is also co-starring in this special as some kind of spider general, if the clips are any indication. Brad Garrett is portraying a talking chimp; which may be a reference to Jackson’s beloved companion, Bubbles. Christine Baranski and George Eads also have roles.

That glimpse of the Michael Jackson-themed stained-glass window in the trailer is gorgeous, and we certainly hope the special has more moments like that. Also, it had better have “Thriller,” because that is still one of the most perfect Halloween songs ever.

Michael Jackson’s Halloween will premiere on Friday, October 27 at 8:00p.m., only on CBS.

What is your first impression of this Michael Jackson-inspired special? Haunt our comment section below with your thoughts!

Images: CBS

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Welcome to Nerdoween! Throughout the month of October, we’ll be celebrating everything spooky, macabre, and just plain weird. Nerdoween 2017 is presented by Alpha, our interactive membership service, which offers you exclusive content from Nerdist and Geek & Sundry, as well as a 10% discount on all of our merch.

Hayao Miyazaki Reveals Why He Came Out of Retirement

Nobody was more surprised than I was that legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder and international master of animation, Hayao Miyazaki, came out of retirement to work on a new feature film. True, he’d toyed with retiring before, once following 1997’s Princess Mononoke, and again following his Oscar-winning 2001 film, Spirited Away. But everything about his most recent retirement, following the release of 2013’s The Wind Rises, felt very permanent, from that movie’s wistful look at saying goodbye to your art to all the press conferences Miyazaki gave. But lo and behold, he’s back at it, and a recent interview with his producer Toshio Suzuki explains why.

If you don’t read Japanese, the interview was reprinted by Kotaku in English, and explains that, though Miyazaki had originally felt he had nothing left to say in features, and that trying to make one would feel like the work of an out-of-touch old man, it was because of a decidedly young person that he got back to work.

“[Miyazaki] said, ‘I’m making it for my grandson,'” Suzuki explained. The producer also added that Miyazaki said that his grandson might say something like, “Grandpa passed into the next world, but he left this work.” Suzuki must have realized that this explanation isn’t the most elaborate or profound of reasons, so he continued, “No doubt Ghibli fans are looking at the TV, blurting, ‘Hey! Wait a second. That’s the reason?!'”

That is, evidently, the explanation, though Ghibli is being very slow to officially announce the new Miyazaki project, which will evidently be a CG feature version of a short he was working on called Boro the Caterpillar. Even though there’s a whole documentary about the director’s desire to make a feature, it looks like it’s not close to being released.

Look, we’re here for a Hayao Miyazaki movie, however long it takes. We just don’t hope it’s not TOO too long. For our sake and for his grandson’s.

Image: Toho/GKIDS/Studio Canal

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s the writer of Studio Ghibli retrospectives Miyazaki Masterclass, Takahata Textbook, and Ghibli Bits. Follow him on Twitter!

What else is happening in the world of Ghibli?

Our review of 8 Miyazaki movies returning to Blu-ray!
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Listen to this gorgeous all-strings Princess Mononoke cover!

Is Totoro secretly the god of death?

Get a Whiff of This! SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE Gets a Fart Pillow

Considering the name of the new South Park game, The Fractured But Whole, I don’t know what I expected from a product tie-in for it. And yet somehow I was still caught off guard when I got a whiff of this particular one. But that doesn’t mean you’ll want to pass on it, because for plenty of you fans of Comedy Central’s classic cartoon this will certainly toot your horn. Yup, you’ll want to hit the gas on buying this item.

It’s a fart pillow.

We shit you not.

To celebrate the release of The Fractured But Whole (always funny to say), GameStop has an exclusive pillow adorned with–who else–Cartman in his getup as “The Coon.” Made from a “soft boa plush appliqué” (which sounds really especially fancy for a pillow that farts), it takes three batteries, and when someone sits on it, the pillow produces one of two flatulent sounds.

It’s basically the most comfortable whoopee cushion ever.

But because this was made for South Park fans, they took their fart noises super seriously. GameStop says its designers “put extensive research” into making sure “this product provides an array of realistic flatulence.” This isn’t some regular fart pillow with some over-the-top, unrealistic fart sounds. This thing has integrity.

You can order yours through GameStop’s website, and it will give you the runs….err, run you $29.99.

That’s a lot cheaper alternative for something to blame that “strange noise” on than getting a dog.

Do you want your very own fart pillow? Blow into our comments section with your thoughts, even if they stink.

Images: Ubisoft, GameStop

Stay stinky with these stories!

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RICK AND MORTY Creators Improv a Hysterical New Scene for Omaze Campaign

Earlier this month we told you about the newest charity campaign from Omaze, which will send one lucky Rick and Morty fan to L.A. to eat Szechuan Sauce and record actual DVD commentary for the show’s third season with creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. We thought a prize like that was squanchy enough to get you to donate without a hard sell, but wubba lubba dub dub you’re getting it anyway! Because Harmon and Roiland improvised an hilarious “practice session” to show you what it will be like to do live commentary with them.

Roiland, the voice of Rick, Morty, and Mr. Poopybutthole, used action figures to create an episode that Harmon then discussed the “making of.” You’re totally gonna believe this, but even a made up episode of the show (that had the structural integrity of an intradimensional cable commercial), done as part of a charity campaign, went to some dark places.

We know Dan Harmon was joking about Mr. Poopybutthole being an adult Meeseeks, but he really shouldn’t say “that’s canon.” It’s going to lead to some way-too-serious Reddit discussions.

But that doesn’t take away from how great this prize is, or that proceeds from the campaign will help raise money for Planned Parenthood. Go here to donate and earn entries for the contest, for as little as $10. You have until 11:59pm PST on November 8 to enter.

And we recommend re-watching season three a few times until then so you’re ready to offer some great insights with your commentary. Not everyone can be as funny making things up on the spot as these two.

Which episode from this past season would you most want to talk about? Tell : burp: us in the comments below.

Featured Image: Omaze

Rick and Morty Images: Adult Swim

More Rick and Morty!

Go inside the season three finale with the creators.
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Will the MCU Get a Reboot at the End of Phase 3?

With the premiere of Thor: Ragnarok in just a few weeks, it seems likely that we will soon get an official release of that awesome Avengers: Infinity War teaser trailer from Comic-Con. That movie, and its currently untitled sequel are going to bring an end to the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s long-running story as we know it now. But some recent comments by Marvel’s Kevin Feige have some fans wondering if a full-blown MCU reboot is on the way after 2019. Today’s Nerdist News is using the Time Stone to steal a peak at the future of the MCU!

Join host, and Nova Prime successor, Jessica Chobot, as she walks us through Feige’s latest remarks about what’s coming next for Marvel. While speaking to Uproxx, Feige said “the films we are working on now–which take us through to the Avengers untitled in May [2019]–that’s really all we are focusing on…We are focusing on bringing, by that point, an unprecedented, 22-movie, continuous shared fictional narrative to a conclusion in a satisfying way.”

Now, there is some reasonable concern that many of the stars that originated the MCU, like Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans will take the opportunity to walk away from their roles after a decade or more. Plus, some people may have freaked out when Feige said that the MCU would reach a “conclusion.” Silly fans! There’s still a Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on the horizon, and those are just the movies that we know about!

Director James Gunn also shed some additional light on Feige’s comments by adding his own thoughts on the MCU’s new direction. “Read Kevin Feige’s quotes and not the static around them,” said Gunn. “It’s the end of one long story and the beginning of another. And one of the films that will kickstart the new story is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

Here’s the thing: Feige didn’t actually mention the “new story” that Gunn referred to, although it was a reasonable assumption. Since we do know that Gunn is taking a larger role beyond the next Guardians sequel, it stands to reason that he is fully aware of the MCU’s new direction. And if we had to guess, we think that Marvel’s cosmic films will take up the majority of Phase 4. It’s likely that we’ll get Earthbound sequels to Doctor Strange and Black Panther, as well as Spidey’s next adventure. But considering Captain Marvel has strong cosmic ties and the ongoing popularity of the Guardians, it’s quite possible that we’ll have several space-based adventures in the MCU to look forward to.

What direction do you think the MCU will go in after the fourth Avengers movie? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Studios

More MARVEL!

Garfield creator Jim Davis once drew  a Galactus story  for Marvel!
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Disney Parks’ STAR TOURS Will Go to THE LAST JEDI’s Crait

Star Tours‘ StarSpeeder 1000 will be visiting a new location ahead of Episode VIII, as the Disney Parks Star Wars attraction is getting a new scene to tie into The Last Jedi. The news comes from Disney Parks Blog, where they confirmed C-3PO will be piloting the StarSpeeder shuttle to the planet Crait. This is where the Resistance is hiding out in the next movie and where a battle between the Resistance and First Order will happen.

The last update happened before the release of The Force Awakens when they added Jakku, when the desert planet became a fixed stopping point in the otherwise randomized ride to ensure all guests had the opportunity to see the new locale. I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney did the same with Crait, as the attraction takes guests through a variety of possible scenarios.

Since Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is a 3D ride, the planets and scenes the shuttle drops into capitalize upon that format, so objects poke through the viewscreen, you dodge flying debris, etc. I don’t think The Last Jedi scene will give away any spoilers, but it could drop into the Battle of Crait or perhaps go underneath the surface to fly around the red crystals shown in the trailer.

If there isn’t a pack of crystalline foxes running around somewhere on the screen, I’m going to write a strongly worded letter.

The Crait addition will debut in Star Tours in Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 17, at Disneyland Paris on November 22, and at Tokyo Disneyland on December 15.

Does this Last Jedi addition have you planning a trip to one of parks to board Star Tours? Jump into hyperspace to visit the comments and let us know.

Images: Disney/Lucasfilm

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. She likes Star Wars a little. Follow her on Twitter.

Read more about Disney Parks and Star Wars!

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Which Big Name Actor Should Play DETECTIVE PIKACHU?

Which Hollywood superstar should Legendary (Pokémon) go with as Detective Pikachu in their live-action movie? On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back we told them who they should capture for the part, along with whether the internet just found the next Catwoman, and the latest from the galaxy far, far away, including an amazing Carrie Fisher story.

Host Jessica Chobot, Nerdist News writer Joan Ford, producer Jason Nguyen, and managing editor Alicia Lutes kicked off today’s show by talking about the rumors Legendary Studios* is hoping to get either Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg, or Dwayne Johnson to play a “hardboiled” version of Detective Pikachu for their big-screen adaptation. Do we like any of these choices? Who would be the best? (Besides Danny DeVito, obviously). And while we’re discussing this unusual movie, what other kid’s game needs a gritty, noir detective thriller?

Speaking of rumors, Suicide Squad director David Ayer, who is currently working on Gotham City Sirens, followed Eiza Gonzalez on Instagram, and that, coupled with some other hints, has the internet convinced it has found the newest Catwoman. But is there any chance this has (four) legs? Do we trust Ayer to lead a Catwoman movie? And who would we cast as the famous human feline?

Finally there’s lots of Star Wars tidbits to break down, like how we got a new look at Laura Dern’s The Last Jedi character Admiral Holdo, Andy Serkis’s tasty comments about not eating porgs (Uh..is Snoke going to eat a porg?!?), and the incredible story about how Carrie Fisher once sent a tongue to a producer who had sexually harassed her friend. (We miss our general.)

Here's another look at @LauraDern in character as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo in @starwars #TheLastJedi, courtesy of @TheEllenShow: pic.twitter.com/9xI870E1ag

— ZACH JOHNSON (@zmjohnson) October 18, 2017

Nerdist News Talks Back was live at 1:00 p.m. PST on our YouTube and Alpha channels, just like it is every weekday. Tune in live every day and get in on the conversation with us, and don’t forget to vote in today’s Monster Madness poll!

Today's #MonsterMadness is a match-up between two comic book creatures! Who would win in a fight: #DC's Starro or #Marvel's Fin Fang Foom?

— Nerdist (@nerdist) October 18, 2017

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Maybe we’ll be talking about Marky Mark as the new, hard-assed Pikachu, or a recipe for roasted porg.

We still want to hear from you about today’s topics though, so talk back to us about them in the comments below.

Featured Image: Nintendo

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

Len Wein’s Final SWAMP THING Story Coming From DC Comics In January

We sadly lost legendary comic book writer and editor Len Wein this year at the age of 69; he was the co-creator of Wolverine and the new X-Men, editor of Watchmen, and much, much more. Luckily, fans of his work still have at least one more story from Wein in the wings, and it features one of his greatest and most enduring creations, the DC Comics supernatural hero Swamp Thing.

According to Comic Book, the story is set to be published in January of next year as part of an oversized one-shot celebrating the character. The Swamp Thing Winter Special is something of a double tribute to both Wein and Bernie Wrightson, the artist who co-created the character with Wein, who also passed away earlier this year.

The story is being released both as a script and in its completed form with art by Kelley Jones as a backup in a squarebound one-shot. The lead story in the one-shot is written by current Batman writer Tom King and drawn by former Justice League artist Jason Fabok. The story was originally going to be the first issue of what was set to be a new Swamp Thing miniseries, a sequel to Wein’s 2016 miniseries featuring the character.

This won’t be King’s first crack at writing Swamp Thing adventure, as he used the character to great effect earlier this year in an issue of Batman, which came out very soon after Wein’s passing. You can read DC Comics official solicitation for the issue below:

SWAMP THING WINTER SPECIAL #1

Written by Tom King

Art and cover by Jason Fabok

Bonus story written by Len Wein

Bonus story art by Kelley Jones

Tom King and Jason Fabok pay tribute to the legendary creators of Swamp Thing, writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, as they join forces for an earth-shattering Swamp Thing passion project!

In this new, squarebound one-shot, Swamp Thing is out of his element as he shepherds a lost boy through a blinding blizzard and other hazards of a strange, frozen tundra. In this touching and harrowing tale of survival, the pair must navigate countless threats throughout a bewildering terrain—with a bloodthirsty snow monster hot on their heels. But how long can they rely on each other? Separated from the Green and stripped of his powers in this dead world, Swamp Thing struggles to fight for their lives and deliver the boy to safety. Disoriented and decaying, Swamp Thing’s fading understanding of his surroundings forces the duo to confront their desperation and uncover the true identity of the snow monster that hunts them.

In addition, this special features the final Swamp Thing story from the monster’s co-creator, Len Wein. Originally intended as the start of a new series, it is presented here both in its original script form and with art by Kelley Jones.

ONE-SHOT • On sale JANUARY 31 • 80 pg, FC, $7.99 US • RATED T

Are you excited to get one more Swamp Thing tale from his original creator? Be sure to let us know below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics

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