Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2009

Michelle Pfeiffer Is Janet Van Dyne in ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

Tonight at Marvel‘s Hall H Comic-Con panel, moderator and Nerdist founder Chris Hardwick introduced a sizzle reel that revealed that Michelle Pfeiffer will be playing Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp. This marks the second superhero movie that Pfeiffer will costar in, after her iconic role as Catwoman in 1989’s Batman Returns.

In the sizzle, Scott Lang (a.k.a. Ant-Man, a.k.a Paul Rudd) and his friend (Michael Peña) are telling the story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe a la Peña’s scene-stealing moment in Ant-Man. At the end, it’s revealed that they’re telling the story to none other than Michelle Pfeiffer!

In the first Ant-Man film, Janet Van Dyne was seen only in flashback as she shrunk down to sub-atomic size in order to stop a missile. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has hinted that the Wasp will return in the sequel, perhaps as Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily) attempt to infiltrate the quantum realm. (Read more about our theory that Ant-Man is headed to the microverse here.)

At the panel, Feige also confirmed that Laurence Fishburne will be playing Dr. Bill Foster, Walton Goggins will be portraying Sonny Birch, and that the characters Jimmy Woo and Ghost will be joining the ever-growing cast of Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Pfeiffer is one of the greatest actresses of our generation, and we are beyond thrilled to see her joining the MCU as such an intriguing and important character. We can’t wait to see her wear Janet Von Dyne’s classic suit.

Images: Warner Bros/Marvel

GIF: Giphy

Stay tuned for our full panel write-up and more Comic-Con coverage right here on Nerdist.com! 

CAPTAIN MARVEL Movie Reveals 1990s Setting, Nick Fury, and Villains at Comic-Con

Marvel Studios made waves at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con by revealing that Oscar Award-winning actress Brie Larson would be stepping into the cosmic shoes of Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, in the iconic hero’s forthcoming eponymous film. At this year’s Hall H panel, Marvel Studios revealed even more details about the hotly anticipated film, which will be the first female-led film in Marvel’s past decade of making superhero films. In front of a packed audience of thousands of screaming fans, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige revealed that Captain Marvel will not only take place in the early 1990s, but it will feature the shapeshifting alien race, the Skrulls, as its villains.

CAPTAIN MARVEL!!!! pic.twitter.com/C6usv4omPD

— Umberto @ SDCC2017 (@elmayimbe) July 23, 2017

CAPTAIN AMERICA WHO? I ONLY KNOW CAPTAIN MARVEL #MARVELSDCC pic.twitter.com/ISipmTPQkv

— veronica (@lukeslightsabrs) July 23, 2017

#MarvelSDCC #CaptainMarvel pic.twitter.com/9QiEsOQNF8

— Razzbender (@Razzbender) July 23, 2017

This marks the first appearance of the Skrulls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and clears up any confusion that the green-skinned aliens were not available to use in Disney’s Marvel movies due to an intellectual property rights entanglement with the Fantastic Four, whose film rights are currently owned by Fox. Whether or not specific characters like Super Skrull are available to appear in MCU films is another story, but longtime Marvel fans will be delighted to see that one of the staples of the Marvel Cosmic Universe will be included on its big screen counterpart.

The film’s 1990s setting won’t just mean loads of frosted tips, unfortunate bangs, and slap bracelets for the film’s stars; it also means we’ll be seeing a younger version of one particularly important Marvel character in particular: Nick Fury. Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role as the shadowy S.H.I.E.L.D. director in Captain Marvel, and will have TWO EYES. That’s right, this version of Fury won’t yet have a reason to wear a jaunty eyepatch, and I’m sure we’ll find out exactly what happened to impact his eyesight by the end of our first foray into Carol Danvers’ world.

Everything you need to know about Captain Marvel

We will continue to report more details as they develop.

What do you think of Captain Marvel?

Image: Marvel Studios

THE FLASH Adds DANNY TREJO to Season 4 Cast—Plus More CW Cast Announcements

If you’re looking for an actor to play a take-no-nonsense, kick-ass character for your comic book television show, they don’t come any better than Danny Trejo. This is probably why The CW has decided to add the actor to the cast of season four of The Flash.

Commence freaking out.

The news came down from the Warner Bros. Television panels at San Diego Comic-Con International, but that wasn’t the only casting announcement to get fans a-buzzing. We also got a rundown of additions to Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, The Flash, and Arrow. While the characters these actors are playing is still under wraps, we at least know who to look forward to seeing next to our favorite superheroes.

Supergirl will add a fellow superpowered being in Heroes‘ Adrian Pasdar, Carl Lumbly of Alias fame, Jane the Virgin‘s Yael Grobglas, and Emma Tremblay of Elysium for its third season.

Neal McDonough’s Damien Darhk gets bumped up to a series regular on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Additional mainstays Arthur Darvill (Rip Hunter) and Wentworth Miller (Captain Cold) return as recurring characters—much to the delight of fans.

Freshmen series Black Lightning will add James Remar (Dexter) and Damon Gupton (Bates Motel) in unspecified roles.

Trejo headlines The Flash for season three, alongside The 100‘s Neil Sandilands and Dominion‘s Kim Engelbrecht. While we don’t know their roles, we are told that they will be challenging Team Flash, so it’s a safe bet they will be playing antagonists.

Finally, Arrow will see Michael Emerson of Lost join as a recurring character, and everyone’s favorite Russian mob boss, Anatoly Knyazev (played by David Nykl) will also pop up on season six.

So which casting announcement are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below!

Image: DannyTrejo.net

GIF: Giphy

Tim Adams is a freelance writer who loves comics and the TV and movies that feature them. Follow him on Twitter!

Did the JUSTICE LEAGUE Trailer Tease 2 More Heroes?

There’s a lot to unpack in the San Diego Comic-Con four-minute trailer for the Zack Snyder- (and Joss Whedon, lowkey) directed Justice League movie, from the new emphasis on Wonder Woman and Aquaman to the increased humor in the form of Ezra Miller’s the Flash (that bit on the roof at the end with Commissioner Gordon is super funny), but we were most struck by the apparent reference to there not being just the five Justice League members we’ve seen up to this point, but a couple more. One is very obvious, the other less so, and we’re hashing it out on this episode of Nerdist News!

Join host and our own personal Diana Prince, Jessica Chobot as she explains the litany of superheroic references. First, the super obvious one: Superman. We pretty much knew Henry Cavill’s red-caped moper was going to return from the grave following the dirt flying off his coffin at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but this trailer leaves very little to speculate about, with the constant references to Superman’s absence leaving a gap of hope in the world—and Alfred (Jeremy Irons) then telling the mysterious figure at the end of the trailer he “HOPE”s he’s ready. Also, you can just make out the red shoulder of the person in the foreground of that last shot.

So all bets are pretty much off when it comes to Supes, but the trailer also definitely hints at another hero, and we’re pretty sure it’s a member of the galactic policing force known as the Green Lantern Corps. First of all, Steppenwolf, in his raspy monologue, says that Earth is unprotected without Lanterns or a Kryptonian. We’ve heard rumors that Abin Sur—the original Green Lantern of Sector 2814 who dies and gives his power over to Hal Jordan—might show up to give the third act of Justice League some more fire power.

One of the early taglines for the movie was “Unite the Seven” after all, and Jason Momoa did Instagram a picture of Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, Superman, AND Green Lantern following the panel today, so maybe the appearance of Superman and GL are the worst kept secret in Metropolis.

But what do you think? Could this all be a red herring? Will be not see a proper Green Lantern introduction until their solo movie in who-knows-when? Let’s discuss!

WESTWORLD Season 2 Rode Into SDCC with Its First Trailer

San Diego turned into the old west Saturday in Comic-Con’s Hall H, with the first trailer from HBO for season two of Westworld, where the rich person nirvana full of robot sex and joy killing has turned into the open range for hunting humans.

Starting with one of the show’s signature player pianos smeared with blood, the carnage and all-out war that looked imminent at the end of season one has became the rule of the park. Except things are way bloodier than even we might have guessed, with bodies strewn everywhere.

We see Dolores and Teddy on horseback—guns ablazing—shooting down either the park’s human visitors, or other robots who aren’t as dedicated as they are to the cause of machine freedom. (Either way YES!)

There’s also a fantastic shot of Maeve standing with (maybe human?) Lee as they look at all the dead humans gunned down in the first season finale. But that’s not even the most intriguing human/robot pairing, as we see a seemingly undiscovered Arnold riding in with the park’s armed support team.

And of course, the only person that was looking forward to a Westworld with real stakes, Ed Harris’s the Man in Black, looks like he’s having one hell of a time getting his hands—and his face—dirty.

Westworld returns in 2018, but it looks like most of the park’s visitors won’t. Not for long as least.

What did you think of this trailer? What stood out to you? Tell us in the comments below.

Now prove you aren’t a host in the comments below or on Twitter.

Images: HBO

Comic-Con’s STRANGER THINGS Panel Gave a First Look at Season 2

There are stranger things in Heaven and Earth than mere Demogorgons…aren’t there? To find out, Comic-Con brought out the Duffer brothers and the cast of Stranger Things to give us a look at what comes next, now that Will is back from the Upside Down and Eleven has seemingly been vaporized (thankfully not for long?).

While the ending of the first season was quite satisfactory, many questions remain about what exactly made Eleven psychokinetic, and what the Upside Down and the creatures within it actually are.

Patton Oswalt was the moderator on this one, which made a sort of perfect sense, and suffice it to say the fans here reacted much better to the Netflix logo here than the Cannes crowd. The mood was set with a giant image of the Christmas lights, as the wall behind it pulsed, turning into a 3D countdown from 11, seguing into a highlight reel that concluded with the slug-puking cliffhanger from season 1.

True Detective and Steven Soderbergh’s The Knick inspired the Duffer brothers to want to move into TV and essentially make a really long movie, and they decided the best version of that would hypothetically be a Stephen King book directed by Steven Spielberg. “Stranger Things” was a name that looked especially good in the Stephen King-like font they chose.

Natalia Dyer was the first cast member out, followed by Joe Keery and his amazing huge ’80s hair. David Harbour, Matthew Modine, and the main kids: Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Noah Schnepp, Finn Wolfhard, and Millie Bobby Brown.

Oswalt immediately seized on the name “Wolfhard,” calling it a porn name, to which Finn, without missing a beat, went “Hey, thanks man. Really puts a stamp on my future.” Oswalt advised him never to do any project called Stranger Thongs, and Wolfhard told him to get on with introducing the guests. Eventually he challenged Oswalt to a schoolyard fight at 3, to which Oswalt responded, “Just not the face, because that’s how I make my money.”

Schnapp couldn’t say much about what happens to Will next season, but we will see him exhibit more bravery, and show how the Upside Down has changed him. McLaughlin acknowledge that he has since realized he hadn’t used the slingshot properly the first time, so while it wasn’t officially “training,” he got better. Brown said her hardest acting challenge was crying, because she’s a happy person generally, and it’s hard to keep a straight face with teenage boys around.

Season 2 is set a year later, and Hopper will be dealing with the psychology of whether or not he can live up to his heroic actions, and the pitfalls of that. His own daughter issues will play into his dynamic with Eleven. David Harbour revealed that there was hate mail over him being shirtless in season one, but he gets to do some “very sexy things” in season 2.

Keery thought his character on paper seemed very one-sided, but finding the human moments in the script helped him round out the character.

Then it was time for round two of the actors! Dacre Montgomery, Sadie Sink, and Paul Reiser came out just in time to see the new trailer premiere. It begins with the boys playing Dragon’s Lair at the arcade, and ends with Eleven reaching through a rift in the Upside Down and through the wall of the school in our world. In between, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” sets the tone as Will seems to be popping back and forth into the Upside Down at random moments, a homemade Ghostbusters ghost trap appears haunted, that gigantic spidery thing we’ve seen in advance promos appears under a red, swirling sky in the Upside Down, and the trappings of Halloween are everywhere, including a Reagan/Bush ’84 sign for some irony. Will scribbles drawings and tosses them to the floor where they form a larger mosaic, and the creepy vines chase people…some of whom have flamethrowers.

Sadie Sink plays a character named Mad Max, about whom all we know is she’s from California.

The first audience question was from Shannon Purser, asking if her character Barb would be in season 2. Director Shawn Levy bluntly answered “no,” but said there will be justice for her, and she’ll be avenged.

Harbour’s favorite moment of the show was when he destroyed his apartment looking for hidden microphones–it was just him being followed around by a Steadicam for two hours breaking everything. Brown’s favorite part was stealing the Eggos. Asked his favorite, Keery went “Hitting the Demogorgon in the face with a baseball bat! Duh!” He had to do a lot of apologizing after for hitting too hard.

The panel ended with Oswalt demanding the trailer be shown again, and so it was.

Images: Netflix

The STRANGER THINGS Season 2 Trailer Turns Everything Upside Down

Netflix turned Comic-Con upside down with their reveal of the trailer for Stranger Things Season 2.

Everything seems normal as the video begins. The kids of Hawkins are enjoying a night at the arcade playing “Dragon’s Lair” when Will begins to hear voices and see visions of monsters as he’s returned to the Upside Down. Is Will going crazy, or is the evil spreading into the real world? We ponder this as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” plays in the background and we see Eleven attempt to pass from the Upside Down to our world.

Where’s Barb? Who knows. Let us know where you think she is in the comments below and on Twitter.

Image: Netflix

PORK PIE is New Zealand’s Latest Can’t Miss Comedy (Fantasia Review)

Thanks to quirky titles like Flight of the Conchords, What We Do In the Shadows, Deathgasm, and Hunt For the Wilderpeople, comedy fans have come to look to New Zealand for a distinctive brand of humor that’s breezy yet biting. The Fantasia International Film Festival just debuted the latest can’t-miss laffer from this gorgeous and eccentric island nation with the cheeky road trip comedy Pork Pie.

This rollicking remake of the 1981 hit Goodbye Pork Pie follows an unlikely trio of misfits as they speed through New Zealand’s lush landscapes, quaint towns, and bustling cities in a bumble-bee yellow Mini Cooper. Along the way, they’ll break laws, cut loose, and become folk heroes for their unique brand of rebellion. But the truth of this threesome is far sillier and stranger than that setup might suggest.

Dean O’Gorman stars as Jon, a down-and-out author whose in-the-works novel is described as a “shit sandwich without the bread,” while his ex-fiancee is fixing to leave him and New Zealand for good. In a desperate bid to get her back, and get his life on track, Jon sets off to make a big romantic gesture. But he gets sidelined–and nearly rundown–when he crosses paths with Maori street racer Luke (James Rolleston), who’s got a sweet but stolen set of wheels, and a heartbreaking backstory. After some male bonding and cop dodging, a pit stop crashes this duo into the fireball of energy and activism that is Keira (Ashleigh Cummings), a fishnet-stockinged twenty-something who flees her fast food gig once her bosses discover she’s been sneaking animal rights pamphlets in with the burgers.

Each of Pork Pie‘s heroes is seeking a bit of freedom. Luke is racing away from his past, and a band of bad influences. Swirling about in a pre-protest Silence of the Lambs rave, Keira refutes the life expected, and warns a lovestruck Luke that she won’t be tied down. Meanwhile, Jon seeks to be free of the demons of his past, by scoring reconciliation with his ex. But as their journey winds through sheep-cluttered streets, costume-stuffed box cars, and a brush with a trigger-happy fan of their antics, they become more than misfits. They become the Blondini Gang — folk heroes who stand for being true to our wild hearts, no matter the cost. And in doing so, they carve a wild and sometimes rough road to epiphany, pain, and ultimately a bit of bittersweet glory.

As I’d never heard of the original film, Pork Pie took me entirely by surprise with its eccentric tale of lovable screw-ups. The plot twists that pitch the affable anti-heroes into car chases, coffins, and box cars were utterly enthralling. Rather than the over-the-top action of Fast and Furious movies, these action scenes were grounded in reality, with characters absolute drop-jawed at having survived them. And the comedy set pieces sing with a blend of zaniness and irreverence that this critic has come to expect from New Zealand exports. A particular sequence involving a poorly chosen spot for a nap comes to mind, but to explain would be to spoil the fun.

While Pork Pie writer/director Matt Murphy brings a modern wit and fresh whimsy to this remake, his chief achievement might be selecting a pitch-perfect cast. With a boyish charm and a mischievous smile, Rolleston boasts a breezy sex appeal that sparks brightly with Cummings’ vivacious verve and winsome sense of wonder. As the pair play dress up, donning pork pie hats and a pink poofy gown respectively, they fantasize about being like Bonnie and Clyde, winning our hearts and earning our concern. After all, things didn’t turn out so hot for that criminally-inclined duo.

For his part, O’Gorman, who stole scenes as the dwarf Fíli in the Hobbit trilogy, burns with a bad boy allure, but gamely plays the fool when the moment calls for it. As he blazes down a highway, protruding through the Mini’s sunroof and proclaiming his intentions to get to his love no matter what, it’s a moment both exhilarating and ridiculous. His enthusiasm is contagious, but still cluttered by the ringmaster coat and aviator goggles snatched from an unexpected train detour; he is a ludicrous romantic lead. And we love him for it!

Together this thrilling threesome sells every moment of this rousing adventure, be it poignant, nerve-racking, or absurd. Simply, Pork Pie offers a wondrous road trip comedy full of humor and heart, with a healthy dash of Kiwi sass.

4 out of 5 burritos

Images: StudioCanal

Kristy Puchko is a freelance entertainment reporter and film critic. You can find more of her reviews here. Follow her on Twitter! 

THE DEFENDERS Trailer Unleashes War for New York City

While those in attendance at San Diego Comic-Con got an exclusive first look at the premiere episode of The Defenders during Marvel’s Hall H panel on Friday evening, those who weren’t lucky enough to sit in will still get a brand new look into the epic team-up of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist. (And let us reassure those of you who weren’t there: don’t worry–the crowd LOVED the episode). Take a peek at the second trailer for Marvel’s The Defenders.

Things are getting intense in New York City, and Stick’s long-prophesied war for New York seems to finally be here. Sigourney Weaver’s character, Alexandra, is out to take down New York City (called the fifth Defender by Jeph Loeb in today’s panel), and it looks like she’s got one formidable ally in the recently-resurrected Elektra Natchios. According to the info we learned in today’s panel, Elektra came back from the dead without her memory, so she’ll prove a significant force for the Defenders.

While the action looks amazing, and I can’t wait to see how our Defenders save New York City, I’m personally really excited to see the chemistry between the four (each of whom had their standalone shows renewed for a new season). While Luke Cage and Danny Rand are set to become fast friends in the series, the snark between Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock is too fun to miss. If this trailer has got totally hyped up, fear not. The Defenders is set to his Netflix on August 18. So make your binging plans now!

What did you think of the trailer? What are you most excited to see in The Defenders series? Let’s talk about the show in the comments!

Feature Image: Netflix

Find THE PRINCESS BRIDE, STRANGER THINGS, and More in Fan Art Friday

When artist Matthew Hirons was a kid, he was inspired by Star Wars to pick up a crayon and draw. His love for art and movies dates back to his childhood. He’s currently traveling the world painting murals, but in his down time, he turns his attention to fan art.

Matthew told Nerdist his style is influenced by Drew Struzan (of those incredible Indiana Jones posters you know and love). He goes the traditional route, using airbrush and colored pencils on illustration board. He goes for realism with the subjects, which you can see in the below Princess Bride art. It’s just as I would wish.

I’m pretty head over heels for this Wonder Woman piece, too.

Keep scrolling to the gallery below to view more beautiful poster and portrait style fan art by Matthew. There’s a fierce-looking Maeve from Westworld, Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Stranger Things‘ Demogorgon. When you’ve seen it all, visit Matthew’s website (there’s art of Elsa riding a tauntaun, so you know, hop to it!) and Instagram feed for more images.

Do you create any sort of fan art? If so, I want to see it. Whether you focus on a specific fandom or pull inspiration from multiple stories and mediums, I’d like to highlight what you do. If you’re interested in being featured in a future edition of Fan Art Friday, get in touch with me at alratcliffe@yahoo.com with examples of your work. If you’re not an artist, feel free to email me with recommendations for Fan Art Friday!

Images: Matthew Hirons