Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2022

GAME OF THRONES Re-Throned: “Blood of My Blood” (S6, E6)

Winter is coming, but not soon enough. So to help pass the time until season seven of Game of Thrones, we’re doing a weekly re-watch of the series, episode-by-episode, with the knowledge of what’s to come and—therefore—more information about the unrevealed rich history of events that took place long before the story began. Be warned, though: that means this series is full of spoilers for every season, even beyond the episode itself. So if you haven’t watched all of the show yet immediately get on that and then come back and join us for Game of Thrones Re-Throned.

Because the next best thing to watching new episodes is re-watching old ones.

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Season 6, Episode 6: “Blood of My Blood”

Original Air Date: May 29th, 2016

Director: Jack Bender

Written by: Bryan Cogman

Game of Thrones‘ showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss said in the post-episode featurette that the reason Bran didn’t immediately flee in the last episode after being marked by the Night King was that the Three-Eyed Raven was “uploading” visions into his mind. Even on a re-watch it’s not clear that’s what the show was trying to convey with Bran’s montage of visions that start the episode, but that explanation does give us some context to evaluate what he was experiencing and what it all might mean.

Here’s what flashes through his mind, a vast collection made up of events from years ago, recent history, and things yet to come:

The Alchemist’s Guild storing wildfire under King’s Landing, which later explodes
A black dragon flying over a smoking King’s Landing
The Mad King screaming “burn them all” before being stabbed in the back by Jaime Lannister, who then sits on the Iron Throne

The Night King and various moments from his attack at Hardhome
Bran’s own fall from the tower at Winterfell
Landscape shots north of the Wall
Catelyn Stark being killed at the Red Wedding
Daenerys after she hatched her dragons
The Night King turning Craster’s son into a White Walker
His father Ned being executed

The massive collection of crows Sam saw north of the Wall when a White Walker attacked
Ned at the Tower of Joy, followed by a bloody hand
Roose Bolton stabbing Robb at the Red Wedding
The Children of the Forest creating the first White Walker
The Three-Eyed Raven in actual raven form
Jon Snow fighting a White Walker at Hardhome

“Coldhands” Uncle Benjen, who returns half-dead/half-alive after going missing in season one, rescues Bran and Meera from wights, and tells Bran the Three-Eyed Raven “lives again” as Bran. But the old, tree Three-Eyed Raven had very little time to share his 1,000 years of wisdom with Bran, and these are the moments he chose. We call that “kind of a big deal.” We can bundle these visions to try and understand why they are important.

The murders of Bran’s family: Starks are under attack, a fact Bran has to face, no matter how difficult, because the remaining members must be protected. Not only is Jon potentially the Prince That Was Promised, but Benjen tells Bran, “One way or another, [the Night King] will find his way to the world of men. When he does, you will be there waiting for him. And you will be ready.” Bran says he can’t control his powers yet, and that could be why he was too late to save his parents and brother, but he might be able to save Jon or himself once he can harness them, and that could be the difference in the Great War if they are as important as they seem to be.

The power of the Night King: Bran knows about the White Walker threat, but now he truly understands it, the way Jon did after Hardhome. But his visions also includes how they can turn humans into one of them. That’s something no one knows, and it’s much more terrifying than raising the dead into mindless zombies. That knowledge might be horrifying, but the more they know about the enemy the better.

The Mad King’s final moments: The killing of Aerys II by Jaime ended Robert’s Rebellion, but why would that be relevant to defeating the White Walkers now? Because it might have been Bran whispering into the Mad King’s ear, to put in motion the events that will lead to the Prince That Was Promised saving mankind. We know from “hold the door” that Bran can influence events in the past in a time loop, so is he seeing one of his own when he sees the Mad King here? Is that also why he sees himself fall at Winterfell? Because he made that happen so he would go down this path to being the Three-Eyed Raven? We don’t know yet, but what happened that day in the throne room, and Jaime’s role in it, matters for far greater reasons than anyone realizes.

Cersei blowing up the Sept of Baelor: Besides past events, he also sees Cersei using the Mad King’s wildfire (though he doesn’t know it yet). Considering he witnesses Daenerys emerging from the fire with dragons, and later sees a black dragon that looks like Drogon flying over a smoking King’s Landing (we guess it could be a past dragon, but it seems unlikely), is Cersei destined to use the rest of the wildfire when the Mother of Dragons invades? And if so, how many will die? How many potential soldiers in the Great War will perish because Cersei takes her enemies with her? The Lannisters, specifically the Mad Queen, pose a major threat to dragons, which might be the greatest weapon the living have against the White Walkers. Can Bran stop that from happening? Or could it be Jaime stopping that like he did so many years earlier?

Whatever the connection, the important thing is they are connected. Bran’s ultimate lesson is to learn how to harness his powers so he can be ready to fight the Night King. The Three-Eyed Raven wouldn’t have taken his final moments to share visions with Bran that weren’t pertinent to that goal.

Somehow the Mad King, Daenerys, dragons, the Starks and the Lannisters, and even wildfire are all tied into defeating the White Walkers. That and what happened at the Tower of Joy.

The day a child, the son of a Stark and a Targaryen, was born.

That could be the biggest “big deal” thing the Three-Eyed Raven really wanted Bran to know.

What do you think of Bran’s visions? How are they connected? What do they all mean? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: HBO

Funko Debuts New Figure Style VYNL, to Premiere at Comic-Con

Okay, follow along so far if you can. POP! Vinyls are the caricatured figures with rounded oblong heads and black pips for eyes. Dorbz are the cutesified characters who look like smiling bowling pins. Rock Candy are stylized, usually female figures with large heads and a doll-like appearance. Vinyl Idolz are the ones that look like they guest-starred in a Wallace and Gromit clay-animated adventure. Mystery Minis are really small with rectangular fingers (usually).

And now, Vynls, so named because they come in two-packs and there is no “I” in duo. Looking like early aughts Cartoon Network stylization, these sets “contain two figures in order to highlight the connection between both characters and play off of their respective storylines.” The first one to be released will be a Comic-Con exclusive set featuring Batgirl and Poison Ivy.

Some connections are a bit clearer than others. Jack and Sally are a couple, while Freddy and Jason are arch-foes who did battle in a movie once. But He-Man and Trap Jaw? The latter’s only real connection to Eternia’s greatest hero is that he’s one of many henchmen to an arch-rival. And we’ll presume that Ivy and Batgirl aren’t trying to bring back memories of Batman and Robin.

Funko has had an unstoppable Midas touch when it comes to stylized minis, and we imagine these will be no different. So now the only question is at what point do we run out of shelf space?

What’s your favorite Funko style? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: Funko

JUSTICE LEAGUE Movie Theater Merch Features Previously Unseen Images of the Team

So far, 2017 has been an epic year for comic book superhero movies. Sure, some snobby writer out there is no doubt going to put out some op-ed about “superhero fatigue” before the end of the year, but considering that the five big superhero films released so far this year–Logan, LEGO Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder Woman and now Spider-Man: Homecoming – have been both critical and commercial hits, it’s going to be hard to argue that superheroes are the problem with Hollywood.

Of course, we still have two superhero films left for the year that could be the deciding factor in “2017: Best Comic Book Movie Year Ever”–Thor: Ragnarok, which is almost certain to be awesome if those trailers are any indication, and the true wild card–Justice League. Can DC’s big team-up movie actually deliver, and make 2017 the greatest year for superhero movies yet? No pressure, Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon.

Although we’ve only had the one official trailer for the film, now that Wonder Woman is a certified smash, expect Warner Brothers to start making sure that the follow up film is more in line with Princess Diana’s movie and less like Batman v Superman. And with a bigger push from the studio, with a move like this, it always means one thing: More Merch.

In what is sure to be the calm before the storm, a huge amount of movie theater merchandise images showcasing the main characters from Justice League  have turned up online at ReadyMag.com (via Comic Book Movie), and although lower quality versions of some of these have been seen before, among these items there are also several new images of the Leaguers to be found. You have an assortment of cups, tumblers, cup-toppers, popcorn crashboxes, tin tubs, dog-tag keychains, and a whole lot more.

So what’s the takeaway from all this stuff? Well, for starters, unlike early trailers and posters for the film, it seems WB marketing wised up and started placing Superman in the merchandise. This is smart, because we all know he’s in the movie, and hiding him is stupid. The DC Trinity is the core of the JL, and not selling that fact would have been a very unwise move. Also of note: No images of the villain or villains at all. We know Steppenwolf is the bad guy, so why not feature him on theater merchandise? (We’ve already caught glimpses in a toy or two elsewhere.)

Also of note is the pleasant surprise that on a lot of this merch, Wonder Woman is front and center, almost seeming like the leader of the team in some images rather than always Batman as the default (there are a few items where Bats is at the forefront). Good to see that WB is realizing the powerhouse potential that is Wonder Woman.

You can check out an assortment of the Justice League merch in our gallery below.

What do you make of the JL images you’ve seen so far? Does it have you more or less excited for the final film? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Images: Warner Brothers

Watch the Evolution Of Spider-Man Over 50 Years Of TV and Film

It’s safe to say that we’re all a bit obsessed with a certain wall-crawling hero after the recent release of Spider-Man: Homecoming. The new film will add to the extensive and silly debates we love having about which actor was better in the role, which film got it right, and–with this being Spidey’s second MCU appearance–how weird it is that Peter Parker doesn’t know what an AT-AT is in Civil War but is beyond excited to build the LEGO Death Star with Ned.

It may surprise some people to know that Spidey has–in some form or another–been in our watchable entertainment lives for about 50 years now. And this super cut by Burger Fiction gives us a taste of every iteration whether friendly, spectacular, or amazing.



To say that the various Spider-Men (Spider-Mans? Spiders-Men?) have changed over the decades would be the understatement of the year. His early appearances were surely a sign of the times, with an adult Spider-Man having a voice better suited for an episode of Mad Men than a cartoon aimed at kids. Thankfully, his animated, live-action, and video game appearances have evolved along with his comic book counterparts. The days of a gruff authoritative voice fell by the wayside to make way for the younger wise-cracking web-swinger we all know and love.

Our only real criticism of Burger Fiction’s super cut is that they didn’t give us more of that sweet, sweet Electric Company Spider-Man with Morgan Freeman. But don’t worry, we can fix that.

What’s your favorite version of Spider-Man? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: Marvel Studios/Disney

Who Is Jimmy Woo? Breaking Down ANT-MAN AND THE WASP’s Newest Player

Next summer, Ant-Man and the Wasp will co-headline their sequel film, but they aren’t the only Marvel heroes slated to appear. In fact, the latest addition to the MCU predates both characters as one of the first heroes in the Marvel Universe.

The Tracking Board was the first to report that Randall Park has been cast as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Nerdist has reached out to Marvel Studios for confirmation of this news, but has not heard back as of press time. However, Variety has also run with the news and there’s a very good chance that it is accurate. Park is best known for his roles on Fresh Off the Boat and Veep, and he previously co-starred with Paul Rudd in They Came Together.

Even longtime comic book readers may not be familiar with Jimmy Woo, but his legacy actually goes back to the ’50s, before Marvel was even called Marvel. Woo was created by Al Feldstein and Joe Maneely as the hero of Yellow Claw, a series about the titular communist supervillain who was basically a thinly veiled take on Fu Manchu. Jimmy Woo was the heroic FBI agent assigned to take down Yellow Claw, and consequently, one of the first Asian heroes in comics.

 

The Yellow Claw comic ended after only four issues, and that could have easily been the end of Jimmy Woo and the title villain. However, both characters were incorporated into the Marvel Universe beginning in Strange Tales #160. Woo went on to become an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., but his appearances became more sporadic once the Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. comic came to an end. Woo resurfaced in the ’70s as part of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s anti-Godzilla task force, back when Marvel had the rights to publish a Godzilla comic. Sounds hard to believe, doesn’t it? Well, feast your eyes on this panel as Jimmy comforts a captured Godzilla, who had been miniaturized by Pym particles to make him easier to handle.

In an alternate timeline, Jimmy Woo was a key figure in the foundation of the 1950s Avengers, which featured 3-D Man, Gorilla Man, Namora, Venus, Uranian, and the robot known as M-11. That team served as the inspiration for Woo’s most prominent role to date as one of the main characters in Agents of Atlas. Writer Jeff Parker and artist Leonard Kirk literally revitalized Jimmy Woo by de-aging him and reuniting him with the characters formerly known as the ’50s Avengers.

The intriguing thing about Agents of Atlas is that Jimmy and his team pretended to be supervillains while remaking Yellow Claw’s organization into a force for good from within. It was a really terrific series that never quite found the audience that it deserved. Jimmy Woo has since resurfaced as the head of the Pan-Asian School For the Unusually Gifted; which was essentially a take on the X-Men’s school for mutants.

How will Jimmy Woo fit into the MCU? Although S.H.I.E.L.D. has been re-legitimized during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it would be shocking to see that acknowledged in the Marvel movies. There have been rumors of a weird tension between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV, which could explain why none of the TV characters have been acknowledged or referenced on the big screen. So, where does that leave Jimmy? The first Ant-Man movie offers the perfect solution. It’s already been established that Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym and his wife, Janet, were operatives of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the past. Therefore, a flashback appearance by Jimmy Woo may be the most natural way to introduce his character.

Are you excited to see Jimmy Woo in the next Ant-Man movie? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Comics/ABC

JUSTICE LEAGUE Toy Leaks Reveal Villain Steppenwolf

When it was announced who the villain in the upcoming Justice League film was going to be, most DC Comics fans reacted with a collective “what, really?” when it turned out to be Steppenwolf, a character who, despite his badass name, is nowhere near as well-known as his boss Darkseid.

Most fans were expecting someone a little more well known from the JLA rogue’s gallery, like the previously mentioned Darkseid, or maybe Brainiac or Despero. Heck, maybe even the Legion of Doom. But Steppenwolf? No one saw that coming. And until now, no one has really known what the character will look like in the film, despite some LEGO images recently leaked that gave us only a vague idea.

Luckily, the folks from Batman-On-Film have found some early toy releases at a California Kmart from the upcoming Zack Snyder (and Joss Whedon) directed movie, which apparently gives us our first real look at Steppenwolf. You can see what Darkseid’s general (and uncle) looks like in the tweet down below:

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s what Steppenwolf looks like in #JusticeLeague! (Photos) https://t.co/oAVB1di5xb

— Batman-News.com (@BatmanNewsCom) July 9, 2017

Judging from the image, it appears that Steppenwolf will look more human than his computer generated avatar in the Kryptonian ship from the deleted scene from Batman v Superman suggested he would. Game of Thrones actor Ciarán Hinds is playing the warlord from Apokolips, and based on this toy, he actually also looks pretty darn intimidating, worthy of being the League’s first big bad. Based on the figure, I’m thinking I can see this guy taking on Superman to the point where Superman actually needs the help of his friends.

The fact that Steppenwolf is the main villain in Justice League also makes us wonder if we’ll see other Apokoliptian characters from Jack Kirby’s Fourth World. While it seems Warner Brothers and DC are holding off on Darkseid till the sequel, that doesn’t mean we won’t see any other characters who are among Darkseid’s elite warriors. Right?

What do you make of this early look at the League’s big bad? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics

McFarlane Toys Turn Upside Down With STRANGER THINGS Action Figures

When Funko announced Stranger Things action figures, we kinda thought that would be it. They have the license, they made three-packs with all the main kids and the monster, end of story. Except it wasn’t. Stranger Things merchandise continues to be rabidly consumed by an eager fanbase awaiting season 2, and McFarlane Toys noticed, snapping up the rights to 7-inch figures that they’ve just announced.

While you’d expect McFarlane to start with the Demogorgon, given Todd McFarlane’s historical fascination with monsters and demons, the company has taken a more cerebral approach this time and kicked things off with the two most interesting characters: the “super-powered” enigma known as Eleven (or “El” for short), and the haunted, slightly slacking Chief Hopper.

There are a couple of interesting things to note from a McFarlane Toys collecting perspective. One: even though the official images list them as “Color Tops,” McFarlane’s unified cross-brand line of 7-inch figures, the packaging is completely different and does not seem to include the one-size-fits-most figure stands that have come with every other Color Tops figure. Two: Unlike most McFarlane 7-inch figures, these look fully articulated in the style of their 5-inch Walking Dead line.

Another cool thing about having a David Harbour figure out there is that fans who are so inclined can customize their own Hellboy figures from the next movie reboot. I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the thinking behind giving him a bonus head, rather than just a removable hat.

Now, McFarlane: Funko also did Twin Peaks figures, but nobody seems to have the 7-inch figure rights yet. Hint hint? Please?

What do you think of McFarlane’s new approach to 7-inchers? Articulate your thoughts in comments.

Images: McFarlane Toys

GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT Is DC’s Next Animated Movie

Nearly 30 years ago, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight became the first DC Elseworlds title, as it introduced readers to a Dark Knight that inhabited a Victorian-era Gotham City. Now, word has emerged that Gotham by Gaslight is finally getting an animated adaptation from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Via ComicBook.com, the special features of next month’s Batman & Harley Quinn movie include an advance preview of the Gotham by Gaslight animated feature. That means it may be released as soon as this fall, or perhaps in early 2018. The original Gotham by Gaslight graphic novel was published by DC in 1989, and it featured a story by Brian Augustyn, with artwork by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and inks by P. Craig Russell. Since Hellboy‘s emergence, Mignola has rarely drawn anything outside of his own creations, but his depiction of Batman helped make this story an immediate hit with fans.

In the original graphic novel, Victorian-era Batman found himself on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. However, that story will have to be significantly expanded upon for the animated feature. It’s possible that the new movie could also draw upon the sequel, Batman: Master of the Future, which was written by Augustyn and drawn by Eduardo Barreto. Within that adventure, the Batman went up against a sky pirate named Alexandre LeRoi, who attempted to disrupt Gotham City’s turn-of-the century celebration.

It’s also possible that the Gotham by Gaslight animated movie will open the door to more Elseworlds adaptations. DC has several fan-favorite Elseworlds tales that could become really fun films. Although to be honest, many of them do feature Batman. So if you’ve been waiting for something like Superman: Speeding Bullets, where the Man of Steel became Batman, then it could potentially happen.

Are you excited about the Gotham by Gaslight movie? And what other Elseworlds tales should become animated movies? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: DC Comics

A Farewell to TRUE BLOOD Star Nelsan Ellis

It is with heavy hearts that we report that actor Nelsan Ellis, best known for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on all seven seasons of HBO’s True Blood, passed away at age 39. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis died on July 8 due to complications from heart failure. Although best known for True Blood, Ellis also portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and recently starred in the James Brown biopic, Get On Up.

Ellis was born in Chicago but raised in Alabama. He eventually was accepted for enrollment at the Juilliard School’s Drama Division when he was 21, where he met and befriended future  True Blood co-start Rutina Wesley, who would end up playing his cousin Tara. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Juilliard in 2004.

Just a few short years later in 2007, Ellis got his big break and was cast as Lafayette Reynolds in the pilot for True Blood. Lafayette was a short order cook at local restaurant and bar Merlotte’s, a member of the local Bon Temps road crew, and the character of Tara Thornton’s first cousin. He was also an out gay man in small town, and a drug dealer and occasional prostitute. The pilot was shot in the early summer of 2007 and was officially ordered to series in August. True Blood was an instant hit when it premiered in 2008, and for the first several seasons there was something of True Blood mania across pop culture.

In the books by  author Charlaine Harris on which True Blood was based, the character of Lafayette dies at the end of the first novel in the series. But Lafayette was so popular with the fans that series showrunner Alan Ball knew they couldn’t kill him off in the same way. He quickly became one of the signature characters on the show.

As an LGBT fan myself, I can tell you that Nelsan Ellis’ portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds was absolutely one of my favorite LGBT characters ever to appear on television. After Ellen DeGeneres’  historic coming out twenty years ago, we started to to see more and more gay characters on TV, but although many of them were well written, they were also kind of neutered in a way. None of them were allowed to have much sexuality, and were almost too pure. It probably came from a good place on the part of the writers, but it ended up making for several dull storylines for gay characters, and almost all of them had to have a requisite “coming out” arc.

Lafayette was another story. There was no traditional “coming out” saga for him like most gay television characters from the same era. He was very much out and proud from the moment he stepped on screen. He was a flamboyant gay man who wore makeup and turbans when he felt like it, and was all “bro-ed out” when he felt like looking like that. And he did this while living in a small Southern town that was anything but open minded. But make no mistake–no one messed with Lafayette. Or if they did, they ended up regretting it, like the roughnecks who refused his cooking in an early episode of the series. (you can see the clip below).

I had the privilege of seeing Nelsan on stage for the True Blood panel at San Diego Comic-Con three years in a row, at the height of the show’s popularity. Believe me, NO ONE get a bigger cheer when entering the room than Ellis did. Lafayette was seemingly everyone’s favorite character, and heaven knows when most viewers were sick of the “who is Sookie going to choose?” story lines on the show, Lafayette was the reason we kept coming back to True Blood. But Nelsan Ellis himself couldn’t have been more different than the character he played.

Ellis was a very laid back, very soft spoken man, who seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the fan adulation. He grew up and remained a devout Christian, but was firmly committed to LGBT causes as well, despite being a heterosexual man in real life, proving that in this divided world, these two things do not have to be incompatible. In this sense, Ellis should be an inspiration to all.

True Blood showrunner Alan Ball said in a statement (via THR). “Nelsan was a singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me. Working with him was a privilege.”

Ellis’ True Blood co-stars also quickly took to social media to express their sadness of the loss of their friend and colleague.

It was an utter privilege to work with the phenomenally talented and deeply kind soul .@OfficialNelsan I’m devastated by his untimely death. pic.twitter.com/If17csduHz

— Anna Paquin (@AnnaPaquin) July 8, 2017

Heart is shattered hearing of tragic news of #NelsanEllis passing. Devastated.He possessed such humility & fearless talent. U r deeply loved

— Michelle Forbes (@MishkaForbes) July 8, 2017

Crushed today by the loss of my friend and castmate Nelsan Ellis. He was a wonderful person, a pioneer, and a one of a kind artist. RIP pic.twitter.com/fvtquhIac7

— Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) July 8, 2017

Heartbreaking. https://t.co/LuDtfxBUJB

— Deborah Ann Woll (@DeborahAnnWoll) July 8, 2017

One of the sweetest most talented men I’ve ever met. A terrible loss for all of us. Rest In… https://t.co/PgiUMuVzaZ

— Kristin Bauer (@BauervanStraten) July 8, 2017

Nelsan Ellis was truly remarkable. A brilliant, charismatic, intelligent, soulful, wonderful dude. this is just completely tragic.

— Stephen Moyer (@smoyer) July 8, 2017

Ellis is survived by his grandmother (Alex Brown), his father (Tommie Lee Thompson) and his son (Breon Ellis). He is also survived by his siblings – Lakeeia Thomson (sister), Tommie Lee Thompson (brother), Babon Ellis (brother), Maurice Turne (brother), Tianna Thompson (sister), Shaentika Beard (sister), Yvonne Ellis (sister) and Tartheaia Thompson (aunt).

Do you have a favorite Nelsan Ellis performance, either in or outside of True Blood? Be sure to leave us your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: HBO

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Action Figures Look Like Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling on Their Day Off

We’ve wanted Blade Runner action figures for many, many years, even as we’ve seen other toys you wouldn’t believe come and go, like tears in the rain. I’m not sure we expected that when we got them, they’d look so…normal?

I mean, minus the sci-fi guns, these could be toys of Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford in anything. And I don’t just mean any movie. I mean, like, they could be Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling in your local thrift store, or on a fishing trip, or hanging out at the sports bar. Gosling looks pumped to be working with Ford, while Ford looks like he’s wondering why this kid is hanging out with him. Presumably this will be their dynamic in the new movie as well.

Legalities have prevented figures from the first film, as actor likeness rights are not included in any merchandising deals. Our best hope, perhaps, is that Rick Deckard has a flashback to his prior adventures, thereby making Pris and Roy technically part of the sequel, and therefore available for merchandising.

In the meantime and until the new one comes out, I’ll be over here playing with them as if The Nice Guys got a sequel, and Ford is playing Russell Crowe’s older brother. NECA‘s Blade Runner 2049 action figures are due to hit stores sometime in September. Buy them quickly if you see them, because we have no idea how much time you’ll have left to purchase them. Then again, who does?

Can you afford a Ford figure? Let us know in comments!

Image: NECA