Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 203

DUNE: PROPHECY Cast Talk Expanding the Duniverse, Using “The Voice” & More

Dune: Prophecy stars Emily Watson (Valya Harkonnen), Olivia Williams (Tula Harkonnen), Mark Strong (Emperor Javicco Corrino), Jodi May (Empress Natalya), Travis Fimmel (Desmond Hart), Josh Heuston (Constantine Corrino), Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Princess Ynez), Chris Mason (Keiran Atreides), Jade Anouka (Sister Theodosia), Chloe Lea (Lila), and executive producers Alison Schapker and Jordan Goldberg sit down with Nerdist’s Ro Rusak to discuss the new show’s expansion of the Duniverse, why Prophecy was the logical next step in the franchise, and using “The Voice” in real life on today’s video!

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Which Major Character Died in THE PENGUIN Finale?

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If there was one truly good person among the cast of (mostly criminal) characters in The Penguin, it was Victor “Vic” Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz. Tragically, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) killed Vic in the series finale. Although Vic was always under threat of death throughout the series from Oz, he eventually began to feel safe with him. He even came to see him as a father figure of sorts. As Oz climbed to the top of the criminal underworld, Vic was loyally by his side. All of that was for nothing, as Oz strangled Vic in the final moments of the series finale, letting his body float away in the river. It’s one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire series. RIP Victor Aguilar, you deserved better.

HBOVic’s Tragic Backstory in The Penguin

Vic was a kid from the working class part of Gotham, who lost his entire family when the Riddler destroyed the sea walls in The Batman. The sea water flooded his entire neighborhood, killing his parents and sibling. Vic is soon forced into criminal activity to survive. In the first episode of The Penguin, Vic and some friends try stealing the rims off of Oz Cobb’s car. His friends run when Oz discovers them and starts shooting at them, but he catches up to Vic. Instead of killing him, as he planned to do, he takes pity on the boy for his stutter. After all, Oz has his own disability and that shared commonality reached to some humanity in him. (Or so we thought.)

HBO

At first, Oz forces Vic to work for him under threat of death. Eventually, Oz warms up to him. Vic becomes almost like a surrogate son to him. There are genuinely moving scenes between the two. Early in the series, Vic even saves Oz’s life. So it came as a massive shock to viewers when, after Oz has consolidated all power, he murders Vic in cold blood. He saw his emotional attachment to the boy as a weakness, so he had to eliminate him. (Also, it stands to reason he believed that Vic knew too much.) It’s the moment when we know for sure that, as much as the series creators fooled us into thinking otherwise.

Vic Shared Many Similarities to Robin II, Jason Todd, Including His FateHBO/DC Comics

Vic shared many similarities to Batman’s second Robin, Jason Todd. They both met their mentor figures by trying to steal a piece of his car. Both were taken under that mentor’s wing because they saw something of themselves in each young man. Now, like Jason Todd, Vic was brutally murdered in the prime of his life. Comic book fans should have seen this coming, as at one point, Oz threatened Vic with a crowbar. In the comics, the Joker famously killed Robin by beating him to death with a crowbar. It was our first big clue that Vic wasn’t making it out of this show alive. Given that Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe is far more grounded, we highly doubt Vic will ever come back to life like Jason did. There are no mystical Lazarus Pits in this world. But Vic will always be remembered as a great addition to the characters inhabiting Gotham City.

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How the Ending of THE PENGUIN Sets up THE BATMAN – PART II

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The Penguin’s first (and only?) season has ended, with the rise of Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) as Gotham’s new premiere mob boss, and the confirmation that he’s a character with no real redeeming qualities, as he murdered his only true friend, Vic (Rhenzy Feliz). So what does this all mean for Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman – Part II? We have some ideas, even if we didn’t get a single glimpse of the Dark Knight in The Penguin’s entire run. The finale episode laid the groundwork for the continuation of Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

Oz Cobb Becomes Gotham’s Top Crime BossMacall Polay/HBO

As The Penguin showed us, Gotham City is in shambles after the sea walls broke as part of the Riddler’s scheme in The Batman. Oz Cobb quickly used the chaos of that catastrophe, and the death of his former boss Carmine Falcone, to climb his way to the top. Now, by the final episode of The Penguin, he’s firmly there. We don’t see Oz Cobb ever interact with Batman in his series. But now that he’s consolidated all organized crime in Gotham, he’s pretty much the king of the city.

Only Batman Can Stand In The Penguin’s Way Now

Having said all that, the only thing standing in Oz Cobb’s way when it comes to complete domination is the Batman. So whatever happens in The Batman – Part II, it stands to reason that Oz Cobb will be a bigger adversary than before, and will see Batman as his biggest threat to power. Oz was just a way of getting information about bigger fish to Batman in the first film. The end of The Penguin suggests the conflict between them will be much greater going forward.

Warner Bros.

We also know that there’s a new political figure in Gotham, who is perfectly fine working with organized crime figures like Oz Cobb. This unholy alliance could become a very big problem for Bruce Wayne in The Batman – Part II. We know Matt Reeves has an interest in the secret power among Gotham’s elite class from the first film. That might be something he explores further in the sequel. Could this crooked politician also be part of the secret society known as the Court of Owls? We have a feeling he is.

The Penguin Hints at a Catwoman/Sofia Gigante Team-Up for The Batman – Part IIHBO/Warner Bros.

At the end of The Penguin, Sofia Gigante is back in Arkham where she probably expects to spend the rest of her days. Of course, this is Gotham City, and no one stays in Arkham forever. Or even more than a few months it seems. Sofia gets a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle whom she presumably had no idea existed. We last saw Selina/Catwoman ride off to the nearby town of Bludhaven at the end of The Batman. But the fact that she knows Sofia is her sister and has reached out to her might indicate a return to Gotham for Selina for The Batman – Part II. And maybe even some kind of Sofia/Selina alliance that might put them in Batman’s crosshairs.

The Sea Wall’s Collapse Leads to a New, More Dangerous Gotham

Although it took place in The Batman, we now know the destruction of the sea walls destroyed a large chunk of Gotham, killing thousands and displacing even more. Vic’s family was among the dead, and probably wouldn’t have resorted to criminal activity to survive. I think many new criminals, some from the comics, will emerge from this catastrophe. Which will they be? We’ll find out when The Batman – Part II hits theaters in 2026.

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Cristin Milioti Discusses Sofia Falcone Maybe Meeting THE BATMAN’s Joker and THE PENGUIN’s Kinship Between Women

Recently, Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Falcone on The Penguin, chatted with Nerdist and a few other outlets about taking on the role of Sofia Falcone. Among other things, Milioti shared some thoughts about her character in the wider The Batman universe, which other Batman character Sofia might like to meet, and the fascinating kinship between women that exists in The Penguin. As The Penguin draws to a close, we certainly hope to see more of Milioti’s Sofia Falcone sometime soon… And we’d definitely love for Milioti to get her wish and see Sofia cross paths with Joker in the upcoming The Batman—Part II.

HBO

How would you ultimately describe the relationship between Sofia and Oz in The Penguin?

Cristin Milioti: I would say it’s very complicated… but full of history, which is why it’s so complicated. In the end, though, I think they’re more kindred than either one will admit.

Which character would you like Sofia Falcone to meet in The Batman Universe?

Milioti: I’d love [for Sofia Falcone] to meet Joker.

But we can’t say for sure if Sofia has met him already?

Milioti: We can’t say for sure.

WB

If you had to take Sofia Falcone out on the night town in New York, where would you take her?

Milioti: I would take her to the most fabulous restaurant in town. I would want to do something like crazy, get some sort of obnoxious limo, and hang out of the top or something. Lots of martinis, a martini heavy evening.

HBO

One of my favorite scenes in The Penguin is between Sofia and Eve. What do you think that scene reveals about Sofia, and what does it add to this series, this kinship between women?

Milioti: I think Sofia and Eve come from such different walks of life on The Penguin and have these preconceived notions about each other, and I think they both really surprise each other because they’re both so wiley, and they’re both so, they’re actually also kind of kindred in a way. They’ve been just underestimated. And so I think that’s one of the things that makes that scene so special.

You are playing this mob boss coming into her own. What was the most exciting part of exploring that in Gotham?

Milioti: Because I’m just such a huge fan of this universe, a Batman fan, that was the most extraordinary part. It’s already very fun to play a Mafia boss, but it sort of is ratcheted up a level when it’s within Gotham.

The Penguin is now streaming in full on Max.

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David Leitch Reveals Bruce Willis Almost Played John Wick

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, John Wick co-director David Leitch revealed something shocking. Before Keanu Reeves was attached to the action film, Bruce Willis was slated to star. Leitch revealed more on the early days of the John Wick series to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary.

20th Century Studios

Leitch and his directing partner, Chad Stahelski wanted to level up in their career directing a feature length film. They were originally second-unit directors, stunt choreographers, and coordinators. The original John Wick script by Derek Kolstad had come to Leitch and Stahelski while Willis was attached to the project.

“We were first exposed to the script by our manager at the time, Kelly McCormick, who’s now my wife and producer. She had introduced us to Basil Iwanyk and Peter Lawson at Basil’s company [Thunder Road] to maybe do second unit work on that script. So that was the first time we read it, and I think Bruce Willis might’ve been attached at that time,” Leitch told The Hollywood Reporter.

Murray Close/Lionsgate

After Reeves signed on to the project, he approached the pair to direct second unit as they had worked together on The Matrix. The pair already considered the offer previously and asked if they could be the main directors instead. With Reeves’ support the rest is history and Leitch and Stahelski became action movie legends.

Okay imagine if Bruce Willis was John Wick though. The entire vibe of the move would be different. For some reason I feel like Keanu Reeves going on a revenge-fueled rampage because of his puppy’s death just makes sense. Thinking of Bruce Willis in the same role is hard to visualize, although he is an amazing action actor in his own right. Die Hard is the best Christmas movie of all time and I’ll die on that hill.

Lionsgate

Regardless of who John Wick is, the film made it to the big screen, and we love it. Don’t worry if you can’t get enough of the John Wick universe there is an upcoming spinoff film, Ballerina. Ana de Armas is John Wick’s character, Eve Macarro, as she learns the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

In addition to Ballerina, there is also another spinoff film in the works right now about Donnie Yen’s assassin character, as well as a new series, John Wick: Under the High Table. Additionally, a John Wick experience is opening in Las Vegas later this year.

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New LORD OF THE RINGS Box Set Tempts You with the One Ring

Do you dare to take the One Ring into your possession? Will you try to use its powers and fall to evil or walk into Mordor to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom? You can ask yourself this question from the safety of your couch with a gorgeous new The Lord of the Rings box set that will release this holiday season. In addition to a gold-foil finished packaging and, count them, two versions of all three movies, this The Lord of the Rings trilogy box set will come with a screen-accurate replica of the One Ring. What a generous gift! You can look at the details of the set below.

Warner Bros

Spanning nine discs, this limited-edition collection of The Lord of the Rings‘s movie trilogy comes in 4K Ultra HD. It includes the theatrical and extended editions of the movies. (You know, in case your boring friends are over and don’t have a casual eleven hours to spare.) This The Lord of the Rings box set is packaged to look like a book, with faux-leather finish, gold foil, and embossing. On the cover of the collection are the Doors of Durin as they appear in The Fellowship of the Ring movie. It’s a lovely touch that brings to mind friendship and love. (Or a tentacle monster and disaster, whatever you prefer.)

the Noble Collection

As mentioned, this Lord of the Rings trilogy collection comes with the Noble Collection One Ring Replica. This ring is inscribed in Black Speech inside and out, telling the world. “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” Can anyone say, my precious? You can also purchase this version of the One Ring separately here.

If you don’t yet own a box set of The Lord of the Rings movies, or if you need your hundredth version, this set will make the perfect gift for the Fellowship in your life. The limited-edition collection will release on December 20 and is now available for pre-order.

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Pixar Announces TOY STORY 5 Will Pit Toys Against Screens, Shares Release Date

Just the incisive commentary we expect from the director of WALL-E. At D23 Expo 2024, Pixar Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, announced a fifth entry in the companies longest running franchise. Their first franchise, really. Toy Story 5 will be directed by Pixar Senior Creative Team member Andrew Stanton. Stanton, of course, directed Finding Nemo as well as the one about the robot. He says the movie will be about our hero toys taking on their biggest foe yet… screens. At D23 Brazil, we further learned that Toy Story 5 will release on June 19, 2026. You can check out the first piece of Toy Story 5 concept art below.

Eric Diaz

In the 30 years since the first Toy Story debuted and ushered in the era of digital animation, the world has not only caught up to Pixar, it shot forward like a rocket to the moon. YouTube and mobile games have taken the place of figures and pull strings in a child’s heart. If you thought Woody was out of date in ’95, he’s a relic today. Smart of Pixar to take that story on.

This will be Stanton’s first film since 2016’s Finding Dory, and his first time helming a Toy Story movie. That alone has us jazzed. Toy Story 5 will officially release on June 19, 2026.

Get excited for their next chapter as Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang all return for #ToyStory5, coming to theaters Summer 2026! #D23 pic.twitter.com/w5yrlbkpYP

— Pixar (@Pixar) August 10, 2024

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

Originally published on August 9, 2024.

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Christopher Nolan Returning to Universal for Next Movie in 2026—Tom Holland, Zendaya to Star

How do you follow up an all-time great movie like seven-time Oscar winner Oppenheimer? It was a Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, box office juggernaut. How do you live up to something that good?That’s a classic case of not our problem. It’s Christopher Nolan’s. The director is the one who has to figure out what do after reaching the peak of his industry. What we know is where he’ll try to do just that. Nolan is going back to Universal to see if that partnership can find movie magic again in the summer of 2026.

He could be going back to the studio with a familiar face. Oppenheimer and Interstellar‘s Matt Damon is reportedly in talks to star in the film along with Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. Deadline reported that another former Nolan collaborator, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland’s co-star in life Zendaya are also joining the cast.

Universal Pictures

Variety reports Christopher Nolan is sticking with Universal for his next film. The director produced Oppenheimer with the studio after ending his decades long partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures. However, it seemed possible he might end up back at his old home. Warner Bros. was said to be trying to mend things with him in hopes of luring Nolan. Clearly they will have to wait at least one more movie for a reunion.

Universal has already lined up a prime spot for Nolan’s unnamed film, which he is also writing. It will arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026. While details, subject matter, or even genre are unknown at this time, the movie will reportedly get an IMAX release. That’s no surprise for a Christopher Nolan release.

Universal

Also not a surprise is that Matt Damon could potentially star in it. The two have worked together previously and Damon has talked about how much he loves Christopher Nolan. The director also found incredible success elevating one of his longtime supporting stars, Cillian Murphy, to a lead role.

Will turning one of his supporting actors into a main role for a movie at Universal guarantee Christopher Nolan finds Oppenheimer-level success again? Of course not. But we wouldn’t rule it out, either.

Originally published October 9, 2024.

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Who Does Daniel Craig Want As a New James Bond? He Doesn’t Care

We can finally confirm what most of us pretended we didn’t already know. Daniel Craig is not contemplating over who the next James Bond is going to be. In fact he doesn’t care too much. Lowkey this would be me too if I played the same character for almost 20 years. In a moment going viral from the Variety interview below, Daniel Craig talks about James Bond and much more with co-star Drew Starkey.

Craig and Starkey are leading stars in Challengers director Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Queer. To promote the upcoming film, Variety hosted a game of “How Well Do They Know Each Other?” between the actors testing their knowledge of one another.

When Craig was asked who he would want to see play James Bond next he said a simple, “I don’t care.” This was not the only Bond mention that pointed to Craig’s relief to be done with the role. The interviewer asked the actors how many James Bond films Craig has made. Craig said he would get the answer wrong. Starkey wrote, “too many,” to which Craig responded “exactly” while laughing.

Universal Pictures

Craig originally became the new English agent in 2006 for Casino Royale, which is absolutely crazy. That’s literally before the first iPhone came out. Imagine playing a character for so long that most young people don’t even know he wasn’t the original Bond. Not going to lie…I am guilty of this.

In 2022 after releasing his last film as Bond, No Time to Die, Craig expressed zero regret about moving on from the role in an interview with the BBC saying, “I had an incredibly fortunate 17 years of my life making this. I literally want to spend the next 20 years of my life trying to unhook it all and try and put it into a place because it was incredible. I left it where I wanted it to be. And that I was given the chance to do that with the last movie.”

Netflix

I for one am so excited to see Craig take on new roles after loving his portrayal of southern detective Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out series. Daniel Craig as a queer American guy who travels outside the country for some reason that isn’t because he wants a nice vacation! Yes, I’ll take two. Craig will be portraying William Lee in the upcoming film Queer releasing on Nov 27.

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MUFASA: THE LION KING Trailers Tell the Tale of Mufasa and Scar, Showcase Mads Mikkelsen’s Kiros

Mufasa: The Lion King is kind of a blend of a prequel and an extension of The Lion King‘s sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. The star of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride is after all, Kiara, who will feature in this Mufasa-oriented movie as well. Rafiki will tell the lion cub all about her grandfather and his grand adventures. We’ll see Mufasa’s story in flashbacks, and also Scar’s. The relationship between the lion brothers is key in this film. The full trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King already had us ready and excited to return to Pride Rock and the film’s final trailer hypes us up even more. You can watch them in full below:

In these looks at the movies, we see a lot of familiar faces—including Timon, Pumba, Zazu, Rafiki, Kiara, and more. It sure does put us in a nostalgic mood. Young Zazu is absolutely like we imagined he would be.

In addition to the trailers, the synopsis for Mufasa: The Lion King fills in more of the blanks about the upcoming prequel story. It shares:

Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.  

Disney

Bringing this movie to life are Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Donald Glover as Simba, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, and Beyoncé in her epic return as Queen Nala. There are also plenty of other stars involved in the Mufasa movie as well and that includes Mads Mikkelsen’s fierce lion Kiros.

Disney

Mufasa: The Lion King will release in theaters on December 20.

Originally published on August 9, 2024.

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