Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2035

Kara Meets a Stranger in SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #4 (Exclusive Preview)

We’ve had an influx of Supergirl-related content over the last couple of years, and it’s, well, pretty darn super. From the television series currently airing on the CW to the character popping up in various comic incarnations, the world has welcomed Kara Zor-El back in. While each of the narratives out there right now are different from one another, they still have a lot of the same touchstones that always occur in every Supergirl story. Supergirl: Being Super, a new miniseries by YA author Mariko Tamaki and artist Joelle Jones, brings the character to life as a 16-year-old girl trying to simply deal with her new life on Earth–though it doesn’t come without its various complications for the fledgling superhero.

In the miniseries’ latest issue, #4, which goes on sale Wednesday 6/28, Kara has just encountered an individual named Tan-On who claims to be from Krypton, but if we’re being honest, is acting a little shady about the whole thing. The official summary from DC Comics reads:

Having her life torn to shreds and burned to ash has forced Supergirl to choose between the world she was born on and the world that adopted her. Can Kara Danvers find a way to be super—or will she crash and burn?

You can check out the first nine pages of issue #4 in the gallery below – it looks like even though Kara may not be nervous about meeting this stranger, everything that’s starting to shake out for her at high school with her concerned friend Dolly is making us nervous on her behalf!

Don’t forget to pick up Supergirl: Being Super #4 when it goes on sale Wednesday, 6/28. How are you enjoying this new Supergirl miniseries? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

Images: DC Comics.

WONDER WOMAN Actor Reveals His Character Is a Demi-God Too

The Wonder Woman movie is continuing to clean up at the box office, as its poised to become the summer’s biggest film. And as audiences flock to see it multiple times, new details from the film are becoming more and more apparent. One fan theory was that the character of Chief, played by Eugene Brave Rock, was actually a demi-god himself, based on the conversation he had with Diana upon their meeting in the film. And now the actor has seemingly confirmed that fact; in an interview with Indian Country Today, via i09, Eugene Brave Rock says that his character is indeed a demi-god himself.

In the film, when Gal Gadot’s Diana and Chief first meet one another, they talked to each other in the Blackfoot language, a Native-American language spoken by about 8,000 people in northern Montana and southern Alberta, Canada. It was the only non-English language that wasn’t subtitled in the film, as if it was purposely left by director Patty Jenkins for dedicated fans to uncover. And it didn’t take long, as certain viewers revealed that during their introductions, Chief introduced himself as Napi, a Blackfoot demi-god. Some fans thought this was just the Chief being clever, but no – on Twitter, Brave Rock said his reveal as Napi was an actual part of the script.

Blackfoot culture hero and Demi-god

— Eugene Brave Rock (@genebraverock) June 24, 2017

So this is a pretty big deal, not just for his character, but for the overall DCEU. It means several things. For starters, it means that the Greek Gods are not the only “real” mythological deities in the DCEU. Just like in the comics, there are several pantheons out there. Second, it means that as a demi-god, Chief is ageless much like Diana, and could show up again in a future Wonder Woman film, or maybe another part of the DCEU. Third, it’s possible he’s an existing DC Comics superhero already. But which one??

The go to answer among fans seems to be Apache Chief. That character was created for the 1970s series Super Friends, and had the ability to grow to giant size. Two problems with this theory: first off, we never see a hint of that kind of power from Chief, even when Diana was flaunting her abilities. If he has powers, they are different than that. Second, and most importantly, Chief clearly says he’s Blackfoot, not Apache. Different tribes, folks. So scratch that idea. We probably won’t be seeing Eugene Brave Rock growing to Giant-Man size in a future Justice League movie.

However, in the pages of the comics, over the years there have been several Native-American heroes (and one villain) who have gone by the name “Super Chief.” He has powers of great strength and speed, supposedly powered by an ancient amulet that fits around his neck. Now, this doesn’t sound like Wonder Woman’s Chief exactly, but they could take the name “Super Chief” and apply it to him for future installments. I could see it happening, since the creator of the last Super Chief was none other than Geoff Johns, current DC Comics CCO and writer of the Wonder Woman sequel. Stranger things have happened.

Which Native-American hero from the pages of DC Comics would you like Eugene Brave Rock to play? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics / Hanna-Barbera

Funko Adds She-Ra, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and More Miscellaneous Comic-Con Exclusives

Funko‘s list of Comic-Con exclusives never ends–it only gets deeper and deeper until you finally give in, conceding that, yes, they’ve announced at least one property or item you have to have, even if you weren’t considering it before and you’re deathly afraid of crowds and long lines.

I mean, look at that Skeletor. They’ve made Dorbz that have actually cutified the likes of Freddy Krueger, but only Eternia’s evil lord of destruction has actually managed to overrule the smiley style and remain sinister.

Masters of the Universe as a brand hasn’t given Mattel the numbers they’d like at mass retail, but it remains popular with the collector crowd, so they’ve been having better luck outsourcing to smaller companies like Funko. And that’s why you have to go out of your way a little if you want to own something like this She-Ra:

Five Nights at Freddy’s remains a merchandising powerhouse, but maybe the spring-open faces were just too disturbing for some stores. They certainly make for some of the more elaborately detailed Pops we’ve ever seen.

“Mister,” he said, in a voice unintrusive. “I am the Lorax, a flock-haired exclusive.”

There’s more, including a Power Rangers Megazord and a glow-in-the-dark Scare Glow, who’s a character only dedicated He-fans will recognize (too everyone else, he just looks like a muscular grim reaper, but that’s good enough). Check out the announcement video…

…and then look in our gallery below for more pics. Have they outdone themselves this year? Are you ready to do battle for the stylized figurines of your choice? Tell us your strategy in comments.

Images: Funko

RICK AND MORTY’s Best Scenes Get Recreated in FALLOUT 4

It’s been a long wait for the third season of Rick and Morty, notwithstanding the surprise airing of the third season premiere back in April. It’s anyone’s guess when we’re gonna get schwifty with the rest of the new season, but there is time to relive some of the best Rick and Morty scenes as recreated via a Fallout 4 mod.

YouTube user UpIsNotJump has posted several Rick and Morty videos that take some of the most memorable moments from the first two seasons and re-imagine them in Fallout 4. Unlike the previously featured Rick and Morty mod for Grand Theft Auto V, the Fallout 4 videos don’t maintain the signature style of the show. And we have to say that the more realistic version of Rick seems a lot like Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, while Morty looks like a disturbing cross between Jesse Pinkman and a zombie.

For this particular video, we get to revisit Morty’s sexbot, Jerry’s friendship with a kind Rick from an alternate Earth, an argument between Morty and Summer, as well as Rick’s encounter with the Devil. But if you want to get really disturbing, then you have to see the Doctor Manhattan-like versions of Mister Meeseeks in the next video.

Despite that disturbing weirdness, it was nice to see Tiny Rick again. We like his straight forward style! You can find more Rick and Morty inspired videos on UpIsNotJump’s YouTube channel.

What did you think about the Rick and Morty/Fallout 4 mashup videos? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Image: UpIsNotJump

Three’s Company as Marvel Adds Another THOR to Its Roster

Don’t look now, but there is another (new) Thor in the Marvel Comics universe as of The Mighty Thor #20 (in stores now). We currently have the former wielder of Mjolnir, Odinson aka the Unworthy Thor, Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor, and the new mysterious War Thor. But who is this War Thor that has been found worthy enough to lift the Ultimate Universe’s hammer?

It’s none other than the Warriors Three’s Volstagg!

Wait, what?

Let’s back up a minute. What drove Volstagg to become a bloodthirsty hammer smashing Thor in the first place? It all went down in the pages of The Mighty Thor #20 from writer Jason Aaron and artists Russell Dauterman, Matthew Wilson, Valerio Schiti, and Veronica Gandini. Volstagg is joined by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Roz Solomon and Milkmane of Alfheim as they represent the Congress of Worlds on a journey to Nidavellir. The dark elf Malekith has caused war to break out all across the Ten Realms, and Nidavellir is his next target. We enjoy some quiet moments as Volstagg befriends a group of young light elf kids, but this doesn’t last long as an attack wipes out all the light elf refugees, including the young children. What makes it worse is it all happens right in front of poor Volstagg.

In a state of shock, Volstagg heads to Old Asgard where he hears the Ultimate Universe hammer call out to him. Brief recap: this hammer made its way to the Prime Marvel Universe after the events of 2015’s Secret Wars. Odinson debated claiming it for himself during The Unworthy Thor miniseries, but he decided against it. With that quick history lesson out of the way, a dazed Volstagg lifts the hammer to become the War Thor.

I get the feeling Aaron enjoyed writing multiple Gods of Thunder in the Secret Wars series Thors and decided to sprinkle them into the Prime Marvel Universe. You will quickly see, however, that our three featured Thors are uniquely different from one another.

Here is the Thor the general audience is most familiar with, as he has starred in countless comics and is a prominent figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As you can see above, the now-Unworthy Thor looks a bit different with a missing arm and buzzed haircut. Plus, he now goes by the name Odinson and instead of his trusty weapon Mjolnir, he carries an ax called Jarnbjorn. The reason for the weapon change is because Odinson became unworthy to lift Mjolnir in the 2015 event series Original Sin, which just so happened to be written by Aaron.

With Odinson not being worthy of picking up his hammer, someone else needed to take up the mantle of the Mighty Thor. And that person was Odinson’s friend and former lover, Jane Foster.

First, I’d like to point out that I was correct in guessing that Jane was really the new Thor back when it was still a mystery. Around the time that Odinson became unworthy, Aaron casually revealed that Jane was diagnosed with cancer. No one would assume that a sickly Jane Foster was secretly masquerading as this powerful golden-haired God of Thunder, but that’s what made her the perfect candidate.

Jane is doing her best to defend all of the Ten Realms, but with her secret finally revealed to Odinson and Volstagg as the War Thor, she looks to have some big time backup. The only question is what kind of Thor will Volstagg be? One of the final pages in The Mighty Thor #20 states the Ten Realms need a new a new kind of Thor, and only blood can put out the fire that is consuming the World Tree. We’ll have to wait and see how much bloodshed the War Thor causes in the months to come.

Which Thor ranks as your favorite hammer-holder? Let us know in the comments below!

Images: Marvel Comics

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

Sir Ian McKellen Backs a New Film Series Initiative for LGBT Youth

Although to most film nerds he’ll always be Magneto from the X-Men films and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, distinguished Shakespearean actor Sir Ian McKellen is also one of the world’s leading LGBT activists, and has been for a several decades. For years, he’s been using his visibility as one of the movie industry’s most prominent out gay actors for all kinds of LGBT causes.

McKellen’s iconic status to the LGBT community can’t be overstated. Getting to play both Magneto and Gandalf is no small thing. Both franchises are considered “family” properties by their respective movie studios, with McKellen’s image tied to toys and Happy Meals and all kinds of licensed merchandise.

Twenty-five years ago, McKellen would have never got the job for either part simply for being an out gay actor, as the studios would have been too afraid to deal with the potential backlash from angry conservative parents groups. Those kinds of groups still exist, but their voices have become smaller as tolerance spreads. But McKellen’s presence in both series was an absolute game changer, and has helped make him the LGBT icon he is.

via GIPHY

Now we’ve learned, via the Hollywood Reporter, that Sir Ian McKellen is using his status and clout as an LGBT activist to start a new initiative for brands and broadcasters to back a planned series of short-form films aimed at LGBT youth. The plan is to create a series of four films built by and for people in the LGBT community.Facebook is the first company that has joined up to become the broadcast partner for the first film scheduled to be released, with the premiere of the as-yet-untitled project to be streamed live on their platform.

“Hollywood, to crudely sum it up, has tended to deal with fantasy, tended to deal with escape.” said McKellen, who as a star in some of the biggest Hollywood fantasy films ever, is in the position to know a thing or two about them. He continued, saying “branding has to be up to date otherwise. [Brands] come up with a response to the world as it really is. It’s a much different approach to anything that Hollywood would do.”

McKellen had been asked to work with corporate partners before, and in the interview, he talked about the attempt by Coca-Cola’s Dasani water to recruit him in the mid-2000s. At the time, McKellen said no to the deal. “I thought, ‘I can’t. I feel I’m selling my soul, and my soul is worth more than this.'” But times have changed, and he said he’s now willing to work with brands to back these films because of their response to gay rights around the world, such as the huge support from most brands when marriage equality passed in the United States.

Some might consider this “selling out”, but I respectfully disagree. To reach the broadest possible audience you can, there is no such thing as being a sell out. If getting backed by a corporate sponsor is the best way you’re going to have the money and resources you need to reach that gay kid in the Bible Belt, or in a more repressive country than the United States, you do what you have to do. It’s not being a sell out–it’s being smart.

via GIPHY

So who are the big names who will be lining up to make these films? It seems that they are already in talks with well known directors to helm future installments, including the Wachowskis and Tom Ford, for what is being tentatively called “LGBT Heroes.” McKellen is slated to appear in at least some of these films in an acting capacity. During a presentation for the project, they debuted a short animated film depicting McKellen as a gay superhero embracing his partner before flying off to adventure. Right now, the team is calling for submissions on this new project on LGBTheroes.info.

Which filmmakers would you want to see lend their talents on this new project? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.

Images: Twentieth Century Fox / New Line Cinema

Rob Paulsen Sings an Updated-for-2017 Version of “Yakko’s World” from ANIMANIACS, Live

For ’90s kids, Animaniacs seemed like just a madcap, zany cartoon. For their parents, it was a cleverly kiddified take on popular grown-up movies like Goodfellas and Rain Man. I’m not sure either group realized that there was, at times, a top-secret educational subtext that might result in the viewer actually (and accidentally?) learning something.

Take the song “Yakko’s World.” How many viewers knew that the tune was based on the Jarabe Tapatio? And how many, after hearing the lyrics that name-checked every country in the world, came away knowing at least a few more nations than they did before? Well, times change and borders get redrawn, but that just means Yakko voice actor Rob Paulsen had to make a few minor lyric changes and add a new verse, in this performance from our Alpha show Mothership:

You have to imagine that on the show, he had a script in front of him. He’s probably performed the song many times since then, but his ability to recall all the words and spit them out in such rapid-fire fashion off the top of his head is nonetheless a masterful feat worthy of the Great Wakkarotti. Also, if you missed yesterdays tutorial on how to talk like Pinky (of “…and the Brain” fame), you’re going to want to check that out.

Mothership airs Thursdays at 5:30pm PDT on Geek & Sundry Twitch and Alpha. But if you’re a fan of Paulsen, you’ll also want to check out Talkin’ Toons, our new show all about animation voice-over actors, hosted by Paulsen himself and airing Fridays, with guests like LaMarche and Kevin Conroy. Make sure you’re signed up for Alpha — either online or our iOS app — to get full access. If you sign up today, use the promo code SHIPMATES to extend your 30-day free trial to 60 days, so you have plenty of time to check out everything Alpha has to offer. (Promo offer ends Friday, June 30 at 11:59p PDT.)

How much of “Yakko’s World” can you sing before you get tongue-tied? Leave your best time in comments below!

Images: Warner Bros.

PITCH PERFECT 3 Trailer Finds the Bellas Battling With Adulthood

Just because you can sing some aca-awesome harmonies in college, that doesn’t guarantee things will be harmonious for you after you graduate. And the trailer for Pitch Perfect 3 shows those grownup struggles seem to have found the Barden Bellas.

All the Bellas are back for the third and apparent final installment in the franchise, as the trailer calls this movie “the farewell tour.” This time Beca (played by Anna Kendrick) and Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) are living in the big city instead of the safety of their Barden campus, and like many young adults these days, they are finding out that performing in the real world isn’t as easy as doing it on the stage. While none of the Bellas seems to be living the life they want, they find comfort in doing what they do best–singing together.

In what will make fans of the original film happy, it looks like Aubrey (played by Anna Camp) will have a much bigger role than she did in the second movie. Also back are Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks, and John Michael Higgins. Missing from the trailer, though, are most of the men from the first two films, with no sign of Jesse (Skylar Astin), Benjie (Ben Platt), or Bumper (Adam Devine). No Treblemakers? We find that treblesome.

New to the cast, though, is a new foe to compete with, with Orange is the New Black‘s Ruby Rose facing off with the Bellas in some sort of USO-type competition.

So yeah, growing up isn’t easy, but some great a cappella certainly makes it easier.

Pitch Perfect 3, directed by Trish Sie, comes to theaters this December.

What did you think of this trailer? Sing your thoughts to us in the comments below.

Images: Universal Pictures

DOCTOR WHO Episode 11 is Delightfully Meta and Nostalgic

Be warned! The following contains spoilers for Doctor Who Series 10, episode 11, “World Enough and Time.” We highly recommend you watch the episode before reading this. It’s a good ep, so you’re only hurting yourself if you don’t.

It was about three minutes into Doctor Who Series 10, episode 11, “World Enough and Time” that I really realized longtime showrunner Steven Moffat was about to take his final bow; the episode is populated with so many lovely inside jokes and meta references for fans, while getting to bring back villains from years past (ages past, in some cases) and do several things that nobody in the series’ history has done to date. If that’s not Moffat all over, I don’t know what is.

Oh, and it all starts with the Doctor regenerating…umm, WHAT?! Surely, given the uber-poofiness of Peter Capaldi’s hair, this opening sequence was filmed during the Christmas special taping, and director Rachel Talalay gives us tantalizingly little else besides what might well be the Twelfth Doctor’s final moments. Gah! But, we’ll deal with that next week, or in December.

There are many excellent premises in the episode proper, and they begin with Missy (Michelle Gomez) acting like the Doctor on a mission to prove to the real Doctor that she can be good. Flanked by Nardole (Matt Lucas) and a very reluctant Bill (Pearl Mackie), Missy–and Moffat, putting words in her mouth–breaks down so much of the Doctor Who lore and convention that I had to rewind a few times to get the full breadth of how funny and great it is.

First, she calls herself “Doctor Who,” which has long been a point of contention for people. You get most fans in the column of calling the character “The Doctor” but the show Doctor Who (even though he was credited as “Doctor Who” for a long time), classic series producers calling him “Doctor Who,” and even Capaldi calling his own character “Doctor Who.” Moffat throws all of this at the audience, making Missy use it both as a shorthand for the “Doctor who?” question that so many people ask when they meet him and an excuse to once again open the “Is his name ‘Doctor Who’ debate.” When Missy says “Plus, it is his real name,” Bill reacts just like most of us… “What?!”

So we have this hilarious debate about Doctor Who the Doctor’s name, but that’s not the end of it. Perhaps my favorite moment in the entire episode came when Missy refers to Bill and Nardole as “Exposition” and “Comic Relief.” On top of deriding the very idea of “companions,” she literally breaks down the exact function of most companions in the traditional sense. Nardole’s objection and assertion that they aren’t just functions is met with “they’re genders, darling.” Boom! Another bulls eye. Traditionally, the female companions are used for exposition, while the few-and-far-between male companions have been there for laughs. So frigging smart.

Also smart was the fantastically science-literate conceit of having a 400 mile-long colony ship slowly escaping the gravity of a black hole, which would mean time would pass much slower at the top of the ship than it does at the bottom. This allows for the Doctor to be literally years behind Bill when she needs him the most, and she’s forced to watch months of him moving incredibly slowly as he figures out what’s going on. While this hearkens back to “The Girl Who Waited,” it does it much differently in execution.

After the shocking moment of Bill getting a hole shot through her chest, we have two realizations about the inevitability of what’s about to happen. We knew from the promos that this episode would feature both the Mondasian Cybermen and John Simm’s version of the Master. So when she’s taken by cloth-faced invalids who speak using an electronic keypads, we’re already twigging where this is going, but when we see her new “friend” in the bottom of the ship, we’re even more sure of the truth. After all, nobody should really have been fooled by the wig and the makeup and the accent. It’s heartbreaking to see the scenes of Bill admitting she’s afraid of Missy only for her only ally in the infirmary be that very person at a different point in his existence.

By episode’s end, we know the truth: the Master signaled the Doctor to come to this strange, Mondasian ship, knowing full well that it would be–as he show wink-winkily says–the Genesis of the Cybermen. This, of course, is a very direct reference to “Genesis of the Daleks,” the episode which, after 12 years, showed audiences in 1974 where the Daleks came from, and their creator, Davros. We’ve never actually seen the Cybermen’s creation, and it seems as though their version of Davros is that scientist fella who fixed Bill in the first place, though it’s also possible the Master himself fills this function.

We didn’t get a ton of Master and Master action in this episode, and I think the earlier iteration’s presence is to juxtapose a goodening Missy with the ever-evil Simm Master. This is by far my favorite performance by Simm on the show, so I hope that continues into the finale. We’ve had many a multi-Doctor story in the annals of the series, but we’ve never had a multi-Master story until now, and I think this is Moffat again pushing the bounds of what he can do. So far, it’s pretty terrific.

“World Enough and Time” is a great set-up to the finale, and didn’t try to ask too many questions it couldn’t answer. The gut punch of Bill being a Cyberman is one we definitely saw coming, but I think it’s still entirely up in the air whether she’ll remain one or not, though I sincerely hope she does not. Man, “The Doctor Falls” is going to be a massive Cybermen explosion…and I thought “Death in Heaven” was the most Cyber action we’d get.

The Doctor Who Series 10 finale will air on BBC America on Saturday, July 1, at 9/8c. Let me know your thoughts on “World Enough and Time” in the comments below!

Images: BBC America

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor and the resident Whovian for Nerdist. Follow him on Twitter!

Edgar Wright Reveals Why He Left ANT-MAN

For years, Marvel Studios and Edgar Wright seemed to be mutually excited about working together on an Ant-Man movie. However, “creative differences” reportedly led to Wright’s departure, while Peyton Reed stepped in to helm Ant-Man and its upcoming sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Wright has largely remained silent about the specific reason behind his departure, until he broke his silence this week.

While promoting his new movie, Baby Driver, on Variety’s Playback podcast, Wright said “I think the most diplomatic answer is I wanted to make a Marvel movie but I don’t think they really wanted to make an Edgar Wright movie. It was a really heartbreaking decision to have to walk away after having worked on it for so long, because me and Joe Cornish in some form—it’s funny some people say, ‘Oh they’ve been working on it for eight years’ and that was somewhat true, but in that time I had made three movies so it wasn’t like I was working on it full time. But after The World’s End I did work on it for like a year, I was gonna make the movie.”

According to Wright, the schism was born out of Marvel’s desire to create new draft of the movie without Wright and Cornish. “Suddenly becoming a director for hire on it, you’re sort of less emotionally invested and you start to wonder why you’re there, really.”

While Wright and Cornish retained a credit on the final film, it’s unclear how much of their script remained in the final cut. Although we enjoyed the movie that was ultimately released, we would have very much liked to have seen Wright’s version of Ant-Man. However, Wright’s departure from Ant-Man did have an upside for the director. as it led to his passion project, Baby Driver.

“The good thing that came out of it is, I got to kind of move on to [Baby Driver], which was a script that I had already written…And the other important thing for me is almost the entirety of my crew who were gonna do that movie sort of left in solidarity. So it was really important to me to get another film going so I could kind of re-employ them all.”

How do you feel about Wright’s departure from Ant-Man? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Studios