Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2077
May 14, 2017
This Possible LEGO Gilmore Girls Set Could Become Reality!
Shut the front door! We’re on high alert, people, because one of the current proposed LEGO Ideas is Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls! We’ve been down this road before with awesome-looking sets that we kind of hoped would get made, but this is an actual humanitarian emergency: we, as a nation–nay, a WORLD–need a tiny Luke’s Diner.
If by chance you’re unfamiliar with the LEGO Ideas process, it’s the crowdsourcing version of LEGO’s think tank. Artists and enthusiasts from around the world get to put their rendering skills to work and tantalize us with their works. For those of us familiar with the process, this is our call to arms! Every new Idea has to reach that holy 10,000 supporters mark, so grab a coffee* and start logging your support on the LEGO Ideas page for this project!
I mean, just look at “Li’l” Luke’s!
As EW pointed out, the “no cellphones” sign is on full display behind the counter. There’s a mug for every shelf and the desert dome is replete with cake? A cupcake? I’m guessing cupcake, because Lane seems to have one on her tray too. Or is it a tart? I can’t quite make it out, but it looks amazing and also hazardous to children under 3, so don’t let them eat it.
The gang’s all here, and it includes Lorelai and Rory (obvs), and Luke (since it is his diner), and rounding out the set are Jess, Lane, and Kirk. I kind of wish there was a Sookie in place of Kirk, but since the set isn’t based on the Independence or the Dragonfly, I get it. A Taylor minifig would be fun though, because as town selectman/community organizer/pain in the patoot, he’s the closest thing Luke and Lorelai have to a Stars Hollow antagonist. Kirk is fine, but I always think of him as needing a prop, and I don’t see a little Cat-Kirk or pet pig included in Idea-maker Rainer Zufall’s wonderfully whimsical set. Of course, if this set does get made, then we’re going to want an entire Stars Hollow because if you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to want some milk. But surely something could be pieced together from the LEGO City, Village, and even Castle sets to create that fictional little New England hamlet.
So go forth on your caffeinated crusade and lets rally the votes, Taylor-style, to get this Idea across the 10,000-supporter threshold! With our powers combined, we can surely summon Captain Planet Amy Sherman-Palladino to give her blessing! And give us your ideas for future sets in comments below!
*Just don’t grab your coffee from the bottom, defying rationale just to prove that your coffee cup is, in fact, empty. (Netflix viewers know what I’m talking about.)
Images: LEGO Ideas/Rainer Zufall
11 Spoilers James Gunn Just Revealed About GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
If you haven’t seen Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 beware, this post is filled with spoilers and then some. Turn back now, or you may be develop some Rocket-filled rage. You’ve been warned.
In the past two weeks Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has pulled in over $630 million worldwide. Personally, I’ve seen it twice because I need as much Baby Groot in my life as possible. To show his appreciation for all the Guardians love, James Gunn took to Facebook to answer spoiler-filled questions about Marvel’s most recent cinematic hit.
There are times when Facebook live Q&A’s feel like a bad Comic-Con panel, filled will ill-informed and cringe-worthy questions. James Gunn is a fan’s fan who loves the Marvel universe as much as moviegoers, and he’s always found a way to answer all questions with poise and an ultimate understanding of fan’s incessant curiosity. His Facebook live was open, honest, and gave Marvel loyalists an inside look into movie making. It also put to rest any rumors of the return of the Zune, as if that was going to be a thing.
Groot is a tween, not a teen
One of the stingers at the end of the movie showed a slightly aged Groot—sitting in an unkept bedroom—addicted to video games, aka the basic teenage life. James Gunn was quick to correct anyone that thought this was teen Groot, stressing that it was adolescent Groot—or tween Groot as he lovingly referred to him.
While Tween Groot sounds like a Disney show that’s right up my alley, Gunn put so much emphasis on the tween factor that one could assume that we might spend a lot of time in Guardians Vol. 3 dealing with the trials and tribulations of a teenage tree. Gunn also said Quill’s understanding of Groot’s language is something that may be revealed in the third movie. I am Groot, indeed.
It’s a movie about the love between fathers and sons
While the initial premise of Guardians was about Peter looking for his father, it turned out that it was Yondu who was Peter’s true father-figure all along, going all the way back to the ending of the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Why else would Yondu dare open the most dangerous object in the universe? James Gunn said that he’s received so many heartfelt thank yous from fans who were adopted, had lost their fathers, or had complex relationships with their own parents.
The deaths in these movies are permanent
In the comic books Marvel characters rarely stay dead (except for Jean Grey; what’s up with that?) and fans who can’t let go of their newfound love for Yondu are insistent that he might make his return to the films. Gunn had a hard time killing off Yondu since Michael Rooker is one of his closest friends, and even created several drafts where Yondu’s demise wasn’t permanent. In the end Gunn felt that a character’s death needed to mean something and therefore it’s sad to say, but Yondu is definitely gone.
Rooker kept falling asleep in the funeral scene
Speaking of Yondu’s Ravager funeral, Gunn said Michael Rooker kept falling asleep during the final scene and he has lots of footage of Rooker snoring through the eulogy. Here’s to hoping those scenes make it to the DVD/Blu-Ray release.
The jump scenes were inspired by Large Marge from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
Eagle eyed fans of 1985’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure were quick to point out the similarities between the animation of Large Marge and the space-jump scenes with Yondu, Kraglin, Rocket, and Baby Groot. Gunn confirmed that he indeed was inspired by the 1985 Paul Reubens comedy. I wonder if he had Large Marge nightmares as a kid, like I did.
Adam Warlock will not be in Infinity War
Gunn’s original draft of Guardians Vol. 2 heavily featured Marvel fan-favorite Adam Warlock, but he quickly realized there were already an abundance of strong character stories in the movie and ultimately cut Warlock from the script. He made it very clear that Adam Warlock would not be in Infinity War despite the fan insistence that this was a possibilty.
James Gunn watched Rambo with Sylvester Stallone
James Gunn spoke about a reshoot of Sylvester Stallone’s lines as Stakar, but to me the biggest reveal was that last week Gunn went over to Stallone’s house and watched Rambo. I mean, can you imagine watching Rambo while sitting next to John Rambo? I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend. The number of questions for Gunn’s Facebook Q&A were enormous, thus sadly as both a Kurt Russell and Stallone fan, I never got to ask about a Stakar and Ego—Tango & Cash type crossover.
James Gunn reads the Marvel fan sites and message boards
Listen up, fans: all your ranting on the message boards wasn’t for naught. James Gunn regularly reads through Marvel fan sites and that’s where he first found the fan theory of Stan Lee actually being The Watcher. He thought it was a fun idea so he took inspiration for the scene from the message boards. Gunn admitted to messing up the MCU timing when referring to Stan Lee’s FedEx cameo, considering that couldn’t have happened timeline-wise. But as with most things in comics, it can easily be explained…somehow. Gunn even came up with an idea of having Stan Lee mention he was once a DJ in strip club, so as to subtly link his Deadpool appearance with the Marvel movies. That scene was obviously cut but would have blown the minds of Marvel fans.
People keep asking about the Zune
Gunn mentioned that one of the funniest requests he gets is to release the Guardians soundtrack via Zune—who exactly is asking this ridiculous request is beyond me. Gunn said they reached out to Microsoft before the movie about the Zune appearance and Microsoft wanted nothing to do with the link to their failed media player. However, Gunn plans to use this newfound Zune interest (again, who are you?) to benefit the Rainforest Trust, by auctioning off an actual screen accurate Zune autographed by the cast.
Mary Poppins was his only choice for Yondu’s funniest line
When writing the scene where Peter suggests Yondu looks like Mary Poppins, James Gunn said he wasn’t taking into consideration that Mary Poppins was even a Disney property, he just immediately visualized Yondu as Mary Poppins-esque flying down from above and felt that pop-culture loving Peter Quill would find it hilarious. Michael Rooker filmed many variations on the scene, including some NSFW endings. Ultimately went with, “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all.” Gunn has high hopes that the DVD/Blu-Ray release will include all the variations on the line.
James Gunn addresses the Baby Groot haters
During the facebook live, a fan dared to comment that Baby Groot was useless. Groot useless? How dare you. Gunn was unfazed by this hurtful question about our beloved twig and answered by simply saying, “He saved the universe, how is he useless?” We agree, we are Groot.
What was your favorite Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 spoiler reveal from James Gunn? Let us know in the comments or tag @nerdist and @justjenn on twitter!
Image: Disney
Here is what we know about Guardian of the Galaxy 3:
This Mars Rover Concept Vehicle Looks Like a Batmobile Prototype
What would you want to drive if given the opportunity to cruise around on Mars? Would you prefer something sensible like a Kia minivan just in case you needed to bring home space groceries? Of course not! You probably already know Mars doesn’t have speed limits, traffic, or law enforcement, so you’d want a vehicle that can really tear S@$T up and burn out some sick donuts on the surface of the planet. Well, does NASA have the car for you!
A post shared by SeaDek Marine Products (@seadek) on May 9, 2017 at 3:38pm PDT
This bad-ass Batcave-worthy concept rover was brought to our attention via a recent article on Futurism and has got us thinking about the future of Mars transportation. The vehicle was designed by a company named Parker Brothers Concepts as part of NASA’s Summer Of Mars, taking place at the Kennedy Space Center–well–this summer. The objective of the event is to get people excited for Mars research and exploration, and what better way to do so than to create working manned rover concept?
More details about new Mars Rover Concept Vehicle created by #KennedySpaceCenter Visitor Complex coming soon! #SummerOfMars #JointheJourney pic.twitter.com/wQ2V928S4F
— KSC Visitor Complex (@ExploreSpaceKSC) May 12, 2017
The vehicle spans a total of 28 feet (the hindquarters being a lab) and is capable of zipping around at about 60 to 70 mph. While this particular vehicle likely won’t be the one that gets Marstronauts (we’re hoping that’s what they’ll be called) from point A to point B–it does raise some interesting thoughts. There will certainly come a time when there are enough people, supplies, and stuff up on Mars that joyriding will most definitely be a thing. People will undoubtedly race in rovers to pass the time, blow off steam, or–fingers crossed–fight Mars crime in Mars Gotham City.
What do you think the rovers that eventually go to Mars will look like? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: Warner Bros. Pictures
Michael Madsen Has a Profanity-Laced Tribute for Your “Hardcore” Mom
You know Michael Madsen, generally, as an actor in seriously dark and messed-up movies, often playing psychopaths so believably that you never quite know how much of the tough-guy stuff is an act. And in interviews, as himself, he certainly comes across as a guy who’s been through some stuff. Which is why he wants to tell you, on this Mother’s Day, that there’s someone in your life who’s way more hardcore than he is.
YOUR MOM. (Is this the first time that phrase has been both a punchline and a compliment?)
But you don’t have to take his word for it: Madsen has found some actual moms to give testimony about what their pregnancies were like. And if you think his Reservoir Dogs victim had it bad getting an ear sliced off, wait till you hear about where the scalpel goes during certain problematic birth procedures. Madsen invites men to consider what it would feel like trying to pass a human skull through our, uh, member, and concludes by deciding that babies should be renamed “skullsh**ters” because they’re basically a skull that, well…passes food through fairly quickly. He’s kind of obsessed with skulls, now that we think about it.
The video is definitely NSFW, and probably not appropriate for mom to hear. So watch it before you go visit or call her, and start figuring out some nicer ways to turn Madsen’s f***in’ words of praise into more gentle compliments.
Did Mr. Madsen give you a whole new appreciation for motherhood? Spawn some comments below and tell us!
Image: Funny or Die
See Josh Brolin Getting Into Cable Shape for DEADPOOL 2
Actor Josh Brolin recently came out of nowhere as a sudden dark-horse choice to beat several contenders for the part of Cable in the upcoming Deadpool 2, and presumably, the future X-Force movie. And the names he beat weren’t exactly nobodies either; we’re talking big name actors like Michael Shannon, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, and even Stranger Things‘ own David Harbour. (Don’t feel too bad for Harbour; he’s about to be Hellboy. It all worked out.)
So just how did Brolin beat them all to the part of Marvel’s cybernetic mutant from the future? Maybe with those guns…and I’m not talking about the kind of guns you shoot. I’m talking about those arms, baby!
Josh Brolin was only cast about a month or so back, but he’s not wasting any time in getting himself into proper Cable shape. Recently he’s started to hit the gym hard, and has apparently already changed his diet in a big way so as to get himself into mutant freedom fighter physique. And now, via Comic Book, we’re starting to see some of the results of his efforts through his Instagram account.
“Cable’s coming, growing from the inside, Clean building from a past of donut travel to the present hard case that he is. No sugar. No bread. No pastas. The machine is being built. I’m pissed off.” You can see the pics of the newly jacked up Brolin down below.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Concept Art Teases a Very Different Vision of Jakku
Back in 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens successfully relaunched the chronicles of a galaxy far, far away, and it also reinvigorated the classic space opera franchise. However, the film was criticized for borrowing so heavily from the original film. One of the biggest complaints was that the first planet in the movie, Jakku, was very much like the desert planet, Tatooine. But if the early designs of Jakku had been used in the movie then it could have been very different.
The official Star Wars Instagram account has released a few of Erik Tiemens concept art pieces which depict Jakku as a junk planet complete with its very own junk castle. If you look closely at the main image, you may notice that the crashed star destroyers were there almost from the start.
A post shared by Star Wars (@starwars) on May 10, 2017 at 7:03am PDT
The accompanying notes briefly mentioned that Jakku was almost a jungle planet as well before a return to the desert was finalized. An early version of the film’s heroine is also discussed. Her name was Kira in the first treatments (maybe someone at Lucasfilm found out about Death Note and made it change?), and she is described as “a loner, hothead, and gear-head.” While “hothead” may not apply to Rey, the other elements of Kira’s personality appear to live on within her.
What do you think about the early concept art from The Force Awakens? Book a trip to Jakku in the comment section below!
Images: Lucasfilm
Melissa McCarthy’s Poignant, Possibly Premature Farewell to Sean Spicer
The best political impersonations may begin with the basic mannerisms, or even in an agenda of outrage, but if the performer inhabits them properly, as a true acting role, they can become almost their own thing. Saturday Night Live viewers, over the years, didn’t necessarily tune in to see direct imitations of, say, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton; they tuned in to see Dana Carvey as Bush, and Darrell Hammond as Clinton. They were clearly recognizable as caricatures of the real thing, but their own adventures as detached from reality were almost as compelling.
In both this past Easter’s episode and last night, Melissa McCarthy‘s Sean Spicer went to that level. The White House Press Secretary’s job has been rumored in trouble for a while, and with Saturday Night Live‘s season ending next week, the show decided to give him a proper dramatic arc on which to end the story…for now.
McCarthy’s Spicer impersonation debuted on the show as an exaggeration of defensive anger at perceived fake media; here, that anger turns into self-reflection and existential fear, the kind you might imagine someone in such a high-pressure job would feel. Fleeing a press briefing, Spicer goes on a road trip to find Donald Trump, and learn once and for all if they really are friends. And this is why you may have seen video earlier in the week of McCarthy driving her press podium on the streets of New York City.
The fact that Spicer has been a relatively good sport about the impression helps. Someday when he is no longer in that job for whatever reason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him show up as himself on the program. The sketch seems to assume that’ll be sooner than later, but even if that’s not the case, the writers have all summer to figure out a way for Spicer the McCarthy character to return.
Will you miss him, or did they push the bit too far? Let us know what you think in comments.
Image: NBC
May 13, 2017
RICK AND MORTY Enter ALIEN: COVENANT in a Semi-Official Crossover
Last month, Rick and Morty fans were treated to an early look at the third season premiere, but we’re still awaiting word about when we can catch the rest of the season. Fortunately, Adult Swim has made that wait a little easier by releasing a new animated short that sends Rick and Morty into the Alien universe.
In a very short video tie-in for Alien: Covenant, Rick reluctantly answers a distress call after Morty absolutely insists that they can’t simply ignore the plight of others. Of course, Morty rethinks his stance once he sees the disturbing scene awaiting them. Note that Rick still takes the opportunity to troll his grandson over that one!
Although the Xenomorphs didn’t make make an appearance in this video, the facehugger’s reaction to Rick’s blood was very funny. This may be sponsored content, but we’ll happily declare it to be canon within the Rick and Mortyverse. After all of their adventures through time, space, and alternate universes, it’s not out of the question that this encounter could happen within the context of the show. It would be amazing if we were able to get a full length crossover episode, for no other reason than to see what a Xenomorph would be like if it could survive and emerge from Rick’s chest. We’re thinking that it would be the first Alien to ever be born drunk!
What do you think about Rick and Morty’s encounter with the Aliens? In the comment section, no one can hear you scream!
Image: Adult Swim
DOCTOR WHO Delves Into Hard Sci-Fi with “Oxygen”
Series 10 of Doctor Who has been tackling topics and themes in the kind of mature fashion that the earlier Steven Moffat years never did. From acceptance of LGBT people to taking on racism, these first few episodes have taken science fiction angles on some pretty important topics. But if there’s one thing that Doctor Who hasn’t done too much, it’s a science fiction angle on actual science. Jamie Mathieson’s “Oxygen” deals with space as it exists, without too much Doctor Who-ifying, and even puts in some healthy satire about capitalism and corporatism. It’s also super great, by the way.
In an age of shows like The Expanse, which takes its scientific accuracy incredibly seriously, science fantasy things like Doctor Who might seem quaint in comparison. “Oxygen” took the tactic of treating the plot with scientific accuracy (as much as possible, I mean; it’s still fantastical) and just have the Doctor and company be the more fanciful. The episode starts with the Doctor lecturing about the harshness of space and what will happen to a human who’s out there with no protection, and fittingly, we also get to see people in space, walking on the outside of a space station while this is happening. Notice how there’s no sound aside from the breathing/speaking of the characters.
There are definitely a lot of references to Ridley Scott’s Alien in this, along with movies like Event Horizon, and after the first trailer, it seemed like the show we’d be watching would be about space zombies. But, oh no! The episode actually focuses on the importance of oxygen–breathable air–in a place where even the smallest malfunction, loss of pressure, or solar flare a million miles away could kill the crap out of you.
Doctor Who has dallied in hard science before. The Cybermen, when they were created, were all about the idea of body modification through technology, something which has become much more prevalent in the decades since. In the ’80s, there was also a real effort to base the show in science over fantasy as much as possible, trying to be like a more mathematical Star Trek. This ultimately lasted one season–1980’s Season 18–which dealt with stuff like block transfer computations and charged vacuum emboitments. It went over a lot of peoples’ heads (mine included); I feel like “Oxygen” science feels very immediate, and easy to grasp. Breathing good. Not breathing, bad.
But a way “Oxygen” is a lot more like Alien than I expected is how the actual “villain” of the piece isn’t a zombie crew member, or an unknown saboteur, or even the ambulatory computer-controlled suits; the real antagonist is the corporation who a) is charging workers for the oxygen they use. In all of the Alien films, the Weyland-Yutani corporation are the unseen yet wholly oppressive overlords who want to harness the Xenomorphs as weapons and will use their crews as bait to obtain them. Here, the corporation cares about nothing but absolute efficiency, and if the crew being alive can’t meet the quota, then “shutting down their central nervous system” and using the suits to do the work surely will.
This is a pretty overt skewering of capitalism–which at its worst can definitely put the bottom line and profit margins way above that of workers. There’s a history of certain writers using Doctor Who for the purposes of satire in this way. Malcolm Hulke wrote several stories during the Third Doctor era about things he thought was a problem. These included imperialism (“Doctor Who and the Silurians”), corporatism (“Colony in Space”), fear and hatred of outsiders/those different than us (“Frontier in Space”), and wide-eyed hippie approaches to word peace (“Invasion of the Dinosaurs”). To me, though, Mathieson’s taking down of capitalism and “the suits” feels a lot more like Robert Holmes’ “The Sun Makers,” which is all about how he was mad about paying exorbitant taxes.
Along with “Thin Ice,” “Oxygen” is my favorite episode thus far this season. I love its themes and the way it uses science within the science fiction to ultimately tell a story with a purpose. While some of the lines hit the message a little too hard (“You’re fightin’ the suits” was so on the nose it made me cringe), but it’s a damn good exercise in letting the writers have a message in the first place.
Before I go, let’s talk for a moment about a cool reference. The “Fluid Link” that Nardole removes from the TARDIS in an effort to keep the Doctor from leaving Earth is the same piece that the Doctor himself removed in the 1963 story “The Daleks” to keep everybody on Skaro. That the piece is actually unnecessary definitely speaks to the First Doctor’s duplicitousness. And, hey, yet another reference this series to the First Doctor.
Next week, the Doctor’s blindness might be an asset in “Extremis,” in which reading a book might get you killed. And we’ll see Missy, and since we know Missy will be in it, I’m almost positive she won’t be the thing in the Vault. Steven Moffat has said we’ll find out what’s in there in this episode, so get ready!
Share your thoughts on “Oxygen,” the gas and the episode, in the comments below!
Images: BBC
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor and the resident Whovian for Nerdist. Follow him on Twitter!
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Gets Cosplay A Capella Medley From The Warp Zone
The soundtrack for the first Guardians of the Galaxy film proved to have some inspired musical choices by director James Gunn, and it reignited the popularity of several classic rock songs. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 not only continued this tradition, it further integrated the rock songs into the plot of the film itself and added extra poignancy to some of the most emotional moments in the story. Naturally, it hasn’t taken very long for the fan tributes and covers to start appearing on YouTube.
Earlier this week, The Warp Zone released a new a capella medley of four of the songs from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, with special guest Chad Neidt taking the lead vocals. There was even some cosplay fun involved, as Neidt wore Star-Lord’s costume alongside Michael Schroeder as Yondu, David Odom as Drax the Destroyer, Brian Fisher as Groot, Ryan Tellez as Rocket Raccoon, and Michael Adams Davis as Gamora. We admire their commitment to the characters, even if Rocket and Groot’s costumes weren’t updated for the sequel!
The video kicked off with the group’s take on “Fox on the Run” by Sweet, which played on the trailer for the film. They followed that tune with Looking Glass’ “Brandy,” a song that played a key part in a pivotal scene between Ego and Star-Lord. The video closed out with covers of ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” and Cheap Trick’s “Surrender.” We’re a little disappointed that Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” didn’t make the cut, and we were also hoping to hear “Guardians Inferno” get the a capella treatment as well. But it’s still a well-made video that we’ve watched several times, and we love it.
You can find more a capella covers and comedy skits on The Warp Zone’s YouTube channel. We’re big fans of their work!
What did you think of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a capella medley? Sing us a song in the comment section below!
Image: The Warp Zone
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