Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2103

A Closer, Better Look at McFarlane Toys’ LABYRINTH Jareth Figure

He’s a star, man. Waiting in toy stores. In October, that is, just in time for Halloween.

The Goblin King has a penchant for making himself difficult to get to–while there has been a prior action figure made of David Bowie‘s supernatural, maze-enthusiast, codpiece-tastic babynapper, he’ll run you up to $350 on the secondary market nowadays. No one could blame you for running away from that…and now, they wouldn’t have to. We got a glimpse of McFarlane Toys‘ new take on the character earlier this year, and now, via Toyark, we have an official product image and details:

The hair alone on this guy merits some sort of toy-sculpting award. And thanks to the good folks at McFarlane, you might also say his ruffles really have ridges. This version of Jareth, which we hope will be the first of several given Bowie’s costume changes, comes from the masquerade sequence, in which the previously malevolent villain proves he can be equally debonair and seductive. Parents in the audience already knew this, but for many of their kids, it was a pivotal moment.

The figure has 12+ points of articulation–the “+” probably depends on how you count ball joints–and includes crystal ball and mask accessories. Part of the ongoing, cross-property “Color Tops” series, he also includes the standard display base with a Labyrinth logo and should retail for under $20.

While more Jareths are the most likely follow-through, we’ve never really had a good Labyrinth line of figures, and there are plenty more we’d like to see now that McFarlane has the rights. Jennifer Connolly might require additional actor likeness rights, but Ludo, Sir Didymus, and the goblins should all be doable. If McFarlane manged to do to the M.C. Escher inspired final confrontation as one of their building sets, Labyrinth would be making me swoon all over again.

What would you like to see next? Tell us the truth, or a lie, in comments below.

Images: Victoria McNally for Nerdist, McFarlane Toys, TriStar Pictures

Speaking of Labyrinth, how about some more scary kids movies?

IZOMBIE: Liv Chills Out with Yoga Teacher Brains

Warning: This recap contains spoilers, undead and otherwise, for the iZombie episode “Eat, Pray, Liv.” Go find some brains to eat if you haven’t watched yet.

The newest iZombie pulled back from the big picture and didn’t at the same time. The blending of more formulaic episodes with points focusing on the overreaching arc is something the series has excelled at time and time again. In “Eat, Pray, Liv,” we spent a fair portion of the hour with Liv and Clive and their investigation of their latest case–the murder of a yoga teacher–but we also hung out with Major at Fillmore Graves and Ravi as he perfected the memory serum (he thinks).

Oh, and Ravi confessed to Peyton that he still loves her. And Blaine got a job performing as a piano player/lounge singer, which is fabulous because hello, listen to David Anders sing. And I should also point out how Ravi’s boss has put together enough clues to home in on Seattle for the center of her strange corpse issues.

So, a lot happened. While we didn’t specifically go into the whole zombie homeland thing, other moving parts played into the angle. Anyway, let’s focus on the braaaiiins of it all.

The Meals

We had three meals this episode—er, we watched three meals come together this episode. First up, Major tried some of the mixed, goopy brains at Fillmore Graves. Yuck. The consistency of the mixture reminded me of the infamous pink slime. Eww.

On the more appetizing front, Liv blended the brains of the yoga teacher into a steaming almond milk chai latte. I don’t know how she managed to get the brain pieces smooth enough to be stirred in, but I don’t really want to know. The making-of video was visually attractive, and it would totally make the rounds on Facebook.

Finally, Major went total bachelor and put chunks of brain on crackers as a snack. No fuss.

I’m ashamed to admit I just realized the meals Liv makes kind of fit the brains, right? I’d have to look through my notes for past seasons, but so far, Liv made chili dog sauce for the dad brains and then this almond milk chai latte for the yoga instructor. Both items seem like something the owners of the brains would have made or ordered. Hmm.

Liv

Everyone take a deep breath. Go to your calm place. It’s where you need to be to appreciate the brain of Topher, the slain yoga teacher. He was meditating when he was murdered. Liv picked up his personality, including his unflappable nature. She spouted statements about death and life being sides of a coin and how identity is merely a hallucination of the unenlightened. I don’t have a ton of patience for the zen attitude because I’m a control freak. Liv is one to some degree, too, so unwinding and being this philosophical was a change for her.

The yoga teacher’s demeanor came at an excellent time. It allowed Liv to process all of the Ravi and Peyton drama, the CDC presence, and Major’s health issues without losing her head. Topher’s brain was the right meal at the right time.

The biggest difference to note with this brain? Liv didn’t have any visions. Topher was so zen and at peace, nothing triggered his memories—at least, that’s my theory. Clive and Liv had to solve the crime relying on nothing but detective work, and they were successful. Clive put the pieces together. We know Clive is capable, but I think it’s positive for us to see him finish a case without Liv’s extra special assistance and only his police skills.

Major

While he was on the pink brain slime, Major didn’t experience the usual side effects. If you’re trying to be a mercenary, being distracted by visions isn’t a positive asset. Since the slime presumably isn’t as tasty as fresh brains (and with the fast food analogy in mind, fresh meat is always better), Major got access to Zumba instructor brains. They made him energetic, enthusiastic, and maybe contributed to him giving Liv longing, sitcom romance stares. Of course, maybe the fact that he might die for real is contributing to thoughts of regret regarding Liv.

Did you find Liv’s latest snack too bland or was the recipe on point for you? Share your thoughts on brains in the comments.

Images: The CW

Get a Mighty Brief Taste of KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

Director Matthew Vaughn’s highly anticipated sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, will be released later this year with star Taron Egerton along with a roster of actors that we’re crazy excited to see in the Kingsman universe. And while we only know a little about the plot so far (a fact we’re pleased about with way too many detailed movie trailers hitting the web) Vaughn thought he’d give the world a quick taste of what we’re in for with a clip that lasts just about five seconds in what’s being called “The Ultimate Breakdown.”



Now, to be clear, this isn’t a “teaser trailer” by any means but something Vaughn cooked up to get us riled up for the film’s release later this year. And, because we here at Nerdist love analyzing things like this, we grabbed some screenshots from Vaughn’s creation to see if we could glean any plot details from it. Thankfully, in terms of plot, there’s not much to be gleaned so nothing is particularly spoiled. (Our guess is some sort of world-threatening drug developed by Moore’s character delivered via the most reliable of methods, upon the wings of butterflies)

Instead, we’re overjoyed to just sit and wonder what the following screen grabs must mean for the film. Here’s what we’re jazzed about so far, including tons of new tech. This includes robot arms, literal molten golden circles, machine gun and submarine Cars, and FREAKING ROBOT DOGS! (Also, fingers crossed for a Lebowski reference, since we see Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, and a bowling alley in there).

We’re seeing several new faces, namely those of the Statesmen, the Kingsmen’s American counterparts. These include Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Bridges, and a whip-cracking Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones).

And as if all those things weren’t enough, we also get a slew of new locations, such as Statesman Distillery HQ, and a decidedly Mayan looking jungle lair.

Before we wrap up, let’s just focus on two shots of Julianne Moore’s character Poppy being just about as maniacally happy-evil as can be. Of all the bananas things that are in store for us in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Moore as a criminal mastermind is by far the thing we’re most excited for!

What’d we miss in this rapid fire taste of Kingsman: The Golden Circle? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Images: 20th Century Fox

Speaking of things we’re excited about…Captain Marvel!

Nerdist Podcast: Doree Shafrir

Doree Shafrir (author, journalist, Matt’s wife) talks to Chris and Matt about how she and Matt met, how she never skipped school as a kid and getting her job at Buzzfeed. They also talk about the culture of click bait, life on the internet and her book Startup: A Novel. And Doree and Matt talk about their experience with IVF.

Image: Willy Somma

DUCKTALES and TANGLED to Get IDW Comic Runs This Summer

Children of the ’90s were thrilled to find out that Disney‘s classic animated series Ducktales would be making a return in a new animated series this fall on Disney XD. And now adding to the excitement, it’s just been announced that Disney’s most famous mallards will also return to the world of comics this summer, thanks to the folks at IDW Comics.

And if that weren’t enough, everyone’s favorite long-locked princess will also get her time to shine in the comic book sun!

Ducktales will feature all the beloved characters also slate to return for the new animated show, including Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck, plus Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The new comic series will be modeled after the show, which has already been picked up for a second season in advance of its premiere. Their new comic book adventures will kick-off in a #0 issue this July for $3.99, providing the perfect jumping on point for both original fans who grew up with the classic show, as well as newbies brought into the fold. You can check out the cover for Ducktales down below.

But as we mentioned before—they’re not the only animated Disney characters set to come to IDW this summer. In August, Tangled: The Series (which just debuted this year on The Disney Channel) will debut as an original graphic novel collection titled “Adventure is Calling.” In this new graphic novel, Rapunzel will embark on exciting new adventures with Flynn Rider, Pascal, Maximus, and her new friend Cassandra in a special adaptation of the television series. The collection will feature 72 pages for $9.99. You can check out the cover art down below:

In a statement, IDW Group Editor Sarah Gaydos said, “We’re extremely excited to expand IDW’s relationship with Disney. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding both of these new animated series and we aim to live up to, and exceed, fan expectations.” Both Tangled and Ducktales are only the latest characters from the Disney library to get their own comics from IDW, joining series like Mickey Mouse, Uncle Scrooge, and Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, among many others.

Are excited for this latest expansions of  classic Disney properties? Be sure to let us know by chiming in down below in the comments.

Images: Walt Disney Company / IDW Comics

We Got a First Look at Captain Marvel’s MCU Costume!

One of Marvel’s biggest heroines is heading to the MCU, and her name is Captain Marvel! While we’re likely to see Brie Larson make her debut as Carol Danvers in next year’s Avengers: Infinity War, it may be some time before we finally see Danvers suit up for Captain Marvel’s solo film. However, the Nerdist team was at Marvel Studios’ open house this week, and today’s Nerdist News is all about our early look at the Captain Marvel costume and concept artwork!

Join host, and Kree sleeper agent, Jessica Chobot, as she gets the scoop from our Editor-in-Chief Rachel Heine, and Senior Editor Dan Casey. According to Rachel, the Captain Marvel suit does take its inspiration from the costume currently worn in the comics by Carol Danvers. That said, it appears to be more like form-fitting armor than spandex. It also seems to favor functionality over aesthetics. For example, Captain Marvel’s signature sash will be more like a utility belt. However, the iconic eight-sided star is intact, as are the red, blue, and gold colors.

While at the event, Rachel and Dan also saw another piece of Captain Marvel art that featured the heroine taking on a Kree Sentry. This suggests that at least a few parts of Carol’s comic book origin will remain intact. It also raises a few questions about the post Infinity War landscape. Has Thanos’ incursion led to more alien races staking their claim on Earth?

Are you eager to see Brie Larson wearing the iconic Captain Marvel costume? Let’s discuss in the comment section below, and don’t miss all of our coverage from Marvel’s Open House!

Syfy’s Superman Series, KRYPTON, Has an Awesome First Trailer

It’s been a couple of years since Syfy announced a series about Superman‘s long-lost home world, Krypton, set in the days of Kal-El’s grandfather, Seg-El. The series is spearheaded by Man of Steel and Dark Knight trilogy writer David S. Goyer, and the pilot was directed by Colm McCarthy, and written by Goyer and Ian Goldberg (Once Upon a Time). Damian Kindler (Sleepy Hollow) is on board as series showrunner. Now we have our first ever trailer for the series, thanks to the folks at Den of Geek, which you can watch below:

Our first takeaway from this trailer? This is definitely not going to be a low-budget production. It seems we’ve come a long way since the Krytonian flashbacks on Smallville, which always seemed to be done on the cheap. Also, unlike Batman “prequel” series Gotham, the Kryptonian aesthetics of the series’ production design definitely suggest that this is a direct precursor to the film Man of Steel, and—therefore—the first DCEU television series. The Kryptonian look and tech don’t seem to line up at all with the CW’s Supergirl series for instance. However, the domed cities seem to be a nod to Richard Donner’s original Superman: The Movie.

The teaser trailer also mentions a “revolution against tyranny.” In the pages of the comics, Krypton went through several wars, and the House of El was at the forefront of most of them. Kryptonians lived as virtual immortals, because each Kryptonian had cloned versions of themselves to constantly use as “spare parts,” keeping the Kryptonian elites young and healthy. Eventually, the clones fought back from their status as slaves, beginning a series of clone wars that lasted generations. Could the Krypton series be leaning into this aspect of the comic book mythology? Certainly Goyer’s Man of Steel drew plenty from this more modern interpretations of the planet from DC Comics.

Among the other DC Comics Easter eggs spotted in the trailer, we see a moment which has Seg-El looking at a miniaturized city inside a dome. Shrinking Kryptonian cities is usually the M.O. of Superman villain Brainiac, who once shrank the Kryptonian city of Kandor and took it for his private collection before the destruction of the planet. Could we be looking at Kandor, or is this another example of a miniaturized Kryptonian city? And will the series be how the DCEU is introduced to Brainiac before his eventual big screen debut?

Also, we get our first glimpse of Seg-El getting hot and heavy with a character that seems to be Lyta Zod (played by Georgina Campbell) who he’s been having “a clandestine, forbidden romance” with. Why forbidden? In certain versions of Krypton’s past in the comics, Krypton’s military and science faction have been odds with one other, and the mixing of the two castes is strictly against Kryptonian law. The show could be going in this direction. And as her name would suggest, Lyta Zod is indeed a direct ancestor of the future General Zod, a perpetual thorn in Superman’s side. But it seems once upon a time, the Els and the Zods were much cozier.

No premiere date has been given for Krypton, but it could possibly air as early as this fall.

Are you excited about exploring the homeworld of DC Comics’ most famous superhero? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics / Warner Brothers

Bill Nye and Tyler, The Creator Talk the Science Guy’s New Theme Song

Everybody remembers the “Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!” chant from the original Bill Nye the Science Guy theme song. (Perhaps you like to sing it when you finally get your check at a restaurant.) But for Nye’s new show that bows on Netflix on April 21, the famous track that let us know it was time to whip out the beakers and measure until the centrifuges fly off has been completely reimagined by — no you didn’t guess it — Tyler, The Creator. As you might expect, the theme for the upcoming Bill Nye Saves the World is less ’80s wackiness and more, well, distinctly Tyler, The Creator-ish.

Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! @TylerTheCreator drops the beat on our theme song. pic.twitter.com/jxw0WzFnEL

— Bill Nye on Netflix (@BillNyeSaves) April 17, 2017

In the clip below, Nye and Tyler (can his name just be shortened to Tyler? Mr. Creator?) discuss the original show, as well as the new theme song. Nye notes that the whole idea of the original show was that “the world is the laboratory,” and that if you watch the show and pursue science, you’d find yourself having “the coolest time.” Tyler says the original theme song was “really sick” and that he loves the “fast-pacedness” of it. He also says that without the snare it would work as a house track.

“That show, it go kids to not hate science class,” Tyler says in the video. “And that worked, that full-on worked.” Just like this track works, right? Take a moment to compare it to the original and formulate a hypothesis:

What do you think about the new take? Does it still make you want to Bill-chant? Let us know in the comments below! Low! Low! Low! Low!

Images: Netflix

Artist Crafts Stephen King Book Covers for Classic Love and Heartbreak Songs

Love songs are pretty wonderful but can also be strange. Most of the time they are the perfect shorthand to convey our feelings to another person far more poetically than we can usually muster. However, it’s remarkable how creepy they can sound when framed even slightly out of context. What’s usually meant as a profession of love and devotion for another can become a dark manifesto of obsession with the slightest change in tone or intention. This fact has become frighteningly clear thanks to an artist creating horror novel book covers for songs about love and heartbreak.

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy Full project on behance.net/butcherbilly @behance #stephenking #bonnietyler #nazareth #lionelrichie #beegees #depechemode #thepolice #joydivision #hallandoates #thesmiths #georgemichael #gloriagaynor #neworder #therighteousbrothers #chrisdeburgh #paulyoung

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 11, 2017 at 9:42pm PDT

Brazilian artist Butcher Billy‘s Stephen King’s Stranger Love Songs was brought to our attention via a recent post on LaughingSquid and it’s got us questioning every love song we’ve ever heard. The covers present us with the more dubious sides of the love songs and really drives home the point for the ones about heartbreak. The style and detail in each cover looks so much like old horror novels that it takes a second or two to realize that these aren’t actually books from the ’70s and ’80s.

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E07 | GeorgeMichael's Careless Whisper

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 15, 2017 at 1:40pm PDT

This one for George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” is downright perfect and, when you think about it, the saxophone line in the tune feels right at home for a classic noir film. Heck, even the video opens up like a gritty detective movie.

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E03 Hello

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 11, 2017 at 7:59am PDT

This cover is creepy enough but now we’ve started to think how terrifying it’d be if someone mashed up footage of Stephen King’s IT and Lionel Richie’s “Hello.” [Note to internet: please do not do this. We enjoy sleep too much]

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E04 Every Breath You Take

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 12, 2017 at 10:03am PDT

This one for “Every Breath You Take” perfectly sums up the already creepy song by Sting. Is that why all of these work? Are love and heartbreak songs all just sinister ballads to horrible deeds? Is every classic song that stands the test of time just plain evil in some way!?

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E06 | Beegees' How Deep Is Your Love

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 14, 2017 at 8:30am PDT

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E02 Love Hurts

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 10, 2017 at 9:37am PDT

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E01: Total Eclipse of the

Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E08 Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart

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Stephen King's Stranger Love Songs by Butcher Billy S01E05 Hall and Oates' Maneater

A post shared by Butcher Billy (@thebutcherbilly) on Apr 13, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

Answer: absolutely.

Let’s discuss why we never noticed the darker side of love songs in the comments below!

Images: Butcher Billy

GROUNDHOG DAY Makes a Solid Case for Repeating Yourself (BROADWAY REVIEW)

How much would you be able to accomplish if the limits of time did not exist? Would you search for higher meaning, a better understanding of the world and the people in it, or simply get a bit out-of-hand and reckless? So much can happen in an instant, and if we could turn back time (feel free to sing that line, btw), there’s little doubt we’d all change something about our actions in the past. Such is the conceit at the heart of Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical adaptation of the 1993 Bill Murray starrer of the same name, opening Monday, April 17th at the August Wilson Theater in New York City. And that they find the time to accomplish by repeating the past proves the limit does not exist—in the right hands.

Following an Olivier Award-winning run in London, the show has made its way west, bringing Phil Conners’ journey towards self-actualization to a new audience. At the center of the musical adaptation of the 1993 Bill Murray film is a rollicking, bombastic adaptation of the story that sends its cast running, jumping, sliding, and dancing their way into repetitive glory, creating a spectacle and illusion not often seen in stage productions. In this iteration, the playfulness and frivolity of the story are cranked up to eleven that doesn’t shy away from an equal measure of darkness and brutality.

Featuring a creative team that includes the book writer Danny Rubin (who wrote the film’s screenplay alongside Harold Ramis) and songwriter Tim Minchin (the very funny comedian who also wrote songs for Matilda the Musical whom I SINCERELY hope takes over the titular role on Doctor Who one day), Groundhog Day delights in its visuals, strength of character actors, and the seemingly Herculean feat they’ve overcome in staging a day on constant repeat. Not once does this show feel stale or repetitive even though it literally repeats the same day over and over and over again. And for all its camp and circumstance, the show does well balancing the superficiality of its central character and the reality (relatively speaking) of such an outlandish situation.

A lot of that work falls on the shoulders of its leading man, Andy Karl. Taking a cue from Murray’s interpretation, Karl’s Conners is all frigid ego; he’s a skeptical, real jerk of a know-it-all. Where Murray zigged into arrogant nerd territory, however, Karl has zagged towards a more brotastic interpretation, which works for his brand of small potatoes notoriety as a local weatherman. But the real standout is the physicality with which Karl must play the role: In addition to singing and dancing, the staging’s visual tricks fall squarely on his ability to pull them off and throw himself (sometimes literally) into the next moment. It’s a feat that feels downright magical with its ability to trick your senses.

Indeed, the show is both a visual delight and storytelling feat in terms of its staging: what the team has pulled off in this show is nothing short of extraordinary (seriously: give them all the Tony Awards now). You likely will not see another show this year that pulls off this much practical trickery this well. There are so many visual jokes and impressive sleights of hand that make for a truly inventive and original visual performance. To that end, Groundhog Day thrills on a visual level we rarely see on Broadway—everyone will find something to love about this production.

But for all the goodness the show accomplishes, it isn’t without some cringeworthy tendencies—particularly in regards to its women. Barrett Doss brings to the role of Rita Hansen—Doss is fabulous and her abilities cannot be oversold, please put her in more shows—something that was clearly not there in the film script. And while most of the show tends to balance the Hallmark and Hilarious with aplomb, the moments it doesn’t are often centered around attempts at earnestness with its female characters (a song Rita sings about finding her prince is particularly tone-deaf). There’s a clear bit of effort on Minchin and Rubin’s part to add some meat to the bones of the women in the show, but it doesn’t fully sit well within the show’s myriad moving pieces, and some songs, in turn, feel a bit throwaway in their emotional resonance.

As much is evidenced in the second act-opener, “Playing Nancy”—sung by a woman (played by Rebecca Faulkenberry) seduced by Phil during one of his many Groundhog Days—a tune that ultimately rings hollow and feels shoehorned into the production for the sake of increased female visibility. Why this song, with this woman, at this moment in the story? We get what they were trying to do, but the number left us asking: why should we care about the inner life of Nancy at this moment? Wouldn’t this have been more effective coming earlier in the show, or from someone we’ve spent a bit more time with like Rita, or—heck—even the B&B owner? In their earnestness to contextualize the universality of Phil’s inner struggle and create more space for its women, the show actually plays into the trap they were trying to avoid. A shame, considering such increased female complexity would’ve been a nice balance to all of the at-times excessive number of “hey isn’t sexism hilarious?” jokes.

The show’s ensemble cast is a delightful gaggle of Broadway character actors that color the world of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania with sweet earnestness. Every single member has their time in the sun, with a particular standout being resident town drunks Ralph and Gus (played by Raymond J Lee and Andrew Call, respectively) and their fuck-it-all theme, “Nobody Cares.” We won’t spoil it for you, but the tune is not only sure to get stuck in your head, but you’ll be replaying its staging in your mind’s eye for weeks to come (also: Lee is a hilariously drunken joy to watch on stage and we can’t wait to see more from him).

While the musical’s website posits the show’s runtime as 2:30, the previews production we saw ran just about 3—which felt too long entirely. The show drags in the beginning to set up its characters and its premise; with any luck some tightening has occurred since we saw the show on April 6th. Still, regardless of its issues, there are far worse ways to spend your Broadway dollars than checking out Groundhog Day. If nothing else, the show is guaranteed to force a lot of Broadway shows to up their staging ante and leave a smile on your face time and time again.

Oh, and more Tim Minchin doing all of the things, please.

We’re giving Groundhog Day 3 out of 5 musical burritos:

Images: Joan Marcus for Groundhog Day: The Musical

Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor of Nerdist, Creator/host of Fangirling!, and a total Broadway baby. Find her on Twitter!