Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 211

Film Based on OREGON TRAIL in Development at Apple

What I’m sure you all wanted to see on the big screen is arriving soon: cholera, dysentery, typhoid, measles, and the ever-so-elusive fever. What could possibly be the premise of such an action-packed film to have all these threats? It’s none other than the Oregon Trail. A new film inspired by the iconic PC game is currently in development at Apple Original Films. We first learned about this via Variety.

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The Lucas Brothers and their writing partner, Max Reisman, are penning the action/comedy film. The Lucas Brothers are most well-known for writing the Academy Award-nominated script for Judas and the Black Messiah. La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are producing the movie through their Ampersand production banner.

Will Speck and Josh Gordon are slated to direct and have producing credits. The filmmaking duo generally works on comedy films such as their prior work, Blades of Glory and The Switch. Kevin K. Vafi, who produced Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Speck, and Gordon’s previous film, will produce the Oregon Trail film as well.

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Book publisher HarperCollins owns the video game franchise, with Caroline Fraser producing under HarperCollins Productions. Fraser also produced Carmen Sandiego on Netflix.

As the film is still early in development, news on actors, possible plot, and runtime are all up in the air. The Oregon Trail is a computer game from 1974 whose 1985 iteration is the most popular on the Apple II. It wouldn’t be hard to assume that Apple is trying to market its nostalgia more. As we become more digital, we crave the analog.

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Oregon Trail was educational for students to learn about the actual Oregon Trail that 19th-century emigrants would use to get to present-day Oregon. Many games have come from the original, including the recent ones developed by Gameloft on Apple devices, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation.

To experience the nostalgia before the movie releases, the game is available to play on the latest Apple devices through Apple Arcade.

Hopefully, the famous phrase won’t be used against you: “You have died of dysentery.”

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New Mobile Features Allows Netflix Viewers to Save and Share Favorite Moments

Everyone has at least one Netflix show that lives in their head rent-free. Maybe it’s Joyce communicating via Christmas lights with her lost son on Stranger Things, or the crumbling bridge task in Squid Game. For a lot of folks, it’s probably a romantic scene from Bridgerton. Well, now you can save those moments and watch them on a loop until your heart’s content. Via Tudum, we’ve learned about Moments, a new mobile feature allowing fans to save, relive, and then share their favorite Netflix scenes. Moments launches globally on October 28 on iOS. It will also arrive just a few weeks later on Android.

So this is how the Moments feature actually works. If you’re watching your favorite Netflix show or movie on your phone, let’s say you want to save a particular scene. Once you get to the scene in question, all you have to do is tap “Moments” at the bottom of your screen. After that, it’ll automatically save it to your My Netflix tab. Once you’ve done that, you can go back and watch your Moments whenever you want on your phone. If you decide to do a rewatch of the movie or episode, it will play from the scene you bookmarked. Users can share Moments on most social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Netflix

In their official description for the new feature from their official site, Netflix said the following: “Whether you’re replaying the intense final showdown in BEEF or a spooky twist in Wednesday, Moments lets you save and share it all. And with Season two of Squid Games coming on Dec. 26, it’s the perfect time to revisit those nail-biting game sequences from season one and get ready for what’s next.” Time will tell if the Moments feature is something Netflix viewers will utilize extensively or not. But it has the potential to be a huge source of free promotion for the streaming giant.

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THE SIMPSONS Revealed Why Mr. Burns Never Fires Homer

Have you ever wondered why Mr. Burns doesn’t fire Homer from his job at the Nuclear Power Plant? Probably not. It doesn’t matter Homer is lazy and wildly incompetent to the point of being dangerous. His lack of both professionalism and personal hygiene aren’t important, either. The Simpsons is a cartoon where no one ever ages and very few things actually ever change. There doesn’t need to be a reason for him to keep his job beyond “that’s where he works.” But that didn’t stop the show from providing an answer to a question no one has ever actually asked. Season 36‘s flashback-heavy fourth episode “Shoddy Heat” revealed that, long before Mr. Burns ever hired Homer, his father Abe assured his son would always have a steady job.

20th Century Studios

The Flying Hellfish aren’t the only major connection Grandpa Simpson has with Mr. Burns. The discovery of a corpse on The Simpsons‘ latest episode (which we first heard about at CBR) led to the revelation Abe Simpson worked as a private detective in the ’80s. He also had a partner, Billy O’Donnell voiced by That ’70s Show‘s Topher Grace.

Following Billy’s disappearance, Abe came to believe Mr. Burns had his partner killed. Rather than turn him in, however, Abe accepted a deal to drop the case entirely. In exchange, Mr. Burns promised Abe he would give Abe’s young son Homer a power plant job when Homer grew up. Even more importantly (in ways Mr. Burns could never imagine) the deal also meant he couldn’t fire Homer. For any reason. Ever.

20th Century Studios

Dark stuff for a flashback! (Though not as dark as some of the Agnes Skinner parts of this episode.) At least it was until Mr. Burns revealed Billy was still alive and living in a tropical paradise as part of his own deal with mr. Burns to stay quiet.

Did Mr. Burns engage in illegal activity to amass his fortune? Yes, we knew that already. But now we know his riches came at a cost: he’s stuck with Homer Simpson forever. Of course, since we’re talking about a cartoon, that was true even before we knew why.

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MOANA 2’s Filmmakers Talk Expanding the Magic and Adventure of the First Film

Eight years ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios released Moana, The story of a young Polynesian girl whom the ocean itself chose to embark on a dangerous adventure. Moana had to return the lost heart to the goddess Te Fiti, restoring the balance of nature. Along the way, she befriends an arrogant but lovable demigod, Maui, voiced by Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Not only was Moana a massive box office success, it’s now the animated film on Disney+ with the most streams since the service launched. Disney announced a Moana animated series a few years back. But the project was soon reimagined as a theatrical sequel, Moana 2, hitting cinema screens this fall.

In September, Nerdist and others were invited to Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, for a behind-the-scenes peek at the highly anticipated Moana 2. We got to view the film’s first half hour, which flashed forward three years after the events of that first, now classic film. In this new adventure, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho), now a big sister to three-year-old Simea, receives a message from her Wayfinding ancestors. She puts together her own Wayfinder crew and reunites with Maui. This time, she must break the god Nalo’s curse on the hidden island of Motufetu, which once connected the people of the ocean. The Moana 2 animation we saw was truly jaw-dropping. And judging from the first thirty minutes, this movie has all the heart and joy of the original Moana fim still intact.

Walt Disney Animation Studios

After watching the film’s first half hour, we were part of a Q&A with Moana 2 directors David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller (who also served as a writer), and writer and executive producer Jared Bush. The creators shared several images and pieces of concept art from Moana 2 as well. This was Pirates of the Caribbean writer Dana Ledoux Miller’s first animated film, and when asked about joining the world of Moana, she recalled watching the original when it came out. “I very distinctly remember sitting in the theater. The lights come out, and over the bumper, the first sounds, the first voices, are Samoan.  And I realized at that moment that a Disney Film, which ended up becoming one of the biggest Disney properties ever, would forever change the way people saw Pacific Islanders.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Miller continued, saying, “I knew that meant that it would change the way I could tell stories. I didn’t know at that moment that I would ever be a part of telling Moana’s story.  And then I was fortunate enough to get hired to co-write the live-action Moana with Jared Bush. That was an incredible collaborative experience.  And he said, ‘Hey, so we’re doing this thing over at Disney Animation. Would you be interested in coming over and playing?’ And so I was hired as a consulting writer.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Originally, Moana’s story was going to continue in a Disney+ animated series. But eventually, plans evolved, and those stories condensed into Moana 2. So, how did the story change when the format changed? Director David G. Derrick said “In the beginning, Jason and I, we come from feature animation. And so we approached it the exact same way when we were doing the series. Every artist who worked on it would essentially say the same thing — that this needs to be on the big screen. the story will tell us what it wants to be.  And ultimately, listening to the story, listening to the groundswell of all the artists and creators involved, we realized it was destined for the big screen, and that’s what we wanted.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Three years pass between the original Moana film and its sequel Moana 2. So, how did our lead character change in that time? According to writer Dana Ledoux Miller, they really didn’t want to change Moana too much. “Let’s not reinvent who Moana is. We’re not trying to change her, but we’re trying to expand her world.” She added, “What is her next evolution?  And that’s really how we formed this story. This is a film about Moana learning.  She’s growing up and learning that you never stop choosing who you are. That’s what we say in the film, but it’s what we really believe.  She went on this journey and now she’s looking towards the future.  And you know, as we all grow up, we think we know exactly who we are, and then something changes.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Of course, the music was a huge part of the original film’s success, so how did the filmmakers work with the music team this time around on Moana 2? Dave Derrick shared,”That’s a huge part of the storytelling, right? Every key moment is designed as a musical, told through song. And we tell Moana’s emotional journey through the music of the film. When we were with Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, they came in and we actually had a piano in our story room. And they would play the opening song for us, the first song that they wrote for the film. And to hear that song, to be transported back into the world of Moana in a musical way, was so exciting.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Although almost the entire original cast returns, Disney introduced a metric ton of new characters for Moana 2. Some of them, as Dana Ledoux Miller explains, are “Moanabes.” These are girls who idolize Moana and are the Swifties of the Moana universe. Most notable among the additions, however, is Moana’s new Wayfinding crew. This includes the young and idealistic Loto, the “grumpy old man” of the island, Kele, and Moni, a young woman who joins them on the journey. On the new additions, co-director Jason Hand said, “I love all the new characters.  From the crew, from Sumia, from the Mysterious Matangi, and then ultimately this God of Storms, Nalo.” From what we saw, the new Moana 2 characters all make an immediate impression, without overshadowing the original characters at all.

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Speaking of the first film’s returning characters, the filmmakers had to talk about Maui in Moana 2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s demigod stole the show in the first film and looks to do the same again in its sequel.

Dana Ledoux Miller said of Maui in Moana‘s sequel, “I am really excited about the relationship between Moana and Maui. They were a lot of fun in that first film and a lot of fun in this film. We don’t want to see them getting along all the time. Who cares about that?  In the original, they really developed a friendship that was meaningful.  It changed both of them, pushing them to new places. We have this demigod who is strong, he’s been through so much and has a very complicated relationship with humanity. But now his best friend is a human. And so it creates vulnerability in a way that we’ve never seen for him and pushes him to new places.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Cultural authenticity was also super important to the filmmakers when it came to crafting Moana 2. Dave Derrick was quick to tell us, “We do a ton of research. And every single thing up on screen is designed; it’s researched. That all comes down to our collaborators, who actually have a Pacific Islander heritage or oceanic cultural trust. And for me, someone who’s actually outside of that culture, the generosity that’s been shown me to pass the knowledge from the Polynesian Voyaging Society to every single one of our consultants who come from a different part of, like, let’s say, Tahiti or elsewhere, it’s been incredible.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios

With the movie taking place three years later, there were slight visual updates in Moana 2. Derrick said, “For Moana, in particular, she’s a little bit older, and her hairdo is slightly different. We wanted to make sure that it was the same Moana that we know and love. My favorite character that we aged up is Pua (Moana’s pet pig). If you look very closely, Pua is a little bigger, a little stockier. And he has a cute little baby tusk that pokes out sometimes.” As for possibly the most beloved character from the first film, Moana’s dippy rooster, Heihei? Dana Ledoux Miller laughingly said, “He’s as dumb as he’s ever been. And why would you change that? When something works, it just works, you know?” We are not one to argue with that logic.

Moana 2 hits theaters on November 27.

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All the GAME OF THRONES Spinoffs HBO Has Ever Developed and Their Status

Have you heard about that new Game of Thrones spinoff HBO is developing? No, not that one. Not that one, either. They already stopped working on that. And that other one is now going to be an animated series. I think.

HBO’s time in Westeros didn’t end when Bran Stark claimed the Iron Throne. The network has been working on other potential shows set in George R.R. Martin’s world of A Song of Ice and Fire since before the original series even ended. House of the Dragon was the first to make it to air, but it won’t be the last. Many more are still in development. Some, though, as Martin says, are already on the proverbial “shelf.” (He should know. He also says he is “deeply, heavily involved” in every potential show.) Which ideas are still alive and which are dead… for now? Here’s every Game of Thrones spinoff we’ve learned about over the years and their current status.

Latest Developments in the World of Game of Thrones SpinoffsA Braavos Set Game of Thrones Spinoff Was ShelvedHBO

George R.R. Martin recently revealed in a blog post that a Game of Thrones spinoff set in Braavos was shelved by HBO. He notes, “One of these days I need to write that story about Braavos we were developing for HBO. They shelved that one a couple of years back, alas, but that does not mean I won’t go back to it… After Winds of Winter is done, of course. Maybe then I will have enough free time to visit Amsterdam again.”

Braavos, of course, houses Game of Throne‘s Iron Bank and features the Faceless Men, a creepy group of assassin-priests that can shapeshift and cause a lot of trouble. Notably, Arya Stark, was briefly a member. We’re curious to know what kind of tale G.R.R. Martin might spin in this location.

On-Air Game of Thrones Spinoffs House of the Dragon HBO

HBO’s first Game of Thrones spinoff, a prequel about the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, returned for its second season in summer 2024. However, season one co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik will not be back. He left the series in 2022. Ryan Condal now fulfills the role on his own.

Carly Wray and Bryan Cogman (who wrote a pilot) both worked on a Dance of the Dragons series, but HBO did not move forward with either of their concepts.

Read More: Everything We Know About House of the Dragon Season 2

Game of Thrones Spinoffs That Are Coming Soon A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (Dunk & Egg) Mike S. Miller/Image Comics

George R.R. Martin’s three Dunk & Egg novellas tell the story of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire. That squire was really a Targaryen Prince named Aegon who traveled with Dunk in disguise. (He also unexpectedly went on to become King years later.) The beloved duo is now set to star in HBO’s second spinoff. HBO ordered the prequel to series to air in April 2023. Martin and Ira Parker will write and executive produce the show. (Patriot‘s Steve Conrad was originally tapped to write the show in 2021.) Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis will join as executive producers. The series has its Dunk and Egg, but it no official release date. It began filming in spring 2024. A 2025 premiere seems very possible. It also has an official logline:

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Read More: 5 Reasons Why We’re Excited For The Game Of Thrones Dunk And Egg Spinoff Series

Game of Thrones Spinoffs That Are In DevelopmentThe Golden Empire

The Five Forts in Essos serve as the border between the Golden Empire of Yi Ti and the Grey Waste. Each massive fortress can house 10K men

They were believed to be created just before the demons of the Lions of Night attacked — Essos' equivalent of the Long Night#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/SHURpG620v

— Thrones Facts | HOTD 🐉 (@Thrones_Facts) October 14, 2022

Development continues on a potential adult animated series about Essos’ far eastern Yi Ti dynasty. Martin once wrote Yi Ti is the fantasy analogue of Imperial China the way Westeros is the fantasy analogue of the medieval British Isles. The World of Ice and Fire compendium book (which Martin jokingly calls The GRRMarillion in reference to J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion) expanded on the little we know about that powerful, large nation. That also includes some tantalizing tales, one that connects the ancient, advanced Yi Ti to the first Long Night.

It’s unknown who is leading the show’s development or what it would be about. But a possible series would be so far removed from Westeros and Martin’s main story that it would have incredible freedom to tell any story from any time period.

The Sea Snake/Nine Voyages HBO

After initially being developed as a live-action series, George R.R. Martin announced a prequel about the adventures of young Corlys Velaryon is now being considered as a potential adult animated spinoff. The show also initially operated under the title Nine Voyages (which Martin still uses sometimes). That was in reference to the nine famous trips Corlys Velaryon made around the world on his ship The Sea Snake. He travelled to far off places all over the globe in the decades prior to the Dance of the Dragons. His accomplishments made him Westeros’s most famous and celebrated sailor ever. He is also a major figure on House of the Dragon, where Steve Toussaint plays an older Sea Snake.

In March 2022 Martin confirmed reports Rome showrunner Bruno Heller would write the show’s pilot. More recently the author also explained at his “Not a Blog” blog why he “fully” supports the show’s change from live-action to animation:

Budgetary constraints would likely have made a live action version prohibitively expensive, what with half the show taking place at sea, and the necessity of creating a different port every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles to Volantis to Qarth to… well, on and on and on. There’s a whole world out there. And we have a lot better chance of showing it all with animation. So we now have three animated projects underway.

Aegon’s Conquest HBO/IGN

In early 2023 Variety reported HBO was “actively” discussing a potential prequel about the legendary Targaryen lord who conquered Westeros. A series about Aegon’s Conquest (roughly 300 years before Game of Thrones) was also among the first batch of spinoff concepts considered by HBO in 2016. The original idea is said to have portrayed the famed King as a “drunken lout.” Rand Ravich and Far Shariat wrote that script.

The Hollywood Reporter now says HBO ” is actively heating up” discussions about the long-gestating concept. It also has a name attached to this new attempt. Mattson Tomlin, who is said to have done uncredited script work on The Batman and who is officially co-writing its sequel, is heading up this iteration of an Aegon’s Conquest spinoff. Tomlin is also behind the BRZRKR with Keanu Reeves and is serving as showrunner for Netflix’s animated Terminator series.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tomlin confirmed he’s working on the series, though that work has just begun. “That one is very early days where I’m currently writing the script, currently doing a lot of great back and forth with George (R.R. Martin),” said Tomlin. He also said Martin told him to treat the story as history that really happened. Doing that he said is akin to writing about great historical figures like Napoleon or Alexander the Great.

“We know where he was, we know who he conquered, we know who lived, and we know who died,” said Tomlin. “That all becomes the plot, and then it becomes my job to go, but what did it mean thematically? How did it feel? What were the emotions when this person died and this person lived? We don’t have the context. We don’t know what anybody said.”

While Tomlin and Martin will handle all of that, THR‘s initial report included one confusing clue about HBO’s idea for the series. A source said the show would mark a “back to basics” approach. Considering House of the Dragon is not that different from Game of Thrones in any meaningful way beyond being more focused, that could indicate previous attempts at an Aegon series tried something very different with its approach. That could explain why the network did not proceed with them. Or “back to basics” could mean this idea is more like a traditional drama with fewer characters and jumping around to various location than Game of Thrones.

The one thing we know for sure about any and all attempts at telling Aegon’s story is that they’ll involve dragons.

Spinoffs with an Unknown StatusUnknown Animated Series

Martin has long made reference to development of an unnamed adult animated series, one possibly meant to air on HBO Max. Nothing is known about the series. That includes whether a spinoff idea reported on previously is the mystery cartoon and no one has made the connection.

Shelved/Canceled Game of Thrones Spinoffs Flea Bottom HBO

One potential live-action prequel idea that seemingly never gained much traction was a series have focused on the denizens of King’s Landing’s infamous slum district Flea Bottom. HBO never even confirmed the show was in development. Reports say it did not make it very far in the process.

Untitled Valyrian Freehold Series

The initial batch of five spinoff ideas HBO pursued in 2016 (out of a list of at least 15) was a show about the destruction of the Valyrian Freehold. Valyria was the Roman Empire-like dynasty of dragon lords who ruled over Essos for thousands of years. House Targaryen avoided its ancestral home’s doom when it fled Valyria a century before its demise. Kong: Skull Island‘s Max Borenstein wrote a script for the show, but that seems to be as far as HBO got with it.

Valyria was home to thousands of dragons and ornate architecture. That would make for a bloated VFX budget. This idea is a great candidate for the mysterious animated show Martin continues to allude to.

Untitled Seven Gods of Westeros Show

A long lost concept that “didn’t get very far” at HBO would have seen the gods from the faith of The Seven team up like superheroes, leading to others worshiping them as deities. It’s easy to see why HBO didn’t have much faith in this idea.

Snow Is No Longer HappeningHBO

In a Narrow Sea worth of prequel ideas, the only potential sequel series that was confirmed to be under consideration at HBO is Snow. Kit Harington brought the idea to the network. He also brought it to George R.R. Martin, who confirmed the possible spinoff’s development. The author said he’d already met with Harington and his team about it, as well. The show would follow the former Lord Commander after he returned to life beyond The Wall in Game of Thrones‘ series finale.

Snow was “shelved” during the Hollywood strikes. Though the end of the strikes left the current status of the series unknown. In November 2023 HBO CEO and chairman Casey Bloys said, “I wouldn’t say there is anything else in that world that is close to a green light or anything, but we are always working on different scripts and ideas.” And that seemed to convey that the series wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

Most recently, we got a firmer answer about the fate of the Game of Thrones spinoff show. Kit Harington revealed the Jon Snow series was firmly “on the shelf” and no longer in active development. He shared, “In development, you look at every angle, and you see whether it’s worth it. And currently, it’s not. Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough. So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being. There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It’s firmly on the shelf.”

Spinoffs Not Picked Up Bloodmoon HBO

House of the Dragon will forever be the first Game of Thrones spinoff to reach airwaves. However, HBO filmed another spinoff before it. The network spent (at least) $30 million to shoot a pilot for Bloodmoon, a prequel set thousands of years prior to the original series. Starring Naomi Watts, it took place during the Age of Heroes. That’s when legendary figures of the Realm helped establish its most famous houses. At least that’s what the stories say. That mythical era remains shrouded in secrecy.

The series, from showrunner Jane Goldman, also operated under the working title of The Long Night, as it would have covered the original White Walker invasion that plunged the world in darkness. While HBO has said it was a good pilot—and the network was clearly serious about it considering its financial investment—it ultimately passed. That decision shocked many.

Read More: History Of Thrones: The Long Night And Identifying Enemies And Heroes

HBO

The public has never seen Bloodmoon‘s lost episode. Not even George R.R. Martin. But it remains a fascinating idea with incredible potential. Just because HBO didn’t order it to air doesn’t mean it won’t some day. Martin always says “shelved” TV shows can always leave the shelf.

Especially in Westeros, where we all know the dead have a way of coming back.

Originally published on January 4, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Jeremy Allen White Is The Boss in First Image From Bruce Springsteen Biopic, DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE

Jeremy Allen White is putting down his chef’s apron and picking up a guitar. Not just any guitar, though. He’s picking up one of the most important instruments in history. The Bear star is playing The Boss himself in an upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic. And now we know what that will literally look like. 20th Century Studios shared the first image of Jeremy Allen White as the legendary musician from the start of production on Deliver Me from Nowhere, which will tell the story of Bruce Springsteen’s life.

20th Century Studios/Mark Seliger

Filming is now underway on director Scoot Cooper’s (Crazy Heart, Black Mass) next film. He’s adapting author Warren Zanes’ book about the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska. Deliver Me from Nowhere will see the Emmy-winning Jeremy Allen White, who recently portrayed another real person as Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw, take on the role of Springsteen, a true rock ‘n’ roll icon.

This first look at Allen White as The Boss doesn’t reveal much about the Bruce Springsteen biopic. Nor will it confuse anyone about which famous celebrity they are seeing. But it does begin the process of making audiences think of The Bear actor as one of the most important musicians ever.

In a press release, Cooper talked about starting production and why this album is so important to him personally:

Beginning production on this film is an incredibly humbling and thrilling journey. Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska has profoundly shaped my artistic vision. The album’s raw, unvarnished portrayal of life’s trials and resilience resonates deeply with me. Our film aims to capture that same spirit, bringing Warren Zanes’ compelling narrative of Bruce’s life to the screen with authenticity and hope, honoring Bruce’s legacy in a transformative cinematic experience. It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with Bruce and Jon [Landau] as I tell their story, and their creative energy fuels every part of this journey.

In addition to Jeremy Allen White, the film also stars Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s long-time mentor and manager, Jon Landau. Paul Walter Hauser will play guitar tech Mike Batlan. Odessa Young will join them as Faye, “a formative love interest in Springsteen’s life.” Sir Stephen Graham will star as Springsteen’s father. And Johnny Cannizzaro also booked a gig as The E Street Band’s Stevie Van Zandt.

Filming is, fittingly, underway in New Jersey and New York, with additional production scheduled for Los Angeles. We’ll be excited to see more glimpses of Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce Springsteen sometime soon.

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Marvel Comics Launches DEADPOOL/WOLVERINE Ongoing Series in January

Wade Wilson and Logan absolutely owned the box office this year with Deadpool & Wolverine. So it’s a no-brainer that Marvel would give the deadly duo their own ongoing series together. Writer Benjamin Percy and artist Joshua Cassara, who collaborated on X-Force, reunite this coming January in Deadpool/Wolverine. This new ongoing series is described as being “Chock-full of long-buried secrets, unpredictable twists, and a villainous plot that’ll turn long-term and newly arriving X-readers’ heads.” This follows the publisher’s “event story” from last summer. Now, we have our first look at Deadpool/Wolverine interior pages from Marvel Comics, which you can check out down below in our gallery.

Click To View Gallery Marvel Comics Marvel Comics Marvel Comics Marvel Comics Marvel Comics

Here’s the official description of Deadpool/Wolverine from Marvel Comics:

The most unlikely team-up turned most demanded one, Deadpool and Wolverine are back together again and ready to blow your minds in this ongoing series that hits like a never-ending action movie – with the fate of the world in the balance! When a fan-favorite villain is unearthed, you’ll get to see a new side of our heroes and their adversary as an ages-long plan comes to fruition. And the only thing that stands between the Earth and annihilation is the Best There Is and the Merc With The Mouth. 

Logan and Wade have a very long comic book history together, ever since Deadpool first appeared in the early ’90s. And in the movie universe, let’s not forget that Ryan Reynolds’ version of the character actually debuted in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A good seven years before his solo movie debut. (I know, we all want to forget it, but we can’t ignore history!) They’ve shared various comic book mini-series together over the years where they co-headlined. But we think it’s long overdue that Marvel Comics gave the pair of eternal frenemies their own ongoing. The first issue of Deadpool/Wolverine goes on sale in January, 2025.

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Oscar Isaac and Charles Melton Starring in BEEF Season 2

Netflix has confirmed a second season of Beef, with showrunner Lee Sung Jin and A24 producing. The series recently announced their new expanded cast for the second season. Oscar Isaac, Charles Melton, Carey Mulligan, Youn Yuh-jung, and Cailee Spaeny are joining the show.

GQ/Netflix

Isaac and Mulligan are partnered up again for Beef after working on the 2013 film Inside Llewyn Davis. Melton joined the Beef cast after his widely praised performance in Netflix’s May December, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Spaeny has acted in Civil War, Alien: Romulus, and Priscilla as the titular character, the latter of which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Youn Yuh-jung gained international recognition for her role as Soon-ja in Minari. She was the first Korean actor to win an Academy Award.

Season two will involve a different premise than the first, exploring the aftermath of a young couple witnessing a fight between their boss and his wife. Like the first season, this inciting show of rage throws the main characters into a slew of consequences. The show will largely revolve around a country club and its Korean billionaire owner.

Instead of 10 episodes, the second season will only have eight, each around 30 minutes in length. Lee Sung Jin is continuing his role as showrunner and executive producer. Jake Schreier, director of Paper Towns, is also an executive producer. Lee and Schreier are working together on the upcoming Marvel film, Thunderbolts.

Netflix

Stars of season one, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, are also executive producers for the second season. Season one of Beef depicted a road rage incident between the main protagonists, Danny Cho and Amy Lau, played by Yeun and Wong, respectively, that slowly (not that slowly TBH) descends to all-out madness, consuming their lives.

Funnily enough, the first season’s inciting incident is derived from Lee’s real road rage experience, which he revealed at a South by Southwest panel. A car honked and cursed at Lee, then drove away. Honestly, that tracks for Los Angeles! Lee said, “For some reason, on that day, I was like, ‘I’m going to follow you.” The real situation definitely did not progress or end like the show, but nevertheless inspired Lee to create the story.

You can watch the first season on Netflix to catch up before season 2.

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Marvel and DC Both Have Their Own Versions of Dracula and Frankenstein

Dracula and Frankenstein are the biggest icons of horror, going back to 19th century gothic literature, the golden age of Hollywood, and yes, the DC and Marvel Comics universes. Since both characters are public domain, and have been for a very long time, the two biggest comic book companies in the world jumped at the chance to incorporate them into their shared universes. However, one publisher leaned into both characters far more heavily than the other. This is the DC and Marvel history of Frankenstein’s Monster and Count Dracula.

DC Comics/Marvel ComicsThe DC Universe DraculaDC Comics

In the DC universe, characters presenting as Dracula appeared in various titles, most notably an appearance where he (and Frankenstein’s Monster) battle Superman. However, that version of Dracula was the result of magic which brought this “fictional character” to life. This story took place in Superman #344 from 1980, written by Paul Levitz, and illustrated by Curt Swan. This came years after Marvel’s Dracula had his own title. A version of Dracula that was truly the infamous Transylvanian Count didn’t appear in the DC universe until after the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot.

Superman Fights Count Rominoff, DC’s DraculaDC Comics

In 2002, the actual Dracula fought Superman at last. This happened in Superman vol.2 #180, by writers Jeph Loeb and Geoff Johns and artist Ian Churchill. The story essentially does a riff on the opening of Bram Stoker’s original novel, with Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen arriving in the Transylvanian castle of one Count Rominoff. This Count has pale skin, a long black cape, and is essentially dressed in vampire drag. So we’re not quite sure how Clark didn’t instantly pick up on the “undead” part, but hey, we’ll go with it.

DC Comics

Eventually, the Metropolis trio discovers Count Rominoff is actually Count Dracula himself. Using his powers of hypnosis, Dracula was able to overcome the Man of Steel. After all, besides Kryptonite, the one thing Superman is vulnerable to is magic. His big mistake came when he actually bit Superman and tried to drain his alien blood. Since Superman’s cells absorb solar energy, biting Superman was like feeding on sunlight, and Dracula instantly turned into ash. Sadly, that was the last we saw of Drac in the DC universe. It’s high time someone brought him back. After all, we know he always comes back.

Batman vs. Dracula of Earth-43DC Comics

In another world in the DC Multiverse, Dracula had a far bigger presence and a totally different enemy. On Earth-43, Vlad the Impaler fought the Batman in a trilogy of popular Elseworlds stories by writer Doug Moench and artist Kelley Jones. In 1992’s Batman and Dracula: Red Rain, the Dark Knight fought a truly sinister version of the Count. Kelley often drew Dracula as a terrifying bat/human hybrid, not unlike Batman’s longtime foe, Man-Bat. In this story, Dracula came to Gotham to feed on its indigent population. During a battle with Batman, he actually bit him and transformed him into a vampire. Dracula was defeated, but not before Batman gave into his bloodlust and drained the Joker. This Dracula story was so popular, two sequels soon followed.

The Marvel Universe DraculaMarvel Comics

Over at DC’s rival Marvel Comics, Dracula has had a much bigger presence in their mainstream universe. When the self-censoring Comics Code Authority lifted its longtime ban on vampires in comics, Marvel gave Dracula his own series, Tomb of Dracula. Mostly written by future New Teen Titans writer Marv Wolfman and illustrated for its entire 70-issue run by Gene Colan, the series was an instant hit. It showcased an unrepentantly evil Count who fought a group of vampire hunters, one of which was future superstar, Blade.

Dracula vs. the X-Men and Doctor Strange Marvel Comics

After Tomb of Dracula ended in 1979, the character took a bit of a rest. But as everyone knows, Dracula always comes back. Dracula tried to make Storm of the X-Men his undead bride in the early ‘80s, and he fought Thor, the Silver Surfer, and the Avengers. He tried to drain Spider-Man, but his radioactive blood was not to his liking. However, the biggest threat Dracula encountered among the Marvel heroes was Doctor Strange. Several times, the Lord of the Vampires fought the Sorcerer Supreme who successfully found a way to remove the world of vampires, using the Montesi Formula. So once again, Marvel removed Dracula from the equation. For a time.

In the 21st Century, Dracula reemerged as a major threat to the 616 Marvel Universe. In the 2010 series X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – X-Men vs. Vampires, Dracula’s son Xarus becomes a bigger threat than his father. First, he uses his vampire army to kill his father. Then, he attempted to take over San Francisco (which at the time was home to the X-Men). The X-Man Jubilee actually became a vampire during this era. To defeat Xarus, the X-Men had to resurrect their old enemy, restoring Dracula as Lord of the Vampires. Around this time, Dracula also tried to take over the United Kingdom, coming into conflict with Captain Britain.

Dracula Creates the Nation of Vampyrsk and the Events of Blood HuntMarvel Comics

Dracula’s most recent plans against the heroes of the Marvel universe targeted just about everyone. He fought Deadpool and even bit him, finding out the hard way that his cancerous blood was poison to him. He then said he never wanted the Merc with the Mouth’s name uttered in front of him ever again. In recent years, he helped establish a vampire nation called Vampyrsk, in the radioactive remains of the Chernobyl disaster in Russia. In the 2024 event Bloodhunt, the vamps blot out the sun, unleashing a vampiric dominance. During this event, Dracula actually helps the good guys. The series ends with Dracula and other vamps suddenly immune to sunlight.

The DC Universe Version of FrankensteinDC Comics

The DC universe has featured several iterations of Mary Shelley’s “Modern Prometheus,” the Frankenstein Monster. Having said that, some were just similar creatures inspired by Victor Frankenstein’s creation. For the purposes of clarity, we’re going to focus on just the actual Frankenstein Monster himself, not any of its namesakes. Characters like the Patchwork Man and others either used Frankenstein iconography or evoked his name, without actually being the same creature.

The Spawn of Frankenstein Emerges in the ’70s

The first significant DC version of the creature was known as The Spawn of Frankenstein. He first appeared in an issue of Phantom Stranger in 1973. Tomb of Dracula’s Marv Wolfman and artist Mike Kaluta created this version. He looked very different from the usual depictions of the character, almost all heavily inspired by Boris Karloff. The Spawn of Frankenstein actually looked more like his descriptions in Mary Shelley’s original novel. He made a few appearances throughout Bronze Age DC series before the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot removed him from continuity.

The Modern DC Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E DC Comics

The modern DC Frankenstein didn’t emerge until the 21st century, created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Doug Mahnke. He first appears in Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1. Most of his Mary Shelley backstory remains intact for the DC version. Except here, he survived the novel’s events and literally swam to America. (I guess one can do that when they’re undead). He looks far more traditionally monstrous (and green) than his pre-Crisis counterpart. He’s also way more muscular, exhibiting almost Superman levels of super strength. He essentially becomes an immortal soldier. After many adventures, he became a part of Morrison’s Seven Soldiers of Victory and eventually an agent of the government organization S.H.A.D.E. (Super-Human Advanced Defense Executive).

DC Comics

In 2011, DC rebooted their universe yet again with The New 52. It was during this era that the monster received a new ongoing series called Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. This was basically the same version as the Seven Soldiers iteration of Frankenstein, with slight tweaks. The series ran for 16 issues, mostly written by Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt, with art by Alberto Ponticelli. After the series ended, Frankenstein went on to become a member of the Justice League Dark for a time, later teaming up with both Batman and Superman. He was also the leader of the Creature Commandos, something that will soon be canon to the DCU in the upcoming animated series.

The Marvel Universe Version of FrankensteinMarvel Comics

Over at Marvel, their Frankenstein Monster had a revival around the same time as Dracula. Only Frankenstein’s series didn’t run for quite as long, or have the same impact. After both Tomb of Dracula and Ghost Rider started to sell like demonic hotcakes, Marvel editorial tried their hand at the Creature. He got a try-out of sorts in a ‘60s issue of Uncanny X-Men, but that version was a robot. The “real” version finally appeared in 1973’s The Monster of Frankenstein #1, coming from the Ghost Rider creative team of writer Mike Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog. The first several issues just adapted Shelley’s novel before bringing the Monster into the modern day.

The Monster of Frankenstein Is One of Marvel’s Lesser Known Horror TitlesMarvel Comics

The Monster of Frankenstein ran for 18 issues, which isn’t too bad. But his fellow monster books like Tomb of Dracula and Ghost Rider far outlasted him. Nevertheless, Frankenstein’s monster appeared in various Marvel books of the era, like Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, and Iron Man. He teamed up with other Marvel monsters for the short-lived Legion of Monsters series before all but vanishing from the pages of Marvel Comics in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Most recently, the Frankenstein Monster returned, recruited by Phil Coulson for S.H.I.E.L.D.’s supernatural military squad, dubbed the Howling Commandos. It seems, like the DC version, modern Marvel Frankenstein was best utilized as an undead soldier in a special black ops battalion. He’s never held the same importance to the overall Marvel universe as Dracula (who of course he has fought), but remains lurking in the shadows. He refuses to die, and will no doubt pop up once again. Neither Frankenstein or Dracula ever remain absent from their respective comic book universes for too long.

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New DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Stout and Bourbon for Its 50th Anniversary

New Holland Brewing & Distilling Co. has partnered with Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast subsidiary to fuel your adventures for Dungeons & Dragons‘ 50th anniversary. You can expect the new D&D-inspired stout and bourbon to release on Nov 16.

New Holland Brewing & Distilling Co

New Holland Brewing is adding to its existing Dragon’s Milk line with two different limited-edition D&D products, a D20 Brew Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout and Origin Mead Cask Bourbon Whiskey. The bourbon-based drinks will be available online on Dragon Milk’s website and in select retailers.

Both drinks will come in specially designed gift packs with D&D accessories exclusive to the release. D&D and Dragon’s Milk collaboration merchandise is currently available for preorder online. The drop includes a t-shirt, beanie, hat, and snifter. For context, a snifter is one of those glasses that is meant to hold a small quantity of alcohol, so it has a wide bottom and becomes narrower at the top; unlike the regular wine glass, it tends not to have a stem or be short-stemmed.

New Holland Brewing & Distilling Co

“Our latest Dragon’s Milk launch has captured the imagination of craft beverage enthusiasts and fantasy lovers alike. The outpouring of enthusiasm we’ve seen from both our loyal Dragon’s Milk patrons and the passionate D&D community has been extraordinary following September’s product announcement. 

Dragon’s Milk continues to live up to its reputation as a bold, legendary beverage portfolio. We can’t wait for our consumers to experience the magic and decadence of our newest Dragon’s Milk products for themselves as they gather their next party and escape on an adventurous campaign fueled by Dragon’s Milk and D&D,” said Brett VanderKamp, CEO and founder of New Holland Brewing Company.

The Dragon’s Milk line currently has a variety of bourbon barrel-aged drinks, including a stout, red ale, and golden ale. There is also a Dragon’s Milk Reserve that has seasonal flavors like coffee chocolate, oatmeal cookie, and s’mores. Additionally, they release a stout called Dragon’s Triple Mash only once a year.

New Holland Brewing & Distilling Co

Dragon’s Milk also includes an assortment of high-malt bourbons in 80-proof and 101-proof types that are available year-round. New Holland Brewing also has limited releases of single barrel cask strength bourbon. As for flavored bourbon, there are s’mores, apple pie, and sweet heat. For something higher in quality, there are small-batch bourbons, which vary in proof level and age.

Dragon’s Milk has won multiple awards, including Gold at the New York International Beer Competition and Silver at the Great American Beer Festival. Their Small Batch Bourbon received a double gold medal at the 2022 New York International Spirits Competition.

D&D has had other successful collaborations, including with LEGO. To keep up with information on the launch, Dragon’s Milk’s Instagram is posting updates.

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