Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 212

We See Owning the Tarot Deck From AGATHA ALL ALONG in Your Future

The seventh episode of Agatha All Along, titled “Death’s Hand in Mine,” featured the Tarot Trial of the Witches’ Road. Most fans watching knew something Tarot-related was coming, based on all the images of Tarot cards in the series’ credits. Not to mention the prominent role of Patti Lupone’s Lilia Calderu, who is a divination witch. After getting a good look at the Tarot deck in the show, fans have been clamoring to buy those same cards. As it turns out, one is already in the works, as an Agatha All Along Tarot Deck and Guidebook is already up for pre-order. You can check out some early images of the cards, illustrated by Brittany Horn, in our gallery below:

Click To View Gallery Brittany Horn/Marvel Marvel/Brittany Horn Brittany Horn/Marvel Marvel/Brittany Horn Marvel/Brittany Horn

Here’s the official description for this upcoming Agatha All Along Tarot Deck and Guidebook:

Follow the Witches’ Road alongside Agatha and her coven with this deck, featuring stunning artwork pulled directly from Marvel Television’s hit series, Agatha All Along, and inspired by the show’s memorable characters and moments. Rendered in a classic style, this full deck of major and minor arcana includes a detailed guidebook, and is the perfect familiar for witches and wiccans, regardless of experience.

Marvel/Brittany Horn

Each card in this deck features a full-color illustration of a character or element from the show. This includes Agatha Harkness, Rio Vidal, “Teen,” and other members of the Westview coven. This deluxe set of 78 cards, modeled after the iconic Rider Waite Deck, consists of both major and minor arcana. It also includes a 128-page guidebook with explanations of each card’s meaning, and simple spreads for easy readings for those new to the Tarot. The Agatha All Along Tarot Deck costs $27.99, and comes packaged in a deluxe gift box. Sadly, fans will have to wait a bit to own this one, as it doesn’t ship until July 8, 2025.

The post We See Owning the Tarot Deck From AGATHA ALL ALONG in Your Future appeared first on Nerdist.

THE OFFICE Is Getting a Mexican Adaptation on Prime Video

Everyone’s favorite paper company is making another international appearance. Prime Video, Amazon MGM Studios, and Gaz Alazraki’s Máquina Vega are going to be remaking The Office for the Spanish-language audience. The new Mexican remake will be called La Oficina.

Netflix/Soy NNDX

The Mexican adaptation takes place in Aguascalientes. Focusing on a family soap company’s regional manager Jerónimo Ponce III, who works for Jabones Olimpo (Olimpo Soaps). The office workers must navigate working with Ponce, who may not be the most traditional person to lead the business.

“It’s really exciting to do our own version of one of the most successful comedies of all time. The Mexican office worker subculture is one of the richest and most surreal in the world, and with Marcos Bucay and Gaz Alazraki, the two most successful comedy creators in the country, we know we have something unique that will surpass all expectations and leave fans of previous versions speechless,” said Alonso Aguilar, head of Mexico Originals at Amazon Studios in a statement reported by Variety.

Alazraki wrote and directed Nosotros los Nobles, the second-highest-grossing Mexican film of all time. He was also the co-creator, executive producer, and director of the Mexican comedy series Club de Cuervos, the first Spanish-language Netflix original series.

Warner Bros.

Alazraki‘s production company signed an exclusive overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios. As a result, Alazraki will write, produce, and direct series for Amazon MGM Studios, like the upcoming La Oficina. Alazraki is the director and executive producer of La Oficina with Marcos Bucay showrunning.

BBC

La Oficina will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in Latin America, Brazil, and Spain. Several countries, including India, Poland, Finland, and most recently Australia, have adapted the originally British show and its widely popular American counterpart. This isn’t Prime Video’s first venture into The Office adaptations. The Australian version started airing on the platform this month.

Disney+ Hotstar

“I’ve wanted to adapt ‘The Office’ since I bought the Ricky Gervais DVDs in 2003. Everything about the humor and the format makes me consider it the bravest comedy I’ve ever seen,” said Alazraki. “I thank Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for trusting us with their baby, and there is no better partner than Prime Video to try to make all of Mexico laugh about the work experience in our country.”

They have yet to release more information on the Mexican adaptation of The Office, such as the actors and airing date, as they are still developing it. There is also a spinoff series of the American version being made for Peacock called The Paper.

The post THE OFFICE Is Getting a Mexican Adaptation on Prime Video appeared first on Nerdist.

Tom Holland’s SPIDER-MAN 4 Sets 2026 Release Date

The neighborhood just got friendlier. After the massive global success of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, we’d hoped we’d see Tom Holland’s suddenly friendless Peter Parker swinging through the streets of Manhattan again. It was by no means a done deal. Tom had finished his initial contract and Sony and Marvel Studios would need to hash out a new agreement were he to return in the MCU. But return he will, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, Spider-Man 4 has set its release date for Summer 2026.

Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

It’ll be a big summer for Holland, who just joined Christopher Nolan’s next movie. That film will hit theaters July 17, 2026 while Spider-Man 4‘s scheduled date is July 24, 2026. Competing against himself, eh? Hollandheimer or whatever? Recently Holland mentioned he’s read the script and it needs a bit of work. They have time, at least.

The fourth film in the MCU’s super successful franchise-within-a-franchise will be demonstrably different than the previous three. For starters, it will be the first not directed by Jon Watts. Taking over directing duties is Destin Daniel Cretton who remains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following his debut with 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He had originally been on the slate to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty back when that movie, you know, existed. Not a bad consolation prize, I’d say.

With the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in flux (to put it mildly), Holland’s Spider-Man will be a stabilizing force in the franchise both on screen and off. We only recently learned that the tumultuous Blade production is off the slate entirely. Up next will be Captain America: Brave New World in February of 2025. Down the pike, we’ll get Thunderbolts* in May 2025 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

Marvel Studios

What we don’t know is how and what Spider-Man will have to face in Spider-Man 4. Not least because Avengers: Doomsday—which will set up the eventual final bow of this iteration of the MCU (we’re assuming) in Avengers: Secret Wars—comes out two months prior. We shall see, won’t we?

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

The post Tom Holland’s SPIDER-MAN 4 Sets 2026 Release Date appeared first on Nerdist.

Did Sony Cancel a Major VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Cameo?

[image error]

Eddie Brock spent Venom: The Last Dance trying to get to New York City. Considering he was a famous fugitive who needed to avoid both people and security cameras, the Big Apple made no sense as a destination. He’s a smart guy who knows no amount of blackmail material over a single judge would have saved him from the U.S. military. Like most things people did in the film, it was a totally illogical course of action for him. That’s why his quest to reach New York felt like it had nothing to do with Eddie or even Venom: The Last Dance: Instead of Lady Liberty, site of a very famous, very recent cinematic team-up, felt like it was entirely about an iconic New Yorker. The movie very clearly teased a meet-up with the person who will be the most important part of Sony’s live-action Spider-Verse franchise, Spider-Man.

Why make your audience think its getting a Spider-Man cameo if you aren’t going to actually show him? Why raise hopes for a highly-anticipated moment only to deliver disappointment? And why let your only successful standalone series potentially end without letting Eddie meet his famous counterpart? It doesn’t make sense. It’s both bad storytelling and bad business. All of which raises another question: did Sony pull the plug on its original plans to end Venom: The Last Dance with Spider-Man’s debut?

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Venom: The Last Dance did not worry itself about plot holes or characters acting logically. (That’s a big reason we liked it!) But Eddie’s mission to reach New York City felt different from all of the other inexplicable things people did for a very important reason. You can’t even mention New York City in a Spider-Man-adjacent movie without making people think of Spider-Man. And you certainly can’t have your main character focus on getting there when it doesn’t make sense for him to go there.

New York City is where Spider-People live! It’s also where this franchise very clearly needs to go very soon. Every major character, villain, and anti-hero from Sony’s standalone films will all need to eventually reach New York City. Morbius, Venom, Adrian Toomes, and (soon) Kraven the Hunter are all destined to end up in the Big Apple. It is a beacon for every Sony live-action Spider-Verse character because of Spider-Man. We just haven’t met this universe’s Spider-Person yet.

The Last Dance set his introduction up and then didn’t deliver. The only beacon Eddie saw was the one held by the Statue of Liberty. No disrespect to that iconic symbol, but Lady Liberty’s appearance didn’t make for a fulfilling end to Venom: The Last Dance. Not when the movie heavily foreshadowed the only moment fans actually care about. And especially not when Sony itself is preparing us to meet an all-new kind of live-action Spider-Man. The studio has said they plan to make a live-action Miles Morales movie. He felt like the most likely Spider-Man to swing into Eddie’s post-credits scene.

Sony Pictures

Instead all we got something worse than nothing. We got the unshakable feeling something important was supposed to happened and it didn’t. Fans of cinematic universes are already trained to expect a big end-credits moments, so it wasn’t like Sony needed a Spider-Man misdirect to make us care about the end of the movie. The fact they did without that epic payoff makes it impossible not to wonder if the studio changed it’s mind at the very, very last second. As in, it was too late to cut Eddie’s quest to reach not just New York City. Not just New York City, either. Specifically he wanted to see the Statue of Liberty, the place all the live-action Spider-Mans just teamed up!

It’s possible Sony didn’t ever plan to introduce Miles or any other Spider-Man. Maybe Sony just wanted an excuse to get Eddie Brock in New York City for a future event movie and (somehow?) overlooked the implications of spending an entire film doing that and how it would come across to people watching. That seems unlikely, but even if that’s what happened it doesn’t explain how they still ended up doing that. Spider-Man fans at test screenings would have mentioned what they thought was going to happen at the end. There’s just no way a tease of this magnitude was overlooked by thousands of people who worked on the film or saw early cuts. It’s impossible.

Marvel Studios

But even if that is what happened, it doesn’t explain why Sony seems so reluctant to introduce Spider-Man to its own live-action Spider-Verse. Especially when Venom: The Last Dance‘s own end-credits scene teased a massive live-action Spider-Verse event movie is coming. (One that will likely feature the return of Venom.) What better way to build anticipation for an Avengers-level movie, either a Sinister Six film or Knull-centered team-up, than by finally introducing your most important character in the only standalone Spider-Man movie series that matters?

At some point anticipation gives way to exhaustion. You can only wait for something for so long before you start to not care if it ever happens. And that’s the dangerous spot Sony is getting closer to with its live-action Spider-Verse. Outside of its three Venom films, Sony hasn’t exactly made a compelling case for its cinematic universe. Jokes about “Morbin’ time” and researching spiders in the Amazon don’t build franchises.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

The best, easiest way to reinvigorate this sagging superhero universe is to finally bring Spider-Man into the fold. Venom: The Last Dance certainly set up the debut of Miles Morales or a new Peter Parker. If it had, that’s what we’d be talking about instead of being confused by Eddie Brock’s travel plans. Unfortunately it seems like Sony decided it wasn’t enough for Eddie to lose his best friend. He also had to lose a chance to finally meet Spider-Man.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He would‘ve lost money mid Venom: The Last Dance betting Miles Morales would show up at the end. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Did Sony Cancel a Major VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Cameo? appeared first on Nerdist.

Citizen’s Mickey Mouse ‘Land, Sea, and Air’ Collector’s Set Will Make You the Most Elegant Disney Adult in the Room

There’s something so satisfying about fannish fashion that’s elegant, well-made, and, of course, stylish. As adults, fans finally have the funds and freedom to wear what they want, when they want. And, so it’s just our luck that more and more beautiful accessories are being created to help adult fans convey their love of fictional worlds in just the right way. Leading the charge is, of course, Citizen Watch. We’ve taken a look at some of Citizen’s fine offerings in the Star Wars and Marvel worlds before, but this latest Citizen Watch Mickey Mouse collection is set to elevate the Disney adult watch game to the next level.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of Citizen’s iconic Promaster watch, the company is releasing the limited-edition Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set. And you only have to take one look at this limited-edition collection to know that it reaches the highest peaks of Mickey Mouse class.

Citizen Watch

Only 100 sets of this unique Disney watch collection will be available for purchase. The official description of the Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set notes, that it “celebrates Citizen Promaster’s mission to inspire adventurers to go further, go deeper, and go higher.” And Mickey Mouse is indeed doing all three of these things on these lovely watches. The Promaster has been inspiring all kinds of athletes, from pilots, divers, and climbers, to get out there and find their next horizon for nearly 40 years. So it only feels right Mickey Mouse gets a chance to adventure as well. Honestly, Mickey’s explorations are just so cool. And we’ll feel pretty fabulous, too, with these three gorgeous timepieces on our arm.

Citizen Watch

The Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set features one brand new Disney Citizen watch, the Alpine Mickey Mouse watch. This watch is inspired by the short 1936 animated film, “Alpine Climber” and features Mickey reaching his highest heights yet. We’re obsessed with the olive green color scheme and Mickey’s jaunty feathered cap. This Disney Citizen watch looks like it’s just come out of a fairy tale, in absolutely the best way. We bet you’ll stop to tell the time all the time with this sleek creation. And, with any luck, Mickey will help you reach your highest heights, too.

The Alpine Mickey Mouse watch, alongside the other two watches in this limited-edition collection, also comes with a very special enamel pin, for all you pin lovers out there. (We know there are many.) Famed Disney Illustrator Jeff Shelly designed the artwork on the pins and watches. It doesn’t get better than that.

Citizen Watch

In addition to the Alpine Mickey Mouse watch, this limited-edition Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set includes fan-favorite Citizen watches, Mickey Mouse Water Sport and Mickey Mouse Aviator. The former takes you into your blue era, as Mickey makes a splash and dives into the water. This watch really puts us in mind of a much-needed vacation. And hopefully, whenever we look down at it, it’ll create a small oasis of joy and peace in our day.

Meanwhile, the Mickey Mouse Aviator watch is truly a classic. It gives just the right vintage vibes. Dark leather, ivory accents, silver details, and more; this timepiece truly has a timeless aura. Wear it when you want to feel the fanciest, most scholarly version of yourself.

Citizen Watch

In addition to the three watches, the Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set comes with an incredible free gift, an exclusive print by renowned Disney artist Brian Blackmore. This limited-edition artwork “captures the thrilling adventures of Disney’s Mickey Mouse across sea, sky, and land. Inspired by the dials of the Disney | Citizen Mickey Mouse watches from the new Mickey Lifestyle – Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set, the print showcases Mickey Mouse scuba diving near South America, soaring above the world, and scaling the peaks of Antarctica.” Truly some adventures worth having.

Citizen Watch

This collection will open for public purchasing on October 27. But if you’re a D23 Gold Member, you get an exclusive shopping window that’s happening right now. The Citizen Mickey Mouse Lifestyle Land, Sea, and Air Collector’s Set costs $1,195.00. Set your watches today if you want to remember to snag it.

The post Citizen’s Mickey Mouse ‘Land, Sea, and Air’ Collector’s Set Will Make You the Most Elegant Disney Adult in the Room appeared first on Nerdist.

Square Enix’s TWO MOONS RISING Transforms LIFE IS STRANGE Universe Into a TTRPG Series

Square Enix and Deck Nine’s upcoming game Life is Strange: Double Exposure sounds like quite the adventure. It centers on Max Caufield, who tears open a pathway to a parallel timeline when she finds her friend Safi dead in the snow. The other timeline still has an alive Safi, thankfully, but she’s in danger and time is running out.

A supernatural murder mystery with a plethora of possibilities, Max must solve this case… if she can stay alive. Before Max Caulfield takes on this seemingly impossible mission, embark on an entirely different mystery set in this rich universe.

Square Enix

In celebration of the upcoming Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Square Enix partnered with Compadre to create Two Moons Rising, a two-part actual play TTRPG series that unfolds through the lens of the in-universe true crime podcast hosted by Loretta Rice.

The adventure takes place on the eve of a Blood Moon as a group meets at Devil’s Tower for a fun outing. Like Max in Double Exposure, the Two Moons Rising crew find themselves dealing with a mystery as murder ensues and exposed secrets threaten their futures. This thrilling, slow-burn mystery stars Ify Nwadiwe (Um, Actually), Aabria Iyengar (Worlds Beyond Number), Becca Scott (Good Time Society), Johnny Stanton IV (SINK! RPG) , and gamemaster Jasmine Bhullar (Relics and Rarities). 

Square Enix/Compadre

And the best part? You can watch the epic two-part series for free on Geek & Sundry!

Episode one of Two Moons Rising premiered on Geek & Sundry on October 23:

And now, the second and final episode of Two Moons Rising has arrived at Geek & Sundry as well; you can watch it below:

If you want to play Two Moons Rising yourself, it is free and available to download at DriveThruRPG. May your decisions lead to triumph over chaos.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure comes to Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 29.

Originally published on October 23, 2024.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post Square Enix’s TWO MOONS RISING Transforms LIFE IS STRANGE Universe Into a TTRPG Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Why VENOM: THE LAST DANCE’s Second End-Credits Scene Is a Big Deal for Both Sony and the MCU

Venom: The Last Dance featured two end-credits scenes. Each has major and obvious implications for the future of Sony’s growing live-action Spider-Verse and its signature symbiote, but the second also teases a tantalizing possibility for the MCU. How can one moment mean so much for two separate franchises? Here’s how Venom: The Last Dance‘s post-credits scene transcends the cinematic superhero multiverse.

[image error]Sony Pictures EntertainmentWhat Happened During Venom: The Last Dance‘s Second End-Credits Scene?

The final moment from Venom: The Last Dance took place entirely after the credits ended. It opened on the ruins of Area 51, where Venom and most of his fellow Symbiotes had died days earlier fighting Knull’s xenophages. Apparently amid all the intergalactic alien warfare, the United States government forgot about Cristo Fernández’s bartender. Soldiers had taken him into custody after his encounter with Eddie Brock at the start of the film. He emerged from the underground complex scared and confused before he started running home. As he did, the camera panned over to a cockroach.

As Juno Temple’s Dr. Payne had pointed out, cockroaches survive everything. Apparently so do beloved symbiotes with box office caché. That tough little bug walked towards a flashing broken vial. It was the one we’d seen earlier in the film during Fernández’s first scene in the movie.

That sequence began by replaying the Ted Lasso star’s MCU debut that also marked Tom Hardy’s only appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. They both appeared in a mid-credits scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home. That moment showed Symbrock had also been pulled into Earth-616 by Doctor Strange’s failed spell, even though Eddie had never met Peter Parker or any other Spider-Man.

Before a drunk Eddie could pay his tab, he got pulled back into his own parallel universe. Venom: The Last Dance showed what happened after that. Eddie ended up back in a similar bar where a Variant of the very same bartender worked. (Only this version knew to let his glorious hair down.)

When Eddie and Venom left the Mexican bar in their own world, they also left behind a single coin covered in a glob of Venom’s symbiote goo. That’s exactly what they had also left behind in Earth-616 (sans any money).

What we learned about the nature of Venom’s remnants in The Last Dance is why this end-credits scene is so important to both superhero franchises.

What Does Venom: The Last Dance‘s Post-Credits Scene Mean for Venom and Sony’s Spider-Verse?Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

When Venom sacrificed himself in a bath of acid, he told Eddie he was only saying goodbye “for now.” It was a curious choice of words that made perfect sense during The Last Dance‘s post-credits scene. When the U.S. military showed up at that Mexican bar, they captured the piece of Venom the symbiote had left behind. Venom’s goodbye indicates the broken vial the cockroach found before the movie ended was the very same one.

Venom’s temporary farewell combined with this sequence indicates he’s not actually gone forever. He lives on in the tiny piece of himself he left on that bar. This is not a Groot-like situation, where a piece of a dead Groot grew into an entirely new, entirely different Groot. That small glob of Venom is the very same Venom we know and love. It’s the same alien that shared a body with Eddie Brock. And if it can make its way to Eddie, Earth will once again have its “greatest champion” as Knull called him. If that happens we could also eventually get a Venom 4. We could also get something even bigger.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Knull promised to bring darkness to the entire galaxy in the film’s other end-credits scene. It set him up to b the major villain in a future Sony live-action Spider-Verse crossover event that feels inevitable. A massive event movie would feel incomplete without Venom and Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock involved. That little cockroach at the end of an otherwise funny scene means they can.

But now that we know a small piece of Venom actually is the exact same Venom we know, that also means he already exists in the MCU.

How Does This Post-Credits Scene Connect to the MCU?Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

Like Venom: The Last Dance‘s second end-credits scene, Eddie Brock’s only MCU appearance was also entirely humorous until the final moment. After Eddie got pulled back into his own universe Spider-Man: No Way Home showed that he’d left a tiny piece of himself on the bar.

That was exciting enough on its own, as it formally brought symbiotes to Earth-616. But we now know it didn’t just bring any symbiote or even a Venom Variant to that world. It brought Sony’s very same Venom there. Venom, the Venom, exists in the MCU. We just don’t know who he’ll connect there with and what that will do to him. We just know we can’t wait to find out.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

For a movie that was supposed to serve as a farewell to Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his best alien bud, Venom: The Last Dance ended by showing us the legendary symbiote that starred in three movies is still very much alive in two superhero franchises.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post Why VENOM: THE LAST DANCE’s Second End-Credits Scene Is a Big Deal for Both Sony and the MCU appeared first on Nerdist.

What the First VENOM: THE LAST DANCE End-Credits Scene Means for the Sony-Verse

Venom: The Last Dance was advertised as the farewell to Eddie Brock and his best symbiote friend. But Sony’s live-action Spider-Verse isn’t going anywhere. That was made very clear during The Last Dance‘s first end-credits scene. What happened and what does it mean? Here’s why it’s potentially a very big, franchise-altering moment.

[image error]Sony Pictures Entertainment

Venom sacrificed himself—or at least most of himself—at the end of The Last Dance. It was the only way he could both save Eddie’s life and the universe from his creator Knull. The God of Symbiotes didn’t get the codex he needed to free himself, but Knull did get new motivation. During the film’s first of two end-credits scenes he made a sinister, terrifying promise.

The scene showed him still sitting atop his lonely throne on his planetary prison surrounded by dark shadows. From there he shared his plans when he finally (inevitably?) breaks out:

Your champion has fallen. Your planets will be mine. The King in Black is awake. I will kill your world. Everyone will burn. And you will watch.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Threats don’t get much more direct. How Knull delivered that short speech was just as scary With his last statement he picked up his head and finally gave us the clearest look at his nightmarish face.

Knull is angry and ready to unleash darkness on the entire universe, but when and where? Venom: The Last Dance left open the possibility of Earth’s “champion” returning. The film’s second end-credits scene reminded viewers Venom left behind a tiny piece of himself. (That was especially noteworthy since Venom told Eddie goodbye “for now” before his fatal acid bath.) Only, it’s not even clear a Venom 4 will ever happen. Even if it does, Knull is a far too powerful enemy for Venom alone. Multiple symbiotes couldn’t stop two of Knull’s monsters. They’d have no shot against their creator. They’d need help. A lot of help.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

That’s partly why this scene felt much bigger than a tease for a possible Venom sequel. It was more akin to how the MCU slowly set up Thanos as its big crossover villain in standalone movies. That might be exactly what Sony is doing with its growing live-action Spider-Verse. It needs a powerful, dangerous character that could justify a big team-up. Who better to do that than a god “older than the universe itself.”

Knull might be the franchise’s first Thanos-level threat, a figure so singularly dangerous it will finally bring all of the franchise’s many characters together. Spider-Man alone can’t beat Knull. Neither can Morbius or Kraven who will soon make his Sony-Verse debut. But all of them working with other superheroes and surviving symbiotes? Then, and only then, they might have a chance when Knull shows up.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

The King in Black isn’t just awake. Venom: The Last Dance‘s end-credits scene showed he’s fired up. He wants both freedom and vengeance. Knull wants to spread darkness everywhere forever. When he tries he could be the villain who finally brings everyone from Sony’s Spider-Verse to one movie.

The post What the First VENOM: THE LAST DANCE End-Credits Scene Means for the Sony-Verse appeared first on Nerdist.

How AGATHA ALL ALONG Paired Pop Culture Witches with the Witches’ Road Coven

In the seventh episode of Agatha All Along, we finally reach a moment we knew was coming from all the teasers and trailers—our Westview coven dressed up as famous pop culture witches. This occurs within the portion of the Witches’ Road trial, the Tarot Trial, designed specifically for Patti Lupone’s divination witch Lilia. But why were each of these witches paired with those specific pop culture enchantresses? Each one has a very specific meaning, and reason for being paired with them.

Agatha Harkness/The Wicked Witch of the WestMarvel Studios/Warner Bros.

Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) enters the trial and transforms into a semblance of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. She seems amused by this, saying to Billy “She’s based on me, you know.” This implies that at some point, she met Oz author L. Frank Baum, no doubt left a horrible impression on him and he based his novel’s villain on her. Agatha seems to relish having the embodiment of the evil witch cliché based on herself. So it’s no wonder that became her appearance in the trial. Also, let’s not forget that Agatha killed the Maximoff family’s dog Sparky in WandaVision. This of course reminds us of Margaret Hamilton’s iconic Oz line “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!” Interestingly, this series is humanizing Agatha somewhat, just as the novel/play Wicked did for the original Wicked Witch.

Billy Maximoff/MaleficentMarvel Studios/Disney

William Kaplan/Billy Maximoff’s witch was none other than Maleficent from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. We know from the glimpses into his bedroom posters in episode six that he’s a big fan of classic Disney animation. Let’s face it, of the great pop culture witches, Maleficent is the most diva-esque of all. So it’s no wonder that Billy (Joe Locke), a gay teen, would idolize her over the others. It also makes sense that he’s not just doing Maleficent drag, but it’s more like gender-bent cosplay. Maybe the biggest clue as to why Billy is Maleficent is that she famously has a secondary form as a giant dragon. Now, we doubt Billy is a dragon, but he was certainly adept at hiding his true self for several episodes. Luckily, Billy is better at dodging swords than Maleficent was in Sleeping Beauty.

Jennifer Kale/The Old HagMarvel Studios/Disney

Speaking of Disney witches, Jennifer Kale’s witch is actually the Old Hag persona of the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This makes total sense, of course, because the Evil Queen was obsessed with being the “fairest in the land.” Jennifer’s whole business was selling (bogus) age-defying beauty products to unsuspecting customers. Potions were also her specialty, and the Evil Queen mixes magical potions in the classic film. Jennifer didn’t manifest in her glamorous Queen persona in the Tarot Trial, probably because inside, she knows that she is far older than she looks. No doubt her biggest insecurity is that despite any appearances to the contrary, inside, she’s really a very old hag.

Lilia Calderu/Glinda the Good WitchMarvel Studios/Warner Bros.

No one hates the representation of witches in pop culture more than Lilia Calderu (Patti Lupone). We learned this from her very first appearance in the show. So it makes sense that for her Tarot Trial, pop culture witches would be the theme. Lilia was transformed into a version of Glinda, the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz. Honestly, this is probably the witch stereotype that offends her the least. Given the nature of this episode, it also makes sense she would embody Glinda. In The Wizard of Oz, it was Glinda who revealed to Dorothy that she contained the answers within herself all along. In a sense, Lilia had the answers to her time leaps within her all this time too. She just didn’t know how to access it until the very end.

The post How AGATHA ALL ALONG Paired Pop Culture Witches with the Witches’ Road Coven appeared first on Nerdist.

Magnolia Bakery Relaunches Banana Pudding-Flavored Edibles

Famous for its iconic banana pudding, New York staple Magnolia Bakery is once again collaborating with Incredibles to relaunch THC-infused chocolate bars. They will come in a Banana Pudding and Red Velvet cake flavor, some of the Bakery’s most famous desserts.

Magnolia Group

The Swirled Famous Banana Pudding Bar will include a mixture of crunchy vanilla cookies, freeze-dried bananas, and vanilla pudding swirls. Red Velvet Piece Ahhh Cake 1:1 Bar will have red velvet cake flavor, a cream cheese tang, and dark chocolate.

The chocolate bars are currently available for purchase at Rise Dispensaries in New York. They will be available online at the Incredibles website by the end of October. In the near future, the company will sell the product in New Jersey as well.

“Magnolia Bakery has been a New York institution for nearly 30 years, and after the overwhelming response to our collaboration chocolate bars last year, we’re thrilled to bring them home to New York and New Jersey,” Dominic O’Brien, SVP of Revenue at Green Thumb, said in a statement reported by Secret New York. “We’re equally excited to now make these unique, flavor-packed cannabis treats accessible to even more adults 21+ across the country through our website and local delivery. These chocolate bars are the best tasting edibles out there – we can’t wait to share them with Americans this fall.”

Magnolia Bakery and Incredibles originally released the chocolate edibles last fall for a limited time. The bars contain tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly called THC, which is the part of a cannabis plant that produces “changes in mood, thoughts, and perceptions of reality,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Both bars are made up of 10 pieces that each contain 10mg of THC. However, the Red Velvet Piece Ahhh Cake bar also has 10mg of CBD per piece. Last fall, prices ranged from $18 to $30.

The post Magnolia Bakery Relaunches Banana Pudding-Flavored Edibles appeared first on Nerdist.