Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 22

You Can Get to SESAME STREET This November on Netflix

Reader, I can tell you exactly how to get to Sesame Street. I can even tell you exactly when you can go for new adventures. How? Well, it’s magic. Actually, it is not. Deadline reports that Sesame Street will debut season 56 on Netflix on November 10. The long-running children’s program is getting more life at the streaming service after HBO Max opted to not renew it in 2024. We previously reported about this reimagined version of Sesame Street with new concepts but familiar faces like our buddy Elmo. Netflix

The new episodes will be 11 minutes long and hit Netflix as well as PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms. Hopefully, having the series on PBS will not change considering some budget cuts that are possibly coming to certain TV networks.

That is a whole other post that will not get explored here. The main thing is that Sesame Street will continue to educate young children to prepare them for school and to hopefully be good humans, thanks to Netflix. That’s incredibly important and will always be.

The post You Can Get to SESAME STREET This November on Netflix appeared first on Nerdist.

PAX West 2025: The 5 Best Panels in This Year’s Jam-Packed Schedule

Convention season is on in full force, and that means everyone’s favorite gaming convention, PAX West is just around the corner. Taking place in Seattle, WA, from August 29 to September 1, PAX West will be bringing together the best of “gaming and gaming culture” through “thought-provoking panels, a massive expo hall filled with the best publishers and studios, new game demos, musical performances, tournaments, and a community experience unlike any other.” If you’re heading to the con this weekend, you’re probably getting together your schedule right now. But even if you can’t attend, we have good news for you: you’ll be able to stream the best of PAX West’s panels right on Nerdist‘s YouTube channel. (You can specifically head to this link, but it’ll be private until the event.) And that means you can join in the fun of planning out your schedule for PAX West, no matter who you are. To help you out, here are the top five panels you won’t want to miss during PAX West 2025.

The Top 5 Panels You Should Attend at PAX West 2025Storytime with Naoki Yoshida—a Very FINAL FANTASY Keynote Panel at PAX WestSquare EnixWhen and Where: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT) / 2:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Summit Building – Main Theatre

Square Enix’s Naoki Yoshida is heading to PAX West as a keynote speaker that you will definitely want to add to your schedule. Yoshida is, of course, a renowned game designer, producer, and director known for his work on the FINAL FANTASY games. After he joined Square Enix in 2005, he led the effort to evolve the original FINAL FANTASY XIV into FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn. This overhaul of the game removed many initially unpopular systems to the benefit of fans and players. Yoshida also produced FINAL FANTASY XV and continues to oversee the game’s success and creative direction.

At his panel, Yoshida “joins PAX West to share more about his experiences as a game developer. He’ll also share his thoughts on the evolution of the games industry and how it has affected projects he’s worked on such as FINAL FANTASY XIV and FINAL FANTASY XVI.”

This will undoubtedly be a conversation that no gamer will want to miss.

Other PAX West Panels of Related Interest

PAX West will also host a panel titled: The Making of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles on Saturday, August 30, at the Blue Dragon Theater from 2:00PM-3:00PM.

[image error]Square Enix

The description for this panel is as follows: “Calling all Tacticians of Ivalice! In anticipation of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles launch on Sep. 30, SQUARE ENIX invites fans for a special panel with Game Director Kazutoyo Maehiro (FINAL FANTASY Tactics, FINAL FANTASY XII, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, FINAL FANTASY XVI) and Art Director Hiroshi Minagawa (FINAL FANTASY TACTICS, VAGRANT STORY, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, FINAL FANTASY XVI). The panel will discuss how the developers were able to bring the significantly enhanced version of the game to life and share some behind-the-scenes stories about the development of the genre-defining game. Hosted by the award-winning voice actor, Ben Starr (FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles, FINAL FANTASY XVI), this will be a panel that FINAL FANTASY fans cannot miss!”

If Final Fantasy is your all-time favorite game, make sure to add these two panels to your PAX West schedule.

Borderlands 4 Is Coming to PAX West as Part of the Gearbox Main Theater Show GearboxWhen and Where: Friday, August 29 at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) / 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Summit Building – Main Theatre

Borderlands 4 is releasing on September 12—so this PAX West panel from Gearbox will likely be one of your last times to hear about the new game before it hits consoles. This can’t-miss panel at PAX West will be filled with exclusive Borderlands 4 reveals that will leave fans hyped. And Gearbox will also be showcasing one of its other upcoming games, Risk of Rain 2: Alloyed Collective.

The official schedule shares the following description of this exciting PAX West panel: “Get ready for a PACKED Gearbox Main Theater Show! Join us in person or watch on stream for can’t-miss reveals from Borderlands 4 developers and an update on Risk of Rain 2: Alloyed Collective.”

NASA’s “Artemis II Mission: Gaming the Future of Space Exploration” Panel Will Be a Fun and Educational Panel

When and Where: Friday, August 29 at 5:30 p.m. (PDT) / 8:30 p.m. (EDT) at the Blue Dragon Theatre

We know games can entertain and delight, but they can also educate and inform. And that’s exactly what NASA will highlight in its incredible PAX West panel, “NASA’s Artemis II Mission: Gaming the Future of Space Exploration.” In this panel, fans can understand more about how gaming is actually making a huge difference in our space travel and astronaut education… And might even take us to Mars.

The official PAX West panel description reads, “Humanity’s returning to the Moon for the first time since 1972. NASA is taking what we learned from the successful Artemis I mission and kicking off New Game Plus with Artemis II and four crew members: testing vital life support systems, spacecraft handling, and communication and navigation systems. Learn from the experts how the modeling, visualization, and simulation techniques that develop your favorite games are informing our astronaut training and enabling humanity’s next giant leap: Mars.”

“For Those Who Come After: Meet the Cast of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” at PAX West Sandfall Interactive

When and Where: Saturday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) / 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Summit Building – Main Theatre

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most captivating, most beautiful, and most exciting new games we’ve seen in recent history. And that’s why the “For Those Who Come After: Meet the Cast of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” panel at PAX West is absolutely one of our top panel picks from the event. We can’t wait to hear more from the voice actors and motion capture performers who brought this indie hit to life. It’s a can’t-miss session, for sure.

The official schedule shares the following description of PAX West’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 panel: “Join panel host Ben Starr alongside some of the English voice actors and motion capture performers who brought to life your favorite characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Featuring Jennifer English and Charlotte Hoepffner (voice and motion capture performers for Maelle), Shala Nyx and Estelle Darnault (voice and motion capture for performers Sciel), and Ben Starr and Maxence Cazorla (voice and motion capture performers for Verso), the cast of Expedition 33 will discuss everything from the joy of playfully dueling with Gestrals (Wheee!) to the sadness of the inevitable Gommage (Whooo). Fans of the 2025 indie hit will not want to miss out on this behind-the-scenes look!”

The “Capcom presents: Resident Evil, Pragmata, Onimusha, and Monster Hunter Panel” Tops Our ListCapcom

When and Where: Sunday, August 31 at 2:00 p.m. (PDT) / 5:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Summit Building – Main Theatre

If you have time in your Sunday, at home or on streaming, we highly recommend tuning in for PAX West’s “Capcom presents: Resident Evil, Pragmata, Onimusha, and Monster Hunter” Panel. Resident Evil has long been on our list of favorite franchises, and Onimusha’s upcoming release, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, already has some rave reviews that have us eager for more from the world. Monster Hunter is also a title we feel curious to know about. And ultimately, you can’t go wrong with a Capcom panel. The gaming giant is sure to thrill.

The panel description simply shares, “Join Capcom at PAX West 2025 for all the latest on Capcom’s recent launches and most anticipated upcoming titles.” But we know it will be an incredible time.

Include Nerdist in Your PAX West ScheduleCapcom, Sandfall Interactive, Square Enix, Gearbox

As we mentioned, Nerdist will be streaming all the best panels from PAX West on its YouTube channel. So make sure to join us for all the fun. The full schedule for PAX West can be found here.

The post PAX West 2025: The 5 Best Panels in This Year’s Jam-Packed Schedule appeared first on Nerdist.

The Trailer for 100 NIGHTS OF HERO Is Not Your Typical Graphic Novel Adaptation

Well, this certainly looks like a weird one. IFC has released a trailer for their upcoming star-studded film 100 Nights of Hero, which, despite what the title may suggest, is not a superhero movie. However, it is based on a graphic novel, Isabel Greenberg’s The One Hundred Nights of Hero. Which itself drew inspiration from the Middle Eastern folktales, One Thousand and One Nights. Directed by Julia Jackman, it stars Deadpool & Wolverine’s Emma Corrin, new cinematic He-Man Nicholas Galitzine, Maika Monroe, Amir El-Masry, musician Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant, and Rogue One’s Felicity Jones. You can check out the oddball trailer for 100 Nights of Hero right here:

And here’s the official synopsis for 100 Nights of Hero from IFC:

When her neglectful husband departs after placing a secret wager to test her fidelity, Cherry (Monroe) and her sharp-witted maid, Hero (Corrin), must fend off a dangerously seductive visitor: Manfred (Galitzine).

IFC

And here’s the synopsis for the original novel:

In the Empire of Migdal Bavel, Cherry is married to Jerome, a wicked man making a diabolical wager with his friend Manfred. If Manfred can seduce Cherry in one hundred nights, he can have his castle—and Cherry. But what Jerome doesn’t know is that Cherry is in love with her maid Hero. The two women hatch a plan: Hero, a member of the League of Secret Story Tellers, will distract Manfred by regaling him with a mesmerizing tale each night for 100 nights, keeping him at bay. Those tales are beautifully depicted here, touching on themes of love, betrayal, loyalty, and madness.

So, this is a weird movie and a horny movie. We know that can make for a great combo. It’s kind of giving us Poor Things vibes from the trailer. 100 Nights of Hero will have its world premiere on September 6 at Venice Critics’ Week’s closing night. It will then release exclusively in theaters on December 5.

The post The Trailer for 100 NIGHTS OF HERO Is Not Your Typical Graphic Novel Adaptation appeared first on Nerdist.

David Corenswet’s SUPERMAN Audition Tape Proves He Was Born to Play Clark Kent

Of all the actors who have ever played the Man of Steel on screen, only with a handful of them do we feel comfortable saying “They were born to play Superman.” The late Christopher Reeve was obviously one of them. The other is now David Corenswet, who embodied Superman better than almost anyone else in recent memory. The actor, who starred in movies like Pearl before landing Superman, auditioned along with 400 other actors for James Gunn. Now we’ve learned that Corenswet’s audition tape has been released, and you can see just why he got the part over everyone else. And it’s not just because his first sentence contained the words “I’m 6’4.” Although we’re sure that didn’t hurt.

David Corenswet’s audition tape for Superman has been released. pic.twitter.com/9vah9riuRi

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 23, 2025

The audition comes from an early version of the interview scene with Lois Lane in the film. Some things are different, like the use of a different fictional DC Comics country, Bialya. Despite auditioning over 400 actors, James Gunn has said the Juilliard-trained actor was his first choice almost from the jump. Interestingly, Christopher Reeve also went to the legendary acting school, so maybe this was just fated to be. Gunn told GQ “From the very beginning, he was the guy to beat.” Watching the scene, you can see why. When an actor can convincingly go from mild-mannered Clark to Superman with just an octave change in one word? Then that’s 50% of the role right there.

DC Studios

Although he’s not reading with Rachel Brosnahan in his audition, Gunn said that Corenswet’s chemistry with Lois was key. He told Entertainment Weekly “We mixed and matched these different actors and actresses to find out not only who was the best Clark and who was the best Lois, but who was the best ‘Clois,’ who was the best together. I do think that David was the best Clark, Rachel was the best Lois — but they also had the most chemistry together.” The audition tape really demonstrates exactly how much Corenswet just gets what has made the character click for 87 years. We can’t wait to see him fly over Metropolis again and save some more squirrels.

The post David Corenswet’s SUPERMAN Audition Tape Proves He Was Born to Play Clark Kent appeared first on Nerdist.

This Talented Artist Created Stunning Life-Size Mannequins Based on X-MEN, BATMAN: TAS, and More

We nerds have different ways of populating our personal spaces with our favorite characters from pop culture. For some people, it’s action figures. For others, it’s Funko Pops or LEGO. However, we’ve just discovered someone who has outdone all of that. And we’re not just talking about how much bigger they are than toys, either. Artist Greg Maraio has displayed his love for franchises like X-Men, Batman, Star Wars, and many others, with incredibly detailed life-size mannequins and busts. All of which he’s shared via his Instagram account.Greg Maraio

On the subject of his unique fan art, Maraio told Nerdist, “After college, I started in costume design and cosplay, which then led into creating Lifesize character displays. In the beginning, it was realistic figures and, more recently, animated characters. My favorite cartoons were Masters of the Universe, X-Men, and Batman: The Animated Series. So naturally, those are the ones I seem to be making the most of! It’s a collaboration as well, with great artists like Marc Spess, Sean Dabbs, Chango Customs, and Tomasz Rozejowski.

From the world of mutants, Maraio has brought the main cast of X-Men: The Animated Series to life, in all their ’90s Fox Kids glory. You look at these, and you can just hear the iconic theme music playing:

Speaking of ’90s animated superheroes, Batgirl and Catwoman are recent additions to Maraio’s collection, inspired by the Bruce Timm renderings of the characters from Batman: The Animated Series.

Before Batman and X-Men, back in the ’80s, weekday afternoons were spent with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. This life-size version of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull looks like she just arrived from Eternia.

Maraio doesn’t just pay tribute to the cartoon versions of these characters. His other creations include Halle Berry and Famke Janssen from the X-Men films, and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman from Batman Returns.

From the MCU, there’s Wanda Maximoff/the Scarlet Witch, and the deadly daughter of Thanos herself, Gamora.

From the MCU to the galaxy far, far, away, Maraio has paid royal tribute to two of the leading ladies from Star Wars, Princess Leia Organa, and her mother Padme Amidala, former Queen of Naboo.

One room alone in the artist’s home features Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, every Catwoman actress from Batman ’66, and Batgirl. Also in his living room is the original big-screen Supergirl, and the ladies from Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin.

We’re not sure which characters come next for Mr. Maraio, but we’re excited to see more. You can see the rest of his creations by heading over to his official Instagram page.

The post This Talented Artist Created Stunning Life-Size Mannequins Based on X-MEN, BATMAN: TAS, and More appeared first on Nerdist.

The Best Food & Drink at Disney’s New PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Bar: The Beak and Barrel (Guide)

When Walt Disney World announced the menu for Magic Kingdom’s first ever bar, the highly-anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern The Beak and Barrel, two items stood out among an impressive array of food and beverage choices. The first was the Plunderer’s Punch. The spiced rum drink comes in a collectible pirate skull mug. The other was the Kraken’s Catch. The stylish octopus dish seemed to sail on a tide strange enough to make even Davey Jones quiver. Fortunately, both were among the fare I got to try during an early media sneak peek at The Beak and Barrel. And now, before you set sail to visit this new Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World, you can check out our guide to the best food and drink from The Beak and the Barrel.

Our Guide to Drinks at Walt Disney World’s The Beak and Barrel Nerdist

One of the few aspects of my visit to The Beak and Barrel that will differ from an actual guest’s is that I didn’t get to order from the menu. I did, however, get to try three drinks from the menu of the new Pirates of the Caribbean bar, which otherwise has a two-drink maximum per patron.

The Beak and Barrel’s Plunderer’s Punch Is an Excellent Drink (IF You Like Spiced Rum)

The first drink served at the Beak and Barrel was the bar’s signature alcoholic beverage, the Plunderer’s Punch. It features Kraken Black Spiced Rum, blackberry, vanilla, and “a hint of citrus.” I’m not a huge spiced rum fan, so this wasn’t in my wheelhouse. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t finish it. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how boozy it was. If the Plunderer’s Punch is indicative of what the specialty cocktails are like at The Beak and Barrel, patrons at this pirate tavern won’t feel robbed.

Nerdist

If you liked spiced rum, my bet is you’ll like this new pirate-themed drink at The Beak and Barrel, as everyone else at my table did. Even if you don’t, though, you’ll love the souvenir pirate skull mug it comes in. (Hence its hefty $46 price tag.) The mug is heavy without being unwieldy. And once you figure out how to hold it and drink from it, it’s a more entertaining experience than drinking out of a normal glass.

The Non-Alcoholic Cursed Treasure Drink Is a Sweet SurpriseNerdist

Kids and adults alike will all love the non-alcoholic Cursed Treasure drink at The Beak and Barrel. It’s made with coconut milk and cookie crumbs and topped with vanilla foam and a pirate’s gold cookie. The thin, pliable cookie on top is kind of skippable, but the drink is not. It was a sweet, cold, balanced and deliciously sweet sip.

The Treasure Trove Is Both Drink and Dessert at The Beak and Barrel

The third drink (the bar’s other non-alcoholic option) came as part of The Beak and Barrel’s only dessert. The Treasure Trove is a “mysterious Ube, lemon, and coconut concoction” that would be even better if you could leave the Pirates of the Caribbean bar with it. The tasty, light beverage is quite refreshing and would have made a perfect drink to walk around with during a hot Orlando day. It comes on a platter alongside a Vanilla Cake Plank (cake pop), Chocolate Cannonball, and Golden Caramel Popcorn. The popcorn was good. My table split on the cannonball. (I found it tasty but far too dense.) And I would have eaten 37 of the Vanilla Cake Plank, which was amazing.

Our Bonus Tip for Enjoying The Beak and Barrel’s Drinks

One fun bonus about both non-alcoholic beverages is that they come in Moscow Mule-style mugs, so kids will still get to toast like a pirate. Some patrons also get assigned a random “gold” piece of silverware, the kind any buccaneer would treasure pulling out of a chest.

NerdistOur Guide to The Beak and Barrel’s Food OptionsIsland Provisions Has Something for Everyone

Long before we got to dessert, we first tried the Island Provisions plate. It comes with plantain chips, blue corn tortillas, toasted flatbread, and four dips. Those include Mango Chutney (too sweet), Garlic Chimichurri (delicious), Spiced Guava (sweet and tasty, but divisive within my group), and Zesty Culantro Cream Dips (my favorite of the four).

This is not something I would have ordered on my own, but I will next time I am thinking about food at The Beak and Barrel. The Island Provisions plate was way better than I expected. It’s also a great shareable option that is easy and quick to eat, which proved to be an important part of The Beak and Barrel experience.

NerdistThe Kraken’s Catch Is the Beak and Barrel’s Signature Food Option

As for the tavern’s signature food option, the stylish Kraken’s Catch—“octopus tentacles marinated in lemon and lime juice with olives, bell peppers, avocado, and piquillo pepper-almond foam”—there’s good news. Then there’s news that’s either bad or good depending on your expectations. The good news is that the Kraken’s Catch is good! I really enjoyed it. It’s light and fresh with a nice balance.

The bad/good news is that it’s not nearly as weird or adventurous as you might have imagined. It might look like it’s not for everyone, thanks to its curling octopus tentacle and foam, but its flavors will have wide appeal :pirate voice: for those who listen to me.

Nerdist

If you were skeptical about this dish, and now you want to try, that’s good news. If you hoped it would be super weird, it’s bad news.

Our Key Advice for Enjoying the Food and Drink at The Beak and Barrel

No matter what you order for food and drinks, though, you’ll have to finish them quickly. With just a 45-minute time limit and no option to take your drink with you, it’s a mad rush to complete your order. (Magic Kingdom is a dry park outside of sit-down restaurants and this tavern.) The drinks aren’t small, either, so it’s not easy to down them. And the theatrical elements mean you will always be focused on what’s going on around your table.

My advice? Go in with an empty belly and a game plan. Prioritize what you want most and get those first in case you run out of time. Then book your next reservation as soon as you can. This immersive experience is about way more than just the food and drinks you’ll find at this Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar. But you’ll still want to try all of them every time you set sail at The Beak and Barrel.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He’s glad drinking all that rum in college paid off. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post The Best Food & Drink at Disney’s New PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Bar: The Beak and Barrel (Guide) appeared first on Nerdist.

Karen Gillan Would Return to DOCTOR WHO for ONE Good Reason

Doctor Who fans either love or hate the question about who their favorite Doctor is. I personally think it is a very meh question that’s often masked in a desire to “test” certain fans’ knowledge and gatekeep. But that’s a whole other post within itself. A better question is to ask someone their favorite TARDIS team. Depending on when you boarded the show, that answer could vary from the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith to the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble. One trio that fans can never get enough of is Eleven, Rory, and Amy. And, if you ask Karen Gillan, she’d only return to Doctor Who if that trio is onscreen.BBC Studios

As we all know, Amy and Rory’s time on Doctor Who ended when they were sent back in time by a Weeping Angel. The time-locked event crushed the Eleventh Doctor, sending him into a depressive state until he eventually met Clara Oswald. So, in current times, Amy and Rory are deceased. However, as reporter by Collider, in a recent interview with the BBC’s The One Show, Karen Gillan had this to say about whether she’d ever return to Doctor Who. “If they’ll have me, absolutely,” she stated, “but with Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill. It has to be with them.” 

Do I like this trio? Sure. Do I believe that pretty much anything is possible in Doctor Who? Absolutely. We literally saw the Doctor regenerate into a face that looks like Rose Tyler’s face. And things are always timey wimey with some sort of possible loophole. But do I think this should or needs to happen? Probably not.

RELATED ARTICLE

All the DOCTOR WHO Modern Era Seasons, Ranked

If the show stands to have a future, then that’s where it needs to focus its attention. It should be more about building up new companions, continuing to expand the Doctor, and crafting new stories and story arcs that are solid. There’s nothing wrong with nods to the past but, for the love of god, stop bringing back old characters for nostalgia grab’s sake.

Of course, Karen Gillan is doing just fine in her post-Doctor Who career. From her role as Nebula in the MCU to her stint in the Jumanji films, things are only going up for her. The same is true for Matt Smith, who is currently starring as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. And also Arthur Darvil, who was recently in The Sandman as Richard Madoc. So yeah, let’s leave former Doctors and companions where they are for now.

The post Karen Gillan Would Return to DOCTOR WHO for ONE Good Reason appeared first on Nerdist.

DISNEY LORCANA’s FABLED Set Is Its Most Interesting Release (Review)

Disney Lorcana’s newest set Fabled is a soft reset of sorts, but new rarities of cards may not convince longtime players to invest in a reprint-heavy set. After two years of fast-moving storylines and new mechanics, Lorcana is taking a break with Fabled, its ninth set. The new set offers no new mechanics for players to dig into and it only brings one new Disney franchise (A Goofy Movie) into its expanding world. Still, Fabled might be Lorcana’s most interesting set yet, if only because it primarily serves as a reset for competitive play.

Fabled is the first set under Disney Lorcana’s new rotation ruleset. Like Pokémon and Magic, Disney Lorcana has declared that only cards from the prior two year’s worth of sets are legal for use in standard competitive play. Rotations are a necessary evil in the world of competitive card games. No one likes to see their precious cards rendered obsolete. However, rotations are a chief choice to prevent power creep and the need to endlessly futureproof card design. Even if a card winds up becoming too dominant within the metagame, a two-year rotation guarantees that it will only terrorize players for a limited amount of time.

RELATED ARTICLE

How to Start Playing the DISNEY LORCANA Trading Card Game

With Fabled, Disney Lorcana is opting to try to both have its cake and eat it too. The set is 80% reprints from the first four sets of play. It includes numerous popular cards used in some of the top decks. Basically, Disney Lorcana is jettisoning most of its cards from the first year, including several problematically dominant ones. However, not every card will get discarded. This means that players may be able to salvage their precious Steelsong and Blurple decks with the use of clever modification.

As a sign of good faith, players who already have a card being reprinted in Fabled won’t need to buy an updated version of the card to make their deck legal. An Elsa – Spirit of Winter card from The First Chapter can still be used in Amethyst decks because it also appears in Fabled. Disney Lorcana also fully revealed Fabled’s set list weeks in advance so that players knew exactly which cards are legal moving forward. This gave players a jump start on their deckcrafting.

So, if seasoned Lorcana players already have 80% of the cards from Fabled, what’s the draw for buying into the new set? Well, that’s where the new rare card come into play. Fabled triples the types of secret rare cards that appear in Disney Lorcana. Previously, Disney Lorcana had a single type of Secret Rare card – the full art Enchanted card. Typically, players could expect to get approximately one Enchanted card per booster box of Lorcana cards, although they weren’t a guarantee.

Ravensburger

Now, Epic and Iconic cards have joined the fray. Epic cards feature the same art as their standard equivalent, but have a borderless treatment and special rainbow foil. Iconics are the new chase cards of the set, featuring unique artwork, 3D foil stamping AND a special “lore star” foil style. There are only two Iconics in Fabled, featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse in connected artwork that’s also featured on Fabled’s booster box. I’m expecting the Iconics to be serious collector items, although I doubt that they’ll reach the heights of an Enchanted Elsa when the game first came out.

To be blunt, it was long-past time for Disney Lorcana to catch up with other games and offer a more robust selection of alternate art cards. Not flooding the game with alternate art treatments was prudent, but the low pull rate of Enchanted cards was a detriment to the game. Epic and Iconic cards are a much-needed boost for the card game, providing more dopamine hits beyond guaranteed foils and rare cards.

RELATED ARTICLE

DISNEY LORCANA Reveals 9th Set, FABLED, Shares New REIGN OF JAFAR Cards, and MORE

For those looking to jump into the game, one of Fabled’s two Starter decks is a solid place to start. One Starter Deck focuses on the set’s new Goofy movie cards, with Powerline, Goofy, Max Goof, and other characters from the movie appearing in a Song-focused deck. The other Starter Set is a new princess-focused deck. It features Amber and Sapphire cards that focus on flooding the board with Princesses. Personally, I’m more of a fan of the princess-themed deck, even if the cards are primarily reprints.

All in all, Fabled comes at an interesting time for Disney Lorcana. With its World Championships out of the way, now is a good time for the game to “reset” and perhaps find some new audiences to appeal to. Interest in the game is shrinking and its playerbase is agitated by uneven communication about future competitive events. While the game wasn’t stagnant, it felt like the metagame was dominated by a handful of card archetypes. By wiping the board (perhaps ironically so, as Lorcana is cycling out its famed Be Prepared board wipe card), perhaps Lorcana can find a fresh start.

The post DISNEY LORCANA’s FABLED Set Is Its Most Interesting Release (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

Austin Butler Says an American James Bond Is ‘Sacrilegious’

Forget being named Pope, there’s a far more exclusive title one can strive for: James Bond. Every time the iconic spy franchise resets, it must find a new 007. That sends fans and media alike into a tither trying to determine who will take up the legendary mantle only a handful of actors have ever called their own. That process is going on right now as Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the first installment of the series’ next era. So who will he chose as his signature spy? We can rule out at least one person, his Dune: Part Two star Austin Butler. He said he wouldn’t consider playing the role because an American Bond would be “kind of sacrilegious.”

Butler told Hits Radio UK (in an interview we first came across at Deadline) that while Villeneuve hasn’t called to discuss the role of Bond with him, Butler wouldn’t take the part even if he did. “I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Butler said. “Because I’m an American. I can do an accent but that would be kind of sacrilegious.”

While Austin thinks the role of James Bond must be someone from the UK, he said he would play a Bond villain. That sounds great (really great, actually), but Butler is selling both himself and his country short. We can’t get one American Bond? Seriously? How is that fair when we keep casting British Spider-Mans? We had a British Batman and a British Superman, too. We even let our mates from across the Atlantic play Founding Fathers, don’t we? Was it “sacrilegious” when the HBO John Adams mini-series cast Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson and Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin?

Warner Bros.

……Eh, maybe a little bit. But that’s fine! Acting is about pretending to be someone else. You don’t have to be born in the same country as your character to be the right person for the job. Nicholas Hoult has a better American accent than most Americans!

Besides, Butler should want the role specifically because of where he’s from. The list of people who’ve played James Bond is highly exclusive, but he’d be the only American on the list. And how can that be sacrilegious when we already got a Pope from Chicago?

The post Austin Butler Says an American James Bond Is ‘Sacrilegious’ appeared first on Nerdist.

Netflix House Retail Stores Are Coming to Philly and Dallas This Fall

Right now, Netflix is in an interesting spot. The major streamer seems to be pivoting in a few ways. For example, there are a swath of new documentaries popping up there versus new television shows. Stranger Things 5 will leave a noticeable hole in content that Wednesday is working to fill, but what else is coming down the pipeline? That remains to be seen, but Netflix is stepping outside of our TV screens and into actual retail stores. Their permanent stores, called Netflix House, are hitting Philadelphia and Dallas this November.

RELATED ARTICLE

Netflix Will Open Permanent Retail Stores in 2025

We first heard news about Netflix’s retail stores back in 2023. We knew that they would offer food items, merchandise, and experiences tied to Netflix’s shows and films. But it wasn’t clear where Netflix would open up its stores, just that they would arrive in 2025. And behold, the streamer is on track with Netflix House opening in Philadelphia at King of Prussia Mall on November 12 and in Dallas at Galleria Dallas on December 11. 

While I am personally not close to either one of those cities, it is nice to see places besides the usual ones like LA and NYC get these types of experiences first. Surely those cities will get their turn but the only other known location that’s coming is Las Vegas. Netflix House will arrive there sometime in 2027. 

Entry for Netflix House is free and there are activities that are complementary as well as a few that cost. Here’s a better description of what you can expect from Netflix’s retail locations: 

Netflix House is free to enter and explore! Once you’re inside, you can dive into activities that immerse you in your favorite titles with a mix of complimentary and paid experiences. Take selfies with beloved characters like Queen Charlotte, enjoy screenings of hit movies like KPop Demon Hunters, have a meal and a cocktail at NETFLIX BITES or embark on an adventure with friends, channeling the ONE PIECE crew.

Netflix

The experiences at Netflix House will change, as will ticket prices. But, for now, these massive locations will include the following: 

Top 9 Mini Golf at Netflix House Philadelphia offers nine holes of gamified-mini golf where every golf ball and hole is connected with a live leaderboard, allowing for more fun and competitive play. Each hole is themed to characters and stories from popular series and events, including: Bridgerton, Is It Cake?, Stranger Things, WWE, Squid Game and more.Netflix Virtuals at Netflix House Philadelphia lets fans play as the main character inside the worlds of Netflix shows and movies with immersive VR games, including: Stranger Things, Squid Game and Rebel Moon.Netflix RePLAY at Netflix House Dallas includes interactive and fresh takes on traditional arcade games that you can play with friends. Fans will join the action of favorite shows and films, such as Floor is Lava, Love is Blind, Army of the Dead, Big Mouth, and more.Larger scale feature experiences at both locations allow fans to transport themselves into some of Netflix’s most popular series: ONE PIECE: Quest for the Devil Fruit and Wednesday: Eve of the Outcasts in Philadelphia; Stranger Things: Escape the Dark and Squid Game: Survive the Trials in Dallas.

For more about tickets and what to expect, head over to the Netflix House website.

The post Netflix House Retail Stores Are Coming to Philly and Dallas This Fall appeared first on Nerdist.