Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2334

SQUIRREL GIRL and the NEW WARRIORS May Get Their Own Marvel TV Show

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be about to get a lot funnier, at least on the small screen. Marvel and ABC Studios are reportedly shopping a New Warriors series to various networks and streaming sites as a half-hour comedy series with fan-favorite character Squirrel Girl in the lead!

TVLine first reported the news, which indicates that the series will follow “a superhero squad made up of teenagers, one of whom would include Doreen Green (a.k.a. Squirrel Girl).” Nerdist reached out to Marvel, who had no comment to offer at this time. Nerdist also reached out to ABC Studios, but have not yet heard back.

It’s not surprising that Marvel has plans for Squirrel Girl in live-action, as the character’s status as one of Marvel’s mutants was retconned last year. This creative decision probably helped pave the way to completely separate her from any possible ties to Fox’s X-Men rights. Recently, Anna Kendrick voiced her desire to play Squirrel Girl, but that seems less likely to happen on television. Squirrel Girl has never been a member of the New Warriors in the comics, but she was a late addition to the comedic team known as the Great Lakes Avengers, which Marvel recently announced would be reviving as a comic book series with Zac Gorman and Will Robson.

As for the New Warriors, they were originally a team of Marvel’s castoff heroes, including Nova, Namorita, Night Thrasher, Justice, Firestar, and Speedball. However, they quickly rose to prominence in the ’90s thanks to the ongoing New Warriors series by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley. The New Warriors have often had a more serious tone in the Marvel Universe, but there was at least one miniseries that cast the team as the comedic stars of a superhero reality show shortly before they were scapegoated during Marvel’s first Civil War crossover event.

It’s not clear which characters would join Squirrel Girl in the potential New Warriors TV series, but if it goes forward, it probably won’t be long before Marvel relaunches the comic book series to reflect its new lineup.

Which network or streaming site should pick up the New Warriors? And who do you want to see on the team? Let us know in the comment section below!

Image: Marvel/Playdom

Learn about the history behind Marvel’s other new TV series, Runaways!

Radiohead, Morrissey, The Cure Get Turned into Garbage Pail Kids

Ah the Garbage Pail Kids, the misfit island version of the Cabbage Patch Kids. In 1985, Topps launched the oddball card series to compete with the popular Cabbage patchers, introducing a lineup of characters that had comical abnormalities and/or suffered some horrible fate, usually relating to their word play-rich names. Adam Bomb, for instance. The kid with an exploding scalp and a mushroom-shaped cloud rising from his head. Or Cheese Louise, a demure girl made of cheese, casually grating herself into slices. Now we get to see our favorite musicians get the GPK treatment.

Some three decades after they first arrived, the Garbage Pail Kids continue to get new series of demented trading cards. The latest, the American As Apple Pie: Best Of The Fest series, features some of the ebbing summer’s staple festival headliners. Miss Win Butler and Arcade Fire this year? No worries, check out their less winning alter egos, Lose Butler and Arcade Fired. Didn’t win the ticket lottery for the Grateful Dead? Well at least you’re not Bob Weird (Weir), who’s so weird that the rest of the band decided to run him over with a train. Radiohead (Radiodead), (Decked) Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers (helmed by Fiery Flea and Affably Anthony), The (Crying) Cure, and The (Tree) Roots are just a few of the other mad mash-ups.

The Best of the Fest series is only available this week, as Stereogum reports, so hurry over to Topps and pick up your set. Who knows, even though the sports cards industry has tanked in recent years, the same might not be true for the Garbage Pail Kids. So invest in your future.

Check out the gallery below and let us know your favorite Garbage Pail Kid in the comments below.

Images: Topps

The Newest Unholy Spawn of GODZILLA and EVANGELION is Ready to Crush It

Evangelion mechs are already kinda messed-up creations to begin with—what with them being giant angels confined by cybernetic armor and controlled by 14-year-old human pilots—so lord know why anyone would consider making these large, dangerous things even more dangerous and unstable. But suppose, just suppose, some fictional genius said, “Hey! Let’s inject Godzilla cells into the angels and see what they do”? It turns out heavenly beings may be more susceptible to radiation than you might have imagined. Via Crunchyroll, Bandai‘s newest mashups are revealed:

Those are the dimensions of the forthcoming toy by Bandai, by the way, not the size of the actual creature in whatever fiction-based story may come from this hybrid. “Evangelion Unit-02 Beast G Mode” is the second such crossover toy, and the scarier, more feral of the two, like He-Man’s Battle Cat crossed with a giant bug. The first combined the more familiar avatars of both properties into a more humanoid combo, “Unit-01 G Kakusei Keitai”:

I think that’s the first time any version of Godzilla has ever worn shoes, but feel free to correct the record in the comments below if not. If your building must be trampled in a rampage, at least you can take comfort in knowing the stomper never lost arch support in the process.

Take a look at the additional images in the gallery below!

Purple-green guy will be available in January, while angry red monster is set for February, with a price tag expected to be just north of $300. If they battled, who would win? On the one hand, four legs provide a lower center of gravity, but on the other: shoes! And let’s face it, stomping all over Tokyo for Kaiju must feel a bit like you or I walking on a broken LEGO city…ouch.

Are you ready to bring home these Bandai biggies? Tell us below, and check out a few more angles on the newest one!

Images: Bandai

BACK TO THE FUTURE’s Biff Explains Why He, Tom Wilson, is Pop Art

For thirty years Tom Wilson has been known to the world as Biff, the bully, villain, and secret tragic figure of the Back to the Future franchise. The role is so iconic, the movies so ingrained in the culture, that the very name “Biff” belongs to him and him alone. It’s enough to have turned the man known as Tom Wilson into a living, breathing pop icon figure.

In this thoughtful, reflective video essay, titled “I Am Pop Art,” Wilson explains how the art form that he loved as a child came to define his own existence as much as anything, and how he has—fittingly—responded to his status in the culture by embracing Pop Art itself.

“I’ve painted a response to being a Pop Icon. After thirty years, I’ve become Pop Art, something that people look at, recognize, and remember. I’ve tried to respond with art. I hope you enjoy it.”

As he says in the video, he is famous, but famous for something he did long ago, and not for what he does now. It’s a type of fame that lives in memories of the past, a cultural symbol for what was. Rather than let that become a negative, like a former star who can’t let go of the world he lived in before, the way we do when we grasp on to mementos from our own past, he has put that energy into creating something new.

His wonderful art shows that he has managed to channel his very status as a living icon into something both tangible and good.

He may be known to us as Biff, pop icon, but Tom Wilson is a lot more than that.

What did you think of this video essay? How did you react to it? To his art? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Tom Wilson

Secret Science Nerds: Leonardo DiCaprio Is Single-Handedly Trying to Save the World

Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Oscar for The Revenant after six total nominations, but the acclaimed actor used a portion of his long-awaited Oscars speech to address the very real issue of climate change. It was a fantastic use of an international spotlight by one of the world’s most famous celebrities to draw attention to the world’s most pressing threat. And this was just the tip of the titanic iceberg that is DiCaprio’s interest in life-changing and Earth-saving science.

DiCaprio didn’t grow up as a child of scientists or find an interest in acting during a pursuit of a scientific education–he’s been acting professionally since he was 15 years old–but his interest in the environment and the science behind it spurred him to launch the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 at 24 years old. The non-profit organization with an aim of promoting environmental awareness focuses on “global warming, preserving Earth’s biodiversity and supporting renewable energy.” This earnest work from a high-profile celebrity led to recognition from environmental groups in the early 2000s and a chair position for the Earth Day celebration in 2000, during which he interviewed President Bill Clinton regarding global warming and policies that could be put in place to encourage Americans and U.S. companies to pursue “green” practices.

2007 saw DiCaprio co-write, co-produce, and narrate the global warming documentary The 11th Hour. The title of the film lent itself to DiCaprio’s record-setting fundraising auctions that would bring in millions of dollars for conservation efforts in the years to come.

In early 2013, DiCaprio told German newspaper Bild that he’d be taking a break from Hollywood to “improve the world a bit. I will fly around the world doing good for the environment. My roof is covered with solar panels. My car is electric.” That last bit might sound like a non sequitur, but DiCaprio’s electric Tesla Roadster, a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, a Toyota Prius and solar-powered house are concrete examples of him walking the walk rather than simply talking the talk. He has, however, drawn criticism for his use of private jets and luxury yachts, a divisive behavior considering his pro-environmental outreach.

In late 2014, DiCaprio teamed up with Netflix to executive produce Virunga, a documentary film that followed park rangers in their efforts supporting gorilla preservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Netflix partnership continued in 2015 when DiCaprio executive produced an exclusive cut of Cowspiracy, exploring the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, for the streaming-content provider.

While DiCaprio’s immense financial success has allowed him to purchase an island off the coast of Belize, the Oscar-winning actor is not just using the private getaway to, well, get away … he’s turning the 104 acres of Blackadore Caye into an eco-resort. While some might view the “luxury resorts, sprawling villas, and infinity pools” as counter to a pro-environmental stance, the island “has suffered from over-fishing, an eroding coastline and the deforestation of its mangrove trees,” which DiCaprio and his partners aim to rectify. Guests can look forward to booking a stay at “Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island” sometime in 2018.

2016 saw DiCaprio’s foundation and its partner in the World Wildlife Fund announced that the world’s tiger population has increased for the first time in over a century, thanks in part to funds raised by the LDF. As a final example of his commitment to science, just this year on Earth Day, DiCaprio, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, spoke before the Paris Agreement for Climate Change Signing in New York City. Take a look and listen to his message below:

Who would you like to see us profile for another installment of “Secret Science Nerds?” Let us know in the comments below!

Images: Oscars, Appian Way

Karen Gillan Joins the New JUMANJI Movie

After lining up an impressive cast that includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Nick Jonas, the new Jumanji film finally has its female lead: former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan! Sony has confirmed that Gillan is on board for the sequel (which is definitely not a reboot), and Johnson has already offered a very public welcome to his newest co-star.

In a post on his Facebook page, Johnson hinted that Gillan’s character may have “the most important role of the movie.” He added that “we had to find a girl. But not just any girl. A girl who has ‘Chutzpah.’ Guts and talent to stand her ground and hold her own against Nick’s cool rockstar ways, Jack’s relentless energy and genius, Kevin’s masterful timing and skills and the big, brown, bald tattooed guy who just simply stands there and oooooozes smoldering, captivating, sizzling, can’t take your eyes off this brilliant manly man.. never mind I got drunk on the ol’ DJ kool aid again.”

Johnson added that “this is the girl who is so badass she shaved her freaking head for Guardians of the Galaxy.” We agree, that was pretty badass!

We don’t know for sure who Gillan is playing in Jumanji, but if she really does have the “most important role” than perhaps it will be her character that connects the events of the first film to this new movie. She could be playing a grown up version of Kirsten Dunst‘s Judy Shepherd, or she could even be related to Alan Parrish, as played by the late great Robin Williams. Even if Gillan’s character is an original creation for this story, it appears that she’ll be at the heart of the newest round of Jumanji. Maybe she’ll even be the one to uncover the game from its resting place. We’ll know for sure when the film is released on July 28, 2017.

Who do you think Gillan will play in the new Jumanji? Share your theories in the comment section below!

Image: Relativity Media

Is GAME OF THRONES’ New Location Setting Up a Battle of the Queens?

Last season on Game of Thrones, Daenerys finally began to cross the Narrow Sea with her armies and dragons on a quest to retake the Seven Kingdoms. At the same time, Cersei eliminated all of her enemies in King’s Landing and seized power for herself. Are we going to see a war of two queens in season seven? We’re examining the will of the Seven on today’s Nerdist News!

And please note, there are potential spoilers ahead for the next season of Game of Thrones!

OK, now: on Monday, the GoT fansite Watchers on the Wall delivered a seemingly innocuous bit of scoop that one of the new locations for season seven is the dragonpit, the ancestral dog pen of the Targaryen dragons in King’s Landing. Their source also confirmed it’ll be Dany heading there sometime next season, suggesting a.) Dany will make it to King’s Landing sooner than we thought, and b.) a showdown between Daenerys and Cersei may be coming to season seven. But what if that war is only the beginning of Daenerys’ latest challenges?

Nerdist News host and breaker of chains, Jessica Chobot explains our latest theory, as conceived by managing editor Alicia Lutes. The short version is that George R.R. Martin has already established that history tends to repeat itself in this world, and there is an old story about a one-handed madman who helped kill the dragons in the King’s Landing centuries ago before briefly ruling the kingdoms himself. Could this mean that Jaime Lannister will emerge as Daenerys’ final challenger for the Iron Throne? Will her dragons suffer the same fate that befell their ancestors?

What do you think about our dragonpit theory? And who do you think will sit on the Iron Throne by the end of next season? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Someone Made a Full-Size 3D-Printed STARGATE Portal

When we think of great sci-fi franchises, we don’t necessarily think of Stargate first. But perhaps we should. After all, the 1994 hit movie spawned Stargate: SG1, a hit television series that ran for ten seasons, plus two other spin-off shows, Stargate: Atlantis and Stargate: Universe. The universe also inspired a handful of straight-to-DVD films and even an animated show. Yet for whatever reason, Stargate doesn’t get nearly the same love that series like Star Wars, Star Trek, or even Firefly (which just ran for one brief season) does from fans.

Except, apparently, in Belgium. Thanks to the folks at Digitaltrends, we’ve learned that the employees at Belgium’s Musée royal de Mariemont are some pretty big Stargate fans, so much so that they’ve built a life size replica Stargate using 3D printers. Sadly, the giant portal does not take you to any distant pseudo-Egyptian planets ruled by androgynous aliens, but it still looks pretty cool. The finished piece ended up taking more than 1,000 hours to create, and required more than 2,000 separate parts, along with 10,000 cuttings. You can view a video of the creation of the replica Stargate above.

The CEO and owner of 3D-printing studio Vigo Universal, Hermanns Christophe, told Digitaltrends, “We were approached by the museum as part of their planning for an exhibition called ‘From Stargate to Comics: The Egyptian Gods in the Geek Culture.’ In preparation for it, they came to us earlier this year and asked if we could use 3D printing to create a replica of the Stargate. We’re always excited about using 3D printing for unique projects, so we were happy to get involved.” When asked later if the replica Stargate would remain in the museum or get moved once the exhibition is over, he said “We don’t know what their plans are. But be warned: it’s very, very large. To move it is going to require a truck.”

What do you think of this latest 3D printed wonder? Transport your thoughts to the comments below.

Image: MGM

Watch Firefighters Lift a Car in the Air with Massive Hose Power

Okay, so it’s not exactly Arthur Weasley’s Flying Ford Anglia, but the car in the video below is doing something pretty astounding: It’s being levitated via pure fire-hose power, and also not falling on anybody’s head.

The video was made by a company of German firefighters, who apparently—according to their various Facebook videos that range from a GTA-style ride in a fire truck down a landing strip to a full-on stop-motion mini movie—love to spray their hoses on anything that isn’t on fire.

According to Jalopnik, who picked up on the video, the little Aqua-mobile (patented!) is a Trabant, which is an exceptionally lightweight car. An exceptionally lightweight car that’s made from, among other materials, “cotton waste from the Soviet Union and phenol resins from the East German dye industry.”

Launching a small car in the air—in a dolphin jetpack-like manner—isn’t a new trick. It’s been done before, including once on Mythbusters. But this time around the German firefighters tied balloons to the car, which is a nice touch. Also, doesn’t this little Trabant look like it was meant to fly—like it really really wants to take you to Hogwarts?

There’s no comment with the video regarding whether the water was recycled or not, so the question of if this is a waste of water is still up in the air (like the Aqua-mobile). This company of firefighters has apparently put out a truck fire with a giant water-dropping plane though, so we should probably give them some slack.

What do you think about this sort-of-flying car? Do approve of this water usage? Would you drive this thing around Waterworld in a heartbeat? Let us know in the comments below!

Images: Fire Motor

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT Casts ONCE UPON A TIME’s King Arthur as King Arthur

Director Michael Bay‘s Transformers: The Last Knight is making the deep dive into Arthurian lore. And who better to play King Arthur than someone who has already done it?

According to Mashable, Once Upon a Time veteran Liam Garrigan has been signed to play King Arthur in Transformers: The Last Knight, a role he previously portrayed during the fifth season of OUAT. Nerdist has reached out for confirmation of this report, but we have not yet received it.

There are some spoilers ahead for the fifth Transformers movie, so consider yourselves warned!

As noted in a recent episode of Nerdist News, the plot of The Last Knight is rumored to revolve around Optimus Prime’s quest to restore his homeworld Cybertron. To do that, Optimus needs a Cybertronian object that was given to Merlin before the rise of Camelot. We’re not sure if that means that everyone’s favorite Autobot leader will be taking a trip to the past, but Arthurian-looking knights have been spotted on the set. So it was only a matter of time before Arthur joined the cast.

It’s a little unusual for an actor to portray the same role in two different franchises. And we imagine that Garrigan’s Arthur in The Last Knight will be quite a bit different than the man he played on OUAT. To be frank, OUAT‘s Arthur was a jerk and even a villain to the people of Storybrooke. The Last Knight will probably have a more conventional take on Arthur…who just happens to team up with giant robots, because why not?

Transformers: The Last Knight will be released on June 23, 2017.

Are you excited to see Garrigan get another chance to play one of the most famous heroes in fiction? And who should be cast as Merlin? Read your spells and share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Image: ABC