Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 236

PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection Is a Throwback to the Original ’90s Console

The advent of the first PlayStation in December 1994 changed the home entertainment industry forever. The console’s imagery permeates pop culture and remains just as recognizable as years ago due to its revolutionary impact on the gaming industry. The PlayStation may be on its fifth iteration now, but the look of the original is not lost on time. In fact, Sony just announced a limited edition PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection that pays homage to the colors and themes of its first console.

Sony

The new collection includes various editions of the PS5 and its accessories. There are two bundles and three standalone items available for purchase. Both the PS5 Digital and Pro editions will have their own bundles. The Pro bundle will have a limited production run of only 12,300, with each one individually numbered. That number comes from the month and date that the PlayStation launched. Both come with additional accessories like PlayStation cable ties, PlayStation logo paperclip, stickers, and a poster. An eye-catching addition is the special USB-C connector, housed in a casing that resembles the original PlayStation’s controller wire.

“So today we use USB-C for this charging cable, but we want to bring back some memories when you start playing [the PS5],” said Hideaki Nishino, CEO Platform Business Group of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Sony

All the products in the collection feature nostalgic references to the original PlayStation. The collection is light gray, with the original quad-colored logo evocative of the first console. The entire collection features a special logo highlighting the 30th anniversary, including on the grips and embossing of the controllers. PlayStation shared many more hidden nostalgic details in the video below.

Fans of the original PlayStation or those who want to add a retro flair to their modern setup can expect to enjoy all the designs in this collection. The anniversary collection will release Nov. 21. Pre-orders on direct.playstation.com and select retailers begin Sept. 26.

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New CYBERPUNK Animated Series Coming to Netflix

Netflix is heading back to Night City. We just don’t know when. We don’t even know what the streamer is going to do when it returns there. And we definitely don’t know if this new animated story is connected to the site’s previous anime series set in the video game world. The streamer and CD Projekt Red released a “special announcement” trailer for a mysterious new Cyberpunk project. They just didn’t share any details about it.

As part of this year’s digital Geeked Week event Netflix revealed it’s getting back into Cyberpunk 2077‘s world of technology and body modification. This new animated series will seemingly just be known as Cyberpunk without any year designation just yet.

And that’s about all we actually know about it! The streaming site and CDPR only said “more info” is “coming soon.”

With so few/any details, the lack of information might be more telling. This will not be the first animated show from the franchise to debut at Netflix. In 2022 the two companies released Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, an animated miniseries based on CD Projekt Red’s video game. That ten-episode season told the story of “a street kid trying to survive in Night City” by becoming “a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk.” This brief teaser also makes no mention of Studio Trigger, which was behind Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Netflix

It’s certainly possible this new series could have a direct connection to the previous one, either through recurring characters or plot. The change in title and a complete lack of nods towards it has us lenaing towards this new show being an all-new thing. We’ll just have to wait to find out.

In the meantime, fans of the franchise can celebrate the total turnaround it has undergone since the original game’s less than stellar debut. It did not initially live up to its highly anticipated release. (To put it kindly.) Yet here it is about to have another anime spinoff series. The fact we don’t know anything about it doesn’t change how telling that fact is.

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DEVIL MAY CRY Anime Series Shares Teaser Trailer, Sets April 2025 Release Date

‘Tis the season for many things—pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, and… video game adaptations. Yes, more than ever, our favorite games are turning into series for our viewing pleasure. Next up, the popular video game Devil May Cry is heading to Netflix in the form of an anime series. In this current gaming adaptation age, we bet the results are better than ever. Although we don’t yet have a release date for this anime, Netflix did share a teaser trailer for the series. Here’s what we know about the Devil May Cry series heading to Netflix.

Devil May Cry Official Teaser Trailer and Release Date Window

In celebration of Geeked Week 2024, Netflix teases that Dante is on his way. The streamer released an official teaser trailer for Devil May Cry and it is action-packed and epic. This Devil May Care teaser made a few things clear: his name is Dante, he’s a demon hunter, and he can sure shoot those two guns. In addition to a million awesome looking demons, the teaser spent most of its time focusing on Dante. But it also introduced us to the villain of Devil May Cry season one, the dastardly White Rabbit, also called Rabi. He can’t wait for the gates of hell to open. And we’re pretty sure that’s bad news. Either way, we’re hyped!

But that’s not the only exciting piece of news, Netflix revealed that Devil May Cry will release in April 2025. We love a release date window.

Devil May Cry Series Announcement Teaser Trailer

Conversations about the Devil May Cry animated series have been circulating since 2021. So we feel glad to finally see it coming to fruition. Netflix’s original teaser for Devil May Cry didn’t show us too much from the anime show. But it did set the tone just right. The quick scenes of action and the hard rock music certainly have us ready to dive into an episode. And the animation looks incredibly good.

The only character we see in the above Devil May Cry teaser is Dante. He’s got his red jacket, his guns, his white hair, and he’s ready to go. But in earlier conversations, creator and showrunner of the series Adi Shankar confirmed we’d see other familiar Devil May Cry characters. He noted, “I can confirm that Vergil is in it, as well as Lady, and of course Dante as well.” We can’t wait to see how these characters transform for the show.

The Anime Series SynopsisNetflix

Netflix also shared a logline for the Devil May Cry series; it notes:

In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck.

We do love a sinister force. And an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire. Dante certainly does not seem aware the fate of multiple worlds is on his shoulders in the teaser clip, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens when he does.

Devil May Cry‘s Episode Count and MoreNetflix

Devil May Cry will be eight episodes long. Adi Shankar, as mentioned, is the showrunner and creator. Alex Larsen is the writer on the show. The series comes from Netflix, Capcom, and Studio MIR, so we know it is in good hands.

Shankar noted, “I’m honored that Netflix and Capcom have entrusted me to shepherd the Devil May Cry franchise. Alex Larsen and I love these characters; we are part of the fandom, and vow to surpass the exceptionally high bar we set for ourselves.”

Hopefully, we will know more about Devil May Cry very soon.

Originally published on September 27, 2023.

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All the Haunted Houses at Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Ranked

While Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) gets the lion’s share of the attention, Universal Studios Hollywood’s own event is just as good, if not better at times. This is the 23rd year of the event, which has been scaring guests regularly during spooky season since 1997. We visited Universal Studios Hollywood’s HHN and now we are fully prepared to rank all eight of this year’s haunted house attractions, from the least frightening to the scariest.

Universal Studios Hollywood8. Insidious: The FurtherUniversal Studios Hollywood

Insidious is one of the most popular horror franchises of the last decade. It has had five (soon to be six) films, and several haunted houses at HHN over the years. And this year’s Insidious house, The Further, celebrates all the demonic entities that exist in that supernatural realm. This haunted house has a lot of great scare actors throughout, jumping out at you to the tune of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” We appreciate a house that has a copious amount of jump scares throughout.

So why is it at the bottom of our HHN Hollywood rankings? Here’s why: there’s a room in this haunted house that recreates a bathroom where a dummy dressed as a man is throwing up into a toilet. And they actually pump in vomit smells into the room. Look, we really don’t need that level of immersion, Universal. It’s just gross. We can kind of understand why you had vomit smells in The Exorcist attractions of years past. However, the Insidious house shouldn’t make us want to puke ourselves.

7. Dead Exposure: Death ValleyUniversal Studios Hollywood

This year’s “science gone wrong” haunted house takes us into a secret government lab deep in the desert, where things have recently taken a turn for the worse. We’re not sure what went wrong in this lab, but there’s toxic waste, (projected) flames, and lots of dead bodies in encased in plastic bags. Actually, it’s the monkeys they’ve experimented on that creep us out the most, that appear in the beginning of the experience. Pure nightmare fuel. While this house has many toxic waste-zombified creatures, far too many of them are static dummies and not actual scare actors. There’s also a path of blood on the floor you think would lead to something scarier. The theming is top-notch for this haunted house, but the lack of good jump scares puts this one closer to the bottom of our ranking.

6. Universal Monsters: Eternal BloodlinesUniversal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios started modern horror cinema (and cinematic universes) with their Universal Monsters in the ‘30s and ‘40s. So almost every year, HHN gives us a Universal Monsters-themed haunted house of some kind. This year, it was Eternal Bloodlines, where we follow a female Van Helsing descendent as she fights creatures of the night. We see a lot of a warrior Bride of Frankenstein, and a few assorted ghouls wandering the halls. But we don’t encounter Dracula, the Wolfman, or Frankenstein till the very end of the experience. So we have to knock off a point or two for that. We think 2022’s Legends Collide and last year’s Unmasked were better Universal Monsters haunted houses overall.

5: Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireUniversal Studios Hollywood

We weren’t crazy about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as a movie. Yet in terms of detail and adherence in recreating that film, this haunted house succeeds. We enter through Ray’s Occult Books, recreating a key location from the movie. After, we journey into other locales from the film’s narrative. The best part of this house is the scene where a group of 1900s-era firefighters become frozen solid by supernatural means. The “frozen” scare actors actually convinced us they were dummies and genuinely scared us when they “thawed,” so to speak.

We were startled here and there in the Frozen Empire haunted house by Slimer and the occasional Terror Dog. But this one is perhaps the least traditionally scary haunted house this year. As much as well love it, Ghostbusters is just not that scary of a franchise, let’s be honest. But we don’t suggest you skip it, because getting to wander in the Ghostbusters’ firehouse as they try to capture spooks is worth it. Still, this one can’t compete with the excellent Universal haunted house that recreated the original Ghostbusters back in 2019. That one was an all-time favorite.

4. The Weeknd: Nightmare TrilogyUniversal Studios Hollywood

This is the third haunted house at HHN centering around pop megastar The Weeknd, which takes us on a journey of his deepest, darkest nightmares. It’s mostly a series of demented nightclubs featuring demons, psychedelic imagery, and monstrous versions of the singer in various stages of torture. There’s even a version of him where he’s some kind of demonic baby in a bathtub full of blood. (Don’t ask.) The creepiest and coolest part is a walkway with several giant neon eyeballs. Some of these eyeballs are, of course, scare actors waiting to jump out at you. The weirdest part is when you get to a torture chamber where various versions of the singer are mutilated to the sound of his own music. We don’t know exactly what The Weeknd is working through considering the content of these attractions but we can’t lie, it’s entertaining!

3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of LeatherfaceUniversal Studios Hollywood

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre turns fifty this year. So of course, HHN needed to have a haunted house to honor Leatherface and family on their golden anniversary. From the moment you enter the Hooper & Henkel Meat Processing Plant and are greeted by a scare actor wearing a dead cow’s head, you know you’re in for a gruesome good time. Leatherface and his demented family immediately greet you with buzzing chainsaws. Not to mention all the corpses of their poor victims ready to become lunch.

The best jump scare moment comes as one of the twisted family members rips the face off what looks like a dummy on the table, exposing his mutilated musculature underneath, only for him to suddenly move and scream bloody murder, revealing he’s not a dummy at all. This got a real yelp out of us. We noted some unpleasant odors wafting in, but nothing that revolting. Between that, all the barrels of decomposing corpses, and human meaty bits thrown all over the place, this one is definitely the most revolting haunted house at HHN this year.

2. Monstrous 2: The Legends of Latin AmericaUniversal Studios Hollywood

Latin America has a vibrant spooky mythology of its own, which HHN has explored before. A few years back, they gave us the Legend of La Llorona house. And this year, they’ve sequelized Monstrous: The Legends of Latin America with a part 2. From the start, where you enter a dusty crypt with crumbling skeletons, you know you’re in for some good theming. The first monster who jumps at you is El Charro Negro from Mexican folklore, who appears as an undead mariachi.

Several genuinely creepy hell hounds growl at you, too. But the best creature in the house is El Chuy, whose massive claws pop out from under a child’s bed in a very cool effect. But the best part is when its massive head emerges out of a cave wall, and it’s legit terrifying. That grand finale moment makes this one a favorite of the night.

1. A Quiet Place Universal Studios Hollywood

A Quiet Place is one of the biggest horror franchises of the modern era, so it was high time they got a haunted house of their own at Universal HHN. Despite A Quiet Place: Day One is still fresh in everyone’s minds, but this haunted house focuses on the first film. We’re taken to the remote Abbot family farmhouse from the original, and actors appear throughout the house reminding you that you need to stay completely silent, or else the creatures will sense you and have you for breakfast.

The Death Angels, the blind aliens from the franchise, are this haunted house’s highlight. And they appear quite often in the form of giant screeching animatronics, some that are among the best HHN has ever made. A few of these are so detailed and genuinely screen worthy, like the one who hovers over the baby’s crib recreating a scene from the film. Between the animatronics and the generous amount of scare points along the attraction, A Quiet Place truly raises the bar for HHN Haunted Houses. This is the one you want to make sure you see this year.

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DON’T MOVE Trailer Teases a Timed Cat-and-Mouse Game with a Twisted Serial Killer

Horror continues to take some inventive swings in this post-Get Out era. From Smile to Barbarian, there are some premises that truly stand out from the crowd. And it looks like we will be able to add Netflix’s Don’t Move, a film produced by the legendary Sam Raimi, to the list. It gives us quite the tough question to answer. What would you do if you only had 20 minutes to escape a serial killer while your body is slowly shutting down from paralysis? Well, I honestly don’t know besides run as fast and far as I can and try to find a place to hide until the awful meds wear off… if they do wear off. The first trailer for Don’t Move is fantastic, giving us intense action without giving away too much of the movie. That’s certainly key with a seemingly on-the-nose premise like this one. 

In the clip, we see a woman who is watching a timer on her phone and trying to escape peril. There are several shots of her running, hiding, and even trying to speak to people before her body totally shuts down altogether. We don’t know her name nor why this man is trying so hard to kill her. Well, besides the fact that he’s just psychotic. He even explains exactly what will happen to her at certain points, which means he’s a pro at this awful game of cat and mouse. 

Here’s a synopsis for Don’t Move to accompany that intense trailer: 

A grieving woman hoping to find solace deep in an isolated forest encounters a stranger who injects her with a paralytic agent. As the agent gradually takes over her body, she must run, hide, and fight for her life before her entire nervous system shuts down.

What Is the Release Date for Netflix’s Don’t Move Horror Movie? Netflix

The film stars Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Moray Treadwell, and Daniel Francis. Don’t Move will hit Netflix just in time for Halloween on October 25.

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What to Remember from THE BATMAN’s Crime Families Before THE PENGUIN

While I don’t love the moniker, the Matt Reeves version of Gotham City, “The Batman Epic Crime Universe,” is pretty apt. While The Batman has a superhero and a terrifying serial killer at its center, the main thrust of the plot centered around organized crime and police and government corruption. Fun! We always knew Gotham’s rot ran deep, but The Batman really highlighted that. Fittingly, it’s this aspect the TV series The Penguin focuses on, despite having a recognizable comic villain as the lead. Much of The Penguin deals with the hierarchy and squabbling between two particular crime families mentioned in The Batman.

Here’s what you need to remember about the Falcone and Maroni criminal organizations and families before you dive into The Penguin.

Warner Bros.Boss Carmine Falcone Is Dead

Carmine Falcone (John Turturro in the movie, Mark Strong on the show) was the longtime head of Falcone crime family. In The Batman, he more or less acts as the fulcrum from which all of the other plots in the movie circle. Falcone is ‘s boss, and owner of the Iceberg Lounge which the Penguin runs. He tells Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) of his connection to Bruce’s father, Thomas Wayne. Thomas fixed up Falcone’s mob-related wounds and later when a reporter threatened to expose Martha Wayne’s history of mental illness, Thomas asked Falcone to “put the fear of God” into the reporter. Falcone also had an affair with Maria Kyle, a dancer at the Iceberg, and is the illegitimate father of Selina (Zoe Kravitz).

The big penny-drop moment of the movie is when Batman figures out that Falcone is the rat feeding info to the police in exchange for the cops and politicians leaving him alone. Falcone murdered the reporter, and Selina’s mother, and later Selina’s friend Annika when she learned the truth about him. Part of his ratting consisted of selling out Salvatore Maroni, his criminal rival and operator of the city’s “drops” drug trade, and taking over the business. He puts Oz in charge of running it.

Through the Riddler (Paul Dano)’s clues, Batman uncovers all of this corruption and the uncorrupt members of the GCPD come to arrest Falcone. While doing so, the Riddler assassinates Falcone with a rifle in a nearby building.

HBOThe Penguin Sees a Vacuum in the Criminal Underworld

At the end of The Batman, we see the Penguin—who was vehemently against Falcone’s working with the cops—looking out over Gotham, contemplating his rise to the top. The series shows us it’s not that simple. The remaining capos in the Falcone organization aren’t going to just fall in line behind a thug like Cobb. He also has to contend with Carmine’s two legitimate children, Alberto (Michael Zegen) and Sofia (Cristin Milioti). Both have eyes on controlling the organization, and Sofia is freshly out of Arkham for apparently killing several women in the guise of the Hangman.

Salvatore Maroni Also Has a Score to Settle with the Falcone Crime Family

The aforementioned rival boss Salvatore Maroni will also appear in The Penguin, played by motherf***ing Clancy Brown. Maroni was the ruling family in the drops industry before Falcone’s involvement. Now that Carmine is no more and the big secret it exposed, Maroni sees this as an opportunity to take back what’s his. One setback, he’s still in prison. Lucky for him, his wife Nadia (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is more than capable, and ruthless, to go toe-to-toe with the Penguin and the Falcone kids.

HBOThe Falcones, the Maronis, and Their Crime Families in the Batman Comics

The criminal underworld of Gotham City as depicted in The Batman and The Penguin are not wholly new characters to the Batman mythos. In fact, many members of both the Falcone and Maroni families have appeared in comics over the past several decades in prominent ways.

Carmine Falcone

Carmine Falcone first appeared in Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s seminal four-issue mini series Batman: Year One from 1987. He later appeared as a main antagonist in Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s iconic 1996-1997 series, Batman: The Long Halloween, which serves as a major inspiration for much of The Batman and The Penguin. The backstory about Thomas Wayne tending to Carmine’s wounds with a young Bruce watching comes right out of that book. Carmine dies in The Long Halloween at Two-Face’s hand.

Sofia and Alberto Falcone

The two Falcone children also both first appear in The Long Halloween and continue on in Loeb and Sale’s other big arc, Dark Victory. (They have another brother in the comics who doesn’t apparently exist in the show.) Sofia aids her father in The Long Halloween in unearthing the true identity of the serial murderer, the Holiday Killer, who kills citizens seemingly at random during specific holidays. Holiday turns out to be Alberto Falcone himself.

DC Comics

Later in the 2000 event Dark Victory, Sofia Falcone returns to Gotham in the guise of the Hangman, a serial murderer taking out members of the GCPD.

Salvatore Maroni

Salvatore Maroni is a very old character indeed. He first appeared in Batman issue #66 from 1942. He’s a gott-dang Bill Finger and Bob Kane creation! As one of the city’s major crime bosses, he appears on and off over the years. His major claim to fame is that he’s the one who tosses acid in Harvey Dent’s face which leads to him becoming Two-Face. This happens in The Long Halloween as well.

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.

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Chopper Arrives on Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2

The time has finally come to set sail for more adventure and dream-chasing. One Piece season two has officially begun production and is one step closer to coming back onto our screens. Netflix revealed, that, of course, our Straw Hat pirates would all be returning for One Piece season two—but not alone. In addition to a host of new characters joining the cast, a few other familiar faces from season one will be back in One Piece‘s second season. Namely, Alvida, Buggy, and Gold Roger will once again be in the mix of One Piece‘s live-action story.

Let’s take a look at everything Netflix has shared to celebrate One Piece season two.

Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 Teases Chopper

During Geeked Week, Netflix shared a sneak peek at live-action One Piece season two… And this inside look included a tease at fan-favorite Chopper. We, as they say, are seated.

NetflixJeff Ward Takes Us on a Set Tour of One Piece Season 2

Jeff Ward, who plays Buggy the Clown, on One Piece, and will return for season two, takes on a behind-the-scenes tour of the show in celebration of Netflix’s Geeked Week. This tour gives us our best look yet at the world of One Piece season two. Although, of course, spoilers are carefully blurred. Ward shows us the costume department, the prop department, hair and makeup, and production design. Of course, there are some tantalizing hints to be gleaned. The video notes we’ll be visiting Drum Island, where it’s winter all the time, a challenge for One Piece’s South African-based filming location.

NetflixNetflix

We even get to see inside Twin Cape lighthouse, which is the home of One Piece‘s Doctor Crocus. Additionally, in the props department, we see a giant syringe…

Netflix

Eiichiro Oda Teases Season 2 Story Arcs and More New CharactersNetflix

A letter from Eiichiro Oda delivered via Netflix has shed a lot of light on the story arcs we can expect in season two and more about the upcoming episodes. In the letter Oda notes that “The story will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island!” Additionally, he teases Vivi, Miss All Sunday, Chopper, and more casting announcements are on the way.

The full text of the note is below:

Yes, the live-action One Piece is currently in production, with filming well underway. The story will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island! Think about it. Imagine how much it’ll cost! Lol. But whether it’s the script or the cast, I continue to insist on this or that, which makes Matt the Showrunner go “Aaarrgh!” and Netflix go “Noooo!” and Tomorrow Studios go “Whaaaat” as they all pull their hairs out. All that, even though we grew so close making season 1.

But it’s because we all share the same passion for this show! Just as with last season, they’ve gone out of their way to promise that they won’t put the show out until I’m satisfied. This isn’t in the contract, you know. It’s a verbal pledge. I hope you can appreciate how amazing and determined they are for keeping their word. And they’ve certainly proven their ability to bring this world to the screen. I just can’t wait to see it! 

Meanwhile, the previously announced cast is compiled on the official X account, so go check it out. The Grand Line is an even more expansive “World”. You may wonder, what was the inspiration behind that kingdom? How would it connect to the real world? Naturally, the distinctive cast members have been assembled from around the world, and I can’t help but get excited thinking about how the adventure has already begun! 

Among those yet to be announced, what about Vivi? And Miss All Sunday? What’re they doing with Chopper? We can’t announce everyone all at once, but starting tomorrow, we’ll be announcing more cast members over three days: August 21, 22 and 23. 

Look out for those, and stay tuned for more exciting updates to come!

One Piece Teases Season 2, Episode 1

We don’t know the exact plot of live-action One Piece‘s season two. But we do know the title of its first episode. One Piece season two, episode one will be called, “The Beginning and the End.” It will be written by Matt Owens and Ian Stokes. We’re ready to hear all the fan theories about what that title implies.

NetflixOne Piece‘s Main Cast Reunite as Production Begins

As Taz Skylar notes, these are happy tears! And what a glorious reunion it is. The Straw Hat Pirates have all traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, to film the next chapter of their One Piece adventure. Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji) are all back together again once more as production begins for One Piece season two. We absolutely feel the love and crew bond between them all.

One Piece Season 2 Cast, Revealed Netflix

In a release celebrating season two’s production started, Netflix also shared that additional returning One Piece cast include “Ilia Isorelys Paulino as Alvida, Jeff Ward as Buggy, and Michael Dorman as Gold Roger.” Jeff Ward’s Buggy was a true fan-favorite, so it’s no surprise he’ll be back. No word yet on other season one standouts like Steven John Ward, who played Dracule Mihawk, or Peter Gadiot, who played Luffy’s red-headed mentor, Shanks. But hey, they still could be back. Netflix reveals that additional One Piece cast will be announced at a later date.

Of course, in addition to old One Piece favorites, “new cast members joining season two include Brendan Sean Murray as Brogy, Callum Kerr as Smoker, Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5, Clive Russell as Crocus, Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9, David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Rob Colletti as Wapol, Ty Keogh as Dalton, and Werner Coetser as Dorry.” You can learn more about these new One Piece season two characters with our piece, here.

NetflixWhen Live Action Will One Piece Season 2 Release?

There’s no word yet on any release date for One Piece season two. But now that production on the show has started again, we’re sure we’ll get many more tantalizing treasures from Netflix sooner rather than later.

Originally published on July 1

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Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 Casts Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0/Crocodile and Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday

Season two of Netflix’s One Piece will soon set sail. And that means we’ll be seeing more familiar faces come to life on our screen. Recently, Netflix has shared a string of new casting announcements for season two of live-action One Piece. But who are the new cast we’ll see on the high seas? From Smoker to Baroque Works Agents to everyone else in between, here the actors joining the cast of One Piece season two and the new live-action characters they’ll play.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 and Lera Abova as Miss All SundayNetflix

In its most exciting piece of casting yet, Netflix has cast Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 in live-action One Piece season two. Mr. 0, of course, is also known as the villainous Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea and the president of Baroque Works. Crocodile is one of the most nefarious villains in One Piece‘s world. Additionally, Lera Abova joins as Miss All Sunday… also known as one Nico Robin… she may or may not be destined to join the Straw Hat Pirates along with another teased character, Chopper. Fans will surely delight in seeing these iconic characters brought to life by such masterful actors.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Charithra Chandran As Miss Wednesday

It seems that Netflix will slowly trickle out a large number of new cast members for One Piece season two. A beloved anime favorite character, Miss Wednesday, will be played by actress Charithra Chandra. We love to see it!

Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Casts Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra

According to Variety, there’s yet another cast announcement for One Piece season two. Sendhil Ramamurthy will play Nefertari Cobra, the King of Alabasta and the patriarch of the Nefertari family.

In the heart of The Desert Kingdom of Alabasta, where rebellion stirs and secrets are buried, stands a King like no other. Introducing Nefertari Cobra, the pillar of integrity in a kingdom at crossroads. 🐫🌴 #OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/daCvHeh9RJ

— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) August 22, 2024

Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Casts Dr. Kureha and Dr. HirilukNetflix

The Great Medical Land of Drum is in the house. For a long time, fans hoped that the iconic Dr. Kureha would be played by Jamie Lee Curtis. But alas, that casting did not work out. Instead, Dr. Kureha will be played by Katey Sagal on One Piece season two. In One Piece‘s world, Dr. Kureha is an elderly doctor who some think of as a witch, and an ally to the Straw Hat pirates. Dr. Kureha is Chopper’s adoptive mother, which likely means Chopper’s reveal is just around the corner.

Netflix

Additionally cast for One Piece season two is Dr. Hiriluk, who will be played by Mark Harelik. Dr. Hiriluk is a complicated character with a good heart and a tragic story. He is Chopper’s original father figure, but alas, their story ends in great sadness. It will be interesting to see just how the live-action One Piece series adapts Chopper’s backstory and Dr. Hiriluk’s tale.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Smoker, Tashigi, Wapol & Dalton

New faces 🗡️ new powers 🚬 🐂 new adventures! Don’t drift away, Straw Hats! We’re just getting started. ​​🏴‍☠️ 🌊 #OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/N5omk4OuOI

— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) June 27, 2024

A very anticipated casting for One Piece season two is that of Smoker. This villainous figure was teased at the end of One Piece season one. In One Piece‘s world, Smoker is a marine on a mission… A mission to capture Luffy. And now we know that Monarch‘s Callum Kerr will play Smoker in One Piece season two as the character arrives in full.

Additionally, Netflix has cast Tashigi, Wapol, and Dalton to join the pirate-fun. Tashigi is also a marine who serves under Smoker. Tashigi is a skilled swordsman and we’ll no doubt see her clashing blades with Zoro in One Piece season two. Julia Rehwald has been cast as this new One Pieces season two live-action character.

Wapol, meanwhile, is a selfish character who used to be the king of his kingdom (called Drum). However, when pirates attacked, he fled his people in a cowardly way and became a pirate himself. He’s eaten of the Baku Baku no Mi Devil Fruit which allows him to eat nearly everything and then take on the characteristics of whatever he’s consumed. No doubt, Luffy will be a bit jealous of this eating ability. Rob Colletti will join the cast as Wapol.

Finally, One Piece season two has cast the live-action character of Dalton. Dalton is the new King of Wapol’s former kingdom and a friend to the Straw Hat Pirates. Ty Keogh has been cast as Dalton.

Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry’s Actors Join Live-Action One Piece Season 2

The Grand Line just got bigger! The crotchety Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry are coming our way. #OnePieceLiveAction pic.twitter.com/Z86S8ZY7wI

— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) June 26, 2024

Additionally, One Piece revealed that actors Clive Russell, Brendan Murray, and Werner Coetser will join the season two cast as Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry.

Crocus, Clive Russell’s new character on One Piece season two, is an ally of the Straw Hat Pirates. He’s a lighthouse keeper, but also an exceptional doctor who was a part of Gol D. Roger’s crew.

Meanwhile, Brendan Murray, who has been cast as Brogy in One Piece season two, will play a giant on the series. He’s one of the two captains of the Giant Warrior pirates alongside Dorry. Dorry, also a giant, will be played, as mentioned, by Werner Coetser.

David Dastmalchian Will Play Mr. 3 in One Piece Season 2 Shudder/Toei Animation

We’re particularly excited to see David Dastmalchian cast in One Piece season two. Dastmalchian will play the devious Mr. 3, a member of the Baroque Work Agent crime syndicate. Mr. 3 has consumed the Wax Wax devil fruit and has total control over candle wax. This is definitely a unique and terrifying ability, especially in Dastmalchian’s hands.

One Piece Casts Three Other Baroque Work Agent Characters

Out from the shadows comes your first look at who's playing the Baroque Works agents! pic.twitter.com/k0G7A94QnE

— ONE PIECE(ワンピース) Netflix (@onepiecenetflix) June 25, 2024

But David Dastmalchian’s Mr. 3 isn’t the only Baroque Works Agent to join the cast of One Piece season two. Jazzara Jaslyn will play Miss Valentine, who has the Devil Fruit power of manipulating her body weight. Camrus Johnson joins the cast of Netfix’s live-action One Piece as Mr. 5. Mr. 5 has the deadly ability to create explosions from his body without harming himself. And finally, Daniel Lasker has come aboard as Mr. 9. The newly cast Mr. 9 will bring his metal bats to One Piece season two.

We’re sure these number/holiday-named agents will be up to no good in the season.

More New Characters and Cast Are On the Way for One Piece Season 2Netflix

One Piece teases that they’re just getting started with new season two cast announcements. We can’t wait to see who will appear on the horizon next.

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MAGIC: THE GATHERING Animated Series Is Now in Production at Netflix

The collectible fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering has been an institution for over thirty years. It has inspired video games, comic books, and novels alike. But despite announcing many a Magic: The Gathering TV or movie project over the years, most recently for Netflix, nothing ever came of them. Now, Magic: The Gathering is back from the dead at Netflix. The streamer has officially announced that a Magic: The Gathering animated event series is now in production, with a new creative direction from showrunner Terry Matalas. Folks may know Matalas as the showrunner of Star Trek: Picard’s popular third season. He is also the main creative voice behind Marvel Studios’ upcoming series about the android Avenger, the Vision.

Netflix/Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast

The new Magic: The Gathering event series is made in partnership with Hasbro Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast, longtime owner of the franchise. A few years back, they announced that Netflix cast Brandon Routh from Superman Returns and Legends of Tomorrow in a lead role. Only that iteration of a Magic: The Gathering Netflix series never made it off the drawing board. Brandon Routh confirmed to Collider recently that despite recording lines for it, Netflix completely scrapped the version he was in.

This time, it seems production has at least begun on the new Magic: The Gathering series project. So it will likely see the light of day. Netflix describes this card-inspired creation as an “event series,” meaning that there is no guarantee of additional seasons. Event series seems to be the new word for mini-series. We are not sure what the plot of this new Magic: The Gathering series will be. We also have no idea which iteration of the franchise they will be drawing from. Also, we still have no clue as to when it’s actually dropping on the streaming service. Here’s hoping Netflix finally does justice to the iconic game that so many fans love the world over. Magic: The Gathering series, here we come!

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Take a STRANGER THINGS Set Tour with the Cast as Part of Geeked Week

It sure feels like we’ve been waiting for Stranger Things season five for roughly a decade. The final season of the beyond-popular Netflix paranormal series will apparently come out in 2025, but beyond that, we have no idea. Geeked Week, Netflix’s festival of teases and trailers and things, has provided us with something ahead of the new season. No, it’s not a trailer or a first look at new monsters. Instead, it’s a video showcasing two young fans’ tour of the set in Atlanta, GA, with tour guides Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo.

The fans, Amy and Elycia, get a firsthand look at the various departments behind the scenes in Stranger Things land. They have a surprisingly vivid photographic memory for little bits of the series’ previous seasons. First, they head off with Wolfhard into the archives to look at character- and season-specific props from the past. Among the best stuff is the actual Demogorgon D&D piece from the show’s first episode and the box of Eggo Waffles that Eleven covets.

Next up, McLaughlin takes the fans into the costume room to look at favorite ’80s clothes from the show. They are particularly excited to see Steve Harrington’s costume, as he is their favorite character. (Sorry guys.) Finally, Matarazzo takes them into a room specifically housing the miles and miles (yes literally) of Upside Down black vines which are actually just hundreds of thousands of pool noodles. The Stranger Things production kept a whole business afloat (ha!) with their orders.

Netflix

The one actual bit of teaser we get from the video is what Lucas, Mike, and Dustin look like in the final season, since the actors lead the tours in costume. Lucas’ flattop has reached skyscraper height while Mike has finally cut his ridiculous stringy hair. But the biggest “aw” moment appears to be that Dustin has grown his hair out and wears a Hellfire Club t-shirt in memory of the fallen idol that is Eddie Munson. Adorbs.

And that’s kind of it! A fun video and actors in costumes. But, you know what? We’ll continue to eat up all the scraps we can get before we finally see Stranger Things 5 next year.

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.

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