Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 239

September 17, 2024

Baz Luhrmann Will Direct a JOAN OF ARC Movie, JEHANNE D’ARC

Breaking! A Joan of Arc movie, titled Jehanne d’Arc, is on the way, and it’s coming from, drumroll please, Baz Luhrmann. Honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better director for a Joan of Arc movie. We’re sure it will be extravagant and lushly surreal. It’s what any good woman warrior tale deserves. (We’re also keeping our fingers crossed that it’s a queer film.) For now, we just know the broad strokes of Luhrmann’s Joan of Arc movie—that it will tell the tale of a young French peasant who believed God commanded her to lead an army that would save France from the Hundred Years’ War.

No more specific plot than that has been released so far. But casting for Jehanne d’Arc has begun. A casting call notes that it’s seeking a young woman to play, “the ultimate teenage girl coming of age story, set in the Hundred Years’ War.”

Chappelle Roan as Joan of Arc for Baz Luhrmann Joan of Arc movie piece

MTV

Well, if Luhrmann needs inspiration for his Joan of Arc movie, we’ll just point him to Chappell Roan’s performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” at the 2024 VMAs.

We can’t wait to hear more about this movie. Maybe Roan can come aboard for the soundtrack.

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Published on September 17, 2024 10:51

DAGGERHEART, CRITICAL ROLE’s Answer to DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Sets Release Window and Opens Pre-Orders

Something new is coming to the world of tabletop roleplaying games, and that’s Critical Role‘s answer to Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart. Critical Role shares, “Daggerheart [is] our contribution to the world of high-fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. Daggerheart is a game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.” And now, you can officially pre-order Daggerheart and get ready to play. Critical Role’s original TTRPG game is available to purchase now in a standard “Core Set” version or as a limited-edition collectible which will feature “a GM screen, a dice set, a rip pad of character sheets, and tokens, as well as a sweeping alternate cover art treatment.” Daggerheart will officially ship/release in Spring 2025.

🗡️THE #DAGGERHEART PRE-ORDER BEGINS NOW ❤️‍🔥

Daggerheart is coming in Spring 2025 in the Daggerheart Core Set and the Limited Edition, packed with extras! Be the first to bring the full version of our collaborative storytelling TTRPG to your table and pre-order today!

➡️… pic.twitter.com/9z3x6mQXms
— Critical Role (@CriticalRole) September 17, 2024

As far as game mechanics go, in Daggerheart will “players roll one HOPE die and one FEAR die (both 12-sided dice), which will ultimately impact the outcome for your characters. This duality between the forces of hope and fear on every hero drives the unique character-focused narratives in Daggerheart.” The game will also involve a card system that “makes it easy to get started and satisfying to grow your abilities by bringing your characters’ background and capabilities to your fingertips.

Critical Role Daggerheart Critical Role game setup

Critical Role

Ancestry and Community cards describe where you come from and how your experience shapes your customs and values. Meanwhile, your Subclass and Domain cards grant your character plenty of tantalizing abilities to choose from as your character evolves.”

Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest has now launched globally.

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Published on September 17, 2024 10:10

Disney+, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundle Launches and Reveals Its Pricing

These times are uncertain for streaming services. Platforms that were once separate have merged. Various streaming services have increased prices and brought in ad tiers. Let’s not even get into various crackdowns on password sharing. But in a turn of events we could not have seen coming, Disney Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a new streaming bundle. This streaming bundle comes with Disney+, Hulu, and Max and is now available. What times we live in. Perhaps they are joining forces to fight Netflix.

Spider-Man with his hands on his head in Far From Home

Marvel Studios

A Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle obviously brings a lot of brands together. The release points out it encompasses ABC, CNN, DC, Discovery, Disney, Food Network, FX, HBO, HGTV, Hulu, Marvel, Pixar, Searchlight, and Warner Bros. among others. Customers will be able to purchase the bundle on any of the three streaming platform’s websites and choose between ad-supported and ad-free plans. It’s not yet clear if subscribers will be able to access the bundle through a single interface or separate services. If it’s a single interface, we can’t wait to see that design and how they make it not overwhelming.

Joe Earley, President, Direct to Consumer, Disney Entertainment, said in a release:

On the heels of the very successful launch of Hulu on Disney+, this new bundle with Max will offer subscribers even more choice and value. This incredible new partnership puts subscribers first, giving them access to blockbuster films, originals, and three massive libraries featuring the very best brands and entertainment in streaming today.

During a Warner Bros. Discovery earning call, JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games shared that this bundle would be “priced very attractively for the consumer.” Additionally, Perrette revealed that Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery were unlikely to invite any other streamers beyond Disney+, Hulu, and Max into the bundle, noting, “We don’t feel like we need anybody else in that package to make it incredibly compelling.”

How Much Does the Disney+, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundle Cost?

The Disney+, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle will be cost $16.99 a month with ads and $29.99 for the ad-free service. According to a Deadline report, that’s an overall 38% savings. Still, the continuous games of streaming baffle us. You can sign up here and get more information.

More Disney+ Bundles Could Be on the Way

Nami Patel, Disney’s senior vice president of strategy and business development recently shared that the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle strategy is “working really well” for the streamer. Specifically, Patel noted, the streaming bundle has seen “viewers spending more time on the platforms and has reduced subscriber churn.”

Based off this success, more streaming bundles might be just around the corner. Patel noted in conclusion, “Partnerships will always be a key benefit to consumers, and I think we’ll see more and more of that.” Bundling, she shares is a “great alternative” to going it alone.

Well, that’s not the first time the industry has come to that realization. But, it turns out, ultimately people didn’t like cable that much after a while. So we’ll have to wait and see where this goes.

Originally published on May 8, 2024.

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Published on September 17, 2024 09:26

September 16, 2024

Former X-MEN ’97 Showrunner Shares Original Plan for Wanda Maximoff in DOCTOR STRANGE 2

Former X-Men ’97 showrunner and creator Beau DeMayo has shared what he claims was the original plan for Wanda Maximoff in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He says that version of the film would have featured Wanda as a great hero rather than the film’s greatest threat. At least she would have been until a shocking ending that saw her kill a beloved MCU character. The abandoned plot line is a fascinating and tantalizing glimpse of what could have been. The question is whether or not DeMayo’s account of the narrative is entirely true.

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff looks back at Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios shockingly fired Beau DeMayo in March, right before X-Men ’97 premiered on Disney+. Since then the acrimony between the two sides has only increased. That doesn’t mean DeMayo is lying about the original idea for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though. It just means we can’t take what he says about Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff and Doctor Strange 2 as the absolute truth just yet.

But a lot of what DeMayo says sounds very possible and fits with official reports that aren’t in question. A lot of what he says about Wanda’s narrative also sounds very good.

DeMayo took to social media to comment on a story from ComicBookMovie.com about the scrapped plans for the Doctor Strange sequel. The post covered something said by Twitter/X user @MyTimeToShineH who wrote that concept art teased a dramatically different story than what the MCU delivered. In the first version, Wanda Maximoff and Doctor Strange would have teamed up immediately to chase down the movie’s main villain. Instead of Scarlet Witch, it would have been Nightmare. Ultimately, though, they said Kevin Feige wanted to go in a totally different direction.

Wanda covered in blood from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Marvel Studios

While that claim about Scarlet Witch’s story is unverified, it would explain a big change behind the camera that happened. The original film’s director Scott Derrickson left the sequel in 2020. He cited “creative differences” and has since confirmed that’s really what happened.

Sam Raimi eventually signed on to direct, instead, with Loki writer Michael Waldron penning the script. (His own screenplay also underwent major changes.) In the final version of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda Maximoff was the main antagonist from the start. But now DeMayo has added even more behind-the-scenes insights into the original plot of Doctor Strange 2 that flesh out the abandoned idea a whole lot more. It went to a very dark place.

Correct. OG drafts did her justice. Wanda was with Strange recovering after Westview, feeling bad about what she did. She helps him, Wong and Chavez (who she tutors) beat Nightmare across Multiverse, where she also sees her variants happy with her kids.https://t.co/3fQwROzuXJ
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) September 12, 2024

In a series of tweets DeMayo laid out how the “OG drafts” for the Doctor Strange sequel did Wanda Maximoff “justice.” That included a cliffhanger twist that would have served as one of the most iconic moments in MCU history. DeMayo shares the following about Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange 2 in his thread:

Wanda was with Strange recovering after Westview, feeling bad about what she did. She helps him, Wong and Chavez (who she tutors) beat Nightmare across Multiverse, where she also sees her variants happy with her kids.

Still, Wanda resists and she — not Chavez — helps Strange save the day against Nightmare, who turns out to be a Darkhold-corrupted Strange variant. Also, she used her experiences in WandaVision to warn Chavez about abusing her power.

Only after saving the day, unable to resist finding a multiverse where she can be with her kids, does Wanda — sobbing — break from Strange and accidentally beheads Wong, who tries to stop her from fleeing into the multiverse. That was film’s cliffhanger.

Wong shrugs while talking to Emil Blonsky in She-Hulk's season one finale

Marvel Studios

…Damn. That all sounds great, including the Nightmare/Doctor Strange Variant twist.

DeMayo also added he thinks this story “made far more sense” than what we ultimately got. “Even when she flees,” he wrote, “Wanda is torn up by guilt in classic comic book fashion and keeps apologizing to Strange as she vanishes and leaves him with his dead friend’s body.”

Whether you agree with DeMayo or not (or don’t believe him), at minimum this is a fascinating “what if.” But even if that Wanda Maximoff plot line would have made for a better film (and sequel), we can all take comfort in one thing: Wong is still with us.

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Published on September 16, 2024 11:26

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Now Has Its Own CLUE Board Game

The upcoming sixth season of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows will sadly be its last. And to be blunt, we are just not ready to say goodbye yet to our favorite undead housemates Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin Robinson. But for those of us who want to keep our favorite bumbling vampires alive past the series finale, we now have a way to keep them truly immortal. Thanks to Comicbook.com, we’ve learned that a What We Do in the Shadows edition of the Clue board game is here. And it’s here just in time for Halloween season.

What We Do in the Shadows Clue board game box art.

The OP Games

In the new edition of Clue, you’ll get to play as the vampire roommates along with The Guide in an attempt to find Laszlo’s 100% Witch Skin Hat. This is a reference to a particularly hilarious episode of the series. And as fans of the show know, that Witch Skin Hat isn’t something one actually wants. You’ll search for clues through iconic locations from the show’s Staten Island residence. It’s all in an effort to find out just who would dare take Laszlo’s precious hat. Whoever did it, they’ll probably just find a way to blame poor Guillermo.

Click To View Gallery What We Do in the Shadows Clue full game board and pieces.

FX/The OP Games What We Do in the Shadows Clue board game box art.

The OP Games/FX What We Do in the Shadows Clue game pieces.

The OP Games/FX What We Do in the Shadows Clue board.

FX/The OP Games What We Do in the Shadows Clue mover pieces.

The OP Games/FX

You can pick up a copy right now directly from The Op Games for $44.99. It’s already in stock and shipping. Meaning that you have plenty of time to order it and have a game night every night in October. The game includes 6 suspect movers, 21 Rumor Cards, and 25 Intrigue Cards. We’re glad they let poor Guillermo receive his own suspect mover. Usually, they’d make him sleep in the tool shed or something and not be part of the fun. They treat their familiar so badly.

What We Do in the Shadows season six premieres on FX on October 21.

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Published on September 16, 2024 09:34

Could Halle Berry Return as Storm in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY or SECRET WARS?

Despite all the rumors, none of the OG cast of the Fox X-Men films appeared alongside Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine. Not even Patrick Stewart as Professor X came back, who was the odds-on favorite to return. We have speculated that it’s because they are planning for the original X-Men cast to return in Avengers: Secret Wars. Or maybe they will return as early as Avengers: Doomsday. Recently, Comic Book Movie asked Halle Berry if Marvel asked her to return as Storm. This was while she was promoting her film Never Let Go. Her response: “You never know. We’ll find out!”

Halle Berry as Storm in X-Men: The Last Stand.

Twentieth Century Studios

So that’s not a yes, but certainly not a “no” either. To be fair, even if they cast her in a future MCU Multiversal Avengers project, she couldn’t say anything at this stage. But when you add Halle Berry playing coy to Kelsey Grammer’s recent comments about returning as Beast after his cameo in The Marvels, you start to think there’s a plan afoot here. Grammer recently said he’s had “some conversations” about Beast returning. This is thanks to an “overwhelming” response to his cameo. Of course, he was also sure to say, “There’s nothing I can talk about.”

Earlier this year, when asked about a return as Cyclops in the MCU, James Marsden answered by saying “That’s a bit of a Pandora’s box.” With Channing Tatum stealing our hearts as Gambit, and Hugh Jackman back as Logan, we’d only need Halle Berry as Storm, James Marsden as Cyclops, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, Patrick Stewart as Xavier, Anna Paquin as Rogue, and Kelsey Grammer as Beast to have the complete adult members from X-Men: The Animated Series. If we see them in Doomsday or Secret Wars taking on the Avengers in battle, especially wearing their classic costumes? Well, then we’re pretty sure the internet might literally explode.

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Published on September 16, 2024 09:15

The Perfect Answer to Colin Farrell’s THE PENGUIN Prosthetics Problem: Emperor Penguin

The Penguin didn’t even get a chance to premiere before a potential second season seemed unlikely. That had nothing to do with early critical reaction to the spinoff series, though. (Initial reviews are stellar.) It’s not because Warner Bros. Discovery has budget concerns, either. (At least not yet/we hope.) It’s because star Colin Farrell isn’t sure he can keep wearing all the prosthetics the role requires. He told GamesRadar that by the end of season one he found himself saying, “I never want to put that f***ing suit and that f***ing head on again.”

As much as we love the character, we don’t blame him. Fortunately, there’s a way for him to continue living in Gotham without having to first spend hours in a makeup chair. His Oswald Cobblepot can instead transform into Emperor Penguin, an alternate version of the Batman villain who is a DC Comics character whom Colin Farrell naturally looks like.

The Penguin in Carmine Falcone's office in The Batman.

Warner Bros.

Colin Farrell was definitely not the most obvious choice to play The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, but he turned out to be an inspired one. The Irish actor completely disappeared into the role of the street-wise American mobster. His Oz was equal parts frightening and funny, an unforgettable presence who fit perfectly into Reeves’ version of Gotham City. Farrell didn’t do that alone, though. World-class movie magic helped him physically transform into the role. If no one told you Colin Farrell was the one waddling around underneath those scars and body you would have never known it was him. His own co-star John Turturro didn’t even believe it was him!

Obviously, all those prosthetics take a lot of time and patience to put on every day. Acting in them also takes a lot of extra energy. There’s also a big difference in how many total days you have to wear them as a supporting character in a single movie compared to when you’re the titular star of an eight-episode TV show. It’s no surprise Farrell was beyond tired of the whole process after shooting The Penguin. It’s more surprising he ever agreed to do it in the first place.

Colin Farrell as The Penguin sits in a chair in a suit jacket and dress shirt

Macall Polay/Max

While Reeves has already said The Penguin will appear in The Batman 2, that doesn’t mean Farrell will sign on for a second season of his spinoff show. Not if it will mean many more months wearing those heavy prosthetics. But what if he doesn’t have to? There’s a way to do exactly that. Reeves and the show could let the actor appear with his own face if they adapt the story of Batman villain Ignatius Ogilvy.

Ignatius Ogilvy is a lesser-known DC Comics villain who has something very important in common with Bruce Wayne. He saw his parents killed outside a theater. His dad was a small-time crooks. But while he never stepped out of line, that didn’t get him ahead. Nor did it save his life. Ignatius never forgot the hard lessons he learned from his father’s life. They drove his own ambition as he built an underworld career.

As a kid, Ignatius joined The Penguin’s crew. In his low-level henchman role he battled with (and lost to) Batman multiple times. Eventually he rose to become Oz Cobblepot’s most trusted, favorite lieutenant. But Ignatius wanted more, and when the opportunity presented itself he took it. He usurped The Penguin’s entire criminal empire from his boss. He then named himself Emperor Penguin and started taking drugs that gave him super strength and abilities.

Before his skin turned blue and he became known as Emperor Blackgate, Ignatius Ogilvy also just so happened to look exactly like a blonde-haired Colin Farrell.

Ignatus Ogilvy in a fancy suit and coat holding his umbrella on his shoulder

DC Comics

Colin Farrell did not look like an obvious choice to play Oz Cobblepot. Yet he looks like he was born to play Ignatius Ogilvy.

Matt Reeves and the writers of The Penguin don’t have to kill off Oz to make the switch. They certainly could have Farrell double dip until Ignatius replaces The Penguin entirely. Or they could simply adapt Emperor Penguin’s story. The Penguin is trying to becoming Gotham’s unquestioned underworld boss. That will make him the #1 target of Batman. If Oz gets what he thinks he wants, he might quickly find himself in need of a new identity and face. His newfound riches could make that possible with some pricey plastic surgery. It might be easier to rebuild his empire as Ignatius than it would be to keep it as Oz.

colin farrell in Max The Penguin series from Matt reeves The Batman universe

Max

Colin Farrell’s The Penguin is a memorable comic book villain. His look, which gives him an imposing presence and identity, is a big reason why. But as much as we love his Oz and want him to come back for multiple seasons and movies, if those prosthetics prove too much to work with, we’ll gladly take Farrell’s version of Emperor Penguin instead. Especially if they end up being the same person anyway.

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Published on September 16, 2024 08:50

Noah Hawley Promises Scarier Xenomorphs Than Ever Before in ALIEN: EARTH TV Series

The Alien franchise, dormant since 2017’s Alien Covenant, is about to come roaring back to life. Not only is there the new feature film on the way, Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez, but there’s also a new Alien TV series on the way as well, now officially titled Alien: Earth. And, this series has Fargo‘s Noah Hawley as the creative in charge.

Recently, Hawley spoke a little bit about the Xenomorph’s we can expect in the Alien: Earth series. Hawley promises they will retain their iconic forms, but be more terrifying than ever before. He notes, “That is truly chilling to think of it moving here among us, and so I can’t tell you under what circumstances you’ll see that, but you’ll see it — and you’re going to lock your door that night.” Hawley further shared, “What was really fun for me was to really engage with the creature, bring some of my own thoughts to the design while not touching the silhouette, because that’s sacrosanct… But some of the elements, as we know, whatever the host is, informs what the final creature is. I just wanted to play around a little bit to make it as scary as it should be.”

Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming Alien series, set for release on FX for Hulu.

Title

Twentieth Century Films / FX

For a long time, everyone involved with the series is simply calling it Alien. But we knew they’d change it. If only to not confuse it with the original 1979 film, or more likely, to not confuse it with any new films in the franchise like Romulus. The official title for the series, according to a report in Variety, is Alien: Earth.

Alien: Earth’s Plot A Xenomorph crouched and ready to strike on the wing of a ship in Alien: Covenant

20th Century Studios

The new series is a prequel to every iteration of the franchise so far, taking place in the year 2089. That’s about four years before Prometheus, and about thirty years before Ridley Scott’s film. Unlike previous films, Alien: Earth will take place on, well, Earth. It deals with the emergence of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, often referred to in the films as “the company.” In the later part of this century, Weyland-Yutani will be pioneering android intelligence, as we saw with Ash in the original film and Bishop in James Cameron’s Aliens.

Showrunner Noah Hawley has said the race between corporations to create new android life will largely be the focus of the Alien: Earth series. But given that the title of the show is Alien, the actual xenomorphs have to turn up at some point we think. The aliens on Earth decades before Ripley and the crew of the Nostromo discover them is a bit of a huge continuity change, but we expect Noah Hawley to discover a decent workaround. There’s lots of wiggle room there.

You can check out Alien: Earth‘s teaser trailer below.

The official synopsis for Alien: Earth reveals, “When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.“

Behind the Scenes The xenomorph from Aliens, which terrorized planet LV-426.

20th Century Studios

The new Alien series has quite a pedigree of talent behind it. Fargo and Legion creator Noah Hawley came up with this series and will also direct at least some of the episodes. Original Alien director Ridley Scott is an executive producer on the series. Alien: Earth is filming in both Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Alien: Earth’s Cast

Alien: Earth stars Sydney Chandler as a series lead, Alex Lawther as a soldier named CJ, and Samuel Blenkin as the mysterious CEO Boy Kavalier. Essie Davis is Dame Silvia, Adarsh Gourav as Slightly, and Kit Young as Tootles. Additionally, Timothy Olyphant has reportedly joined the cast as “Kirsh, a synth who acts as a mentor and trainer for Chandler’s Wendy, who is a hybrid, a meta-human who has the brain and consciousness of a child but the body of an adult.” Fargo‘s David Rysdahl has also come aboard in an undisclosed role, as has The Peripheral‘s Moe Bar-El, who will have a major recurring role on the season of the Alien series. Foundation‘s Sandra Yi Sencindiver, meanwhile, will play “a senior member of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation” in multiple episodes.

Babou Ceesay, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diêm Camille, and Adrian Edmondson round out the series casting.

Given the timeline of Alien: Earth, it’s all but confirmed that none of the original film’s actors will reprise their roles for the series. Sadly, that means no Sigourney Weaver this time.

Alien: Earth’s Release Date The fully grown Xenomorph from the Alien series.

20th Century Studios

The Alien: Earth series is set to arrive in 2025 on FX.

Originally published December 28, 2023.

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Published on September 16, 2024 08:46

CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE Season 2 Will Hit Netflix in January 2025

Castlevania: Nocturne season two will to expand the universe of this popular video game turned TV franchise. It gave us a little something for everyone: a French period drama, a new Belmont, and even a savior who happens to be a vampire. The show was well-received by fans and got a quick renewal just one month after its release in 2023. Now we know that the release month (or should we say window) for the next round of Castlevania: Nocturne is January 2025. A new clip from the series gives us a quick taste of its upcoming drama. Thankfully, the release date for Castlevania: Nocturne season two isn’t too far away!

Here’s a quick synopsis of what to expect in this second round of Castlevania: Nocturne:

Now joined by the legendary Alucard, Richter Belmont and his band of vampire hunters are in a desperate race against time. Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, who already seems invincible, seeks the full power of the goddess Sekhmet so she can plunge the world into endless darkness and terror.

castlevania nocturne richter and alucard

Netflix

Castlevania: Nocturne season two will have eight episodes that will presumably all drop at one time when it hits Netflix this January. We can’t wait to see how the team-up between Richter Belmont and Alucard will go. We’ll hope, for the world’s sake, well.

Castlevania: nocturne season two image of a monster being with red hair

Netflix

In the meantime, you can go back and rewatch the first season of this series or even go back to Castlevania in all its glory.

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Published on September 16, 2024 08:08

DUNK AND EGG Spinoff A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS Is Done Filming

Westeros isn’t getting any bigger, but its presence on HBO certainly is thanks to a very large and legendary knight. A second live-action Game of Thrones spinoff is coming about the Realm’s most beloved duo, Dunk and Egg. What’s the show called? Who is this famous knight and his young Targaryen squire? And why are fans of George R.R. Martin so excited to see them come to life?

In a “Coming to Max” preview, we got our first very small taste of what this spinoff will give us.

Additionally, seven new cast members have come aboard the show. Variety shares that the following actors have joined the show: Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, Henry Ashton as Daeron Targaryen, Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, and Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree.

We are indeed one step closer to getting this show. Actor Dexter Sol Ansell, who portrays Egg, revealed in an IG video that A Knight of the Seven Kingdom‘s is done filming.

And no, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ Daeron Targaryen is not the same as House of the Dragon‘s Daeron Targaryen. Thank you for playing the game of thrones.

Here’s everything we know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so far.

Title

Duncan the Tall holds up a sword in The Hedge Knight graphic novel

Mike S. Miller/Image Comics

At one point the spinoff was working under the wordy title of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. But a recent report says HBO has—thankfully—dropped the latter. The prequel is now operating under the simpler name and the book it’s adapting, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ Plot A tall knight on the cover of the graphic novel adaptation of The Hedge Knight

Mike S. Miller/Jet City Comics

The show’s official logline provided an introduction to the series’ time period and characters. From HBO:

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

Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire know much more about the beloved duo’s exploits and lifelong friendship. Martin’s three novellas cover both big and small events related to Westeros during a dangerous time in the Seven Kingdoms. Dunk and Egg began their time together shortly after the second Targaryen civil war known as the Blackfyre Rebellion. The fresh wounds of that Realm-splitting battle is why Egg needed to hide his real identity while serving as Duncan’s squire.

The red and yellow cover, with a shield adorned with a tree, from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms book

Random House

Martin has also previously confirmed a fan theory that the honorable, noble Ser Duncan the Tall is the ancestor of Brienne of Tarth. (Though we don’t yet know how.) Despite taking place a century before its HBO predecessor, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will also have more direct ties to Game of Thrones. Brynden Rivers, Egg’s uncle and the most notorious figure in Westeros, would go on to become the Three-Eyed Raven. And Egg’s older brother is none other than Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch.

Martin has long said he has plans for many more Dunk & Egg stories. The show could ultimately adapt those unwritten/unpublished tales into entire seasons. HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi has said the series will “ideally year-to-year and arcing out a three-season series, which maps out the three novellas that George wrote.” But that doesn’t mean it will only run three years. She also said, “Of course, we’d like more beyond that, and George is continuing to think about the remaining novellas that he still wants to write, but at this point, we have our eye on three seasons that would map out each book, each novella.”

The adult exploits of Dunk and Egg are also explored in Martin’s massive compendium book The World of Ice and Fire. (Spoilers!)

Behind the Scenes George RR Martin sitting on a couch talking and wearing his trademark hat and talking to Stephen Colbert

CBS

Martin and Ira Parker will write and serve as executive producers the show. House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal will also serve as as executive producer along with Vince Gerardis. Owen Harris (Black Mirror‘s “Be Right Back” and “San Junipero”) will direct the show’s first three episodes. Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons In Chemistry) has also come aboard to direct three of the season’s six episodes.

Production began in the spring of 2024 following the end of the writers and actors strikes.

Additionally, Martin wrote The Hedge Knight will be shorter than the other Game of Thrones series on HBO, however, it will be no less brutal, to be sure. Success for The Hedge Knight could mean other Dunk & Egg stories receive spinoffs. (And maybe Martin will even write a few more.)

Here’s what Martin shared in full.

THE HEDGE KNIGHT will be a lot shorter than GAME OF THRONES or HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, with a much different tone… but it’s still Westeros, so no one is truly safe Ira Parker and his team are doing a great job. I hope to visit the shoot come July, when I swing by Belfast on my way to the worldcon in Glasgow. The show will make its debut next year… and if it does well, THE SWORN SWORD and THE MYSTERY KNIGHT will follow. By which time I hope to have finished some more Dunk & Egg stories (yes, after I finish THE WINDS OF WINTER).

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ‘ Cast Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell official headshots for Dunk and Egg casting

HBO

The 6’4″ tall Peter Claffey (Bad Sisters, Vikings: Valhalla) will play the legendary Ser Duncan the Tall. Young Dexter Sol Ansell (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) will serve as Dunk’s diminutive squire, the fiery secret Targaryen prince Aegon forever known as “Egg.”

Martin publicly praised Dexter Sol Ansell’s transformation into Egg.

Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg) getting his head shaved ahead of Dunk and Egg filming!
byu/shad0wqueenxx inHouseOfTheDragon

Ser Duncan the Tall in raggedy clothes walks through a market in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Steffan Hill/HBO

Ser Duncan is officially here. HBO has shared the first official image from the production in Belfast and it features the “lunk” known as Dunk walking through a market. His raggedy clothes suggest this moment comes from his pre-Egg days. (Not that he’ll look that much better later. Hedge knights aren’t exactly the best dressed knights.)

The network also announced some major new cast members and their roles along with the photo’s release:

Finn Bennett as Aerion TargaryenBertie Carvel as Baelor TargaryenTanzyn Crawford as TanselleDaniel Ings as Ser Lyonel BarotheonSam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen

Additionally, the following cast members and characters have come aboard the Game of Thrones series: Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, Henry Ashton as Daeron Targaryen, Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, and Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ‘ Release Date[image error]Jet City Comics/Mike S Miller

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has previously said HBO is targeting a “late 2025″ premiere.

Originally published May 22, 2024.

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Published on September 16, 2024 07:30