Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 254

Chick-Fil-A Plans to Launch a Streaming Service for Reality TV as Its Next Menu Item

Someone tell Chick-Fil-A that there are already enough streaming services in the ether. We don’t really need another one. What we need is for Chick-Fil-A to clean up their complex record of being anti-LBGTQ+ (they have pledged to do better, so we’ll see) and focus on the food. But naturally, Chick-Fil-A did not ask for our opinion, or we would tell them that prices of streaming services go up every day, and people do not feel thrilled about it. We’re not really sure the addition of a Chick-Fil-A+ plus streaming service will offer much help there. Nevertheless, Chick-fil-A plans to launch a streaming service for Reality TV content. It’s pretty clucking weird, we have to say.

Chick-fil-a/Netflix

Deadline reports that “the fast-food firm has been working with a number of major production companies, including some of the studios, to create family-friendly shows, particularly in the unscripted space. It is also in talks to license and acquire content.” Perhaps the Chick-Fil-A streaming service can get Chicken Run onto its platform once it’s launched. Yep, Chick-Fil-A originals will soon arrive on our screens as well as on our tables.

In the line-up is “a family-friendly gameshow from Glassman Media, the company behind NBC’s The Wall, and Michael Sugar’s Sugar23, which is behind series such as Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why.” The series reportedly has a ten-episode order. We’re not super sure the creators of 13 Reasons Why are the right folks to make a family-friendly gameshow for the Chick-Fil-A streaming channel. But, hey, the world is a strange place.

Additionally, scripted projects and animation are also on the table for Chick-Fil-A’s streaming service. And the most shocking bit of all, the Chick-Fil-A streaming service may launch later this year. We guess we’ll have to keep a chicken eye on whether this all actually comes to fruition or not. Chick-Fil-A has not yet given any kind of official statement on the matter of this streaming channel.

The post Chick-Fil-A Plans to Launch a Streaming Service for Reality TV as Its Next Menu Item appeared first on Nerdist.

Nintendo Unveils New LEGO MARIO KART and ANIMAL CROSSING Sets

Gamescom is a wonderful time of year for fans of video gaming. Trailers galore! But even more than that, video game-related stuff, from TV shows like Secret Level, to toys! We love toys. Nintendo, never one to let us down in the merch department, has unveiled new LEGO sets based on their popular games. Six new sets will highlight Mario Kart titles and three sets for Animal Crossing. Gallery below!

Click To View Gallery LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi LEGO/NINTENDO LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Baby Peach u0026 Grand Prix Set LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Toad’s Garage LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Donkey Kong u0026 DK Jumbo LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Standard Kart LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ – Yoshi Bike

The new sets include Baby Mario and Luigi, Baby Peach & Grand Prix, Toad’s Garage, and a Standard Kart set. The one I’m most excited about? Jumbo Donkey Kong. The weirdest one? Blue Yoshi riding a Green Yoshi bike. Why would you ride a bike that looks like you? That is perverse.

In addition to these Mario Kart sets, we’ll also get three sets in the Animal Crossing universe. Those are: LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Stargazing with Celeste (77053), LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Leif’s Caravan & Garden Shop (77054) and LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Able Sisters Clothing Shop (77055).

LEGO/NINTENDO

All of these LEGO Nintendo sets will hit retailers January 1, 2025. So get your New Year’s affairs in order and get to building, then get to racing.

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

The post Nintendo Unveils New LEGO MARIO KART and ANIMAL CROSSING Sets appeared first on Nerdist.

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Teaser Trailer Reveals Zack Snyder’s Take on Norse Myths, Plus Red Band Trailer

Zack Snyder might have never directed an MCU movie starring any Asgardian gods; however, his latest project for Netflix definitely deals with stories and heroes from Norse mythology. Twilight of the Gods is Snyder’s latest offering, an animated series offering bombastic and bloody battles. All playing out on a mythological scale. If you’ve seen 300, you know Snyder loves some epic sweeping battle scenes. Netflix has announced a September release date for Twilight of the Gods, as well as a brief teaser for it, which you can watch right here:

In addition to the teaser trailer, the synopsis for Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods shares:

In a mythical world of great battles, great deeds, and great despair, Leif (Stuart Martin), a mortal king, is saved on the battlefield by Sigrid (Sylvia Hoeks), an iron-willed warrior with whom he falls in love. On their wedding night, Sigrid and Leif survive a wrath of terror from Thor (Pilou Asbæk), which sets them — and a crew of crusaders — on a merciless mission for vengeance, against all odds. This heroic story of love, loss, and revenge, is a journey to hell and beyond … across fantastical lands, battlefields fierce and bloody, and wars waged against deities and demons.

Netflix

For a gorier glance at the series, you can also take in the Red Band teaser trailer below.

Watch a brand-new preview of Zack Snyder's upcoming animated series Twilight of the Gods in all its bloody glory. Just… maybe not at your desk… pic.twitter.com/0rOIMprQ5P

— Netflix (@netflix) August 21, 2024

The series features the voices of Sylvia Hoeks, Stuart Martin, Kristopher Hivju, Pilou Asbaek, and John Noble. Also in the cast are Paterson Joseph, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Clayton, Peter Stormare, Jamie Chung, Lauren Cohan, and Corey Stoll. The term “Twilight of the Gods” is another name, of course, for Ragnarok. We can see why Snyder chose to not call his series that. Marvel’s Thor kind of owns that one for now.

In recent years, after the end of his DCEU, Zack Snyder has found a supportive home on Netflix. They financed and released his Army of the Dead, as well as both chapters of Rebel Moon. Those were movies, and Twilight of the Gods is his first series for the streaming giant. We’ll see if it’s the first of many, or just a one off.

Twilight of the Gods drops on Netflix on September 19.

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

The post TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Teaser Trailer Reveals Zack Snyder’s Take on Norse Myths, Plus Red Band Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Watch a Video Tour of Japan’s New Nintendo Museum

All around the world, we have museums dedicated to art, science, and history. And that’s all well and good. But we believe Japan is about to open perhaps the coolest museum of all time—the Nintendo Museum. Yes, an entire museum dedicated to the iconic video game company will soon open its doors to the public in Japan. First announced in 2021, the Nintendo Museum will be located in the city of Kyoto. This multi-level space will showcase a wide variety of products from the company’s 35-year history. The official website is now selling tickets. You can now also view a video tour of the museum right here, guided by Nintendo’s Representative Director, Shigeru Miyamoto:

Kyoto is where Nintendo’s corporate HQ currently is. So it makes perfect sense for their museum to be located there as well. According to Forbes, they constructed the museum on the grounds of the old Ogura Plant factory. This location was once used to make trading cards, as well as repairing all manner of toys and game consoles. The museum requires a free Nintendo Account to make a reservation. All tickets are sold via a randomly selected drawing. We imagine once the Nintendo Museum has been open for a little longer, getting tickets will be less of a process.

Nintendo

Let’s say you make the pilgrimage to Japan and plan a visit to the Nintendo Museum? How much are tickets for the museum going to set you back? Actually, they are not really that much at all. Adults (ages 18+) tickets are 3,300 yen ($23 US/£18), Youth (ages 12-17) costs 2,200 yen ($15 US/£12) a child (ages 6-11) is 1,100 yen ($8 US/£6) and preschoolers (ages 0-5) get a free entry. The Nintendo Museum officially opens its doors to the public on Wednesday, October 2.

The post Watch a Video Tour of Japan’s New Nintendo Museum appeared first on Nerdist.

Isildur, Estrid, and Arondir (And Berek!) Star in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Clip

The Rings of Power season one swept onto our screens in the summer of 2022, and it made quite an impact. In fact, at Nerdist, we felt it was one of the best shows of the year. And although we are still thinking about season one of the show, things are already ramping up on season two of The Rings of Power. The Rings of Power didn’t exactly leave us on a cliffhanger, but we are still on the edge of our seats, ready to dive back into its world.

In the latest clip from season two, we see a few of our favorite heroes. Isildur and Arondir emerge onto the scene and they’re joined by new character Estrid. Of course, Berek, Isildur’s loyal horse returns as well. Take a look at the action below.

A hero emerges. The Rings of Power returns August 29. pic.twitter.com/KuoM0XWvqU

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) August 20, 2024

Here’s everything we know so far about the next season of The Rings of Power.

Prime VideoThe Rings of Power Season Two’s Plot

The Rings of Power concluded season one on a few very dramatic notes, setting the stage for season two. Of course, Halbrand revealed himself to be none other than Sauron in disguise. When we last saw the dark lord, he was simply walking into Mordor, no doubt on the way to mete out some vengeance on his wayward followers. Meanwhile, Galadriel, Elrond, and Celebrimbor proceeded to form the elven Rings of Power despite knowing the idea came from a source of evil. And we feel it’s likely the Dwarves might know about the rings sooner rather then later.

Among other things, war is coming to Middle-earth. A release for season two of The Rings of Power notes, “This season features the long-awaited Siege of Eregion, a definitive battle in J.R.R. Tolkien’s history of the Second Age of Middle-earth, from which not everyone makes it out alive. The banners are raised, and the devastating war against Sauron is just beginning.” Very ominous.

Prime Video

An official synopsis for season two reveals more about the The Rings of Power‘s upcoming season, it notes:

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.

Behind the ScenesPrime Video

Showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay return to helm season two of The Rings of Power. Also returning is director Charlotte Brändström. Sanaa Hamri and Louise Hooper will also join as directors on season two of The Rings of Power. They will each direct two episodes.

Rufus Wainwright joins forces with Bear McCreary for The Rings of Power season two, specifically for Tom Bombadil’s song. The video above teases the song, as well as the making of it.

The Rings of Power Season Two’s Cast

The entire main cast of The Rings of Power which includes Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, and more, is expected to return for season two, with the exception of two major characters.

Prime Video

Firstly, Nazanin Boniadi recently revealed she would not return as Bronwyn in season two of The Rings of Power.

Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

Secondly, Joseph Mawle will not return as the tragic but trecherous orc father, Adar, instead, the role has been recast. Sam Hazeldine will take on the role of Adar in the second season of The Rings of Power season two.

Prime Video

Joining Hazeldine are fourteen new actors. No new roles or characters have yet been revealed. The new cast of The Rings of Power season two includes: Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, and Calam Lynch.

Prime Video

Rory Kinnear has also been cast as Tom Bombadil.

The Rings of Power Season Two’s Release DatePrime Video

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two will premiere with its first three episodes on August 29. It will then release episodes weekly with its finale landing on October 3.

Originally published on May 8, 2023.

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

The post Isildur, Estrid, and Arondir (And Berek!) Star in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Clip appeared first on Nerdist.

Galadriel and Sauron Reunite in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Trailer

It is ALL happening. I confess, I shrieked multiple times throughout this trailer because the number of things I was hoping to see in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two are all coming to life. Firstly, of course, there’s the one thing folks have been worrying about since the end of last season. Will Galadriel and Sauron reunite in The Rings of Power season two? The answer is yes: Sauron and Galadriel will have a reunion in The Rings of Power‘s next season. And not only will they reunite, but they’ll reunite in one-on-one combat. That’s what we call reuniting in fine fashion. So, for all you Haldriel, Saurondriel, whatever you would like to call it, believers out there, you can rest easy that Galadriel and Sauron will share some space together during The Rings of Power season two.

We kind of felt like this was bound to happen. But then again, the way Sauron and Galadriel separated in season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was sour and seemed kind of long-term. It was enough to worry fans that they wouldn’t meet, at any rate. Of course, how much space they’ll share in season two and what it will bring is yet to be determined. But we need to leave a little something to the imagination, don’t we? This Sauron and Galadriel reunion moment is far from the only exciting tease in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s season two trailer, though. You can check it out in full above. And below, you can catch a little more of the Galadriel and Sauron reunion in a new The Rings of Power season two featurette. The two enter the scene at the one-minute mark.

We’ll wait as you watch this The Rings of Power season two trailer one more time, at least. Once just isn’t enough to take it all in.

Prime Video

We gave space to Galadriel and Sauron already, but now we can all turn to what’s really important. This season, Adar and Galadriel could potentially work together in service of stopping Sauron, who has truly wronged them both. Of course, it’s hard to tell from this The Rings of Power season two trailer if this delicious alliance will actually take shape or not. At some points, like when Adar proposes that Sauron is an enemy of them both and he and Galadriel stand together on the top of a hillside, it seems like it might. During other scenes in The Rings of Power season two trailer, like when Galadriel is chained in a cage, it’s a little bit less clear.

Prime Video

I personally have been pulling for a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” narrative for Galadriel and Adar since the duo had their explosive interaction in The Rings of Power season one. Could an elf and an Uruk truly work together? It’s the start of a bad joke. It’s the start of a fanfic. And well, it’s in this The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two trailer. And I would love nothing more.

Prime Video

Of course, we would be remiss not to discuss the third power couple that emerges from this The Rings of Power trailer. Here we speak, of course, of Celebrimbor and Sauron. Sauron needs Celebrimbor to make rings. Celebrimbor needs Sauron to feel powerful. It’s all gift-giving and domestic forging at first. But things look like they go very wrong, very quickly in Eregion. The scene of Celebrimbor sobbing in this The Rings of Power trailer rocks us to our core. “What have you done to me?” The elven smith demands. Nothing good. (Well, we guess it’s a matter of perspective.) Sauron has a habit of giving those around them exactly what they want… to his own benefit.

If all that weren’t enough, this The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two trailer gives us glimpses of epic battles, inter-familial conflict, orcs galore, evil creatures, Elrond as a war hero, Durin as a true leader, Gil-galad in a marvelous robe, and more. We also get the barest tease of Sauron engaging in battle. He’s sleek, that’s for sure. And the puppetmaster behind it all. So much chaos seeping from one being, but that’s Sauron for you. If that weren’t enough, Sauron’s powers of the unseen world are also coming back into play in The Rings of Power. It seems like he’ll be invading minds, manipulating thoughts, and fighting on more than one plane of existence this season.

Prime Video

After this trailer, we absolutely cannot wait to see more from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. The new season premieres on August 29.

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

The post Galadriel and Sauron Reunite in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT Showrunner Tasha Huo on Humanizing a Heroine and Hayley Atwell’s Aura

The enduring and beloved franchise Tomb Raider and its protagonist Lara Croft is heading in a fresh direction. After several video games and successful film takes, Netflix and Legendary Entertainment are bringing this adventurous world to animated form with Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Hayley Atwell steps into the role of famed explorer and archaeologist for an adventure that is unlike any other. A big reason for this is Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’s showrunner Tasha Huo, a major fan of the games who understands the intricacies of this universe. We caught up with Huo to talk about the show’s timeline, navigating other cultures, and humanizing this iconic heroine. 

Nerdist: Tell us a little bit more about how this series fits into Tomb Raider‘s overall game universe and why this time period made sense. 

Tasha Huo: This series takes place after the Survivor trilogy and really acts as a bridge between the origin story to the Lara that we fell in love with in the ‘90s when we first started picking up the games. That Lara was very quippy, very confident. I wanted to explore how she became that person. 

And how do you think that this series will expand her as not only the heroine we know well but also as a human being?

Huo: That’s a great question. That was definitely a goal of mine. You can do that so much more in a TV show than you can necessarily do in a video game. And I think what we got in the Survivor game series was so much humanity from her that was very moving to me as a player, and surprising given the colder Lara that we met in the original series. So for me, it was really cool to be able to explore the more vulnerable aspects of her while still maintaining the strong superhero figure that she is. 

Absolutely! After watching this series, I noticed that the storylines touch on grief and some of the tough emotions that a person must unwind in that space. Why did you want grief to play a role in this particular story? 

Huo: Lara has been burdened with grief since the ‘90s, but I feel like she’s never fully gotten over it. And I wanted to move past it, to be honest, so that she could start working on other things, but it felt like we still had to address it. So in this first season, she is dealing with grief and we watch her power through to figure out how to become her best self after that so Lara can start working on other sh*t. 

Netflix

I look forward to her future! One of the tenets of Tomb Raider is seeing Lara Croft interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. How did you strike that balance between maintaining her role as a hero while also exploring other cultures in a respectful way? 

Huo: That’s a great question! I think one of the things I loved about the video games is how immersed you get in other cultures. I mean, they always would inspire me, at least in the Survivor series when we had finally had Google [for research]. Not so much in the early days when it was like, “Oh, what is this thing?” I was that player reading every single that you find and figuring out the history of it. Lara does embed herself in these cultures and it is a natural thing she does. While she may be our guide into it, I want people to feel like they’ve experienced another culture and then become curious about it. So please Google the stuff that you see and the same way we did in the Survivor series! 

It’s cool to do that! And it is exciting that Hayley Atwell is portraying Lara Croft. What was your experience like working with her? 

Huo: What’s great about Hayley is she knew who this character was. We had maybe a 10 or 15 minute conversation and she got it instantly. And a large part of that is because Lara is partly who Hayley is. Hayley has this incredible levity to her. She’s so naturally funny and buoyant, but on the other hand is a really deep thinker and is not only adventurous, but extremely dramatic and has that powerhouse spirit behind her, which is all the things that Lara is. She’s a perfect fit. 

Netflix

Well, she was also Agent Carter and those characters have some parallels, right? 

Huo: Yes, exactly. 

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft hits Netflix on October 10.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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

The post TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT Showrunner Tasha Huo on Humanizing a Heroine and Hayley Atwell’s Aura appeared first on Nerdist.

Sauron Plays Mind Games with Adar in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 First Clips

Remember when I said it was all happening for me regarding The Rings of Power season two’s sneak peeks, trailers, and teases? Good news, it’s still all happening for me. And hopefully, you feel the same way. The first released clips from The Rings of Power season two spotlight two of the best characters from the series, Sauron and Adar. Of course, Adar thinks he killed Sauron and has no idea the Dark Lord has, in fact, returned. Then, on the other hand, we have Sauron, who knows Adar betrayed him, who almost killed him in season one, and probably still would like to, but instead, he’s doing what Sauron does best on The Rings of Power, messing around in the heads of others and manipulating them to his aims.

In the first clip from The Rings of Power (which begins at the 4:24 time code for the Fallon clip), we see Sauron, pretending to be Halbrand, King of the Southlands, bartering for “his people” and their freedom. He purports to want to save the Southlanders in exchange for information about “a sorcerer” that he claims Galadriel is working with. Of course, he drops just enough hints to ensure that Adar knows he’s referring to Sauron, quoting his own favorite refrain, “a power over flesh.” Sauron must know how intensely the implication that he is alive will haunt Adar, who thought himself free of his and his children’s tormentor. But, obviously, that’s part of the fun of it for Sauron.

“You can’t kill me.” Sauron then tells Adar. And it’s true, Adar really cannot kill Sauron. The mind games are already running thick and fast, teasing what’s sure to be a season full of mischief on Sauron’s part and much pain on everyone else’s part.

Prime Video

These clips make me intensely excited for what’s to come on The Rings of Power season two. Not only because I am the world’s foremost Adar-lover, although I am, but because these The Rings of Power clips truly blow it out of the water. Charlie Vickers and Sam Hazeldine crush their performances, the tension in the scenes is delicious, and the nuances and story layers of each performance really take your breath away.

Where will this go for Sauron and Adar on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Probably nowhere good for the current ruler of Mordor, especially since we already know he’ll be the ex-ruler of Mordor sooner or later. I just hope he ends up with the elves and not dead. But either way, we’ll be excited to tune in every step of the way. The Rings of Power premieres with its first three episodes on August 29.

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

The post Sauron Plays Mind Games with Adar in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 First Clips appeared first on Nerdist.

INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLE Trailer Reveals a Grand Adventure and Release Date

Harrison Ford went on a grand adventure for the last time with last year’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. But even though Ford hung up his famous fedora, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of the character. Indy will continue in other media, like the brand-new Xbox game that was recently announced by Bethesda Softworks and Lucasfilm Games, Indiana Jones, and the Great Circle, which has a five-minute long trailer reveal from Xbox Games, which you can watch right below. Additionally, at GamesCom, the Indiana Jones game set a release date and revealed yet another trailer.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Trailer and Synopsis

Here’s the game’s official description:

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them – Indiana Jones. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.

Xbox/Bethesda Softworks/Lucasfilm Games

The game will take players “From the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond.” This looks like everything anyone could want from an Indiana Jones game.

Where on the Indiana Jones Timeline Does the Great Circle Take Place?

As mentioned in the synopsis, the events of this game fill in the timeline between two franchise movies. Timeline-wise, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle fits in between Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, which took place in 1936 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade which happened in 1938. It will be interesting to see how the film evolves the canon, offers Easter eggs, and sets up the events of its “future.”

To tease us, MachinesGames’ co-founder and lead game designer Jerk Gustafsson shares, “He has separated from Marion… We know that he is sort of lost again after that. He is adrift.”

Who Voices Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle?Naughty Dog/Xbox/Bethesda Softworks/Lucasfilm Games

If Indy’s voice sounds familiar in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s because Indiana Jones is voiced by Troy Baker, who gave voice to Joel on The Last of Us. We love this nerdy connection.

Who Can We Expect to See in the Game and When Will The Great Circle Release?

From what the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle game trailer depicts, we see good old Dr. Henry Jones Jr. in his prime. He’s evading death traps, scouring for hidden treasure, and of course, punching some Nazis. Also, his mentor Marcus Brody is in the game as well. Our fingers remain crossed that Sallah shows up at some point too. But we imagine Bethesda has a few surprises still in store. The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle game arrives to Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9, 2025. It will release on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025. You can WishList the game now by heading over to the official Indiana Jones Bethesda site.

Originally Published January 18, 2024

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

The post INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLE Trailer Reveals a Grand Adventure and Release Date appeared first on Nerdist.

SECRET LEVEL Teaser Showcases Anthology of D&D, WARHAMMER, and More

Games, both tabletop and video, offer some of the richest and most complex storytelling opportunities in the world at the moment. Sometimes you don’t want to leave a fictional game world when you’ve finished your campaign. Well, now if you’re a fan of 15 different games and gameworlds, the new Prime Video series Secret Level will be for you. The adult animated series from the people behind Love, Death + Robots will adapt an unprecedented number of properties from all over the gaming sphere. And even if you don’t know the games, it looks pretty gorgeous.

If you didn’t catch all of the properties in the teaser—which is astonishingly good looking so far—Prime has provided a list of what we’ll see.

●                Armored Core

●                Concord

●                Crossfire

●                Dungeons & Dragons

●                Exodus

●                Honor of Kings

●                Mega Man

●                New World: Aeternum

●                PAC-MAN

●                PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)

●                Sifu

●                Spelunky

●                The Outer Worlds

●                Unreal Tournament

●                Warhammer 40,000

That’s a hefty and impressive list of titles! I’m personally pretty stoked to see Mega Man on the list. And FromSoftware fans will probably be exceptionally interested to see Armored Core among the offering. Whet the whistle for possible Dark Souls or Elden Ring episodes?

We honestly can’t wait to see what this level of animation brings to these beloved games. But we’ll have to! Secret Level premieres on Prime Video December 10.

Prime Video

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.

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

The post SECRET LEVEL Teaser Showcases Anthology of D&D, WARHAMMER, and More appeared first on Nerdist.