Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 263

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Funko Pops Have Arrived from the Neitherworld

In Tim Burton’s original Beetlejuice, they said you had to say his name three times to summon the ghost with the most. Luckily, in the real world, we’re only having to say the name twice for Michael Keaton to return as the infamous “bio-exorcist” for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which hits theaters this fall. And of course, along with the actual movie itself, there’s a whole new assortment of Funko Pop! vinyls to go with it. We have our first look at the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Funko figures right here in our gallery, including some very familiar faces, including Lydia Deetz herself.

Click To View Gallery [image error] Warner Bros./Funko [image error] Funko/Warner Bros. Warner Bros./Funko Warner Bros/Funko Funko/Warner Bros. Warner Bros./Funko

Not only do we have an adult Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, once again in her red wedding dress, but also her daughter Astrid. Jenna Ortega plays her in the film and she’s no stranger to working with Tim Burton thanks to Wednesday on Netflix. She’s holding a copy of The Handbook for the Recently Deceased. We are pretty sure nothing good is going to come from her reading that one.

A familar-looking (yet still very small) also face pops up in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We see that a character called Bob the Shrinker has a Funko toy all his own. He’s a new shrinking head ghost from the Netherworld, wearing a snazzy yellow suit. We don’t know anything really about the character of Delores, Beetlejuice’s ex-wife. Aside from the fact that Monica Belluci plays her, of course. She certainly has Corpse Bride vibes though, doesn’t she?

Funko/Warner Bros.

Hopefully, a second wave of Funko Pop! vinyl toys come along soon. Because I think we all want Catherine O’Hara’s Delia Deetz to get a figure of her own. That one’s long overdue if you ask us. And if we get one of her character from the first movie, with that wild hairdo, even better. Between the Funko figures, the popcorn buckets, and more, expect this fall to be a Beetlejuice fan’s dream come true. These new Funko Pop toys are already available for pre-order at Amazon.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters on September 6.

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DUNK AND EGG Spinoff A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS Casts Yet Another Daeron Targaryen

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. 

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.

TitleMike 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 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.

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 ScenesCBS

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 ‘ CastHBO

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

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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How Does THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY Season 4 End the Hargreeves Siblings’ Stories?

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The Umbrella Academy brought back the Hargreeves siblings for one last ride to save the world. We have been through four seasons of world and life-altering events in the Hargreeves family, but this last round bids the family a (literal) final farewell with a rather sad ending. 

After six years in a new new timeline, the Hargreeves siblings are learning how to live their lives without their powers. Reginald’s time-warping machinations from the previous seasons have finally come to fruition. He’s even reunited with his long-lost wife, Abigail. But the siblings now have to deal with one last world-ending event, called “The Cleanse.” A group calling themselves “The Keepers” wants to trigger the Cleanse to bring back what they believe to be the original timeline that we saw way back in Season 1 and 2. But Abigail is equally capable of machinations, as she is revealed to be the catalyst for the Cleanse to rectify her and Reginald’s mistake in bringing the marigold particles that give the Hargreeves their powers. They both pay the price for their mistakes together.

CHRISTOS KALOHORIDIS/NETFLIXAre the Hargreeves Able to Finally Save the World in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

In order to save the world, the Hargreeves siblings have to erase themselves from the timeline. This leaves us with a world that is without the Hargreeves and any new apocalyptic events. Here’s what happens to each of the Hargreeves siblings in The Umbrella Academy‘s fourth and final season.

What Happens to Luther Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

Luther is alive again after being rather ruthlessly killed by his own father at the end of season three, and he is back looking more human than ever. Tragically, he is left in this new timeline without his wife, Sloane, who was a member of the Sparrow Academy, an alternate Umbrella Academy collective in the previous timeline. He tries and fails to find her, and has resorted to living in a decrepit building that was formerly the “Hargreeves Home for Wayward Boys.” Luther was stuck for a long time aspiring to return to the Umbrella Academy’s glory days. Thankfully, he manages to keep his siblings together for one last ride, making the ultimate sacrifice alongside them.

What Happens to Diego Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

In season four, Diego and Lila have three kids and a calm family life. He’s a bit disillusioned with losing his powers and having to work as a delivery driver, but he gets one last chance to be the crimefighter he dreamed of becoming. Diego’s powers are new and improved, allowing him to control many more projectiles at once than before. But his most important arc is the realization about what he actually values most about his life: his wife, Lila, and his kids. In the end, they send their kids and the rest of Lila’s family to safety, hoping that the timeline reset will spare them. Diego and Lila are both erased from the timeline but their family survives.

CHRISTOS KALOHORIDIS/NETFLIXWhat Happens to Allison Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

After Allison made a deal with her father to bring back her daughter Claire and her husband Ray, we see both of them at the end of season three. But in season four, Ray and Allison are no longer together. She lives with Clair and her brother Klaus. Although she is initially ostracized by the rest of her siblings for the deal that she made with Reginald, Allison finds a way to reconnect with her siblings. What better way to do it than having to save the world yet again?!

Allison used to control people with her words and now she’s capable of telekinesis. Her power has grown, but so has her commitment to protect her daughter. This comes to a head towards the end of the season, as she sends Claire off with Lila’s family after a final goodbye. At the very end of season four, we see Claire and all of Lila’s family alive and well, but it is unclear whether any of the children remember their parents.

What Happens to Klaus Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

At the end of season three, Klaus dies (again) and then comes back to life (again) to reveal the shocking truth that their father was responsible for his and Luther’s deaths. In season four, he is power-free and grateful for it, resolving to stay sober. Once Allison brings him back from the dead with marigold, the particles that give the siblings their powers, it sets Klaus on a self-destructive path once again, one he can only be saved from by his family. As difficult of a time Klaus has had, he has a very sweet relationship with his niece, Claire, and does his best to be a great uncle for “Claire Bear,” as he calls her. Although Klaus is very afraid of being mortal again, he also steps up to sacrifice himself along with the rest of his siblings to save the world.

What Happens to Five Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

Five is tired of having to save the world. But he unfortunately has to do it yet again, and discovers a solution that will finally stick. Five finds work as a CIA agent investigating the Keepers. His new powers involve strange time travel yet again, as he only is capable of teleporting to a subway station that he discovers leads him to the same moment in time in different timelines. He ventures to a different timeline with Lila, getting stuck somewhere in an alternate timeline for six years.

In a strange turn of events, Five and Lila fall in love after being the only two people stuck in an alternate timeline. They eventually find a way back home, leading to some classic messy Hargreeves family drama. Five’s instinct is usually to blink away whenever trouble comes around or he gets too tired of his (technically) younger siblings. But he decides to stick around with his family for the final showdown, as they reset the timeline with their sacrifice.

CHRISTOS KALOHORIDIS/NETFLIXWhat Happens to Ben Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

After becoming the most reluctant member of the family last season, this final round finds Ben as snarky as ever. In fact, he just got out of jail for bankrupting people in a cryptocurrency mishap. We finally get an explanation for what happened to the original Ben this season. The previous timeline’s Ben was killed in the “Jennifer incident,” where he touched a girl named Jennifer that he was trying to rescue, but their meeting triggered a chain reaction that could have destroyed the world. That timeline’s Reginald killed both Ben and Jennifer in order to prevent it. But the new Ben meets a new Jennifer, leading to a cataclysmic turn of events. Even though he is a part of the Cleanse, Ben does his best to protect his siblings from himself.

What Happens to Viktor Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

Viktor starts off the season living in Canada. Without his powers, he is carefree. He runs a bar and mostly keeps his distance from the rest of the family. Despite his best efforts, he is still pulled into the Hargreeves’ antics for one last ride, finding himself with new powers that allow him to blast laser-like energy. Viktor also finally had the chance to make peace with the new version of his father. As the Cleanse draws nearer, Viktor also does everything in his power to make sure his family does not get hurt.

What Happens to Lila in The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

The first time we meet Lila, she is an undercover agent trying to get closer to the Hargreeves siblings. Over time, she has truly become a member of the family. In the old timeline, Lila could mimic other people’s powers, but only within a certain range. In season four, she has these same powers, but this time she can shoot lasers from her eyes like Superman. At the end of season four, Lila learns that she is pregnant, and she is very nervous about becoming a mother. After the siblings transport to the new timeline, she and Diego decide to start a family.

Six years later, Lila is dissatisfied with being a stay-at-home mother and continues undercover work investigating the Keepers. She gets stuck along with Five in an alternate timeline, and she begins to develop feelings for him, even though she yearns to go home. Once they find a way home, she is extremely relieved to be reunited with her children, but still has complicated feelings for both Diego and Five. Lila has the most difficult time saying farewell to her family, but decides at the very last moment to let them go. She stays back with the rest of the Hargreeves to save the world one last time.

It’s a rather sad but not surprising ending for everyone. We don’t know if there will be any spinoffs now that The Umbrella Academy is done but we will truly miss this ragtag group of superpowered siblings.

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Why Did Aemond Ask Helaena to Go to War? HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Ewan Mitchell Chimes in on This Finale Moment

The season two finale of House of the Dragon shows the aftermath of Aemond’s wrath over Rhaenyra’s new dragonriders. He not only burns Sharp Point, he also returns to King’s Landing and tries to force his sister, Queen Helaena, to ride Dreamfyre into war. It was quite the baffling ask considering that the current queen is a gentle seer versus a fierce fighter. So why, exactly, did Aemond ask Helaena to go to war? Is he desperate to win the war or is he actually trying to protect his family from certain death? Ewan Mitchell has some thoughts about Aemond’s motivations. 

[image error]Ollie Upton/HBO

“I think it’s a little bit of both,” Mitchell told us. “It’s a fight for self-preservation. It’s basically, ‘Look, it’s either going to be them, or it’s going to be us, so it might as well be them… we’re out-dragoned seven to three. If we don’t bind together and take Harrenhal, take out Daemon, and destroy all of the influence that he has in the Riverlands, we’re going to be on a serious back foot.’”

He continues, “…he is desperate at that moment. He’s been made a fool in Rhaenyra raising new dragonseeds, and he had to make a U-turn and fly back to King’s Landing, and he definitely has to feel like he has to overcompensate.”

Of course, Helaena was not into doing this and even boldly told her brother that he would die in battle. While most people ignore her forewarnings, Mitchell believes Aemond will take it to heart in season three. 

“He always thought that he was the master of his own fate, but this new knowledge very much challenges that,” he affirms. “I think Aemond will believe that information. He just doesn’t want to.”

Well, that’s fair. Let’s see if Aemond can convince Helaena to join him in battle next season… and if her dark forewarning comes to fruition. 

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Kit Harington Says He’ll Probably Never Watch HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

Kit Harington is in absolutely no rush to return to the world of Westeros. Literally or figuratively. Earlier this year, reports emerged that HBO shelved Harington’s Jon Snow Game of Thrones spinoff series. It seems no one could figure out just what that series was going to be about besides Jon Snow and his Wildlings having adventures in the forest. Kit Harington is also in zero rush to watch House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones spinoff that did come to pass. The very popular Game of Thrones prequel just ended its second season.

Here’s what Kit Harington told Variety about why he’s just choosing to avoid everything to do with Game of Thrones, including House of the Dragon:

I just can’t watch it. I think for me it’s just I’ve spent too long there. And I wish them all the best. I hear it’s wonderful and going really well. But I don’t think I’ll ever watch that show, and I don’t think I’ll watch Game of Thrones again for a few years.

HBO

None of this sounds like animosity towards the show or HBO. Remember, this was all Kit Harington’s job for the better part of a decade. Now that it’s all over, he understandably doesn’t want to revisit that world for funsies. It’s also not quite the same to watch a thing once you’ve been a part of it and seeing how well everyone has moved on without you. We guess we’ll count Harington out for any House of the Dragon cameos.

As for his Jon Snow spinoff not happening, Harington seems pretty ok with that, too. He did say of the Game of Thrones offshoot series, “There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It’s firmly on the shelf.” By the time they get to it, so much time will have passed it’ll be a legacy sequel situation. Maybe in the meantime, Harington will finally get to play Marvel’s Black Knight, a role that’s been teased since 2021’s Eternals. Whatever happened with that one?

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THE BOY AND THE HERON Sets Max Streaming Release Date, BG3’s Karlach & Astarion Have Adventures, and Other News Odds & Ends

The Boy and the Heron finally sets a US streaming release date. Meanwhile, Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Karlach and Astarion strike out on their own adventure. Here are all these news odds & ends, and more.

The Boy and the Heron Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning film The Boy and the Heron is finally coming to streaming in the US. The Studio Ghibli movie will stream on Max beginning on September 6. It joins the rest of the Studio Ghibli library exclusively available on the streamer.

A synopsis of the The Boy and the Heron shares:

After losing his mother in a hospital fire, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito’s new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself. Featuring the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Two of your favorite Baldur’s Gate 3 companions, Karlach and Astarion, recently teamed up to go on an adventure all their own. Samantha Béart, who voices Karlach, and Neil Newbon, who voices Astarion, participated in GenCon’s live Dungeons & Dragons show and explored what the duo might get up to if Tav didn’t invite them into their party. The description for the video shares, “Astarion and Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3 strike out on their own adventure after Tav doesn’t choose them for their adventuring party, meeting new friends and encountering challenges as they explore the Underdark.”

Larian Studios

Sounds delightful!

Terrifier 3

Terrifier 3 released a teaser trailer for its Christmas-themed outing. In addition to many jump scares, it includes Art the Clown making blood angels… Very festive.

Screambox

Terrifier 3 releases on October 11. Its description notes, “In Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting’s Terrifier 3, directed once again by Damien Leone, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is set to unleash another round of chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.”

Originally published on August 7, 2024.

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Get an Exclusive Look at Christina Ricci’s CAT FULL OF SPIDERS: TAROT DECK AND GUIDEBOOK

Throughout her career spanning over three decades, the beloved actress Christina Ricci has brought some of our favorite unique and oft-macabre characters to life. We all love her as Wednesday Addams and Yellowjackets’ Misty Quigley. Ricci is a hero to many goth folks among us as well as those who eschew the societal boxes that encourage a status quo based on boring normalcy. To put it plainly, she’s one of the coolest people in existence. Now, Christina Ricci is giving fans a new form of cinematic creativity with Cat Full of Spiders: Tarot Deck and Guidebook, a surrealist dive into her mind through the artform of tarot reading, and we are exclusively revealing four of this deck’s gorgeous cards. This special project by Ricci and writer/tarot consultant Minerva Siegel is based on her impressions and muses throughout her life and career.

Felipe Flores

As you can see, some of these cards will feature Christina Ricci’s likeness in its artwork by Felipe Flores. Other cards will explain the meaning of the card from her unique perspective. First up is The Chariot, a Major Arcana card that can represent (in its straightforward, or upright, meaning) willpower and determination through challenges to secure victory. Of course, there are many ways to interpret a card. Thankfully, this deck will come with a guidebook to help users as they familiarize themselves with its cards.

Felipe Flores

Then, there’s the Five of Cups, a Minor Arcana card. It features a woman holding an empty cup with four others on the ground. Five black cats sit on a wall near her as a shadowy figure stands in a window. As we see in the photo, this card can represent many things, including regret and despair. But we are sure that there’s a deeper story to explore within this artwork.

Felipe Flores

The Six of Swords, featuring a smiling pumpkinhead atop a woman’s body and six golden swords, feels both playful and ominous. We cannot wait to read more about Ricci’s interpretation and artwork choices for this Minor Arcana card.

Felipe Flores

The final reveal is Two of Pentacles, both of which we see on this card. There’s also a girl carrying a lunchbox in front of a very ’80s-inspired background. She seems to be rushing off the school, a fitting choice for a card that often appears when a reader is doing the same in their life. Like the previous two cards, this is a part of the Minor Arcana.

Here’s more details about about Christina Ricci’s Cat Full of Spiders: Tarot Deck and Guidebook: 

Guide your mystical tarot practice with this epic tarot deck and guidebook created by Christina Ricci, filled with original, never-before-seen artwork inspired by her renowned body of work. Ricci’s career perfectly suits a one-of-a-kind tarot deck—she’s played witches, angsty teens, superheroes, and runaways.     

Containing both major and minor arcana, the set also comes with a comprehensive guidebook explaining each card’s meaning and featuring a beautiful foreword, personally written by the iconic actress, as well as suggesting simple spreads for easy readings. Packed in a sturdy, decorative gift box, this compelling tarot deck is perfect for Christina Ricci fans and tarot enthusiasts alike, providing a unique way to revisit a beloved actress’s career. 

Honestly, could there be a more perfect person to guide us through the world of tarot than Christina Ricci? It is very on-brand, indeed. This is a great way to open up this ancient practice to her ever-growing legion of fans.

Insight Editions/Felipe Flores

Here’s what Ricci had to say about her latest creative venture: 

“This tarot deck is a passion project for me. It is filled with references to moments in my life and touches on the moments that come our way as we journey through the world. I hope that it introduces people to the wonder of tarot, or for those that are already ingratiated, provides an expanded connection to it. It’s been so great to work with my husband, Mark Hampton, on the creative direction; Felipe Flores, who helped bring this idea to life visually; tarot expert, Minerva Siegel, who helped put words to paper; and the team at Insight Editions on this deck. I really can’t wait to see it in people’s hands and hope it serves as inspiration for them.” 

Cat Full of Spiders: Tarot Deck and Guidebook is available on September 24 and fans can pre-order this fantastic deck right now.       

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Ewan Mitchell Says Aemond and Vhagar Are HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s ‘Power Couple’

House of the Dragon’s second season is full of many storylines, schemes, and themes. When it comes to the latter, this show explores sacrifice in shocking and often heartbreaking detail. From Alicent being willing to hand Aegon’s head to Rhaenyra on a platter to Rhaenys risking and losing her life for Team Black, people are willing to make serious choices to win the war. This season, Prince Regent Aemond makes a litany of sacrifices, nearly killing his brother Aegon to rise to power and burning an entire town out of rage to send Rhaenyra a message. He also speaks of sacrifice often, telling others they must do what makes them uncomfortable or scared in order to survive.

HBO

But, is there a sacrifice or something that Aemond could lose that would break down the seemingly unflappable dragonrider? Ewan Mitchell believes there’s one thing that Aemond simply cannot lose, and that’s his loyal dragon Vhagar.  

“Vhagar was very much his first friend,” Mitchell tells us in a recent interview. “He was the first friend that he ever made and the first being that recognized Aemond and actually showed him some sort of attention. She saw something in him that maybe he didn’t even see in himself. If he lost Vhagar, he’d be heartbroken. Aemond and Vhagar, they’re a power couple. They’re soul bonded. I think if Aemond has a breaking point, he definitely hasn’t found it yet.”

We’ve watched the bond between this pair grow exponentially throughout the season. And, as the “spare” son who wants attention and love, Vhagar provides that connection and camaraderie. We doubt House of the Dragon will take Vhagar away from Aemond anytime soon. But, for now, his dragon is the only sacrifice that would truly break his heart. And that makes him perhaps the scariest person on the show heading into season three.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Ewan Mitchell on Aemond’s True Motivations and His Dark Future

Aemond Targaryen’s arc in House of the Dragon season two is undoubtedly one of the best. The One-Eyed Prince finally got the respect and power that he craved after years of ridicule at the hands many. And boy, did he go about it in a wild way. Aemond and Vhagar intentionally set Aegon and Sunfyre ablaze, which led to Aemond becoming the Prince Regent. Since then, he’s been on a dangerous warpath, burning a town with impunity and severing his familial bonds. We caught up with actor Ewan Mitchell to talk about Aemond’s possible motivations, the dark omen over his House of the Dragon future, his love for Vhagar, and much more. 

HBO

Nerdist: In season two of House of the Dragon, Aemond blazes his path to power, and he’s ready to start a war. What do you believe is his overall motivation for his actions? Is he just seeking bloodshed, or does he want something else?

Ewan Mitchell: That’s a good question. I think it could be a multitude of things. I think that’s the beauty of Aemond’s ambiguity. You don’t necessarily know what he’s thinking or where his true motivations and allegiances lie, but you definitely know that he is thinking. There is this calculative quality behind his eye. What his motivations are, I don’t know if I want to spoil it too much, but it’s a few things. I think he loves his mum [Alicent]. He wants his mum.

I’m going to quote Spider-Man… “with great power comes great responsibility.” He has the largest, baddest, oldest dragon in the known world. He has to be seen as someone who can wield that effectively. And so I think it could be a multitude of things, and I think there’s certainly a fear in the unknown there as well. What do you think are his motivations?

I feel like it’s a split. Some of it may just be, “I want to go into war, and I want bloodshed. I want to be able to prove that I am a man and I fit into this typical bound of masculinity.” But then I also think that some of it is a bit of wanting to be seen and be heard. Aemond is not the firstborn son nor the only daughter on House of the Dragon, and so maybe it’s wanting to prove your worth and show that you actually matter. Maybe he doesn’t even really want to be in power. Aemond just wants someone to see him.

Mitchell: Yeah. One thing that I’ve touched upon before is the idea that kids need that unconditional love to develop a balanced view of themselves. If a child isn’t embraced by the village, they’ll burn it down to feel its warmth. And so Aemond, like you said, he’s going to find that validation through other means, that attention through other ways, and he might just do that through war. 

That is the direction he’s heading! One of the most important conversations in the House of the Dragon season two finale is when Aemond is speaking with Helaena and trying to convince her to take Dreamfyre into war. Is he asking her to do this purely out of desperation to best his opponent, or is it more of a strange attempt to protect the family and their lives? 

Mitchell: I think it’s a little bit of both. It’s a fight for self-preservation. It’s basically, “Look, it’s either going to be them, or it’s going to be us, so it might as well be them… we’re out-dragoned seven to three. If we don’t bind together and take Harrenhal, take out Daemon, and destroy all of the influence that he has in the Riverlands, we’re going to be on a serious back foot.”

And like you touched upon, the idea of desperation; he is desperate at that moment. He’s been made a fool in Rhaenyra raising new dragonseeds, and he had to make a U-turn and fly back to King’s Landing, and he definitely has to feel like he has to overcompensate. 

Right. It’s interesting that Aemond still wants to chart this course on House of the Dragon, especially after Helaena tells him about the vision of him dying in battle. Will he take that omen seriously or does he still think that he’s the master of his own fate?

Mitchell: He always thought that he was the master of his own fate, but this new knowledge very much challenges that. I think Aemond will believe that information. He just doesn’t want to… [the show] planted seeds earlier in season two, episode six, after he’s made Prince Regent. He is looking up at the Iron Throne, and he yearns for it, and Helaena appears behind him and says, “Was it really worth the price?” It gives the impression that she’s always been ahead of the curve and always known the secrets that happened all around in the skies above Rook’s Rest. 

He knew that his sister possessed this foresight. And maybe if you were able to, in some way, shape, or form, harness that power, that might be actually incredibly invaluable for the Greens to possess that foresight to know when a blow’s going to come before it lands. It would be invaluable.

It is a powerful asset to have on your side! Do you think that Aemond actually has the capacity to be a good ruler and maybe redeem himself of his transgressions on House of the Dragon?

Mitchell: Do I think he’d be a good ruler? No. No, I don’t think he would.

I’m still rooting for him because I am an Aemond-apologist.

Mitchell: [laughs] …For the majority of season two, he’s so composed. Whilst all the members of the council table are raising their voices and arguing, Aemond’s always been the kid who sits back and waits for his moment. There is a very cold, calculative quality to him. But as soon as he sits in the King’s chair, he starts to chuck people out of the council, and it’s very interesting… You never say never, but at the moment, he seems pretty bad. Atrocious.

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He’s trying his best! On House of the Dragon, Aemond often talks to other characters about sacrificing for the throne in order to best Rhaenyra. Out of all the sacrifices he’s already made, is there a sacrifice yet to come that would actually break his heart? Perhaps losing Vhagar?

Mitchell: Losing Vhagar would be… Oh, my God, I’d be heartbroken! I would be heartbroken as Ewan because I want to see Vhagar on screen as much as possible. Vhagar was very much his first friend. He was the first friend that he ever made and the first being that recognized Aemond and actually showed him some sort of attention. She saw something in him that maybe he didn’t even see in himself. If he lost Vhagar, he’d be heartbroken. Aemond and Vhagar, they’re a power couple. They’re soul-bonded. I think if Aemond has a breaking point, he definitely hasn’t found it yet.

Vhagar is the breaking point for now, I think. You know, you have quite the fan club now. There are a lot of people who dig Aemond! I call him a royal pirate on a dragon because he’s got the eyepatch. How do you feel about this influx of attention around Aemond, and what has your experience been with the House of the Dragon fandom so far?

Mitchell: Well, I’m not on social media, so I receive a lot of beautifully articulated fan letters that are often badass as well, and I never take it for granted. I use it all as motivation. It means the world to me, and it also means that in collaboration with Amanda Knight, the hair and makeup designer, and Caroline McCall, the costume designer, that our work has really paid off. It’s a testament to their hard work and talent. So I love it all. I read every single one of them, I swear to God.

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ALIEN: ROMULUS Featurette Spotlights Cailee Spaeny’s Rain and Honors Ellen Ripley

“In space no can hear you scream,” but in a packed theater everyone can. Alien movies have made audiences do just that since Ridley Scott first brought a Xenomorph to the big screen in 1979. Now the iconic monster is set to return to theaters once again. While Noah Hawley is developing an Alien TV show, a new installment in the film franchise will premiere in 2024. Who will direct space’s most fearsome creature next? And how does this entry fit into series?

We know that Cailee Spaeny will lead the film as Rain, this generation’s version of Ellen Ripley. And we see how much Ripley’s legacy impacts Spaeny in this new featurette.

Here’s everything we know about Alien: Romulus so far.

20th Century StudiosTitle

The ninth movie in the franchise is currently called Alien: Romulus. It’s unknown if that working title will ultimately be the film’s final one.

Alien: Romulus‘ PlotWalt Disney Studios

The film is described as an “original stand-alone” entry unconnected to previous films. It will feature “a group of young people on a distant world” who “find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.” We also learned that Romulus is set between Alien and Aliens on the franchise’s timeline.

Our latest sneak peek trailer gives us a good idea of what Alien: Romulus will feel like—suspenseful and scary. When you’re trapped in space with Xenomorphs, there’s nowhere to hide. You can take a look at the trailer below.

Here’s an official trailer and synopsis for the film.

The synopsis reads:

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Walt Disney Studios

Alvarez recently shared a bit more about the plot of Alien: Romulus, noting, “My first instinct, just to try something different that hasn’t been seen before, was to approach it from the angle of characters who are not professionals or scientists; they’re not even adults. I liked this concept of putting people in the front seat of the story who are closer to what the audience is — not that the audience is young, more that the audience is completely virgin to the realities of space. When the characters are professionals, they know more than you do. But when they’re still in their early 20s, they don’t know how to operate the f—ing airlock.”

The sibling dynamic is also at the center of this film, especially between the main character, Rain, and her brother, who is synthetic. In the Alien franchise, synthetics are often seen as antagonists, but this movie will paint these androids in a new light.

When the movie was originally intended to debut on Hulu, it was compared in scope to the original film in the franchise. For those trying to decipher any meaning from the film’s title, Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome and its first king.

Behind the Scenes

Director Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe, 2013’s Evil Dead) co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Ridley Scott is an executive producer on the film. Álvarez told Scott about his idea for the spinoff movie years prior, and Scott eventually reached out and asked Álvarez if he wanted to make it.

20th Century Studios

In early July 2023, the director announced on Instrgram the end of filming after nearly four months of shooting primarily in Budapest. His celebratory post would have made Red Auerbach proud.

Recently, star Isabela Merced shared some details about the film, including her praise of the terrifying practical Xenomorphs created for Alien: Romulus. She noted one of the highlights of her Alien: Romulus experience was seeing the Xenomorphs first time, offering “Definitely seeing the Xeno for the first time. They used a robot for that. And also, they used a human being, like a really tall person, in the costume and special effects. We had two Xenos on set, at all times, and they were just terrifying.”

She further adds, “The detail is incredible. I like the Xeno nails. That’s my favorite part, the chrome nails. I’m gonna get chrome nails for the premiere. You’ll see me with them all around. They were incredible.”

Alien: Romulus‘ CastHBO

Alien: Romulus stars Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown). Joining her in the young cast are David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

Alien: Romulus‘ Release Date

Alien: Romulus will arrive in theaters on August 16, 2024.

The thin, warm summer air will help anyone in space hear audiences scream.

Originally published on August 9, 2023.

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