Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 265

August 5, 2024

Every Major Character Death in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season Two

Season two of House of the Dragon marks the beginning of a war between former friends turned bitter enemies Rhaenyra and Alicent. By now, you should have already pledged your allegiance to #TeamBlack (the right choice, obvs) or #TeamGreen (a choice, I guess) and are crossing your fingers to hope your side has the least amount of characters. It is inevitable that there will be quite a few characters who die. That is the way of war, after all, and House of the Dragon goes with death like peanut butter with jelly. So, who dies in House of the Dragon season two? Let’s track all the sad and brutal demises right here. 

Jump to: HOTD Episode 1 Deaths // HOTD Episode 2 Deaths // HOTD Episode 4 Deaths // HOTD Deaths for Remainder of SeasonRhaenyra in a red dress looks angry standing by the sea on House of the Dragon season 2Theo Whitman/HBOHouse of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 1 “A Son for a Son” Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen Loses His Head to Blood and Cheese 

Jaehaerys, the son of King Aegon and his sister-wife Queen Helaena, was set to be the heir to the throne. The young and innocent boy was spotted in the episode casually playing in the council room before being sent off to his studies. Sadly, this tyke met a brutal ending thanks to some scheming by Daemon that went totally wrong. As we know, Rhaenyra is upset about her son Lucerys death at the end of season one. She only wants one thing: to see Aemond Targaryen pay for what he did.

Daemon takes this personally and hires the duo Blood and Cheese to infiltrate the royal living quarters and kill Aemond. This is obviously where the episode title “Son for a Son” comes from. And it technically happens… just to the wrong son. They locate Jaehaerys and his twin sister along with Helaena and force her to tell them which child is the boy. She does (a little too quickly for my liking) and runs off with her daughter to inform Alicent.

We don’t see a ton of blood and gore. But we hear the awful sawing sound of them taking his head to bring back to Daemon.

House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 2 “Rhaenyra the Cruel” Blood and Cheese Die in the Wake of Aegon’s Wrath  

Of course, Blood and Cheese don’t get away with their bumbling crime. Blood is caught leaving King’s Landing and confesses to Larys that his accomplice is a ratcatcher. Aegon, acting out of rage, orders for every ratcatcher to be killed in the kingdom. This includes Cheese but also means a lot of innocent men died, too.

Ser Arryk and His Brother Erryk Have a Sad Fight to the Death Kingsguard members Criston Cole and Arryk Cargyll in profile stare at one another on House of the DragonOllie Upton/HBO

Ser Criston Cole, who was in Alicent’s bed instead of doing his job, pulls an awful move to absolve his own guilt. He orders Ser Arryk to go on an ill-fated mission to kill Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, where his brother Erryk serves by her side. He uses the whole twin bit to get all the way to her chambers, but Erryk is warned of his arrival (presumably by Mysaria). The duo battle and Erryk gets the upper hand, killing his own brother. But, his grief over his actions quickly lead him to die by suicide with his sword. It is a heartbreaking moment that is all Criston’s fault.

House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 4 “The Red Dragon and the Gold” Princess Rhaenys Targaryen & Her Dragon MeleysRhaenys and Corlys stand before Rhaenyra's small council on House of the DragonHBO

We didn’t get any major deaths in episode 3 and that’s probably because House of the Dragon was waiting to hurt our souls in episode 4. This episode features the death of Rhaenys Targaryen and her faithful dragon Meleys. During a battle against Criston Cole’s faction at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys/Meleys went against Aemond and Vhagar as well as Aegon and Sunfyre. At first, it seems they have gotten the upper hand after the duo is leaving following a valiant battle. But Aemond hits Rhaenys with the sneak attack and Meleys is critically injured. Realizing her fate, she lets go of her dragon and they both fall to a fiery death.

Aegon Targaryen Is Alive in House of the Dragon

Our resident idiot king Aegon Targaryen rode into the Rook’s Rest battle against wise recommendations in episode four. Meleys/Rhaenys made quick work of Sunfyre, but Aemond’s (probably intentional) command to Vhagar is what caused the fire that send his brother spiraling to the ground. His very fiery crash at the hands of his own brother seemed like a certain death, but it wasn’t clear at the end of the episode.

Episode five reveals that Aegon is still alive, but certainly not well. He is covered in nasty burns and riddled with broken bones. Aemond begins to rule in his stead and subsequently fires Alicent from the small council. Aegon, with the Grandmaester and Larys’ help, makes significant strides and ends the season leaving for parts unknown.

House of the Dragon Deaths Are Not Major for the Rest of the Season

There are more bloodshed and deaths to in House of the Dragon season two. We get Willem Blackwood’s beheading, the Red Sowing, and the burnt remains of Sharp’s Point but none of them qualify as major character death moments. It was actually a rather chill season but we get the feeling season three will be very, very bad.

Originally published June 17, 2024.

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Published on August 05, 2024 10:50

A JOHN WICK Sequel TV Series Is in Development

The John Wick universe continues to expand. In addition to the franchise’s four films, there is the upcoming Ballerina spinoff film and The Continental prequel TV series that came to Peacock in 2023. The latter took us back to the 1970s while the former will take us to events in-between the third and fourth John Wick films. And, let’s not forget that John Wick 5 is in development. Still, there’s yet another John Wick TV spinoff series in development from Lionsgate TV, tentatively titled John Wick: Under the High Table. According to Variety, this show will pick up immediately after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 and show us what’s going on with our favorite mysterious organization. 

Keanu Reeves' John Wick in a black suit and long hair walks down a road lined with trees in Chapter 4Murray Close/Lionsgate

The John Wick TV series doesn’t have a home yet but there’s an early synopsis: 

“John Wick has left the world of the High Table in a tenuous position and a collection of new characters will look to make a name for themselves while some of the franchise stalwart characters remain committed to the old-world order. The series will combine new and old and thrust the Wick universe into a new age.”

So this means we probably won’t see John Wick here, unless he pops up at the very end to lead into the next film. Most people assume that he is dead, after all. Keanu Reeves is executive producing the series along with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road. Chad Stahelski will also executive produce the series and direct its pilot. Robert Levine is the writer, showrunner, and executive producer for John Wick: Under the High Table. It will remain to be seen where this show will land and who will star in it. Let’s keep an eye on this series.

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Published on August 05, 2024 10:40

THE LAST OF US Season 2 First Footage Gives Us a Teary Joel, Terrified Ellie, New Characters, and More

The Last of Us ended its first season on HBO with Joel and Ellie returning to the commune in Colorado. Sure, Joel might have doomed all mankind to save one young girl, but at least they have a place nice to live. For now. Fans of Naughty Dog’s popular video game franchise know new terrors and sadness await the pair in the years to come, and we’ll see all of it come to life when the hit series begins adapting the sequel game in its second season. What else can we expect from the show after a lengthy wait?

We aren’t sure but new footage from season two promises yet another explosive round. Joel is tearful and Ellie is going through some sort of horrific challenges of her own. We also get a look at Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright in their new roles. It is not totally clear who Catherine is playing but Jeffrey is reprising his role as the game character Isaac. According to Entertainment Weekly, he is “the quietly powerful leader of a large militia group who sought liberty but instead has become mired in an endless war against a surprisingly resourceful enemy.”

These new images also have us super hype.


Season 2. pic.twitter.com/YooeHDxaJk

— The Last of Us (@TheLastofUsHBO) August 5, 2024

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us‘ second season so far.

The Last of Us Season 2 PlotJoel looks at Ellie, sedated on a surgical table, in The Last of Us finale.Liane Hentscher/HBO

HBO has not yet shared an official synopsis for The Last of Us season two. We still have some idea what to expect. The franchise’s second video game will provide the source material for the TV series. Showrunner Craig Mazin has said the show will take more than one season to adapt the sequel game, but like with the television series’ first season they are not making a direct adaptation. Fans will once again see some major changes alongside some major moments and stories taken directly from the game. That might very well include a huge—though temporary—change for one character. (We won’t risk spoiling it for those who don’t know what that means.)

One thing that won’t change is the importance of The Last of Us Part II‘s Abby Anderson. She will debut during the second season and play a significant role in Ellie’s story. And like the video game sequel, the HBO series will also feature a time jump.

Behind the Scenes

The Last of Us‘ second season was in pre-production before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes put the show on hold. The first episode had already been written at the time. With both unions finally getting fair deals, the show is now expected to begin filming in Vancouver in early 2024.

Co-creators, writers, and executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are back for season two. Writers Halley Gross (The Last of Us Part II) and Bo Shim worked with Mazin and Druckmann on season two. Deadline additionally reports that The Last of Us season two has set its slate of directors, both new and old. These include four new directors: Succession‘s Mark Mylod, Perry Mason‘s Nina Lopez-Corrado, Watchmen‘s Stephen Williams, and Loki‘s Kate Herron. They join returning director Peter Hoar, who directed the incredible season one episode “Long, Long Time,” and the show’s creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.

The series comes from Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, and Naughty Dog.

The Last of Us Season 2’s CastBella Ramsey's Ellie sits on the back of a pickup truck on The Last of UsHBO

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will return as Joel and Ellie. Also expected back is Gabriel Luna. He plays Joel’s younger brother, Tommy. As is Rutina Wesley. She plays Tommy’s wife Maria.

Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as The Last of Us season two's AbbyNetflix/Naughty Dog

Regarding new casting news, The Last of Us season two has cast Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. Abby is an important character from The Last of Us Part II game. Additionally, Isabela Merced has joined the season as Dina, who also hails from the second The Last of Us game. Dina is described as “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.”

Most recently, Isabela Merced, who will play Dina on The Last of Us season two, shared, “I’m so excited for people to see my chemistry with Bella. Bella and I have so much chemistry. From the first day, it was there. There’s no work to be done. I really respect Bella. I just saw Catherine Called Birdy, and Bella has such range and just an honesty about their work. I’m learning so much. I’m very honored to be here.”

Isabella Merced joins The Last of Us season 2 as DinaMax/Naughty Dog

We’re glad to hear it because we can’t wait to see Dina and Ellie’s complicated romance come to life. Currently, The Last of Us season two describes Dina as “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.”

Young Mazino cast as Jess in The Last of Us Season twoNetflix/Naughty Dog

The Last of Us season two has also cast Beef‘s Young Mazino as Jess. Jess is described, per Variety, as “a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at a terrible cost.” That sounds ominous. Generally speaking, from Jess’s role in The Last of Us Part II, we can assume he and Ellie will build a friendship.

Finally Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord have all come aboard the second season of The Last of US, they will all feature as characters from The Last of Us Part II.

Danny Ramirez and Tati Gabrielle as Manny and NoraNaughty Dog/Paramount Pictures/Netflix

Variety reveals:


Ramirez will play Manny, described as “a loyal soldier whose sunny outlook belies the pain of old wounds and a fear that he will fail his friends when they need him most.” Barer will play Mel, said to be “a young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism.”


Gabrielle has been cast as Nora, “a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past.” And Lord will appear as Owen, “a gentle soul trapped in a warrior’s body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate.”


The Last of Us Season 2’s Release DateA bloater infected zombie from HBO's The Last of Us live action seriesHBO

The Last of Us‘ second season wasn’t expected to premiere until the start of 2025 before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Even with production delayed, HBO is still reportedly targeting a 2025 return for the show. However, there is not yet an official date in place.

Originally published on December 29, 2023.

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Published on August 05, 2024 09:45

IT: WELCOME TO DERRY Clip Teases Blood, Curses, and Sinister Smiles

HBO and Max is giving us yet another brief look at IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel series to the latest It films coming in 2025. It is only a few seconds long but wow is it just as sinister as we’d expect anything to do with Pennywise the Clown, who will be played by Bill Skarsgård once again. We don’t see that evil entity make a proper appearance here. We do have a man telling us that this is not America, but Derry, suggesting that this small town in Maine is a strange space. The cast includes quite a few names I love, including Taylour Paige and James Remar, so I am locked in.

We see a welcome sign, bloody faces, screaming (of course), and a very sinister smile at the end. We still aren’t getting too many details but we should get answers about the origin story of Derry’s curse. What will we learn about Pennywise the Clown?

welcome to derry image of a girl covered in blood and someone with a sinister smileMax

We will have to wait and see what happens when IT: Welcome to Derry hits Max and HBO in 2025.

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Published on August 05, 2024 09:23

August 4, 2024

ODDITY Is a Creepy, Delightfully Weird Horror Film (Fantasia Fest 2024 Review)

My absolute favorite thing about the state of horror movies in 2024 is how many filmmakers are going real weird with it. Killers, vampires, ghosts, and especially zombies feel incredibly passé on their own. We need a little uncanny strangeness with our scares, and some existential dread. Yum yum yum, I eat it up. The most recent movie to fit this bill like a glove is Damian McCarthy’s Oddity, which has made the festival rounds and which I saw through Fantasia Fest 2024. Oddity is not lying; it’s a very weird movie, but the scares are plentiful, the imagery creepy, and the story strangely satisfying.

A grotesque homunculus in Oddity.Fantasia Fest

McCarthy’s previous film was Caveat, an intensely grimy little movie about a man who takes a job watching over a psychologically disturbed woman in an abandoned house on an isolated island. While that movie didn’t light the world on fire, it did provide some upsetting concepts and imagery that made me curious to see what he’d do next. Oddity takes much of what worked in Caveat and makes an altogether more approachable, “conventional” movie that lulls the viewer into thinking they know what’s going to happen. They might, but probably not.

Dani (Carolyn Bracken) moves into a very remote house in the Irish countryside with her husband Ted (Gwilym Lee), a doctor at the nearby mental asylum. One night while Ted is at work, a creepy stranger (Tadhg Murphy) knocks on the door and tells Dani that he saw someone, or something, enter the house and that she is in grave danger. Now this presents Dani with a predicament. Believe this man, or not. What she decided, and what actually happened is part of the movie’s fun, so I won’t spoil it.

We then cut to some time later, Dani is out of the picture, and Ted’s new girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton) is about to move into the house, under duress. Arriving at just the wrong time is Dani’s vision-impaired twin sister Darcy (also Bracken) who plans to stay the weekend. It isn’t just an unwanted relative. Darcy, who owns a shop full of occult and folklore oddities, brings a human-sized wooden homunculus with which she plans to get to the bottom of what happened to her sister.

A woman inspects the mouth of a strange, grotesque doll in Oddity.Fantasia Fest

Oddity is one of those horror movies that refuses to adhere to any usual story conventions. It keeps you guessing all the way through, which in and of itself builds tension. The laws of the natural and supernatural bleed in interesting ways, keeping viewers on edge. I found so much to like about it, especially to do with the unique location. We go other places, but the majority of the action happens in the remote house. It’s beautiful and welcoming, but the lighting at night plus some large, shadowy areas make it sinister in the best way. Similarly, the mere presence of the weird homunculus, and Darcy’s other cursed objects, leaves us wondering when and how they’ll come into the story. When they do, it’s supremely satisfying.

This is a movie where you aren’t sure what you’re watching at times, or why, but everything comes together by the end. Not necessarily how you think it would, or maybe even should, but that’s literally in the name. Oddity is scary, mysterious, upsetting, and effecting and I had a big grin on my face when the credits rolled. Definitely worth your time.

Oddity ⭐ (4 of 5)

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

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Published on August 04, 2024 20:00

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s New Character From FIRE & BLOOD Is a Comedic Delight

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House of the Dragon’s season finale finally introduced fans to Admiral Lohar, played by actress Abigail Thorn. The fearsome naval commander who leads a fleet of Triarchy ships made Tyland Lannister literally fight for their allegiance and to break the blockade that’s causing unrest in King’s Landing. In a time where the show is full of very serious (and strange) scenes, everything with Tyland Lannister and Admiral Lohar is hilarious.

Tyland Lannister looks worried after speaking to the king on House of the DragonHBO

They meet at the beginning of the episode after a discussion between Tyland and a legion of Triarchy men. They argue about the Stepstones and imposing taxes, among other things. But nothing will happen without Admiral Lohar’s approval because the sailors will not fight without him. Before we move forward, let’s note a few things. Admiral Sharako Lohar is mentioned in Fire & Blood as well as other novels and is a cisgender man; however, House of the Dragon seems to be treating this character as a trans man or perhaps a genderfluid character who uses he/him pronouns.

The show’s version of Lohar leans rather heavily into another Fire & Blood character, Racallio Ryndoon, a genderfluid Tyroshi captain who has a dozen wives and likes to make people wrestle in the mud. We see Lohar wrestle Tyland in the mud, where he gains the upper hand and earns everyone’s respect. Later during dinner, Lohar offers his wives up to him so they can breed strong children. 

Admiral Lohar Makes a Funny Game of Thrones Reference When Meeting Tyland LannisterCharles Dance as Tywin Lannister sitting at a table on Game of ThronesHBO

House of the Dragon’s Admiral Lohar slides in a funny Game of Thrones reference, thanks to an ongoing joke of calling Tyland Lannister by the wrong first name. Lohar initially calls him Tywin, the father of Cersei, Jamie, and Tyrion, to which he confusedly responds that his name is Tyland. The names Tyman and Tyrod are also used but they aren’t other Lannisters in this universe. It is just Lohar poking more fun at his expense. 

This is a win for Team Green but they are facing stiff competition from Rhaenyra and company, who now have several dragons at their disposal. We will certainly see Admiral Lohar and this crew cause havoc in the next season of House of the Dragon.

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Published on August 04, 2024 19:10

Daemon Makes a Vital Choice in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Finale

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The House of the Dragon season two finale sure pulled a fast one on us. The trailer led us to believe that a major or, at the very least, characters deaths were coming. None of those things happened; however, that doesn’t mean we didn’t get any truly surprising twists. One of them is Daemon, who has been grappling with both his guilt and unyielding desire to be the King. In the midst of strange and downright disturbing visions, including one this episode that gives him insight into future events that take place in Game of Thrones, Daemon frequently toys with betraying Rhaenyra and trying to claim the Throne for himself. However, Daemon decides to fully support Rhaenyra as queen in the House of the Dragon season two finale as he bends the knee to the rightful heir. 

daemon targaryen walks in the middle of a faithful army in house of the dragonOllie Upton/HBOSer Alfred Broome Betrays Rhaenyra and Tries to Get Daemon to Turn On Her, Too

In the episode, Ser Alfred Broome, a member of Rhaenyra’s council, arrives to speak with Daemon. The latter is busy preparing to march on King’s Landing in two days’ time. But he takes a moment to listen to Broome. Ser Alfred first clarifies that he will never serve the usurpers. He affirms that he did pledge his banners to Rhaenyra; however, they are on the cusp of big battles. He says Daemon has mustered an army while Rhaenyra is making questionable choices. Ser Alfred says Daemon is a leader of men who should declare his right to sit upon the throne. He believes what they need right now is a King. Daemon notes Alfred’s betrayal but smirks as though he is considering treachery. 

Ser Simon Strong is watching all this unfold from the shadows and knows it is not good. He sends word to Dragonstone to alert Rhaenyra to potential treachery. (I truly love this man.) She is not happy but immediately takes action, heading to Harrenhal to finally confront Daemon.

Daemon’s Major Vision of Game of Thrones Events Changes Him Forever

Meanwhile, Daemon is sleeping at Harrenhal when he sees Alys River at his bedside. He follows her to the godswood, where she poignantly speaks to him. “When you came here, you were a closed fist,” Alys begins. “You wished to bend the world to your will. But you’ve discovered, I think, that this world will not be governed. There are omens here for those who seek them…” 

Alys Rivers tends to Daemon's hand as they sit on House of the DragonHBO

She asks if he wishes to “learn what is given to him” and he silently agrees. He is ready to finally see what fates lie ahead. Daemon touches the weirwood tree as blood rushes down its trunk. He sees several major events yet to come, such as the raven, the White Walker and his army, Danaerys and her three dragon eggs (as well as hatchlings), and Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne. He then sees Haeleana, who says that it is all a story and he knows his small part in it.

After Rhaenyra and Addam of Hull’s arrival, she stands in front of Daemon, who emerges from a sea of men. (She has Syrax there and ready to BBQ anyone at a moment’s notice, so it’s all good.) She asks who he swears allegiance to in front of all and there’s a long and uncomfortable pause. He speaks to her in High Valyrian, saying this war is only the beginning and winter is coming with darkness and doom. (Gasp!)

Daemon Bends the Knee to Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon‘s Finale

Daemon tells her that he saw it and that they must try to withstand it. Then he says the realm’s only hope is a leader who can reunite it, and that’s Rhaenyra. Daemon bends the knee and says she is the true queen and they will all serve her until death or the end of their story. Everyone except Ser Alfred Broome, who vanishes into the crowd, also bends the knee. Rhaenyra is visibly emotional but also warns Daemon that if he leaves her again, it will be at his own peril. I’m just happy my boy is back in action and hopefully done with those wild hauntings.

A tense Daemon Targaryen on House of the Dragon near a weirwood tree at nightHBO

Daemon finally humbling himself to bend the knee and stand by his wife Rhaenyra is a beautiful thing to see. It also aligns with his Fire & Blood book arc where he indeed gets Rhaenyra her army and has a less creepy time at Harrenhal. Now, the duo is together again with a legion of men and dragons at their disposal. We will have to wait and see if Daemon and Rhaenyra are victorious when they head towards all-out war in House of the Dragon season three.

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Published on August 04, 2024 19:10

August 2, 2024

How DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Teased One of Marvel Comics’ Greatest Ongoing Rivalries

In Deadpool & Wolverine, Wade Wilson tells Logan “You were an X-Man. You were THE X-Man.” But despite his association with mutant heroes, Wolverine’s first appearance was actually in the pages of The Incredible Hulk #181. That issue hit the stands in the summer of 1974. Since then, Wolverine and the Hulk have fought several times, always beating each other to a virtual standstill. Healing factors mean neither character can really stay injured for long. Their rivalry was so legendary, there is even an animated film, Hulk vs., which spends half its runtime on the Hulk fighting Wolverine. And now, even Deadpool & Wolverine has teased this fight, if only ever so briefly.

Hulk fights Wolverine in the animated film "Hulk Vs." Marvel Animation

Because of various rights issues, for years, the two characters could never tussle on screen in live-action. But now, it’s finally possible. Deadpool & Wolverine teased their epic battle, when Wade goes timeline-hopping looking for a Wolverine to save his reality. He finds a Logan ready to battle the Hulk, before (sadly) moving on to another universe. Knowing fans have been dying to see Wolverine fight Hulk for decades and then not letting us see it as it was about to start was the ultimate tease. (That was mean, Feige!) Might they just be waiting for the right moment to give us the full fight? It’s one of Marvel’s longest-standing feuds, one with a long comic book history.

The Comic Book History of Wolverine vs. the HulkThe first fight of Wolverine vs. Hulk in Incredible Hulk #181.Marvel Comics

Wolverine first appeared as a Canadian hero sent to take down the Jade Giant by Canada’s Department H. Department H was Canada’s agency monitoring superhumans, and needed someone to take Hulk down when he crossed the border. At first, Hulk thought Logan was a friend. But things quickly changed, creating an animosity that’s lasted fifty years began. That was but the first of many fights between the two, across many different realities.

The cover to 1974's Incredible Hulk #181, the first appearance of Wolverine. Marvel Comics

Over the past fifty years, we’ve witnessed Hulk and Logan tussle many times as “Old Man Logan” and the Maestro, Hulk’s evil future self. We also saw Wolverine take on Worldbreaker Hulk during the events of World War Hulk. In the Ultimate Universe, Hulk literally ripped Logan in half. (It was pretty gruesome). Every few years, these two mega-popular characters take a crack at each other. It’s now a Marvel Comics tradition.

The Incredible Hulk #340 Is Wolverine and Hulk’s Most Iconic FightWolverine fights the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk #340 from 1987.Marvel Comics

Yet aside from their original meeting, their most famous battle occurred in The Incredible Hulk #340. That issue, illustrated by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane early in his career, had Logan fight the Hulk when he was in his slightly less powerful Gray Hulk incarnation. During this era, Hulk was going by the name Mr. Fixit, a Las Vegas enforcer. His personality wasn’t that of a savage beast, but he wasn’t the intellectual Bruce Banner either. Logan goes into his “berserker rage” while fighting Hulk in this issue, attacking him more savagely than ever before. The cover, with Hulk reflected in Wolverine’s claws, is one of Marvel’s most iconic covers ever, replicated for posters and t-shirts, and now Deadpool & Wolverine.

As Deadpool & Wolverine pointed out, during this epic fight, Wolverine was wearing his brown and tan costume, designed by Uncanny X-Men artist John Byrne in 1981. The film teases this epic battle, even showing the moment when the Hulk’s face is reflected in Logan’s adamantium claws. But then Wade leaves this timeline, and fans were robbed of seeing this iconic fight in live-action. At least for now. At least we got a brief glimpse of Hugh Jackman in that iconic costume. But it certainly left fans wanting more.

Could Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars Finally Give Fans a Wolverine vs. Hulk Battle?Wolverine vs. Worldbreaker Hulk in the event World War Hulk.Marvel Comics

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige knows how badly fans have been wanting to see Logan and Hulk fight in live-action. There’s almost no way he doesn’t deliver on this tease at some point. Most likely in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. Hopefully, Mark Ruffalo will be in his savage Hulk persona when he fights Wolverine. No shade against Professor Hulk, but it’s much more fun seeing Logan pop his claws against Hulk when he’s a being of pure rage. It’s unlikely that Marvel fans are going to see the fight in Deadpool & Wolverine play out. But one day, Logan and Bruce are going to come to blows on screen. Here’s hoping it’s as epic as when Deadpool and Wolverine finally got to kick the tar out of each other.

The post How DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Teased One of Marvel Comics’ Greatest Ongoing Rivalries appeared first on Nerdist.

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Published on August 02, 2024 12:11

Ryan Reynolds’ 4-Year-Old Daughter Has a Special DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Screen Credit

Deadpool & Wolverine was a true Reynolds family affair. Three of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s children appeared on screen in the film in various cameo roles. They join both parents, with Blake Lively herself as none other than Lady Deadpool. But one of the Reynolds children had a special credit in the film, even if she did not appear on camera. According to Entertainment Weekly, the superstar couple’s 4-year-old daughter Betty gets a “Special Thanks” in the credits as “Hugh Jackman Wrangler: Betty Reynolds.” But what exactly is a Hugh Jackman Wrangler, and what does the job entail? We don’t know exactly, but Reynolds did drop some hints earlier this year in People Magazine.

I don’t profess that my kids are perfectly behaved. My 4-year-old Betty sort of loves Hugh, like, unconditionally, and she expresses that love through unblinking violence. So she attacks him, thinking she has claws and he has a healing factor — which he might.”

Deadpool puts his head on Wolverine's shoulder.Marvel Studios

It’s somehow adorably perfect that Ryan Reynolds’ 4-year-old child shows her affection for Hugh Jackman in the same way her dad does—by attacking him mercilessly. Like father like daughter? We can only hope she calls him all kinds of names when she beats up Hugh. As for the other Reynolds kids, they all appeared on screen in some capacity. Two even joined their mother Blake as members of the Deadpool Corps.

7-year-old Inez Reynolds appears as the junior Deadpool variant Kidpool. (Whether or not someone else dubbed in her raunchy dialogue is currently unknown). Meanwhile, her 1-year-old brother, Olin, appears as the adorable little Babypool, who claps for Deadpool and Wolverine after the big third-act fight, the bloody bodies of his fellow Deadpools lying around him. Lastly, Ryan’s 9-year-old daughter James Reynolds has a credit on IMDb for her role as a “Screaming Mutant.” We’ll just have to freeze-frame the movie to find her when Deadpool & Wolverine finally hits streaming.

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Published on August 02, 2024 10:35

WB Discovery Shuts Down Classic Cartoon Streamer Boomerang

One of Warner Bros.’s earliest coups of the TV age was acquiring the Hanna-Barbera library of animated programming. With it, they own stuff like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, Jonny Quest, et al. Cable network Cartoon Network began as a joint venture between Warner and Turner as a place to showcase classic animated programming. Once it started making its own new programming, and acquiring newer shows, it spun out Boomerang, a channel specifically for those older ‘toons. Eventually Boomerang launched a separate streaming service, but, as seemed inevitable, WB Discovery is sunsetting Boomerang and will absorb it into Max. Some of it, anyway.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Boomerang streaming service will cease operation on September 30 of this year. Subscribers and “some content” will be moved over to ad-free Max with no immediate change to subscriber price. That is, at least, a bargain. Boomerang is $6 per month while Max’s ad-free tier is currently $17 per month. Max already carries some of Boomerang’s content, including Looney Tunes shorts, Scooby-Doo series, Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, etc. What else will come over is unclear at this time.

Boomerang webpage shows squares of different cartoons.Warner Bros

The Boomerang cable and satellite channel will continue to operate, because packages need channels. However this speaks to yet another way Warner Bros. Discovery under David Zaslav continues to consolidate all of its holdings into a single entity. Last month, WBD announced it would join with Disney+ and Hulu for a massive streaming bundle. Surely keeping as much in the Max portfolio as possible makes their end of the deal look more enticing. And I’m not going to say Boomerang was the best service out there. I tried it for a while and it was fairly pedestrian. But more and more, streaming, once the wild west of choice, is turning into mega corporations trying to increase their bottom line.

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

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Published on August 02, 2024 09:53

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