Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 27

KID PROSPER Short Movie Tells a New Kind of Queer Narrative

We’ve been into short films recently. There’s something beautiful about the distillation of a concept or idea into a bite-sized form that’s purely a rich narrative with no fluff around the edges. And that’s what we see in One Man Army’s new short, Kid Prosper. The 30-minute movie tells the tale of a closeted pastor, whose world is upended when he’s threatened by a mysterious note left by someone who claims to know the truth about him. We wish we could do Kid Prosper justice by describing it in words, but it’s really a wild ride that needs to be watched. Its flurry of palpable religious anxiety, shocking twists and turns, and… the Gay Mafia, leaves us hanging on for dear life as we navigate the tale. But, beneath that, there’s a really sincere and poignantly human narrative about knowing oneself and what true righteousness looks like. You can watch Kid Prosper in full below—but just as a note, there are strong themes of violence and sexuality in the short.

The synopsis for Kid Prosper simply shares, “After a closeted pastor receives a mysterious note threatening to expose him, he goes to brutal lengths to keep his secret hidden.” But as we mentioned, there’s a lot more to the narrative than that. We applaud the actors and creators for such a well-done piece, with some incredible acting and a very unique cinematic style and point of view. The subtlety of the satire, juxtaposed with the intensity of the violence, all wrapped up in a heartfelt look at the inner psyche of the human soul, really worked well.

One Man Army

Too often, queer movies and projects come in the same kinds of flavor and feeling. But Kid Prosper takes us into a whole new place of queer cinema, which we always love to experience. We feel that movies spotlighting queer folks deserve to have as wide a depth and breadth as possible. And Kid Prosper helps move that kind of expected “in the closet” narrative down a novel path with a new type of character we don’t often get to see at center.

We can’t wait to see what One Man Army does next.

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Marvel at Tony Gilroy’s Original Pitch for ANDOR Season 2 (And How Close It Is to What We Saw)

Andor finished its series run with a triumphant conclusion this year, cementing itself as one of the best Star Wars entries of all time. Originally, series showrunner Tony Gilroy had pitched a five-season plan for Andor. Eventually, Disney+ scaled that back to two seasons. Recently, at a special pop-up event for the series, Collider got the chance to see Gilroy’s original season two pitch to Lucasfilm. And remarkably, what they actually filmed was pretty much what he pitched back in 2022. Which is not always the case in television. You can read Tony Gilroy’s original pitch for Andor season two right here:

Click To View Gallery Lucasfilm/Tony Gilroy Tony Gilroy/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/Tony Gilroy

Of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Bix’s relationship in Andor season two, Tony Gilroy said in his original pitch, “We left a love — a passionate, complex, real love — between two people who’ve been orbiting one another for years, not ready to move to the next level. We saw the power of the connection in Season One. We’ll lean into this. Bix is not just a romantic appendage. She’s worthy of the ingredients.” All of this turned out to be accurate. Bix (Adria Arjona) was a truly developed character in season two. Lesser shows might have made her trauma all about Cassian’s character arc. We’re glad to see Gilroy planned for Bix’s naunce right from his initial Andor season two pitch.

Lucasfilm

Gilroy’s pitch, of course, leans heavily into the Ghorman Massacre, which turns the character of Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) into a martyr for the Empire. But it is also the triggering event for the Rebel Alliance to find its leader in Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly. Gilroy’s Andor season two pitch also describes one of the most powerful moments from the series. It reads, “The Ghorman Massacre is Mon Mothma’s canonical red line. It’s this event that prompts her stand in the Senate chamber. She will denounce the Emperor and be forced to flee. We’ll be right there.”

From the look of this pitch, Gilroy had a compelling plan for Andor season two very early on, and the series was proof of how good Star Wars can be when planned out with a clear vision.

The post Marvel at Tony Gilroy’s Original Pitch for ANDOR Season 2 (And How Close It Is to What We Saw) appeared first on Nerdist.

Charisma Carpenter NOT Returning as Cordelia in the BUFFY Reboot

Filming for the pilot of the highly anticipated Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival for Hulu is currently underway. Both the original star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the new slayer, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, have been spotted on set. The pair has even shared videos of their slayerific workouts. But despite rumors, one classic Buffyverse cast member won’t be returning. At least, not yet. Via Comic Book, we’ve learned that Charisma Carpenter, who played “mean girl” turned Slayer ally Cordelia Chase on both Buffy and Angel, is not a part of the new Buffy series. Here’s what Carpenter had to say to the Buffy fandom via TikTok post:

@charisma_carpenter

Replying to @alanbodkelleher REBOOT? #thebitchisbackpodcast #buffythevampireslayer #fyp #foryou

♬ original sound – Charisma Carpenter

Hey, I get asked this a lot: ‘Are you doing the reboot?’ And I thought I would address it. I am not in the reboot. I am not in the pilot. I don’t even know if the show has been picked up to go to series. I assume it will be…. I have not had a conversation with any of the powers that be to include Cordelia at this point.

Twentieth Century Studios Television

Many assumed the name of Carpenter’s Buffy rewatch podcast, The Bitch is Back, was a code to the fans that Cordelia would soon return. But Charisma Carpenter maintains that it is not the case. We should note that just because Charisma Carpenter’s Cordelia isn’t in the pilot of the Buffy reboot, or even the first season, doesn’t mean her character won’t ever return. Sarah Michelle Gellar has maintained that she wants every former major cast member to return at some point. Even those characters who have died. And that includes Cordelia, who died in the 100th episode of Angel back in 2004. But clearly, since the series mostly focuses on new characters, they have to establish them first. After that, we hope that the 1999 graduating class of Sunnydale High can return in style.

Fingers crossed that even though Charisma Carpenter’s Cordelia is not returning in the Buffy reboot right now, she will sooner rather than later.

The post Charisma Carpenter NOT Returning as Cordelia in the BUFFY Reboot appeared first on Nerdist.

Why the STAR TREK Movies Should Reboot TNG & Who Could Play the Enterprise Crew

Star Trek has thrived in the modern streaming era, with new series after new series. But there hasn’t been a Star Trek feature film in nearly a decade. Paramount has announced development on one movie after another for years, with none of them going anywhere. Recent reports circulated that Paramount wanted at least one more film with the Kelvin timeline crew (or Star Trek 4). Meaning, one last adventure with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock. But with those characters now having been played by other actors for years on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, does another version of the same crew even make sense anymore? The new head of Paramount recently said a Star Trek feature film was a high priority. And we think the most logical solution, as Spock might say, is for the Kelvin timeline from the J.J. Abrams trilogy to jump forward into the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Paramount Television

Yes, that means recast versions of Captain Picard, Data, Worf, and the rest of the Enterprise-D crew. From a business standpoint, Paramount might do this because only The Next Generation of all the Star Trek shows has characters as known to general audiences as Kirk and Spock.

As much as we’d like a whole new crew in a whole new era for a 14th Star Trek movie, we doubt they’d take that kind of risk with a tentpole movie anymore. That’s far more likely to happen as a streaming show. And recasting iconic roles like Captain Picard would sure get a lot of media attention, which could equal ticket sales. And if they wanted to connect it all to the previous films, they could craft a role for Zachary Quinto’s Spock, since the Vulcans are long-lived, and he’s alive and well in the TNG era. Of course, Patrick Stewart’s boots would be notoriously hard to fill. However, we have some ideas on just who might be saying “Make it so” in the not-too-distant future, should a big-screen Star Trek: The Next Generation arrive in theaters.

Cast Tom Hardy as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a Star Trek: The Next Generation RebootWarner Bros./Paramount Television

Two decades ago, Tom Hardy played the younger clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Shinzon, in Star Trek: Nemesis. The movie bombed both commercially and critically, but most fans agree that Hardy is terrific in it. Now that he’s gone on to major stardom, maybe he should get a bit of Trek-demption? Why not cast Hardy as the alternate timeline’s version of Picard? Interestingly, Hardy is now around the same age Sir Patrick Stewart was when Gene Roddenberry cast him as the Enterprise’s new Captain. So it may just be something that is meant to be.

Cast Richard Madden as Commander William Riker as a Leader with FuzzHBO/Paramount Television

Game of Thrones‘ Richard Madden carries the same energy as young Jonathan Frakes did as Commander William Riker in the early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Just from his portrayal of Robb Stark alone, we know that Madden can totally display all the right leadership qualities. Just don’t do like TNG did, and start Riker out without his beard. We like Richard Madden with the fuzz on his face, thank you.

Cast Tilda Swinton as Lt. Commander Data, The Perfect Otherwordly Actor for a Star Trek: The Next Generation RebootMarvel Studios/Paramount Television

Since this is an alternate timeline, who says that Dr. Noonian Soong’s sentient android creation Data has to present as a man? For this Kevlin-timeline version of Lt. Commander Data, we’d cast the one and only Tilda Swinton. We think she would be a perfect choice to play the golden android, who is learning its place in the universe as Picard’s third in command. Swinton has that otherworldly quality, one that made her perfect casting in movies like Only Lovers Left Alive and Constantine. She could totally do justice to Brent Spiner’s iconic character, and still forge her own positronic path.

Cast Caleb McLaughlin as Lt. Geordi La Forge, a Cool and Nerdy CharacterNetflix/Paramount Television

To play the Enterprise’s Geordi La Forge, you need someone who can play both awkward and handsome at the same time, and can also easily portray being a brilliant scientific prodigy. Oh, they also have to somehow make a banana clip on their face not look totally stupid. For the role originated by LeVar Burton, we suggest Stranger Things‘ Lucas, Caleb McLaughlin. Now age 23, the young actor has been playing a high school student way too long, and it’s time for him to play a capable young officer in a Star Trek: The Next Generation Reboot, one who can go on to be the Enterprise’s Chief Engineer.

Cast Marie Avgeropoulos as Counselor Deanna Troi and Retain Troi’s Greek Roots in a Star Trek: The Next Generation RebootThe CW/Paramount Television

The Enterprise needs her counselor, and Picard needs an empath by his side to tell him the obviously angry aliens about to attack are hostile. We kid, we kid. Deanna Troi is actually essential to Star Trek: The Next Generation, especially as one of the few characters who can actually tell Picard he’s in the wrong without getting a demotion or some serious stink-eye. In the original series, Deanna was played by British actress Marina Sirtis, who is of Greek descent. We think the character should retain her Greek roots, so we suggest The 100’s Marie Avgeropoulos. Time to switch out from a dystopian world to a Utopian one.

Cast Jessica Chastain as Dr. Beverly Crusher—Every Fan’s DreamWarner Bros./Paramount Television

Once upon a time, Jessica Chastain was everyone’s choice to play the older Beverly Marsh in It: Chapter Two. Fans got their wish, and Chastain actually landed the role. Now, we’re hoping we can wish this fancasting into existence, too. Chastain should play another iconic Beverly—the Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Beverly Crusher. Chastain has all the presence and then some to play Starfleet’s compassionate but no-nonsense top medical expert in a Star Trek: The Next Generation reboot. And we wouldn’t mind seeing some romantic sparks fly between her and Tom Hardy’s version of Picard. We think Gates McFadden would be honored to have the Oscar-nominated actress pick up her medical tricorder.

Cast John Boyega as Lt. Worf So Boyega Can go From Star Wars to Star Trek in a The Next Generation RebootLucasfilm/Paramount Television

John Boyega is beloved by fans for his role of Finn in the Star Wars sequels. But he’s gone on record as not being too thrilled about how his character developed in the trilogy. Well, maybe it’s time to switch “Star” franchises then. The sullen Klingon officer Worf is easily one of the greatest characters in the entire Star Trek canon. And he got a metric ton of character development over the course of two separate series. We think Boyega could kill it as the Son of Mogh, originally played by Michael Dorn. And when we say “kill it,” we mean with a Bat’leth of course. And for anyone who thinks Boyega as too much of a “nice guy” type to play a Klingon badass? Then we suggest watching Attack the Block.

Cast Julia Garner as Lt. Tasha Yar, A Lieutenant with a Hard Edge and a Big HeartUniversal Pictures/Paramount Television

The Enterprise-D’s original security chief, before Worf, was Lt. Tasha Yar. The character died in the line of duty when actress Denise Crosby decided to leave the show at the end of season one. Regardless, she made several appearances over the course of the rest of the series through various time travel shenanigans, and a big-screen reboot could give the character a better trajectory than her TV version. We think Julia Garner, hot off star turns in Weapons and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, could be the right actress to bring a mix of hard edge and big heart that Tasha was known for.

Cast Lupita Nyong’o as Star Trek‘s Guinan to Make Even That The Next Generation Hat Look GoodMarvel Studios/Paramount Television

Another Star Wars sequel cast member who should jump ship from the Millennium Falcon to the Enterprise should be Lupita Nyong’o. She’d be perfect for the role of Ten Forward’s centuries-old bartender, Guinan. This is a bit of typecasting, of course. Nyong’o already played a thousand-year-old, extremely wise bartender in Star Wars as Maz Kanata. But maybe she’d like to play a similar role without having to do motion capture or voice an animatronic. And if anyone can make those ridiculous hats worn by Whoopi Goldberg on Star Trek: The Next Generation look stylish, it’s Lupita Nyong’o.

Cast Jacob Tremblay as Ensign Wesley Crusher so We Can All Hear ‘Shut Up Wesley’NEON/Paramount Television

You didn’t think we’d forget the Enterprise’s teenage wunderkind, did you? The child-genius was often everyone’s least favorite crew member in the show’s first season for being too much of a know-it-all. Who can forget Picard yelling “Shut up Wesley!” on the bridge?

But Wes developed into a crucial member of the crew, and a very capable officer. Although actor Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep) is already 18, he reads as younger, and has that Wesley vibe. He’d be an ideal choice to play The Enterprise’s acting ensign in a Star Trek: The Next Generation reboot.

Originally published on November 16, 2020.

The post Why the STAR TREK Movies Should Reboot TNG & Who Could Play the Enterprise Crew appeared first on Nerdist.

DUNE: PROPHECY Revealed Desmond Hart’s Identity in Episode ONE (Through His Costume)

Dune: Prophecy‘s antagonist, Desmond Hart, played by Travis Fimmel, was an immediate mystery to viewers. What was Desmond’s true identity? The question was a series-long ponderance for those who loved the show. For many, it was shocking to learn in the final episodes of the series that the Dune: Prophecy antagonist was the son of Tula Harkonnen and, incredibly, Orry Atreides. This gives Desmond an incredibly powerful lineage and connects him to the future figure of Paul Atreides, who is also of Harkonnen and Atreides descent. But it turns out that Dune: Prophecy actually revealed Desmond Hart’s true identity right in episode one, and then many times throughout the show. Yes, using Desmond Hart’s costumes, Dune: Prophecy gave Dune sleuths all the information they needed to understand the truth about Desmond. But, incredibly, almost everyone missed out. Here’s what Dune: Prophecy‘s costume designer, Bojana Nikitović, told us about revealing Desmond Hart’s identity through his clothes.Warner Bros. Discovery/Legendary Television

Nikitović shares, “Yes!” When asked if she teased Desmond Hart’s identity in his costumes at all. “It was one detail that I don’t know whether the audience caught, but Desmond is always, even in the beginning when he arrives, wearing or carrying a piece of black fabric as part of his Dune: Prophecy costumes. And that black fabric is an embossed fabric from his mother’s Sisterhood costume. So, actually, when he was born, his mother, Tula, young Tula, wrapped him in the costume and gave him away, so that’s the only thing that he has from her. And that was a really important thing for Travis Fimmel’s Desmond to have—this one piece of his mother and her family with him.”

Dune: Prophecy showrunner Alison Schapker echoes these sentiments about teasing Desmond Hart’s identity right from the start, noting, “I don’t know if people will notice, but the cloth he’s carrying the first time we see him—when Desmond Hart appears and walks up to the palace—he has this black cloth, and that is really his token of his mother. Through the whole series, he uses it in private moments as a kind of ‘keeping alive’ of his drive and his connection, until finally he meets her and is clutching her actual dress and realizing what once was a piece of his actual baby blanket. That she swaddled him in Sisterhood cloth. He’s held on to [it] and now he’s finally with his mother. We tried to do things like that to kind of build in and foreshadow where the story was going.”

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DUNE: PROPHECY Brought Pockets and Pants to the Sisterhood

Slipping in the piece of Sisterhood cloth, which is so specifically embossed, a texture-story that Bojana Nikitović took extra care to create in the series, is genius. Nikitović shares of the Dune: Prophecy fabric, “We created a new technique… The embossing that we were using on a Sisterhood costumes, on the collar and on the upper sleeves, it’s also kind of a printing that makes fabric react in a certain way.” And so, for the eagle-eyed Dune: Prophecy viewer, there was no mistaking what Desmond’s scrap of fabric really is or where it came from. We love the confidence this Easter egg conveys. Dune: Prophecy wanted to reward its viewers for watching carefully and putting pieces and mysteries together—and that’s the sign of a truly well-built show.

HBO Max

And so, it’s no surprise that Dune: Prophecy is nominated for four Emmys this year, including Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes for Nikitović’s work. Any series that can use its costumes with such nuance, to help form its very narrative, deserves the win in our book.

You can read our full interview with Dune: Prophecy costume designer Bojana Nikitović here. Dune: Prophecy season one is now streaming on HBO Max.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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9 Horror Films to Watch After WEAPONS

When trying to describe the much-talked-about horror film Weapons, I kept thinking of other movies it reminded me of, stories that bend the rules of horror, mixing terrifying scares with smart storytelling and just enough dark humor to make you grin before the next jump scare.

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Weapons keep you guessing at every turn, so this list highlights standout horror films that deliver the same kind of unpredictability and lasting chills. Here are nine horror films you need to watch after finishing Weapons.

The Witches (1990 / 2020)

Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV / iTunes, Fandango at Home

One of the first films that came to mind after Weapons was The Witches. I know—it’s not exactly “horror” in the traditional sense. But as a kid? Terrifying. Witches hiding in plain sight, plotting to turn kids into mice? That’s nightmare fuel.

Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book, the 1990 version hit harder than expected. My class had to read the book first, but nothing prepared me for the practical effects that revealed the witches’ hideous forms. Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch was unforgettable, and Rowan Atkinson (yes, Mr. Bean) playing the hotel manager added a sly comedic touch.

The 2020 version surprised me with Anne Hathaway’s sinister turn as the witch. Stanley Tucci, Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Bruno, Chris Rock, and Kristin Chenoweth round out the cast. Both versions are worth watching, the 2020 adaptation even comes with an alternate ending co-written by Robert Zemeckis, Kenya Barris, and Guillermo del Toro.

Companion (2024)

Where to watch: HBO Max

New Line Cinema

Produced by Weapons director Zach Cregger, Companion is a slick, unnerving sci-fi horror film that taps into our current anxieties about A.I. Jack Quaid stars as Josh, who owns a robot companion named Iris (Sophie Thatcher). At first, she seems like the perfect partner until these AI “friends” start doing their owners’ bidding in far darker ways. 

With good writing, strong performances, and plenty of curveballs to keep you off balance, you might actually find yourself rooting for the robots over the humans. It’s A.I. meets I, Robot if both decided to go full slasher, and the result is as fun as it is unsettling. With a B+ CinemaScore and plenty of critical praise, Companion is absolutely worth streaming.

28 Days Later (2003)

Where to watch: Rent or buy on major digital platforms

Searchlight Pictures

The frenzied, rage-filled “infected” in Weapons immediately reminded me of 28 Days Later. Danny Boyle’s 2003 zombie thriller was a breakout hit, grossing $82 million on just an $8 million budget, and it’s easy to see why. 

Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Brendan Gleeson deliver powerhouse performances, with Murphy’s stealthy, rain-soaked takedown scene standing out as a highlight. The “Rage” virus fuels the same relentless, unthinking aggression you see in Weapons’ possessed characters, moving with unstoppable fury and terrifying speed. Watching them, I couldn’t help but think of those iconic zombies, full of anger, unstoppable, and eerily human.

Hereditary (2018)

Where to watch: HBO Max, Hulu

A24

Ari Aster’s Hereditary is one of the most unsettling, creepy, and unpredictable horror films in recent memory and one of his most successful to date. Like Weapons director Zach Cregger, Aster has a knack for blindsiding audiences with moments that shock, scare, and linger long after the credits roll. The story follows Annie Graham (Toni Collette, in a career-best performance) and her family, husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), and son Peter (Alex Wolff)—as they navigate grief after a horrific car accident. 

Their mourning quickly unravels into a chain of chilling, supernatural events that blur the line between psychological breakdown and something far more sinister. Equal parts grief, drama, and nightmare fuel, Hereditary will have you plugging in a night light and watching your family a little differently. With an $87.7 million profit on a $10 million budget and several award nominations, it’s a must-watch; just maybe give yourself a two-day breather after Weapons before watching. 

IT: Chapter One & Two (2017 / 2019)

Where to watch: HBO Max

When the witch Gladys (Amy Madigan) appears in Weapons, whether lurking in the woods or suddenly on a wall, it’s impossible not to think of Pennywise from IT. Bill Skarsgård’s nightmare-inducing clown preys on fear much like Gladys does, stalking kids and adults alike with a presence that’s terrifying. Both films balance scares with moments of humor, giving viewers a breather between the gut-punch visuals, and both feature memorable imagery. Gladys’ pale skin, red lips, and creepy eyes almost mirror Pennywise’s iconic look, and if you put them side by side in their scariest poses, the resemblance is uncanny. 

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, IT chapters one and two grossed hundreds of millions worldwide, with Skarsgård delivering constant chills while sprinkling in brief comic relief. Feeling nostalgic or brave? You can always revisit Tim Curry’s original Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries. 

Bring Her Back (2025)

Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV / iTunes, Fandango at Home

Directed by the Philippou brothers (Talk to Me), Bring Her Back is pure skin-crawl cinema and easily one of the most unsettling horror films in recent memory. The story follows Laura (Sally Hawkins), a grieving mother so desperate to fill the void left by her dead daughter that she adopts Piper (Sora Wong), but her attempt at a second chance quickly turns sinister. Her brother Andy (Billy Barratt) tries to protect Piper, while her other adopted son, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), begins to display increasingly disturbing behavior. 

Like Weapons, the film uses mind control as its central horror device, but here it’s even more intimate and far more chilling. The tension builds with every scene, making the hair on your arms stand up and your skin crawl, yet the performances and the drawn-out suspense make it impossible to look away.

Get Out (2017)

Where to watch: Hulu

Universal Pictures

You can’t talk about mind-controlled horror without mentioning Jordan Peele’s Get Out. His Oscar-winning debut might not have monsters, gore, or jump scares, but the terror comes from psychological manipulation and the complete loss of control. Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris is invited by his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to meet her parents, only to slowly uncover a horrifying truth that turns his visit into a mind-bending nightmare.

Peele blends social commentary with pure suspense, creating a film that leaves you questioning how much of horror is about what we see and how much is about what we feel creeping in under our skin. The lives of those controlled in Get Out are changed forever, and while we may never know exactly what they endure, we can see their suffering. It’s a head-trip of a horror film that’s hard to forget, making it essential viewing after Weapons.

Barbarian (2022)

Where to watch: Netflix

20th Century Studios

Honestly, I recommend watching Barbarian before Weapons just to get a feel for Cregger’s storytelling style. The marketing teased a simple “two strangers, one Airbnb” setup, but the movie quickly morphs into something far more twisted.

With Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, Barbarian delivers humor, misdirection, and enough WTF moments to keep you talking for days.

If Weapons left you wanting more mind-bending horror, this lineup will keep the chills coming. Watch them solo if you dare or with friends, so someone else can hold the popcorn when you jump.

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DUNE: PROPHECY Brought POCKETS (and Pants) to the Sisterhood!

Being part of Dune: Prophecy‘s Sisterhood is no small task—especially not if you’re Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen. There’s scheming to be done, royals to control, a genetic lineage to keep intact, a family name to reclaim, and beyond that, all those pesky everyday problems like being a big sister and contending with relatives you’d rather not be speaking to. So if you’re Valya, and you want to control the whole Duniverse, and are aiming to train up an entire army of smart, capable women to help you do it, you’re definitely going to want a uniform that supports your aims. In celebration of the show’s Emmy nomination for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, Nerdist spoke to Dune: Prophecy‘s costume designer, Bojana Nikitović, and she filled us in on a little secret. Dune: Prophecy‘s Sisterhood costumes have pants, and, more importantly, POCKETS. HBO Max

Here’s what Nikitović shared about this exciting Dune: Prophecy pants and pockets twist, “We worked a lot on the silhouette of the outfits, and I don’t know whether many people noticed, but actually, they’re wearing kind of a jumpsuit in Dune: Prophecy‘s Sisterhood. So in the front, they’re wearing trousers, loose trousers, and it looks like it’s a dress from the back, but it’s trousers. And I must say the actresses really liked that because it gave them more freedom and flexibility. They could move in a more relaxed way. They could sit. They could move their legs and cross them in different ways.”

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And so, it’s no surprise that this costume element in Dune: Prophecy actually helped inform the way the cast conceived of their characters, especially star Emily Watson, who plays Valya Harkonnen. Nikitović notes, “The cast, they really liked that when they were coming for fittings. We also put in side pockets to make it even more relaxed, to show that they feel good there, and they’re in a place that they want to be. Emily Watson herself especially liked the pockets in the costumes, and she used them a lot, and Olivia Williams did too; they both really liked to say, “Let’s use them.” When you put your hands in your pocket, sometimes it gives this feeling that you look relaxed, but also strong in a way.”

HBO Max

Listen, if you’re going to get a firm hand on every single thing going on in the world of Dune, you’re going to need a pocket; it’s just a scientific fact. And if you plan to lounge on a throne, well, some pants sure do come in handy. Dune: Prophecy is a show that centers smart, capable, and mature women and shows that they can be as powerful as any other kind of person out there. That’s honestly one of our favorite parts about the series. And so we absolutely love learning that everything in the DNA of Dune: Prophecy supports that vision, from casting to costumes.

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As a rule, we must cheer for a show that gives its leading ladies pockets. You can read our full interview with Dune: Prophecy costume designer Bojana Nikitović here.

Dune: Prophecy season one is now streaming on HBO Max.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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DUNE: PROPHECY Costume Designer Talks Creating Fashion Like We’ve Never Seen Before

HBO Max’s Dune: Prophecy takes us into the world of Dune like we’ve never seen it before. Building on the epic cinematic universe created by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Prophecy occupies a truly unique position. The series takes place 10,000 years before the movies, essentially making it a Dune period piece, but, of course, is also set well in the future when compared to our present day. This remarkable placement on the timeline allowed Dune: Prophecy to build a gorgeous reality that’s like nothing we’ve seen before—from the ground up. And, so, it’s no surprise that Dune: Prophecy is nominated for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes at this year’s Emmy awards, along with nomations for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie, and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. HBO Max

In celebration of this acknowledgment, we took a deep dive into the extraordinary costumes of the show with the woman who made it all possible, Dune: Prophecy‘s costume designer, Bojana Nikitović.

Nerdist: In Dune: Prophecy, the Sisterhood and its members are the stars of the series, of course. But they already had a very iconic look from the Dune movies that Denis Villeneuve established. How did you go about translating that established costume for Dune: Prophecy, which takes place so far before the movies, and work to make it both novel and familiar?

Bojana Nikitović: The Dune movies were a huge success, and visually, they were so interesting and brilliantly done, and the look of Bene Gesserit and the Sisterhood, in a way, was established. The good thing for us is that our story in Dune: Prophecy not only takes place 10,000 years before the story of the movies, which is an amount of time that we cannot even imagine, but it’s far in the future from where we are now in our lives. Our story is also deeply connected to the Sisterhood itself, with how it started, how it was built, and that was the most important thing for us to create.

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And in a way, we were able to set the iconic look for the whole Sisterhood in Dune: Prophecy. When Valya Harkonnen comes to the Sisterhood as a young woman, it’s ruled by Raquella—and we see how that goes. As a young girl, Valya is very ambitious, and when she takes over the Sisterhood, she’s making changes. And we see that in the first episode, which jumps 30 years later, and we see visually what she did in that period.

We decided that we’d have all the sisters dressed in black in the beginning, when Raquella was leading the Sisterhood, then, when Valya takes over, in this 30-year period, it’s obvious that she upgraded the whole thing. And we have different ages and levels of girls there. We have novices, acolytes, and Reverend Mothers, and we decided to allow them to wear not only black, but also to put on some different light gray and gray outfits and costumes into the world of Dune: Prophecy, and keep the black for Reverend Mothers.

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We worked a lot on the silhouette of the outfits, and I don’t know whether many people noticed, but actually, they’re wearing kind of a jumpsuit in Dune: Prophecy‘s Sisterhood. So in the front, they’re wearing trousers, loose trousers, and it looks like it’s a dress from the back, but it’s trousers. And I must say the actresses really liked that because it gave them more freedom and flexibility.

They could move in a more relaxed way. They could sit. They could move their legs and cross them in different ways. And the cast, they really liked that when they came for fittings. We also put in side pockets to make it even more relaxed, to show that they feel good there, and they’re in a place that they want to be. Dune: Prophecy star Emily Watson herself especially liked the pockets in the costumes, and she used them a lot, and Olivia Williams did too; they both really liked to say, “Let’s use them.” When you put your hands in your pocket, sometimes it gives this feeling that you look relaxed, but also strong in a way.

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We also had Truthsayers in Dune: Prophecy, which we see a lot in the movies. And we definitely wanted to make a look that is based on the book, as well as the films. But our type of Truthsayers are a bit different, because we are in the past. There, we worked a lot on their veils; the veils are so important to the whole story. They have this laser-cut pattern that we glued on very thin silk, and it was really important that that pattern is there as a kind of barrier between them and the world, and it gives them that mysterious look.

But at the same time, we could completely see their faces and every blink of the eye. And we really wanted to be able to see that. I remember during one of the camera tests, Dune: Prophecy‘s Director of Photography, Pierre Gill, and Anna Foerster, who was directing the first episode, wanted to try to put the camera at a certain angle so that we could see the reflection of the pattern on the veil in the eye. And I think that they managed it, and they put it in the series. So the veil was really important for the Truthsayers and the Sisterhood itself.

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Then, of course, we also added many details like that buckle that they have on the Sisterhood outfit. The buckle takes the shape of a sort of infinity sign in the form of a strange animal that is chasing its tail. And on Valya Harkonnen, of course, as a Mother Superior, we added more details, some metal details, more embossing, and a more elaborate cape, among other features.

Did you add any personal flair to the costumes of the different sisters in the Sisterhood? Or were the costumes overall uniform in Dune: Prophecy? To me, Sister Francesca seemed to jump out from the rest with a more elaborate outfit.

Nikitović: In the Sisterhood, we mostly tried to keep the outfits the same within ranks; it’s a kind of uniform. They’re wearing a uniform. But with Francesca, it was so important that her arrival on Dune: Prophecy is explosive. She’s the big love of Emperor Corrino. And since Francesca is not living in Wallach IX with the Sisterhood, and she’s a kind of an ambassador, let’s say, or an undercover person when she’s away, she looks a bit different.

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But then, in a way, she’s dressed specially for the arrival when we first meet her on Dune: Prophecy, and that’s why we gave her the headpiece that is kind of similar to the one that Valya is wearing. And we added some of the embossing details and the like to show that she’s really dressed for the occasion. She’s dressed because she has a very important thing to do once she comes to Salusa Secundus.

It felt like there were three big groups of characters in Dune: Prophecy: The royalty, the rebels, and the Sisterhood. What would you say were your big style principles for each one of those groups?

Nikitović: Yeah, the groups were interesting. The biggest one was the Sisterhood, and, as we discussed, that was a really important look to resolve. And then to get the quantity of fabric that we needed, which was astounding, was a feat. We bought thousands and thousands of meters.

Then we have, as you say, the rebels of Dune: Prophecy and their costumes, and we have all these scenes in a spice den that featured these figures. There were some interesting characters there, and it’s fun to work on characters like that.

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And the last big group are the Corrinos themselves and the nobles in the Landsraad. And for those Dune: Prophecy groups, we tried to make very specific color palettes for each costume, for each group, for each family. The Corrinos represent royalty, tradition, power, and elegance in Dune: Prophecy. It’s almost like any real royal family today. They have an ancestral tradition, and we wanted to show that. So for the Corrinos, we went with different tones of blue, burgundy, pomegranate, red, and gold. We wanted to highlight that they are the royal family, a powerful family.

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Then, in the first episode of Dune: Prophecy, we have the Richeses, a family who are nouveau riche. They have money, they are very powerful, Duke Richese is very powerful, but we wanted to show that he doesn’t have the class that Corrino family has. And the whole family is a little bit over the top.

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In the Landsraad, we had different families, and we tried to find a different look for each of those families, like a specific tone. And it was really fun. And the interesting thing with projects like this is that you are building things from the true beginning, from scratch. We started from zero. It’s something that you truly cannot rent or buy. It really has to be made, but the fun is bigger when it’s like that.

Costumes create a setting and build atmosphere, but they also can, as we touched on, tell a big part of the story. What do you think your most narrative costume piece was, and what story do you think it told in Dune: Prophecy?

Nikitović: I think it would be a red dress for Ynez because it was really important for me and the whole team to make it in a certain way to be not only decorative and beautiful, but also to tell the story of that dress and of the women in that family. We see Ynez’s mother in the portrait that we have in the set design, we see her in that red dress. So the dress is important in Dune: Prophecy, it’s a part of the heritage that Natalya is bringing and giving to Ynez.

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At the same time, it also shows the history of arranged marriages that runs in this kind of family in the world of Dune: Prophecy. And again, Ynez is there because of something more important than her freedom and her future. She has to go through with the engagement and marriage for her family.

So I always wanted the feeling that the red wedding dress is kind of almost a net or something that she’s trapped in, and she wants to get out of it. But the net is around her. And that continues with the veil that she’s wearing and the headpiece. They are very beautiful and decorative, but in a way, they create this golden cage. So yes, building that red dress for us was critical. We built that red wedding dress from the ground up, and even made the fabric for it by putting one layer of laser-cut fabric on the top of the other and creating something that was entirely our design. And that costume was really important for the whole story of Dune: Prophecy.

That dress is amazing. And, of course, no one could have missed it. But what is one costume or accessory that may be more subtle that you’d like fans to look out for when they rewatch Dune: Prophecy?

Nikitović: Me, personally, I really like the costumes that Javicco Corrino is wearing. I love the embossing on his jackets. I’m proud of the way we made it because we had many tests before we came to the solution and made it work. Every detail on his costumes is really connected with the Corrino family. All the embossing that he has on his coats, the design for them comes from the Corrino crest that we also made. My assistant created the Corrino crest, and then we used that inspiration from there.

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If somebody has enough time and interest to go through all the details on Javicco Corrino’s costume, they’ll find it comes from the crest. For example, he has the Corrino Crest on his collar. Then he has this embossing on his outfits that depicts elaborated details from Corrino’s family crest. And then he has a belt sash and a belt, and on the belt we took care to add details from the crest, but also it carries his rank. He’s like a marshal or the highest strength one can be.

The other soldiers that we see in the Dune: Prophecy series are wearing similar belts as part of their costumes, and they have different insignia on the belts. Probably only we know that they have insignias there, but now if you look, you can see them too. And if they have two dots or three dots, that signifies a lower or higher rank. We had a whole board with ranks, who is what, and that’s what we created. And we were dressing extras, we said, “Okay, he is of a certain age, we can give him a higher rank.” That’s the fun in doing these things.

Costuming by design is meant to look effortless when it’s complete. But what was the trickiest costume that you put together for Dune: Prophecy?

Nikitović: The Truthsayers were difficult to make work. The drawing we originally made for the costume, we were happy with it. And when we started to build it, we found the most fantastic fabric for it, and we bought the quantity we needed. But then it turns out that on a camera test, it started to create like an optical illusion when it was filmed. It was really, really minimal, but it was enough that we had to change the fabric. For us, it was devastating because when you find something that you think looks absolutely perfect, you don’t want to start over. But we started over, and it worked out well.

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And one costume that I thought “it’s very simple, but we have to get it right,” and I think it is right for the character, is the costume that Desmond Hart is wearing on Dune: Prophecy. It needed to be simple, but very recognizable. And in a way, iconic. When he comes, we need everyone to ask, “Who is this guy?” You have to immediately understand that there’s no one else that looks like him around and say, “This guy came out of nowhere, what is going to happen now?” So for him, we did many tests and had many different options until we found the final silhouette and all the details, stitchings, and things that we added, including his epaulettes and insignias. All of that was really well thought out, and it was a process to make it, but it was worth it.

Speaking of Desmond, of course, he has a big reveal of his identity at the end of Dune: Prophecy—did you ever hint at any of that in his costumes?

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Nikitović: Yes! It was one detail that I don’t know whether the audience caught, but Desmond is always, even in the beginning when he arrives, wearing or carrying a piece of black fabric as part of his Dune: Prophecy costume. And that black fabric is an embossed fabric from his mother’s Sisterhood costume. So, actually, when he was born, his mother, Tula, young Tula, wrapped him in the costume and gave him away, so that’s the only thing that he has from her. And that was a really important thing for Travis Fimmel’s Desmond to have—this one piece of his mother and her family with him.

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What character do you think went through the most significant costume evolution throughout Dune: Prophecy?

Nikitović: Well, Ynez had so many changes. For her, it was really important that we were always showing her rebel nature, her real nature. In the palace, she’s dressed as a princess, but even there, she tries to show her sincere self. Very often, she has some leather details, or some belts, or some buckles that are not really princess style. And for me it was really important to put her in a heavy boots. So even when she’s wearing very elegant princess dresses, she’s in high, heavy boots, and that gives her a special way in which she walks.

And Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, who played Ynez on Dune: Prophecy, she really liked that element in her costumes. And you have different moments like changing out of the red dress, from when she’s all prepared for the engagement party, to all of a sudden getting dressed down to go to a spice den. So those moments showed her real nature through her costumes and changes.

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You mentioned several techniques that you used to make costumes of Dune: Prophecy. Did you create anything that you did for the very first time for this show?

Nikitović: Yes. We really tried to do something new in Dune: Prophecy. Certain techniques, like this embossing that we used on Corrino, that’s something that I haven’t seen. We created a new technique. Then the embossing that we were using on a Sisterhood costumes, on the collar and on the upper sleeves, it’s also kind of a printing that makes fabric react in a certain way. So we had that embossing on them.

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We had all kinds of these embossing techniques, and we were very focused on finding ways to make new textures. For me, it’s so important to have texture. And the camera likes things that are rich, that are not just flat and not interesting. So we tried as much as we could to add different textures to our costumes in Dune: Prophecy. I discovered this whole world of laser-cut fabric and also 3D-printing, but laser-cutting was especially amazing. It opened a whole new world for me. And we were using it in very novel ways.

I also really need to stress that it’s all handmade. Each piece was first cut, then printed, then brought back to the workshop to be finished. It’s an amazing process.

And to conclude, what’s your favorite costume or memory from Dune: Prophecy?

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Nikitović: The whole first episode is a wonderful memory. When you’re starting a big project like this, usually the first episode has everything you are introducing, all the characters you are meeting, all the new people that we will follow in the show. So the first episode was really challenging, but incredible. And I love the scenes in the Sisterhood when they are outside and doing Prana-bindu.

The Prana-bindu outfits—they’re one of my favorite costumes in Dune: Prophecy. So those scenes, I love. I remember shooting those scenes was a real pleasure. And I also love that we did the Prana-bindu costumes in a different scene, when they were doing Prana-bindu under the rain in that harsh landscape on Wallach IX, with the wind howling. I love that, that’s one of my favorite scenes.

Dune: Prophecy is now streaming on HBO Max.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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GOOD BOY Trailer: A Supernatural Story From a Dog’s POV

Horror fans know that dogs are the MVPs of most scary movies. The Freeling family dog, E. Buzz, was the first to sense things were not right in Poltergeist. The Emerson family’s German Shepherd, Nanook, realized vampires were approaching in The Lost Boys before anyone else. It’s a proud tradition. Now, someone has finally made a horror film told from the perspective of the supernaturally attuned dog, in director Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy. The film stars Indy, a retriever whose owner just happens to be the film’s director. You can watch the creepy and effective trailer for Good Boy below:

And you can read the official synopsis for Ben Loenberg’s Good Boy right here:

Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.

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In a statement, the film’s director said “For three years, my wife (also the film’s producer) and I worked around his schedule—eliciting his ‘performance’ by making silly noises, posing him in specific positions, and enticing him around our ‘haunted’ house with treats. All shots with Indy were captured on closed sets so that we could maintain his focus, and I only ended up acting in it because I’m one of two people Indy truly loves and listens to.” The film’s tagline is “Trust his instincts.” And seeing as how dogs are smarter than most humans in horror movies, we think we will do just that.

Good Boy, produced by IFC and Shudder, hits theaters in North America on October 3.

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LEGO’s New WALL-E and EVE Set Celebrates Pixar’s Iconic Robot Romance

One of Hollywood’s most iconic romances is also one of its most unlikely. Who could have imagined that two robots meeting on an abandoned garbage planet would create something magical together? But that’s exactly what Pixar gave us with its memorable union of a Waste Allocation Load Lifter and a Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator? Of course, we know them as WALL-E and EVE. Now we’ll get to celebrate their relationship in a new way with LEGO’s fantastic new set featuring the love birds droids. Only, those two are bringing two memorable little friends with them.LEGO

LEGO’s fantastic new 811-piece WALL-E and EVE Disney building set features four characters from the beloved 2008 Pixar film. WALL-E and EVE stand as the collection’s two signature pieces. You don’t have to have them stand, though. WALL-E’s tracks actually roll. Both him and Eve also come with movable arms and heads so you can display them as you like.

The set’s smaller characters include the cleaning robot M-O and the WALL-E’s cockroach buddy Hal. They’d be fun just as extra bonuses, but M-O’s brush really spins and you can put Hal on his robot friend’s back.

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The set also comes with a garbage cube you can load into Earth’s last cleaner. It also features the film’s most important item, that old boot where a living plant bloomed. This collection wouldn’t be complete without it, since WALL-E wouldn’t have followed EVE to space.

While WALL-E might be a classic kid’s animated movie, this set is recommended for adults. But just like with LEGO’s recent Toothless How To Train Your Dragon, older kids who know how to handle those iconic plastic bricks should be able to handle it.

You can pre-order LEGO’s WALL-E and EVE building set now ($69.99). It begins shipping on September 1. Meanwhile that robot romance, like a great LEGO set in your home, will continue to endure forever.

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