Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 29

James Gunn Teases Margot Robbie COULD Return as Harley Quinn in the DCU

Peacemaker season 2 is almost upon us. With the show’s return questions about what elements of the old DCEU will be canon in the new DCU is again a popular topic among fans. It’s also a popular topic among media. Entertainment Weekly asked the show’s creator and studio co-CEO James Gunn if Margot Robbie will reprise her role as Harley Quinn. While we shouldn’t expect to know anytime soon, Gunn says he definitely wants to bring back one of her The Suicide Squad co-stars. He wants to see Idris Elba’s Bloodsport back.Warner Bros.

Gunn told EW that when it comes to who will play Harley Quinn in the DCU—whether that’s Robbie or someone new—we have to wait to find out. “That will be revealed down the line,” he said.

How far down the line? That news could come next week or it could be years before we know. That might be because Gunn hasn’t decided just yet. But he might have already decided and doesn’t want to tell us because it would be a spoiler. He might even be waiting on Robbie herself to decide.

While Gunn is mum on Margot, he didn’t shy away saying he wants another star from his 2021 film back. “I definitely am always looking for a place to put Bloodsport and figuring that out,” he said. “So we’ll see what happens.”

Do it, James. Do it. Elba made for a fantastic Bloodsport and we’d love to see him return to the role in the DCU. Gunn’s The Suicide Squad was one of the best entries in the DCEU. And if Christopher Smith and the 11th Street Kids can survive the franchise reboot there’s no reason Peacemaker’s old teammate can’t.

Plus, Elba’s return might make it even easier down the proverbial line for Margot Robbie to come back as Harley Quinn.

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VOUGHT RISING Reveals New Supe Suits As It Starts Production

The Boys spinoff series Vought Rising is taking off in style. The upcoming series sent fans into a spiral (in the best way!) by revealing the super suits of four of the shows’ major characters: Soldier Boy, Bombsight, Private Angel, and Torpedo. And man, are these Vought Rising character suits worthy of this universe’s greatness. 

Here’s what a joint Instagram post by The Boys, Sony Pictures TV, and Prime Video had to say about the big reveal: 

Once upon a time, these four were as American as apple pie. Say hello to Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, Mason Dye as Bombsight, Elizabeth Posey as Private Angel and Will Hochman as Torpedo in VOUGHT RISING – a new origin story from the world of The Boys – in production this month.

The Boys Spinoff Vought Rising Starts Production in August 2025Prime Video

That’s right. Vought Rising is going into production this month. That’s very exciting news considering that The Boys will wrap up sometime in 2026. Maybe we will also get Vought Rising that same year or early 2027 to quickly soothe the pain of our fave supe show ending. We know we will see more from Soldier Boy in The Boys season five and will also meet Bombsight as well. But this series will take us back to where it all began.

RELATED ARTICLE

THE BOYS Prequel VOUGHT RISING Adds 6 New Cast Regulars

Interestingly, there’s no new suit reveal or information about Aya Cash’s Stormfront, who will be in Vought Rising. But hey, ya can’t reveal too much at once, right? Either way, we are stoked to see more from this series soon.

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 35th Anniversary Screenings Expand to a Full Week

Nerds of a certain age rejoiced when news broke that the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film would make a return to theaters. It was just a few weeks ago that Fathom Entertainment announced that Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael were returning for two nights only, August 17 and 20. But thanks to overwhelming fan demand, ticket sales for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35th Anniversary have been strong. So strong, in fact, that Fathom Entertainment and Warner Bros. officially added three more screening days and expanded to more theaters nationwide. Now, Warner Bros. is adding two further dates, August 15 and 21. That’s one full week of Turtles nostalgia on the big screen!

You can watch the new trailer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 35th Anniversary screenings above.

Playing along with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ 35th Anniversary screening is the Turtles Unmasked featurette. The creators of TMNT: Evolution, Mutation & Reboot produced this featurette that dives deep into the making of the movie, which came out at the peak of Turtlemania in 1990. It showcases some never-before-seen footage from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles archives, along with extended scenes, and home-recorded behind-the-scenes footage. There’s also a 1-on-1 interview and commentary with the film’s director, Steve Barron.

New Line Cinema/Fathom Entertainment

Here’s what director Steve Barron had to say about why Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has stood the test of time:

I think because it’s truthful and honest. And where it’s a bit shoddy around the edges, or where it was hard to get things slick and smooth, it has those nuances that are still captivating. And I think you warm to it and it’s got heart, and that heart is very hard to do in CG—and there are some amazing CG films, but it’s hard to put that across and really make you care. I think it’s those nuances that really help it stay around this long, and still have new people coming to it. I mean it’s a superhero film at a time when superhero films were not plentiful, and there were lots of questions about them. I hope it stands on its own and stands the test of time because of course things have gotten more clever in technology terms, but in the end, you want to embrace it and I think its reality through thick and thin is what makes you embrace it.

According to the folks at Fathom, the response so far has been incredible. It’s looking like TMNT is gearing up to be the biggest movie anniversary release of the summer. Families, longtime fans, and a whole new generation are coming together to relive the beloved film on the big screen. Hopefully, the return of TMNT to theaters means we’re getting a new home video release as well soon. Rumors continue to circulate that the original TMNT trilogy is getting a 4K upgrade for home video. But nothing beats seeing a beloved movie you grew up with in the theater with a bucket of popcorn. To get tickets, head on over to the official Fathom Entertainment website.

Originally published on July 2025.

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SWEET REVENGE Is a Whole FRIDAY THE 13TH Movie in 15 Minutes

Earlier in the summer we told you about Jason Universe, the brand new, multimedia initiative dedicated to hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees. We later told you a short film, Sweet Revenge, would be out soon, from writer-director Mike P. Nelson, helmer of the upcoming Silent Night, Deadly Night remake. Well now that short film is here. If you’ve craved wanton, gory murder of hormonal young people near a lake, this is the short for you. It’s basically an entire Friday the 13th movie in 15 minutes.

The short is extremely NSFW in the gore department so the video is age-restricted on YouTube. That means we can’t embed it because it wouldn’t play. So here’s the link to it. Enjoy! Jason Universe: Sweet Revenge.

Jason Universe

Into the Badlands and V/H/S/99 star Ally Ioannides plays Eve, a young woman with a seemingly loving fiancé off on a trip to ye olde Camp Crystal Lake with her friends. Naturally, very early on, they meet a weirdo local (Chris Carlson) who seems to know more than he’s letting on. Very soon, the world’s best goalie Jason Voorhees (Schuyler White) appears and begins tearing people limb from limb.

What sets this version of events apart (a little bit) is where the title comes in. While running from Jason, Eve learns her fiancé Kyle (Toussaint Morrison) is busy cheating on her with her friend Dana (Natassia Wakey). First of all, as a Kyle, I’m tired of us always getting a bad rap in movies like this. I like to think I’m not a creep. Secondly, this revelation gives Eve the opportunity to enact her own brand of vengeance and seemingly get away with it.

As the first official Jason Voorhees movie since 2009’s Friday the 13th remake, I don’t think this does anything more than remind people Jason exists. Only just last year, In a Violent Nature did something at least somewhat interesting with the idea of a supernaturally unkillable killer. We also have our pick of clever slasher movie riffs. At any rate, it’s enjoyable enough and hopefully portends to a proper return down the road.

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 Letterboxd.

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FALLOUT Season 2 Shares New Poster

Fallout brought ghouls, vault dwellers, and the Brotherhood of Steel to Prime Video to craft one of the best shows of 2024. But just like the video game franchise, its story did not end after just one installment. The hit adaptation is returning for season two. Who is coming back for more post-apocalyptic wasteland fun? And where will we meet up with them this time?

As we inch closer to Fallout‘s release date, the series has revealed a new poster celebrating our heroes, its New Vegas setting, and its December premiere. That’s a thumbs up from us.

Prime Video

Here’s everything we know about Fallout season two so far.

Fallout Season 2’s Plot Prime Video

Unlike the video game side of the franchise, which follows new figures with each installment, Fallout season two on Prime Video will be sticking with the same characters and continuing their story.

They will be moving to a new place, but it’s one gamers know well. Season two is officially moving to New Vegas. Not only was that the site for one of the series’ best games, it’s where Kyle MacLachlan’s Hank MacLean headed in the season one finale. He flew off to find his unknown boss after his daughter learned the truth about his work for Vault-Tec, the company that destroyed the world.

Oh yeah, and we’re definitely getting Deathclaws.

Behind-the-ScenesPrime Video

Fallout on Prime Video comes from executive producers Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Graham Wagner, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Wagner and Robertson-Dworet also serve as co-showrunners.

Season two began production in December 2024.

Fallout Season 2’s Cast

Kyle MacLachlan isn’t the only character who remembered the before times returning to Fallout. The Ghoul (nee Cooper Howard) is getting “back in the saddle,” too, as Walton Goggins is riding in for more wasteland vengeance. Co-star Ella Purnell is also coming back as the no-longer-naive Vault Dweller Lucy MacLean. Moisés Arias is expected to rejoin her as Lucy’s brother Norm. And Aaron Moten will reprise his role as Maximus, new hero of the Brotherhood.

Many season one supporting characters are also expected back. (Leslie Uggams and Johnny Pemberton have already made comments all but confirming their returns.) One confirmed newcomer we know is joining the show in a recurring role is Macaulay Culkin. Prime Video has not revealed his character officially. Initial reports only say he’s playing a “crazy genius-type.” In Fallout, that will make him pretty normal.

Fallout Season 2’s Release DatePrime Video

Fallout season two does not yet have a release date. But it might be sooner than you think. Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner said they are “going as fast as we possibly can” to get the show back on the air. They also said a lot of the “heavy lifting” is already done because they “have sets, assets, visual effects” from season one already built. “We are hitting the ground running this season,” they said. “We’re going to be pedal to the metal to get season two out as fast as humanly possible.”

Fallout season two is officially announced to arrive in December of 2025.

Originally published December 23, 2024.

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FALLOUT Season 2 Sets December Release Date

They’re on the move and they’re heading back to us. Who are they, you might ask? Why, our favorite foursome from Prime Video’s Fallout. The Ghoul, Lucy, Maximus, and CX404 a.k.a. Dogmeat are heading toward New Vegas and also back to our screens. Fallout season two has officially set a December release date window. Although we don’t know when exactly in December Fallout will arrive, we’re excited to have a firmer window to look forward to. Fallout season one was one of Nerdist‘s best shows of the year in 2024, but it may well be one of our favorite shows ever. Rarely is a video game adaptation so skillful at creating the feeling of the game it borrows from while manifesting its own compelling tale. Fallout did so much right, it’s amazing. And so we can’t wait for season two to release.Prime Video

We don’t know too much about the tale that Fallout season two will tell when it finally does make its way onto our screens in December. But we do know that the iconic setting of New Vegas will take center stage. There, we’ll likely find the mysterious Mr. House, whom Fallout teased in season one. It’s likely Mr. House is large and in charge in Fallout season two’s version of New Vegas. While some fans worry that visiting New Vegas when season two of Fallout releases will force the series to declare one of the Fallout: New Vegas endings more canon than the other, we at Nerdist feel like that’s a pitfall that the show can cleverly avoid.

RELATED ARTICLE

FALLOUT’s New Vegas, Explained—From the Games to the Series

In any case, our Fallout brains are already functioning in full force. So clearly, there’s a lot to be excited about. Fallout season two will release in December. The best holiday gift Prime Video could give, if you ask us.

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James Gunn Reveals His Picks for DC Comics Collections Best Suited for New Readers

One thing DC Studios co-head James Gunn has been very good at is promoting the actual DC Comics that his films and streaming series are based on. And these shout-outs, which he uses his social media accounts to talk about, have resulted in many comics selling out all over the country. Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a very good example of this. Recently, Gunn revealed on Threads which DC titles he believed were great introductory collections for new comics readers. All are top-tier, but could these hint at what we might see in the DCU? With some, it seems almost certain. Threads/James Gunn

Mark Waid’s Superman: Birthright had several elements used in Gunn’s Superman, so its inclusion among his choices is a no-brainer. The same goes for Tom King’s Mister Miracle, which is getting an animated adaptation soon. Another Tom King book is Strange Adventures, featuring 1950s sci-fi hero Adam Strange. Wonder Woman: Historia is a recent series by Kelly Sue DeConnick, retelling Amazon history through a modern lens. Could this be what the proposed Paradise Lost series is based on? As for Gotham City heroes, Gunn includes the excellent first volume of Nightwing from Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo. Seeing that Gunn is a big Dick Grayson fan is reassuring.

Click To View Gallery DC Comics/Leinil Francis Yu Phil Jimenez/DC Comics DC Comics/Bryan Hitch Bruno Redondo/DC Comics DC Comics/Dave Gibbons J.J. Williams/DC Comics DC Comics/Mitch Gerads Gene Ha/DC Comics DC Comics/Doc Shaner Chris Sprouse/DC Comics

Gunn recommends four books from writer Alan Moore. Three of them are The Top Ten Compendium, The Tom Strong Compendium, as well as Promethea. These were written for the America’s Best Comics imprint for DC’s Wildstorm label, running from 1999-2010. Top Ten is about a police precinct in a city with only superhumans, and Promethea is about a young woman who channels a goddess. Tom Strong centers on a pulpy hero in the classic 1930s mold, which Gunn revealed was a big influence on Superman. From writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch is the first volume of The Authority. As this was one of the initial announcements for the new DCU (since put on hold), we already knew Gunn was a big fan. Plus, the Authority’s Engineer made it into Superman.

DC Comics

The fourth Moore title is Watchmen, which you have almost certainly heard of. Seeing as how Moore now seems to hate superhero comics, vowing to never work for DC again, we doubt any of these are getting a DCU adaptation anytime soon. And Watchmen has already had three adaptations in sixteen years. But Gunn is correct in noting that all of these are excellent starting points for new comic book readers. In the comments, a fan suggested Darwyn Cooke’s New Frontier. Gunn quickly responded that this book is another great entry point. But each of these books is great, and if they can convert fans of Superman into comics fans, Gunn has done his job.

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New Head of Paramount Says New STAR TREK Movies a Priority

A few years ago, it wasn’t a guaranteed fact that Paramount Pictures would still be around today. However, a recent $8 billion merger with Skydance Productions saved the century-old studio. This means that Paramount now has a new CEO, David Ellison. The self-proclaimed movie-fanatic hosted a press conference at Paramount’s lot in Hollywood to discuss its future, covered by The Hollywood Reporter. At the event, Ellison specifically mentioned that Top Gun 3, World War Z, and yes, at long last, Star Trek, are big priorities for future feature films. This is great news for Trekkers, who have been waiting nearly a decade for a new Star Trek movie. It’s the longest gap ever for a Trek film since the franchise began in 1979.Paramount Pictures

Ever since the 2009 J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, which spawned two sequels, writer/producer Alex Kurtzman has been largely the main voice behind the franchise. He’s been an executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, and soon, Starfleet Academy. But according to Ellison, Star Trek won’t be “siloed off” into separate movie and television franchises anymore. Could this mean that after Strange New Worlds ends after season five, the proposed “Star Trek: Year One” spin-off series could just become a movie instead? Now, it seems that anything is possible when it comes to Star Trek theatrical features.

After making a billion dollars a few years back, a third Top Gun is also clearly a big priority for Paramount. And we highly doubt the waiting between entries will be anywhere near as long this time. Perhaps most surprising is the high priority given to World War Z. This is a movie with a single entry from back in 2013. The Brad Pitt film was a hit, and zombies have not lost their audience. And we just saw that a big gap between entries didn’t affect the critical or box office reception of 28 Years Later. The article also suggests that Paramount is looking to restore Transformers to its former cinematic glory at the box office. Ellison also wants to back more theatrical R-rated comedies, which these days, seems a nearly impossible task. Here’s hoping one of Hollywood’s greatest studios can find its footing once more.

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The King of the Hill Revival is PERFECT

After 15 years off the air, King of the Hill is finally back, and somehow better than ever! Nerdist’s Alison Mattingly heads to Arlen, TX, to take a closer look at the show’s phenomenal return, and determine if it’s truly the greatest television revival we’ve ever seen.

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SUPERMAN Making-Of Documentary Hints at the Super Family vs. Brainiac in a Sequel

DC Studios and Warner Bros. have just released an hour-long documentary on the making of James Gunn’s Superman called Adventures in the Making of Superman, now available on YouTube. It’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the process of relaunching the iconic character. And thanks to Comic Book Movie, we’ve learned that some eagle-eyed viewers noticed something interesting in the doc. There’s a storyboard that may hint at what we could see in the follow-up that Gunn is currently writing. It shows Superman, Supergirl, and Krypto flying together, and in the bottom left corner is the unmistakable head of Brainiac, one of Superman’s greatest foes. Is the new movie indeed a Superman Family movie, where the El family takes on the evil A.I. from space?

Well… that's interesting.

(via https://t.co/waxAQDe8i9) pic.twitter.com/E7zxhEqENQ

— Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) August 12, 2025

Gunn has said via social media that Brainiac was once considered for Superman. Which makes sense, as the character remains one of the Man of Steel’s most prominent enemies. In fact, we’d say he’s second only to Lex Luthor. And for some reason, we’ve never seen him in any live-action film before. This despite getting Luthor six times now, and General Zod twice. It’s about time the alien android from Colu (or Krypton, in Superman: The Animated Series) gets a big screen debut. The TV series Krypton did a pretty decent version of Brainiac, and they did that on a relatively low-budget series. We’re sure Gunn could do even better.

DC Comics

Brainiac has a long history with Krypton, shrinking its capital city, Kandor, and its inhabitants to keep in a bottle. So it makes sense that this could be an adventure for the whole Superman family together. In the comics, Kara Zor-El has memories of Brainiac coming to Krypton during her childhood, and has a connection to him that her cousin Kal-El does not. And we still contend that this would be the perfect opportunity to bring in Superboy/Conner Kent, and maybe even upgrade Lois Lane to Superwoman. At least for one big cosmic adventure. If Gunn has something even remotely close to this planned, we are very here for it.

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