Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 30

Welcome to JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH: An Epic Journey Through Thailand

One of the most thrilling aspects of being a pop culture editor and writer is participating in a set visit. For just a couple of days, you get to step outside of the daily grind of crafting content and keeping up with an ever-buzzing news cycle to head to ground zero of a TV show or film.

It’s a wonder and pleasure to immerse yourself in the location, whether it’s a “hot set” with actors actively filming or a wrapped set that’s eerily quiet yet still intact for you to explore. These experiences help you understand how things are made on a deeper level and connect with the series or film in new ways. And, you get to translate that newfound knowledge to loyal readers, perhaps even getting an inside scoop that increases the hype around a property.

While there’s truly no such thing as a bad press trip, there are some that truly take this experience to breathtaking heights. I discovered this when I embarked on what can only be described as the journey of a lifetime with Universal All-Access and Mandy Kay Marketing to Thailand in celebration of Jurassic World Rebirth’s home viewing release. 

Tai Gooden/Nerdist

The film, which is currently a global success that’s made $800M and counting, is a critically acclaimed sequel that captures the heart of the franchise through socially relevant and resonant storylines. Over the course of five days, over 30 media professionals and influencers came together to travel across Thailand and experience the filming intricacies behind Jurassic World Rebirth through land, sea, and air. From traversing an aquatic haven and exploring lagoons to running through grasslands in scorching heat, we got to tap into our adventurous side for an unforgettable experience. 

Day 1: Welcome to Jurassic World Rebirth 

After many, many hours of flying from the East Coast, I finally arrived in Phuket, Thailand on July 30 along with a handful of other media professionals. We were whisked away to Anantara Mai Khao Phuket, an absolutely lovely and delightfully chill resort known for being a filming location for The White Lotus. Later that evening, a specially curated welcome dinner (complete with a dino dessert) at Trisara hosted by Amazing Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Looming palm trees swaying near warm waters and lush greenery transported us to a Jurassic World Rebirth state of mind. A warm greeting by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand as well as Universal and Mandy Kay team members preceded entertainment that you can only experience in this beautiful country. Traditional dance routines and a fire show along with a full fireworks display set the standard for an opulent and thrilling experience.

But what thrilled us all the most was a chance to meet and hang out with Dolores, the adorable Aquilops from Jurassic World Rebirth. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but I would put my life in danger to save her. 

Day 2: The Interview Experience and Influencer Vibes with an Ominous Twist 

Our first full day in Phuket took us to Maa Doo Bua, a popular eatery with absolutely delicious Thai food known for its massive lily pads. (I will seriously never get over the pineapple fried rice.) It is a dream location for anyone who loves to capture photos and videos, and this restaurant plays into that fully with an opportunity to do drone footage.

As an editor and journalist who prefers to stand behind a byline versus in front of a camera, I was admittedly unsure about this particular venture. But, when you’re in Thailand for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you do things outside of your norm/comfort zone. And ya know what? I really enjoyed it. We weren’t aware of how this would tie into celebrating Jurassic World Rebirth’s home viewing release until we got the final clip after returning home. What an awesome treat!

Speaking of unexpected treats, our dinner at Black Ginger following an afternoon/evening of interviewing the film’s stars and director Gareth Edwards was yet another unforgettable experience of Thai cuisine and culture. What a great land adventure, indeed. 

Day 3: Setting Sail on the Andaman Sea 

We’re on a boat! We’re on a boat! We set sail in the Andaman sea to experience the breathtaking views that our intrepid protagonists saw in Jurassic World Rebirth. It was more than a three-hour tour but thankfully our trip did result in being stuck on an uncharted desert isle. Instead, we made a pit stop to explore breathtaking caves and otherworldly lagoons nestled among massive rock formations.

We saw a few sea creatures pop up to say hello but thankfully no Mosasaurus nor Spinosaurus came to greet us. By the time the sun set, we were back on dry land and watching the colorful horizon in Phuket one last time before taking our adventures on the road.

Day 4: A Glorious Grasslands Adventure 

It was time to hit the road and head towards Krabi, Thailand for more Jurassic World-inspired exploration. Halfway through the journey, we made perhaps the greatest stop of all-time at the same grasslands shooting location from the film. A typical press trip would’ve involved simply walking through this area and learning fun facts, like how the creative team used elephants to create depressions in the grass to mimic dinosaurs. But, this is obviously not your run-of-the-mill set visit.

We became a part of the franchise’s universe, running through the grasslands and filming our own teaser that put us right in the midst of action. It was just a taste of the dedication and hard work that actors like Jonathan Bailey, Scarlett Johansson, and Mahershala Ali put into this film. I had an absolute blast, but I will readily admit that I’m a writer and not an actor. Thankfully, the entire production team did a superb job of guiding us through all the motions and encouraging us to tap into our inner adventurer.

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Gareth Edwards on Dolores’ Bittersweet Voice Inspiration and JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH’s Beauty

While at this location, it became increasingly clear why Gareth Edwards chose this slice of paradise as Jurassic World Rebirth’s filming location. It gives a dose of prehistoric aesthetic while also not feeling incredibly removed from modern life. And that modernity was right outside of this filming location with several food trucks coming out to make sure we were fueled up for all of that sprinting. It was enough to totally tire us out… or so we thought.

A short bus ride and boat trip later, we were re-energized by the sight of Rayavadee, a stunning resort complete with cozy bungalows. Nestled on its own slice of land in the middle of dense vegetation, there were monkeys, birds, and water monitors all over. It truly felt like staying in the jungle with a luxury twist, including a restaurant tucked off in a cave and a rather ominous looking wall that I was sure we were NOT going to scale the next day…

Day 5: Scaling Slippery Surfaces Like Scarlett Johansson

Reader, guess what? That daunting wall was indeed what we had to face with all the bravery our tired bodies could muster. It’s an experience that’s rather difficult to put into words but I have a few that come to mind: scary, thrilling, daunting, challenging, and addictive. The team at Hot Rock Climbing School was incredibly encouraging, professional, and downright hilarious, all of which put my fears at ease pretty quickly. Mandy Kay Marketing and Universal’s teams were out there to not only cheer us on, but to also take up the challenge themselves after we finished our climbs. This was truly a core memory created that let me tap into my inner Scarlett, if only for just a few minutes. 

Sadly, all good things have to come to an end. And our night ended just as this trip started, with a fantastic group dinner and entertainment. Except, this felt totally different. I’d connected with new friends from around the globe, a group of certified nerds whom I now laugh with in a group chat. I felt infinitely closer to a franchise that I’ve loved since I was a kid. And, I pushed way past my comfort zone to explore the land of Jurassic World Rebirth. 

Check out this gallery for more photos of this stellar press trip:

Click To View Gallery Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Tai Gooden/Nerdist Jurassic World Rebirth: Why Should I Buy a Digital and/or Physical Copy? 

Jurassic World Rebirth is now available to own or rent so you can watch it at home. I’ve had the pleasure of viewing it in my own humble abode, as well as the bonus content and behind-the-scenes exclusives that place a new lens on this epic saga.

Here’s a complete list of what you will get when you make a digital purchase of Jurassic World Rebirth: 

ALTERNATE OPENINGDELETED SCENESRAPTORS – Featuring Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, David Iacono, Luna Blaise and Audrina MirandaMUTADON ATTACK – Featuring Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, David Iacono, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise and Audrina Miranda JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH : HATCHING A NEW ERATHE WORLD EVOLVES – Journey into a reimagined Jurassic World with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali and the rest of the cast and filmmakers.OFF THE DEEP END – Dive into the thrilling ocean sequence and learn about the challenges of shooting on open water, the one-of-a-kind gimbal used to toss around the Essex and Mariposa, and the VFX wizardry that brought the Mosasaurus and Spinosaurs to life.TREKKING THROUGH THAILAND – Follow the cast and crew’s footsteps as they navigate the challenges of shooting in exotic jungles, beaches, and tall grass fields that become home to the Titanosaurs.REX IN THE RAPIDS – Brace for a T. rex encounter that’s different than anything experienced before with a nail-biting river chase recreated from Michael Crichton’s original Jurassic Park novel.DON’T LOOK DOWN – Soar into the Quetzalcoatlus sequence with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Bechir Sylvain as they train for and shoot their cliff rappelling scenes.MINI-MART MAYHEM – Go inside the heart-stopping third act of Jurassic World Rebirth and witness the process of crafting sets that allow the movie’s mutant dinosaurs to step out of nightmare-inspired designs and stop on an exhilarating rampage.GAG REELMEET DOLORES – Meet the animatronic Aquilops with an extraordinarily lifelike personality.MUNCHED: BECOMING DINO FOOD – Get a victim’s firsthand view inside the frightening jaws of deadly dinosaurs that munch, chomp, and chew their way into creating unforgettable death sequences.A DAY AT SKYWALKER SOUND – Actress Audrina Miranda guides a personal tour of Skywalker Sound in California to meet the audio editors, foley artists, and mixers who design the movie’s wide array of sounds.HUNTING FOR EASTER EGGS – Find out where to look for cleverly hidden Easter eggs that pay homage to everything from the first Jurassic Park film to other Steven Spielberg classics.FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR GARETH EDWARDS, PRODUCTION DESIGNER JAMES CLYNE, AND FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JACK RAVENSCROFTFEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR GARETH EDWARDS, EDITOR JABEZ OLSSEN, AND VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR DAVID VICKERY

If you have committed yourself to building your physical media collection like me, then you can always rent Jurassic World Rebirth and hold on for the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases coming on September 9. Either way, you’ll want this dino action to stop into your living room so you can dive into this brave era over and over again. I’m glad I got to experience a slice of Jurassic World Rebirth’s real-life wonders, which translates to screen so beautifully.

Kop Khun Kha, Thailand for a journey unlike no other. 

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Taco Bell Adds First New Baja Blast Flavor in 20 Years: The Purple ‘Mountain Dew Baja Midnight’

Taco Bell is finally going to do it. Or rather, Taco Bell is going to “dew” it. Again. More than twenty years after introducing Mountain Dew Baja Blast to its menu, the fast food chain is introducing another full-time version of the soft drink to its stores. Yes, joining the shockingly blue Baja Blast is a new flavor of the popular Taco Bell drink, which comes, this time, in purple. Customers can now wash down a Crunchwrap Supreme with Taco Bell’s Mountain Dew Baja Midnight.Taco Bell

What Does Taco Bell’s New Baja Blast Flavor, Mountain Dew Baja Midnight, Taste Like?

For the first time ever, Taco Bell is permanently expanding its Baja Blast flavor lineup. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight is only the second version of the cult cola to get its own forever spigot next to Baja Blast. But while this is a new Baja Blast flavor, fans can still expect the same Baja Blast-ness they’ve come to adore. In a press release, Taco Bell shares that this new iteration is an “unexpected purple twist on the iconic tropical lime flavor fans know and love,” as it combines the tropical lime taste of original Baja Blast with passion fruit.

Baja Midnight Is Taco Bell Purple

“Baja Blast has consistently sparked creativity, defied expectations, and continues to be a cornerstone of the Taco Bell experience,” said Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer at Taco Bell, in a statement about Baja Midnight. “Our fans made it iconic, and they’re the reason we’re expanding the universe for the first time with Mountain Dew Baja Midnight. It’s unexpected, it’s Taco Bell purple, and it’s tasty enough to earn its place in the fandom.”

Taco Bell

It’s too soon to tell if the purple color of this Baja Blast flavor will be enough to win fans over, but we’re certainly excited to give it a sip.

For a Limited Time, You Can Get This New Baja Blast Flavor in Frozen Form (But the Regular Version is a Permanent Taco Bell Addition) Taco Bell

The new Midnight flavor will become a permanent part of Taco Bell’s soda lineup nationwide on August 14. But for a limited-time, customers can also nab a special extra cold version. Taco Bell also announced a special Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze.

How will loyal fans react to this new beverage? Taco Bell and Mountain Dew Baja Blast go hand-in-hand. Same with Taco Bell and the color purple. Even if they like the original flavor better, it won’t matter. They’ll do every Taco Bell diehard does: order way too much and just get both.

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WEAPONS’ Hot Dog Scene Is Actually a Heartfelt Tribute to Zach Cregger’s Late Friend

If you haven’t seen Weapons yet, that’s cool. We don’t spoil anything major about the film for you at all! But we are pretty sure that you have gotten wind of a scene from Weapons that involves a spread of seven hot dogs that’s shared by a couple of people. It certainly seems like a wild midday snack but director Zach Cregger actually included that hot dog scene to honor his later friend Trevor Moore. 

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Moore and Cregger were previously colleagues in the sketch comedy series The Whitest Kids U’ Know (2007-2011). In season three, there’s a sketch called “Hot Dog Timmy,” in which Moore plays a doctor who reads test results to a guy named Timmy. It’s revealed that somehow Timmy is scarfing down seven hot dogs a day, which is quite the admission. You can watch the funny scene below: 

Cregger and Moore created that show together and remained friends for years. Moore tragically died in August 2021 after falling off his Los Angeles balcony. Now, Cregger is honoring Moore’s memory and that funny hot dog moment in Weapons.

Warner Bros.

In fact, the film as a whole is inspired by Moore’s life and legacy, including it hitting theaters on August 7. Processing grief is a journey and hopefully this helps Zach Cregger as he continues to move forward with his life.

The post WEAPONS’ Hot Dog Scene Is Actually a Heartfelt Tribute to Zach Cregger’s Late Friend appeared first on Nerdist.

Batman Beyond and Static Team Up Again for New Cyberpunk Series From DC Comics

Two of the biggest animated DC heroes of the early ’00s will soon unite, as DC Comics has announced Batman/Static: Beyond, a six-issue series launching this fall. Part of the DC Elseworlds imprint, Evan Narcisse will write this series, joined by illustrator Nikolas Draper-Ivey. The series brings together two of DC’s popular future heroes, Terry McGinnis/Batman, and Virgil Hawkins, Dakota City’s Static. Only this Static is now all grown up. This new Dynamic Duo will join forces for a high-stakes mission that could reshape Earth’s place in the cosmos. DC Comics

As DC notes of Batman/Static: Beyond, “the series unites two of DC’s most dynamic heroes—Terry McGinnis, the cyberpunk guardian of Neo-Gotham, and Virgil Hawkins, the electrifying architect of Dakota City’s future, both renowned for being breakout animated stars—for a high-stakes mission that could reshape Earth’s place in the cosmos.”

Click To View Gallery DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics DC Comics

You can read the official description of Batman/Static: Beyond below, as well as check out the different covers in our gallery above.

In the debut issue, Terry McGinnis patrols the neon-lit streets of Neo-Gotham while Virgil Hawkins pioneers a technological revolution with the launch of the Q-Wave Energy Grid. As Earth prepares to join a powerful interplanetary alliance called the Cooperative, the Justice League Beyond stands ready to usher in a new era of peace. But when a mysterious villain triggers a global blackout, the planet’s future hangs in the balance. With technology crippled and chaos rising, Static and Batman Beyond must forge an unlikely alliance and take a grounded approach to saving the world before it’s too late.

This issue will be a throwback for fans of Justice League Unlimited. It was that series that first introduced the adult Static in a time-travel episode. Writer Evan Narcisse said of this new series, “I loved the dynamic Nik set up between Static and Batman in the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special, where these characters first teamed up. And the most exciting part of this new project has been exploring how different Terry and Virgil are from each other.”

DC Comics

Series artist Nikolas Draper-Ivey added, “This story is intended to be a commentary on our overreliance on technology, and the imminent dangers of becoming complacent and too comfortable using AI to substitute our own imagination and human ingenuity. We now use our watches to find our phones, we use our phones to connect to everything else. We don’t rely on our own memories, we rely on technology to remember for us. That deeply concerns me.” Sounds as if this series will have more going on than just nostalgia.

The first issue of Batman/Static: Beyond arrives on November 1.

The series will run for six issues, with a collected edition scheduled for release on August 4, 2026.

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How ALIEN: EARTH Fits Into the ALIEN Franchise Timeline

The timeline of the Alien film franchise is, to put it mildly, a bit wild. And a lot of it is contradictory. (Although we must say, it’s still not as all over the place as the Halloween franchise.) There are the first four films. centering on Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, the two Ridley Scott prequel films, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, and the Alien vs. Predator movies, which are definitely in their own little continuity bubble. And, of course, last year’s “in-between-quel,” Alien: Romulus. So, how does Noah Hawley’s new Alien: Earth series fit into it all? Or does it even really connect? Well, it definitely connects to the original 1979 Alien film and its three sequels, and therefore, Romulus. As for the rest? That’s where it gets tricky.

Alien: Earth Takes Place 2 Years Before the Original AlienFX

The original Alien took place in the year 2122, as the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo, owned by the Weyland-Yutani company, is forced to make a stop on the planet LV-426 to answer a distress call. Of course, we know that the “distress call” was actually from a derelict alien starship, once manned by ancient humanoid Engineers, and that’s where the crew discovers the Xenomorph eggs. One chestburster later, and chaos ensues. By the end of the film, we find out that the Nostromo was always directed by the ship’s computer “MU-TH-UR,” to capture the alien eggs and bring them back to Earth for the company’s weapons division. The crew was expendable.

Twentieth Century Studios

But how did Weyland-Yutani even know that the derelict ship with the Xenomorph eggs was out there? And how did they know so much about the Xenomorphs, enough to send a ship out to retrieve it, at the expense of crew and (expensive) cargo? Well, Alien: Earth provides a provisional answer at least. We now know that Weyland-Yutani had sent a scientific research vessel to collect alien specimens, one of which was a Xenomorph. That ship, the Maginot, crashed in Prodigy City on Earth in the year 2120, explaining how Weyland-Yutani knew enough about this species to risk everything to get their hands on one just two years later. Many things have yet to be explained, but we have a general idea from those first two episodes.

What About Prometheus and Alien: Covenant?20th Century Studios

But what about Ridley Scott’s prequel films, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant? Those films take place in the years 2093 and 2104, respectively. Couldn’t Weyland-Yutani have learned about the Xenomorph from the events depicted in those films? Well, probably not. Most of the crew of the spaceship Prometheus died, except for Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, who did not return to Earth. So the company wouldn’t have had access to their discoveries. As for the events of Covenant, the surviving starship crew from that film was put back into cryogenic freeze by the end of the film. The android David (Michael Fassbender) took control of the ship, with sinister intent. It didn’t seem like he was going to report back to Weyland-Yutani corporate office at that point.

Twentieth Century Studios

There’s also one other possible contradiction with the Prometheus/Covenant timeline of events. Those movies suggest that the synth David is the one who created the Xenomorphs we know from the original films. However, even Prometheus sheds doubt on that notion. We see that in the Engineers’ ship, there’s an ancient mural featuring the Xenomorph. That means a version of that species existed long before David, probably millions of years earlier. He was just attempting to make his own version of that “perfect organism.” The aliens discovered by the crew in Alien: Earth are likely not related at all to the ones David created out in space. So Alien: Earth doesn’t really connect to Ridley Scott’s prequels, but doesn’t outright contradict them either. At least not yet. We’ll see what the future holds as the events of Alien: Earth continue to unfold.

Alien: Earth is now dropping new episodes on FX, and streaming on FX on Hulu.

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Did Alan Cumming Reveal Comic-Accurate Costume for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY?

One of the big surprise return reveals for Avengers: Doomsday was Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, the teleporting mutant he played in X2: X-Men United. Cumming didn’t return for any of the subsequent X-Men films, making his name among the Doomsday cast a true shock. But it’s clear that Cumming is excited to be back in blue, as he even spoiled that he’ll be fighting Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards at some point in the film. Now, via Comic Book, we know he’s posted something else on social media, photos hinting that Kurt wears his classic Marvel Comics costume in the film.

Alan Cumming shares new behind the scenes looks from the set of ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ pic.twitter.com/Wu83qgNPb8

— Avengers Updates (@AvengersUpdated) August 12, 2025

Among the images Cumming posted were his new prosthetic mutant teeth. But the surprise reveal was a box that says “Confidential Waste.” Taped to the box are images of Nightcrawler in his classic comic book costume, brandishing swords. It’s the iconic look artist Dave Cockrum came up with back in 1975. Unlike many of his fellow X-Men, Nightcrawler rarely changed costumes, because if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Even more revealing is another image, showing what looks like Cumming wearing the black and red. While it looks like a Photoshop mockup, it’s definitely the actor wearing something akin to his Uncanny X-Men comics costume.

Twentieth Century Studios/Marvel Comics

The implications of this reveal for long-suffering X-Men fans have us excited. If Nightcrawler is wearing his comics-accurate costume, then it’s likely that the rest of the X-Men are as well. It took 24 years, but we finally got Hugh Jackman in the mask in Deadpool & Wolverine. If Nightcrawler is in his X-Men costume, that means we just might see Cyclops ditching the black leather at last. And hopefully, if and when they announce Jean Grey and Storm (c’mon Marvel), they’ll have their classic looks too. Between The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman, we’re finally entering the age of live-action superhero costumes not ashamed of the source material. It’s long past time for the X-Men to catch up.

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MAGIC: THE GATHERING Reveals First Looks at AVATAR Set

…And then, everything changed when we found out that Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender is coming our way this November. This is the collaboration of all collabs, bringing together two major fanbases that frankly have a lot of overlap. Months after this news dropped, we are finally getting a closer look at this upcoming set. Most importantly, our glimpse at Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender set lets us know how bending will work in gameplay. 

The WeeklyMTG podcast hit the internet on August 12 to show off various cards. For example, there’s the Appa card that shows off how you can airbend against nonland permanents. And we have Katara, the infamous Waterbender. That ability allows players to do some improvisation on mechanics, which lets you tap artifacts or creatures to discount the cost of a spell.

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Behold Fire Lord Zuko! He makes a powerful punch of mana that you can use to cast spells or activate certain abilities throughout combat. And there’s Toph, the first Metalbender who falls under the Earthbending purview. Magic: The Gathering’s social pages also displayed lots of other cards for fans to peek at and enjoy. 

Follow your favorite characters as they discover their destiny. Though for some it might take a few times to accept said destiny. #MTGxATLA pic.twitter.com/MOWeS6evkx

— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) August 12, 2025

What Is the Release Date for Magic: The Gathering‘s Avatar Set? How Much Does It Cost? Wizards of the Coast

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender will release on November 21. Preorders are open and include beginner boxes for $34.99, collector boosters for $37.99, and scene boxes for $41.99. Bundles with nine play boosters, 15 foil basic lands, the Appa lands, and a promo card retail at $69.99. And, if you’re really rich, the $109.99 Commander’s Bundle has five non-foil promo cards plus a collector booster. And yes, you can buy play and jumpstart boosters as well for $6.99.

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LEGO’s Brick Take Back Program Lets You Swap Old LEGO Pieces for Gift Cards

None of us have infinite shelf or desk space. Sadly, most of us don’t even have a decent amount of either. That means there’s a finite amount of places in our homes and offices to put our completed LEGO sets. So how can we make room for all the new ones we also want without just giving away our old ones? LEGO has come up with the perfect way to do exactly that. The company has started a new program where you can send them old pieces in exchange for e-gift cards.LEGO

The new limited-time LEGO Brick Take Back program wants to make bringing new sets into your home easy and affordable. It will let you “turn pre-loved bricks into new rewards.” All you have to do is go to the site to get an estimate for your used LEGO pieces. Then disassemble them, pack them up, and mail them to LEGO with a free(!!!) shipping label. After LEGO verifies your pieces, you’ll receive a LEGO e-Gift Card.

You just have to make sure any packages you send weigh no more than 25 pounds. LEGO also only accepts LEGO bricks “in good condition,” minifigures and mini-dolls (which you don’t need to disassemble), and LEGO baseplates.

A few items are excluded from the program. First off, all pieces must be actual LEGO bricks, no knockoffs. And you can’t send in DUPLO items, any pieces still connected, batteries or electronic components, storage containers, packaging, or building instructions. As for the gift card rate, one pound will net you four dollars. A 25-pound bag of acceptable LEGO pieces will net you $100.

LEGO

Don’t worry that this limited-time swap is a bad sign for the company. This isn’t about LEGO needing pieces back. The company explained why they’re doing this:

We’re on a mission to keep bricks in play today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. This pilot will help us understand how our fans prefer to participate in a take-back program as we look to reuse or repurpose LEGO bricks. We’ll use the insights to refine our circular and sorting processes and learn even more about the best ways to keep bricks in play.

Talk about a win-win. LEGO will learn about how their fans engage with their products via a recycling program. Meanwhile, we’ll clear much needed space for new LEGO sets while making the money to buy them.

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The Fantastic Four’s Earth-828 Is the Perfect Home for a Rebooted MCU Avengers

The MCU is at a crossroads. And no, we’re not here to parrot tired “the MCU is dead” talking points. Three of the top ten movies of 2025 are all Marvel films, each opening number one at the box office. The hardcore fandom, made up of millions of people, is still there. What they have lost is the attention of the general audience and casual moviegoers. Which is why it makes sense that Kevin Feige has stated recently that both Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, the MCU’s two star players, will likely get recast in the future, among others. Marvel knows that, eventually, to woo the general audience back, they need the “Big Guns.” Add to that, Feige’s comments about a franchise “reset” make us think that the answer to the classic Avengers returning lies in the Fantastic Four’s Earth-828.Marvel Studios

If the comics are any kind of indication, then at the end of Avengers: Secret Wars, it’s likely that our young godlike character, Franklin Richards, will unite the fragments of the various timelines, into a new singular reality. This reality will be the new “main” MCU Earth. And we still think that’s likely what’s going to happen. But what if one of those other timelines survived intact? We think it’s possible that the FF’s Earth-828 might continue in some form, becoming the home of the most iconic Avengers in new iterations, each with new actors playing them. And the world they inhabit would be very different from the one that Iron Man first appeared in back in 2008.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced us to a world where a “New Horizons” future already existed in the 1960s. But it’s not a fully formed world just yet. The production design of the film shows a world that is a mix of retrofuturism, together with one still very familiar. The New York skyline is a mix of the Jetsons look alongside buildings resembling those from our real world of that era. We assume Reed Richards was a man way ahead of his time, introducing tech into his world decades before it did in the main universe.

Marvel Studios

But the future of Earth-828 (in other words, a world adjacent to our present) could be a game-changer. It would be a world where that retrofuturism, pioneered by Reed Richards, has firmly taken root. In the year 2030, or whenever these films come out, could be a truly alternate Earth where futuristic technology has taken hold, creating a starkly different world from our own. We wouldn’t say Star Trek levels of technology, but something pretty close. After all, if Reed Reechirds had FTL “faster than light” spaceships in 1964, wouldn’t they be commonplace in that Earth’s future/our present? An alt-Earth like this one might be the perfect place to give us new versions of Marvel’s most famous heroes, existing in an entirely new context.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics pulled off something similar in the early 2000s, when they introduced their Ultimate Universe. After forty years, their mainline universe had become overwhelmed by complex continuity, and sales were suffering. But instead of deleting the old (still beloved) continuity, they created an adjacent world where younger versions of Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers, now renamed the Ultimates, existed. For years, these new versions of classic characters sold like crazy, often outperforming the classic 616 Marvel Universe comics. It’s been a huge influence on both the MCU and the Fox X-Men franchise. Now, it could influence it in another significant way.

Marvel Studios

These days, the MCU is currently in a similar predicament as the comics were at the turn of this century. The mainline continuity has become unruly for general audiences over the past 17 years. It’s all weighed down by 37 movies and over 20 television series (and counting). But many of those movies and shows remain beloved, and have become a big part of pop culture. Taking them off the table would anger way too many devoted fans. But keeping an adjacent universe solely for new versions of the most iconic Avengers solves that problem. It’s the “have your cake and eat it, too” solution. It worked for the comics, so why not for the MCU?

Marvel Studios

This allows the 616 universe to keep chugging along, presumably with X-Men and mutants, and possibly supernatural heroes, all taking a much larger role. But maybe in the Sacred Timeline, it’s time to leave the concept of the Avengers as a team behind. Let new versions of Iron Man, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Thor, and Black Widow emerge in “similar yet different” variants. Much like the Ultimates series, you would introduce Iron Man, Cap, Hulk, Thor, etc., as a unit. No individual movies needed. We all know the basics now for each character, they don’t require introductory movies.

Of course, depending on how each character is received, that could determine if they get solo spin-offs later. Much like The Ultimates, their existence on another Earth wouldn’t invalidate the 616-Avengers or their history, as this would be a new version of something similar. And it could even connect to the previous version at some point. Think of the way Spider-Man: No Way Home connected all the Spideys. But at first, it would be its own separate reality, a new version of Earth, where the sky’s the limit in terms of storytelling.

Marvel Studios

It stands to reason that Disney/Marvel doesn’t want to let go of Iron Man/Tony Stark, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, and others. Even the actors who are not done playing those characters at the moment, specifically Chris Hemsworth and Mark Rufallo, are going to age out of playing Thor and Hulk eventually. And these are all Marvel’s most recognizable heroes that aren’t Spider-Man. Disney is simply not going to let Marvel Studios shelve them forever. Placing new versions of these characters in their own new universe might just be the best solution. And it could inject just the right excitement into the MCU that it desperately needs right now.

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BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Reboot Adds Four New Cast Members

For a long time, Sarah Michelle Gellar has denied any desire to return to her role as “The Chosen One,” Buffy Anne Summers. But recently, Gellar said she might be interested, thanks to the success of legacy sequels like Dexter: Original Sin, in which she stars. Now, it’s official — Buffy the Vampire Slayer is coming back to stake the undead, in a new sequel series reboot from Hulu. Via Variety, we’ve learned that the pilot has an official order from Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman.

Now, there are a few cast members joining Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the show’s new teenage vampire slayer Nova. Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, Chase Sui Wonders, Merrin Dungey, Audrey Hseih, Audrey Grace Marshall, and Jack Cutmore-Scott will all join as series regulars in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.

'Buffy' Reboot Casts Faly Rakotohavana, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock & Daniel Di Tomasso https://t.co/AcWwYPTNiN

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) July 24, 2025

Rakotohavana will play Hugo, a geeky yet privileged student who will likely be in Nova’s friendship circle. Jean will play Larkin, a “chronic do-gooder” kid. Bock is Gracie, the leader for a collective of church-going students. Di Tomasso will portray Abe, Nova’s single dad and a photojournalist. Scott is Mr. Burke, a popular high school teacher.

Chase Sui Wonders is supposedly playing a one-off character named Shirley, who is a vampire. Dungey will play Ms. LaDuca, the college counselor at New Sunnydale Academy. Hsieh and Marshall are portraying Keiko and Jessica, respectively. They are high school students and members of the academy’s Evangelical Christian group. It sounds like they will all be recurring characters in the series.

The former Poker Face showrunners will write, show run, and executive produce. Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is attached to direct and executive produce the Buffy reboot. However, that’s likely just for the pilot episode.

Regardless, we feel excited about this development because the Buffy reboot has officially kicked off production. We can’t help but feel this makes everything in the world just a little bit better.

According to a recent Deadline interview with Disney TV executive Eric Schrier, Gellar is an executive producer for the Buffy reboot along with Poker Face’s showrunner and her sister, who is a writer, penning the scripts.

“Sarah Michelle Gellar has been a part of it from the get-go as well; she is an executive producer,” he affirmed. “[Executive producer] Gail Berman is back; she’s been behind the scenes trying to pull it all together. We have Nora and Lilla Zuckerman writing it, whom we have a deal with; they’re great.”

Gellar continues to give updates about the Buffy reboot, saying that things are moving forward nicely. “We’ve set up our offices, which means things are progressing probably faster than I’d anticipated,” Gellar told People. “But it’s going to be a process, I think… to do it the way it needs to be done, everyone has to be patient with all of us, because this isn’t something that [will just happen].” 

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Sequel Series Will Focus on a New Slayer

Although the series will still use the title Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Buffy sequel series will focus on a new Slayer. Gellar will appear in a recurring role rather than leading this reboot series. The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer series finale in 2003 ended with girls all over the world activating their Slayer powers. So there will now be a generation of Slayers who might need Buffy Summers, the Prime Slayer, as their mentor. We can easily see that as the premise of this Buffy the Vampire slayer reboot sequel series. We’ll just have to wait and see to know for sure, though.

Twentieth Century Television

TVLine reports that this new Slayer will be more like Willow than Buffy. The publication reports, “That new Slayer, TVLine can exclusively report, seems to skew more Willow than Buffy. Per preliminary and subject-to-change intel, she’s a cerebral 16-year-old named Nova (though we’re fairly certain that name is just a placeholder) who is very smart and a bit of a loner….Her buddies, aka those who would’ve been considered the “Scoobies” in the original series, will include Hugo, an out-and-proud nerd who comes from money, and Gracie, a young expert on vampires who’s an acolyte of Gellar’s Buffy.”

Ryan Kiera Armstrong has been cast as this new character.

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The BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Reboot Has Found Its New Chosen OneBut Sarah Michelle Gellar Will Absolutely Return as Buffy Summers

Although she may not be the main character anymore, Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be the main character in the hearts of Buffy fans. And we’re so glad that Gellar will return as Buffy Summers in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot sequel series. We couldn’t have done it without her. Sarah Michelle Gellar recently spoke out on her Instagram about returning as the iconic character. Here message was both heartfelt and gorgeous, focusing on how right this reboot is for Gellar, Buffy fans, and the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a whole.

One name you’ll notice not attached is that of original Buffy creator and showrunner Joss Whedon. Once upon a time, the notion of a Whedon-less Buffy series without its creative voice would have been blasphemous. But in the last few years, Whedon’s name has become toxic. Several of his former Buffy cast, as well as several Justice League cast members, have accused him of running an unpleasant set to say the least. Regardless, as the series creator, he’ll probably cash some form of check for the series even if he has no creative involvement anymore. Additionally, except for Sarah Michelle Gellar’s exciting return, we have no confirmation about other former cast members or writers coming on board for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot sequel series. But we expect a lot more news on this one in the months ahead.

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The BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Characters We Want to See Most in Hulu’s Reboot Series

Originally published on February 3, 2025.

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