Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 302

Max Raises Prices for Ad-Free Plans, Effective Immediately—Limited Free Trial Available

The headline says it all. Get ready for the cost of your Max subscription to rise, because the streamer is about to see another price increase. With one of the streamer’s biggest hits, House of the Dragon, set to air season two on June 16, we guess we might have expected this. But nonetheless, we can’t say we love news of a price increase, especially for the already expensive Max platform. (Although, these days, other previously less expensive streamers are quickly catching up.) While not all plans are seeing price increases, certain monthly and yearly subscription plans, namely those without ads, are raising their price, effective today, June 4. Here’s what’s happening.

Max’s Ad-Free Plans Are Seeing a Price IncreaseHBO

In a release, Max revealed that certain Max monthly and yearly plans are increasing their prices. It turns out the plans with increased costs are the “Ad-Free” plans Max offers. You can check out the changes below.

Ad-Free | The monthly Ad-Free plan will increase by $1 per month, making the new price $16.99/month. The yearly Ad-Free plan will increase by $20 per year, making it $169.99/year.Ultimate Ad-Free | The monthly Ultimate Ad-Free plan will increase $1 per month, making the new price $20.99/month. The yearly Ultimate Ad-Free plan will increase by $10 per year, making it $209.99/year.

As we often say, $1 a month and $20 a year seem like small amounts of money. But it also feels like these small increases are happening more and more often. On top of that, basically every streamer, not just Max, is increasing its prices. And that’s making the streaming model less and less sustainable.

When Will You See a Price Increase to Your Max Subscription?

The price increase on Max Ad-Free plans is effective immediately. That means any new subscribers to Max will see the increased cost reflected in their billing right away. However, “Existing subscribers will be notified 30 days in advance of their plan renewing and see price increases starting from their next billing cycle on or after Thursday, July 4, 2024. Current yearly subscribers will not see an increase until renewal.”

Max With Ads Plan Remains the Same PriceHBO

For now, the Max With Ads plan will not see a price increase and remains $9.99/month or $99.99/year.

Max’s Current Subscription TiersMax

Currently, Max offers three pricing options. They are as follows:

With Ads | Stream on 2 devices at once, Full HD video resolutionAd-Free | Stream on 2 devices at once, Full HD video resolution, 30 downloads to watch on the goUltimate Ad-Free | Stream on 4 devices at once, 4K Ultra HD video quality as available, Dolby Atmos immersive audio as available, 100 downloads to watch on the go (limits apply)A Free Trail for Max Is Available for a Limited Time

Breaking with their usual MO, Max is offering a free trial on the heels of this price increase. The free Max trial would only run for seven days, however. Additionally, only new customers are eligible for this free trial. And if you want it, don’t delay because the offer expires on June 23.

Here’s what Max specifically notes of the free trial, “New customers only. After free trial, converts to paid subscription and automatically renews until canceled. Offer ends 6/23/24.”

These pricing increases on Max seem to continue the current streaming trend of pushing users to select ad-based options. And so, we continue to head back to cable.

Originally published on June 4, 2024.

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DEAD BOY DETECTIVES’ David Iacono Joins Cast of the New JURASSIC WORLD Movie

Universal isn’t waiting around to relaunch one of its signature franchises. The studio is already developing a seventh film Jurassic Park/World movie. And it won’t take long to arrive in theaters. Universal has already carved out a prime 2025 summer release date. Who will star in it? Who is making it? And what is it about?

For now, the cast of the new Jurassic World movie continues to grow. The latest addition to the film is Dead Boy Detectives‘ David Iacono.

Here’s everything we know about the new Jurassic World movie so far.

Title

As of now, the new Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movie remains untitled.

New Jurassic World Movie’s PlotUniversal

The untitled movie also lacks an official synopsis. What we do know is that it will explore a “new” Jurassic era and story, in what it being described as a franchise reboot. If history is any guide it will also launch another trilogy. (Jurassic Planet? Jurassic Universe?)

New Jurassic World CastMarvel Studios

The upcoming Jurassic World movie will feature an all-new cast headlined by original Avenger Scarlett Johansson. Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi) is also getting in on the modern prehistoric mayhem. Other performers reportedly in discussion to join the film include Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Luna Blaise (Manifest), and two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali.

Behind the ScenesUniversal

David Koepp, who wrote both Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, is returning to pen the franchise’s seventh installment. Rogue One‘s Gareth Edwards will direct after The Fall Guy‘s David Leitch stepped down. Filming will begin this year and will have a quick post-production timeline.

Jurassic World trilogy producer Frank Marshall is returning for the series’ latest installment. Series alum Patrick Crowley is also back for dinosaur mayhem. And original franchise director Steven Spielberg is also serving as an executive producer via Amblin Entertainment.

New Jurassic World Movie’s Release Date

pic.twitter.com/GJhiqIgCJc

— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) February 6, 2024

We won’t have to wait long for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie. It will come to theaters on July 2, 2025.

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WALLACE & GROMIT Return in a New Netflix Movie Next Winter

Netflix is making a bigger push into animation than ever before. We’ve learned, via Deadline, that following Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget last year, Aardman Studios is bringing back Wallace & Gromit for a new feature film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, it will show Gromit worried that Wallace is now too dependent on his inventions. Wallace then invents a “smart” gnome that has a mind of its own. As often happens with this pair, things go awry, and then Gromit must fight evil forces and save Wallace. The release date is this winter 2025 on Netflix, with the film hitting the BBC first on Christmas.

Netflix and Aardman have announced the voiceover cast for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. It includes Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Muzz Khan, and Lenny Henry. You can see the new teaser trailer for the Aardman Studios film above. The new Wallace & Gromit adventure will have a 70-minute runtime, and will see the unwelcome return of the supervillain Feathers McGraw. Feathers has returned to take his sweet revenge following his appearance in the Oscar-winning 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Here’s what Nick Park had to say about the returning bad guy:

I’d had the idea of a film about garden gnomes turning bad for more than a decade, but I could never work out what made them bad. It occurred to me that the single most asked question I get when I meet fans is, will the penguin Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit’s original antagonist from The Wrong Trousers 30 years ago, ever return? We’ve had fun bringing him back in cameo capacities but now, three decades on, it felt like the right time. Then it hit me: What if Feathers was involved with these gnomes?

Netflix/Aardman Studios/BBC

We’ll find out what happens when Feathers McGraw returns when Vengeance Most Fowl hits Netflix next winter.

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Check Out Hayley Atwell’s Lara Croft Voice in TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT Teaser

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is coming our way soon! The animated Netflix adventure starring Hayley Atwell gave us a new trailer and a release date of October 10. We also finally get to hear Atwell in the role. Check out everything we know about Netflix’s upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft below.

We Finally Get to Hear Hayley Atwell Voice Lara Croft

The latest tease for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft finally gave us something we’ve all been waiting for, a taste of what Hayley Atwell will sound like as Lara Croft. It’s just as delightfully fierce and slightly snarky as we’d hoped. The trailer also hints at some deliciously dangerous adventures to come for Lara and co. You can take a look at the sneak peak at the :40 mark of the below video.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Teaser Trailer and Date Announcement

Netflix’s gorgeous Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and its gorgeous teaser trailer have us absolutely buzzing. Recently, during Geeked Week, we also got a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at this new adventure. It’s been a long time since we have seen this famous adventurer swing into action, and it looks like we are in for quite the quest.

The clip reveals exactly what it should to viewers. In this Tomb Raider trailer, We get a glimpse of Lara Croft as she dives into a mysterious abyss and shoots an arrow at the camera. There’s also some intrigue as she looks at a photo of herself with a group of people, presumably friends.

Lara Croft’s video game and film history gives her a few different backstories, including everything from being an aristocrat who chooses a life of adventure following an accident to a daughter seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance. Of course, many fans are familiar with Angelina Jolie’s take on the character. She discovers the truth behind her father’s demise while also being a total badass. It remains to be seen what Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will do with her story, but the Netflix trailer does show how aesthetically pleasing this show will be. 

The Making of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

This Tomb Raider series is produced by Legendary Television and video game development company Crystal Dynamics, with animation by Powerhouse Animation Studios. Powerhouse is the same studio behind the 2017 Castlevania TV series as well as video games like Mortal Kombat X. 

As part of its Geeked Week, Netflix showcased the creation of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and offered us a behind-the-scenes look at how the look of the character and series came together. Joy Hua, a character design supervisor on the series, shared that one of the main aims of the series is to bridge the Lara Croft fans know from the newer Survivor games and have her grow into the Lara Craft we fans know from the classic games. Hua also promises there will be many video game Easter eggs in the outfits and props fans see on screen, but that the series will also go to new and unexplored places.

Jump into this behind-the-scenes look at the making of 'Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft' starring Hayley Atwell. Coming 2024, only on @netflix !#GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/j7RhPZ8dlZ

— Legendary (@Legendary) November 10, 2023

Sounds like it will be an excellent adventure to us.

What Is Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’s Release Date? Netflix

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will hit Netflix on October 10.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on September 27, 2023.

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THE LION KING Returning to Cinemas This Summer

I recently turned 40. That is a particularly weird thing to say considering, you know, the way I dress and behave the things I enjoy. But time goes on and numbers don’t lie. Case in point, The Lion King, which came out when I was 10 years old, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Isn’t it fun how that works? To celebrate—and to hope against hope people will go back and spend money on tickets—Disney will re-release the classic animated film to cinemas July 12.

While The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin are beloved and made tons of money, it’s hard to argue the cultural phenomenon that was The Lion King. It made a worldwide gross of $763 million in its initial run, making it the highest-grossing movie of 1994, and the second highest all-time behind only Jurassic Park. The soundtrack, with songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice, sold nearly 5 million copies in ’94 alone, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won an Oscar for best song and John a Grammy for best male vocal performance.

Disney

The Lion King also spawned sequels, a successful Broadway show, a television spinoff, and merchandise of all kind. With the state of the box office at an all-time summer low, it makes sense for Disney to want to grab some of that sweet moolah with a reissue. That said, The Lion King is available readily on Disney+ and on physical media, so will people venture out for a movie they’ve seen a million times? Maybe people will say “Hakuna Matata” and hit the cinemas.

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

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BoxLunch Partners With GLAAD for Donation Campaign to Support Inclusivity in Media

BoxLunch is well-known for not only giving us some of the finest fandom fashion around, but also giving back to those in need. The company takes a portion of its proceeds to provide meals via philanthropic partnerships. And, through its merchandise, BoxLunch consistently celebrate queer characters. That’s why their recent collaboration with GLAAD, a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ+ advocacy and cultural change, for Pride Month doesn’t feel like some cheap gimmick to appeal to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a natural part of who the brand is.

From now until June 30, all roundup donations in stores and online at BoxLunch will go towards GLAAD’s ongoing mission to ensure fair, accurate and inclusive representation in media. That’s certainly a cause that we can support. The company is also releasing some fun new apparel, bags, plush, and accessories featuring Adventure Time, Steven Universe, The Powerpuff Girls and other animated characters.

Check out the awesome BoxLunch Adventure Time apparel here:

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And, you can also check out some of the Steven Universe and PRIDE collections here:

Click To View Gallery BoxLunch/Cartoon Network BoxLunch/Cartoon Network BoxLunch/Cartoon Network BoxLunch/Cartoon Network BoxLunch/Cartoon Network BoxLunch/Cartoon Network

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5 STAR WARS Movie Characters Who Were Active During the High Republic Era

The Star Wars universe is set to expand with The Acolyte, which takes place during the High Republic era. To be specific, The Acolyte unfolds a century before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It marks the first time that the High Republic era has been shown in a live-action Star Wars film or television project. The High Republic has been fleshed out through dozens of comics and novels already. It began with with Charles Soule’s book, Light of the Jedi. (This is a great starting point for fans looking to get a deeper sense of the High Republic). Because of the novelty of its setting, casual fans may wonder what connects the High Republic to the Star Wars universe they already know. Luckily, there are quite a few familiar characters from Star Wars movies who were active during the High Republic. 

YodaPhil Noto/Ibraim Roberson/Marvel

Our favorite wise little green guy was a member of the Jedi Council during the High Republic. He had already been training younglings before the High Republic period even began. Yoda wasn’t particularly active far from Coruscant. But he did come to the Jedi’s rescue during a battle on the planet Dalna in 382 BBY (“before the Battle of Yavin” in Episode IV: A New Hope).

The High Republic is at least a century before any other live-action projects. However, Yoda’s calm and sagacious demeanor is a constant. On the Jedi Council during this period, Yoda was joined by familiar faces from The Phantom Menace such as Yarael Poof (the Quemerian Jedi you might remember as “long neck guy”) and Oppo Rancisis (the hairy Thisspiasian Jedi). 

YaddleLucasfilm

One of the best parts about the Star Wars High Republic is that it has given characters with fleeting appearances in live-action films the chance to shine. This is certainly the case for Yaddle, who appears on the Jedi Council in The Phantom Menace. She is of the same species as Yoda, but is considerably younger. Like Yoda, Yaddle mentored younglings during the High Republic. However, she was adept at training younglings with dangerously strong Force powers. As the Cataclysm novel by Lydia Kang shows, Yaddle was able to mentor powerful young Force-sensitives with a firm hand and a refusal to treat them in a condescending manner. 

During the Jedi’s battle on Dalna in 382 BBY, Yaddle was utterly ruthless in protecting her youngling ward, Cippa. She snapped two battle droids in half with a wave of her arm. Yaddle also sent a member of the Path of the Open Hand flying through the air for several seconds before he hit the ground.  After two Path members stunned Cippa, Yaddle threw them into the air. The move knocked their heads together “so painfully hard, it sounded like an ax hitting wood,” before dropping them, unconscious, onto the boarding ramp of a ship. While Yoda’s prowess as a Jedi has never been questioned, it’s time for Yaddle’s talents to be celebrated, too.

Maz Kanata Michael Atiyeh/Toni Bruno/Dark Horse Comics

Lupita Nyong’o’s character, Maz Kanata, was utterly charming in her brief appearances in Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. But Maz Kanata’s lore runs much deeper than the pieces we get in the sequel trilogy. In fact, she’s been active as the galaxy’s resident pirate queen since around 873 BBY. That is nearly four hundred years before the start of the High Republic! In 873 BBY, Maz moved into her castle on the planet Takodana. It is the same castle we see her living in in The Force Awakens. From her home base, Maz built her powerful network within the galaxy’s criminal underground. Maz’s pirate adventures during the High Republic can be found in Dark Horse Comics’ 2021 Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures series by Daniel José Older and Harvey Tolibao. 

In High Republic YA novels such as Out of the Shadows and Defy the Storm, Maz is an important ally to the Republic in their fight against the oppressive Nihil pirate organization. While Maz herself is a pirate, the interests of the Republic aren’t exactly contrary to her own. Maz’s smuggling network was a great help during the Nihil’s war against the Jedi and Force-users at large. 

San TekkasMarvel/Phil Noto

Remember the old man played by Max von Sydow who dies at the very beginning of The Force Awakens? His name is Lor San Tekka, and the San Tekka family was immensely powerful during the High Republic. The family made their wealth as hyperspace prospectors during the early part of the era. That is, they identified “lanes” in hyperspace that made traveling across different parts of the galaxy safe, as well as efficient. 

The Star Wars High Republic novels feature numerous characters from the San Tekka family, ranging from politicians (Vellis San Tekka), to musicians (Cair San Tekka), to rogue deputies (Jordanna Sparkburn). The San Tekkas were close allies of the Jedi during this period. This makes it unsurprising that Lor San Tekka was willing to die to protect the location of Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens. 

The Hutt ClanPhil Noto/Ibraim Roberson/Marvel

The Hutt crime lord family has deep roots in the galaxy. In fact, the fella you might know as Jabba the Hutt was actually born all the way back in 600 BBY! While Episode VI’s Jabba Desilijic Tiure needed a few centuries before he became the leader of the Hutt Clan, the Hutt family had a formidable influence on galactic politics during the High Republic.

As the political power of the Republic expanded across the galaxy into the Outer Rim during this period, they came closer and closer to a region called “Hutt Space.” Hutt Space was controlled by, you guessed it, and the Republic risked confrontation with the family if they crossed into their borders. 

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Taco Bell’s Big Cheez-It Menu Is Now Available Nationwide

In 2022 a few lucky Taco Bell customers in Orange County, California got a chance to try a big new experimental culinary crossover. And we do mean big. That’s when the fast food chain briefly added a giant Cheez-It to its menu at one single store. Now, two years later that two week taste test has turned into a nationwide option. Starting today the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and Big Cheez-It Tostada are available at all Taco Bell locations.

Taco Bell

After teasing its inclusion during its own Apple-style announcement event in February, the Big Cheez-It is really here. Or at least it is for a limited time. Customers across the country can now order a Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme ($5.49) or a Big Cheez-It Tostada ($3.99). Both items feature a gigantic Cheez-It in the middle. It measures 16 times bigger the size of a normal Cheez-It. 

Taco Bell

If you’re really hungry you can also pick up a Big Cheez-It Box ($8.99). It comes with a Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, regular sized Nacho Fries, and a medium drink.  

While the official rollout took place today, some locations have already had these menu items available early. That’s how some customers have discovered you can actually order a Big Cheez-It on its own. It does not appear to be listed as a solo item, so you’ll have to inquire about buying one.

You can just ask for the big Cheez-It https://t.co/GX7dDemcul pic.twitter.com/wEUQeG41Ml

— Calvin “DJ Craig” Porter (@djcr4ig) May 30, 2024

We definitely plan on asking for one when we also order both the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and Big Cheez-It Tostada. Sure, that might be way too much food considering it will mean eating the equivalent of 48 Cheez-Its alone, but again it will only be available for a limited time. We spent two years jealous of people who only got a chance to eat them for two weeks. We will not let this big opportunity pass us by.

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What Is the Barash Vow? THE ACOLYTE’s Floating Jedi Has Deep Comic Book Origins

The newest chapter in the Star Wars Universe, The Acolyte, has been chock full of dramatic twists and turns. From the family drama at the core of the story to the larger tensions between the Republic and the Jedi Order, The Acolyte has made it clear in its first two episodes that fans should set aside their expectations. As the series’s opening fight shows, absolutely anything can happen. 

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This also applies to the source material that The Acolyte pulls from. As the Star Wars Universe’s first live-action project set during the High Republic, a century before the events of the prequels, the show is in a unique position to incorporate details about the time period from existing High Republic novels, comics, manga, and audio dramas. So far we’ve seen a Wookiee Jedi, a familiar sight to High Republic readers. But one moment in episode 2, “Revenge/Justice,” forges an even deeper connection to The Acolyte’s source material as it introduces the concept of The Barash Vow. 

The Acolyte Introduces the Barash Vow to Live-Action Star WarsLucasfilm

While on her quest for revenge against the Jedi who were stationed on her home planet of Brendock, Mae (Amandla Stenberg) tracks down Master Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman) at a Jedi Temple on Olega. Torbin is in a state of deep meditation, levitating high off the ground, and is impenetrable to Mae’s attacks. Later, another Jedi at the Olega temple notes that Master Torbin “hasn’t spoken to anyone in years,” suggesting that he has been in this state for quite a long time. When Mae confronts him again, she states that she knows he has taken “the Barash Vow,” explaining the meditative form that he has been in. 

What Is The Barash Vow?Insight Editions

The Barash Vow was first represented in Darth Vader #2 (2017) by Charles Soule (one of the architects of the High Republic publishing initiative) and Giuseppe Camuncoli. But it wasn’t officially named until it popped up in the 2021 young adult High Republic novel, Into the Dark, by Claudia Gray. There, it the Barash Vow was described as a vow that a Jedi takes in order to reform their relationship with the Force, typically after they’ve made a mistake they wish to atone for. Those who take the vow go into a state of silent meditation, sometimes for years. Not every Jedi who takes the Barash Vow committed a grave error like Torbin, but it can certainly provide some respite after traumatic events. 

Where Does the Name “The Barash Vow” Come From in the Star Wars World?

Still, you may be wondering, why is this Star Wars state even called the “Barash Vow?” It takes its name from the first Jedi who took the vow, Barash Silvain. The origins of the concept can be seen in Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade comic book miniseries by Charles Soule, Marco Castiello, and Jethro Morales. Barash Silvain was a Kage Jedi who formed a very close bond with one of the greatest swordsmen the Jedi Order has ever seen: Porter Engle. Porter and Barash met as younglings, and eventually became so close that they referred to each other as “brother” and “sister,” doing everything together. 

Marvel Comics

While on a mission to the planet Gansevor, Barash made a huge error in judgment, resulting in dramatic political consequences. Though Porter assured her that everything would be smoothed over, Barash felt immense guilt for letting her emotions get in the way of assessing the situation. After taking a moment to reflect, she decided that it would be best for her to mend her relationship with the Force before she entered back into the fold of her usual Jedi activities. 

Marvel ComicsThe Origins of the Barash Vow Mirror The Acolyte‘s Story

The Acolyte bringing in the Barash Vow is a pointed choice, considering the parallels between Barash Silvain and Porter Engle’s relationship with that of Osha and Mae’s relationship on the show. Jedi are discouraged from forming attachments with anyone or anything—hence why the Jedi Council was hesitant to accept 8 year-old Osha into the Order. The Jedi view familial relationships as potential sources for distraction, the type of emotional interference that prevents a Jedi from acting impartially through the Force. Both Osha and Barash had memories of their families before they joined the Order, putting them at risk. For Barash, this was even more serious because the memory of every member of the Kage species begins from birth. Even though the Jedi had taken her in at a young age, she still had years and years of crystal clear memories with her family that she had to reconcile. 

Clearly, by the time The Acolyte takes place, Barash Silvain’s sabbatical from the Jedi Order provided a template for later generations of Jedi to reconnect with the Force. Perhaps the origin of the Barash Vow informed Master Torbin’s decision to take it, considering the role he played in Mae and Osha’s separation. Either way, for fans of the High Republic novels and comics, it is immensely gratifying to see an element of a beloved character like Porter Engle get incorporated into a live-action project. The Acolyte is set centuries after the events of Porter and Barash’s separation, so it is heartening to see their legacy live on, even if the circumstances are tragic. 

A More Unified Future for Star WarsLucasfilm

Ultimately, seeing elements from High Republic stories in The Acolyte points to a more unified future for the Star Wars franchise. Since the High Republic publishing initiative began in 2021, the line has grown to include dozens of novels, comics, manga, and audio dramas spanning two different time periods within the High Republic. As such, it would fair to say that the High Republic has its own distinct mythos. It would be remiss for Disney and Lucasfilm to ignore this in their live-action projects. So far, The Acolyte has struck a fair balance between forging its own vision of the High Republic and honoring the source material that has come before. 

Unfortunately for Master Torbin, the Barash Vow did not provide him with the solace he sought. Barash’s decision to take the vow would continue to affect Porter Engle for decades, even though he understood why his sister needed to take time away from the Jedi Order. Hopefully, for the Jedi’s sake, the Order can strike a balance between achieving atonement for their mistakes and justice for those they’ve wronged on The Acolyte. 

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When Does HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Return? Season 2 Release Date, Episode Schedule, and Finale Info

It’s been a long wait for House of the Dragon season two. After all, season one of the Game of Thrones prequel series ended all the way back in 2022. That means we’ve been waiting nearly two years for season two to return and the continuation of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, and the rest’s stories. That’s kind of poetic. But, as the wait dwindles down for House of the Dragon season two’s premiere, the most important information you can have about the series is, well, where can you watch it? When is House of the Dragon season two even coming back? What time will the new House of the Dragon episodes be released when it does, and what dates will season two air on? All that good, practical stuff to ensure that when House of the Dragon does start airing again, you’re ready to watch.

HBO

Here’s our guide on how to watch House of the Dragon season two, literally.

Jump to: When Does House of the Dragon Return? // What Time Do New Episodes of House of the Dragon Season Release? // Season 2’s Episode Count // House of the Dragon Season 2’s Release Schedule // Where to Watch the Series?

When Does House of the Dragon Return? HOTD Season 2’s Release Date

Of course, top of mind is the question of when does season two of House of the Dragon even come out? Well, happily we do know House of the Dragon season two’s release date already. House of the Dragon will premiere with new episodes on June 16 on HBO and Max.

The show will come out on House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones‘ usual day, Sunday.

What Time Does House of the Dragon Season 2 Release? HBO

In addition to knowing the release date for House of the Dragon season two, knowing the release time is also important. As with season one, new episodes of House of the Dragon will be available to watch on 9 p.m. ET.

To put it all together, House of the Dragon season two will premiere on Sunday, June 16, at 9 p.m. ET. It will stream on HBO and Max at that time.

How Many Episodes Will House of the Dragon Season 2 Have?

How long of a run will House of the Dragon season two have? House of the Dragon season two will be slightly shorter than season one, which had ten episodes. The second season of the Game of Thrones show will have eight episodes.

What Is House of the Dragon Season 2’s Release Schedule? HBO

House of the Dragon season two will be released weekly, beginning on June 16. Unlike other series, House of the Dragon will only release one episode during its premiere. After its release, episodes will follow every Sunday. House of the Dragon season two’s finale will air on August 4.

Episode titles and runtimes are not yet known. However, we assume each new episode of House of the Dragon will run for about an hour.

You can check out every House of the Dragon season two episode’s airdate below and get yourself ready to watch.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Airdates:Episode 2.01: June 16Episode 2.02: June 23Episode 2.03: June 30Episode 2.04: July 7Episode 2.05: July 14Episode 2.06: July 21Episode 2.07: July 28Episode 2.08: August 4Where to Watch House of the Dragon Season 2

Finally, where can you watch House of the Dragon season two? As mentioned above, you can watch House of the Dragon on HBO and its streaming platform, Max. The episode will air on both HBO and Max at the same time, 9 p.m. ET.

Now, all you have to do is tune in.

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