Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 314

Scarlett Johansson Takes on OpenAI Over AI Mimic Voice

AI was a contentious topic in the world of Hollywood during the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes. And it doesn’t seem like that will change any time soon. The latest issue on the table involves Scarlett Johansson and an AI voice that sounded suspiciously like hers on a ChatGPT 4.0 demo. Johansson notes that she was invited to lend her voice to the OpenAI project, but declined. She was then shocked to hear a very similar voice on the platform. OpenAI has since removed the Johannson AI voice dupe named “Sky.” However, the company maintains they did not cross any lines.

Marvel Studios

Below you can read Scarlett Johansson’s full statement on the matter and OpenAI’s response.

Johannson shares:

Last September, I received an offer from Sam Altman, who wanted to hire me to voice the current ChatGPT 4.0 system. He told me that he felt that by my voicing the system, I could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI. He said he felt that my voice would be comforting to people.
 
After much consideration and for personal reasons, I declined the offer. Nine months later, my friends, family and the general public all noted how much the newest system named “Sky” sounded like me.

When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference. Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single word “her” – a reference to the film in which I voiced a chat system, Samantha, who forms an intimate relationship with a human.

Two days before the ChatGPT 4.0 demo was released, Mr. Altman contacted my agent, asking me to reconsider. Before we could connect, the system was out there.

As a result of their actions, I was forced to hire legal counsel, who wrote two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI, setting out what they had done and asking them to detail the exact process by which they created the “Sky” voice. Consequently, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the “Sky” voice.

In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.

As mentioned, OpenAI did remove the Scarlett Johansson-like AI voice, Sky. But the company noted that while it “believe[s] that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice—Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice. To protect their privacy, we cannot share the names of our voice talents.”

This is likely only the beginning of similar AI battles to come.

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STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY Casts Holly Hunter as its Captain

Although Star Trek: Discovery will soon end with season five, a new live-action StarTrek series will arrive to replace it. After years of rumors, Paramount+ has officially announced a series order for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. This show will follow an all-new class of Starfleet cadets. And we’ll get to see students coming of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy. Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau will serve as co-showrunners. Gaia Violo wrote the series pilot. The series will begin production in 2024.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Casts Holly Hunter as Its Captain

In an exciting turn of events, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy revealed that it has cast Holly Hunter as the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy. A release reiterates that, “The series will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy.”

All cadets, rise for your captain! Academy Award winner Holly Hunter has officially been cast as the captain and chancellor of the upcoming @paramountplus series #StarfleetAcademy 🖖 pic.twitter.com/6ZLA2Kjnxk

— Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) May 21, 2024

Co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau share, “It feels like we’ve spent our entire lives watching Holly Hunter be a stone-cold genius. To have her extraordinary authenticity, fearlessness, sense of humor, and across the board brilliance leading the charge on STARFLEET ACADEMY is a gift to all of us, and to the enduring legacy of STAR TREK.”

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Synopsis

You can read the official description of the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series right here:

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will introduce us to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they will discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.

Paramount+

Paramount+ also released a special “recruitment announcement” from the legendary institution itself:

Admission is now open to Starfleet Academy! Explore the galaxy! Captain your destiny! For the first time in over a century, our campus will be re-opened to admit individuals a minimum of 16 Earth years (or species equivalent) who dream of exceeding their physical, mental and spiritual limits, who value friendship, camaraderie, honor and devotion to a cause greater than themselves.

The coursework will be rigorous, the instructors among the brightest lights in their respective fields, and those accepted will live and study side-by-side with the most diverse population of students ever admitted. Today we encourage all who share our dreams, goals and values to join a new generation of visionary cadets as they take their first steps toward creating a bright future for us all. Apply today! Ex Astris, Scientia!”

CBS/Viacom

The mention of the Academy opening up for “the first time in over a century” suggests the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series will be a spinoff of Discovery. We learned in recent seasons that because of a terrible galactic incident, the Federation was reduced to just a few worlds by the 32nd century. But by the end of Discovery season three, Starfleet began the climb back, and the Academy reopened.

Many fans crossed their fingers and hoped that Starfleet Academy might take place in the post-Picard timeline. We would have loved to see characters from The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager as instructors. But it seems more likely we’ll see characters from Discovery instead. We do also hope the new Star Trek series won’t be completely Earthbound. It would be amazing to see cadets training on starships, as we did in The Wrath of Khan.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Release Date

Speaking to Collider, Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman shared Starfleet Academy is  “halfway through the writers room now” and preparing to film this summer. He additionally noted, “It could end up not airing until 2026. We don’t know. But by starting [shooting in late summer], just building the sets alone is a massive endeavor, then six months of shooting, then six to eight months of post.” The publication additionally notes, “While he confirmed they ‘haven’t started casting the kids,’ it sounds like some of the adult roles have already been filled.”

A recent article from Variety additionally notes that “this summer, the first Star Trek YA series, Starfleet Academy, will start production on the largest single set ever created for Star Trek on TV.” The article also describes “plans for the series’ central academic atrium, a sprawling, two-story structure that will include a mess hall, amphitheater, trees, catwalks, multiple classrooms and a striking view of the Golden Gate Bridge in a single, contiguous space. To fit it all, they plan to use every inch of Pinewood Toronto’s 45,900 square foot soundstage, the largest in Canada.” But rest assured, the article notes, there will be starships. Although since Starfleet Academy “is set in the 32nd century, an era so far into the future Kurtzman and his team need to invent much of its design language.”

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will likely debut on Paramount+ sometime in 2024 or 2025, but we guess 2026 is also on the table.

Originally published on March 30, 2023.

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Marvel Addresses Potential X-MEN ’97 Spin-Off for SPIDER-MAN

It was just two wordless cameos in a pair of stacked episode, but fans of ‘90s Marvel animation jumped for joy at the X-Men ’97 episodes “Tolerance is Extinction” Parts I and III. During a crucial moment, when Magneto powers down all electrical devices across the globe, we cut to several cameos of Marvel characters. One of them is our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. It’s not just any Spidey spinning his webs, though. As fans of ‘90s Marvel cartoons know, the Spider-Man in the X-Men cartoon is the same one from the Spider-Man: The Animated Series, that ran concurrently on Fox Kids at the time. We then saw Peter Parker and MJ together in the season finale. Could this mean a Spidey spin-off is on the way, picking up from Spider-Man: The Animated Series? Here’s what Marvel Animation’s Brad Winderbaum said when asked by Screen Rant about the possibility:

There is always potential, right? We don’t want to close the door on anything. But I think that for now, for the foreseeable future, X-Men ’97 will own the ’90s, and how much we bring in guest stars or tell stories from other Marvel characters from that era is TBD, but it will be seen through that lens of the X-Men.

Marvel AnimationThe ’90s X-Men and Spider-Man Animated Series Were Connected

Spider-Man appeared only as a hand shooting web fluid in X-Men: The Animated Series. The X-Men: TAS producers snuck the cameo in, as technically they didn’t have the rights to use Spidey. However, the full X-Men team from the ‘90s cartoon appeared in the two-part Spider-Man episodes “The Mutant Agenda” and “The Mutant’s Revenge” in 1995. All the X-Men: TAS voice actors returned, and their designs were identical to those on their own show. This was the first connection between two Marvel ‘90s animated shows, showing that at least the X-Men and Spider-Man existed within the same continuity. As for the other Marvel cartoons from the ’90s, that’s up for debate.

Marvel Animation Spider-Man: The Animated Series Left Lingering Questions X-Men ’97 Could Resolve

It is indeed that Spider-Man.

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 1, 2024

So what does this mean for ‘90s Spidey in X-Men ’97? Former showrunner Beau Demayo confirmed on social media that this version of Spidey is the same one originally voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes in the classic show. As fans may recall, Spider-Man: TAS ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. After a long and convoluted adventure through the Spider-Verse, Madame Web appears to Peter Parker. She takes him to find Mary Jane Watson, who found herself lost in the multiverse earlier in the season. Viewers never found out if Peter and MJ actually reunited, much less if their planned nuptials ever occurred. It was a bit of a giant question mark. But X-Men ’97 answered that question in the season finale, which shows that Peter did indeed find MJ, and the pair were reunited. Beau DeMayo also confirmed this on social media.

#xmen97 yes, Peter Parker found MJ

— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 15, 2024

Marvel AnimationCould X-Men ’97 Lead to a Spider-Man ’98 Spin-Off?

One big thing is likely keeping Spider-Man’s appearance from being a “backdoor pilot” to set up a spin-off show. That’s the upcoming Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man animated series coming to Disney+ soon. This is the series formerly known as Spider-Man: Freshman Year. If anything, the upcoming new Spidey cartoon is probably the biggest obstacle in getting a full Spider-Man ’98 series. Would Marvel Animation have two competing Spider-Man cartoons concurrently? However, the massive success of X-Men ’97 may eventually cause them to rethink those plans. Spider-Man was just as beloved a cartoon hero for ‘90s kids as the X-Men.

New Logo for Marvel's 'Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'#YourFriendlyNeighborhoodSpiderMan #MarvelAnimation #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/gt7shzUD3w

— Disney News (@news_disne27388) April 26, 2024

Could Peter Parker Teach at Xavier’s School in Future X-Men ’97 Seasons?Marvel Comics

Even if we don’t get a Spider-Man ’98 series, there is room for a continuation of that version of Peter Parker in future X-Men ’97 seasons. After all, in the comics, Peter Parker became a teacher at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters for a time (then renamed the Jean Grey School), in the series Spider-Man and the X-Men. Why not make the ’90s version of Spidey part of the supporting cast of X-Men ’97? Peter could teach several new mutants, teens discovering their powers during puberty as he once did. Original voice actor Christopher Daniel Barnes has not been contacted yet, but has said he’s into the idea.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say thanks for all of the positivity and support surrounding the idea of a “Spider-Man 98” revival! I’d obviously love to participate in such an awesome venture! Unfortunately I haven’t been contacted by anyone regarding this possibility and I also…

— Christopher Daniel Barnes (@cdb_stories) May 2, 2024

Marvel Studios

Spider-Man is technically not a mutant of course. He got his powers as a teenager during a lab accident, as everyone knows. None of that stopped the comic book creators from giving him a teaching position at the school though. Of course, we’d love for him to have a revival series like X-Men ’97. But if the other Spidey series on Disney+ makes that unlikely, we’ll take option B. Whatever happens, Spidey is officially part of the X-Men ’97 world now. We highly doubt it’s the last time he swings through the New York skyline in this series.

Originally published on May 1, 2024.

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New PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Movies Will Be Reboots, One Possibly Starring Margot Robbie

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been one of the most lucrative of all time for Disney. In the era before the company owned Marvel or Star Wars, it was easily the studio’s biggest live-action franchise. But it’s been seven years since Dead Men Tell No Tales. Will the Jolly Roger flag ever fly again on the big screen? According to series producer Jerry Bruckheimer, it will. Only this time, Pirates of the Caribbean will receive the complete reboot treatment. During an interview with ComicBook, Bruckheimer said “We’re gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.”

But wait, there’s more. Apparently, there are two movies coming out and one will hopefully star Margot Robbie. According to IGN, Bruckheimer said that Disney still wants to make at least one of them with Robbie portraying the lead character.

Disney

That comment seems to put the final nail in the coffin for any return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Frankly, we probably won’t see Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbosa again either. Or any of the original cast, unless we’re talking cameos. A few years back, reports circulated that Margot Robbie was a possibility to lead a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. However, that was before her star went supernova after the success of Barbie. Although, we’re still not opposed to the idea—especially if she can bring some of that Harley Quinn energy to it.

The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin developed the story for a Pirates reboot alongside the first film’s original screenwriter, Ted Elliot. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mazin described their new Pirates as “weird.” He said, “We pitched it and thought there’s no way they’re buying it, it’s too weird. And they did! And then we wrote a fantastic script and the strike happened, and everyone’s waiting around.” With the strikes over, it seems only a matter of time before we hear something about this new reboot.

Walt Disney Pictures

What is unclear is if this reboot will take place in the same continuity as the original films or not. The first five films created a vast pirate mythology, one that got a bit unwieldy. But they might want to keep certain elements of the original films—mainly, the iconic ship, the Black Pearl. Maybe the movie could utilize the pirate ship from the original Disneyland attraction, the Wicked Wench, placing the action there? It will be interesting to see if Pirates can grab hold of audiences without Captain Jack Sparrow, or if another character can fill those iconic boots.

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THE GARFIELD MOVIE Feels Like a Super-Sized Cat Video (And, Yes, Chris Pratt’s Performance Is Fine)

The odds felt a bit stacked against The Garfield Movie. From afar, it seemed like it could easily fall into the trap of an overly-mined IP combined with celebrity stunt casting and end up going nowhere good at all. Happily, The Garfield Movie actually ends up being a lot of fun, although many of its component parts seem a bit random when considered with more scrutiny. Still, is Garfield really a cat that wants to go too deep? Probably not. For those who enjoyed Garfield comic strips as children and for those who are children or have them, The Garfield Movie is a perfectly enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in the realm of talking animals, product placement, and pleasant animation.

Sony

Fun is really the ultimate buzzword for The Garfield Movie. Does the film being fun account for why there were so many products, from Popchips to Olive Garden, flashed in The Garfield Movie? Or add more meaning to the movie’s decision to pay homage to different genres of cinema? Not really. But while many elements of The Garfield Movie didn’t make much sense, they still made the audience laugh and entertained while they were present on the screen. Who doesn’t want to see Garfield participate in a heist? Or suddenly parachute into an action-adventure-style movie complete with the actual Top Gun soundtrack? Or become a Noir detective cloaked in the shadow of night? Why did this happen? Who knows. Why not? The Garfield Movie seems to ask. And, hey, we guess as long as the audience is entertained, the chief purpose of Garfield throughout the ages, why not, indeed?

Sony

After all, the earliest incarnation of Garfield played a bit like cat videos before the internet existed for cat videos to spread. And The Garfield Movie seems to know these origins and accept them into its core. It doesn’t matter what the cat is doing in a cat video, as long as the cat is cute. (And no one is cuter than baby Garfield.)

The Garfield Movie also more literally pays homage to the greatest hits of Garfield. There’s a Monday-hating-montage, a lasagna origin story, and even Pooky is present. There are also some well-delivered fourth-wall breaks. If you’re a Garfield aficionado, you’ll have a fun time picking out the references and Easter eggs from the orange cat’s long life. And if you’re new to the story, these pieces will still make for some enjoyable oddities. The Garfield Movie also truly understands Garfield’s love of food. The way different forms of food are incorporated into the plot is one of the genius elements of The Garfield Movie that does make a lot of sense.

Sony

Garfield stalwarts Jon Arbuckle and Odie are naturally also present and add a nice balance to Garfield’s grumpy laziness. Odie is by far the star of The Garfield Movie, despite, of course, his lack of any actual words. Full kudos to Harvey Guillén for bringing Odie to life with yips and yaps and managing to make him a smart, loyal, and downright heroic pup.

Jon Arbuckle, meanwhile, achieves his best Garfield form to date, in my opinion. Unlike in other Garfield stories, Jon isn’t incompetent, snarly, or pathetic. Instead, he’s just a man who loves his pets very much. And who among us who has pets doesn’t love them very much? In a story devoted to pets of all kinds, making Jon into nothing more and nothing less than a great pet dad seems like the best form for him to take. In this fashion, he’s best able to play surrogate to the audience. Nicholas Hoult brings just the right cadence to the table.

Sony

New to the franchise is Garfield’s dad, Vic, played by Samuel L. Jackson. And without spoiling anything, there’s more to the story of why he’s not in Garfield’s life any more than meets the eye. But it’s fun to see where Garfield gets it from. Also appearing in The Garfield movie are the villainous diva cat Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), her odd-couple henchmen, Nolan and Roland, and Otto and Ethel, a bull and cow in love. All these animals have distinct personalities and are instantly likable in their own ways.

Sony

Ultimately, The Garfield Movie‘s greatest strength lies in its embrace of the idea that being a misfit or a weirdo is awesome. The notion of building a found family and staying true to yourself is strong. The movie hammers home that it’s okay to grow, change, and heal while retaining the heart of who you are. And that’s a message we could all use more of. The movie also contains a surprising dose of body positivity, which feels appreciated.

And finally, we’re sure you asked yourself will Chris Pratt do a good job of voicing Garfield in The Garfield Movie? And the truth is that Pratt’s casting here is inoffensive. Save for a few moments, Pratt’s voice is not distractingly associated with the man himself and sounds different enough that it doesn’t take a viewer out of the movie. Did Pratt do anything as remarkable as Garfield in The Garfield Movie? Not really. But that’s in theme with the rest of the film.

In summary, The Garfield Movie is a nice way to get lost in a different world for a little while. It probably won’t change your life, but it might make just under two hours of it a little more enjoyable.

⭐ (4 of 5)

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What You Need to Remember for HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2

Dragons will soon dance over Westeros. The Greens and the Blacks will officially go to war when House of the Dragon returns for its second season on HBO. How did the Targaryen family get to this deadly point? Who is battling over the Iron Throne? And why will fire and blood engulf the Realm two centuries before Game of Thrones? You might not remember the answer to those questions and more after a two-year hiatus, so before House of the Dragon season two debuts this is everything you need to remember about season one.

The Major Characters, Houses, and Dragons from House of the Dragon Season 1Ollie Upton/HBO

Get ready for the Dance of the Dragons with our updated season one primers on all things Targaryen. They’ll help you remember the major figures, families, and fire made flesh creatures of the show’s inaugural year. (Seriously, even if you just rewatched House of the Dragon season one these are all essential reading.)

Every Major New Character On House Of The Dragon
House Of The Dragon Houses That Didn’t Appear On Game Of Thrones
Who Are House Of The Dragon’s 17 Dragons?
Every Major Character Death From House Of The Dragon
The Most Brutal, Shocking, And Gross Moments In House Of The Dragon

King Viserys and His HeirHBO

The Old King, Jaehaerys I, had no obvious heir. To resolve the matter, he called on the Realm to name one for him during a grand gathering at Harrenhal. In the final vote the lords of Westeros chose his grandson Viserys over his cousin, Rhaenys (“The Queen Who Never Was”). Their decision established an unwritten rule that males take precedence over women in the Iron Throne’s line of succession. Their decision also put in motion the future war that would divide House Targaryen and the continent.

King Viserys I and his wife Queen Aemma (who was half Targaryen/half Arryn of the Vale) would have only one surviving child, a daughter Rhaenyra. Viserys told doctors to save their unborn son, whom he believed would one day be king, at the cost of Aemma’s life during a difficult childbirth. However, the baby died a day after his mother. The boy’s death meant Viserys’ brother Daemon remained his legal heir. While the King loved his brother, many, like the Hand of the King Otto Hightower, believed Daemon reckless and dangerous. They thought he would bring ruin to the Realm if he ever ascended to the throne.

HBO

After the much-maligned Daemon was overheard toasting about his nephew’s death (“the heir for a day”), an irate Viserys named Rhaenyra his successor and ordered Daemon to leave King’s Landing. Viserys then made the lords of Westeros swear oaths to accept Rhaenyra as his rightful, lawful successor. That’s also when he told his daughter the real reason Aegon the Conqueror united the Realm.

Aegon the Conqueror’s White Walker Dream

Aegon had a dream about the eventual White Walker invasion. He believed only a united Westeros led by House Targaryen could stop the end of the world. This revelation is one of the biggest in the history of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.

Viserys Shocks the Realm and Marries Alicent Ollie Upton/HBO

With Daemon out of both King’s Landing and his brother’s good graces, the conniving Otto Hightower was free of his most powerful enemy. With a grieving Viserys vulnerable, the Hand of the King made his move. He instructed his daughter to console the Viserys during his time of grief. The obvious, creepy power play paid off, as the King shocked everyone by marrying Alicent rather than a more politically savvy suitor.

They would go on to have four children: the detestable, lazy, amoral Aegon, the sweet, simple Helaena (who has prophetic dreams), the focused, driven warrior Aemond, and Daeron who did not appear in season one. Aegon also married his sister Haelana. He was a terrible, uncaring, unattentive husband who likely fathered many children out of wedlock while drinking his life away in King’s Landing. But the two did have three children, the twins Jaehaerys and Jahaera and their young sibling Maelor, who did not appear in season one.

Ollie Upton/HBO

Some people thought Aegon should have usurped Rhaenyra as heir, but Viserys did not change his succession plans. (Though during one drunken evening he did express doubts to Alicent about whether or not he should.) His unexpected marriage did lead to Rhaenyra losing something else, though. It caused a deep rift in the previously loving friendship Alicent had with the Princess.

Rhaenyra’s own actions pushed them even further apart.

Rhaenyra Almost Loses Her Spot as HeirHBO

The obstinate, independent Rhaenyra refused to pick a husband from the innumerable suitors (including lords of Great Houses) who came forth to offer their hand in marriage. Lacking the political savvy and/or will to treat them gently, she also left many feeling insulted. Viserys finally forced her into an arranged marriage with Laenor Velaryon—son of the powerful Lord of the Tides and Master of Ships, Corlys Velaryon—after Viserys heard scandalous reports about his daughter cavorting in Flea Bottom with her uncle Daemon. In response an irate Viserys said if Rhaenyra did not agree to the marriage he would name her half-brother Aegon as his lawful heir instead.

While Rhaenyra maintained her position as heir, her evening did result in two powerful figures losing their place in the King’s court. Viserys finally realized how Otto had manipulated him into marrying Alicent and removed Otto as Hand of the King. And Daemon, who had returned to King’s Landing in glory after winning a war in the vitally important Stepstones alongside Corlys Velaryon, saw his scandalous evening with Rhaenyra lead to a second estrangement from his brother.

Ollie Upton/HBO

What no one knew was that Rhaenyra had actually ended that night with her sworn protector and member of the Kingsguard, the worst human on the planet, Ser Criston Cole. Their relationship would also forever change the Realm.

The Many Loves of Rhaenyra HBO

Before her marriage, Criston Cole, who’d violated his sacred Kingsguard oath already, proposed that Rhaneyra run off to Essos with him. She refused to give up her future crown and the world-changing prophecy entrusted to her. That ended their relationship. The awful, despicable loser grew to hate Rhaenyra and instead swore his life to protecting her rival, Queen Alicent.

Rhaenyra’s first marriage also helped lead to the coming civil war. She had no problem that Laenor was gay, and the two agreed to live their own lives will still maintaining a strong personal bond. He spent his time with his paramours while she spent hers with Ser Harwin Strong, the son of new Hand of the King Lyonel Strong. Rhaenyra’s three dark-haired sons were all clearly Harwin’s offspring, an open secret everyone but Viserys knew.

HBO

Eventually Rhaenyra and Laenor came up with a plan to fake his death so he could live freely in Essos and she could marry her uncle Daemon, recently widowed for the second time. (He caused his first wife’s fatal accident and his second, the sister of Laenor had her dragon Vhagar bathe her in flame during childbirth.)

Everyone, including Laenor’s powerful parents, assumed Rhaenyra and Daemon had Laenor killed. Rhaenyra and Daemon would have two children, Aegon (yes, another one) and Viserys. Both had blonde Targaryen hair.

The Two Families of Viserys Don’t See Eye to EyeOllie Upton/HBO

The kind but naive Viserys was desperate for all his grandchildren to grow up together and form strong familial bond that would strengthen House Targaryen. Instead Alicent’s boys mocked their “strong” cousins for clearly being illegitimate. Their feud would erupt one fateful night after Aemond claimed the biggest dragon in the world, Vhagar. When he returned from his first flight a fight between the boys led to Rhaenyra’s son Luke slicing out Aemond’s eye. The entire royal court then saw just how much animosity existed between Alicent and Rhaenyra.

Alicent believed she’d always been dutiful while Rhaenyra did whatever she wanted. Rhaenyra believed Alicent, who wanted Luke to lose an eye as payment, was a fraud long hiding behind a veil of morality.

Larys Strong Kills His Family and Otto Hightower ReturnsHBO

Larys Clubfoot, Master of Whispers, had his father and brother killed in a fire at Harrenhal, making him Lord of the giant ruined castle. He then worked for Queen Alicent, who kept Larys happy by indulging his foot fetish.

The less said about all of that the better.

Deathbed Confusion Leads to a New KingHBO

A dying Viserys spent his final night on Earth happy. He’d organized a dinner for all his family where everyone had a nice time. But when Viserys left Aemond couldn’t help but insult his cousins, splintering the two sides again. Alicent then went to see her husband. He believed he was talking to Rhaenyra about Aegon’s dream. Alicent thought Viserys was talking about their son and that he wanted their child to become king and not Rhaenyra.

When Alicent went to the small council she learned they were already planning to install Aegon as king over Rhaenyra, who was back at Dragonstone unaware her father had even died. Criston Cole murdered the only member of the council who spoke up against the coup. Days later, and after making lords and ladies in King’s Landing choose a side at threat of death, Cole crowned a previously reluctant Aegon in the Dragonpit with the Conqueror’s crown and sword in front of all King’s Landing.

HBO

Princess Rhaenys, who Alicent had tried to imprison in the Red Keep, ruined the festivities when she broke through the floor with her dragon Meleys. Rhaenys opted not to kill the Hightower faction, even though her two granddaughters and only unquestioned living heirs will now be in danger. Rhaenys instead flew to Dragonstone to alert Rhaenyra about Aegon taking the Iron Throne.

The Dance of the Dragons Begins With a Mother’s GriefHBO

Rhaenyra did not respond with fire and blood to her brother’s treachery. She showed restraint and debated whether she should give up her claim to keep the peace. (In large part because of Aegon the Conqueror’s dream.)

But she still made moves to shore up her support after being named Queen with her father’s crown. (The Kingsguard Arryk Cargyll had stolen it and brought it to her, while his identical twin brother Erryk stayed to serve in Aegon’s Kingsguard.) Rhaenyra then sent her two oldest sons, Jace and Luke, off to see if the Lords of Westeros remembered their oaths to her.

Some did, but others hadn’t even made them. Their fathers had. That included Borros Baratheon, who agreed to support Aegon in exchange for Aemond marrying one of his daughters.

HBO

Prince Lucerys knew none of this when he arrived at Storm’s End to seek the support of House Baratheon. There Luke found an angry Borros and his cousin, who wanted one of Luke’s eyes for long overdue retribution.

Luke then left on his small dragon and Aemond followed on Vhagar. As Aemond chased Luke down to merely toy with him, the dragons acted out and Vhagar killed both Luke’s dragon and the young prince. Season one ended with Daemon telling Rhaenyra about her child’s death.

HBO

And so the Dance of the Dragons began.

Now you’re all caught up on season one. So get ready for the show’s second season with Everything We Know About House of the Dragon Season 2.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who talks about Westeros like it’s a real place. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Cher Almost Starred in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE and Wrote a Song About the Film

Oscar-winning actress and iconic singer Cher has us convinced she’s immortal. Although she just turned 78, you wouldn’t know it at first glance. Yet once upon a time, she very nearly played a famous immortal, when the part of Louis in Interview with the Vampire, was being written for her. When the role instead went to Brad Pitt for the 1994 film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel, Cher wrote a song based on the story, but it also didn’t make it into the film. However, nearly two decades later, Cher released the song, “Lovers Forever,” on her 2013 album Closer to the Truth. So a vestige remains of her long-simmering interest in Rice’s supernatural world, even if she never got the chance to wear the fangs herself.

Cher Almost Played Louis in Interview with the Vampire

An adaptation of Anne Rice’s seminal novel about the undead was in development for the better part of two decades. For much of the 1980s, conservative Hollywood studios balked at the idea of a version of the book as written. Which is the story of two male vampires in a centuries-long relationship who raise a young vampire daughter together. As a way of getting around this roadblock, Rice devised a solution. She’d make the character of Louis, who was partially based on herself, into a woman disguised as a man. The intent was for Cher to play this version of Louis, who was still an 18th-century plantation owner. Here’s what Rice herself had to say on that script to Movieline back in 1994:

Cher/Warner Bros.

The whole idea was that Louis would be a transvestite woman. At that time in history, you could own your own plantation and run things if you were a man, but you couldn’t if you were a woman. It was the French law. So this was a woman who dressed like a man, and otherwise it was exactly the same as Interview With the Vampire.

It’s hard to imagine casting Cher in a movie makes it less gay. Yet things like that went over the heads of mainstream culture back then. Also, as a fan of the novel, Cher actually wanted to see it done correctly herself. Once producer David Geffen got a hold of the Interview with the Vampire property in the early ’90s, he committed to making a faithful version. As one of the few out gay men in a position of power at that time in Hollywood, he had the clout to make it as written.

“Lovers Forever” Was Cher’s Ode to Louis and Lestat

Eventually, Anne Rice wrote a new script. Louis was a man again and Cher was out. However, Cher was still a big fan of the book, and was close friends with David Geffen. So she wrote a song for the film (with musician Shirley Eikhard) called “Lovers Forever.” For unknown reasons, the studio went with a Guns n’ Roses cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” instead for the film. Although, we can guess that Cher’s use of the word “lovers” for the vampires made the studio uncomfortable at the time. Believe it or not, mainstream audiences at the time largely didn’t get that Lestat and Louis were more than just bloodsucking buddies.

Cher revived the song for her 25th album, giving it a modern dance update. It took decades, but “Lovers Forever” ended up crawling out of the grave. Fans of Cher have even uploaded videos for the song, which show Cher emerging out of a coffin, sporting fangs, and looking as glamourous as Lestat ever did. The images were from a video backdrop from her song “Dressed to Kill,” a song she performed on her 2013 tour of the same name.

With Interview with the Vampire now a hit TV series, maybe the song can finally make it into an official production. We certainly could see Sam Reid’s Lestat singing it in his rock star phase. Perhaps with Cher in the audience? Hopefully, we can manifest this into existence.

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Steve Carell Will Star in New HBO Comedy Series From Bill Lawrence

Two TV titans are teaming up at HBO, but they’re going to college to do it. The network and Warner Bros. have announced The Office‘s Steve Carell will star in a new series set at a campus that is co-created by Scrubs and Ted Lasso‘s Bill Lawrence.

NBC

HBO has ordered a ten-episode first season of a new comedy series from Lawrence and Matt Tarses (Scrubs, The Goldbergs, Sports Night). The two will both write the first episode and serve as executive producers on the show. Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer of Doozer Productions will also join as executive producers. As will Carell, who will pull double duty both onscreen and behind it.

The series from Warner Bros. Television does not have an official title. It does have a (somewhat sparse) logline that provides a general overview of the show. Carell will star as a man with the same job as his two real-life bosses penning the pilot. From HBO:

A single-camera comedy set on a college campus, centering on an author’s complicated relationship with his daughter.

Netflix

In a press release Lawrence talked about his excitement for the series and working with his famous star. “HBO has long been a standard bearer of quality TV,” he said. “Getting to do a show there with Steve Carell is an immediate career highlight for Matt and me. Nothing can go wrong now.”

While we recognize Lawrence’s had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek with that last line, this is obviously as good a pairing as you’ll get in TV. For right now, though the question is not whether the show will succeed (honestly, who knows!). It’s who will play Carell’s daughter on the show. The part is certain to be one of the most highly coveted in Hollywood.

Any young actress would be excited to work with Steve Carell or Bill Lawrence. But one of them will soon get to work with both.

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Everything We Know About the DCU’s SUPERMAN: LEGACY Speculation

Soon, the world will meet a new Clark Kent in Superman. (Formerly titled Superman: Legacy). DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the most famous superhero in the world as they transition the franchise from the DCEU to the DCU. Who will play the Man of Steel on the big screen this time around? What kind of story will we see him in? And who will bring it to life? We’re keeping track of all these answers and more.

DC Comics/Frank Quitely

Here’s everything we know about Superman so far.

Title

The DCU’s first official movie (though not its first official release) is now titled simply Superman. Of course, the movie began its life as Superman: Legacy. It will kick off the film side of what James Gunn has called the franchise’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” He has also called this movie “the true beginning” of the DCU.

Superman‘s Plot

While the film still has no official synopsis, Warner Bros. did provide a description of what we can expect from the story, which James Gunn says is not an origin tale.

Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn announced the film with art from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Whether or not that means the story is influenced, inspired by, or adapted from the 12-issue comic series in any way is unclear. What Gunn has said is the movie will focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” where he is still old enough to already be working for the Daily Planet.

Superman‘s CastNetflix/DC Comics/Prime Video

David Corenswet will play Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

In addition, four more actors have joined the cast of Superman. Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi will play Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan will play Metamorpho. María Gabriela de Faría will play the villain The Engineer in the movie. Also known as Angela Spica, the character has nanotechnology built into her body. Additionally, Sara Sampaio will play Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen, and Wendell Pierce will play The Daily Planet boss Perry White. James Gunn has also confirmed that Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor.

Gunn also recently confirmed the casting of Ma and Pa Kent on Threads. Pruitt Taylor Vince (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will play Jonathan Kent, a.k.a. Pa Kent. Meanwhile, Neva Howell will play Martha Kent.

Behind the Scenes 

James Gunn wrote the (definitely completed) script and is directing.

Superman‘s Release Date

Thanks to the efforts of our talented crew, who never lost faith during the longest strikes in Hollywood history, and who never let their foot off the pedal, continuing to barrel forward, creating the most amazing character and set designs I’ve seen in my entire career,… pic.twitter.com/ntnEbA2fC0

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 11, 2023

Superman will soar into theaters faster than a speeding bullet on July 11, 2025.

Originally published on April 11, 2023.

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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Makes the F***cking Most of Its R-Rating in New Synopsis

After years of speculating, in 2022, Marvel Studios confirmed that Deadpool would officially join the MCU for a third installment of the R-rated comic book franchise at the start of Phase Six. This would mark the first official character of the Fox X-Men universe joining the MCU (although Patrick Stewart as a variant Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kinda counts too, we suppose).

Deadpool & Wolverine will, of course, be the first R-rated movie in the MCU. And that means it’s not pulling any punches. In fact, its latest official synopsis drops two F-bombs. Let’s take a look:

Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date—Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to—Fuck. Synopses are so fucking stupid.

Marvel Studios

Speaking about the R-rating of the movie, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Ryan Reynolds shared, “It allowed us a lot of freedom. Not exploiting the R-rating just to do R-rated stuff, but it really allowing us to do anything and everything in a world where anything and everything is possible.”

Additionally, director Shawn Levy noted, “We said, ‘Well, the three of us are going to do this and we’ve got to be truthful to the tone of a Deadpool movie.’ That means we’re not softening the edges. We’re going to be audacious and funny and edgy, the way I know I, as a fan, want from Logan and from Wade Wilson.” Levy further added that there was no pushback from Marvel about delving fully into Deadpool & Wolverine‘s R-rating. He revealed, “I have to say, every time Ryan, Hugh, and I went in expecting pushback, we got support from Kevin [Feige], from everyone at Disney. They have trusted us and allowed us to do the version of Deadpool & Wolverine that we feel is best.”

Marvel Studios

Here is everything we know so far about Deadpool & Wolverine.

TitleMarvel Studios

Thanks to a Super Bowl trailer (check it out below!), we know that this film, formerly called Deadpool 3, is actually Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Plot

The plot of Deadpool & Wolverine remains a mystery. All we know is that Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine, and that it takes place before the feral X-Man’s death in Logan. In fact, Jackman has confirmed that time travel will be involved in the threequel in a big way.

While originally, Deadpool & Wolverine was called Deadpool 3, director Shawn Levy wants to make sure fans understand that the title change is not just cosmetic. Levy notes to Screen Rant:

As far as crafting the Deadpool & Wolverine story, I just felt privileged every day because you’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles. It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not Deadpool 3. It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool and Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.

As most folks know by now, Deadpool’s third solo film will reunite him with his X-Men Origins: Wolverine co-star. Deadpool and Wolverine will work together, although they have made it very clear that these two characters “hate each other.” It will not be a love-fest in this story. But the fact that Deadpool & Wolverine is smack in the middle of the Multiverse Saga should give us all a clue as to what’s going to go down, and probable multiversal shenanigans will ensue.

Dogpool, of course, will also star.

Make sure to follow him on Instagram.

We also now know what Deadpool & Wolverine‘s new official logo looks like thanks to a fun poster.

Marvel StudiosDeadpool & Wolverine‘s Cast20th Century Studios

We know Hugh Jackman will return, along with the very obvious Ryan Reynolds. Here’s who else we know about: Karan Soni, cab driver Dopinder, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen. In exciting news, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic are reprising their roles as Vanessa and Colossus in Deadpool & Wolverine. So are Rob Delaney’s Peter, Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), and Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio). Jennifer Garner’s Elektra from the 2003 Daredevil Marvel Fox movie is also reported to reprise her role in this MCU film.

20th Century StudiosBehind the Scenes

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s director for this third outing will be Shawn Levy, most recently known for his work on Stranger Things. This would be a reunion for Levy and Reynolds, as the pair previously worked together on the movie Free Guy. Levy is also known for the time travel movie The Adam Project.

On the writing side of things are Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, writers for the popular animated series Bob’s Burgers. The writers for the first two Deadpool films, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, are also contributing to movie number three’s screenplay, as is Ryan Reynolds himself.

Deadpool & Wolverine Release DateMarvel Studios

Deadpool & Wolverine will arrive on July 26, 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2023.

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