Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 32

FINAL DESTINATION 7 Is in the Works, BLOODLINES Writer Penning Script

Death will continue to come and collect more souls in yet another Final Destination sequel. This year, we got a sixth film, Final Destination Bloodlines, after a 14 year hiatus. It took death’s design to new heights by wiping out not only those who cheated death, but their descendants as well. It’s not clear what path this next Final Destination installment will go down but, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Bloodlines co-writer Lori Evans Taylor will pen its script. 

We can assume that we will start with a fresh cast, including a protagonist who has a vision that helps several people cheat death. With Tony Todd’s unfortunate passing in real life, that means pretty much all the characters from the franchise are gone now.

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The only two left are Kimberly Corman, who successfully cheated death in the second film and spared her life as well as state trooper Thomas Burke. Corman was mentioned but not seen in the most recent film, so maybe she can help the next batch of unfortunate souls attempt to survive. 

Warner Bros. Pictures

Of course, we will have to wait to learn more details about this Final Destination sequel and what will go down in a seventh film.

The post FINAL DESTINATION 7 Is in the Works, BLOODLINES Writer Penning Script appeared first on Nerdist.

Tom Holland Suits Up in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Filming Clip

Tom Holland is officially back in the swing of things for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we have a sneak peek into day one of filming thanks to a new featurette clip. Holland dons that infamous blue and red suit once again, gushing that it is his fourth first day on a Spidey film set. But, this time, he says putting the suit on feels different for some reason. And, the set is buzzing thanks to fans being there to witness what’s going down. Honestly, this isn’t a bad idea considering people like to leak things and snoop around anyway. 

We get to see Holland in action in this Spider-Man: Brand New Day clip as he performs a few stunts and jokingly says there’s “no pressure” to get things right. The most adorable part of it all is the tiny Spiderfolks watching their hero, especially the little guy that Tom lifts up in the air. We are feeling all the good feelings right now.

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It is a brand new day and fresh start for everyone involved, indeed. Filming will continue for the next couple of months or so before the process moves on to lots of post work, including CGI, to bring everything to life. 

What Is the Release Date for Spider-Man: Brand New Day?Sony Pictures

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

The post Tom Holland Suits Up in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Filming Clip appeared first on Nerdist.

Every Manga Easter Egg We Saw in the ONE PIECE Season 2 Teaser Trailer

It’s finally time to set sail once more, fellow Straw Hats! After years of waiting, Netflix has released the first trailer live-action One Piece season two––now revealed to be called One Piece: Into the Grand Line. And boy, there’s a lot to unpack in this action-filled first look! Join us in the high seas as we delve into all of the Easter eggs and references from the One Piece anime and manga that we spotted in the action-packed trailer for One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line.

All of the Anime and Manga Easter Eggs and References We Saw in the One Piece Season 2, Into the Grand Line TrailerReverse Mountain & Laboon: One Piece Season 2’s Trailer Begins and Ends with a Whale of a Manga Easter EggNetflix

The live-action One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line, trailer bookends with the ominous cries of the giant blue whale from the One Piece anime and manga, Laboon. First, in the opening shot of the live-action One Piece trailer, we see the Going Merry approaching Reverse Mountain, which is the entrance to the Grand Line. That Easter egg makes sense because One Piece season two is called Into the Grand Line, after all. Then, toward the end of the trailer, we get a thrilling shot where we see the Straw Hat crew descend the mountain… straight towards the open mouth of the colossal Laboon. 

In the One Piece manga, the Straw Hat Pirates are swallowed whole by the whale to begin their adventure on the Grand Line, but it will be interesting to see whether the live-action One Piece series will stay true to that plot point or find a more grounded option to adapt the arc. We’re glad to see this whale of a reference to the One Piece manga in the season two trailer, one way or the other.

Loguetown & Smoker: Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Teases More Time Spent in a Critical Manga LocationNetflix

The live-action One Piece season two trailer also shows us many shots from the Straw Hats’ final stop in the East Blue before heading out for the Grand Line, Loguetown. This location is a pivotal one for Luffy and his crew’s journey, as they encounter many important figures on their stop there. Most notably, the Straw Hats meet the Marine Captain Smoker. The end of live-action One Piece’s first season teased this powerful Devil Fruit user. And Smoker makes his glorious duel-cigar-smoking debut in the One Piece: Into the Grand Line season two trailer, played by Callum Kerr. 

From the other shots we see in the One Piece trailer, it would appear that the crew will be spending a bit more time in Loguetown than they do in the manga, with several shots taking place at night, including one of Luffy looking up at the scaffold of Gol D. Roger’s execution. This shot offers a deep-cut One Piece manga Easter egg embedded into the One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line, trailer because it reminds us of Loguetwon’s nickname in the manga, the “Town of Beginnings and Endings.” Loguetown is the place of Rogers birth and death, and we feel the show will meditate on this during the season.

Whiskey Peak: This One Piece Season 2 Trailer Manga Easter Egg Hints at Some Drunken Delights

Another gorgeous manga set piece we see showcased in this live-action One Piece season two trailer is the iconic Cactus Island, home to the town of Whiskey Peak. Without giving too much away for those who aren’t familiar with the One Piece source material, Whiskey Peak is the Straw Hats’ first official stop on the Grand Line, and it is a memorable one full of surprises, to say the least… It may or may not feature some drunken revelry. We’ll see how far the Netflix live-action One Piece series takes this trailer reference. It is fun to see Whiskey Peak pop up in the One Piece season two trailer, though, and we’re sure it will be chock-full of manga Easter eggs when it comes to life.

Miss Wednesday Makes Her First AppearanceNetflix

One such Whiskey Peak surprise is Vivi, a.k.a. Miss Wednesday, who also makes her first appearance in the One Piece season two trailer. Played by Charithra Chandran, in the manga, the blue-haired Baroque Works agent clashes with Luffy and the crew during this early period on the Grand Line. However, there’s more to this character than may initially appear, as she soon becomes an integral part of their story across the One Piece Alabasta saga. We feel excited to see a reference to Vivi/Miss Wednesday’s One Piece manga journey in the Into the Grand Line trailer.

Miss All Sunday First-Look Teases Interesting Change From the One Piece MangaNetflix

Speaking of Baroque Works agents, the live-action One Piece season two trailer also offered fans their first look at another significant manga character debuting this season, Nico Robin, a.k.a. Miss All Sunday, played by Lera Abova. In a quick shot, we see a glimpse at the cowboy hat-clad baddie and her Devil Fruit powers as she bursts open a door with a storm of flower petals. This One Piece season two trailer Easter egg will interest fans, as it nods to Miss All Sunday’s manga powers but changes their presentation from the manga. It’ll be interesting to note whether this signifies an overall change to how Miss All Sunday’s powers will be presented in the live-action series, or if this is merely a tease at what we can expect from her in the future. 

Little Garden, Giants, & WaxNetflix

The final locations teased in this trailer were the exotic jungles of Little Garden, and their BIG surprises. In easily the standout moments of the trailer, we got our first look at one of the giants the crew will meet on Little Garden, Brogy, played by Brendan Murray. Sadly, no Dory in this trailer, but we do know he will be appearing this season as well, played by Werner Coetser. 

Likewise, while none of the Baroque Works agents the crew encounters on Little Garden appear in this live-action One Piece season two trailer, we do get a little reference to David Dastmalchian’s Mr. 3. This can be seen in a quick shot of Sanji breaking into his hideout on the island, which you can see is made entirely of wax. 

One Piece: Into the Grand Line‘s Teaser Trailer Promises Manga Easter Eggs Galore in Live-Action Season 2

The live-action One Piece season two trailer is sure to reignite fans’ excitement for the new season as it peppers in an incredible amount of manga Easter eggs and references for long-time fans. The trailer does an incredible job of showcasing the wide variety of extraordinary adventures awaiting the crew on the Grand Line. And that’s not even including Chopper’s portion of the season in Drum Island, which was notably absent from the trailer. 

Thankfully, One Piece fans can expect more exciting details and insights on season two (and three) as the show will officially return in 2026. 

The post Every Manga Easter Egg We Saw in the ONE PIECE Season 2 Teaser Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Live-Action ONE PIECE Officially Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix

Raise the sails, everyone, it’s clear waters ahead. Although Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two does not even have a release date yet, Netflix seems to think it has a real pirate treasure on its hands. Netflix has officially renewed live-action One Piece for season three. And there was much celebration throughout the land. In honor of One Piece Day, Netflix not only released a live-action One Piece season two teaser trailer but also announced the season three renewal. And now, when asked, “Is One Piece renewed for season three?” We can confidently say, “YES!” We and Luffy are going to be King of the Pirates… or at least King of One More Season.

Netflix shared more about the live-action One Piece season three renewal in a release, noting, “The series has also been given an early Season 3 renewal, which will begin production in Cape Town, South Africa, later this year. Ian Stokes is set to join Joe Tracz as co-showrunner for Season 3.” We guess there is no time to waste when finding the One Piece. It’s exciting to know that while we’ll be enjoying season two of live-action One Piece, the cast and crew will already be hard at work building season three. It’s interesting to note that another co-showrunner has been brought on to create One Piece season three, but we’re glad to see a legacy team member on-board as well. We’re eager to see what Stokes and Tracz will create.

Netflix

It’s rare for series to get any kind of renewal these days. And for One Piece to receive a season three is a big deal. But we’re glad to see such an amazing show rewarded for a job well done. One Piece season one captivated us and beautifully brought to life the franchise’s main themes of dreaming, friendship, and found family.

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As the ocean carries us toward One Piece season two, if feels comforting to know season three is right around the corner—a dream come true, one might say. One Piece season two will release in 2026. Hopefully, live-action One Piece season three will not be very far behind.

The post Live-Action ONE PIECE Officially Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix appeared first on Nerdist.

ONE PIECE Season 2 Trailer: First Look at Live-Action Giants, Smoker, and Miss Wednesday, Oh My!

Ahoy, Straw Hat Pirates. It is time we properly set sail for season two of live-action One Piece. Although the Netflix One Piece series won’t set sail until 2026 and hasn’t yet revealed a release date to us, it has finally given us our first proper look at the series. And honestly, this first look at One Piece season two, One Piece: Into the Grand Line, in all its live-action glory has us literally vibrating, some might say, stretching with excitement for more of the delightful show. Among other things, this One Piece season two teaser trailer gives us our first glimpse at new characters, heroes and villains, joining the live-action world from the animated/drawn one. We finally meet Callum Kerr’s Smoker, Lera Abova’s Nico Robin, and Charithra Chandran’s Miss Wednesday among others. Of course, we saw all of our familiar favs, including Usopp, Nami, Zoro, Sanji, in fine form. Then, of course, there’s our fearless leader, Luffy, whom we have missed.

You can find the full One Piece: Into the Grand Line season two teaser trailer above for your viewing pleasure.

Live-Action One Piece Season 2: Into the Grand Line Teaser Trailer Introduces Characters From the Manga

In season one, live-action One Piece did the nearly impossible. It managed to create a successful adaptation of not only an anime/manga, but THE anime/manga. One Piece is one of the longest-running and most beloved manga out there, and the anime has droves of fans. But Netflix’s heartfelt, sometimes silly, larger-than-life and fabulously campy take on the property won the hearts and minds of long-time fans and brand new viewers. One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line, continues that legacy if the trailer is anything to go by. The characters and settings looked plucked out of the One Piece manga/anime, but somehow still realistic and not ridiculous. Everything is bright, but the tension is high. The monsters are more terrifying than ever, but fabulously fantastical.

Netflix

We especially feel that the One Piece live-action teaser trailer does justice to the character of Smoker. In the anime and manga, this hulking One Piece Marine takes up an insane amount of space and looks cool while casually smoking a split cigarette. Against the odds, he looks just as cool doing so in the live-action One Piece: Into the Grand Line season two trailer. A feat that blows our minds. Smoker is all set to be the main primary Marine villain that clashes with our favorite Straw Hat pirates after they meet in Loguetown and chases them into the Grand Line.

Netflix

We won’t say too much about him here, but if you want to read up on even more Easter eggs and manga references from the One Piece season two trailer, make sure to read our piece here.

Click To View Gallery Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Synopsis and Release DateNetflix

The official synopsis for One Piece season two Into the Grand Line shares:

Netflix’s epic high-seas pirate adventure, ONE PIECE, returns for Season 2—unleashing fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet. Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line—a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.

Notably missing from this One Piece: Into the Grand Line live-action trailer is season two’s superstar, Chopper. But we have to save something for the main trailer, eh? Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two will release in 2026. The show has also been excitingly renewed for a season three.

The post ONE PIECE Season 2 Trailer: First Look at Live-Action Giants, Smoker, and Miss Wednesday, Oh My! appeared first on Nerdist.

If You Own a Golden Retriever, They Could Be the Next AIR BUD

Just when you thought they’d exhausted every ’90s property for a revival, the basketball-playing golden retriever, Air Bud, will return to cinema screens next year. The original Disney Air Bud movie in 1997 was a surprise hit, and led to 15 direct-to-video movies. But with Air Bud returning for a big screen reboot in 2026, they’re looking for the right pooch to take over the mantle of Buddy. Production company Cineverse and Air Bud Entertainment have announced a nationwide talent search to discover the next golden retriever to shoot hoops. Are you that lucky dog owner?

The studios are inviting dog owners from all across the country to submit their purebred golden retrievers to audition. To take part in the search, participants only need to visit the official Air Bud site. Even if your dog doesn’t make the cut, every submission becomes eligible to win different prizes, like Air Bud jerseys and signed movie merchandise. Maybe even a trip to the premiere in Hollywood. This movie comes out only a year from now, in summer 2026. So we can’t imagine it’s going to take the production that long to find a new all-star canine.

Air Bud Entertainment

Here’s the official synopsis for Air Bud Returns:

In Air Bud Returns, 12-year-old Jacob has always dreamt of being a star basketball player. After the passing of his father, that dream felt even more impossible. But everything changes when he and his mom move into his dad’s childhood home in Fernfield. There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the Air Bud movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting of a neglected golden retriever he names Buddy. Together, they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship. Through it all they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!

So it’s a meta sequel, where the original Air Bud is a movie within the universe. I guess it’s better than explaining how a dog from the ’90s somehow survived for thirty years. Will American children become gripped with Air Bud mania all over again? We’ll find out when Air Bud Returns hits theaters next summer.

The post If You Own a Golden Retriever, They Could Be the Next AIR BUD appeared first on Nerdist.

Dante Basco and Zach Tyler Eisen Dive Into Zuko & Aang’s Friendship and Talk 20 Years of ATLA

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there is no more beautiful show than Avatar: The Last Airbender. Against all odds, the series achieved storytelling perfection, which not only stuck the ending when it first released, but has stood the test of time. 20 years after its release, Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to enchant audiences and captivate the hearts of all those who are lucky enough to dive into its world. As a long-time fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender myself, it was my great honor to catch up with Dante Basco, the voice of Zuko and Zach Tyler Eisen, the voice of Aang, to discuss 20 years of Avatar: The Last Airbender, memories of the show, thoughts of about their characters, Zuko and Aang’s incredible friendship (and Zukaang), and, of course, what everyone needs in their lives, The Real Housewives of Ba Sing Se.Nerdist

Nerdist: Looking back at Avatar: The Last Airbender, 20 years later, is there an episode or line that jumps out to you when you think about the creation of the show?

Zach Tyler Eisen: I don’t know. I do remember being confused at Flameo Hotman, when I first got the script. It was either the first or second episode of the third season and I’m reading the script for recording and I’m like, “What is Flameo Hotman?” And then eventually they explained it to me and it makes sense. But it’s become a fan favorite for sure. And that definitely stuck with me.

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There’s a lot of profound stuff in there too, obviously. Aang has a lot of that stuff, obviously. Like, “The past can be a great teacher.” Or, “Anyone’s capable, great good and great evil.” These are great quotes.

Dante Basco: I think some of the popular lines I don’t remember doing. I don’t know how they got popular. I remember when people started asking for like, “Hello, Zuko here,” or, “That’s rough, buddy.” And I’m like, “What” Even honor was lost on me. “Why am I writing all this stuff?”

Eisen: You only said it a thousand times.

Nickelodeon

Basco: I know, but when you’re saying it and you’re in it, you’re not thinking that you’re being ironic or you’re just, “What are you talking about? I was dead serious.” But what I do remember doing is when I was on the mountain screaming at the wind, and it was a very interesting time for Zuko in the story and a very interesting time for myself in life. I remember Andrea Romano (Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s voice director) really pushing me to go there. And, as a matter of fact, we weren’t even in the same booth. I was actually away shooting a movie in Toronto at the time. And so she was over the interwebs or whatever…

Eisen: ISDN, ISDN, I’m a pro with that. (ISDN is “a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services.”

Basco: Back then, there was no internet. It was ISDN, and she was kind of pushing me to go there. And so that feeling and that, (Here, Basco mimes shouting at the gods into the sky), it still resonates with me.

Nickelodeon

Dante, did you know the full arc of Zuko’s journey when you started voicing him? And what did you change in your voice acting as he evolved?

Basco: No, I did not know. Yeah, I didn’t know. I just was going with it. I think as we were reading through it, I remember once I found out how he got his scar, it really intrigued me like, “He’s not who I thought he was.” But I thought when I signed on that I was going to be the villain. Because I was playing Jake Long on Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long. And I was doing both shows simultaneously. And I was like, “Oh, I’ll be the hero on Disney and I’ll be the villain on Nickelodeon. Then little by little I was like, “He’s not the villain. He’s someone else.”

And yeah, I didn’t even understand until years later how profound his whole story was. I thought it was cool that he joined the Gaang and when I realized he was going to teach Aang to Firebend, I was like, “Wow.” I thought that was cool. The whole story was cool, but I didn’t understand the impact that it was going to have.

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Eisen: You were going on the journey with Zuka. He didn’t know he was going to be good either.

Basco: 100%. Right. Hundred percent. Hundred percent.

Eisen: And you hear it in your voice. You’re so angry at the beginning of the series, season one, I don’t know if you even have a lighthearted scene. You are so, you’re so much anger in your voice.

Basco: I mean, it’s funny when I watch it now. At the time, I literally thought, “This is so serious, this thing.” I was like, I feel like I have a sitcom to do with the Disney show, and then I do an hour drama for Nick. That’s what it felt like when I was doing it.

And then Zach, we touched on it a little bit, but Aang, he can be really goofy, and then he can be really serious, and it kind of happens at the drop of a hat. Was that difficult to switch those tones so quick when you were pointing it?

Nickelodeon

Eisen: Definitely. Especially as a kid. But all the credit for that goes to Andrea Romano, who’s our incredible voice director. She just really helped us get there. Especially for me, I had a very different journey than the rest of the cast. They were all LA people. I was on the East coast, so I was never in the booth with anybody else in New York. I really had to lean on her. So yeah, it was tough switching like that, but honestly, that’s the dream role for an actor to have that range. I just hope I did it some justice.

Did either of you ever improvise in the show and did any of that make it in?

Eisen: I did / Basco: I did not.

Eisen: They gave me a little bit of a leash to improv now and then.

Nickelodeon

Basco: Jack De Sena was improvising.

Eisen: Jack is an improv extraordinaire.

But yeah, I think in small ways. Not whole lines, but they were great. I was 10, 11, 12. They would let me, if I had an idea, throw it out there. I don’t necessarily remember if anything made it in totally. But that was always great. They were so great at working with kids, of course.

Over the years, we’ve heard different teases about what might’ve happened if there had been a Book Four. Were you ever told what came next for your characters?

Nickelodeon

Basco: I don’t think so. I mean, I always wanted to find out about Zuko’s mother, but we found that out in the comic books, The Search, which is cool. But yeah, it’s one of those shows that’s kind of…

Perfect.

Basco: I mean, I hate to say it. But it’s one of those things where you’re like, you don’t really have to wonder because it’s kind of like what it is, is very perfect. There’s a thing about it where there’s a perfection.

Eisen: It never wore out its welcome.

Nickelodeon

Even though it’s perfect, is there one thing that you wish Zuko and Aang could have gotten to do?

Basco: I think that Zuko and Jet could have a spinoff of times. Like a Butch Cassidy Sundance Kid of something that happened before everything went awry.

Eisen: I want to see The Real Housewives of Ba Sing Se.

Basco: And more beach episodes. There was only one beach episode! CAn we do a whole beach reality show?

Eisen: Aang hits puberty right there. So let’s hear the voice crack.

Basco: The Fire Nation kids were having too much fun on the beach. It was like one of those reality shows. Something island. Craziness. Love Island! Love Island: The Beach.

Eisen: Love Island, but it’s like Lake Lao guy.

Nickelodeon

Okay, we’ve heard a lot about Zutara vs Kataang, so we don’t have to talk about that, but what about Zukka versus Zukaang? Where are your loyalties?

Eisen: Zukaang? Zuko and Aang? Interesting, very interesting.

Basco: Zukka, I hear a lot. Yeah, I’ve gotten art! I’ve gotten art! But Zukaang, I’ve not seen that.

Eisen: No, I haven’t seen that either. It’s interesting. Honestly, I haven’t thought about it. But they could have this interesting balance each other out type of relationship.

Basco: Yeah, they have a great relationship. A very different relationship than with Sokka.

Who was down first?

Eisen: Sokka. I think Aang was a be hesitant! It took Katara the longest!

Basco: Katara was fighting the feeling!

Eisen: Then I think Sokka was like, “You need a Firebending, Master. I think, he’s very practical…

Nickelodeon

Basco: Zuko did throw a fireball at the back of Aang’s head. Early in the game, when you’re like, “I had a Firebending friend. Do you think we could be friends?” And Zuko is like, “How about a fireball in the back of your head?

Eisen: Well, it’s like young kids in love. They show their affection by being mean to one another. That’s their affection.

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Basco: But what’s crazy is when you find out the Roku story and you understand that your past life was best friends with my great-grandfather.

Eisen: There you go.

Basco: That’s crazy! It’s just like we’ve been friends through incarnations. You were best friends with my great-grandfather. It’s special.

Eisen: Written in the stars.

Basco: That hit me kind of heavy, too, because you can always say, “We’d be friends in other lifetimes” and all kinds of stuff, but Zuko and Aang really were.

Eisen: They were.

Beautiful. Okay, I’ll last question, because I love Rufio and also Zuko. What do you think they think of one another? If they ever got to meet?

Basco: They think they sound alike… No, I think they like each other. I think one of my favorite things is when people tell me about the moment they realize that Rufio and Zuko are played by the same person, like that has made some kind of circle in their life. And I’m like “Yes!” It’s awesome.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is streaming on Netflix.

The post Dante Basco and Zach Tyler Eisen Dive Into Zuko & Aang’s Friendship and Talk 20 Years of ATLA appeared first on Nerdist.

James Marsden Opens Up About Returning as Cyclops for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY

Even if you love the original X-Men movies, it’s hard to deny that they did the character of Cyclops dirty. James Marsden portrayed the X-Men’s field leader, Scott Summers, pretty accurately in the first film. But was sidelined big time in X2, and then unceremoniously killed off in X-Men: The Last Stand. Some time travel shenanigans undid his death in X-Men: Days of Future Past, but that was just for a cameo. Ever since, fans have been wondering if we’d see Marsden shoot his optic blasts again on screen. Marvel Studios announced Marsden as finally returning in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, and he has now opened up about his long-awaited return for the first time to Vanity Fair. Here’s what he had to say:

I was excited because you’re a part of something gigantic, and I’ve spent 20 years listening to people say, ‘When are you coming back? When are you coming back? Are you coming back?’ I’m dead. Well, maybe not. I’m going to have a tough time struggling to get into costume if they waited a couple more years. So it’s been a blast. It really has. It’s been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map. It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character, this icon from the comics. And so to step back into that role was pretty special.

Twentieth Century Studios

Hopefully, longtime X-Men superfans the Russo Brothers treat Marsden’s character better than the previous X-Men directors did. We’re crossing our fingers, hoping they truly give him a chance to shine and show off his leadership skills. Marvel announced Marsden was returning to the role alongside fellow Fox X-Men alumni like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Rebecca Romijn, and Alan Cumming in a day-long publicity stunt. Conspicuously missing from this cast reveal were the X-Women, particularly Halle Berry as Storm and Famke Janssen as Jean Grey. But we hold out hope still. This is likely Marsden’s last hurrah as Cyclops, as Marvel Studios plans to recast the X-Men for their debut MCU film post-Secret Wars. But hopefully for this one last time, he gets a chance to go out in style.

The post James Marsden Opens Up About Returning as Cyclops for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY appeared first on Nerdist.

POP MART May Seem Like It JUST Took Over the World with Labubus, But Its Power Has Risen for 15 Years

Maybe you’ve only just heard of POP MART. We don’t blame you if that’s the case. After all, it feels like, overnight, POP MART’s iconic Labubu figure took over the world. But while it might seem like POP MART and its Labubu, of the brand’s The Monsters collection, stole hearts and minds in the blink of an (adorably oversized) eye, POP MART achieved this critical mass, not in an instant, but over 15 years of accumulated hard work, artistic excellence, and a fan-oriented approach. You see, although they are the It collectible of our current moment, like most of POP MART’s releases, Labubus are figures based on the original work of an independent artist that POP MART collaborated with. And it’s this spirit of raising up the artist to manifest truly wonderful creations that has led POP MART to its longevity and ultimate success.POP MART

At San-Diego Comic Con, Nerdist had the pleasure of talking to Emily Brough, Head of Licensing at POP MART Americas. And Brough walked us through the long legacy of POP MART’s success and shed light on its incredibly bright future.

At San Diego Comic-Con, POP MART brought out an array of global debuts, products that we got our very first look at, at the event, and then will be rolled out to stores later in the year. Among the line-up were both original and franchise IPs that Brough shared POP MART has seen great success with. In fact, she revealed that the SDCC POP MART booth required “a whole lottery system to ease the lines.” Otherwise, we imagine the booth would have been flooded with convention goers eager to get their hands on some of the incredible toys featured in the space.

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Among them, I met Nyota, who is created by an artist based in China from PDC, also called Design Center. Brough explains, “This is an internal design house that we have where we work with the designers that are on staff to bring their characters to life and feature them as the artist, feature their characters. Nyota is a real breakout hit. The character has been on the market for a very short amount of time. We just launched in late 2023/2024, and, already she’s one of the best sellers within the US.” In fact, Pop-Mart brought Nyota’s artist, KaKa, for a signing at SDCC—a unique experience for fans and creator alike, as not all toy makers spotlight their artists in such a way.

Nyota’s big eyes peer up at me as we pass her, and truly, she is like no other doll design I’ve seen out there, adorable and whimsical. Nyota brings to life a gentle curiosity and a sweet shyness that’s palpable. It’s clear that an artist’s original style truly inspired these figures’ existence. The collection has a point of view and style all its own. POP MART also takes care to release their collections at different price points and sizes, allowing for a broader audience to enjoy the magic of their collections.

At SDCC, we see smaller Nyota figures that come at a lower price point, and larger, fully standalone versions of the character, which, of course, equate to a more expensive purchase. But that means that everyone, from younger children attracted to the precious design of Nyota to collectors intrigued by the unique art style, can find a Nyota that’s right for them.

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Next to Nyota is POP MART’s Peach Riot line, one of my personal favorites. Brough proudly shares, “Whenever we have Libby Frame,” the artist of Peach Riot, “we have lines and lines out the door. People love talking to her. And Libby loves to see them. She’s very fan-friendly and she loves to interact with her fans, so it’s always fun to see her as well. ” Yet another example of POP MART’s focus on highlighting the artists it works with, which we personally really enjoy and applaud. “The majority of our business is focused on our independent artists,” Brough emphasizes to us. “This category is so important to us.”

In front of us, the ladies of Peach Riot are rocking out in full force. “The fun thing about Peach Riot,” Brough reveals, is that “it’s three figures, which is unusual for POP MART. Usually, with our own IP, it’s only one character, but this is a high school band. They’re Riot Grrrl themed. They’re rebellious, they’re fashionable, and they’re just chasing their creative dreams trying to make it happen.” This is definitely one of POP MART’s most relatable figure lines, and I can see why. Who wouldn’t want to join Peach Riot’s band? I know I would. The figures have an electric energy that can’t be denied. Just looking at them, you know they’ll achieve their dreams, and you can too.

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We also have a soft spot for another of POP MART’s original creations, DUCKOO, created by Chokocider. DUCKOO is, let me tell you, so cute. And also a non-binary icon, presenting more masculine or feminine depending on the design, helping the character to be perfect for any and everyone. DUCKOO, Brough shares, “has an amazing personality. And its whole thing is that it’s super spontaneous. DUCKOO is willing to try anything. So all the series feature the character in super incredible roles.” Brough also wants us to take in the expression on DUCKOO’s face, which is iconic. DUCKOO, she further reveals, was a natural hit. “It found this natural audience without really any extra special marketing or anything.” And we can see why.

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We pass by a few super-sized figures, POP MART’s MEGA line, which transforms their figures into huge versions of themselves in more limited-edition ways. At SDCC, we see MEGA SPACE MOLLY 400%, POP MART’s first-ever character in a space suit, in a few different forms. These include a Hot Wheels collaboration and a version designed by an independent contemporary artist from the UK named Jon Burgerman. Burgerman, let me tell you, is a man with a STYLE.

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The figures, Brough reveals, come in the 400% size and also in the 1000% size, which are even bigger and more limited. 400% figures can cost between $300 and $400. Meanwhile, 1000% size can get up to a $1,000! But hey, if you’re a collector, it’s an exciting offering.

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Independent artists are the crux of POP MART’s focus, but they also do some incredible work with IPs you know and love. At SDCC, Star Wars and Chucky, two of our Nerdist favorites, are front and center. The Star Wars Bobble Head figures caught my eye even before I got up close to them. They are adorable.

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And the Darth Maul figure is not just a want, but a NEED, as far as I’m concerned. The figures are a brand new format for POP MART, and they’re debuting globally at SDCC, but will head to the rest of the market very soon.

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Meanwhile, Chucky Blind Boxes will be arriving in time for Halloween. And it’s POP MART’s first collection with everyone’s favorite horror doll. Each of the figures in the blind boxes captures some of the most memorable moments from the Chucky movies. And, of course, our BFF Tiffany makes one appearance to tease us and tempt us into buying yet more of the boxes. How could our lives be complete without Tiff?

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And, then, drum roll please, it’s time for the Labubus. Personally, I’d thought myself immune to the Labubu obsession sweeping the nation. But looking at them up close and personally at the POP MART SDCC booth, I could feel my resolve melting. Their vinyl faces. Their big eyes. Their soft, pastel fur. Nooooooooo. They got me, they got me good.

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Brough introduces them to me as “The Labubu, our mischievous little Nordic elf who has taken the world by storm.” A major understatement—but Labubus started just like any other POP MART release, the work of an independent artist, highlighted by the brand and brought to prominence by a meeting of minds and hearts.

“The Labubu’s origins are actually from a picture book by a Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-based artist named Kasing Lung. They came out in book format in 2015. And we started working with Kasing in 2019 to bring the characters to life. And then the vinyl-face plush really came about in the way that a lot of our product development comes about,” Brough shares.

She adds, “And that’s that we look for new and inventive ways to bring our characters to life that are unique to that character. We thought, ‘What can we do with Labubu that speaks to everything that she is? And that’s where we came up with this format, which has obviously done really well. But it’s really that I think authenticity and design that helps to breed this excitement that we’ve seen in the market. We work closely with artists on everything that we do. So all of these designs and ideas are in collaboration with Kasing and our design teams.”

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We love the idea that it’s the sincerity of collaboration with the creative heart of the character that has made magic for POP MART. And even though you may have only just heard of the Labubu, their rise to prominence is “not so sudden.”

Brough notes, “She’s been around. This is the 10-year anniversary of the Labubu. And the art has been around for 15 years. So all of this has been making and building for a very long time. It’s been pretty gradual the whole time. Every month or so, we think, ‘Oh, that was a big shift’ and it just continues to grow. So I think it’s an awareness. And it also ties into our expansion globally. All this time, we’ve been opening more and more stores. We started just three years ago, here. We’re now up to 43 stores. Globally, we’re up to 550 stores. We have headquarters in LA, in Sydney, in Singapore, and London. So I think that once you hear about POP MART, you look around and it’s everywhere. And that’s because we’ve been building that, not just with Labubu, but with all our brands.”

When asked which Labubu is her personal favorite, Brough struggles to choose between all her children, but eventually lands on the Labubu Lazy Yoga series, noting she appreciates the fun and irreverence there and the way that the line is “just her, at home, going to yoga.” But all the series, Brough emphasizes, help build out the story of the character through the designs. “It’s an extension, either of their personality or their storytelling.” And it’s this strong focus on narrative that really resonates with people. Brough also brings up POP MART’s Skullpanda IP, where recently, the non-gender character (again, love) had a series called The Sound, which was all about the experience of finding themselves through sound. Brough found it to be a particularly moving series that tied nicely into the Skullpanda story overall.

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Back to the Labubus, when asked if she has any advice for how eager fans can hope to snag the elusive creature, Brough points folks to the POP MART US’s TikTok live stream. She’s not sure if people actually have better luck buyting the Labubu via TikTok, “it’s all anecdotal,” but fans seem to “enjoy the experience of our live stream because we have these very dynamic and interactive posts, and they’re so excited to talk about product. So I see a lot of excitement there.”

She also points folks toward POP MART’s POP NOW option, which replicates the experience of a blind box online. “So you click on, there’s a display flap and there’s a certain number in there, and then you click on one and it’ll show you what it is not. And then you can do that two or three times, and then you put it into your cart if you would like to proceed. Once you pay, you actually get to see what it is. So you get to open up the blind box. That’s fun right there. So people love POP NOW.”

Finally, although there are many POP MART stores in the US, there are EVEN more Robo Shops, 2,500 in total. These vending machine-like structures bring all the magic of POP MART to so many more locations. So if there isn’t a POP MART near you, make sure to try your luck finding a Robo Shop.”

That’s all what’s going on right now. But Brough hints at much excitement to come. When it comes to Labubus, Brough teases, “It is their 10-year anniversary. We’ve got some exciting plans for Labubus.” But beyond that, it’s actually POP MART’s 15-year anniversary, a thrilling time.

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“We’re continuing to really build and grow in the market here in the US, and then also globally,” Brough says, forward-looking. “So, I’m just excited to continue to bring this experience and new IP to the market and to see new stores and new ways for people to interact with our characters. All of it. I’m just excited for all of it. And especially for extending all the stories out for each of the characters with each series, and to see how fans respond. We will be bringing some new IP to the market continuously. And with the momentum that we’ve built over the past couple months, and the past years, I’m really eager to be able to bring new themes and formats and see how people react. We’ll, of course, continue to innovate when it comes to product development. But always, we’ll innovate according to the characters themselves. And I think that we’ll see more and more products that people are just going to really love.”

15 years in the pocket, hit after hit, a gorgeous array of artists, and a bright future ahead—we can’t wait to see what POP MART will do next.

The post POP MART May Seem Like It JUST Took Over the World with Labubus, But Its Power Has Risen for 15 Years appeared first on Nerdist.

JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH’s David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, and Luna Blaise on Comic Relief and Character Development

One of the most unique things about Jurassic World Rebirth is the two distinct storylines that converge together. There’s the dangerous mission that Zora, Henry, Duncan, and the very opportunistic Martin go on to retrieve blood samples from a variety of dinosaurs for a heart disease treatment. Then, there’s the story of Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a father who sets sail with his daughters Isabella (Audrina Miranda) and Theresa (Luna Blaise) along with the latter’s boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono) and ends up in crisis after an unbelievable attack. The dynamic between this quartet shifts and changes as they strive to survive on Île Saint-Hubert alongside a group with a totally different focus. 

Speaking of that dangerous yet striking locale, Nerdist made our way to the several filming locations throughout Thailand for the adventure of a lifetime. Cruising blue-green seas, running through thick grasslands, and scaling rock formations was only a portion of our experience. We got to catch up with ¾ of the aforementioned quartet to talk about Isabella, Teresa, and Xavier’s relationships and evolutions in Jurassic World Rebirth. 

Nerdist: Isabella and Dolores’ relationship is probably one of my favorite parts of Jurassic World Rebirth. Audrina, how do you think they helped each other get through such a scary experience? And what do you think they’re doing after the film? 

Audrina Miranda: I really do think Dolores helped Isabella a lot in all different kinds of ways because she was so scared of dinosaurs. Isabella was able to trust one and also really care for it… Dolores was also a little frightened. I feel like they were in the same boat. So I think they helped each other a lot. And you know what they’re probably doing? They’re actually going to be on their couch watching Jurassic World Rebirth at home.

I love that for them. Now Luna, Theresa is an awesome, dynamic character who really holds her own beside these military operatives and all of these powerful people. What do you think her storyline really brings to the film and what did you enjoy the most about playing her? 

Luna Blaise: I think it’s cool to see another female lead… just a young woman taking her own and standing on business, especially with these dinosaurs. 20 or 35 minutes into the movie, my dad hurts his leg. So the whole time I’m kind of captaining the ship in a way… She definitely finds out more about herself during the whole process and I just think the emotion comes much more raw. 

Universal Pictures

You see growth with her as well as Xavier. He’s kind of the comic relief of the film, but he goes through this real interesting journey of maturing and wanting to prove himself to Teresa’s dad. How do you feel about the journey that he went on and what do you think he would be up to after this film? 

David Iacono: I’m very proud of him as a person. He’s a very insecure person but I think a lot of people are at that age… By the end of it, I think his journey with his self image and respect isn’t complete by any means. I think it’s a really sweet moment when [Reuben] kind of tells him, other people can talk sh*t about us, but we don’t have to do the job for them. I think that’s kind of the first time Xavier’s heard that from anybody. So that’s a big moment for him. In terms of what he’s doing after the movie, I don’t know. I’d like to think that he gets some type of silver lining out of this traumatic experience and he continues to work on himself and care about himself and still value being the funny man, but also learn some self-respect. 

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

For sure. Isabella, you’ve all done so much interaction with both the press and the Jurassic film lovers. What’s your favorite part about interacting with the fandom and what’s it like for so many people to love your character?

Miranda: It’s amazing because this is my first movie. And just seeing the Jurassic fandom, it’s really amazing and really nice for them to welcome me in with open arms. And also I love when people come up to me sometimes and they’re asking for a photo. I love that because I know that people love my character and it’s really nice to know. And I’m like, “Oh, people know me.” It’s cool. It’s really cool. 

To dive more into the cast’s experiences and get to know Isabella’s bestie Delores even better, grab a digital copy of Jurassic World Rebirth today. You’ll get some awesome perks if you buy this film, including the following:  

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

Jurassic World Rebirth is ready to stomp into your living room for lots of action.

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