Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 328

Celebrate 25 Years of THE PHANTOM MENACE With Stunning Art

This May the Fourth, a.k.a. Star Wars Day, fans will once again get the chance to revisit the galaxy far, far away the way it was meant to be seen, on the big screen. For its 25th anniversary, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace will return to theaters for a limited time, and it will return with a stunning brand-new poster by artist Matt Ferguson. Now, thanks to the folks at Bottleneck Gallery, you’ll be able to display that poster in your home. The poster is a collaboration with Lucasfilm and Acme Archives. The print and its variants go on sale Tuesday, April 30.

These four posters showcase our main heroes from the film, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), and a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). We see a small Ani, standing on the sands of Mos Espa, ready to leave Tatooine and become a Jedi. Looming above everyone are the eyes of Darth Maul, ready to exact the Sith’s revenge on the Jedi. These posters carry both the English and Japanese title fonts. You can check out images of each of them below, along with details:

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary (Regular Edition)Lucasfilm/Bottleneck Gallery

Screen print/24 x 36 inches/Timed edition from Tuesday, 4/30 at 12pm Eastern to Sunday, 5/5 at 11:59pm Eastern. $65/Set of $125.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary (Japanese Edition)Lucasfilm/Bottleneck Gallery

Variant Edition – Japanese/screen print/24 x 36 inches/Timed edition from Tuesday, 4/30 at 12:30 pm Eastern to 5/5 at 11:59 pm Eastern/ $65/Set of $125.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Poster (Variant)Lucasfilm/Bottleneck Gallery

Variant screen print/24 x 36 inches/Edition of 425/$85.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Poster (Japanese Variant Edition)Lucasfilm/Bottleneck Gallery

Japanese edition variant/ screen print/24 x 36 inches/Edition of 425/$85.

For more information, be sure to head on over to Bottleneck Gallery’s official site.

The post Celebrate 25 Years of THE PHANTOM MENACE With Stunning Art appeared first on Nerdist.

Wolverine and Colossus’ X-MEN ‘Fastball Special’ Move Gets Deluxe Collectible

In the Marvel comics, Wolverine is a very short guy. Yet thanks to the fact that Hugh Jackman stands at 6’3″, a lot of people today forget Logan’s comic book height. He was so short, that his fellow X-Man Colossus (whose height lived up to his codename) could pick Logan up and literally throw him at an opponent. (He can do this while in his metallic form.) Iconic Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont called this maneuver “the fastball special.” It’s a battle move Wolverine and Colossus use this against their enemies to this day. Now, Sideshow Collectibles is immortalizing the iconic X-Men movement with a Wolverine and Colossus statue and a larger premium format figure.

These are perfect for any hardcore X-Men fan. Also, they capture a moment we hope to see happen in Deadpool & Wolverine. Or maybe even in X-Men ’97, should Colossus ever show up there. You can read the official description for both right here, as well as see several images in our gallery:

Click To View Gallery Sideshow Collectibles Marvel/Sideshow Collectibles Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel Marvel/Sideshow Collectibles Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel a Marvel/Sideshow Collectibles Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel Marvel/Sideshow Collectibles Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel Marvel/Sideshow Collectibles

The Fastball Special Premium Format Figure measures 24″ tall, 15.15″ wide, and 25.5″ deep as Colossus launches Wolverine headfirst into the fray. The metallic mutant plants his feet firmly into the ground while he winds up the pitch. Wolverine has one foot in his friend’s hand and the rest of his body outstretched in anticipation. With his protracted Adamantium claws, he’s going to be the deadliest projectile his enemies have ever known. The Fastball Special: Colossus and Wolverine Statue measures 18” tall, 14.93” wide, and 19.12” deep as a colorful team-up bursts off the comic page and onto your shelf amid a fiery explosion.

Sideshow Collectibles/Marvel

Both Logan and Piotr Rasputin are wearing their classic comic costumes from the All-New, All-Different X-Men comic book era. This is the era that catapulted X-Men from a canceled series to one of Marvel’s most influential comics. Wolverine and Colossus stand on a base of molten Sentinel pieces that tell the story of a battle we haven’t seen yet, but we know was brutal. The statue will set you back $755.00 and the premium format figure costs $1,050.00. You can pre-order both by clicking here. The Wolverine and Colossus fastball special figure and statue are expected to arrive in Q4 2024.

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Netflix Is Developing SCOOBY-DOO Live-Action Series

Get ready to hop in the Mystery Machine again. Scooby-Doo is coming back to live-action, this time as a streaming series for Netflix. The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter. The series is the brainchild of producer Greg Berlanti, the man who was in charge of the DC Arrowverse on the CW, not to mention shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for Netflix. The project has a script-to-series commitment at Netflix, meaning if the streaming giant likes the script, it would trigger a straight-to-series order. It’s somewhat baffling why this is on Netflix and not Max, which owns the Scooby-Doo property.

Warner Bros. Animation

This is supposed to be a more dramatic take on the beloved animated show. We’re not really sure how that works, as the title character is a talking Great Dane. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, who previously adapted Cowboy Bebop for Netflix and High Fidelity for Hulu, are developing the script. Scooby-Doo and his friends first came to live-action in film in 2002. That movie was a huge success at the time and spawned a sequel. While the implication is that the series is a reboot, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want to see the original cast back together.

The original cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! cartoon first debuted in 1969, and has been around in some form as an animated property ever since. We’ve seen versions where all the ghosts the Mystery, Inc. gang chased were hoaxes. Later years saw the gang face off against literal monsters. Greg Berlanti did a great job with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a more serious take on a goofy premise. So who knows, this may be amazing. We just hope there is a minimal amount of Scrappy-Doo in this version. We can let that pup stay in the kennel.

The post Netflix Is Developing SCOOBY-DOO Live-Action Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Final X-MEN ’97 Trailer Teases Ominous Things to Come in the Last 3 Episodes

X-Men ’97 has been a stellar series so far, and one of the best things that Marvel Studios has ever produced for Disney+. The show started out as a fun nostalgia trip. Yet by episode five, it eclipsed almost every other non-comics X-Men media so far. Now, we’re heading into the three-part finale, titled “Tolerance is Extinction.” Marvel Animation has released a new trailer for the season’s end that hints at ominous things to come, particularly with Bastion’s Prime Sentinels. And possibly some big status quo changes too. Watch it down below, and then we’ll unpack all the mutant goodness together:

The trailer opens with a voiceover from Professor X, saying “You were my first students. My family. I wanted you to be free.” This leads us to guess that Charles returns from space, and has a heart-to-heart with Jean and Scott, his first students. We also see him wiping the dust off his old hover chair, suggesting he loses the Shi’ar exo-suit. We also see that Storm returns to the team, in her new/old costume. She appears next to Forge, and what looks like Sunspot, now in his New Mutants uniform from the comics. One shot shows the Professor’s office burning down, suggesting Xavier’s School goes down in flames. The destruction of the X-Mansion is an X-Men comics staple at this point.

Marvel Animation/Marvel Comics

The best new scene in the trailer though has to be Cable suiting up for battle alongside his father Scott. He makes a mention of the X-Men costumes looking like colorful circus outfits, and Cyclops retorts “What would you prefer? Black leather?” This was of course a dig at the original X-Men film. Specifically, the scene where Wolverine makes fun of the leather costumes, and Cyclops says “What would prefer, yellow spandex?” Something which every X-Men fan in the audience said “YES!” to. Although in fairness to those films, after movies like Batman & Robin, we get the initial impulse to not go the multicolored route. (There was no excuse for it in later years though). Cable’s new costume his son hands him looks suspiciously like his late ’90s X-Force look. Which we are very down with.

Marvel Animation

X-Men ’97 releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.

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Wednesday and Morticia Addams Add Gore-geous Glamour to Monster High Skullector Series

The Addams family’s creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky vibes have entertained audiences for decades. The comic series turned popular ‘60s TV became a full-fledged franchise, sparking animated series, stage plays, movies, and more. Today, there’s a whole new generation of fans thanks to Netflix’s Wednesday series that focuses on the family’s pigtailed who is full of woe. It’s nearly impossible not to love Wednesday Addams’ deadpan humor or Morticia’s dark elegance and grace. They are the perfect blend of goth and unique glamor, indeed. That’s why the newest Monster High Skullector doll set, The Addams Family 2 Pack, is a perfect way to honor the animated versions of Wednesday and Morticia. (To be fair, they are the creepiest of them all.) 

Mattel

The Addams ladies are in great company alongside other Skullector sets like The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. If you have a mother figure in your life who loves all things macabre, this could be the perfect set for her. Or, you can grab the Wednesday and Morticia Monster High dolls for yourself if you’re a huge Addams family fan.

Check out this quick product description of The Addams Family 2 Pack Monster High Skullector set: 

Morticia is dolled up in a black spiderweb lace dress with sheer waterfall sleeves and a jagged hem. Her accessories include pruning shears on a chain, rose heels, and a long-stemmed rose with a detachable bud that’s perfect for snipping – how romantic! Wednesday wears a skull-print puff sleeve dress, a purse inspired by her octopus Socrates. Complete with glossy boots and heels inspired by Thing and Cousin It.

Click To View Gallery Mattel Mattel Mattel Mattel

The rose is such great detail considering how she loves to make arrangements with thorny stems. Monster High will make its Skullector Addams family set available on May 10 at 9AM PT. You can sign up for email updates and grab one here.

The post Wednesday and Morticia Addams Add Gore-geous Glamour to Monster High Skullector Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Learn How to Make STARDEW VALLEY’s Strange Bun and Void Mayonnaise

If you’ve played Stardew Valley, you know how big an element food plays in the game. You grow it on your farm, you forage for it, you fish for it. Then you craft meals and use them to win the hearts of your fellow Pelican Town villagers. Or maybe you keep those meals for yourselves to provide plenty of energy for long expeditions in the mines. Whatever your motivation for learning recipes in the game, you don’t need any reason to prepare them in real life besides the fact that you want to. The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook by game creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone and Ryan Novak gives you all the reasons you need to pretend to be The Queen of Sauce. You can get started now because we have your exclusive look at recipes for the Strange Bun and Void Mayonnaise.

Random House Worlds

The Stardew Valley cookbook follows the seasonal vibes of the popular video game. Recipes are divided by the time of year and taken from the in-game meals and food. This cookbook is more than only recipes, though. You get photographs, original illustrations, and lots of little character notes. For this Stardew Valley enthusiast who has put hundreds of hours into different farms, it’s delightful.

You can get a taste of the illustrations and photographs in The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook in these Strange Bun and Void Mayonnaise recipe pages. We know almost no characters like these items in the game, but out of the game? Both recipes sound delicious.

Click To View Gallery Random House Worlds Random House Worlds Random House Worlds

And here are the recipes:

Strange Bun and Void Mayonnaise

LOBSTER IN A SOFT BUN WITH A GARLIC MAYONNAISE DIP

From the Kitchen of: Shane

Yield: Makes 6 Buns

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (120 ml) WHOLE MILK

1 2/3 cups (230 g) plus 3 tablespoons BREAD FLOUR

3 tablespoons UNSALTED BUTTER, at room temperature, plus more for greasing

3 tablespoons MALTED MILK POWDER

2 tablespoons packed DARK BROWN SUGAR

KOSHER SALT

1 (1/4-oz; 7 g) packet INSTANT YEAST

1/2 cup (120 ml) BUTTERMILK, at room temperature

2 LARGE EGGS, at room temperature

1 cup (140 g) ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

2 whole LOBSTERS (about 1 1/2 lb; 680 g each)

1/2 cup (l stick; 110 g) SALTED BUTTER

FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

6 large SAGE LEAVES, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons finely grated LEMON ZEST

2 GARLIC CLOVES, finely grated

VOID MAYONNAISE, for serving (recipe follows)

Special Equipment:

6-cup JUMBO MUFFIN TIN and 6 (6-inch; 15 cm) WOODEN SKEWERS

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the whole milk and 3 tablespoons of the bread flour until smooth. Place the saucepan over low heat and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and like cake batter, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer the milk mixture to a small bowl and let cool until just barely warm to the touch, 5 to 10 minutes.

Lightly grease a large bowl with a little butter.

In another large bowl, whisk together the malted milk powder, brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, the yeast, buttermilk, and 1 egg until well combined. Add the remaining 1 2/3 cups (230 g) bread flour, the all-purpose flour, and the milk mixture. Use a rubber spatula to stir the ingredients together until mostly combined and resembling a very shaggy dough. (There will still be a good amount of flour at the bottom of the bowl, and that is okay as long as the mixture is no longer wet.) Using your hands, continue to mix until you have a fairly smooth dough. Add the 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, using your hands to work the butter into the dough before adding more. Every time you add more butter, the dough will start to feel greasier, but that is okay. Use one hand to knead the dough while you use your other hand to hold down the bowl. Use the rubber spatula to scrape down the sticky side of the bowl as needed. Continue kneading the dough in the bowl until it is no longer wet and sticky, 3 to 5 minutes.

Turn out the dough onto a clean flat surface and continue kneading (now with both hands) until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, place it in the greased bowl, and turn to coat with the grease. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature until puffed to almost double its size, about 2 hours.

Lightly grease the cups of a 6-cup large-cup muffin tin.

Deflate the dough and gently press it into a rectangle (the size really doesn’t matter). Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Use your hands to roll each piece into a 16-inch (40 cm) rope about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick.

Starting at one end, roll each rope into a semi-conical spiral shape with a larger base and 2 coils that get slightly smaller as you work upward. The second coil will be almost the same size as the base, but the third coil on the top will be much smaller than the first two. Tuck the second end of the dough into the top of the bun and place the buns into the muffin cups as you form them. Nudge a 6-inch (15 cm) wooden skewer pointed side up into the very center of each bun.

Let the buns rest, uncovered, at room temperature until puffy and squishy like jumbo marshmallows, about 1 hour. The fully puffed buns should fill most of the muffin cups. After they puff up, the buns might end up leaning over. Use the wooden skewers to gently lift the buns and coax them so they sit straight again. Don’t be concerned if they are not perfect; the imperfection will add to the “strangeness” of the buns.

About 40 minutes into the buns’ second proof, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and a splash of water. Brush the egg wash lightly onto the risen buns. Bake the buns until golden brown all over and the dough is cooked through, about 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once after 20 minutes. Transfer the buns from the muffin cups to a wire rack to cool completely.

Remove the wooden skewers and use a small paring knife to make a roughly 2-inch (5 cm) opening at the top of each bun, then use your fingers to carefully hollow out the buns, leaving a 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) wall on the sides and bottom. (Save the bun tops and any extra pieces to make fresh bread crumbs, if desired.) Loosely cover the buns.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Fill an extra-large bowl with ice water and season it generously with salt.

Add the lobsters to the pot, cover with a lid, and boil until the shells are bright red and the meat is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the lobsters directly to the ice bath to cool.

Pat the lobsters dry with a kitchen towel. Remove the meat from the claws, tails, and legs and roughly chop into bite-size chunks; you should have about 2 1/2 cups (340 g). Chill the lobster meat.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the salted butter. Add several large grinds of black pepper and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until light brown specks start to form and the butter smells nutty, 7 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the sage, lemon zest, and grated garlic, and warm for 1 minute in the residual heat. (Be careful during this step because the mixture will get quite foamy and might sputter.) Add the lobster and stir to combine in the warm butter sauce. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Divide the lobster mixture among the 6 hollowed-out buns. Drizzle any extra butter sauce over the lobster and serve immediately, accompanied by the mayonnaise.

VOID MAYONNAISE

Makes 1 scant cup (190 g)

5 black garlic cloves

1/4 teaspoon food-grade finely ground activated charcoal powder

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 large egg yolk, at room temperature

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Kosher salt

3/4 cup (175 ml) neutral oil, such as light olive oil

Use the back of a large kitchen knife to smash the garlic until it forms a paste (about 2 teaspoons). Transfer to a small bowl.

In a medium bowl, combine the activated charcoal and 2 teaspoons of the lemon juice. Whisk until the charcoal is dissolved. Add the egg yolk, Dijon mustard, and a large pinch of salt, and whisk again until smooth.

Very slowly, begin to drizzle the oil into the bowl with the egg mixture, whisking constantly and vigorously. At the beginning, you want to add the oil nearly drop by drop to form an emulsion. Make sure any oil you add is incorporated into the egg mixture before adding more.

When you have added nearly half the oil, increase the speed at which you add the oil but still add it slowly and continue to whisk constantly and vigorously. At this point, your arm will be tired, but muster your strength and persevere (or ask a friend to help out).

When the mixture is thick and creamy, add the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice, a small splash of water, and the black garlic paste. Whisk until smooth. If the mayonnaise is super thick, whisk in additional water, a small splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Season to taste with additional salt, if needed.

Reprinted from The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook by ConcernedApe and Ryan Novak. © 2024 by ConcernedApe LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook arrives on May 14. You can place a pre-order now.

The post Learn How to Make STARDEW VALLEY’s Strange Bun and Void Mayonnaise appeared first on Nerdist.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Ad Gives First-Look at New Falcon Suit

Steve Rogers is either dead or a very old man, but the world still needs Captain America. Fortunately for Earth, someone just as worthy of that title as Steve took on the job. No, not John Walker. (Definitely not John Walker.) On The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson finally accepted the mantle his friend tried to give him at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Now Anthony Mackie is ready to lead the superhero franchise into the future with the MCU’s fourth standalone Captain America film.

This leaves the spot open for the Falcon, which Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres will occupy. This movie won’t come out for a while but we now know what the Falcon’s costume will look like in Captain America: Brave New World, thanks to a McDonald’s ad.

First look at the new Falcon for Captain America: Brave New World. pic.twitter.com/omlns7jksh

— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) April 29, 2024

Marvel Studios

Here’s everything we know about Captain America: Brave New World.

Title

Marvel first announced Captain America 4‘s official title as part of its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. It was originally called Captain America: New World Order. But in June 2023, Marvel changed the movie’s name. It is now called Captain America: Brave New World.

Captain America: Brave New World‘s Plot

Marvel has yet to reveal many details about the film. Thus far, the title is our best clue about the film’s plot. It echoes both the main conflict of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Aldous Huxley’s dystopian classic. Marvel executives have shared some tasty breadcrumbs, though.

That began with Nate Moore, VP of Production & Development at Marvel Studios, talking about how Harrison Ford will replace the late William Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Brave New World. In an interview, Moore said:

Well, look, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, he is going to bring his own team to play. It’s no secret that Samuel Sterns is making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is fantastic because Tim Blake Nelson’s the best. Harrison Ford is taking on the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and to see Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross, which if you remember actually threw him in prison at the end of Civil War because he violated the Sokovia Accords. There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun.

Marvel StudiosBehind the Scenes

Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Dalan Musson are co-writing the film. Matthew Orton will also contribute to the writing. Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) is set to direct.

Ca ptain America: Brave New World‘s Cast

In addition to Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s Carl Lumbly will return as Isaiah Bradley. As will Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres.

Additionally, Brave New World will bring back Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) from The Incredible Hulk. Sterns, of course, is also known as The Leader. He will likely act as the film’s villain. Shira Haas will join the film as Sabra. Xosha Roquemore has joined the movie in an unknown role, and WWE wrestler Seth Rollins was spotted in costume on set.

Another original MCU star will also return after a long absence, too. Liv Tyler will reprise her role as Betty Ross. She originated the role in The Incredible Hulk.

Marvel Studios[image error]

Spoiler-phobes look away now because an unlikely source may have just confirmed a key character in Captain America: Brave New World. Though many already suspected this might happen, an ad for a McDonald’s toy line for the movie seems to hint that Red Hulk will appear in Captain America: Brave New World, likely Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross transformed.

McDonald's toys for 'CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD'! gives us our first look at Red Hulk, Ruth/Sabra, Falcon, and Diamondback! 👀

(Source: colecionaveis_fastfood | IG) pic.twitter.com/ooxl2ajKIk

— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) April 18, 2024

Captain America: Brave New World‘s Release DateMarvel Studios

Captain America: Brave New World will fly into theaters on February 14, 2025.

Originally published on February 14, 2023.

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Jeff Bridges Will Return for TRON: ARES

The long-delayed third film in Disney’s TRON franchise began production in Vancouver in January 2024. The original 1982 TRON was a groundbreaking sci-fi film, using then state-of-the-art computer graphics to realize the world of “the Grid.” This was a digital world, living entirely inside a computer system. Video game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) gets sucked into the Grid and has a grand adventure. TRON became a cult classic, and eventually spawned a follow-up film, TRON: Legacy, in 2010. A third TRON movie, TRON: Ares, is now in the works.

Jeff Bridges recently revealed that he will appear in TRON: Ares. “I’m heading off this Saturday to play a part in the third installment of the ‘Tron’ story; I’m excited about that,” he told the Film Comment podcast. “It’s wild. Jared Leto is the star of this third one, and I’m really anxious to work with him, and I’ve admired his work.” We know that his OG character, Kevin Flynn, sacrificed himself in Tron: Legacy but in a way that left his ending open for interpretation. We will see what happens.

Disney

In terms of story creativity and visuals, this franchise has always felt ahead of its time. One of the film’s stars, Cameron Monaghan, promises that the third TRON installment will continue to follow that trend. “I think this one, in a very similar way, is going to really push forward what can be done, from a visual perspective,” he told Collider. “I would sometimes even come in on days I wasn’t working, because that set was really amazing. A lot of the practical sets were pretty phenomenal, and I would love to go look at those as well.”

Here’s everything else we know about TRON: Ares.

Title

The name of the third installment of the TRON franchise is TRON: Ares.

TRON: Ares’ PlotDisney

We know next to nothing about the plot for the TRON: Ares. The second film, TRON: Legacy, ended with Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) escaping the digital world of the Grid, with escaped Grid refugee Quorra (Olivia Wilde) in tow. The implications that they were going to change the “real” world were there. Will the third TRON film follow up on that plot point? Rumors are that this installment will be a reboot of sorts. Jared Leto’s character of Ares was not in previous films. The film’s director said the third TRON is “a movie subsequently about AI and what it means, and takes, to be human.”

We do have a brief synopsis for TRON: Ares:

TRON: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.

Behind-the-ScenesDisney

Sitting in the director’s chair for the third TRON film is Joachim Rønning. Rønning became known thanks to his 2012 film Kon-Tiki, after which Disney hired him to direct Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and the upcoming Disney+ film Young Woman and the Sea. This script is from screenwriter Jesse Wigutow. We don’t know who is scoring the film, but we hope they use elements of Daft Punk’s iconic score from TRON: Legacy.

Rønning said in a release, “I’m excited to be part of the TRON franchise and bring this new film to fans around the world. TRON: Ares builds upon the legacy of cutting-edge design, technology and storytelling. Now more than ever, it feels like the right time to return to the Grid.” 

Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Justin Springer, Jared Leto, Emma Ludbrook and Steven Lisberger are the producers, with Russell Allen serving as executive producer.

TRON: Ares’ CastSony/Disney

Jared Leto is in the lead for TRON: Ares as the (possibly) titular character of Ares, who joined the cast back in 2020. Joining him are Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Gillian Anderson.

TRON: Ares Release Date

TRON: Ares will release on October 10, 2025.

Originally published on January 23, 2024.

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MUFASA: THE LION KING Reveals Trailer, Cast Announcements, and First-Look Photos

We all know the heartbreaking story of Simba, the lion cub who runs away from his birthright only to return later and become king. The ‘90s animated movie The Lion King was a key part of many of our childhoods and a new generation of kids got a photorealistic animated version in 2019. Now we are getting a prequel story from yet another iconic character in this world. Mufasa: The Lion King tells the story of how this noble lion came to lead the Pride Lands and its first trailer teases a brave new adventure. 

While 2D animation will always have a place in my heart, I must admit that this clip looks so cool. And, as always, it is good to hear Rafiki’s comforting voice. Here’s a brief synopsis for Mufasa: The Lion King to accompany the teaser trailer: 

“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.  

Walt Disney Studios

Like the 2019 movie, Mufasa: The Lion King boasts an all-star voice cast. Of course, the BeyHive will be thrilled to see Beyoncé’s life manager (I’m kidding …sort of) and daughter Blue Ivy Carter in her first acting role as Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara. Beyoncé is also returning as Queen Nala in this Lion King prequel. Here’s the remainder of the cast for Mufasa: The Lion King: 

Aaron Pierre as MufasaKelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, a lion prince with a bright future who accepts Mufasa into his family as a brotherTiffany Boone as SarabiKagiso Lediga as Young RafikiPreston Nyman as ZazuMads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable lion with big plans for his pride Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, EsheLennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, AfiaKeith David as Mufasa’s father, MasegoJohn Kani as RafikiSeth Rogen as PumbaaBilly Eichner as TimonDonald Glover as Simba

These first-look images from Mufasa: The Lion King give us a better look at the Pride Lands many years ago. 

Click To View Gallery Walt Disney Studios Walt Disney Studios Walt Disney Studios What Is the Release Date for Mufasa: The Lion King?

Mufasa: The Lion King is directed by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins and its songs are written by none other than Lin Manuel-Miranda. The film will hit theaters on December 20.

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THE BOY AND THE HERON to Release on 4K UHD and Blu-ray, MANDALORIAN Season 4 Updates, and More News Odds & Ends

Update as of 4/29/2024: The Boy and the Heron will be released July 9 on 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray + DVD, and in a Limited Edition Steelbook which includes 4K UHD + Blu-ray. The latter will feature Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos. The film will also be released in HD on all major on-demand digital platforms, as well as in 4K with Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on June 25.

These versions will be in its original Japanese language with English subtitles, as well as in the new English-language version with actors Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. It is available for pre-order on GKIDS.com, Shoutfactory.com, Apple, Amazon, and VUDU/Fandango.

Previous: From Oscar-winner excitements to cool new releases and more, here are some of our favorite odds and ends of entertainment news.

Critical Role, AMC Theaters/Studio GhibliThe Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & DragonsA24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster MovieSam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen SoonPokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the ShowAMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink CupMusic Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits TrailerNetflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology Star Trek Is Heading to WonderconA Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is ComingThe Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024Studio Ghibli

The Boy and the Heron is now an Oscar-winning movie. And to celebrate, the Miyazaki film will return to theaters on March 22. It will return in both the English-dub and sub versions. The re-release will also include “exclusive bonus content featuring an introduction from the film’s composer Joe Hisaishi, who received a Golden Globe nod for his work on the film, and a recorded drawing session with supervising animator Takeshi Honda.”

Studio Ghibli

Additionally, The Boy and the Heron will stream on Max later this year. Max has also extended its contract to stream Studio Ghibli films with a new “multiyear agreement.” So it looks like Max will remain the home for Miyazaki movies for the foreseeable future.

Read our review here:

Hayao Miyazaki’s THE BOY AND THE HERON Is Imaginative, Beautiful, and Thoughtful

Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & DragonsCritical Role

Something new is coming to the world of tabletop roleplaying games, and that’s Critical Role‘s answer to Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart. Critical Role shares, “Daggerheart [is] our contribution to the world of high-fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. Daggerheart is a game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.”

Critical Role

As far as game mechanics go, in Daggerheart will “players roll one HOPE die and one FEAR die (both 12-sided dice), which will ultimately impact the outcome for your characters. This duality between the forces of hope and fear on every hero drives the unique character-focused narratives in Daggerheart.” The game will also involve a card system that “makes it easy to get started and satisfying to grow your abilities by bringing your characters’ background and capabilities to your fingertips. Ancestry and Community cards describe where you come from and how your experience shapes your customs and values. Meanwhile, your Subclass and Domain cards grant your character plenty of tantalizing abilities to choose from as your character evolves.”

Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest has now launched globally.

A Dungeons & Dragons RPG life-sim game is also coming soon.

DISNEY DREAMLIGHT VALLEY Creators to Release DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG Life Sim Game

A24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster MovieHBO/Warner Bros/Legendary/Searchlight Pictures

A24 is eyeing its next star-studded, surreal turn from director Ari Aster. Eddington features a cast that includes Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr. Aster will write, direct, and produce the movie, which Variety shares  “follows a small-town New Mexico sheriff with higher aspirations.”

Here’s our review of A24’s latest film, Love Lies Bleeding.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING Is a Beautifully Messy Triumph of a Queer Love Story

Sam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series

Hello From The Magic Tavern! The podcast you love by Arnie Niekamp, Matt Young, and Adal Rifai is being adapted into an animated series by Starburns and Play Hooky. #EetzaGoodaShow #ComingSoon @DEADLINE Concept Art by @fablepaint https://t.co/TtQNxn8PCU

— Starburns Industries (@StarburnsInd) March 14, 2024

Fans of the Hello From the Magic Tavern will be thrilled to hear that Sam Rockwell and Mark Berger’s Play Hooky Productions and Starburns Industries will adapt the podcast into an animated series. The series will tell a fantastical tale of the denizens of the land of Foon. Deadline reveals that “The animated series will follow the unlikely friends, Arnie Niekamp, Usidore the Blue (Young), and Chunt the Talking Badger (Rifai) on adventures throughout the fantastical land of Foon and beyond.”

The more fantasy adventures, the merrier.

Greta Gerwig Set to Direct CHRONICLES OF NARNIA Movies for Netflix

The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen SoonLucasfilm

Brendan Wayne, the actor who serves to bring Din Djarin’s to life physically on The Mandalorian, recently shared that it didn’t seem like a season four of the show was on the way. Wayne noted to The Chatooine Show, which we saw via Den of Geek, “I know that we’re doing a movie for sure.” But when asked if there were any plans brewing for season four of The Mandalorian, Wayne simply said, “No.” We suppose it makes sense to focus on one thing at a time. And a movie will surely be good. But fans of the series do hope to see it return to its original form at some point. Finger crossed!

Here are all the new Star Wars movies in the works.

Four New STAR WARS Movies Announced, Including Daisy Ridley’s Return as Rey

Pokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the ShowThe Pokémon Company

Fans of the Pokémon series recently said goodbye to Ash and Pikachu as the series shifted to its new heroes. But don’t count Ash out just yet. Speaking to Variety, The Pokémon Company’s Andy Gose, senior director of media production, and Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing, kept a little hope alive that we might run into our favorite trainer again someday.

Gose shared, “We’ve said farewell. Ash is still in the world. Anything is possible, I suppose. In the world of Pokémon, there’s so many possibilities.” And Okiura noted, “We hope Ash and Pikachu continue in their journey. Their journey is ongoing somewhere in the Pokémon world. It’s totally up to our fans’ imagination. For the time being, we would love to focus on the new story of the Liko and Roy. “Horizons” invites a new beginning.”

Liko and Roy’s adventures have finally arrived in the United States.

Post-Ash POKÉMON HORIZONS Series Releases on Netflix in the US, Shares Theme Song

AMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink CupAMC Theaters

If you want to enjoy the movies and bust ghosts all at once, then AMC’s new Ghost Trap vessel and Mini-Puft Man Sipper are perfect for you. These fun products, which celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, will hold all your favorite theater snacks in style.

A release shares, “The Ghost Trap vessel appears to be plucked right out of the movie, complete with warning stickers and LED lights, available in theatres March 21. The colorful trap is designed to maximize the amount of popcorn you can carry to your seat from the concession stand — and then transform it into a movie experience keepsake to take home, display and enjoy. The light-up vessel is available for just $39.99 and includes a large popcorn.”

AMC Theaters

Additionally, “Guests can also mallow out with a collectible Mini-Puft Man Sipper (just $19.99 and includes a large drink) exclusively available only at AMC Theatres in theatre and online here while supplies last.”

Personally, I am obsessed with the Mini-Puft Man Sipper. Could it be any cuter?

Take a look at the trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE Brings Back Walter Peck in New Trailer

Music Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits Trailer

Music can sometimes take you back to a specific place and time. But in the cast of The Greatest Hits, it will do so literally. You can check out the trailer for the romantic time-travel movie with a twist above. Its synopsis shares:

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives thepast through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change thepast, should she?

Searchlight PicturesNetflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology

Wes Anderson recently won an Oscar for his incredible work on The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. Anyone who enjoyed that short can rejoice because three more like it are coming as part of Wes Anderson’s collaboration with Netflix on Roald Dahl-inspired pieces. A release notes, “Four spellbinding tales unfold in writer-director Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved stories.” These shorts, of course, feature an all-star cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, and more.

Netflix

Here’s the list of all the recent Oscar winners.

Here Are the Winners of the 2024 Oscars (Including Our Nerdy Faves)

Star Trek Is Heading to WonderconParamount+

If you’re heading to WonderCon, don’t miss out on its exciting Star Trek offerings! First, you can participate in a Star Trek sing-along screening of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ musical episode. What could be better than that? Secondly, you can be one of the first people to watch the premiere episode of Star Trek: Discovery‘s final season. That’s not something to miss out on. Full panel details are below.

Paramount+

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS  – “Subspace Rhapsody” Sing-Along 

CBS Studios and Paramount+ invite you to join them for the first ever Star Trek sing-along screening of the “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody” followed by a moderated Q&A with songwriters Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, also of Letters to Cleo fame, where they will discuss writing the songs for Star Trek’s first ever musical episode. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 – 3:30pm – 5:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY  –   Final Season Premiere Screening 

Be one of the first to see the premiere episode of the final season of “Star Trek: Discovery” followed by a moderated Q&A with Michelle Paradise (EP/Showrunner) and Olatunde Osunsanmi (EP/Director) where they will discuss working on the exciting final season and tease what’s to come.

Check out the trailer for the final season of Star Trek: Discovery:

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Final Season Trailer Showcases a Bittersweet Goodbye

A Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is ComingWilly Fest

The failed Willy Wonka experience in Scotland brought some levity to all our lives. And now, a musical based on the viral hit is on the way from producer Richard Kraft.

A release shares more about Willy Fest: A Musical Parody:

A team of top award-winning film, television and stage songwriters are joining forces to create a musical satire, “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knock-off fiasco that quickly became a social media phenomenon.

As breathlessly covered in worldwide press, this misguided event morphed into a viral nightmare a la Fyre Fest, where guests were greeted by a creepy warehouse, overpriced tickets and sad Oompa Loompa wannabes. Children were reportedly left in tears, the police were called, and the debacle was ultimately canceled, leaving organizers and guests with a bitter taste in their mouths and wallets.

We can’t wait to see it in song. “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” is targeted for a late 2024 launch.

A movie about the experience is also on the way.

PUMA X ONE PIECE Collection, A Meeting of Lex Luthors and More News Odds & Ends

Originally published March 15, 2024.

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