Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 332

April 23, 2024

THE GARFIELD MOVIE Goes Full Action-Film in Its Latest Trailer

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Garfield? Is it lasagna? Naps? Laziness? Mondays? Booting a sweet dumb dog off a table? Well The Garfield Movie hopes you’ll soon think of the iconic cartoon cat in an all-new way—as an action star. The film’s latest trailer finds the iconic orange tabby in a fight for his life, as he must help his estranged dad escape the clutches of a highly-motivated evil feline.

Oh yeah, and Snoop Dogg shows up to voice a cat.

The latest look at The Garfield Movie, which stars Passengers’ Chris Pratt as the cat with a big appetite for both food and sleeping, is anything but a lazy romp. It’s maybe the most activity Garfield has ever had in his life. Here’s The Garfield Movie‘s official synopsis from Sony Pictures to accompany the trailer:

Garfield, the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

Garfield smiles while changing the station with the TV remote while sitting in The Garfield MovieSony Pictures

The movie comes from director Mark Dindal (The Emperor’s New Groove, Chicken Little), with a script from Paul A. Kaplan & Mark Torgove and David Reynolds. It also stars Samuel L. Jackson as Garfield’s dad Vic. The rest of the cast it just as impressive. It also features Ted Lasso alums Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein, as well as Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Bowen Yang, and Snoop “The Cat” Dogg.

In case that’s not enough to convince you, you can also check out Chris Pratt going full method cat in preparation for The Garfield Movie. It’s a lot to take in.


Chris Pratt learns how to become a cat to prepare for ‘GARFIELD’ in this exclusive teaser.

In theaters on May 24. pic.twitter.com/NwiV55wTXA

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 22, 2024

The Garfield Movie comes to theaters this spring on May 24, 2024. That day, is fittingly, not a Monday. We know a certain orange tabby doesn’t work on Mondays. Although maybe after this action-packed movie we’ll need to stop thinking about Garfield the way we always have. Unless we’re talking about lasagna. Clearly that still applies.

Originally published on March 4, 2024.

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Published on April 23, 2024 09:43

April 22, 2024

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’s Confirmed Mutants From the Fox X-MEN Movies

From the looks of things in the trailers, it seems Deadpool & Wolverine is going to have many cameos from characters from the Fox X-Men universe. One scene in the second trailer shows Cassandra Nova, probably the film’s main villain, emerging in front of several characters in the Void. Her stronghold seems to be the dead body of an Ant-Man variant. Eagle-eyed Marvel fans will notice several mutants from the Fox X-Men films standing about. While we can’t confirm if the original actors return to these roles, we can tell it’s those same characters at least. Here’s who we know is in the Void with Logan and Wade in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailers, and which X-Men films they originated from.

The corpse of Ant-Man from The Void, surrounded by Fox X-Men characters.Marvel Studios Azazel (X-Men: First Class)Azazel, the teleporting mutant from X-Men: First Class.20th Century Studios

One of the easiest characters to spot at the giant Ant-Man corpse that is Cassandra Nova’s HQ is none other than Azazel. The red-hued demonic-looking mutant first appeared in 2011’s X-Men: First Class. In that film, he was one of Sebastian Shaw’s henchmen in the Hellfire Club. However, the movies explained that he died between the events of that film and Days of Future Past. Perhaps he didn’t really die, and they sent him to the Void? Azazel was once believed to be Nightcrawler’s father in the comics. However, recent events show that Mystique was Nightcrawler’s father, and conceived Nightcrawler while using Azazel’s form. Jason Flemyng portrayed Azazel in First Class. Will he return for Deadpool & Wolverine? We still don’t know.

Lady Deathstrike (X2: X-Men: United)Kelly Hu as Lady Deathstrike in X2 (L) Lady Deathstrike in Marvel Comics (Center) and Kelly Hu in The Orville (R).20th Century Studios/Marvel Comics

Lady Deathstrike threw down with Wolverine in one of the best-ever X-Men films, X2: X-Men United. The movie reimagined Yuriko Oyama as an experiment of William Stryker’s in the Weapon X project, just like Logan. She was a mutant with a healing factor like Wolverine’s, and had similarly grafted adamantium claws. This is a significant change from her comic book counterpart. Nevertheless, Kelly Hu and Hugh Jackman had a legendary fight in the climax of X2, where Deathstrike appeared to definitively die. It seems like a version of her still exists in the Void, so we may finally see the Wolverine/Deathstrike rematch after two decades. Hopefully, with Kelly Hu in the role.

Sabretooth (X-Men)Tyler Man as Sabretooth in X-Men (2000) 20th Century Studios

Rumors persist that the Liev Schreiber version of Sabretooth from X-Men: Origins will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, yet the version in the trailer looks to be the Tyler Mane iteration from the first X-Men. Even if someone else is playing that Sabretooth, the look is very similar. It was always unclear if both versions of the animalistic mutant were meant to be the same character or not. Yet that does look like the version who said to Storm “You owe me a scream” back in 2000, now stuck in the Void.

Toad (X-Men)Ray Park as Toad in the first X-Men film. 20th Century Studios

Another veteran of the original X-Men film who seems to be lurking in the shot of everyone together is Toad. In the first X-Men film, Darth Maul performer Ray Park portrayed Magneto’s amphibian lackey. He even had a big battle moment with Jean Grey. Storm dispatched him as she uttered the lines “Do you know what happens to a toad when it’s struck by lightning?” True, it seemed like Toad kicked the bucket after Storm smoked him. But maybe he was just discarded with the other Fox mutants in the Void?

Pyro (X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand)Pyro in X2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, played by Aaron Stanford.20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

We first saw Aaron Stanford’s fire-controlling mutant Pyro in the first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. This was his big comeback, after a serious head butt from Iceman in X-Men: The Last Stand. It’s hard to say if it’s the version from the previous Fox X-Men films, or some kind of variant—a variant that is now stuck in the Void. Unlike the other characters, we can at least confirm the same actor plays Pyro from the original X-Men films.

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Published on April 22, 2024 16:20

Watch Walton Goggins Transform Into FALLOUT’s The Ghoul

Prime Video’s Fallout series has now been released, which means we can dive deep into the show and its mysteries. But even before fans knew anything at all about this Fallout adaptation, one character attracted a lot of attention. And that character is Walton Goggins’ The Ghoul. Losing his nose and ears and gaining a whole lot of weathering, Walton Goggins becomes unrecognizable as he steps into Fallout‘s world. Incredibly, the Fallout series used practical effects and makeup to alter Goggins’ appearance completely. To help us fully appreciate what went into this change, the actor shared a timelapse of the process, and it’s really stunning. You can watch Walton Goggins transform into The Ghoul in the video below.

In Fallout, ghouls are human creatures who are transformed by radiation. The radiation their bodies absorb allows them to survive for a long time in the wasteland of Fallout‘s universe. However, it also completely transforms their appearance. In the Fallout series, we can really see the impact of ghoulifcation clearly thanks to Walton Goggins’ portrayal of both The Ghoul and his former self, Cooper Howard. When playing Cooper Howard in flashbacks, Goggins looks like his normal charming self. But when we visit with The Ghoul in the Wasteland, we see a different figure altogether.

Walton Goggins becomes The Ghoul in timelapse video of practical makeup transformationWalton Goggins

Goggins shared that the practical transformation into The Ghoul was both an aesthetic and emotional experience. He noted, “The thing I was most surprised about, other than actually seeing it come to life whenever we got to these sets, I didn’t anticipate how lonely it would be for me as the Ghoul… It was a process. When I first walked out of the trailer, people either couldn’t take their eyes off you or didn’t want to look at you at all. I felt very closed in that experience. I was just alone inside of this guy’s head.”

While that sounds like a tough spot to be in, the literal act of transforming into The Ghoul seems to have helped Goggins to embody the character. This also reminds us just how much each part of a production contributes to the story of its finished product. Additionally, it speaks to the incredible level of skill the FX makeup team on Fallout possesses. Goggins shared that makeup artist Jake Garber managed to reduce the process of becoming The Ghoul from five hours to under two. Watching the timelapse video, two hours seems like a wildly short time to bring The Ghoul to life.

Walton Goggins Ghoul on FalloutPrime Video

Maybe someday, the Fallout series will present The Ghoul with a ghoulification cure that will allow him to transform back into a human. For now, we’ll just play Walton Goggins’ timelapse transformation video backward and imagine what it’ll be like for The Ghoul to have a nose again.

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Published on April 22, 2024 15:00

Bethesda’s Todd Howard Confirms the FALLOUT Series Does Not Alter the Games’ Timeline

Video game fans have been safely enjoying the excitement/terror of a post-nuclear wasteland since 1997. That’s when Fallout and its ’50s-era Cold War aesthetic first came to stores. Since then countless sequels and spinoffs have turned the game into one of genre’s most successful franchises. Now Fallout is ready to conquer another medium entirely. It’s getting its very own show from Amazon. What kind of story can gamers expect from the Prime Video Fallout adaptation? Who’s behind it, and who will star in it? And when will we get a chance to see it? (And if you’re looking for the video of Walton Goggins’ transformation in The Ghoul, you can check it out here.)

A woman in blue and a man in red look out over a pit with a wasteland LA in front of them on FalloutPrime Video

One thing we can confirm about the series is that it does not disrupt any canon events in the games or their timeline. Speaking to IGN, Bethesda’s Todd Howard confirmed, “And just so people hear it, we’re careful about the timeline. There might be a little bit of confusion at some places, but everything that happened in the previous games, including New Vegas, happened. We’re very careful about that.” And additionally shared while specifically speaking about New Vegas‘ timeline and the fall of Shady Sands, “All I can say is we’re threading it tighter there, but the bomb falls just after the events of New Vegas. That’s when Shady Sands blows… We are tight on the dates, if you really want to get into it. But what’s important is when the show takes place. What is happening in the time period of the show? And that’s what’s most important to us.”

Howard also notes that “The Fall of Shady Sands” doesn’t necessarily mean a nuke.

Fallout has now released on Prime Video. Here you can find a non-spoilery rundown of everything there is to know about Prime Video’s Fallout series.

TitleA helmet on the ground in Fallout 76Bethesda

Prime Video’s adaptation will share the same name as the original game, Fallout.

Fallout‘s Plot

We officially have our first full look at the Fallout series. Prime Video released the first trailer for the show and it teases a dangerous wasteland of a world. But it’s clear the show understands its dark humor as well.

Dogmeat like character CX404 in Prime Video live-action fallout series adaptationPrime Video

Prime Video has shared an official Fallout series synopsis, setting us up for what’s to come. It reveals, “Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.


📍 Vault 33
Location: Los Angeles

Fallout, an original series, coming to Prime Video in 2024 pic.twitter.com/tlHh2WutF4

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) August 23, 2023

Additionally, we know that the series is “set in the future post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.” It will also tell an “original story based on Fallout that will be part of the canon of the games.” 

Prime Video Fallout Series First Look image croppedPrime Video

The first image from the show featured a glimpse at the franchise’s all-new Vault 33. And more recent looks have revealed Fallout‘s main characters including Walton Goggins’ The Ghoul, Ella Purnell’s Lucy, Aaron Moten’s Maximus, and Kyle MacLachlan’s Overseer Hank.

Click To View Gallery Walter Goggins as The Ghoul in Fallout Prime Video Lucy emerges from the vault and holds her hand in front of her face to block the light Prime Video Four people in power armor suits in Fallout Prime Video The Brotherhood of Steel looks up at Vertibirds in Fallout Prime Video Lucy looks out onto a wasteland Prime Video Oversee Hank looks over Lucy's shoulder inside a vault in Fallout Prime Video Jonathan Nolan stands by Ella Parnell behind the scenes of Fallout JoJo Whilden

There will also be an adorable animal involved. In the Fallout games, a dog called Dogmeat exists as an NPC companion character that accompanies players on their adventures. According to a blog post from Amazon, the live-action Fallout series’ cute canine isn’t called Dogmeat, but instead is named CX404. But this pup, too, will serve “as a companion navigating the post-apocalyptic world.”


pic.twitter.com/k0WzPezPiN

— FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) December 2, 2023
Behind the Scenes

Fallout comes from Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and Kilter Films. The latter is the production company of executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, creators of HBO’s Westworld.

Writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner will also serve Fallout co-showrunners and executive producers. Nolan directs the first three episodes.

Fallout‘s Cast

The show stars: Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight), Aaron Moten (Emancipation), Moisés Arias (The King of Staten Island), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks), Sarita Choudhury (Homeland), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Leslie Uggams (Deadpool), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance), Johnny Pemberton (Ant-Man), Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O’Hagan (Law & Order: SVU)and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). 

Fallout‘s Release Date

The Fallout show began its post-apocalyptic adventure on April 11, 2024. All episodes of Fallout released at once.


The end of the world is coming, just a little sooner than expected. FALLOUT, now arriving April 10 @ 6 p.m. PT. pic.twitter.com/9AcWR9uAqQ

— FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) April 9, 2024

Originally published on October 23, 2023.

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Published on April 22, 2024 14:53

FALLOUT’s New Vegas, Explained—From the Games to the Series

In the last shot of season one of the Fallout Amazon Prime TV series, Hank MacLean crests a hill, and on the horizon, we see it—a beacon in the desolation of the post-apocalyptic desert: New Vegas. Fans of the games have long hailed Fallout: New Vegas as the absolute best of Fallout, and season two of the Fallout series seems like it will take us right to the legendary City of Sin. To prepare new fans and give old-hats a bit of a refresher course, here’s everything you need to know about Fallout‘s New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland.

Golden sky over New Vegas and the desert in FalloutPrime Video

Jump to: What Is Fallout‘s New Vegas? // New Vegas and the New California Republic // Fallout: New Vegas and the Battles of the Hoover Dam // New Vegas in the Fallout Series vs. the Games // The Fallout Series Could Bring a New New Vegas

What Is Fallout‘s New Vegas?Welcome to New Vegas sign from the Fallout TV SeriesPrime Video

With the pre-war world of the games and show locked in a 1950s limbo, even in 2077, New Vegas brings all the same ‘old’ Vegas vibes, but with that touch of radiation (and cannibalism sometimes, whoops!) that makes it so uniquely Fallout. 

Now, while patrolling the Mojave might make you wish for a nuclear winter, the games frame it as one of the more civilized areas in post-war America. While getting torn to shreds by Deathclaws or murdered by roving raider packs are still risks, there’s an actual semblance of law and order in Fallout‘s New Vegas and its environs, thanks to the NCR—and debatably, Mr. House.

Mr. House Helped Las Vegas Escape Nuclear Doom in the Fallout GamesMr House cameo representing Robco from the Fallout TV series (2)Prime Video

Speaking of the man himself, Las Vegas is one of the few United States cities that was at least somewhat spared from nuclear fire in Fallout‘s world. However, despite the location, that wasn’t Lady Luck at work, but rather Mr. House. We see a brief cameo of House in the Fallout TV series. Show-only fans may recall he was at the summit of all the major corporate powers, representing Rob-Co. He also was the only one that questioned Vault-Tec’s brilliant plan to nuke the planet.

In Fallout: New Vegas canon, Mr. House had the foresight to equip his casino in Las Vegas, the Lucky 38 (the tall, Stratosphere-esque building seen in the last shot of season one) with radar-jammers, missile arrays, a laser defense grid, and life support systems, all in the hopes of sparing Las Vegas from armageddon. Mr. House’s efforts bore surprisingly undamaged fruit compared to every other major city in the US. Sixty-eight of the seventy-seven nuclear ICBMs fired at New Vegas were destroyed before they made impact.

Fallout‘s New Vegas Is a Reminder of the Pre-War WorldFallout New Vegas, Vegas StripObsidian Entertainment

After a quick fifty-year coma, House began to plot his city’s long-term survival—and his own. With his ruthless businessman acumen (and an army of Securitrons) House transformed the derelict Las Vegas strip, dominated by competing tribes and raiders in his absence, into a beautiful monument to the world that once was. Or, if you want to be less romantic about it, he made the most fun place in all of post-apocalyptica to get hammered and lose all your money. House keeps an iron grip on Fallout‘s New Vegas, using the Three Families—the Chairmen, Omertas, and White Glove Society—to staff the Strip’s three casinos. 

New Vegas is like a dream for the people of the Mojave Wasteland in Fallout. But given the steep credit check required to enter, this bastion of pre-war debauchery remains beyond reach for many wastelanders. For those who can pay, though, it feels like, for a moment, maybe the Great War never happened at all. 

New Vegas Strikes a Deal with Fallout‘s New California Republic (NCR) two characters shake hands in a barren wasteland in fallout for the ncr factionBethesda Game Studios

In 2274, the New California Republic (NCR) set out to restore Hoover Dam, a crucial resource for just about everyone in the American Southwest—and massive enough to provide power for the entire Republic. House saw the writing on the wall. Given its proximity to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (an obvious potential base of operations for the NCR) and the money-making opportunity presented by the Strip (the NCR does LOVE its taxes), it was only a matter of time before Fallout‘s New California Republic would attempt to annex New Vegas.

So, House did what he does best: he struck a deal with the NCR. The NCR gets McCarran and an embassy on the Strip, and in exchange, NCR citizens are allowed to come and go freely from New Vegas. Mr. House would remain the city’s sovereign ruler, and the New California Republic would earmark 5% of Hoover Dam’s power for New Vegas alone. 

This is the status quo in 2281, when Fallout: New Vegas begins.

Fallout: New Vegas and the Battles of the Hoover DamFallout New Vegas Hoover DamObsidian Entertainment

Although we feel the scars from the First Battle of Hoover Dam throughout Fallout: New Vegas, it’s the Second Battle of Hoover Dam that drives the story. The first battle saw Caesar’s Legion, a group of Roman-style slavers who dominate most of the territory east of the Colorado River, attempt to take the dam. But Caesar’s Legion ultimately ends up rebuffed and nearly destroyed by the New California Republic in 2277. By the time Fallout: New Vegas starts, the Legion has rebuilt and is ready for round two. They don’t just want the dam. They want the entire New California Republic under their control.

Fallout Magic Card depicting Battle of Hoover DamWizards of the Coast

That’s where player choice factors into Fallout: New Vegas and where many of our biggest questions surrounding the fate of New Vegas, the Hoover Dam, Mr. House, and the New California Republic in the Fallout series arise. 

What We Know About New Vegas from the Fallout Series vs. The GamesDeathclaw skull in New Vegas from Fallout seriesPrime Video

The Fallout series makes one very significant timeline change to the franchise’s world: the fall of Shady Sands. When Lucy is in one of the classrooms of Vault 4, she sees an image labeled “The Fall of Shady Sands,” dated 2277, four years before the events of New Vegas. In contrast, during the events of the New Vegas game, Shady Sands is reported to be just fine, still the thriving capital of the New California Republic.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Todd Howard confirmed that the events of Fallout: New Vegas are canon and that the timeline has not been interrupted by the series. But given that Fallout: New Vegas has multiple endings, that still doesn’t give us many answers. 

The Current State of New Vegas and the New California Republic Remain a MysteryFallout Series Sarita Choudhury's MoldaverPrime Video

The Fallout series has kept fairly quiet about the New California Republic’s exact state. They’re clearly struggling to hold on in Shady Sands and the Boneyard (Los Angeles). With such a massive blow struck at such a critical point, does that mean that the show’s NCR lost the First Battle of Hoover Dam? 

In Fallout: New Vegas, the player steps into a politically fraught Mojave, with the NCR and Legion locked in a conflict that could change the face of the wasteland forever. But in the show, was there no second battle this time? Did the Legion win the first, and subsequently absorb and enslave the people of the Mojave? 

We could be looking at Fallout‘s New California Republic at its absolute weakest. This would offer a lot of new story-telling opportunities for the show, including potentially showing us both the fall and potential rise again of the NCR in a way the games themselves don’t detail. For now, all we have is questions. Did the Legion take New Vegas for themselves? Could House’s Securitron army protect the Strip? If not, did Caesar reign supreme, only to still die of cancer in 2281, like in the game? Without Caesar to maintain the Legion’s sycophantic cult of personality, the Legion could be facing its own crisis. And, of course, how does Fallout‘s Vault-Tec factor into the goings-on in New Vegas?

The Fallout Series Could Bring a New New VegasNCR helicopter in New Vegas from Fallout TV seriesPrime Video

The fact that the only canon character we see from the games in the Fallout series (besides Dogmeat, kind of) is Robert House is extremely telling. With the show exploring the pre-war world through the fascinating lens of Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), it feels likely that we’ll see more of House next season, maybe even a live-action version of his husk of a centuries-old body, kept alive by machines and entrepreneurial spirit.

In my humble opinion, New Vegas has likely maintained its sovereignty, and Mr. House remains in charge, regardless of what is going on in the rest of the Mojave. The player character (“Courier Six”) in Fallout: New Vegas ultimately determines whether House, the NCR, the Legion, or the player themself rules New Vegas moving forward in Fallout. And it’ll be up to the writers to determine which path is ultimately canon.

An uncertain NCR. House anywhere from sovereign to deposed. A Brotherhood that appears far stronger in the show than in New Vegas canon, and the Legion as one huge question mark—boy, am I eager to find out what’s next for Lucy, Coop, and Max in the Fallout series!

Jess is a writer, musician, and self-professed obsessive. They have many loves, but they are particularly haunted by Supernatural, House MD, Good Omens, Fallout, and Naruto.

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Published on April 22, 2024 12:01

TALES OF THE SHIRE’s Trailer Shows a Game About Living the Hobbit Life

Who doesn’t want to live like a Hobbit? Moving into a Hobbit hole in the Shire’s rolling hills and tending a garden and brewing ale sounds like a dream. Like Bilbo Baggins says, “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.” Maybe you aren’t able to run away to Hobbiton in real life, but a new video game will let you imagine a more straightforward existence as a Hobbit. Tales of the Shire from Private Division and Wētā Workshop is a Hobbit life sim that allows to you farm, fish, decorate your home, and explore the place you live. It looks enchanting.

This is exactly how I want to experience the world of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings is full of danger and battles, but I want to sit by a warm hearth and read a book. Traveling to the Hobbiton set is a long-held dream of mine. Tales of the Shire will give me a taste of what that might be like. The game is the latest in a long line of life sims that offer escape—games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Disney Dreamlight Valley. Even Dungeons & Dragons is working on a game that’s part life sim.

Your goal as a Hobbit is to bring the community of Bywater together. Tales of the Shire‘s description states:

Create and personalise a Hobbit with an array of customisations to experience the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Middle-earth universe your own way. Settle in and decorate a cosy Hobbit home, choosing from an array of furniture and home décor to create your unique, humble abode. Then head outdoors to Bywater for plenty of cooking, fishing, foraging, gardening, and more relaxing activities in the Shire. Toss your lure to catch trout from the glistening waters of Bywater Pool, gather wild mushrooms, and then use the collected ingredients to bake a succulent pie to serve for luncheon. With a full belly, stroll back outside to explore the Shire and build relationships with the Bywater locals by helping them to build a garden, sharing one of the many daily Hobbit meals, and more.

Hobbits sitting by the stream and enjoying a cozy life in the video game Tales of the ShirePrivate Division/Wētā Workshop

Tales of the Shire will debut in 2024 on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

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Published on April 22, 2024 10:03

Denis Villeneuve’s Writing the Script for a Possible DUNE: PART THREE

Long live the writers! And I’m not saying that just because I write for a living. It’s because Denis Villeneuve revealed he is writing the script for a potential Dune: Part Three.

Zendaya looks worried as Chani in Dune: Part TwoWarner Bros./Legendary

Villeneuve recently spoke to The New York Times about Dune: Part Two and all things Muad’Dib-related. Fans of the box office smash will definitely want to hear his thoughts on Paul’s possible Messiah-complex, Lady Jessica’s face tattoos, Chani’s expanded role, and the rules of Fremen intimacy. But the most exciting part of the interview came when he casually mentioned the future. He’s working on the script for a possible third entry in the franchise.

While speaking about how Paul and Chani’s connected stories ended in Part Two, the director said, “[Paul] will try to find a way to save his soul in the third part.” Then, while discussing Chani’s feelings towards Paul at the end, Villeneuve said, “That anger is tremendous. I don’t want to reveal what I’m going to do with the third movie. I know exactly what to do. I’m writing it right now. But there’s a lot of firepower there and I’m very excited about that decision.”

Paul screams in Dune: Part TwoWarner Bros./Legendary

These quotes come just a couple of weeks after Variety reported Legendary Pictures is already developing Dune: Part Three with the director. And it comes as Part Two is returning to IMAX theaters this month. That’s when it’s expected to cross the $700 million box office mark. Those are all great signs for fans hoping to see Villeneuve adapt Dune: Messiah, which he has said he wants to do. But there’s still a long way to travel from “writing” to “Arrakis.”

If he’s already working on the script—in any capacity—viewers can probably at least start at least thinking about what color stillsuit they’ll want to wear to the premiere.

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

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Published on April 22, 2024 08:24

Tom Holland Gives SPIDER-MAN 4 Update: ‘Everyone Wants It to Happen’ but ‘We Have a Legacy to Protect’

Everyone loves Miles. The web-slinging teen is back in our lives with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and will return once again next year in Beyond the Spider-Verse. We absolutely adore Miles Morales in his animated form, but many fans have been wondering if the character will make a live-action debut in the near future. Well, according to Variety, producer Amy Pascal says a live-action Miles Morales movie, a Spider-Woman animated film, and Spider-Man 4 are in the works.

Tom Holland in a Spider-Man suit - Tom Holland helped rewrite Spider-Man: No Way Home's endingMarvel Studios

Most recently, Tom Holland updated fans on how Spider-Man 4 was coming along and how he was involved. He noted to Deadline when asked whether he’d return for more Spider-Man, “The simple answer is that I’ll always want to do Spider-Man films. I owe my life and career to Spider-Man. So the simple answer is yes. I’ll always want to do more.”

Holland’s more complex answer, however, is as follows. “We have the best in the business working toward whatever the story might be. But until we’ve cracked it, we have a legacy to protect. The third movie was so special in so many ways that we need to make sure we do the right thing.” Finally, he revealed, “This is the first time in this process that I’ve been part of the creative so early. It’s just a process where I’m watching and learning. It’s just a really fun stage for me. Like I said, everyone wants it to happen. But we want to make sure we’re not overdoing the same things.”

Here’s what we know about Spider-Man 4 and the rest of the Spider-People films in the works.

Spider-People Movies Are in the Works, Including a Live-Action Miles Morales FilmMiles Morales in his black and red Spider-Man suit holds his hands up in front of his unmasked face in Across the Spider-VerseSony Pictures Animation

On the topic of a Miles Morales live-action movie and a Spider-Woman adventure, Pascal noted, “You’ll see all of it… It’s all happening.” And that’s what we love to hear, especially when it comes to Miles Morales getting his own live-action solo adventure.

Pascal followed up on this revelation recently with Variety, assuring fans that live-action Miles Morales is coming, but two more projects are taking priority. Chris Miller, who has worked on the Spider-Verse franchise alongside Phil Lord, gave fans more clarity via social media. Spider-Man 4 and Beyond the Spider-Verse are the two projects that must come first. So breathe easy, all good things are still happening.


To clarify, when she said “not until we make two more movies,”she meant Beyond the Spider-Verse and the live-action Tom Holland film. https://t.co/3tmEwEctwB

— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) February 13, 2024

Fellow producer Avi Arad shared that the Spider-Woman film will actually come sooner than most fans are expecting. That makes a lot of sense, considering things are going well with the current animated franchise.

Meanwhile, Pascal also said that a fourth Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland and Zendaya is in the works, noting, “Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are.”

Tom Holland on Spider-Man 4Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Tom Holland will star in new Spider-Man moviesMarvel Studios

Pascal is not the only one discussing a fourth outing for the MCU’s Spider-Man, of course. In addition to his comments above, Tom Holland shared more about Spider-Man 4 late last year.

Chiefly, he cautioned that he would only return as Spider-Man for a story worth telling. He noted:

All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character. Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing. I feel very protective over Spider-Man. I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy. So, I won’t make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character.

Of course, should the right story emerge, Holland is more than eager to resume his role in the MCU. He went on to say, “But that said, if we can figure that out, I would be a fool not to put the suit back on again because I owe everything to Spider-Man. I love the character and the people I get to work with. So, I would love to tell another story, but I’ll only tell it if we can find the right one.”

We’ll Cross Our Fingers for More Spidey Updates Soon

Ultimately, It could be a couple of years or five years before any of this stuff happens… if it happens at all. Corporations do change their minds, whether we like it or not. But hopefully, we’ll see traction for all our Spider-People.

And even more hopefully, Sony will give Miles what he deserves, which is to exist in every form with lots of adventures for fans to enjoy. For now, let the speculation on who would absolutely crush a live-action Miles Morales movie begin.

Originally published on May 31, 2023.

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Published on April 22, 2024 07:58

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Recruits a Reluctant Logan in New Trailer

Logan is dead. Long live Wolverine. Hugh Jackman’s iconic big-screen character is truly back—rather than just his shadow—in the newest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. Only, he’s not the hero we remembered. Deadpool & Wolverine brings us a very different Wolverine than the one we once knew. He’s a failure. But his foul-mouthed friend wants to give him a shot at redemption. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool needs to save his world, and he needs Logan to do that.

This definitely ain’t your grandma’s Disney. Or your mom’s. Or, you know, anyone’s. The MCU’s first R-rated film is here to do anything it wants. Well, anything it wants except cocaine. According to its trailer, that’s apparently the line Deadpool & Wolverine can’t cross, per Kevin Feige. That lack of “disco dust” doesn’t look like it’s going to stop Deadpool and Wolverine from having a hell of a good time together, though.

Deadpool & Wolverine Emma CorrinMarvel Studios

This Deadpool & Wolverine trailer is full of movie references (Fury Road!) and action. It’s also our first real look at Emma Corrin’s terrifying villain, Cassandra Nova. But most importantly this trailer offers our first insight into the actual plot, which will see Deadpool recruit a Wolverine Variant to help him save his dimension.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds walk down a street in Deadpool & WolverineMarvel Studios

The only thing this trailer lacks are the many surprise Deadpool & Wolverine cameos we’re expecting. Who created that sorcerer portal the two jumped through? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Deadpool & Wolverine comes from Stranger Things‘ Shawn Levy. The movie will mark his third time directing Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy, The Adam Project). While Levy has said this film is not Deadpool 3, it still features many returning stars from the previous two Deadpool entries. Those back for more f***ing fun include Karan Soni, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Rob Delaney, and Shioli Kutsuna. Matthew Macfadyen is also joining the fray as a new TVA agent.

Deadpool's arm lightly touching one of Wolverine's claws in a Deadpool & Wolverine posterMarvel Studios

Deadpool & Wolverine join forces—one a little more reluctantly than the other—this summer on July 26, 2024. Long live friendship. And hopefully Wade’s world.

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Published on April 22, 2024 06:24

April 19, 2024

This $450 Slowpoke POKÉMON Plush Is 5 Feet Long

The Pokémon Center is at it again. Another life-size Pokémon plush can be yours to cuddle—and this time, life-size means truly gigantic. The latest Pokémon to get the jumbo plush treatment is Slowpoke. Slowpoke is known for his sprawl, but now he’ll be known for his tail length as well. From nose to tip, this Pokémon plush is 59 inches long… That’s just shy of five feet. He’ll definitely need a special place on your couch. And you know that Slowpokes are not fond of moving very much. So where he sits, he stays. Of course, no jumbo Pokémon plush ever did come cheap and Slowpoke costs nearly $100 per foot. Let’s take a look at this giant stuffed creature.

Pokemon giant slowpoke plush full bodyThe Pokémon Center

The official Pokémon Center description shares of this Slowpoke Pokémon plush, “We may never know what Slowpoke is thinking—or if it’s even thinking at all—but its willingness to happily laze the day away is worthy of admiration. With this jumbo Slowpoke plush by your side at home, school, or work, you’ll always have a reminder of the importance of taking it a little slow from time to time.”

pokemon giant slowpoke plush on the floor with personThe Pokémon Center

What a sweet sentiment. Slowpokes definitely know how to relax. And we bet in plush form, they’re even more zen creatures. Adding this Pokémon plush to your collection will make a nice change of pace from snuggling your Psyduck, who is absolutely more on the anxious end of things than Slowpoke.

Pokemon giant slowpoke plush close upThe Pokémon Center

But, of course, every -mon has its price. This Slowpoke plush costs $450. That’s quite the cost for a stuffed animal… But just look a those eyes. Who could resist this enormous cutie? (We guess our bank accounts, but we’ll just have to see who will prevail.) The Slowpoke jumbo Pokémon plush is available for pre-order now. He’ll arrive to take over your house in late November 2024.

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Published on April 19, 2024 15:07

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