Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 341

Live-Action MOANA Film Gets Pushed to 2026

It usually takes some time for an animated Disney film to get a live-action film adaptation. But according to the Mouse House, they’re bringing the beloved 2016 film Moana into live-action. This film was meant to hit theaters in 2025 but now, according to Entertainment Weekly, the live-action Moana movie is coming on July 10, 2026. That actually works, considering it will be the tenth anniversary of the original movie.

This live-action Moana will even see one of its original stars producing and, potentially, starring. And yes, that star is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who played the part of demigod Maui in the original film. Johnson tweeted the official announcement of his return to the world of Moana, which you can watch right here:

Humbled to say we’re bringing #MOANA’s beautiful story to the live action big screen!#MAUI changed my life (miss you grandpa) and I’m honored to partner with @DisneyStudios to tell our story thru the realm of music & dance, which at the core is who we are as Polynesian people🪝 pic.twitter.com/CxJFKQewUS

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 3, 2023

The Walt Disney Company and Dwayne Johnson also released this statement on the new, live-action iteration of Moana:

I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.

The Walt Disney Company

Auli‘i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated film, is also one of the producers. She shared on Instagram in May that she, however, would not be reprising the role of Moana. Cravalho said, “As an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength.”

What Is the Release Date for the Live-Action Moana Movie?

The live-action Moana will arrive in theaters on July 10, 2026.

Originally published on April 3, 2023.

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Mia Goth Heads to Hollywood in MAXXXINE’s Bloody Trailer

Life goes on, even for the only survivor of the world’s deadliest adult film production. But sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you want to move on, not even when you move across the country to to pursue your Hollywood dreams. Sometimes the past doesn’t let you go without a fight. That’s the battle that awaits Mia Goth from the third film in the writer-director Ti West’s X horror franchise. The first full trailer for MaXXXine promises the only starring role Maxine Minx can definitely count on is the same one as before. It’s the leading part in a real-life slasher flick.

A24’s ready to let the cameras roll on another installment in the popular X franchise. The third film will serve as a direct sequel to the franchise’s original entry from 2022. (Its follow-up Pearl was a prequel.) This time the series is headed to the bright lights of L.A. in 1985, as our young heroine pursues her lifelong ambition to be famous. But that’s also where big hair and big dreams will go up against a past she can’t escape. Here’s the official synopsis for MaXXXine from A24 to make the trailer clearer:

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

A24

As you might have noticed from this fantastic trailer, the film boasts an absolutely stacked cast. In addition to Goth the movie also features: Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon.

Damn. Now that’s a cast. And this is also an incredible premise for a franchise that keeps finding ways to offer fresh new horrors without abandoning the spirit that makes these movies so good. That’s why even if Maxine never escapes her path, Mia Goth’s future looks brighter than ever.

MaXXXine will step into the Hollywood spotlight when the film comes to theaters this summer on July 5, 2024.

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THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Officially Sets 2026 Release Date

Disney+’s two biggest stars are headed to the big screen. The next adventure for Star Wars‘ Din Djarin and his little green son will take place in theaters. What awaits the two when they get there? Who else will join them in making the move from television to cinema? And who will tell this new chapter in their story? Here’s everything we know about The Mandalorian & Grogu so far, including its release date.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s PlotWalt Disney Studios

The movie’s official announcement did not include a plot synopsis or any specifics about its story. It’s also unknown how it might connect to other Disney+ shows, characters, and other planned featured films. The only insight came from Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s statement in the press release. She said The Mandalorian & Grogu will tell a “new story” she describes as a “perfect fit for the big screen.” The movie’s first official artwork does show Din and Grogu fleeing an exploding ship, but that might be just a normal Thursday for them.

Until we get any actual details about the film’s plot, any speculation about The Mandalorian & Grogu will be based on where the Disney+ show left the characters after season three, as well as the known state of the galaxy far, far away during the time period of the early days of the New Republic and what we know followed it.

Behind-the-Scenes

The Mandalorian creator and showrunner Jon Favreau will direct the film. He’ll also serve as a producer along with both Kennedy and longtime Star Wars stalwart Dave Filoni. 

Production is set to begin in 2024. It will shoot for a scheduled 92 days in California, where it has received one of the state’s biggest tax credits ever for a movie. Reports say work on The Mandalorian & Grogu will include 500 crew members, 54 cast members, and 3500 background players.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s CastLucasfilm

Pedro Pascal’s voice is all but certain to be a part of the movie. It’s unclear how much, if any, he will physically play the role, though. At this point on the Disney+ show the part of Mando is primarily a voice-over one for Pascal. Actors Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder share responsibility for playing the masked Din Djarin on film. If Din never removes his helmet in the movie, Pascal’s involvement could take place entirely off-screen. He did physically play the character in the past. Maybe he’ll put on his beskar armor once again for a big budget film.

Star Wars has yet to announce any official cast members for the movie. Other members of The Mandalorian are likely to also star in the film, however. Those alums include Katee Sackhoff, Emily Swallow, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Ahsoka stars like Genevieve O’Reilly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, and Eman Esfandi are also obvious candidates to appear, as is Boba Fett himself, Temuera Morrison.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s Release DateLucasfilm

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to come to theaters on May 22, 2026.

Originally published on February 26, 2024.

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TRON: ARES Reveals 2025 Release Date

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 is now in the works, and we already have our first look at TRON: Ares, showing a mysterious figure in a red light suit.

Disney

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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7 Things a Successful TEEN TITANS Film Adaptation Needs

Recently, DC Comics fans were overjoyed to find out that the Teen Titans would be coming to the big screen in James Gunn’s new DCU. The property has had a long history in non-comics media, most notably the massively successful Teen Titans animated series from the early 2000s, and its long-running spin-off, Teen Titans Go! In 2018, there was also a live-action Titans series produced for the Max streaming service, which lasted four seasons and ended in 2023. Will the third time be the charm in adapting the comics in a truly faithful manner? Here are the crucial ingredients needed to make the Teen Titans truly fly as a feature film.

Use the Best Teen Titans RosterDC Comics

The Teen Titans first appeared in 1965, and were not much more than a quartet of “Junior Justice Leaguers” led by Robin, the Boy Wonder. The series was a moderate success, but DC canceled it several times in the ’70s. However, the 1980 revival The New Teen Titans, by creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez, was a runaway success for DC Comics. Although three original Titans remained, the breakout stars were new characters Starfire, Raven, and Cyborg, and a re-imagining of the obscure Doom Patrol hero Beast Boy (then Changeling). This team line-up became iconic, and although other Titans teams have come and gone since, DC always defaults back to a version of this most popular roster.

DC Comics

So why is this version the best? Wolfman and Perez made this team a true family, more Fantastic Four than Justice League. Because of this, while there have been other lineups, even decent ones, they almost always paled in comparison. It’s why the animated show mostly used these characters, as well as the live-action show (which left out Cyborg). Currently, the adult Titans title from Tom Taylor is the same lineup as in their ’80s heyday, minus the “teen” part. Some newer additions might be warranted for a film, like Damian Wayne as Robin. Yet DC Studios would be wise to not stray too far from what has worked best for over 40 years when bringing the Teen Titans to the big screen.

Show Dick Grayson’s Transition From Robin To NightwingDC Comics

It just doesn’t feel like the Titans, teen or otherwise, unless it’s got Dick Grayson in the lead. This is why I think the Teen Titans movie should cover Dick Grayson’s transition from Robin, Batman’s kid partner, to Nightwing, his own adult heroic identity. In the comics, it was in the pages of The New Teen Titans where Dick Grayson made the transition from Batman’s sidekick in little green shorts and booties into the popular grown-up superhero that we know and love today. A character who is easily one of DC Comics’ most popular heroes. The show should cover his Robin to Nightwing journey, before spinning him off into a solo Nightwing film.

Teen Titans Must Find a Way to Include CyborgDC Comics

Although a founding member of the New Teen Titans in the comics, as well as a crucial part of the Teen Titans animated series, once DC Comics graduated the character of Cyborg to full Justice League member back in 2011, they totally severed his connection to the team where he debuted for years. He was nowhere to be found in the recent Teen Titans: The Judas Contract animated movie for instance, and wasn’t in the live-action series either. Although DC has somehow let the character remain in Teen Titans Go! on Cartoon Network. In recent years, DC has realized this mistake, and incorporated Victor Stone back into the Titans. Cyborg’s friendship with Beast Boy is also an important element of the team dynamic, one Gunn should absolutely include.

Teen Titans Can’t Forget Wonder Girl Donna TroyDC Comics

While the movie will almost certainly include Starfire and Raven, the third most important female member of the team is Donna Troy, a.k.a. Wonder Girl. To some, she may seem like just a junior version of Wonder Woman, and that is how she started. But by the time the New Teen Titans formed she was a crucial balancing role in the dynamic of the team’s primary three ladies. Starfire was the wildly emotional and passionate member. Meanwhile, Raven had to control her emotions to the point of almost being a female Spock. So Donna was the balancing element in the middle of this trio. Plus, having an Amazon like Donna Troy opens up the world of Greek mythology, and that could be super cool.

Don’t Adapt The Judas Contract Right AwayDC Comics

The Judas Contract is the most seminal Titans story of all time, even after 40 years. It is to the Titans what The Dark Phoenix Saga is to the X-Men. So it’s got to be tempting for filmmakers to jump right to that story. But they shouldn’t. The 2017 animated film did a pretty good job of adapting it. Yet 80 minutes just scratches the surface where this story is concerned. Like Dark Phoenix, this is a story intended for long-form storytelling. There’s a reason X-Men: The Animated Series is the best version of Dark Phoenix Saga to this day—both the live-action movies rushed things.

The DCU can’t make the same mistake with Teen Titans. The basic premise of The Judas Contract played out over two years in the comics. The Titans welcomed a plucky young teenage girl named Tara Markov who has earth-based powers to the team. The team eventually discovers she’s a mole their deadliest enemy, the mercenary Deathstroke, placed within the team as a spy. This whole saga deserves to play out over several films, not the first out of the gate. If Teen Titans gets sequels, then maybe cover this story.

Teen Titans Should Visit the Exotic Locales from the ComicsDC Comics

With the likely inclusion of both Starfire and Raven on the team, that means we are going to be dealing with the worlds of both aliens and demons. The Titans TV series didn’t have the budget to pull these off. However, a big-budget feature can show us Tamaran, Starfire’s home planet, or Azarath, the magical dimension home to Raven. Wonder Girl’s home is Themyscira, home of the Amazons, which could also be a location. It would be wild if Donna Troy was the new DCU’s way into Greek mythology before Wonder Woman herself arrives.

Make Sure to Use Titan’s TowerWarner Bros. Animation

The Justice League has their Watchtower, and their Hall of Justice. The Avengers have their tower and their compound. But the Teen Titans have a famous HQ of their own—Titan’s Tower. Located on an island across the bay from New York (or sometimes, San Francisco), this T-shaped structure is both wonderful and silly, in the best way possible. The movie must use it, even if it’s only at the end of the film. The animated series used a fairly accurate version, while the live-action show had just a standard skyscraper. We think a Teen Titans movie can do better and we can’t wait to see what Gunn and company cook up.

Originally published April 26, 2017.

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GAME OF THRONES Dunk and Egg Spinoff Casts Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell

The House of the Dragon is about to get a lot bigger. Warner Bros. Discovery’s next Game of Thrones prequel will also take place during the Targaryen dynasty. The series, based on George R.R. Martin’s collection of novellas A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will bring the beloved duo of Dunk and Egg to life. Now we know who will play the beloved pair of wanderers whose story brought them to the Iron Throne. HBO has announced Peter Claffey will play the legendary Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell will play his young squire, the secret Targaryen prince Aegon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.

Send a raven.

Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell will star in the new @HBO Original Series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, as Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg. Coming to Max. pic.twitter.com/OAXVSQKLrB

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 5, 2024

HBO’s second Westeros spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, will follow a famous twosome from the Realm’s history: Ser Duncan and “Egg,” whose real name is Aegon. (Yup, another Aegon.) The show has been in development since at least 2021. Martin and Ira Parker will write and executive produce the show. Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis will also serve as executive producers.

HBO has now picked its eponymous pair. The 6’4″ tall Claffley (Bad Sisters, Vikings: Valhalla) will play Brienne of Tarth’s honorable ancestor. Sol Ansell (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) will star opposite him as the fiery and determined Targaryen prince who wanted to see the Seven Kingdoms as Duncan’s squire.

Random House

According to a previous Variety report, HBO CEO Casey Bloys originally said the series would begin production in spring 2024. However, that was dependent on the end of the Hollywood strikes. With their two main stars onboard now, though, filming could start sooner than later. Don’t buy snacks for your premiere party just yet, thought. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has also the series is eying a “late 2025″ premiere.

The series does have an official logline, at least. From HBO:

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Martin has released three novellas about Dunk and Egg’s adventures together, which came in the immediate aftermath of the Blackfyre Rebellion. That was the second famous Targaryen civil war in Westeros, the one fought after dragons went extinct. The three stories were later collected in the book that lends its name to the show’s title.

Jet City Comics/Mike S Miller

While we know the fate of Dunk and Egg many years later (which you can read about here if you don’t mind spoilers), there’s so much of their earlier time together we do not. Beyond the three stories Martin has published, he has long said he had/has plans for many more entries. Even if he never writes them, he can now use those ideas as a basis for storylines on the show.

HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi noted more about how the series would structure itself. She offered that it would run “ideally year-to-year and arcing out a three-season series, which maps out the three novellas that George wrote… Of course, we’d like more beyond that, and George is continuing to think about the remaining novellas that he still wants to write, but at this point, we have our eye on three seasons that would map out each book, each novella.”

Mike S. Miller/Jet City Comics

Even if we simply get adaptations of the three released stories and nothing else, they will provide a fascinating look at the Seven Kingdoms during an important era in its history. The first Blackfyre Rebellion split the Realm in two. But the end of a war does not guarantee peace. And while House Targaryen did not have dragons during this time period, they did have magic.

Also, the actions of family members also had major implications on their ancestors 100 years later during the events of Game of Thrones. A couple of them were still around then, too.

HBO

Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch was Egg’s brother. (He called out to Egg while dying.) And the Three-Eyed Raven (known as the Three-Eyed Crow in the novels) was one of the most important figures before, during, and long after the Blackfyre Rebellion. Long before he became part of a tree far beyond the Wall he was an infamous sorcerer and political figure. Just getting to see him in his heyday will make this spinoff worth watching.

Originally published on April 12, 2023.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: The Ancient Feud of House Bracken and House Blackwood

Civil war has come to Westeros, but the Dance of the Dragons won’t be the only infamous feud viewers see during House of the Dragon‘s second season. The series will also feature Westeros’ answer to the Hatfields and the McCoys, House Bracken and House Blackwood. Who are these ancient families from the Riverlands and why do they hate each other so much? And what does their infamous animosity mean for the Targaryens fighting over the Iron Throne? Here’s what to know about the Realm’s oldest, most enduring, most personal clash.

HBOAge of the First Men and the River Kings

The Targaryens’ ultimately ruled Westeros for three hundred years, a mere blip in the Realm’s long history. Some families, like House Stark, trace their bloodline all the way back to the First Men. Those settlers arrived 12,000 years before Aegon and his sister-wives brought dragons to the Seven Kingdoms.

The First Men fought the Children of the Forest for two thousand years until the sides signed a peace agreement. During the Age of Heroes that followed, the Children retreated north. Meanwhile petty kings of men fought each other for millennia to rule different regions across the continent. One area frequently contested was the fertile riverlands. Over time many different houses ruled as river kings. That included the neighboring families of House Bracken and House Blackwood. Their battle for the riverlands is where their bitter feud began.

House Bracken of Stone Hedge

The ancient House Bracken of Stone Hedge in the riverlands dates its founding to the First Men. At the time of House Targaryen’s rule it controlled a large area of land along the Red Fork, one of the three important rivers that make up the Trident. Their sigil celebrates their renown for breeding horses. It features a red stallion upon a golden shield on brown.

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During the Age of Heroes House Bracken ruled the Red Fork for a time as kings. This is not disputed, but how they lost their kingdom is. According to the Brackens their vassals of House Blackwood usurped them. Only, House Blackwood tells a very different story.

House Blackwood of Raventree Hall

House Blackwood’s Raventree Hall sits in the Blackwood Vale, which is just north of the Red Fork. The ancient family’s own history also dates back to the First Men, except they originally hailed from the wolfswood in the north. The Kings of Winter from House Stark drove the Blackwoods to the riverlands. According to Blackwood tradition, they then ruled as river kings from the Blackwater Rush’s mouth. They also say they ruled as kings opposite House Bracken, not as vassals to the Brackens. The Blackwoods say their enemies were mere petty kings who hired sellswords to fight House Blackwood.

We will likely never know if either side’s version is the whole truth. Westeros’s ancient history is as much myth and legend as fact. But we know why their sigil features a dead weirwood on a black shield surrounded by a flock of black ravens on scarlet. That poisoned tree memorializes a major moment of escalation between the two families.

Bracken and Blackwood Unite Against the Andals

When the Andals crossed from Essos into Westeros House Bracken and House Blackwood put aside their long held animosity to unite against a common enemy. It wasn’t enough. Their combined force fell to the Andals. (As did most kingdoms and Houses outside the North.) What followed that defeat only made the families’ hatred for one another deepen.

Following their loss House Bracken did what most families south of the North did: it converted to the Andals’ Faith of the Seven. House Blackwood did not. It kept the old gods the First Men had adopted thousands of years earlier from the Children of the Forest. The split in religious beliefs caused new, more personal problems. The Blackwoods claim House Bracken poisoned the sacred weirwood at Raventree Hall. The appearance of the poisoned tree on the Blackwood sigil shows just how important that event was to the family, even if we don’t know whether or not the Brackens were actually responsible.

Whatever the truth, it’s one of the many events neither family has ever forgiven despite many attempts to bury the hatchet.

The Many Failed Attempts to End the Bracken and Blackwood FeudHBO

The Brackens and Blackwoods attempted to end their feud many times via marriage. A bastard born of both houses even became King of the Trident once. But no matter how often they combined their families, the feud ultimately always restarted. While they often fought over disputed nearby lands, their history reveals a hostility that went far beyond power. They hated one another on a personal level.

That hatred not only prevented either house from gaining more power, it also left the riverlands vulnerable. A few centuries before House Targaryen’s arrival, House Blackwood united with the Storm King in a war against the riverlands other kings. But rather than the Blackwoods emerging as the unquestioned rulers of the region, the riverlands became part of the Storm King’s domain instead.

Three hundred years later House Bracken betrayed the Blackwoods in its fight against House Hoare, Kings of the Iron Islands. Instead of a Bracken becoming King of the Trident, House Hoare usurped the Storm Kings, putting the riverlands under the domain of the brutal Iron Island kingdom.

The feud also led to both families missing out on a chance to become the major house of their region when Aegon the Conqueror arrived.

Aegon the Conqueror Passes Over Both Bracken and BlackwoodHBO/IGN

Bracken and Blackwoods alike joined House Targaryen in its battle against the Iron Island King Harren the Black. But when Aegon burned Harren and his sons inside Harren’s just finished Harrenhal castle, the Conqueror named the Lord of House Tully as Lord Paramount of the Trident rather than the lords of House Bracken and House Blackwood.

The two sides had fought a secret war against one another a decade before, for which Harren had punished them. That left both families in a weakened state when Aegon selected his representative to lead the region.

House Bracken and House Blackwood Under Targaryen RuleHBO

Aegon’s wife, Queen Visenya, tried to end the feud with a double marriage between the families, but the double matrimony failed just as all previous marriages. During the first one hundred years of House Targaryen’s reign, both Bracken and Blackwoods found themselves mixed up with the royal family, often with deadly results. Lord Blackwood also backed the losing finalists put forward as King Jaehaerys’ heir, a title that fell to Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys.

The Bracken and Blackwood feud even erupted when Viserys sent his daughter on a trip to find a suitable husband. During an event with the king’s heir young, Amos Bracken fought with young Samwell Blackwood.

We saw a similar moment during House of the Dragon‘s first season between Willem Blackwood and Jerrel Bracken. They drew swords after Jerrel mocked Willem while he spoke to the princess. However, unlike in George R.R. Martin’s history where Amos and Samwell merely fought that day, on the HBO series Willem killed Jerrel.

We already know that deadly encounter won’t be the last time we see Westeros’ Hatfields and McCoys on the show.

House Bracken and House Blackwood in House of the Dragon Season 2HBO

Trailers for House of the Dragon‘s second season show an intense encounter between a Bracken and members of House Blackwood. Why are they drawing swords? What are they fighting over now? Most importantly, which side of the Targaryen civil war will each family support in the Dance of the Dragons? Considering each side controls a force in the riverlands even larger than House Tully commands, both the greens and blacks will want the Bracken and Blackwoods as allies.

Will they back the same dragon? Or go to war against one another? Even if you don’t already know the answer from Martin’s history, you can probably guess what these families will do. It’s what they’ve always done for thousands of years full of hatred for one another.

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

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LEGO’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Set Captures the Spirit of the Game

In celebration of Dungeons & Dragons‘ 50th anniversary, LEGO has brought to life a set honoring the beloved franchise. Dungeons & Dragons is many things—it’s a tabletop game, it’s lore, it’s books, it’s movies, and for many, it’s simply a way to live out their dreams of epic adventures and fantastical worlds. So, of course, it comes as no surprise that this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is actually a LEGO Ideas set, which means it started life as a fan creation. And when you put it together, that love comes through loud and clear.

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Armed with a set provided by LEGO, my stalwart party companions, and some supplies of choice (a cupcake tin and lots of snacks), I set out to build this gorgeously fantastical piece. My full review of this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is below, but in summation, much like the game itself, this D&D set feels alive and rife with possibilities.

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Jump to: The Spirit of D&D in LEGOs // The Build // The Minifigures // The Creatures // The Dragon // Life Lessons // How Much Does the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Set Cost?

How Does the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Bring D&D to Life?

So, how exactly does LEGO bring Dungeons & Dragons to life in this new set? We suspect fans might have this question, and it’s a fair one. After all, Dungeons & Dragons is a choice-based game, and it feels like it might be difficult to capture its spirit in one LEGO set. But, as always, LEGO rises to the occasion. The answer is two-fold. First, LEGO calls upon a few D&D stalwarts from the D&D Monster Manual and brings to life some races commonly associated with the game, such as elves, dwarves, and wizards. But secondly, the set really goes beyond that to capture the spirit of storytelling throughout the build.

Here are some examples of how the Dungeons & Dragons set brings an element of discovery and creation into its build to ensure the journey of putting the set together (and its outcome) depends heavily on the choices you make in your LEGO campaign.

LEGO

Right from the start, this set feels different than others. Bag one, step one has you put together a “Dwarf Cleric.” While the LEGO manual gives a little insight into what a cleric is, it leaves the rest up to you. What is the name of your cleric? The set invites you to ask. Your cleric channels divine magic from a god, the LEGO manual then notes, but which god? One might intuit that the dwarf cleric serves the sun god Lathandar based on the design of their shirt. But we suppose it could also be the god of spring… Wait a minute, are we making a character sheet? And we’ve barely snapped two LEGOs together. Much like the game itself, that’s how this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set sucks you in right from the start.

The Minifigures in the Dungeons & Dragons set are also especially cool because they come with several customizable options. While LEGO Minifigures often have more than one face, in this case many different choices can be made—including gender, weaponry, good vs evil affiliations, etc. A couple Minifigures actually come with no explanation at all. Are they a non-playable character, a party member you haven’t adopted yet, or a villain? You decide! While we’re not sure if this was fully intended, Minifigures that swap gender with ease do seem like a queer-positive development, and we approve.

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In addition, I would describe the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set as full of secrets. You, the DM, might know there are four cherries and two peppers hidden in the boxes at the Tavern, but a passerby sure won’t. And you’ll have to roll for perception to find some of the doors that you build and then hide. Just make sure you don’t fall into the trap you laid 10 pages ago and then forgot. (Or you’ll end up in the secret dungeon that only has a bucket and a set of handcuffs inside of it.)

NerdistThe D&D LEGO Build and Its MinifiguresThe BuildLEGO

The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set creates a full fantastical scene. It includes a cozy tavern for bards to write their songs, a bewitching tower full of enchantments, a verdant garden, and a loot-filled dungeon where danger and treasure await. I would say that it’s the perfect fantasy build for anyone who doesn’t have the space or time for LEGO’s more elaborate The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set. While in situ the build only feels slightly less complex than Rivendell’s, it draws to a close much quicker. The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set contains 3,745 pieces (32 bags) and four instruction books.

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Although there’s less of it, and it’s a little less challenging than Rivendell, this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set is still complicated in all the best ways. Not to mention, it contains plenty of those satisfying moments where tricky parts snap together exactly how you’d hoped. The set additionally offers a welcome variety of build types, from elaborate stonework designs to sweeping plant life to rocky terrains.

The Details

The devil is in the details in this set. Angled blocks create cool jagged windows, brown and green blobs form a symphony of evergreen trees, and flame-filled lanterns light up the way. The colors are gorgeously vivid. A curl of smoke equates to a fireplace below.

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The Dungeons & Dragons set also contains a plethora of miniatures in its depths. Little dragon eggs, coins, jewels, mushrooms, inkwells, spell books, staffs, weapons, and bags of loot emerge to decorate the halls of this building. The beer steins even have a foam float. And there’s a tiny lute!!!

The Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Minifigures

Your LEGO Dungeons & Dragons party includes six minifigures in total. As mentioned, each Minifigure from this set comes with many choices. Here’s a rundown of them all.

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The LEGO D&D set’s Minifigures include:

Dwarf Cleric – This D&D LEGO Minifigure comes with two hair choices, braided or basic, two heads, bearded or smiling, and a beard you add on top. We hear Dwarven ladies also love a beard. (We named ours Marigold.)Gnome Fighter – The Gnome Fighter comes with four different expressions and a variety of weapons. Orc Rogue – Sneaky, sneaky. The Orc Rogue comes with a couple of heads, a crossbow, and some knives. But is he friend or foe? You decide. He definitely seems chaotic either way. (We named ours Hawthorne.) Elf Wizard – The Elf Wizard is one powerful lady. She comes with a changeable head. (We named ours Belladona.) The Mysterious Dragon Sorcerer? – This mysterious Minifigure isn’t given any description at all in the pages of the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons book. And isn’t that the fun of it? He seems like some kind of dragon-loving sorcerer to us, though. A Dragonborn Minifigure – He seems like a friendly fellow, but who he is in your LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is entirely up to you.Building Dungeons & Dragons Creatures Out of LEGOsNerdist

A truly unique facet of this set is that in addition to Minifigures and miniatures, builders get to use actual LEGO blocks to create familiar monsters from Dungeons & Dragons. While many sets center on their architectural facets or their figure builds, it’s neat to see both blended here. In total, you’ll get to build six types of small creatures out of LEGOs and one VERY big one. The creatures are skeletons, a Gelatinous Cube, an owlbear, a Beholder, a Displacer Beast, a mimic, and, of course, a dragon.

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Using the blocks in this way allows fans to see LEGOs in a new light. And delightfully, the types of LEGOs snapped together vary for each creature, making for seven nuanced experiences.

Cinderhowl the Red LEGO Dragon

The pièce de résistance of the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is the Cinderhowl the Red Dragon build. Cinderhowl takes up eight out of 32 bags of this set. That’s 1/4 for those of you whose stats tend away from intelligence. Building this LEGO dragon is some of the most complex work in the set. But, boy is Cinderhowl worth it. (He can even sit on your shoulder)

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You might not typically play a god in your D&D campaign, but you sure feel like one as you raise this dragon to life, starting with his skeleton and ending with his wings. Cinderhowl has articulated feet, a mouth that can open and close, and wings that actually flap. He is well worth your while. He could honestly be a Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set all on his own.

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It wouldn’t be an adventure without some life-changing realizations. Here are just some my party experienced on this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

It’s all a matter of perspective.Don’t start building your last four bags of LEGOs at 11 pm.Sometimes, you just have to turn it over one more time. The only time you’ll be happy to step on a LEGO is when one you need has fallen onto the floor.It’s about the build, not the destination.Jeremiah, Todd, and Howard are excellent skeleton names.Get yourself a party member who can cook. Sometimes, we all need a little stability, even if we’re a Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set.NerdistHow Much Does the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Set Cost, and Where Can You Buy It?

The LEGO Ideas Dungeon & Dragons LEGO set is now available for purchase on LEGO’s website. This D&D set costs $359.99.

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A LEGALLY BLONDE Spinoff Series Is in the Works at Amazon

Is it wise to mess with blonde perfection? Legally speaking? Well, we suppose we can make an exception if the head blonde in charge herself is involved. Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine company are teaming up with Amazon to create at least one, and maybe more, Legally Blonde spinoff series. We don’t know much about these Legally Blonde shows yet. And there’s no word about whether Witherspoon will don her signature locks and reprise her role as Elle Woods, either. But we’re excited to find out more.

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Deadline shares, “One offshoot, which is further along in the development process, is being written by Gossip Girl developers/executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.” Additionally, it notes that Amazon’s acquisition of MGM made this further IP exploration possible. We suppose Gossip Girl‘s helmers would make good sense here. Especially if the spinoff series explores Elle Woods’ earlier days as a Delta Nu or even the story of Brooke Taylor-Windham and her fitness empire. It certainly feels like Legally Blonde‘s universe has more than one juicy story. But the most important part will be to keep that smart edge of wit and humor alive.

One thing is for sure: we have our fingers crossed that we’ll see more of Jennifer Coolidge’s Paulette Bonafonté Parcelle in the Legally Blonde spinoff series. Coolidge has seemingly been everywhere in recent years, but Legally Blonde was my first introduction to her. And her character was perfect. We’d also love to see some kind of updated version of the bend and snap or maybe its origin story. And, of course, the spinoff series must have more of Legally Blonde‘s famous pup, Bruiser.

In any case, Legally Blonde, the original, is pure perfection, butwe trust Witherspoon knows what she’s doing. Welcome to Prime Video and the land of spinoff series, Elle Woods.

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DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Has Wrapped Production

When the Netflix Marvel shows moved to Disney+, fans hoped they might see some familiar faces incorporated into the MCU’s world. Although there were many good iterations of Marvel characters in the Netflix shows, one hero that fans particularly hoped would return for a solo show or movie was Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Happily, Marvel Studios didn’t make us wait very long. At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, the studio announced that Daredevil would receive a new MCU series on Disney+, Daredevil: Born Again. Since that announcement, the series had some ups and downs, including an overhaul of its creative team.

But things seem to be moving along for the series now. A post from from Central Casting revealed that production on the series has now wrapped. It’s an exciting step forward for the show.

Here’s everything we know about Daredevil: Born Again.

TitleMarvel Studios

The title of the MCU Daredevil series will be Daredevil: Born Again. This is also the title of one of Daredevil‘s famous comic arcs.

Daredevil: Born Again‘s PlotMarvel Comics

We don’t yet know much about the exact plot of Daredevil: Born Again. But in the comics, Born Again is a very dark tale for Daredevil. In it, the man without fear faces down Kingpin, who manipulates Matt Murdock’s feelings for a struggling Karen Page in his attempts to destroy the hero. Whether this storyline will find its way into the MCU, we can’t say for sure. What we do know is that Daredevil: Born Again will have eighteen episodes, leaving a lot of room to explore the MCU version of the hero.

According to a report by Variety, Marvel is planning to overhaul the direction of Daredevil: Born Again. The publication shares that “Marvel Studios has recently parted ways with head writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman and is currently seeking new writers to revamp the show. Ord and Corman will still be credited as executive producers.” Additionally, Marvel has released the directors for the series episodes that have not yet already been filmed. Variety reveals that less than half of Daredevil‘s 18 episodes were filmed before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. And that “Some elements of the already shot material will be used going forward, but Marvel is looking to take the show in a new creative direction.”

Behind the ScenesNetflix/Marvel Studios

Originally Daredevil: Born Again was written and executive produced by Matt Corman and Chris Ord. According to Deadline, Clark Johnson was meant to direct two episodes. However, Variety recently reported that Corman and Ord were released from the show and Marvel is seeking new writers and directors for the series.

The Hollywood Reporter shared the superhero crime series has added Dario Scardapane as its showrunner. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead will direct the rest of the episodes for the first season. Scardapane has experience with The Punisher, while Benson and Moorhead directed episodes of Loki season two.

While Marvel will apparently retain some episodes and other material that was already filmed, Scardapane will add new episodes and new scenes. It’s unknown how many episodes season one will have.

Daredevil: Born Again‘s CastMarvel Studios

So far, Charlie Cox, who, of course, returns as Daredevil, and Vincent D’Onofrio, who will play Kingpin, have signed onto the new series. In addition, reports indicate that Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Punisher in the MCU series, and Deadline shares that Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye will also make the leap. Additionally, it seems like Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson will return as Karen Page and Foggy Nelson.

Also joining the Daredevil show are Nikki M. James, Michael Gandolfini, Margarita Levieva, Sandrine Holt, and  Lou Taylor Pucci. Their roles remain unknown. In addition, Deadline recently cited Carnival Row‘s Arty Froushan as part of the cast. And Genneya Walton will reportedly play “a young journalist with connections to a character from the original series.” Clark Johnson, in addition to directing, reportedly has a recurring role in the series.

Daredevil: Born Again‘s Release Date

Daredevil: Born Again does not yet have a release date.

Originally published January 5, 2023.

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