Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 342

Who Is the FANTASTIC FOUR’S Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal? Her Marvel Comics History, Explained

Marvel fans everywhere were surprised at the casting announcement of Ozark star Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer in the upcoming MCU Fantastic Four film, directed by Matt Shakman. However, this Silver Surfer won’t be Norrin Radd, the male Herald of Galactus most Marvel Comics fans are familiar with. Instead, it will be Shalla-Bal, a Marvel character with a history going back to the very first issue of Silver Surfer. For over five decades, Shalla-Bal has been a crucial part of the Cosmic Wanderer’s backstory.

Shalla-Bal, the Great Love of the Silver Surfer’s LifeMarvel Comics

In the comics, Shalla-Bal has long been a key player in the Silver Surfer’s lore. Although, she’s only ever been the Surfer herself in alternate universes to the 616. The main Marvel Universe’s Shalla-Bal first appeared in Silver Surfer #1 in 1968. She was the creation of Stan Lee and artist John Buscema. Ever since that first issue, Marvel has portrayed her as Norrin Radd’s greatest love. She’s even appeared in animated form, in the 1998 Silver Surfer animated series.

Marvel Comics

Like Norrin Radd, Shalla-Bal comes from the peaceful and advanced world of Zenn-La. Shalla-Bal met Norrin Radd when she was still a child, and bonded with Norrin thanks to a strange Zenn-La tradition. After the death of Norrin’s mother, her parents tasked Shalla-Bal with being his emotional companion. This was a Zenn-Lavian custom, to help a child deal with profound grief. Shalla-Bal was a happy-go-lucky child, while Norrin was extremely serious. Nevertheless, the bond between them was strong. As adults, the two fell in love and became a couple. However, when Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, comes to Zenn-La, their idyllic life is disrupted.

Mephisto and Doctor Doom Use Shalla-Bal as a Pawn Against the Silver SurferMarvel Comics

Norrin Radd saved his utopian world by offering himself to Galactus to become his herald, the Silver Surfer. By doing so, he had to leave Zenn-La, and his beloved Shalla-Bal, presumably for all time.  Eventually, the Silver Surfer rebelled against Galactus, who confined him to Earth as punishment. The Surfer’s enemy, the demon Mephisto, used Shalla-Bal as a weapon against Norrin Radd. Mephisto brainwashed Shalla-Bal, making her think she was a peasant girl from Latveria by the name of Helena. The Latverian monarch Doctor Doom, a mortal enemy of the Surfer, even married her in a mock ceremony.

Marvel Comics

As retaliation for his Herald’s betrayal, Galactus consumed the life energies of his home planet of Zenn-La. However, he spared the lives of the inhabitants, allowing them to return to their now-decimated planet. He believed their suffering would hurt the Silver Surfer more than their deaths. Eventually, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four frees the Surfer from his imprisonment on Earth, and he returns to his homeworld. But Shalla-Bal is not there, and he learns how his enemies Mephisto and Doom used her as a pawn. He uses the Power Cosmic to finally free his great love.

Shalla-Bal, Empress of Zenn-LaMarvel Comics

Shalla-Bal used her new power to restore life to her homeworld. The grateful Zenn-Lavians then crowned her as Empress of the Zenn-La. Despite the Surfer now being free of his Earthly confinement, Shalla-Bal refused to marry him, citing her responsibilities as ruler of Zenn-La. Eventually, she becomes designated as the “Keeper of the Great Truth,” tasked with spreading the culture of her homeworld across the known universe. Over the succeeding years, Shalla-Bal has been killed, resurrected, and even become her love Norrin Radd’s enemy. She even dated Norrin’s half-brother. These literally star-crossed lovers can never catch a break it seems.

In Other Marvel Realities, Shalla-Bal Is a Herald of Galactus HerselfMarvel Comics

In a 1982 issue of What If..?, we learn that Shalla-Bal became Starglow, a different Herald of Galactus. As part of the alternate reality of the series Earth X by Alex Ross, Shalla-Bal became a Silver Surfer herself. In that universe, Norrian Radd realizes that Galactus serves a necessary function in the universe. With that universe’s Galactus dead, he allows the High Evolutionary to evolve Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue Richards, to become the second Galactus. This new Galactus gives the Power Cosmic to Shalla-Bal, allowing for twin Silver Surfers to roam the galaxy together, seeking planets to sustain the Devourer of Worlds.

The Powers and Abilities of Shalla-BalMarvel Comics

As a native of Zenn-La, Shalla-Bal has an extremely long life span. The inhabitants of that world are essentially immortal. When the Silver Surfer granted her a portion of the Power Cosmic, plant life would grow wherever she walked. That is how she restored life to her devastated home planet. In the Earth X universe, she has access to the full Power Cosmic as the second Silver Surfer, which makes her almost a god. In the What If…? comics, she has another form of the full Power Cosmic as Starglow.

Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer of the MCU Fantastic FourMarvel Comics

It is unknown how the filmmakers plan to portray Shalla-Bal in the MCU. Rumors suggest that Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four will take place in an alternate reality from the Sacred Timeline. So it’s possible that in this universe, Shalla-Bal is the one and only Silver Surfer, offering herself as Galactus’ herald instead of Norrin Radd. Or, maybe as in Earth X continuity, she is one of two Silver Surfers doing Galactus’ bidding, and we just don’t know who’s playing Norrin Radd yet. We are sure to find out more as Fantastic Four begins production in the summer of 2024.

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Gru and the Minions Are Back in DESPICABLE ME 4 LEGO Sets

For almost 15 years, the Despicable Me series has been one of the most successful animated franchises of all time, with three main blockbuster films, two Minions spinoffs, and a new sequel on the way this summer, Despicable Me 4. To celebrate the release of the new film, the LEGO group partnered with Illumination and Universal Products & Experiences, will release a series of sets based on the upcoming film. Below are images and details of the first two Despicable Me 4 sets, with reveals for the other two LEGO sets based on the film coming at a later date.

LEGOLEGO Despicable Me 4 Minions and Gru’s Family MansionLEGO

This Despicable Me 4 set comes with the mansion’s iconic architecture and beloved movie items, such as the red couch, fireplace, and rocket-style bedroom—not to mention a brightly colored tree house.

Age: 8+/Price: €99.99 / $99.99 / £89.99/Pieces: 868/Dimensions: 10.5 in. (27 cm) high, 8.5 in. (21 cm) wide and 4.5 in. (11 cm) deep/Available: May 1, 2024

LEGO Despicable Me 4 Brick-Built Gru and MinionsLEGO

The second Despicable Me 4 set is a Brick-Built Gru with dancing Minions. It comes with a ukulele-playing Mel and Kevin, armed with his fart gun. (You have to have a good fart gun).

Age: 9+/Price: €54,99 / $54,99 / £49.99/Pieces: 839/Dimensions: 11 in. (28 cm) high, 9 in. (23 cm) wide and 6 in. (16 cm) deep. Available: May 1, 2024

LEGO

Sadly, the giant LEGO Minion they revealed on April 1 was just an April Fool’s Day joke. It’s too bad, because we kind of want that one. We’ve included an image of it, because it’s way too perfect not to show.

These new LEGO Despicable Me 4 products will be available from May 1, 2024. For more information on the other two upcoming sets, be sure to check out the LEGO official site.

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LEGO’s Challenging Gotham City Set Is a Gorgeous Tribute to BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES

Over the 20+ hours I spent piecing together the massive new LEGO Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City skyline set the company sent me I thought a lot about how I might start this post. I considered opening with a screed about how this beautiful and incredibly creative collectible fully captures the series’ iconic and influential Art Deco aesthetic. At various points I also debated comparing the challenge of putting together such an intricate and highly-detailed set with Bruce Wayne’s attempts to clean up his hometown. And during a few especially frustrating moments I considered explaining why the Joker isn’t always wrong. But by the time I snapped in the final piece, the Bat Symbol, I finally knew exactly what I wanted to say. It’s simple, but true: if you love Batman: The Animated Series you’ll absolutely love this set.

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Despite its tableau design, you do not build LEGO’s Gotham City set atop a big sheet as I expected. It’s made up of smaller boards you connect throughout the process. It’s akin to making small individual mosaics of the city’s various regions that together form a single, cohesive work of art. And that’s exactly what this set is, a work of art. It’s not an exact re-creation of the show’s Gotham. Instead it’s an original amalgamation that brings together different locales from the series. The effect is something that is wholly of Batman: The Animated Series while also being totally new. It’s a homage in the best way, because it made me want to rewatch the series. What could be a better tribute and celebration of the show than that?

That’s easy to see even in pictures. But while you can certainly appreciate the beauty of this set from images, it’s impossible to fully grasp just how gorgeous it really is unless you see it in person. For one it’s much deeper than it looks. (It’s also heavier. You’ll need a shelf to display it. Hanging it on your wall is not an option.) There are layers and layers of depth, as buildings sit on buildings sitting in buildings. The design invites deep investigation into every nook and cranny. Every time you look you’ll find something new to appreciate.

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Even the night sky with its dark red clouds have layers that give this otherwise static piece a kinetic energy—as do my favorite pieces, the billowing smoke stacks. They look like they’re actually operating. The easily removable row of bottom buildings are also hiding unseen depth and fun Easter eggs. From character stickers to the Batmobile, there are lots of extras to discover within. Only you might never find all of them unless you build the set yourself and know where to look.

Unless you put Gotham together you can never fully appreciate how much detail went into the many individual designs, either. Some of my favorite parts of this build involved making smaller structures that have triple the amount of LEGO bricks than you’d think by looking at them. Piecing this together is a different reward from admiring the finished product.

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It’s a good thing working on this set provides its own kind of fulfillment, because the amount of detail involved is a double-edged sword. The 4,210-piece set designed for ages 18 and up features roughly 80,000 tiny parts. It can be aggravating adding molding and decor in a normal building. Adding small single piece details on a relatively thin LEGO set is really freaking hard. (Especially if you have sausage fingers like I do. Those are also why I hated putting the set’s many small stickers on pieces, too.)

It was really hard at the start. Initially the set felt much more delicate than I imagined. That made me especially cautious about how I connected the different components. I was terrified of breaking multiple parts. But as I kept going I realized the set is more sturdy and stronger than my first impression. That allowed me to pick up the pace. Out of the 44 individual bags that make up LEGO’s Gotham, I finished the first 10 at a much slower rate than the rest.

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While I ultimately love this set and think it’s actually undervalued at $300 (even with only four minifigs), I did have some issue with its two massive instruction booklets. The set’s color scheme—which includes lots of black and brown pieces, various hues of grays, and dark blues—sometimes made it hard to see which exactly piece was needed. I often had to rely on my smartphone’s flashlight or a bright headlamp to distinguish between colors.

The booklets, which are genuinely excellent visual guides overall, also show everything at an angle. That was a helpful most of the time, but not when it came time to put something on top of something else or when connecting two large mosaics. It wasn’t always obvious exactly where or how they went together. An overhead picture would have cleared that up and saved me from my most consistent (and potentially disastrous) mistakes.

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Once I became aware of that problem, I course corrected. I slowed down and took extra time when placing anything directly on the growing tableau. And by the time I finished that problem, like the others, didn’t seem like a big deal. What I was looking at was too incredible to focus on difficulties I experienced during the build. And that was before I realized you can backlight the whole thing to create a nighttime effect that truly evokes the aesthetic of the show it celebrates.

That’s why it took finishing this set to know how I wanted to start talking about it. As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series I love everything about LEGO’s Gotham City, especially the fact I have one in my own home.

Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City LEGO set is available now.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who knows exactly where Condiment Man is hiding in the Batman Gotham City LEGO set. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Disney+ Sets Password Sharing Crackdown to Begin in June and Expand to All Users By September

What a shock. After Netflix’s extended password-sharing crackdowns proved to be unfortunately successful, Disney+ has decided this is a good time to start a password-sharing crackdown of its own. Actually, we aren’t surprised. It seems like the new streaming playbook includes password-sharing limitations right alongside price increases and ad-supported tiers. Disney+ had previously indicated such a password-sharing crackdown was on the horizon earlier in the year. And now it looks like it’s finally arrived. Here’s what we know about Disney+’s password-sharing crackdown efforts so far.

Disney+ Will Start Its Password Sharing Crackdown This Summer

At an earnings call that took place in February 2024, Disney shared more details about its planned password-sharing crackdown for Disney+ users. According to The Verge,  Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston noted that Disney+ accounts “suspected of improper sharing” will be notified that different users will need to make different accounts. Disney+ will also follow in Netflix’s footsteps, allowing users to add people outside of their household to their accounts for an additional fee. That fee currently remains unknown.

Disney

In full, Johnston’s quote about Disney+’s password-sharing crackdown reads, “As it relates to the opportunity we see on paid sharing, beginning this summer, Disney Plus accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscription… Later this calender year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household and will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee.”

Johnston further noted, “Paid sharing is an opportunity for us,” Johnston added. “It’s one that our competitor is obviously taking advantage of, and one that sits in front of us … We’ve got some very specific actions that we’re taking in the next couple of months.” Doesn’t that just make your blood boil?

As mentioned in Johnston’s quote, the Disney+ password-sharing crackdown will arrive in the summer of 2024. Bob Iger recently expanded on this timeline, revealing that the crackdown will begin in “just a few countries in a few markets” but will then expand to all subscribers in September.

Disney+ Notifies Users of Password Sharing CrackdownMarvel Studios

Disney+ first revealed its crackdown intentions in Canada late last year. According to The Verge, Disney+ sent an email to subscribers in Canada alerting them that password-sharing was on notice in September of 2023. The email noted, “We’re implementing restrictions on your ability to share your account or login credentials outside of your household.” Although Disney+ did not go too deeply into detail about what its password-sharing crackdown would look like, it feels like the streamer is emulating Netflix’s version. In fact, Disney+ even references the idea of “households,” a term Netflix created so it could enforce who could and could not use one Netflix account.

In the meanwhile, Disney has also given a similar notice to Hulu users in the United States.

Changes to Disney+’s User Agreement in Canada

In the case of Disney+, an updated Help Center page notes, “You may not share your subscription outside of your household.” Additionally, a new “account sharing” heading now appears in Candian subscribers’ user agreements. As shared by MobileSyrup, the section includes the following information:

Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household. “Household” means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein. Additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Tiers.

We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement (including those set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement).

You will be responsible for any use of your account by your household, including compliance with this section.

It doesn’t seem all that likely that Disney+ would actually terminate a user for password-sharing, but now it can’t say it didn’t warn you.

When Will Disney+’s Password Sharing Crackdown Begin?Lucasfilm

For most Canadian users, these changes in password-sharing policies went into effect on November 1. That corresponded with the launch of Disney+’s ad-supported tiers in Canada. While its not clear if Disney immediately moved to enforce the password policy, it is clearly making sure users know it intends to at some point.

As mentioned above, it looks like a wider password-sharing crackdown is coming to Disney+ in the summer of 2024. There is no word yet on how that will effect different regions or who will be hit first.

We guess we’ll see how seriously Disney+ will take this new initiative.

Originally published on September 28, 2023.

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STAR WARS: TALES OF THE EMPIRE Series Reveals Barriss Offee’s Inquisitor Fate

Lucasfilm surprised us on Thursday morning with an announcement for a new series of shorts. Following in the footsteps of Tales of the Jedi, Star Wars: Tales of the Empire will take a journey into the Galactic Empire with six episodes. The series of shorts will follow two characters: a young Morgan Elsbeth and former Jedi Barriss Offee. Like Tales of the Jedi, Tales of the Empire puts the focus on choice and how characters’ choices affect their destinies. And yes, Tales of the Empire confirms that Barriss Offee did indeed pursue the path of becoming an Inquisitor!

One-time Jedi and friend of Ahsoka Tano, Barriss betrayed the Jedi in the finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Disillusioned with the Jedi Order and the Republic, the Padawan bombed the Jedi Temple and let Ahsoka take the fall. The act led to Ahsoka’s false imprisonment and eventual departure from the Jedi Order. We never learned what happened to Barriss, though many fans believed she turned to the Imperial Inquisitorius. The Star Wars: Tales of the Empire trailer confirms this. We don’t know why or if she goes on to officially become an Inquisitor, but we see her working towards it, and we can’t wait to see what happens.

Then there’s a young Morgan Elsbeth turning to Grand Admiral Thrawn and asking to serve the Empire. That’s likely the beginning of their close relationship that we later see play out in Ahsoka. Morgan is carrying no small amount of anger over what happened to her Dathomirian sisters and she has a plan for revenge.

Click To View Gallery Lucasfilm Lucasfilm Lucasfilm

The official synopsis for Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi states:

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is a six-episode journey into the fearsome Galactic Empire through the eyes of two warriors on divergent paths, set during different eras. After losing everything, young Morgan Elsbeth navigates the expanding Imperial world toward a path of vengeance, while former Jedi Barriss Offee does what she must to survive a rapidly changing galaxy. The choices they make will define their destinies.

Dave Filoni created the series and is the supervising director. He is also an executive producer along with Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck. Josh Rimes serves as co-executive producer and Alex Spotswood is the senior producer. The talented voice cast includes Diana Lee Inosanto (Morgan Elsbeth), Meredith Salenger (Barriss Offee), Rya Kihlstedt (Lyn aka Fourth Sister), Wing T. Chao (Wing), Lars Mikkelsen (Thrawn), Jason Isaacs (Grand Inquisitor), and Matthew Wood (General Grievous).

When Is Star Wars: Tales of the Empire‘s Release Date?

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire will premiere on Disney+ with all six episodes on May 4 to celebrate May the Fourth Be With You. And as for Tales of the Jedi, we learned at Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2023 that a second season was in the works. Hopefully we’ll learn about that release date soon.

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The DCU’s SUPERGIRL Movie Finds Director in I, TONYA’S Craig Gillespie

From the House Targaryen to the Kryptonian House of El, actress Milly Alcock, who played the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon has been cast as Supergirl for DC Studios. She’ll reportedly first appear in a small role, probably Superman: Legacy, before starring in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. That film will be based on the comic by Tom King and Alcock won the role over Emilia Jones and Meg Donnelly. The latter voiced Supergirl in DC animated films Legion of Superheroes and Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One. The Supergirl movie has also found its director in a very interesting choice, Craig Gillespie.

Warner Bros/DC Comics

DC has not confirmed that Supergirl’s first DCU appearance will be in Superman: Legacy. However, the tea leaves are all pointing that way. It’s the first DC film to go into production for James Gunn’s and Peter Safran’s new DC Studios. And it shoots later this year. Plus, it’s a Superman movie. Where better to introduce any member of the Man of Steel’s extended family than in that film? So if she didn’t appear in Superman: Legacy first, it would be surprising. The Supergirl in the Woman of Tomorrow celebrates her 21st birthday in that series, so at only 23, Alcock is the perfect age in real life to portray that version of the character.

Gunn noted of Alock’s casting as Supergirl, “Strangely, Milly was the FIRST person I brought up to Peter for this role, well over a year ago, when I had only read the comics. I was watching House of the Dragon & thought she might have the edge, grace & authenticity we needed for the DCU’s Supergirl. And now here we are. Life is wild sometimes.”

When it comes to the movie’s director, The Hollywood Reporter notes that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be directed by Craig Gillespie. In the past, Gillespie has directed Disney’s Cruella and the figure skating movie, I, Tonya. Both movies certainly had a distinct style, so it will be fascinating to see what the director does with Supergirl.

The character of Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El first appeared in 1959, during DC Comics’ Silver Age. She’s been a mainstay of the DC Universe ever since, in one form or another. Supergirl has appeared on the big screen twice before. First in the 1984 film Supergirl, played by Helen Slater, and then in last year’s The Flash, played by Sasha Calle. Of course, Melissa Benoist portrayed Kara Danvers on the CW Arrowverse series Supergirl for six seasons. We’re sure that Milly Alcock will bring her own spin to DC Comics’ iconic heroine.

Originally published on January 29, 2024

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See Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE BRIDE

Christian Bale has never been shy about transforming his body for a role. He famously lost an unhealthy amount of weight for both The Machinist and The Fighter. He then went in the opposite direction to play the rotund Dick Cheney in Vice. Now he’s undergoing a different kind of cinematic transformation. Bale is turning himself into a legendary sci-fi monster. The first images from director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride show Bale and co-star Jessie Buckley as the iconic creations.

Maggie Gyllenhaal/Warner Bros.

Gyllenhaal took to Instagram to post the first official photos (which we first heard about at Variety) for The Bride, her upcoming take on a classic Frankenstein story. The images come from camera tests for her two leads. Gyllenhaal’s version will take place in 1930s Chicago and see Buckley’s reanimated murder victim launch an entire new social movement.

The Warner Bros. production will reunite Buckley and Gyllenhaal. Buckley earned an Oscar nomination for Gyllenhaal’s previous film, 2021’s The Lost Daughter. This time the actress will star as the titular bride of Frankenstein. But these photos show the two are not exactly the same.

Maggie Gyllenhaal/Warner Bros.

Bale’s monster has an entirely different energy in his photo. His scarred, terrifying take on the character—which feels strangely reminiscent of Jared Leto’s Joker, only with giant stitches rather than a forehead tattoo—evokes the horror of Mary Shelley’s character. Buckley’s blonde Bride looks far more human. She has a black blotch on the side of her mouth, but otherwise her wounds seem far more internal than her pieced-together counterpart.

The Bride will also feature Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening, and Peter Sarsgaard. It will arrive in theaters next year ahead of Halloween on October 2, 2025.

What will Christian Bale look like by the time the film premieres? We don’t know. We just know we can’t rule any kind of transformation out.

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Gillian Anderson Open to Return in Ryan Coogler’s New THE X-FILES Series

The X-Files is perhaps one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. Scully and Mulder’s investigations of the strange and unexplained still resonate with viewers and inspired future shows like Lost, Fringe, and Supernatural. Of course, we got a short-lived The X-Files revival with original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson a few years ago. But that, too, is now a part of television history. And now, it seems we are once again exploring to see if the truth is still out there with a reboot of The X-Files led by none other than director Ryan Coogler.

BAFTA/YouTube/20 Century FoxGillian Anderson Open to Appearing on Ryan Coogler’s New X-Files Series

In an exciting turn of event X-Files star Gillian Anderson might be willing to return as Scully in Ryan Coogler’s new X-Files series. Anderson revealed, “It’s so funny because for most of my life, since I have finished The X-Files, every interview I do, people have asked and the answer has always been, ‘Nope, not going to happen, not going to happen.’ Now, Ryan Coogler, who is the director of Black Panther — brilliant, brilliant director — has approached Chris Carter to say that he wants to do a take on it, and I cannot think of a better way around for a reboot to happen.”

Fox

A promising start. Anderson continues, “Whether I am involved in it is a whole other thing. I’m not saying no. I think he’s really cool and I think if he did it, it would probably be done incredibly well. And maybe I’ll pop in for a little something something.”

Cue the exclamation points. We’re absolutely crossing our fingers that Anderson’s Scully will return for Coogler’s X-Files.

Chris Carter Blesses This Reboot

The X-Files original series creator Chris Carter appeared on CBC’s On the Coast radio show to talk about the show in March 2023. During that interview, Carter revealed that he’d spoken with Ryan Coogler, who plans to reboot (or, as Carter says, “remount”) The X-Files with a diverse cast. He didn’t get into any more specifics, but he doesn’t have to. The thought of a supernatural investigative series led by a diverse cast is all we need to hear. Personally, my vote is for Mamoudou Athie and Nicole Beharie to be Mulder and Scully, respectively. And, Ryan Coogler is already a modern legend with the Black Panther and Creed franchises under his belt, so he can surely bring something incredible to The X-Files.

Carter also recently shared that Coogler had his blessing to reboot the series. He noted to The Wrap, “They don’t need my blessing. 20th Century Fox and Disney owns the show. They are free to do with it what they believe. I’m honored that they came to me and asked me, not for my permission, but my blessing.” And additionally shared, “I’ve had a conversation with him [Coogler]. Yes, he likes to go with a diverse cast. And he’s got some good ideas.”

What Do We Know About Ryan Coogler’s X-Files Series?

Although we haven’t heard much about Coogler’s X-Files series since March, recently, it popped up on our radars again. According to a report from Bloomberg, Disney continues to work on developing the series as of December 2023. We want to believe that this series is coming soon.

Originally published on March 28, 2023.

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New Heroes & Villains Performance Apparel Collection Celebrates Wonder Woman and STAR WARS

Fighting evil villains with earth-shattering powers? Defending a galaxy far, far, away from the dark side? You may not be doing that every day, but why not tackle even the most ordinary of obstacles in fine form? A new line of sleek performance apparel from Bioworld’s Heroes & Villains wants you to do exactly that. This collection of fabulously fannish athletic wear celebrates the women of Star Wars, Wonder Woman herself, and, of course, you! It wouldn’t be the same without you. So get your superpowered racerback tank tops, scrunchies, and shorts ready and let your favorite women of this universe and beyond inspire you to action.

Heroes & VillainsHeroes & Villains Star Wars Performance Racerback Tank Tops (And Ahsoka Shorts)

Whether you’re a Jedi, a Rebel, or just a rebellious Jedi, Bioworld’s Heroes & Villains has a new performance racerback tank top for you in their new Star Wars collection. These cool new Star athletic tops come in Jedi, Rebel, and Ahsoka varieties, which we think is pretty fitting because you just can’t label Ahsoka. We love how this T-shirts seem plucked right out of the Star Wars universe itself. We’d personally love to go to “Rebel Camp.” But we also love to tap into a little bit of the Force when we’re exercising. (It’s not cheating. We’re sure Anakin would back us up.)

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Each of the tank tops also comes with a fun Star Wars reference detail running along its back. It’s a lovely touch. You can take a look at the different Star Wars options from Heroes & Villains above.

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Ahsoka, being the queen that she is, also has a pair of shorts to go with her tank top. They are absolutely adorable and we love seeing her symbol on them.

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These Star Wars Performance Racerback Tank Tops cost $48 each. Meanwhile, Ahsoka Women’s Performance Shorts cost $52.

Heroes & Villains Wonder Woman Performance Tank TopHeroes & Villains

Okay. We can literally not say enough about this Wonder Woman performance tank top. It is so cute. We need it yesterday. We can’t imagine anything that would make us feel more powerful than this red, white, and gold get-up. The back detail, which reads “Strength. Grace. Love,” really completes the top. And we love the intricate gold designs running across its back and sides. Stylish and sensationally nerd. Great job, Heroes & Villains.

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This Wonder Woman Performance Tank Top is also $48.

Heroes & VillainsScrunchies, Galore!

Who doesn’t need a nerdy scrunchie? We need at least ten because no matter if you wield the Force or have superhuman strength, you are still losing your scrunchies all the time. Complete your nerd jock look with matching a Star Wars or Wonder Woman scrunchie and headband set to keep your hair out of your face while you’re fighting evil or fighting with your laundry.

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The Star Wars and Wonder Woman Scrunchie & Headband Sets cost $16 each.

Bioworld’s Heroes & Villains Sets You Up in Style

To recap, here is everything available in this new collection, on sale now:

Jedi Women’s Performance Racerback Tank Top, $48Rebel Women’s Performance Racerback Tank Top, $48Ahsoka Women’s Performance Racerback Tank Top, $48Wonder Woman Women’s Performance Tank Top, $48Jedi Scrunchie & Headband Set, $16Ahsoka Scrunchie & Headband Set, $16Rebel Scrunchie & Headband Set, $16Wonder Woman Scrunchie & Headband Set, $16Ahsoka Women’s Performance Shorts, $52

Heroes & Villains often has many fun and immersive fannish collections. We love this new line and can’t wait to see what’s next.

The post New Heroes & Villains Performance Apparel Collection Celebrates Wonder Woman and STAR WARS appeared first on Nerdist.

Check Out SARGASSA’s Cover and Read an Excerpt From This Novel About a Rome That Never Fell

If the Roman Empire had continued its reign, what would the world be like? Sophie Burnham aims to explore that question in their debut novel, Sargassa. Set in an alternate North America called Roma Sargassa, where the Roman Empire never fell, this novel tells a tale full of political intrigue, queer romance, and revolution. The first in the Ex Romana trilogy of speculative fiction, Saragassa weaves together a rich and compelling story about an unlikely group of protagonists who are ready to burn down an empire. In celebration of the thrilling novel, which had us at the edge of our seats after only one chapter, Nerdist is delighted to exclusively reveal Sargassa‘s cover and an excerpt from the novel.

Take a look at Sargassa‘s stunning cover below.

Sargassa‘s Cover Reveal and SynopsisDAW Books/Rebecca Yanovskaya/Adam Auerbach.

Sargassa‘s cover aret s by Rebecca Yanovskaya and its cover design is by Adam Auerbach. The Sargassa cover art reveals its main character Selah Kleios, gorgeously drenched in gold. But just who is Selah Kelios? She looks like she’s firmly standing her gilded ground. Well, the Sargassa‘s synopsis sheds light on its intriguing cover image and its central protagonist.

Selah Kleios is twenty-two years old and suddenly one of the most important women in the empires. The role of Imperial Historian is her birthright, something she’s been preparing for since birth–but she was supposed to have more time to learn the role from her father, the previous Historian. In the wake of her father’s sudden and shocking assassination, Selah finds herself custodian of more than just the Imperial Archives, the towering central library that safeguards all collective knowledge of the Roman Imperium and its client empires. There’s also the question of the two puzzling classified items her father left in her care—an ancient atlas filled with landscapes that don’t exist, and a carved piece of stone that seems to do nothing at all.

“A carved piece of stone that seems to do nothing at all.” We bet that’s the most powerful piece of stone in the entire empire. And the rest of Sargassa‘s synopsis lets us know we’re onto something. It notes:

Soon, though, it becomes clear that the Iveroa Stone is more than just a slab of rock. With the reappearance of an old lost love who’s been blackmailed into stealing it for an unknown entity, Selah finds herself in a race to uncover the mysteries the Stone holds. But she isn’t the only one with an interest in it—she’ll have to contend with the deputy chief of police, an undercover spy, and her own beloved half brother along the way. What begins as an act of atonement and devotion ultimately pulls her into the crosshairs of deep state conspiracy, the stirrings of an underground independence movement, and questions that threaten to shake the foundational legitimacy of Roma Sargassa’s past, present, and future.

A release further notes that “This novel is told from multiple POVs: a young heiress, an undercover spy, a bastard brother and a fugitive with history with all three, Sargassa is equal parts political intrigue, queer romance, and revolution.” What we think we hear sounds a lot like queer found family, one of our favorite things. We also can’t wait to see how all these characters, motivations, and secrets come together into one mesmerizing tale.

An Exclusive Excerpt from Sargassa

To get you even more excited about Sargassa, Nerdist also feels thrilled to share an exclusive excerpt from the novel. This excerpt, which comes from chapter two of the book, gives a taste of Burnham’s lush writing. This tease of Saragassa‘s narrative is filled with evocative descriptions, captivating world-building, and characters that leap off the page, even in only a few short pages. In this snippet, we enter the universe through the perspective of Theo, one of the novel’s many queer protagonists. And let me tell you, I feel like I know (and love) Theo already.

SARGASSA – Excerpt – Nerdist

This Saragassa excerpt also gives a taste of just how chilling it can feel to exist in the world of this story. But we must warn you, this quick journey into Sargassa ends on something of a cliffhanger. And you’ll be asking for the rest, stat.

DAW Books/ Rebecca Yanovskaya/Adam Auerbach.

Sargassa will release on October 8, 2024, but you can pre-order the book today. (Amazon link) In the meantime, keep up with author Sophie Burnham on Twitter @sophielburnham. Burnham is a queer nonbinary novelist and screenwriter. As mentioned, Sargassa is their debut novel.

The post Check Out SARGASSA’s Cover and Read an Excerpt From This Novel About a Rome That Never Fell appeared first on Nerdist.