Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 345

Liquid Death x e.l.f. Offer a ‘Corpse Paint’ Kit, a DRAGON BALL Theme Park, a STAR WARS Thrawn Collection, and More News Odds & Ends

From many villainous Star Wars excitements to a fabulous new “corpse paint” makeup collection from Liquid Death and e.l.f., to a Dragon Ball theme park coming soon to the announcement of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, a new Jurassic World animated series, and more; here are some of our favorite odds and ends from the entertainment world.

Lucasfilm/Converse/Heroes & VillainsMake Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f.Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in MayWinnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is ConfirmedStar Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has ArrivedA Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the WayNew Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and MoreStrange Way of Life Is Heading to NetflixGodzilla Became Police Chief for a day in TokyoMichael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated SeriesD&D Converse Are ComingDavid Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology SeriesStar Wars Lit Up the Empire State BuildingMake Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f Cosmeticse.l.f/Liquid Death

It’s the age of the Goth Ghoul. And Liquid Death and e.l.f. cosmetics have collaborated to help you slay your look! (It even involves a keepsake coffin!) The official description shares, “It’s the new makeup trend everyone’s living for—and it’s only available from e.l.f. and Liquid Death. Slay the viral corpse paint look with this limited-edition, five-piece kit.”

Liquid Death even released a hilariously on-point ad for the collaboration, which aims to replicate retro-informercials hilariously. (And totally succeeds!)

The kit includes a “Limited-edition, 5-piece makeup set includes Matte Magic Mist & Set, O FACE Satin Lipstick, No Budge Cream Eyeshadow, H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen and Putty Applicator in drop-dead gorgeous packaging.”

Click To View Gallery e.l.f/Liquid Death e.l.f/Liquid Death e.l.f/Liquid Death e.l.f/Liquid Death

This will help you create drop-dead gore-geous looks. We adore it. The vibe here honestly reminds us of Nerdist favorite Lisa Frankenstein, but encapsulated in a makeup kit! More make-up kits need to come in coffins.

The Corpse Paint kit is available until supplies sell out! But never fear—even when the set is no longer alive, Liquid Death and e.l.f. have curated a whole set of suitably slay-tastic substitutes. You can take a look at the whole collection here. And who knows, maybe we’ll see it rise from the dead again sometime soon!

Hell yes! We love a unique makeup collaboration!

Hidden Valley Ranch and Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Set Tastes Like a Buffalo Wings Basket

Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in May

If you love Camp Cretaceous or any part of the Jurassic World universe, it’s time to get ready for more dino fun. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is a new Netflix series that picks up six years after the events of Camp Cretaceous to continue the story of “The Nublar Six” and, of course, everyone’s favorite dinosaurs. The series will arrive on May 24.

You can check out the Jurassic World: Chaos Theory teaser trailer and synopsis below.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory‘s synopsis shares:

Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of “The Nublar Six” are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them. Reunited in the wake of a tragedy, the group comes together only to find themselves on the run and catapulted into a global adventure to unravel a conspiracy that threatens dinosaur and humankind alike and finally learn the truth about what happened to one of their own.

For more Jurassic World fun, check out what we know about the new live-action movie.

Scarlett Johansson In Talks to Star in New JURASSIC WORLD Movie

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is Confirmed

More murderous Pooh mayhem is coming our way. Variety has revealed that Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 is confirmed and will be hitting our screens eventually. Although we have no specific timeline for the release of Blood and Honey 3 yet, we do know that “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ will have a bigger budget than the previous films and will introduce new characters from the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories, including Rabbit, the heffalumps and the woozles. All will no doubt be given sadistic, murderous twists.”

‘WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 3’ is in the works with a bigger budget.

Rabbit, the heffalumps and the woozles will appear in the film.

(Source: https://t.co/YqBUSkJaKw) pic.twitter.com/qEo2yY1txn

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 28, 2024

Jagged Edge is also planning a massive “Poohniverse” crossover movie with all kinds of childhood villains gone wrong.

WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY Launching POOHNIVERSE Crossover Movie with Bambi, Pinocchio, and More

Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has ArrivedHeroes & Villains

Heroes & Villains are always outfitting us in the latest and greatest in nerdy-wear. And their recent Star Wars: Thrawn collection is no different. Star Wars‘ villains are having a huge moment, and the Admiral deserves some love. Check out what’s on offer below, and then head over to Heroes & Villains’ site for more.

Click To View Gallery Heroes u0026 Villains Heroes u0026 Villains Heroes u0026 Villains Heroes u0026 Villains From Heroes u0026 Villains Heroes u0026 Villains

Check out some cool watches to go with this Thrawn collection.

Citizen’s Dark Side STAR WARS Watches Keep You Marching on Time

A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the WayShueisha

One of the most beloved anime and manga series ever is now getting a theme park. The official Dragon Ball website announced that the theme park would be coming to Saudi Arabia. A release shares more about the park, noting:

The Dragon Ball theme park will boast a whopping size of over 500,000 square meters and feature seven different areas that recreate various iconic locales from the original series, such as Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus’s Planet. At the park, visitors will be able to join an adventure with Goku and pals as they enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, from the very beginning of the anime all the way up through Dragon Ball Super!”

This theme park will feature five state-of-the-art rides as part of a lineup of 30+ attractions! And if that wasn’t already exciting enough, construction of a 70 meter-high Shenron is also planned, with this landmark containing a large-scale roller coaster inside!

Dragon Ball‘s legacy is unparalleled.

An Ode to Akira Toriyama and the Enduring Global Legacy of DRAGON BALL

New Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and More

A new video game from Marvel is bringing to life some of our favorite heroes in a whole new way. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra takes us back to, you guessed it, 1943. There “an original story that takes players on a WWII-era adventure with an ensemble of four heroes playable at different points in the game.” These four heroes are “a young Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America; Azzuri, T’Challa’s grandfather and the WWII-era Black Panther; Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos; and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.”

Marvel

Captain America and Black Panther are two of our favorite Marvel heroes, and we can’t wait to see them come to life in this new game. The results will undoubtedly be epic.

The game comes from Skydance New Media, helmed by award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig, and Marvel Games.

Here’s what we know about Captain America’s next adventure in the MCU.

Anthony Mackie Seems to Confirm Bucky Barnes Won’t Be In CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD

Strange Way of Life Is Heading to NetflixSony Pictures Classics

Want to see Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawk in their queer, western short directed by Pedro Almodóvar? Well, get excited; it’s coming to Netflix on April 12.

Take a look a the trailer here.

Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke Are in Love in Queer Cowboy Movie STRANGE WAY OF LIFE

Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo

@7newsaustralia

Godzilla was appointed Tokyo’s police chief for a day, the mega reptile promoting a message of street safety after years of being hell bent on street destruction. #godzilla #japan #police #7NEWS

♬ original sound – 7NEWS Australia – 7NEWS Australia

Godzilla is known for crushing Tokyo, but recently, he recanted his ways and became the protector of Tokyo’s traffic. As Police Chief for a day, Godzilla set out to promote street safety.

7newsaustralia/Toho Ltd.

It’s a good time to be Godzilla.

A Big Threat Emerges in Latest GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Trailer

Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated SeriesThe WB/The CW

The Smallville animated series isn’t dead yet. Michael Rosenbaum recently revealed the following to Screen Rant:

All I could share is that it’s a great idea. We have Al and Miles, the creators of Smallville backing us up. When it’s the right time, we’d like to go and do this; pitch to Warner Bros. It has to be the right time, and right now is not the right time. We had the strike, we had a change of executives at DC — one being one of my best friends in the world, James Gunn. When the time’s right, I think it’s something that’s a no brainer, unless they have other ideas. We’d like to do it — the whole cast would like to do it. They would voice their own character from the show, and we have a concept of what the show is.

Fingers crossed!

Rosenbaum also recently spoke to the DCU’s newest Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult.

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

D&D Converse Are ComingConverse

Get ready to roll for extra cool kicks. Converse is teaming up with Dungeons & Dragons for a line of sneakers and more to celebrate D&D‘s 50th anniversary. The color scheme is pretty cool, and we love the designs. With these on our feet, we’ll have all the initiative we need. Take a look at what’s on offer below. These Dungeons & Dragons Converse will go on sale on April 11.

Click To View Gallery Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse Converse

We’re also big fans of these nerdy One Piece PUMAs.

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

David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology SeriesNBC

The second season of the Goosebumps anthology will see a friendly face arrive (or perhaps not so friendly). David Schwimmer is set to star in the second season of the Disney+ show. According to Deadline, “Schwimmer will portray Anthony, a former botany professor and divorced parent of teenage twins whose world takes a tumultuous turn as he juggles the responsibilities of overseeing an aging parent while having his kids for the summer.”

Check out what the first season looked like:

GOOSEBUMPS Trailer Brings R.L. Stine’s Frights and Delights to Life

Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building

What’s that, the Empire on the Empire? Star Wars recently lit up the Empire State building with a light show showcasing its many iconic villains. This is a part of its “March to May 4th” initiative. And we’re excited to march along.

Lucasfilm

Blue Milk is also involved.

STAR WARS Blue Milk Is Coming to Grocery Store Shelves on Earth

Originally published on March 22, 2024.

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The post Liquid Death x e.l.f. Offer a ‘Corpse Paint’ Kit, a DRAGON BALL Theme Park, a STAR WARS Thrawn Collection, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Take a Closer Look at Shanks’ Shoe From ONE PIECE x PUMA’s Collaboration

Ah, Red-Haired Shanks. The all-powerful legend. The carefree jokester. The inspiration behind one of the shoes in One Piece x Puma‘s sneaker collaboration. (Naturally, his most important claim to fame.) One Piece fans the world over love the character of Shanks (or at least are begrudgingly charmed by him). And now, as mentioned, they can declare their allegiance to One Piece‘s Red-Haired Pirate Crew and its captain by donning Shanks’ colors in PUMA shoe form. Of course, if red is not your color, the One Piece x PUMA collaboration will also let you come aboard with the three other One Piece Emperors, Luffy, Buggy, or Blackbeard. But Nerdist was lucky enough to get a closer look at the Shanks PUMA shoe. And so, let’s dive deep into the ins and outs of the One Piece sneaker.

Nerdist

Jump to: One Piece References in the Shanks PUMA Shoe // Are the One Piece PUMAs Comfortable? // Where Can You Buy the One Piece PUMAs?

One Piece References in the Shanks PUMA Shoe

One Piece fans are probably wondering just how these PUMA shoes relate to the series itself. And that is an important question. Personally, I love nerdy fashion that’s both aesthetic and referential. And these Shanks PUMAs certainly accomplish that goal for me. The Shanks shoes are subtly fannish in both big and small ways but restrain themselves from going too far overboard. And that keeps this One Piece Puma sneaker looking fashionable and gorgeous.

Jump to: The Box // The Colors // The Scars // The Jolly Roger // Shanks’ Pants Design From One Piece Film: Red // The Puma Belly Coin // The Wanted Poster // The Man Himself!

One Piece‘s Map Decorates the PUMA BoxNerdist

Before we see the shoes, we already know that this One Piece x PUMA collaboration is going to be great. The box and wrapping paper that house the Shank sneakers are both One Piece-themed. After all, we can’t set sail to be King of the Pirates without a map. And this shoe box will help us find our heading.

Click To View Gallery PUMA PUMA PUMA The Colors of Shanks’ One Piece PUMA ShoesNerdist

Well, he ain’t called Red-Haired Shanks for nothing! One Piece is known for its colorful assortment of hair colors, and Shanks is no different. But, of course, Shanks’ hair isn’t actually pure red; it’s really more of a wine color—a fitting choice for a pirate. Happily, PUMA nails the exact shade of the captain/Emperor’s tresses in its homage to Shanks. Dark red is the main color of this One Piece PUMA shoe, and if you look at side-by-side images of Shanks and his PUMA, it really is like the sneaker has been dyed to match. We love it.

Nerdist/Toei Animation

The Shanks shoes also have a silvery white streak running through them. And that nicely represents both the natural draw of a pirate to something shiny and the fact that Shanks’ main outfit includes a white shirt. At times, Shanks’ eyes are also depicted as silver throughout his franchise appearances(although the color sometimes changes). So in a way, this silver streak is actually a fairly deep cut.

Of course, in the world of One Piece, silver can also refer to the flash of a sword. And that makes a lot of sense, too, since the turquoise green piping on this One Piece x PUMA shoe actually represents Shanks’ saber, Gryphon. Gryphon is known for its famously green (and long) hilt. This is another super fun color choice.

These Puma Sneakers Show Off Shanks’ ScarsNerdist

Red-Haired Shanks has a very specific set of scars that graces his face. Three long, vertical marks pass straight over Shanks’ left eye but don’t affect it. One Piece fans will know that the pirate Blackbeard gave Shanks these scars before the start of the series proper. However, the circumstances of Shanks’ scarring remain mysterious. Still, as far as Shanks goes, it’s somewhat of a trademark part of his character’s design.

Nerdist/Toei Animation

In an incredibly fun, if you know, you know, kind of way, Shanks’ three scars are embroidered onto the heel of his One Piece x PUMA shoe. We love seeing this obvious reference done in a very deft way.

The Red-Haired Pirates’ Jolly Roger SymbolNerdist

Having a unique Jolly Roger is very important to the different pirate factions on One Piece. After all, Luffy would tell you, the Jolly Roger sets the tone for a ship and its pirate crew. While PUMA could have simply used the general One Piece logo on all of its shoes, the Red-Haired Pirates and Shanks’ specific Jolly Roger feaures throughout the sneaker. Like Shanks, the Red-Haired Pirates’ Jolly Roger has three long scars running over its left eye. On the One Piece PUMA, Shanks’ Jolly Roger can be found on the tongue of the shoe and on the back of the right heel. (Sharing a location with the PUMA logo on the left heel.)

Nerdist

The shoe even gets the specific design of the swords decorating the skull right. Seeing the perfect miniature replica of Shanks’ Jolly Roger on the PUMA makes for a delightful surprise.

Nerdist/Toei AnimationThe Design of Shanks’ Pants From One Piece Film: RedNerdist

Now this One Piece x PUMA collaboration really cuts deep in its franchise references. I admit, I squinted for quite a while at the paisley-like design that decorates the shoe. It was incredibly hard to place the origin of the pattern. But eventually, it came to me. The pattern references the design on Shanks’ pants from the movie One Piece Film: Red. Wild.

Nerdist/Toei Animation

One Piece Film: Red actually centers Shanks and his adopted daughter Uta, in its story so it makes all the sense in the world for his PUMAs to refer to it. But still, that is quite a slice into the world of One Piece. Well played, PUMA.

One Piece‘s Belly Gone PUMANerdist

What’s a pirate shoe without a little pirate booty? In One Piece, the going currency for pirates is the Belly coin (also known as Berry, Beli, or Beri). The One Piece collaboration with Pum features a Puma-fied Belly that hangs from the edge of the sneaker. Instead of the iconic One Piece “B” decorating Belly, now there’s a “P.” Guess Shanks and co. will need to get after “Pelly,” now.

Nerdist/Toei AnimationShanks’ Wanted Poster Appears on the PUMA Shoes’ TongueNerdist

Wanted posters are also a big deal for One Piece‘s pirate set. Getting a wanted poster means you’re in the club, and the higher the bounty, the better. Shanks, naturally, is an incredibly wanted man. And in a fun surprise, when you go to put on your PUMA, you’ll find a glittery version of Shanks’ One Piece wanted poster on the tongue. The mini-wanted poster even details the iconic text “Wanted—Dead or Alive.” The Marines have signed off on it as well, of course. The PUMA even contains the swirls that decorate One Piece‘s official wanted posters. Of course, the sneaker gets Shanks’ going rate exactly right. That’s 4,048,900,000 Belly/Pelly, please.

Nerdist/Toei AnimationThe Man, Himself! Nerdist

Surprise! Shanks himself makes an appearance on his shoe. Yep, there he is, grinning up at you from your right PUMA sneaker, leg hair and all. It’s a fitting final Easter egg twist for the One Piece x PUMA collaboration. We love that the last One Piece reference you find when you go to put on your shoe is Shanks in the flesh (kind of). Just go easy when you step on him.

Are the One Piece PUMA’s Comfortable?Nerdist

Yes! The One Piece x PUMA collaboration has yielded a shoe that is fabulous but also functional. The external suede is soft, the interior lining is smooth, and your foot feels well-supported in these sneakers. 10/10 would wear on adventures across the high seas.

Where Can You Buy the One Piece x PUMA Shoes, Clothes, and More?Nerdist

The One Piece x PUMA collaboration is available on PUMA’s websites. It contains shoes, clothing, and more. Although some pieces have sold out online, it’s also worth checking local stores to see what’s in stock. And hopefully, with great demand, the One Piece PUMA shoes will return for another season. (Much like the One Piece live-action.) We also hope more characters beyond just One Piece‘s Emperors will be featured in future collaborations. Zoro and Sanji PUMAs, we NEED those.

The post Take a Closer Look at Shanks’ Shoe From ONE PIECE x PUMA’s Collaboration appeared first on Nerdist.

Courteney Cox in Talks to Return for SCREAM 7

Despite a slew of controversy over the past two years, the Scream franchise is moving forward with its seventh installment. The previous film left the Core Four and Gale Weathers (we assume, considering she didn’t die) in a relatively good place, with Sam finally moving towards healing and peace after killing Richie’s remaining family. (It’s wild but true.) Scream VI was the first film to not include Sidney Prescott due to actress Neve Campbell rightfully bowing out due to a salary dispute. Fans thought Sidney would finally get a happy ending but Ghostface just won’t leave our good sis alone. That’s right, Sidney is back and her once-enemy turned sorta-friend Gale Weathers is probably coming back, too. Variety reports that Courteney Cox is in talks to reprise her role in the next film.

Paramount Pictures

The next film will be interesting, to say the least. Who will don that infamous mask next? Here’s what we know about Scream 7. 

Paramount PicturesTitle

For now, we will call this film Scream 7. It’s likely this will be the title, which could be stylized as Scream VII. As seen on this script from Campbell’s Instagram post, the film does not have an official title yet. 

Scream 7’s Plot 

As stated above, Sam and Tara’s story came to a neat conclusion in Scream VI. And Sidney is living a happy life with her husband Mark and her daughters. It seems like there was no one else hiding in the shadows who would want to kill Sidney. Her story was complete and she found peace. So, the plot of Scream 7 is really up in the air. Maybe Sidney will swoop in to help some other unfortunate soul battle against a new Ghostface. There’s no confirmation she’s the definite lead for this film yet. Or, depending on this film’s release, someone from 30 years ago could decide to celebrate the events of Scream (1996) in a sinister way. We shall see. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Kevin Williamson, the writer of Scream (1996), will direct Scream 7. He is replacing Christopher Landon, who left the film after Melissa Barerra’s controversial (and very upsetting) firing and Jenna Ortega’s exit. Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, who wrote the last two installments, will pen this sequel. The Radio Silence team will step back from directing duties to executive produce Scream 7. 

Scream 7’s Cast 

Right now, the only person we absolutely know will be in Scream 7 is Neve Campbell. It remains to be seen if the Meeks-Martin twins, played by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, will be in this film. We’d love to see more of them.

However, their return isn’t likely considering their characters’ stories being so closely intertwined with the Carpenter sisters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Savoy Brown hasn’t received a call from the studio Spyglass Media Group as of January 2024. Even more recently, Gooding affirmed he knew no solid details about the seventh Scream film. Sadness.

We assume Courteney Cox and Roger L. Jackson will return as Gale Weathers and the voice of Ghostface, respectively. Maybe we will see Patrick Dempsey reprise his role as Mark Kincaid, too. 

Scream 7 Release Date 

There is no release date for Scream 7 at this time. The script is at least partially in place, so perhaps we will see this film in late 2025 or maybe 2026 to celebrate Scream’s 30th anniversary.

Originally published on March 13, 2024.

The post Courteney Cox in Talks to Return for SCREAM 7 appeared first on Nerdist.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Reveals the New Monsterverse Hierarchy

We’ve always known Godzilla is the “King of the Monsters,” owing to, well, him being absolutely royal. But with so many other Titans in the Monsterverse, it’s somewhat difficult to parse out which of them are the, pardon the term, Apex of the Monarchs. This is especially true now that the Hollow Earth has so many other creatures within it. Where do they all fit in the greater hierarchy? While not everything is set in stone, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire solidifies the roles for at least three of the biggest Titans. Somewhat ironically, that news did come from a stone.

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The audience has known for a bit that Godzilla is in some fashion the defender of the Earth. However, he clearly has little interest in humans or their structures. Kong is the one who cares about people! But who else is involved in this? Is it just a two-horse race? No! Y’all didn’t realize this was a trifecta this whole time, did you?

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

We learn, via cave drawings in the Iwi people’s temple, that the third prong of the Hero Titan trident is Mothra. She’s not only alive, she has a very important job to do. The breakdown is thus:

Godzilla – Guardian of NatureKong – Guardian of HumanityMothra – Guardian of the Hollow Earth

How this ultimately shakes out in the movie is that Godzilla’s main focus is to keep the planet and its flora and fauna safe from harm. That harm can come from people, so we need to watch it. Kong—after the fight in Godzilla vs. Kong—needs to live in the Hollow Earth, but his calling is to defend humanity against various threats. Sometimes that threat might be Godzilla; again, very complicated. The G-Man does not cotton to Kong up on the surface.

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

Mothra, therefore, effectively acts as the Godzilla for the Hollow Earth. She defends the creatures living down there. This also means she defends breaches between the realms of the Hollow Earth and the outside world. In the movie, she keeps the Skar King’s hordes from traversing the breach. She also breaks up the squabbling between Kong and Godzilla.

So look out, other Titans! These three are the Monsterverse’s toughest, and they’ll kick your butt if you get out of line.

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

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Reveals the New Monsterverse Hierarchy appeared first on Nerdist.

How GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Brings Back a Fan-Favorite Titan

The Monsterverse loves to give fans updated versions of beloved monsters. Obviously we have Godzilla and Kong, but we’ve also gotten the likes of Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Rodan. It’s a delight for fans of these older movies, especially the Showa era of Toho monster flicks. But a single appearance isn’t enough! We want these Titans to come back for more. Thankfully Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire heeded our wishes and brought back one of the most beloved of all giant monsters.

Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures[image error]

It’s Mothra! Yes, the Queen of the Monsters returns following her heroic yet all-too-brief appearance in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. We’d hoped for her return (or even her own solo movie, hint hint) ever since, but since she didn’t appear in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, we weren’t sure. Thankfully, Godzilla x Kong brought her back to us.

As our human heroes—especially the former Skull Island-resident Jia (Kaylee Hottle)—make their way into the Hollow Earth, they find out Jia isn’t the last of her people after all. They had gone inward, inside the Hollow Earth. They now live behind a barrier to keep the Skar King from reaching them. Jia then learns that she is the conduit to speak to the Hollow Earth’s guardian. When said guardian awakens from inside a massive chrysalis, it’s none other than Mothra!

Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures

While it’s never entirely explained how Mothra got away at the end of King of the Monsters, we now know she went into hiding, perhaps to heal from her wounds. Whatever the reason, she is clutch in defending Jia and her people from the Skar King’s hordes during the above ground fight with the other two Titans.

Mothra’s screen time here is also pretty brief. However, now that she’s back and has her own job to do, we can hope she makes many more appearances in the Monsterverse.

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

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post How GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Brings Back a Fan-Favorite Titan appeared first on Nerdist.

Who Is Tiamat, GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE’S Serpentine Titan?

The latest Monsterverse outing, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire offers some truly enormous battles as the titular Titans face off against the Skar King and his band of ape minions. But they aren’t the only such behemoths to appear in the movie, not by a long shot! One of these other titans has a history within the franchise, but Godzilla x Kong offers them their first major big screen appearance: Tiamat!

Legendary ComicsWho Is Tiamat?

Tiamat is the enormous sea serpent titan. Her name comes from the Ancient Babylonian salt sea goddess who gave birth to gods that later killed her and used her carcass to create the world. Pretty gruesome stuff. According to the official Monsterverse files, Tiamat is 847 feet long and possesses several tendrils coming off her face.

When Did Tiamat First Appear in the Monsterverse?

The first Monsterverse mention of Tiamat came in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Her name appears on a Monarch map as one of many Titans who begin attacking under the control of King Ghidorah. We can assume she went back to hiding when Maddie Russell (Millie Bobby Brown) turned on the Orca machine in Boston.

Legendary Comics

The first time we actually see Tiamat is in the 2021 comic Godzilla: Dominion, the prequel to Godzilla vs. Kong. In it, Godzilla traverses the Hollow Earth looking for one of his old lairs and finds Tiamat had taken it over. She becomes very territorial and the two creatures fight, as they often do. Under the water, Tiamat had the advantage; the tide only turned to Godzilla’s favor when he dragged her to land. She eventually disengaged and skulked away to fight another day.

Tiamat Fought the Justice League

Tiamat also appeared in issues four and five of DC and Legendary’s Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong event. After Toyman fused the two universes, Tiamat attacked Atlantis. Aquaman tried to quell the sea serpent but could not and was forced to release the Kraken, Clash of the Titans-style. Godzilla eventually joined the battle, naturally, and Green Lantern and Flash had to join in to keep the three giant creatures from destroying the underwater city.

DC

Later in the saga, Lex Luthor and Mechagodzilla brought Tiamat and some other Titans to Metropolis where she nearly ate Hawkgirl. Luckily, Red Hood piloted a transforming Batplane, in humanoid form, into Tiamat and broke off her tooth allowing Hawkgirl to escape. (Sidebar: What a wild sentence series of sentences to have to type.)

What Does Tiamat Do in Godzilla x Kong?[image error]

Finally we come to Tiamat’s first on-screen appearance. During the early part of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the Skar King begins to shore up his plans to return from his forced exile in the lowest depths of the Hollow Earth. Simultaneously, Godzilla awakens from his new lair in the Roman Colosseum and begins seeking out other Titans to pick fights with. We learn later he’s absorbing energy from them in order to evolve to better fight off the Skar King’s coup attempt.

One of these Titans is Tiamat. We see Godzilla and Tiamat fight briefly in the movie. The battle ends with Godzilla syphoning power from her which gives him his pink power upgrade.

Will we see Tiamat in the future? We know she’s resilient, so only time will tell.

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

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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BEETLEJUICE: The Franchise’s Strange Origin Story and Cultural Legacy

Beetlejuice was the unlikeliest of hits upon release in the spring of 1988. Since then, the film has left an incredible pop culture footprint. The Michael Keaton-starring supernatural comedy introduced the Tim Burton aesthetic to the masses. It particularly resonated with a certain type of spooky goth kid who had a sense of humor about themselves. Decades later, Beetlejuice‘s popularity continues to endure, spawning a sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which will hit theaters in September 2024. In honor of Beetlejuice‘s enduring legacy, lets get into unlikely story of how Tim Burton’s sophomore film became a big hit and a cultural icon.

Warner Bros.The Original Beetlejuice Script’s Inspiration: Annoying Neighbors and Ghostbusters

In the early ’80s, horror novelist Michael McDowell saw the success of movies like Poltergeist and Ghostbusters. Both of these films brought supernatural themes to mainstream audiences with a lighter touch and became huge successes. This inspired McDowell to try his hand at writing a story in the spooky realm with a similar approach. At this time, according to The Ringer, McDowell and his partner were living in Medford, Massachusetts when the yuppie explosion began. Annoyed at the pretentious new neighbors in their quaint town, McDowell came up with the idea of nice ghosts who need to get rid of awful modern living folks in their home. The “nice ghosts” call upon the services of a mischievous “bio-exorcist” who goes by the name Betelgeuse. Pronounced, obviously, as “Beetlejuice.”

Warner Bros.

McDowell’s script, which had revisions by writers Larry Wilson and Warren Skaaren, eventually landed at David Geffen’s production company before finding its final home at Warner Bros. Studios. Studio execs loved the script yet many were afraid it was too weird for a mainstream audience. The creative team even considered changing the name to House Ghosts. At one point, it had a much darker ending where teenage lead Lydia dies in a fire then haunts the home. At the studios’ behest, these darker and more sinister aspects were taken out. (In retrospect, this was probably a good idea.)

Director Tim Burton, who had just made a hit for the studio with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, wanted to helm the movie. He thought Beetlejuice matched his strange sensibilities… and the studio agreed. Warner Bros. rolled the dice with a relatively small budget of thirteen million dollars. Burton wanted Michael Keaton to star as the titular character although the actor was fresh off a series of flops. He also cast newcomer Winona Ryder as goth girl Lydia Deetz. The film’s leading roles were given to Geena Davis and Alec Baldwini as the ghostly Maitlands as well as Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s annoying and eccentric stepmom. With everything in place, filming commenced in Los Angeles and Vermont in early 1987.

Beetlejuice Becomes a Sleeper HitWarner Bros.

Beetlejuice hit theaters on March 30, 1988 and was the tenth highest-grossing film of the year. It made a whopping seventy-three million dollars on a thirteen million budget! Keaton’s portrayal of the “bio-exorcist” created catchphrases that caught on with audiences. Everyone from late-night talk show hosts to kids on the playground were saying “It’s showtime!” or “I’m the ghost with the most, babe!” on repeat. Classic music like “Day-O” by Harry Belafonte, used in comedic moments from the film, suddenly got radio play again. And who can resist saying Beetlejuice three times? Beetlejuice came out in the heyday of VHS rentals and cable airings on a loop, which only added to its pop culture longevity. For a generation of goth and goth adjacent kids, Winona Ryder’s line “I myself am strange and unusual” became our mantra.

The “Tim Burton” Aesthetic Is Born in BeetlejuiceWarner Bros.

Tim Burton serviced Pee-wee Herman’s existing aesthetic for his first feature. But, for Beetlejuice, he got to go full Burton. The film is filled with his now-iconic swirly patterns, cartoon gothicness, and supernatural men in pin-stripe suits. Although he worked with composer Danny Elfman in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, the music created for Beetlejuice perfected the Burton/Elfman sound going forward. Beetlejuice also began Burton’s recurring collaborations with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara.

Because of the success of the film, Warner Bros. felt comfortable giving Burton and Keaton the keys to Gotham City with Batman. As Burton’s career took off however, he didn’t seem terribly keen on returning to the world of Beetlejuice. The studio floated around sequels for other directors for years. In the ‘90s, Kevin Smith said Warner Bros. offered him a shot at directing “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian.” Smith—and all of us—are thankful that never came to fruition.

The ’90s Animated Series Extends the Popularity of the Beetlejuice BrandNelvana

A lot of Beetlejuice’s pop culture staying power lies with one piece of media in particular—the Beetlejuice animated series. It was a hit with viewers, even though it was very different from the film with Beetlejuice and Lydia as besties. The show premiered in 1989 as a 13-episode Saturday morning cartoon and continued for two more seasons on ABC, spawning a metric ton of merchandise. In the fall of 1991, it went to Fox Kids’ network, where it launched a weekday afternoon run. Along with Batman: The Animated Series and X-Men, the Beetlejuice cartoon helped cement Fox Kids as the #1 children’s programming hub. Much like The Real Ghostbusters found a whole new audience of kids beyond the more grown-up movie, the Beetlejuice cartoon pulled the same trick.

Beetlejuice Makes Its Way to Broadway and Back to Theaters AgainWarner Bros. Theatrical

Beetlejuice found another revival in recent years thanks to the Broadway musical adaptation of the film. (This followed decades of an on-stage Beetlejuice show at Universal Studios.) Debuting in 2018, the show got decent reviews and several Tony nominations. The original production shut down because of the COVIID-19 pandemic. But it came to the Marquis Theater from 2022-2023 with a lucrative national tour to follow.

Now we are finally getting the very long-awaited film sequel! Will Beetlejuice Beetlejuice do well enough that we’ll get a third film? If history is any indication to this franchise’s success, it will probably happen. Beetlejuice has to hear his name three times to be summoned, so we hope the someone says Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice soon. We don’t want to wait decades for a third chapter. But, even if we do, we can always revisit the TV series or enjoy the landslide of merch that exists today. Beetlejuice is dead yet his legacy will never die.

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THE SYMPATHIZER’S Newest Trailer Features Robert Downey Jr. and His Many Disguises

How does a biracial, bilingual spy—one unsure of his own loyalties and caught in the middle of a high-stakes international game of cat-and-mouse—survive threats from both sides? The new trailer for Max’s upcoming limited series The Sympathizer has just the guy to help: every version of Robert Downey Jr. you can think of.

Hoa Xuande is a spy trapped between nations in the newest look at Max’s upcoming series. It comes from co-showrunners and executive producers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar. The Sympathizer follows a secret agent whose work begins in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He eventually moves to Los Angeles, but relocating to the US doesn’t make him any safer. It only pulls him deeper into danger. His fight to avoid detection will be hard for him, but a whole lot of fun for viewers. Here’s the show’s official logline, which confirms the humor in this trailer is quite intentional:

The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.

Warner Bros. Discovery

The show is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The series also stars Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and the great Sandra Oh. Chan-wook directs the first three episodes. Fernando Meirelles handled episode four. And Marc Munden directs the final three episodes of the seven-episode show.

A24 and Rhombus Media also produced the series along with Moho Film and Cinetic Media. And Downey, under his Team Downey production company, also serves as a producer. That’s probably not why his character’s enormous costume budget got approved, but it definitely didn’t hurt.

The Sympathizer debuts on April 14.

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Jack Black Reveals BORDERLANDS Movie Character Is ‘R-rated R2-D2’

Borderlands made a splash when Gearbox Software debuted it on multiple gaming platforms in 2009. The video game is an open-world action roleplaying first-shooter and features a plethora of fiercely violent madcap characters. The game follows a core group of four Vault Hunters who are traveling to the planet Pandora (not to be confused with Avatar‘s Pandora) to look for the Vault. This stash supposedly has riches, glory, and fancy alien tech that many factions want to get their hands on first. A movie based on this game has been in the works since 2015, and now, it will finally make its way to theaters.

Lionsgate

Slowly, we’re beginning to see more details emerge from the Borderlands movie. Recently, Jack Black spoke about his role as Claptrap in the film. He described the character as “an R-rated R2-D2.” That certainly paints a picture. Additionally, Black shares, “He’s a cool, fun, little turn, and another opportunity to bring a great video game to the silver screen… We’re kind of in the middle of a video game movie renaissance right now, and I’m stoked to be a part of it.”

Here’s everything we know about the Borderlands movie so far.

Title

This video game movie adaptation will be called Borderlands.

Borderland’s Plot

Lionsgate shared an official plot synopsis on April 5, 2021:

Two-time Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett teams up with Kevin Hart in director Eli Roth’s Borderlands. Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas (Ramirez). Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team – Roland (Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot.

These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other. Based on the game from Gearbox and 2K, one of the bestselling videogame franchises of all time, welcome to Borderlands.

Lionsgate

In some exciting news, we finally have our first good look at the live-action Borderlands movie. Lionsgate released two first-look images from Borderlands, which reveal one close-up of Cate Blanchett’s Lilith and one shot of the whole team. The team, of course, includes Kevin Hart’s Roland, an ex-soldier, Ariana Greenblatt’s Tiny Tina, a teenage explosives expert, Florian Munteanu’s Krieg, Tiny Tina’s bodyguard, Jamie Lee Curtis’ Tannis, a strange scientist/doctor, and Jack Black’s Claptrap, who is a robot.

LionsgateBehind the Scenes Gearbox_Software

Eli Roth, best known for his horror films, is set as the director. Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) is writing. Mazin is also working on HBO’s The Last of Us TV series. Producers for the Borderlands movie include Avi and Ari Arad, and Erik Feig, with executive producers Randy Pitchford (who served as executive producer on the game) and Strauss Zelnick. Deadpool‘s Tim Miller handled reshoots.

Borderland‘s Cast Warner_Bros./Gearbox_Software

And now we’re to the most exciting news about the Borderlands movie: the star power. Cate Blanchett landed the role of Lilith, the film’s lead. Kevin Hart will play Roland, a soldier. Lilith and Roland are two of the game’s Vault Hunters. Edgar Ramirez will play Atlas, who is the most powerful man in the video game’s universe. (Naturally, that means he’s a businessman and arms manufacturer.)

Jamie Lee Curtis has signed on for the film too, playing Tannis, an archaeologist. And we also know Jack Black will voice Claptrap, the game’s recognizable sassy robot sidekick. IGN reported on April 6, 2021 that Dutch bodybuilder Olivier Richters will play Krom. Additionally, Ariana Greenblatt and Florian Munteanu will star as Tiny Tina and Krieg, respectively.

The rest of the cast includes Gina Gershon as Moxxi, Cheyenne Jackson as Jakobs, Charles Babalola as Hammerlock, Benjamin Byron Davis as Marcus, Steven Boyer as Scooter, and Ryann Redmond as Ellie. In addition, Bobby Lee is also joining the cast in the new role of Larry.

We have a look at the movie, courtesy of star Jamie Lee Curtis and Lionsgate. It’s only the silhouettes of characters, but still:

LionsgateBorderland‘s Release Date

Borderlands will release in theaters on August 9, 2024.

Originally published on April 2, 2021.

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Asajj Ventress’ Story Will Be Explored in Future STAR WARS Content

Star Wars fans were shocked to see the character of Asajj Ventress alive and well in the new trailer for the final season of The Bad Batch. Surprised, but elated, as she remains a popular character who suffered an ignoble death off-screen. It looks like the tides are turning for Asajj Ventress though, as Star Wars is teasing that her story will continue to be told even beyond The Bad Batch in “future content.” But who is Asajj Ventress, the Force-wielding warrior? Although debuting outside the official Star Wars canon, Asajj Ventress was conceived for the big screen, way back in 2000.

Jump to: Asajj Ventress’ History // Asajj Ventress in The Bad Batch // How Is Asajj Ventress Alive? // Asajj Ventress’ Star Wars Future

Lucasfilm Asajj Ventress Was Created for Attack of the Clones, But Debuted in the Expanded Universe Lucasfilm

Asajj Ventress has a complicated history in the Star Wars universe. Lucasfilm originally conceived her as a Sith villain for Attack of the Clones. Before Lucasfilm invented Count Dooku as the new Sith for that film, Lucasfilm artist Dermot Power created a new female Sith apprentice for Darth Sidious. Her original name was Juno Eclipse. Although she didn’t make it into the film, George Lucas didn’t discard her. He resurrected her for the original 2003 Clone Wars animated micro-series, where she was Count Dooku’s dark side assassin. Although technically, she’d first appear in a Dark Horse Comics issue of Star Wars: Republic. She’d later appear in various expanded universe novels and comics, fighting Jedi in many battles during the prequel era.

The Clone Wars Brings Asajj Ventress into Star Wars CanonLucasfilm

Thanks to the 2008 The Clone Wars animated series, Ventress really developed as a character, and became an official part of the Star Wars canon. Voiced impeccably by actress Nika Futterman, Ventress was once again portrayed as a dark side warrior under the command of Count Dooku. She fought our heroic lead Jedis several times in the first two seasons, leading Separatist forces against many Republic clones and their Jedi generals. But as the series continued, fans got new insights into Asajj, and her popularity continued to rise. Eventually, she became a more complex character than just a tool of the Sith.

The Origin Story of Asajj VentressLucasfilm

In season three of The Clone Wars, Asajj gets a proper origin story. We learned that she was born on the planet Dathomir, home of the witches known as the Nightsisters. Eventually, while still a child, the Nightsisters sold her to a band of criminals. She almost certainly would have died during a pirate attack as a youngling, but a Jedi named Ky Narec saved her life, after crashing on the planet Rattatak. Narec instantly sensed her Force potential and began her informal Jedi training.

The Twin Red Lightsabers of Asajj Ventress, the Sith’s Assassin Lucasfilm

Sadly, Asajj’s training was cut short when warlord Osika Kirske killed Narec before Ventress could truly become a Jedi. She believed the Jedi abandoned her beloved master, and ignored the plight of her planet. This bitterness resulted in pure hatred for the Jedi Order. As she grew older and more hateful, she fell under the sway of Count Dooku, who recruited her as his new apprentice. She wields two crimson lightsabers with a curved handle, just as in her original concept art for Attack of the Clones. At the dawn of the Clone Wars, she became Dooku’s principal weapon.

Asajj Ventress Becomes a Nightsister of DathomirLucasfilm

As Ventress grew more powerful, her existence threatened to the Sith “Rule of Two,” which proclaimed there could only be two Sith at any given time. Darth Sidious ordered Dooku to assassinate her, but she survived. Hellbent on revenge, Ventress returned to her birth world of Dathomir. There, she became a fully fledged Nightsister. When General Grievous later murdered her sisters, Ventress once again found herself the sole survivor of a massacre. She became a bounty hunter, and even helped mentor a young Boba Fett. Although never a true “good guy” by the end of The Clone Wars, Asajj Ventress helped Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker clear Tano’s name when she was framed for murder.

Asajj Ventress Falls for Jedi Quinlan Vos, Dies Saving His LifeLucasfilm

Lucasfilm planned a final arc for Ventress in The Clone Wars, however the company canceled the series in 2013. That unproduced arc became the basis for Asajj Ventress’ storyline in the 2015 novel Dark Disciple by Christie Golden. In that canon book, Asajj Ventress teams up with for a mission to kill Count Dooku. During this adventure, Ventress unexpectedly falls in love with Vos. In the novel’s climax, Dooku kills her with Force lightning. Vos then returns Ventress’ body to her homeworld of Dathomir so she may rest with her fellow Nightsisters, who also lost their lives to Dooku’s forces.

[image error]The Bad Batch Sees the Return of Asajj VentressLucasfilm

No one’s ever really gone! As The Bad Batch season three trailer showed us, Asajj Ventress survived the events of Dark Disciple. Her new look comes straight from designs created for The Clone Wars arc that became Dark Disciple. So for the first time, we see Ventress with hair, and not as her usual bald-headed self. She also fights with a yellow-bladed lightsaber, a blade usually reserved for Jedi Temple guards (and later, Rey Skywalker).

Lucasfilm

An article from Star Wars‘ official website shares more about Ventress’ role on The Bad Batch‘s final season. It notes that in The Bad Batch season three’s ninth episode, “The Harbinger,” “Ventress pays a visit to the titular squad of heroes, sent to deliver them intel on the nature of M-count research (i.e., midi-chlorian count, and measuring one’s Force potential) and why it relates to the young clone Omega. The Batch don’t trust Ventress, and become hostile when they realize who she actually is. But this is the new Asajj, and she goes easy on the elite clones — stopping short of killing them. She even hangs around to test Omega, acting as something of a mentor, and ultimately saves her from a giant sea creature by connecting with it through the Force.”

Lucasfilm

Fans of Ventress will be delighted to see this side of Asajj Ventress highlighted in The Bad Batch. The episode showcases not only her great power as a warrior but her mental strength as well. Asajj Ventress’ voice actress Nika Futterman shares, “I thought what was really cool about this is, it shows that she’s closer to the [light side of the] Force than she is, really, to the evil part of power — that there’s some part of her that is really more like the good guys, that she’s very capable of using her mental powers for good.”

We do love an anti-hero.

How Is Asajj Ventress Alive in the Star Wars Universe?Lucasfilm

But glorious return aside, how is Asajj Ventress back from the dead in Star Wars: The Bad Batch? Did Asajj Ventress somehow cheat death? Or did Ventress really die, and someone (or something) resurrected her? We have many curiosities but few answers because The Bad Batch doesn’t actually explain how Asajj Ventress is still alive in the Star Wars world.

So, how the warrior escaped death remains a mystery that still needs to be solved. Fortunately, it looks like future Star Wars stories will give us the answers we seek about Ventress’ fate.

Does Asajj Ventress Have a Future in the Star Wars Universe?Lucasfilm

So what does this mean for the Star Wars future of Asajj Ventress? Dave Filoni could have big plans for her going forward. We might even see our first live-action Asajj Ventress. Imagine Din Djarin fighting against (or with) Ventress in a future season of The Mandalorian. Or maybe Ahsoka encountered her old enemy as an adult. After all, Ventress is a Nightsister, and the Nightsisters are a big part of the Ahsoka series.

For now, what we know for sure is that Dave Filoni did have a hand in bringing Ventress back. The official Star Wars website reveals, “For all intents and purposes, Ventress met her demise in Star Wars: Dark Disciple, a novel based on unused scripts of The Clone Wars. Still, series creator Dave Filoni, executive producer Brad Rau, and executive producer/head writer Jennifer Corbett had a plan.”

But what that plan is exactly, we’ll have to wait and see. But it sounds like Asajj Ventress will return to the Star Wars universe again and we’ll get more of her story in a future series or movie. Corbett notes, “We had several discussions about the book and how her story could continue. How she survived will be revealed in future content, but for this story, we were thrilled to include her and explore her unique connection to, and compassion for, Omega.”

Futterman further notes of Ventress’ Star Wars journeys to come “I think we’re going to find out a lot of things about a lot of things… And I think we’re going to have all kinds of fun adventures.” And that Asajj Ventress could “do anything and become anything.”

From dead and gone to a wide-open future, Asajj Ventress may have a larger role in the unfolding Star Wars saga.

Originally published on January 23, 2024.

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