Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 347

DOCTOR WHO Spinoff Featuring Kate Stewart and UNIT on the Way

Once Russell T Davies was announced as taking over Doctor Who again, wheels turned about what else might be in the pipeline. During RTD’s first regime (2005-2010), fans saw two successful Doctor Who spinoffs: the adult-oriented Torchwood and the kid-focused The Sarah Jane Adventures. And with a new Doctor, and a new distribution deal with Disney+, we wondered what other shows we’d see in the Whoniverse. Now, according to a report from Deadline, we have an idea. The latest Doctor Who spinoff will be a show focused on UNIT and star Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart.

BBC

Kate first debuted on screen in 2012’s “The Power of Three,” the daughter of fan-fave classic ally Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. She has acted as head of Doctor Who‘s UNIT, the Unified Intelligence Taskforce, in all of her appearances. Kate also appeared in “The Power of the Doctor,” Jodie Whittaker’s final story.

Most recently, Kate Stewart and UNIT were seen in “The Giggle,” the last of three 60th-anniversary specials starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble, respectively. Stewart had recruited former companion Mel Bush to the UNIT team and, towards the end of the episode, offered Donna a position there, too.

BBC

A UNIT/Kate spinoff is perhaps the biggest no-brainer for a new Doctor Who show. It has the potential to do what Torchwood tried to do; that show couldn’t decide how adult it wanted to be. “The Power of the Doctor” introduced the idea that Kate had been recruiting past companions and she has two great ones under her belt. Plus, in the trailer for Doctor Who‘s upcoming season with Ncuti Gatwa, we see that Fifteen will return to UNIT. This season could be a bit of a backdoor pilot for the UNIT spinoff series.

It is highly likely that we will see Donna, Mel, Rose Noble, and others in the mix. Maybe, just maybe, Martha is done freelancing and will come to UNIT for an adventure, too. What a great way to have legacy characters pop in and out for various missions! Plus, we just love Redgrave! Yes, give her a show.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

Originally published on March 15, 2023.

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New PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Movie Confirmed To Be a Reboot

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been one of the most lucrative of all time for Disney. In the era before the company owned Marvel or Star Wars, it was easily the studio’s biggest live-action franchise. But it’s been seven years since Dead Men Tell No Tales. Will the Jolly Roger flag ever fly again on the big screen? According to series producer Jerry Bruckheimer, it will. Only this time, Pirates of the Caribbean will receive the complete reboot treatment. During an interview with ComicBook, Bruckheimer said “We’re gonna reboot Pirates, so that is easier to put together because you don’t have to wait for certain actors.”

Disney

That comment seems to put the final nail in the coffin for any return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Frankly, we probably won’t see Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbosa again either. Or any of the original cast, unless we’re talking cameos. A few years back, reports circulated that Margot Robbie was a possibility to lead a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. However, that was before her star went supernova after the success of Barbie. Although, we’re still not opposed to the idea—especially if she can bring some of that Harley Quinn energy to it.

The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin developed the story for a Pirates reboot alongside the first film’s original screenwriter, Ted Elliot. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mazin described their new Pirates as “weird.” He said, “We pitched it and thought there’s no way they’re buying it, it’s too weird. And they did! And then we wrote a fantastic script and the strike happened, and everyone’s waiting around.” With the strikes over, it seems only a matter of time before we hear something about this new reboot.

Walt Disney Pictures

What is unclear is if this reboot will take place in the same continuity as the original films or not. The first five films created a vast pirate mythology, one that got a bit unwieldy. But they might want to keep certain elements of the original films—mainly, the iconic ship, the Black Pearl. Maybe the movie could utilize the pirate ship from the original Disneyland attraction, the Wicked Wench, placing the action there? It will be interesting to see if Pirates can grab hold of audiences without Captain Jack Sparrow, or if another character can fill those iconic boots.

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BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE’s Trailer Sends Mike and Marcus on the Run

Some movie tropes, especially action movie tropes, are simply unimpeachable. Seeking redemption for a dead friend? Heroes trying to clear their names? Not knowing “how high up this s*** goes?” All perfect, all timeless, and all a part of the first trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Miami’s best are back on the job in the Bad Boys franchise’s fourth installment. Even after all these years their days are still full of high-speed chases, shootouts, beautiful woman, evil men, and dramatic camera pans. Only this time, Mike and Marcus will end up on the other side of the law as they try and uncover who is framing their late captain, Joe Pantoliano’s Conrad Howard. (He appears via a video he recorded prior to his death, another classic perfect movie trope!)

While Captain Howard might be dead, his killer is not. Jacob Scipio’s Armando is also back and appears in the Bad Boys: Ride or Die trailer. He might just earn his father’s redemption by helping the bad boys uncover the truth about who is trying to bring down the men behind the recently established AMMO. We doubt Armando will be much help with Reba McEntire lyrics, but you never know. Her fandom really does span generations.

Sony Pictures

Bad Boys: Ride or Die comes from the directing duo behind Bad Boys For Life, Adil & Bilall. Chris Bremer, who is also one of the writers credited for the previous film’s script, is responsible for the screenplay. The film also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nuñez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, and Tiffany Haddish.

Mike and Marcus’s run for freedom, redemption, and revenge will hit the road this summer. Bad Boys: Ride or Die comes to theaters this on June 7. Hopefully that day we learn the movie has even more timeless action movie tropes than we already know about.

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What Does STAR WARS Blue Milk Taste Like? A Review of the Galactic Drink You Can Soon Buy

On April 17, Star Wars‘ epic drink, Blue Milk, will hit grocery stores for all to buy. That’s right, those of us on regular old planet Earth will soon be able to purchase Blue Milk right from the shelf, thanks to TruMoo. But we at Nerdist didn’t want you to have to wait that long to know what Blue Milk tastes like. On a galactic mission, we woke up early this morning, flew to Tatooine, and spent all day milking banthas, the Star Wars creature from whence Blue Milk springs. And now we’re ready to report back. Alternatively, we got a preview sip of Blue Milk at a Star Wars consumer products event. Whichever story you’d like to believe, here’s our review of what grocery-store Blue Milk from TruMoo really tastes like.

What Does Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk Taste Like?Nerdist

Of course, we’ve never tasted Blue Milk fresh from a bantha. So we couldn’t say how grocery store Blue Milk compares to the true original. But what we can say is that Star Wars‘ new TruMoo Blue Milk, fresh from the store or, in this case, the big Blue Milk fridge, tastes, well, galactically good. No offense to cows, but not only is the bantha’s Blue Milk a better color than normal milk, but it’s also basically a milkshake.

Nerdist

The official description of the product states that Blue Milk “features natural vanilla flavor.” We fully agree with that assessment. Some vanilla products can taste very artificial, but Blue Milk’s brand of vanilla brings a much gentler flavor. I would say Blue Milk tastes like a very delicate melted vanilla ice cream. The flavor is pleasant but not overwhelming. There’s no aftertaste or cloying sweetness involved. In fact, the vanilla and the sweet quality of the drink fade in and out so that one gets notes of them while drinking, but the sweetness doesn’t build unpleasantly. Blue Milk is very drinkable, and no doubt Star Wars fans of all ages will get a kick out of it. (As you can see, even dark-side dwellers love a glass of Blue Milk).

Nerdist

In all honesty, I poured a glass to remind myself of the flavor, and I have just continued to drink it until it was gone. So there’s no more glowing review I can offer for Star Wars‘ TrueMoo Blue Milk than that. It’s no wonder Luke Skywalker enjoys it so much. (Among others…)

NerdistStar Wars‘ TrueMoo Blue Milk Nutritional InformationNerdist

The Force is strong with Blue Milk. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also nutritious. (At least, it definitely is when compared to most other fannish food items.) The official product description states, “TruMoo Blue Milk is 1% lowfat milk.” Additionally, you can see Blue Milk’s full nutritional information above. It looks like the banthas have infused their milk with some vitamins and a good amount of protein. Good job, banthas!

The History of Star Wars‘ Blue MilkNerdist

Star Wars‘ Blue Milk first emerged onto the scene in the first part of the franchise’s original trilogy, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. In A New Hope, we see Aunt Beru serving Luke Skywalker the now iconic drink. Since then, Blue Milk has emerged in all parts of the Star Wars world, from its movies to its animated series like Star Wars Rebels to its live-action series like Andor to comics, audiobooks, and more.

Over time, we learned that Blue Milk comes from female banthas and is largely available on Outer Rim planets such as Tatooine and Batuu. Blue Milk also became available in our world at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which are located in both Florida’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios and California’s Disneyland. There, Blue Milk is actually made with plant-based products and tastes of fruit.

Naturally, Blue Milk can be made into other products, like Blue Milk cheese and Blue Milk ice cream. We’ll have to wait for those in our world, though.

When Can You Buy Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk at the Grocery Store?Nerdist

As mentioned, Star Wars‘ Blue Milk will become available for purchase at grocery stores on April 17. It sounds like it’s the closest approximation yet to the “real” Blue Milk that characters drink on Star Wars, and it certainly tastes good.

Nerdist

May the Blue Milk be with you.

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Watch the Retro-Flavored X-MEN ’97 Opening Credits

The original theme song and opening credits for X-Men: The Animated Series are among the most iconic for any cartoon series ever. Composer Ron Wasserman came up with the theme song, along with the theme for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Both became permanent earworms for an entire generation. With X-Men ’97 picking up where the classic show left off, the first question everyone had was “Will it have that theme song?” The answer is yes, it most certainly does. And now Marvel has released the full X-Men ’97 opening credits with the re-recorded theme song, which you can watch right here:

The music and animation from the new credits are a perfect update to the original version. The music is basically the same, but with more texture and a bit more modern pizazz thanks to composers the Newton Brothers. As for the visuals, it’s mostly the same, but fans will notice some key differences. For starters, we now have the addition of Morph and Bishop to the opening credits. Also, the “marching villains” from the original opening credits have received an update. Thunderbird, the first X-Man to die in the comics, was inexplicably with the villains before. Emma Frost now takes his place. The oddest villain from the original credits was not even an X-Men bad guy, it was Gargoyle, a deep-cut Hulk villain. Lady Deathstrike runs in his place now.

Marvel Animation

The second X-Men ’97 episode updated the credits even further. However, describing those will give away some massive spoilers for how episode one ended. So you’ll just have to watch the series on Disney+ to see what those changes are. We’ll just say that they add in some characters, while deleting others. We hope the opening credits have slight tweaks and new Easter eggs for every episode. Not that we’d ever hit “Skip Intro” for X-Men ’97, but this gives us even more reason not to.

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Sci-Fi Author Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson on Writing DOCTOR WHO and Her Novel THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

You’d be hard pressed to find a nerd who doesn’t enjoy at least one sweeping space saga. Some of us are devotees to The Doctor and the TARDIS, a cosmic joyride that can take us (almost) anywhere in space and time. Others pledge their allegiance to the Rebel Alliance and its ongoing drama in a galaxy far, far away. Exploring the final frontier in warp drive is also quite the epic adventure, too. Watching these expansive worlds in live-action is fantastic but there’s something special about a sci-fi/fantasy story in print. That anticipation of flipping to the next page and watching a universe slowly unfold sparks supreme joy, especially when the narrative hits several checkpoints that separate it from typical mainstream fare. That’s what Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson’s The Principle of Moments, the first book in her Order of Legends trilogy, does with ample heart. 

Gollancz

This book has a little something for everyone: a Regency-era queer romance, time traveling, an evil emperor to overthrow, and an unfolding prophecy, among other things. Better yet, the characters are culturally diverse and fuel this high-octane story with their distinct personas. Here’s a quick synopsis:

A century-spanning space fantasy novel that will take you on a whirlwind adventure, from a Regency Era love affair between a time-traveller and the prince waiting for him in the past, to a rescue mission in the 60th century, where a girl desperately races against time as she searches for the sister the emperor stole.

Nerdist caught up with Sunday Times Bestselling author to chat about this epic space opera, her recent Doctor Who novelization, and how fanfiction laid the foundation for her creative journey. 

Nerdist: What was your relationship with sci-fi and fantasy like during your childhood? 

Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson: I was always the biggest sci-fi and fantasy fan… I was actually born in Australia. And there was not that much fantasy and sci-fi TV. There wasn’t much TV at all. We had about five channels. So when I was growing up, I read a lot of books because Australia had a really amazing literary scene there, especially for children… My gateway into sci-fi was the book series called Animorphs by K.A. Applegate. And they’re the weirdest books ever! 

Animorphs is awesome! 

Jikiemi-Pearson: They’re amazing! And I’m so passionate about them.. those books were all about alien battles and aliens invading Earth and kids having to step up and become heroes. Something about that just engaged me from a really young age. 

The other big thing for me was Star Wars. My mum’s a huge Star Wars fan and she said when she was pregnant with me, she would watch the movies on repeat. I like to think that it somehow filtered through and turned me into a sci-fi baby. I love everything Star Wars…

When I came to the UK, I was about 10 years old. I started watching Doctor Who because it was on BBC iPlayer. I remember I was struggling to make friends and stuff in the UK. On the weekends and after school, my sister and I would watch Doctor Who, and we were obsessed with it. It was like nothing we’d ever seen before. In a big way, Doctor Who really got me into sci-fi and fantasy. I was into Harry Potter as well, but then I started reading a lot of Harry Potter fanfiction. And that was, again, a huge fantasy work… Those were my big influences and the things that really got me hooked.

Those are some heavy hitters! I especially love, and already knew, that you’re a Doctor Who fan like me. What was it specifically about that show that drew you? 

Jikiemi-Pearson: I think because I came to it as a child, it really appealed to my sense of wonder. It felt very much like an adult show with adult characters that doesn’t take itself seriously… except for when it does, and then you are crying and your heart’s broken! I love [the show] strikes that balance while retaining a sense of joy without ever feeling patronizing or like it is dumbing down any of the themes.

As a kid, it felt like I’d been let into the cool club of adult stuff, whilst also nurturing the most creative parts of me. I appreciated Doctor Who’s love ethos and the positive messages that it prides itself on. 

When I was watching it, I totally latched onto Martha as a companion. I was mesmerized by her. I remember when she was introduced and her first episode, the one with the hospital…

Yes, “Smith and Jones!” I love Martha.

Jikiemi-Pearson: Yes! I wasn’t fully aware of the idea of companions at that point. It was like, “Oh, yeah. Sometimes people come along for the ride.” I didn’t realize in that episode that Martha was being set up as a companion. I thought she was just going to be in that one episode… When I got towards the end, I was like, “Oh my God, I think she’s going to travel with The Doctor!” 

I was absolutely just overjoyed. And I remember watching their seasons and being a bit in love with her, really, because she was just so clever and funny. And she wasn’t afraid to put the Doctor in his place at all! I loved that… it was obviously amazing to see a strong, intelligent, funny Black woman in this show that I just absolutely adored. So, she was probably a bit of a role model to me as well.

She brought something to the partnership, because she’s obviously a fully qualified as a doctor. So, she had that pragmatic way about her. As an eldest child, I appreciate that pragmatism and the logic

I love that and I definitely share those same sentiments. When I started watching, I liked Rose well enough but once Martha came on board, I was like, “Okayyyy…”

Jikiemi-Pearson: …I can rock with this!

Yes, I can rock with this show! So, you mentioned that you were into reading fanfiction. Was writing fanfiction a part of your path towards becoming a novelist? 

Jikiemi-Pearson: Yeah, I did write fan fiction! My first full fanfiction was The Maze Runner fan fiction, which is the most random thing. I thought The Maze Runner was so cool at the time. It was mainly marketed as being the answer to The Hunger Games but for boys, so I wanted to be super cool as a girl. I also had a crush on Dylan O’Brien, as did many people, so I wasn’t unique there. I also wrote a little bit of Harry Potter fanfiction.

It was that sense of play with writing that was kind of like, “I’m just doing this for me, it’s not for anyone else. It’s not supposed to be this mega prestigious thing. It’s just like what makes me laugh? What makes me emotional? What do I want to explore within the existing themes of a work that I’ve really enjoyed?”

And how did that experience inform your original work, like The Principles of Moments?

Jikiemi-Pearson: It gave me the courage to explore themes that I find interesting, rather than trying to appeal to a historically white audience or a historically heteronormative audience. With fan fiction, there’s no limits, there’s no rules. It’s a bit of a free for all. And that’s very much how I approached writing The Principle of Moments. I’ve never thought of it like this, but you could call The Principle of Moments fanfiction of the sci-fi fantasy genre and fan fiction of the Regency genre. It takes all of the existing tropes and settings and character archetypes that we know and love. And then I just brought myself to it. I showed up and was like, “These are the things that I would do, that I would change. These are the kind of alternate universes that I would want to explore.”

Courtesy of Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

That’s such a wonderful way to approach a story! Besides Doctor Who, what were some other influences on The Principle of Moments‘ settings and storylines? 

Jikiemi-Pearson: It’s definitely inspired by Star Wars, too. Especially things like Finn’s character. I felt like it was a missed opportunity in many ways… he actually had a great motivation for wanting to overthrow the Empire because he’s part of this abused underclass of stormtroopers who have no other way of life. I thought that was so compelling and something that just wasn’t touched upon enough. So I was interested in digging into that. 

At university, I studied classical civilization, a lot of Greek and Roman stuff. The Iliad, The Odyssey, Greek Ancient history, basically. The story beats of mythical myths, legends, and origin stories of heroes definitely influenced my work in a big way. So much of The Principle of Moments is about understanding what makes a hero and really interrogating the Chosen One trope. Sometimes I feel like we take it too lightly. 

It’s like, “Okay. There’s a prophecy and you’re the Chosen One.” And I remember as a kid, I was always like, “But, do you not think that would be scary?” Imagine if that happened to you, if you were suddenly in charge of saving the world. And then add the layer where you’re in charge of saving the world, but the world hasn’t treated you very kindly. How do you then feel about that?

That’s a good point, especially for people from marginalized groups. Why would we want to save the world?

Jikiemi-Pearson: Yeah. Exactly. And I think that’s definitely a question that’s been persistently on my mind, just as I’ve always been watching fantasy and sci-fi that has particularly had white protagonists, because it’s kind of like, “Of course they would want to save the world.”

Very true. Let’s go back into Doctor Who for a moment. You mentioned writing for Doctor Who and I love your novelization of “The Church on Ruby Road.” It’s such a fun and full circle moment for you as a fan. How did you land that opportunity and what was the collaborative process like? 

Jikiemi-Pearson: …I don’t know how I was put onto the radar of the BBC or Doctor Who as a whole. [The Principle of Moments] was announced in March of 2021, and that was prior to Ncuti Gatwa being cast as Doctor Who publicly. But, I think that when I announced my book, he had already potentially been cast, or they were in talks to cast him. My book deal was a big announcement within the sci-fi and fantasy community, especially among Black writers. It must’ve caught someone’s eye because it’s kind of similar to what Doctor Who was planning [with a Black Doctor] behind the scenes.

Penguin House UK

…I think the BBC was looking for people with newer perspectives, different perspectives. I believe I am the first Black person to write a novelization, which feels absolutely insane. Not to be naive, but I felt like we were almost over the thing of “the first Black person to do something.” We’re definitely not… I was happy to lend my voice and my writing to Doctor Who, because I’ve proved it can be done. 

I found the process such a joy and so fulfilling and welcoming. Everyone was so welcoming that I was like, “This is a fantastic opportunity. I really, really hope that more women, more women of color get to experience, and more black men get to write for Doctor Who!” 

I love that. Do you have any upcoming ventures that you can share with us?

Jikiemi-Pearson: Well, first of all, I need to finish this trilogy. I’m on deadline for the second book, and it’s kind of murdering me, but I want it to be done. I owe these characters a solid run in these three books. If I can finish these books to a high standard, no matter what turns my career takes, I’ll always be so proud to have produced a very solid, entertaining sci-fi fantasy saga, starring Black and gay characters. For that to exist on shelves, that will always probably be one of my biggest accomplishments…

The other thing that I’m really excited about is my next book, which is a little bit more literary sci-fi. I want it to be like if Emily St. John Mandel really wrote a romance story. I love her work, and I find it so eerie and spooky. I love how she deals with speculative elements in that sense. So, I want to write a romance. And then, I also have a fantasy book planned, which is about a young black girl who is working as a scullery maid in this very big English mansion in a magical society.

She basically gets an invitation letter to join the upcoming class at a prestigious witch university. I want to do a deep dive into what it’s like to be Black at a predominantly white institution, what it’s like to be navigating class, and almost like the different language that you have to then switch into when you’re in such an alien environment. And doing all of that with magic… Hopefully in a year you’ll be hearing me saying, “I’ve got a book deal. It’s going to be on a bookshelf.” 

That’s so exciting! I have a fun final question for you. If you could fancast your top three characters from The Principles of Moments, who would you choose to play the live-action versions of them?

Jikiemi-Pearson: I was thinking about this last night! These are the ones that have the clearest ideas of. So, Nicholas Galitzine would play the love interest, the British prince who’s very angsty and depressed and who goes on a mission with his boyfriend Obi’s dad. I’ve always fan-casted Obi’s dad Alaric as Idris Elba. I think those two would capture that awkwardness and the comedy quite well.

The actor of Obi would be… well, he’s a model. Mukasa Kakonge. He is just gorgeous and has a really nice smile, but he can also look quite mysterious and brooding. So, I think that’s perfect for Obi. Yeah. So those are my top three fan casts at the moment.

…For my female main character, Asha, honestly, I mourn the lack of diversity among young, Black female actresses. The only actress that I can think of that looks like Asha is too old to play her. I was talking to someone recently and they said they could see Ayo Edebiri playing her, which I thought was so fun. I know there are a lot of black actresses, but for some reason, Ayo is the only actress that I actually feel represented by, because she’s a bit awkward.

Those are some great answers! Here’s to hoping it happens one day!

Jikiemi-Pearson: That would be the dream!

Check out Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson’s The Principle of Moments novel and her Doctor Who novelization of “The Church on Ruby Road” today.

Author Bio: Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is the Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Order of Legends trilogy. Inaugural winner of Future Worlds Prize Award in 2020, her debut novel, The Principle of Moments, was published in January 2024, by Gollancz. She holds a BA in English Literature and Classical Studies from the University of Exeter, where she enjoyed writing essays on Disney villains and reading Greek lyric poetry on the same day. As an author of Nigerian, Jamaican, and British-Australian heritage, her work primarily focuses on people who live at the intersection of identities, whether that’s here on Earth, or in far away galaxies of her own creation.

Tai Gooden is the Features Editor at Nerdist and a sci-fi fan who spends most of her free time watching the same Doctor Who episodes on a loop. She hopes the Doctor and the TARDIS will take her away from this very ridiculous planet soon.

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BoxLunch Celebrates X-MEN ’97 with Exclusive New Collection

BoxLunch is bringing an exclusive collection to you, beloved X-Men fans. The fandom retailer is celebrating the debut of X-Men ‘97 on Disney+ with a few new and very cool items. You know, the show that is uniting Millennials and Gen X over its awesome blend of nostalgia and inspired new storytelling that honors the comics. We can all wear our love for this band of mutants loud and proud, thanks to BoxLunch’s X-Men ‘97 exclusive collection.

BoxLunch/Marvel

The following apparel comes in sizes XS-4X: 

X-Men ’97 Logan Tank Jersey ($44.90)X-Men ’97 Group Portrait Colorblock Hoodie ($64.90)X-Men ’97 Wolverine Striped Portrait Crewneck ($59.90)X-Men ’97 Bomber Jacket ($79.90) Click To View Gallery BoxLunch/Marvel BoxLunch/Marvel BoxLunch/Marvel BoxLunch/Marvel BoxLunch/Marvel BoxLunch/Marvel

The whole X-Men ‘97 BoxLunch line is fire. But that bomber jacket and Wolverine crewneck truly speak to my specific sense of style. Considering how spring is currently not fighting back against winter, the long-sleeved options are still a must for many. And, when Mother Earth decides to put us in the oven, we can rock that Logan jersey all summer long.

Perhaps we will get even more items in the future that celebrate other mutants! We would totally rock a Gambit crop top in honor of his style. Or, we could use some apparel that celebrates Magneto and Rogue’s romance. For now, we will marvel at these images while we fly over to the website to order. 

This collection is currently available for purchase so grab your gear today!

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Scarlett Johansson In Talks to Star in New JURASSIC WORLD Movie

If Jurassic Park has taught us anything over 30 years, it’s that you can’t keep prehistoric monsters down. No, seriously, don’t even try it never works. That’s also true in a very different way of big-time, money-making movie franchises. So it’s only fitting a new report says Universal has plans for another Jurassic World movie. But while the sixth film in the series brought back the original movie’s stars, the seventh is bringing back its original screenwriter. David Koepp, who penned both the scripts for the 1993 classic that brought dinosaurs to life and its 1997 followup Jurassic Park: The Lost World, is already working on the next new installment in the Jurassic World universe. In addition, the new Jurassic World movie has set its release date. Reports also indicate that it will be a universe reboot.

Universal Pictures

Most recently, this new Jurassic World movie confirmed its release date will be July 2, 2025.

pic.twitter.com/GJhiqIgCJc

— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) February 6, 2024

Additionally, reports say that the film will be a reboot of the franchise. Before this latest batch of information, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Universal Pictures is “deep” in development on another dinosaur film. Koepp, the person responsible for writing Jurassic Park‘s two best scripts, is writing the new movie. The apparently top-secret project is reportedly far enough along in the process that Universal likes the current script’s “shape.” Recently, we learned David Leitch, who was set to direct, will not be moving ahead with the film. Instead, Rogue One‘s Gareth Edwards is now slated to direct the new Jurassic World movie. We have to say, it feels like Edwards would do an excellent job. The movie is also set to begin filming this year.

Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

Casting news for the new Jurassic World movie is also starting to emerge. Deadline reports that Scarlett Johansson is in serious talks to star in the upcoming film.

As for the plot, no specifics are known yet about this new Jurassic World movie. Only that the film will explore a “new” Jurassic era and a new story. This installment will almost certainly launch a whole new trilogy. We’d also bet the film will start with a new title. (Our official prediction is Jurassic Planet.)

Universal Pictures

Koepp isn’t the only veteran returning. Jurassic World trilogy producer Frank Marshall is also back for more prehistoric fun. As is series alum Patrick Crowley. And Steven Spielberg, who directed Koepp’s two previous scripts, will also serve as an executive producer on this new Jurassic World movie via his Amblin Entertainment.

And, no matter the story, if the movie is a big enough success, we expect some old stars to come back for later installments, too. Just like dinosaurs and this franchise, they always do.

Originally published on January 22, 2024.

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THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE Brings Back a Former Character and Also Kills a Major One

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It was almost inevitable that another character besides Jadis would make their return to this universe and appear on The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. The most likely appearance would have been either Heath, who was taken by the CRM, or Morgan, who left in search of Rick after years away. But no. The show did something rather interesting by bringing The Walking Dead‘s Gabriel Stokes into The Ones Who Live with a throwback storyline. It makes sense in a way due to Father Gabriel’s previous romance with Jadis. And now, he helps to bring her story to an end. That’s right, Jadis meets her death in The Ones Who Live, and the world is a brighter place. 

AMCHow Father Gabriel Appears on The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with Gabriel. The last time we saw Father Gabriel in The Walking Dead, he was living in Alexandria with Coco, Rosita’s daughter. He is seen in several flashbacks in The Ones Who Live before making a real-time (and remote) appearance. Father Gabriel opens this episode of The Walking Dead spinoff as he kills walkers in the Virginia woods before looking up at the sound of a helicopter. The next time we see Father Gabriel, it is three years prior to The Ones Who Live‘s current events. He’s gathering water when Jadis casually strolls up with her weird haircut. Gabriel is understandably shocked to see her after many years but welcomes conversation between them.

They begin to meet for a yearly date and Jadis asks questions to keep tabs on Alexandria and Michonne, unbeknownst to Gabriel’s knowledge. Jadis doesn’t tell him anything about the Civic Republic, CRM, nor Rick being alive. She comes to him to essentially confess her sins because, well, Gabriel is as much of a priest as you can be in the apocalypse. Gabriel also never tells her that he’s in a relationship with Rosita and even kisses her. He gives her the wedding band that Rick said he wanted to give to Michonne to serve the future plot.

AMC

Gabriel tries to invite her back to their home, saying that he knows Anne is still in there somewhere. But Jadis is too lost in the Civic Republic sauce. At first, it seems that Jadis kills Gabriel to not have any loose ends. But she allows him to live, as we see in the episode’s final moments. Blah blah blah, redemption arc blah. Whatever, we still hate her. Gabriel tries to have another picnic with her, but Jadis doesn’t show up because she’s dead. But how exactly does Jadis meet death in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Here’s what went down.

How Does Jadis Die in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? AMC

In the present day of The Ones Who Live, Richonne is having a merry old time in their stolen yellow truck. They find ramen noodles and a cozy cabin to hole up in. The pair even run up against a trio of people who are literally too stupid to live, beat them up after they try to rob them, and choose to let them go. Somehow, Jadis manages to track them down and wake them from their sleep. (No logic, just vibes.)

They have a cabin scuffle, during which Michonne hacks Jadis in her side with a hatchet. There’s a car chase before Jadis manages to get away and soon finds the aforementioned dumb trio. Meanwhile, Rick and Michonne argue about whether they should kill Jadis or not. Of course, Michonne is right and says Jadis must die. Jadis convinces the trio to help her trap Richonne, promising that she will take them to the Civic Republic.

This almost immediately fails as Rick and Michonne once again get the upper hand. The dumb trio dies by walker bites (seriously, how did they survive this long?!), and there’s a standoff between Jadis and Richonne. Rick and Michonne strike a fake deal with Jadis that Rick will go back with her as long as Alexandria is safe. (This extends to the Commonwealth too, technically, since Alexandria is with them. Rick and Michonne don’t know this.)

AMCJadis’ The Walking Dead Death Yields Some Important Information

Rick comes out, and Jadis draws a gun on him. But, shocker, Michonne draws a CRM weapon on her! A walker bites Jadis on the neck, putting her on the road to her The Walking Dead death, and Richonne kills the remaining walkers. Jadis gets her final redemption speech, expressing sadness about the people she lost to two people whose lives she’s ruined for years. The important thing is that Jadis tells Rick and Michonne that the dossier about Alexandria is at the Cascadian Base in Oregon. She tells them to destroy it and go home and asks them not to bother the CRM. That’s not enough for Michonne. She says they will get the Echelon Briefing and leak the dark secrets to the Civic Republic so they can stage a rebellion. (Haha, I was right!) 

Rick shoots Jadis to keep her from turning. The duo leave, and Rick proposes to Michonne for a heartfelt ending to this episode. Now, they will have to go back to Oregon to retrieve that document. This works well considering that the city of Portland is already against the CRM/Civic Republic, which we previously saw in The World Beyond. The city got a warning from the Endlings about what could happen to them. If the remaining two cities—Portland and Philly—can rise up, this could be the most epic battle in this universe’s history.

There’s only one episode left of The Ones Who Live, so we are either getting a season two or things will resolve in some future crossover event. For now, Richonne has to once again escape with General Major Beale and Pearl Thorne still standing in their way. At least Jadis is dead and Gabriel lives another day in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. God is real.

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DCEU Movies and Shows to Watch to Prepare for the DCU

Jams Gunn and Peter Safran might be leading DC’s greatest heroes into a new cinematic universe, but their DCU isn’t completely abandoning the old DCEU that preceded it. At least three actors with major parts—Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, John Cena’s Peacemaker, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle— are reprising the roles under Gunn. We don’t know exactly how he’ll explain their presence within the new story, but their involvement means these are the DCEU movies (and one show) you need to watch before the DCU kicks off.

Warner Bros. DiscoverySuicide Squad

Warner Bros. doesn’t even want you to remember David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad. The studio basically remade the film in 2021 with Gunn’s DCEU debut The Suicide Squad. But despite that rewriting of antihero history, the film is still important to Amanda Waller’s story. It’s where Viola Davis made her debut as the ruthless, pragmatic fascist willing to kill anyone it takes to keep her country safe.

The Suicide Squad HBO

Gunn’s soft reboot/remake/sequel hybrid not only saw Davis return as Waller, it also introduced Cena’s Christopher Smith to the franchise. Peacemaker made his debut alongside a group of fellow inmates tasked with a seemingly impossible mission. Considering both Peacemaker and Waller will have their own shows in the DCU, knowing everything they did before (even if those events are no longer canon) will give their new story more context.

Peacemaker Max

The only DCEU television series will have major ramifications for the DCU. The show’s second season will follow Gunn’s upcoming 2025 Superman movie, which will feature the debut of David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. In addition to Cena, Gunn has also confirmed “Team Peacemaker” is coming with him to the new franchise. That means we will likely see the return of many stars from the show, especially those who also appeared in the two Suicide Squad movies. Gunn has already said Freddie Stroma will be back as Peacemaker’s unstable friend Vigilante. The best candidates to also reprise their roles in the DCU are Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, Danielle Brooks as Waller’s daughter Leota Adebayo, and Steve Agee as John Economos.

Even characters who died during Peacemaker‘s first season (or died at any point during the DCEU) could also come back, and we’re not just talking about Robert Patrick’s Auggie Smith as a memory like the show’s season one finale hinted. Gunn has said Peacemaker‘s first season is not canon for the DCU. However, “many strands” of the character’s story will remain the same or similar. That seems likely to be true of the new version of Waller and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle.

Black Adam

We promise we did not include Black Adam simply to avoid receiving a strongly-worded letter from Dwayne Johnson. The film marked the return of Davis’ Waller and the introduction of the Justice Society. She was the one who contacted Carter Hall about capturing Teth-Adam. She later sent Superman to meet/threaten Adam when he said no one on Earth could stop him.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods….End-Credits SceneWarner Bros. Pictures

Zachary Levi’s second (and seemingly last) film as Billy Batson features a post-credits sequence that is likely to never get paid off, yet will still technically connect to the DCU. In the scene Emilia Harcourt and John Economos show up on Amanda Waller’s behalf to recruit Shazam into the Justice Society (a.k.a. the group without Wonder Woman).

The Flash Warner Bros.

The Flash ultimately might not feature a single actor who will reprise their role in the DCU, but the movie might end up being the most important to understanding how Gunn’s cinematic universe will be all-new while still remaining elements of the one that came before it. In the film, Barry Allen learns he can change the past, present, and future by time traveling. By altering the past, he creates entirely new histories on perpendicular timelines of existence. That immense power can even change who someone is or when they exist. It’s how he ended up meeting three different Bruce Waynes, all of different ages and appearance, in the film.

Gunn has told fans they’ll need to wait and see how the DCU will be new and independent of the DCEU while maintaining consistent elements between the two. But he did say The Flash would “reset” the DCU, so the events of this film seem important to know.

Blue Beetle Warner Bros.

Of all the DCEU projects to know about before the DCU, this one is the simplest. It marks the only appearance of Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle. Gunn said that although the movie is not part of the DCU, Maridueña’s superhero is.

Until we learn if any other actors will also reprise their DC roles un Gunn and Safran’s cinematic universe, you can wrap up your DCU prep with Blue Beetle.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who thinks we should get a new Batman movie every year. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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