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Ryan Gosling to Perform BARBIE’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ at the Oscars and Other News Odds & Ends

From confirmation that Ryan Gosling will perform his hit Barbie song at the Oscars to a new set of Shrek Universal Orlando attractions, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends lately.

LEGO/Netflix/Warner Bros.Ryan Gosling Will Perform Barbie Ballad “I’m Just Ken” at the OscarsLEGO X Fortnite Introduce Two New LEGO IslandsA24 Releases Gorgeous Screenplay Book Honoring Robert Eggers’ The LighthouseShrek’s Swamp Among New Attractions Coming to Universal’s Orlando ResortNetflix Teases Wild-Looking Parasite Movie, Parasyte: The GreyThe Last of Us Season Two Star Is Teasing Queer Chemistry to ComeStarlight Children’s Foundation Partners with Nintendo for Mario DayAMC Launches Three New Nicole Kidman AdsRyan Gosling Will Perform Barbie Ballad “I’m Just Ken” at the OscarsWarner Bros.

Good news, Barbies. Ryan Gosling is officially confirmed to perform “I’m Just Ken” live at the Oscars. We can’t wait to see how this Barbie movie looks and sounds on stage.

“I’m Just Ken” is one banger of a ballad:

BARBIE’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ and FROZEN II’s ‘Lost in the Woods’ Prove Goofball Power Ballads Are the Greatest

LEGO X Fortnite Introduce Two New LEGO IslandsFortnite

Get ready LEGO lovers and Fortnite fans, two new LEGO Islands just opened up in the game. ‘LEGO Raft Survival’ and ‘LEGO Obby Fun’ have now arrived and they’ll give you pirate and obstacle-course themed adventures to explore.

Fortnite

Here’s more about LEGO’s big collaboration with Fortnite:

LEGO FORTNITE Trailer Reveals a MINECRAFT-Like ‘Survival Crafting Adventure’

A24 Releases Gorgeous Screenplay Book Honoring Robert Eggers’ The LighthouseA24

In celebration of Robert Eggers’ celebrated movie, The Lighthouse, A24 has released a gorgeous Screenplay Book honoring the film. Among other things, the book includes Robert and Max Eggers’ original script, an introduction by Willem Dafoe, full-page stills of Jarin Blaschke’s Oscar-nominated cinematography, select pages pulled from a lighthouse keeper’s guide published in 1881, and more. This The Lighthouse Screenplay Book truly highlights the beauty and atmosphere of its chosen movie. It also marks the 11th edition of A24’s incredible Screenplay Books series. The exquisite tome is the perfect gift for lovers of the movie.

Click To View Gallery [image error] A24 [image error] A24 [image error] A24 [image error] A24 [image error] A24 Shrek’s Swamp Among New Attractions Coming to Universal’s Orlando ResortUniversal Orlando Resort

A few new attractions are heading to Universal Orlando Resort, and among them are some new Shrek adventures. A release shares:

Like ogres and onions, guests can peel back layers of fun in Shrek’s oasis to discover “ogre-the-top” adventures at every turn.

Shrek’s Swamp Meet: Guests can visit Shrek’s Swamp Meet to interact with beloved characters Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey, the noble steed eager to joke around and converse with guests, just outside of Shrek’s cottage.

Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres: This ogre-sized play area features four fun slides, wet play areas and a playground where guests can climb, bounce and splash around as well as venture into Shrek’s outhouse.

Mama Luna Feline Fiesta: The blockbuster film, Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish, comes to life with this new interactive experience that takes place in Mama Luna’s retirement home for cats. Here, guests get to play with Mama Luna’s many cats on vivid interactive screens activated by buttons, bells, maracas and levers. They might even spot the one and only Puss in Boots himself. 

King Harold’s Swamp Symphony: Guests can create their own melodious masterpiece as they trigger a choir of ever-changing frog ribbits by continually stomping on an array of interactive lily pads. 

Swamp Snacks: Families can feast like an ogre at this new kiosk, which will serve scrumptious snacks inspired by Shrek, including Shrekzel, Far Far A Waffle, Frozen Ogre and more.

Other new attractions include experiences for Kung Fu Panda and Trolls.

Universal is also creating a whole new theme park:

Universal Theme Park Reveals MARIO, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, and More

Netflix Teases Wild-Looking Parasite Movie, Parasyte: The GreyNetflix

Get ready for one intensely creepy-looking movie. Netflix is teasing Parasyte: The Grey, a manga-based monster movie. Its synopsis shares, “When unidentified parasites violently take over human hosts and gain power, humanity must rise to combat the growing threat.” Here we go!

The Last of Us Season Two Star Is Teasing Queer Chemistry to ComeNaughty Dog

Speaking to ET, in an interview which we saw via GameSpot, Isabela Merced, who plays Dina on The Last of Us season two shares, “I already did one day of shooting–it was technically day zero–but the chemistry that Bella and I have is so palpable. It’s really nice to be able to work with someone like that.” Dina and Ellie, of course, share a close and sometimes romantic relationship in The Last of Us Part II, so we’re happy to hear it.

Here’s what we know so far about The Last of Us season two:

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Cast Adds Danny Ramirez, Tati Gabrielle, and More as Game Characters

Starlight Children’s Foundation Partners with Nintendo for Mario DayStarlight Children’s Foundation

Starlight Children’s Foundation is “dedicated to delivering happiness to hospitalized children nationwide through the healing power of play.” And they’re partnering with Nintendo for an initiative called Power of Play. A release shares:

The Power of Play campaign aims to raise funds and awareness of the healing power of therapeutic play for kids in hospitals and their families. The month-long campaign seeks to raise $225,000 through different activations. As part of the Power of Play celebrations, our annual Stream ForStarlight (S4S) Spring Stream kicks off with an exclusive Mario Day weekend event. Starlight will start the 50 hours of streaming on Friday, March 8th at 4:00pm ET, featuring our 2023 Battle for Charity winners, Team PB, and we’ll round out the kickoff celebrations with a 48-hour raid train until 8pm ET on Sunday, March 10th. Our mission? To raise a whopping $50K by Mar10 Day! Play isn’t just fun – it’s how kids cope and learn through challenges, and how adults continue to strengthen their spirit. So this March, when you play, kids win! 

To get involved, check out the official page here.

AMC Launches Three New Nicole Kidman Ads

✨ You come to this place to laugh, cry, and to connect with your family and friends. Experience the wonder and magic of the movies at #AMCTheatres. pic.twitter.com/kl9LWpEAPh

— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) February 28, 2024

We come here to… see if AMC can have lightning strike more than once. The theater chain will introduce three new Nicole Kidman ads to its movies.

AMC

One will debut on March 1, while the other will arrive in the coming months. And we’ll have to catch them all like Pokémon. Only time will tell if they capture the magic of the original.

Check out the Nicole Kidman AMC backpack:

Nicole Kidman’s Iconic AMC Ad Inspires Exclusive Backpack

The post Ryan Gosling to Perform BARBIE’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ at the Oscars and Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Celebrate 25 Years of LEGO STAR WARS With Millennium Falcon and More

It’s hard to think of a time when LEGO and Star Wars didn’t go together like peanut butter and jelly. But LEGO and Lucasfilm have only been collaborating since 1999 when The Phantom Menace hit theaters. This means that 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the LEGO and Star Wars partnership. As a way of celebrating, LEGO is releasing new 25th anniversary products now available to purchase. Additionally, the LEGO Group announced the LEGO Star Wars 25-Second Film Festival, which will kick off in March as part of the celebrations.

LEGO

Among the 25th Anniversary LEGO sets are brand-new builds inspired by the Millennium Falcon and the Invisible Hand, General Grievous’ flagship from Revenge of the Sith. There are also two building sets inspired by the Tantive IV from A New Hope; and a special 25th anniversary edition set honoring the iconic astromech droid, R2-D2. Some sets will include collectible minifigures never seen before in LEGO form or anniversary tiles to mark the special occasion.

LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon building set Click To View Gallery LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm

This official description for this Star Wars LEGO set shares, ” classic Star Wars™ saga continues in your living room with this collectible LEGO® Star Wars Millennium Falcon build-and-display starship model (75375). Channel Jedi-like focus and mindfulness to recreate authentic details of this iconic starship, as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope.”

More Details:

Age: 18+ /Price: $84,99/74,99 £ /Pieces: 921/Product No.: 75375/Dimensions: Measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 9.5 in. (24 cm) long and 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide.

LEGO Star Wars Tantive IV building set Click To View Gallery LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm

“Build the excitement you felt when you watched the opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope all over again with this buildable LEGO® brick model of the Tantive IV starship,” share this Tantive IV Star Wars LEGO set. You can snag it here.

More Details:

Age: 18+/Price: $79,99/69,99 £/Pieces: 654/Product No.: 75376/Dimensions: Measures over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 12.5 in. (32 cm) long and 4 in. (11 cm) wide.

LEGO Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV building set Click To View Gallery LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm

The Tantive IV fun continues with a scene recreation from Star Wars: A New Hope. This set “features a detailed recreation of the corridor inside Tantive IV where Darth Vader’s Stormtroopers battled Captain Antilles’ Rebel Fleet Troopers, with levers to ‘blast’ open the entrance door and topple characters during battle play.” Take a closer look, here.

More Details:

Age: 8+/Price:/$54,99/49,99 £/Pieces: 502/Product No.: 75387/Dimensions: Measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) wide and 8.5 in. (22 cm) deep.

 LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 building set Click To View Gallery LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm

Who doesn’t want a LEGO R2-D2 to keep them company? This LEGO brick-built R2-D2 toy figure is full of authentic details and little surprises like a “360-degree rotating head, an attachable third leg, attachable periscope and attachable tools.”

More Details:

Age: 10+/Price: $99,99/89,99/Pieces: 1,050/Product No.: 75379/Dimensions: Measures over 9.5 in. (24 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 4 in. (11 cm) deep

LEGO Star Wars Invisible Hand building set Click To View Gallery LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO LEGO/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO

“Imagine leading the Separatist fleet into battle like General Grievous in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith with this LEGO Star Wars Starship Collection buildable model of the Invisible Hand,” shares the description for this celebratory LEGO set. You can check it out in full detail, here.

More Details:

Age: 8+/Price: /$54,99/49,99 £/Pieces: 502/Product No.: 75387/Dimensions: Measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) wide and 8.5 in. (22 cm) deep

Originally published on January 30, 2024.

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The Comic Book Influences of Superman’s New ‘S’ Shield

Although it will be some time before we see David Corenswet in the full Kal-El regalia for James Gunn’s Superman (no longer Superman: Legacy) we did get a preview of a very important part of the costume — the ‘S’ shield emblem of the Last Son of Krypton. Although the photo released by James Gunn on social media on Clark Kent’s birthday doesn’t give us a full view of it, we have a pretty good idea of what the symbol looks like now. It draws inspiration from three distinct eras of Superman. Some from the pages of DC Comics, and some from other media. Here are the principal design influences on the new Superman ‘S’ shield.

Warner Bros.Kingdom Come SupermanDC Comics/Warner Bros.

The first Superman ‘S’ Shield that the new emblem recalls is the one artist Alex Ross designed for the series Kingdom Come. That 1996 mini-series by writer Mark Waid was about an older Superman, one who retired from being a hero after a personal tragedy. This is a darker Superman, so the yellow in the emblem was replaced with black. But the very minimalist ‘S’ shape is present in the version of Gunn’s design. We actually have seen this design in live-action before. Brandon Routh used it in the Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event in 2019. At first, it was a direct copy of the Kingdom Come look. By the end, it was a version in the traditional Superman colors. One of the first teases Gunn released on social media when he took over DC Studios was an image from Kingdom Come. Now we know why.

Golden Age/Fleischer Animated SupermanDC Comics

The yellow trim outside the ‘S’ shield goes back to the earliest days of the comics. About two years after Superman debuted in 1938’s Action Comics #1, his emblem began to be a black triangle with a big red ‘S’ in the center, surrounded by a yellow trim. The yellow trim didn’t last that long in print. But they used it in a major milestone in non-comics Superman media. We’re talking about the 1940s-era Fleischer cartoons, which ran as afternoon serials. These shorts were extremely popular, and a big influence on the look and design of Batman: The Animated Series. Although the comics quickly pivoted away from the yellow trim, it’s clearly present in the costume design David Corenswet is going to wear.

The Classic Superman EmblemDC Comics

Finally, the color scheme for this Superman looks to be pretty classic. The iconic Superman emblem most people know, worn by Christopher Reeve and seen on countless pieces of merchandise, made its debut in 1944. And it mostly stuck around for decades after, undergoing only minor revisions. Red and yellow is how we mostly think of the Superman emblem today. So far, it seems that Gunn is sticking to that aesthetic. Although it’s hard to say, the color palette does look more muted than the classic version. It’s akin to the one worn by Henry Cavill in Man of Steel, or Tyler Hoechlin in Superman and Lois. However, that could be lighting. The actual suit colors might “pop” a lot more than what we see in the image.

Warner Bros./DC Comics

Superman hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post The Comic Book Influences of Superman’s New ‘S’ Shield appeared first on Nerdist.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING Is a Beautifully Messy Triumph of a Queer Love Story

In queer circles, it’s a bit of a joke that many women-led movies with queer romances have a sort of fragile tragedy that clings to them. Often period pieces in nature, these works involve a lot of longing (but very little touching). They also include highly feminine protagonists who pine delicately and artfully engage with the tragedy of their lots in life. Of course, there’s a place for and importance to those kinds of movies. But like the rainbow that represents them, queer folk exist in many ways. Thus, they deserve more than one kind of movie to represent them. And that’s exactly what Love Lies Bleeding slams down on the table. With a fist, a gun, and a true depiction of the loves and lives of queer people, Love Lies Bleeding breaks through queer lady-shaped movie tropes and brings something delightfully messy and brutally real to our screens.

A24

We first meet Kristen Stewart’s character, Lou, with her hand shoved down a full-to-the-brim clogged toilet. And while utterly gross, the sequence sets the tone for the movie to come. No sighing and swooning here, folks. Lou is also not even a bit interested in hiding her queerness, which makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Stewart’s character is an oddball happily rocking her messy shag cut and cut-off sleeves and “don’t talk to me if you’re a straight man” glare. It’s hard to quantify how well this movie delivers queerness without getting into what, on the page, feels like labeling the ways in which queer people exist. But suffice it to say Lou is queer. She wears it openly without having to talk about it too much. There’s also a delightful androgyny to her, which we don’t often see in our queer features. In short, Love Lies Bleeding is a movie that really transcends the notions of gender binary to offer us something deeper.

A24

Lou and Jackie (played by Katy O’Brian) find one another quickly in the movie. While Lou offers us one kind of queer feminity, Jackie (or, notably, Jack) blows in with a whole other kind. Long montages of muscley arms and veins popping are usually reserved for hunky men in the movies. But hunky women are finally having their day. Katy O’Brian’s Jack is simply stunning. She knows it, and so does Lou. Love Lies Bleeding sets up their introduction with a long scene of Lou checking out Jackie and her rippling back muscles. This, again, should not be such a novelty, but unfortunately still is when it comes to queer films.

Much of the early parts of Love Lies Bleeding play like a pure romance movie. Jackie and Lou fall into bed after making eye contact. (As queer ladies deserve to do/can you blame them?) They then move in together at once, and while the days away working, kissing (among other things), and training for Jackie’s ultimate goal in life, winning a bodybuilding pageant in Las Vegas. But, of course, nothing good can last and dark specters lurk in the corners. For Lou, a troubled past haunts her, which revolves around her father and a strong love for her sister, who won’t leave her increasingly abusive husband. For Jackie, it’s a growing addiction to steroids which turn her spark and strength into something crueler and angry.

A24

As the movie unfolds, it mixes gritty reality with surrealistic dreams to draw viewers into a suspenseful plot that involves murder, madness, and bashed skulls. At moments, the music and cinematography take us to an ethereal place, the movie casting its leads as goddesses. And then at others it descends into a realm so harrowingly real, it’s painful, a place full of blood and injustice. The duality of the two feelings, two very real queer experiences, blend seamlessly and never feel jarring. Instead, they take the audience on a journey that balances gritty and transcendent. Love Lies Bleeding is so brilliant because it once elevates our heroines into something mythic, goddess-like in nature. Then it also makes sure to show us their desperate fight for survival. (And then the amount of time they spend lying around in sweatpants.)

A24

The movie also maintains a wonderfully dark humor throughout. Both Lou and Jack make huge messes of their relationship, themselves, and everyone around them in their attempts to find their way out of the beds they make. But hey, the path of true love never did run smooth.

A24

In addition to the above, the movie avoids the cardinal sin of a production with queer characters: having the main queer characters be the only ones who are queer. It also side-steps focusing on other well-worn queer tropes, coming out and homophobia. But it does offer a hat-tip to the excellent notion of found family and cleverly highlights some of the toxicity straight couples can bring to life. Not to mention, it has a truly stellar cast. In addition to Stewart and O’Brian, who shine, the film includes an excellent performance by Ed Harris as Lou’s sly villainous father. It also perfectly captures a certain time and place in 1980s New Mexico.

A24

Love Lies Bleeding is a triumph. As a queer person watching, I cried several times, just out of the sheer happiness of seeing such a wealth and breadth of queerness on display. The joy that the movie took in uplifting what some might deem “non-normative” truly moved me. There’s a scene (that does not resolve as planned, but nevertheless) where O’Brian’s Jack is on the screen, fully captivating in her gorgeous, muscly body, standing in the limelight, proud, brilliant. And it touched me so deeply. Because that is beauty, the kind that should be applauded but so rarely is in our society. Love Lies Bleeding elevates a queer tale not by focusing on queerness, but by understanding that queerness is simply a part of certain characters, embedded into them and the decisions they make in subtle but powerful ways. And through this understanding, it created a set of endearingly flawed characters making their way through the tribulations of life and reaching for the beauty of their truest selves.

Love Lies Bleeding Rating: ⭐ (5 of 5)

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Who Is Marvel Comics’ Cassandra Nova? The Wild Story of DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’s Villain

Most of the famous X-Men villains, like Magneto or Apocalypse, are products of the ‘60s to the ‘90s. But the 21st century has provided us with one of the most lethal X-Men foes of all time, Cassandra Nova Xavier. Soon, it appears The Crown’s Emma Corrin will portray her in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. Here’s the intel on one of the X-Men’s most dangerous adversaries.

Cassandra Nova’s Marvel Comics First AppearanceMarvel Comics

The genocidal maniac is the creation of writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, introduced during their New X-Men run in the early 2000s. The story that introduced her, “E is For Extinction,” was a game-changer for the X-Men.” First appearing in 2001’s New X-Men #114, she’s since popped up several other times. Usually her appearance makes life hell for the mutant race in each instance.

Cassandra Nova’s Origin Story, and Charles XavierMarvel Comics

Cassandra Nova is that tried and true villain archetype of fiction — the evil twin. But in Grant Morrison’s imagination, “evil twin” has an even darker meaning. Cassandra is what the alien Shi’ar Empire calls a Mummudrai. A Mummudrai is something the Shi’ar believe every living being in the universe has, an astral “shadow self” without form. Cassandra began existence in the same womb as Charles Xavier, but without a corporeal body. She then copied her twin brother’s DNA and essentially became his physical twin, and attempted to strangle her brother in the womb with their mother’s umbilical cord. But the fetus of Charles uses his powers for the first time with a psychic blast, which causes her to be stillborn.

However, the Mummudrai’s essence survived as “chaotic cellular matter.” That blob of cells clung to a sewer wall for years and years, slowly regrowing its physical form, rebuilding itself, and copying human traits. One thing fueled this malevolent being, and that was revenge on her twin brother Charles Xavier, and everything he held dear. Particularly his dream for mutant and human coexistence. Fully grown, Cassandra activated a Sentinel Master Mold, which unleashed the Homo-superior-hunting robots on the mutant nation of Genosha. There, it murdered 16 million mutants in one fell swoop.

Cassandra Nova and the X-MenMarvel Comics

After the Genoshan genocide, Cassandra fought the X-Men, and they thought they defeated her. Actually, she switched minds with her brother Charles Xavier, and when he was in her body, she allowed him to be shot and seemingly killed. After months of posing as Charles and creating chaos, eventually Xavier reasserted control of his old body, thanks to Jean Grey storing pieces of his psyche in every mind on Earth, and then putting them back into his original body, forcing her out. Cassandra’s essence then entered a newly created body with a synthetic brain, now locked into a self-repeating program for all time. Or so they thought.

Marvel Comics

Cassandra Nova was once thought to have been released from her mental prison a few years later in Astonishing X-Men, but she turned out to be a mental projection by Emma Frost. Eventually, she escaped her imprisonment by hopping from one host body to another. Once free, she used Sentinel tech implanted in baseline humans to kill mutants. A human with this Sentinel tech in them would go wild with rage at the very sight of a mutant. Jean Grey eventually used her considerable psionic ability to enter her mind and thwart her plans. She did this by making her feel human empathy for the first time, which caused her to surrender.

Cassandra Nova in Marvel Comic’s X-Men Spin-off, Mauraders Marvel Comics

When the mutant community founded their own nation on the living island of Krakoa, Cassandra Nova was moved there. Hoping she’d reformed, she joined Kate Pryde’s Marauders, a sort of corsair group of X-Men on the high seas. Pryde and Emma Frost never believed Nova had reformed, and still held much animosity towards her for the genocide of Genosha. Especially Emma Frost, who was the sole survivor. At one point, the Marauders found themselves stranded over two billion years in the past on a time travel mission. Emma and Kate decided to leave Cassandra Nova stranded there as payback for her heinous acts. What became of her after that remains a mystery. We seriously doubt it’s the last we’ve seen of her in the pages of the comics.

Cassandra Nova’s powersMarvel Comics

Cassandra Nova is one of the most powerful adversaries the X-Men have ever faced. As a Mummudrai, she mimicked all of Charles Xavier’s powers, including his telepathy, but also, all his latent mutant powers. Powers that were dormant within his DNA. Cassandra can do things he never could, like telekinesis, as well as phase through solid matter. She has regenerative capabilities comparable to those of Wolverine’s. She can also even evolve latent mutants to their true potential with a thought.

Marvel ComicsEmma Corrin Could Play Cassandra Nova in Deadpool & Wolverine

So what role will Cassandra Nova play in Deadpool & Wolverine? It honestly depends on how much of her comic origins they adhere to. She could just be Xavier’s evil twin, without the cosmic doppelganger stuff. She might even be an alt-universe version of Charles himself, keeping with the multiverse aspects of the film. We know a lot of the action in the film takes place in the Void, the reality of pruned timelines that’s the TVA’s dumpster for deleted worlds. Perhaps she’s used her vast psionic powers to set herself up as the ruler of the Void after being exiled there? She certainly has the power levels to be the film’s “Big Bad,” and then some. We’ll see when Deadpool & Wolverine hits in July.

The post Who Is Marvel Comics’ Cassandra Nova? The Wild Story of DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’s Villain appeared first on Nerdist.

Hayden Christensen Intentionally Scared His Youngling Co-Star in REVENGE OF THE SITH

Anakin Skywalker’s slaughter of Jedi younglings is one of Star Wars‘ most infamous and shocking moments. The galaxy far, far away’s most powerful Force user struck down helpless children looking to him for help. The unthinkable brutality of his actions revealed just how evil the newly christened Darth Vader truly was. Now we know Hayden Christensen needed to rely on a little bit of his own dark side to make the moment believable. He intentionally scared his young co-star to get a genuine reaction.

Lucasfilm

Christensen recently sat down with Empire to discuss working on the Star Wars prequels a long time ago. During the interview he talked about his relationship on set with George Lucas, Ewan McGregor, and Ian McDiarmid. He also explained how he got the part and the pressure that came with being so famous so quickly. But one tidbit stands out because it will forever change how fans watch his iconic younglings scene.

Christensen answered whether children ever fear meeting him because of what his character did in Revenge of the Sith. (They apparently don’t. The fools!) He then shared what happened while filming that moment. Christensen said his co-star wasn’t giving them “the reaction” they needed. So to get a genuine one he “shouted, or growled” at the child unexpectedly. That did the trick. The boy’s sincerely startled response is what ended up in the movie.

Lucasfilm

If you’ve seen that moment roughly 1,000 times like we have, you can perfectly picture the scared youngling’s little jump when Master Skywalker’s blue lightsaber turns on. Thanks to this anecdote you can also now picture Hayden Christensen actually startling the poor kid.

That’s even funnier than the word “youngling.” Don’t feel too badly about laughing at the thought of a grown man terrifying a kid. The prequel star says he apologized to his co-star years later. Unlike Darth Vader in that moment, Hayden Christensen didn’t really want to harm a child.

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Lucas and Max Reunite in STRANGER THINGS 5 BTS Photos

It feels like Stranger Things has been a phenomenon for as long as we can remember. But now, our favorite party is all grown up, and the time has come for the series’ last chapter. Stranger Things 5 will be the Netflix hit’s final season, but we have no doubt that these concluding episodes will have a ton of meat on their bones.

As Stranger Things 5 continues to film, fans are being treated to some fun tidbits from the show’s creators. Ross Duffer recently shared a series of photos that included an exciting reunion between Lucas and Max. Fans are hugely fond of LuMax as it’s known, and it’s great to see the two together again. However, don’t let the smiles full you, Duffer notes in a comment, “(And FYI this is a pic of Sadie not Max. Max is in a coma.) We can see evidence of this in another photo where Lucas appears to hold Max’s hand while she’s unconscious. Well, we can’t wait to have our hearts broken.

For now, let’s roll for initiative and head back to Hawkins one more time. Here’s everything we know about Stranger Things 5.

Stranger Things 5‘s PlotNetflix

Stranger Things 4 ended with a bang as the Upside Down erupted right into the middle of Hawkins. Although everyone came together to try to stop Vecna, the villainous monster, who is actually One, who is actually Henry Creel, succeeded in merging his evil world with the reality every day people inhabit. The party managed to injure Vecna and seemingly save Max from his clutches. However, the fallout remained apocalyptic. In the final moments of the season, the Upside Down’s ash arrives to cover everything, and a full-out war with the monstrous creatures of the dark world seems imminent.

Netflix

While we don’t know much about Stranger Things 5 yet, we assume it will have just a little to do with how Stranger Things 4 ended. The Duffer brothers haven’t provided many plot specifics but have offered several teases about Stranger Things 5. Among other bits, they shared that the action will remain centered in Hawkins and that likely we’ll see an eight-episode season. Additionally, the Duffers have noted that Will Byers will take a central role in the final season.

Finally, the series’ creators describe Stranger Things 5 as follows, “Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each… Whereas before, each season was so [distinct]… [Season] 3 is our big summer blockbuster season with big monsters, and [Season] 4 was the psychological horror. Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each. I think that what we’re trying to do is go back to the beginning a little bit, in sort of the tone of 1.” Or, “Season 5 is like if season 1 and 4 had a baby. And then that baby was injected with steroids.” Make of that what you will.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, will once again take the helm of Stranger Things 5. Additionally, long-time Stranger Things director Shawn Levy will return to direct at least one episode of the season. Superstitiously, the Deadpool 3 director likes to take on episodes three and four if he can.

Stranger Things 5‘s CastRoss Duffer

All our favorite characters and actors will be back for Stranger Things 5. We know for sure that Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Eleven, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Karen Wheeler, Stever Harrington, Robin Buckley, and Murray Bauman will be back. (And with them, their respective actors.) Sadie Sink’s Max survived season four and should return with the rest. We, of course, are still holding the torch for the surprise resurrection of Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson. Stranger Things takes place in a supernatural world, after all. And it just wouldn’t be a good season without one Erica Sinclair.

Netflix

When it comes to new faces, we know that Linda Hamilton has joined the cast of Stranger Things 5. But her role remains a secret for now.

Stranger Things 5‘s Release DateNetflix

Stranger Things 5 does not yet have a release date, but it will not arrive in 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2024.

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Kong Rides Godzilla in New GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Clip

The two biggest and most popular Titans surely can’t stay dormant for long. Godzilla, the mighty lizard with atomic breath will clomp his way back to the movies soon. Along with him will be none other than Kong, the king of the hollow Earth. After 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong ended in something of a draw, a rematch of legendary proportions is very necessary. Luckily, a big screen follow-up is happening.

In our latest clip from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, we get something truly incredible, Kong catching a ride on Godzilla. How is that for frenemies?

Kong rides Godzilla in a new clip from ‘GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE’. pic.twitter.com/u77Lo4lFAY

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 1, 2024

Here’s everything we know about the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel.

TitleLegendary Pictures/Warner Bros

The Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is called Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire‘s Plot

The official synopsis is as follows:

This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Warner Bros./LegendaryBehind the Scenes

Adam Wingard, who directed Godzilla vs. Kong, will return to direct this film. He’ll be the first director in Legendary’s Monsterverse series to helm a second film so far. He’s working from a script by Terry Rossio (Godzilla vs. Kong), Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight) and Simon Barrett (Wingard’s longtime collaborator on movies like You’re Next and The Guest). The film is being produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric Mcleod, Brian Rogers, Thomas Tull, and Jon Jashni, with executive producers Josh Grode, Adam Wingard, Jay Ashenfelter, Jen Conroy, Kenji Okuhira, and Yoshimitsu Banno.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire‘s Cast

Returning cast members to the series include Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. All three joined the franchise with Godzilla vs. Kong. New cast members include Dan Stevens, who starred in Wingard’s The Guest. Other new cast members include Fala Chen (Shang-Chi), Alex Ferns (The Batman), and Rachel House (Thor: Ragnarok).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire‘s Release DateWarner Bros./Legendary Pictures

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will release on March 29, 2024. This is moved up two weeks from its planned release date.

Originally published on August 26, 2022.

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

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Who Is the Villainous X-MEN Clone, Madelyne Pryor? The Marvel Comics History of the Goblin Queen, Explained

The hype is real for Marvel Studios’ upcoming animated series X-Men ’97, which continues where the classic show left off. In fact, products for the series have been released already months in advance. Two toys in particular have confirmed a classic Marvel Comics character not in the original show will play a part. One that truly surprised us. That character is Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen. But who is this X-Men ally turned villain? And why does she look just like Jean Grey? Here’s the complex history of one of X-Men lore’s most tragic figures.

Madelyne Pryor’s First Marvel Comics AppearanceMarvel Comics

Madelyne Pryor first appeared in 1983’s Uncanny X-Men #168, as a cargo pilot that Scott Summers/Cyclops meets while visiting his grandparents in Alaska. This was when he was still mourning his lost love Jean Grey, who sacrificed herself after becoming Dark Phoenix. Maddie (sometimes spelled “Maddy”) bore a striking resemblance to Jean, looking almost like her identical twin. Scott fell head over heels instantly. Eventually, Maddie and Scott began a romantic relationship, and he took her home to meet the X-Men. Within a year, Scott and Maddie were married, and Cyclops left the X-Men, leaving Storm as leader. Writer Chris Claremont intended for Maddie to be Scott’s “happily ever after” after the death of Jean. Yet “Happily ever after” is not usually part of the X-Men game plan.

Marvel ComicsMadelyne Pryor, Jean Grey, and Cyclops

When Scott and Maddie left the X-Mansion in Uncanny X-Men #201, it was shortly after the birth of their son, Nathan Christopher Charles Summers. But domestic bliss did not last long for the new parents. Jean Grey was discovered to be alive. The Phoenix who had died was a cosmic entity that copied Jean’s consciousness and memories, leaving her real body to heal at the bottom of the ocean. When Cyclops got the call that Jean was alive, he ran to her side to confirm if it was true. Maddie said if he left to chase after the ghost of his old girlfriend, to not bother coming back. Cyclops then re-teamed with the other four original X-Men as the group X-Factor.

Marvel Comics

Not long after, the Marauders, the villain Mister Sinister’s deadly soldiers, attack Madelyne and baby Nathan. When Scott Summers returns home to look for his family, all evidence of their existence has mysteriously been erased. Although the X-Men rescue Maddie, her child remains missing. When the X-Men suddenly die saving the world, the goddess Roma resurrected them. They chose to let the world think they died, and Maddie leaves with the team to a hidden base in the Australian Outback. She starts to grow close to her brother-in-law Alex, also called Havok. Maddie eventually learns Scott got back together with Jean, which she discovers via TV newscasts. This enrages Madelyne, and her rage becomes a beacon for the demon S’ym. He offers her power, and she takes it. She uses this dark demonic power to try to find her missing son, Nathan.

The Truth About Madelyne Pryor’s OriginsMarvel Comics

It is during this time that Madelyne finally learns the truth of her origins. The genetic manipulator Mister Sinister long had an interest in the Summers and Grey bloodlines. He believed that the offspring of mutants Scott Summers and Jean Grey would be an Omega-level mutant. When Jean became Phoenix, he feared that she was too erratic, and might depart the Earth, thwarting his plans. So he used a tissue sample of Jean to create a clone of her. But the clone didn’t show signs of any powers, and she remained in the incubation tube.

Marvel Comics

But when Dark Phoenix died, a spark of her power awakened the clone. Now alive and sentient, Sinister gave this clone fake memories and a fake identity as Madelyne Pryor, her name a joke about her “prior” life. He set her up working for Scott’s grandparents, knowing that once Cyclops met her, he’d fall in love with the spitting image of his dead lover. But once she gave birth to Nathan, and the real Jean returned, Sinister had no use for Maddie any longer. So he sent his Marauders to kill her, treating her as a “loose end.” Finding out her whole life was a lie drove Maddie further down a dark path.

Madelyne Pryor Becomes the Goblin QueenMarvel Comics

Losing her grip on sanity, she joins forces with the demon lord N’astirh, during the X-Men crossover event Inferno. Taking on the mantle of the Goblin Queen, Maddie unleashes demonic hell on New York. She very nearly sacrifices her son Nathan to demonic forces during this event. First, to get back at Cyclops, and then, as revenge on Sinister, who treated her as breeding stock. Ultimately, the X-Men and X-Factor stop her, and Maddie uses her newly discovered telepathic power to connect with her clone Jean Grey, believing that if she kills herself, she’ll take Jean with her. Maddie dies, but Jean survives, and the Phoenix Force returns. It implanted Maddie’s memories into Jean, transferring her love for Maddie’s son to her. And for a long time, that was the end of Madelyne Pryor.

Madelyne Pryor and Her Son, CableMarvel Comics

Madelyne and Scott’s child, Nathan, was now being raised by Scott and Jean Grey. But this happy family was also short-lived. The immortal mutant Apocalypse infected the child with a techno-organic virus, which threatened to consume him. To save the child, they sent him to the distant future, hoping advanced science could save his life. It did, and we eventually learned that the cyborg mercenary Cable, who was the leader of X-Force, was actually an adult Nathan Summers who went back in time to the era of his birth.

Marvel Comics

Years later, the alternate version of Madelyne’s son Nathan from the Age of Apocalypse timeline known as X-Man came to the 616 reality. A powerful psychic unencumbered by his doppelgänger Cable’s techno virus, he used his powers to pluck Madelyne’s spirit from the astral plane and give it new life, looking for a mother figure. Weirdly, they start dating, a bizarre development given that genetically speaking, Madelyne is, at the very least, Nate’s aunt. (Editor’s Note: Fuckin’ ew.) This Madelyne joined the Hellfire Club as its Black Rook, and didn’t have most of Maddie’s original memories, probably because Jean Grey had absorbed them. She eventually gets her memories back, and finally forms some kind of understanding with her son Cable. Although he has a few conflicted feelings about his mom trying to sacrifice him to demons as an infant. (Hey, family can get complicated). Eventually, Maddie dissipates into the Astral Plane again.

Madelyne Pryor in the Modern X-Men AgeMarvel Comics

A version of Madelyne later returned from the Astral Plane and formed the Sisterhood of Mutants. However, whether or not that was actually Maddie has come into question. Many believe it to be the Jean Grey of another universe posing as her. The true Madelyne recently came back to life once more, via the Resurrection Protocols on the mutant island of Krakoa. She finally made peace with Jean Grey, who granted her the memories of the years she raised Maddie’s son Nathan. Madelyne reclaimed her Goblin Queen throne, where she ruled the hellish Limbo dimension once again. She even formed her own “Dark X-Men” team.

The Goblin Queen’s Marvel PowersMarvel Comics

Although at first appearing as a baseline human, as Jean Grey’s clone, Madelyne has the same powers as her genetic template. Perhaps because of her forced growth in the lab, her powers didn’t activate at puberty. It took her far longer to manifest them. Eventually, not only does she have Jean’s telepathic and telekinetic powers, but she eventually absorbs the mutant Selene’s power of teleportation. However, since she developed them later in life and as an adult, her psychic abilities were never quite as strong as Jean’s. However, when she became the Goblin Queen, she was imbued with magics as well, making her powerful in a way Jean never was.

Madelyne Pryor in X-Men ’97Hasbro/Funko

How will Madelyne Pryor appear in X-Men ’97? We’re not entirely sure, but we suspect the pregnant Jean we see in the trailer is, in fact, Maddie. However, we suspect this version of Maddie actually thinks she’s Jean, and so does her husband Cyclops. The various X-Men ’97 toys we’ve seen of Maddie show her in full Goblin Queen regalia, and with a baby that must be Nathan Christopher. With her creator Mister Sinister confirmed as the show’s main villain, it only makes sense Maddie would be involved somehow. How she becomes the Goblin Queen remains a mystery. We’ll find out when X-Men ’97 drops on Disney+ on March 20.

The post Who Is the Villainous X-MEN Clone, Madelyne Pryor? The Marvel Comics History of the Goblin Queen, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

THE STRANGERS – CHAPTER 1 Trailer Begins a New Home Invasion Nightmare

We all have hobbies that give us a purpose. That’s as true for scrapbookers, travelers, and toy collectors as it is for those who enjoy putting on a creepy mask and terrorizing innocent people who made the unfortunate mistake of stopping in the wrong town of violent pyschopaths. Why does someone choose the latter way to pass their time? The unsettling The Strangers – Chapter 1 trailer provides the scariest answer of all.

The Strangers franchise, which began in 2008 and returned in 2018 with The Strangers: Prey at Night, is returning to theaters with its third film. This latest installment will also will kick off a new trilogy of home invasion nightmares. Once again a couple of outsiders will fight for their life against people who want them dead for reasons they don’t understand. Here’s the movie’s official synopsis from Lionsgate:

After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers – Chapter 1, the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.

Lionsgate

Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Exorcist: The Beginning) directs with a script from Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland. The film stars Madelaine Petsch, Froy Guitierrez, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, and those damn masks.

The Strangers – Chapter 1 breaks into theaters nationwide this spring on May 17, 2024. Whether it’s destined to be both a box office hit and a cult classic like the original film remains to be seen. We do know one thing, though – we don’t like this trailer (in the good way). A creepy cabin in the woods combined with the creepiest people on the planet will always frighten us. And the more experience those killers have the scarier they are.

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