Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 365

Denis Villeneuve Doesn’t Want to Rush a Potential DUNE: PART THREE

After a very long wait, Dune hit theaters in the fall of 2021 to both rave reviews and big box office. This was despite bowing on HBO Max at the same time as its theatrical debut. But Dune was really just Dune: Part One. The first film only covered the first half of Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 novel. Luckily, the rest of the story is on the way. Dune: Part Two was officially announced on October 26, 2021.

Although the second Dune movie has not yet been released, there is, of course, already conversation about a potential Dune: Part Three. Dune: Part Three has not been officially green-lit, but Dune director Denis Villeneuve has long expressed his desire to adapt Dune‘s second book Dune Messiah into film form. Still, Villeneuve isn’t rushing into this possible next production. Variety notes, “Villeneuve needs a break, and he’s not too interested in signing up for a project where the release date is pre-determined anyway.” Villeneuve shared with the publication, “There is absolutely a desire to have a third one, but I don’t want to rush it. The danger in Hollywood is that people get excited and only think about release dates, not quality.”

Warner Bros/Legendary

Still, Villeneuve has clearly given some thought to the possible Dune Messiah film already. Entertainment Weekly notes “That movie [Dune Messiah] has not been greenlit yet (once again, we’ll have to see how the latest performs with audiences), but even if it never happens, Villeneuve wanted to incorporate some of its ideas into this movie by having Chani voice them: Why is the long-held Fremen dream of turning the sands of Arrakis into a green paradise being sublimated to this noble’s desire for violent revenge? Why are we trusting this man as a savior when we know these messiah myths were planted generations ago by Bene Gesserit like his mother?”

Here’s everything else we know so far about Dune: Part Two.

Title

The official name of the movie is Dune: Part Two.

Dune: Part Two‘s Plot

The official plot synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary for Dune: Part Two reads as follows:

This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

If you’re a fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune, this all sounds like a pretty faithful adaptation of the second half of his novel. And unlike David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune, this packed second half will now have time to breathe. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see elements of the later Dune novels pop up a wee bit early.

For now, we can enjoy Dune: Part Two‘s first trailer, which highlight a crucial book scene: Paul riding on a sandworm.

The second trailer for the film shows more of Paul and Chani and the Fremen’s fight.

The chief takeaway is that Dune: Part Two is both a love story and a war movie, and we can expect both parts to shine.

Dune: Part Two‘s Cast

Almost the entire original cast from Dune is back for Dune: Part Two. At least if their character survived, that is. This includes Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, the “Kwisatz Haderach,” and Zendaya as his Fremen paramour Chani. Javier Bardem also returns as Chani’s father, Fremen leader Stilgar. Paul’s very pregnant mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) also returns for Dune: Part Two. Josh Brolin is back as Paul’s mentor Gurney Halleck, as is Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, the loyal Mentat to House Atreides.

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

Stellan Skarsgård reprises his role as the sadistic Baron Harkonnen, as does Dave Bautista as the Baron’s loyal lackey and nephew Glossu Rabban. Charlotte Rampling’s character, the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, is also slated to return. New cast members include Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) Austin Butler (Feyd Rautha), and Christopher Walken (Emperor Shadddam IV). They are joined by Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot) and Souheila Yacoub as the Fremen warrior Shishakli.

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

Of course, certain major characters died in the first film, and are not scheduled to appear in Dune: Part Two. These include Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides. But there could be surprise flashbacks. So don’t count them all out just yet. We may yet see them on the sands of Arrakis. Most recently, Deadline reported Tim Blake Nelson joined the cast in an unknown role.

Click To View Gallery Behind the ScenesWarner Bros./Legendary Pictures

Just as he was for Dune, director Denis Villeneuve is back behind the camera for Dune: Part Two. Jon Spaihts wrote the script for the second chapter of the story. Hans Zimmer also returned to score the sequel.

Dune: Part Two‘s Release Date

Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 1, 2024. It will release in IMAX 70 mm as well as in IMAX and normal theatrical formats.

Originally published on August 1, 2022.

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

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INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 2 Shares New Trailers and Images

AMC’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire is finally ready to launch its second season in early 2024. The WGA and SAG strikes halted production on season two, but the series got a special dispensation to continue filming in Prague. This allowed them to complete the season. Now, we’re finally getting some proper tastes of the season. In addition to announcing its release date, Interview With the Vampire season two has shared some trailers, clips, images, and more.

You can glance at all of our freshest Interview With the Vampire season two teases below.

Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Teaser and Latest Images

Alongside announcing that the second season of Interview With the Vampire would release on May 12, the show dropped a new teaser trailer and images. Let’s take a look.

There’s love, there’s rage, there’s blood aplenty, not to mention what looks like some vampiric couples counseling at work. We hope that can end without too many tears… or bites. Either way, the season is already hinting it’s going to be an intense one.

New look at ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ season 2.

Premiering on May 12. pic.twitter.com/8SYlu5ssLY

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) February 6, 2024

Vampires with fashion and attitude? Plus, a whole lot of blood? We’re not sure this can end well, but we’ll be tuned in for the ride.

Interview With the Vampire Season 2 First-Look Clip

AMC also released a first-look scene from season two. The clip shows Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Claudia, now played by Delainey Hayles, involved with a coven of Parisian vampires. In the scene, we see the coven attack a mansion owned by some very corrupt humans.

There’s about to be a flirtatious blood bath in Paris; that much is for certain. But we don’t know too much about the upcoming season yet.

Other Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Images and Teases

While we haven’t seen too much of Lestat yet, we do have just a couple other glimpses of him from Interview With the Vampire season two. He looks like he’s pouting already.

New look at Sam Reid in ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ season 2.

(via @TVInsider | https://t.co/C9z1TiD6L6) pic.twitter.com/C3gvK5pwPl

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) December 18, 2023

AMC

Additional looks reveal more of Louis, Claudia, and Armand.

New look at ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ Season 2.

(Source: @EW | https://t.co/9bbVmxJxgG) pic.twitter.com/AumSls8MQa

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) December 21, 2023

New look at ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ season 2. pic.twitter.com/01UUJfsrdV

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 1, 2024

More About Interview With the Vampire‘s Next Season

Interview With the Vampire ended its first season around the middle point of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel. Louis and Claudia had finally dispatched with their controlling maker Lestat (Sam Reid). Or at least that’s what they think. The big reveal came at the end of the season one finale. We learned that Louis’ human assistant in the modern day, Rashid, (Assad Zaman) was actually the vampire Armand, one of Rice’s most famous creations. Now, it looks like season two will deal with the second half of the novel, which dives deep into the relationship between Louis and Armand, and all its tragic fallout.

AMC Networks

In the book, the American vampires Louis and Claudia flee New Orleans after attempting to kill Lestat. They eventually wind up in 19th century Paris. In France, they discover an undead coven who operates the Théâtre des Vampires. There, they murder victims on stage in front of a human audience, pretending it’s all a show. The leader of the coven was Armand, a 400-year-old vampire of powerful blood. In the AMC series, the setting for the Théâtre des Vampires is now post-World War II Europe, and it seems the coven, which includes the vicious vamp Santiago (Ben Daniels), is also a biker gang now. It will be interesting to see how Lestat, who only appears briefly in the second half of the novel, will be incorporated into the season.

Interview With the Vampire season two premieres in early 2024 on AMC.

Originally published on October 13, 2023.

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VENOM 3 Is Almost Done Filming

When Venom 3 was briefly teased at Cinema Con 2022, fans of Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff movie were excited and relieved. But since then, we’ve only gotten a few brief teases of what Venom 3 will hold. Of course, the last time we saw Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his trusty companion Venom, the pair went on adventures through the multiverse. Sony’s Venom leads ended up in the MCU, but not for long. At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Eddie Brock returns to his own universe. And we assume that’s where we’ll find him (and most of Venom) in Venom 3.

Most recently, Venom 3 star Juno Temple revealed that Venom 3 was almost done filming. She shared with Variety, “We’re coming close to an end at the moment. It’s been a wild, wonderful ride. It’s so new to me. It’s a big set! This is crazy. It’s been so much fun and I got to work with such cool people. I’ve been so lucky in my career to just have the most incredible casts. I can’t wait for it to get out into the world. I think it’s going to be a good one.” And we hope to see more from Venom‘s third outing very soon as well.

Sony

Here’s everything we know about Venom 3.

Title

Right now, the only title we have for the third Venom movie is Venom 3. But since Venom 2 eventually got a fuller title, we suspect there might be a longer title in the future.

Venom 3‘s Plot

At this time, we don’t know anything specific about Venom 3‘s plot. We only know that Eddie Brock is back in his own universe after his MCU visit. We assume Venom has also traveled back with him, despite the little gob of Venom goo left behind in the MCU. While we do not doubt that the new MCU Venom bud will seek to cause Tom Holland’s Peter Parker a lot of trouble in a potential Spider-Man 4, that likely won’t factor too much into Venom 3.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy did tease a behind-the-scenes image of Venom 3, which involves Eddie yelling at a wolf. Whether this will prove meaningful, we’ll have to wait and see. Whatever awaits us in Venom 3, we can bet it will involve more of Eddie Brock and Venom snarking at one another and a great mix of comedy and tragedy.

Venom 3‘s Cast

Thankfully, Tom Hardy will return as Eddie Brock for Venom 3. Alongside him, Ted Lasso’s Juno Temple has joined the movie, as will Chiwetel Ejiofor. We don’t know details on either of their roles yet. Clark Backo is also slated for an undisclosed role.

Regarding returning actors, there has been no news yet of any actors other than Tom Hardy reprising their Venom or Venom: Let There Be Carnage roles.

Behind the Scenes Tom Hardy

Kelly Marcel, a writer and producer on Venom‘s first two movies, will direct Venom 3. Marcel also serves as the writer of Venom 3, penning the script based on a story she and Tom Hardy created. Marcel and Hardy will act as producers on the movie alongside Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker.

Venom 3‘s Release Date

Venom 3 will release on November 8, 2024.

Originally published on August 1, 2023.

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Pedro Pascal Shares THE LAST OF US Season 2 ‘Is Going Amazing’

The Last of Us ended its first season on HBO with Joel and Ellie returning to the commune in Colorado. Sure, Joel might have doomed all mankind to save one young girl, but at least they have a place nice to live. For now. Fans of Naughty Dog’s popular video game franchise know new terrors and sadness await the pair in the years to come, and we’ll see all of it come to life when the hit series begins adapting the sequel game in its second season. What else can we expect from the show after a lengthy wait?

Pedro Pascal recently gave fans an update on how filming the early days of The Last of Us‘ second season was going. He shared, “Filming is going amazing… It’s sort of awe-inspiring the kind of focus and dedication that everyone has going into Season 2… It’s incredible to be back home with them and creatively and everybody, our entire crew, they’re working harder than I could even imagine, even harder than our first season which is close to impossible. It’s pretty inspiring and unbelievable.”

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Additionally, Pascal detailed a bit more about what it was like to return to the iconic character of Joel in The Last of Us season two. He noted, “Stepping into those boots again, it feels strangely brand new. I’ve never done anything like this before that has such original authorship before I ever got to it. And then to be given the space to author what would I have to give and to be under Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and alongside Bella Ramsey has been really the whole reason it works for me. I guess I’m learning something new every day, and I’ll be thinking about it probably for the rest of my life.”

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us‘ second season so far.

The Last of Us Season 2 Plot

HBO has not yet shared an official synopsis for The Last of Us season two. We still have some idea what to expect. The franchise’s second video game will provide the source material for the TV series. Showrunner Craig Mazin has said the show will take more than one season to adapt the sequel game, but like with the television series’ first season they are not making a direct adaptation. Fans will once again see some major changes alongside some major moments and stories taken directly from the game. That might very well include a huge—though temporary—change for one character. (We won’t risk spoiling it for those who don’t know what that means.)

One thing that won’t change is the importance of The Last of Us Part II‘s Abby Anderson. She will debut during the second season and play a significant role in Ellie’s story. And like the video game sequel, the HBO series will also feature a time jump.

Behind the Scenes

The Last of Us‘ second season was in pre-production before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes put the show on hold. The first episode had already been written at the time. With both unions finally getting fair deals, the show is now expected to begin filming in Vancouver in early 2024.

Co-creators, writers, and executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are back for season two. Writers Halley Gross (The Last of Us Part II) and Bo Shim worked with Mazin and Druckmann on season two. Deadline additionally reports that The Last of Us season two has set its slate of directors, both new and old. These include four new directors: Succession‘s Mark Mylod, Perry Mason‘s Nina Lopez-Corrado, Watchmen‘s Stephen Williams, and Loki‘s Kate Herron. They join returning director Peter Hoar, who directed the incredible season one episode “Long, Long Time,” and the show’s creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.

The series comes from Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, and Naughty Dog.

The Last of Us Season 2’s CastHBO

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will return as Joel and Ellie. Also expected back is Gabriel Luna. He plays Joel’s younger brother, Tommy. As is Rutina Wesley. She plays Tommy’s wife Maria.

Netflix/Naughty Dog

Regarding new casting news, The Last of Us season two has cast Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. Abby is an important character from The Last of Us Part II game.

Max/Naughty Dog

Additionally, Isabela Merced has joined the season as Abby, who also hails from the second The Last of Us game. Abby is described as “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.”

Netflix/Naughty Dog

Finally, The Last of Us season two has also cast Beef‘s Young Mazino as Jess. Jess is described, per Variety, as “a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at a terrible cost.” That sounds ominous. Generally speaking, from Jess’s role in The Last of Us Part II, we can assume he and Ellie will build a friendship.

The Last of Us Season 2’s Release DateHBO

The Last of Us‘ second season wasn’t expected to premiere until the start of 2025 before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Even with production delayed, HBO is still reportedly targeting a 2025 return for the show. However, there is not yet an official date in place.

Originally published on December 29, 2023.

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Crunchyroll Working to Compensate Users for Digital Libraries Lost in Funimation Transition

It may be a good time to be a fan. But it isn’t a particularly good time to be a consumer. More than ever, the notion of “buying” media you love is significantly in question. First, there are streaming services that offer shaky ownership at best. Content comes and goes from streamers all of the time. Not to mention, streamers are erasing content from their libraries without blinking. But the newest, arguably, most nefarious consequence of streaming involves erasing specific media a user purchased with intent. We’re not talking about purchasing a subscription to a service but a literal exchange of money for a title. For a while, this notion seemed safe, but it’s slowly being eaten away. As Sony shuts down Funimation for Crunchyroll, it will remove all of the purchased content aggregated by Funimation users. Some users will also see a price increase as they transition to Crunchyroll.

In the most recent update to this story, however, Crunchyroll has revealed it is working to offer affected users some measure of compensation. And we are certainly glad to hear that!

Sony Erases Funimation Users’ Purchases as It Sunsets the ServiceToei Animation

Funimation will shut down on April 2, 2024. That means users are being ported over to Crunchyroll. But as Funimation’s users shift to their new platform, they’ll do so without their library of purchased content. That’s right, a blog post from Sony shares more about the migration from Funimation to Crunchyroll:

We understand that you may have concerns about your digital copies from Funimation. These Digital copies available on Funimation were a digital access to the content available on the DVDs or Blu-rays purchased.

Please note that Crunchyroll does not currently support Funimation Digital copies, which means that access to previously available digital copies will not be supported. However, we are continuously working to enhance our content offerings and provide you with an exceptional anime streaming experience. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to explore the extensive anime library available on Crunchyroll.

The Verge shares that users who purchased DVDs and Blu-rays of certain anime all received digital copies of the content on Funimation as part of their purchase. Users were promised that they’d have access to those copies forever. But forever ends imminently. Although this instance might seem less cut and dry than, say, purchasing a movie on Amazon, it certainly feels pretty close to that arena.

Regardless of the semantics, users believed they were also purchasing digital copies of their media when they purchased the physical copies. Now, Sony will erase that aspect of their purchase. On the heels of a similar incident with Discovery content on PlayStation, it feels like the start of a worrying trend.

Compensation Is Now On Offer for Users Losing Their Digital Libraries Toei Animation

While at first, it seemed like Crunchyroll would not offer users compensation for their lost digital copies, the most recent comments from the company indicate some efforts are now being made. Speaking with The Verge, the president of Crunchyroll, Rahul Purini, shared, “[We] are working really hard directly with each [customer] to ensure that they have an appropriate value for what they got in the digital copy initially. As people reach out to us through customer service, we are responding and handling each of those requests as they prefer.”

However, The Verge points out that “these options haven’t been formally announced or detailed.” When asked what “appropriate value” indicated, Purini replied, “So it could be that they get access to a digital copy on any of the existing other services where they might be able to access it. It could be a discount access to our subscription service so they can get access to the same shows through our subscription service.” Additionally when asked if Crunchyroll “might give people digital copies on other services entirely to make up for what they’ve lost?” Purini noted, “If that is what they prefer.”

It seems like this compensation is functioning on a case-by-case basis. While we’re happy to hear it, it would be great to see a formal set of options noted by the company. But we will applaud this move in the right direction. Hopefully, users feel any lost purchases are equitably restored.

Prices to Increase For Some Users as Funimation Shuts DownNAS

For some subscribers, though not all, user pricing will increase massively as they transition to Crunchyroll. In an email to subscribers, which we saw via Gizmodo, Sony shared, “You don’t have to leave your Funimation Watch History and Funimation Queue behind, you can migrate them to Crunchyroll. As part of our transition to Crunchyroll, the price will increase from USD $54.95/year to USD $99.99/year beginning January 28th, 2025.”

If we pull out our calculators, we feel pretty sure we’ll find that Crunchyroll’s prices will mean paying double for some. Other users who pay per month will also see an increase from $5.99/month on Funimation to $9.99/month on Crunchyroll.

It is important to note that Crunchyroll’s prices themselves are not changing; only the amount some users who were previously Funimation subscribers will have to pay as they make the move to the new platform. Additionally, once again, not all users who transition to Funimation will see price increases. Users will be contacted individually via email if they will see a price increase.

Originally February 8, 2024.

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THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE Delivers a Shocking Comic Book Moment

[image error]

At this point in The Walking Dead universe, we are beyond any of the comic material. The comics wrap up with a final battle at the Commonwealth that results in Rick Grimes’ heartbreaking death before time jumping to relative peace decades later. Obviously, The Walking Dead TV series and its spinoffs are quite different. Rick is still alive and we discover what he’s been up to at the Civic Republic in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’s first episode. We are in a place where anything can happen with Rick, Michonne, and other characters: however, The Ones Who Live took fans (mostly) by surprise and cut Rick Grimes’ hand off, which is a major moment from the comics. 

AMC Networks

Early in the episode, Rick is trying to escape the CRM during a consignee mission. He’s attached to an officer via a wire rope and a metal bracelet on his left hand. In a very desperate attempt to escape, Rick Grimes takes a hatchet and cuts off his right hand. He cauterizes the wound and tries to run, but it doesn’t work. This shows just how miserable he is without his family. While Rick Grimes losing his hand in The Ones Who Live is shocking for many, a few keen-eyed fans saw this moment coming. The show’s trailers cleverly show Rick fighting and sitting with only one hand clearly visible or neither of his hands in view. Sometimes, the theories and speculation are true.

This is wildly different from how Rick Grimes loses his hand in the source material. Comic book Rick lost his hand way back during the prison arc. The Governor took him hostage and sawed off his right hand to prove that he meant business. This was a major blow to Rick, who had to learn how to shoot and fight with his nondominant hand. He eventually got a metal hand from a blacksmith at Hilltop.

Robert Kirkman/Charlie Adlard/Cliff Rathburn/Image Comics

In The Walking Dead TV show, we got a couple of fake out moments. Negan acted like he was going to cut Rick’s hand off at the RV back in season seven. Rick also badly injured his hand once to the point that fans thought he’d have to amputate it. Creator Robert Kirkman later said he regretted not cutting Rick’s hand off, so it seems he finally got his wish.

In the original television series, Alexandria resident Aaron lost his left arm after a walker outbreak at a work site led to a log falling on his arm. He eventually got a cool prosthetic that Bucky Barnes would be proud of. Most fans assumed that this would be the only time that a live-action series would honor that big moment. But alas, Rick Grimes is now without a hand. And, just like the comics, he is still a total badass.

Featured Image: AMC Networks

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Where Are Rick Grimes and Michonne in THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE?

Rick and Michonne Grimes (yes, they are married!) made their epic return to television in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’s premiere. The last time we saw Rick, he was being taken off in a helicopter alongside Jadis to parts unknown. Meanwhile, Michonne left Alexandria after finding Rick’s belongings at Bloodsworth Island. So, where are Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and what are they doing? Here’s what’s going on with Richonne.

[image error]Rick Grimes Is at the Civic Republic Under the Rule of Its Military in The Ones Who LiveAMC Networks

Anyone who has kept up with The Walking Dead’s universe knows that the helicopter that took Rick away belonged to the Civic Republic Military (CRM). But it wasn’t clear where the helicopter went with our beloved hero and why Rick hadn’t made it home. That guy certainly knows how to get out of a sticky situation. The Ones Who Live reveals that Rick is living at the Civic Republic, which is located in what was formerly Philadelphia. (For more information about this collective, check out our Civic Republic and CRM explainer.)

Rick has been desperate to get home for a long time. The show takes us back five years after he left Virginia when he’s on a mission to eliminate walkers. His group wears those brown CRM jackets and are on wire wrist leashes so they won’t escape the soldiers. Rick cuts his own hand off to free himself from the wire but gets caught once again. (Comic book fans are shaking right now.) We learn a lot about his life at the Civic Republic via letters he wrote—and obviously couldn’t send—to Michonne. 

He reveals that the CRM’s code of “security and secrecy” means that residents can never leave the Civic Republic. The people that they rescue, like Rick, live just outside the city and do menial jobs like killing walkers for energy, growing crops, and managing waste. The outsiders are called consignees and have to work for six years to enter the city. While others relish the chance to get into the Republic, Rick keeps trying to escape. One of those dedicated people is Pearl Thorne, an acquaintance of his who has given up on her previous life. She believes in the CRM way and the Republic wholeheartedly and keeps her eyes on Rick’s moves. There’s no sign of Jadis at this point but we can assume that Rick despises her.

Rick Becomes a CRM Soldier and Eventually a LeaderAMC Networks

After many failed attempts to leave, Rick ends up bowing to CRM leader Okafor’s constant requests to join the military. He hopes that he can use his position to somehow leave. We see him playing the part and going through all sorts of training. He comes up with a great plan to escape via a tunnel but a little girl and Pearl Thorne, now also a CRM soldier, thwart them.

Thanks to Thorne, Rick discovers that Okafor knows about Michonne, who threatens to kill everyone Rick loves if he ever escapes. Rick tries to get Okafor to just let him go freely or kill him, but he refuses and says that Rick fights there now. Rick finally gives up, burning everything he held onto to remind him of his former life. He goes ahead and becomes the good CRM leader who tries to save the world, leaving his letters behind for good. Throughout it all, Major General Beale has a watchful eye on Rick Grimes.

Rick and Michonne Finally Reunite in The Ones Who Live 

In the present, Rick is in a helicopter with Okafor and others when things go awry. Shots kill Okafor and another soldier, which causes damage to the helicopter. He loses control of the vessel and crashes along with a few remaining soldiers. Someone dispatches a few CRM soldiers and eventually gets their hands on Rick. The person removes their mask and we discover that it is Michonne. Rick and Michonne stare at each other silently and every Walking Dead fan cheered triumphantly at their reunion.

They are deeply in love and soulmates, so we better get a Richonne love scene soon!

Where Has Michonne Been in The Walking Dead Universe? How Did Michonne Find Rick in The Ones Who Live?AMC Networks

These are questions that we will have to discover in another episode. The first one focused solely on Rick’s journey, with Michonne only showing up in his AU fanfiction dreams before their shocking reunion. It is not clear where they are but their reunion presumably takes place on the East coast. Was it a strange coincidence or was Michonne tracking Rick? Only time will tell. We don’t know if Michonne is alone or still with that group she left with back in The Walking Dead season 10. But we cannot wait to learn more about how fate brought her back to her lover.

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DISNEY LORCANA: INTO THE INKLANDS Will Offer New Virtual Pre-Order Queue

Disney Lorcana isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Disney animation-themed trading card game from Ravensburger just saw the release of its second set, Rise of the Floodborn. Even though we know the gaming company is releasing new cards quarterly, it’s still hard to believe it’s already time to learn about Disney Lorcana‘s third set. Yet here we are. The third installment is called Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands. The 200+ card set introduces a new type of card, new Disney characters, Lorcana lore, and more.

Ravensburger

I love the adventurous look of the Into the Inklands logo. The name is a clue to the new type of cards, too: location cards. These will feature Disney story settings and offer players special abilities and interactions. Settings include Motonui from Moana and the Jolly Roger from Peter Pan. Some locations give bonuses when characters visit them, while other location cards provide benefits just by being in play.

Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands Synopsis

Additionally, Lorcana‘s third set will debut new in-game mini-stories and expand featured characters. This comes through narrative on the cards as stories unfold through quotes and descriptive text. Ravensburger says this will allow players to discover even more links between cards.

Ravensburger

As for those new characters, Into the Inklands will have several. The installment brings Pluto, Perdita from 101 Dalmatians, Scrooge McDuck from DuckTales, Kit Cloudkicker from TaleSpin, and Jim Hawkins and the RLS Legacy crew from Treasure Planet. The set will also introduce Atlantis: The Lost Empire. That’s a hefty dose of ’90s and early ’00s Disney nostalgia, and we’re here for it.

The Lorcana lore continues in Into the Inklands, too. A synopsis states:

The Disney Lorcana TCG set Into the Inklands continues the story of the Illumineers who were mysteriously transported to the realm of Lorcana (The First Chapter). After accidentally unleashing a flood of mixed ink (Rise of the Floodborn) that scattered precious lore throughout the realm, Illumineers are now tasked with finding the lore and returning it to the Hall of Lorcana. However, their quest may be more treacherous than they realize, as an ominous shadow storm has been spotted gathering at the edges of Lorcana, adding urgency and mystery to the path ahead.

Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands ‘ Trailer

A story trailer for Into the Inklands introduces Audrey Ramirez from Atlantis, as well as Dreamborn glimmers for Prince Eric and Tinker Bell. It teases a mysterious shadow taking King Triton’s trident.

The Into the Inklands release will include the following items:

Amber and Emerald Starter Deck ($16.99)Sapphire and Ruby Starter Deck ($16.99)Booster packs ($5.99)Illumineers Trove ($49.99)Gift Set ($29.99)Play accessories: Card Sleeves, Deck Boxes, Card Portfolios, and Playmats Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands Release Date and Virtual Pre-Order Queue

Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands will first release at local game stores on February 23, 2024. Mass market retailers will get the third set on March 8, 2024. To smooth inventory issues that have plagued Lorcana so far, Into the Inklands will introduce a new virtual pre-order queue.

A release shares the following pre-order information. It notes:

Fans can now sign up for a virtual queue on the official Amazon Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG set Into the Inklands product pages to be put into a lottery system. 

Once the queue is closed, people will be randomly selected to get an “invitation” via email where they will have 72 hours to confirm which products they want to purchase.

Amazon will communicate when the product will be ready to ship.The queue system will be open for multiple days.The queue system will be U.S. only.If they do not purchase within the 72-hour timeframe, someone else will get an invitation to their spot.

Here are the direct links to each of the items:

Into the Inklands Starter Set(Amber/Emerald): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFRCZKTWInto the Inklands Starter Set(Ruby/Sapphire): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFRCT33M Into the Inklands  Booster Display: https://amazon.com/dp/B0CFRDMPWZ Into the Inklands Illumineer’s Trove: https://amazon.com/dp/B0CFRCSWYZ Into the Inklands  Gift Set: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFR98C1G

Originally published on December 6, 2023.

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KFC’s Chizza Is a Fried Chicken Pizza

Are pizza and fried chicken two great tastes that taste great together? I mean, they’re both good separately, and I would eat them side by side. But KFC is hoping fast food fans out there will want the two to get even closer. Please welcome the Chizza. Yes, KFC’s Chizza is a fried chicken pizza that will handle all your cravings at once (and also may or may not fill your daily calorie intake to the brim and then some.) But everything in moderation, right? Even Chizza.

KFC

According to Today.com, this new marriage between fried chicken and pizza is pronounced “cheet-za.” That kind of makes us think of Cheetos, but thankfully, those aren’t involved here… Not yet, anyway. We feel like a “cheese-a” pronunciation might fit a little better, but what do we know?

Regardless of pronunciation, Chizza’s description is as follows. KFC shares, “It’s not pizza, it’s Chizza: two 100% white meat Extra Crispy fried chicken filets topped with zesty marinara sauce, melty mozzarella cheese and crispy pepperoni.” We feel like the pepperoni is what really pushes it over the edge here. Pepperoni on top of chicken? KFC’s Chizza is really taking us to some wild places.

Nevertheless, we can imagine some folks will feel excited to try KFC’s Chizza. It’s not the craziest thing a fast-food chain has done. For those who can’t wait to try this blend, the Chizza will be available nationwide in the US beginning on February 26. But it will only remain on the menu for a limited time, so don’t delay in trying out this concoction.

We may just be hungry, but the idea of the Chizza is starting to grow on us the longer we think about it. Cheese, fried chicken, and pepperoni. It couldn’t go that wrong, could it? We guess we’ll have to head to KFC and find out.

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Deadpool and Wolverine Marvel Comics Event Story Coming This Summer

2024 is shaping up to be the year of Deadpool & Wolverine, not just on the big screen, but also in the pages of Marvel Comics. The publisher has announced The Weapon X-Traction Saga, an event story starring Logan and Wade Wilson that will run through several titles this summer. Instead of appearing in its own series, this storyline will be a backup feature, at no extra cost, through eight ongoing Marvel titles. Weapon X-Traction Saga is written by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and illustrated by Avengers artist Javier Garrón. You can read the official synopsis below:

Marvel Comics

Weapon X-Traction kicks off when a weary Wolverine runs into a clingy Deadpool at a favorite watering hole. From this humble beginning, they embark on an epic journey of non-friendship that will carry them across the Multiverse, battling zombies and gun-wielding librarians and—of course—one another!

The first issue for this storyline is Incredible Hulk #14, hitting in July. Fitting, as that’s the same month Wolverine & Deadpool arrives in theaters. It’s also fitting that this storyline kicks off in an issue of the Incredible Hulk series in particular. In July 1974, Wolverine made his debut in Incredible Hulk #181. So his starting a saga this big where he got his start fifty years ago just feels right. Marvel has yet to reveal which other titles this storyline will unfold in.

Although the character of Deadpool hit the scene almost two decades after Wolverine, the pair of frenemies have long been synonymous with one another. Mainly thanks to their similar powers via the Weapon X program, and their not-so-similar demeanors. Lest we forget, Ryan Reynolds’ version of the Merc with the Mouth actually first appeared in live-action in a Wolverine movie. Although, we do think Reynolds would like us to forget that actually.

The first chapter of The Weapon X-Traction Saga arrives this July.

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