Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 381

Henry Cavill’s Beard and Tongue Star in THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE Trailer

Director Guy Ritchie is back and this time he’s telling the amazing true story of an unlikely group that helped England win World War II. While the world’s first-ever special operations unit was serious business, though, the first trailer for The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a whole lot of fun. And not just because it features Henry Cavill rocking a glorious beard and mustache while sticking out his tongue all the time while gunning down Nazis.

But that’s definitely a big part of the fun.

This trailer looks exactly like the type of story we’d expect from Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, The Gentlemen, Wrath of Man). Only this is England’s story. Here’s the official synopsis for The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare from Lionsgate, which explains the movie’s origins:

Based upon recently declassified files of the British War Department and inspired by true events, The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action-comedy that tells the story of the first-ever special forces organization formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials including author Ian Fleming. The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques. Ultimately their audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare.

Lionsgate

It also helped seemed to help lay the foundation for Fleming’s creation of James Bond. So, you know, great job team! Winning wars and creating iconic spy characters!

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare also stars Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusamokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger. And it features Henry Golding and Cary Elwes.

Our best guess is the wordy title took its inspiration from Springfield, USA.

20th Century

Kidding. We know its name comes from the book it’s based on. The film is an adaptation of Damien Lewis’ The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops. We were just getting in on the fun. Seeing Henry Cavill sticking his tongue out like a madman while shooting Nazis will put anyone in a good mood.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare releases in theaters on April 19.

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How PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS’ Chimera Came to Life

Percy Jackson’s journey to demigod happens both in small steps and leaps and bounds. The Disney+ adaptation of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books has shown how certain moments shape the hero Percy becomes. As the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians comes to a dramatic close, it’s easy to look back and identify those moments. Percy takes a literal leap towards his true self after he battles the Chimera inside St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch. A powerful creature in Greek mythology, the Chimera is a formidable foe for even the most skilled warrior. Unfortunately for Percy, he is not a skilled warrior (not yet, anyway). However, he doesn’t hesitate to confront the beast and save others. We went behind the scenes of the Chimera fight to see how the creature came to life with Percy Jackson executive producers Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz.

Nerdist: I revisited the Chimera scene in the book, and in my memory, it was much longer than a few pages. How do you approach adapting a brief and pivotal scene like that for the screen?

Jon Steinberg: That story went through a few iterations. In a book you can really slow down the experience of what might only be a short interaction and it starts to feel like a huge experience. On screen, it’s really hard to walk into a room, find this thing, and then walk out and not have it feel like you really wish you got to spend more time.

That was one of the episodes where it was an interesting conversation to have with Rick and Becky [Riordan] about: how comfortable are you to really take this event and think about it in the context of this story differently? Is it not just something we stumble on, but is it something that’s really wired into the moment we’re having in this adventure and gives us more room to breathe? And to their credit, they were really open to it. They felt all of the room there was to move and let it breathe and the things we stood to gain from having that creature be a little more of a character herself.

Dan Shotz: And globally, I mean this story is about parents and children and families. Echidna is barely in the book, and I think there was just so much. How can you not dive into the mother of all monsters and then her creature that she has trained from birth to take down demigods? So, there was so much to mine there. When you’re doing a series like this, these are those opportunities to dig and give them a really detailed story.

Disney+

Let’s talk about the design. The creature is streamlined here. The Chimera could easily come across as a hodgepodge of animal bits. What was the iteration process like to make the Chimera a beautifully terrifying creature?

Steinberg: There were a few different conversations that were happening with each one of these creatures simultaneously. The easiest one to explain was looking at the first 10 things that pop up on an image search when you search for it and knowing that’s not it. Whatever it’s been before can’t quite be the answer. Another conversation was about trying to go back to the bedrock of mythology. What is it in the canon? In the tradition of it, she frequently has multiple heads. We liked the idea of exposing her to evolution, I guess, and forcing that creature to incorporate all of those different ideas into one thing that looked like it was sleek and could move from here to there without falling over under the weight of all three heads.

This is what the concept art team and MPC team came up with. It’s got enough parts of a lion that when it’s moving, it feels a little familiar but not too much. Trying to break it, and then put it apart, and put it back together in a way that feels interesting was the exercise.

Shotz: It was fun for MPC and our team, our VFX team, to figure out how that thing moved when it had—its front paws are lion paws. Its back hooves are goat hooves. As we started to blend all of these creatures together, animals and creatures together, it started finding this beautiful form. And then you run with it because it’s like, wait, it’s doing all of these things and I’ve never seen it before. And it also needs to have fire come flying out of its mouth.

I imagine with those various parts that going to the real world is a reference point. Lots of studying wildlife photography and videos?

Steinberg: We all looked at a lot of lions on YouTube.

Like, our meeting today is an hour of lion videos.

Shotz: You joke, but it definitely happens. When we were sending early concept work, it was literally cutting to shots of, okay, when they move forward, the lion opens its mouth this much and you’re really doing it to that level of detail because that’s the only way to make it look real.

An important part of this battle is the location. Gateway Arch is obviously a well-known monument, so what was it like re-creating that?

Shotz: I’ll say we had to take over one of the largest stages in Vancouver to build that. That set was massive. We also had to build it up so that we could have Percy drop from it, so it had to be elevated. It was a really complicated set. It also needed to catch on fire. We needed all these different elements to make that set piece work.

But one of the things—this is Jon’s fix—was we wanted it to be accurate. So when we looked at it’s like, “Oh, wait a minute.” Everybody always assumed the Mississippi River is right underneath it, but it’s not. It’s actually a good distance. So when we have to drop him, you’re dropping him to the ground. But in the story, we have to get him to the river. Jon gets all that credit because it was a really tricky thing to figure out how to make sense of that. But we wanted it to be all completely accurate. And we went to St. Louis. We scanned everything, the environment, everything around it, the Arch, where the museum is, where the city hall is. All of that is built from scans from actually in St. Louis.

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians season one finale arrives today on Disney+.

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Celebrate 25 Years of LEGO STAR WARS With Millennium Falcon, R2-D2, and More Sets

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 for pre-order. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Milly Alcock Is the DCU’s Supergirl

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

Warner Bros/DC Comics

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

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

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All the AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Characters to Know for the Live-Action Netflix Series

The story of Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) might seem clear enough. Four nations, each ruled by a different element of nature, live in peace. But one day, the Fire Nation attacks its fellow kingdoms, hoping to rule them all. Normally, a figure called the Avatar would use his mastery of all four elements to enforce and promote harmony. But no such figure appears during this war until 100 years after it begins. This tale might seem straightforward, but it contains one of the most complex stories and worlds ever built. Even in its first season alone, dozens of important figures arise in ATLA, and centuries of lore are unveiled. And now, Avatar: The Last Airbender and all its characters are heading to Netflix for a live-action take on the story.

Nickelodeon/Netflix

Although, by nature, adaptations have to make changes, a surprising amount of cartoon characters will make the leap into this different medium. So, before the Netflix series arrives, we’re sharing a thorough guide to all the Avatar: The Last Airbender characters you may need to know for the live-action show.

Jump to:

The Main Characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action SeriesATLA Creature Friends to KnowFire Nation Characters We Expect to See: The Royal Family // Other Fire Nation Characters Water Tribe Characters We Expect to See: The Southern Water Tribe // The Northern Water Tribe Earth Kingdom Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Air Nomad Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last AirbenderThe Main Characters in the Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action SeriesAvatar AangNickelodeon/Netflix

The Last Airbender himself, Avatar Aang, is a crucial character in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, cartoon and live-action. For the first twelve years of his life, Aang led a happy existence among the Air Nomads in the Southern Air Temple. But Aang wasn’t an ordinary boy; he was the Avatar. As mentioned, the Avatar is a special individual who can bend all four elements instead of the customary one and serves to keep harmony/balance in ATLA‘s world. The Avatar is also the bridge between the human and spirit worlds and is reincarnated from one nation to the next according to a prescribed cycle. (Fire, Air, Water, Earth.)

As one can imagine, that’s a lot to put on a child. In the cartoon, Aang runs away from his responsibilities only to end up trapped in an iceberg for 100 years. When he awakens, it is in a time of war. And so, Aang begins his journey to bring peace as the Avatar with the help of Sokka and Katara. This journey is complicated by the aggressive Fire Nation, who seeks to capture him, especially the stubborn Prince Zuko.

Despite all this intensity and power, as a character, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Aang is sweet, light-hearted, and silly, traits that Netflix’s live-action will undoubtedly bring to life. Although Aang’s childish nature can be detrimental at times, at others, his innocence, compassion, and pure heart drive him to see the paths others cannot.

Who plays Aang in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Gordon Cormier plays the character of Aang in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

KataraNickelodeon/Netflix

If Aang is the pure heart of Avatar: The Last Airbender, then the character of Katara is its fierce fire. This, of course, is ironic because Katara is a waterbender and a talented one. The last waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe, Katara is ready to see the world and learn to hone her powers from a waterbending master in the Northern Water Tribe. Although she occasionally steps into a motherly role, especially for her brother Sokka, there’s a deep well of anger in Katara that rages at the world’s injustice. She especially feels ire at the Fire Nation, who killed her mother and left deep wounds on her tribe. Despite this, Katara holds deep compassion in her heart and fights to see goodness where she can.

Hopefully, the live-action version of Katara in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series will do these qualities justice.

Who plays Katara in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Kiawentiio plays the character of Katara in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

SokkaNickelodeon/Netflix

Katara’s older brother, Sokka, is the one character in Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s main set who isn’t a bender himself. Despite this, Sokka is an integral member of the group. Though he begins as a boy playing dress up as a warrior, one who occasionally holds antiquated beliefs about gender roles and the like, he grows up quickly throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender. Sokka seeks badly to be a protector for his loved ones and a fighter worthy of his tribe. Eventually, he evolves to become those things, although not always in the ways he imagined. Sokka is the planner and idea guy in the group. But, even once older, he brings a certain levity to any situation.

Who plays Sokka in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Ian Ousley plays the character of Sokka in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Prince Zuko Nickelodeon/Netflix

Prince Zuko is one of the best characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender and in fiction, period. So we hope that when adapting the character of Zuko, Netflix’s live-action Avatar series takes extreme care.

Prince Zuko comes out swinging as an antagonist in the series, terrorizing Aang, Katara, and Sokka (a.k.a. Team Avatar) with his relentless pursuit of the Avatar. Stubborn, brash, and quick to anger, Zuko makes many poor decisions that complicate our heroes’ lives. But as the layers begin to pull back on the prince, whose father, the Fire Lord, exiled him from the Fire Nation, it’s clear there’s much more to his story. Despite his firey nature, Prince Zuko has intense loyalty (sometimes unfounded) toward those he respects, and, above all else, the concept of his honor drives him.

Who plays Zuko in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Dallas Liu plays the character of Zuko in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

ATLA Creature Friends to Know Appa Nickelodeon/Netflix

Is Appa not Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s most important character? This flying bison, a favorite friend of the Air Nomads, spent 100 years trapped in an iceberg and then emerged with Aang into the future. Appa is Team Avatar’s main form of transportation and their cuddliest friend. There could be no story without Appa. (And he’s responsible for one of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s saddest episodes.) We were worried that it would be hard for Netflix to get this character right in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it looks like the adapted Appa is perfect.

MomoNickelodeon/Netflix

Every series needs an adorable creature to melt our hearts. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, that’s Momo, the flying lemur. That said, while Appa and Momo are adorable, they remind us of everything lost in the Fire Nation’s war. Flying bison and lemurs used to be proliferate in the Air Temples, but now they have migrated elsewhere or died off, and the temples are empty. Still, the existence of Appa and Momo offers hope that not all is lost to ash. Aang finds Momo in the ruined Northern Air Temple, signaling that the Fire Nation could not eradicate all life and love.

Like with Appa, we are excited to see that Netflix brought the character of Momo to life with care in its live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Fire Nation Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last AirbenderGeneral/Uncle IrohNickelodeon/Netflix

The name says it all. General/Uncle Iroh is both a decorated ex-leader of the Fire Nation military (not to mention a one-time heir to the throne) and a soft-hearted, tea-drinking, kindly mentor to his nephew, Prince Zuko. Uncle Iroh is the adult figure we all want in our lives and, certainly, the one that Zuko needs to survive. Although Uncle Iroh greatly respects and loves the Fire Nation, he can also see where it errs. More than any other character, Uncle Iroh reminds us that goodness can spring even among those who appear as the enemy. Getting the character of Iroh to match his cartoon levels of soft encouragement combined with tough, tenacious love will be challenging, but the live-action version will be in good hands with Netflix’s choice of Iroh, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.

Who plays General/Uncle Iroh in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

As mentioned, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays the character of General/Uncle Iroh in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Fire Lord OzaiNickelodeon/Netflix

The true villain of Avatar: The Last Airbender is Fire Lord Ozai. Convinced of the Fire Nation’s supremacy, this dictatorial King continues the war that his grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, began. Ruthlessly, he seeks to conquer all the nations and bring them under Fire Nation control, disrupting the world’s harmony. Fire Lord Ozai has no space for compassion or empathy, judging them as weaknesses, and is cruel to all, including his son, Zuko, who he sees as flawed. (Although, he’s not much kinder to his “stronger” daughter Azula.)

In the Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon, Fire Lord Sozin is a character who lurks mostly in the shadows in Book One: Water… But we’ll likely see more of him in Netflix’s live-action series.

Who plays Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Daniel Dae Kim plays the character of Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Princess Azula Nickelodeon/Netflix

Conniving, clever, and cruel, Princess Azula is the antithesis of her older brother, Prince Zuko, and, in some ways, a mirror image of her father. Azula has great ambitions, a hunger for power, and a sadistic streak. For Azula, victory can come at any cost. But despite her hardness, she still seeks her father’s approval and love in some form, making her a bit more human than he is. Azula only briefly appears in the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s cartoon, but Netflix’s live-action series promises we’ll see more of her early on.

Who plays Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Elizabeth Yu plays the character of Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Mai and Tai Lee, Princess Azula’s Companions Nickelodeon

Azula’s best friends, Mai and Tai Lee, are polar opposites. Mai is a too-cool-for-school goth with a penchant for throwing knives, and Tai Lee is a sunny Barbie sort, but her nerve pinches will put even the strongest of benders out of commission. Their role in Netflix’s live-action series remains to be seen.

Commander Zhao

Commander Zhao is the main villain in the cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s first season. In the cartoon, Zhao is a decorated Fire Nation military official who clashes with Prince Zuko during his hunt for the Avatar. Zhao and Zuko clearly have bad blood and history between them, though it’s never fully explicated. Ultimately, Zhao is ambitious and power-hungry, but cowardly. He is an incredibly strong bender, though, and ruthless. The description of Commander Zhao that Netflix’s live-action series offers differs slightly from what we see in the cartoon. It notes that he is a “scheming and ambitious Fire Nation military officer who’s eager to leverage an unexpected encounter with a desperate Prince Zuko to advance his personal goals.”

Who plays Commander Zhao in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Ken Leung plays the character of Commander Zhao in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Avatar RokuNickelodeon

Avatar Roku was the Avatar who preceded Aang and thus hailed from the Fire Nation. Roku reminds us that the Fire Nation once strove to live in harmony with the other nations. As an Avatar, Aang can spiritually reach out to his earlier incarnations. In the cartoon, Roku is the first Avatar that Aang communicates with in such a fashion, and he warns Aang of Sozin’s comet, a cosmic event that will give Firebenders incredible power. But with the live-action removing Sozin’s comet from the equation, we will have to see how his role will change. C.S. Lee plays Avatar Roku in the Netflix series.

Water Tribe Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Southern Water Tribe Avatar Characters: Gran Gran, Hakoda, and Kya

Although we don’t spend too much time with the Southern Water Tribe, one prominent character that emerges from this part of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s world is Gran Gran. Gran Gran is Sokka and Katara’s wise (though sometimes grumpy) grandma who takes care of our heroes when the series begins. Gran Gran will be played by Casey Camp-Horinek in the live-action show.

Sokka and Katara’s parents, Hakoda and Kya, don’t appear in Book One of the cartoon, and no casting has been announced for them in the live-action. However, the pair greatly impacts our Water Tribe duo. Firebenders killed Kya, a waterbender, during an attack on the South Pole, leaving a terrible mark on her children. Meanwhile, Hakoda has been away from the Southern Water Tribe for some time, helping the Earth Kingdom’s efforts against the Fire Nation. Sokka most wants to make his father proud.

Northern Water Tribe Avatar Characters: Princess Yue, Pakku, and Avatar KurukNickelodeon

We’ll likely meet the Northern Water Tribe and its prominent figures at the end of live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s first season on Netflix. The most important of the bunch is Princess Yue. As a baby, Yue’s life was saved by the moon spirit Tui, an important Water Nation spirit. She and Sokka also embark on a nascent romance. Unfortunately, in the cartoon, Princess Yue is already betrothed to Hahn, who is quite a self-involved fellow. Princess Yue’s father, Chief Arnook, leads the Northern Water Tribe.

Nickelodeon

Another important Northern Water Tribe figure is Pakku. Pakku is a waterbending master who agrees to teach Avatar Aang advanced bending skills. However, Pakku is less gracious when it comes to teaching Katara, as he believes that women should not use their bending to fight. We’ll see how this character shapes up in Netflix’s version of the series.

Nickelodeon

Avatar Kuruk, meanwhile, is the most recent Avatar from the Water Tribe. Although he appears to neglect his Avatar duties for selfish reasons, his story is dark; full of struggle and fights against dark spirits.

Who plays Princess Yue and the other Water Tribe figures in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Amber Midthunder plays the character of Princess Yue in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Meanwhile, Joel Oulette plays Hahn, Nathaniel Arcand plays Chief Arnook, A Martinez plays Pakku, and Meegwun Fairbrothe plays Avatar Kuruk.

Earth Kingdom Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last AirbenderAvatar KyoshiNickelodeon/Netflix

Avatar Kyoshi is the most recent Earth Kingdom-born Avatar. Kyoshi is a fierce warrior and her famous catchphrase is “Only justice will bring peace.” However, Kyoshi’s justice often comes without mercy. Avatar Kyoshi adopted Kyoshi Island as a place for her followers to live safely. The Kyoshi Warriors, an elite set of all-women warriors, fight there in her honor and image.

Suki

One of the Kyoshi Warriors, Suki runs into Aang, Katara, and Sokka when the Avatar comes to Kyoshi Island to ride the elephant koi. Sokka immediately manages to get on her wrong side, but the two become flirtatious and eventually date. Suki is a powerful fighter but also sweet and hilarious. Periodically, she joins up with Team Avatar/The Gaang. Maria Zhang plays Suki in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the cartoon, Suki first appears in Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s season one, episode four, “The Warriors of Kyoshi.”

Jet and His Freedom Fighters Nickelodeon/Netflix

Jet is a fan-favorite character and a passionate warrior. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jet puts together a group of Peter Pan-esque “Lost Boys” called Freedom Fighters. The Fire Nation has hurt Jet and those who follow him, and now they wish to fight back. Unfortunately, Jet’s vision of the world is very black and white, and his methods can be extreme. In the cartoon world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jet’s ultimate fate is somewhat murky, but perhaps Netflix’s live-action version can help clear it up.

Jet’s group also contains Pipsqueak, Smellerbee, and Longshot. In the cartoon, Jet first appears in Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s season one, episode ten, “Jet.”

Who plays Jet in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Sebastian Amoruso will play the character of Jet in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

King BumiNickelodeon/Netflix

Bumi is Aang’s childhood friend who loves to think outside the box. Though he’s a bit strange, Bumi is very loveable. However, 100 years is a long time, and things are slightly different when Aang meets him again. (Or at least, they appear to be.) In his later years, Bumi rules as the king of an Earth Kingdom city called Omashu. Utkarsh Ambudkar plays King Bumi in the live-action.

June, the Bounty Hunter, and her Shirshu NylaNickelodeon/Netflix

June, the Bounty Hunter, is another fan-favorite character from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Although she is technically from the Earth Kingdom, June serves whoever will pay her fee. What makes June an exceptional bounty hunter is her Shirshu, Nyla, who can sniff out anyone (as long as they haven’t left this plane of existence). Powerful, dangerous, and super sleek, June and Nyla are basically the coolest characters in the cartoon world of Avatar. And it looks like Netflix’s live-action June will fill Nyla’s saddle just as well. In the cartoon, June first appears in Avatar: The Last Airbender season one, episode 15, “Bato of the Water Tribe.” 

Who plays June in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series?

Arden Cho plays the character of June in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

The Mechanist and TeoNickelodeon/Netflix

The Mechanist and Teo are two Earth Kingdom characters Aang meets when he visits the Northern Air Temple in Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Book One: Water. Teo is a boy who shares Aang’s love of the air, reminding him that though his people might be gone, others can still celebrate their legacy with him. Meanwhile, the Mechanist is a talented inventor, but he potentially endangers the world in his quest to survive. The Mechanist also helps bolster Sokka’s love of invention. Danny Pudi and Lucian-River Chauhan play the pair in the live-action.

Nickelodeon The “My Cabbages!” Merchant (A.K.A. the Most Meme-able Character in Avatar: The Last Airbender)Nickelodeon

Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s cabbage merchant is leaping from cartoon to live-action. This much-meme-ed character always has to watch his precious cabbages get destroyed, and he will do so again in Netflix’s series. Adorably, the voice of the cartoon cabbage merchant, James Sie, plays the character in live-action.

Air Nomad Characters We Expect to See in Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last AirbenderMonk Gyatso Is the Only Air Nomad Character We Meet in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Except AangNickelodeon/Netflix

Monk Gyatso is Aang’s mentor and closest friend. Unfortunately, the other Air Nomad leaders believed Gyatso’s love of Aang hurt his training as the Avatar. They decided to separate Aang and Gyatso, spurring Aang to run away and eventually disappear from the world. Gyatso wanted Aang to grow up gently despite being the Avatar. This love remained with Aang long after Gyatso’s death. Lim Kay Siu plays Gyatso in the Netflix series.

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Ayo Edebiri Departs Marvel’s THUNDERBOLTS, Geraldine Viswanathan Steps In

The Thunderbolts have been a long-awaited MCU team. The quasi-villainous anti-hero/misfit gang is a staple of the Marvel Comics world, and many heroes have been a part of it at some time or another. As the MCU slowly gathered the right members, fans speculated harder and harder that the Thunderbolts were coming. And finally, in 2022, Marvel Studios made the big announcement—the MCU’s Thunderbolts movie was finally on the way.

Marvel Studios

Not too long after Steven Yeun’s departure from the MCU’s Thunderbolts movie, another big name has also exited. Deadline reports that Ayo Edebiri will no longer play a role in the film due to scheduling reasons, and instead, Geraldine Viswanathan will step in to replace her. No further details on the role have been revealed.

Here’s everything we know so far about Thunderbolts.

Title

For now, the movie about the Thunderbolts is simply called Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts‘ PlotMarvel Studios

We don’t know anything about the plot of Thunderbolts. However, we know who will be part of the MCU Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts will comprise of Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (a.k.a Winter Soldier), US Agent, and Taskmaster.

Thunderbolts‘ Cast

Accordingly to the MCU Thunderbolts line-up, here is the projected main cast of the movie so far, pending any surprise recastings:

Marvel Studios

Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. Hannah John-Kamen will play Ghost. David Harbour remains as Red Guardian. Florence Pugh will reprise her role Yelena Belova. Sebastian Stan will again take on the role of Bucky Barnes (a.k.a Winter Soldier). Wyatt Russell will appear as US Agent. And Olga Kurylenko will appear as Taskmaster.

Geraldine Viswanathan will now take on a mystery role initially meant for Ayo Edebiri. And reportedly, Lewis Pullman will replace Steven Yeun as Sentry.

Behind the Scenes

Eric Pearson will write Thunderbolt‘s script, and Jake Schreier will direct the movie. Beef‘s creator and showrunner Lee Sung Jin has also come aboard as a writer of the movie. Kevin Feige is, of course, producing this Marvel Studios’ production.

Thunderbolt‘s Release DateMarvel Studios

Thunderbolts is scheduled to release on July 25, 2025.

Originally published on January 27, 2023.

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The Palworld/Pokémon Controversy Explained

Did you ever wanna catch ‘em all, but with more firearms? Well the new viral sensation Palworld has you covered, but not if Pokémon and Nintendo have anything to say about it. From questionable character designs to AI, Dan is breaking down everything you need to know about the Palworld controversy on today’s Nerdist News!

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What TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY’s Spiral Might Really Represent

True Detective‘s first year focused on ritualistic murders committed by the Tuttle family, the same powerful religious cult of pedophiles who funds the Tsalal Arctic Research Station. Those followers of the Yellow King branded its victims with a strange spiral that appeared throughout the show’s first season. That unsettling symbol also briefly appeared during the series’ third installment, which centered around a child’s murder. Yet, despite the unsettling swirl’s prominent role in the show’s past, we didn’t know much about it until it reappeared on True Detective: Night Country. Strange deaths in the dark and icy north have revealed that spiral is more than just a cult’s calling card. It’s much older and might prove Rust Cohle’s greatest fears are true, because it might also prove an evil cosmic entity really exists.

[image error]HBO “It’s old, missy. Older than Ennis. It’s older than the ice, probably.”

In Night Country‘s second episode Fiona Shaw’s Rose told her friend Trooper Navarro about the spiral found on the frozen foreheads of the Tsalal scientists. Navarro had seen it before, “years ago,” but had no idea what it symbolized. All Rose could tell her was that the swirl is very old.

HBO

True Detective‘s spiral is jagged, uneven, and always connected to death, unlike like the many smooth, even spirals connected to life and spirituality found throughout ancient cultures. That swirl also ties the murder of Annie K. with both the deadly events at the Tsalal station and season one of the show. Danvers and Navarro found the spiral on the ceiling in the secret trailer of the still-missing Raymond Clark. He is the prime suspect in both season four cases. He also had that logo tattooed on his chest. Clark got it to honor his anonymous girlfriend days after Annie’s death. She had it tattooed on her back before they met.

Why did Annie K., an Alaskan midwife and political activist, have a tattoo connected to a pedophile cult in Louisiana? Without meaning to, Annie’s friend Susan the hairdresser revealed more about that spiral than we’ve ever known. That information raises all new questions that also connect to season one.

“She showed him her tattoo. He was, like, fixated on it.” HBO

Susan, maybe the only person who knew about Ray and Annie’s secret relationship, said her friend got that bizarre tattoo because she dreamt about it a “buncha times” in high school. Once Annie got the spiral inked onto her body the dreams stopped. It was as though something demanded she carry that spiral out into the real world.

That symbol then played a major role in the connection she formed with the “weird” Raymond Clark. Susan also said it was strange Annie didn’t want anyone to know about her relationship with Clark and that Annie changed once they started dating.

We don’t yet know why Clark found that swirl fascinating or why the two kept their love a secret. What we do know is that without her tattoo Annie K. might never have formed a bond with him. It drew him to her and vice versa. So without those dreams she might still be alive.

HBO

Why did she have those dreams in the first place if they doomed her to a horrible death? On True Detective there’s always an answer rooted in reality, and that might still prove to be the case in season four. Maybe the Tuttle clan is even more widespread than we though. B

But the evidence is growing that Ennis might really be as strange and teeming with evil spirits as it seems. Ghosts might really wander there. Monsters might really be on the loose. Voices might really whisper in the dark. If Ennis is a mystic place, that spiral might have power of its own, one that goes far beyond the Tuttle family cult or town. That clan and Raymond Clark might have merely adopted the swirl as their symbol of evil because the spiral itself is evil, an evil that is forever present everywhere.

“ I saw you in my dream. You’re a priest, too. I know what happens next. You’re in Carcosa now. With me.”

“Time is a flat circle” is the most memorable line in True Detective‘s history, but Rust Cohle didn’t come up with it on his own. He first heard it from serial killer and followed of the Yellow King, Reggie Ledoux.

The idea of time being a flat circle haunted Rust Cohle. It meant those kids Ledoux and his cohorts killed and tortured would always be in that room, always suffering. It also meant Cohle would forever be discovering them there in “Carcosa.”

HBO

The implications of that concept of time and existence are a nightmare for all of humanity. “Everything we’ve ever done or will do, we’re gonna do over and over and over again,” said Cohle. That includes reliving all the death and pain we will encounter in life, which is exactly what is happening to the characters of Night Country. None of them can escape their pasts. The deaths of Danvers’ child and husband haunt her. Just as the memories of Navarro’s mother and Annie K haunt her. There is no going forward for them. It’s like they’re forever trapped walking the same path, like a crooked spiral who has no end or beginning because it goes nowhere.

But time is not the only thing that haunted Rust Cohle, and another one of his fears about our very existence is now a major part of season four and the spiral that transcends both time and space.

“‘I don’t sleep, I just dream’.”HBO

Reggie Ledoux also said he had seen Cohle in a dream before their final encounter. That’s when Ledoux welcomed Cohle to Carcosa, realm of the Yellow King. “He sees you…,” said Ledoux.

The existential angst of Rust Cohle, whose dead father helped locate those frozen scientists, went beyond the nature of time. He also spoke at length about dreams, a frequent season one theme, and how they also condemn us to suffer. This is what Rust Cohle famously said about existence in season one:

To realize that all your life—you know, all your love, all your hate, all your memory, all your pain—it was all the same thing. It was all the same dream. A dream that you had inside a locked room. A dream about being a person. And like a lot of dreams there’s a monster at the end of it.

HBO

Annie K.’s literal dreams ended her life. Those dreams about the spiral are why she is no longer a person. There was a monster at the end of it all for her. And that monster might now also be on the loose in Ennis. “We woke her,” said Anders shortly before he died. “And now she’s out there, in the ice. She came for us. In the dark.”

Whoever—or whatever—“she” is came for those scientists found branded with an ancient symbol of evil. “She” might also be the one who told Navarro (via Anders) her dead mother is waiting for her. That presence, just as the Yellow King’s in Louisiana, might also be why the people of Ennis see and hear the dead in the darkness. Something old is in the snow, and, as Rust Cohle feared, if Reggie Ledoux was right and time is a flat circle, that monster has always been there and always will be.

We’re all trapped with it forever inside a never-ending dream. It’s a dream destined to always become a nightmare because it always was.

HBO

Night Country has revealed more about True Detective‘s spiral than ever before. It’s not just a symbol of pedophiles in Louisiana. It’s, at least, a sign of evil everywhere, but it might have a power of its own. It might be the manifestation of something ancient that was unleased from the permafrost. That spirit might even be the Yellow King by another name.

Until we get answers to these new questions about these cases and this spiral, though, we’re left to fear that Rust Cohle was right about life, existence, pain, death, and our eternal place in a cosmos we can never fully understand. There is an evil darkness in the world and always will be. Worse, we might be trapped forever walking with it along the same jagged path that encompasses us all.

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The Movies of 1984 and Their Enduring Pop Culture Influence

1984 was a huge year for Hollywood movies, rivaled perhaps only by 1982. Like the toys, comics, cartoons, and music of that year, so many of the ’84 films have a staying power that’s simply uncanny. The following list isn’t about the best films of 1984. Otherwise, Amadeus would be on this list (And just maybe, The Muppets Take Manhattan.) These are the movies with the most pop culture staying power released in 1984. Films that are still getting sequels, selling merchandise, or are just constantly referenced in other media. Let’s go through them in release order.

Orion Pictures/Sony Pictures/Warner Bros./New Line CinemaFootloose (February 17)Paramount Pictures

Director Herbert Ross’ Footloose was one of many surprise hits of the year that no one saw coming. It centered on a big city kid named Ren (Kevin Bacon) who moves to a rural small town where dancing has been outlawed. It was hilariously made illegal by a local minister (John Lithgow). Footloose was loosely on a true story about a small Midwestern town that had a law against dancing. Kevin Bacon’s character shows the town that dancing is great, falls in love, and busts a move in a rousing finale.

Footloose left quite a footprint (pun fully intended). First, this little musical comedy/drama made Kevin Bacon a bankable star, which he remains to this day. But it eventually gave birth to a Broadway musical adaptation and a remake in 2010. Maybe its biggest legacy is that it popularized the idea of the soundtrack pre-selling the film. Three songs from the movie became some of the biggest hits of 1984. And as Star-Lord reminded us in Guardians of the Galaxy, the legend of Kevin Bacon in Footloose reaches even beyond the stars.

This Is Spinal Tap (March 2)Embassy Pictures

In the ‘70s, several self-serious documentaries came out about rock bands and musicians. There were movies with titles like This is Elvis, that treated their subjects like deities. So director Rob Reiner skewered them all with a satirical documentary film about a fictitious British rock band called Spinal Tap. This Is Spinal Tap came out to little fanfare in its theatrical run, making only $4 million at the box office. But like many great cult movies of the time, it discovered its audience on VHS and cable.

What an afterlife it continues to have! This is Spinal Tap changed former sitcom actor Rob Reiner from “that guy from All in the Family” into one of Hollywood’s biggest directors. The film also created the mockumentary format and later got an induction into the National Film Registry. Its co-writer and star, Christopher Guest, made a whole career out of making similar mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. And with a sequel coming this year, we’d say its legacy in pop culture is among the biggest on this list. We also have this film to thank for the term “up to eleven,” which is now in the Oxford Dictionary.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (April 13)Paramount Pictures

The Friday the 13th franchise was always profitable for Paramount. They could make these summer camp slasher movies for peanuts, and teenagers would turn out every year for their gory thrills. In fact, every entry up until this point made triple its budget. However, the studio was always slightly embarrassed by the franchise and its exploitation movie roots. So they intended to close things out with the fourth and “Final” chapter in 1984. Director Frank Zito pulled out all the stops to make this last Friday film the goriest and best one yet… and that endeavor was successful.

Somehow, Part 4 became the best one in the franchise thus far, despite the ”Final Chapter” in the title. So it meant this series would keep pressing forward with eight more movies and another sequel in developmental hell. Jason Voorhees is now a slasher icon and a TV series called Camp Crystal Lake is in development. This is all because the movie meant to finish things was so satisfying that the franchise couldn’t stop.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (May 23)Lucasfilm/Paramount Pictures

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is no doubt the far superior film in the Indy series. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford created an instant big-screen icon with archeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones. We’d still be talking about Indy, even without the sequels. But with the second, more horror-infused installment, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Spielberg and company proved that the first crack of the whip was no fluke. Temple of Doom gave us Ke Huy Quan as Short Round, and we’re forever thankful.

Its success of course led to the third installment, The Last Crusade, but also a TV spin-off, a theme park ride at Disneyland, and two legacy sequels, one of which only came out in 2023. The announcement of the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle video game coming soon further affirms that Indy is sticking around as a brand.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (June 1)Paramount Pictures

The Search for Spock is not as great as the two Star Trek movies it is sandwiched between, The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home. But audiences were eager to see if their beloved Vulcan Mr. Spock would return from the dead after the shocking ending of the previous film. Spock actor Leonard Nimoy directing probably tipped viewers off that he’d be back. But everyone wanted to know how. The film mostly delivered high-stakes adventure for Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the starship Enterprise. It was a box office success, making nearly as much as the previous film.

By the end of the film, the words “…and the adventure continues” appear on screen. This proved Star Trek was here to stay as a franchise. That was not a certainty with either of its big-screen predecessors, both of which were thought to be the “last” Star Treks films when they went into production. Without its success, there’s likely no Star Trek: The Next Generation, much less any of the other spin-offs we’ve enjoyed for decades now. It also began the prolific directing career of Leonard Nimoy. That’s not bad for an oft-overlooked Star Trek entry.

Ghostbusters (June 8)Sony Pictures

Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters was a massive success in the summer of ’84, dominating the box office week after week. Everything about this supernatural comedy just worked, from a perfect cast at their comedic peak, particularly Bill Murry, to one iconic moment after another, Ghostbusters was pure lightning in a bottle. That year, the theme song was literally everywhere. The movie’s cultural legacy is deep. Forty years later, and you can still pick up a Ghostbusters logo t-shirt at most big box stores. That didn’t happen for Police Academy, one of the other big comedies that year. But why, exactly?

Ghostbusters had a less-beloved sequel in 1989; however, its cultural staying power came from its massively successful animated spin-off, The Real Ghostbusters. That cartoon ran several seasons, leading to a toyline, a breakfast cereal, and so much more. We’d argue it’s where much of the Ghostbusters nostalgia comes from. But it wouldn’t be a thing without that first classic film. Given that the past decade has seen a remake, a legacy sequel, and now a sequel to that sequel, Frozen Empire, few movies from 1984 have had as long of a pop culture shelf life as Ghostbusters.

Gremlins (June 8)Warner Bros.

Arriving the same day as Ghostbusters, Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg’s Gremlins was the perfect mix of horror, comedy, and savvy marketing. All kids in the ‘80s were obsessed with the cute Mogwai Gizmo and his malevolent gremlin children. The gremlins were the introduction to horror for millions of us. The movie was a huge box office hit and a merchandise bonanza, with toys and shirts and pajamas and cereals everywhere that year, especially at Christmas.

Despite only having one sequel film, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), the amount of rip-offs like Ghoulies and Critters form their own Gremlins legacy. These days, the original Gremlins still continue on, with Max’s Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai animated series. The commercial for Mountain Dew that aired a few years ago showing an older Billy (Zach Galligan) and Gizmo was also a sensation. People have lots of affection for this movie, even forty years later.

The Karate Kid (June 22)Sony Pictures

When John G. Avildsen’s The Karate Kid hit theaters, it featured no known stars, except the old man who played Arnold on Happy Days (Pat Morita). Certainly not enough to expect massive box office and critical success. But something about this story about a kid from New York (Ralph Macchio) coming to California and finding his own self-worth via martial arts clicked with viewers. Who would have thought that this little coming-of-age story similar to Rocky would resonate for decades?

The Karate Kid launched two successful sequels. There was also a short-lived cartoon, and spin-off, and eventually, a 2010 remake. But the true testament to The Karate Kid’s staying power? It is the massive success of Cobra Kai on Netflix, a direct legacy sequel series to the first film, starring almost all of its surviving cast. Cameras will soon roll on yet another Karate Kid film installment, once again starring Macchio as Daniel LaRusso. At this point, we expect to still have Ralph Macchio as Daniel-san in our lives when he’s 80. It’s all because he made a heartwarming and memorable movie way back in 1984.

The Last Starfighter (July 13)Universal Pictures

The Last Starfighter, directed by original Halloween Michael Myers actor Nick Castle, was a minor sci-fi hit when it came out. It certainly couldn’t compete with the two titans of the day, Star Wars and Star Trek. Still, many found the story of a video game ace (Lance Guest) recruited into fighting an intergalactic war true wish fulfillment. Thanks to an afterlife on home video and basic, it became a cult classic. Nevertheless, despite sequels and reboots being announced for this film for decades now, none ever happened.

So what is its enduring legacy? Simply, it was the first major sci-fi movie set in space (we know TRON was first overall) to primarily use computer-generated imagery (CGI) instead of models and practical effects. By today’s standards, these primitive CGI effects have not aged very well. However, The Last Starfighter paved the way for wide-release movies to lean on CGI. Many cite T2 or Jurassic Park as the catalysts for CGI in films. But The Last Starfighter walked so they all could run.

Purple Rain (July 27)Warner Bros.

When Prince’s semi-autobiographical film Purple Rain came out, it took the eccentric rock star, already low-key famous thanks to hits like “1999,” and turned him into a bonafide megastar. The film’s soundtrack had already been out for months before the film’s July release, with a successful lead single, “When Dove Cry.” This was a genius marketing move on Warner Bros.’ part, who released the film and also had Prince in a recording contract. Who didn’t want to see Prince and the Revolution on the big screen, performing all these killer songs we’d come to love?

So why does Purple Rain, the film, endure? (There’s no question as to why the soundtrack does.) The acting of Prince and his bandmates was questionable. The blatant sexism on display was hard to watch and the plot barely existent. However, 45% of this film is musical performances/montages. Therefore, Purple Rain feels like living in Prince’s brain for two hours. And that’s always entertaining. Songs from the film from other acts that weren’t on the soundtrack became hits. That’s the Purple Rain effect. Today, a Broadway musical is in development based on the film. Without a doubt, the true legacy of Purple Rain is making Prince one of the biggest musical acts on Earth. He’s been gone for years, but he still reigns as a legend.

The Terminator (October 26)Orion Pictures

Where do we even start with James Cameron’s classic low-budget sci-fi movie? The post-apocalyptic/time-travel/killer cyborg thriller The Terminator launched the career of James Cameron. He’s one of the most successful directors in cinema history, thanks largely to Titanic and the Avatar films. It also turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into a bonafide movie star, proving Conan the Barbarian (1982) was not a fluke. Hollywood history is 100% different without this movie’s success. It’s also a damn great film.

All of that aside, The Terminator launched a franchise that continues to this day, even if people only really love the second film, 1991’s T2: Judgement Day. (There’s some love for the TV series The Sarah Connor Chronicles, too.) Despite the last several films faltering, this is a franchise that just refuses to die. Netflix is planning a new Terminator anime series, which should arrive in 2024. When Arnold’s T-800 said “I’ll be back,” he wasn’t kidding. The Terminator continues to prove he can’t be stopped, can’t be reasoned with, and absolutely can’t be killed.

A Nightmare On Elm Street (November 9)New Line Cinema

“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you.Three, four, better lock your door.” Even today, kids born decades after Wes Craven’s movie hit theaters know that creepy nursery rhyme, and have heard the name Freddy Krueger. Craven’s 1984 horror masterpiece, about a dead serial killer who stalks suburban teens in their dreams, was the sleeper horror hit of the year (pun intended). The film made longtime working actor Robert Englund into a horror icon overnight. Very few horror characters have become as instantly iconic as Freddy Krueger, with his burnt face, torn fedora, and razor-sharp claws.

The success of A Nightmare on Elm Street resulted in 6 direct sequels, a TV series, and a 2010 remake we won’t speak of anymore. The film’s dream stalker has become part of the pop culture lexicon. At Halloween time, you still see Freddy Krueger merch and decorations and costumes galore. Freddy remains a cash cow to this day and an indelible part of American culture. And one day, we believe he will rise in cinemas once again. Even if he didn’t and just stayed in our nightmares, Freddy’s cultural staying power would remain.

Beverly Hills Cop (December 5)Paramount Pictures

By the time Beverly Hills Cop came out in December of ’84, Eddie Murphy was already the breakout star of Saturday Night Live. He’d also starred in successful comedies like 48 Hours and Trading Places. However, Beverly Hills Cop, where he starred as a fish-out-of-water Detroit cop in Los Angeles, made him a global megastar at the box office. In many ways, the film made action-comedy popular. It became the biggest box office hit of 1984, making more money than any other movie on this list.

Martin Brest’s buddy cop comedy was so omnipresent culturally, that Murphy’s character of Axel Foley’s synthesized theme music from the film became a hit song. How random is that? Obviously, the success of Beverly Hills Cop cemented Murphy’s long run as a Hollywood box office draw. It also launched two sequels. Forty years later, Eddie Murphy is returning to the role in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F for Netflix.

Dune (December 14)Universal Pictures

Let’s not mince words. David Lynch’s original adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel Dune was a massive flop when it came out, commercially and critically. So much so, that it took almost four decades for another proper big-screen adaptation. Dune did become a cult favorite among some folks, thanks to endless TV airings. But its positive legacy today is because of its original failure, not in spite of it.

Lynch was so unhappy with the final cut of the film, that he asked its producer, Dino De Laurentiis to do him a solid and give him a small-budget film of his own to direct next. That film was Blue Velvet. The success of Blue Velvet is what really made Lynch a force in cinema. It ultimately led to Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive. And because of the failure of Lynch’s Dune, it lit a fire under Herbert fan Denis Villeneuve to get a version made that truly did the book justice. And here we are, with David Lynch as a celebrated auteur, and two faithful versions of the novel that most everyone loves. But it only happened because the original flopped. Some things happen for a reason.

Other memorable films came out in ’84 of course. Starman, Red Dawn, Splash, and more. But most didn’t have a legacy that continues on in the same way as these others. When it comes to the sheer amount of movies with a lasting imprint, 1984 has no rival.

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Batman Will Not Appear in SUPERMAN: LEGACY, Confirms James Gunn

Soon, the world will meet a new Clark Kent in Superman: Legacy. DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the most famous superhero in the world as they transition the franchise from the DCEU to the DCU. Who will play the Man of Steel on the big screen this time around? What kind of story will we see him in? And who will bring it to life? We’re keeping track of all these answers and more.

James Gunn recently gave an interesting confirmation about Superman: Legacy. Despite internet rumors flying around, Gunn made plain what we all already knew in our hearts. The character of Batman will note appear in the Superman: Legacy movie. Specifically, Gunn noted, “Well, he [Batman] can’t appear in Superman Legacy because he’s not in the script.” There you have it.

DC Comics/Frank Quitely

Here’s everything we know about Superman: Legacy.

Title

The DCU’s first official movie (though not its first official release) is titled Superman: Legacy. That will kick off the film side of what James Gunn has called the franchise’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” He has also called Superman: Legacy “the true beginning” of the DCU.

Superman: Legacy‘s Plot

While the film still has no official synopsis, Warner Bros. did provide a description of what we can expect from the story, which James Gunn says is not an origin tale.

Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn announced the film with art from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Whether or not that means the story is influenced, inspired by, or adapted from the 12-issue comic series in any way is unclear. What Gunn has said is the movie will focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” where he is still old enough to already be working for the Daily Planet.

Superman: Legacy‘s Cast

Accurate! (They are not only both incredible actors, but also wonderful people). https://t.co/1FtwYIDeYj

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 27, 2023

David Corenswet will play Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

Netflix/DC Comics/Prime Video

In addition, four more actors have joined the cast of Superman: Legacy. Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi will play Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan will play Metamorpho. María Gabriela de Faría will play the villain The Engineer in the movie. Also known as Angela Spica, the character has nanotechnology built into her body. Additionally, Sara Sampaio will play Eve Teschmacher. And Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen.

James Gunn has also confirmed that Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor.

James GunnBehind the Scenes 

James Gunn wrote the (definitely completed) script and is directing.

Superman: Legacy‘s Release Date

Thanks to the efforts of our talented crew, who never lost faith during the longest strikes in Hollywood history, and who never let their foot off the pedal, continuing to barrel forward, creating the most amazing character and set designs I’ve seen in my entire career,… pic.twitter.com/ntnEbA2fC0

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 11, 2023

Superman: Legacy will soar into theaters faster than a speeding bullet on July 11, 2025.

Originally published on April 11, 2023.

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