Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 57

The Strangest Trailers of Pop Culture History: The Original JURASSIC PARK Teaser

These days, a teaser trailer for a movie will almost always contain footage from the film. Usually edited sometime while the movie itself was in principal photography. But before the turn of this century, teaser trailers were often their own unique thing, shot specifically just to “tease,” as the name suggests, and not much else. Such was the case for the original Jurassic Park teaser, which hit theaters in winter 1992. The trailer for Spielberg’s classic doesn’t show a single dinosaur. Instead, it focuses on the prehistoric mosquito in amber, explaining to audiences how the dinosaurs return. You can watch this classic trailer right here:

After we see miners digging in a cavern, the trailer shows a microscope examining the mosquito, while the narrator explains how this was all made possible due to a scientific breakthrough in the year 1990. Why use the year 1990? Well, that was probably Steven Spielberg’s clever way to pay homage to the Michael Chricton novel, which he published in (you guessed it) 1990. It also means that John Hammond built an entire park populated with dinosaurs within three years. But hey, life finds a way. Especially when one has billions of dollars and a bad idea.

Universal Pictures

This era of blockbuster movie teaser trailers was very different. The teaser for Terminator 2: Judgement Day was in theaters a full year before the movie was released. And it didn’t feature a single shot used in the film. Going back even further, the teaser for The Empire Strikes Back just showed concept art for the film, with Harrison Ford narrating it. The last such trailer we can recall, with footage shot specifically for a teaser, was Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man. That teaser showed Spidey stopping bank robbers in a getaway copter, suspending them in a web between the World Trade Center. Once 9/11 happened, Sony pulled it from theaters, marking the end of an era for this kind of teaser. But Spielberg’s Jurassic Park remains among the very best of this now-lost art.

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The Best Movies of 2025 (So Far)

At Nerdist, cinema is life in all forms. Whether we are curling up on our couch and watching a new flick on Netflix or reclining at the movies with a weird popcorn bucket in hand, we could never, ever get tired of talking about films. We enjoy chatting about theories and post-credits scenes among our team just as much as we love whipping up explainers and op-eds for our readers. There are seemingly endless choices from a swath of genres and subgenres to choose from on any given day. Sometimes, you want a slasher that serves up buckets of blood and big laughs. Other times, you want a sweeping superhero epic that takes you far away from reality. We’ve watched a ton of films in 2025 and, in our very humble opinions, these are the best ones so far. 

F1: The Movie Warner Bros.

F1: The Movie isn’t quite what you’d think of as a Nerdist flick, but it actually is. Nerding out goes far beyond genre entertainment. Just like we (and a lot of you) love MCU, horror, and sci-fi films, we also belong to the community of racing enthusiasts. And there’s nothing quite like the story of a rising star whose story was cut short by tragedy decades ago only for them to get another shot.

That’s what happens with Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a prodigy who lost his steam after an accident. He comes back thirty years later to help a team from collapsing and forms a relationship with British rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). From its high-octane racing sequences to the incredible amount of heartbreak and hope in its storyline, F1: The Movie fires on all cylinders straight towards success and is one of the best movies of 2025. 

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F1: THE MOVIE Deserves a Spot on the Podium with the Best Sports Movies Ever Sinners Warner Bros.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners felt like a breath of fresh air in a sequel and reboot-laden horrorsphere. It tells a truly unique and moving story about twin brothers (played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to the Mississippi Delta to discover that something sinister lurks in their hometown.

Sinners flawlessly interweaves Black Southern American culture, from music to folklore to Hoodoo, with the familiar vampire beats. A bluesy, tense, and thoroughly engaging romp told through Coogler’s sharp lens, Sinners pulls you in and stays with you long after the credits roll. Coogler and Jordan are one of the great director-actor duos of this time and this film further cements their place in film history. 

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SINNERS Will Have a Black American Sign Language (BASL) Version on Max Heart Eyes Sony Pictures

We certainly didn’t see this one being a part of our best movies of 2025 list. Heart Eyes’ trailer was fun enough with some quips and a dash of chemistry between Scream VI’s Mason Gooding and Cloak & Dagger’s Olivia Holt. But those clips barely scratch the surface of how solid this film is.

It is horror comedy meets romantic thriller, blending in brutal kills and impeccably placed quips into a surprisingly unique premise. Just imagine going out to dinner with someone you just met only to be mistaken for a couple by a serial killer who murders couples. Gooding and Holt are a pure delight to watch as they fight to survive the night. 

28 Years Later Sony Pictures Releasing

A lot of horror sequels simply don’t live up to their predecessors nor do they add anything else to the franchise’s lore. But that’s not the case with 28 Years Later, an emotionally resonant and rather unnerving installment that brings back the Rage Virus in full force.

This film takes some big creative swings and amps up the action to deliver a very satisfying sequel that made all of its development hell worth it. 28 Years Later touches on themes relevant in our verging on apocalypse society while imagining an alternate future that speaks to humanity’s resilience and shortcomings. It’s all around brilliant and worthy of many, many watches. 

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28 YEARS LATER Is Not the Follow-Up You Might Expect (Review) Thunderbolts* Marvel Studios

This film about a band of underdogs who have to step into heroic territory embodies what we love about the MCU. Highly character driven with moving storylines, Thunderbolts packs in the action, humor, and even those lovely nods to the overall universe in a way that feels both epic and grounded. Anchored by a powerful performance from Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts* was the refreshing jolt that the MCU needed as it moves towards a new phase. We are glad it belongs on our best movies of 2025 list!

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THUNDERBOLTS* Is Marvel at Its Most Contemplative (Review)

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The DC Comics History of SUPERMAN’S Identity Concealing Hypno-Glasses

Of all the elements of Superman lore that have existed since 1938, the toughest for modern audiences to swallow has been the notion that a simple pair of glasses hides Clark Kent’s secret identity. Christopher Reeve did the most in selling that Clark Kent and Superman were two different people. But even that was a stretch in suspension of disbelief. Meanwhile, subsequent Superman actors like Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin look and act almost exactly the same in both guises. No matter how good the Superman project is, there’s always an eye roll that goes with it, thanks to this aspect. But DC Studios may have found a solution to this problem in a forgotten piece of Superman comics history from the ‘70s.DC Studios

While doing the press rounds for Superman, director James Gunn explained how DC Comics writer Tom King reminded him that Superman’s “Hypno-glasses,” which Clark Kent uses in the film, actually amplify his super hypnosis and hide his true identity. And they came straight from the comics. Via IGN, here’s what he had to say:

That’s canon in the comics. It’s kind of been forgotten but that’s from the comics. I was sitting with Tom King, the (Supergirl and Mister Miracle) comic book writer, and I was like, ‘You know the thing that I just don’t really know how to reconcile in myself is the glasses because the glasses always bothered me as a kid.’ They bothered me because I just don’t have that much suspension of disbelief to believe that.

DC Comics

In the 1930s, the idea of Clark Kent hiding his identity of Superman behind a pair of glasses and a fedora wasn’t really that far-fetched. Superman was a mystery man who flew in, beat the bad guys, and left, back when cameras were hard to come by. Clark Kent was a reporter for a newspaper, and only his friends and family knew what he looked like. Of course, it was ridiculous that Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, who spent a lot of time with both Superman and Clark, couldn’t figure it out. But it wasn’t so wild to imagine the public at large wouldn’t ever make the connection.

DC Comics

In the early ‘70s, the notion of the glasses disguise became even more absurd. This was because TV Network WGBS bought the Daily Planet, and its staff all became television news anchors. So now, millions who watched the nightly news knew exactly what mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent looked like, as well as Superman. How could literally no one realize they were the same person? It was one thing to suspend your disbelief that Clark’s friends didn’t know, but all of America was fooled too?

DC Comics

So, in 1978, one Superman superfan came up with a solution. A devoted comic book reader named Al Schroeder III wrote to the Superman letter column with a solution. He suggested an amplified version of Superman’s powers of super hypnosis. (This factoid was discovered by YouTube channel Casually Comics.) Superman first displayed this power in 1940’s Action Comics #32 and 33, a mere two years after his debut. We’re not exactly sure how it works, but Superman can use his vision to hypnotize those he wants to convince them of anything. Hey, we’re not sure how his vision creates heat or has X-rays, but we all accept that, right? In Schroeder’s mind, Superman’s glasses were special, and amplified his super hypnosis to everyone who made eye contact with him.

Action Comics

The story in question, based on the fan suggestion, was written by Martin Pasko and illustrated by legendary Superman artist Curt Swan. “The Master Mesmerizer of Metropolis!” ran in Superman #330, hitting stands the same month as Superman: The Movie arrived in theaters. In the story, Kal-El fought the C-list Batman villain Spellbinder, who wore a terrible costume and used the powers of hypnosis. A better version of Spellbinder eventually appeared on Batman Beyond. We’re not sure why this guy, whom Batman once defeated, thought he could take on Superman. Of course, the Metropolis Marvel beat him handily. But throughout this story, Superman realized his glasses were more than just glasses.

He explained (to himself, via thought balloon) that because he had crafted the lens of his glasses using Kryptonian plexiglass from the rocket that brought him to Earth, it amplified his super hypnosis powers by a lot. A Superboy story had already revealed that Clark had made these glasses as a teenager years before. So with that, DC hoped readers would stop bringing up the glasses once and for all. But that’s not exactly what happened. Superman’s hypno-glasses were barely ever mentioned again throughout the rest of the Bronze Age of comics.

DC Comics

In the Post-Crisis of Infinite Earths reboot of Superman, the hypno-glasses became a thing of the past. John Byrne’s explanation was simpler. In his mind, whenever he was out and about as Superman, Clark was vibrating at a hyper-fast speed. So no one could ever take a clear picture of him. Everyone knew he was a tall man with dark hair in a colorful costume. But no one could ever make out exactly what his facial features were. He was a blur. So no one could make the Clark Kent connection. This more or less worked in the ‘80s, but in the digital age? Anyone could use computer technology to create a reasonable facsimile of what he really looks like from a blurry image.

DC Comics

So the hypno-glasses from the ’70s work as well as anything to explain away the glasses problem. It’s better than believing everyone around him is either blind or stupid. Now that it’s going to be in the cinematic DCU, we’ll see if the writers at DC Comics will dig this nugget of Superman lore out of the basement and make it canon again. As often happens with comics and outside media adaptations, the comics themselves reflect what the more widely-seen movies and TV series use for the characters. We expect the same for the Man of Steel.

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Tim Burton Is Working on a Mysterious New Animated Project

Tim Burton is apparently going back to his animated roots for a mysterious new feature project. In a recent interview with Milenio, Burton revealed that he’s waiting for the script of an animated project. (Thanks to World of Reel for bringing this to our attention.) He kept things very, very mum, simply saying, “I am working on something as an animated project. So, hopefully I’ll have the script soon and take it from there. It’s something I’m very excited about.” 

Burton continues to be a busy guy with a third Beetlejuice movie in the works as well. And he’s likely going to be on the press circuit for a while with Wednesday season two coming later this summer.

Tim Burton/Instagram

Honestly, it doesn’t matter what this animated film is about because Tim Burton always delivers. There’s a reason why The Nightmare Before Christmas continues to resonate with the masses.

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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Proves Tim Burton and Michael Keaton Should Make Another BATMAN Movie

We can’t wait to find out more information about this animated Tim Burton project.

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Michael Madsen, KILL BILL and RESERVOIR DOGS Star, Dead at 67

Actor Michael Madsen, whose best-known credits include memorable roles in Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, and The Hateful Eight, has passed away unexpectedly. He was 67.Miramax Films

NBC News reports Michael Madsen, whose alluring onscreen presence and intensity led to a career spanning more than four decades, has died. His manager, Ron Smith, announced his client passed away this morning, July 3. Madsen died following a cardiac arrest in his Malibu home.

Smith, Madsen’s other manager Susan Ferris, and the late actor’s publicist Liz Rodriguez released a statement following his passing:

In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.

Many fans will remember the great character actor for his work with director Quentin Tarantino. But over his 40+ year career, which began when he starred in 1982’s Against All Hope, Madsen appeared in many other well-known shows and movies. Some of his other signature credits include WarGames, Tilt, Donnie Brasco, Species, Free Willy, The Doors, Thelma & Louise, Sin City, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and The Natural.

Born on September 25, 1957 in Chicago, Madsen was one of three children. His sister is fellow actor Virginia Madsen. The late actor was married three times and had six children. His son, Divergent‘s Christian Madsen, followed in his dad’s footsteps. Madsen also has . But his unforgettable work in some of the best films of the last forty years have already assured his place in Hollywood history.

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David Corenswet Wants His Superman to Appear in an R-Rated DCU Project

Even without having seen the film itself and only the trailers, we know that James Gunn’s Superman already has a more upbeat and positive Man of Steel than any we’ve seen in a film in decades. No shade toward Brandon Routh or Henry Cavill, but they were mopey as heck. But our new Superman, David Corenswet, wants his version to find himself in a darker setting for a future installment. While talking with Nerdist, Corenswet mentioned that he would like his Superman to appear in an R-rated DCU project. Here’s what he told us:

One thing that excites me so much about James’ vision for the DCU is the different genres and tones that the movies can take on. I know that people are skeptical that certain genres and characters can mix … I would love to see this Superman in an R-rated project in a thing like Lanterns where it’s that True Detective feel. I just think it can happen in spite of how bright and playful this version of the character is. I think there’s room to be flexible. So, I’d be excited to see that.

Corenswet doesn’t so much want an R-rated Superman II. It’s more like he wants his version of Superman to appear in something more adult-skewing. There is precedent for that in the comics, as Superman would occasionally appear in 18+ adult Vertigo titles from DC Comics like Doom Patrol and others. Also, Corenswet mentioned Lanterns, which has us wondering if he’ll make a cameo in the upcoming HBO Max series. The Last Son of Krypton is friends and allies with several members of the Green Lantern Corps, particularly Hal Jordan and John Stewart, so it would only make sense. Those two are his future Justice League teammates after all. They’ve got to meet sometime, right?

DC Studios

Superman hits theaters on July 11.

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Chuck E. Cheese Opens 10 Chuck’s Arcades for Adults

Recently Chuck E. Cheese announced its first-ever animated Christmas special. But the chain isn’t content with only coming for your family’s holiday celebration. It’s coming for grownups’ free time, too. This week Chuck E. Cheese is opening Chuck’s Arcade, a spinoff entertainment center full of games and animatronics designed specifically for adults.Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese has decided to grow up with some of its oldest fans. The family-centered chain is going to compete with the Dave & Buster’s of the world with 10 Chuck’s Arcade locations. (Which we first heard about at People.) These entertainment centers will still carry the same DNA as the kid-focused locations. Chuck’s Arcade “combines classic games and the hottest new games alongside iconic animatronic characters,” in what Chuck E. Cheese describes as “a new destination where nostalgia meets the future.”

The inaugural first ten locations are opening in St. Petersburg, Florida, Trumbull, Connecticut, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Victor, New York, Buford, Georgia, El Paso, Texas, Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire, and St. Louis, Missouri. The company says more will follow.

Chuck E. Cheese

“Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it’s in our DNA,” said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, in a press release. “Thanks to the expertise of our talented technicians and the successful transformation of almost 500 fun centers worldwide, we’ve built the operational and creative foundation to take our brand beyond our traditional four walls. Chuck’s Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.”

Each Chuck’s Arcade will be “overseen by an animatronic character such as Chuck E. Cheese or one of the other characters from Munch’s Make Believe Band. Select locations will “also feature exclusive retro-themed merchandise.” That will include classic logo apparel, collectible toys, and novelty candy and prize redemption items. In addition to brand new games, locations will also carry classic retro games. And Chuck E. Cheese says no two locations are alike.

Getting to play air hockey and eat Chuck E. Cheese pizza without any kids around? That wasn’t something we thought we needed. But now that such an evening out is possible, we realize just how much we did.

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28 YEARS LATER 4K Steelbook Available for Preorder

Physical media is truly the way to go in this uncertain streaming service world. You never know when your favorite films and shows can suddenly disappear, but if you own them then nothing can take them away. Well, almost nothing. We don’t want to go into dark natural disaster territory here. Anyway, owning media means you get all sorts of behind-the-scenes looks and perks like cool artwork, especially with a 4K Steelbook. And if you’re like us and you loved 28 Years Later, you can go ahead and preorder your 4K Steelbook, even though the film is still in theaters. Sony Pictures Releasing

Walmart, Amazon, and Target currently have Danny Boyle’s critically acclaimed sequel available for $44.99. The 28 Years Later 4K Steelbook comes with a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and digital copy of the film. We will have to wait longer to see what the other bonus features are as well as its official release date.

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28 YEARS LATER Is Not the Follow-Up You Might Expect (Review)

After ordering my copy via Walmart, it says that it will arrive by June 2026. That’s probably just a wide estimation and we will likely get a firmer date in the near future. We can’t wait to invite the Rage Virus into our living rooms soon.

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A History of MCU Mephisto Theories, From WANDAVISION to IRONHEART

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After years of theories and anticipation, Ironheart finally debuted Mephisto, Marvel Comics’ stand-in for the Devil, in the MCU. And he’s played with evil glee by none other than Sacha Baron Cohen. But this reveal brings us back to 2021, when it seemed we all thought Mephisto would appear.

First in WandaVision, then other MCU projects. After all, he has a big connection to Wanda Maximoff and her twins in the pages of Marvel Comics. So there was plenty of reason to think he would show up. Yet, he never reared his ugly head. But now that he’s finally appeared, let’s go back and remember all the times we thought the MCU was hinting at Mephisto back in the day. And there were quite a few times we fell into the Mephisto trap.

Marvel Studios “The Devil’s in the Details” Dottie Jones Is MephistoMarvel Studios

The actual first time we thought WandaVision was hinting at Mephisto as the super secret villain was in episode two. Still stuck in a black-and-white Bewitched scenario, they presented Dottie Jones (Emma Caulfield) as a high society woman in Westview who runs everything in town. During a planning party for an upcoming event Wanda and Agnes are attending, she tosses off the phrase “The Devil’s in the details.” Right after, Agnes slyly whispers to Wanda “That’s not the only place he is.” Was Dottie, who seemingly runs the show, really the Devil himself, a.k.a. Mephisto? Since Caulfield played “demon turned human” Anya on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we thought her casting was a hint. Alas, Dottie was just another citizen of Westview trapped in Wanda’s hex, whose real name was Sarah Proctor.

“Unleash Hell, Demon Spawn!” Evan Peters’ Pietro Is Really MephistoMarvel Studios

We’re still a wee bit bitter that Evan Peters’“Fake Pietro” character wasn’t Quicksilver from the X-Men films as hinted at. No, he was some guy named Ralph Bohner under the spell of Agatha Harkness. This was the start of the Multiverse Saga and they didn’t lean into the Multiverse for this plot point? Way to drop the ball, Marvel! Regardless, anther theory on who “Fake Pietro” could be was that he was Mephisto himself. After all, he refers to Wanda’s kids Billy and Tommy as “demon spawn” in the Halloween episode. We thought the reference was literal, as in the comics, Wanda created Billy and Tommy from shards of Mephisto’s soul. And in that moment, it seemed Fake Pietro might be Mephisto himself. As it turned out, Fake Pietro wasn’t not the X-Men’s Pietro, he wasn’t Mephisto either.

A Secret A-List Actor Will Play Mephisto in the WandaVision FinaleMarvel Studios

As WandaVision approached its endpoint, its star Paul Bettany gave an interview where he said the show had one more big surprise in store. He told the press that he would soon work with an actor “he’d never worked with before.” And he was quite excited for the opportunity. This led people to believe that we were getting an A-list actor, (perhaps Al Pacino?) to play Mephisto. They would have revealed him as the ultimate “Big Bad,” to steal a Buffy term, behind it all. In the end, the actor Bettany was talking about never having worked with was himself, as “Westview Vision” acted against “White Vision” in the series finale. Once again, Mephisto (and Al Pacino) was a no-show.

Mephisto Is the Main Villain in Spider-Man: No Way HomeMarvel Studios

So WandaVision ended with no Mephisto. But that was not the end of the Mephisto theories. Because at the end of 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home was hitting theaters. The end of Far From Home saw Peter Parker’s secret identity revealed to the world, throwing his life into upheaval. In the comics when this happened, in the “One More Day” storyline, Peter Parker made a literal deal with the Devil, or in this case Mephisto, to erase the knowledge of his true identity from the world’s mind. The price in the comics was his marriage to Mary Jane. We even thought we saw Mephisto’s face in the official poster. In the actual film, it was Doctor Strange who cast the spell making the world forget who Peter really is, not Mephisto. Once again, our Mephisto dreams were dashed. The big red dude was nowhere to he found.

Mephisto Is the Big Bad of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessMarvel Comics

We knew, even before it hit theaters in 2022, that the Doctor Strange sequel went through many different permutations. Its original director, Scott Derickson, left the project, and with him went the film’s original villain, Nightmare. For a moment, we believed Mephisto was replacing Nightmare, as we knew the Scarlet Witch was in the film. Would Multiverse of Madness finally give fans a Wanda vs. Mephisto confrontation? Nope, chalk this one up to another Mephisto theory that simply never materialized. We do hope we see Nightmare at some point down the line though.

Agatha All Along Finally Namedrops Mephisto

After all these different projects, it was WandaVision spinoff series Agatha All Along that finally mentioned Mephisto by name. The witch Jennifer Kale mentions that someone in the series might be a potential “agent of Mephisto,” finally uttering his name in MCU canon. But that single namedrop was all we got. But at least now we knew Mephisto existed in the MCU. And probably the least likely place most people expected to see him was in Ironheart. But now that he’s made his debut, we can’t help but wonder where the demon lord will appear next. Hey, if Blade ever gets off the ground, it would make sense for Mephisto to appear there. In the meantime, we’ll keep looking around every corner.

Originally published on September 30, 2024

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ROMY AND MICHELE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION Becomes an Off-Broadway Musical this Fall

Broadway is littered with the corpses of many films that tried to become musical sensations. But when a movie turned musical hits, it really hits. Think Hairspray, The Producers, and even Beetlejuice. Now, another cult favorite film is looking to make it on Broadway. According to Deadline, a musical adaptation of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion will debut this fall off-Broadway. It features a book by the film’s screenwriter Robin Schiff, music and lyrics by Gwendolyn Sanford and Brandon Jay (Orange is the New Black) and direction by Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages). You can read the official synopsis for the show below:

For most of us, the idea of reliving high school is nothing short of a nightmare. When Romy and Michele are invited to their ten year high school reunion Michele envisions the whole experience as a fun road trip, while Romy, very reluctantly, agrees to go but only if they come up with something to impress their classmates. To this end the two hatch an outrageous scheme to totally re-invent themselves. With an ’80s and ’90s pop-inspired score, Romy & Michele: The Musical is an absolute feel-good joyride.

Twentieth Century Studios

Romy & Michele: The Musical will begin previews at Stage 42 on Tuesday, October 14. Opening night takes place on Tuesday, October 28. In a statement, the creative team said “Romy and Michele have been icons of friendship, fashion, and individuality from the moment we first met them. Bringing their story to the New York stage is the perfect home for their bold and quirky spirit to be reborn.” It might be a big year next year for this particular IP. Aside from the musical, filming begins on a sequel to the original film with Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. It would be iconic if both became hits at the same time.

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