Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 61

SQUID GAME Finale Episode Sees Major Star Set Up English-Language Spinoff

Squid Game, as we know it, has come to an end. The South Korean drama/horror series, which is supposedly dystopian, but honestly hits just a little too close to home, received a three-season run in total. Honestly, many were surprised to see Squid Game go beyond one season, but the series’ popularity kept it going. Season 3 of Squid Game is now out in the world, and we won’t spoil it for you here. But we will discuss the ending tag on the final episode ever of Netflix’s Squid Game, which features the cameo of a major Hollywood star and sets up the inevitable… an English-language spinoff that we’ve already heard a little bit about. .cls-2{fill:#9d342c}

Who Cameos In the Final Episode of Squid Game Season 3?Netflix

An unexpected face appears in the very final minutes of Squid Game. But which Hollywood star cameos in the final moments of Squid Game season 3? Why, it’s Cate Blanchett. As we leave behind the original story of Squid Game, we see the nefarious “game” has gone international.

Cate Blanchett is clearly located in the United States’ Los Angeles in the Squid Game‘s very last episode. And Blanchett is, you guessed it, recruiting Americans to play in the US’ very own version of the deadly competition. Undoubtedly, Blanchett will have a lot of luck with her quest, and we see that she’s already snagged in one poor soul. She gives a nod to In-ho, the Front Man, and he drives off, passing the Squid Game torch.

What Does Cate Blanchett’s Finale Cameo Mean for the Squid Game Franchise?Netflix

But what does Cate Blanchett’s appearance in the Squid Game season 3/series finale mean? Well, we’ve heard whispers of an English-language Squid Game spinoff series since October of 2024. And Blanchett’s Squid Game scene appears to confirm this offshoot show. Although Netflix hasn’t officially commented on an English-language Squid Game, this cameo appears to confirm that it’s gotten a… green light and will star Blanchett in a new take on the show’s conceit.

What Do We Already Know About an English-Language Squid Game Spinoff on Netflix?

In October of 2024, we heard that David Fincher was attached to develop an English-language Squid Game spinoff. At the time, Netflix didn’t comment. And we still don’t know if Fincher is involved here. But since Fincher has handled Mindhunter and House of Cards for Netflix. It seems plausible. And now, we have the first member of our cast, Cate Blanchett.

RELATED ARTICLE

An English Language SQUID GAME Series Is in the Works at Netflix, David Fincher Set to Develop

The idea of an English-language spinoff of Squid Game raises one key question: is it really necessary? But we guess with a team of Blanchett and Fincher, we’ll let an LA-based version of Squid Game at least take a shot.

The post SQUID GAME Finale Episode Sees Major Star Set Up English-Language Spinoff appeared first on Nerdist.

STAR WARS and Coca-Cola Join Forces for Limited-Edition Collection

There are countless ways to enjoy the galaxy far, far away. There are movies, TV shows, books, comics, games, and more. But Lucasfilm has now found yet another way to satiate your cravings for all things Jedi and Sith. It is partnering with another iconic brand, Coca-Cola, for a limited-edition collection of bottles and cans celebrating the heroes and villains of Star Wars. And they’ll let you do so in an immersive Augmented Reality experience.Lucasfilm/Coca-Cola

Star Wars has announced it’s partnering with Coca-Cola this summer for what the two companies are calling the “Refresh Your Galaxy” campaign. It includes 30 designs bottles and cans designs “featuring bold new illustrations of some of your favorite characters from across the Star Wars saga.” The lineup fans will find in stores includes two different groupings, one for regular Coke and one for its Zero Sugar counterpart:

Original Taste: Lando Calrissian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Padmé Amidala, Kylo Ren, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul, K-2SO, Boba Fett, Poe Dameron, Din Djarin, Cassian Andor, General Grievous, and Emperor PalpatineZero Sugar: Darth Vader, Yoda, Princess Leia Organa, Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Han Solo, BB-8, C-3PO, R2-D2, Finn, Rey, Grogu, and Imperial StormtrooperLucasfilm/Coca-Cola

You are correct, person who actually counted all of those. Those only add up to 27. The other three designs are exclusive to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. That’s where you can pick up a special The Mandalorian and Grogu, a First Order Stormtrooper, and another Chewbacca.

In addition to being both drinks and collectibles, customers can scan their bottles and cans for some extras. That will unlock a galactic AR experience. Once you’re “in” you can learn more about both the campaign and the collection’s character designs. Even better, you’ll be able to send your own message of hope. (Or hatred if you embrace the dark side.) The Augmented Reality experience will let you record a message. It’s then transformed into “a Star Wars-style hologram” you can actually send your loves ones. (Or, again, enemies.)

RELATED ARTICLE

Lucasfilm’s Updated STAR WARS Map Lets You Travel to the Galaxy Far, Far Way

Sending out your own Star Wars hologram message and polishing it off with a Coke? That’s a very fun way to satiate two very different kinds of cravings all at once.

The post STAR WARS and Coca-Cola Join Forces for Limited-Edition Collection appeared first on Nerdist.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Hot Topic Collection Gives Mid-Century Modern Style

Marvel’s First Family is about to make their triumphant return to the big screen with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. And Matt Shakman’s film has a mid-century, retro futuristic vibe that evokes the team’s comic book heyday of the ’60s. We’re very all about it. If you want to express your love for the F.F. this summer as they make their MCU debut, Hot Topic, together with Her Universe/Our Universe, has a new collection that showcases the MCU version of the team, along with the Silver Surfer. You can check out images of Hot Topic’s groovy Fantastic Four collection down below in our gallery:

Click To View Gallery Hot Top/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios/Hot Topic Hot Topic/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios/Hot Topic Hot Topic/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios/Hot Topic Hot Topic/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios/Hot Topic Hot Topic/Marvel Studios Marvel Studios/Hot Topic Hot Topic/Marvel Studios

Our favorite of the bunch is the Sue Storm/Invisible Woman Uniform Girl’s Sweater, which looks almost exactly like what Vanessa Kirby wears in the film. Also fetching is the Our Universe Marvel The Fantastic Four: First Steps Logo Collared Cardigan. It very much looks like something Reed Richards would wear while doing equations on his chalkboard. And the Icons Bowling Woven Button-Up looks like something Johnny Storm might put on. Probably while trying to impress the ladies at the bowling alley. And the Icons Sling Bag has character logos for each member of the family. Well, except for H.E.R.B.I.E. There’s also a pair of cool t-shirts, featuring the team as well as the Silver Surfer. You can see prices for each item by going to the official Hot Topic website.

Hot Topic/Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Also in this stacked cast are Ralph Ineson as Galactus, and Julia Garner as his herald Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters everywhere on July 25th.

The post THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Hot Topic Collection Gives Mid-Century Modern Style appeared first on Nerdist.

A New Jason Voorhees Short Film Is Coming for FRIDAY THE 13th’s 45th Anniversary

This year marks 45 years since the original Friday the 13th hit theaters, giving audiences a horror icon for the ages in Jason Voorhees. Yes, we know the killer in the first movie was Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother. But little Jason does first appear at the end of the original film in a classic jump scare. Many fans believed we’d have no new Jason movie to celebrate this killer milestone birthday. But according to Variety, the director of the new Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot, Mike P. Nelson, has revealed that he’s directed a short Jason vignette called Sweet Revenge. The short will be the first new Jason film since 2009’s Friday the 13th remake.Horror Inc./Jason Universe

According to the official description for Sweet Revenge, “fans will drop into a chilling weekend in the woods filled with blood-soaked surprises only Jason can deliver.” When it comes to Jason, that’s all the fans want, some bloody kills of horny teens out in the woods. The film will debut on both the Jason Universe YouTube channel, and also a site hosted by Angry Orchard Hard Cider. The site is sponsoring the vignette as part of a larger collaboration with the franchise. Earlier this year, Horror Inc., the rights holders to Jason revealed a new official design for the character. In addition, they also announced he’d return to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios for the first time in years.

Paramount Pictures

So what about a proper big screen return? We know a Jason series by A24, called Camp Crystal Lake, is on the way. But it seems the rights to a theatrical Friday the 13th film remain tied up in legalities. When Jason does return to the big screen, it will be the 13th Friday the 13th movie, and that seems like a marketing opportunity if ever there was. While we’re excited for the short film and the character’s other appearances in media, it’s high time Jason got a movie of his own again. In the meantime, at least we have Sweet Revenge to tide us over. We can hear the “ki ki ki ma ma ma” sound echoing through the woods already.

The post A New Jason Voorhees Short Film Is Coming for FRIDAY THE 13th’s 45th Anniversary appeared first on Nerdist.

Mark Hamill Offers His TWISTED Theory on Why Luke Went Hermit in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

Okay, listen, we, all of us, have disagreed with the line of thinking presented by canon at one point or another. And one of the most contentiously discussed movies ever is Star Wars: The Last Jedi. So contentious that even Mark Hamill is making up his own headcanons to explain his character’s behavior in the film. Hamill does want to assure us that “Rian Johnson is one of the most gifted directors I’ve ever worked with” and that The Last Jedi was “a great movie.” However, one thing Hamill simply couldn’t countenance was the film’s reasoning for why Luke Skywalker became a “suicidal hermit.” And he disagreed with this line of thought so much, that Hamill made up his own reasoning for Luke going hermit in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

In a recent interview, the actor shared the DARK theory he made up to replace the reasoning in the movie. And… we love Mark Hamill, but we’re not sure we go with him on this one.

Lucasfilm

Hamill shares his personal head canon for what led Luke Skywalker to suicidal solitude in the sequel movie… And fair warning, it’s pretty dark… and kind of ridiculous. The idea in Star Wars: The Last Jedi that Luke went into hermitude because his Kylo Ren, at the time, Ben Solo kills a whole cadre of his students, honestly makes so much more sense than Hamill’s theory. But we guess, Hamill felt compelled to create it. Here’s what he said on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn:

I thought, what could make someone give up a devotion to what is basically a religious entity, to give up being a Jedi? Well, the love of a woman. So he falls in love with a woman. He gives up being a Jedi. They have a child together. At some point, the child, as a toddler, picks up an unattended lightsaber, pushes the button and is killed instantly. The wife is so full of grief, she kills herself.

I thought, that would be… because I hear these horrible stories about these children who find unattended guns and wind up dead,” he continued. “That resonated with me so deeply that, that could possibly… but he didn’t have the time to tell a backstory like that, I’m guessing. He just wanted a brief thing to explain it. And to me, it didn’t justify it.

Uhm, excuse us, but what? Hamill’s vision of the story is that Luke Skywalker had to become a hermit in Star Wars: The Last Jedi because he accidentally left his lightsaber unattended. And then Luke’s imaginary young child killed himself, and his wife killed herself too? We really, really don’t know about that one. It just feels too incidental and kind of absurd. Not to mention, it has no relation to the plot at hand whatsoever. Plus, fridging is just so passe.

Hamill shares that he’s not sure he should have voiced his unhappiness with Luke’s The Last Jedi story publicly, but privately, he had no choice.

He notes, “The fact that I went public with my dissatisfaction with the motivation for Luke becoming a suicidal hermit might have colored things in a way that, maybe I should have kept that to myself. But I kept saying to Rian, ‘This would just make Luke double down even…’ and he said, ‘Well, your class at the Jedi Academy were wiped out.’ I said, ‘Rian, I saw entire planets wiped out! If anything, Luke doubles down and hardens his resolve in the face of adversity.’ So that’s all.”

And, to that end, we have to agree, Luke HAS seen all of that, which is why we’re not sure Hamill’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi theory makes any more sense. But, as we mentioned, it was necessary for Hamill to proceed. He adds, “I said, ‘Can I make up my own backstory of why he is the way he is? I don’t want to just say that I have bumped my head and I have brain damage.’ He said, ‘Yeah, do whatever you want.’ So I made up a much, much darker backstory that I thought could justify him being that way.”

Well, it certainly is darker. But is it sensical? Ultimately, it’s just Hamill’s head canon, so it really doesn’t matter. Despite his reservations and need to make up his own reasoning for Luke’s behavior in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Hamill committed to the role. “I told him [Johnson] this — despite the fact that I disagree with your choices for Luke, I’m going to do everything within my power to make your screenplay work as best as I can.” And that’s exactly what Hamill did. We guess every actor and fan can imagine whatever it is they want for the story.

REad next

Mark Hamill Says His Luke Skywalker Days Are Officially Behind Him

That said, we’re still processing that take. It almost feels like it was created by Joker. However, we feel about Hamill’s vision of death and suicide in Star Wars though, we do feel sad that he recently shared his time as Luke was up. Who will provide us with the twisted headcanons now?

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post Mark Hamill Offers His TWISTED Theory on Why Luke Went Hermit in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI appeared first on Nerdist.

LILO & STITCH 2 Is in Development at Disney

Lilo & Stitch’s live-action film made a ton of money at the box office and delighted many kids (and kids at heart). Who can resist a blue furry pal and an adorable story about love and family? I certainly cannot. So it is not shocking that Disney just announced that Lilo & Stitch 2 is in development. June 26 is the perfect day to reveal this news considering that’s Stitch’s experiment number. 

There’s no further word on the Lilo & Stitch live-action sequel at this time. That makes sense considering the announcement is fresh. The Instagram video for the Lilo & Stitch 2 news is adorable, with our favorite guy zipping around town with the top down. What a vibe. 

We can assume that the cast will return in their respective roles. And perhaps the film will get a quick turnaround so fans don’t have to wait forever for more Ohana joy.

Walt Disney Studios

That’s one thing we need a lot more of these days. 

The post LILO & STITCH 2 Is in Development at Disney appeared first on Nerdist.

Tobey Magiure’s Spidey Trilogy Coming to Theaters, Includes New SPIDER-MAN 2.1 Cut

The OG Spider-Man film trilogy is swinging back into theaters again soon. Variety reports that the beloved Spider-Man films, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, will have a set of fall screenings. This is a collaboration between Fathom Entertainment and Sony Pictures, and there is one special surprise for fans. There’s a 4K, extended cut of Spider-Man 2 with new and additional scenes, a version that’s called Spider-Man 2.1. Now that’s an incentive to get to the movies!

“The success of Spider-Man in 2002 helped launch the modern era of superhero films. To this day, Tobey Maguire’s take on Spider-Man resonates across generations,” said Ray Nutt, chief executive officer of Fathom Entertainment. “At Fathom Entertainment, we celebrate fandom and I am delighted that Spider-Man 2.1 in 4K will make its theatrical debut, a true gift for longtime fans and a thrilling discovery for new ones.”

Sony

These Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy screenings will kick off on September 26 with Spider-Man. Spider-Man 2.1 and Spider-Man 3 will show in theaters on September 27 and 28, respectively.

RELATED ARTICLE

Everything We Know About SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY

And, if ya can’t get there on those days, there’s an encore screening from October 3-5. Tickets will go on sale July 25, so stay tuned for more information.

The post Tobey Magiure’s Spidey Trilogy Coming to Theaters, Includes New SPIDER-MAN 2.1 Cut appeared first on Nerdist.

BUGONIA’s First Trailer Teases the Strangest Yorgos Lanthimos Film Ever

Yorgos Lanthimos movies aren’t exactly the easiest films to describe. Don’t believe me? Try to write a simple one sentence synopsis for The Favourite, Poor Things, or Kinds of Kindness. Sure, you might (might) be able to soooort of explain the plot. But anyone who loves his films knows that won’t mean you captured anything about the actual experience of watching one. That certainly seems to be the case or his next hard-to-explain movie. He’s once again teamed up with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia, whose first trailer feels like a weird sci-fi horror movie got mixed up with an arthouse comedy about class.

Oh yeah, that’s the full Lanthimos right there. Bugonia‘s official synopsis belies just how weird (in the best way) this movie looks and feels. Here’s how Focus Features describes it:

Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. 

Obviously that doesn’t come close to conveying the surreal tone and vibe of this first trailer. And based on his past films, especially his most recent, Kinds of Kindness which also starred Stone and Plemons, the actual movie will likely be even weirder than it looks.

Focus Features

Sure, those two men might be conspiracy obsessed weirdos, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Maybe be that famous lady really is an alien. In fact, we’re already starting to wonder if she is. In fairness to Emma Stone’s character, though, Jesse Plemons kind of looks like he’s playing an alien in this movie. Hmm…..

Bugonia also stars Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. Will Tracy (The Menu) wrote the script. It buzzes into theaters for a special limited engagement starting on October 24. It will then sneak its way everywhere on October 31.

.youtube-embed{padding-bottom:56.25%!important;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.youtube-embed a,.youtube-embed iframe{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute}.youtube-embed iframe{border:0}.youtube-embed img.youtube-cover{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;height:100%;width:100%;cursor:pointer}.youtube-embed img.play-button{width:66px;position:absolute;left:46%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;cursor:pointer}@media only screen and (max-width:499px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:45%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:425px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:44%;width:60px}}@media only screen and (max-width:375px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:43%;width:56px}}@media only screen and (max-width:345px){.youtube-embed img.play-button{left:42%;width:50px}}.youtube-embed .progressive-img{-webkit-filter:blur(10px);filter:blur(10px)}.youtube-embed .progressive-img.loaded{-webkit-filter:none;filter:none;-webkit-transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;transition:-webkit-filter 1s ease-out;-o-transition:filter 1s ease-out;-moz-transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out;transition:filter 1s ease-out,-webkit-filter 1s ease-out}.youtube-embed .kskdDiv{display:none!important}

The post BUGONIA’s First Trailer Teases the Strangest Yorgos Lanthimos Film Ever appeared first on Nerdist.

VERY YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Series in Development From WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Team

For a man approaching 100 years of age, comedy legend Mel Brooks is on a roll lately. First, he’s returning as his character Yogurt in a sequel to Spaceballs, his 1987 Star Wars parody film. And now, according to Deadline, he’s executive producing a TV version of his iconic 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein. The new FX pilot is called (what else?) Very Young Frankenstein. But here’s what should excite fans the most. Producing the pilot are What We Do in the Shadows‘ Stefani Robinson, serving as writer and showrunner, Taika Waititi as pilot director, and Garrett Basch. If Very Young Frankenstein is anywhere near as good as What We Do in the Shadows, we’re in for a treat.Twentieth Century Studios

What do we know about this series other than who the creatives involved are? Not much. With a name like Very Young Frankenstein, it could just be a prequel to Young Frankenstein. Although that doesn’t sound nearly as fun. You wouldn’t have the monster or other elements people love about the film. As the report suggests, they could take a cue from What We Do in the Shadows when Colin Robinson de-aged into a baby. More likely though, this show will focus on the son or grandson of Gene Wilder’s version of Dr. Frankenstein. They probably won’t live in castle, but somewhere comparable to the Staten Island home of the vampires in What We Do in the Shadows.

We also wonder if they will shoot the series in black and white, like the original Young Frankenstein. Although it would be a real shock if FX allowed a full series not in color. But it would be fun to keep the old Universal Monsters vintage aesthetic. This order is just for a pilot episode at the moment. But with the pedigree of everyone involved, we’d be genuinely surprised if it didn’t go to series. Now, is there any way that Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo, Colin Robinson, and Guillermo from What We Do in the Shadows can appear? Because we miss all of them already. And we’re dying to hear Matt Berry pronounce the name “Frankenstein.”

The post VERY YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Series in Development From WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Team appeared first on Nerdist.

DUNE’s Denis Villeneuve Is Directing the Next JAMES BOND Movie

There’s a whole lot of consternation among the James Bond fandom these days. Amazon MGM Studios recently purchased complete creative control over the franchise from longtime series stewards Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. In the modern IP obsessed world will that mean over saturation of 007? Spinoffs that don’t even feature him? Subpar TV shows? The loss of James Bond movies feeling like special events? Yeah, maybe. Everything is on the table. But right now there’s reason for the biggest fans of the iconic spy to rejoice. Amazon has made its first big move after taking over entirely and it’s a good one. The studio has hired Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve to direct the franchise’s next James Bond film.Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros.

Variety reports one of Hollywood’s best directors has signed on to lead the next James Bond movie. Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival’s Denis Villeneuve is taking over the big chair for one of the biggest and oldest movie franchises in the world.

That is a very big deal for both moviegoers and him. In a statement Villeneuve called himself “a die-hard” fan of the franchise that he grew up watching. He called 007 “sacred territory” and the job of helming a Bond movie “a massive responsibility.” As for what his approach might be, he said, “I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.”

MGM

That path likely won’t open for a few more years. Villeneuve is expected to begin filming his third and final Dune movie, Dune Messiah, this summer. It’s expected to arrive in theaters in 2026 and will require plenty of post-production work. The earliest any James Bond lover should expect to see their favorite spy again is in 2027, but that might be far too optimistic considering the type of scope we’d expect from a Villeneuve movie that might very well include shooting around the world.

But hey, that’s fine! Having to wait for a Denis Villeneuve James Bond Amazon movie is a much better “problem” than lots of fans feared.

The post DUNE’s Denis Villeneuve Is Directing the Next JAMES BOND Movie appeared first on Nerdist.