Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 7

James Wan and Netflix Join Forces for TRUE HAUNTING Docuseries

James Wan has become the modern master of supernatural horror thanks to The Conjuring and Insidious franchises. Now, his production company Atomic Monster is joining forces with Netflix for a new docuseries called True Haunting, which mixes real-life testimonials from people who went through traumatic supernatural experiences, along with reenactments featuring actors. This is very much the same format as Paranormal Witness, the fan favorite Syfy show that ran for five seasons. The makers of that series also produce True Haunting. You can watch the eerie first trailer for the upcoming 3-episode series right here:

The episodes of True Haunting will cover two separate haunting experiences. The titles are “This House Murdered Me,” and “Eerie Hall.” Judging from the trailer, these are the kinds of intense supernatural experiences that inspired much of James Wan’s oeuvre, and these all seem very much in his wheelhouse. Luke Watson directs “This House Murdered Me,” while Neil Rawles directs “Eerie Hall.” James Wan isn’t directing any episodes himself. But, if this show becomes a hit for Netflix and continues, then we suppose anything is possible. It would certainly bring in a lot of viewers who are fans of his particular brand of creepy.

Netflix

The five seasons of Paranormal Witness are currently streaming on rival streamer Peacock. But if you’re itching for some other true-life haunting stories on Netflix, then you can watch three seasons of the series Haunted, currently on the streamer, as well as its spin-off series, Haunted: Latin America, and also Encounters. Some episodes of these series are definitely nightmare fuel. The three episodes of True Haunting drop on Netflix on October 7, just in time to start off the spooky season with just the right amount of chills.

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Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter Take the Broadway Stage in WAITING FOR GODOT

When Rufus first picked up Bill and Ted in his time traveling phone booth he knew what awaited the pair in the future. But no one who saw the duo go on an excellent adventure in 1989 could have predicted where they’ve ended up in 2025. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s latest professional partnership is anything but a bogus journey. They’ve gone from playing dumb teens to Broadway stars in a new production of Waiting for Godot.

Reeves and Winter’s Waiting for Godot opened for previews Reeves at New York’s Hudson Theater on Broadway this week. As Reeves told NPR, the idea for the production started months ago when he was trying to figure out how he could work with his longtime friend again. The two had reunited for 2020’s Bill & Ted Face the Music. The most excellent film showed they hadn’t lost any of their chemistry even after 30 years. Still, a history-hopping comedy about two pleasant dorks is a far cry from a Broadway play partially titled A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. So how did Reeves land on that of all things? He said teaming up for Samuel Beckett’s famous play simply “struck” him.

While Waiting for Godot fans (:raises hand:) can see how and why it’s an inspired choice for the two actors, it wasn’t an obvious one for Reeves. Unlike Winter, the show marks his Broadway debut. He said taking the world’s most famous stage has filled him with “terror, anxiety, hope.”

Waiting for Godot

A Broadway debut does sound most intimidating. But we’re sure he’s got this. Forget all of Reeves’ other famous roles. Bill and Ted faced much worse situations in countless centuries.

If you want to see them take on this new challenge, though, don’t wait around. Reeves and Winter’s Waiting for Godot officially opens on September 28 and will run until January 4, 2026.

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Tim Robinson Investigates an Absurd Conspiracy in THE CHAIR COMPANY Trailer

You want me to watch your TV show or movie? There’s one way to guarantee I will do exactly that. It only requires two words: “Tim Robinson.” The co-creator and star of Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave has reached that level for lots of other fans of comedy, too. And like me I know they were planning to tune into his new HBO show The Chair Company when it premieres next month sight unseen. But while I only need to know he’s involved to watch, I’m still glad we got a trailer for the show. It’s the exact kind of chaotic madness I have come to expect and love from him.

Yeah, that’s the good stuff right there. A conspiracy that may or may not be real. A man who may or may not be losing his mind…if he ever had one to begin with. And a world that might be just as absurd as him. Plus a lot of yelling. That’s a must.

But what exactly will set off Robinson’s William Ronald Trosper? HBO’s logline for the series says, “After an embarrassing incident at work, a man finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.”

This is the latest show from Robinson and his I Think You Should Leave co-creator, Zach Kanin. It also stars Lake Bell as Barb Trosper, Sophia Lillis as Natalie Trosper, Will Price as Seth Trosper, and Joseph Tudisco as Mike Santini. Lou Diamond Phillips will play a recurring character, Jeff Levjman. HyperObject Industries’ Adam McKay and Todd Schulman also serve as executive producers alongside Robinson and Kanin.

HBO

What is the exact conspiracy? What could possibly be going on with a chair company that leads to a massive secret plot? With Tim Robinson anything is possible, and that’s exactly why his involvement was all I needed to know about to want to watch. We’ll all get to do that when The Chair Company debuts at HBO on October 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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HIM Tackles Hero Worship and the Body Horror of Football in Brutal Fashion (Review)

Since the beginning of time, humanity has had a disturbing fixation with brutal sports. From the gladiator fights of ancient Rome (which are still getting film adaptations to this day) to American football, a multibillion dollar industry with a rapidly increasing global footprint, watching people with exceptional physical prowess battle each other is an alluring spectacle that can entrance even the most pacifist person.

That endorphin rush, social connection, and perhaps instinctual affinity to violence coupled with the broken bones, bruised skin, beaten brains, and bloody wounds of those who entertain us are all an intriguing foundation for a horror saga. Justin Tipping’s HIM tackles our religious allegiance to football, unsettling hero worship, sacrifice, and identity crisis in a surrealist thriller and warning siren wrapped in one strange package. 

The film chronicles what Tyriq Withers did last summer as Cameron “Cam” Cade, a young quarterback whose life is a horror show. He exists within a family dynamic that has an obsessive and, as we later find out, sickening connection to professional football. Cam and his inner circle all live the Southern “God, Family, Football” ethos to the point that his entire existence and identity is all about becoming the next GOAT a.k.a. Greatest of All Time.

He wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). White is an eight-time champion, the quarterback for the San Antonio Saviors, and the best player to exist. Isaiah’s rise to GOAT status after an injury that nearly ended his career is the ultimate motivational blueprint for Cam as he enters the scouting combine. 

[image error]Universal Pictures

A life-shaking injury nearly brings Cam to his knees. He struggles to process the constant chatter and discord around his future. Just when it seems his primary mission in life is impossible, a light appears at the end of the tunnel. He gets a chance to train with Isaiah at his remote compound and earn a spot with the Saviors. However, his dream soon unravels into a twisted nightmare as he deals with his own mental stability and the dark secrets that anchor Isaiah’s success. There is indeed a price to pay for fame and it is far beyond what Cam wants to wager.

After trailers and featurettes from HIM, it was still hard to fully get a lock on this film. Was it a psychological thriller, a cult-driven drama, or a straight up scary movie? It turns out it is all three, with the latter being true depending on the lens you place on HIM. There’s ample amounts of religious allegories through fandom worship and the concept of a “chosen one” to lead towards salvation/victory. The film’s title itself is a colloquial reference to a desire to be THAT GUY. You know, he’s the one whom everyone either wants to be or wants to, ahem, be with. Adonis-level looks, money, and adoring fans are the ultimate markers of success, right?

But, as Isaiah notes, the true gods of the game are not on the field. They perch in box office seats and sign checks. They are puppeteers who pull the strings of men and shape the course of a sport’s future. HIM’s examination of commodification of men’s bodies (and perhaps their personas) in professional sports is more prescient than ever. In today’s world, the lines between athlete and influencer become more blurred. Existing in that space with an unyielding devotion to reach excellence and the perpetual fight to stay on top is the story of Isaiah. He’s a talented yet corrupt man who is highly visible yet no one really sees him.

Monkeypaw Productions

His identity and entire existence centers on football. This is a terrible thing considering it is time for an aging Isaiah to hang up his cleats for good. Marlon Wayans is absolutely sublime in this role. He oscillates from laser focused mentor, sage historian, psychotic drill sergeant, and a crumbling shell of human with ease. We get to see a more sinister slant to his classic comedic chops mixed in with moments of menacing drama. At some points, his welcoming of violence and bizarre behavior is downright frightening.

You’ll often wonder why Cam doesn’t leave until you realize two truths. First, like Isaiah, his life revolves around his exceptional talent. And, well, he’s already too deep into the machinations of the gods that be. Tyriq Withers plays well with Wayans onscreen, depicting Cam as a handsome, all-American guy with a mostly upright and resolute approach to his future. But, the summation of his choices and isolation from his familial anchoring forces peel back layers. Underneath, there’s an undercurrent of rage and frustration. Without constraints and boundaries to process it, Cam becomes something… different in his quest to beat and BE the GOAT. 

Interestingly, the word goat has a double meaning here, especially when you look at it from a religious perspective. A goat is a sacrificial animal and a symbol for redemption, like how the Bible details God sending his only son Jesus to die for our sins. And, who is Cam trying to play for? THE SAVIORS. You have to love the layers presented in this film.

Justin Tipping rises to the challenge of toeing the line between dark sports epic and psychological thriller like an MVP. There are aesthetic choices that are clearly meant to sway audiences in a particular emotional direction. Meanwhile, others lend themselves to open interpretation. HIM’s cinematic approach to marrying football, body horror, and faith is truly a unique blend of taking the familiar visuals of the game and giving us a deeper vision into what happens in the body, thanks to cinematographer Kira Kelly (Shang Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings).

There are the classic horrors of death and a truth lurking in the shadows. But the real horror of losing yourself in an arcane machine designed to place you on a pedestal then tear you down when you break down is what’s really at play here. What are you willing to release, to keep, and to destroy to wear the crown? And, is that crown worth it? 

The film builds with a steady and deft pace, going from quieter moments of terror and introspection to the braggadocious energy of football with fluidity. However, in its final act, the inevitable master/student faceoff moment feels a bit too rushed towards a finale that leaves many unanswered questions and conclusions that will cause speculation and theories galore. This is a Monkeypaw film, after all. While there’s often hunger for a sequel, this film satisfies the appetite as a multicourse meal. 

Universal Pictures

Speaking of meals, both Tyriq and Marlon look incredibly delicious. The physiques are giving what they need to give, and that was a key part of my enjoyment. The duo went through intense training to not only get into professional athlete shape but to also refine their movements and look like top-tier quarterbacks. Mission accomplished, gentlemen. 

Overall, HIM is a thrill ride coasting between the harsh realities behind football’s allure and a frightening possibility of what power and praise can do to a man.

HIM ⭐ (4.5 of 5)

HIM sprints to theaters on September 19.

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ABC Pulls JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! ‘Indefinitely’ Following Threat From TV Station Giant Nexstar

Every week, the United States gets worse for people who value free speech, fair elections, and any kind of respite from terrible rhetoric. We’re getting closer and closer to heavily censored, State-run media where no one dares to question those in power. Stephen Colbert, as one of President Trump’s most vocal critics, found out CBS would cancel his show next year. At least he gets a year. Variety has just reported ABC will pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its lineup immediately and indefinitely at the behest of anti-free speech groups.

Kimmel is another and perhaps even more incendiary critic of the current administration and its supporters, and used his monologue on Monday’s show to criticize the right for using the public murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk for political gain. During the monologue, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” He also made jokes about Trump dodging questions from Fox News hosts about how he plans to mourn Kirk’s death.

You can watch the monologue in question below.

In response to these comments, Nexstar Media, one of the country’s biggest owners of TV stations, said it would preempt airings of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in its markets. ABC then issued the statement saying it was canning Kimmel’s show “indefinitely.”

We here at Nerdist don’t tend to veer into politics, though none of us individually hide our ideals. We would first like to say that we condemn violence of any kind against anyone, and certainly against people on the basis of disagreeing with their own ideals and beliefs. But for a massive media organization to block a major network TV show because it disagrees with statements from that show’s host is a horrible precedent and detrimental to a functional democracy.

ABC

This is what stifling free speech looks like. It’s not people getting mad that you said cruel words or continue to make poor-taste jokes at the expense of the Trans community. It’s a mega media corporation refusing to allow criticism to air in a country where freedom of speech is part of its very constitution. It can be said that Kimmel’s “comments” about Charlie Kirk were in poor taste, but that’s all they were, comments. Pointed jokes from a late-night talk show host. Kimmel also didn’t say anything about Charlie Kirk himself; he merely pointed out how people were choosing to characterize the suspect in custody for his murder.

In the face of these kinds of actions, it becomes incredibly difficult to remain impartial. We’re disappointed in anyone who does not defend and protect the ideals at the heart of this country or believes anyone should be above criticism.

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Vincent D’Onofrio Really Wants to Play Swamp Thing in the DCU

Vincent D’Onofrio has been playing one of the best comic book villains ever presented on screen thanks to his role as Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, on Daredevil and Daredevil: Born Again. In recent interviews, D’Onofrio said that certain legal entanglements prevented him from playing Fisk in any big-screen MCU projects, like a Spider-Man movie. But even if his Marvel days as New York’s Kingpin are winding down soon, he does think there’s a DC role for him. And it’s a hero role, and not a villain. The actor has made it clear he wants to play none other than DC Comics’ sympathetic monster, the Swamp Thing.

Yes he should

— Vincent D'Onofrio (@vincentdonofrio) September 13, 2025

Via Comic Book, we learned that someone made a post on X asking if D’Onofrio should play DC Comics’ Elemental. The actor responded, simply saying, “Yes. He should.” D’Onofrio has stated on several occasions that Swamp Thing is one of his favorite comic book characters of all time. In fact, he places him right up there with Spider-Man and Batman. As recently as April, the Men in Black actor said he wanted to play the character in some form. In early 2023, James Gunn announced that DC Studios was planning a Swamp Thing film, with James Mangold directing. That’s still the plan, but the project has landed on the back burner. So D’Onofrio’s wishes to play the character may bear fruit. Not that we think Swamp Thing is that kind of plant.

Marvel Television/DC Comics

Swamp Thing began as a horror comic, about a brilliant scientist named Alec Holland, who transforms into a hideous but misunderstood creature. First appearing in the 1970s, it was in the ’80s that future Watchmen author Alan Moore transformed the character into something more poetic. Moore’s Swamp Thing run became one of the most celebrated comics of the era. Swamp Thing has appeared in film and TV before, with Wes Craven’s 1982 film and its low-budget follow-up. Later, ’90s cartoon show aired, and a critically acclaimed but short-lived series in 2019 on the DCU streaming service. It remains to be seen if a new theatrical Swamp Thing project will ever see the light of day. But at least we know one great actor is ready to get in the makeup chair for it.

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Leonardo DiCaprio & Benicio del Toro Together At Last In One Battle After Another | Cast Interview

One Battle After Another stars Leonardo DiCaprio (Bob Ferguson), Benicio del Toro (Sergio St. Carlos), Regina Hall (Deandra), Teyana Taylor (Perfidia), and Chase Infiniti (Willa) sit down with Nerdist’s Maude Garrett to talk about working with Paul Thomas Anderson, Leo and Benicio’s first time working together, and their secret nerdy obsession!

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Fireball Celebrates Fall with Specialty Blazin’ Apple Flavor

Summer is over and with it backyard barbecues, but don’t despair. The season might have changed but outdoor parties aren’t ending. It’s officially tailgate season, and this football season Fireball has the perfect beverage for fans. It also has the perfect beverage for people who love both apple cider and whisky. The iconic liquor brand is expanding its lineup for the first time ever with the fall-inspired Fireball Blazin’ Apple.Fireball

Fireball has combined its signature fiery cinnamon flavor with what it calls the “sweet, juicy, crisp flavor of apple.” But Blazin’ Apple isn’t just Fireball with some fruit flavoring. I got an early chance to try it and I can tell you this is a very apple-forward liquor. It smells like apple cider, and that’s the flavor you get first when you sip it. It then finishes with the cinnamon of the original whisky. (Fireball recommends drinking it ice cold, but I found the experience pretty much the same both room temp and ice cold.)

The company is celebrating its new release with an ad campaign starring Ben Schwartz. It features him taking a stroll through famous moments in apple history, with promos playing off the stories of William Tell, Snow White, and Sir Isaac Newton

“Apples have had some iconic moments in mythology, fairy tales, even history books—but let’s be real, their true peak is pairing with Fireball,” said Danny Suich, Global Brand Director for Fireball. “Call it bold, but we’re betting Blazin’ Apple earns its spot in the apple hall of fame. We think our fans are going to love this temptation in a bottle.”

Fireball Blazin’ Apple might be a fall-inspired drink, but you won’t have to save yours to serve next summer. You can enjoy it without worry at your tailgate parties since it will be available all year. You can already pick up yours in stories in both 50ml and 750ml bottles.

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STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Begins Production

Drumroll, please! A new Star Wars movie is coming to theaters in 2027. At Star Wars Celebration 2025 Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni announced that in 2027, Star Wars: Starfighter will release in theaters.

Star Wars: Starfighter Begins Production and Shares First-Look Image

Director Shawn Levy reveals that Star Wars: Starfighter has begun production as of September 2025. In celebration, Levy also shared the first image from the new Star Wars movie.

Shawn LevyWho Will Star in and Create Star Wars: Starfighter?Warner Bros./Lucasfilm

Star Wars: Starfighter will be directed by Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling. So, it has our attention. We’re obsessed with the idea of Ryan Gosling in Star Wars honestly. This Ken’s job is space. We hope Star Wars: Starfighter is able to capture Gosling’s weirder and more comedic aspects, honestly. He really seems to excel in them.

A24

In another fascinating move, Variety reports that X and Pearl star Mia Goth has joined the film’s cast. Goth’s body of work up to this point has largely consisted of strange movies, horror movies, and period-set dramas. Now she’s heading to a galaxy far, far away. Additionally, our beloved Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith will have a role in the film as well.

Recently, Deadline delivered an entire lineup of new cast members who will be in Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter film that includes Flynn Gray, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Amy Adams.

“I feel a profound sense of excitement and honor as we begin production on Star Wars: Starfighter,” says filmmaker Shawn Levy. “From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true, creatively and personally. Star Wars shaped my sense of what story can do, how characters and cinematic moments can live with us forever. To join this storytelling galaxy with such brilliant collaborators onscreen and off, is the thrill of a lifetime.”

What Will This New Star Wars Movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, Be About?

But what will this movie be about? According to Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Starfighter is “a standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.” Very mysterious. We’re in.

And we’ll have to be because Levy certainly isn’t spilling any secrets. He notes, “Stranger Things taught me to keep my mouth shut. So I’m really grateful for that because I kept the Ryan Gosling news and the title and release date of my Star Wars movie pretty damn quiet for a long time. So I’m quite proud of myself and grateful to Stranger Things for making me shut my mouth.”

When Will Star Wars: Starfighter Release in Theaters

This new Star Wars movie will release in theaters May 28, 2027. Star Wars: Starfighter has now officially begun production. We can’t wait to see this new Star Wars movie adventure take shape. We’ll keep you updated as we know more.

Warner Bros.

In the meantime, you can check out all the latest Star Wars movies that are in the works, here. It really feels like Lucasfilm is pulling back from the Disney+ TV world and heading back to the glorious universe of the big screen. But hey, if it means Ryan Gosling will be in a universe, far, far away, we are totally in. And fresh stories, unrelated to what has come before, also feel like the right way forward.

Originally published on April 17, 2025.

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STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER First-Look Image Reveals Ryan Gosling in Leather Pants

Can you feel the Kenergy? We sure can, looking at Ryan Reynolds in his tight, leather space pirate pants on the high seas in a first-look photo from Star Wars: Starfighter. If it weren’t for the elaborate designs on the pants, we wouldn’t have even pegged this to be from a Star Wars movie necessarily. But we’re excited to see where this space adventure goes. And this first look image at Star Wars: Starfighter from director Sean Levy only increases our excitement.Shawn Levy

Joining Ryan Gosling in this first image from Star Wars: Starfighter is Flynn Gray. Now, we just had a Star Wars series that involved children, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. It’ll be interesting to see how this one differentiates itself from that. Levy doesn’t give us many hints about this image, merely captioning it “Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. #Starfighter.” According to Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Starfighter is “a standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.” 

And potentially, if this first-look image of Ryan Gosling’s is anything to go by, Star Wars: Starfighter will be a whole setting as well. A Star Wars adventure on the ocean? We wouldn’t turn it down. Although, of course, the name “Starfighter” does make us think of something, well, more air-borne. Still, Gosling’s gloves do have that specific mechanic look to them. So maybe Gosling’s character is a man who knows his way around all kinds of vehicles, land, air, and sea. The one thing this image does tell us is that Star Wars: Starfighter is now in production. You can follow Shawn Levy on his Instagram for more potential updates.

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All the New STAR WARS Movies Announced, Including Daisy Ridley’s Return as Rey

This new Star Wars movie will release in theaters on May 28, 2027. Joining Gosling in the cast are Flynn Gray, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.

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