Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 74

Lounge Around on a Kaiju in This Amazing Mothra Pool Float

Summer is upon us at last. Which means lots of time for us to lazily float around in the pool, drink in hand. But have you ever lounged around in the pool inside a legendary cinematic giant kaiju? Well, if not, you’re in luck. The folks at Middle of Beyond have a pool float made to resemble Mothra, Toho Film’s iconic giant monster, and the winged terror of Tokyo. This officially licensed product measures 9 ft. x 6 ft., and has 2 cup holders. It also has a dual-action valve and a quick fill valve, and it inflates/deflates in under 2 minutes. And it can be yours for $90. You can check out images of the Mothra pool float down below:

Click To View Gallery Middle of Beyond/Toho Toho/Middle of Beyond Middle of Beyond/Toho Toho/Middle of Beyond

This is merely the latest of several cool Mothra items from Middle of Beyond. Among the other items is a now sold-out Mothra bath rug, Mothra hoodies, a Mothra sleep shirt, and the coolest of all, a Mothra reversible jacket. Along with all their Mothra merch, Middle of Beyond also has a ton of items based on another infamous Japanese kaiju, Godzilla. That so-called King of the Monsters is a big drama queen who is always trying to upstage Mothra. Middle of Beyond also has an extensive collection of merchandise based on Ghostbusters, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Phantasm, and Trick ‘r Treat.

Middle of Beyond

Mothra finally appeared in the modern cinematic Monsterverse in last year’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. This was after being teased for two straight movies in a row. Will Mothra get another chance in the next Monsterverse film, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova? We certainly hope so. And maybe it’s time Mothra got their own Monsterverse movie too. In the meantime, you can float around on your Mothra pool float, as you watch Rebirth of Mothra I-III on your phone. Summertime as it was meant to be celebrated.

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ALIEN: EARTH Trailer Confirms Place in the ALIEN Timeline

The newest trailer for FX and Hulu’s Alien: Earth revealed a lot more than we’d seen before. Including new alien species besides the Xenomorph, and a good look at Earth during this era. We also got an exact date for when the series takes place in the Alien timeline. A title card appears over a lush, green area that says “Neverland Research Island, Earth, 2120.” We know that the original Alien film by Ridley Scott takes place a mere two years later, in 2122. The designs we see of the ship interiors in the Alien: Earth trailer looks a great deal like the interiors of the Nostromo from Alien. We doubt it’s the same ship, probably just the same class of towing vessel.FX Networks/Hulu

This 2120 date also places Alien: Earth significantly later than the events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. Prometheus takes place in the year 2093. Hey, it’s nice to know we’ll have interstellar travel in a mere 80 years! Alien: Covenant happens about a decade later, in 2104. But here’s the real kicker. Despite Ridley Scott being an executive producer on Alien: Earth, showrunner Noah Hawley has hinted that his series does not adhere to those film’s origins for the Xenomorph. In his mind, the android David (Michael Fassbender) is not the Xenomorph’s daddy.

FX Networks/Hulu

It’s hard to imagine that Ridley Scott would put his name to something that retcons his own work. But soon, we might have to place those films in an adjacent continuity with the Alien vs. Predator films. With Alien taking place just two years later, does this mean first contact with the Xenomorph took place on Earth, which is why Weyland/Yutani had its special orders in the first place? That actually would make a ton of sense within the framework of the franchise. We’ll find out exactly how it all ties together when Alien: Earth lands on FX and Hulu on August

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READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME Sets April 2026 Release Date

When it comes to Final Girls, one of the best is undoubtedly Samara Weaving’s Grace le Domas in Ready or Not. She goes from having the best day of her life to fighting for her life in the span of one night. Just imagine the horror of your newly minted in-laws trying to kill you in the name of a nasty family curse. The final scene of Ready or Not is a classic and fans have always wondered what happened to Grace after that harrowing experience. Now, we will get answers because Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is in the works with Samara Weaving and Radio Silence returning and it will hit theaters on April 10, 2026.

Writer Guy Busick spoke with Comicbook.com about the Ready or Not sequel, revealing how much time will pass between the two films.

“[The] movie picks up the second after the first movie ends. Grace wakes up in the hospital,” he affirmed. “No time has passed for her. The last thing she remembers is her in-laws exploded, including her new husband. They exploded in front of her and covered her in blood. She went outside and had her cigarette. The EMTs and fire department came. The credits roll and it picks up right there. Worldbuilding was important to us in that even in the first one, we were asking ourselves, ‘The Le Domas aren’t the only family that has done that.’”

We cannot wait to see what we find out next. Busick also said that the Radio Silence team drew inspiration from other major sequel films to craft this next chapter.

“ Radio Silence, the producers, Ryan and myself over and over again are Aliens and Terminator 2,” he said. “How do you blow it up in a way that isn’t even the same genre, but hits all the notes and has the same DNA?”

Searchlight Pictures

The creative collective and Weaving recently worked together on Scream VI, where she portrayed the ill-fated professor who died in the opening scene. According to Deadline, Samara Weaving previously spoke about the possibility of a Ready or Not 2 film with Radio Silence. “I’m all in,” she said. “I think we’re all in, I don’t know. I think we’re all inI don’t know if we’ve had our blood handshake, but pretty much. We’ve done the spit handshake, but we haven’t cut each other’s hands and rubbed our blood together.”

Warner Bros. Pictures/Searchlight Pictures/Sony

Additionally, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, Shawn Hatosy, Nstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, and David Cronenberg are coming onboard Ready or Not 2. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Lisa Frankenstein actress Kathryn Newton previously joined the cast.

What Is the Release Date for Ready or Not 2?

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come will hit theaters on April 10, 2026.

Originally published on March 5, 2025.

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Hollywood Studios’ New DISNEY VILLAINS: UNFAIRLY EVER AFTER Live Show Review & Team Insights

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now home to two new live shows. Last week, both The Little Mermaid A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After premiered. The night before their official openings, my family and I were invited to special viewings of each as part of the kickoff to Walt Disney World’s “Cool Kid Summer” event. Afterward, also got a chance to talk to members of the creative teams who brought them to life.

What can fans expect from these two shows? Are they good? (Yes.) And what did I learn about the productions? You can read all about my experiences with The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure here. But first, join me as we put the spotlight on a show dedicated to some of Disney’s best baddies.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After ReviewLightning McQueen has left the building.What is Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Walt Disney World?

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is a new, original live stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It officially opened on May 27, 2025. The roughly 15-minute production takes place in the Sunset Showcase amphitheater next to Rock ‘n’ Roller at the end of Sunset Boulevard. The space previously housed Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

The Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After musical, which runs throughout the day, “invites guests into the mysterious, reflective realm of the Magic Mirror” from Snow White. Once there, visitors are also given a task. They listen to three iconic Disney VillainsCruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficentsing about why they have been treated “unfairest of them all” so they can pick the winner. And they really do pick, as each audience selects the victor each and every show, resulting in a different finale depending on who won.

Click To View Gallery Steven A. Diaz/Disney Omark Reyes/Disney Omark Reyes/Disney

But while those three villains are the only ones to appear in the flesh, the elaborate, Broadway-quality show features plenty of other performances and appearances from other infamous Disney evildoers. They also wish to argue their case for the adoring/hating crowd.

Someday they just might.

Is Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After Good?Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After’s stage pre-show.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is not just good, it’s so much fun. It also tells an actual story that makes sense of the chaotic madness that drives it. The Mask within the Magic Mirror can only answer to the Evil Queen, so it pleads with the audience to deal with other villains who now demand an answer as to which one of them has been most mistreated. While every Disney bad guy and gal wants their moment to shine, only three break through into the real world to make their case.

In Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, each of the three villains performs their own original song as the elaborate stage, covered in “mirrors,” adapts to their unique style and colors. All three performances feel different from each other and true to the character. The result is a brisk pace that gives the show non-stop energy and excitement. The introduction and interludes between each villain also keeps everything moving, with a show that goes by very quickly. The costumes, makeup, performances, and incredibly elaborate technical aspects all come together for a production that really exceeded my already high expectations.

The show’s delightful original theme song is going to stay with you long after you walk out, too.

Will Kids Like Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Hollywood Studios?
A picture that truly speaks for itself.

Because we knew we’d be seeing special showings of Disney’s two new live productions, my wife and I wanted to make sure our son Alexander (who turns four in two months) could fully appreciate it. We prepped by watching 101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty.

I am so very glad we did. Not only did he love each movie and villain, he was absolutely overjoyed watching each one come out on stage during Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After. I actually missed a lot of Captain Hook’s argument because I couldn’t stop watching him. Alexander had the biggest smile on his face the whole time, especially as Tick-Tock chased Hook up, down, and around the whole stage. By the time Maleficent turned into a dragon, he was absolutely in awe.

Look at this handsome little guy looking at Captain Hook run from Tick-Tock.

Mama and dada loved the show on its own, but it was especially great experiencing it with him.

It was also great getting out of the Orlando heat and humidity all while seeing a gorgeous, fun, creative., entertaining show. That was pretty nice, too.

Can They Add or Change Which Characters Appear in Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After?Steven A. Diaz/Disney

Absolutely. Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is incredibly adaptable, which will allow it to stay fresh and original for decades in ways most live shows at theme parks can’t. However, that won’t be something Walt Disney World can do lightly.

This is a really impressive stage production with world-class musical numbers, costume changes, makeup, and high-tech visual effects. And it’s done in such a way that I think it will be easy for some guests to notice how incredible it really is from a technical standpoint. A lot of effort, time, and money will go into switching even just one main character, let alone all three.

If/when Disney does make a change, that new iteration of the show will likely be around for a while.

How Did Disney Bring Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After To the Stage?

To find out, I spoke to two of the leading creative minds behind Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.

Mark Renfrow, Disney Live Entertainment Show Director

Mark Renfrow directs Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.

Nerdist: Okay, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is here. How you feeling?

Mark Renfrow: Pretty amazing. This has been an incredible journey. I’ve been there since [the show’s] inception, which started about two-and-a-half years ago. And with a topic like villains? Come on. It’s going to be a fun ride. I’m thrilled with it. I love the responses that we’ve been getting. And we’re playing in the villains realm. It’s a pretty cool sandbox.

A lot of great Disney villains you could have picked. Why these three?

Renfrow: Well, you just said there’s a lot of villains. Let me clarify: there are 85 different villains and sidekicks. That’s a lot. So, who makes it to the front? Every villain has a sneaky way to get in. Everybody has a way to find a back door. And in our story, they have broken through. Let’s just say those three are the most wily. They have figured it out. So that’s why those three. And, I guess if you check in the top 10 villains that people like of all ages, those three are in the top five.

Disney

I know people are going to vote in every single Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After show. Maybe you don’t want to influence it, but do you have a particular villain that you are partial to out of the three?

Renfrow: Yes, the audience 100% does influence who is going to be deemed “the most unfairly ever after,” who is the most misunderstood of all. They do.

Me, personally, when I was asked at a young age, “What Disney movie had the biggest influence on you?” it was actually Sleeping Beauty. I was terrified of Maleficent. Now, on the other side, my favorite animal is a dragon, so I’m glad she’s a big part of this show.

It’s obvious this show is very adaptable to keep it fresh. Any long-term plans for how long we might keep these three villains before we start swapping in others?

Renfrow: I really don’t know. I think it comes down to the what’s popular. The opinions of our guests change on a regular basis, which is kind of exciting. So who knows? These particular villains are beloved by, again, from [age] 2 to 102. So everybody knows these three main featured ones. If something, or someone, or something, rises to the top, it would be fun to have them featured in one way or another.

These mirrors hide some great surprises I don’t want to spoil.

I’m an old theater nerd. What part of this show that was difficult to pull off is going to be hidden from people in the audience?

Renfrow: There’s a part of me that says “everything.” This is a very tricky show. Trying to tell that many stories in such a short amount of time is always a little daunting.

Also, villains all have their own opinions. They all have their own powers and manipulation. So I’m proud of every single element. And you will never see something twice. The show keeps evolving, and there’s different tricks, and there’s different techniques, and there’s different special effects. Also, each highlighted villain is so different from the next. It always feels like the style keeps changing along the way, yet it all makes sense.

You have this idea in your head as you’re designing the show. What came out even better than you kind of dreamed of in Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After?

Renfrow: When you’re dealing with villains, you want them to show their personality. To show their power. That’s always a challenge. Can they live up to their persona? They’re icons. Can you really have them live up to that? In this case, I would say they did. And we got to showcase their talents. I’ll just use that word, their “talents.” And all three talents are so different. All three personalities are so different. I was thrilled that we got to bring the villains to life.

I would’ve been very disappointed, and this would’ve been a very hard journey for me, if we never had the support to bring them to life the way we did.

Some villains end up playing a very big (very entertaining) role in the show.

This show is preceding a big expansion coming to Magic Kingdom, a whole villains land. Were you thinking about that at all while you were designing this show?

Renfrow: I think we were in the pipeline for quite some time before that was even announced. So if anything, we were leading the way, and we were doing what was right for the studios. And we were doing what’s best for the villain brand. That’s what’s exciting.

What they are going to do [with the villains land] I don’t know. I hope I get to play with it a little bit over some time.

You’ve got some experience now.

Renfrow: Yeah. And to be really honest, this is my fifth villain show. The two villain shows that were originally at Hollywood Studios years ago, and then the last two that were at the Magic Kingdom. So I’ve been hanging out with the villains for a long time.

When you were a kid, did you like the villains more than the heroes?

Renfrow: I would probably say yes. It’s been that way with a lot of brands, but when it comes to Disney villains, for sure.

We always want to be a little naughty in one way or another. And the villains do that. Yeah, sure, they get their comeuppance, and I guess that’s a great lesson, right? You’re going to be a bad person, you’re going to get what’s coming to you. So I guess I stayed on the hero side, but I still like the villains.

Matt Fiuza, Senior Art Director at Disney Live EntertainmentNerdist

What part of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is your favorite?

Matt Fiuza: There’s a lot of favorites. I love the timeless feel of our show. I love the opulence and wow factor that you’re going to get from walking into this room. We worked so diligently to give you a jaw-dropping, “Wow, I’m going to watch a spectacle.”

But in particular, it has to be Tick-Tock chasing Captain Hook offstage. It was one of the coolest things that we said out loud in a room and then brought to life. It will live in my heart in a very special place.

So we see the concept art when the show gets announced. What ended up exceeding your expectations?

Fiuza: The concept art is always a very scary process because we lead massive teams through the process of developing the concept art and then developing what ultimately will be the show. With this show everyone embraced all the ideas so quickly. And everyone’s so motivated to bring villains to life and bring them to the parks that it’s hard to express the goosebumps of walking in and seeing that what we promised our guests is being delivered upon even more than we imagined on paper.

It’s been thrilling to watch the comments online. There’s a few folks that posted the concept art with the pictures, and they’re like, “It looks better than the pictures.” We always want that to be the case. It’s just delightful to have you ask this question because we feel really proud when we do that.

Original Concept Art for the Show (Credit: Disney)

At Disney, the magic is always in the details. What details do you hope people pick up on that maybe won’t be so obvious the first time they come through?

Fiuza: Well, there’s a secret. If you keep watching the wallpaper on the walls when you walk in, and then after each villain has their moment, you might pick on something that’s really cool. And I’m just going to leave it at that.

I’m sure everyone’s asking, but I have to, too. Three villains. Are you partial to any of them?

Fiuza: I’m really partial to Captain Hook. I watched Peter Pan on repeat when I was a kid. And really it’s Tick-Tock to me that’s the ultimate villain, because he’s the villain to Captain Hook. But Captain Hook just lives in a really special place in my heart.

The audience-picked winner of our showing.

It’s not Tick-Tock’s fault that Captain Hook is so tasty. He’s just an animal.

Fiuza: He had one hand. He just wants the other. That’s all he wants.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He voted for Captain Hook but thought Cruella and Maleficent made genuinelly compelling cases. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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New Bond Game 007 FIRST LIGHT Coming From HITMAN Studio

Since the days of Nintendo 64 and the gargantuan hit of Goldeneye, James Bond video games had been a staple of video game generations. I never had an N64, but I had Agent Under Fire, Nightfire, and Everything Or Nothing on the PlayStation 2. I sunk dozens of hours into each of those. But while the late-90s and early Aughts had Bond games to spare, the last 13 years have been incredibly sparse. That’s why the announcement at Sony’s State of Play event yesterday has me so very excited. Not only are we finally getting a new Bond game, it’s from IOI, the studio behind the Hitman series. Check out the announce trailer for 007 First Light below.

This game looks to be in a similar vein to the recent Hitman games. Third-person missions with many different ways to complete. We get a story that appears to reset the table of Bond’s early days, a brand new Double-O agent who has to prove himself. Exotic locations, cool gadgetry, characters like Q and M, and of course cars! This is great news for me, someone who has only just recently discovered the joys of the Hitman games. The Bond films always have a fair amount of humor, and those games are quite tongue in cheek. A great merging.

“With 25 years of experience in creating captivating action-adventure games with the Hitman franchise, our studio has been energized with this monumental opportunity in harnessing that expertise in bringing 007 back to video games,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive. “We’re pouring our energy and passion for the franchise into creating a cinematic adventure that pushes the boundaries of what a James Bond game can be, while telling a fresh, new story. We can’t wait for players and fans to discover an experience tailor-made for them.”

IO Interactive

Another fun thing is the face model for Bond is a direct representation of Ian Fleming’s original description for the character. Facial scar and everything. Sure, he doesn’t look like Daniel Craig or Sean Connery, but they don’t look like the guy in the books. I’m sold. Definitely excited to check out 007 First Light. IOI promises a gameplay trailer later this summer, with the game releasing in 2026.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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Prime Video’s FALLOUT Heads to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Parks

Are you a ghoul looking for some spooky seasonal work this year? Normally, those kinds of jobs go to a very specific kind of ghoul, but not in 2025. This year, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort are looking for the kind that wander the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Amazon’s Fallout is coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2025.

This year, horror, video game, and television fans will get to enter the world of Amazon’s Fallout with a “terrifying haunted house” at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. While this experience might be a bit too much terror for Vault Dwellers, the rest of us should expect a whole lot of fun. (And screams.) Here’s how Universal describes the Fallout experience awaiting fans at Halloween Horror Nights 2025:

In this terrifying haunted house, fans will encounter iconic scenes and characters that will put them into the frightening action of the popular series. The journey begins beneath the surface in Vault 33, where guests follow vault-dweller Lucy MacLean as she escapes a bloody massacre, only to discover an evil hidden secret. From there, visitors venture to the surface, where they must dodge attacks from Scavengers and Raiders, desperate survivors who will do anything to remain alive, as well as mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches.

Universal

Guests brave enough to follow Lucy will also encounter the Ghoul at the Super Duper Mart. And they’ll “come face-to-face with a young squire named Maximus and gaze in awe at his T-60 armor.” We love Fallout at Nerdist, so we could not feel more excited for this Halloween Horror Nights activation.

Halloween Horror Nights 2025 begins August 29 at Universal Orlando Resort. It kicks off at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 4. Tickets for the event, which takes place on 48 select nights from August 29 through November 2, are now on sale. Visitors can also purchase event-inclusive vacation packages.

Wasteland ghouls looking for work will need to go through the normal process of applying.

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Blumhouse May Co-Own the SAW Franchise. Could James Wan Return for SAW XI?

With the recent cancellation of the Saw XI, which Lionsgate recently pulled from their schedule, many fans wondered if the iconic horror franchise’s days were over. But it now seems that Jigsaw isn’t dying just yet, he’s merely being reborn with new parents. According to a report in Deadline, horror studio Blumhouse is acquiring the rights to the Saw franchise from Twisted Pictures. That means that original Saw director James Wan will once again be involved with the series he created, way back in 2004. Wan’s production company, Atomic Monster, merged with Blumhouse last year, positioning him for this Saw return. Lionsgate will still retain the rights to release the films, as well as keep their 50% ownership of the Saw IP.Lionsgate/Twisted Pictures

The Saw series has been one of the most lucrative horror franchises of the 21st century. The first movie was an unexpected hit, catapulting the “torture porn” brand of horror in the early 2000s to prominence. While a lot of horror series similar to Saw, like the Hostel films, have died out, Saw keeps finding a way to reinvent itself. The last film was 2023’s Saw X, which made $125 million on a budget of $13 million. Thus proving Jigsaw and Billy the Puppet have plenty of life left in them still. Lionsgate announced Saw XI not long after, but then halted pre-production over creative differences. Now we wonder if someone in charge knew the franchise was changing hands soon.

Does this mean James Wan himself could return to the Saw franchise? We guess we’ll have to wait for the Saw Blumhouse deal to go through to know for sure. Wan only directed the first Saw film, remaining as executive producer for the subsequent chapters. As the series continued, his involvement lessened. But Wan almost always directs at least two movies in any franchise he starts. He directed the first two Conjuring movies, as well as two entries each for Insidious and Aquaman. So it would be in keeping with Wan’s career to direct at least one more Saw movie. It would certainly be a jolt of excitement this franchise could use as it heads into its eleventh chapter. We’ll just have to wait and see.

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Show Your Nerdy Pride with CAMP MONSTROUS Queer Horror Party in NYC

Queer people have always loved horror movies. And it’s not hard to see why. Horror is a genre that’s all about the other, the monster, the creature who isn’t fully accepted in the bounds of polite society. Something else queer people have always loved is a good party. And this Pride, let your nerdy, horror-loving flag fly with Camp Monstrous, an immersive queer horror party where fear becomes freedom and all your favorite ’80s slasher movies come to life.

If you’re in NYC this Pride Month, party like you’re in Friday the 13th while dancing at the intersection of creativity, rebellion, and the macabre.

Margaret Sweeney

The official description of this terror-ific, immersive event shares the following about Camp Monstrous:

This summer, MONSTROUS returns with CAMP MONSTROUS, a love letter to campy 1980s slashers like Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and Slumber Party Massacre. Blending immersive theater, live performance, and nightlife, CAMP MONSTROUS unfolds an original queer horror story in two parts:

Camp Monstrous (Outside): The infamous Camp Monstrous has reopened its doors for another summer with a fresh staff of camp counselors whispering about rumors of Smoke Show, a vengeful park ranger, returning to kill again. 

Club Monstrous (Inside): Taking place in a neon soaked music venue, the sole survivor of the first Camp Monstrous Massacre, Lexxe, is being hunted by a new masked killer while chasing her dreams of pop stardom.

As the night unfolds, danger escalates and when the clock strikes midnight on Friday the 13th, the veil thins and the ghosts of the past come out to play.

That sounds ABSOLUTELY incredible, if you ask us. And we’re proud to say we’ve attended a Monstrous event before and it was absolutely as advertised: immersive, aesthetic, themed to the gills, and a whole lot of queer fun. And honestly, what could be better than starring in your own queer horror story for Pride? Where every queer person IS the final gurl. We’re loving immersive theater recently, so any opportunity to explore more fun to that end is welcome to us.

Margaret Sweeney

Of course, it wouldn’t be a queer party without some COSPLAY! Camp Monstrous encourages all campers to come dressed in their 80s summer best for a night of horror, glamour, and camp.

But what are the details of the Camp Monstrous NYC Pride Party? Well, the delicious terror takes place on June 12 at Nowadays, Queens, NY. Amazingly enough, this NYC Pride party offers a free day party!

If you come early, from 5 pm to 8 pm, you can enjoy the following for FREE:

80s dance music and summer camp gamesTarot readings and camp counselor shenanigansEarly access and first drawing of our charity raffle benefiting The NYC LGBT Community CenterMargaret Sweeney

Then, the ticketed event begins at 8 pm and goes until 2 am. It features:

Charity Raffle and grand prize drawingLive Performances by Lexxe, Bentley Robles, and Apocalypse NoirDJ Sets from Andi, Violet Sky, and DJ DolarhydeSpecial Performances, Friday the 13th flash tattoos, Polaroid photo ops, marshmallow roasting, and a gory blood wrestling competitionOutdoor horror screenings and immersive scares all night long

As we like to say, icons only! Additionally, there will be opportunities to give back. All proceeds from the charity raffle and donation activities go to The Center, which provides life-saving services for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers in advocacy, wellness, recovery, and more. And there will be a Pride Pantry Drive at the event. You can bring new non-perishable goods for donation to queer shelters. Each donated item earns you a raffle ticket. (Full list on Instagram @monstrous.nyc)

Margaret Sweeney

Tickets to Camp Monstrous are now available! They are $35 Online via Eventbrite or Resident Advisor or $40 at the door.

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LEGO Reveals 7 ONE PIECE Sets Including The Going Merry and Straw Hat Pirate Minifigures

It’s One Piece’s world, and we’re all just living in it. Although the live-action adaptation of the long-running anime/manga series will not return to Netflix until 2026, One Piece is already rolling out the red carpet (or should we say, unfurling the red sails) when it comes to merchandise. Yes, we’re talking LEGO. There was great excitement when One Piece and LEGO announced their collaboration around the Netflix series. It turns out, it’s historical. LEGO’s One Piece sets mark the first time the toymaker has created any kind of anime-inspired builds. (And we sure hope it will not be the last.) But though we expected such an epic meeting of the minds to be BIG. It’s stretched even our imaginations.

The first wave of One Piece LEGO sets contains seven different builds: The Going Merry Pirate Ship, Battle at Arlong Park, Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent, Windmill Village Hut, The Baratie Floating Restaurant, LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure, and LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure.

For even more fun, every LEGO One Piece set will include one or more of eight collectable “Wanted” posters featuring some of the series’ most notorious pirates. Fans also won’t have to wait too long to set sail with One Piece‘s LEGO adventures because all sets will be available on August 1, 2025, with pre-orders officially open now. We also have to say, we just love that this array of LEGO sets offers some incredibly affordable sets.

Jump to: The Going Merry Pirate Ship // Battle at Arlong Park // Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent // Windmill Village Hut // The Baratie Floating Restaurant // LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure // LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown FigureLEGO ONE PIECE The Going Merry Pirate Ship SetLEGO

Of course, LEGO HAD to make a Going Merry build, how could it not? In season one of the live-action One Piece adaptation, the Going Merry is the central home base the Straw Hat Pirates return to again and again. It’s Luffy’s dream. And it’s the home of his family, and that’s beautiful. We absolutely can’t wait to build this glorious ship out of bricks. The ship of dreams, if you will. LEGO shares of this One Piece set:

Hoist the Jolly Roger and lift the anchor! The Straw Hat Pirates’ iconic ship is brought to life with the LEGO ONE PIECE The Going Merry Pirate Ship set.Fans aged 10 and up can act out their favourite scenes from the series, with the full Straw Hat Pirate crew, as seen in Netflix’s ONE PIECE, in Minifigure form.

This captivating set features over 1,376 pieces, bringing the ship’s detailed deck and interior to life, with a large, printed sail featuring the iconic Jolly Roger skull, to sail the crew out to unchartered waters, as they embark on their search for the famed One Piece treasure. This set includes four collectable “Wanted” posters.

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ONE PIECE’s Portrayal of the Imperfect Journey of Dreaming Brings Resonance to a Common ThemeHow Many Pieces Is The Going Merry Pirate Ship Set

The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship set contains 1,376 pieces.

What Minifigures Are Included in LEGO One Piece‘s The Going Merry Pirate Ship Set?

The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship includes Minifigures of all five Straw Hat Pirates: that’s Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji. The crew is dressed in their traditional sea-faring outfits. Zoro has his swords, Luffy his hat, Sanji his delicious dishes (and a drink ), Nami her telescope, and Usopp his slingshot. Iconic!

LEGOHow Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship will cost $139.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the LEGO Going Merry Set?

This LEGO set measures over 13.5 in. (34 cm) high, 15.5 in. (39 cm) long, and 8 in. (20 cm) wide.

LEGO ONE PIECE Battle at Arlong Park Set

Next up, some villains. It wouldn’t be One Piece without its array of baddies, after all. This LEGO set depicts Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates’ skirmish with the Arlong Pirates at their homebase Arlong Park. Those who watched season one of One Piece knows that this LEGO set recreates the scene of the biggest battle from the first chapter.

LEGO

LEGO reveals, “A set worthy of an iconic battle: the LEGO ONE PIECE Battle at Arlong Park set offers fans a feature-packed play experience. The 926 piece set, enables anime fans aged 9 and up to recreate the iconic showdown between the Straw Hat Pirates and their rivals, with elaborate details such as a collapsing Arlong Park pagoda. Young fans will love fun features like the shooting gallery for target practice, three “Wanted” posters, and the forest, in which Usopp fights the villain, Chu.

How Many Pieces Is the Battle at Arlong Park Set?

The LEGO One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Set contains 926 pieces.

What Minifigures Are Included in LEGO One Piece‘s Battle at Arlong Park Set

The LEGO One Piece Arlong Park set comes with Minifigures of Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Arlong and Chu.

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

The LEGO One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Set will cost $79.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the Battle at Arlong Park LEGO Set?

This LEGO set measures over 11 in. (29 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 4 in. (10 cm) deep.

Jump to: The Going Merry Pirate Ship // Battle at Arlong Park // Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent // Windmill Village Hut // The Baratie Floating Restaurant // LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure // LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown FigureLEGO ONE PIECE Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent SetLEGO

Buggy the Clown. Is he a villain? Is he an anti-hero? It’s hard to say. What we do know is that he’s absolutely a fan favorite character if there ever was one. So it makes a lot of sense that he gets TWO LEGO sets with his name in the title. The first of which is Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set. LEGO shares of this One Piece build:

Sure to make even the swarthiest pirate smile! The LEGO ONE PIECE Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent set is perfect for builders aged 8 and up with its pirate worthy weapons and accessories, and as the buildable tent can be flipped around to create a larger play area.

The devious clown villain’s lair includes three circus contraptions from which the heroes must escape: a water tank, spinning vertical table, and a hanging cage and is customizable with two “Wanted” posters so young fans can create their own ONE PIECE world. The set features Buggy the Clown, Monkey D. Luffy, Nami and Zoro in their Minifigure form.

LEGO

Who doesn’t want a LEGO set with a water tank you can use to torture your fellow Minifigures?

How Many Pieces Is Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set

The LEGO Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set contains 573 pieces.

What Minifigures Are Included in LEGO One Piece‘s Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set?

The LEGO Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set includes Buggy the Clown, Monkey D. Luffy, Nami and Zoro in their Minifigure form. Isn’t little Buggy the Clown just adorable?

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

This LEGO set costs $54.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the LEGO Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent Set?

LEGO One Piece Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent set measures over 6.5 in. (16 cm) high, 6 in. (15 cm) wide and 5.5 in. (14 cm) deep.

LEGO ONE PIECE Windmill Village Hut SetLEGO

Ah, Windmill Village, it’s where Luffy grew up, formed his bonds with Red-Haired Shanks, and snuck a bite of the Gum-Gum fruit which gave him his incredibly stretchy powers. And now, you can relive that adventure with this LEGO set which takes us all the way back to the future King of the Pirate’s roots.

LEGO shares, “Every adventure needs a start. Every hero needs an inspiration. The LEGO ONE PIECE Windmill Village Hut set lets fans aged 8 and up re-enact the iconic scene in which Monkey D. Luffy sneaks a bite from Shanks’ hidden Gum Gum Fruit. The 299-piece set showcases a young Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks and Makino, all in Minifigure form for the first time. With a detachable roof, the beachside store has a fun-filled interior with plenty of accessories to role play running the store and entertaining customers. Fans will be able to find one collectable “Wanted” poster.”

A Shanks Minifigure is honestly not just a want, it’s a NEED.

How Many Pieces Is LEGO One Piece’s Windmill Village Set?

The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set contains 299 pieces.

What Minifigures Are Included in LEGO Windmill Village SetLEGO

The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set includes Minifigures of young Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks and Makino. And we are obsessed with little Luffy.

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set costs $29.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the LEGO Windmill Village Set?LEGO

This LEGO set measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide and 7.5 in. (19 cm) deep.

Jump to: The Going Merry Pirate Ship // Battle at Arlong Park // Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent // Windmill Village Hut // The Baratie Floating Restaurant // LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure // LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown FigureLEGO ONE PIECE The Baratie Floating Restaurant SetLEGO

Ah, the Baratie? Where would we be without it? Nowhere because we wouldn’t have Sanji. And even though Zoro might roll his eyes at the stupid waiter, we know he’d be sad if Sanji wasn’t along for the ride. The Baratie is also one cool ship, with its hustle, bustle, and fish-head mast.

LEGO

LEGO shares of this One Piece build:

Let’s eat!! Adult fans of ONE PIECE can grab a seat at the LEGO ONE PIECE The Baratie Floating Restaurant and fuel up before the next adventure. The 3,402-piece set offers plenty of intricate details and easter eggs for fans to find, including five collectable “Wanted” posters.

The pier in front of the fish-shaped sea-born restaurant allows builders to dock the Going Merry and recreate Zoro and Mihawk’s tense sword battle, with unique play functions. The iconic restaurant includes 10 of characters in Minifigure form, including the Straw Hat Pirates, Zeff, Vice Admiral Garp, Helmeppo, Koby and Dracule Mihawk.

This set is really the big Kahuna. The LEGO Baratie contains so many incredible Minifigures, so many rooms to build, and so many scenes to renact. Not to mention! Dracule Mihawk!!! Koby!! We cannot wait to build this one.

LEGOHow Many Pieces Is The Baratie Floating Restaurant Set

The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set contains 3,402 pieces.

What Minifigures Are Included in LEGO One Piece‘s The Baratie Floating Restaurant SetLEGO

The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set contains SO many Minifigures, 10 to be exact. These include the Straw Hat Pirates (Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp), Zeff, Vice Admiral Garp, Helmeppo, Koby, and Dracule Mihawk. As a bonus, Zoro is in his leisure outfit this time, perfect for hanging out at the Baratie and eating (drinking) up a storm. Meanwhile, Sanji is in his waiter outfit. We stan!

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set will cost $329.99.

LEGOWhat Are the Dimensions of the LEGO Baratie Floating Restaurant Set?

This LEGO set measures over 14 in. (35 cm) high, 21.5 in. (54 cm) wide and 10.5 in. (27 cm) deep.

LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy FigureLEGO

In addition to the five scene-based LEGO One Piece builds, LEGO has also announced two BrickHeadz figures. The first, of course, is Monkey D. Luffy. LEGO shares, “These sets celebrate some of the series’ most popular characters in their most recognizable forms, making them ideal for display.”

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Give the Gift of Luffy’s Straw Hat to the ONE PIECE Dreamer in Your Life How Many Pieces Is LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure?LEGO

The LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure contains 136 pieces.

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

The LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure costs $9.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure?

This set measures over 3 in. (9 cm) tall.

LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown FigureLEGO

The second BrickHeadz figure, of course, belongs to Buggy the Clown. Here’s how he stacks up.

How Many Pieces Is the LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure?

The LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure contains 176 pieces.

How Much Will This One Piece LEGO Set Cost?

This set will cost $9.99.

What Are the Dimensions of the LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure?

This figure measures over 3 in. (9 cm) tall.

When Will the First 7 LEGO One Piece Sets Release?LEGO

And that’s what you need to know about the LEGO One Piece sets coming our way soon. But when will these LEGO One Piece sets actually release into the world? Well, they’ll set sail on August 1. And they’re available for pre-order right now! Don’t delay, capture this precious treasure today.

REad next

Live-Action ONE PIECE’s Chopper Is CUTER Than GroguJump to: The Going Merry Pirate Ship // Battle at Arlong Park // Buggy the Clown’s Circus Tent // Windmill Village Hut // The Baratie Floating Restaurant // LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure // LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure

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BACK TO THE FUTURE Cast Need Your Help Finding Marty McFly’s Missing Red Guitar

Forty years ago, Michael J. Fox made cinema history when he shredded his Gibson ES-345 guitar in 1955 Hill Valley in Back to the Future. He couldn’t have known it at the time of filming, but that scene would help make his Marty McFly one of the most iconic movie characters of all time. Sadly, that cherry red guitar went missing not long after, and has remained so. Now, via Entertainment Weekly, we’ve learned about an upcoming documentary called Lost to the Future. And it’s all about the search for Marty’s missing guitar, where he played “Johnny B. Good” for stunned teens at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. You can watch the teaser trailer below:

Most of the original cast of Back to the Future returned for this documentary, including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Harry Watters Jr. Also involved are original screenwriter Bob Gale and even Huey Lewis. (No Crispin Glover, but that’s not surprising.) The film’s director, Doc Crotzer, said “This is the movie that made me want to be a filmmaker, and the scene that made me pick up a guitar for the first time. As children of the ’80s, it is our duty to take fans of music, fans of the movie, and fans of true crime documentaries with us on this too-crazy-to-believe quest to find our generation’s Excalibur.”

Universal Pictures

Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis realized the guitar was missing when they needed it for Back to the Future: Part II. By 1989, it had already gone missing, and to this day, no one has a clue as to its whereabouts. As Michael J. Fox says in the trailer, “It’s somewhere lost in the space-time continuum, or it’s in some teamster’s garage.” Gibson Guitars is enlisting help from the Back to the Future fandom in helping find the missing instrument. They are asking anyone with any information to go online at LostToTheFuture.com, or call/text at 1-855-345-1955. Who knows? Maybe by the time the documentary comes out, it’ll have a happy ending.

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