Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 80

The Rudest TTRPG Actual Play Ever?! (w/ Christopher Hastings & Joe Lepore)

Something rude this ways comes! This week on Quests N’ Answers, Dan Casey sits down with Christopher Hastings and Joe Lepore of the Rude Tales of Magic podcast to talk about weird little dudes, their approach to worldbuilding, and much more.

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Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku Head to STAR WARS VILLAINOUS in New Expansion, COLD TACTICS

They’re here… two of the most chilling Star Wars villains of all are heading to Star Wars: Villainous in its newest expandalone game. In the Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics expansion, players can become Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku as they try to complete their evil aims. We can’t think of a more menacing dark side duo. Here’s what you need to know about Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics.

Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics Introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku

Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics is the latest expandalone game in the Star Wars Villainous series. And its bringing two beloved villains into the fold. Grand Admiral Thrawn recently made the leap into live-action, with Lars Mikkelsen embodying the role he also voiced in Ahsoka. And with Ahsoka season two on the horizon, we have not doubt he’ll make his great return soon. But in the meantime, you can find him in Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics. Count Dooku, of course, is a Sith Lord not to be trifled with. Trained by Yoda himself, his thirst for power knows no boundaries.

RavensburgerRavensburger

Of course, the true question is, what will Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku’s mover game pieces look like? Well, pretty nifty if you ask us. Thrawn’s Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics piece is massive and a truly icy blue, much like the man himself. Count Dooku’s coppery game piece, meanwhile, evokes images of the Sith Lord on his speeder fleeing Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker through the E’Y-Akh Desert on Geonosis in Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones.

More About the Gameplay

A release shares of Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics, “In the Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics game, players will work towards their own sinister Objectives with a unique and immersive gameplay style inspired by their character’s motivations and stories throughout the Star Wars galaxy.”

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And further adds of Cold Tactics‘ gamplay, “If players choose to play as Grand Admiral Thrawn, they will have to be efficient and unforgiving in their pursuit of taking over and controlling planets in the name of the Empire. To win, they must operate strategically in Thrawn’s sector and occupy each location by collecting artifacts, deploying the 7th Fleet, and using Ambition to flip the location over. Players who choose Count Dooku will need to lead the Separatist Movement and bring an end to the Galactic Republic and Jedi. Count Dooku will need to convince an Organization just how powerful he can be by defeating the Jedi to intimidate neutral Organizations into active Organizations at each location to fulfill his objective and stand alongside Darth Sidious as the true power of the galaxy!”

When Will Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics Release?Ravensburger

Occupation, ambition, and intimidation… Sounds like the dark side to us. Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics and all its Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku-goodness (or should we say badness) will release in stores nationwide starting August 1. A Target exclusive version of the game will include an exclusive sleeve and Grand Admiral Thrawn mover, featuring a pearlescent finish. The game will retail for $19.99 USD/$29.99 CAD. Additionally, Star Wars Villainous: Cold Tactics is compatible with all previous Star  Wars Villainous releases, including the Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side, Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy and Star Wars Villainous: Revenge at Last games.

Grand Admiral Thrawn mover, here we come.

The post Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku Head to STAR WARS VILLAINOUS in New Expansion, COLD TACTICS appeared first on Nerdist.

DISNEY VILLAINOUS Adds First Live-Action Baddie in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Expansion, TREACHEROUS TIDES

The world of Disney Villainous is evolving, and we don’t just mean because a new expansion or expandalone game, Trecherous Tides, is coming soon. (Although that’s a part of it.) No, the truly exciting part is that Disney Villainous has opened up a whole new world of evil excitement by adding its first live-action franchise to the popular Disney game series. In Treacherous Tides, Disney: Villainous brings Pirates of the Caribbean’s sinister sea captain, Davy Jones, into the mix. And the presence of a live-action baddie really changes the game. Alongside Davy Jones, Moana‘s Tamatoa also enters the oceanic ring in the Disney Villainous: Treacherous Tides expansion. And for all you sea lovers out there, that’s exciting news.

A release from Ravensburger shares more about the new Treacherous Tides expandalone game and its live-action Pirates of the Caribbean villain. “To win the game, the player must be the first to complete their Villains’ Objective. For those who choose Tamatoa, players must successfully grab the Heart of Te Fiti from Moana and keep Maui from reclaiming his Hook and bring both shiny items to Tamatoa’s Lair. For players who select Davy Jones, they must work to collect all 5 Treasure Tokens. Davy Jones must captain his crew to find the lost Treasures and reveal them, before going on to defeat the Hero that the Treasure is attached to. Once all treasures are collected, Davy Jones can take his place as the ruler of all the seas!”

Ravensburger

Lysa Penrose, International Product and Marketing Manager at Ravensburger further reveals, “In Disney Villainous, our team gets to retell familiar stories from across Disney animation, immersing players in the Villain’s point of view, something you rarely get to see in the films. Treacherous Tides marks the first time we got to do this with a character from a live-action film. In addition to new gameplay, we got to reimagine the film in our iconic Villainous illustrated style.”

Ravensburger

It’s pretty exciting stuff! As always, Disney Villainous: Treacherous Tides can be played with up to 2 players, or up to 4 players when combined with other Disney Villainous games.

Ravensburger

For the collectors among us, a limited edition of Disney Villainous: Treacherous Tides sold at Target features an illustrated “underwater” sleeve and a shiny Tamatoa mover in a special glitter finish. Who doesn’t love a special glitter finish?

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Disney Reveals the Villains Guests Will Meet at Magic Kingdom’s New Baddie-Inspired Land

Disney Villainous: Treacherous Tides is now available for pre-order. It will retail for $19.99 USD/$29.99 CAD.  Disney Villainous: Treacherous Tides arrives in Target on July 21 and will release at other retail stores starting on August 1.

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VISION Series Adds T’Nia Miller as Jocasta, Marvel Comics’ Android Avenger

We haven’t seen the android Avenger known as the Vision, played by Paul Bettany, since the end of WandaVision in 2021. Now, the iconic MCU hero will return in a new series on Disney+. And Vision will be joined by another android in his series, Marvel Comics’ Jocasta, who Deadline reports will be portrayed by actress T’Nia Miller.

Here is everything we know about Marvel Television’s upcoming Vision-centric series.

Netflix/Marvel ComicsTitle

The new Disney+ MCU series is either titled simply Vision or Vision Quest. Both names have been used in regard to this series in various trades. But we still don’t have a solid answer from Marvel Television yet on the actual title.

The Vision Series PlotMarvel Studios

We know almost nothing about the actual plot of the Vision series, except that it will follow the life of the rebuilt Vision synthezoid from the end of WandaVision. At the end of that series, the government rebuilt “White Vision.” He then gained the memories of the Vision that Wanda Maximoff created in the Westview hex. He flew off for parts unknown, with no appearance from the character ever since. Presumably, the new series will see Vision trying to find his purpose in life. It will serve as the third part of an MCU “trilogy” that began with WandaVision, and continued with Agatha All Along. Tom King’s 2015 Vision series may serve as inspiration, at least in part.

Behind the Scenes

The creative head for the Vision-led series is former showrunner and head writer for Star Trek: Picard and 12 Monkeys‘ Terry Matalas. Joining him in the writer’s room are Chris Monfette, Michael A. Taylor, Cindy Appel, and Matt Okumura. The series is currently filming in the U.K.

The Vision Series’ CastMarvel Studios

Paul Bettany will headline the Disney+ series as the Vision, returning to the role he first played in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He later reprised the role in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and WandaVision. Joining him are James Spader as the Vision’s creator, the malicious A.I. known as Ultron, and Todd Stashwick as a mercenary hunting the Vision to acquire his technology. Stashwick worked with Matalas on both 12 Monkeys and Star Trek: Picard season three.

Also in the cast is Faran Tahir, who played the Ten Rings terrorist Raza in the first Iron Man. Actor Ruaridh Mollica is playing a character called “Tucker.” Many fans speculate this is a codename for Vision’s son Speed, brother of Billy Maximoff. Finally, T’Nia Miller has joined the cast as Jocasta. The “Bride of Ultron” first appeared as a villainous A.I. in the comics, but turned against her master like Vision did, and joined the Avengers. No word yet on whether Elizabeth Olsen will reappear as Vision’s wife, Wanda Maximoff, or if Joe Locke will appear as his son, Billy Kaplan, a.k.a. Wiccan.

The Vision Series Release Date

There is no set release date right now for the Vision series. Although it is expected to arrive on Disney+ sometime in 2026, it could arrive in early 2027.

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Are There Any New Pokémon in POKÉMON LEGENDS: Z-A?

We know for a fact that whenever a new Pokémon game is announced, the number one question that people want to know the answer to is “What new Pokémon will the game introduce?” When Pokémon Scarlet and Violet first released, a huge amount of excitement centered around meeting Fidough, Pawmi, Lechonk, Smoliv, and more. But are there any new Pokémon coming our way in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A game? So far, it looks like the answer is no.

Will There Be Any New Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?The Pokémon Company

Usually, by now, we’d have gotten at least one tease of about new Pokémon from an upcoming Pokémon game, but there have been only crickets from Pokémon Legends: Z-A. In fact, only six Pokémon are specifically associated with the game on its official website: its starters (Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile) and Zygarde 10% Forme, 50% Forme, and Complete Forme. Although, of course, we’ve seen more in trailers and the like.

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POKÉMON LEGENDS Z-A Includes Rare Pokémon

One explanation for this lack of new Pokémon is that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is not considered a “mainline” game in the franchise but is instead seen as a “spinoff” game. Spinoff games in the Pokémon franchise are much less likely to introduce new Pokémon into the universe, since they are not as robust as mainline games. There is some debate about whether this is an accurate categorization for Z-A, but the lack of new Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A so far does seem to indicate it might be so. There’s also been a suggestion that the “Pokémon Legends” designation indicates a spinoff game in new releases, although Pokémon Legends: Arceus appears to belie that assumption. But none of this has been confirmed officially.

In the end, all we know for sure is that, so far, there are no new Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Will There Be Any New Regional Forms or Pokémon Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?Game Freak

But even if Pokémon Legends: Z-A is actually a spinoff game and thus contains no new Pokémon, will it have new regional forms or Pokémon evolutions for us? It certainly could, but currently, over a year since its initial announcement, we haven’t seen any new regional forms announced for Lumiose City or any new Pokémon evolutions connected with Pokémon Legends: Z-A. We might still get these when the game releases, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely with only a few months to go before it’s out into the world.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Will Focus on Mega EvolutionsThe Pokémon Company

Ultimately, it seems that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will forgo new Pokémon, new regional forms, and new evolutions in favor of focusing on the idea of Mega Evolutions. While Mega Evolutions can look cool, they don’t change the Pokémon that much, in most cases, and Pokémon do not stay Mega evolved permanently, making the whole affair a bit less fun—for players and those simply watching along, waiting to hear what new kinds of Pokémon a game will bring.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A‘s Release Date and More

Although we’re sad there will most likely be no new Pokémon for us to write up in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, that game still does look like a lot of fun. Pokémon Legends: Z-A will release on October 16, 2025, and pre-orders for it begin on June 5, on the Nintendo eShop.

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POKÉMON LEGENDS Z-A Sets October Release Date

The official Pokémon Legends: Z-A description shares, “In Lumiose City, you’ll sometimes see Pokémon undergo Mega Evolution—a kind of Evolution that transcends standard Evolution. Effectively using Mega Evolution during battles can dramatically shift the odds of victory in your favor.“

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New BATMAN/DEADPOOL One-Shots Mark First DC/Marvel Crossover Comics in Decades

A few months back, news broke that DC and Marvel Comics would collaborate on a crossover event. The first one in over twenty years, published via two one-shot issues. We didn’t have any details then, but now we do. The first DC/Marvel crossover will star Batman and Deadpool, and it will feature two new one-shots, one published by Marvel Comics and one by DC Comics. They’ll be titled Deadpool/Batman and Batman/Deadpool, respectively. Let’s check out what we know about the epic Marvel and DC crossover below.

Marvel Comics’ Deadpool/Batman Is Coming in September

Marvel’s issue will tell the story of Deadpool taking a job in Gotham City that “puts him in the crosshairs of the World’s Greatest Detective”… aka, Batman. This one-shot is written by Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man) and drawn by fan-favorite Batman artist Greg Capullo. The Deadpool/Batman comic issue from Marvel Comics arrives on September 17.

Marvel Comics/DC Comics

Along with the main Batman and Deadpool one-shot, there will be a lineup of “backup adventures” that feature “Exciting Marvel and DC character match-ups.” No details on those have been revealed yet. Here’s what writer Zeb Wells had to say on the upcoming crossover issue (via EW):

After writing Amazing Spider-Man for 60 issues, I told Marvel I needed a break. Marvel told me I could do that or I could write a comic starring Deadpool and Batman with the best Batman artist of our generation. I no longer needed a break. In Batman we’ve found someone who has even less time for Deadpool’s antics than Wolverine, but a city-wide threat from the Joker makes strange bedfellows (literally, if Deadpool had his way). It’s been a blast letting Deadpool loose in Gotham City and watching what happens.

Greg Capullo, artist on Scott Snyder’s now-legendary run on Batman, had this to say about working on Deadpool/Batman:

Am I dreaming? This crossover is likely to be the high point of my career…and, I’ve had a great career,” the artist adds via email. “Some of my earliest work (many years ago) was on X-Force, so Deadpool and I go way back. More recently, I spent 10-plus years drawing Batman at DC. The idea that I get to do a crossover event with Deadpool and Batman…If I am dreaming, please don’t wake me!

DC Comics’ Batman/Deadpool Comic Arrives in November

Meanwhile, DC Comics will publish Batman/Deadpool #1 in November. This one is by legendary writer Grant Morrison, with art by Justice League Unlimited artist Dan Mora.

DC Comics/Marvel Comics

Here’s what Morrison, one of the premier Batman writers of all time, had to say about returning to the Dark Knight for this unique event:

I don’t do many comics these days but there was no way I could turn down the chance to work with Dan Mora again, one of my all-time favourite artistic collaborators—and definitely no way I could turn down Batman and Deadpool! Expect 4th wall busting mayhem, owls, blood, blades, and at least one giant typewriter! 

Did Morrison say “owls?” Does that mean Wade Wilson and Bruce Wayne are going to fight the Court of Owls? Or Batman’s twisted counterpart, Owlman? Anything is possible. Here’s what Dan Mora had to say about getting the chance to tackle these two superhero icons together:

This is more than I ever imagined I could do in my career, and it is a huge honor to be part of this crossover: it doesn’t happen too often, and I am a HUGE Deadpool fan! When I first worked with Grant, I didn’t know what to expect but it was an incredible team-up. I always hoped to work with Grant again, and working on Batman/Deadpool is like a dream come true. Grant and I working together on this once-in-a-lifetime project is going to be such a fun experience.

We Are Crossing Our Fingers for More DC and Marvel Comics Crossovers

Will there be more crossovers to come? We certainly hope this is not the end of the DC/Marvel crossovers. After all, we’ve never had a Justice League/X-Men comic, and we’re long overdue for one.

The post New BATMAN/DEADPOOL One-Shots Mark First DC/Marvel Crossover Comics in Decades appeared first on Nerdist.

All THE LAST OF US Season 3 Teases, Hints, and Clues Shared By the Showrunners, So Far

The Last of Us season two recently ended its brutal run with an intense finale. The Last of Us ended its second chapter in an incredibly abrupt way, but there’s no doubt that it left us wanting more. Both season one and season two of HBO’s The Last of Us series have to rank among the most thoughtful and well-created television series we’ve ever seen grace our screens. And so, naturally, no sooner has season two drawn to a close do we start to think about The Last of Us season three. Happily, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin are happy to give us a few teases about what’s up next in the world of The Last of Us. At a recent press conference that Nerdist attended, Druckmann and Mazin slipped in more than one The Last of Us season three tease, and we’re excited to report back on them all.

Check out every The Last of Us season three tease, hint, and clue that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann imparted in the wake of season two’s finale.

How Will Joel Figure Into The Last of Us Season 3’s World?HBO

At the press conference, Druckmann and Mazin were asked whether Ellie and Dina were the new cornerstone relationship of the show or whether the memory of Joel would still carry Ellie through future episodes.

To this, Craig Mazin affirmed that Joel’s presence and Joel and Ellie’s relationship would still be a key facet and play a critical role in The Last of Us season three and beyond.

Mazin shared:

Well, Joel is always going to be there, right? I mean, Joel’s dad is always there now, Sarah has always been there, that’s the thing, Riley’s always been there. We- We don’t forget these people, we don’t forget Henry and Sam, everybody’s feeding into the way that Ellie moves through. And for Abby, it’s clearly, even though we haven’t met him yet, really, there’s the memory of her father that’s hanging over all of this. And so much of the story is about ghosts. But the Ellie and Dina relationship is the central relationship of this season. There’s no question. That is the one that begins and develops, and where it’s going should be fascinating, given the circumstances that we now all know – Dina is pregnant, and the two of them are committed to each other. That said, there is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into. And there’s no question that Abby is the hero of her story, Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story always, you know. I mean, if you have a Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever. So, I think where we go next, all I can say is, it will always be centring somebody, whether it’s- It’s Ellie and Dina, or whether it’s Abby and Abby’s relationship with Owen, or new relationships. If you play the game, you probably know what I’m talking about. But everything, really, if you want to boil it down, everything is under the cloud or sunlight of Joel, what Joel did to Abby and what Joel did for Ellie, and that will never change.

It sounds like even though Joel met his fated, brutal death in The Last of Us season three, he will still play a KEY role for all the main characters still alive on the show. And with any luck that means we’ll get to see Pedro Pascal again in at least a couple of scenes in The Last of Us season three.

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THE LAST OF US Made a Mistake Including This (Great) Video Game SceneWill The Last of Us Season 3 Be From Abby’s Point of View?HBO

A huge question that came up around The Last of Us season three had to do with whether the series would change course and tell its story with Abby, not Ellie, as its POV character. At times, Neil Druckmann and Carl Mazin seemed to imply this was almost a certainty, while at others, they avoided promising the POV switch to Abby would happen at all in The Last of Us season three. The topic was such a massive one, we gave it its own article, which you can check out by clicking the link below.

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Will THE LAST OF US Season 3 Be From Abby’s Point of View? The Showrunners Weigh InThe Seraphite and WLF War WILL Be Explained in The Last of Us Season 3HBO

Speaking about the increased depth given to the character of Isaac, the WLF leader played by Jeffery Wright, Mazin and Druckmann touched on the future of Isaac and the Seraphite and WLF war on The Last of Us season three and beyond.

Druckmann revealed, “I think like all of our characters, we they have such strong beliefs that they’re obsessive about those beliefs, and that obsession, sometimes it’s love, can take them to really extreme situations. So, he just believes in the WLF and just these rights that it’s funny because he ends up being a fascist, even though he’s fighting fascism. But I think if you understand where he’s coming from, his motivation, you might say, you know, maybe he’s all right, like we sometimes justify really horrible things, if our motivation is to save our group, is to save ourselves. It’s like, oh, it’s okay for us to commit these horrible acts because they’re worse than us, but if they commit the same acts, then we- we totally damned them for those acts. So, that’s where Isaac gets interesting.” And interesting characters, we know just don’t fall by the wayside.

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What HBO’s THE LAST OF US Revealed About W.L.F.’s Isaac DixonAll Will Become Clear

Meanwhile, Mazin noted more firmly that more details about Isaac and the WLF and Seraphite feud were definitely on the way. He shared, “I was so delighted to have a chance to work with Jeffrey, and- and to fill some stuff in there. I think it bodes well for next season. I have so many questions, and I understand that the audience does too.” He adds “I sort of want to assure them that those questions are correct and will be answered. What is going on? How did that war start? Why? How did the Seraphite start? Who is the prophet? What happened to her? What does Isaac want? What’s happening at the end of episode seven? What is this explosion? What is all of it? And all of it will become clear.”

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There you have it, The Last of Us season three will be delving deeper in the Seraphites, the WLF, and their blood feud.

Jesse’s Death Will Impact Ellie and Dina’s Relationship in The Last of Us Season 3HBO

Ellie and Dina’s relationship has been incredibly sweet. They were planning on having an unconventional family together that would feature Ellie, Dina, Dina’s baby, and Jesse the baby’s father. But now, Jesse is dead and both Ellie and Dina are partially to blame, though, of course, it was Abby who pulled the trigger.

Speaking about the impact of Jesse’s death on Ellie and Dina’s relations, Neil Druckmann offered, “I mean, how could it not have a drastic impact, especially when he’s the father of this baby, but also a very close friend, a former romantic partner. Yeah, it’s going to mean a whole lot.”

Dina Will Bear a Sense of Guilt That Could Turn Into a Desire for Revenge

Meanwhile, Craig Mazin delved deeper into what we might see Dina go through in season three of The Last of Us. “It’s an interesting situation, because Jesse dies in part because of Ellie. But Ellie doesn’t pull the trigger, Abby does. And we invested quite a bit, going all the way back to episode one, the first time Joel looks up and says, “hey, kiddo”, it’s not to Ellie, it’s to Dina, that’s how we introduce her. And we understand that Dina has this great relationship with Joel. He talks about it with Gail, that it’s like she’s my kid or something. Dina loves Joel, and Dina has none of the baggage that Ellie has. She doesn’t know about the things that went on; she just met this nice guy who’s a contractor.”

HBO

He continues, “And she was there when Joel died. She had to suffer along with him, and she has gone in pursuit of Abby out of a sense of justice for that. So, now the question is, who does she blame? And I’m a big believer that once you start asking, who do I blame, you’re already down the wrong path. So, we know that once Ellie gave her this information about ok, I actually knew what Joel did, and this is what he did, it changes things for her. Jesse’s death is going to change things for her, but how we play that out? We have to wait and see.

The Crane Scene Is Coming in The Last of Us‘ Next Season

Before they concluded their conversation, Mazin and Druckmann left us with one last tease about The Last of Us season three. “You know,” Druckmann grinned, “There’s a certain crane that you’re seeing in episode seven that is very telling.”

HBO

The Last of Us—Part II players will know all about the crane scene… And that it’s a terrifying and vertigo-inducing location that figures into Abby’s story. Those who are into spoilers can check it out below.

.cls-2{fill:#9d342c} We Can’t Wait for The Last of Us Season 3

The Last of Us season three is probably a long way off, but all these hints and teases really paint a good picture of where the show might go. Ellie, Dina, and Abby are heading down dark roads, but hopefully, there’s a little levity and love in store for them too. We’ll only know for sure when more The Last of Us finally hits our screens. For now, The Last of Us seasons one and two are streaming in full on HBO Max.

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Will THE LAST OF US Season 3 Be From Abby’s Point of View? The Showrunners Weigh In

In The Last of Us—Part II, players spend a long time playing as Abby and discovering her secrets. But, of course, in a TV series, it’s a bit hard to suddenly shift to a totally new perspective in the middle of a show. But The Last of Us season two finale does send us off the deep end and right into Abby’s perspective, with a slight implication that we’re about to experience the events of season two from her perspective. In a press conference for season two, The Last of Us‘ showrunners Neil Druckmann and Carl Mazin wouldn’t commit to The Last of Us season three taking place from Abby’s point of view. But they do seem to hint this is a likely direction for the show to go. Neil Druckmann even notes that the finale shift to Abby is a “promise of where we’re going to go next.”

Abby’s Final Scene is “A Promise” About The Last of Us Season 3HBO

He shares about The Last of Us season two switching to Abby’s perspective in its last minute, “I think we often talk about what- what are we promising the audience going forward? For example, you know, it was important for Craig in episode five that we show Joel in that last scene because then there’s a promise of where we’re going to next. And had we ended the season somewhere else; I mean like a few moments before, I think that we wouldn’t be making the right promise of what this is about. And we’re telling you next season [LAUGHS], one, there’s just an epic nature to it of what’s about to happen, but this other story is going to be really important coming back to Joel and Ellie and everything that you’ve seen so far.”

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THE LAST OF US Season 2 ‘Spoiled’ an Abby Twist, Here’s WhyWhen You Have a Kaitlyn Dever, You Use a Kaitlyn DeverHBO

Additionally, as we noted in the last response, Craig Mazin pointed out in his discussion of the future of The Last of Us series on HBO (which includes season three), “there is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into. And there’s no question that Abby is the hero of her story, Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story always, you know. I mean, if you have a Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever. So, I think where we go next, all I can say is, it will always be centering somebody, whether it’s Ellie and Dina, or whether it’s Abby and Abby’s relationship with Owen, or new relationships. If you play the game, you probably know what I’m talking about.” It sounds like there’s a pretty good chance we’ll get at least some Abby POV in The Last of Us season three.

The Last of Us‘ Showrunners Won’t YET Commit to Whether Season 3 Will Feature More of Abby’s POVHBO

But when it came down to confirming this for sure, Mazin wouldn’t commit to saying The Last of Us season three would 100% feature Abby as a POV character.

He firmly noted he would give no defined answers to the following question: “Since the season ends very similarly to how The Last of Us—Part II game transitions between Ellie and Abby’s storylines, where does that leave Ellie in season three? Will the third season act like Abby’s portion of the game, in which it’s just told from her point of view, so, what anything, are you guys prepared to say out loud, as Gail would say, about that future balance?”

Mazin demurred, “I’m not going… I’m not going to… nope. I remember when people were asking about season two, they were like, and what about Joel, I’m like… and when we dies? I’m like, wait, what do you mean when? You mean ‘if’ [LAUGHS]. The season… The season will arrive, and it will do what it does, even if I thought I knew now exactly how it was going to go, I’m experienced enough to know that two weeks from now, we may have a different idea of how it should go.”

He concludes saying, “All I can say is we haven’t seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever, and we haven’t seen the last of Bella Ramsey, and we haven’t seen the last of Isabela Merced, and we haven’t seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story. And so, I guess the short answer to that question that everyone is asking is, no, I’m not answering [LAUGHS].”

We Bet Abby WILL Be Our Next Perspective Character, Though

There you have it. Will The Last of Us season three switch to Abby’s point of view for at least an episode… Probably! We can’t yet swear to it, but it does feel extremely likely. What we can swear to is that The Last of Us seasons one and two are streaming in full on HBO Max, and you can relive them all right now.

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Netflix’s LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Reboot Adds Six to Its Cast

Readers beware, the reboot train of the 2020s continues in 2025. The next property to get this treatment is Little House on the Prairie, whose original TV run lasted from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. For those who aren’t familiar, the show followed the very traditional and Christian Ingalls family, who lived on a small farm in rural Minnesota in the late 1800s. Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular book series of the same name, the live-action adaptation became a hit among viewers. Now, Little House on the Prairie is set for a reboot at Netflix.

NBC/Joanna Degeneres

The show has found its most important cast member: Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls. She is the protagonist and whom we will experience the series through, after all. Here’s a (very long) description of the character courtesy of Deadline:

Laura (Halsey) is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. She’s our window into this adventure. An American icon in waiting. Forget your modern ideas of childhood — the stakes are high for children living in the 19th century. They have responsibilities — and freedoms — that seem extraordinary in this era of helicopter parenting. Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery. She is observant, tender, strong-willed, hot-tempered. She resists the bounds of 19th-century ladylike behavior — she likes to run barefoot and feel the sun on her face. She is curious and optimistic and fearless, like her father; resourceful and hardworking and honest, like her mother. She is quick to call out anyone who is cruel or unjust. She loves fiercely and unapologetically and is utterly devoted to her dog, Jack. She rubs some adults the wrong way — too many hard questions, too much personality, too much energy — but to the people who matter, she’s a bright light. She absorbs every detail she sees around her, collecting them for stories she will someday share with the world.

NBC

Additionally, Luke Bracey, Crosby Fitzgerald and Skywalker Hughes will play Charles Ingalls, his wife Caroline, and Mary Ingalls, respectively. Deadline reports that Jocko Sims, Warren Christie, Wren Zhawenim Gotts, Meegwun Fairbrother, and Alyssa Wapanatâhk will be series regulars and Xander Cole will be in a recurring role. Sims and Christie will play characters from the books, Dr. George Tann and John Edwards, respectively. Gotts, Fairbrother, Wapanatâhk and Cole will play new characters, members of Osage family.

According to Variety, Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, Archive 81) will be the show’s executive producer and showrunner. It is an interesting choice considering the rather chaotic state of our world and the ongoing push for “traditional/old-school values” that aims to put people into heteronormative social boxes in the name of upholding religious standards that not everyone believes in. The original series was indeed into church, faith, etc., even when it tackled controversial topics within its idealized nuclear family. 

Sure, this Little House on the Prairie reboot could go down an unexpected and more liberal-minded pathway, but then it would not quite be the same. A period drama based around these characters could be fun if it is willing to take some big swings, subvert expectations, and challenge period norms while examining trials and tribulations of living off the land. (Seriously, people need to see that the most, since everyone thinks they want to be homesteaders these days.) We shall see which way it sways under Sonnenshine’s oversight. 

Anyway, here’s the official logline for this series: 

“Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical ‘Little House’ books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”

Of course, this recent greenlight means there isn’t much more information at this time. Until then, those who want to watch the original series can watch it on Peacock.

Originally published on January 29, 2025.

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EYES OF WAKANDA Showrunner Reveals Plot Details and New Images

Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda animated series is coming our way in August. The Disney+ show boasts Ryan Coogler as its executive producer and Todd Harris as its showrunner and will take us into this brilliant country like we’ve never seen it before. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Harris revealed more plot details about Eyes of Wakanda’s espionage tale with James Bond type characters in the mix along with some new images. 

Eyes of Wakanda will follow the Hatut Zaraze, a collective of Wakandan operatives called the Dogs of War. Their mission is to recover dangerous Vibranium artifacts across history, all the way back to the end of the Western Bronze Age.

Marvel Television

In the Marvel Comics, the Hatut Zaraze made their debut in Black Panther Vol. 3 #4. They are essentially Wakanda’s secret law enforcement that gets rid of threats by any means necessary. Their leader was the White Wolf, T’Chaka’s adopted son, and their methods of dealing with people were pretty gnarly. 

“I really liked the idea of everyone’s view of history,”  Harris said in the interview. “The story starts off during the end of the Western Bronze Age, and that spark sets off this giant spy-espionage story that reverberates through time… You get Wakanda-grade James Bond, and sometimes a Jane Bond, with the backdrop of all the awesomeness that is Wakanda.”

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Eyes of Wakanda will bring together “the interconnectivity of Marvel with the interconnectivity of history along with the interconnectivity of the human story.”

Check out the new images from Eyes of Wakanda: 

New look at ‘EYES OF WAKANDA’

A 4-part animated anthology series that follows warriors throughout Wakandan history tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts

(Source: https://t.co/UOehxzvq4K) pic.twitter.com/STXstvsQ0j

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 26, 2025

This sounds like such a cool project. And we cannot wait to see a full trailer sometime soon. Eyes of Wakanda will hit Disney+ on August 6.

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