Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 83

May 22, 2025

Sarah Michelle Gellar Wants to Return for SCREAM 7, Even Though Her Character Died

Let’s not mince words; Sarah Michelle Gellar is a horror icon. Not only for her lead role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s also ghost chaser Daphne Blake in the Scooby-Doo movies, starred in The Grudge, and was Helen Shivers in the original I Know What You Did Last Summer. But she also portrayed doomed sorority sister Cici Cooper in Scream 2, which came out the same year as both Buffy and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Now, we’ve learned that SMG is hoping to get a call to return for Scream 7. But so far, the phone’s just not ringing. Here’s what she told Entertainment Tonight, via Deadline:

I’m not in [Scream 7]. I tried to get in, nobody wanted me. They were bringing everybody back. I kept thinking I would get a call, I didn’t get a call. There’s a lot of people that died in all the Scream movies that are back. Skeet [Ulrich], [Matthew] Lillard. I’m just saying, I’m waiting for my call.

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Cici Cooper in Scream 2. Dimension Films

Part of the reason Sarah isn’t being asked back is the same reason she turned down a return in the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel. Her character quite famously died in her previous appearance. We are not sure why her character’s death by slasher in one movie is grounds for not coming back, and completely ok to ignore in another, but here we are. We’ll venture a guess and say that most of the returning Scream franchise alumni are former Ghostface killers. We don’t think Scream 7 is going to go the route of resurrecting any of the victims. But it’s clear SMG wants to return to the Scream universe in some capacity. Maybe Cici had a sister? Stranger things have happened in this franchise, that’s for sure.

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Somehow, David Arquette’s Dewey Will Return in SCREAM 7 (As Will Scott Foley AND Matthew Lillard)

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Published on May 22, 2025 15:54

ANDOR’s Tony Gilroy on How Kleya Was Actually in Charge

We’re still basking in the aftermath of Andor, one of the best sci-fi series in who knows how long. The show is so good, we almost can’t believe it exists. We spent four whole weeks getting into every nook and cranny of season two as part of our Laser Focus podcast. (You can watch each of those here.) But all of that was prologue for what ended up being the main event. Series creator Tony Gilroy joined us to talk about season two, the biggest character arcs, and his legacy within the greater Star Wars saga.

You can listen to the full conversation here:

We spent a lot of time speaking about the final three episodes and the end of Luthen Rael’s storyline. While all of us knew before the show even premiered that Stellan Skarsgard would kill it, none of us expected Kleya, as played by Elizabeth Dulau, would end up one of the series’ MVPs. Gilroy let us in on something we probably never picked up on. Kleya, not Luthen, was in charge the whole time.

“I didn’t want anybody to think there was anything romantic [about Kleya and Luthen’s relationship],” Gilroy said. “I didn’t want anybody to think she was his daughter or his lover. And I wanted the relationship to be absolutely as antiseptic as it is. But that required really explaining its provenance [in the flashback]. Then when you get into the provenance, you have this girl and the potential problem; oh my God, is he manipulating her into this life?

“And when you try to build against that, you realize it’s really cool. She’s actually been in charge of the thing from day one, from the moment they met. Kleya’s been in charge of everything. She really has been the boss. He’s afraid of her all the way through. If you go back and look at the whole show, she really is the navigator all the way through, from the time they met. And that’s a really cool thing to play with.”

Kleya in a hood with Luthen outside on AndorLucasfilm

Gilroy also said, one of his favorite moments from the final episode, gives Kleya at last a tiny bit of satisfaction. “The moment where she’s on Yavin at the end,” Gilroy explained, “and she’s seen Vel, during the final montage, [Elizabeth Dulau] gave just the little slightest Mona Lisa, kind of bit of pleasure that she realizes what her contribution has been. She sees what they’ve built. As much as she’s been against Yavin and against the establishment and felt like an outsider. There’s just this, oh my God, it’s shaded so beautifully! You just almost see this, just the beginning of a little bit of satisfaction with what they’ve done.”

Mr. Gilroy should have more than a little bit of satisfaction with what he’s done. Andor is, for my money, the best Star Wars has ever been.

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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Published on May 22, 2025 15:36

New SUPERMAN Image Teases an Iconic Moment

Soon, the world will meet a new Clark Kent in Superman. (Formerly titled Superman: Legacy). DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the most famous superhero in the world as they transition the franchise from the DCEU to the DCU. Who will play the Man of Steel on the big screen this time around? What kind of story will we see him in? And who will bring it to life? We’re keeping track of all these answers and more.

We really dig this iconic image of Clark Kent getting ready to quick change and get into action, which is such an iconic moment for this hero.


Times may change, but hope always remains. 💙❤️ #Superman – only in theaters July 11. pic.twitter.com/aQjfuLRQfN

— Superman (@Superman) May 22, 2025

James Gunn hopped on social media to share a behind the scenes look at him with Mister Terrific.

Here’s everything we know about Superman so far.

TitleKrypto the superdog joins DCU supermanWarner Bros.

The DCU’s first official movie (though not its first official release) is now titled simply Superman. Of course, the movie began its life as Superman: Legacy. It will kick off the film side of what James Gunn has called the franchise’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters.” He has also called this movie “the true beginning” of the DCU.

Superman‘s PlotAn illustrated Superman sits above the trees and looks over his shouldersDC Comics/Frank Quitely

While the film still has no official synopsis, Warner Bros. did provide a description of what we can expect from the story, which James Gunn says is not an origin tale.

Superman tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn announced the film with art from the cover of All-Star Superman by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Whether or not that means the story is influenced, inspired by, or adapted from the 12-issue comic series in any way is unclear. What Gunn has said is the movie will focus on “an earlier part of Superman’s life,” where he is still old enough to already be working for the Daily Planet.

Recently, James Gunn gave us a new look at one of Superman‘s villains, Engineer. In the DCU, Engineer is played by María Gabriela de Faría. We don’t know too much about her role yet, but we know she is “sinister perfection.”


Happy Anniversary to the Engineer, created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, who you can see played to sinister perfection by puppy in human form Gaby de Faria in #Superman this July! 🦾 pic.twitter.com/baXnmpCIoR

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 10, 2025

We also have our first look at David Corenswet as the DCU’s Superman.

Superman Legacy first look reveals David Corenswet as DCU Superman and his costumeJames Gunn

We also have our first look at Nicholas Hoult’s Lux Luthor. The menacing villain looks to be in fine form as he scowls around our first glimpse of the Superman movie. Check him out above in all his in all his glory, and you can then take a look at the character in action in the trailer itself. (We break it down here)

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor from James Gunn DCU Superman trailer (1) (1)Warner Bros./DCSuperman‘s CastJames Gunn DCU new movie Superman Legacy casts leads David Corenswet and Rachel BrosnahanNetflix/DC Comics/Prime Video

David Corenswet will play Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane.

In addition, four more actors have joined the cast of Superman. Isabela Merced will play Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi will play Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan will play Metamorpho. María Gabriela de Faría will play the villain The Engineer in the movie. Also known as Angela Spica, the character has nanotechnology built into her body. Additionally, Sara Sampaio will play Eve Teschmacher, Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen, and Wendell Pierce will play The Daily Planet boss Perry White. Saturday Night Live‘s Beck Bennett will play The Daily Planet‘s sports journalist Steve Lombard. James Gunn has also confirmed that Nicholas Hoult will play Lex Luthor.

James Gunn recently confirmed that one exciting canine character would join the world of the DCU’s Superman this summer. Gunn shared that Krypto the Superdog would be a fixture of the movie and that he would be a pup who is a “not-so-good-good-boy” inspired by Gunn’s own real-life dog, Ozu.

In full, Gunn notes:

Krypto arrives on screens in Superman this summer. Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman. Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs & never knew human beings, was problematic to say the least. He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture – he even ate my laptop. It took a long time before he would even let us touch him. I remember thinking, “Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?” – and thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life. What better time to debut the not-so-good-good-boy Krypto than #AdoptAShelterDog month.  Btw, Ozu today, is, fairly often, a very good boy.  #Superman

Gunn also recently confirmed the casting of Ma and Pa Kent on Threads. Pruitt Taylor Vince (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will play Jonathan Kent, a.k.a. Pa Kent. Meanwhile, Neva Howell will play Martha Kent.

Behind the Scenes 

James Gunn wrote the (definitely completed) script and is directing.

Recently, James Gunn hopped on social media to share a behind the scenes look at him with actor Skyler Gisondo, who will portray Superman’s best pal Jimmy Olsen. Gunn says Gisondo is “gonna knock you out of your socks” with this role.


Today is the anniversary of Superman’s Best Pal Jimmy Olsen. @SkylerGisondo’s performance in #Superman is gonna knock you out of your socks.

Photo by Jess Miglio. pic.twitter.com/uQq4g99RfW

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 15, 2025
Superman‘s Release Date

Thanks to the efforts of our talented crew, who never lost faith during the longest strikes in Hollywood history, and who never let their foot off the pedal, continuing to barrel forward, creating the most amazing character and set designs I’ve seen in my entire career,… pic.twitter.com/ntnEbA2fC0

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) November 11, 2023

Superman will soar into theaters faster than a speeding bullet on July 11, 2025.

Originally published on April 11, 2023.

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Published on May 22, 2025 13:07

New FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Image May Tie-In With THUNDERBOLTS* Post-Credits Scene

A new, perhaps spoilery photo from The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been released online. Via IGN, we’ve learned that many fans think this Fantastic Four photo ties directly into the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene. As you may recall, that scene jumped forward in time 14 months, and the Thunderbolts, now branded the New Avengers, detect a ship coming into Earth’s orbit from another dimension. And we see that the ship has a “4” logo on it, letting us know it’s the Fantastic Four. Is the ship we see them in below the one that they arrive in the Sacred Timeline with? We have a strong feeling it is.

In the new photo, posted by Fandango, we see Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) on board a spaceship of some kind, one with “4” logos. This means it’s definitely not the space flight where they got their powers. We see glimpses of that flashback in the trailer. In those scenes, their spacesuits are clearly just regular, standard-issue NASA style suits. The spaceship in this image is clearly one they have after they’re a famous superhero team. So it could very likely be the ship we see them traverse the Multiverse with at the end of Thunderbolts.*

The Fantastic Four first steps trailer Pedro Pascal as Mister FantasticMarvel Studios

This makes us wonder even more about the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Does Marvel’s First Family defeat Galactus at the end of their film? We genuinely don’t think it will end with the death of billions, it’s just too much of a downer. Perhaps, they end his threat only temporarily. They may feel the need to go to another reality with more heroes for help. Maybe that’s why they are heading to Earth-616. This is not because Galactus destroys their world, but because they know he is a bigger problem than one group of heroes can handle. We’ll find out more about this connection with Thunderbolts* when The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25.

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Published on May 22, 2025 12:56

New HUNGER GAMES Movie Casts Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman

Not too long ago, on the very heels of a new Hunger Games book announcement, we also received new of a new Hunger Games movie, and this time it’s all about Haymitch Abernathy. Suzanne Collins announced that she was releasing a new Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping, that would focus on the Second Quarter Quell, the Hunger Games that were won by a young Haymitch Abernathy. And, unsurprisingly, Lionsgate followed up that announcement by announcing Sunrise on the Reaping will become our newest Hunger Games movie. Now Sunrise on the Reaping, the book, is out in the world, and we have new information about the movie, too, a new logo and a writer.

Check it all out below.

Sunrise on the Reaping new the hunger games movie logo (1)LionsgateA New Hunger Games Movie Is on the Way

Lionsgate shared, “Lionsgate will return to the world of Panem with the major motion picture adaptation of the next book in the franchise, Suzanne Collins’s highly anticipated Hunger Games novel Sunrise on the Reaping, it was announced today by Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.”

new hunger games haymitch movie sunrise on the reaping in the worksLionsgate

Additionally, Nina Jacobson, alongside her producing partner Brad Simpson, will return to produce The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. A release notes that “Francis Lawrence is in talks to direct the film; Lawrence has helmed four previous films in the Hunger Games franchise – every film since Catching Fire.”

Most recently, screenwriter Billy Ray was named the writer for Sunrise on the Reaping. Ray co-wrote the original The Hunger Games movie and get ready for it that iconic Nicole Kidman AMC ad. Amazing.

Sunrise on the Reaping CastElle Fanning and Elizabeth Banks as The hunger games Effie TrinketDisney/Lionsgate

The first two major cast members have closed deals to star in Sunrise on the Reaping. Deadline reports relative newcomer Joseph Zada will portray Haymitch in the movie. Opposite him, as Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird, will be Hocus Pocus 2‘s Whitney Peak. Succession star Kieran Culkin is also joining the cast as Caesar Flickerman.

After many rumors, Deadline confirms that Elle Fanning will play a younger Effie Trinket. This well-known The Hunger Games character was first played by Elizabeth Banks in the first four movies. Additionally, McKenna Grace will play Maysilee Donner, another one of the tributes from District 12.

In exciting news, Sunrise on the Reaping has cast Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee. Plutarch Heavensbee is a future Head Gamemaker in The Hunger Games and rebellion leader. The role of Plutarch Heavensbee was previously played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, and honestly, this casting is astoundingly good.

Mufasa: The Lion King‘s Kelvin Harrison Jr. has been cast as a familiar face, Beetee. Beetee is the victor of the 34th Hunger Games and the father of Ampert Latier, a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games. Beetee is a tech wizard and we feel Kelvin Harrison Jr. will play him to perfection.

Ben Wang of American Born Chinese and Karate Kid: Legends fame will portray District 12 Tribute Wyatt Callow. He is an excellent actor and won the role over literally thousands of other potential candidates.

Additionally, Stranger Things Maya Hawke has joined the cast as Wiress, another Hunger Games victor who has become a mentor to new tributes. Finally, Ralph Fiennes has joined Sunrise on the Reaping as the new President Snow—cementing yet another major villainous role in his repertoire.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping‘s Synopsis and Haymitch Focus

A plot synopsis for the new Hunger Games movie shares of the Sunrise on the Reaping film:

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will revisit the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Of course, as mentioned, this setting means we’ll get the backstory of Haymitch Abernathy in the new Hunger Games movie.

When Will the New Hunger Games Movie Sunrise on the Reaping Release?Woody Harrelson looks stern as Haymitch in The Hunger GamesLionsgate

The new Hunger Games movie even has a release date. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will release in theaters in North America beginning on November 20, 2026.

Originally published in 2024.

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Published on May 22, 2025 08:49

A Frustrating MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING Ends the Franchise’s Run of Greatness

The list of people on the planet most likely to love Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning before actually seeing it went 1) Tom Cruise 2) me. To say the last four installments are some of my favorite movies ever is an understatement. I began my rave, five-star review of Dead Reckoning by calling the franchise “a Hollywood miracle.” So, truly, this personally pains me to say…:deeeeep sigh:…the miracle has ended.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a disappointment full of boring exposition dumps, clunky dialogue, and a needlessly complicated plot that stops it from being the emotional farewell it hopes to be. It’s strangely lacking in action sequences and feels small. The magic that turned a dying franchise into something special after three films is nowhere to be found.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning wants to deliver an Endgame-style film for the franchise. The problem is that unlike the MCU’s era-concluding movie, The Final Reckoning doesn’t trust its audience. It doesn’t think you know or remember anything that happened before. It’s part movie, part CliffsNotes of the series. It features a tedious, frustrating amount of flashbacks that kills the pace of the film. Unlike Endgame, which rewarded viewers who’d invested the most into everything that came before it, for inexplicable reasons The Final Reckoning only cares about people who don’t even know who Ethan Hunt is. This movie punishes the people inclined to love it the most.

Removing the never-ending cascade of annoying flashbacks wouldn’t solve another problem, though. The movie’s many connections to previous films are hit-or-miss. Which ones hit and which ones miss will depend how much you think they’re earned versus feeling forced/fan service-y. I don’t want to spoil any of those connections to past films specifically. I’ll just say I ran the full gamut of emotions with them. Some made me think, “That’s awesome,” while others had me saying, “Give me a break.” The most important one garnered an unenthusiastic, “I guess that’s fine.”

(When you inevitably find yourself bored to tears during another dull exposition-laden moment—including an interminable briefing scene—try and guess which ones I liked and which ones I didn’t. I promise that will be more interesting than being told something you almost certainly already know.)

[image error]Paramount Pictures

The Final Reckoning has lots of other issues, too. It’s not very funny, a staple of the last four installments. The impeccable urgency and pace of those perfect action-movies are also mostly absent. This script is simply not that good. There are a few moments where you see what made the last four films special, but those are too sparse to overcome the movie’s foundational flaws.

It doesn’t help that, unlike its four immediate predecessors, this movie doesn’t look as good. Far worse is that it feels small. (Small, not intimate.) The scope that made this series special is mostly gone. That might be The Final Reckoning‘s biggest sin. Forget dives into giant water tanks and car chases through massive desert storms. This franchise made Tom Cruise running atop an airport roof feel epic and grand.

But most of this movie takes place in dark tunnels, offices (both office in buildings and on boats and submarines), and caves. It’s the antithesis of a franchise that turned things around by having Cruise hang off the side of the world’s tallest building.

It’s not exactly a great sign that when the movie finally got to the big promised biplane sequence I felt relief more than excitement. I was just happy to be outside again!

Tom Cruise hanging from a flying biplane high above the ground in Mission: Impossible - The Final ReckoningParamount Pictures

The good news is that it didn’t take long for that relief to actually transform into excitement. That plane sequence is absolutely incredible. It’s pure Mission: Impossible, the franchise at its best. It’s one of two stunning action scenes in the film. The other takes place in the abandoned submarine this movie was always destined to visit. It plays like a horror movie crossed with a disaster film inside an action movie. I have no idea how director Christopher McQuarrie filmed it. Along with the plane sequence, it’s one of the only parts of this movie I can’t wait to rewatch again and again.

But while there are some fun fights and plenty of Tom Cruise running mixed in, no other action sequence stands out as particularly memorable. Neither does the Entity itself. Despite being more powerful and having garnered a cult of human acolytes, it somehow feels less intimidating this time around. The Entity spends the whole film on the verge of ending biological life on Earth but mostly comes across as a big digital dork. At least Esai Morales has a lot of fun as the film’s other villain, Gabriel. He’s more unhinged, desperate, and scene-chewy this time.

A Frustrating MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING Ends the Franchise’s Run of Greatness_1Paramount Pictures

While no one in the cast is bad, the script prevents most of its cast from doing anything memorable. There are a few standouts, though. Henry Czerny’s Eugene Kittridge is still the best any time he speaks. Severance‘s Tramell Tillman shows up and steals every scene he’s in. And a moving Ving Rhames provides the film’s only earned pathos. His Luther is the one character who truly feels like he’s in the movie this movie is trying to be, because The Final Reckoning really yearns to make you very emotional.

And if there was anyone on the planet that should have been true of it’s me! The trailers made me emotional. Yet, somehow, the actual movie just made me feel frustrated and bored for the majority of its needlessly long runtime of nearly two hours and 45 loooooong minutes. I guess it need all the time to both a) include way too many overly complicated plot points and b) also keep explaining them over and over again. And again. And again….

Mission: Impossible became my favorite movie franchise when it suddenly, somehow, went from bad to the best thing ever. The fact it did will always be a Hollywood miracle to me. But I now have to reckon with the fact that after four amazing films a mediocre movie ended that miracle.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ⭐ (2.5 of 5)

This film races into theaters on May 23.

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Published on May 22, 2025 08:30

Michael Douglas Says MCU Return as Hank Pym Is Unlikely

The Avengers: Doomsday cast is so large that it took Marvel hours of showing fans chairs during a livestream to go through its lineup. And the wild part is that there are more announcements that will come in the near future! One name that probably won’t come up is Hank Pym. Ant-Man star Michael Douglas spoke to Deadline recently and said that he thinks he’s done with the MCU, which means we probably won’t see Hank Pym anymore. 

“I had the experience, and I was excited to do it,” Douglas said. This makes a lot of sense for a few reasons. First, Douglas asked for Hank Pym to be killed off in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which obviously didn’t happen. Hank returns home and goes back to living his life. 

Michael DOuglas as Hank Pym in Ant-Man and The Wasp: QuantumaniaLucasfilm

And, outside of his MCU appearances as Hank Pym, Douglas is mostly retired from acting, instead choosing to run a production company. He’s also 80 years old and deserves to do whatever he wants after a long and very successful career.

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Everything We Know About AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY

Evangeline Lilly, who played his daughter Hope, is also stepping away from acting to focus on family. So it’s unlikely we will see this family again, unless Michelle Pfieffer decides to return as Janet and join Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. We shall see.

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Published on May 22, 2025 07:51

PARKS AND REC’s Fabled ‘Philly Justice’ Has Finally Been Released

To be anywhere near the set of a TV show from creator Michael Schur sounds like the absolute dream of dreams. Over the course of his 20+ year career in television, Schur has given people shows like The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the current A Man on the Inside. But it’s Schur’s first series as creator, Parks and Recreation, that remains the most beloved in our hearts. Not only was it delightfully funny and endlessly memeable (if that’s important to you), but by all accounts it was just an absolute joy to work on. How fun was it? Infamously, the cast and crew took time out of their actual shooting schedule to shoot a fake 2000s-era legal drama called Philly Justice that no one has seen.

Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Dylan McDermott, and Rashida Jones in the fake legal drama, Philly Justice.Good Hang with Amy Poehler

That is, no one has seen until Parks and Rec star Amy Poehler welcomed Mike Schur onto her podcast, Good Hang. It seems fans have pestered her to get a glimpse of this fake show they made for no reason. As part of a recent episode of the podcast, Poehler finally let the world see Philly Justice. But not before giving everyone the full rundown of how it happened.

It seems all of this began during the fourth season of Parks. That year, Leslie Knope (Poehler) ran for City Council of Pawnee, IN. That meant she and other characters wore a lot more business attire than biz-cazh. It also meant Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn were on the show a bunch as Leslie’s opponent and his flashy DC campaign manager, respectively. Series regular Rashida Jones commented that they all looked like they belonged on a David E. Kelley show. (Jones herself was on Boston Public for 38 episodes, so she knows.)

Not to simply “yadda yadda yadda” the story, but eventually the entire writing staff and actors had worked on characters and scripts for this not-real show. Producer Morgan Sackett then began trying to make the shooting of the first episode plus behind-the-scenes documentary a reality. When it came time to shoot, Rudd was no longer available. What to do? Well, ask Dylan McDermott to come in. Once again, no one was ever going to see this because it’s not a real thing. The only reason behind all of this was “Fun.”


Amy Poehler has finally released a trailer for Philly Justice — the fake TV show Poehler, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, and Kathryn Hahn created for fun while filming Parks & Rec! IYKYK pic.twitter.com/uhWuVFUZab

— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) May 20, 2025

This is legitimately one of the silliest things of all time, and the podcast about its creation makes it even better. If only all workplaces could be that rampantly ridiculous on purpose. Will we ever get a reboot of the fake show that never happened? Only time will tell, apparently.

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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Published on May 22, 2025 06:45

May 21, 2025

Zach Braff Will Officially Join the SCRUBS Reboot

It wasn’t several months ago that a revival of the medical sitcom Scrubs was announced. Then for a long time, there was no news at all. Fans started to feel like it wasn’t going to happen. But according to Deadline, Scrubs had just landed its original lead actor back, as Zach Braff has officially signed on to return for the reboot. Braff returns to the beloved series as John “J.D.” Dorian, and now that he’s back, most of the other original cast members will also likely sign back on. The original series ran for nine seasons, from 2001-2010.

Zach Braff and the cast of Scubs. ABC Television

Apparently, there was much contention between the actor and the studio about where they would film the series. Braff was pushing for Los Angeles, with the studio hoping to shoot in the far more cost-effective Vancouver. But it looks like Braff won this battle, and the new version of Scrubs will shoot in L.A. after all. The studio will now offer deals to other original cast members Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reid), Donald Faison (Christopher Turk), John C. McGinley (Perry Cox), and Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa). Like any good legacy sequel, the original cast will mix it up/mentor a new generation of medical interns.

In the fifteen years since Scrubs ended its network run, the television landscape has changed significantly. The days of 22-episode network shows are rapidly dying. So we imagine this new Scrubs will wind up on a streamer alongside ABC. And probably with far less episodes. Since ABC/Disney produced the show back in the day, we imagine it will end up on the Disney-owned Hulu. The will be yet another revival/reboot heading to Hulu, as the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer will also land on the streamer. There’s no word yet as to when the new version of Scrubs starts filming, or what the projected premiere date is.

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Published on May 21, 2025 16:24

INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Returns to Theaters for Father’s Day

So, what are you getting dear old Dad for Father’s Day this year? Instead of another tie again, how about taking him to the ultimate “Dad Movie,” Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Ok, maybe Top Gun or Field of Dreams qualifies as the ultimate “Dad Movie.” Or possibly even The Shawshank Redemption. But for our money Last Crusade has the best father/son duo in film. Dr. Henry Jones and Dr. Henry Jones Jr., better known as Indiana, just can’t be beat. Via Boing Boing, we’ve learned that “The Jones Boys” return for a limited theatrical engagement of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, June 14, 15, and 18. Time to bond with pops watching Indy punch Nazis on the big screen.

Sean Connery and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.Lucasfilm/Paramount

This latest Fathom screening event will also include a special introduction by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin. For a lot of Indy fans, Last Crusade is their favorite of the five Indiana Jones films. True, Raiders of the Lost Ark will always remain the most GOATed of the franchise to us. But Last Crusade is a pretty close second. Although there was only a twelve-year age difference between and Sean Connery, they were a truly believable father/son team. Last Crusade also contains an iconic sequence starring the late River Phoenix as young Henry Jones, before naming himself after the family dog.

If you want to do a proper Indy marathon before watching Last Crusade again, the entire series is now streaming on Disney+. However, if you want to skip Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in your rewatch, we promise we won’t tell anyone. You can purchase tickets for Steven Spielberg’s iconic adventure film now from Fandango or other online ticket sellers. As the Grail Knight in the film says, “Choose wisely.”

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Published on May 21, 2025 15:18

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