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Enhanced geothermal startup Fervo Energy’s IPO could value the company at up to $6.5 billion.

I’m pretty tired of hearing about, thinking about, and worrying about AI. Technology in our era has rarely come with so much uncertainty. Will it lead to humanity’s downfall or nah? Hollywood, at least Hollywood creative types, have mainly come down on the side of A.I. is not good. We already know one cannot copyright generative AI “art,” but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also solidified rules pertaining to AI usage with regard to the Oscars. Basically, if your movie uses it, you better be able to prove exactly what and how much if you hope to win a golden statue.Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

In a piece of news we got from The Hollywood Reporter, on Friday, May 1, AMPAS effectively eliminated any gray area about AI and where the organization stands. The only performances which the board of directors say can receive awards consideration are those “credited in a film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent.” This wording seems to point toward recreating actors who’ve passed away. One such high-profile example is a production creating a Val Kilmer performance. If ghoulish producers want to use AI of dead people in perpetuity, they at least can’t win Oscars for it.

Additionally, the new AMPAS rules say only human-authored screenplays can be eligible for Oscars. So don’t use ChatGPT to write a screenplay, you silly billies. Or, if I may, to do anything. Think for yourself. “Under Eligibility (Rule Two), which pertains to Generative Artificial Intelligence, the Academy reserves the right to request more information about the nature of AI use and human authorship.” So don’t try to trick people about it, either.

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James Cameron Banned Generative AI Use in AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

Whether or not businesses will mandate the continued usage of AI, consumers at least have made it pretty clear they don’t want to watch movies or TV shows made from it. And AI won’t win Oscars. Small victories.

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.

The post The Motion Picture Academy Cracks Down on AI for Oscar Consideration appeared first on Nerdist.

U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA says the CopyFail bug is being actively used in hacking campaigns, and poses a major risk to servers and datacenters that rely on Linux.

The season finale of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord finally brought to life a lightsaber battle fans have long dreamed of seeing. One that was literally decades in the making. In the episode “Dark Lord,” Darth Vader finally has a lightsaber duel with the man he replaced at the side of Darth Sidious, Maul (Sam Witwer). During the fierce dark side duel, which also involved a Jedi Master, his apprentice, two Inquisitors, and others, the icons of evil clashed red sabers at long last. And for years, fans thought this fight between the two most popular Sith Lords could never happen.

Lucasfilm

In the final two episodes of Maul, our cast of characters put aside their differences in an effort to evade Imperial crackdown on Janix. Maul, his Mandalorian foot soldiers, Jedi Master Eeko-Dio Daki and his apprentice Devon, officer Brander Lawson and his son Rylee, the droid Two-Boots, and mob boss Looti Vario escape through the jungles of the planet to rendezvous with Crimson Dawn operative Dryden Vos, played by Paul Bettany in Solo. He hopes to recruit Maul to eliminate his boss for him, so he can move up the ranks. But the Inquisitors find them and engage in battle…but this time, they called in help —their boss, Darth Vader.

Lucasfilm

As the episode opens, the Dark Lord of the Sith emerges from the jungle, lightsaber ignited. Maul lunges at him, and their red sabers clash. The two Jedi join Maul in fighting Vader, but he easily handles them all. He injures Maul’s robotic leg, giving himself another advantage over the former Sith. As the rest of the party runs through the Janix jungles, Darth Vader silently pursues them relentlessly like Michael Myers. Even Maul and two Jedi are no match for Lord Vader at his peak. Maul says to him, “You’re no Inquisitor….what are you?” Although we do believe Maul should know exactly what, and who, he is. Hey, maybe Vader still holds a grudge from when Maul nearly ran over him as a kid in The Phantom Menace.

Lucasfilm

As Devon fights off the Inquisitors, Vader is wiping the floor with Master Daki and Maul. In his prime, Maul might have been an even match for Vader. But with an injured robotic leg, he can only just hold his own. Ultimately, Vader kills Master Daki, claiming another Jedi for his Order 66 body count. Master Daki’s death causes Devon to erupt in a rage, defeating (but not killing) the Eleventh Brother. Brander Lawson sacrifices himself so his son can get away, as Maul uses the Force to collapse several ruins on Vader. All so they can narrowly escape on Dryden Vos’ getaway ship. Vader stares off into the sky as their ship gets away. He doesn’t like unfinished business, that Vader.

Lucasfilm

It is interesting to note that in this otherwise amazing episode, Maul seems perplexed as to who Vader is. As we saw in The Clone Wars finale, Maul is well aware of Darth Sidious’ plan to groom Anakin Skywalker as his replacement. He must sense that this is Count Dooku’s replacement at his former master’s side. And he must then also realize just who is behind the mask. So his confusion was a bit perplexing to us. We genuinely hope these two have a conversation at some point. Because if anyone can plant the seed in Vader’s mind that Sidious will dispose of him when the newer model comes along? We think it might be Maul. He’s been there. The genesis of his turn in Return of the Jedi may have originally come from Maul.

Lucasfilm

Another key takeaway in this episode is that while we hear Vader’s iconic breathing throughout, he never speaks. You may be thinking this is because the voice of Vader, James Earl Jones, passed away in 2024. However, the esteemed actor allowed Lucasfilm the rights to use his voice, as long as they compensated his estate. Even though he was credited, James Earl Jones did not voice any new lines for Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2022. Lucasfilm used the AI technology Respeecher to recreate his voice, but chose not to do so here. It totally works silently, just as Vader’s Rogue One fight scene did. But one wonders when we’ll hear Vader speak again. After all, we know this is not the last time these two will face off.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord season one is now available on Disney+.

The post MAUL-SHADOW LORD Gives Fans a Long-Awaited Lightsaber Duel appeared first on Nerdist.

AI chip maker Cerebras is heading for a blockbuster IPO that could value it at $26.6 billion or more. It's relationship with OpenAI is deep and rich.

If some travelers seemed down this past weekend it’s because they lost their spirit to fly. Literally. After 34 years and many turbulent issues, the recent spike in fuel costs led Spirit Airlines to cease operations.

On May 2, Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc. confirmed reports it was shutting down immediately. In its formal announcement, the discount airline said it closed up shop after “extensive and comprehensive efforts to restructure the business and pursue transactions to strengthen Spirit’s financial position and create a sustainable path forward.” A new, unexpected, ultimately insurmountable problem arose after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Though Spirit didn’t cite the war directly, it’s the event that proved fatal to the airline. It’s responsible for the rise in oil prices Spirit couldn’t overcome. With no cushy government bailout or new investors to save it, Spirit’s runway ran out.

Spirit Airlines

“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more
accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” said Dave Davis,
Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “In March 2026, we reached an agreement with our bondholders on a restructuring plan that would have allowed us to emerge as a go-forward business. However, the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the Company. Sustaining the business required
hundreds of millions of additional dollars of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could
not procure. This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted.”

Considering the company already faces problems, the reasons for the sudden shutdown make sense. That’s unlikely to make Spirit customers who got stuck at airports without a way home probably feel better, though. The same goes for the thousands of employees now out of work.

One less airline always means less competition. One less discount airline is really going to hurt everyone who flies. Without Spirit around to drive down prices, we’re all going to have less spirit when traveling.

The post Spirit Airlines Shuts Down Citing Rising Fuel Costs appeared first on Nerdist.

Appfigures finds visual model launches generate 6.5x more downloads — but most don’t convert that spike into revenue.

Katie Haun announced on Monday that $1 billion has been raised across new funds to continue the firm’s thesis of backing crypto and blockchain startups.

Another year of television will usher in more memorable moments and brilliant characters. But, with the joys of new shows and returning ones alike, there is the sad side of becoming invested into a series. It is not uncommon for show cancellations to happen in this streaming era before a show even gets to find its stride. And, like all good things in life, a series has to come to an end at some point. We hate to say goodbye but we always cherish the narrative journey. In 2026, there are quite a few shows that either got an unfortunate cancellation notice or are simply ending, perhaps wrapping up the plan of their creative team. 

Let’s get into what shows we will have to say goodbye to this year. 

All the TV Shows Canceled or Ending in 2026; Jump To:

• The Night Agent (Netflix)
• Gen V (Prime Video)
• From (MGM+)
• Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)
• Hacks (HBO)
• The Boys  (Prime Video)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  (CBS)
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon  (AMC)
• Outlander  (Starz)
• Good Omens (Prime Video)
• The Witcher  (Netflix)
• All American  (The CW)
• The Way Home  (Hallmark Channel)

The Night Agent (Netflix)Netflix

Netflix’s thriller series The Night Agent will officially end with season four. Series creator Shawn Ryan shares, “Ever since the initial success of ‘The Night Agent,’ I’ve been obsessed with eventually delivering a proper and thrilling conclusion to the show and to Peter Sutherland’s journey. I’m so grateful to Netflix and Sony Pictures Television for partnering with me on The Night Agent and for giving us the space to deliver a definitive final season to our worldwide legion of fans. We are hard at work to complete our story and to make our final season one our fans will never forget.”

Season four of the Netflix series is currently in production.

Gen V (Prime Video)Prime Video

Alas, as The Boys sails off into the sunset with its final season, Prime Video has canceled Gen V as well. This The Boys spinoff series lasted two seasons before getting the axe. We’re sad not to see any more of the college-aged Supes, but we guess without the main series, this one no longer felt relevant. We’ll miss you, Gen V.

From (MGM+)MGM+

MGM+ has renewed From for a fifth and final season, marking the end of the series. The sci-fi horror series starring Lost‘s Harold Perrineau is set to air season four this spring, and its final-season writers’ room has already opened. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, creator John Griffin revealed, “There was a fair amount of soul-searching. But we all came to the realization that if we made that sixth season, it would be for us, because it’s just too hard to say goodbye.”

He additionally noted: “In full transparency, five seasons was always the goal, but we always wanted to let the story tell us when it was time to end. When we reached the end of season three and the death of Jim (Eion Bailey), it felt like we reached the end of the beginning. Similarly, season four very naturally feels like the beginning of the end. We’ve had the opportunity to tell this story from the beginning the way we really wanted to tell it, with the full support of Michael Wright and everybody over at MGM. It’s rare you get to tell this type of story and give it the life you feel it needs, to let the story decide when it’s time to end.”

From season four will release on April 19.

Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC)AMC

Alas, AMC’s first Anne Rice Immortal Universe series to be cancelled is Talamasca: The Secret Order. The Talamasca series told an original story set in Anne Rice’s world, not following any specific novel or original source material, but expanding upon the idea of the Talamasca spy organization to tell a new tale. Many quite liked the series’ characters, including Guy Anatole, played by Nicholas Denton, and the vampire Jasper, played by William Fichtner. But it feels like the show’s story just didn’t fully come together. For our part, we enjoyed the chemistry between the leads, but felt it wasn’t campy or queer enough to compete with AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, which truly hit a home run. And so, Talamasca: The Secret Order ends after only one season.

A statement from AMC makes it sound like we could see the characters elsewhere in the franchise, so we’ll hold out hope for that.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)Paramount+

This YA centric series just wrapped up its first season, and seemed to have promise with another season already in progress. Hopefully, the creatives for this Paramount+ series wrote their scripts without any major cliffhangers, because Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is cancelled and will end with season two. Welp.

It speaks to our current TV climate where shows barely get a chance to find their footing before going on the chopping block. What if viewership went up in season 2, which wrapped production in early 2026? I guess we will never know.

“We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to life,” CBS Studios and Paramount+ said in a joint statement. “The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the Star Trek universe in exciting new ways.

Hacks (HBO)

HBO Max confirmed that season five will be the final round for its comedy series Hacks. A trailer for its last season gave fans both delight and sadness. The show returns on April 9 with its series finale on May 28.

The Boys (Prime Video)Prime Video

It’s been quite the wild ride with Butcher and Homelander. This Prime Video series, an adaptation of Garth Ennis’ comic series, gave us a raunchy and hyper violent look into what a would would be like if superpowered individuals had mostly terrible intentions. We’ve watched Wee Hughie grow up to be a boss, Kimiko’s healing journey, MM process his childhood trauma, and a surprising redemption arc for A-Train, among other great storylines. Now, with the US in a political crisis and supes throwing humans into detention centers, it is time to see how this show will end in 2026. The Boys’ fifth and final season will premiere on April 8 and we are grateful that this series will get to tell its full story. 

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

One TV show that will be cancelled in 2026 is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The circumstances behind bringing this series to an end are complicated, to say the least. Colbert is known for being openly critical of both CBS and our current president, which isn’t unusual for the average late show host. While the company says that his thoughts are not behind the cancellation, it is interesting that they co-exist. The series finale will air on May 21. 

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THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT Will End This MayThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC)AMC

Daryl’s journey across seasons (now with his bestie Carol in tow) will come to an end after four seasons. From the dangers of France to Spain, Daryl has honestly been having so much fun getting into various messy shenanigans that I don’t think he really wants to go back home. With filming wrapped for the series back in November, we can certainly expect this final chapter to air as this show ends sometime in 2026. Will it set up a Walking Dead event that reunites all the original series’ main players? We will have to see. 

Outlander (Starz)

After a whopping eight seasons and twelve years, Outlander is coming to an end. That almost feels unheard of in today’s times where a show can take 3-5 years off between seasons… if it gets more than one or two seasons at all. This historical fantasy series fervent fanbase will get to know how this long-running saga ends when its final round runs from March to May of this year. (And if you just can’t wait, there’s always the books to turn to.)

Good Omens (Prime Video)Prime Video

Good Omens‘ future was very much in the air following season two’s heart wrenching ending. But, despite the allegations swirling around Neil Gaiman, who is no longer creatively attached to the show, there will be an ending to this series. It will not come in a season but rather a 90-minute episode to wrap things up. Hopefully, Aziraphale and Crowley will get the happy final moments that they deserve. 

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Aziraphale and Crowley Deserve Their GOOD OMENS Happy EndingThe Witcher (Netflix)

Back in 2024, Netflix’s live-action fantasy series based on games by the same name, The Witcher was renewed for a fifth and final season. Season four aired in the Fall of 2025 with Liam Hemsworth taking the reins as Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill. And considering that season four and five were filmed back to back, it is pretty certain that this story will come to an end before 2026 is over. 

All American (The CW)

Besides the greatness that is Ted Lasso, sports dramas usually fall outside of our nerdy wheelhouse. But All American feels like a slice of a time when The CW was ruling the airwaves with ensemble dramas that seemingly never ended. Sadly, All American is about to be all over when season eight premieres sometime in 2026. That’s eight seasons in eight years, which is a pretty darn good run. 

The Way Home (Hallmark Channel)

This is also a little outside of our normal coverage zone considering it is a Hallmark series. But the premise is one that would grab the attention of those of us who like time traveling and drama that punches us in the feels. The series follows three generations of women—matriarch Del, her adult daughter Kat, and Kat’s teenage daughter Alice—who live on a small Canadian farm.

There are some deep family wounds, but there’s also a pond that allows certain people to time travel. Alice (and others) begin to jump through time and cause a domino effect along the way. The Way Home’s fourth and last season begins to air on April 19, making it yet another show ending in 2026. 

Originally published on March 3, 2026.

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The post TV Shows That Are Canceled or Ending in 2026: GEN V Canceled as THE BOYS Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Days after the disclosure of a critical vulnerability in popular web hosting software cPanel and WHM, hackers keep targeting and hacking websites.

Big changes have arrived at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Lucasfilm-themed area is no longer beholden to a fixed storyline and welcomes a few familiar faces into its galactic outpost at Disney Parks. Just in time for May the Fourth (Be With You), Han Solo and General Leia Organa have made their debut at Disneyland, stationed over by the Millennium Falcon, joining Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. 

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STAR WARS: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Expands Its Timeline

Nerdist was on hand (this writer wields a Magic Key) to witness their land debut, as May marks a big month of major changes being rolled out at Galaxy’s Edge. John Williams’ iconic themes now soundtrack the land, and we can’t help that the moment the Skywalker twins reunited by the Falcon left us more than a little speechless. 

There’s a bare-bones story for now. Leia has arrived to help Luke with Han in tow to seek out relics and enlist us to help in the search. A new selection of artifacts has arrived at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, but it remains to be seen if this thread will lead to more than just fun Easter eggs to seek out or buy. Going on a more fleshed-out mission similar to the kinds we experienced in the era of Galaxy’s Edge would be wizard. But it seems like things are being kept vague very purposefully for now at least. 

This is for the fans who have long awaited a chance to meet the original trilogy’s trio, but they’ve got to tread carefully on the timeline. By the looks of their fits, their arrival seems inspired by a super vague point in time during their era of the rebellion post the events of Empire Strikes Back, at least. Since Darth Vader has also arrived with a flock of Stormtroopers looking for Luke and any remaining Jedi, we give it a rough estimate of being somewhere after Han was freed from Carbonite but before the Battle of the Second Death Star. 

Han seems the most unaware of the disturbances in the force that led the twins to Batuu. In his interactions, he’s mostly bickering with Leia or Chewie over the noises the Falcon’s making and fixing it up. Give the captain a break; he might still be recovering from long hibernation sickness. Thankfully, he’s healed up enough for some scruffy-looking nerf-herder-maxing opposite Leia’s powerful princess aura. Though we should note that Leia is standing on business as a general of the rebellion—but hey, to us, she’ll always be royalty. 

Sabina Graves

As you walk around, the vibe is definitely more Star Wars land than ever before. New banners have replaced the First Order with Imperial insignias to remind us space fascism still needs to be defeated no matter the era. Though it is head-scratching to have Vader enter through a TIE Echelon and Kylo currently be relegated to Tomorrowland for meet-and-greets instead of near the Rise of the Resistance attraction with Rey. Listen, if they put Rey and Kylo together for photo ops, at least the Reylo fans would be pleased.

Characters like R2-D2 and Chewie are seemingly able to timeline hop throughout the land in their ever-eternal looks. Meanwhile, Mando, Grogu, and Ahsoka hang at the marketplace, the hub of the New Republic, above the Falcon. This ties into the Smuggler’s Run re-theme tied to The Mandalorian and Grogu movie later this month. Hey, if we’re just going hard on the Star Wars era’s tour, at least give us Poe and Finn by Rise of the Resistance, too. There also, at some point, needs to be prequel representation beyond Anakin and Padme during Star Wars Nites only. 

Sabina Graves

So if you’re visiting to celebrate May the Fourth, Revenge of the Fifth, or just the Season of the Force at Disneyland, you can also enjoy the return of Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite. Although the sold-out specialty ticketed event now feels a little less unique, as it used to be the only way to experience all the Star Wars eras in one place, it is at least a celebration that at least has low ride wait times and rare character encounters such as prequel icons including Darth Maul and Ewoks as well as performances by Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, the Cantina Band, on the water of the Rivers of America. It’s also where the majority of themed food was rolled out, but there have been some selections released for the month available during the day alongside special merch without needing a special ticket.  

For regular park guests visiting during the day throughout May, there’s plenty of foodie fun to be had in collectible snack receptacles. New this year are the Salvaged Protocol Droid Bucket, the Bantha Sipper, new colors in Lightsaber Swizzle Sticks, and a new limited mug release at Oga’s Cantina. For you Disney Tiki collectors, that Oga’s drop is really neat, as it features bone-carved imagery of DJ R3X with a new drink, the Corellian Spike Cold Brew, for bourbon and coffee fans who want to hit the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.  

Sabina Graves

One of our favorite new offerings that we can’t wait to go back and try out is the Galactic Outpost at Downtown Disney, having a station where you can have a real Galactic ID made. You can pick between Jedi Knight (tell on yourself, sure), TIE Fighter pilot, Stormtrooper, X-wing pilot, bounty hunter, and New Republic pilot. They’re really unique and come in translucent plastic to give it that in-universe feel, but it’s a little odd for it to be an out-of-the-way side quest. Pro-tip: take the monorail out of Tomorrowland to the Star Wars outpost.

More readily available and cool is the Star Wars logo printed in Aurebesh in a collection of apparel, which further breaks more rules of the land. Previously you could only get in-universe gear at Galaxy’s Edge without the name of the films, but now that’s changing as it’s smuggled in sneakily.

Sabina Graves

Now that Batuu finds itself filled with familiar faces, the future of Galaxy’s Edge remains exciting as it expands beyond the tales we got to live during its first era. Let’s hope the Black Spire Outpost remains a playground to continue to experiment with participatory entertainment in ways that will let fans continue to explore their own Star Wars story beyond merch and ride changes but alongside the cinematic cadre of heroes and villains that every generation has grown up alongside.

The post Disney Parks Unleashes STAR WARS Eras Tour at Galaxy’s Edge appeared first on Nerdist.

I have a lot of Insight Editions cookbooks. If I dedicated myself to making every recipe one time, it would be at least a decade before I ate or drank the same thing twice. Does this stop me from getting new books? Obviously not, which is why I was very happy to get a review copy of their latest offering from the galaxy far, far away. The new Star Wars: Galactic Drinks features recipes from the great Jenn Fujikawa, all brought to life by longtime Insight Editions writer Marc Sumerak. As always, the book also features beautiful photos and easy-to-follow instructions.Insight Editions

Like the franchise itself, Star Wars: Galactic Drinks is for fans of all ages. It features alcohol-free drinks and snacks perfect for grown-ups and kids alike. That’s how I made and enjoyed mine. For May the 4th, my four-year-old son and wife helped me craft—and more importantly taste—five recipes. For both his sake and yours, I opted for recipes I believe everyone can make.

Tips Before You Start: If you want your drinks to look more “Star Wars-y,” I found various beer glasses work really well. They feel and look very different when you use them for cocktails/mocktails rather than stouts and lagers. I used other random-shaped cups, too. In general, the less “normal” your glassware, the better for these drinks.

Also, these are alcohol-free recipes, but you’ll see they are all easily adaptable to make them into adult libations. I’ll leave the specifics to you and your tastes, but it will be obvious what alcoholic additions might mix in seamlessly.

Syril’s Cereal Milkshake: A Frozen TreatInsight Editions

What’s a sad Syril to do when his boring old breakfast has him feeling down? Turn it into a delicious frozen treat. Syril’s Cereal Milkshake uses blue cereal to make a gorgeous drink. The only blue cereal I could at my grocery store find was the Kix-like Bluey cereal. It isn’t as blue as I would have liked, but it was good enough. (My son picked out the bluest pieces.) A single drop of blue food dye helped get the color exactly right.

The Bluey cereal has a berry flavor. Just half a cup mixed in with the ice cream and milk mixture was enough to make berry the dominant flavor. Whatever cereal you use might have a similar impact on the flavor of this Star Wars drink.

I did not tell the kiddo what happened to Syril on Andor.

The biggest surprise from this drink was that the frosting-cereal rim is not just about decorating your milkshake. When you get some of both into a sip, it turns this from “really good” to “absolutely incredible.” This was so, so, so delicious when I treated the lined rim the way you would a salted glass for a margarita. I did not explain any of that to my son. He used a straw for his Star Wars drink and loved it.

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Ewan McGregor Wants ANDOR Season 3 So He Can Appear as Obi-Wan KenobiTwin Suns Spritz Is One Gorgeous Star Wars DrinkInsight Editions

It’s easy to see why Insight Editions chose the Twin Suns Spritz as its cover image. The Tatooine-inspired drink is a real stunner. I didn’t make a perfect recreation (probably because some of my ingredients were cold and others were room temperature), but it didn’t matter. What I did make still looked incredible.

Seriously, this swirling aesthetic is so cool.

Almost too pretty to drink. Almost.

For the dried orange slices, I put them under a broiler. The effect was better than I hoped. (Just make sure you let yours cool down entirely. Trust me.) I also accidentally used too much lime juice, but that was easily rectified with a little extra grenadine. The result was a highly refreshing, tart drink that looked the most “like Star Wars.”

Endor Ade Gives Ewoks Some LoveInsight Editions

Anyone who hates Ewoks lacks an appropriate amount of whimsy. Making this Star Wars drink will help rectify that. Endor Ade takes inspiration from another beloved (amazing) Disney drink, POG juice. What makes this different is the coconut milk on top. I was a little worried about how much juice and sugar we’d be having, making all of these in a single weekend, so whenever I could cut a little, I did. In this case, I went with unsweetened coconut milk, which I thought might mean a less good POG juice. NOPE. It was fantastic.

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The History of STAR WARS’ Ewoks

The unsweetened coconut milk gave the drink more depth while also adding creaminess. It’s really enjoyable to drink both because of the texture and the flavor.

Creamy POG Juice FTW!

Everyone in the house loved this Star Wars drink. Mine looks darker because there’s no ice and I had to use nectars instead juices, but I don’t think that changed the flavor at all. (Might have enhanced it.) I also could not, despite looking in multiple stores, find a fresh passion fruit for decoration.

I make no apologies. If you have a problem with that, you also probably hate Ewoks and need to lighten up.

Seezelslak’s Fruit Cordial Was a Surprising Star Wars DrinkInsight Editions

Of the five recipes I chose, this surprised me the most. I picked it because I thought it would be a good one to do with my son. The Batuu-Galaxy’s Edge Seezelslak’s Fruit Cordial is not difficult to make, but it does require some fun prep. I figured it would ultimately be a tasty little fruit punch, but not special.

Well, call me Jar Jar because this drink makes me look like a fool. It’s phenomenal. I genuinely can’t believe how good it is. It’s so rich and flavorful. I let it sit for six hours and could have drunk the entire thing in two minutes. (My son wanted to.) It’s perfectly balanced and deeply flavored.

Still stunned at how good this tastes.

If you make an adults-only version, please put a warning sign next to it. Otherwise, you risk your guests turning your home into Jabba’s Pleasure Barge. Also, hypothetically, if you add lime juice instead of lemon juice, it will still turn out amazing.

I know, I know. I had lime juice issues 40% of the time. The key is I used freshly squeezed lime juice like an adult. In general, with these recipes, the more fresh ingredients, the better. You’re welcome for that super useful, super unique tip. Fresh ingredients.

Dathomir Strawberry Sun Is Worth the EffortInsight Editions

I saved the (technically) most difficult drink I made from Star Wars: Galactic Drinks for last. The daiquiri-like Dathomir Strawberry Sun does require an immersion blender (or hand mixer) to make the basil foam. My kiddo really liked that part. His dad got tired of waiting for it to fully foam up, though, and ended up with a mix of foam and milk. Fortunately, it didn’t matter. Mine looked just like the picture in the book.

I’ve never felt closer to Mother Talzin.

No surprise the strawberry part tastes great. What was a surprise was how much I absolutely loved the basil foam. I wasn’t exactly excited to add basil-flavor to it, but there’s a reason I’m not a professional cookbook author. The basil foam turned a sweet drink into something much more complex and delicious.

Also surprising? My lack of patience paid off. Remember how I got tired of waiting for the milk and basil mixture to get completely foamy? That led to a lot of it sinking down into the strawberry part. The result was a cool, swirling effect that captured the strangeness of Dathomir itself.

Happy accidents are the best (only good?) accidents.

What other wonderful delights, both accidental and intentional, await as I make my way through the rest of Insight Editions’ Star Wars: Galactic Drinks? I know my son can’t wait to find out. And neither can I.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He passed on some of the harder recipes because of his son and not because he didn’t want to embarrass himself. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

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Stuart Russell is a long-time AI researcher who thinks governments need to restrain frontier labs.

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Musk texted OpenAI's president and co-founder saying that he and CEO Sam Altman "will be the most hated men in America."

On April 29, the Avengers recruited several new heroes into their ranks. And as far as we’re concerned, these are the braves to ever assemble. On this day, the Walt Disney Company, together with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, welcomed almost forty “Wish Kids,” children facing serious illnesses, and their families to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. There, they spent the day with Marvel characters, showed off their science skills, and were celebrated as the heroes they are. The event, known as “Wishes Assemble,” was all part of Disney’s Week of Wishes. This is a longstanding tradition in partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting wishes to children overcoming dire medical obstacles. Click To View Gallery Disney Nerdist Disney Nerdist Disney Disney Disney Disney Disney Disney

The day began at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, with artist and Executive of Marvel Experiences Development Brian Crosby giving the Wish Kids a tutorial in comic book art, teaching them how to draw the perfect Spider-Man. After class was over, one especially fortunate Wish Kid named Coen got to meet his hero, Captain America Sam Wilson a.k.a. Anthony Mackie. After playing some Fortnite and Roblox with creators like Preston Arsement and Cody Conrod, the Wish Kids journeyed to Avengers Campus with their families, where YouTubers Mark Rober and Science Bob performed live science experiments with them, before they got to spend the day in the park just having fun and riding attractions.

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Later in the evening, a buffet dinner took place in Disney California Adventure. Being on Avengers Campus grounds, of course, meant Ant-Man mini-burgers, and other MCU-themed goodies. As dinner entertainment, Mark Rober and Science Bob dazzled the Wish Kids with both scientific knowledge and toilet paper guns. The latter, in particular, went over very well with the intended audience. Then, one of the biggest internet celebrities of all time, YouTuber Mr. Beast, arrived. He immersed the Wish Kids in a child-friendly version of his world-famous Beast Games. For these Gen Alpha kids, meeting Mr. Beast is tantamount to meeting a rock star.

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The most emotional part of the day came next. Dozens (if not hundreds) of cast members created a spirit tunnel, waving Hulk fists, Cap shields, and Thor hammers as the Wish Kids and their families walked through it, through hoots and cheers. Everyone in attendance recognized these kids as the truly worthy warriors that day. Given everything they’ve been through in their lives, it was hard not to get emotional during this part of the event. Everyone who was there knew what a special moment we were witnessing.

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As night fell on an emotional day for the Wish Kids and their families, the reason this event took place at Avengers Campus became clear. Mr. Beast gathered Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on stage to put on a show that left the Wish Kids (and this adult) speechless. Although Avengers Campus is often teeming with MCU characters, they are rarely all there together. But for this special night, Disney and Make-A-Wish arranged for almost their entire MCU roster to appear together. Black Widow appeared to train the new recruits, but Loki (in his classic villain mode) materialized on the roof to spoil the fun.

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After a big (and very well-choreographed) battle with Loki’s hypnotized S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers, Captain America Steve Rogers, Doctor Strange, Wasp, Black Panther, and Spider-Man join in the fight. Hawkeye, Shang-Chi, and Thor were also on hand to save the day. As the Wish Kids cheered for the heroes to defeat Loki, another actor from the MCU appeared. Paul Bettany (the Vision) emerged into the crowd, gifting the Wish Kids with several Funko Pop! toys, and signing autographs. And the Wish Kids got to go home with several other Marvel-themed gifts as well.

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Seeing the faces of these kids at the end of the day, one couldn’t help but find inspiration in them, and be thrilled that they had a full day to forget their troubles and forge memories that will last a lifetime. Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Disney and Marvel helped these children tap into their inner superpowers to continue overcoming the biggest challenges life could throw at them. And it was truly a privilege to be there to see them triumph. To donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, click the link here.

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Interview with the Vampire season two is one of the finest TV shows we’ve ever seen. The dramatic, queer, and rich world of the show aged like fine wine from its first to second seasons. And that makes us especially excited to see what Interview with the Vampire season three has in store for us. We don’t know too much about what awaits us yet, but we do know it will be sexy, stylish, and rock and roll.AMC

Here’s everything we know so far about Interview with the Vampire season three.

Title

Normally, for a season of TV, we’d skip the title section. But it’s Lestat’s world and we’re all just living in it. Interview with the Vampire season 3 will be called The Vampire Lestat, natch.

Interview with the Vampire Season 3 Plot

Veering away from the inner-world of Louis de Pointe du Lac, season three of Interview with the Vampire is all Lestat, all the time. The Vampire Lestat, as we say. This season, Lestat, put out by his portrayal in Louis and Daniel Molloy’s book Interview with the Vampire is going on a rock star tour to correct the narrative. What could go wrong? Interview with the Vampire season three will be an adaptation of the novel The Vampire Lestat, but we’re sure it will make the book its own, as the prior seasons of the show have done with Interview with the Vampire.

AMC

You can catch the official Interview with the Vampire season three teaser trailer up top, and check out its official synopsis below:

In season three, resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller “Interview With The Vampire,” the Vampire Lestat sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can—by starting a band and going on tour.  Gabrielle. Nicholas. Magnus. Marius. Those Who Must Be Kept. They join Louis, Armand, Molloy, Sam, Raglan, Fareed and others we can’t tell you about yet on a sexy pilgrimage across space, time and trauma. No Auto-Tuning. No Trigger Warnings. All Feels Amplified.“

Additionally, a new synopsis for The Vampire Lestat, released in celebration of The Vampire Lestat’s streaming debut, teases, “In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by ‘ muses’ from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population. In addition to Reid, The Vampire Lestat stars Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle and is executive produced by award-winning producer Mark Johnson, creator, writer and showrunner Rolin Jones, Hannah Moscovitch, along with Christopher Rice and the late Anne Rice.”

AMC

We’ve heard a little bit about “the Great Conversion” before. But it sounds like this new fluctuation in the vampire population is going to cause some serious trouble for Lestat and co. And we wonder what Lestat will do with all his new star power and influence… nothing too wild, obviously. We know Lestat isn’t like that…..

Behind the Scenes

Interview with the Vampire season three is executive produced by Mark Johnson (who oversees AMC’s Anne Rice Immortal Universe). Rolin Jones serves as creator, writer, and showrunner. Mark Taylor, Christopher Rice, and the late Anne Rice also serve as executive producers. 

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Eric Bogosian Dives Into Daniel Molloy, Elder Queer Representation, and All Things INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIREInterview with the Vampire Season 3 CastAMC

Sam Reid returns in Interview with the Vampire season three as the titular Vampire Lestat. Joining him are his true love, Louis de Pointe du Lac, played by Jacob Anderson, the newly turned Vampire Daniel Molloy, played Eric Bogosian, the vengeful/gremlin Armand played by Assad Zaman, and many other faces familiar to fans of the Interview with the Vampire books.

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IWTV: Lestat’s Complex (Icky?) Bond with Mother Gabrielle, Explained

Delainey Hayles will return in some fashion, most likely as a ghost of Claudia, and Jennifer Ehle will play Lestat’s mother/…lover? Gabriella. Additionally, Christopher Heyerdahl (Under the Banner of Heaven) will play Marius, Armand’s maker. And Damien Atkins (Slings & Arrows) will star as Magnus, Lestat’s maker. Finally, Sheila Atim will play the role of Akasha, a much-anticipated character.

Interview with the Vampire Season 3 Release Date

Interview with the Vampire season three will release on June 7, 2026.

Additionally, on May 24, a series called The Vampire Lestat: After Dark will premiere on AMC+. The show will give a behind-the-scenes look at The Vampire Lestat. It seems to feature Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid, but will most likely include other stars from the series as well.

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Eric Bogosian Confirms ‘Armand Told the Truth’ Tattoo Is NOT on Daniel’s Arm in the INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 3 Teaser Trailer

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Both Anthropic and OpenAI have partnered with asset managers to more aggressively market their enterprise AI products.

Acorn lets organizations build and run their own online communities using decentralized tech, with custom feeds, moderation, and analytics tools.

For many years he’s gotten his revenge, gotten his revenge some more, and even gotten the most revenge of all revenges. Now, Kratos—the god of war himself—is getting the video game live-action adaptation treatment in the form of a God of War live-action series. This gaming icon first hack-and-slashed his way into gamer’s hearts with the original game all the way back in 2005. Since then, God of War has become one of gaming’s most important franchises with powerful characters, many of whom will be in the Prime Video series.

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Everything We Know About Prime Video’s GOD OF WAR TV Series

The 2018 God of War reboot took the series to new heights. That game and its sequel, God of War Ragnarök, not only provided a more grounded but still epic gameplay experience, but also a more capacious, fully-realized world of characters. The transition from the Greek gods of old to the lesser known Norse mythology was a welcome one, and looks to be serving as the main basis for Amazon’s live-action series, which just started production.

So, true believers, let’s talk about who you can expect to see when the series officially launches.

KratosJustin Lubin/Prime

The series’ titular character, the son of Zeus, the Ghost of Sparta, and the one-that-naysayers-would-argue-used-to-have-screaming-and-rage-as-his-only-defining-characteristics, is the one and only Kratos. While serving as a commander in the Spartan army, Kratos offered up his soul to Ares in order to gain the power needed to slay his foes. And slaying his foes he did, but that’s about it in terms of “joy” that Kratos has netted in his life.

Sure, his numerous battle victories and the total annihilation of Olympus (and its absolute jerk dorks of gods that ruled it) is a pretty bodacious note to put on a resume, but Kratos has also lost many of those close to him, including his wife and child whom Ares tricked him into murdering during the events of the original game. A scarred, enervating past, to say the least.

Played By: Ryan Hurts

Atreus Meg Vinson/Prime Video

The second son of Kratos, Atreus serves as the co-protagonist of the story and easy content fodder for a Happy Father’s Day post on social media from the biggest nerd you know. Atreus is shown to be a bit of a kindred spirit at the start of the story, the antithesis of his father’s very gruff, war-torn aura. Atreus’ naivete regarding not only the world, but also his father’s past, makes for an emotionally fulfilling character journey.

What starts as a simple premise of spreading his recently-deceased mother’s ashes on top of the highest point in the world turns into a tale of great sorrow, growth, and questions about what a given person’s true nature is, or should be. 

Plus, who doesn’t love a classic “Young Person Helping Older Cynic Begin to Feel All The Things Again” story? You know you do, boy.

Played By: Callum Vinson

OdinTonje Thilesen/The New Yorker/PlayStation

It can be a bit of a cliche, or even a meme, to assign characters the “daddy issues” label. But when it comes to the ruler of Asgard, yeah, he’s a bit of a jerk, to say the least. And sometimes that black-and-white and almost cartoonish display of evil makes for the best antagonists. Whether it be his bigoted views against the Jötunn, the incredibly harsh treatment of his son Thor, or general callousness, Odin is about as sinister a foe the God of War series has ever seen.

I mean, what’s more classically evil—and, unfortunately, analogous with our world—than waging war against the nine realms, killing hundreds upon thousands, due to fear it could one day result in your death. The level of narcissism on display with this lad would make Doctor Doom blush.

Played By: Mandy Patinkin

ThorApple TV/PlayStation

The God of Thunder himself, this version of Thor is likely to be a bit of a shock to those expecting a grand, courageous adventurer. Thor is one of the mightiest gods in all the land, and serves dutifully as the main enforcer for Odin, aiding in the slaughtering of countless giants across the realm. However, this relationship is hardly one filled with wholesome father-son bonding. Thor is quite the bedraggled, hopelessly miserable servant of the all-father due to some pretty hefty trauma he endured as a child, especially from his father he oh-so-desperately wishes to impress. 

His awesome power might be there, but the mental side is anything but, and he serves as one of the primary antagonists in God of War Ragnarök. Undoubtedly, he and Kratos coming to blows will be one of the live action’s most anticipated moments.

Played By: Ólafur Darri Ólafsson

SifHolly Ward/PlayStation

The goddess of earth is quite the title, and Sif lives up to it. As the second wife of Thor and mother to Magni and Modi, she serves as one of the secondary characters in God of War Ragnarök. Despite her obvious ties to Asgardian rule, Sif is a much more understanding character. And she is at least quite aware of the cruelty that Odin often displays against the rest of the world, in part due to motherhood softening her ways. So, unlike the rest of her family, war and cruelty don’t seem to be her main callings. Sif acts instead as a highly intelligent liaison for Asgard and the nine realms.

Another highlight is her relationship with Thor, in particular, as it serves as an emotional rollercoaster with her fear that Odin has damaged the thunder god in ways beyond repair.

Played By: Teresa Palmer

HeimdallDavid Reiss/PlayStation

Marvel lovers will likely recognize Heimdall, but this God of War character is far from the calm, altruistic version seen from the MCU. As one of Odin’s sons and right-hand men, the god of foresight aided mightily in Asgard’s conquering and near dominion of all the realms. He’s also quite a bit of a snob, viewing himself as superior to other beings, but also the rest of his fellow Aesir tribesmen, a notion that only gained traction due to the many gifts Odin bestowed upon him , including the Hofuð sword. 

Heimdall’s disdain, or at best cynical, view of others could also be explained simply by his powers to see through lies, to which, if you didn’t know already, people tend to do a lot. His interactions with Kratos and Atreus should make for some excellent moments in the live-action series, especially if you’ve played the games. 

Played By: Max Parker

MimirDavid LaPorte/PlayStation

Has anyone noticed a common theme in mythology being a host of folks that are cursed or imprisoned by the gods? From Atlas to Medusa and all in-between, Mimir finds himself trapped inside of a tree. And this doesn’t exactly turn him into a friendly treant fellow like in The Lord of the Rings, but rather understandably bitter.

But [record scratch] if you’re wondering how he found himself in this situation, it was by way of Odin, who punished Mimir for suspected allegiance to the Jötunn (aka the Giants, and not the ones from New York or San Francisco). Not only are the Jötunn huge in mass, but some can even see into the future. You simply can’t do a mythical fantasy tale without having some prophecies involved. 

Played By: Alastair Duncan

Brok and SindriAmy Buchwald/Kevin Clark/PlayStation

Every story may not always have a couple of blacksmiths, but when they do…you can bet stuff will be built. Namely, Kratos’ leviathan axe, which was built by the dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri in honor of its previous owner Faye, Kratos’ recently deceased wife who gave it to him in the first place. While the two brothers certainly have more to offer than being simple weapon builders—with a complicated history involving familial disagreements, to put it lightly—their inclusion in the live-action could go in any number of different directions, or even expand upon their existing story. 

Played By: Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka

Baldur Bob Wolfenson/PlayStation

There’s something particularly special about a character who throws hands first, asks questions later. For much of the first God of War game, this aggressive individual is known only as “The Stranger” and seems to have quite a serious vendetta against our main man Kratos. Their first encounter is a fight with the savagery akin to Invincible vs Omni Man, or Brad Pitt and random objects in Moneyball. 

Hatred of Kratos, isn’t necessarily unwarranted and certainly not uncommon, but this is hardcore hatred, with the reasons for such being quite tragic. Eventually revealed to be Baldur, the son of Freya and Odin, and is bestowed with near-immortality, with the only catch being that he can’t really feel anything anymore. Like, at all. So yeah, I might just start picking fights with gods, too. The fights between him and Kratos—especially the first, which had a certain degree of shock value that set the tone for the story going forward—are sure to be a major highlight of the TV adaptation. 

Played By: Ed Skrein

Modi, Magni, and ThrudPatch Studio

The God of War series is messy not just in terms of the mountains of blood and limbs it often leaves behind, but also its various family dramas. Modi and Magni, sons of Thor, are antagonists in the first game, and basically giant bullies thanks to their drunken father’s not-good style of parenting. However, the two are actually half-brothers, with the former’s mother being Járnsaxa and the latter Sif. We love drama!  

Marnya Rothe Photography/PlayStation

But perhaps due to how Modi and Magni turned out, Thrud — the daughter of Thor and Sif — is raised quite differently, and shows a degree of compassion to both Kratos and Atreus during their encounters. It’s kind of heartwarming seeing that a more sober Thor led to his daughter being a lot more well-balanced, with Sif’s influence playing a role as well. It’ll be interesting to see how these backstories are told in the live action, especially since Thrud only appears later on while her brothers are immediate. 

Deidhra Fahey/PlayStation

Played By: Louis Cunningham, Ben Chapple, and Island Austin

FreyaABC/PlayStation

In a sense, if you were to be the god of something, love is a decent one to get, right? Absolutely! But the same way having Spider-Man’s powers would be fantastically fun, Freya’s life is one littered with immense tragedy. After refusing to aid her then-husbands genocidal conquest, Freya is cursed to never be able to leave Midgard, stuck in the woods like a less fun Yoda (that little cretin was having the time of his life, I’m telling you).

Plus, in a cruel twist of irony, her attempt at protecting her son Baldur with the aforementioned immortality instead leads him down a path of ruination and hatred. She’s a complicated character that, like many in the series (except Odin, he’s a meanie beanie), can’t be pinned down as simply good or evil. 

Played By: Sonya Walger

GnaYellowBelly/PlayStation

Introduced in God of War Ragnarök, Gna is the queen of the Valkyries and former handmaiden of Freya. But despite Freya’s betrayal of Odin, she chooses to remain loyal to Asgard which, needless to say, brings an end to their friendship. Her appearance is one of the most striking, with her enormous wings and armor being a particular standout for a series that’s already got plenty of creatures, gods, and everything in between. 

But unlike the other characters we know of, Gna doesn’t have quite as major a role in the game, instead being mostly an epilogue character that serves as an epic optional boss fight for the player. Perhaps the series is planning on taking advantage of her Valkyrian background and building upon it, or simply need a character that can make for some wonderful flight-related action setpieces. Either way, we’re in. 

Played By: Evelyn Miller

Originally published February 19, 2026.

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