The Nerdist

It’s that time of year again, as May has become the official Star Wars month on the calendar. May the Fourth, Revenge of the Fifth, the actual anniversary month of all of George Lucas’ Star Wars films. So you’re probably inclined to buy some cool merch right now, celebrating the galaxy far, far away. Well, the folks at the LEGO group have just revealed one of their coolest Star Wars products of the year, and this is one you will want to snatch up right away. Especially all of you dark-sided Sith devotees. LEGO has revealed its new Up-Scaled Darth Vader minifigure, who at 11 inches tall, is not quite so mini a figure. You can check out several images of the most adorable Sith Lord ever, along with the product description, down below:LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Up-Scaled Minifigure Click To View Gallery Lucasfilm/LEGO Group LEGO Group/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO Group LEGO Group/Lucasfilm LEGO Group/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO Group LEGO Group/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/LEGO Group

This deluxe 1,028-piece collectible comes in the same proportions as a regular Darth Vader LEGO minifigure. And it stands over 11 in. (28 cm) tall. So, six times the size of the standard LEGO minifigure. Fans can enjoy building this posable Dark Lord in many different configurations. You can attach his right arm in one of two fixed positions to hold his red lightsaber at different angles. He also comes with a black fabric cape. You can turn the head, move the left arm and hand, along with both legs, to display Vader in different poses. All of this to add a cinematic touch to any room.

The LEGO Group

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This Darth Vader collectible is perfect for any Star Wars fan aged 10 years old and up. Hopefully, he’s the first of many up-scaled LEGO Star Wars minifigures to come. We’d love to see him posed next to a minifigure Emperor, or Darth Maul, or even a minifigure Luke Skywalker to fight. The new Darth Vader Up-Scaled minifigure is up for pre-orders now for the price of $99.99, and starts shipping around June 1.

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Uhoh. What was supposed to be an exciting moment for the Magic: The Gathering community has become scandalous in an unfortunate turn of events. At MagicCon 2026, Wizards of the Coast revealed a brand new collection that fans everywhere were truly excited about, Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit. Of course, as a centerpiece of the new The Hobbit collection, the company revealed a special The One Ring Magic card. But things quickly turned sour as fans realized that there truly was only One Ring. The new The Hobbit One Ring card looked suspiciously similar to The One Ring released in Magic: The Gathering‘s earlier The Lord of the Rings collection. But what exactly happened? According to Wizards of the Coast, it was an unfortunate case of inadvertent plagiarism. And most likely, that’s all we’ll ever know, but that hasn’t stopped the internet from speculating.

A message from Dan Frazier and Wizards of the Coast: pic.twitter.com/4VCM8avcay

— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) May 2, 2026

In full, Wizards of the Coast had this to say about the One Ring Magic: The Gathering plagiarism issue. They noted:

A message from Dan Frazier and Wizards of the Coast:

Recently, fans noted the similarities between The One Ring by Marta Nael, and the newly released image of The One Ring by Dan Frazier. Those similarities are not coincidental, unfortunately.

—

From Dan,

I made a mistake, and I feel awful. I especially feel for Marta, whose work I adore. In trying to create an iconic version of The One Ring, while looking at references online, I ended up using Marta’s Ring as a reference and painted over it to try to depict the item fans hold dear to their hearts. In doing so, I didn’t make it my own. I’m reaching out to Marta privately to apologize artist to artist. I love creating art for Magic, I’ve loved being a part of this artist community for more than 30 years, and I’m sorry I’ve let my fans down.

Sincerely,

Dan Frazier

—

From Wizards of the Coast,

Dan Frazier is a titan of the art industry and of Magic: The Gathering. He has created so many iconic pieces of art for the game that he will forever be a part of our game, and we value his contributions tremendously. With that in mind, we’re disappointed our review process didn’t catch the issue. Like Dan, we have already reached out to apologize to Marta Nael for not catching the use of her art in this piece.

None of this was intentional, but we’re going to make it right as much as we can.

On digital versions of the card, we will credit both Dan Frazier and Marta Nael.

We will also make sure Marta is compensated for her work here.

This is a good moment to recognize that we are all humans who make mistakes.

Dan made a mistake. We made mistakes in our process to not catch the error.

We don’t condone or accept either, but we still value Dan and his contributions and are grateful for his place in the game.

Thank you to the eagle-eyed fans who noticed this, and for all of you for being strong advocates for amazing art and artists.

Sincerely,

All of us at Wizards of the Coast

Ultimately, it feels like Wizards of the Coast is portraying that this One Ring Magic card mishap was an honest mistake, born of wanting to do right by fans’ expectations. But, in practice, it does seem like somewhere a purposeful act of plagiarism was committed. We feel glad that Marta Nael will be compensated for her work, but disappointed that Dan Frazier, who is a long-time Magic: The Gathering artist, and Wizards of the Coast, who surely must have considered looking at the original One Ring Card, did not catch this error and handle it before it became public. You can take a look at both One Ring Magic cards below.

Wizards of the Coast

We won’t deal in the various conspiracies flying around the internet, but will say that it’s hard enough to be an artist already! In fact, other artists from the community have chimed in on their opinions about the One Ring issue and what may have spurred it.

pic.twitter.com/yrd70UJyhE

— Alexis Haro (@SadPoor) May 3, 2026

Suffice to say, we support artists and original creators. We hope that everyone else does too. There is a modicum of irony that the One Ring, of all Magic: The Gathering cards, has created this plagiarism disarray. But we cannot let Sauron win!

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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The Evil Dead franchise is continuing to bring supernatural horror to the big screen with yet another entry. This next standalone film,Evil Dead Burn, will tell yet another story set in this universe. Until now, we haven’t gotten a lot of information about this film despite it arriving on July 10. But, thanks to Warner Bros. special presentation at CinemaCon 2026 on April 14, we know more about what to expect. The first trailer for Evil Dead Burn blazes bloody images into your brain, and you can finally watch it right here.

We see a woman who greets someone named Alice, who runs in with a man. There’s a very undead (a Deadite, of course) person who comes into their threshold with an object lodged in the side of her head. It’s a gruesome turn for an entire family as they battle evil forces that wish to rip them apart. From fingers slammed off in car doors to being impaled by cutlery in the dishwasher, the Evil Dead Burn trailer is wild.

There is also the chilling date announcement trailer that fans can sink their teeth into. Additionally, we have a synopsis for Evil Dead Burn:

Evil Dead Burn unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date, blazing onto big screens with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem. After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites—turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell—she comes to discover that the vows she took in life… live on even in death.

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The film stars Souhelia Yacoub and Hunter Doonan, who make quite the pair in the clip we saw at CinemaCon. We’re ready for horror to have yet another banner year.

Originally published on April 14, 2026.

The post EVIL DEAD BURN Trailer Blazes Bloody Images Into Your Brain appeared first on Nerdist.

Much like the series finale of Stranger Things last year, it looks like yet another anticipated series ender for a beloved show is getting a theatrical release. And not just any old theatrical release, but this one is in 4DX. According to Variety, the series finale of The Boys will screen in movie theaters on May 19 at 9:30 PM. This means we’re expecting something very explosive, loud, and potentially bloody to happen between Homelander and Butcher. Otherwise, why do it in 4DX? The announcement came via a post on The Boys’ official X account.

In two weeks, we’re going out with a bang. Literally, because ya might vibrate watchin’ the series finale in 4DX. Get yer mitts on a seat with the purchase of a concession voucher, which is good towards sweets or soda the day of. See ya May 19 at 9:30 p.m.

We couldn’t help it, we read that whole statement in our heads using Karl Urban’s thick Butcher accent. More information on this special 4DX screening is said to be forthcoming. For those of you out there who have never been, the 4DX movie theater format uses motion-enabled seats that create movement during screenings. These 4DX screenings also use technology that simulates environmental conditions. If you’ve never been to one, it’s pretty wild, although definitely not for everyone.

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There is a lot of worry about whether The Boys can stick the landing or not. It seems series finales for beloved shows fall under fan scrutiny more and more these days. The entire legacy of a long-running show can depend on whether folks responded to the final episode, or reject it. The Boys‘ showrunner Eric Kripke even said recently that pressure to deliver a finale that satisfies is “terrifying, but motivating.” Whether it’s in a 4DX screening or in the comfort of your own home, we’ll soon find out if The Boys goes out with a bang or a whimper.

The post THE BOYS Series Finale Will Screen Theatrically in 4DX appeared first on Nerdist.

Although we’re not sure when the actual episodes of X-Men ’97 season two will drop on Disney+, we do already know the premiere is on June 13 at the Tribeca Festival. So we imagine the date for everyone else is just around the corner. And we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what season two will include, but not from any trailers, from posters and other merchandise that have begun to pop up online. And this latest batch of posters, revealed by Nexus Point News, teases some beloved mutant teams that will appear in season two, as well as new configurations of the X-Men teams lost in time.MarvelX-Force

First look at the X-Force in ‘X-MEN ‘97’ Season 2.(via nexuspointnews.com/x-men-97-sea…)

— Cosmic Marvel (@dailycosmicmarvel.bsky.social) 2026-05-02T15:06:47.962Z

First off, we have an image of X-Force, using their original ’90s comics logo. Cable leads this paramilitary mutant team, just as in the comics. The X-Men ’97 version is a combination of the ’90s roster, with the Uncanny X-Force team from the 2010s. From the ’90s era, we’ve got Cable himself (obviously), along with Sunspot, in his ’90s comics costume. Joining him are Archangel and Psylocke, who were both members of the 2010s X-Force. The only team member not from any X-Force roster from Marvel Comics is Jubilee. Back in the ’90s, she was on the Generation X team.

X-Factor

First look at the X-Factor in ‘X-MEN ‘97’ Season 2.(via nexuspointnews.com/x-men-97-sea…)

— Cosmic Marvel (@dailycosmicmarvel.bsky.social) 2026-05-02T15:11:03.199Z

The other spin-off team, who appeared before in X-Men: The Animated Series, is X-Factor. This is the government-sponsored mutant team, with the exact lineup from the early ’90s “Mutant Genesis” era. This is the relaunch that propelled the X-Men brand into the stratosphere of popularity. On this roster are Havok, the brother of Cyclops, Polaris, Magneto’s daughter, Strong Guy, the lupine Wolfsbane, and Multiple Man. It looks like Val Cooper, whom we met in season one, will be their liaison to the U.S. Government, just as she was in the comics. If they’re getting their own poster, that means they’re likely going to play a big role in season two.

The X-Men

Finally, we have the main X-Men teams. At the end of season one, one group of X-Men was sent thousands of years into the future. A second was sent thousands of years into the past, to 3000 B.C. In the future timeline, we have Cyclops and Jean Grey in their ’80s X-Factor costumes, more or less. Wolverine sports his late-’90s feral mode look, without his adamantium skeleton, and Storm wears her training uniform from the Jim Lee ’90s era. In both time periods, the X-Men will face off against the first mutant, Apocalypse.

The ancient Egypt team showcases Magneto (in his 2000s era New X-Men costume), Beast, Rogue (in her ’80s orange suit), Nightcrawler, and Bishop. It seems Bishop is the only one who is still wearing his classic costume. The rest of the team seems to be wearing clothing native to the past. We have a feeling that two distinct X-Men teams are a callback to the ’90s “X-Men Blue” and “X-Men Gold,” when Charles Xavier had two units of X-Men, one led by Cyclops, and the other by Storm.

X-Corp

The time-lost teams will eventually return to the present in season two, because we see them together in poster art as X-Corp. This is a Grant Morrison New X-Men era concept from the 2000s, when Xavier founded a corporation supporting mutant rights. And their costumes match the comics of that time. So while the X-Men might still be technically in the ’90s, they are moving past ’90s era comics into the 21st century. And who knows who else might show up. We’re personally hoping to see the junior team, the New Mutants, and the British ex-pat (X-pat?) team Excalibur. When it comes to X-Men teams, it’s a very deep bench.

X-Men ’97 season one is currently streaming on Disney+.

The post X-MEN ’97 Art Reveals New Marvel Mutant Teams for Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

An Anthony Bourdain biopic that doesn’t involve Eric Bogosian?! Say it ain’t so! Our hopes and dreams are dashed. We jest. A24’s Tony actually looks like a fascinating take on a biopic. It feels less biography and more fanfiction, and honestly, we’re not against it. How did Anthony Bourdain’s life actually change during the summer of 1975? We’ll never really know. But we’re interested to see where this tale takes us. You can watch the trailer for Tony below.

In Tony, Dominic Sessa (breakout from THE HOLDOVERS) stars as a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain who travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen. The trailer for Tony paints a heartwarming, nostalgic tale of the moment a life changes… But doesn’t lose that kind of bad-boy, electric energy that Anthony Bourdain is famous for.

A24

The synopsis for Tony, shared along with its trailer, shares, “A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.” Filmmaker Matt Johnson is at the helm of the film. Antonio Banderas, Leo Woodall, Emilia Jones, and Stavros Halkias also star alongside Dominic Sessa.

A24

Happily, this movie is also blessed by Anthony Bourdain’s Estate, who share some insightful sentiments about the biopic:

Anthony Bourdain’s legacy is meaningful to millions of people. He was a man who valued authenticity above all else and would have been both moved and baffled by the world’s curiosity about his life.

We chose to support TONY because it is not a standard biopic and doesn’t attempt to summarize a life. Guided by the vision of director Matt Johnson, the film depicts one transformative summer in 1975 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It is an interpretation as that part of Tony’s life will always remain somewhat unknown.

We appreciate the portrayal of Tony’s complexity, his intellectual appetite and his conviction — qualities that eventually took him around the globe and endeared him to so many. We hope this film serves as a reminder that every journey has a start, and that audiences see the beginnings of the man who taught us how to be better explorers on our own paths.

Well, now we’re emotional. A24‘s Tony releases in August 2026.

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It’s almost summer and we all know what that means: barbecues. And we all know what barbecues mean: grilling. Aaaaand we all know what grilling means: we’re going to need a lot more propane and propane accessories. Fortunately we know exactly who to turn to when the days get longer and hotter, which might explain why that’s exactly when Hank Hill is coming back. He will return on new episodes of King of the Hill starting in July.

Disney+ and Hulu announced that the new King of the Hill revical will return to both streaming services on July 20. This latest season will mark the show’s 15th. But despite it once seeming like that would be the (latest) end of the show, as the revival was originally expected to run just two years, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. When season 15 kicks off it will begin a long run of new episodes. The animated series already earned an additional two-season order that guarantees it will be around for years 16 and 17. (The bonkers ratings it did for Disney helped guarantee that guarantee. I’ll tell you what, people just love the Hill family.)

More episodes means more propane, propane accessories, and plenty of chances to give us even more Easter eggs that hearken back to the series’ original run on Fox.

Hulu

But while we’re excited that a lot more seasons await, those future years are not our focus right now. We’re ready for both summer and season 15 right now. So what can we expect from the revival when it kicks off in July? Season 14 ended with plenty of plots and arcs that still need conclusions. (We’re most eager to see where Bobby and Connie’s relationship goes.)

One matter this definitely resolved? Who we turn to when we need propane in the summer.

The post KING OF THE HILL Announces Season 15 July Premiere appeared first on Nerdist.

It is safe to say that Netflix is all in on the One Piece universe. The streaming service’s successful One Piece live-action series made its debut in 2023 and it is already gearing up for a third season, titled The Battle of Alabasta, that’s coming in 2027. A while ago, we got news that Netflix would also have its own anime adaptation for One Piece, and that’s moving forward in a big way. The One Piece will adapt the original manga from the beginning of the East Blue saga and will release on Netflix in February 2027. 

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That’s actually very close considering how long it takes for animated projects to come to fruition. This series will have production by WIT Studio and we already know some tidbits about it. Netflix’s The One Piece anime series season one will cover approximately the first 50 chapters of the original manga. It will have seven episodes that lead up to Luffy’s encounter with Sanji, the sous chef of the floating restaurant Baratie. 

Netflix

Additionally, there’s new key art for The One Piece. In it, we see a scene in Windmill Village, where Monkey D. Luffy spent his childhood. It shows Luffy enjoying a lively time at the village bar, aptly titled Party’s Bar, alongside the visiting Red-Hair Pirates captain Shanks and first mate Benn Beckman, and the bar’s owner, Makino. 

We cannot wait for this fresh take to set sail when The One Piece hits Netflix in February 2027.

The post Netflix’s THE ONE PIECE Anime Will Arrive in February 2027 appeared first on Nerdist.

Tom Holland will have quite the epic summer this year. He’s returning as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and will also star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. While it seems those two things have no connective tissue, Nolan rightfully pointed out that one would not exist without the other. During an interview with Stephen Colbert, the famed director talked about Holland’s talent and made connections between Homer’s epic, which is one of the earliest and enduring stories, and comic book heroes. Basically, Christopher Nolan said that Homer and epic stories like The Odyssey were the Marvel Cinematic Universe of its time.

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“Even comic book culture, whether you’re talking about Marvel or D.C. or all the rest, a lot of it comes directly from the Homeric Epics,” Nolan said. “The thing about Homer is, nobody knows if that was a person. Homer, in a way, is the sort of George Lucas of his time.” 

Stories about gods and incredible heroes who take on insurmountable odds have resonated with humanity since the beginning of time. It not only speaks to our collective imagination about what a world would be like with beasts and immortals as well as realms and lands that mirror our own to a certain degree but also to core aspects of humanity.

Marvel Studios/Universal Pictures

We love stories about what it means to find your purpose, to have family (whether blood or found), and to triumph in the face of uncertainty. That’s what The Odyssey is ultimately about and what we also see with our MCU heroes like Spider-Man who are trying to operate in their calling to protect “good” people from “evil” forces. After all, there are literally characters in the MCU named Thor and Loki after Greek mythology figures.

“The thing about Homer, it is the Marvel of its day,” Nolan expressed. “It’s very directly this desire for us to feel or believe gods could walk amongst us, and I think the modern comic book is kind of our expression of that.” 

We are excited to see The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day come to theaters this July.

The post Christopher Nolan Says THE ODYSSEY Was the Marvel of Its Time appeared first on Nerdist.

And who can blame them? Listen, the internet has shipped less for less. But the new trailer for Christoper Nolan’s The Odyssey has definitely set people on a course to ship Robert Pattinson’s Antinous with Tom Holland’s Telemachus. And, I mean, Pattinson’s unsavory suitor Antinous DID use the internet’s cardinal buzzword “daddy” when getting all up in Holland’s Telemachus’ space. Antinous is trying to be Telemachus’ step-father, in a fashion, so there’s that, but isn’t that really what the ancient Greeks would want from new myths born from their old ones? We think, yes. Enemies to lovers, here we come!

Careful research of our sacred texts, ArchiveofOurOwn.Org, reveals that there are already 52 works in Antinous son of Eupeithes/Telemachus (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), but nearly 700 (?!) works in Antinous/Telemachus (EPIC: The Musical). So fans of mythology have walked these roads before. Although we will say, the trailer has been live for some hours at the time of this writing, and not yet a fic about Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous in The Odyssey. We’re going to call that slacking!

Universal Pictures

But, we’re sure that will right itself VERY soon. Because, as we said, the tension between the pair can be cut with a knife—especially since Antinous is trying to marry Telemachus’ mother and steal all his land and fortune. And he’s being pretty rude about it, to boot. So safe to say Telemachus HATES Antinous. But, as far as shipping goes, the enemies part is always more of a suggestion for the lovers part to follow. And, obviously, you can’t reasonably ask the internet not to ship Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous when the latter has shifted close to the other, tilted his head, and murmured, “You’re pining for a daddy you didn’t even know,” into his ear. Okay? Okay!

Now, we know “daddy” might be a little anachronistic, but come on, give it to the internet girlies. There might be no fanfics yet, but the internet is cooking about these two. Here are some first-hand accounts.

oh i can already see the telemachus/antinous enemies to lovers ao3 fanfics this movie will give birth to https://t.co/HiJsXUAESf

— gio (@janemargclis) May 5, 2026

I'm sorry, but this gives me lovers' vibes. 😭 pic.twitter.com/jgJ25XT6pY

— Barbie🫧 (@Barbiehlld) May 5, 2026

robert pattinson flirting with both tom holland and zendaya this man has range https://t.co/kZYbSyk845

— r. 🍦 (suicidal) (@irobatzy) May 5, 2026

oh i can already see the telemachus/antinous enemies to lovers ao3 fanfics this movie will give birth to https://t.co/HiJsXUAESf

— gio (@janemargclis) May 5, 2026

we were so scared of the telemachus x athena romance plot that we were blind to the possibility of antinous daddy kink https://t.co/3kFENNvpYj

— lake (@kettrikcen) May 5, 2026

ngl wasn't expecting antinous x telemachus yaoibait yet here we are…. https://t.co/ppbASMUSGJ

— しおかぜ🪷 (@jinriora) May 5, 2026

Okay, friends, see you soon on AO3 (make sure to also revisit the source material, if you’d like)! The Odyssey (and whatever tension will live between Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous) releases in theaters on July 17, 2026.

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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A smile is something special, and IT: Welcome to Derry is something rare. The TV series managed to take a well-known horror antagonist like Pennywise and bring something completely fresh and, dare I say, fun to his lore. The show didn’t fear killing off a lot of people and bringing the level of blood and brutality that fans craved. Now, with another season on the horizon, IT: Welcome to Derry’s first season is now available for you to own and love in 4K UHD, and there are limited-edition Steelbook, Blu-ray, & DVD versions. And, of course, you can secure it solely on digital, if that’s your jam. Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment

We were able to nab an early copy of IT: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season 4K Ultra Blu-ray to check out some of its bonus features. Before we get into that, let’s break down what you will get if you purchase this series in these formats.

IT: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season

Includes all 8 episodes from Season 1, plus exclusive bonus content:

• Inside Derry – (3) extended behind-the-episode featurettes 
• Fear the Other – Bonus featurette that explores the societal dynamics of 1962 Derry, Jim Crow, the Red Scare, and the government trespassing on indigenous lands that wreak terror in this tiny New England town.

Those who grab the limited-edition IT: Welcome to Derry Steelbook will get a case with some dope artwork and 6 collectible Derry-themed postcards. We received the 4K UHD Blu-ray, which came with three discs. The first one includes the show’s first three episodes as well as an “Inside Derry” featurette that takes you deep into this not-so-idyllic 1962 Main town. 

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment

For those who love understanding the foundations and inner workings of a series, the featurettes in IT: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season will certainly satisfy you. Disc 2 covers episode 4-6 and also dives into that infamous address of 29 Neibolt Street, which is obviously where the show hit a major turning point in episode five.

And the last disc is all about the final two episodes and a featurette for the show’s finale. Additionally, we get a look at the social structures of Derry, real-world influences like the Red Scare, and how that all plays into Welcome to Derry’s narrative. It’s a real treat for a history buff as well as horror fans. Here are some more images from the Steelbook and DVD offerings:

Click To View Gallery Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

In a world where streaming services often remove content or things seem to get somehow lost to time, owning physical media is a true gift. Not only are the episodes yours to keep forever, you can also gain a deeper appreciation for the elements of a series, like turning the hauntingly handsome Bill Skarsgård into Pennywise. 

IT: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season is available to order right now, so grab your copy today. 

The post IT: WELCOME TO DERRY’s 4K Release Is Something Special and Rare appeared first on Nerdist.

How do you want to spend your golden years? That’s a question that a lot of Gen Xers and Millennials are thinking about now that most of us are 35+ and really looking forward to a day where we can do what we want all the time. Maybe your idea of a great retirement is living near the beach and seeing the ocean everyday or moving into a nice retirement community where you’re surrounded by activities and your peers. Well, leave it to the Duffer Brothers to take something seemingly serene like a community for seasoned citizens and turn it into a nightmare in the trailer for The Boroughs. 

Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) arrives in the desert of New Mexico to his new home The Boroughs, an idyllic retirement community full of colorful personalities, cocktails, and cul-de-sacs. Things soon become a nightmare when he starts seeing strange things, wondering if he’s losing his grip on reality or not.

Netflix

Something monstrous is lurking in the shadows and Sam gets together an eclectic group of residents to find out the truth behind this force. If they don’t figure it out in time, their time will surely run out on Earth. It’s like Stranger Things but if they were all in their 70s.

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Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman round out the main cast in The Boroughs, which we see in its trailer. The series will bring all eight of its episodes to Netflix on May 21.

The post Duffer Brothers’ THE BOROUGHS Trailer: Strange Things Vs. Spunky Retirees appeared first on Nerdist.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will make history when it journeys into theaters this summer. It’s the first movie ever shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Even if it hadn’t been, though, it’s the Oscar-winning director’s follow-up to Oppenheimer. The Odyssey also features an absolutely loaded cast overflowing with some of Hollywood’s best stars. This is a “Big Deal” movie. But The Odyssey‘s latest trailer makes clear that while this might be an event film for everyone, it is very much for literature and mythology nerds ever, too. This latest look at The Odyssey features memorable villains, monsters, and beloved figures (both human and dog alike) from Homer’s epic.

If you’re also a total geek about Ancient Greece, epic poems, and mythology, this The Odyssey trailer is very much for you. It teases Polyphemus, Argus, Eumaeus, Tiresias, Charybdis (which means you know who is also nearby!), Penelope’s loom, Odysseus’ bow, and many other memorable characters and moments from The Odyssey.

Click To View Gallery Universal Pictures Universal Pictures Universal Pictures Universal Pictures Universal Pictures Universal Pictures

But while those will excite literary lovers, this The Odyssey trailer mainly focuses on the heart of the story, a father (Matt Damon) trying to get home to his wife (Anne Hathaway) and son (Tom Holland), who refuse to give up on him. And they refuse to give up despite the many Suitors trying to eat them out of hearth and home. They’re led by Robert Pattinson’s Antinous, who is absolutely (fittingly) eating in this trailer. He’s not willing to wait for Penelope to choose him. He wants to control his own destiny and become the new King of Ithaca.

I’m sure things will work out for him!

Universal Pictures

The movie also stars Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth. It won’t be 20 years before you get to see it, though. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sails into theaters (where it will make nerds very happy) on July 17, 2026.

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At the end of Good Omens’ second season, Heaven turned to Aziraphale. It needed an angel who knows how things work on Earth. Crowley—along with most fans—didn’t want him to take the job. It was simply an offer the pleasant celestial being couldn’t turn down after millennia of following orders. But he also took it before he knew exactly what the position entailed. Aziraphale will oversee “the next step in the Great Plan,” which Heaven calls “the Second Coming.” If there was any doubt what that meant, the show’s trailers confirmed it: Jesus Christ will return to Earth. How will Aziraphale make that momentous event happen? Nerdist has an exclusive first-look clip from Good Omens 3 that gives us insight into that heavenly question. You can watch it below.

Good Omens 3 producer Sarah-Kate Fenelon teases the following about our new, exclusive clip, ”Upstairs has begun Operation Second Coming.” And you know what, an operation like that isn’t simple. It will involve over-complicated plans, aggrieved angels who don’t like their boss, and putting someone/something important in a new body. To paraphrase the Bard that Aziraphale himself supported, there are more things in heaven and earth than we can dream of….when trying to figure out what in the world/Heaven Aziraphale is planning. But this new Good Omens 3 scene, which shows that the Second Coming is kicking off, is certain to prove an important clip. This is why Heaven promoted Aziraphale. They need someone who knows how difficult life on Earth can be. Jesus only had 33 years of experience two thousand years ago. Aziraphale was there for all of it. Literally.

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Aziraphale and Crowley Deserve Their GOOD OMENS Happy Ending

And yet… Despite this new Good Omens 3 clip—We know that it is far from a guarantee that Aziraphale and his less-than-enamored angelic underlings will pull off this plan. That’s if it’s meant to get pulled off. If there’s one thing Good Omens fans know, it’s that even the most capable angel and demon around don’t always know what the real plan is.

Prime Video

We’ll find out with them when we say goodbye to the show later this month. Regardless of the outcome, though, we’re happy to get a sneak peek at Good Omens 3 with this new clip. We sure have missed this motley crew. Good Omens 3—starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant—will release on Prime Video on May 13, 2026. You can watch seasons one and two today.

The post GOOD OMENS 3 First-Look Clip: Aziraphale Gets to Work on the ‘Second Coming’ (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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 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.

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