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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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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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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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The post THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Everything We Know appeared first on Nerdist.

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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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.

The post GOD OF WAR Characters You Should Know for Prime Video’s Live Action Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney+’s two biggest stars are headed to the big screen. The next adventure for Star Wars‘ Din Djarin and his little green son will take place in theaters. What awaits the two when they get there? Who else will join them in making the move from television to cinema? And who will tell this new chapter in their story?

Here’s everything we know about The Mandalorian & Grogu so far, including its release date.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s PlotWalt Disney Studios

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy shared in a press release that The Mandalorian & Grogu will tell a “new story” she describes as a “perfect fit for the big screen.” The movie’s first official artwork does show Din and Grogu fleeing an exploding ship, but that might be just a normal Thursday for them.

Most recently, we received both a trailer and an official synopsis for The Mandalorian and Grogu. (You can check out our full breakdown of it here.) The sneak peek reveals that Zeb will be back in the Star Wars movie, as will the Razor Crest, despite the ship’s season two destruction in The Mandalorian series. Additionally, the teaser shows many fun glimpses of the film. At one point, Din Djarin explodes an AT-AT. We also see a shot of Grogu in a tiny ship with two Anzellans, our first look at Sigourney Weaver, and Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta.

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Babu Frik will also return to the Star Wars universe in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Yes, Babu Frik and Grogu are teaming up to make some adorable mayhem together. Babu Frik, of course, is everyone’s favorite Anzellan droidsmith from The Rise of Skywalker. 

The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s official synopsis, meanwhile, offers:

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce,  with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.

To help us speculate more about The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s we can also look at where the Disney+ show left the characters after season three, as well as the known state of the galaxy far, far away during the time period of the early days of the New Republic, and what we know followed it.

Behind-the-Scenes

The Mandalorian creator and showrunner Jon Favreau will direct the film. He’ll also serve as a producer along with both Kennedy and longtime Star Wars stalwart Dave Filoni. 

Production is set to begin in 2024. It will shoot for a scheduled 92 days in California, where it has received one of the state’s biggest tax credits ever for a movie. Reports say work on The Mandalorian & Grogu will include 500 crew members, 54 cast members, and 3500 background players.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s CastLucasfilm

Pedro Pascal’s voice is all but certain to be a part of the movie. It’s unclear how much, if any, he will physically play the role, though. At this point on the Disney+ show the part of Mando is primarily a voice-over one for Pascal. Actors Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder share responsibility for playing the masked Din Djarin on film. If Din never removes his helmet in the movie, Pascal’s involvement could take place entirely off-screen. He did physically play the character in the past. Maybe he’ll put on his beskar armor once again for a big budget film.

Lucasfilm

Star Wars has yet to announce any official cast members for the movie. Other members of The Mandalorian are likely to also star in the film, however. Those alums include Katee Sackhoff, Emily Swallow, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Ahsoka stars like Genevieve O’Reilly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, and Eman Esfandi are also obvious candidates to appear, as is Boba Fett himself, Temuera Morrison.

Lucasfilm

Recently, Sigourney Weaver confirmed her place in the Star Wars universe. Yes, Sigourney Weaver, the Alien icon, will be meeting a much nicer space creature this time around in The Mandalorian & Grogu. Weaver shares, “I’m playing a role in The Mandalorian & Grogu [which will be directed by Jon Favreau]. I got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day.” We love to hear it.

LucasfilmFX Networks/Lucasfilm

Additionally, Jeremy Allen White has also joined the cast as Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta.

Lucasfilm

The latest bit of casting news also provides some insight into the film’s plot. Deadline reports Jonny Coyne (Bodies) will reprise his role as the Imperial Warlord. The character first appeared as part of The Mandalorian‘s Shadow Council in season three. The group of high-level officers remain loyal to the Empire after its fall and hope to restore it to power. Coyne’s character was also doing well for himself personally thanks to hit-and-run plundering of hyperspace lanes.

We expected the Shadow Council to return for the film in some capacity, and this confirms the group will make its presence felt.

The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s Release Date

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to come to theaters on May 22, 2026.

Originally published on February 26, 2024.

The post THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Everything We Know Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

The long-awaited Stranger Things finale’s conclusion may not have been satisfactory enough for everyone, it was exactly what it needed to be for others. Whichever side of the divide you stand on, it pained all of us to see the beloved series go—even if it did feel like a long time coming.

The Upside Down is now mostly dormant in the back of our minds as other shows grab our attention. In memoriam of all the happy and not-so-happy moments, it is a great time to take a stroll down memory lane. Here is a totally accurate, completely objective ranking of every season of Stranger Things from worst to best. (Disclaimer: Totally kidding. This is entirely based on my opinion, and you may disagree if you wish.)

5. Stranger Things 5 Netflix

I don’t think anyone is shocked by this placement. Stranger Things 5 is objectively the worst season of the bunch. While I am not an avid hater of this era, I am not blind to its problems. I will confess that I am one of the many who fell into the black hole we call Conformity Gate. To clarify: No, I didn’t believe that there was actually a secret episode. But it sure was fun to play into it. That being said, the mountain of commentary uncovered some questionable plot holes.

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My biggest quibble with season five is how many storylines feel rushed or cut short. It’s bound to happen when you have so much happening at once. For example, the final face-off against Vecna being only twelve minutes long is beyond me—especially after all of the build-up over two entire seasons. Unfortunately, the surplus of characters and loose ends to tie off is to blame. Dare I say the Duffers tried to pack way too much into eight episodes? That being said, I do still enjoy season five. As a devoted fan, it is heartwarming to see the Hawkins’ crew finally achieve some semblance of peace.

4. Stranger Things 2 Netflix

In fourth place, I have season two. Upon my preparatory rewatch of Stranger Things, I found myself liking season two a lot more than I remembered liking it the first time. Season two introduces the Mind Flayer and dips into the horror aspect a heck of a lot more than season one. Bravo to young Noah Schnapp for his work as a human vessel here. Nothing against season two, but I wouldn’t pick it first out of a lineup. There are simply other seasons that I enjoy more.

3. Stranger Things Season 1 Netflix

Oooh, controversial. The nostalgia and simplicity of Stranger Things‘ first season is something quite unlike any other season. It is a time before the stakes feel impossibly high and before there are too many characters and happenings to keep track of. It is the season where it all begins. Just four friends, a telekinetic girl, and a Demogorgon. There’s something about that that you just can’t replicate.

What makes season one so great is that it doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t feel the need to one-up itself, add unnecessary plotlines, or overcompensate with humor. It just is. Why didn’t I rank it higher? Truthfully, this is the point where things start to get tough because I like each remaining season for different reasons. Ultimately, season one comes in third because it wasn’t until the later seasons that I really became obsessed with the show.

2. Stranger Things 4 Netflix

Really, one and four are interchangeable for me. But, alas, for the sake of this article. Stranger Things: Season Four revs up the horror with a pretty menacing humanoid. I personally love the direction it takes with Vecna and his slew of victims. It exudes Stranger Things to its core.

I’m going to be straight up. A huge part of why I like this season so much falls to one reason in particular. Any of my good friends who are reading this already know the answer because I do not shut up about it ever. Eddie Munson. I love him. I stand by the statement that his character is what makes season four so memorable. Eddie, Dustin, and Steve have my heart forever.

The one thing I don’t particularly like about season four is the location hopping. The constant back-and-forth between Hawkins, California, and Russia is a lot to keep track of. It gets very convoluted anytime we venture outside of Hawkins. No shade, but there are certain storylines that I just don’t care about. The Henry Creel/Vecna plot twist? Amazing. California? Meh. Regardless, season four is a biggie for me.

1. Stranger Things 3 Netflix

This. This is everything. The best season of Stranger Things is…(drumroll) season three. The ’80s summer nostalgia, the fun mall vibe, everything about season three hits home for me. I am aware that this might be a controversial opinion, but there’s just something about it. It’s bright. It’s fun. It carries a sense of humor along with the nasty Mind Flayer flesh monster.

The highlight of season three is, by far, the Scoops Troop. The trio of Dustin, Robin, and Steve is hands down my favorite dynamic throughout the entire series. The bathroom scene between Robin and Steve remains one of my favorite scenes in recent television. If we’re ranking the seasons of Stranger Things solely on impeccable storytelling, sure, season three isn’t the strongest. But for the sake of enjoyment, it is my top.

Netflix

And that’s a wrap on Stranger Things and this season ranking. Looking back at the wonderful journey, it’s easy to see the pros and cons of each season. And the reasons why people might drift to one era over another. Season one is the winner for best storytelling, season four for horror, and season three for overall vibe. One thing almost everyone agrees on, however, is that there is no competition for last place. Sorry, season five.

The post Every STRANGER THINGS Season Ranked From Worst to Best appeared first on Nerdist.

As we’ve said before, we haven’t covered Survivor too much on Nerdist in the past. But are Survivor fans not truly some of the nerdiest fans of all? In many ways, Survivor is actually one of my personal earliest fandoms. And getting to rewalk those paths around Survivor 50 has been a truly wonderful (and very nerdy) experience. So I say, there’s no time like the present. Plus, we cheer for Ozzy in this house. And so, we’re temporarily expanding our coverage to let you all know that if you’re in NYC on May 6, you can have a Survivor 50 watch party in style—with our fav, Ozzy. As part of Brice And Wen Present’s Survivor 50 watch party series, there will be an “Ozzy NYC Pop Up!” in NYC. We love it.

If you’re not in NYC, fear not, because Brice And Wen Present are having Survivor watch parties in basically every corner of the United States. It’s kind of amazing. But, NYC deserves some fun too, so we’re excited that on Wednesday, May 6, Ozzy will be heading to The Ainsworth, New York, for what seems like it’s going to be a hell of a night.

If you’ve been keeping up with Survivor 50, you know that everything is heating up. The prize money has doubled. The “honor and integrity” alliance has steadily fallen to the queer people, weirdos, and nerds team-up, and everyone is on their own journey of growth, change, redemption, or whatever they’re looking for. Some of our favorites have gone home, RIP Christian and Survivor Spirk. But at Nerdist, we’re fully in on the Cirizard of Oz alliance, which has fav Ozzy and fav Cirie being fabulous together. We literally could not have asked for a better duo. (And Rizo, we like him too!)

CBS

But, of course, ever since Ozzy went on Twitter, said f*ck you to all terrible people out there and came out as a true bicon, no one else could even come close to claiming the title of my favorite Survivor player of all time. And so, I’m pumped he’ll be coming through town right at the height of my Survivor excitement. Here’s to you, Jungle Man.

If you’re like me, snag your ticket to the Ozzy Pop-Up today and get ready to cheer in real time during NYC’s most fun-ever Survivor watch party. And if you’re really feeling excited, make it a truly incredible queer Survivor double feature with Parv and a drag show!

Survivor 50 is airing now on CBS.

The post Have a SURVIVOR 50 Watch Party with Ozzy in NYC appeared first on Nerdist.

Greta Gerwig’s long-awaited fantasy film, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, has been delayed. Variety reports that Netflix pushed the film back over two months, from its November 26 release date to February 12, 2027. It will then premiere on Netflix on April 2, giving the film almost two months on cinema screens. Sneak previews for the new film start on IMAX screens on February 10. Although some Netflix films get theatrical screenings, few, if any, get a theatrical window as long as this one. The film features an all-star cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, and Emma Mackey. Twentieth Century Studios

In Gerwig’s follow-up to her mega smash Barbie, she’s adapting C.S. Lewis’ prequel novel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was his sixth Chronicles of Narnia novel overall. The story focuses on the creation of Narnia by Aslan the lion, voiced in this iteration by Meryl Streep. Two kids by the name Digory and Polly manage to discover the “Wood between the Worlds” after their uncle, played by Daniel Craig, gives the two friends a magical ring. Mackey will portray Jadis, a.k.a. the White Witch, once played by Tilda Swinton. So far, the young actors playing the leads in The Magician’s Nephew remain uncast.

Here’s what IMAX had to say about the upcoming release of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew:

From the outset, we got involved with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew to support Greta Gerwig and see her vision realized to the fullest in IMAX. The film’s delay until 2027 creates an opportunity to give Narnia an expanded, wide release with a full theatrical window; we support Greta and Netflix in pursuing that opportunity and are pleased Imax could help facilitate. We hope as many people in as many places as possible can experience what Greta is creating with this special film — particularly in its exclusive debut in Imax, as it was meant to be seen.

Could this indicate a bigger change to how Netflix rolls films into theaters? Or will this be a unique situation? The streaming giant now owns the franchise rights to the entire Narnia series, all seven C.S. Lewis novels. 20th Century Fox adapted the first three novels in the series in the 2000s. Although, only the first film was a big box office hit. With Gerwig in charge, could the Narnia novels find a whole new life? This deal is for both films and television series, so we might be in for more Narnia than ever in the next few years.

The post Greta Gerwig’s NARNIA Movie Delayed Until Early 2027 appeared first on Nerdist.

Earlier in 2025, Disney reported that it was halting progress on its live-action Tangled film. This decision likely came from the critical and commercial failure of Snow White. It wasn’t clear if the film would ever move forward again or end up getting the axe for good. But now Disney is ready to move forward with the live-action Tangled movie. 

Taking on the two leading roles, according to The Hollywood Reporter, are Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim. They will star in the Tangled live-action movie as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, respectively. Croft previously played Raven in the DC series Titans while Manheim is known for his role in the Zombies movie franchise. Joining them is Kathryn Hahn as villain Mother Gothel. And additionally, Diego Luna will take on a role that has not yet been confirmed, per Deadline.

Disney

For those who aren’t familiar, the animated Tangled film came out in 2010 and reimagined the classic story of Rapunzel. In this version, Mandy Moore voiced the main character. It was a big box office success for Disney and, with the recent love for Lilo & Stitch, it seems the company wants to bet on Tangled now.

It is not clear who else will star in this film nor when things will fully get back rolling again. We will have to wait and see what happens in the near future.

Originally published on October 10, 2025.

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Last year, we told you about an epic collaboration between Marvel and Wizards of the Coast to bring the Marvel Universe characters into Magic: The Gathering in a bigger and bolder way. The set, which arrives at the end of June, has heroes and villains from across the publisher’s vast history. We’ve seen previews of some already, including some for Marvel’s most iconic characters like Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and others. These followed some incredible Deadpool and Spider-Man cards, which also debuted last year. Now, at MagicCon: Las Vegas, Wizards of the Coast has revealed several new details, cards, and artwork for their Magic: The Gathering – Marvel Super Heroes set coming later this summer. (You can pre-order your decks today.)Wizards of the Coast

Among the new Marvel x Magic cards are the synthezoid Avenger, the Vision, labeled on the card as “the robot hero.” Also included is the Mad Titan known as Thanos, and the Mind Stone, one of his many coveted Infinity Stones. These come in very handy when trying to wipe out half of all life in the universe. You can check out the newly revealed Marvel Super Heroes cards below in our gallery.

Magic: The Gathering – Marvel Super Heroes: 5 New Cards Revealed

Here are the five new Magic: The Gathering – Marvel Super Heroes that were just revealed:

• The Mind Stone (Three Versions)
• Vision, Synthezoid Avenger
• The Vision

Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast/Marvel Marvel/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/Marvel Wizards of the Coast/Marvel Marvel/Wizards of the Coast

The Marvel Magic: The Gathering set will feature dynamic new mechanics that celebrate Marvel Comics’ many decades of storytelling and beloved characters. Much of the art draws inspiration from pivotal moments in the history of the Marvel Universe. At the preview panel, fans got a first look at Vision and Mind Stone cards coming to the set. The Vision card features art of Wanda Maximoff’s former husband phasing through a wall and stopping a crime. And the Mind Stone card features the ancient and powerful gem, ready to slot in place in Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet, ushering in his control of the universe.

There will be other cool announcements to come from MagicCon: Las Vegas, which runs from May 1 – 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Meanwhile, Magic: The Gathering – Marvel Super Heroes launches worldwide on June 26, 2026. Pre-order your decks today.

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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Middle-earth has the Shire. Our Earth has Las Vegas. They might not seem to have much in common, but this week the two fantasy lands came together to create magic. Or rather, they came together to create an amazing new Magic: The Gathering set. We’ve already seen an incredible Magic: The Gathering x The Lord of the Rings set. And today, Wizards of the Coast announced a new The Hobbit collection at Sin City’s MagicCon, and you don’t need to play tabletops or slot machines to enjoy it. This collection is a must-have even for those who love great art that brings Middle-earth to life. So get your adventures shoes on and let’s dive into our first look at Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit.Wizards of the Coast

Wizards of the Coast created a fellowship with gamers and Lord of the Rings fans during a preview panel at MagicCon. The Las Vegas Convention Center is where the company provided its first look at Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit. Here’s the official description:

Journey from the Shire to the Lonely Mountain alongside Bilbo Baggins in a set that captures the whimsy and heart of one of fantasy’s most beloved adventures. Players will encounter trolls, ponder riddles in the dark, and come face-to-face with Smaug himself—brought to life through Magic’s gameplay and design. 

Whether you love playing MTG or not, this feels like a must-have for J.R.R. Tolkien’s biggest fans. From the main set and land cards to boosters and tokens, this set features some absolutely beautiful artwork. Don’t believe us? Okay, Bilbo, look for yourself.

Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Main Set

You can check out our first looks at some of the cards from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit’s main set below, including:

• My Precious
• An Unexpected Party
• Bilbo, Luckwearer
• Bilbo, Thief in the Night
• Riddles in the Dark
• Smaug the Magnificent
• The Arkenstone
• Thorin, Mountain-King
• Tom, Bert, and William
• Wood Elves

Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Basic Lands

You can check out our first looks at some of the Basic Land cards from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit’s main set below, including:

• Forest
• Island
• Swamp
• Mountain
• Plains

Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Seasonal Basic Plains

You can check out some of the Seasonal Basic Land cards from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit’s main set below:

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Booster Fun

You can check out some of the Booster Fun cards from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit’s main set below, including:

• Smaug the Magnificent
• Sauron, the Dark Lord
• The Arkenstone
• The One Ring
• Tom Bombadil
• Wood Elves

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Tokens

You can check out some of the Token cards from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit’s main set below, including Dwarf and Treasure.

Wizards of the Coast

Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit launched worldwide (on this Earth) in the summer. You can grab yours on August 14, 2026. If you can’t wait that long, you can snag some gorgeous The Lord of the Rings Magic cards today.

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Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film is bringing a new character to Raccoon City, which we saw in its recent trailer. Austin Abrams’ Bryan is meant to be an everyday man put in the most impossible and frightening situation ever. And, unlike other leading characters in apocalyptic situations, he’s not meant to be someone who is super heroic nor strong. Cregger spoke more about Abrams’ Bryan characters, saying he is like an “avatar.” 

“So the world of [Resident Evil 2] is kind of where this takes place, even though I’d make a couple of little shifts for dramatic license,” Cregger told PlayStation. “It’s just following a different person who’s on a mission in this horrible night when things are going wrong in Raccoon City, and they’ve got to get something from point A to point B. And as they go, they encounter all of the same sorts of things you would encounter in the games.” 

Sony Pictures

Bryan is a medical courier who is trying to make a delivery when the world goes downhill after a sudden outbreak. It is literally the worst thing that you could imagine happening on a random day. 

“Austin is very much like an avatar for me, or what I expect the average video game player would react if they were thrust into the game themselves,” Cregger explained. “So he’s just a normal guy. He’s not particularly good at combat in any way, shape, or form. He’s athletic, but he’s not an athlete, he’s just a guy. He’s just a good natured, hapless dude who gets sucked into a nightmare.” 

He says that Austin Abrams is perfect for this role and we agree, based on Resident Evil’s trailer. Things will delve into chaos when Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18.

The post Zach Cregger Reveals Details About New RESIDENT EVIL Character appeared first on Nerdist.

At Nerdist, we love a fun combination of nostalgia and modernity, and we LOVE an exciting new game that takes us on a unique adventure. And that’s why we were especially excited to speak to Camryn Grimes about her new role in Mouse: P.I. for Hire, a stylized new first-person shooter game that “combines the charm of hand-drawn rubber hose animation inspired by the classic cartoons of the 1930’s with the adrenaline and action of an explosive first-person shooter.” In the game, Grimes plays Tammy Tumbler, a multifaceted, fast-talking mechanic who demonstrates remarkable depth, resilience, and wit. Nerdist sat down with Grimes to discuss her layered performance, voice acting as a whole, and her favorite cheese puns and nerdy hobbies. Dive into our full interview below.Fumi Studios

Nerdist: I love the look of Mouse: P.I. for Hire, what a fun game. What drew you to this unique title?

Camryn Grimes: I think as somebody who’s grown up watching Disney and a lot of Rubber Hose animation and loving games, I think it’s this wonderful amalgamation of all these sorts of things, and it brings a sense of nostalgia to it while also giving a sort of modern flair in the fact that it’s like a first-person shooter. So it’s a fun concept.

How did you first hear about the Mouse: P.I. for Hire role? How did it come to you?

Camryn Grimes: Well, it’s funny that when I auditioned for the role, my husband and I both got auditions for it at the same time. My husband’s also a voice actor, and he had already known about the game. So he kind of showed me the socials. He was like, “Oh my gosh, I actually know about this game, and I’m super excited for it. I already follow them.” So he kind of walked me through, and I was very, very, very intrigued.

And yeah, just looked like something that was a really, really interesting concept. And it being an indie game, it’s so wonderful to see, and you want to support. And I think they did an amazing job with their grassroots effort to get people excited from day one. So that’s how I had first heard of it.

Fumi Studios

Can you tell me more about your Mouse: P.I. for Hire character, Tammy Tumbler, and what about her might really resonate with the players?

Camryn Grimes: Oh, I love Tammy Tumbler. She’s really spunky and witty, with a kind of dry humor. She’s had a life that’s a bit tougher, but has kind of settled into her place in Mouseburg. And she’s very intelligent. She’s a fixer, a tinkerer, and a mechanic. And she’s got this really, I think, endearing relationship with Jack that I think you get to kind of see progress over the

You just mentioned all of those wonderful things. And it feels like there are so many layers of depth to Tammy. Can you talk about crafting her into a really nuanced character for Mouse: P.I. for Hire, and what about her layers appeals to you?

Camryn Grimes: I just kind of wanted to bring a sense of myself to Tammy because I felt so, so connected to her and like we were kindred spirits right away. So bringing that comedy and bringing that a little bit of the grittiness or the rasp or the tomboy-ness, it was really important to me. I looked at Tammy, and she reminded me a lot of Tony Toponi from An American Tail. And even though Tony’s a boy, Tammy’s a girl, having that as inspiration kind of led me to the voice. And making her a little bit raspier and a little bit spunkier was something I wanted to do. I have a pretty raspy voice, but I’m from the Valley. So I’ve got that vocal fry all day, and I like it.

Fumi Studios

And so, about the voice. What kind of prep work did you do to settle on your Mouse: P.I. for Hire voice? Did it just come to you? Did you have different iterations?

Camryn Grimes: No, I think for me, I know a lot of people have different approaches. I try to … I have kind of a list of things that give me inspiration or things that I will do naturally in my own, because being just riddled with ADHD, I do a lot of mimicking, and I do a lot of quoting, and I do a lot of impressions kind of without thinking. So when I got into voice-over, my husband was so great at reminding me that, like, sometimes a bad impression is still a good voice. So I try to write everything down as I can, like, “Oh, this is something I tend to do in conversation, or this is something that is fun to me. ”

But even having that list, which I think is super good and important, and you can use if you ever feel stuck, a lot of the time I also try to go with just first instincts, especially if you get the visual aid and you get a picture of the character.

I think it’s important to kind of go with what you hear, sort of as you’re reading the lines, and try to match that. And that’s sort of just a gut feeling, and that’s what kind of came out with Tammy.

Fumi Studios

What do you feel is your favorite part of voice acting versus acting on camera, and also what is the greatest challenge?

Camryn Grimes: They’re so different. It’s night and day. The subtlety that you have to bring to on-camera acting versus how big you have to be at the mic to even register. When I was first doing voiceover and auditioning, I think I found that to be my biggest struggle that like you just have to exercise out of yourself is that when you’re at the mic, and you think you’re huge, you think you’re going way, way, way beyond, you still have to go beyond that.

If the camera adds 10 pounds, the mic takes away 10% of your flavor or energy, and you lose it. And I would find myself in the very beginning editing my auditions and saying, “Oh my God, this sounds so flat. I thought I was giving my everything, and this still sounds so flat.” So you really, really have to be way more animated and way more energetic. And that sometimes means like, I’m glad there’s not a camera on me because I look ridiculous.

But they both, I think, really, really have their beauty. And just as an actor becoming well-rounded, it’s so lovely to do, and to try any and all mediums: on camera, voiceover, stage acting, anything like that. I learn something from everything that I do.

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Did you learn anything new about voice acting while crafting Tammy and working on Mouse: P.I. for Hire?

Camryn Grimes: Oh, I’m trying to think. I mean, I definitely learned in my first session that stamina is important. Luckily, the rasp comes pretty naturally to me, but you get excited about something, and you do an audition, and then if you book it, you’d better be able to sustain that voice for a really, really long time. Usually, a two to four-hour session, and it is pretty tiring. It’s so much more tiring than on camera, I would say.

And I think that’s something that people wouldn’t necessarily guess. There is more time that goes into on-camera. You have to go to set, you have hair and makeup, you have to do a lot. But I think on-camera is like a sprint and voice acting is like a marathon because it’s just, you’re not working with anybody else. The demand is just on you back to back to back to back to back to back.

Granted, you don’t have to memorize the lines. They’re in front of you. But if you’re doing each line three times, six times, you never know what the director’s going to need or want. You get pretty exhausted.

Did you have any favorite lines that you delivered as Tammy?

Camryn Grimes: Here’s what I’ll say. I think the writing in this game is brilliant, and I had so much fun with all the cheese puns. I think if you’re going to have something that looks like this, visually exciting, lean in, make every pun you can, and really just go all the way with it. And I think they do. And so it was really fun getting to kind of throw those zingers out. And Tammy talks in a very fast-paced way. So it was a challenge sometimes because on some of those lines, I got tongue-tied a few times.

Camryn Grimes

Video games have become so narrative-driven in recent times. They’re really like full stories, like any movie, book, or anything else. What do you feel like this game’s place in that sort of trajectory is?

Camryn Grimes: Well, I think it’s got a lot of great elements. I think it being a first-person shooter is just fun. I remember back in the day, like my brother and I playing Time Splitters, and I don’t really know that that had much of a narrative, but it was super, super fun. But I think the level of mystery that this blends in, so it’s also sort of like problem solving, and you have to find clues, and you get … It kind of wraps it together nicely in a little box. They have a lot of cool side games as well.

So I think it can give players a lot of what they want.

At Nerdist, we love to ask, what do you nerd out about in your life?

Camryn Grimes: I think the better question is, what do I not nerd out about? I mean, I would say like I am a part of so many different fandoms, and I think once you’re a nerd, it’s easy to spread. It’s like a virus. If you’re nerdy about one thing, chances are you’re going to hop over and hop over and hop over.

I’m a nerd for books. love reading books. In 2020, and there was nothing to do, I got super into ACOTAR. I got into like Ferry Smut, if you will. [laughs]

I also, I mean, I’m a big Disney nerd. I love Game of Thrones. I love The Lord of the Rings.

Are there any other projects on your radar that you’re looking forward to or that you’d like to tease?

Camryn Grimes: Doing this game was so fun. Mouse: P.I. for Hire has a really, really great cast, and it’s a really fun game. So I would love to do more games. I think MoCap would be really interesting because it kind of feels like a live theater performance, and you’re working with the other actors. But in the meantime, you could just catch me on The Young and the Restless on CBS.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is now available to play at any time.

The post Camryn Grimes Talks Cheese Puns and Voice Acting on MOUSE: P.I. FOR HIRE appeared first on Nerdist.

Is superhero movie fatigue a real thing? The term is certainly thrown around a lot, as few superhero movies have performed the same way they did in the late 2010s. But one person who doesn’t believe in superhero fatigue is DC Studios co-head Peter Safran. That’s the one who’s not James Gunn. Speaking to the AP (via IGN), Safran said that superhero fatigue, saying instead that what the movie industry currently has is “mediocre movie fatigue.” Here’s what he said in full, and how it relates to DC Studios’ upcoming slate, particularly Supergirl:

I never felt that there was superhero fatigue. I felt it was mediocre movie fatigue. You gotta try something new. You have to change the game a little bit. The essential story on which Supergirl is based is something cool and original and we haven’t seen before.

Which superhero movies over the past few years did Peter Safran deem as mediocre? We don’t know, but we know that between 2020 and 2024, both Marvel and DC were equally guilty when it came to releasing forgettable projects. But overall, Safran isn’t wrong. Movies need to dive into more offbeat and interesting source material, especially after 25 years of nonstop superhero action. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one such project. And although it’s a supervillain movie more than a superhero movie, we think Clayface counts as another one. Especially as it’s essentially based around an episode of Batman: The Animated Series.

DC Studios

Overall, we’d say superhero fatigue is just one symptom of an overall blockbuster movie fatigue. 2019 was an insane year for the box office, and the very next year, the pandemic happened. And for the most part, box office levels have never gone back to pre-pandemic levels. Very few films have hit more than $500 million at the domestic box office since the start of the decade. And that was once something that happened every year.

Even very well-received movies like Project Hail Mary will come up short of hitting that benchmark. Overall, we just think everyone needs to adjust what counts as success in this new landscape. And that includes superhero movies, too.

The post DC’s Peter Safran Says Fans Are Tired of ‘Mediocre Movies,’ Not Superheroes appeared first on Nerdist.

Attorneys General around the country, as well as many politicians, have discussed mounting a legal challenge to Paramount Skydance’s mega purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. Thus far none of them have done anything to actually stop it. But some normal, unelected people have. Five Paramount+ subscribers have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in California to halt the sale. Yes, the people are suing to stop this Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount merger.Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery

This week, five plaintiffs—Pamela Faust, Len Marazzo, Lisa Mccarthy, Deborah Rubinsohn, and Gary Talewsky—filed a “private antitrust” lawsuit in California’s Northern District federal court. (A case we first heard about at Forbes.) They are seeking an “injunctive relief” to stop Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion dollar purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. The suit cites a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act.” And while we’re not lawyers, their reasoning certainly sounds like a fact. Here’s the suit’s first claim about the harm posed by this merger:

“…it may substantially lessen competition by eliminating a significant rival. Plaintiffs are threatened with loss or damage due to increased prices, reduced production, reduced quality, and reduced consumer choice.”

Yup. The suit also specifically mentions the company’s acquisition of CNN and why it was such a major reason for the sale. The lawsuit posits “political considerations and horse trading over a major national news outlet” was a big reason behind the sale, proving it should be invalidated.

Again, we’re not lawyers, but…..

Universal Pictures

Paramount Skydance responded to the filing, saying it is “without merit.” The company also said the merger “will create a stronger competitor that is well positioned to serve as a champion for creative talent and consumer choice.”

Does this suit have a chance? Honestly, who knows anymore? But we know it’s never (not once) been great for consumers and artists alike when there’s less competition, which is exactly what this sale guarantees. And as people who love both movies and a free press, we wish these five Paramount+ subscribers good luck. We also hope those with real political power finally do something, too.

The post Paramount+ Subscribers Sue To Stop Warner Bros. Discovery Sale appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s not uncommon for people to wonder about what they want to happen to their bodies when they die. Some people prefer to be buried, others cremated, and others want their ashes scattered about the earth. When it’s time to finally kick the bucket, who wouldn’t want to go out in style? A Brazilian coffin company asked itself the very same question. What they came up with is pretty super. Take a look at these Super Mario-inspired coffins and see if they fit your afterlife goals.

Funerals stand as a celebration of someone’s life. If that person so happened to be a huge Super Mario fan, why not celebrate with a bright pink coffin inspired by Princess Peach? Or a red one with the Mario “M” on the lid? The Brazilian company unveiled the unique coffins on its Instagram page. The post has since sparked a lot of talk online. In the post, the company jokes that when it’s “game over,” you’ll want to be buried in these unique coffins.

On top of Peach and Mario, the coffin line also features designs of Luigi, Toad, and Yoshi. Each design has its own color and wooden plaque to represent each character. For example, Peach’s is pink with a crown, Luigi’s is green with an “L,” and Toad’s is red with a mushroom cap. With the Super Mario Galaxy Movie having come out in April of this year, the timing is pretty perfect.

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People love the designs and are now asking for more fun, character-inspired coffins. Classic characters such as Bowser, Sonic, and others. In honor of the new movie, it would also be cool to see a coffin designed around Rosalina. Unironically, these unique coffins aren’t the first time the company has nerded out with their designs. In the past, they’ve also offered ones for Barbie and The Fairly OddParents.

The post These SUPER MARIO Coffins Will Let You Nerd Out in the Afterlife appeared first on Nerdist.

Most little kids with a great head of hair would hate to shave their heads. But most kids don’t get to play a beloved character from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire on HBO like young Dexter Sol Ansell. He happily bid farewell to his hair after getting cast as Egg on HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. (In fact, he almost cut it all off for his audition to show how much he wanted the part!) Now that he’s a star, though, would Sol Ansell be just as eager to do it again for season two of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? This joyful video of him losing his locks more than answers that question.

Maekar’s youngest son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, shared a delightful pre-season video of himself getting ready for “series 2” of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Having to be totally bald might sound like the unfortunate cost of playing such an important character in Westeros’ history. Not for Sol Ansell. Being “back to bald” made him feel “back to normal.”

Have we said how much we love this kid? Oh, not in at least a month? Bad job by us. Real bad. Let’s fix that right now: we love this kid. Perfect Egg.

Dexter Sol Ansell

As for when we’ll get to see Sol Ansell return as Dunk’s diminutive squire, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ second season is currently in production. (HBO had to stop/delay filming in April after a natural disaster.) We won’t see the legendary duo back, in an adaptation of the second Dunk & Egg novella “The Sworn Sword,” until at least 2027.

By then Dexter Sol Ansell’s terrific hair will likely be back to its full glory. And then we can look forward to yet another video of him gleefully getting it all shaved off.

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Creature Commandos officially kicked off the new DCU, but its story won’t stop at the beginning because Max has announced James Gunn’s animated series is getting a season two, and now, we even have a first look at its script.

DC Studios

Everyone’s new favorite monster squad is keeping the unlikely team together at Max. The streaming service has renewed Creature Commandos from writer, executive producer, and co-chair of the DCU James Gunn. It would be easy to say the show is getting another year because it’s Gunn’s series and he runs the DCU’s creative side. But that wouldn’t be accurate. (Even if it probably didn’t hurt.) The series was a hit with both critics and viewers alike.

Since its renewal early last year, we haven’t heard much from the series. But now writer Dean Lorey has shared some progress, noting, “I promised a “starry little surprise” so here you go, the title page of the first script. Creature Commandos season 2 is becoming something really special with the work of hugely talented creative folks who I’ll spotlight over the next few weeks!”

In a press release at the time of renewal, Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO & Max Comedy Programming, talked about why they wanted to do a second season. “Only James Gunn could have conjured this wild band of misfit monsters who tug at your heart and force you to root passionately for them,” she said. “We couldn’t be more delighted to continue their stories with James, Dean Lorey, Peter Safran and our fantastic partners at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.”

Max

The series stars Steve Agee as Economos, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana, Anya Chalotra as Circe, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag, Sr., Sean Gunn as GI Robot & Weasel, David Harbour as Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus, Indira Varma as The Bride, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

One thing we still don’t know is when season two will arrive. That will be important not because we don’t want to wait, but because the DCU has now properly kicked off. Creature Commandos season one started the DCU, but season two will have a bigger challenge to deal with. It will have to fit into the superhero world that the show launched.

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The Russo Brothers and Kevin Feige did more than just reveal new footage of Avengers: Doomsday at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas. They also announced an entirely new way to experience Disney’s biggest movies. The Mouse House is partnering with large-format theaters around the world on Infinity Vision. And it’s kicking off this new, brighter, bolder, more immersive way to watch movies with a re-release of Avengers: Endgame.Disney

Walt Disney Studios says Infinity Vision will let audiences know which theaters “offer the biggest, brightest and most immersive cinematic experiences” by setting “a new benchmark for theatrical presentation, certifying auditoriums that meet rigorous technical standards.” What will that actually mean in practice. Disney described the kinds of upgrades moviegoers can expect from Infinity Vision:

• The largest screens for maximum scale 
• Laser projection for superior brightness and clarity 
• Premium audio formats for fully immersive sound

Marvel Studios

Premium large format (PLF) theaters around the world will get to employ Infinity Vision for the first time this fall. Marvel Studios will re-release Avengers: Endgame in Infinity Vision in September. The Russos and Feige also said this latest theatrical release for the blockbuster film will include brand-new footage. Two months later, Avengers: Doomsday will also be available in Infinity Vision at certified PLFs.

“Disney’s standards for production quality are second to none, with every single detail of a film finely tuned for an immersive experience,” said Andrew Cripps, Head of Theatrical Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios, in a statement. “Infinity Vision certification extends that commitment to the theaters themselves, representing a shared effort between The Walt Disney Studios and the exhibition community to help audiences quickly find the very best screens in their area to experience our films in exactly the way they’re designed to be seen – on a huge screen with the sharpest, clearest color and sound.”

Marvel Studios

Although Disney sounds pretty excited about its new format, IMAX isn’t really that impressed. IMAX CFO Natasha Fernandes says of Infinity Vision, “From our view, we feel it’s a marketing play to try and offset the fact that they don’t have an IMAX platform or brand for Avengers: Doomsday,” Adding that Marvel fans are “among the savvy and most discerning moviegoers out there. And there’s a reason why we’re the undisputed leader in premium cinema worldwide.” Oop. Well, make of that what you will.

We didn’t need much more convincing to see Avengers: Doomsday. We didn’t even need an excuse to see Endgame in theaters again. But it turns out there’s Infinity Vision reasons to do both.

Originally published on April 17, 2026.

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Whether we like it or not, AI is now a huge part of our world. Websites like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are where a lot of people are going to get advice, information, and even recipes. There’s a ton of rightful uproar about its place in creative spaces, from crafting film and TV scripts to using the likeness of deceased actors in new projects. So it is not shocking that a recent study found that one third of relatively new websites are AI-generated. We learned about this rather bleak news via 404 Media, and it really makes us question what is powering some of our favorite websites. 

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To be clear, your team at Nerdist are all very much so human. So no worries there! Now, more about this study. Researchers from Stanford University and the Imperial College London teamed up with the Internet Archive and found that a third of websites created since 2022 are AI-generated. That is the same year that ChatGPT launched, which is certainly not a coincidence. They published their findings in a paper titled “The Impact of AI-Generated Text on the Internet,” and said that these websites are making the internet less verbose. And that really means less creativity and meaningful content and conversation. 

“The proliferation of AI-generated and AI-assisted text on the internet is feared to contribute to a degradation in semantic and stylistic diversity, factual accuracy, and other negative developments,” the researchers write in the paper. “We find that by mid-2025, roughly 35% of newly published websites were classified as AI-generated or AI-assisted, up from zero before ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022.” 

Prime Video

It took so many years for the Internet to become a driving force that connected humanity in unprecedented ways. Now, in just a few years, that landscape is totally different. There’s very real consequences of heavy AI usage to our environment as well as our workplaces as people in some industries are losing their livelihood to AI tools. But, like death and taxes, it seems that AI is simply unavoidable, especially if one third of newer websites are created by it.

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When Disney+ dumped all eight episodes of Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man at the end of January, many people prejudged the series. Being “dumped” like that meant it had to be a stinker, right? Well, the series wound up getting great reviews from both critics and fans, especially for its two lead stars, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley. An exploration of trying to make it as Hollywood actors, coupled with a buddy comedy, Wonder Man won over people who rarely pay attention to Marvel projects. But will the upcoming second season keep that quirky tone? According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, fans need not worry. Here’s what Wonder Man showrunner Andrew Guest had to say:

The people who like this show and like it because it feels different are going to be rewarded. And the people who think that this show is going to suddenly turn into something else, I’m sorry to say, it’s not.

Marvel Studios

So, don’t expect Simon Williams to suddenly join the Avengers or even the X-Men. (We do think he might be a mutant in the MCU, however.) And don’t expect Simon to toss cars in the street against some super villain. This will likely remain a series about newly minted superstar Simon Williams and his unlikely friendship with actor Trevor Slattery. When the first season ended, an undercover Simon busted Trevor out of prison after he took the fall for him. So where season two goes is anyone’s guess.

Marvel Studios

After playing two different DC characters, Black Manta in Aquaman, and Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen, Yahya was eager to play a Marvel character. However, he knew it had to be the right character. Because in a shared universe, you (usually) only get to play one character. Here’s what Yahya Abdul-Mateen II said while speaking to Kevin Feige:

I only get one Marvel buck to spend. Is this worth my dollar, because I can wait. And I’m so glad this is the role I got to spend my dollar on because I’m getting all of the super stuff and I’m getting all of the human stuff at the same time.

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Even though it won’t be a typical Marvel show when it returns, we do hope for a little bit of classic superhero storytelling. After all, who doesn’t want a bit more of Yahya in the Wonder Man suit, flexing his powers? For those of you who missed the first season of Wonder Man, it’s currently streaming on Disney+.

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