The time has come to dust your hat off. Because Timothy Olyphant is officially heading back to our screens. Olyphant will reprise his iconic role as US Marshal Raylan Givens in a Justified revival. This limited series, titled Justified: City Primeval, will take fans back to the iconic franchise in a new story. And we now have an official first look at the series. The Justified: City Primeval teaser trailers remind us it’s all about the hat, the stare, the walk, and the bad guy takedown. And they let us know exactly when this series will release.

The teaser trailers don’t give us much, but they do get us excited. The Marshal is ready for action. And they confirm the show premieres July 18 on FX. The first two episodes begin airing at 10 pm ET/PT on FX, and they will stream the next day on Hulu.

A release for the Justified revival offers a little more. This time, the FX limited series will be inspired by the late Elmore Leonard’s novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit.

Having left the hollers of Kentucky eight years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 14-year-old girl.  His hair is grayer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind.

A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit.  There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again.  Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.

It sounds like Justified: City Primeval will feel every bit as intense as the original.

The release also shares that Olyphant will reunite with Justified producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner. The duo will serve as “Showrunners, Writers and Executive Producers, with Dinner directing.” Graham Yost, Sarah Timberman, and Carl Beverly also join as Executive Producers. In addition, Peter Leonard, Taylor Elmore, and Chris Provenzano will write for the series.

We’re excited so much of the original team can come back together for this revival. Getting back the people who created the show to begin with is often key to these revivals. And although this Justified revival is a one-off season for now, Olyphant and Timberman recently noted they would be open to expanding to more seasons. Olyphant noted of doing more of the revival, “I’d show up. I had a good time. Every time we’ve done this I’ve had a good time. And Timberman agreed saying, “If he shows up I show up—we all show up.”

Hopefully, Justified: City Primeval will capture the drama and the modern western spirit that the original show executed so well. As mentioned, Justified: City Primeval releases July 18.

Originally published on January 14, 2022.

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It’s about to be a “hot vampire summer.” At least if our favorite FX blood-suckers have anything to say about it. (And they always do have something to say.) Because season five of What We Do in the Shadows will arrive this summer, it will release on July 13, to be exact. And, in celebration of this, we finally have an official trailer for What We Do in the Shadow‘s upcoming season. Take a look below.

We’ve been dying, for one thing, to know if fan-favorite Harvey Guillén’s Guillermo will finally become a vampire or not in What We Do in the Shadows‘ next season. And it looks like the trailer for season five seems to hint that he will without much ado. However, the transformation isn’t going exactly as imagined. Does that mean maybe he isn’t becoming a vampire after all? Or perhaps Guillermo is just the world’s most peculiar vampire. We wouldn’t count it out.

The What We Do in the Shadows season five trailer also catches us up with all of our other favorite vamps. Laszlo, for instance, is taking on the mall. And he’s throwing around giant pictures of Ryan Seacrest. We’re cracking up already.

Honestly, we’re counting down the days (or is that nights) until the release of What We Do in the Shadows season five. It’s all celebrating the undead from here on out, especially since we already know we’ll get What We Do in the Shadows season six. That’s a lot of pressure off.

What We Do in the Shadows season five will premiere on FX and stream on Hulu next month. The first two episodes will arrive on July 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and will stream the next day on Hulu.

Originally published on May 15, 2023.

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The Sonic the Hedgehog live-action renaissance continues with Knuckles, a Paramount+ series with Idris Elba reprising his role as the red ball of Echidna fury. Well, he’s not so angry now but don’t test him. We’ve known about the Knuckles spinoff series for a while; however, we are finally getting some new casting information. Not only is Tika Sumpter reprising her role as Maddie in the Knuckles TV series, but Adam Pally will also join the cast as Wade Whipple. In case you forgot, he’s a Green Hills police officer and Tom’s BFF. 

According to Variety, Knuckles will take place between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the upcoming third installment. The next Sonic adventure will hit theaters on December 20, 2024. In this series, Wade will become Knuckle’s protégé as he learns “the ways of the Echidna warrior.” Why is this happening? We don’t know, and we do not care. We just want to see more Knuckles on our screen, especially if he is playing base of ball. It’s not clear when this series will drop, but it is in production as of April 2023. So maybe we will see it later this year or even early next year.

We don’t know if James Marsden will reprise his role as Tom or not, but a few others are joining Sumpter. The Knuckles series cast includes Edi Patterson, Scott Mescudi (known as Kid Cudi), Ellie Taylor, Rory McCann, Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, Paul Scheer, Stockard Channing, and Rob Huebel. Either way, Knuckles is back on the scene and getting the solo love that he so deserves (no shade to Sonic) in his own spinoff series.

Originally published on April 17, 2023.

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It’s time to prepare for check-in. The high-octane universe of John Wick is expanding with The Continental: From The World Of John Wick. This will be a three-part Peacock series (which the streaming service is calling an event) that will explore the infamous NYC hotel where our guy Winston Scott reigns supreme. We’ve been patiently waiting for more information about it, especially after the excellence of John Wick: Chapter 4. Now, we finally have a release date window and an intriguing teaser trailer for The Continental: From The World Of John Wick. 

Here’s a quick synopsis of The Continental prequel and the John Wick story it tells: 

The three-part event will explore the origin behind the iconic hotel-for-assassins centerpiece of the John Wick universe through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott, as he’s dragged into the Hell-scape of 1970’s New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind.  Winston charts a deadly course through the hotel’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the hotel where he will eventually take his future throne.

Peacock also recently shared some first-look images of the series.

We love it. We need it now. For those who may be wondering if John Wick will appear in The Continental series, it is not likely at all. The future Baba Yaga was only a child during the 1970s. And there are so many intriguing elements of this universe that we don’t need to have John Wick there to fully enjoy it. Winston is a rather enigmatic character whom we know very little about. It will be cool to learn more about his early years. And we can’t wait to learn what he did to attain such a high-ranking position. We see Winston show up in The Continental: From The World Of John Wick trailer along with some other baddies who are entrenched in this underground network. 

Colin Woodell will star as Winston Scott. The rest of The Continental‘s cast includes Mel Gibson (Cormac), Mishel Prada (KD), Ben Robson (Frankie), Hubert Point-Du Jour (Miles), Nhung Kate (Yen), Jessica Allain (Lou), Ayomide Adegun (Charon), Jeremy Bobb (Mayhew) and Peter Greene (Uncle Charlie). The Continental series release date will be in September 2023.

Originally published on April 12, 2023.

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If you haven’t watched Foundation‘s first season, it’s time to catch up. Because season two will soon arrive on our screens in fine fashion. Foundation has officially revealed its summer release date and shared the first teaser trailer for its second season. This futuristic sci-fi series on Apple TV+ had us at the edge of our seats during its first ten episodes. And we are absolutely ready to blast off into more Lee Pace, Jared Harris, and Foundation as a whole. Take a look at season two’s trailer below and get ready for an uprising.

Foundation Season Two Trailer and Release Date

“All empires fall,” reads the description for Foundation season two. And we certainly see there are many struggles ahead for the universe and its characters. A release from Apple TV+ shares:

More than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy in “Foundation” season two. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire. The monumental adaptation of “Foundation” chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.

Foundation season two releases on July 14.

Foundation Season Two First Look Images

Foundation season two also shared a slew of first-look images. The above was our very first glimpse of Foundation‘s second season. We won’t say the most important part is Lee Pace in a fishnet shirt… But we will say, it doesn’t hurt. The show knows how to deliver an aesthetic. And it knows its audience.

Foundation Season Two Cast

Joining the original cast in Foundation season two are also ten new stars. We also have descriptions of their characters that add a bit of context to what next season might entail. (Please note, the three images directly above come from Foundation season one).

Isabella Laughland as Brother Constant, a cheerfully confident claric whose job is to evangelize the Church of the Galactic Spirit across the Outer Reach. Constant is a true believer, whose courage and passion make her hard not to love.

Kulvinder Ghir as Poly Verisof, High Claric of the Church of the Galactic Spirit. Whip-smart and sardonic, he’s also a terrible drunk—intelligent enough to see the path he’s on, but too cynical to change.

Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Enjoiner Rue, the beautiful, politically savvy consigliere to Queen Sareth. A former courtesan to Cleon the 16th, Rue parlayed her status to become a royal counsellor.

Ella-Rae Smith as Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion. Used to being underestimated, Sareth employs it to her advantage, charming her way into the Imperial Palace with biting wit, all while on a secret quest for revenge.

Dimitri Leonidas as Hober Mallow, a master trader with a sarcastic personality and questionable morals, who is summoned against his will to serve a higher, selfless cause.

Ben Daniels as Bel Roise, the last great general of the Superliminal Fleet and would-be conqueror of the Foundation. Bel is noble to a fault, but his fealty to the Galactic Empire is waning.

Holt McCallany as Warden Jaegger Fount, the current Warden of Terminus and guardian of its citizens against external threats.

Mikael Persbrandt as The Warlord of Kalgan, a monster of a man, coiled with muscle and possessing powerful psychic abilities, and fueled by hate in his quest to take over the galaxy.

Rachel House as Tellem Bond, mysterious leader of the Mentallics.

Nimrat Kaur as Yanna Seldon.

It looks like we’ll be seeing many new players in season two. From sarcastic cynics to angry warlords to savvy politicians. The world of Foundation is about to grow even more. And we feel excited about that. After all, the more mysterious leaders and quests for revenge in space, the better. Sci-fi interstellar dramas have always brought us excellent world-building. And we have no doubt season two of Foundation will follow in that tradition.

If you have watched season one already, and feel impatient for more, here’s something to tide you over in the meanwhile.

Lee Pace may not don fishnet in this interview, but he certainly has a lot to say about the show and his character. We can’t wait to hear what he has to say about the show as season two approaches.

Originally published on May 11, 2023.

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Look, nobody wants to be shipwrecked anywhere. If it’s a Cast Away situation, you end up talking to a volleyball. In a Swiss Family Robinson scenario, you have build treehouses and stuff. Who wants to do that! But if you end up on Skull Island, as the characters do in Skull Island, you have to contend with giant, bloodthirsty beasts. And you better hope Kong is in a benevolent mood that day. The new Netflix series from Powerhouse Animation will debut on June 22, but the streamer has just released a full-length trailer. Take a look!

The series takes viewers on a thrilling adventure as a group of kind-hearted explorers rescues Annie (Mae Whitman) from the ocean, unaware that their act of heroism will lead them to the treacherous Skull Island. This enigmatic place is home to bizarre creatures and terrifying monsters, including the mighty titan himself, Kong. As the trailer shows, the idea was always to go to Skull Island, but certainly not to strand themselves there. And it seems as though Annie isn’t as helpless as they initially feared.

Skull Island, from Legendary Television, is created, written, and produced by Brian Duffield. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, with Nicolas Cantu (Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky, The Fabelmans) lending his voice to the protagonist, Charlie. Joining him are talented voice actors Mae Whitman (Family Guy, DC Super Hero Girls) as Annie; Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles) as Mike; Benjamin Bratt (Poker Face, Coco) as Cap; and Betty Gilpin (Mrs. Davis, Glow) as Irene.

Skull Island‘s eight-episode first season will drop June 22 on Netflix.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Reports indicate that, unfortunately for consumers, Netflix’s long-anticipated password-sharing crackdown is working. According to data from research company Antenna, which we saw via Variety, sign-ups for new Netflix accounts are at a four-year high. And this comes directly as a consequence of the company’s efforts to curb password sharing. The increase in subscriptions has an even higher spike than the subscription increase Netflix saw during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We guess many people sharing accounts still want to access Netflix.

According to Antenna, since Netflix began its US password-sharing crackdown in earnest on May 23, subscriptions have skyrocketed. Netflix’s average daily sign-ups increased 102% (over the last 60-day days) from May 25 to May 28. And average daily sign-ups hit 73,000. That is indeed astronomical. Antenna reveals that Netflix hasn’t seen numbers this high since January 2019.

Of course, cancellations also increased as a result of Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown. However, the rate of cancellations was less than the rate of new subscriptions, leaving Netflix the winner. Although, there is a natural cap to this increase as well. At some point, all the Netflix sign-ups that will happen as a result of the password-sharing crackdown will happen. And then growth may cease. However, Netflix previously estimated that 30 million households in the US and Canada share passwords. Perhaps some households even share with multiple people. So, there are many new subscriptions to come.

In the event you are sharing passwords, Netflix will let you know you had better pay up or expect not to be able to use the account any longer. Subscribers who have been sharing Netflix accounts can either transfer their accounts to a whole new Netflix subscription or add an extra member for $7.99/month. We’re just crossing our fingers that other streamers aren’t inspired by Netflix to have their own password-sharing crackdowns.

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Netflix’s Wednesday series resonated with viewers in a way that many didn’t expect. The series, starring Jenna Ortega as the infamous Addams family daughter, hit the streaming service right before Thanksgiving weekend for a story about mayhem and murder. Very appropriate timing, to be honest. And that long weekend along with eight episodes of fantastic action, verbal slices, and mystery paid off. Netflix gave us the renewal announcement that we’ve been wanting, revealing that Wednesday will return for season two. Let the ongoing shenanigans at Nevermore Academy continue. 

Here’s what producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar told Tudum.com about this great news:

It’s been incredible to create a show that has connected with people across the world.  Thrilled to continue Wednesday’s tortuous journey into season two. We can’t wait to dive head first into another season and explore the kooky spooky world of Nevermore. Just need to make sure Wednesday hasn’t emptied the pool first.

The Wednesday season two renewal announcement shouldn’t shock anyone. Wednesday nabbed the record for most hours viewed in a week for an English-language series on Netflix with a whopping 341.2 million hours. And it became #1 in 83 countries, tying the record set by Stranger Things 4. We all know that Stranger Things is Netflix’s darling, so anything that can rival that is worth keeping around. And, to be honest, Wednesday Addams is a true legend with a legion of fans. Add in the fact that Jenna Ortega is coming into her full star power with yet another Scream movie on the way, and, well, the smell of success is stronger than Thing’s hand cream. 

Wednesday season two will presumably pick up when the students return to Nevermore. We will get to discover who is watching Wednesday and if she decided to go visit Enid during their impromptu break. Recently, Ortega also shared that in season two, Wednesday would lean into its more horror-filled aspects and ditch a romantic story. Oretega offered, “We’ve decided we want to lean into the horror aspect of the show a little bit more. Because it is so lighthearted, and a show like this with vampires and werewolves and superpowers, you don’t want to take yourself too seriously.” She added, “We’re ditching any romantic love interest for Wednesday, which is really great,”

And, of course, everyone wants to know if Christina Ricci will return to Wednesday as Laurel Gates. Either way, we hope we get those new episodes quicker than we can snap twice.

Originally published on January 6, 2023.

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After three seasons of dazzling ballroom looks, devastating diagnoses, trauma, love, and triumph, Pose is over. The series left its mark on TV with a large ensemble cast of trans women and gay men. These actors gave us characters who told many different stories about LGBTQ+ life for Black and Latin people in the underground ballroom scene during the late ’80s and early ’90s at the height of the AIDS crisis. If someone were to pinpoint the heart and soul of this series, it would certainly be Blanca Evangelista, played by MJ Rodriguez.

Blanca’s story is perhaps the most even-keeled among her found family. She didn’t become a mob-adjacent mogul like Elektra nor a high-fashion model like her daughter Angel. Blanca didn’t experience addiction like Pray Tell, Lulu, and Damon. But she made her own incredible impact on everyone around her, and on viewers while facing her own mountain of socioeconomic challenges as an Afro-Latina trans woman.

Discovering a Diagnosis and Finding Her Dreams

We first met Blanca in 1987 as a 26-year-old living in the House of Abundance. She’s among other trans women of color and gay men, yet she’s ridiculed for not looking “feminine” enough and being unfashionable. Despite this, Blanca recognizes her own worth, speaking up against her house mother Elektra when she blatantly claims one of Blanca’s ideas as her own.

Many viewers may not be able to relate to Blanca’s specific life circumstances. But perhaps we have dealt with some similar issues. The pain of being verbally abused by someone who is supposed to be your friend or like a sibling to you. Cruel judgment about your body because it does not fit into someone’s standards of beauty. Your intellectual property being taken from you during a collaborative process. How do you react to these situations?

It’s not quite so easy for some of us to push back like Blanca. However, we can take a cue from her to know that our ideas, our existence, and our contributions to the world matter. And if there is a way to leave an unhealthy space, then we should do that for our own sake.

This is exactly what Blanca does. She comes to an important crossroads when she discovers that she is HIV-positive. During this time, this diagnosis was rightfully seen as a death sentence due to a lack of understanding about the virus and limited treatment options. Blanca is certainly not rich so her access to needed medications is more difficult. She sits with her friend Pray Tell, an MC at the balls, telling him that this realization is actually a blessing in disguise for her.

“I’m not sad,” Blanca said. “These are tears of joy. I’m relieved. I ain’t never been certain of anything. It’s just been all one day at a time until now. I don’t wanna die. I wanna live.” Blanca’s uncertain life now has one certainty: how she will die. Her response is an incredible balance between pragmatism and optimism. She sees her situation for what it was while still realizing that her life isn’t over until it is over.

The truth is, we don’t know what the future holds for us. There could (or already might be) health diagnoses or something else that could possibly end our lives earlier than we expect. We truly don’t know when we are going to die. So until then, we have to give ourselves permission to live. To love ourselves and others. To find a dream.

And oh does Blanca find the perfect dream for her. She gets her own place, tells Elektra exactly what she thinks about her, and starts her own house to help lost and discarded souls. She soon has her first three kids: fellow Abundance housemate and sex worker Angel, transient bodega shop worker Papi, and recent teenage transplant and dancer Damon. Blanca is only a few years older than they are, but they look to her as their house mother. And, in 1988, she wins the coveted “Mother of the Year” award at the ball.

A Supportive Mother Through Social Injustice

Blanca may not be able to vogue the house down (although MJ can IRL) but she has a special gift. As Elektra told her when they first met, she leads with her heart. She can see greatness in the people she loves and encourages them to become their best selves. Blanca consistently sets the bar for what a parental figure and friend hopes to be. She encourages Damon to pursue his dance dreams against all odds and recognizes Angel’s potential as a model. Angel’s career gives Papi a newfound purpose and way to utilize his street savvy as a talent manager.

They want to give up on themselves at times; however, Blanca is always there with a loving (and rather firm) hand to keep them going. We all know how vital it is to have someone around you who won’t let you give up on yourself. A person who sees you and knows what you are capable of. We are also that person to someone in our own lives, whether we know it or not. Blanca reminds us to hold each other up and keep each other accountable throughout our respective journeys.

Her life is full of injustice yet she’s thinking about future children and making the world a better place for them. Blanca refuses to allow a white gay bar to discriminate against her and brings her house to an AIDS protest. They are both very important issues that, for Blanca, are bigger than snagging a trophy on the ballroom floor. She knows that ball culture is a lifeline for many people but also recognizes that there are other fights that must happen for change to occur.

Depending on our respective privileges, it can be easy to look the other way and pretend something is not happening because it isn’t happening to us. We can dig into the comfort of our safe spaces but, when we step outside of them, that’s where change can truly come. In reality, Blanca should have more than just her fellow community fighting beside her. But that’s a topic for another post.

The Foundation for Found Family

Throughout the series, Blanca carries a lot on her shoulders as the foundation of her family circle. Lulu goes to her first when Candy is missing and Elektra immediately comes to her after a client dies unexpectedly, despite both of them not always being kind to her in the past. And her children’s shenanigans keep her busy. She’s the fixer who wants to make things right. Blanca may get a little too involved at times but she doesn’t do it to her own detriment.

She still maintains her own personal goals and health, opening her own nail business with money she saved for years, taking her medications and Flintstone vitamins, and desiring to find healthy romantic love. At one point, an attractive man approaches her about a date. Blanca accepts but soon discovers that he has an unsavory reputation among the girls. They tell her to simply have an, um, good time with him but she refuses. She wants romance and real love and will not settle for less, even if others think that is what she should do. Again, Blanca shows us that we don’t have to settle. And, even as life gives us more responsibilities, we still need to be a priority to ourselves.

It’s often easier to root for our friends and family, support their dreams, and throw ourselves into giving them what they need. And, sometimes those people are not always easy to love. Children go through rebellion, health diagnoses and medications affect people, and others may not always show up as their most emotionally intelligent selves. (Of course, this is not to say that you have to tolerate abuse of any kind from anyone just because you “have history” or are related to each other.)

But, at some point or another, the people in our lives are not always easy to love and that can be draining, especially if we abandon ourselves in the process of being a present friend, partner, or parent. We, like Blanca, have to remember that we cannot pour from an empty cup and that what we want, need, and desire matter too.

She does get a lot of love in return. Her children and Pray Tell stand by her through her mother’s death and navigating her transphobic siblings. Elektra even comes to her aid, helping Evangelista tear down the House of Ferocity. In fact, Ferocity came about after Blanca set the precedent of moving on and starting a new legendary house. She imprints on Elektra, taking her from a catty ballroom legend to a more benevolent mother and friend.

Approaching Adversity, Accountability, and Apology

Blanca’s the type of influence you’d love to have, especially in terms of her approach to adversity. To say that the social cards are stacked against Blanca is an understatement. Every time she tries to make a stride in the “outside world,” she seems to get quickly knocked down and mistreated. She gets thrown into a men’s holding cell and loses her business because of a transphobic and cruel building owner/landlady.

Despite her best efforts of self-care, her diagnosis progresses to AIDS. Yet somehow she is still able to find light and joy in life, not only through seeing her children thrive but also remaining hopeful about her own future. She realizes that she may never travel the world nor be wealthy; however, her life and impact still matter.

She keeps her heart open towards love and finds a man who is truly the real MVP. Discovering that she met Christopher, a doctor, while working at the hospital caring for AIDS patients is a beautiful realization. Blanca’s original dream/goal was to have her nail salon. When that went up in smoke (literally), it was devastating. But if that hadn’t happened, then she likely wouldn’t have made a new career pivot as an aide to meet her guy.

Christopher loves her to the point that he’s literally willing to help her friends get rid of a body. The best part is, she didn’t have to hide nor change a thing about herself to find love. It may seem impossible during dark times, but finding light, joy, hope, and love is vital. They are what sustains us and remind us that we have value.

Blanca’s family often refers to her as a saint and honestly, she’s pretty close to one most of the time. However, she’s still human and makes mistakes. She unfairly holds Papi and Damon to a different standard than Angel, an interesting subversion to typical parenting philosophies for girls vs. boys. She jumps the gun sometimes on decisions and can be a little too “good” for her own good. Seriously, why did she think Elektra should have called the cops?!

Nevertheless, Blanca is solid at admitting her faults and apologizing to friends and her children. Accountability and apologizing are two major things that too many people, especially in “authoritative” positions (like a parent) don’t do enough. Blanca’s a reminder that we won’t always get it right as a parent, friend, co-worker, or any other role. That’s normal and okay. We can, and should, apologize when we are wrong and work on being better.

A Dream Fulfilled, a Life Worth Celebrating

In the end, Blanca manages to achieve her dreams. Her house may not be on top of ballroom world anymore. But, in 1998, she’s a grandmother now (wild, right?) and leading a new group of ballroom children alongside Ricky, who is now the house father. She is also given an official award to honor her contributions to ballroom. Leaving a mark as a legendary mother? Check. Her kids all went on to do things they would have never done without her guidance. Angel and Papi are living the dream with marriage and a child.

Although we don’t see him, Damon is living in Chicago and teaching dance at his partner’s studio. And Ricky is obviously doing well after Pray Tell’s death devastated him (and everyone else) in 1996. Motherhood achievement? Unlocked. She’s as healthy as she can be, still in love with Christopher, and officially a nurse. Personal goals? She did that.

Farewell to you, Blanca. You brought a great example of how to live fully, love freely, and be a great person, leader, and friend to television. You opened a lot of eyes to your world and showed that no matter who you are, your existence is meaningful. You’re a true gem and we will miss you as though you were our own dear, loving mother. Because, in a way, you were.

Originally published June 7, 2021.

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Good Omens on Prime Video finally brought the beloved novel by Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett to the screen. The show also gave us a little taste of the sequel they planned but never wrote. Gabriel and his fellow angels would have played a big part in that follow-up book. That’s why Gaiman greatly expanded their role in the adaptation. It was a chance to finally introduce them to fans. But the archangel’s story is just getting started. The first trailer for Good Omens season two finds Jon Hamm’s Gabriel lost, confused, and at the center of a budding war between Heaven and Hell. And only Michael Sheen’s Aziraphale and David Tennant’s Crowley can stop it. Maybe.

And we thought the Apocalypse was fun!

So what’s going on with Heaven’s most arrogant angel? Why is he wandering around in a makeshift toga as the forces of good and evil engage in a hunt to find him first? And why did he seek out a “traitor” whose best friend is a demon? The trailer gives us a taste of what’s going on, but here’s the Good Omens season two synopsis from Prime Video:

Having been on Earth since The Beginning, and with the Apocalypse thwarted, the duo are getting back to easy living amongst mortals in London’s Soho. That is, until the archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) turns up unexpectedly at the door of Aziraphale’s bookshop with no memory of who he is or how he got there. While Crowley is leery as to why the archangel has come to the bookshop, Aziraphale is keen to solve the mystery behind Gabriel’s condition. However, hiding the archangel from both Heaven and Hell quickly disrupts their lives in unforeseen ways. To solve this mystery and thwart Heaven and Hell in the process, the duo will need more than a miracle; they’ll need to once again rely on each other. 

Season two might be a new story, but it will still let us hop around time. Prime Video says the show’s mystery “takes us from before The Beginning, to biblical times, grave robbing in Victorian Edinburgh, the Blitz of 1940s England, all the way through to modern day.”

Good Omens season two will also see the return of two other archangels. Doon Mackichan is back as Michael and Gloria Obianyo returns as Uriel. Fellow season one star Miranda Richardson is also getting in on the fun again. Only this time she’s playing the demon Shax. Other season one alums in new roles include Maggie Service as Maggie and Nina Sosanya as Nina. Newcomers include Liz Carr as the angel Saraqael, Quelin Sepulveda as another angel named Muriel, and Shelley Conn as the demon Beelzebub.

Will they all try to kill one another by the end of the six-episode season? Or can war be averted same as the Apocalypse? And will someone get Gabriel pants? We’ll find out when Good Omens (in any medium) gets a long-awaited sequel at Prime Video on July 28.

The post GOOD OMENS Season 2 Trailer Starts the Hunt for a Missing Archangel appeared first on Nerdist.

Like lots of other Ted Lasso fans I thought season three was a mess at best and terrible at worst. Being an improvement over a dreadful second year wasn’t enough. I couldn’t wait for many of the the season’s long, tedious episodes to end. Rushed, uninteresting, and abandoned subplots, along with incoherent character arcs, were too much for the show’s stronger elements to overcome. But while all the criticism following its apparent finale is more than fair and reasonable, it fails to capture what remained special about the show from the beginning until the end.

No matter how frustrated I got with Ted Lasso‘s writing I still cared about its characters and the world they inhabited. Even when I desperately wanted an overly maudlin installment to finish I still wanted to spend more time with AFC Richmond later. And even now, when the memory of a sublime first season feels so distant, I wish we were getting another year. Because ultimately, thanks to its sincerity and refusal to ever give in to cynicism, Ted Lasso always made me feel good even when it wasn’t very good.

The show’s season three issues are already well-documented. But none better captures its many problems than the story of Nate Shelley. Did he earn his redemption by the end of Ted Lasso? Not even a little bit. The only thing less developed than his heel turn in season two was his about-face in season three. (Either that or the “character” of his girlfriend Jade.) Nate never fully grappled with or acknowledged exactly what he did to his former friend and team, let alone why he did it. The series made him its biggest villain, then expected us to care about him personally before giving us a single reason to. And when it did try those reasons felt wholly inadequate.

Even Nate’s single attempt at atonement was laughably deficient. The only thing more ridiculous than Nate actually coming back to AFC Richmond after that meager act of penance towards Will was that the team—which recently despised him—unanimously asked him to return without providing a single explanation why they wanted him back.

Despite all of that maddening inanity, I always wanted Nate to make his way back to Richmond. And despite how completely unearned his redemption was, I was happy when he got it. Just like I was happy when Coach Beard forgave Nate without Nate deserving that grace.

I have never before been as emotionally invested in a character’s story without actually liking their story as I was with Nate—let alone when I actively hated a character’s story. And that wasn’t just true of him. It was true of every non-Rupert character. I didn’t like much of what the show did with Rebecca or Keeley in season three. I’m also still trying to figure out exactly why the show kept telling us Roy was such a mess when he seemed mostly fine. And yet I desperately wanted all of them to end up happy.

I think Rebecca’s final scene, when she ran into that pilot from Amsterdam, was monumentally stupid and epitomized the strained believability that came to dominate the show. But I’m genuinely thrilled to know she might finally find real love. I care about Rebecca.

That’s only true because ultimately what Ted Lasso was about was always more important than how it told its stories. And what it was about was imagining the world can be as good as we wish it were. Jason Sudeikis’ coach, despite his own problems, was a force of good in the lives of everyone he met simply because he always wanted to see the good in others. He wouldn’t give up on them and what they could be. Nor would he define them by their worst traits or moments.

He knew inside of us all is not only the best version of ourselves, but a desire to be that person. And sometimes all we need to become our best selves is someone else believing in us.

Ted’s humanity, expressed through attitude towards life and others, was infectious. His heart inevitably brought out the good in those around him, even those most reluctant to embrace him. In doing so they all created a better, more loving, more welcoming place. It’s a world that couldn’t have arrived at a better and more needed time for us the viewers. The show gave us so many of the things we desperately need and want in real life.

Compassion, humanity, grace, forgiveness, togetherness? Unfortunately these are not words that describe the world we inhabit. We’re divided by hate and fear rather than united by love and empathy. But not on Ted Lasso. The show provided a respite from all of that. More importantly it provided us a reminder of what we could do if only we all tried to follow Coach Lasso’s lead ourselves.

Did the show sometimes go from hopeful and heartwarming to annoyingly saccharine? Constantly. But that’s better than going from hopeful to overly cynical. Too much love is always better than too much hate. It’s why we know Ted was right to forgive Nate even if Nate didn’t deserve it. In fact, that was more reason to forgive him. Life is better when we let go of our animosity. In refusing to not let anger consume him, Ted not only helped his friend, he helped himself and the team he left behind. AFC Richmond is a better place with Nate on its sideline, just as he’s a better person by being there.

In the end Ted Lasso didn’t live up to its incredible first season. But to define or remember this show only by its failures is to miss how much it succeeded at what it most wanted to accomplish every episode and every season. Ted Lasso gave us something to believe in. It was something far more important than any plot or character arc’s shortcomings. Ted Lasso reminded us who we can be when we are kind to one another, and that always felt good.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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June is not only Pride Month, but also Black Music Appreciation Month. This formal celebration of Black American influences and continuous contributions across all musical genres began in 1979. Music is a vital element in Black American culture. It’s our form of protest, resistance, and celebrating love, life, and all the aspects of the human experience through a Black lens. One of the most interesting impacts of Black music is through television, specifically Black-led sitcoms. They depict many relatable elements of Black life, often through a humorous lens. A sitcom’s theme song plays a key role in this narrative, capturing the essence of a show in a condensed (and catchy) format.

These tunes have the soul and stylings that only a Black artist can bring forth. They tell a story of Black joy, upward mobility, coming-of-age, and everyday life as a Black American.

Movin’ On Up and Having Good Times

Black sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s often straddle the line of maintaining day-to-day life with the aspirations of upward mobility. Good Times (1974-1979) follows James and Florida Evans, a couple living in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects with their three kids.

The show’s theme song features Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams leading the vocals with a gospel choir backing them. The lyrics speak about the good times of making a payment on time or meeting a new friend. The theme then sarcastically juxtaposes those things with more difficult “good” times of “credit ripoffs” and “temporary layoffs.”

Many Black people can relate to concepts of “keeping your head above water” and “making a wave when you can.” Systemic racism has left Black families like the Evans with less generational wealth than their white counterparts. The Evans essentially live paycheck to paycheck despite the family’s patriarch working several jobs.

They desire more financial security while still managing to meet all of their kids’ needs. Upward mobility feels like a lofty goal for them but they desire it nonetheless. The Evans boys make their proverbial waves in the world: Michael excels at school and heads to college while J.J. creates art and goes into advertising. Thelma also does well for herself, attending college and marrying a soon-to-be NFL player.

Good Times certainly focuses on the importance of friendship, showing the interactions between the Evans and several memorable tenants and building employees. Some of these people include Ned the Wino, Bookman the building superintendent, and Wilona, an exuberant neighbor.

They live in an impoverished area, but that’s not the crux of their story and it does not define them. They lean on each other in hard times and curate joy even when life isn’t going their way. And they do eventually move out of project housing by the end of the series. Unfortunately, James dies before he can see this pivotal change.

Good Times slowly ushers the family into a more financially comfortable life. However, The Jeffersons (1975-1985) jumps right into the concept of upward mobility. There’s nothing that captures their joy of getting “a piece of the (American Dream) pie” like the theme song. Similar to Good Times, it features a powerful female leading vocal with a gospel choir in the background.

Interestingly, the lead singer is Janet Du’Bois, who played Wilona on Good Times. It’s highly unlikely that anyone over 30 doesn’t know at least a portion of this song. “Movin’ On Up” is one of many unofficial Black anthems. But it’s also a theme song for any disenfranchised person who finally gets to climb the social ladder. It is a staple in our culture that plays at sports games and brings a smile to your face.

As the lyrics spell out, George and Weezy Jefferson are a successful Black couple. They have made enough money to live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in their dream “deluxe apartment in the sky.” They are up in the big leagues and no longer have to fry their own fish, but it’s certainly not because of nepotism or privilege.

It truly “took a whole lot of tryin’ just to get up that hill.” This is something that plenty of Black people intimately understand. The cards are often stacked against us and we have to work much harder to obtain our desires. That is, if we ever get them at all. And, if we do, we still have to contend with being proverbial “outsiders” in white spaces, much like George and Weezy.

The Black Teen Experience Through New Eyes

Being the minority in the room, workplace, or neighborhood is another common experience for Black people. Some people are born into wealth/status that puts them in these spaces while others end up there after having starkly different formative years.

The latter’s “fish out of water” scenario is the entire basis for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996). The show itself is one of the most popular Black sitcoms of all time with an unforgettable theme song by lead actor Will Smith. This was back before he became a blockbuster leading man.

At this time, rap was on the cusp of becoming a global force with a strong foundation among Black youth. Rap music is all about storytelling, which is exactly what this song does. It takes you through a quick journey of Smith’s life getting “flipped, turned upside down” after “one little fight” prompts his mom to send him to Bel-Air, California to live with rich relatives.

In the song’s extended version, Smith gushes about the luxuries of his first-class flight. He gets a taste of the high life by drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass with women all around him. Still, it is clear that he has his apprehensions about leaving his hometown. In fact, he doesn’t trust a man who’s holding his name on a sign at the airport. Why? Because he fears a police confrontation. So he calls a cab to Bel-Air instead.

That line alone says a lot about his perception of the police as an inner-city kid. This comes up in an episode wherein Will and Carlton are pulled over by the police. Why? Because they are two Black teens driving a fancy car in an upscale neighborhood. Will points out Carlton’s naïveté about the situation. They get locked up for no reason, prompting Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv to come and save them.

The theme sets the stage for an often comedic yet insightful coming-of-age story. Will learns more about himself and gains a new understanding of what it means to be Black. He also teaches the Banks family a few lessons along the way. The theme song remains the same, just like Will’s past; however, his future changes as he learns the ropes of being in the kingdom of Bel-Air through high school and college.

The ’90s included a slate of teen-centric Black sitcoms telling their coming-of-age stories. Sister, Sister (1994-1999) is a great example of a theme song evolving alongside its protagonists. The original theme song is an upbeat blend of pop and new jack swing, a cute little ditty about the twin sisters shaking up their family trees with “sibling synchronicity.” And, as the lyrics say, now that they’ve found each other, they are determined to never let go.

In the series, Tia and Tamera are the classic complete opposites. But they are ride-or-die siblings, getting into trouble and learning valuable lessons together. This theme goes through two different intros that show the girls’ lives in a nutshell: birth and separation before reuniting and living together with their parents.

However, the show makes a distinct shift in its fifth season, switching the lyrics up to reflect their growth. Long gone are the girls’ days of curly hair and colorful outfits. Their style is different and they are actually singing the tune of their own lives.

Tia and Tamera let viewers know that they have their own minds and are not the same person. This is the crux of season five, which shows them moving into separate bedrooms and pursuing different interests in school. They have matured significantly, mostly moving past the silly incidences from previous seasons. Now, they have bigger issues like serious dating, love, working, and preparing for college.

Their special bond as twins will never fade; however, they have to make their own decisions and form their own circles. Anyone who grew up with siblings, specifically older ones or a twin, knows it can be challenging to form an identity that isn’t tied to your sibs’. The girls go to the same college but they each remain clearly and confidently their own person.

Moesha’s (1996-2001) theme song “Gotta Move” also changes over the course of the series. The lyrics are the same but the style of the song and Moesha’s looks get a few updates as she matures. It also shows the progression of its real-life star Brandy’s singing voice as she comes into womanhood. “Gotta Move” itself is a reflection of the titular character. Moesha is a carefree teen who is beginning to realize her mounting responsibilities as she encounters more adult situations.

The theme talks about how Moesha’s friend circle, like many teens’, is a crucial part of her life. It is very “me”-focused, which isn’t surprising. Generally speaking, teenagers tend to be rather absorbed in their own lives and what they want. Later versions of the theme feature Brandy singing in a lower register with a remixed musical accompaniment. She’s no longer the fresh-faced, naïve girl from the first season. She looks and dresses more maturely. It’s like watching both Brandy and Moesha grow up simultaneously.

Sister, Sister and Moesha show Black teen girls coming into their womanhood. What made those shows and theme songs great was their exploration of typical teen life. Sure, films and shows set in lower-income and tougher neighborhoods had their place. But that’s certainly not every Black kids’ experience. These girls dealt with serious issues but they also got to just be teens hanging out with friends and giggling in their rooms.

Living the Single Life in A Different World

Where these shows left off, others like A Different World and Living Single pick up. A Different World starts off showing Denise Huxtable’s life as a freshman at Hillman College, an HBCU. The first version of the theme, sung by Phoebe Snow, reflects that transitional time period from being at home with parents to college.

The lyrics talk about how parents tried to warn them that “it is a different world than where you come from.” It reflects a college student’s chance to “make it” and take whatever is dished their way. This reflects the show’s Black students and their various backgrounds.

Some of them come from low-income neighborhoods; others are now in a place where they are the majority for the first time. Speaking from experience, as a Black college graduate, it’s rather common for our parents to give us those extra talks about how to navigate adult life in this world.

It’s that push and hope for us to have some upward mobility and financial security through getting a higher education. There’s a lot to face: dating, sex, STDs, pregnancy, drugs, abuse, and more on top of the social issues of being Black. But knowing that you have a foundation, a community behind and beside you, means everything.

The song gets an update in season two following Denise’s departure, with Aretha Franklin singing the lyrics. The visual became iconic, showing the facets of Black life with studying, bands, debates, fun, and eventually graduation.

The final season gives the song yet another singer/arrangement update but the lyrics stay the same, even though the characters are out of college and into their careers. They are fully in the real world and taking advantage of their chance to “make it” there.

Living Single (1993-1998) moves the timeline needle forward, following an eclectic group of Black women (and men) who are all friends and live in close proximity with writer/editor/magazine owner Khadijah James at the center. As the title suggests, many of the characters are living the single life in a ‘90s kinda world. It was unlike anything that had been on TV before.

The song is relatively short but it still packs a powerful punch with lines about friendship and keeping your head up in tough times. Series star Queen Latifah herself raps and sings (because she is the best) about the comfort of having her homegirls standing beside her when life gets tough. They are the type of friends that all women wish to have: “true blue” and “tight like glue,” sticking beside you through ups and downs. The below version is perhaps the most recognized take on the song.

Friendship is a critical part of our human experience but it is even more vital for a Black woman to have Black women friends. There’s this camaraderie and intimate understanding of our place in society as well as within our own communities. We often have to act as advocates for ourselves and everyone else, a role that is frankly exhausting and at times dehumanizing. Our Black women friendships are where we find solace, joy, rest, and encouragement to keep moving forward.

On Living Single, Khadijah, Synclaire, Regina, and Maxine are exactly that for each other. They can be their authentic and vulnerable selves together. They support each other, whether it’s career moves or in general hijinks.

Along the same vein is Girlfriends, which has perhaps the simplest theme song ever. “My girlfriends, there through thick and thin. My girlfriends, there for anything. My girlfriends.” That’s it and that’s all it needs to say to encompass everything about this show.

It follows four women—Joan, Maya, Toni, and Lynn_with different careers, backgrounds, and experiences who go through myriad changes together. Sometimes, those life updates are crushing, such as miscarriage, cheating, and divorce. Others are celebrations of joyous occasions. They argue and disagree often, but through it all, they are ultimately there for each other.

Are Theme Songs Fading to Black?

There aren’t a lot of modern Black sitcoms with theme songs that stand out strongly—at least not to me. Some shows do have instrumentals or a short theme, like Family Reunion. But they are lacking the excellence that older themes gave. Sorry to these shows.

Instead, they lean towards infusing the show itself with songs that depict what’s going on. For example, Issa Rae’s Insecure doesn’t have an official theme song, but Jazmine Sullivan and Bryson Tiller’s “Insecure” is a part of the show’s soundtrack. Insecure is great at curating tunes to fit each episode.

The one exception is grown-ish‘s theme by Chloe X Halle. “Grown” depicts its main character, Zoey, declaring that she is an adult now who is taking it one day at a time and making mistakes. She doesn’t really know what she’s doing but it is all good in the end.

That is the journey she is on as she goes to college, drops out, and discovers what she wants in life. It’s something that you don’t see much anymore: a theme song with lyrics that are specifically written for the series.

Of course, there are countless Black sitcom theme songs that can be a part of this post. Who can forget shows like Amen, The Proud Family, Family Matters, and Martin‘s theme about him being the man? It doesn’t matter what their premises, triumphs, nor misgivings are. A Black sitcom’s theme song always tells a deeper story about the show and real Black lives too.

Originally published June 18, 2021.

The post Black Sitcom Theme Songs Capture the Essence of Our Lives appeared first on Nerdist.

Original reporting by Melissa Miller.

The prophecy foretold six seasons and a movie, and now that will come to pass. The Community movie is coming to Peacock! Thanks to a tweet from series star Joel McHale and a report in Variety, we finally know it’s happening. We also know that series creator Dan Harmon will write and produce the movie. However, with the ongoing writers’ strike, things will be on hold for a while. McHale revealed to Variety that Harmon and co-writer Andrew Guest were almost done with the script and had a director in mind before everything came on a halt in May. Harmon, McHale and other members of the WGA are on strike because the union did not reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over many issues, including streaming residuals. Here’s what McHale had to say about it all.

“We had a shooting date coming up, which was going to be in the summer,” said McHale. “And I think they were extremely close to—I mean, Dan is somebody that tweaks things but, obviously, that’s all stopped. But I think it was pretty darn close. It was close, the shoot date was coming up and we were all excited to do it and then the writers strike happened, which obviously put everything on hold, and rightfully so. The writers are asking for very reasonable things. Writers need to be paid properly.”

Of course, we all want a Community movie, but we completely agree with Joel McHale. Our favorite shows and films cannot exist with out writers. And we want writers to receive the equitable pay and fair working conditions and contracts that they deserve.

Casting news isn’t official, but McHale tagged fellow stars Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, and Ken Jeong in his post, as well as Gillian Anderson (but we assume he meant to tag Gillian Jacobs, who played Britta). The series finale gave our beloved characters a nudge towards their next steps in life, but we’ll be perfectly happy to see them all back together at Greendale Community College. Three cheers for the Community movie.

The show fulfilled half of Abed’s prophecy of “six seasons and a movie” with a final season on Yahoo! after five seasons on NBC. Its 110 episodes, all named like community college course titles, that mostly hit the mark of comedic and meta, takes on adult friendships. We cheered for the tight-knit study group through all the years of puppets, paintball, and pillow forts.

Community gained new popularity, and talk of the movie heated up when the show landed on Netflix in 2020. But it’s been part of the show’s lexicon since long before the series finale in 2015. It’s always a fun rewatch, and it’s never too late to watch the series for the first time.

We can’t wait to hear official casting news for the Community movie. Will we finally learn what happened to Troy Barnes after he sailed off with LeVar Burton and was never heard from again? Donald Glover did join in when the cast reunited for a virtual table read in the early days of the pandemic. Happily, Dan Harmon has confirmed Glover would return for the movie. Glover himself also recently confirmed the news. He noted to GQ, “The Community movie, there’s some progress on it, we’re supposed to be shooting it soon… Haven’t seen the script, don’t know … and in true Dan [Harmon] fashion, we’ll probably get it on the first day. But yeah, it’s supposed to be happening.”

Maybe we’re not living in Abed’s darkest timeline after all.  

Originally published on November 4, 2022.

The post The COMMUNITY Movie Is Still Happening But Currently on Hold appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s happening… Everything old is new again. Predictions of streaming platforms bundling their services, as cable first did, bubbled up in the landscape for a long time. And although we have seen certain kinds of streaming bundles emerge, primarily between streamers owned by the same companies, we haven’t yet seen that kind of prophesied bundling… At least, until now. Verizon has introduced a streaming bundle between rival streamers Netflix and Paramount+. Of course, this offer is exclusive to customers of Version Wireless in the US. This bundle will allow users to purchase Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime at a lower price than subscribing individually to both streamers.

According to Variety, those Verizon customers who subscribe to the bundle will pay $25.99/month for Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime. On its own, Netflix Premium is $19.99/month, an incredibly expensive option. Meanwhile, Paramount+ With Showtime costs $11.99/month. All told, the new Netflix and Paramount+ bundle will save subscribers $5.99/month, which works out to be nearly 20% savings. When we look on the scale of years, that’s a lot of money saved.

The Paramount+ and Netflix combo is good deal, but it definitely flips a page in the streaming landscape. We wonder how many bundles we’ll soon see forming and whether their existence will ultimately help or hurt the consumer. After all, cable bundles seemed to become hugely unpopular after a time. And, essentially, we’re seeing that happen again here with streamer bundles. Still, it must be said that the amount of streamers and subscriptions one needs to keep up with all the media releasing is immense. Perhaps bundles done right could offer a relief from that. If you’re a Verizon customer who watches both Netflix and Paramount+, you’ll welcome this option and its lower price point.

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All good things come to an end. And Ted Lasso was a good thing—a very good thing (usually). The show touched many people at a time when some levity and heart were seriously necessary. Ted Lasso left us all with some excellent and inspirational catchphrases that really helped us all to believe. But having aired the final episode of season three, it seems like it’s time to say goodbye to Ted Lasso. Although the season three finale hasn’t actually been officially called the last episode of Ted Lasso, it sure does seem like a series finale to viewers and cast alike. If Ted Lasso is over now that season three has ended, well, we were glad to know it.

Brett Goldstein took to Instagram to say a proper-sounding goodbye to the show. That feels like some good evidence that Ted Lasso season three is its final season. He posted some emotional images and offered, “Ted Lasso was a truly magical experience. A show about love, made with love, by the funniest, most beautiful and kindest people on the planet. From all the writers, to every member of the crew to every single actor, no matter how small their part, to all the post production team, everyone brought their A game and their warmth to the making of Ted Lasso. I will miss getting to live in that world with them.”

Earlier in the year, Jason Sudeikis also discussed whether season three was the ending of Ted Lasso. He said, “This is the end of this story that we wanted to tell, that we were hoping to tell, that we loved to tell. The fact that folks will want more and are curious beyond more than what they don’t even know yet—that being Season 3—it’s flattering. Maybe by May 31, once all 12 episodes of the season [have been released], they’re like, ‘Man, you know what, we get it, we’re fine. We don’t need anymore, we got it.’ But until that time comes, I will appreciate the curiosity beyond what we’ve come up with so far.”

As we know, it could happen. Since season three has not officially been declared the final season of Ted Lasso, technically Ted Lasso has not yet ended. However, given the events of the episode and all the storylines tied it up, it seems like a return to Ted Lasso will be in spinoff form from here on out. Sudeikis notes, “I think that we’ve set the table for all sorts of folks…to get to watch the further telling of these stories.”

Until we get to dive back in, we’ll just remember to always be a goldfish.

The post TED LASSO Says Goodbye with Seemingly Final Episode appeared first on Nerdist.

Season one of Good Omens saw Aziraphale and Crowley save the world from almost-certain destruction at the hands of the Antichrist. Stopping the apocalypse wasn’t the end of their story though, even if it’s where the book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett ended. Good Omens will return for season two this summer. We’ll see David Tennant’s demon and Michael Sheen’s angel together again, probably bickering and being adorable. And, if the season two opening credits sequence is any indication of the fun that’s in store, we cannot wait.

If you look closely at this fun opening, you’ll see many fun clues and Easter eggs that hint at the story to come. For instance, Peter Anderson, the designer of Good Omens opening sequences, shares, “If you look closely a character from the series one titles is trying to escape hell again!” We love it.

Anderson also offers, “We started the sequence for series two as a direct follow-on from series one… The content of the titles was an obsessively detailed telling of the new series story with a few gems for the avid fan.” We can’t wait to take a magnifying glass to all the symbols and details here.

Of course, Good Omens season two also released more traditional poster art and we love the closeness we see between our favorite angel and demon.

As far as what Aziraphale and Crowley will do in the season’s six episodes, we have only the smallest hint. The Good Omens season two release says:

Season Two of Good Omens explores storylines that go beyond the original source material to illuminate the uncanny friendship between Aziraphale, a fussy angel and rare book dealer, and the fast-living demon Crowley. Having been on Earth since The Beginning, and with the Apocalypse thwarted, Aziraphale and Crowley are getting back to easy living amongst mortals in London’s Soho when an unexpected messenger presents a surprising mystery.

We’d be content to watch the duo shop for socks, but we’ll take a mystery—especially given the show’s terrific cast. Jon Hamm returns as archangel Gabriel, Doon Mackichan will portray Michael again, and Gloria Obianyo returns as Uriel. Additionally, returning this season in new roles are Miranda Richardson as demon Shax, Maggie Service as Maggie, and Nina Sosanya as Nina, with new faces joining the misfits in Heaven and Hell: Liz Carr as angel Saraqael, Quelin Sepulveda as angel Muriel, and Shelley Conn as demon Beelzebub.

The Hillywood Show revealed the premiere date in this spot-on Good Omens parody:

Good Omens season two debuts on Prime Video on July 28.

Originally published on May 10, 2023.

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The Office is getting yet another remake, but the thirteenth iteration of the show will be unlike all the others. When the Australian versions gets to work down under, the phrase “that’s what she said” will mean something very different. The latest adaptation of the hit series will be the first with a woman as the boss.

Prime Video Australia has ordered the first woman-led take on The Office to series. The show (which we first learned about at Deadline) will star comedian Felicity Ward in the role originally filled by series co-creator Ricky Gervais. He played David Brent, who was the basis for Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott on the U.S. version of the show. Until now every country’s version of The Office has also had a man in charge.

That will all change with Ward. She will play Hannah Howard, who will lead the fictional packing company Flinley Craddick. The Australian version will also have a modern day twist for her to deal with. It’s one that would have melted Michael Scott’s brain. Here’s what Australia Prime Video revealed about Howard and her post-COVID predicament:

When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Gervais himself made clear Ward’s character and approach to work will remain true to the Brent/Scott dynamic. “I’m very excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century,” said Gervais in a statement. “Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.”

The rest of the cast includes Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess), Shari Sebbens (Thor: Love and Thunder), Josh Thomson (Young Rock), Jonny Brugh (What We Do in the Shadows), Pallavi Sharda (The Twelve), Susan Ling Young (Reckoning), Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani (Underbelly, House Husbands). 

The eight-part series will begin filming this June in Sydney. With the exception of the US it will arrive on Prime Video around the world in 2024. It probably won’t appear in the United States until Hannah Howard forces the issue. That’s just what all bosses, man or woman, on The Office do.

The post Australia’s THE OFFICE Remake Will Be the First Version With a Woman as the Boss appeared first on Nerdist.

The Disney+ series American Born Chinese is adapted from Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel of the same title. The graphic novel was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. For an entire generation of Asian Americans, American Born Chinese was a gateway for discussing Asian American experiences, specifically a Chinese American experience, in the classroom. Now, showrunner Kelvin Yu has created an excellent adaptation of Yang’s graphic novel. The American Born Chinese series drops lots of comic book references, including a special nod to The Swamp Thing. 

This show follows a Taiwanese American high schooler named Jin Wang (Ben Wang). Jin struggles to form his own identity in a largely white school. A Chinese exchange student named Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) arrives and is assigned to shadow Jin at school. Jin is then caught between wanting to be more assertive like Wei-Chen, while also not bringing unwanted attention to himself. He also wants to join the junior varsity soccer team and fit in with the jocks. This is to the dismay of his former best friend, Anuj (Mahi Alam). 

American Born Chinese’s graphic novel engaged with American cartooning’s racist depiction of Chinese, stemming from Yellow Peril’s emergence in the nineteenth century. The first issue of Detective Comics—the series that Batman would later debut in—has a horribly racist cover featuring the face of a Fu Manchu-like character. The American Born Chinese graphic novel triumphs because of its reckoning with the historical baggage of American graphic storytelling. And its television adaptation continues this spirit, spotlighting one recent positive development in Asian American comics representation.

American Born Chinese has numerous references to different comics and manga, thanks to the nerdy interests of Jin, Wei-Chen, and Anuj. A montage in Jin’s bedroom in the first episode reveals his comics and manga collection. It includes the likes of ’90s era Superman, Spawn, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto. This brings to life the original graphic novel’s focus on the history of comics and cartooning in a way that feels authentic to an Asian American teen today.

One moment in American Born Chinese particularly stands out as a celebration of Asian American perspectives in comics. In episode two of the series, “A Monkey On A Quest,” Jin approaches Anuj and notices that he’s reading a comic. It is Volume One of DC Comics’ The Swamp Thing by writer Ram V, artist Mike Perkins, and colorist Mike Spicer. They discuss the series, with Anuj noting that Perkins’ art redefined DC’s Guardian of the Green for a new generation. Viewers unfamiliar with comics may not have noticed the significance of the scene. However comics fans, particularly those of the Asian diaspora, certainly did.  

The Swamp Thing (2021-2022), much like the original American Born Chinese graphic novel, is a groundbreaking story in American comics. It is the first solo series for DC’s newest Swamp Thing, Levi Kamei, who immigrated to the US from India as a teenager. As Swamp Thing, Levi is known as the Guardian of the Green, “the Green” being all plant life on Earth. His powers transform him into a hulking humanoid plant monster, who can manifest anywhere on Earth wherever there are plants. Levi can also tap into the sensory information of plants on a cellular level. This makes him capable of achieving a type of collective consciousness with all the plants on Earth. 

Ram V’s writing on the story delved into Levi’s experience as an immigrant. It reimagined Swamp Thing’s powers as an extended metaphor for the global mindset of Asian Americans. For Levi, his powers and responsibilities to protect the Green tethers him to his homeland and family in India, even though he now lives in America. His transformation into the Swamp Thing is an expression of his state of being. He is an “Other,” in both America and India, because of his place in the diaspora. In short, Levi Kamei’s Swamp Thing is a quintessential Asian American superhero. He isn’t just an Asian American with superpowers, but a superhero whose powers are born out of being Asian American. 

This scene is a nod to American Born Chinese’s graphic novel fans, many of whom are Asian American comic book readers. While the stereotypical image of a comic book reader has always been white and male, the American Born Chinese graphic novel challenged this notion. This book helped me fall in love with comics as a medium, increasing my hunger for the creative potential of Asian and Asian American stories. Years later, I began to collect each issue of Ram V, Mike Perkins, and Mike Spicer’s The Swamp Thing every month. I’ve never felt more “seen” by a show than I felt with The Swamp Thing’s inclusion in American Born Chinese.

The Swamp Thing‘s mention in American Born Chinese celebrates Asian American comic representation’s expansion since Yang’s graphic novel. While American Born Chinese is a coming-of-age story with fantasy elements, The Swamp Thing is rooted in a rich history of body horror. Including another Asian American comic from a vastly different genre about a protagonist from a different Asian culture proves that American Born Chinese isn’t interested in being seen as the definitive show about “The Asian American Experience.” Instead, it celebrates the multiplicity of being Asian American and the ever-changing canon of Asian American comics. 

American Born Chinese is a refreshing adaptation of a comic book because it pays direct tribute to its original medium. In a media landscape dominated by comic book properties, American Born Chinese reigns king because of its unabashed love for sequential stories and storytellers. 

The post AMERICAN BORN CHINESE Gave a Clever Nod to THE SWAMP THING Comic Book appeared first on Nerdist.

It is time to dive back into the twisted depths of Black Mirror. The beloved anthology series by Charlie Brooker is finally returning for a sixth season that Netflix says will be completely unpredictable. Not that any of the previous seasons lacked any shocking moments or plot twists, of course. The Black Mirror season six trailer gives us a nuanced glimpse into the action and shares the show’s release date.

Black Mirror Trailer and Release Date

Well, that’s quite the ride. Based on this Black Mirror season six trailer, we can already see a number of implosions in the future of these main characters. From psychological terrors in space to literal demonic possessions, we feel like there aren’t many happy endings coming for us. But that’s not really why we watch Black Mirror or are tuning in for its six season, we suppose. The trailer also shares that Black Mirror season six will officially release on June 15.

Season six’s cast includes Aaron Paul, Ben Barnes, Danny Ramirez, Himesh Patel, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Michael Cera, Rory Culkin, Salma Hayek Pinault, and Zazie Beetz, among many others. In addition, Black Mirror has now revealed more information about the stories our favorite faces will star in. Check out the titles and summaries of Black Mirror season six’s five new episodes below.

Black Mirror Episode Title, Summaries, and Stars

“Joan Is Awful”

An average woman is stunned to discover a global streaming platform has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life — in which she is portrayed by Hollywood A-lister Salma Hayek Pinault.

Directed by: Ally Pankiw
Written by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek Pinault, Michael Cera, Himesh Patel, Rob Delaney, Ben Barnes 

“Loch Henry”

A young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary – but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past.

Directed by: Sam Miller
Written by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Samuel Blenkin, Myha’la Herrold, Daniel Portman, John Hannah, Monica Dolan

“Beyond the Sea”

In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.

Directed by: John Crowley
Written by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Auden Thornton, Rory Culkin

“Mazey Day”

A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident.

Directed by: Uta Briesewitz
Written by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Zazie Beetz, Clara Rugaard, Danny Ramirez

“Demon 79”

Northern England, 1979. A meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster.

Directed by: Toby Haynes
Written by: Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali
Starring: Anjana Vasan, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Rose Morley, David Shields

As mentioned, Black Mirror will make its triumphant return to Netflix on June 15, and, after seeing that trailer, we can’t wait to see what wild stories this season has in store.

Originally published on April 26, 2023.

The post BLACK MIRROR Season 6 Trailer Creates Five New Nightmares appeared first on Nerdist.

Rejoice, fellow Straw Hats, Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation has found its core cast. Previously, Netflix shared that it was partnering with Tomorrow Studios and Shueisha to bring to life one of the best-selling manga ever. And now, this pirate adventure has found its core live-action cast in Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar. Netflix has also announced the casting of other One Piece friends and foes. Additionally, the platform has confirmed that One Piece will arrive on Netflix in 2023 and revealed a first-look character teaser.

Jump to: First-Look and Release Date // Straw Hats Casting // Other Casting // More About One Piece

One Piece First-Look Teaser, Status, and Netflix Release Date

Netflix recently teased its One Piece story with a first-look image of live-action Monkey D. Luffy. Of course, this look is more of a teaser because we only get to see this iconic character from behind in the artwork. But there’s no mistaking that straw hat. We’ll take what we can get.

Additionally, Netflix commented on the release date window for One Piece in a release. Although it didn’t give much specific information yet, the streamer has confirmed that live-action One Piece will be arriving to stream in 2023. At least it’s something to look forward to!

Recently, One Piece‘s creator, Eiichiro Oda shared an update with fans about there series, confirming they were in the final process of finishing the show’s eight episodes.

Hopefully, all of this means a trailer soon.

One Piece‘s Straw Hat Pirates Casting

Here’s how the One Piece live-action casting breaks down. Firstly, Iñaki Godoy (he/him) will play Monkey D. Luffy.

Next, Mackenyu (he/him) will play Roronoa Zoro.

Mackenyu is Zoro pic.twitter.com/g3BGmjNvz8

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Additionally, Emily Rudd (she/her) will play Nami.

Emily Rudd is Nami pic.twitter.com/Jz33qbhemU

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Jacob Romero Gibson (he/him) will play Usopp.

Jacob Romero Gibson is Usopp pic.twitter.com/my1WozJK5B

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

And Taz Skylar (he/him) will play Sanji.

Taz Skylar is Sanji pic.twitter.com/u5HlUDAnNP

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 9, 2021

Other Members of One Piece‘s Live-Action Cast

Recently, Peter Gadiot joined the One Piece live-action cast as Shanks. Shanks is a “legendary and powerful pirate in the Grand Line” and Monkey D. Luffy’s childhood idol. So we feel there are great things in store for Gadiot. Here’s what he had to say about the show.

Additionally, six more actors will round out the One Piece cast.

In a release, Netflix shared the following information:

Morgan Davies (they/them) will play Koby.

Ilia Isorelýs Paulino (she/her) will play Alvida.

Aidan Scott (he/him) will play Helmeppo.

Jeff Ward (he/him) will play Buggy.

McKinley Belcher III (he/him) will play Arlong.

Vincent Regan (he/him) will play Garp.

From the sound of things, some of these new characters will cause trouble for our favorite Straw Hat pirates. Additionally, this casting seem to reveal Netflix is setting sail towards One Piece‘s Romance Dawn arc.

More about Netflix’s One Piece

In a release, Eiichiro Oda, the author of the manga series and executive producer of the show excitably shared more about the show. He wrote:

We’ve been working with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios on the massive project that is the Hollywood live action series adaptation of ONE PIECE! How many years has it been since it was announced, right? I know, I know! But rest assured we’ve been making steady progress all along! It’s not easy when you’re working with people from different cultures! But it’s precisely that process that can yield something special! For now, we’re able to announce the main cast! Rather, we need to hurry and announce it or else it’ll be leaked, apparently! Hilarious, lol.

Their face, the size of their mouths and hands, their aura, the way they carry themselves, their voice, their acting skills, their height, the balance amongst the Straw Hat Crew, etc…! We decided on this cast after numerous discussions involving people around the world! These are the people who will be our Straw Hat Pirates! It’ll take a bit more time to get this show done, but we’ll continue to do our best to deliver a show that we’re confident will be enjoyed by everyone around the world! Look forward to more updates in the future!

Oda even created special shirts for the equally excited, newly minted-cast. And with all this excitement, we can’t help but be excited ourselves.

Showrunner, writer, and executive producer Steven Maeda and writer and executive Producer Matt Owen added:

Finding the right people to pull off the looks, emotions, and actions of the iconic Straw Hats was a long and challenging (and fun!) process. Much like the search for the One Piece itself. But we have finally found the perfect fits! They have already begun working very hard to bring these characters to life. You will come to know and love them just as much as their manga counterparts. All of us can’t wait to show you what we’ve come up with! Onward to adventure!

We can’t wait to join the Straw Hats and see how this tale of the high seas unfolds. Ahoy, live-action One Piece.

Originally published on November 9, 2021.

The post Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Finds Its Cast, Shares Plot and Production Updates appeared first on Nerdist.

I don’t remember life before I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson arrived on Netflix. Without the show’s constantly quoted sketches and the myriad of memes they have inspired how did we communicate? What did we even want to discuss before learning about the perils of steering wheels that whiff off while you drive? Did food even exist before sloppy steaks? And did we understand the human condition before meeting Karl Havoc? I don’t remember. Frankly, I don’t want to. Especially not today. Because today we finally have the long-awaited trailer for I Think You Should Leave season three. It more than lives u to the hype. It promises to deliver the kind of rage-filled, surreal absurdity we know will soon be an everyday part of our lives.

Tim Robinson, who created and writes the show with his co-star Zach Kanin, is back as only he can be. That means with a lot of yelling.

As are the rest of the popular sketch comedy’s cadre of comedians. This season they will also be joined by plenty of other famous faces, in a collection of episodes that look just as angry, just as strange, and just as loud as the first two. Plus, the hat budget for season three looks like it’s through the roof. Normally that’s not a huge deal, but that is really saying something when it comes to this series.

From game shows and violence, to road rage and confused people, this is everything we want from this season. For this brief moment in time all is right in the world. And also really weird and really funny. I can’t remember if that was always true, and I don’t need to.

The six-episode third season of I Think You Should Leave season arrives at Netflix on May 30, 2023.

The post I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE Returns in Rage-Filled Season 3 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Fans of Indiana Jones were shocked to read the news that Steven Spielberg bowed out of directing the fifth Indy movie. Instead, Logan’s James Mangold is helming the film. That means for the first time, both of Henry Jones Jr.’s creators won’t be at the helm. As of now, the only remaining member of the original Raiders of the Lost Ark creative team is Harrison Ford himself. We wish nothing but the best for Harrison in his sure-to-be final outing as the adventuring archaeologist. However, after this movie hits theaters, I think it’s high time for a new approach to Indiana Jones. Well, a new/old approach I should say. Because I believe it’s time for Indiana Jones to return to television, specifically with a series on Disney+.

Happily, Variety reports that may be in development. Sources told the outlet Disney “is actively looking to develop an Indiana Jones TV show for Disney+.” And although the fate of the show remains unclear at this time, recently Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy echoed the sentiment. She noted to Entertainment Weekly‘s Dagobah Dispatch that after Harrison Ford’s final Indiana Jones outing in Dial of Destiny, “if we were to do anything [related to Indiana Jones], it might be in series television down the road.” Here’s why it’s an excellent idea.

Lucasfilm

Why Now Is the Time for a Disney+ Indy

From a studio standpoint, I could see why Disney and Lucasfilm be skittish about casting another actor to replace Harrison Ford. He’s one of the most iconic movie stars in Hollywood history, and Indiana Jones is arguably his most iconic role. Many people resisted seeing Solo in theaters, simply because having another actor as the big screen version of Han Solo seemed like sacrilege. I could see where the suits would be terrified of that same reaction happening again.

Lucasfilm

But what if a recast, younger Indy wasn’t for theatrical release? Because there’s already been another Indiana Jones before, in the 1992 TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. That show wasn’t exactly a high adventure series, and was more about Indy’s journey meeting various famous historical figures in the early 20^th century. But having seen a younger Indy on the small screen before, it at least set the precedent. People might be more accepting of a different Dr. Jones if the medium is an all together different one. If it works, it breathes new life into the franchise. If it doesn’t, then the whole thing doesn’t tarnish the movie series. It’s a scenario in which you can’t really lose.

One Season, One MacGuffin

Lucasfilm

Imagine a big budget Indiana Jones steaming series, with the same care and big name creative involved as The Mandalorian recently had. It could feature a young Indy, only recently having become a professor. So perhaps late 1920s/early ‘30s. Everything before Raiders, but long after his teenage adventures in the ‘90s TV series. Each season, which would presumably be the standard 8-10 episodes, would feature one specific quest, for one specific Macguffin.

Season one of the series could be Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny, or Indiana Jones and the Lost City of Atlantis, and so on ans of forth. There is a metric ton of novels and comics which could serve as inspiration for these. And like the old serials  which inspired Lucas and Spielberg, each episode could also end on a spectacular cliffhanger.

Lucasfilm

These potential seasons don’t have to tie explicitly into any of the pre-existing movies, but it would be fun to address certain things if they wanted to. How exactly did Indy’s relationship with Marion Ravenwood and her father go sour? How did Indy meet (and later adopt) Short Round? In Temple of Doom, the character of Wu Han says he “followed Indy on many adventures”. We get hints about those backstories in the movies, but a show could flesh out the details. Even if the show never addresses those things, we know there are still dozens of untold adventures that Indy had over the years. We haven’t even scratched the surface.

Why It’s Time for Harrison to Hang Up the Whip

Lucasfilm

While I wish for nothing but good things for the latest Indiana Jones adventure on the big screen, truth be told, the entire project as-is sounds destined to disappoint. When this film reaches theaters in 2021, Harrison Ford will be 78 years old. Not that I’m against the idea of an “Old Man Jones” as it were. I thought Ford was brilliant as an elderly Han Solo in The Force Awakens. But the part of Han Solo mainly has him flying spaceships and shooting blasters. Indiana Jones calls for fist fights, swinging on vines, and jumping on moving vehicles. That’s a wee bit harder to do when you’re pushing 80.

There’s also the time frame issue. The movies have so far moved along in real time. Last Crusade took place in 1938, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull took place in 1957, exactly 19 years since the previous film. Which means that whatever the fifth film is, it will take place in or about the early ‘70s. Now, I love ‘70s period films to death, especially as a child of that time. But the era of high adventure pulp novels and Republic serials was roughly the ‘20s through the ‘40s. This is just Indy’s milieu. I’m not sure he fits in as a concept in the time of hippies and The Brady Bunch.

Lucasfilm

No one can ever take away Harrison Ford’s status as “the original Indy.” But just as James Bond eventually moved on from Sean Connery, it’s time for Indiana Jones to move beyond Ford. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg envisioned Indy as “the American 007” after all. This would be the most Bond-like thing to do for the character.

All of this would keep the franchise viable long term. Believe me, Disney and Lucasfilm don’t want to make the property seem like one of Indy’s old relics – they want it to stay current. And by having it in a different medium with a new actor, it would be far less likely to ruffle the feathers of those who claim there can only ever be on big screen version of Indiana Jones. A younger Indiana Jones on Disney+ is the best “you can have your cake and eat it too” option for everyone.

Originally published on February 27, 2020.

The post Why INDIANA JONES’ Future Should Be on Disney+ appeared first on Nerdist.

In a move likely very frustrating for subscribers, Netflix is cracking down on password sharing, specifically sharing passwords with those not living under one roof. This isn’t the streaming company’s first attempt to curb password sharing on the Netflix platform. But this time, it sounds like the streaming platform means business. In Q1 of 2022, Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers. It was the first subscriber loss for the streaming platform in a decade.

If there was ever any doubt that Netflix would follow through with its plans to cut down on inter-household password sharing, that is over. But how will Netflix stop password sharing? This time, the streaming platform is getting money involved. Netflix isn’t going to boot the infringing profiles off the main account right away if it catches someone password sharing. Instead, it’ll just make the account holder pay up. As of May 23, Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown has officially arrived in the US. Here are the latest updates in Netflix’s attempts to stop users from sharing their passwords and accounts.

Jump to: Netflix’s Paid Password Sharing Crackdown Has Arrived in the US // Netflix’s New Account Sharing Rules // Netflix Profile Transfers // Device Log Out // Netflix Password Sharing Is Widespread // Consumer Reaction

Netflix’s Paid Password Sharing Crackdown Has Arrived in the US

Netflix recently expanded more serious efforts at ending password sharing to Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. And now, the password-sharing crackdown has arrived in the United States. In a blog post shared on May 23, Netflix noted:

Starting today, we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in the United States. 

A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.

Among other things, Netflix plans to begin blocking devices that it feels are using a Netflix account but not paying for it. The blog post further notes, “If you want to share Netflix with someone outside your household, you can use these features.

Transfer a profile. Anyone on your account can transfer a profile to a new membership they pay for.

Buy an extra member. You can share your Netflix account with somone who doesn’t live with you for $7.99/month more.

Another blog post from Netflix Canada notes more about you can “share Netflix” without breaking its rules under its paid password-sharing plan:

Set primary location: We’ll help members set this up, ensuring that anyone who lives in their household can use their Netflix account. 

Manage account access and devices: Members can now easily manage who has access to their account from our new Manage Access and Devices page. 

Transfer profile: People using an account can now easily transfer a profile to a new account, which they pay for — keeping their personalized recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games and more. 

Watch while you travel: Members can still easily watch Netflix on their personal devices or log into a new TV, like at a hotel or holiday rental. 

Buy an extra member: Members on our Standard or Premium plan in many countries (including Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain) can add an extra member sub account for up to two people they don’t live with — each with a profile, personalized recommendations, login and password — for an extra CAD$7.99 a month per person in Canada, NZD$7.99 in New Zealand, Euro 3.99 in Portugal, and Euro 5.99 in Spain. 

All of these aspects of password sharing have been a part of Netflix’s tests up till now. But, of course, the price point continues to evolve. Below we detail more about each one of them.

Netflix’s New Rules and Restrictions for Password and Account Sharing

Netflix recently revealed a new Help Center page that’s all about “Sharing Your Netflix Account.” On this page, Netflix makes it clear that password sharing and Netflix accounts are “for people who live together in a single household.” The exact definition of a Netflix Household is “people who live in the same location with the account owner.” According to Netflix, “people who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account to watch Netflix.”

Based on the other information on the Help Center page, it also feels like a Netflix Household is defined by the use of one WiFi connection. Netflix notes it determines devices in a household “us[ing] information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity from devices signed into the Netflix account.”

Extra Members

Netflix now notes, “People who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account to watch; or in many countries you can buy an extra member slot to add an extra member to your account.” The platform adds, “An extra member will have their own profile, account, and password, but their membership will be paid for by the person who invited them to join.”

Extra members differ from regular account holders in these ways:

Extra members can watch Netflix on any device, but only on 1 device at a time.

Extra members can also download titles, but only on 1 phone or tablet at a time.

Extra members can only have 1 profile and cannot create additional profiles.

This profile can be a new profile or an eligible profile transferred from the account owner who invited the extra member.

This profile can have different maturity ratings, but cannot be a Kids profile.

Extra members must activate their account in the same country associated with the account owner’s.

Example: If the account owner signed up in Costa Rica, the extra member must create and activate the extra member account in Costa Rica.

Verified Netflix Devices

The new page about account and password sharing also introduces the idea of Netflix “verified devices.” Netflix notes that if a device not associated with your household tries to sign into your account, then it may need to be verified. Verification involves the main account user approving a device account use within the space of fifteen minutes. And Netflix may ask for new device verification periodically, ostensibly to prevent verification of devices out of the household.

If you are the primary account holder, or if you are using the primary internet connection in the primary account user’s household, you shouldn’t need to worry about verifying your device, according to Netflix. Regardless of your location, if you are the primary holder of your account, you should be able to use it anywhere. Of course, how Netflix can know who exactly is holding the device or belongs to a device household at any time seems murky.

Interestingly, this new page doesn’t reference the kind of paid account sharing that has seemed top of mind for Netflix.

Netflix Profile Transfers

To ready users for the upcoming crackdown, Netflix has added the option of an easy profile transfer. Very simply, this lets each profile on an account easily become its own account. As Netflix shares in a release:

We’re launching Profile Transfer, a feature that lets people using your account transfer a profile — keeping the personalized recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, and other settings — when they start their own membership.  

Netflix also notes, “To transfer a profile, go to the “Transfer Profile” option when you hover over your profile icon in the dropdown menu on the homepage — then simply follow the instruction.” Ostensibly, this feature is nicely asking for those sharing accounts to create their own with ease… Before there are repercussions. This feature is now widely available.

Netflix Lets You Log Out of Individual Devices

In addition to Profile Transfers, Netflix has rolled out a new feature that lets users log out of individual devices. This feature, called “Managing Access and Devices” is “a new feature in Account Settings that allows you to view all the recent devices that have streamed from your account and to log out of specific devices with just one click.”

Ostensibly, it’s there in case you forget to log out of a device that you were just using in passing. However, this new update also serves as a further measure by Netflix to cut down on password sharing.

Netflix is not messing around when it comes to password and account sharing.

100 Million Households Are Netflix Password Sharing

This is quite a move from a company that reportedly spent $400 million for the Knives Out sequels. And is dropping something like 86 original movies this year. But according to a company blog post, Netflix claims the password sharing is preventing them from investing in top-tier content.

Chengyi Long, director of product innovation at Netflix, said, “We’ve always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans. While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared. As a result, accounts are being shared between households—impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.”

Furthermore, the Netflix shareholder letter, indicated more than 100 million households are sharing passwords. More specifically, 30 million households in the US and Canada share passwords. This is a problem for the streaming platform. And subscribers down, this might just be what they need to boost the numbers.

How Will Consumers Respond to These Netflix Attempts to Stop Password Sharing?

So this is all to say password sharing on Netflix is responsible for The Baby-Sitters Club‘s premature demise. We can’t imagine that’s specifically true. The announcement comes at a pretty overwhelming moment for streaming platforms in general. Pretty much every major studio with a distribution wing has one. Disney—which just snatched its Defenders Saga back from Netflix has three. That company has made serious moves with Disney+ over the next several months. Disney+ has added parental controls and ad-supported pricing in a relatively short space of time. And then there’s Paramount with its two wings. And haven’t even mentioned Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, and so, so many more.

It’s reaching a point where subscribers are already shelling out a lot monthly to keep up. Password sharing, and trading off, has historically made things a little bit easier. Netflix notes it knows this move might not be initially popular. The company shares, “From our experience in Latin America, we expect some cancel reaction in each market when we roll out paid sharing, which impacts near-term member growth. But as borrower households begin to activate their own standalone accounts and extra member accounts are added, we expect to see improved overall revenue, which is our goal with all plan and pricing changes”

Who knows, maybe password-sharing crackdowns on Netflix and other streamers will finally force subscribers to think about how much they actually need a particular platform. Or maybe it will do exactly what the company hopes.

Originally published on March 16, 2022.

The post Netflix’s Password Sharing Crackdown Has Officially Arrived in the US appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s here. The big change we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would merge HBO Max and Discovery+ content to create a new streaming product. And that streaming platform has finally launched on May 23 under the name Max. For many, this decision seems like a strange one. But despite what the masses think, they have no choice but to crown a new streamer. R.I.P. HBO Max, long live Max.

But what is Max? How is Max a different platform than HBO Max? And, most importantly, what will you have to pay for it? Well, those are all great questions. And Warner Bros. Discovery has some answers.

What Is Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max, How Do You Get It, and What Content Will It Have?

In the simplest terms, Max is a service that combines the offerings of HBO Max and Discovery+. However, while Max will replace HBO Max, it won’t replace Discovery+. Users can continue to subscribe to Discovery+ on a standalone basis, but HBO Max will transform into Max on May 23. This was likely done in an effort to allow users of Discovery+ to continue to subscribe at a lower cost.

According to Max’s website, all HBO Max users will get Max on May 23. And if you sign up for HBO Max now, Warner Bros. Discovery will “transfer your account information to Max when it arrives.” On certain devices, you will also need to download a new “Max” version of the app. On other devices, the Max app will appear automatically.

Max shares:

Amazon, Cox, Roku, VIZIO TV, Xfinity: Find the Max app and open it.

Android, Apple, DIRECTV, LG TV, PlayStation, Samsung TV, Xbox: Open HBO Max and choose Download.

Additionally, the platform notes:

Your HBO Max profiles, watch history, and your settings (including parental controls) are available in Max.

There are two things that don’t transfer to Max:

HBO Max downloads: You’ll need to download your shows and movies again with Max.

Custom profile pictures: If you had a custom profile picture in HBO Max, you’ll see a generic profile icon in Max (Max doesn’t support custom profile photos). If you’d like to choose a different profile avatar, go to Add and manage Max profiles.

As far as content goes, Max will contain HBO Max’s entire library plus “Discovery favorites,” defined as “the best real-life shows from your favorite TV brands: HGTV, the Food Network, TLC, ID, Magnolia, Discovery, and more.”

The Cost of a Max Subscription

Happily, or however you choose to feel about it, this move to Max will not include a price increase for most HBO Max users. HBO Max raised its price in January to $15.99/month for ad-free viewing, and that remains the Max pricing as well. Max with ads will cost $9.99/month. Meanwhile, “Ultimate Ad-Free” Max will cost $19.99/month. The difference between Max Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free is down to quality, device usage and downloads. Ad-Free Max allows you to “stream in Full HD on 2 devices at once, up to 30 offline downloads.” Ultimate Ad-Free Max meanwhile allows you to “Stream in 4K UHD on 4 devices at once, up to 100 offline downloads.”

Max Promises Max with Ads will Really Be “Max Ad-Lite”

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav recently noted that Max will have one of the “lightest ad loads in streaming.” In fact, he referred to Max with Ads as Max Ad-Lite, an interesting branding choice. Zaslav noted, “Max Ad-Lite subscribers get all the same content as ad-free subscribers. See only three or four minutes of ads per hour and pay just $9.99 a month.” Is that a good deal? It’s hard to say at this point.

The Verge reveals that viewers will see 15-second pre-roll ads that play before your content, 30-60 second mid-roll ads that arrive in the middle of viewing, and additional static ads that pop up when a program has paused. Additionally, there could be instances where brands pay more to offer fewer ads to viewers.

When Will Max Replace HBO Max?

As mentioned, HBO Max evolved into Max on May 23.

Why Did HBO Max Lose the HBO to Become Max?

Give that HBO Max has some pretty significant brand awareness, the rebrand seems strange for fans of the platform. It seems like the Warner Bros. Discovery’s perspective, however, is that if the HBO stayed, users wouldn’t understand that the platform now also contained a different kind of content. In an effort to appeal to as many subscribers as possible, HBO was removed from the title of the streamer. Of course, to many HBO symbolizes a kind of prestige and quality. So we will have to wait and see how users respond to the rebrand, and, ultimately, whether it was a good idea.

The post HBO Max Officially Renamed Max—Streamer Loses Letters, Adds Discovery+ Content appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s the age of change, and it’s enough to make your head spin. Streaming platforms and network television have been at odds since their inception. By and large, streaming is now a part of most people’s everyday lives, but despite rumors of its demise, network and cable TV continues to hang in there. But that doesn’t mean everything stays just the same, as we saw on Deadline. In a mind-bending move, the Paramount+ streaming channel and the Showtime network channel will merge together to create two platforms named Paramount+ with Showtime. And this merge is coming to the US on June 27.

Of course, this will have an impact on the content and pricing of the two platforms… And the subscription price consumers will have to pay. Confused yet? Let’s break it down.

Jump To: What Is Paramount+ with Showtime? // Subscription Costs for the Streamer // Content Changes

Paramount+ with Showtime to Replace Separate Streamers and Showtime Channel

Right now, on the streaming side, there’s the Showtime streaming service and the Paramount+ streaming service. And both those products are going to come together to create Paramount+ with Showtime (the streamer). The premium tiers of Paramount+ with Showtime will have Showtime content available alongside Paramount+ content. This merge will occur on June 27. And, officially, the standalone Showtime app will cease to exist by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Showtime is also currently a cable network. That network will no longer be Showtime and will instead become Paramount+ with Showtime (the TV channel). On that end, the TV network’s profile will receive a boost by also airing “Paramount+ originals in addition to the SHOWTIME originals, as well as Paramount Pictures movies that come to the services.”

Subscription Price Increases for Paramount+ with Showtime

Paramount+ with Showtime will see a price increase from Paramount+’s current cost. According to Variety, the premium tier, which currently costs, $9.99 on Paramount+ will rise to $11.99 for Paramount+ with Showtime’s ad-free offering. Of course, this will contain both Paramount+ and Showtime content.

Meanwhile, the essential plan, which contains ads and will not include Showtime content, will see its subscription cost increase from $4.99 a month to $5.99.

Content Changes for Paramount+ with Showtime

Content-wise, cancellations at Showtime have begun to occur, according to Deadline. The shows Three Women, Let the Right One In, and American Gigolo are reportedly canceled or heading for cancellation. Additionally, it was reported that Dexter: New Blood received a cancellation at Showtime. However, this may no longer be the case.

Regardless of the fate that awaits New Blood, it sounds like a Dexter prequel series is coming. This Dexter outing will focus on a younger version of the character. Executive Chris McCarthy notes, “The origin story will be set in Dexter’s hometown of Miami, and will touch on stories of real-life serial killers of the time period.” Additional Dexter spinoff series could also hit the new streamer. These could focus on “the back stories of compelling Dexter characters,” including one featuring the Trinity Killer.

Additionally, it looks like Paramount+ is also removing content from its platform. Per Deadline, among other things, Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone, which ran for two seasons, is no longer available on the platform. Also missing are The Real World: Homecoming, Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, and The Harper House.

Luckily, our personal favorite Showtime offering, Yellowjackets, seems thankfully safe. According to executive Chris McCarthy, it exemplifies one of Showtime’s strengths (complex characters) alongside shows like Billions. Well, we like the sound of that, anyway. Because we need Yellowjackets season two, and we will not take no for an answer. Angry buzzing will ensue.

Now that we’ve mostly wrapped around this change, we’ll have to wait and see what these latest landscape shenanigans bring to all of us. We’ll cross our fingers for only good things.

Originally published on January 30, 2023.

The post Paramount+ With Showtime Launching in June, Standalone Showtime App to Shut Down in 2023 appeared first on Nerdist.

Remember how The CW was developing a live-action Powerpuff Girls series? Then they pressed pause in May 2021 to rework the pilot with the existing cast and creative team. Last we heard the network planned to film a new pilot to replace the one that was, in former CW president Mark Pedowitz’s terms, “too campy.”. TVLine confirmed during Thursday Upfronts, however, that The CW is no longer developing or redeveloping the live-action Powerpuff Girls.

The series, called Powerpuff, would have focused on the girls as adults. Specifically, the heroes were “disillusioned twenty-somethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime fighting.” The cast included Chloe Bennet as Blossom, Dove Cameron as Bubbles, and Yana Perrault as Buttercup. Original narrator Tom Kenny was returning to reprise his role for the live-action series.

The CW’s president of entertainment Brad Schwartz told TVLine, “We’ve already given those back to the studios, so they’re free to develop those and sell them anywhere.”

In addition to Powerpuff, Schwartz referred to Justice U (an Arrowverse spinoff), Jake Chang, and a female-led Zorro series.

The post Live-Action POWERPUFF GIRLS No Longer in Development appeared first on Nerdist.

Futurama has been missing from our lives for 10 years. We’ve missed that show breaking our brains. Luckily Hulu announced a 20-episode Futurama revival in February 2022. Though the initial news came with the question of whether John DiMaggio would return as Bender (he thankfully did), the dust settled and now we have a teaser for the Futurama revival, as well as a release date. We first spotted this news at Variety.

We did say teaser. The glimpse into Bender, Fry, and Leela’s collective future is brief. The ridiculousness we’ve come to expect from Futurama is certainly there, especially with them making fun of their newest home on Hulu.

The Futurama season 11 synopsis says:

After a brief 10-year hiatus, Futurama has crawled triumphantly from the cryogenic tube, its full original cast and satirical spirit intact. The 10 all-new episodes of season 11 have something for everyone. New viewers will be able to pick up the series from here, while long-time fans will recognize payoffs to decades-long mysteries—including developments in the epic love story of Fry and Leela, the mysterious contents of Nibbler’s litter box, the secret history of evil Robot Santa, and the whereabouts of Kif and Amy’s tadpoles. Meanwhile there’s a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV.

The new season of Futurama will debut on Hulu on July 24. Season 11 has 10 episodes, and they’ll drop weekly.

The post FUTURAMA Revival Gets a Teaser, Summer Release Date appeared first on Nerdist.

Clone High‘s last original episode debuted on March 2, 2003. For those of you born after that date, no, that’s not a typo. It’s been more than 20 years since the sex-crazed teenage clones of Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Mahatma Gandhi, JFK, and Cleopatra found themselves frozen in ice. Now the show’s creators (and members of the main cast) Phil Lord and Chris Miller are finally thawing them out at Max.

What are the challenges of reviving a comedy after two decades? How did they decide what historical figures would get in on the fun this time? And just how much of what we’ll see in this long-awaited second season was planned 20 years ago? We asked them about all that and more when we got a chance to speak to Lord and Miller about Clone High season two.

Nerdist: Obviously the world has changed a lot since you created Clone High. So while it holds up, I’m sure there are elements of the first season you loved then that you wouldn’t include now.

Phil Lord: Sure.

How does this revival maintain the original spirit and tone of the show fans have always loved while also appealing to an audience with different comedic sensibilities?

Lord: I feel like the show has always been strangely tenderhearted, even when it is comedically “going for it.” It’s got affection through all the characters, and I think that holds true now. There are things that I would want back (from the original). I would say, Chris, for me, number one, Mena Suvari’s forehead didn’t deserve a clap back. And there’s a long list, but-

Chris Miller: Yeah, there’s a long list of things. I don’t need to itemize them all. There are things I would take back today if given the opportunity, but we move forward often. But I also think there’s a lot of new stuff going on in the world. Just being able to have a show that can be silly and heartfelt at the same time, and try to skewer tropes and do twists on things, it’s still relevant as long as you’re just talking about the things that we’re thinking about today.

And I’m sure we’re crossing other lines that 20 years from now when we do the third one we’ll be like, “Oh, man, I wish we didn’t do that.”

Lord: Yeah, exactly.

We’re getting new historical figures like Harriet Tubman, Christopher Columbus, Frida Kahlo, and Confucius as main characters this time around. How did you determine which famous people to add to the mix?

Lord: We mostly focused on people that teenagers have heard of. But then, also, what would be good dilemmas for the characters to have?

[Showrunner] Erica [Rivinoja] focused on what would it be like to be Confucius and have to live up to this incredibly intelligent, insightful, clone father. How would that person try to parse himself into today? What if the pithy things he said were actually lame, but with a big heart? Likewise with Frida Kahlo. What if she was just unbelievably chill and knew how cool she was? I think we found really, really fun characters.

Miller: And it starts with a thought that’s funny, like, “Oh, it’s probably a bad time to be the clone of Christopher Columbus right now.” Then it evolves into a more three-dimensional character from that. “Oh, that would be tough. How would that person try and deal with it at this time?” And then trying to figure out how that person exists beyond that, it was part of the fun.

What other historical figures, at any point over the last 20 years, have you seriously considered for season two and why didn’t they make the cut?

Miller: (laughs) I mean, I remember we made some lists of people at one point, but this character set came from Erica. She developed these takes on these new characters and the writer’s room all worked together to figure out how they interacted with each other, what their relationships would be, what they really were beyond the quick pitch.

And, as needed, we would add to characters to stories. We’d be like, “Well, which historical figure could this be?” And then we’re like, “Oh, this could be Lady Godiva.” So you try to think about what the character needs are and then figure out, “Who would most interestingly or best represent that?”

How confident are you the revered historical figures—so not Columbus—who are now part of the cast won’t cause the same types of problems that Clone Gandhi did for you previously?

Miller: (they both laugh) Not confident at all.

Lord: You got to swing the bat.

Miller: Right.

Well, do you want to reveal anything? Is there any chance we ever see Clone Gandhi again?

Lord: Well, we’ve made a few nods to him during the season. And we did leave him frozen just in case there’s a season four. But yeah, for now we’re leaving him on ice.

How hard was that? Because he’s such a great character, obviously. And he’s such an important part of first season.

Miller: He did leave a-larger-than-his-size hole. Thankfully a bunch of the new characters could each pick up a different part of his personality. And it’s shaking up the dynamic as part of what these teen shows do. We’re going to throw some new things in there, and we’re always changing who’s dating who and who’s mad at who and trying to stir the pot a little bit. But obviously he was a lot of fun, but so are a lot of the characters.

The show is going to pick up where season one ended as everyone gets unfrozen. How much of what we’re going to see in season two is based on what you originally had planned for it 20 years ago?

Lord: Well, we did originally think they would wake up and not remember what had happened to them and slowly put it together. So in that sense the idea was that it would start the way the first season started. I think we held true to that.

Miller: That’s right. But mostly, we didn’t have a lot of specific plans for season two. We had a lot of kooky ideas, but it’s not like we had it all mapped out. “Here are the 10 episodes.” Or the 13 episodes. I don’t even know what would we do or how many episodes people make these days.

My last question, I think, is my most important. And not that you haven’t been honest, but I would like you both to be very honest. How much of this revival is simply an excuse for you guys to do the voices of Principal Scudworth, Mr. Butlertron, and JFK again?

Lord: (both laugh) The SAG Awards demand that we reprise these roles. I’ll say that it’s really fun to scream into a microphone.

Miller: It’s been really fun to revive those parts, to shake off the rust and just goof around. That’s really been one of the most fun parts of the whole thing.

I’m surprised you said shake off the rust. I had assumed you guys just do those voices all the time on your own anyway.

Lord: Only when we get in a fight.

Clone High returns with its second season May 23 at Max.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Phil Lord and Chris Miller On Bringing CLONE HIGH Back After 20 Years appeared first on Nerdist.

The teenage clone of Joan of Arc spent Clone High‘s first season pining after the teenage clone of Abraham Lincoln. It was a tale as told as time. Kinda. But it’s one stars Nicole Sullivan and Will Forte have had to wait 20 years to resume. The cult classic animated MTV series is finding new life at Max.

Did the two ever expect to return to school? What was it like having their characters thawed out after such a long time? And what’s it like playing Joan and Abe now? Those are just some of the questions we asked Sullivan and Forte when we got a chance to speak to them ahead of Clone High‘s long-awaited second season.

Nerdist: Did you give up faith this revival was going to happen someday? Or did you always have hope it would?

Will Forte: I didn’t give up faith just because after it was canceled the first time I assumed it would never happen again. Then somewhere along the line, maybe a decade after it was canceled, I think I heard some kind of rumor they were going to try to bring it back. Or maybe even Chris [Miller] and Phil [Lord] said, “Oh, we should try to bring Clone High back.” So there was something in the air at some point that that was on their wish list.

I do remember having a very positive feeling. This was my first acting job. So it was a very special experience that I had back in the day. I was way more nervous than I probably should have been just because it was such a low-key job with friends. So it was very, very nice. When I heard it finally was actually going to happen, it was just exhilarating. I never knew it was even possible. That’s not something I thought. And this time around I was just so much more relaxed because I had 20 years of experience under my belt and it was just like this fun homecoming. A little reunion party with our buddies.

Nicole, you get the phone call this is really going to happen. What’s your reaction?

Nicole Sullivan: My reaction, honestly, was I always thought it would. When I was recording it, I didn’t quite get, I just didn’t get it exactly. I was like, “This is a young person show.”

And then I watched it when it came out and I was like, “Oh, this is genius.” Then I thought, “There’s no way. There’s no way they can’t revisit this.” And on my social media and stuff, people are always talking about Clone High. Always, always, always. I mean, you can’t assume anything, but then when [co-creator] Bill (Lawrence) gave me the call and was like, “I think we’re trying to do this. Don’t tell anyone.” I was like, “I’m there buddy.”

What people now think is funny is really different from when Clone High debuted. Did either of you have any concerns you could still make the show that fans love?

Forte: Well Chris and Phil, I mean, that whole team is so smart and so funny and they’re just good people, too. They have such a way of creating these shows that they can appeal to a mainstream audience, but still be delightfully weird. Most stuff that’s trying to appeal to a mainstream audience is pretty vanilla. They have a way of bringing people in with these weird concepts and they’re just so smart.

Sullivan: Right. I know them well, but I don’t pretend to know their inner workings. But exactly what Will said, they’ve got this ability to run on two different bandwidths, which is, “I’m a professional, let’s set up the shots.” And then the second bandwidth is, “What can we do to make this interesting?” They just live there. So when you’re working with them there’s no doubt that a) they’re going to get the thing they want done, and b) they’re going to make it crazier and more interesting than you ever thought.

Twenty years between seasons is a really long time to stay in character. What did you have to do to rediscover Abe and Joan?

Sullivan: Well, we mostly just would meet each other for lunch and not make out. That was what we did for 20 years.

Forte: [Laughs] Yeah, I mean, my Abraham Lincoln voice was just this. [Laughs] It’s basically been just saying whatever words are on the page with my natural speaking voice pretty much.

Sullivan: That’s my favorite thing is when people go like, “Oh my God, I love your show. My cousin, can we call him and you do the voice for my cousin on the phone?” I’m like, “Umm…I can do the voice, but it sounds a little something like thiiiiis.”

It’s sounds exactly like me, so it’s not like you’re calling The Simpsons characters. And that’s a different thing. We’re just using our voices.

But human voices do change, especially over 20 years. So did you have to do anything to try to recapture exactly how you sounded then or did you just go with the flow?

Sullivan: [Laughs] Should I have?

Forte: I feel like maybe in 15 more years it might have been an issue or start to get [changes voice to sound like an old man] that Grandpa Walton sound. But really, if anything, it was way easier this time around. At least for me. I was so in my head the first time I did this because I just felt like my voice was so boring. I wasn’t used to doing this kind of work.

Then you come back and you have a little more confidence, a little more experience, and I was able to have so much more fun this time around. Not to say that it wasn’t a blast back in the day. But I was just so filled with neuroses just because I had never really done it before. So getting to do this again at this stage of my life has just been a very pleasant experience.

Nicole, you’ve played some normal characters over the course of your career, but Will is the teenage clone of Abraham Lincoln the most normal character you’ve ever played in yours?

Forte: The most normal character? Certainly up there, yes. probably the guy I got to be in Nebraska. Yeah, him and Abe Lincoln in Clone High.

Sullivan: Character from Nebraska. I totally agree. [Note: This was also the only answer the Nerdist staff could come up with ahead of this interview.]

Forte: Or Alan Bishopman, E-Z Swords salesman in Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie. That’s my other very normal character.

Last question. I have a theory I would like to run by the both of you. My theory is that this revival has nothing to do with finishing the story or bringing back a cult classic. I think Phil Lord and Chris Miller simply wanted an excuse to do the voices of Scudworth, JFK, and Mr. Butlertron again. Am I 100% right or only 99% right?

Sullivan: Can I tell you, when I watch them and they’re both on camera and they’re doing the voices, they both make each other laugh so hard, still. They have to go off, they find it hilarious. And I think that’s the most endearing thing about them is that 20 years later they love what they’re doing.

Clone High season two finally debuts on May 23 at Max.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Will Forte and Nicole Sullivan Talk About Finally Returning to CLONE HIGH appeared first on Nerdist.

Season one of The Bear brought the stress and reality of working in a restaurant into the spotlight. People who have worked in Michelin-starred kitchens called the depiction of trauma in that setting painfully real. The first season of the FX on Hulu series ended with Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy closing his brother’s restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. He plans to get back to his finer dining roots. Carmy worked at places like NOMA and The French Laundry before returning to Chicago to make beef subs. With Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie at his side, Carmy will open this new joint. The Bear season two trailer makes it look like everything will go fine, just fine.

If keeping a restaurant going was stressful, getting The Bear (the restaurant) off the ground is on the next level. Stress radiates from the trailer, and we kind of can’t get enough of it? There’s something to be said for watching stress that is in no way yours. Carmy and Sydney have to figure out the menu. Along with Carmy’s sister, they have to ask for additional money. The crew has to gut the restaurant and remodel. And the cooking staff? Culinary school.

The Bear season two trailer description states:

FX’s new original series The Bear is about food, family, the insanity of the grind, the beauty of Sense of Urgency and the steep slippery downsides. As the young chef Carmy fights to transform both The Original Beef of Chicagoland and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges kitchen crew that ultimately reveal themselves as his chosen family.

Okay, we’re hungry.

The Bear season two will premiere on FX on Hulu on June 22.

The post THE BEAR Season 2 Trailer Gives Us the Best Kind of Stress appeared first on Nerdist.

Some upcoming John Wick installments will dive deep into the franchise’s world and its history. One of these upcoming spinoffs is The Continental: From The World Of John Wick. Once described as a series, The Continental has become a trilogy of feature-length episodes set in the John Wick universe—specifically, 40 years before the events of the movies, focusing on the notorious Continental institution. And now, we know more about this John Wick prequel series, including its plot, release window, and what we can expect it will add to the universe.

The Continental‘s Plot

The official synopsis for The Continental shares the following:

The three-part event will explore the origin behind the iconic hotel-for-assassins centerpiece of the John Wick universe through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott, as he’s dragged into the Hell-scape of 1970’s New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind.  Winston charts a deadly course through the hotel’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the hotel where he will eventually take his future throne.

Recently, The Continental director Albert Hughes spoke to Deadline and shared more about what eager fans can expect when the series finally airs. He noted:

The whole point was to explore the mythology more, the secrets of the hotel through the characters Winston and Charon, and play with the intersecting characters and storylines. There’s this wild cast of new characters that come in and out of that world… I’d say they can expect the high style that the John Wick films give. But different, because we’re in the ‘70s. It’s good eye candy, escapism and fun. That’s the one thing that drew me in. I think they have fun with it because it’s something different than what you see on TV. It’s a longer form than the movies, but the challenge was, can you keep in the fun? I think so many women are fans because you don’t take this violence seriously, it’s almost a ballet dance, a ballet of bullets. People can check out and go, oh, it’s not like the real world. This is not, this is not the real world. And I think that’s what’s so genius about what Chad and Keanu have done with that series. They’re winking and nodding to the audience. That’s what Chad said, I’m winking and nodding a lot, and I do the same in the series.

Fans can also expect a slew of John Wick Easter eggs to come their way. Hughes offers that some are more apparent while others are “buried pretty well.”

The Continental Release Window, Production Team, and Cast

The Continental will release sometime in September of 2023. And though initially slated to stream on Starz, the John Wick series will actually air on Peacock. And Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake notes, “The episodes are nearly finished.”

Albert Hughes will direct the first and third installments of the trilogy. He is best known for Menace II Society, Dead Presidents, and The Book of Eli. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s Charlotte Brändström will direct the second episode. Meanwhile, John Wick director Chad Stahelski and screenwriter Derek Kolstad will executive produce.

Given that the mini-series takes place 40 years before John Wick, we can expect that the character won’t make an appearance. Instead, it will focus on a much younger version of Ian McShane’s Winston character, circa the 1970s. Colin Woodell plays this character.

Additional cast includes Mel Gibson (Cormac), Mishel Prada (KD), Ben Robson (Frankie), Hubert Point-Du Jour (Miles), Nhung Kate (Yen), Jessica Allain (Lou), Ayomide Adegun (Charon), Jeremy Bobb (Mayhew) and Peter Greene (Uncle Charlie). 

Given the timeline, this series probably won’t tie too much into the upcoming films, but we’re more than fine with that. Part of the fun of the Wick franchise is learning how these hitmen networks operate. We can’t wait to see how they work without the Baba Yaga on their backs.

Originally published on July 29, 2019.

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The world’s greatest spy is finally going to say buh bye to the danger zone. But not because he’s sticking his cocktail between his legs out of fear. (We know: phrasing.) FX has announced Adam Reed’s long-running animated hit Archer will come to an end with its 14th season. The network also shared when Sterling and the rest of The Agency will officially start their final missions together. FXX will launch the beginning of the end of Archer in late summer.

Sterling himself might be very much the same, but the world has changed a lot since Archer debuted all the way back on FX in 2009. The show, starring H. Jon Benjamin as the inebriated world-class spy, even moved networks during its run. It picked up an extra “X” in 2017. That’s where the show will air its final season, when season 14 debuts with two episodes at FXX on August 30.

The network shared an early synopsis of what we can expect from Archer during its final run:

Archer and The Agency are finding their own way with Lana at the helm. Her goal is to make money while also making the world a better place, but she quickly finds out running a spy agency isn’t so cut and dry.

“Dry” has never described anyone or anything on Archer, so not sure why Lana expectedly differently.

While fans who still love the show (:raises hand:) will be disappointed by this news, the series has already run much longer than Reed previously said it would. At one point, the plan was to finish with season ten. But the end of Archer has never felt more inevitable since Jessica Walters passed away in 2021. Getting a 14th season is better than most of us could have ever expected for a long time.

Plus, this is good news. The show wasn’t canceled unexpectedly. Hopefully, the cast and crew knew it would be their last. And that will let Archer go out on its own terms. Hopefully, that means it comes out on top.

Yup, we know: phrasing. We’re still doing that and will long after Archer ends.

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Supernatural ran for a staggering 15 seasons and over 300 episodes. It started in 2005, the last year before The WB became The CW. That kind of longevity is exceedingly hard in the primetime television world (unless you’re a CSI or NCIS). More than sheer numbers, the fanbase for Supernatural is one of the most rabid and passionate in sci-fi/fantasy. It seemed, therefore, that the prequel series, The Winchesters, might have better than a fighting chance to find success. Not so, as the network has canceled the series after only one season.

According to Deadline, The CW has opted not to continue with the series, which premiered in October 2022. Set in the 1970s, The Winchesters followed the young love and monster-hunting of John (Drake Rodger) and Mary (Meg Donnelly), the eventual parents of Dean and Sam Winchester. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Samantha Smith played the characters, respectively, on Supernatural. Jensen Ackles as Dean served as narrator for the show. He was also one of its executive producers.

Warner Bros. Television, the studio which produces The Winchesters, has vowed to shop the series around elsewhere. The first season ended in March after 13 episodes. They have the power of the Supernatural fandom at their back, too.

Ackles took to Twitter on Thursday evening with the #SaveTheWinchesters hashtag. The cast made a video, which Ackles shared, to ask for support from the fans—support, that would no doubt make the The Winchesters more appealing to other networks and streamers. You can’t underestimate the power of the Supernatural fans, so we can only imagine how fast this campaign will grow.

Featured Image: The CW

Originally published on May 11, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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One of the movies responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating—too scary for PG but not graphic enough for R—is getting turned into an animated series. Joe Dante’s 1984 film Gremlins is getting a cartoon some 35 years later. The news broke back in 2019, when WarnerMedia ordered a 10-episode prequel to the 1984 classic. The animated series will focus on Gizmo and a young version of his original owner, Mr. Wing, played in the original film by Keye Luke. Tze Chun, a veteran of TV series like Gotham and Once Upon a Time, will write and executive produce the show. Check out the trailer for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. It promises magic is all around us, but we have to find it for ourselves.

The Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai reveals an adorable and yet intense first trailer. Although Gizmo is a cute Mogwai, the species itself does lean towards chaos. And there are other dark and destructive forces at play, of course… The worst kind of all, humans. Ultimately, the world is at stake, but it feels like we can rely on our heroes to save it.

Max (formerly HBO Max) also gave us a few additional looks at the Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai series and its characters, as well as its guest stars. In fact, Zach Galligan, the star of the original Gremlins will guest-star in the series.

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai‘s Guest Stars

A release shares more about Secrets of Mogwai‘s guest stars, noting:

Zach Galligan, who starred as the hero “Billy Peltzer” in the Gremlins films, will have a recurring guest role on Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
 
Sandra Oh, Randall Park, George Takei and Bowen Yang were also announced as series guest stars. They join an all-star lineup of Asian American actors lending their voice talents to the series which include Ming-Na Wen, James Hong, BD Wong and Izaac Wang.

That is quite the line-up of guest stars for this new Gremlins show. It’s sure to please long-time fans of the franchise and first-time viewers. This show is shaping up to be excellent.

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai‘s Main Characters

In addition to guests, here’s who will take center stage in Gremlins: Secrets of Mogwai.

First up, we get to see what our animated Gizmo will look like.

What a cutie… Although still a bit terrifying.

We also know who’ll be voicing the characters on the animated series. As reported by Variety (via Gizmodo), the cast will include Izaac Wang as young star Sam Wing; TV and film vets B.D. Wong (of Law & Order and Jurassic Park fame) and Ming-Na Wen (of ER, The Mandalorian) will play his parents. According to an official site for the series, A. J. Locascio will voice Gizmo. And Gabrielle Green will voice Sam’s friend, Elle.

Max has also officially shared our first look at the Wing family.

The streamer offered a bit more information about Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai‘s main characters to go with their character designs:

Fong Wing (voiced by Ming-Na Wen)—Fong Wing is Sam’s mother and a doctor of Chinese medicine. She’s resourceful, slyly funny, and fiercely protective of her family, even her frequently troublesome father.  She’ll do anything to aid and protect her son.

Grandpa (voiced by James Hong)—A free spirit and self-proclaimed expert in Chinese myth and magic, Grandpa is the elder of the Wing family. He claims to have traveled the world on grand adventures, but nobody really believed him… until now. He alone knows the true power (and secrets) of the Mogwai and the importance of protecting them.

Hon Wing (voiced by BD Wong)—Hon Wing is Sam’s father and the family’s calm rock. He’s never believed his father-in-law’s tales of magic and adventure. But when he and Fong become separated from Sam, he realizes the world is stranger than he thought, and that he’ll need to become braver to reunite his family.

Sam Wing (voiced by Izaac Wang)—Sam Wing is a naïve 10-year-old boy who will one day become Mr. Wing, the mysterious shopkeep and Gizmo’s guardian in the original Gremlins films. Young Sam lives with his family in the tiny apartment behind their struggling medicine shop. Sheltered and cautious, Sam will be thrown into the adventure of a lifetime when he promises his Grandpa he’ll get Gizmo home.

On the other side of the good-and-evil spectrum, Matthew Rhys (of The Americans and Perry Mason) will voice the series’ main antagonist; he’s an “English industrialist and treasure hunter who wields black magic,” and who aims to seize li’l Gizmo.

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai‘s synopsis

Here is the show’s official synopsis:

In the animated television adaptation, we travel back to 1920s Shanghai to reveal the story of how 10-year-old Sam Wing (future shop owner Mr. Wing in the 1984 movie) met the young Mogwai called Gizmo. Along with a teenage street thief named Elle, Sam and Gizmo take a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside, encountering, and sometimes battling, colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore. On their quest to return Gizmo to his family and uncover a legendary treasure, they are pursued by a power-hungry industrialist and his growing army of evil Gremlins.

Amblin Entertainment will produce the series, written by Tze Chun and featuring producers of things like The Americans, Animaniacs, and Teen Titans Go! 

The series will head to HBO Max and Cartoon Network at a yet undisclosed date. Although, according to Variety, it will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13. Dante’s original film—produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Chris Columbus—was a massive hit, thanks in no small part to the amazing animatronic creatures by Chris Walas, and the adorable lead creature, Gizmo. Infamously, Columbus’ original script was a straight horror movie and had Gizmo turn into the lead evil Gremlin to be destroyed by Billy Peltzer, but Spielberg interceded and saved the little guy from the slaughter.

And it’s a good thing he did; though we haven’t had a new adventure featuring the cuddly Mogwai and its scaly green progeny since 1990’s Gremlins 2: The New Batch—itself a half-parody of the original—Gremlins remains a cult favorite. It’s still considered one of Warner Bros’ biggest success stories, grossing over $153 million against a budget of only $11 million. That’s equivalent to almost $400 million in today’s dollars. We guess that explains why a script for a third film keeps getting kicked around.

We’re gonna guess the animated series won’t be super scary, but the iconic design of the titular baddies would look pretty great in cartoon form. Maybe the series will finally explain the incredibly vague rule about feeding them after midnight. And, like, what about time zones?

This article was originally published on July 1, 2019.

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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Tom Holland is most famous for playing a web-slinging superhero. But we don’t know what to make of his character in the upcoming new series at Apple TV+ The Crowded Room. The Crowded Room‘s first trailer promises a story of intrigue about a man with some pretty dark secrets and missing loved ones. Does that mean he’s a murderer? Or is he just another victim trapped in a dangerous world? We’ll have to watch to find out who he really is. We already know one thing Tom Holland’s character is guilty of, though: he’s guilty of having some pretty serious bangs.

“Tom Holland, but make him the living embodiment of men’s hair in 1979.” Nailed it.

As much as we’d like to discuss in great depth late ’70s hair care products for men, there’s a lot more to this intense and unsettling The Crowded Room trailer than Spider-Man’s newfound flow. Here’s the show’s official synopsis from Apple TV+:

The Crowded Room follows Danny Sullivan (Holland), a man who is arrested following his involvement in a shooting in New York City in 1979. A captivating thriller told through a series of interviews with curious interrogator Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried), Danny’s life story unfolds, revealing elements of the mysterious past that shaped him, and the twists and turns that will lead him to a life-altering revelation.

The limited series, created by Oscar-winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), also stars Emmy Rossum, Sasha Lane, Will Chase, Lior Raz, Jason Isaacs, Christopher Abbott, Thomas Sadoski, and Zachary Golinger. The ten-episode season will debut with its first three installments on Friday, June 9, 2023. New episodes of The Crowded Room will then follow at Apple TV+ every Friday.

That gives us eight wonderful weeks of Holland Hair. And, we imagine, a pretty interesting murder mystery starring one of Hollywood’s best young actors. That’s almost as good a reason to watch as those bangs.

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Stephen King’s IT has haunted us since 1986. But most recently, IT and IT: Chapter Two directed by Andy Muschietti really captivated popular imagination. The devious Pennywise and his red balloon caused a stir among die-hard horror fans and casual viewers. And now, we’re heading back to Derry for more of that specific world. The newly coined streamer Max (formerly HBO Max) has officially greenlit and ordered Welcome To Derry, an IT prequel series from Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs. And now we know who will star in Welcome to Derry and when it will arrive on our screens.

The platform recently revealed that Welcome to Derry‘s cast will include Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar. According to Deadline, Madeleine Stowe and Stephen Rider have also come aboard in recurring guest and series regular roles, respectively. Additionally, the Pennywise series will officially arrive in 2024 on Max.

According to TV Line, Andy Muschietti will also direct several episodes of the series, including its first. The publication reports the HBO IT series will be set in the ’60s. It will delve into the origins of Derry’s curse and, presumably, Pennywise the Clown. The HBO Max show will eventually lead to the first IT film.

It’s not clear whether we’d see Pennywise become the main character of the Welcome to Derry prequel show. But we wouldn’t mind seeing Bill Skarsgård step into the role once more. Though, for now, it doesn’t seem like he’ll have any involvement.

Skarsgård shared the following about the IT prequel with Jake’s Takes:

As of now, I’m not currently involved in it… If someone else gets to do it, my advice would be: Do it your own. Make it your own. Have fun with it… What I thought was so pleasurable about that character was how incredibly abstract he was.

We do, however, have a look at first look at the set of the series.

We’ll just have to see what else lies in store for Pennywise and Derry.

Originally published on February 23, 2023.

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Sweet Tooth‘s second season recently released into the world. It added another excellent chapter to the comic-book-based series, which deftly combines darkness and hope to tell a fantastical story. And, of course, Sweet Tooth features a variety of endearing half-human, half-animal beings. But there’s bittersweet news for fans of the Netflix show. The streamer has officially announced that season three of Sweet Tooth will be its final one. Three chapters may be more than many shows receive these days, but it’s never fun to know the end is in sight.

Still, creator, showrunner, and executive producer Jim Mickle notes, “In a lot of ways, it’s exactly the story that I imagined we would tell and in a lot of ways it takes on its own life. At the beginning, I think you set out to tell these landmark pieces of Gus’ story and the big pieces of the comic book, but the beauty of long-form storytelling and Gus’ journey over 24 episodes is the characters themselves tell you what they want to be. The crew and cast bring so much depth and point of view to who the characters are and where they’ve come from and where they’re going.”

According to a release by Netflix, Sweet Tooth‘s third season has already been filmed. Mickle offers, “Season 3 is an Arctic story with exciting new adventures and what we hope will be a satisfying conclusion to this epic tale. Gus is going to see a side of the world and humanity that he didn’t see in Season 1 or 2.”

New Sweet Tooth adventures for Gus, final adventures for us—but as Mickle notes, we’ll always have these 24 episodes.

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After weeks of negotiations, for the first time in 15 years, the Writers Guild of America has officially gone on strike. Dan Casey breaks down everything you need to know about why this strike happened, how long it might last, and what it means for you, the viewers at home, on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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The Writers Guild of America (WGA) moved forward with a strike on Tuesday morning after studios rejected the organization’s proposals for better compensation and equity for writers. A record percentage of guild members—97.85%—voted to authorize the strike. This is the group’s first strike since 2007, which lasted for 100 days. Nerdist covers a breadth of pop culture across film and television, none of which would exist without writers creating the stories we love. Here’s what you should know about the WGA strike.

Why Is the WGA Striking?

The WGA negotiating committee has been talking to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for the last six weeks. AMPTP negotiated on behalf of Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony. Streaming and the profound effect it has had upon writer compensation and residuals is at the heart of the negotiations.

In short, business practices from studios that have put streaming at the forefront have changed entertainment. That should trickle down to affect all aspects of the business, especially updating compensation and residual models. However, the payment structure for writers is set up as though entertainment has not drastically shifted. The prevalence of streaming cuts into a writer’s work airing and re-airing on broadcast TV and therefore cuts into residuals.

The WGA negotiated for members across all sectors for a fair deal that gives the writers compensation beyond that of a “a gig economy inside a union workforce.”

Streaming entertainment is not the only issue, though. The below details what the WGA is asking for:

COMPENSATION AND RESIDUALS

• Increase minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and features
• Standardize compensation and residual terms for features whether released theatrically or on streaming
• Address the abuses of mini-rooms
• Ensure appropriate television series writing compensation throughout entire process of pre-production, production and post-production
• Expand span protections to cover all television writers
• Apply MBA minimums to comedy-variety programs made for new media
• Increase residuals for under-compensated reuse markets
• Restrict uncompensated use of excerpts

PENSION PLAN AND HEALTH FUND

• Increase contributions to Pension Plan and Health Fund

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND PROTECTION IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF WRITERS

• For feature contracts in which compensation falls below a specified threshold, require weekly payment of compensation and a minimum of two steps.
• Strengthen regulation of options and exclusivity in television writer employment contracts
• Regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies
• Enact measures to combat discrimination and harassment and to promote pay equity
• Revise and expand all arbitrator lists

What Does the WGA Strike Mean?

Writers being on strike means the release of series and movies will slow down. The most immediately affected shows are late-night and talk shows. We’re approaching summer when writers would start working on fall series, so those will see delays. Shows currently filming can only continue to do so if they had completed work in hand before the strike, and specific rules apply to any writer-producers or writer-directors on set in regard to making changes to those scripts.

While shows nearing the end of their seasons may wrap up on time, the future of additional seasons will be uncertain. For example, the 2007-2008 WGA strike delayed several series or led to shortened seasons. Productions halted work. Some series were canceled. The consequences will add up, even if reality TV sees a brief boost.

It isn’t only about writers either. Some Teamsters are supporting the WGA’s strike and won’t cross picket lines.

How Can I Help?

The easiest way to help those on strike is to support the writers who create the content you love. The WGA represents over 11,000 members who write for movies, television, news, and online media. Boost their voices on social media, share your support with notes, and follow their guidance. The WGA has a social media toolkit you can use you show solidarity.

If you are able to join a picket line, do so. The WGA has a picket schedule on their site. Solidarity with writers is the key.

We will continue to update this post with relevant news.

The post The Writers Guild of America Is on Strike, Here’s What You Should Know appeared first on Nerdist.

Some video game adaptations take us into very serious worlds. Just look at the dark, intense world of The Last of Us. But Peacock’s upcoming Twisted Metal series, which adapts the classic PlayStation game series into a half-hour live-action TV, will bring us something a little different. The first taste of the show only offers us a small glimpse of the world. But it’s enough to catch the vibes. Get your tunes in, load up your gun, start your engines, and let’s go.

Twisted Metal Teaser and Clip

Don’t let anyone or anything steal your sunshine—not even the world lighting on fire and the creepy clowns we see in this Twisted Metal teaser. It certainly has our attention, and we feel both entertained and ready for more action.

A more recent glimpse at the series gives us more of this same dark but humorous energy. And we also get a very interesting rendition of the “Thong Song” in between a fight to the death. Twisted Metal is about to be one fascinating show.

More About The Series

Here’s the synopsis for the series:

Twisted Metal, a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, is a high-octane action comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and written by Michael Jonathan Smith, about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.

Creator Michael Jonathan Smith also notes:

Yes, Twisted Metal has the cars, it has the weapons, and it has the battles. But what it also has are people. I know you will fall in love with these characters and what drives them, no pun intended (okay, maybe a little intended). You will cheer for our charismatic hero John Doe, played by Anthony Mackie, as he drives across the Divided States of America in search of a place to belong. You’ll laugh as an enigmatic woman named Quiet, played by Stephanie Beatriz, throws John’s world for a loop after a chance encounter, forcing the two together and changing both their lives for the better. You will root for our heroes to take down psychotic highway patrolman Agent Stone, played by Thomas Haden Church, who sees the world in black and blue. And you’ll discover a surprising soulfulness to our deranged, murderous clown Sweet Tooth, voiced by Will Arnett and performed by Joe Seanoa aka wrestler Samoa Joe. 

This is a bonkers show about insiders and outsiders, and how our own special apocalypse has divided and isolated us more than ever. But there’s hope. You can find your people and your community. You may just have to get past a terrifying clown driving a well-armed ice cream truck to find them. 

Sounds like one fun road trip to us. The series stars Anthony Mackie after all, and we know he can carry a comedic beat. Plus, deranged clowns, a post-apocalyptic landscape, and found family? Sign us up. Twisted Metal releases on July 27.

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The treasure will once again go have to go unfound. The National Treasure series, Edge of History, had quite a bit of buzz going into its first season on Disney+. But Deadline reports that the streamer has opted not to renew the show for a second season. National Treasure: Edge of History lived in the world of the National Treasure movie franchise and even had crossover guest stars and storylines. Both fans and creators crossed their fingers that one day we would even get to see Nicolas Cage cameo as Benjamin Franklin Gates on National Treasure: Edge of History. And that maybe, just maybe, everyone hoped that the show could serve as a bridge to National Treasure 3. But with the National Treasure series now cancelled, we will all have move to move our hopes elsewhere.

According to producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a National Treasure 3 script is in the works. So perhaps, instead of a National Treasure series leading to another movie, the movie will instead check back in on our favorites from the series.

Though no more episodes are forthcoming, you can watch the first season of National Treasure: Edge of History on Disney+.

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There are many great TV shows and films to look forward to this year. One of them is American Born Chinese, an upcoming Disney+ TV series based on Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel. Releasing on May 24, this series is just around the corner. And we’re thrilled to finally get a good look at it with its first full trailer. For those not yet aware, in addition to all the epic adventures we’ll see, American Born Chinese also stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu. This trio is all a part of the Everything Everywhere All at Once cast, who recently had a big night at the Oscars. (Yeoh and Quan took home the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Hsu performed on the big stage.) So we know the show will deliver only excellence.

Take a look at the trailer for American Born Chinese.

The trailer reveals that dark forces are coming and gateways are opening between our world and another. We instantly witness just how epic and genre-bending the series will be. And we can’t wait to see more. Here’s a quick synopsis for those who aren’t familiar with the American Born Chinese story: 

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. 

The trailer for American Born Chinese has it all, world-building, compelling characters, excellent stars, and a ton of epic action to draw us in. The series also stars Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu, and Sydney Taylor. Kelvin Yu is the executive producer and showrunner.  Destin Daniel Cretton will direct and serve as executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, Erin O’Malley, Asher Goldstein, and Gene Luen Yang.  

Originally published on March 13, 2023.

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It seems old franchises are continuing to get new life. The Scream universe is back and thriving, a Gremlins animated series is coming soon, and now it seems we are getting more Twilight. Yes, you read that right. A Twilight TV series is in the works via Lionsgate Television. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Twilight TV series is in the very, very early stages of development with no network/streaming service attached. Per the publication, writer Sinead Daly will pen the script.

Sources say that Twilight author Stephanie Meyer could be working behind the scenes for this show. And honestly, it is not a bad idea to have a Twilight TV series at all. There are certainly a plethora of stories that could be told in that universe outside of the dramz we got with Bella, Edward, and Jacob over the course of the Twilight film franchise. Of course, we may just see a retelling of the main trio’s story. What will Renesmee look like this go-around? Only time will tell. But whatever the Twilight TV series has in store for us, we are certainly keeping our eyes open for more information. Hold on tight, Spider Monkey. We’re in for another wild ride.

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AMC’s “Anne Rice Immortal Universe,” which includes Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, will soon include a third series based on her novels. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network is developing a series based on the Talamasca, the ancient order of supernatural scholars who study not just vampires and witches, but many otherworldly phenomena. They have already introduced us to one branch of the Talamasca in Mayfair Witches. Oscar nominee John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) will serve as showrunner and writer on the project.

Although the Talamasca was an ever-present presence in both Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches series, they never had their own novels. Rice teased the possibility throughout her lifetime, but it just never came together. Rice finally revealed the order’s origins in the 2014 novel Prince Lestat, and did directly tie into the vampires. We shall see if the TV version will remain faithful to that aspect of the organization. The likeliest event is that they keep the Talamasca origins shrouded in secrecy for some time.

The Talamasca series is not the only extension of Rice’s universe getting a new live-action chapter. There’s Night Island, a six-part series with “short-form” episodes that will probably be about 10-15 minutes long. It will be written by Interview series writer Jonathan Ceniceroz. The story will follow human burglars who attempt to steal a valuable painting from the island. What they don’t realize is it’s home to a coven of the undead. Of course, there’s no word yet on which characters from Interview with the Vampire will pop up. However, book readers may have an idea.

In Rice’s third vampire novel, The Queen of the Damned, the Night Island was the refuge of the 500-year-old vampire Armand. They only just revealed that character at the end of Interview with the Vampire season one. There, he had a palatial estate where he lived with his human lover Daniel Molloy. Since Daniel, the titular interviewer of Interview with the Vampire, and Armand are not a couple in this iteration of the story, expect many changes. Night Island is expected to drop at the end of 2023. The Talamasca series is due in 2024 to continue the Anne Rice Immortal Universe going.

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I was an excited eight-year-old when Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premiered in 1993. It was colorful, action-packed, and endlessly entertaining to kids of the time. We didn’t need to know what Super Sentai was, or care that half the footage was obviously from Japan. For a generation of kids, the Power Rangers were the heroes we all wanted to be. And the franchise has continued apace ever since, but those original Mighty Morphin years remain the ones people remember fondest. And it’s for those people that the Once & Always special exists.

The Netflix special—which runs about 55 minutes—does not deal directly with anything the franchise has put forth after the first three seasons. So even though several of the characters went on to wear different suits and even have different colors depending on the season, it’s the original dinosaur-themed suits and Zords and villains we get. Basically, if it was in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, it’s here. But more than just the suits, this acts as a tribute to one specific member of the original cast.

The story features Billy Cranston (David Yost) accidentally reviving arch-nemesis Rita Repulsa and her subsequently capturing Red Ranger Jason, Pink Ranger Kimberly, and Green Ranger Tommy. (Austin St. John, Amy Jo Johnson, and Jason David Frank do not appear in the special.) Rita also, while attempting to kill Billy, instead kills Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan. In the series, actress Thuy Trang portrayed Trini, but left the show partway through season two. Trang subsequently lost her life in a tragic car crash in 2001.

The bulk of the special then deals with Billy and Zack Taylor (Walter Emanuel Jones) trying to rescue their captured cohorts while jointly raising Trini’s daughter Minh (Charlie Kersh). Minh, a fantastic martial artist, wants to get revenge on Rita much to her guardians’ chagrin. But they’ll definitely need more Rangers if they’re going to defeat her. To that end, they enlist second Red Ranger Rocky (Steven Cardenas) and second Pink Ranger Kat (Catherine Sutherland).

It’s a funny thing, this special. Because of the focus on the loss of Trini, it feels much less celebratory than a 30th anniversary special might. Sure, we have some fun jokes and references to past events, and the compulsory action. And yes, it’s fun to hear that Kat and Tommy have a son, and Zack used to be a congressman while Billy runs a Stark Industries-esque tech conglomerate. Rocky is a firefighter. Stuff like this brought a smile to my face. But it truly felt more like a special to highlight Yost and Jones and properly pay tribute to Trang.

Jason David Frank, as we know, also passed away recently. That must have been after this was filmed, though we do get his name and picture next to Trang’s in the special’s credits. Once & Always didn’t quite give me the shot of nostalgic adrenaline I was expecting. Maybe if more of the main cast had appeared, or if the scope was a little bigger, it would have given me that. Instead it was a somber, surprisingly intimate reflection on growing up and growing apart. The new generation must carry on while the older passes on what they’ve learned.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is not a perfect special, but it does perfectly encapsulate why a generation of kids loved this show, and who it was that made us love it in the first place.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is on Netflix April 19.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The standalone 30th anniversary Power Rangers special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, is full of nostalgia and deeply heartfelt moments. Despite today’s plethora of filming technology, the special sticks to the show’s original aesthetic and tone, leaning into its campiness, (at times) corniness, and practical effects. The Power Rangers special also revisits some places, like the Angel Grove Youth Center and its infamous juice bar. But, there is one Power Rangers Easter egg that many fans may have missed in the 30th anniversary special. It is a nod to Harvey Garvey, a talk show host that shows up in one bizarre episode of the original Power Rangers series who is more important than you think. 

A year after Trini’s death, Zack takes her teenage daughter Minh to her gravesite. They are supposed to meet up with the others to commemorate her life; however, Rita Repulsa has other plans. Zack jumps in to help the other Rangers fight and there’s a lot of thrashing and smashing going on. One item that gets destroyed is a headstone that says “Harvey Garvey 1953-2022,” which Rita’s henchbeast Minotaur smashes in one swoop. The camera lingers on it just long enough that you wonder who the hell Harvey Garvey is. 

In the season two episode “Lights, Camera, Action,” the Power Rangers go on The Harvey Garvey Show to promote the power of education. Ya know, “be cool and stay in school” kind of stuff. They chat with the show’s host, Harvey Garvey (duh), about the mental power you need to be a Ranger. Meanwhile, Lord Zedd is up to his usual shenanigans as is Goldar and a group of Putties. We see the Putties in the Power Rangers anniversary special, which ties these two episodes together in another way. In fact, you can watch the episode in its entirety below.

Harvey Garvey doesn’t make a huge splash in this episode outside of being a cheeky talk show host. He’s understandably hype about talking to the Power Rangers and we totally get it. However, the actor that portrays him, Kim Strauss, is a major part of Power Rangers history. We only see his face in this one, frankly chaotic episode. The crew leaves him for the big fight scene against a literal TV monster and predictably save the day.

But, Strauss’ acting credits span several iterations of the franchise. He’s the voice of Ninjor in season three of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Scorpius in Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, and Jinxer in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, among many other foes. So, the nod to Harvey Garvey in the Power Rangers 30th anniversary special is a nice homage to Kim Strauss’ contributions to the franchise. (To be clear, Kim Strauss was also born in 1953 and is still alive in 2023.) 

So, there you have it. One small Power Rangers Easter egg gives you a whole history lesson about the series. Like our fearless heroes said, knowledge is truly power.

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There’s a lot happening on our screens these days. And let’s be honest; not all sound mixing leaves us feeling like we can actually hear what’s happening on our favorite shows and movies. Sometimes, important moments feel lost in the shuffle. We end up with our ears glued to our speakers. Or we have to replay a scene over and over again to make out its meaning. Of course, there are subtitles, and we appreciate those, but that option doesn’t always work for everyone. But now, Prime Video has introduced a new accessibility feature called Dialogue Boost to help make sure we don’t miss a sentence of what we stream. Here’s how this new feature helps you hear whatever you’re watching.

A release shares:

Dialogue Boost lets you increase the volume of dialogue relative to background music and effects, creating a more comfortable and accessible viewing experience that cannot be found on any other global streaming service.

Amazon notes, “While Dialogue Boost was built with the needs of customers who are hard of hearing in mind, anyone can use the feature to suit their personal listening preferences.” And that is much appreciated. With Dialogue Boost, viewers can select their preferred dialogue volume.

How Does Dialogue Boost Let You Hear Speech Audio Better?

Here’s how it works:

Dialogue Boost analyzes the original audio in a movie or series and intelligently identifies points where dialogue may be hard to hear above background music and effects. Then, speech patterns are isolated and audio is enhanced to make the dialogue clearer. This AI-based approach delivers a targeted enhancement to portions of spoken dialogue, instead of a general amplification at the center channel in a home theater system. As a result, Dialogue Boost can be enjoyed anywhere the Prime Video experience is available.

To turn on this feature, simply go to your audio and subtitles drop-down menu on Prime Video and select the level of boost you’d like. And hopefully now you can better (or actually) hear what’s happening on whatever you’re watching.

Happy listening!

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Nostalgia is in vogue right now. With Paramount+’s Star Trek universe continuing to expand across our screens, it seems like the perfect time for another galactic adventure to emerge. Yes, we’re talking about Galaxy Quest. The beloved cult-classic movie is a perfect parody of the Star Trek world and other such space adventures. And now, it may come to us in a whole new way. Reports indicate that a Galaxy Quest TV series is in early development at Paramount+.

According to Variety, we don’t yet know much about this Galaxy Quest series. But it seems Mark Johnson, the producer of the original Galaxy Quest movie, will return to executive produce the series should it take shape. The original movie released in 1999. And it was quickly embraced by Trekkies, who even voted it as one of the best Star Trek movies of all time.

Galaxy Quest was voted the 7th greatest Star Trek film at the 2013 Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. #NerdistFromHome pic.twitter.com/WBrWyhgBq1

— Nerdist (@nerdist) May 23, 2020

In Galaxy Quest, a meta-comedy unrolls. The cast of a Star Trek-like series is recruited by aliens, who think the show is real, to help aid in matters of universal conflict. Given how Star Trek and fandom have evolved over the years, there’s plenty of new ground to tread. And who doesn’t love to see some humorous but loving ribbing? In 2015, Amazon reportedly began to develop a series version of the movie featuring the original cast. But that version never came together.

Still, never give up, never surrender! With both new Star Trek content and the potential Galaxy Quest series slated to live on Paramount+, the space for Easter eggs and crossovers is endless. The series could be better than ever. It sounds like a perfect match to us, anyway.

The original Galaxy Quest movie had an iconic cast featuring the likes of Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Justin Long, Enrico Colantoni, Robin Sachs, and more. So we’d expect a stellar line-up of actors in a series remake as well. But it seems like we’re a long way away from casting news of any kind. Still, we can start dreaming.

It’s early days yet for the Galaxy Quest series. We’ll cross our fingers that it can live long and prosper.

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Everyone who knows anything about The Simpsons knows that Ned Flanders always has big drip. Whether it is his stupid sexy skintight suit that shows off all his, ahem, assets or his classic cozy sweater, the man loves to set a fashion trend. One Ned Flanders look from the earlier days of The Simpsons that doesn’t get much love is his red and white tracksuit complete with Assassins, a sneaker with Velcro straps, a water pump, and more. They were certainly giving early ‘90s fly in the vein of Will from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Now, fans of The Simpsons can own those Ned Flanders Assassin sneakers that Homer couldn’t wait to splurge on. 

As reported by Hypebeast, independent label RETRO clothing is selling this sneaker, which was actually inspired by Bo Jackson’s Nike Trainer SC. In The Simpsons universe, we saw Ned Flanders rocking the Assassin sneakers before Homer copped a pair. Sadly, Homer’s didn’t last because Santa’s Little Helper destroyed them. That’s life with a dog, I suppose.

While we don’t imagine that these shoes have water pumps, we do know that they retail for $180 and feature Homer Simpson’s name across the heel.

Sadly, the pre-orders are already sold out, but hopefully, there will be a regular release date coming soon. Prepare to be stupid… fly Simpsons style with your new Assassins sneakers.

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Ads are the newest trend in streaming services. We now have Netflix’s ad-supported tier, Disney+’s ad-supported tier, Max Ad-Free, and coming soon, AMC+ with ads will arrive on our screens. As with other streamers’ ad-tiers, this AMC+ option will serve as a lower-cost offering designed to bolster subscriptions. Here’s what we know about the plans for this new ad-supported offering.

Per Deadline, the ad tier will come at a lower cost than the standard AMC+ service. Although, for now, the exact cost of AMC+ with ads remains unknown. We also don’t yet know exactly when the new ad tier will release. However, Variety shares that AMC Networks “expects to launch an ad-supported tier of its AMC+ streaming service later in 2023.” It seems like we can expect it sometime soon.

Kim Kelleher, the company’s chief commercial officer, shares more about how AMC+ intends to incorporate ads into its platform. She notes:

We will place ads in ways that are not disruptive, that are really thoughtful. Some movies will have no ads. Some movies may have a mid-roll, or some will have a pre-roll. It’s not one-size-fits-all, and we get to be very careful in how we place commercials in viewers’ streaming choices. AMC+ subscribers will get access to all content, no matter their choice. It will be the same product on both tiers. We are not going to take series and movies people expect to watch and say that you only get them if you pay more. We want this to be a great viewer experience.

Well, it sounds like a promising start for AMC+ with ads. We suppose we will have to wait for more specifics to see how audiences embrace this latest ad-supported offering. At one time, the beauty of streaming was that there were minimal ads at play. However, with so many streaming options, the lowest cost services could win the day.

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