In 2021, the animated series Arcane, based on the popular video game League of Legends, debuted on Netflix, and fans and critics went wild. As is the case with many series that debuted on a streaming service, it was denied a physical media release. Until now, that is. The series will finally get a definitive, limited-run Collector’s Edition, 4K UHD, and a Standard Edition SteelBook Editions. There’s also a Blu-Ray Standard Edition, and on Digital Download-to-Own. All editions are currently available for preorder.

So what can Arcane fans expect? The limited-run Collector’s Edition is presented in a rigid clamshell box featuring original artwork. It contains all nine episodes presented in 4K resolution, mastered in Dolby Vision HDR. The edition also contains all episodes on standard Blu-ray discs. In addition to the full series, the set also has brand new exclusives to the Collector’s Edition.

This includes a double-sided poster featuring artwork from Piltover’s “Progress Day.” It features one side defaced by Jinx, six art cards with Powder’s illustrations, Caitlyn Kiramann’s map of Piltover, and an expansive dice set containing a Hexcore-inspired d20 die, seven liquid core resin dice inspired by Hex crystals, a protective pouch and decorative dice box. This set is limited to 6500 copies for North America.

The 4K UHD SteelBook features a stunning Jinx-themed outer package, containing the full nine-episode series presented across three 4K UHD discs. There’s also an additional Blu-ray disc containing over three hours of bonus features. The Standard SteelBook edition arrives in a Vi-themed outer package, containing the same nine-episode series and the same accompanying bonus features across three discs.

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The Standard Blu-ray edition presents the series and bonus features across three Blu-ray discs. Both versions of the SteelBook edition and the standard Blu-ray edition drop on October 8, 2024 from Shout! Studios. Bonus features on all physical editions include exclusive conversations with key creative talent and writers. Also, numerous scene breakdowns from the animation staff at studio Fortiche, “making-of” videos, and more. Arcane will be available in North America starting September 24, 2024 on digital download-to-own platforms.

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Netflix is about to get a heavy dose of AMC programming, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The network has signed the dotted line on a new deal with the streaming giant which will bring several of its most popular shows to Netflix starting next month. These include the first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, and all eight seasons of Fear the Walking Dead. Also included are Interview with the Vampire season one and Mayfair Witches season one. Other shows on the list are Preacher and Into the Badlands. In total, 13 AMC series will drop on Netflix on August 19. You can see the complete list of series below:

A Discovery of Witches
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire S1
Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches
Dark Winds
Fear the Walking Dead
Gangs of London
Into the Badlands
Kevin can F*** Himself
Monsieur Spade
Preacher
That Dirty Black Bag
The Terror S1
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

The Walking Dead: Dead City season one and The Ones Who Live season one will follow suit. Both release on Netflix on Jan 13. 2025. AMC notes that the shows will be available commercial-free, even on Netflix’s ad tier. AMC and Netflix have a long history together. It was streaming on Netflix where Breaking Bad truly became a cultural juggernaut. The fallout led to massive ratings for its post-Netflix seasons. Mad Men also got a major bump in its final seasons thanks to exposure on Netflix for its earlier seasons. The Walking Dead also got an incredible boost via the Netflix effect, also helping to make it a significant pop culture IP.

This new Netflix/AMC deal has an end date, with the “curated” series only available for one year. However, if any of these series get ratings bumps on AMC thanks to all of their Netflix exposure? Then it would not be shocking at all to see this deal extended further. Earlier this year, several AMC shows appeared on Max, but that was designed as a mere “pop-up,” and not an indicator that AMC and Max would partner up in a larger sense. We’ll have to wait and see what the future brings for AMC and Netflix going forward.

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Stranger Things 5 is still in production but the Duffer Brothers are already looking towards their next series at Netflix. Sure, we know that there will be some Stranger Things spinoffs coming at some point. And maybe one of our brilliant ideas about what they could do will come true. But for now, there’s another world that this duo wants to immerse us in. Netflix announced that it has greenlit Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, a horror series by Haley Z. Boston and the Duffer Brothers’ Upside Down Pictures. 

Here’s a quick logline/synopsis for this series: 

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is an atmospheric horror series set at a wedding, following a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated nuptials. That’s not a spoiler – just read the title…

Interesting. Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen will have Boston as its creator/showrunner/executive producer alongside the Duffer Brothers and Hilary Leavitt as executive producers, thanks to their Upside Down Pictures overall deal with Netflix. The brothers are quite excited for this new venture, which they expressed in the following statement: 

 “We were knocked flat when we first read Haley’s script. She is a major new talent with a singular voice — her writing is twisted, terrifying, funny, and just… very Haley. We feel so lucky to be producing her first show, and we can’t wait to share her vision with the rest of the world.”

Right now, there’s no more information about the Duffer Brothers series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. If it is anything like Stranger Things, this series will have lots of characters that we will fall in love with. In the meantime, we are keeping up with everything that we’ve seen from Stranger Things 5 so far.

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U.S. viewers can now watch one of 2023’s best, biggest, most emotional, most exciting movies from the comfort of their own home. Godzilla Minus One is available to both rent and buy at digital platforms and also on Netflix. That’s right, subscribers can stream the movie there right now.

The Best Visual Effects winner at the 96th Academy Awards has stomped its way to digital media. Godzilla Minus One is now available to buy and rent digitally in addition to streaming on Netflix. It’s also found its initial North American streaming home at Netflix. Customers can opt to watch it subtitled and dubbed in either Japanese or English. It’s also available in other languages, as most countries outside North America can also stream the film there as well. (Sorry France and Japan!)

Netflix will also bring the black and white version of the movie Godzilla Minus One / Minus Color to streaming on August 1.

Originally published on June 3, 2024.

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It feels like Stranger Things has been a phenomenon for as long as we can remember. But now, our favorite party is all grown up, and the time has come for the series’ last chapter. Stranger Things 5 will be the Netflix hit’s final season, but we have no doubt that these concluding episodes will have a ton of meat on their bones.

For now, let’s roll for initiative and head back to Hawkins one more time. Here’s everything we know about Stranger Things 5.

Stranger Things 5‘s Plot

Stranger Things 4 ended with a bang as the Upside Down erupted right into the middle of Hawkins. Although everyone came together to try to stop Vecna, the villainous monster, who is actually One, who is actually Henry Creel, succeeded in merging his evil world with the reality every day people inhabit. The party managed to injure Vecna and seemingly save Max from his clutches. However, the fallout remained apocalyptic. In the final moments of the season, the Upside Down’s ash arrives to cover everything, and a full-out war with the monstrous creatures of the dark world seems imminent.

While we don’t know much about Stranger Things 5 yet, we assume it will have just a little to do with how Stranger Things 4 ended. The Duffer brothers haven’t provided many plot specifics but have offered several teases about Stranger Things 5. Among other bits, they shared that the action will remain centered in Hawkins and that likely we’ll see an eight-episode season. Additionally, the Duffers have noted that Will Byers will take a central role in the final season.

Finally, the series’ creators describe Stranger Things 5 as follows, “Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each… Whereas before, each season was so [distinct]… [Season] 3 is our big summer blockbuster season with big monsters, and [Season] 4 was the psychological horror. Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each. I think that what we’re trying to do is go back to the beginning a little bit, in sort of the tone of 1.” Or, “Season 5 is like if season 1 and 4 had a baby. And then that baby was injected with steroids.” Make of that what you will.

You can take an official look at the season with a new behind-the-scenes featurette celebrating Stranger Things 5.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, will once again take the helm of Stranger Things 5. Additionally, long-time Stranger Things director Shawn Levy will return to direct at least one episode of the season. Superstitiously, the Deadpool 3 director likes to take on episodes three and four if he can.

Stranger Things 5‘s Cast

All our favorite characters and actors will be back for Stranger Things 5. We know for sure that Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Eleven, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Karen Wheeler, Stever Harrington, Robin Buckley, and Murray Bauman will be back. (And with them, their respective actors.) Sadie Sink’s Max survived season four and should return with the rest. We, of course, are still holding the torch for the surprise resurrection of Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson. Stranger Things takes place in a supernatural world, after all. And it just wouldn’t be a good season without one Erica Sinclair.

When it comes to new faces, we know that Linda Hamilton has joined the cast of Stranger Things 5. But her role remains a secret for now. Additionally, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux have joined the cast.

Stranger Things 5‘s Release Date

Stranger Things 5 does not yet have a release date, but it will not arrive in 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2024.

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Soon, we’ll be heading back to Hawkins, Indiana for the final time. Stranger Things is in production on its final season. And it turns out, Stranger Things 5 is halfway through filming. To celebrate this milestone, Stranger Things has released a behind-the-scenes look at the monumental season. In it, we see all our favorite characters returning, catch sneak peeks of sets and action, and welcome new cast to the mix. For those who have been waiting for new news from Stranger Things 5, it’s an exciting two minutes. You can check out this behind-the-scenes look at the set of the final season of Stranger Things, below.

As Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, on the series, notes, she was ten when she began working on Stranger Things, and now she’s twenty. That’s a long time for fans and creators to spend with the show. It’s hard to believe there will be no more Stranger Things after Stranger Things 5 hits our screens. But we’re taking in every last detail. We’re thrilled that this featurette teases all our favorite things, including the friendship between Steve and Robin, Dustin’s homage to the fallen Eddie (who we still insist should come back to life), and our favorite duo, Lucas and Max.

Additionally, this featurette welcomes new cast to Stranger Things 5. Joining the actors we already know and love on the last season of Stranger Things are Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux. Netflix has not yet confirmed who they play. We also see Linda Hamilton’s new Stranger Things character among the rest.

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The behind-the-scenes look at Stranger Things 5 doesn’t come with any kind of official synopsis yet. But we see Vecna is back in action and plenty of teases at the Upside Down. Although Hawkins doesn’t seem to be totally destroyed. So, we guess that’s something.

Does Stranger Things 5 Have a Release Date?

For now, Stranger Things 5 doesn’t yet have a release date. We’ll just have to wait patiently for more news and teases. In the meantime, we can rewatch old season on Netflix.

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Judgement Day is coming for us next month. No, I don’t mean the literal end of the world, although things have been looking real apocalypse-ish for a minute now. I mean the arrival of Netflix’s Terminator Zero, an animated series that brings the infamous world that Arnold Schwarzenegger made famous back in the 1980s. The first teaser trailer for Terminator Zero takes us to an alternate 2022 as a scientist tries to change the fate of humanity. 

The animation looks so, so good in this clip, so big kudos to Production IG and Skydance Television. It captures the essence of this world so well but somehow makes it even scarier. Here’s a quick synopsis of Terminator Zero to accompany its trailer: 

2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.

Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.

Terminator Zero has an all-star voice cast, including Sonoya Mizuno as the voice of “Eiko,” the resistance fighter sent back in time to stop Skynet’s impending attack on humanity, Timothy Olyphant as Terminator, André Holland as Malcolm Lee, Rosario Dawson as Koroko, and Ann Dowd as The Prophet.

What Is the Release Date for Netflix’s Terminator Zero?

Terminator Zero will drop all eight of its episodes when it premieres on Netflix on August 29.

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A few months ago, the cancellation of Star Trek: Prodigy made fans righteously angry. Despite having a mostly complete season two, Paramount+ pulled the plug on the popular series anyway. To make things worse, the streaming service took the show off of its platform entirely. So, what did fans do? They took to the skies, literally flying a “Save Star Trek: Prodigy” banner over the offices of other streaming services, including Netflix. It’s a wild gesture but apparently one that resonated with the hearts of Netflix’s decision makers. Star Trek: Prodigy has a new streaming home with Netflix and will move forward with a second season, which has officially hit streaming as of July 1, 2024. 

In a world with a lot of annoying streaming updates, this is some pretty refreshing and welcome news. Season one of Star Trek: Prodigy will hit Netflix before the end of this year. Season two will make its debut sometime in 2024. The crew of Protostar and Kathryn Janeway are getting the second shot that they so richly deserve with more Star Trek: Prodigy at Netflix. Speaking of Janeway, actress Kate Mulgrew released a brief statement about the fandom’s awesomeness. 

“I’ve always held that the Star Trek fan base is among the strongest and most intelligent in the world.  They have shown their collective passion, and we’re happy to be able to celebrate Prodigy once again,” said Mulgrew. 

Star Trek: Prodigy executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Dan and Kevin Hageman also had a few words to add. “Thank you to our incredible Star Trek: Prodigy fans, who championed not just a show, but a community that’s always been connected by the belief that we build a better future together. We set out to inspire you, but you inspired us. The team is still hard at work on the second season, and we can’t wait to share it with the amazing fans around the world.”

We love to hear it! Fandom is at its best when everyone works together for the greater good.

Originally published on October 11, 2023.

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Netflix’s Greek mythology dramedy KAOS, starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, is coming our way really soon. We dug the KAOS trailer and all of its weirdness and now we have some fresh images and an August release date for the eight episode series. Here’s another look at the clip to refresh your memory. 

And, for those who don’t know what this show is about, this synopsis should help:

We love these colorful and vibrant first look images from KAOS. Who knew that Zeus likes to cook on the grill? What a typical dad move. 

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The series also stars Janet Mcteer as Zeus’ wife Hera, Nabhaan Rizwaan as their wayward son Dionysus, Aurora Perrineau and Killian Scott as Riddy and Orpheus, a disillusioned wife and distracted rock-star husband, respectively. 

What Is the Release Date for Netflix’s KAOS series?

KAOS will hit Netflix on August 29.

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Traditionally a director’s cut is a way for a filmmaker to show the public their preferred version of a particular film. Studios often cut movies their own way, either for content or for creative differences. In the DVD age, director’s cuts, or “Unrated Cuts” would offer fans of movies a little extra. These could be just a few more minutes cut for time, or more salacious elements that would have cost it an R rating. Until Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, however, I’ve never heard of a movie touting its director’s cut alongside the, I dunno, non-director’s cut? It’s Netflix; why wouldn’t you just release the longer cut to begin with?

At any rate, Netflix has released new images for the director’s cut, which Zack Snyder kept saying would have more sex and violence. Evidently, they’ve decided the films are different enough that they have new titles. Rebel Moon – Chapter One: Chalice of Blood and Rebel Moon – Chapter Two: Curse of Forgiveness.

Both films will drop on Netflix August 2. The original part one, A Child of Fire, has a 21% critics score and 57% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Part two, The Scargiver, has a 15% and 48%, respectively. Not sure how much more graphic violence or nudity can fix story and character problems, but maybe it will. The director’s cut of part one will be 67 minutes longer, while the director’s cut of part two will be 48 minutes longer.

This of course raises the question…why didn’t you just release them how you wanted to begin with? Was it just for the hype? The world may never know. (But it was that.)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Benoit Blanc and his Kentucky Fried Foghorn Leghorn drawl is coming back for his “most dangerous case yet.” That’s how Daniel Craig’s brilliant detective described his next outing in the announcement trailer for Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out installment, Wake Up Dead Man. Who will join Craig for some murder-mystery fun this time around? What is the movie about? And when (and where) can we expect to see it?

We’ve been hearing casting news from Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out mystery for days. And now, Netflix has finally confirmed the full cast. In addition, the studio has confirmed that production on Wake Up Dead Man has begun. Netflix even shared new photo of Benoit Blanc from the upcoming Knives Out movie to celebrate. You can check it out above and check out the full cast list below.

• Daniel Craig (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Casino Royale)
• Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown)
• Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons, Fatal Attraction)
• Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Dune)
• Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Luckiest Girl Alive)
• Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town)
• Kerry Washington (Scandal, Django Unchained)
• Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers, Ripley)
• Cailee Spaeny (Civil War, Priscilla)
• Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande; Peaky Blinders)
• Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Spider-Man 3)

Rian Johnson specifically calls out Jeremy Renner’s casting in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery noting, “Jeremy’s a great actor who I’ve wanted to work with for a long time. I was very relieved he thought the hot sauce thing was funny! He’s playing a proper part in this one, we’ll keep the sauce off screen. Maybe we’ll sneak a few bottles onto the catering table.”

Netflix also reveals, “As it turns out, Wake Up Dead Man shares its title with a 1997 U2 song off their album Pop.” And Johnson adds, “Pop is a very underrated album, and that song is very right for the title. But I’ve had ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ in my head for a long while, and I first heard the phrase in American folk music.” Netflix teases that you should “listen closely” for any clues about the Knives Out movie to come.

Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery so far.

Title

Knives Out 3 is officially titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. That latter half of that title also appeared in Glass Onion‘s title, much to the chagrin of Rian Johnson.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery‘s Plot

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery does not have an official synopsis, but we do have some early clues about what to expect from it. Johnson’s announcement of the film included commentary about how much he loves the malleability of whodunits. Combined with calling it Benoit Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet,” and everything points towards the darkest entry in the franchise yet.

The title and its accompanying font also suggest the film will have something to do with pirates. (Though we can’t rule out the film is about U2. Hopefully The Edge is safe either way.)

Does that mean a good old-fashioned treasure hunt gone wrong? A setting somewhere in the Caribbean? Arr, until we be getting something more official, wese can let our imaginations run wild like the sea. (Sorry.)

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery‘s Cast

Johnson confirmed a report that Mare of Easttown and Alien: Romulus‘ Cailee Spaeny is joining the returning Daniel Craig in the cast. The Crown‘s Emmy winner and Challengers star Josh O’Connor will also join the cast of Knives Out 3. Additionally, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Jeremy Renner have come aboard.

Of course, Daniel Craig will reprise his role as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Behind the Scenes

For the third time, Rian Johnson is directing his own script in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. He’s also producing the film with his T-Street Pictures partner Ram Bergman.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery‘s Release Date

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will come to Netflix in 2025. It will also hopefully also come theaters, and for a longer run than its predecessor.)

The movie does not have an official release day yet; however, the first two installments have Thanksgiving weekend releases. Knives Out arrived in theaters Thanksgiving weekend on November 27, 2019. After some film festival screenings, Glass Onion came to theaters for a brief run on Thanksgiving weekend, November 23, 2022. It then started streaming on Netflix, Wake Up Dead Man‘s ultimate home, on December 23.

If Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery follows a similar release schedule, we should expect to see it on the big screen on November 26, 2025. And we didn’t even need to be Benoit Blanc to figure that out.

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Arcane season two will release in November 2024. And that means it will have been three years since the first season was released in November 2021. That’s a pretty long time for fans to wait. But this League of Legends-based show is so beautifully animated and skillfully voiced that we aren’t surprised viewers have been willing to wait as long as it takes for more. To help tide everyone over Netflix has released a few first-look clips teasing the Arcane season two adventures to come. The early teaser trailers for the show don’t seem to reveal too much, but one actually validates a popular fan theory. Hopefully, this will give fans something to buzz about until Arcane season two actually arrives, or at the very least, we get a full trailer.

Take a look at the Arcane season two first looks below.

Our Latest Look at Arcane Season 2

Our latest look at Arcane season 2 offers a glimpse of the upcoming action to come and the series continued beautiful animation. The reminder that this series stars Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell gets us even more excited. You can check it out below. The teaser is short, but it does tease Vi becoming an enforcer in Season 2. And it might possibly tease a time jump… pending the exact identity of a red-headed character we see in the clip.

Arcane Season 2 First-Look Teaser Trailer Contains Important Revelations

This teaser trailer focuses on Singed. The highly gifted but incredibly callous scientist seems to be getting a blood transfusion of sorts. He looks patient enough, but it seems like something is about to happen. Above him, suspended by chains hangs a giant monster. For those who don’t want any spoilers, look away now… Because this little bit of scene has sparked a huge response among Arcane‘s fans, hinting as it does at two popular fan theories.

Vander Is the League of Legends Monster Warwick

Firstly, throughout season one, fans wondered if the popular character Vander was actually part of greater League of Legends lore. And it seems like this trailer has helped validate that opinion.

Arcane season two appears to tease that Vander is actually the monster Warwick. In League of Legends, Warwick was “transformed by agonizing experiments, his body is fused with an intricate system of chambers and pumps, machinery filling his veins with alchemical rage.”

Agonizing experiments certainly seem to be happening in this Arcane season two trailer. Or, as Netflix shares, we’re looking at “a nightmarish augmentation.” We’ll have to wait to see how this impacts the series and the rest of the characters.

Singed’s Daughter May Become Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork

Singed is holding a locket in this first look at season two of Arcane. And when he glances down at it, we hear a clock-like ticking sound. Fans suspect that this locket holds the image of his daughter. In season one, it is strongly implied that Singed’s daughter passed away, perhaps because Singed subjected her to his experiments. Likely, his daughter’s fate drove Signed to become the monstrous kind of man we see on the show.

But what good is being a mad scientist if you can’t even bring your daughter back from the grave? Between the visuals and the ticking sound, it looks like Arcane season two is already pointing at Singed’s daughter becoming Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork.

Per the official League of Legends website, “Once a curious girl of flesh and blood, Orianna is now a technological marvel comprised entirely of clockwork. She became gravely ill after an accident in the lower districts of Zaun, and her failing body had to be replaced with exquisite artifice, piece by piece.”

Singed strikes us as the kind of person who knows exactly how to replace a human body with “exquisite artifice.” Perhaps more than one nightmarish augmentation is at play.

Arcane‘s Synopsis

Arcane season two does not yet have a specific synopsis. But here’s what Netflix shares about the show:

Arcane tells the origin story of two iconic League of Legends champions, who just so happen to be sisters. Jinx (Ella Purnell) — also known as Powder — and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) find themselves on rival sides of a brewing war between the utopian city Piltover and its oppressed underbelly Zaun. Powder and Vi are completely transformed by the end of the first season, as Powder becomes the mischievous Jinx and Vi proves she’s one champion you don’t want to mess with. 

We can’t wait to learn more about what season two specifically has in store.

When Will Arcane Season 2 Release?

Arcane season two also does not have a specific release date yet. However we know that the second season of the series will release in November 2024.

The post ARCANE Season 2 Reveals First-Look Trailer, Series Returning in November appeared first on Nerdist.

Netflix is making a bigger push into animation than ever before. We’ve learned, via Deadline, that following Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget last year, Aardman Studios is bringing back Wallace & Gromit for a new feature film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, it will show Gromit worried that Wallace is now too dependent on his inventions. Wallace then invents a “smart” gnome that has a mind of its own. As often happens with this pair, things go awry, and then Gromit must fight evil forces and save Wallace. The release date is this winter 2025 on Netflix, with the film hitting the BBC first on Christmas.

Netflix and Aardman have announced the voiceover cast for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. It includes Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Muzz Khan, and Lenny Henry. You can see the new teaser trailer for the Aardman Studios film above. The new Wallace & Gromit adventure will have a 70-minute runtime, and will see the unwelcome return of the supervillain Feathers McGraw. Feathers has returned to take his sweet revenge following his appearance in the Oscar-winning 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Here’s what Nick Park had to say about the returning bad guy:

I’d had the idea of a film about garden gnomes turning bad for more than a decade, but I could never work out what made them bad. It occurred to me that the single most asked question I get when I meet fans is, will the penguin Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit’s original antagonist from The Wrong Trousers 30 years ago, ever return? We’ve had fun bringing him back in cameo capacities but now, three decades on, it felt like the right time. Then it hit me: What if Feathers was involved with these gnomes?

We’ll find out what happens when Feathers McGraw returns when Vengeance Most Fowl hits Netflix next winter.

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Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is coming our way soon! The animated Netflix adventure starring Hayley Atwell gave us a new trailer and a release date of October 10. We also finally get to hear Atwell in the role. Check out everything we know about Netflix’s upcoming Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft below.

We Finally Get to Hear Hayley Atwell Voice Lara Croft

The latest tease for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft finally gave us something we’ve all been waiting for, a taste of what Hayley Atwell will sound like as Lara Croft. It’s just as delightfully fierce and slightly snarky as we’d hoped. The trailer also hints at some deliciously dangerous adventures to come for Lara and co. You can take a look at the sneak peak at the :40 mark of the below video.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Teaser Trailer and Date Announcement

Netflix’s gorgeous Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and its gorgeous teaser trailer have us absolutely buzzing. Recently, during Geeked Week, we also got a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at this new adventure. It’s been a long time since we have seen this famous adventurer swing into action, and it looks like we are in for quite the quest.

The clip reveals exactly what it should to viewers. In this Tomb Raider trailer, We get a glimpse of Lara Croft as she dives into a mysterious abyss and shoots an arrow at the camera. There’s also some intrigue as she looks at a photo of herself with a group of people, presumably friends.

Lara Croft’s video game and film history gives her a few different backstories, including everything from being an aristocrat who chooses a life of adventure following an accident to a daughter seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance. Of course, many fans are familiar with Angelina Jolie’s take on the character. She discovers the truth behind her father’s demise while also being a total badass. It remains to be seen what Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will do with her story, but the Netflix trailer does show how aesthetically pleasing this show will be. 

The Making of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

This Tomb Raider series is produced by Legendary Television and video game development company Crystal Dynamics, with animation by Powerhouse Animation Studios. Powerhouse is the same studio behind the 2017 Castlevania TV series as well as video games like Mortal Kombat X. 

As part of its Geeked Week, Netflix showcased the creation of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and offered us a behind-the-scenes look at how the look of the character and series came together. Joy Hua, a character design supervisor on the series, shared that one of the main aims of the series is to bridge the Lara Croft fans know from the newer Survivor games and have her grow into the Lara Craft we fans know from the classic games. Hua also promises there will be many video game Easter eggs in the outfits and props fans see on screen, but that the series will also go to new and unexplored places.

Sounds like it will be an excellent adventure to us.

What Is Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’s Release Date? 

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will hit Netflix on October 10.

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

Originally published on September 27, 2023.

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We’re about to head back to the world of Terminator in a whole new way. Netflix’s Terminator Zero anime has set a release date and shared some first-look images that give us a taste of the series’ style. Terminator Zero will actually be the first-ever piece of the Terminator franchise to be animated. That’s quite an achievement. You can check out a teaser trailer and first-look images from Terminator Zero and learn more about its plot with Netflix’s official synopsis.

The first teaser trailer for Terminator Zero was revealed as part of Netflix’s Next on Netflix Animation preview. It definitely gets us excited for the series. You can see the tease beginning at 00:35 in the video above.

Additionally, here’s Netflix’s official insight into the plot of the Terminator Zero series:

2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.

Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.

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Netflix notes that “The eight-episode series will be part of the Terminator universe but will center around new characters.” Terminator Zero will release on August 29.

Originally published on May 15, 2024.

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Netflix has decided on the building blocks of its next animated show: blocks. The streamer has announced it’s going to play with Mojang Studios in the world’s most successful sandbox video game to bring fans an original Minecraft series. You can take a look at a teaser for this new Netflix Minecraft series below.

The announcement video for Netflix’s Minecraft series is brief, but it’s all the streaming site needs to start building excitement. The animated show (which is different from the previously announced live-action movie) will bring to life the best-selling video game of all time.

While we don’t know much about the Minecraft animated series just yet, we trust Mojang Studios. It wouldn’t be onboard if it didn’t believe Netflix could help deliver the kind of show its loyal customers will want to see.

The fact this news also dropped on the game’s fifteenth anniversary is another sign of how important it is to the studio. But now the real Minecraft series fun starts: putting it together.

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It’s the final countdown for the Hargreeves siblings. This superpowered collective has been trying to save the world from doomsday and mostly making a mess while doing it. The end of season three left them in quite a strange space. The rebuilt universe is one where Reginald Hargreeves controls the city, Alison has the family she wants, and no one has powers anymore. They appear to be broken but it seems they have once again chosen to join forces again, based on the first teaser trailer for The Umbrella Academy season four. The group is back together again and trying to get things right this one last time. We cannot wait to get some answers to our burning questions from season three.

Here’s a synopsis to bring The Umbrella Academy season four trailer into focus: 

The Hargreeves siblings have scattered after the climactic showdown at the Hotel Oblivion led to a complete reset of their timeline. Stripped of their powers, each is left to fend for themselves and find a new normal — with wildly varying degrees of success. Yet the trappings of their uncanny new world prove too hard to ignore for very long. Their father Reginald, alive and well, has stepped out of the shadows and into the public eye, overseeing a powerful and nefarious business empire. A mysterious association known as The Keepers holds clandestine meetings believing the reality they’re living in is a lie and a great reckoning is coming. As these strange new forces conspire around them, the Umbrella Academy must come together one last time — and risk upsetting the shaky peace they’ve all endured so much to secure — to finally set things right.

What Is the Premiere Date for The Umbrella Academy Season Four?

The Keepers are not in the comic book series, so pretty much anything can go down at this point. Will the Hargreeves be able to set the universe back properly? Time will tell. The Umbrella Academy season four premieres on Netflix on June 8.

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Atlas, Netflix’s new sci-fi space war movie about artificial intelligence gone rogue, is such a trope-filled mess, it would be easy to say it feels like an A.I. wrote the script. It would also be accurate. When it ended I genuinely checked to see if the film lists real human writers in its credits. It does, but that does not make me feel better about mankind. Atlas is tonally confusing and rampant with cliché ideas. It also thinks it’s a good idea to keep Jennifer freaking Lopez in a glorified chair for more than half its runtime.

It’s hard to quantify Atlas because it has no idea what it actually is. It never decides if it’s trying to be a fun, schlocky, big budget elevated B-movie or if it’s a more serious action film full of important social commentary. I’m not even sure its stars know, because their performances indicate they were all acting in a different movie.

Lopez prevents this bizarre film from being a disaster with a good showing as Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant, funny, introverted analyst with a troubling past that makes her hate artificial intelligence. She’s strong, vulnerable, and charming. She’s having a good time most of the time. The other times she’s giving the part the emotional heft it needs. Meanwhile, Mark Strong and Sterling K. Brown play military commanders who are clearly in a far more serious film. That might not seem so out-of-place opposite Lopez if not for the fact the usually fantastic Simu Liu plays the first and leading A.I. terrorist, the cartoonish villain Harlan, as though he’s hoping Atlas will end up on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Like a lot of this film, I’m confused by Liu’s choices. I honestly don’t know if he is bad or if he gave the exact performance director Brad Peyton wanted. Either way it doesn’t work.

In fairness to Liu, very little in this movie works. The predictable script is riddled with ideas about artificial intelligence and sci-fi points that were trite 30 years ago. It’s also a CGI-fest of varying quality where a million things go “boom” without much of it mattering but most of it feeling silly. The screenplay, which also features some hammy dialogue, also has plot holes so big you can fly an intergalactic spaceship through them. At one point an A.I. supercomputer with all of the knowledge in the world doesn’t know something everyone does because the plot needs it not to know. That supercomputer also forgets a “step” during a clearly defined, easy procedure. It’s not funny in anyway, despite trying to be. It’s just needlessly stupid.

“Needlessly stupid” is also a perfect way to describe what the movie asks of its star. Jennifer Lopez spends more than half the film, and roughly 50 straight minutes at one point, in a mech suit. From her chair she navigates a knockoff Pandora planet while endlessly talking to an A.I. program that has the most uninteresting, bland, robot voice imaginable.

That voice choice is actually an interesting idea (maybe the film’s only). By not having it sound human, Atlas forces us to reckon with what it really means to be alive. A robot who can think and feel on its own while clearly being a robot is harder to accept as alive than one who sounds like us. The problem is that idea doesn’t work on screen. The voice is instantly boring, even grating, even before most of the movie is Lopez and “Smith” having a continuous, (not-so) witty back-and-forth.

Also sometimes the movie asks her to square up and robot box ten minutes before she delivers a big emotional speech about whether computers have souls. Atlas is like if Blade Runner, Castaway, and Starship Troopers got drunk together on a case of original Four Loko. That sounds fun until you remember those movies shouldn’t even be hanging out together let alone drinking poison.

Ultimately Atlas either needed to be much dumber or much smarter to be good. It also needed to let Jennifer Lopez walk. But its biggest sin might be what it ultimately says about the possibility of artificial intelligence at a time when corporations are force feeding useless A.I. garage down our throats. Despite its lazy comic book baddie, this film loves artificial intelligence. It loves it and its possibilities oh so much. And it thinks its affection for A.I. will give the movie a heart it desperately wants to have.

Like humor, action, ideas, and insight, it does not have any heart. All it has to offer is proof humans are still entirely capable of making a bad movie without A.I.

Atlas ⭐ (1.5 of 5)

Atlas hits Netflix on May 24.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who typically loves Simu Liu in everything. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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It’s time to pack up the station wagon and head back to Point Place, Wisconsin. Netflix’s That ’70s Show spinoff That ’90s Show is coming back for a second season. And it’s inviting a whole lot of famous faces to hang out with Red and Kitty this time. That ’90s Show‘s season two announcement trailer promises a whole lot of big-name guest cameos and guest stars, including some ’90s icons and some familiar faces.

Netflix has announced That ’90s Show will return with “Part 2” (which is really just season two) this summer on June 27, 2024. “Part 3” of That ’90s Show (which is really just the second half of season two…yeah, it’s weird) will then follow on October 24. But what can viewers expect from this throwback to a throwback when they spend another summer with two beloved grandparents? Here’s the official That ’90s Show season two synopsis from Netflix:

It’s 1996 and Leia Forman is back in Point Place for another summer of fun with her friends and grandparents, Kitty and Red. Leia and Jay are excited to be together again after nine months of long distance. But she’s on edge since Jay still doesn’t know she almost kissed Nate. Nate is concerned that his girlfriend, Nikki, doesn’t know either. How long can they keep this secret? Turns out, not long at all. And when the truth finally comes out, relationships are threatened, friendships are at stake, and the summer is on the verge of ending before it even gets started.

That ’90s Show comes from creators Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Lindsey Turner, and Gregg Mettler. Mettler also serves a showrunner. It stars Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos.

Season two of That ’90s Show will also feature guest spots from both franchise alums and newcomers. The second season will include appearances from Will Forte, Seth Green, Lisa Loeb, Carmen Electra, Wayne Knight, Kevin Smith, Tommy Chong, Jason Mewes, Matt Rife, and Kadeem Hardison. Additionally, Don Stark’s Bob Pinciotti will reportedly have an expanded role in the series. The That ’70s Show character appeared in only one episode of That ’90s Show season one. But Deadline reports, “Regarding Bob’s expanded role, we hear he returns to town where he reconnects with Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith).”

That’s a pretty good group to hang out with in any decade. We just hope nobody ends getting a foot up their…well, if you’re still reading you already know.

Originally published on May 13, 2024.

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Netflix has responded to internet sleuths and set hounds obsessed with capturing unofficial images of the Continent’s new monster hunter by giving us an official look at him. The streamer has shared its first trailer with Liam Hemsworth’s as Geralt of Rivia on The Witcher. And while this promo doesn’t reveal anything about season four, it does show the White Wolf still loves wearing black.

The Henry Cavill era of The Witcher is truly over. Netflix has shared its first season four teaser, and this promo isn’t about the show or its upcoming story. The Witcher is all about its new star, Liam Hemsworth. He’s replacing Cavill, who left the show after season three.

This moody first-look The Witcher teaser features Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt walking with his horse through a murky swamp. It’s a setting we’ve seen the character in many times, reminding us that although the actor has changed the part has not. However, the promo opens with Geralt’s face covered by mist and shadows. The camera then zooms in on his medallion and black clothes. But just when it seems this might be a giant tease, Liam Hemsworth turns around and stares at the camera with his yellow mutant Geralt eyes.

Yup, that’s Geralt. Or at least “a Geralt.” At this point it’s still weird to think of anyone but Cavill in the role. That’s why this early look at Liam Hemsworth as The Witcher‘s Geralt is so important. It’s not about letting us see what he looks like in a white wig. It’s about getting viewers used to this new iteration of the character. Hemsworth and is Geralt are going to lead the way over the course of the fantasy series’ final two seasons, which will film back-to-back.

Some fans will never get over the change, but if both season four and Liam Hemsworth are good, that group will grow smaller with every new The Witcher episode. Now we just need a release date trailer to tell us when we’ll get them. It’s one thing to see the new Geralt. It’s another to see him in action.

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In the words of Geralt of Rivia, “F***.” In a truly stunning development, Netflix has announced Henry Cavill is leaving The Witcher after season three. The show isn’t ending with his departure, though. The Hunger Games‘ Liam Hemsworth will replace Cavill as the White Wolf on The Witcher. Netflix also officially confirmed season four of the show with its announcement that Liam Hemsworth will take the helm.

Just a week after formally returning to the role of Superman in Black Adam, Henry Cavill is saying goodbye to another famous role. The avowed fan of The Witcher, Cavill, who once begged Netflix for the part, will not return as Geralt when The Witcher does in season four. The upcoming third season will be his last. This news of Cavill’s departure from The Witcher comes despite his previously stated commitment to doing seven seasons.

“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4,” said Cavill in a statement about his departure from The Witcher. “In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men. Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”

While the news of Cavill’s Witcher recast is certainly surprising, all of the speculation on social media that has followed is not. Fans want to know why this happened. Without an official answer, The Witcher fans are trying to make sense of the recasting news. Some have said Cavill has simply decided to focus on making movies. (And his return to the character of Superman could mean he has no time for a TV series.) Others think it’s an issue of money. And some believe fundamental disagreements with the show’s direction and depiction of Geralt led to his departure. Whatever the cause, Cavill is out on The Witcher, and Liam Hemsworth is in, and he has a mighty white wig to fill. But while Hemsworth knows that, he sounds excited for the challenge of playing Geralt. You can take your first look at Hemsworth in the role, below.

“As a Witcher fan, I’m over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia,” said Hemsworth. “Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honored that he’s handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf’s blades for the next chapter of his adventure. Henry, I’ve been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character. I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world.”

As huge fans of the The Witcher, Cavill, and his portrayal of Geralt, this is obviously disappointing news. But we’re still going to give Hemsworth a chance. The Witcher is a great show. We want it to succeed and continue entertaining us. And besides, the Continent still has plenty of monsters running around. Someone needs to fight them.

Originally published on October 31, 2022.

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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We were just getting used to saying “Disney+, Hulu, and Max” streaming bundle ten times fast. But now there is a new intensive streaming bundle for us to chew over. Comcast has announced a Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ streaming bundle coming soon. Presumably, to compete with Warner Bros. and Disney bundle, although, is not a matter of time until the Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ streaming bundle and the Disney+, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle merge together into a bundle of… cable?

What Is StreamSaver, the Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle?

A release from Comcast shares more about what we can expect from the Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ bundle titled StreamSaver. Dave Watson, CEO of Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast shares, “StreamSaver is a homerun for consumers who want top-tier entertainment and live sports, and for our world-class partners Peacock, Netflix and Apple who benefit from the reach and depth of our entertainment platforms and Xfinity’s marketing engine. StreamSaver also reinforces the value of our broadband products, offering customers new ways to save money on streaming entertainment via the nation’s best and most reliable network in and out of the home.”

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts also previously shared, “Those three products will come at a vastly reduced price to anything in the market today and will be available to all our customers.” That is, this new Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+ streaming bundle will become available to all Comcast broadband, TV, and mobile subscribers. And now we have more details about what exactly the Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ bundle will cost.

What Will the Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle Cost Subscribers?

The price point for StreamSaver has now been revealed. The Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ bundle will cost $15/month. Of course, to get the bundle subscribers must already be Xfinity Internet or TV customers. The release further shares that StreamSaver “includes a subscription to Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and Apple TV+, delivering a savings of over 30% or nearly $100 a year.”

Additionally, the release notes, “Current and new Xfinity Internet or TV customers can add Xfinity StreamSaver for an everyday price of $15 per month, with no annual contracts. Customers can also combine the bundled apps with NOW TV for one all-in-monthly price of $30. Together, the NOW StreamSaver bundles represents the best value in live TV and entertainment.”

StreamSaver apps will be available on Apple TV and other connected TVs and devices.

When Will StreamSaver Release?

According to Comcast, “StreamSaver will launch next week to Xfinity customers nationwide.” That’s not an exact date, but it sure is coming soon.

What Do the Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ and the Disney+, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundles Mean for Consumers?

With the two big-name bundles juxtaposed against one another, it feels like streaming has come back to exactly the place it started from. Whether consumers will ultimately benefit or hurt from this, we don’t yet know. But we can only cross our fingers that streaming bundles at least improve the current situation.

Recent comments from Warner Bros. Discovery indicated it did not feel it needed any other streamers in its Hulu, Disney+, Max bundle. We suppose that’s why Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock felt they needed to make their own package. But can these streamers also bundle with one another in new bundles? We guess only time will tell.

Ultimately, we can’t wait to see what the logo for StreamSaver will be and how it will combine element of Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+.

Originally published on May 14, 2024.

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Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman premiered its first season in August 2022. The series brought the comic book series by writer Neil Gaiman and a number of artists to the screen in a faithful retelling. In many instances, it brought the comic book panels to life. We spent time with Morpheus and Dream, but we barely got to know the whimsical and fantastical world of the Endless. However, it’s time for more stories. Last November, Netflix confirmed The Sandman is a go for more. Fans of the Endless rejoice. Especially because Netflix has just revealed the three new cast members who will round out the rest of Morpheus’ family: Delirium, the Prodigal, and their oldest sibling, Destiny.

The Sandman Announces It’s Delirium, Destruction, and Destiny, Shares Season 2 Teaser Trailer

The Endless are now complete. The Sandman season two has revealed new cast for its upcoming episodes. Hannah‘s Esmé Creed-Miles (she/her) is joining as fan-favorite Delirium. Revenge‘s Barry Sloane (he/him) has signed on as Destruction, also known as The Prodigal. (If you aren’t familiar with Gaiman’s comic books that moniker is a big hint at his role in the story.) And Primary Colors‘ Adrian Lester (he/him) will fill the role of the eldest Endless, Destiny.

In addition to this casting news, The Sandman season two has also revealed its first teaser trailer. Check it out below.

The Sandman Season 2 Shares New Look at Dream and Desire

Netflix celebrated The Sandman‘s 35th anniversary by announcing more episodes of its hit series were officially in production. And if that weren’t enough, the streamer actually gave us a behind-the-scenes look at Tom Sturridge (he/him, Dream) and Mason Alexander Park (they/them, Desire) in action. We certainly feel excited by this brief new glimpse of the show.

Additionally, Neil Gaiman penned a letter to fans celebrating The Sandman‘s journey and evolution. The letter can be read in full here, but in it, Gaiman notes of the Netflix series:

This week we officially restart production on the next sequence of stories of The Sandman for Netflix. Genius show runner Allan Heinberg and the countless people in front of and behind the camera are building something endlessly special, and bringing these stories to life in a way that would once have been unimaginable.

A journey is beginning that will take us from Destiny’s garden to Hell, from the Heart of the Dreaming to Ancient Greece and revolutionary France, and from there to places even I cannot quite imagine on the screen. I will be patient. Good things are coming.

The Sandman Teases New Episodes

To celebrate the new episodes of The Sandman, Netflix even released a short teaser featuring Morpheus’ helm. And we got a logo, “The dream continues.” We love it. A release from Netflix also shares that the show will return with even more new “episodes and stories to be adapted from multiple The Sandman graphic novels.” For now, though, we have not received confirmation on episode count and story details. We will, however, get The Sandman profile icons.

More new episodes of The Sandman were not guaranteed at any point, even with the show’s success. In a since-deleted tweet, Gaiman noted the show “is really expensive” and that for Netflix to order another season, The Sandman had to “perform incredibly well.” Given that how Netflix measures success is not entirely transparent, we’re not positive what kind of metrics led to this continuation. But we’re glad to see that they have.

More About the The Sandman‘s Next Chapter

Offering us more information about this new, next chapter of The Sandman, Gaiman notes in a release:

Millions upon millions of people have welcomed and watched and loved The Sandman on Netflix, from established Sandman fans to people who were simply curious, and then became obsessed with the Lord of Dreams, his family and their goings-on. It gives me unbelievable pleasure to say that, working with Netflix and Warner Bros., Allan Heinberg, David Goyer and I will be bringing even more of The Sandman stories to life. There are some astonishing stories waiting for Morpheus and the rest of them (not to mention more members of the Endless Family to meet). Nobody is going to be happier about this than the Sandman cast and crew: they are the biggest Sandman fans there are. And now it’s time to get back to work. There’s a family meal ahead, after all. And Lucifer is waiting for Morpheus to return to Hell…

What we do know is that we’re looking forward to seeing more of the Endless. Season one of The Sandman brought a story that showed us why adaptations exist. It brought in a moving deep cut from the Hellblazer comics. And it even wrapped up with a surprise bonus episode. The original Sandman comics series includes ran for 75 issues. So, the series has plenty of material to pull from. The show has plenty more rich, sometimes twisted characters to introduce and explore.

As for when the release date for the new episodes of The Sandman will be, it’s likely going to take a moment.

Originally published on November 3, 2022.

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One of the biggest issues with new shows on streaming services is premature cancellation. You spend a season or two getting invested in a story and its characters only to discover that it has gotten an unceremonious ax. Sometimes, the show doesn’t even get a chance to come out at all before a streamer drops it from their roster. We’ve seen it happen with many streamers, including Netflix. (I will not forgive them for canceling Archive 81.) But, fans of 3 Body Problem won’t have this issue. Netflix has renewed 3 Body Problem for season two and says it will give the show a currently undisclosed amount of seasons to complete the story. 

According to Variety, creators David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo said in a statement that they will “get to tell this story through to its epic conclusion.” Benioff has previously stated that it would take three or four seasons to tell the complete tale. The show draws its material from Liu Cixin’s trilogy of novels, so perhaps the show will follow suit with three seasons. We will just have to wait and see when Netflix follows up on this announcement.

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This news might turn some fans into Unhappy Gilmores or into Really Happy Gilmores, but regardless of how anyone feels about it, a Happy Gilmore sequel is heading to Netflix. According to Deadline, Netflix announced that a sequel to Happy Gilmore had been greenlit during its Upfront presentation. Netflix confirmed that Adam Sandler would return for Happy Gilmore 2, which we’re going to call Happier Gilmore for now. But no logline or other attachments were named for the movie at present.

For those who are somehow not in the know, Happy Gilmore is a golf movie and one of Sandler’s most famous. Its synopsis reads:

All Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has ever wanted is to be a professional hockey player. But he soon discovers he may actually have a talent for playing an entirely different sport: golf. When his grandmother (Frances Bay) learns she is about to lose her home, Happy joins a golf tournament to try and win enough money to buy it for her. With his powerful driving skills and foulmouthed attitude, Happy becomes an unlikely golf hero — much to the chagrin of the well-mannered golf professionals.

Well, we did just see a tennis movie hit our screens, so why not bring back golf? We’ll just have to wait and see what the Happy Gilmore sequel is all about. Maybe it will bring back Sandler’s alien co-star from Spaceman. That would be fun. Happy Gilmore 2, it’s your swing.

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The Addams Family is about to get a whole lot bigger. It’s also bringing back one of its most famous, most beloved alums. To celebrate the start of production on Wednesday season two, Netflix shared the many new cast members joining the show during its sophomore outing. The list of both regular and guest stars includes a familiar face from the franchise’s past. The former Uncle Fester himself, Christopher Lloyd, is back for more kooky, ooky, spooky fun.

Jenna Ortega’s macabre master of deadpan is finally back at work on her hit series. And she’s bringing a whole lot of friends with her to Wednesday‘s set in Ireland. That’s where the cast had its first table read before filming began on season two of the popular Netflix series. She and her fellow season one co-stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (all upped to series regulars) have a whole lot of newcomers with them there.

Jenna Ortega also revealed a behind-the-scenes image from the set of Wednesday season two, celebrating the beginning of production. The post also contains a fun video featuring Thing.

Netflix announced Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, and Noah Taylor have also joined the show as full-time cast members. Piper will portray a character named Capri. The streamer also confirmed previous reports Steve Buscemi has signed on for a big role as Barry Dort. (He’s expected to play Nevermore Academy’s new principle but perhaps he’s someone else altogether.) The newbies will join Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Hunter Doohan, Victor Dorobantu, Moosa Mostafa, and Isaac Ordonez on the series.

Season two will also feature a litany of guest stars headlined by Lloyd. He played Uncle Fester in the 1991 and 1993 big screen Addams Family installments. (The show’s own Fester, Fred Armisen, is also set to appear.) Joanna Lumley, Frances O’Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suotamo will also pop up during season two in guest roles. Lumley will portray Grandmama, a character we hoped to see this season. Netflix also confirmed Thandiwe Newton will round out the list of guest stars as someone named Dr. Fairburn. Now that sounds like a Nevermore Academy leader.

We also discovered in the above video that the first episode is titled “Here We Woe Again.” Nice to see that the episodes are still honoring this child full of woe.

“We are thrilled that the entire Addams family will be enrolling in Nevermore Academy this season along with a dream cast of icons and new faces,” said creators, writers, and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar in a press release.

We’re happy about all of those people enrolling there. But we’re obviously especially excited by one new/old member. Historically, Addams Family stories with Christopher Lloyd are always great.

Originally published on May 7, 2024.

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Netflix’s live-action One Piece was a big hit. The series was embraced by One Piece fans, new and old, and happily renewed for season two. Although One Piece season two hasn’t offered us too many hints about its plot yet, a recent video celebrating Monkey D. Luffy’s birthday offers a big tease. The video, which features Iñaki Godoy, One Piece live-action’s Luffy, seems to confirm the character of Mr. 3 will enter the scene in One Piece season two.

Mr. 3, of course, has eaten from the Wax Wax fruit and controls candle wax. His hair is shaped just like the candle we see in the One Piece live-action video. But Mr. 3’s presence also hints at a bigger story.

The appearance of Mr. 3 seems to confirm One Piece season two will adapt the franchise’s Arabasta arc. And it’s likely we’ll see Mr. 3’s fellow members of the Baroque Works criminal syndicate appear sooner rather than later. We can’t wait to learn more about One Piece season two.

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Get ready to hop in the Mystery Machine again. Scooby-Doo is coming back to live-action, this time as a streaming series for Netflix. The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter. The series is the brainchild of producer Greg Berlanti, the man who was in charge of the DC Arrowverse on the CW, not to mention shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for Netflix. The project has a script-to-series commitment at Netflix, meaning if the streaming giant likes the script, it would trigger a straight-to-series order. It’s somewhat baffling why this is on Netflix and not Max, which owns the Scooby-Doo property.

This is supposed to be a more dramatic take on the beloved animated show. We’re not really sure how that works, as the title character is a talking Great Dane. Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, who previously adapted Cowboy Bebop for Netflix and High Fidelity for Hulu, are developing the script. Scooby-Doo and his friends first came to live-action in film in 2002. That movie was a huge success at the time and spawned a sequel. While the implication is that the series is a reboot, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want to see the original cast back together.

The original cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! cartoon first debuted in 1969, and has been around in some form as an animated property ever since. We’ve seen versions where all the ghosts the Mystery, Inc. gang chased were hoaxes. Later years saw the gang face off against literal monsters. Greg Berlanti did a great job with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a more serious take on a goofy premise. So who knows, this may be amazing. We just hope there is a minimal amount of Scrappy-Doo in this version. We can let that pup stay in the kennel.

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Get ready to go back down to the basement a second time. Netflix’s That ’70s Show reboot, That ’90s Show, has been officially renewed for season two. As they say, hello, again, Wisconsin.

In all honesty, this felt like a nostalgic project to take fans back into the world for a short foray and leave it at that. But it turns out, more episodes are on the horizon for That ’90s Show. In fact, season two of the throwback series will have 16 episodes. Season one of the show only had 10. That’s a pretty big super-sizing. But we guess there’s a lot to cover in the world of the ’90s.

But, let’s be honest. Some of the best parts of That ’90s Show revolved around the reappearance of our favorite That ’70s Show characters. So we really hope that in all those new episodes, there’s some space to let them continue to grow. We vote for Fez to get a whole episode. Not to mention, Eric Forman is a huge part of both shows, but he barely appeared in That ’90s Show.

One duo that won’t be coming back is that of Jackie and Kelso. Mila Kunis revealed to ET that she and Ashton Kutcher would not return in the second season of That ’90s Show. When asked if Jackie and Kelso might appear again in That ’90s Show season two, Kunis replied, “No… I mean, we did our thing, and they introduced our son in the show.”

However, Seth Green, who was also interviewed, noted, “I’ve already done an episode of it, and I’m going back to do another one.” Green plays Mitch Miller, Eric Foreman’s nemesis, in the That ’70s Show/That ’90s Show universe

For those just tuning into the fun, here’s the official synopsis for season one of That ’90s Show. No word yet on what exactly season two will entail.

It’s 1995 and Leia Forman is desperate for some adventure in her life or at least a best friend who isn’t her dad. When she arrives in Point Place to visit her grandparents, Red and Kitty, Leia finds what she’s looking for right next door when she meets the dynamic and rebellious Gwen. With the help of Gwen’s friends, including her lovable brother Nate, his smart, laser-focused girlfriend Nikki, the sarcastic and insightful Ozzie, and the charming Jay, Leia realizes adventure could happen there just like it did for her parents all those years ago. Excited to reinvent herself, she convinces her parents to let her stay for the summer. With a basement full of teens again, Kitty is happy the Forman house is now a home for a new generation and Red is, well…Red.

That ’70s Show ran for eight seasons. So it would only be right if That ’90s Show ran for 10, but we guess for now, we’ll settle for two.

Originally published on Feburary 3, 2023.

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There was a time, not that long ago, when people feared artificial intelligence would take over the world. But the days of worrying about the Matrix enslaving humanity are long gone. Now when it comes to AI, we’re mostly just worried some plagiarism software will steal our jobs. But there’s one place where artificial intelligence will always have an important role to play: science fiction. The idea of intelligent robots, whether good or evil, has always been way more fun in fiction than reality. And the full trailer for Netflix’s Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez shows why. She plays an astronaut who must rely on the very technology she hates if she has any chance of surviving a disastrous space mission.

Atlas‘ Trailer Sees J-Lo Become a Mecha Pilot Fighting Against a Simu Liu-shaped AI

We’re not saying a single fictional story nor the Atlas trailer alone can change the way we feel about artificial intelligence. We’re just saying if that AI robot doesn’t save Jennifer Lopez, we’re declaring war on the machines immediately. But what is is a government analyst doing on a distant world in the first place? She’s on “a quest to defeat her oldest enemy.” And that just so happens to be the artificial intelligence known as Harlan, “originally engineered to advance humanity, he instead nearly ended it.” And did we mention this AI comes in the form of Simu Liu?

Atlas‘ Netflix Synopsis

Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Netflix:

Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it.

Atlas comes from director Brad Peyton (San Andreas, Rampage) with a script from Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. It also stars Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction), Gregory J. Cohan (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Abraham Popoola (Andor), Lana Parrilla (The Lincoln Lawyer,) and Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Secret Service). 

What Is the Release Date for Jennifer Lopez’s Netflix Movie Atlas?

The film crash lands at Netflix on May 24. At least that’s what the humans at Netflix have told us.

Originally published on March 13, 2024.

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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. And, likely to the dismay of consumers, it’s seeing some success.

Netflix’s Password-Sharing Crackdown Is Successful

According to Deadline, Netflix’s Co-CEO Greg Peters recently said, “Our paid sharing work, and our ads work, creates a more effective engine to translate all [Netflix] value into revenue growth, and will support increased conversion of our addressable market in many years to come.” And the company recently noted, “We believe we’ve successfully addressed account sharing, ensuring that when people enjoy Netflix they pay for the service too. Features like Transfer Profile and Extra Member were much requested, and many millions of our members are now taking advantage of them.” This success was recently quantified as Netflix added 9.33 million paid subscribers in Q1 of 2024. In total, Netflix now has 269.60 million paid subscribers as of March 31.

Deadline revealed, “Greg Peters says internal viewership data from before and after the implementation of paid password sharing shows the new policy has not turned off viewers, as some had initially predicted it would.” Peters noted that “owner households” viewing habits remained steady, though he admitted that Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown did cause a loss in some viewership numbers.

Peters noted, “We’re essentially cutting off some viewers who were not payers and therefore we’re going to lose some viewing associated with that,” he explained. Still, “despite that impact and despite the general pressure from strong competition,” he continued, “we think our engagement remains healthy.”

Netflix previously shared in a shareholder letter:

The cancel reaction [to the password sharing crackdown] was low and while we’re still in the early stages of monetization, we’re seeing healthy conversion of borrower households into full paying Netflix memberships as well as the uptake of our extra member feature. We are revenue and paid membership positive vs. prior to the launch of paid sharing across every region in our latest launch.

Jump to: Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown Is Successful // 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.

In addition to transferring your profile to a new account, you can now transfer it into an already existing one. 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.

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 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”

But, however unpopular these changes are in theory, they seem to be doing exactly what the company hopes. So we’d better see some truly incredible content manifest. (And we expect Netflix to be able to pay their creators, writers, and actors what they deserve and more.)

Originally published on March 16, 2022.

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Henry Cavill’s sudden and unexpected departure from The Witcher after season three was genuinely shocking. He had previously said he was “absolutely” committed to playing Geralt of Rivia for seven seasons. With a Hollywood A-lister leading the fantasy series, it seemed guaranteed for an especially long run at a streaming site known for ending shows way too early. But even without him, it seemed likely The Witcher would stay the course. The streamer has greatly expanded the franchise with a number of spinoffs. And Liam Hemsworth is replacing Cavill as The Continent’s White Wolf. Only now comes more shocking news: Hemsworth won’t be playing the monster hunter for long. The show will end with season five.

Netflix has announced that while it has greenlit season five of The Witcher, that will also mark the show’s final year. It will film “back-to-back” with season 4, which is now in production. Combined the two final years of the show will adapt three of author Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. The series will cover the events of Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake.

In a press release showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich said, “It is with huge pride that we begin shooting our penultimate season of The Witcher with a stellar cast, including some exciting new additions, led by Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia. We’re thrilled to be able to bring Andrzej Sapkowski’s books to an epic and satisfying conclusion. It wouldn’t be our show if we didn’t push our family of characters to their absolute limit — stay tuned to see how the story ends.” 

Netflix shared the first official images for season four. They show the cast, both old and new stars alike, during the first table read. That includes our first look at Hemsworth working on the show, as well as the great Laurence Fishburne who is set to play a beloved character.

Click To View Gallery

The streamer also shared writing and directing credits for the fourth season:

• Writers: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (401), Tania Lotia (402), Rae Benjamin (403), Troy Dangerfield (404), Matthew D’Ambrosio (405), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (406), Clare Higgins (407), Mike Ostrowski (408)
• Directors: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (401 & 402), Tricia Brock (403 & 404), Alex Garcia Lopez (405 & 406), Jeremy Webb (407 & 408)

What it hasn’t shared is how seven season (at least) is going to end up being just five. Did Cavill’s departure lessen Netflix’s commitment to the show? Is this a bad sign for season four? Or did the writers simply realize the most natural and best ending spot for this story was season five? We’ll get the only answer that matters when seasons four and five premiere.

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The Witcher‘s fourth season will be a big one for the show, and not just because of what happens on it. Season three was the last for Henry Cavill. Liam Hemsworth is taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. What will his Geralt have to deal with when the show returns after an explosive third installment that saw powerful figures team up to take control of the Continent? Here’s everything we know about The Witcher season four so far.

The Witcher Season 4’s Plot

Season three of The Witcher ended with Ciri relinquishing her powers and the powerful mage Vilgefortz partnering with her father, The White Flame who rules Nilfgaard. It also ended with Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri apart once again. It’s the type of chaos we expect from the Continent.

So what awaits the (new) Geralt in season four? And will he reunite with his lost love and Child of Destiny? This is Netflix’s first official synopsis for the show’s next installment:

After the shocking, Continent-altering events that close out season three, the new season follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri who are faced with traversing the war-ravaged Continent and its many demons apart from each other.  If they can embrace and lead the groups of misfits they find themselves in, they have a chance of surviving the baptism of fire — and finding one another again. 

Netflix has also provided additional insight into what awaits fans when the show returns. That includes:

• Geralt giving up his attempts at remaining neutral and traveling with Jaskier and Milva in what is the begging of the Hanza book readers know. “It’s the group traveling with Geralt for the rest of the books. This becomes his newfound family,” said showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich to Tudum. “He begins to realize that he needs help to get Yennefer and Ciri back, and when you need to help, you actually have to give of yourself as well. So, we start to watch the Hanza build and start to see that there are some amazing emotional connections to come there as well.”
• Whether Ciri, now part of the Rats and going by Falka, has truly lost her powers forever.
• Yennefer dealing with leading the fractured and weakened Brotherhood.
• Answers to how far back Vilgefortz schemes and work with Ciri’s father Emhyr really go.

Behind the Scenes

Production on season four of The Witcher, from showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024. Reports say it’s scheduled to shoot until October.

The Witcher Season 4’s Cast

Plenty of familiar faces will welcome Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt to the world of magic and monsters. Stars Anya Chalotra (Yennefer), Freya Allan (Ciri), and Joey Batey (Jaskier) will all be back.

Season four will also mark the return of Bart Edwards (Emperor Emhyr), Mahesh Jadu (Vilgefortz), Meng’er Zhang (Milva), Mimi Ndiweni (Fringilla), Eamon Farren (Cahir), Mecia Simson (Francesca), Anna Shaffer (Triss), Wilson Mbomio (Dara), Lars Mikkelsen (Stregobor), Graham McTavish (Dijkstra), and Cassie Clare (Phillipa), Hugh Skinner (Radovid),and Royce Pierreson (Istredd).

A big star will also arrive on the Continent in season four. Netflix announced John Wick‘s Laurence Fishburne will play the Regis, a popular character from The Witcher books and video games. While longtime fans know his story, the streamer is keeping his secrets for now. Netflix desrcibes Regis as “a world-wise Barber-surgeon with a mysterious past.”

Additionally, Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, and Danny Woodburn will join the series. Copley will play infamous bounty hunter Leo Bonhart. Purefoy will play Skellen, an advisor. And finally, Woodburn portrays the dwarf Zoltan.

The Witcher Season 4’s Release Date

Netflix has not yet announced a release date for the show’s fourth season. Based on the expected start and end of production, as well as the timeline of previous seasons, the earliest we’d possibly expect season four to debut is spring 2025. However, a summer premiere seems more likely. The Witcher‘s third season debuted on June 29, 2023 after it started shooting in March of ’22.

Originally published on January 16, 2024.

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Even ghosts need a day job. That’s where we find the pair of British boy spirits at the heart of Netflix’s new series, Dead Boy Detectives. Comic book characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner in the pages of The Sandman, the duo eventually appeared in several DC and Vertigo titles before headlining their own 12-issue series plus a number of other short spurts. The streaming giant recently shared the first trailer for Dead Boy Detectives, which finds ghost gumshoes Charles and Edwin up against loads of supernatural problems, and death itself. And now, we even know when the series will arrive.

Dead Boy Detectives Full Trailer

Weeks ahead of the show’s debut, Netflix released the full trailer of the series. The Sandman spinoff takes place in the same universe, which is why Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s Death of the Endless pops up. The two supernatural P.I.s need to continue avoiding her if they want to stay on the job. But she’s not the only one looking for them.

Dead Boy Detectives Teaser Trailer and Images

Steve Yockey, creator of Max’s The Flight Attendant, developed Dead Boy Detectives for Max originally. Given that streaming service’s rampant offloading, we’re lucky Netflix decided to pick it up. This also means this series can officially exist within Netflix’s Sandman universe. Good news for you, Gaimanites out there. The two dead boys had previously appeared on Doom Patrol, but those were different versions of the characters and won’t related to this show.

Netflix recently revealed that Dead Boy Detectives will release on April 25, sharing the news alongside a slew of new images from the series.

Click To View Gallery

Dead Boy Detectives‘ Synopsis

The official synopsis for the Dead Boy Detectives series is as follows:

Do you have a pesky ghost haunting you? Has a demon stolen your core memories? You may want to ring the Dead Boy Detectives. Meet Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), “the brains” and “the brawn” behind the Dead Boy Detectives agency. Teenagers born decades apart who find each other only in death, Edwin and Charles are best friends and ghosts… who solve mysteries. They will do anything to stick together – including escaping evil witches, Hell and Death herself. With the help of a clairvoyant named Crystal (Kassius Nelson) and her friend Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), they are able to crack some of the mortal realm’s most mystifying paranormal cases.

What Is the Release Date for Dead Boy Detectives?

As mentioned, Netflix has officially revealed that the Dead Boy Detectives series will release on April 25. The trailer looks fun, and so we’re hoping that translates to the full series.

Originally published on November 11, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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In the world of The Sandman existence does not end with death. It doesn’t even end with Death. The end of life is just the beginning of something new. For some that means suffering in Hell, but for two young men it means getting to work back on Earth, specifically at Netflix. Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman spinoff comic series is also getting an adaptation from the streaming site, and the first full trailer for Dead Boy Detectives shows that sometimes the best people to investigate a murder are fellow ghosts.

But being dead doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to worry about. The afterlife comes with dangers worse than dying.

What’s a murder victim hoping for closure to do when no one alive wants to solve your case? Find someone who isn’t alive to investigate. That’s the premise behind Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Dead Boy Detectives series. The Sandman spinoff takes place in the same universe, which is why Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s Death of the Endless pops up. The two supernatural P.I.s need to continue avoiding her if they want to stay on the job. But she’s not the only one looking for them. Here’s the show’s official synopsis:

Edwin and Charles are best friends, ghosts… and the best detectives on the Mortal plane. They will do anything to stick together – including escaping evil witches, Hell and Death herself. With the help of a clairvoyant named Crystal and her friend Niko, they are able to crack some of the mortal realm’s most mystifying paranormal cases.

The series stars George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, and Yuyu Kitamura. (The show is not connected to the version of the characters seen on Doom Patrol.) Dead Boy Detectives will get to work when the show debuts at Netflix on April 25. Assuming something worse than death or Death stops them from investigating before then.

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Readers have found true crime stories fascinating for hundreds of years. Now the explosion of podcasts have made the genre more ubiquitous and popular than ever. Not everything about that is good, but the format has given us something we can all agree is great: television shows that turn the hunt for grisly truths into a discovery of comedy. That’s what Netflix is bringing to airwaves with its new limited-series Bodkin starring Will Forte. He’s heading to the Emerald Isle to investigate a cold case that is much hotter than he ever could have imagined. You can check out the full trailer for Bodkin below.

Bodkin Trailer and Synopsis

Netflix’s new show “based on a true story” is heading to Ireland to find the truth. Or at least to find a decent audio series for people to subscribe to. But what these Bodkin‘s podcasters don’t know is that they’re looking for something no one in this quiet town wants them to find.

In addition to the trailer, here’s the official synopsis for the Bodkin series:

Bodkin is a dark comedic thriller about a motley crew of podcasters (Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, Robyn Cara) who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in a quaint, coastal Irish town. But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have ever imagined. As our heroes try to discern fact from fiction — about the case, about their colleagues, and, most painfully, themselves — the series challenges our perception of truth and exposes the stories we tell ourselves to justify our beliefs or validate our fears.

The streamer also shared the first official images from the show.

Click To View Gallery

Bodkin‘s Release Date and More About the Series

Bodkin‘s producers include Barack and Michelle Obama. It comes from creator Jez Scharf, who also serves as co-showrunner with Alex Metcalf (The Loudest Voice). The series additionally stars Chris Walley (Sean O’Shea) and David Wilmot (Seamus). The season’s seven hour-long episodes will be release on Netflix on May 9.

Whether or not these podcasters make it that far in their case remains to be seen. If they don’t, we might know what a second season will cover.

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Jerry Seinfeld is going to direct, produce, and star in a Netflix movie about the creation of Pop-Tarts. A sentence so weird you might need to re-read it a few times to fully process what’s happening. But no matter how many times you ask, “What’s the deal with this movie?” we promise Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story is really happening.

But, as more details about it unfold, it does feel decidedly less and less believable. Most recently, we learned that Hugh Grant is set to play Tony the Tiger in Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story. Well, he’ll play “the disgruntled Shakespearean actor who, much to his chagrin, finds himself having to don the Tony The Tiger outfit.”

Speaking to Empire, Seinfeld shares of Grant’s casting. “That was the greatest part of the whole thing, honestly, because I am a crazy fan of his.” Seinfeld reveals that Grant filmed an audition tape for the role, “[Hugh] asked me if it matters that Tony the Tiger has a British accent. I told him, ‘No, who cares?’” Sounds like this will be one exciting ride.

Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story‘s Trailer, First Look Clip, and Images

And now, we have our first trailer and first look clip from the movie.

It certainly seems like it will be one hilarious treat that’s all about everyone’s favorite dessert for breakfast. And it will even include… explosions?

We guess we’ll have to wait to learn more about what it’s all about. But at least we know how long we’ll have to wait now. Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story will release on May 3.

Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story‘s Cast and Synopsis

The Pop-Tarts movie has assembled a worthy line-up of stars to bring its sugary story to life. Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, and James Marsden will bring the story to life. Will they play Pop-Tarts? Will they make Pop-Tarts? Nobody knows, but we are all enchanted and yet terrified at the prospect.

The logline for the movie reads “Kellogg’s and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever. A tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar and menacing milkmen.” Is this a true story? We have our doubts.

The Background to This Movie

Unfrosted is based on one of Seinfeld’s old stand-up jokes about the invention of Pop-Tarts. The routine details how the sweet breakfast treat completely rocked his world as a kid. This particular bit has clearly taken up a lot of his focus over the years.

He explained the creative process and history of his Pop-Tart bit in 2012 for a video at The New York Times. It started with the first time he thought of the idea, which took a couple of years to complete. He said that’s much longer than his jokes typically take to finish.

“I know you think people are going to be interested in this. But they’re not.” Considering he is now making a movie based on this joke, either he never believed that, or he realized people really do care. Don’t expect a serious examination of the food industry though. Unfrosted sounds like it will be just as silly as the stand-up routine that inspired it. Seinfeld described the film to Deadline as a “giant, crazy comedy movie.”

When you think of it like that, this Pop-Tarts movie doesn’t sound that weird. But you might want to re-read this story a couple of times just to make sure.

Originally published on June 16, 2022.

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I don’t really know what I was expecting from a Jerry Seinfeld movie about the creation of Pop-Tarts. But I do know I was not expecting the film we’re getting. Netflix’s first trailer for Unfrosted is incredibly silly, surreal, and, most importantly, funnier and better than I could have imagined.

When you’re Jerry Seinfeld, you can apparently get as many talented people as you want to make cameos in your absurdist film about an iconic breakfast food. Good for him, but better for us. Unfrosted is LOADED with funny people. It’s also a much funnier way to tell this story than it would have been in someone else’s hands. This could have been another modern-day movie about a company launching a new product. Instead, Unfrosted‘s trailer makes this Pop-Tarts movie look like it’s Air crossed with Anchorman and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

What’s going on underneath all this delightful ridiculousness? Here’s the Unfrosted‘s official Netflix synopsis to go along with its trailer:

Battle Creek, Michigan, 1963. Kellogg’s and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever. A wildly imaginative tale of ambition, betrayal, and menacing milkmen – sweetened with artificial ingredients – Unfrosted stars Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial film debut.

Seinfeld co-wrote this Pop-Tarts movie with Spike Feresten, Andy Robin, and Barry Marder. Unfrosted‘s historically great cast also includes: Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer, Max Greenfield, Christian Slater, Bill Burr, Daniel Levy, James Marsden, Jack McBrayer, Thomas Lennon, Bobby Moynihan, Adrian Martinez, Sarah Cooper, and Fred Armisen. But also Andy Daly, Kyle Mooney, Beck Bennett, Mikey Day, Thomas Lennon, Peter Dinklage, John Slattery, John Hamm, and, somehow, even more people. We get a taste of this incredibly cast in action in Unfrosted‘s trailer, but we can’t wait to see more.

There’s literally no way the actual story behind Pop-Tarts is anywhere as fun as this movie will be. I probably always should have expected that. (Though, in fairness, who would have guessed anyone would have died creating a shelf-stable pastry.)

What Is the Release Date for Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tarts Movie Unfrosted?

Unfrosted pops onto Netflix on May 3.

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If you found out tomorrow Jeff Goldblum is actually an immortal creature with unimaginable powers would it totally shock you? Not really, right? That’s why his latest role might be his most perfect one yet. He plays the almighty Zeus in Netflix’s new series KAOS and the show’s first teaser trailer is a delight. Whether he’s actually human or secretly a supernatural being, Jeff Goldblum was born to rule.

KAOS comes from The End of the F***ing World writer Charlie Covell. All we needed to hear to be all in on his new show is that it stars a menacing Jeff Goldblum as a modern day Zeus in a tracksuit. But this KAOS teaser trailer hints the very real and righteous danger that awaits the powerful deity. Here’s the show’s official description from Netflix:

Zeus has long enjoyed his status as King of The Gods. That is until he wakes up one morning and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead. Neurosis sets in, setting him off on a dangerous, paranoid path. Zeus becomes convinced his fall is coming – and starts to see signs of it everywhere.

The signs begin with his own family. His once “reliable brother, Hades, God of the Underworld, has major issues. He’s “secretly losing his grip on his dark dominion.” And that “backlog of dead waiting to be processed” are growing restless with their unsettled situation. Meanwhile Zeus’ wife Queen Hera (Janet McTeer), “exercises dominion on Earth — and over Zeus — in her own unique way, but “her power and freedom become threatened by Zeus’ growing paranoia, and she is forced to act, while Zeus’ rebellious son, Dionysus, (Nabhaan Rizwan), is out of control and on course for a cosmic collision with his father.

Zeus’s other powerful brother Poseidon (Cliff Curtis), God of Sea, Storms and Earthquakes (and Horses) is also a big problem. Poseidon “is more concerned with the size of his super-yacht and where the next party is at” instead of “the wellbeing of mere mortals.” That continued neglect and abuse of power by the gods is why Zeus is right to feel paranoid. Mankind is angry.

People “from different walks of life,” all of whom have a cosmic connection with Zeus, will then come together to do something about the gods. And each has a role to play in this brewing battle that could destroy the gods for good.

The cast also features Aurora Perrineau, Killian Scott, Misia Butler, and Leila Farzad. They play the humans who could destroy the Olympians. Good luck to them doing it over the show’s eight-episodes. Zeus might be the king of the gods, but Jeff Goldblum might be even more powerful.

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The first chapter of director Zack Snyder’s long-awaited post-DCEU sci-fi saga, Rebel Moon, hit Netflix (and some theaters) over the 2023 holiday season. And it racked up an impressive number of viewers for the streaming service. Did it turn out to be what everyone was hoping for? Certainly, fervent Zack Snyder fans seemed to dig it. Specifically for all its “what if someone made a Star Wars movie, but R-rated?” energy. Now Netflix has released a trailer for this spring’s Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. You can watch it below:

The first part of Rebel Moon, titled A Child of Fire, focuses on a soldier by the name of Kora (Sofia Boutella). She lives on a remote farming moon, and chooses to ditch her life of endless war against the evil Imperium. However, Kora’s tranquil existence abruptly ends when she’s pulled back into the fight. It’s something that happens often in these kinds of stories. To fight the Imperium, Kora recruits a group of fighters which include Darrian Bloodaxe (Ray Fisher) and Kai (Charlie Hunnam). Also, there’s a robot by the name of Jimmy (voiced by Anthony Hopkins). Other actors include Djimon Hounsou as Titus, Michiel Huisman as Gunnar, and Doona Bae as Nemesis.

The trailer for Rebel Moon—Part Two: The Scargiver shows more from our team of heroes as they begin to bond and train together. But of course, the villains are ready and waiting as well.

Based on some things Zack Snyder has said during the press tour for the first Rebel Moon film, it seems his intention for the second chapter is to dive deeper into the histories and backstories of several of the main characters. These new histories also include some revelations about our chief protagonist, Kora.

When Will Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver Release?

Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver will release on Netflix on April 19.

Will Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver Release in Theaters?

It’s currently unknown if the second part of Snyder’s sci-fi epic will have a limited theatrical window or not.

Originally published on January 2, 2024.

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It’s official—Black Mirror is coming to Netflix for season seven in 2025. The six-episode season of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series that treads on the dark side will also include a sequel to the season four sci-fi adventure “USS Callister.” That episode, the first of the show’s fourth season in 2018, was a kind of spoof on classic Star Trek iconography. Fans went wild for it, and the episode won four Emmy Awards. That now-classic episode was written by Brooker and William Bridges and directed by Toby Haynes. The news about Black Mirror season seven came at the Next on Netflix event at the Picturehouse Central cinema and cultural space in London on Thursday. You can check out the brief teaser announcement below:

Here’s what the streaming giant said on the return of the USS Callister. “Robert Daly is dead, but for the crew of the USS Callister, their problems are just beginning.” In the original episode, Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), was a reclusive programmer who co-founded a popular MMO that emulated classic Star Trek tropes—particularly those of the original 1960s series. He used his co-workers’ DNA to make digital clones of them, and commanded them as captain of the starship USS Callister. However, in traditional Black Mirror fashion, things did not go smoothly for Robert Daly. Many fans believe that the retro-flavored Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was greenlit because of its success.

A lot of well-known actors make guest star stints on Black Mirror. Among them are familiar names like Salma Hayek, Aaron Paul, and many more. We’ll see if the upcoming seventh season will follow in the same tradition. Although starting on the UK’s Channel 4, Black Mirror has found a home on Netflix since season three. No word yet on when the new season drops on the streamer. Although, it would be a surprise if it began any sooner than summer 2025.

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Move over Barbie Land, Greta Gerwig is set to tackle another intensely popular world, Narnia. According to The New Yorker, Gerwig “has a deal with Netflix to write and direct at least two films based on C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.” This confirmation came straight from Gerwig herself, and recently, Netflix spoke about the partnership as well, shedding some light on a schedule for the first of the films.

What Can We Expect From Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Movies?

For now, very little information is available about these new Greta Gerwig Chronicles of Narnia movie adaptations. We don’t know which parts of the series will get adapted or even in what format we’ll see them come to life. The Chronicles of Narnia received a big-screen adaptation in the 2000s, with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader all receiving live-action movies. However, the series did not take as well as hoped. (Although the movies did launch Ben Barnes, for which we appreciate them.)

When Will Gerwig’s Netflix Narnia Movies Begin to Release?

We do know a little bit about when we might see the movies begin to take shape, though. Speaking with Collider, Netflix’s Head of Film, Scott Stuber, noted, “Well, I think people know that we’re aspirationally trying to get Greta Gerwig’s [The Chronicles of] Narnia together and get that movie, which will be next year.” Next year, here, references 2024. Of course, it seems like that could all still change, but it’s nice to hear an update from an official source.

Gerwig herself recently shared with Deadline that the Narnia movies are in “the very early stages of pre-production in the UK.” The publication additionally adds that “Narnia more than likely won’t be ready to go before cameras until late this year or possibly early next. It’s yet to be determined, plus Gerwig has yet to appoint key department heads who will create the magical land where animals behave as equals with humans, witches wage war and dragons and horses fly.”

Could We See a Deeper Take on the Chronicles of Narnia?

The idea of a Chronicles of Narnia movie done by Gerwig is a fascinating one. The books by C. S. Lewis are dense and heavily philosophical and religious. While the latest Narnia movies leaned more heavily into broad fantasy themes, a Gerwig-helmed Narnia series could get deeper and more existential. But for now, we’ll just have to imagine the possibilities and hope the movies do indeed come to pass. Long live Aslan, hopefully, he’s more than just a Ken.

Originally published on July 5, 2023.

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“There are many stories of chivalry where the heroic knight saves the damsel in distress. This is not one of them.” – Elodie, Damsel 

These words, spoken by Millie Bobby Brown’s dutiful protagonist, summarize Damsel’s premise. The Netflix film takes viewers on an epic quest alongside the dutiful Elodie. She leaves her cold, barren, and economically depressed land after a rich, handsome prince agrees to marry her. This seemingly easy solution to her homeland’s woes quickly goes awry when she discovers the truth about the Aurean royal family’s true intentions. They will use her as a ritual sacrifice to repay a decades-long debt. Yikes. Damsel executes its premise and delivers a mostly enjoyable dark fantasy romp with a dash of revenge and a heavy dose of MBB magic. 

Before I dive into the film itself, I’d like to briefly speak on its book counterpart. Evelyn Skye’s 2023 book of the same name is based on this film’s screenplay written by Dan Mazeau. I haven’t read this fantasy adventure, but it is presumably close to what the live-action version presents on-screen. I did note that, like Skye herself, the book cover version of Elodie is a woman of Asian descent. For unexplained reasons, this vision was never meant to carry over to the live-action story, as Millie Bobby Brown was cast back in 2020. It’s not shocking considering Brown’s relationship with Netflix and her role as an executive producer. 

Still, a story about a non-white woman who is used as a sacrifice to uphold a rich kingdom unearths an unnerving layer that makes the protagonist’s survival and revenge arc significantly more powerful. While Elodie’s ethnicity isn’t vital to her story like Hua Mulan and Millie Bobby Brown is certainly a capable action heroine, it would have been interesting to explore this narrative through marginalized eyes. 

Back to the movie. While Damsel’s cinematography and direction are solid, its worldbuilding feels a bit flimsy and rushed. There’s maybe five minutes of Elodie’s home with a shot of open land, a courtyard of arguing poor people, and a Game of Thrones-style decision-making room. Then, viewers are off across a vague body of water to the lush lands of Aurea, more specifically its castle and surrounding grounds.

There are great gowns—truly beautiful gowns—alongside a smattering of chemistry between Elodie and Prince Henry and a lot of friction between their mothers. (Honestly, I’d watch an entire film with Robin Wright and Angela Bassett having multiple verbal sparring rounds.) The story would have benefited from more buildup towards its sacrificial twist by slowly unfolding the wealthy and reclusive world of Aurea and its people. Elodie’s discomfort and the unease between the two families would have resonated more with additional yet subtle signals that something is amiss. 

This nagging feeling of wanting more permeates into several aspects of Damsel. There’s some humor but not quite enough for it flow naturally within this narrative. The film offers get flashes of commentary on agency, power, and the perils of lies, but it often feels very surface level. The tension and action sequences often fizzle before either truly gets to expand.

It digs into some mythos via flashbacks but that results in more questions than answers. Damsel is entertaining with witty dialogue sprinkled throughout. But there are a handful of scenes where it’s tempting to divert your attention. This film is a fun watch on a Friday night, especially if you have kids. But, considering the cast, it should have been great.

Predictably, Damsel speeds to the wedding and sacrifice ceremony, a scene that actually encompasses all of the film’s best elements. From that point, MBB takes center stage as Elodie works to outwit a snarky and vengeful dragon with a sad story of her own. The question is never if Elodie will survive, it is how she will defeat a dragon and an evil kingdom. The answer is, she does it with delightful sparks of ingenuity and tenacity. She’s absolutely a protagonist that young fantasy fans will gravitate towards.

Damsel admittedly hits a pacing snag in the second act but things veer back on course in act three. I verbally wished for a fiery twist to her ending. I was pleased to see it executed so well considering the bounds of a PG-13 rating. 

Overall, Damsel takes an imaginative swing at a heroine’s tale that teaches us one major lesson: always listen to Angela Bassett. She will never, ever steer you wrong.

Damsel ⭐ (3 of 5)

Damsel hits Netflix on March 8.

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Parasyte fans, rejoice! Fans of the Japanese body horror manga and anime will get a chance to dive into this world from a South Korean perspective in live-action form. Netflix’s Parasyte: The Grey is set in the same world where the very cool Shinichi Izumi’s story took place as he learned to deal with Migi, the parasitic organism that took over his right hand. The teaser trailer for Parasyte: The Grey introduces a new tale of humanity rising up against a threat. 

In the Parasyte: The Grey trailer, we immediately jump into the perspective of the humanoid parasites who must take over human bodies to live. Because they look like humans, it’s pretty easy to integrate themselves into society and gain people’s trust. When the time is right, they reveal themselves in a rather dramatic fashion as their heads separate into long tentacles with their eyes hanging in the balance or even separating. It’s quite the fun spectacle for us to witness, although I’m sure the people in this universe are not enjoying it at all. As usual, the military tries to fight back, but, well, there’s not much you can do against beings who can whip their tentacles around and beat others up.

There is one woman in this trailer who moves much differently than her counterparts. She doesn’t seem down with this takeover, so we can assume she’s the Shinichi of this narrative. Based on Parasyte: The Grey’s trailer, it seems that you can have a little—or a lot—of knowledge about the source material and still enjoy this series. I am always down for body horror, so I’ll give it a go. Plus, the director is Yeon Sang-Ho, who gave us Hellbound and the absolutely brilliant Train to Busan. 

When Does Netflix’s Parasyte: The Grey Series Premiere?

We won’t have to wait long to see what happens in this series. Parasyte: The Grey‘s trailer reveals that it hits Netflix on April 5.

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When it was announced that Game of Thrones’ TV creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss would develop shows for Netflix, many wondered just how big they would go. Well, thanks to the new trailer for the upcoming series 3 Body Problem, now we know. This is clearly sci-fi on an epic scale that’s worthy of a follow-up effort to one of the most popular shows in history. 3 Body Problem is based on the novel by Cixin Liu, which is the first in a trilogy of books. The duo teamed up with True Blood’s Alexander Woo to create this series. You can check out the full trailers for 3 Body Problem, as well as read the official synopsis right after the first clip.

The official synopsis for 3 Body Problem shares:

The story begins in 1960s China when a young woman makes a fateful decision that reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature as we know them inexplicably unravel, a tight-knit group of brilliant scientists must join forces with an unflinching detective to stop humanity’s greatest threat.

Here’s what series co-executive producer Alexander Woo had to say about 3 Body Problem to Tudum:

What we are hoping to do is to convey the experience — if not necessarily the exact details — of the novel onto the screen. What stayed, we hope, is the sense of wonderment and the sense of scope, of scale, where the problems are no longer just the problems of an individual or even a nation, but of an entire species.

The show features an incredible cast, including Benedict Wong, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Jovan Adepo, Liam Cunningham, Marlo Kelly, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Saamer Usmani, and Jonathan Pryce.

Although the story centers on a deeply immersive VR world, this latest trailer suggests something much larger, and far more mysterious, is in play. So just why exactly have all the prominent scientists gone missing? And who are They? We’ll have to wait until March 21, 2024, when 3 Body Problem drops on Netflix.

Originally published on January 9, 2024.

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Most mobile games are fun time wasters but lack the true appeal of a real video game. But now, Netflix is looking to change all of that with its Netflix Games offering. Netflix Games takes the concept of the Netflix we know, hosting content on its streaming platform so it can be watched more widely, and applies it to video games. Additionally, Netflix promises no ads, no extra fees, and no in-app purchases in its mobile games. And we can all agree those are the worst parts of the mobile game genre. Soon, it seems like we’ll even be able to play Netflix Games on our TV screens and PCs. Netflix has shared it wants the games to be “playable on every Netflix device that you have.” And apparently, code from the Netflix app seems to confirm.

Basically, for those who need a more convenient way to play some familiar titles, Netflix has you covered. Let’s take a look at which real video games get the mobile treatment via Netflix Games.

The Grand Theft Auto Trilogy

Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas from the Grand Theft Auto Series are coming to Netflix Games on December 14. And these are some of the biggest games yet to join the platform. Netflix shares that these games will specifically arrive on mobile interfaces. It’s pretty exciting stuff. According to Netflix, the popular games will be available to play via the App Store, Google Play, and through the Netflix mobile app. You can pre-register for the games today.

Hades

Fan favorite video game Hades (also known as the Hades game) is heading to Netflix Games next year. At least, the rogue-like game will be available on iOS. Unfortunately, Hades will not come to Netflix Games users on Android. Still, this is a pretty exciting piece of news. Its arrival on Netflix Games will open up Hades to a whole new audience of players. You can pre-register now for Netflix’s version of the Hades game which releases on March 19.

A release shares:

In this action role-playing game, you have one mission: get out of Hell alive. You’ll play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, as you attempt to escape the Underworld with the help of various Olympic deities. In Hades, you’ll fight to escape the regions of Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and the Temple of Styx before facing the God of the Underworld himself in a final battle. Can you hack and slash your way out of the depths of Hell, or will you be doomed to the dungeons forever? From Supergiant Games, the hugely successful Hades will be available exclusively on iOS via Netflix starting next year. 

Slayaway Camp 2: Netflix & Kill

Netflix and kill? That sounds like a horror movie in the making. But it’s actually the latest entry into Netflix Game’s catalog.

This puzzle game is actually a sequel to a 2016 game called Slayaway Camp which was released on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Both games see you play as Skullface, a kind of adorable but deranged slasher. The official description shares, “In this sequel, you’re Skullface, a killer stuck inside a retro horror movie catalog — solve puzzles, stalk victims and get stabby.”

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge recently released as a full-blown video game that paid homage to the retro Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games of the late ’80s and early ’90s. But for those who’d rather play on their phone, Netflix has converted Shredder’s Revenge into a mobile game you can play on the move. All the fun callbacks, retro goodness, and Ninja Turtle-ness stay intact, but no console is required. Cowabunga!

Tomb Raider Reloaded

Although this game isn’t a direct Netflix recreation of an existing video game, it does share some similarities to the games Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. In it, you play as Lara Croft, who encounters the mysterious Natla and gets tempted by adventure. This entry into Netflix Games promises “a wide variety of puzzles and face off against different enemies and bosses — both new and familiar to the Tomb Raider series — including bloodthirsty wolves, poisonous snakes, fearsome golems and magical elemental creatures!” Sounds like some good adventure on the horizon.

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a puzzle adventure game developed for consoles. This popular World War I set game can now be played on mobile courtesy of Netflix Games. Happy the Valient Hearts: Coming Home mobile game retains the graphic novel style of the original and the characters at the heart of its story. The mobile version promises a story every bit as compelling and beautiful as the first.

Twelve Minutes

Twelve Minutes is originally a Steam game with a seriously loaded cast. James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe lend their voices to this interactive thriller. The game revolves around a man trapped in a terrifying time loop that is fated to go on and on unless he/you uses his foreknowledge to break the cycle. Netflix’s rendition of Twelve Minutes replaces the click-and-drag gameplay of the desktop version with a similar “tap and drag” system, and it retains all of the voice talents to boot. Not to mention, the trailer for this mobile version definitely has us at the edges of our seats.

Dust & Neon

Dust & Neon, a Nintendo Switch game also on Steam, has arrived on Netflix Games. This game takes place in “a futuristic Wild West, where robots have rejected their life of servitude, and taken over the planet, turning it into a not-so-enjoyable place for humans.” And it’s up to you to fight robot oppression… Which you can now do on your phone. Netflix Games promises that this mobile game will have every bit as much futuristic, gunslinging, cyborg vs. robot shooter action as its Switch predecessor.

How to Download and Play Netflix Games

Ready to explore these mobile versions of real video games for yourself? If you have Netflix, you’re almost there. To access the games, first, download the Netflix mobile app itself. Then, in the app store, you can look up all these different games. Once you download them, as you would any app, they’ll appear in the “Netflix Games” section in the overall Netflix app. You can also start in the Netflix app itself, go to the games sections, and look up different games from there.

In addition to versions of full games, Netflix has other original mobile games; a few are even based on its different properties, like Stranger Things and Wednesday. As far as mobile gaming goes, Netflix seems like a pretty good bet. So go forth and crush some small-screen challenges.

Originally published on February 22, 2023.

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There is no food quite like a chicken nugget. Those delicious and often crispy bites are a staple in many people’s food journeys, from McNugget Happy Meals as kids to a comforting lunch as adults. In fact, I’d say some of us have eaten so many nuggets that we are practically made of nuggets. But what if you actually became what you love to eat? How would you handle life as a human turned chicken nugget? That’s what the upcoming Korean series, aptly titled Chicken Nugget, will humorously explore when it hits Netflix. The trailer for Chicken Nugget is ridiculously and wonderfully funny.

Here’s the synopsis for Chicken Nugget:

A beloved woman suddenly turned into a Dakgangjeong (sweet & sour chicken) after entering a mysterious machine. This is only the beginning of a series of unpredictable events. A tearful and comic mystery of two men struggling to save their lover/daughter.

Well, that is certainly something. I have so many questions that need answers ASAPtually. What is up with that machine? Why does it turn people into a nugget, specifically? How will they keep this nugget lady from being eaten? I need to watch this right away.

If you thought the Chicken Nugget trailer was quirky, then you’ll really love the poster. You gotta love the look on her face and the aura around her as her man (or maybe he has an unrequited crush?!) and dad scream in shock. She is looking like a snack… literally.

What Is the Premiere Date for Netflix’s Chicken Nugget Series?

Chicken Nugget will hit Netflix on March 15. 

Originally published on February 15, 2024.

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Some characters are so bad they’re good, and that is especially true of the infamous Tom Ripley. Author Patricia Highsmith’s charming and sophisticated con man without a conscience has long fascinated readers and viewers alike. Now he’s set to return to screens again in a new Netflix series. And Ripley‘s full trailer, which introduces Andrew Scott’s con artist killer, has us prepared to excuse all of his crimes.

Andrew Scott Is Creepy in the Best Way in Ripley‘s Trailer

A beautiful and ominous setting? A world-class leading man? And an origin story for a truly memorable character? This trailer for Netflix’s new eight-part limited series has everything. That includes the Academy Award-winning writer of Schindler’s List behind it. The show comes from writer-director Steven Zaillian (The Irishman). Here’s the show’s official synopsis from Netflix:

Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom’s acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. The drama series is based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels.

Ripley‘s Cast

Ripley also stars Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood and Johnny Flynn Dickie Greenleaf. It additionally features Elliot Sumner, Maurizio Lombardi, and Margherita Buy. And rounding out the cast is the great John Malkovich, who also played Tom Ripley himself in 2002’s Ripley’s Game. The series debuts on the streaming site this spring on April 4.

Scott is now the eighth performer to bring the character from the page to the screen. The others to do so include Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as Alain Delon, Dennis Hopper, Jonathan Kent, Barry Pepper, and Ian Hart.

If the show is anywhere near as good as this trailer, we expect Scott’s Tom Ripley to be among the very best versions of a character who’s so bad he’s too good not to like.

What Is Ripley‘s Netflix Release Date?

Ripley will be released on April 4. The series will stream on Netflix.

Originally published on January 22, 2024.

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Japan’s biggest superhero, Ultraman, continues its march toward global domination. A few years ago, Tsuburaya Productions’ Ultraman series broke into the North American market in a massive way. Blu-ray and streaming distribution of their 55-year-old franchise; a new Marvel Comics series; an English dub of the CG-anime series based on manga. In 2021, we got the premiere of Shin Ultraman, a live-action film from the makers of Shin Godzilla. And, Tsuburaya announced a brand new CG-animated feature film for Netflix. One that has yet a different story from the ongoing Ultra live-action series, the Netflix anime series, the Marvel Comics, and Shin Ultraman. Ultraman: Rising will hit the streaming service on June 14 and we have new images to accompany that release date.

Click To View Gallery

A full trailer will surely come soon but, for now, this Ultraman: Rising teaser does the job:

Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, a storyboard artist and writer, respectively, on Kubo and the Two Strings, will write the film. Tindle, who is also a longtime character designer for animation, will co-direct Ultraman: Rising with John Aoshima. Aoshima also worked on Kubo and has directed episodes of Gravity Falls and DuckTales among others. Some pretty good talent.

Netflix/Tsuburaya Productions

The official synopsis for the movie is as follows:

With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans. In partnership with Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic, Ultraman: Rising is written by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, directed by Shannon Tindle, and co-directed by John Aoshima.

In all the iterations of Ultraman over the years, I don’t believe any of them have starred a pro baseball player. So that’s new. The theme of fatherhood has appeared throughout the series, most recently Ultraman Z which aired in 2020. However, never before has an Ultraman had to raise a baby kaiju. That’s, I’m gonna say it: weird.

“Making this film is a dream come true,” said Tindle in a statement. “What began as an original story inspired by my love for Eiji Tsuburaya’s Ultraman somehow became an actual Ultraman film thanks to the incredible trust of the team at Tsuburaya Productions, and the support of the folks at Netflix Animation. We’ve assembled an all-star team and I can’t wait to share our unique take on Ultraman with the rest of the world.”

Tsuburaya Productions

Ultraman began in 1966, a follow-up to Tsuburaya’s Ultra Q. With the intent to bring Tsuburaya’s landmark model and suitmation work in the Godzilla films to television, Ultraman was a full-color explosion of monsters and mayhem. In 2020, select Ultra series began streaming on TokuSHOUTsu while Blu-ray releases hit shelves from Mill Creek.

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

Originally published on May 13, 2021.

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Netflix’s Spaceman has everything it needs to be the next great meditative sci-fi story. It stars a compelling, understated Adam Sandler as Jakub, a Czech cosmonaut on a solo mission to investigate a strange purple cloud that appeared near Jupiter without explanation. Six months into his lonely year-long mission the weary traveler finds a giant talking spider (perfectly voiced by Paul Dano)—who may or may not be real—on board. But the heart of the film is a relatable human story about relationships, guilt, and hiding from our past, as the selfish Jakub must also contend with his collapsing marriage to Carey Mulligan’s Lenka. Only, the sum of the movie comes up far short of its parts, as confusing filmmaking choices and subpar storytelling prevents Spaceman from reaching its potential.

Director Johan Renck’s new sci-fi drama is based on Jaroslav Kalfař’s 2017 novel Spaceman of Bohemia. It’s easy to see why Renck chose Sandler as his lead. Few actors convey bubbling anger like Sandler, and his understated performance captures Jakub’s deep underlying pain without an over-the-top performance. Sandler also deftly handles both the film’s humor and sadness, while Dano carries its strangeness and Mulligan its humanity. The movie’s problems have nothing to do with its performers and everything to do with how it tells its story.

At no point is Spaceman scary. Yet the first 30 minutes are scored and shot like a horror movie. That might have worked if its giant spider Hanuš (who claims to be from the beginning of time itself) was even remotely terrifying. But the film doesn’t even play the loving, insightful, wise Hanuš’ first appearance that way. His arrival is genuinely funny. Sandler’s Jakub is suffering from insomnia and bad dreams and he even he knows this bizarre creature might be nothing more than the manifestation of a mental breakdown. Their relationship is mostly humorous. That’s how the actors play it in most scenes.

But what we see the characters doing doesn’t match how the film presents their actions. It’s confusing, discordant filmmaking. It’s like watching a comedy inside a horror movie, only neither genre can figure out what the other is doing there. And that’s before pure sci-fi, love story, and drama show up to stake their own genre claim.

Not knowing how to tell its story is the primary problem that plagues the entire film. It’s ultimately a contemplative reflection on love and life, but the movie is too slow in developing those ideas. The script opts to slowly peel back the many layers of Jakub’s past and his relationship with Lenka,. That approach can certainly be highly effective, but here it feels empty.

We don’t know what’s actually wrong with this marriage until way too late. And what we do know before then isn’t interesting enough to carry us to the big payoff, which doesn’t land as a result of the poor foundation laid for it. Especially not when watching Jakub’s relationship with Hanuš (or is it his own mind?) is far more captivating. Even the mystery of the purple space cloud is more fascinating than the marriage at the heart of the film, which is a huge problem since the cloud is only there to serve the main story.

By not adequately developing its most important idea, Spaceman‘s big final sequence doesn’t come close to carrying either the emotional heft or profundity it’s clearly trying to achieve. What should be the best part of the movie is its least interesting moment. It’s also trite. The film attempts to say something deep, but there’s nothing new that much better films haven’t previously explored with far more effectiveness. Spaceman has elements of Solaris, Moon, Gravity, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Insomnia, Interstellar, and many other films I’d much rather rewatch.

Outside of its really excellent cast, all of the things Spaceman does well leaves you wanting so much more. The film never gives us enough of anything. It’s strange, but not strange enough. Funny, but not funny enough. Sad, but not sad enough. It also has minor elements of social commentary and historical perspective. The film needed to either cut those aspects entirely or explore them further. Instead they both feel like a good idea lacking meaningful development.

That’s exactly what Spaceman is—a lot of good ideas lacking development. It’s definitely not a disaster, because Sandler and Dano’s characters are fascinating enough to make you invested in where their story will go. But their journey isn’t good enough to compensate for a disappointing destination. There’s simply not enough depth in this deep space drama to justify the trip.

Spaceman hits Netflix on March 1.

Spaceman ⭐ (2.5 of 5)

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

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