More minions are coming. The Conjuring 4 sets a release date. Time Bandits shares its first trailer. Severance season two offers us a teaser and a look at Gwendoline Christie’s new character. Godzilla x Kong hits streaming. A Furiosa transformation. Eric Kripke talks about The Boys‘ comic twist the series will skip. Here are all these news odds & ends, and more.

Alien: Romulus

Cinemark Theaters wants you to enjoy Alien: Romulus and really dig your teeth into the film. The theater chain revealed its Xenomorph Alien: Romulus popcorn bucket and it is delightfully creepy.

Celebrate Summer with these French Fry Ice Cream Pops

What could be better than dipping french fries in ice cream? An ice cream pop that does it for you already. GoodPop and Ore-Ida have teamed up to create the ultimate frozen treat, “an all-in-one pop featuring a creamy dairy free oatmilk interior coated in frozen chocolate fudge and sprinkled with real crispy potatoes for a cleaned up classic treat that’s cold, creamy and completely crave worthy.”

You can try to snag a four-pack for $9.99, here, but don’t delay. These tasty treats are selling out quickly.

Minons & Despicable Me

As Despicable Me 4 reaches $255 million at the global box office, another franchise movie has been given a release date. Minions 3 will release on June 30, 2027.

The Conjuring

The Conjuring 4, which is now being referred to as the finale of the cinematic franchise, has set its release date. The next The Conjuring movie will release on September 5, 2025. The movie does not yet have a title.

Time Bandits

Everything old is new again and the latest reboot to hit our screens is Time Bandits. A reimagination of the 1981 film in series form, this Apple TV+ adventure is created by Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi. The series stars Lisa Kudrow alongside rising star Kal-El Tuck. It “will take viewers on a riveting journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves.”

The Time Bandits synopsis shares:

Guided by Lisa Kudrow, the eccentric crew of bandits embark on epic adventures while evil forces threaten their conquests, and life as they know it. As the group transports through time and space, the gang stumbles upon fascinating worlds of the distant past while seeking out treasure, depending on Kevin to shed light on each situation. The “Time Bandits” witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape dinosaurs in the prehistoric ages, wreak havoc during medieval times, experience the Ice Age, ancient civilizations and the Harlem Renaissance, and much more along the way. 

The 10-episode series will premiere globally, with the first two episodes on Wednesday, July 24, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through August 21, 2024.

Severance

Severance season two has revealed its release date. The second chapter of the series will arrive on January 17, 2025. Additionally, the release date announcement teaser trailer gives us a look at Gwendoline Christie’s mysterious new character.

SpongeBob SquarePants

The trailer for Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is here. This trailer brings us a whole new kind of SpongeBob SquarePants adventure. A little bit of live-action, a little bit of surface mayhem—what could possibly get better than this?

A release shares, “When Bikini Bottom and all its denizens are suddenly scooped out of the ocean, Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob SquarePants journey to Texas to save the town from a villainous plot.” Sandy Cheeks is one (flying) squirrel not to be messed with. Honestly, we’re all the way in for this Sandy Cheeks star vehicle.

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie releases on August 2.

Godzilla x Kong

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will release on July 4. The monster movie will stream on Max.

We’re also very excited to share that a version of the movie with American Sign Language (ASL) will also stream exclusively on Max the same day. Max shares, “This ASL version of the film was produced exclusively for Max, with ASL performer Otis Jones (Deaf West Theatre) providing interpretation. Jones was coached by Leila Hanaumi, who delivered a highly praised performance in Barbie with ASL last December, Max’s first ASL film interpretation. GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE in ASL will be displayed as a unique title on the Max app, identifiable by its key art featuring the sign language symbol.” We absolutely applaud Max for these efforts to be as inclusive as possible with their programming!

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

If you’re a fan of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, you can check out Anya Taylor-Joy’s epic transformation into Furiosa below.

The Boys

The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke promises that unlike in the comics, Black Noir will not end up being a Homelander clone.

He tells Variety:

No, and I don’t mind saying it. In the comics he’s a clone of Homelander this entire time and is actually the one doing all these horrific things. And again, it’s a hell of a twist. But it’s like, well wait, the villain I’ve been following isn’t really the villain. And mileage varies, and I’m sure fans are mad I’m not going that way, but that felt not as satisfying to me. I’m like, if I’m going to follow this villain, I want this guy to be the villain. So I was never really into the clone idea.

Plus, cloning feels like too — I’m going to sound silly — but cloning feels too magical for the show. We try to say that superheroes are the only slippery banana, and that everything else we try to make as grounded as possible.

Netflix

Netflix is creating its own line of popcorn… and its own malls.

Netflix shares:

Today, we’re excited to announce that Netflix and Popcorn Indiana are teaming up to bring Now Popping, an all-new ready-to-eat popcorn line! With flavors like Cult Classic Cheddar Kettle Corn and Swoonworthy Cinnamon Kettle Corn, this partnership promises a snack experience tailored to every viewer’s taste. Discover your favorite flavor, nationwide at Walmart, today. 

The popcorn retails for $4.49, but no word on how much it is if you want to share a pack.

Additionally, the streamer has revealed it will be opening two entertainment, dining, and shopping complexes, a.k.a. malls. Per Variety, “They’re not exactly theme parks, but the new Netflix Houses — to open next year in King of Prussia, Pa., and Dallas — will feature a wide array of shopping outlets, eateries and experiential activities tied to the streamer’s major franchises like Bridgerton, Stranger Things and Squid Game.“

Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer, shares “At Netflix House, you can enjoy regularly updated immersive experiences, indulge in retail therapy, and get a taste — literally — of your favorite Netflix series and films through unique food and drink offerings. We’ve launched more than 50 experiences in 25 cities, and Netflix House represents the next generation of our distinctive offerings. The venues will bring our beloved stories to life in new, ever-changing and unexpected ways.”

Netflix invites you to imagine, “waltzing with your partner to an orchestral cover of a Taylor Swift song on a replica of the ‘Bridgerton’ set –– and then walking around the corner to compete in the Glass Bridge challenge from ‘Squid Game.’” After that, you can enjoy “food inspired by Netflix shows from around the world” or buy “that Hellfire Club T-shirt you’ve always wanted from Stranger Things.”

Deadpool

Marvel is all set to kill Deadpool in Deadpool #6 by Cody Ziglar and Rogê Antônio. Marvel shared of the issue:

Wade Wilson triumphed against Death Grip! This is the first issue of a new arc and killing Deadpool NOW would be an INSANE thing to do. Which is exactly why we’re doing it.

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

Originally published on June 20, 2024.

The post Xenomorph ALIEN: ROMULUS Popcorn Bucket, TIME BANDITS Trailer, and Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

From many villainous Star Wars excitements to Buttery-er Ritz Crackers to a Dragon Ball theme park coming soon to the announcement of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, a new Jurassic World animated series, and more; here are some of our favorite odds and ends from the entertainment world.

• Buttery-er Ritz Crackers Want You to Win a Golden Bar of Butter
• Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in May
• Denis Villeneuve to Reportedly Helm Nuclear War: A Scenario Adaptation with Legendary Pictures
• The Poohniverse‘s Next Entry Bambi: The Reckoning Shares Teaser Trailer
• Make Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f.
• Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is Confirmed
• Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived
• A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way
• New Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and More
• Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix
• Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo
• Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series
• D&D Converse Are Coming
• David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series
• Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building

Buttery-er Ritz Crackers Want You to Win a Golden Bar of Butter

Could Ritz Crackers be any more delicious? We would have said no! But new Buttery-er Ritz Crackers want to prove us wrong. A release shares, “The RITZ Buttery-er Crackers capture the buttery flavor that fans know and love, elevating the flaky and irresistible crackers with an extra boost of decadence in every bite.”

Not to mention, these delicious snacks come with a chance to win a butter bar made of gold.  Mayte Killeen, RITZ Senior Brand Manager shares, “The RITZ brand has become synonymous with golden buttery flavor… With the new limited-edition Buttery-er Crackers we’re taking it to the next level for our buttery-flavor loving fans by offering one lucky winner the ultimate prize of a 24-karat gold bar in the shape of a traditional stick of butter, all in homage to the extra buttery flavor they know and love.”

Yum! To win this gold butter bar worth $100,000, “fans can showcase their Buttery-er selves by creating a TikTok video using the Live Buttery-er TikTok effect created by RITZ brand starting May 1^st at 12:00 a.m. ET and ending May 20^th, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To enter, fans should post their video to TikTok and in the caption tag @theritzcrackersofficial and include the hashtags #livebutteryer and #RITZcontest. There is also a mail-in, alternative entry method.* One lucky winner will receive the coveted butter-inspired 24-karat solid RITZ-branded gold bar, because RITZ brand is *extra* like that!”

We love it! The more butter the better!

Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in May

If you love Camp Cretaceous or any part of the Jurassic World universe, it’s time to get ready for more dino fun. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is a new Netflix series that picks up six years after the events of Camp Cretaceous to continue the story of “The Nublar Six” and, of course, everyone’s favorite dinosaurs. The series will arrive on May 24.

You can check out the Jurassic World: Chaos Theory teaser trailer and synopsis below.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory‘s synopsis shares:

Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of “The Nublar Six” are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them. Reunited in the wake of a tragedy, the group comes together only to find themselves on the run and catapulted into a global adventure to unravel a conspiracy that threatens dinosaur and humankind alike and finally learn the truth about what happened to one of their own.

For more Jurassic World fun, check out what we know about the new live-action movie.

Denis Villeneuve to Reportedly Helm Nuclear War: A Scenario Adaptation with Legendary Pictures

Reportedly, Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Pictures are teaming up again after the success of the Dune movies. This time, Villeneuve will helm an adaptation of the non-fiction book, Nuclear War: A Scenario. Deadline notes, “The book explores a ticking-clock scenario about what would happen in the event of a nuclear war, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who built the weapons and have been privy to the response plans and have been responsible for those decisions should they need to be made.”

The Poohniverse‘s Next Entry Bambi: The Reckoning Shares Teaser Trailer

Strap in for the next horror retelling of a childhood favorite. Bambi is now a vicious killing machine in the trailer for Bambi: The Reckoning, the next movie in the Poohniverse which also contains Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.

The synopsis shares, “We follow Xana (Roxanne McKee) and her son Benji (Tom Mulheron) who find themselves in a car wreck and soon hunted down by the vicious killing machine, Bambi.”

Learn more about the Poohniverse‘s plans, here:

Make Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f Cosmetics

It’s the age of the Goth Ghoul. And Liquid Death and e.l.f. cosmetics have collaborated to help you slay your look! (It even involves a keepsake coffin!) The official description shares, “It’s the new makeup trend everyone’s living for—and it’s only available from e.l.f. and Liquid Death. Slay the viral corpse paint look with this limited-edition, five-piece kit.”

Liquid Death even released a hilariously on-point ad for the collaboration, which aims to replicate retro-informercials hilariously. (And totally succeeds!)

The kit includes a “Limited-edition, 5-piece makeup set includes Matte Magic Mist & Set, O FACE Satin Lipstick, No Budge Cream Eyeshadow, H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen and Putty Applicator in drop-dead gorgeous packaging.”

Click To View Gallery

This will help you create drop-dead gore-geous looks. We adore it. The vibe here honestly reminds us of Nerdist favorite Lisa Frankenstein, but encapsulated in a makeup kit! More make-up kits need to come in coffins.

The Corpse Paint kit is available until supplies sell out! But never fear—even when the set is no longer alive, Liquid Death and e.l.f. have curated a whole set of suitably slay-tastic substitutes. You can take a look at the whole collection here. And who knows, maybe we’ll see it rise from the dead again sometime soon!

Hell yes! We love a unique makeup collaboration!

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is Confirmed

More murderous Pooh mayhem is coming our way. Variety has revealed that Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 is confirmed and will be hitting our screens eventually. Although we have no specific timeline for the release of Blood and Honey 3 yet, we do know that “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ will have a bigger budget than the previous films and will introduce new characters from the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories, including Rabbit, the heffalumps and the woozles. All will no doubt be given sadistic, murderous twists.”

Jagged Edge is also planning a massive “Poohniverse” crossover movie with all kinds of childhood villains gone wrong.

Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived

Heroes & Villains are always outfitting us in the latest and greatest in nerdy-wear. And their recent Star Wars: Thrawn collection is no different. Star Wars‘ villains are having a huge moment, and the Admiral deserves some love. Check out what’s on offer below, and then head over to Heroes & Villains’ site for more.

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Check out some cool watches to go with this Thrawn collection.

A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way

One of the most beloved anime and manga series ever is now getting a theme park. The official Dragon Ball website announced that the theme park would be coming to Saudi Arabia. A release shares more about the park, noting:

The Dragon Ball theme park will boast a whopping size of over 500,000 square meters and feature seven different areas that recreate various iconic locales from the original series, such as Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus’s Planet. At the park, visitors will be able to join an adventure with Goku and pals as they enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, from the very beginning of the anime all the way up through Dragon Ball Super!”

This theme park will feature five state-of-the-art rides as part of a lineup of 30+ attractions! And if that wasn’t already exciting enough, construction of a 70 meter-high Shenron is also planned, with this landmark containing a large-scale roller coaster inside!

Dragon Ball‘s legacy is unparalleled.

New Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and More

A new video game from Marvel is bringing to life some of our favorite heroes in a whole new way. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra takes us back to, you guessed it, 1943. There “an original story that takes players on a WWII-era adventure with an ensemble of four heroes playable at different points in the game.” These four heroes are “a young Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America; Azzuri, T’Challa’s grandfather and the WWII-era Black Panther; Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos; and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.”

Captain America and Black Panther are two of our favorite Marvel heroes, and we can’t wait to see them come to life in this new game. The results will undoubtedly be epic.

The game comes from Skydance New Media, helmed by award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig, and Marvel Games.

Here’s what we know about Captain America’s next adventure in the MCU.

Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix

Want to see Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawk in their queer, western short directed by Pedro Almodóvar? Well, get excited; it’s coming to Netflix on April 12.

Take a look a the trailer here.

Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo

Godzilla is known for crushing Tokyo, but recently, he recanted his ways and became the protector of Tokyo’s traffic. As Police Chief for a day, Godzilla set out to promote street safety.

It’s a good time to be Godzilla.

Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series

The Smallville animated series isn’t dead yet. Michael Rosenbaum recently revealed the following to Screen Rant:

All I could share is that it’s a great idea. We have Al and Miles, the creators of Smallville backing us up. When it’s the right time, we’d like to go and do this; pitch to Warner Bros. It has to be the right time, and right now is not the right time. We had the strike, we had a change of executives at DC — one being one of my best friends in the world, James Gunn. When the time’s right, I think it’s something that’s a no brainer, unless they have other ideas. We’d like to do it — the whole cast would like to do it. They would voice their own character from the show, and we have a concept of what the show is.

Fingers crossed!

Rosenbaum also recently spoke to the DCU’s newest Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult.

D&D Converse Are Coming

Get ready to roll for extra cool kicks. Converse is teaming up with Dungeons & Dragons for a line of sneakers and more to celebrate D&D‘s 50th anniversary. The color scheme is pretty cool, and we love the designs. With these on our feet, we’ll have all the initiative we need. Take a look at what’s on offer below. These Dungeons & Dragons Converse will go on sale on April 11.

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We’re also big fans of these nerdy One Piece PUMAs.

David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series

The second season of the Goosebumps anthology will see a friendly face arrive (or perhaps not so friendly). David Schwimmer is set to star in the second season of the Disney+ show. According to Deadline, “Schwimmer will portray Anthony, a former botany professor and divorced parent of teenage twins whose world takes a tumultuous turn as he juggles the responsibilities of overseeing an aging parent while having his kids for the summer.”

Check out what the first season looked like:

Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building

What’s that, the Empire on the Empire? Star Wars recently lit up the Empire State building with a light show showcasing its many iconic villains. This is a part of its “March to May 4th” initiative. And we’re excited to march along.

Blue Milk is also involved.

Originally published on March 22, 2024.

The post Buttery-er Ritz Crackers Are Here, a DRAGON BALL Theme Park, a STAR WARS Thrawn Collection, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Update as of 4/29/2024: The Boy and the Heron will be released July 9 on 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray + DVD, and in a Limited Edition Steelbook which includes 4K UHD + Blu-ray. The latter will feature Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos. The film will also be released in HD on all major on-demand digital platforms, as well as in 4K with Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on June 25.

These versions will be in its original Japanese language with English subtitles, as well as in the new English-language version with actors Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. It is available for pre-order on GKIDS.com, Shoutfactory.com, Apple, Amazon, and VUDU/Fandango.

Previous: From Oscar-winner excitements to cool new releases and more, here are some of our favorite odds and ends of entertainment news.

• The Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024
• Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & Dragons
• A24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster Movie
• Sam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series
• The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen Soon
• Pokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the Show
• AMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink Cup
• Music Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits Trailer
• Netflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology
• Star Trek Is Heading to Wondercon
• A Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is Coming

The Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024

The Boy and the Heron is now an Oscar-winning movie. And to celebrate, the Miyazaki film will return to theaters on March 22. It will return in both the English-dub and sub versions. The re-release will also include “exclusive bonus content featuring an introduction from the film’s composer Joe Hisaishi, who received a Golden Globe nod for his work on the film, and a recorded drawing session with supervising animator Takeshi Honda.”

Additionally, The Boy and the Heron will stream on Max later this year. Max has also extended its contract to stream Studio Ghibli films with a new “multiyear agreement.” So it looks like Max will remain the home for Miyazaki movies for the foreseeable future.

Read our review here:

Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & Dragons

Something new is coming to the world of tabletop roleplaying games, and that’s Critical Role‘s answer to Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart. Critical Role shares, “Daggerheart [is] our contribution to the world of high-fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. Daggerheart is a game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.”

As far as game mechanics go, in Daggerheart will “players roll one HOPE die and one FEAR die (both 12-sided dice), which will ultimately impact the outcome for your characters. This duality between the forces of hope and fear on every hero drives the unique character-focused narratives in Daggerheart.” The game will also involve a card system that “makes it easy to get started and satisfying to grow your abilities by bringing your characters’ background and capabilities to your fingertips. Ancestry and Community cards describe where you come from and how your experience shapes your customs and values. Meanwhile, your Subclass and Domain cards grant your character plenty of tantalizing abilities to choose from as your character evolves.”

Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest has now launched globally.

A Dungeons & Dragons RPG life-sim game is also coming soon.

A24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster Movie

A24 is eyeing its next star-studded, surreal turn from director Ari Aster. Eddington features a cast that includes Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr. Aster will write, direct, and produce the movie, which Variety shares  “follows a small-town New Mexico sheriff with higher aspirations.”

Here’s our review of A24’s latest film, Love Lies Bleeding.

Sam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series

Fans of the Hello From the Magic Tavern will be thrilled to hear that Sam Rockwell and Mark Berger’s Play Hooky Productions and Starburns Industries will adapt the podcast into an animated series. The series will tell a fantastical tale of the denizens of the land of Foon. Deadline reveals that “The animated series will follow the unlikely friends, Arnie Niekamp, Usidore the Blue (Young), and Chunt the Talking Badger (Rifai) on adventures throughout the fantastical land of Foon and beyond.”

The more fantasy adventures, the merrier.

The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen Soon

Brendan Wayne, the actor who serves to bring Din Djarin’s to life physically on The Mandalorian, recently shared that it didn’t seem like a season four of the show was on the way. Wayne noted to The Chatooine Show, which we saw via Den of Geek, “I know that we’re doing a movie for sure.” But when asked if there were any plans brewing for season four of The Mandalorian, Wayne simply said, “No.” We suppose it makes sense to focus on one thing at a time. And a movie will surely be good. But fans of the series do hope to see it return to its original form at some point. Finger crossed!

Here are all the new Star Wars movies in the works.

Pokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the Show

Fans of the Pokémon series recently said goodbye to Ash and Pikachu as the series shifted to its new heroes. But don’t count Ash out just yet. Speaking to Variety, The Pokémon Company’s Andy Gose, senior director of media production, and Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing, kept a little hope alive that we might run into our favorite trainer again someday.

Gose shared, “We’ve said farewell. Ash is still in the world. Anything is possible, I suppose. In the world of Pokémon, there’s so many possibilities.” And Okiura noted, “We hope Ash and Pikachu continue in their journey. Their journey is ongoing somewhere in the Pokémon world. It’s totally up to our fans’ imagination. For the time being, we would love to focus on the new story of the Liko and Roy. “Horizons” invites a new beginning.”

Liko and Roy’s adventures have finally arrived in the United States.

AMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink Cup

If you want to enjoy the movies and bust ghosts all at once, then AMC’s new Ghost Trap vessel and Mini-Puft Man Sipper are perfect for you. These fun products, which celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, will hold all your favorite theater snacks in style.

A release shares, “The Ghost Trap vessel appears to be plucked right out of the movie, complete with warning stickers and LED lights, available in theatres March 21. The colorful trap is designed to maximize the amount of popcorn you can carry to your seat from the concession stand — and then transform it into a movie experience keepsake to take home, display and enjoy. The light-up vessel is available for just $39.99 and includes a large popcorn.”

Additionally, “Guests can also mallow out with a collectible Mini-Puft Man Sipper (just $19.99 and includes a large drink) exclusively available only at AMC Theatres in theatre and online here while supplies last.”

Personally, I am obsessed with the Mini-Puft Man Sipper. Could it be any cuter?

Take a look at the trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Music Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits Trailer

Music can sometimes take you back to a specific place and time. But in the cast of The Greatest Hits, it will do so literally. You can check out the trailer for the romantic time-travel movie with a twist above. Its synopsis shares:

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives thepast through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change thepast, should she?

Netflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology

Wes Anderson recently won an Oscar for his incredible work on The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. Anyone who enjoyed that short can rejoice because three more like it are coming as part of Wes Anderson’s collaboration with Netflix on Roald Dahl-inspired pieces. A release notes, “Four spellbinding tales unfold in writer-director Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved stories.” These shorts, of course, feature an all-star cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, and more.

Here’s the list of all the recent Oscar winners.

Star Trek Is Heading to Wondercon

If you’re heading to WonderCon, don’t miss out on its exciting Star Trek offerings! First, you can participate in a Star Trek sing-along screening of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ musical episode. What could be better than that? Secondly, you can be one of the first people to watch the premiere episode of Star Trek: Discovery‘s final season. That’s not something to miss out on. Full panel details are below.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS – “Subspace Rhapsody” Sing-Along 

CBS Studios and Paramount+ invite you to join them for the first ever Star Trek sing-along screening of the “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody” followed by a moderated Q&A with songwriters Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, also of Letters to Cleo fame, where they will discuss writing the songs for Star Trek’s first ever musical episode. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 – 3:30pm – 5:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY – Final Season Premiere Screening 

Be one of the first to see the premiere episode of the final season of “Star Trek: Discovery” followed by a moderated Q&A with Michelle Paradise (EP/Showrunner) and Olatunde Osunsanmi (EP/Director) where they will discuss working on the exciting final season and tease what’s to come.

Check out the trailer for the final season of Star Trek: Discovery:

A Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is Coming

The failed Willy Wonka experience in Scotland brought some levity to all our lives. And now, a musical based on the viral hit is on the way from producer Richard Kraft.

A release shares more about Willy Fest: A Musical Parody:

A team of top award-winning film, television and stage songwriters are joining forces to create a musical satire, “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knock-off fiasco that quickly became a social media phenomenon.

As breathlessly covered in worldwide press, this misguided event morphed into a viral nightmare a la Fyre Fest, where guests were greeted by a creepy warehouse, overpriced tickets and sad Oompa Loompa wannabes. Children were reportedly left in tears, the police were called, and the debacle was ultimately canceled, leaving organizers and guests with a bitter taste in their mouths and wallets.

We can’t wait to see it in song. “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” is targeted for a late 2024 launch.

A movie about the experience is also on the way.

Originally published March 15, 2024.

The post THE BOY AND THE HERON to Release on 4K UHD and Blu-ray, MANDALORIAN Season 4 Updates, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

From Mickey Mouse horror movies to streaming shenanigans to the Minecraft live-action movie casting news, here are some of our favorite odds and ends from pop-culture news that bubbled up in the last little while.

Odds & Ends in Entertainment News

Jump to:

• Jack Black Will Play Steve in Live-Action Minecraft Movie, Jennifer Coolidge and More Join Cast
• Adam Driver Is Done with Star Wars, His Kylo Ren Will Not Return
• Oppenheimer and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are Heading Back to IMAX Theaters
• What If…? Season 3 Is Coming Soon, Meanwhile Season 2 Almost Had a Truly Dark Spider-Man Story
• John Wick Director Would Make a Star Wars Movie “If Disney Could Survive Me,” Wants a Swing at the MCU’s Blade
• A Second Steamboat Willie Horror Movie Is on the Way
• The MCU’s Echo Series Will Be Dubbed in the Choctaw Language
• The First 10 Star Trek Movies Are Moving to Max

Jack Black Will Play Steve in a Live-Action Minecraft Movie, Jennifer Coolidge and More Join Cast

Who doesn’t love a good live-action adaptation of a beloved game? According to Deadline, Jack Black, who recently had a well-received turn in the animated adaptation of Super Mario Bros., will take on the character of Steve in a live-action Minecraft movie. Steve, of course, is one of Minecraft‘s original player characters. He is made of blocks and has no official backstory. Thus, we’ll be extra interested to see how he, and the game, get adapted. Jack Black also recently confirmed that he will be singing in the Minecraft movie and doing so alongside co-star Danielle Brooks. The actor additionally confirmed his role as Steve in the live-action Minecraft movie with an Instagram post.

Additionally, The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge has also joined the cast of the Minecraft movie, according to Deadline. There is no word yet on the role she will play. Jason Momoa is currently set to star in the Warner Bros. movie.

Finally, it is reported that Kate McKinnon and Jemaine Clement have also come along the now star-studded movie.

Check out Jack Black performing the hit song “Peaches” from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Adam Driver Is Done with Star Wars, His Kylo Ren Will Not Return

Daisy Ridley’s Rey will soon be back in a new Star Wars movie. But those hoping to see Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren strike back may end up disappointed. In a recent interview with the SmartLess podcast, which we saw via GameSpot, Driver revealed that more Star Wars content may be happening “but not with me.” Driver also noted, “I’m not doing any more.” Alas, we would say, never say never… But Driver seems pretty set in his thoughts for now.

It also turns out that Kylo Ren’s redemption arc wasn’t planned.

Oppenheimer and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are Heading Back to IMAX Theaters

‘Tis the season for movies that are in contention for awards to head back to theaters. Two such movies, Oppenheimer and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be doing exactly this in a big way. Both of these incredible movies will return to IMAX for a limited run. Oppenheimer will be back on IMAX theater screens beginning on January 12.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will hit IMAX on January 19. Both these movies are well worth watching on a huge screen, so don’t delay in getting your tickets.

Here’s what we thought of Oppenheimer and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse:

What If…? Season 3 Is Coming Soon, Meanwhile Season 2 Almost Had a Truly Dark Spider-Man Story

What If…? season two only just released, but Marvel Studios has revealed that season three will be “streaming soon.” Although we don’t know exactly when soon is, we do already have a full clip from the next season of the animated show. In it, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, voiced by Sebastian Stan, teams up with Red Guardian, voiced by David Harbour, and the pair go on an odd-couple road trip. Per Empire, Bill Foster/Giant Man, voiced by Laurence Fishburne, and a character named Ranger Morales also feature. We’ll take it.

Meanwhile, when it comes to season two of the show, What If…?‘s writer A.C. Bradley revealed there was almost an incredibly dark episode revolving around Spider-Man. Bradley noted, “I did write an episode, which is forever going in a drawer, that was very, very dark. I was calling it ‘Children of Men with Spider-Man.’” We can only imagine what on earth that might have entailed.

If you haven’t seen What If…? season two yet, you can check out its trailer below.

John Wick Director Would Make a Star Wars Movie “If Disney Could Survive Me,” Wants a Swing at the MCU’s Blade

Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick franchise, recently discussed whether he’d make a Star Wars or MCU movie. Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stahelski had quite a few thoughts. When it comes to Star Wars, the director had mixed feelings. He noted, “I’m a Star Wars guy. The first Star Wars changed my life path. Maybe someday out there, Disney if you’re listening, hit me in a couple of years. I have a couple of takes for Star Wars. I’d take a swing at that, see if Disney could survive me.” Of course, he also discussed the difficulties of not having creative control in franchise situations, but ultimately, he’d want to take a swing.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the MCU, the John Wick director shared, “Of all the things out there, I would take a swing at Blade in a second. Like that’s one that gets under my skin, like ‘Ah! I’d take a swing at that one.'” And further offered, “We’ve talked about it, but look they’ve got a good formula… they have their thing going and I think they’ve got the right people involved in Blade now… I’m not in the Inner Circle but we’ve had talks… Just for whatever reason things come together, and there’s a good fit for everything out there. But for what they’re doing they’ve got a great thing going, but if that thing doesn’t work out, in five years from now… maybe on the fourth reboot of Blade or the fifth reboot of Blade… Maybe I can pull back Wesley and jump in.”

Hey, you never know.

For now, though, it seems like John Wick 5 is slowly becoming a reality.

A Second Steamboat Willie Horror Movie Is on the Way

To no one’s surprise, a second Steamboat Willie horror movie is on the way. This one doesn’t have a trailer yet, but it does have some creepy art. And bonus, it actually takes place on a boat. That feels right. According to Variety, this public domain Mickey Mouse movie comes from director Steven LaMorte, who also directed The Mean One, a horror take on the Grinch. This Mickey movie, meanwhile, is an “untitled horror-comedy based on Mickey’s cartoon debut. In it, a sadistic mouse will torment a group of unsuspecting ferry passengers. Production is set to begin in the spring.” We’re sure this will not be the last Steamboat Willie/Mickey Mouse movie we’ll see whistling to life in the coming months.

The first announced Steamboat Willie horror movie, Mickey Mouse’s Trap, already has a trailer.

The MCU’s Echo Series Will Be Dubbed in the Choctaw Language

The MCU’s upcoming Echo series features a main character who is Native American. Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) a.k.a. Echo is a member of the Choctaw Nation. And so we are incredibly happy to hear that Marvel Studios will honor this aspect of the show by dubbing it in the Choctaw language. Director and executive producer Sydney Freeland shared the following with Entertainment Weekly:

In the process of working and collaborating with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, in working with the Choctaw language experts and consultants, it became very apparent that we needed to do a dub in Choctaw as well. And we’re incredibly proud of it.

Placing the story of Echo in the actual Choctaw language helps make our character more authentic to her heritage, because we get to delve into the specifics of Choctaw culture and traditions. I’m indigenous, I’m American, but I’m Navajo. And the Choctaw language and the Navajo language are completely different from each other; they’re as different as Portuguese and Polish. And so one of the things that was important for us was making sure that we had people who were experts in Choctaw language. But a lot of really great things came out of that collaboration — specifically, in the second episode of our series, we actually get to see a portion of pre-European contact America that I can genuinely say has never been seen on film before. That came as a direct result of our collaboration with the Choctaw Nation in trying to tell a more authentic story.

We can’t wait to see and hear the results of this incredible collaboration in full.

Before Echo arrives, you can get to know Maya Lopez with our character explainer.

The First 10 Star Trek Movies Have Moved to Max

What is life in the streaming age except constantly working to keep track of where your favorite movies can be watched? For a little while, all of Star Trek‘s films were on Paramount+. But now, as we saw via Comicbook.com, the first 10 Star Trek movies have moved to Max. Only the three Chris Pine-era movies remain on Paramount+. All we can say to those just trying to keep up is: live long and prosper.

More streaming shenanigans happen every day. The latest includes ads coming to Prime Video this January.

The post Jack Black Confirms His Role in the Live-Action MINECRAFT Movie appeared first on Nerdist.

From confirmation that Ryan Gosling will perform his hit Barbie song at the Oscars to a new set of Shrek Universal Orlando attractions, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends lately.

• Ryan Gosling Will Perform Barbie Ballad “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars
• LEGO X Fortnite Introduce Two New LEGO Islands
• A24 Releases Gorgeous Screenplay Book Honoring Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse
• Shrek’s Swamp Among New Attractions Coming to Universal’s Orlando Resort
• Netflix Teases Wild-Looking Parasite Movie, Parasyte: The Grey
• The Last of Us Season Two Star Is Teasing Queer Chemistry to Come
• Starlight Children’s Foundation Partners with Nintendo for Mario Day
• AMC Launches Three New Nicole Kidman Ads

Ryan Gosling Will Perform Barbie Ballad “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars

Good news, Barbies. Ryan Gosling is officially confirmed to perform “I’m Just Ken” live at the Oscars. We can’t wait to see how this Barbie movie looks and sounds on stage.

“I’m Just Ken” is one banger of a ballad:

LEGO X Fortnite Introduce Two New LEGO Islands

Get ready LEGO lovers and Fortnite fans, two new LEGO Islands just opened up in the game. ‘LEGO Raft Survival’ and ‘LEGO Obby Fun’ have now arrived and they’ll give you pirate and obstacle-course themed adventures to explore.

Here’s more about LEGO’s big collaboration with Fortnite:

A24 Releases Gorgeous Screenplay Book Honoring Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse

In celebration of Robert Eggers’ celebrated movie, The Lighthouse, A24 has released a gorgeous Screenplay Book honoring the film. Among other things, the book includes Robert and Max Eggers’ original script, an introduction by Willem Dafoe, full-page stills of Jarin Blaschke’s Oscar-nominated cinematography, select pages pulled from a lighthouse keeper’s guide published in 1881, and more. This The Lighthouse Screenplay Book truly highlights the beauty and atmosphere of its chosen movie. It also marks the 11th edition of A24’s incredible Screenplay Books series. The exquisite tome is the perfect gift for lovers of the movie.

Shrek’s Swamp Among New Attractions Coming to Universal’s Orlando Resort

A few new attractions are heading to Universal Orlando Resort, and among them are some new Shrek adventures. A release shares:

Like ogres and onions, guests can peel back layers of fun in Shrek’s oasis to discover “ogre-the-top” adventures at every turn.

Shrek’s Swamp Meet: Guests can visit Shrek’s Swamp Meet to interact with beloved characters Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey, the noble steed eager to joke around and converse with guests, just outside of Shrek’s cottage.

Shrek’s Swamp for Little Ogres: This ogre-sized play area features four fun slides, wet play areas and a playground where guests can climb, bounce and splash around as well as venture into Shrek’s outhouse.

Mama Luna Feline Fiesta: The blockbuster film, Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish, comes to life with this new interactive experience that takes place in Mama Luna’s retirement home for cats. Here, guests get to play with Mama Luna’s many cats on vivid interactive screens activated by buttons, bells, maracas and levers. They might even spot the one and only Puss in Boots himself. 

King Harold’s Swamp Symphony: Guests can create their own melodious masterpiece as they trigger a choir of ever-changing frog ribbits by continually stomping on an array of interactive lily pads. 

Swamp Snacks: Families can feast like an ogre at this new kiosk, which will serve scrumptious snacks inspired by Shrek, including Shrekzel, Far Far A Waffle, Frozen Ogre and more.

Other new attractions include experiences for Kung Fu Panda and Trolls.

Universal is also creating a whole new theme park:

Netflix Teases Wild-Looking Parasite Movie, Parasyte: The Grey

Get ready for one intensely creepy-looking movie. Netflix is teasing Parasyte: The Grey, a manga-based monster movie. Its synopsis shares, “When unidentified parasites violently take over human hosts and gain power, humanity must rise to combat the growing threat.” Here we go!

The Last of Us Season Two Star Is Teasing Queer Chemistry to Come

Speaking to ET, in an interview which we saw via GameSpot, Isabela Merced, who plays Dina on The Last of Us season two shares, “I already did one day of shooting–it was technically day zero–but the chemistry that Bella and I have is so palpable. It’s really nice to be able to work with someone like that.” Dina and Ellie, of course, share a close and sometimes romantic relationship in The Last of Us Part II, so we’re happy to hear it.

Here’s what we know so far about The Last of Us season two:

Starlight Children’s Foundation Partners with Nintendo for Mario Day

Starlight Children’s Foundation is “dedicated to delivering happiness to hospitalized children nationwide through the healing power of play.” And they’re partnering with Nintendo for an initiative called Power of Play. A release shares:

The Power of Play campaign aims to raise funds and awareness of the healing power of therapeutic play for kids in hospitals and their families. The month-long campaign seeks to raise $225,000 through different activations. As part of the Power of Play celebrations, our annual Stream ForStarlight (S4S) Spring Stream kicks off with an exclusive Mario Day weekend event. Starlight will start the 50 hours of streaming on Friday, March 8th at 4:00pm ET, featuring our 2023 Battle for Charity winners, Team PB, and we’ll round out the kickoff celebrations with a 48-hour raid train until 8pm ET on Sunday, March 10th. Our mission? To raise a whopping $50K by Mar10 Day! Play isn’t just fun – it’s how kids cope and learn through challenges, and how adults continue to strengthen their spirit. So this March, when you play, kids win! 

To get involved, check out the official page here.

AMC Launches Three New Nicole Kidman Ads

We come here to… see if AMC can have lightning strike more than once. The theater chain will introduce three new Nicole Kidman ads to its movies.

One will debut on March 1, while the other will arrive in the coming months. And we’ll have to catch them all like Pokémon. Only time will tell if they capture the magic of the original.

Check out the Nicole Kidman AMC backpack:

The post Ryan Gosling to Perform BARBIE’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ at the Oscars and Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

From a slew of new Disney release dates and windows to cool apparel collections and more, here are some recent odds and ends from the news.

Jump to:

• Disney Sets Zooptopia 2 Release Date; Frozen 3, Toy Story 5 Release Windows
• Planned Joe Manganiello Dragonlance Live-Action Series Has Been Cancelled
• Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Is in the Works
• Reese’s Puffs and Dragon Ball Z Team Up For Limited Edition Box Collection
• Pokémon and 100 Thieves Release New Apparel Collection
• DC’s Peacemaker Sets Mortal Kombat 1 Arrival Date
• Disney | American Girl Princess Dolls Are Available Now
• True Detective: Night Country‘s First Episode Is Free To Stream on YouTube
• BoxLunch’s Minnie Mouse Collection Is So Sweet

Disney Sets Zooptopia 2 Release Date; Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 Arriving in 2026

Disney revealed a whirlwind of information in a recent earning’s call. But among the rest, they shared some exciting news for highly anticipated Disney animated sequels. Zootopia 2 will release on November 26, 2025. Meanwhile, Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 will release in 2026.

Moana 2 was also announced.

Planned Joe Manganiello Dragonlance Live-Action Series Has Been Cancelled

Unfortunately for lovers of the fantasy series Dragonlance, a planned live-action series helmed by notable nerd Joe Manganiello has been canceled. Manganiello shared with ComicBook.com, “Dragonlance is not a property [Wizards in the Coast] are interested in developing further, currently.” The publication shares that “Hasbro’s sale of the eOne studio and the poor performance of a Dragonlance D&D adventure and board game in 2022″ were come of the cancellation culprits here.

Manganiello further notes, “What I had planned for the first season was mind blowing. I just….I want to make [the Dragonlance show] because I want to see it and I just want to feel that excited and electric about something. The characters…like the casting, I have a look book with over 1,000 pages, but it’s not what you expect. The design concepts I had for the world, for the armor, for the swords….I had a fresh take on what the dragons were going to look like, it was going to be nothing like anyone has ever seen. And these beloved characters that have been read by…I think Tracy said there’s 35 million copies in circulation.” 

Perhaps someday, we’ll see the series come to life.

In the meantime, D&D fans have a lot to look forward to.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Is in the Works

Meanwhile, there is good news for Cyberpunk 2077 fans. A follow-up to the game codenamed Project Orion is in the early stages of development at CD PROJEKT RED North America. And it sounds like its about to be a big focus for the studio. We can’t wait to see what’s in store.

If you haven’t yet, check out the trailer for Phantom Liberty.

Reese’s Puffs and Dragon Ball Z Team Up For Limited Edition Box Collection

Click To View Gallery

Who doesn’t love Reese’s Puffs? Who doesn’t love Dragon Ball Z? Who doesn’t love limited-edition Dragon Ball Z-themed boxes of Reese’s Puffs? These are all great questions. And the answer to them all is to get your hands on one of these cool anime-themed boxes of cereal. There are seven in total, and they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the franchise with cool art of its main characters. This Reese’s Puffs x Dragon Ball Z collection is available now nationwide. An exclusive eighth box (featuring, well, a dragon) is available only at Sam’s Club.

Which cereal do you think should get an anime makeover next?

Pokémon and 100 Thieves Release New Apparel Collection

We love a good collection of nerdy apparel. And that’s why we’ll be first in line for this Pokémon x 100 Thieves collaboration. A waterproof Blastoise jacket? Brilliant. And who can say no to a Pikachu varsity jacket? Team Pokémon all the way. This collection will go live  on February 10, 2024 at 12pm PST on the 100 Thieves website.

Click To View Gallery

It’s much more reasonably priced than the Tiffany’s Pokémon collaboration.

DC’s Peacemaker Sets Mortal Kombat 1 Arrival Date

Fans of the DC character will be excited to hear that Peacemaker will land in Mortal Kombat 1 on February 28. But even more exciting, John Cena will reprise the role in both voice and appearance. That should tide us over until Peacemaker season two. At least, it will help a little.

Speaking of Peacemaker, James Gunn is making progress on season two of the Max series.

Disney | American Girl Princess Dolls Are Available Now

American Girls have been icons of the doll world for generations. And now they’re teaming up with some even bigger super stars. That’s right, you can now buy American Girl versions of Ariel, Cinderella, and Tiana. It’s the greatest crossover the world has ever seen. These iconic dolls are available for purchase now.

Click To View Gallery

American Girl is also getting a Mattel movie.

True Detective: Night Country‘s First Episode Is Free To Stream on YouTube

Maybe you’ve been hearing about True Detective: Night Country‘s brilliance. Maybe you’ve been hearing about it from us. But if you haven’t gotten to watch the Max show yet, the first episode is now available free on YouTube. You’re welcome!

We’re diving deep into True Detective: Night Country‘s secrets.

BoxLunch Minnie Mouse Collection Is So Sweet

Valentine’s Day may be over, but you can celebrate the sweetness of the day anytime. BoxLunch’s Minnie Mouse collection is full of pink treats and soft things to help chase away any winter or post-V-Day blues. We’re obsessed with its perfectly rosy Minnie Cardigan. If you aren’t ready to let go of hot Barbie summer’s pink, cozy Minnie winter is here.

For even more pink fun, check out this new book all about Barbie‘s fashions.

The post Disney Sets Animated Sequel Release Dates, DRAGON BALL Z Cereal, And Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

From Ghostbusters letting Janine suit up to Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning coming to streaming (and changing its name) to a tub of Oreo filling you can buy to Lizzie McGuire’s bucket list achievements, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from recent history.

Recent Odds & Ends in the News

• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Sets Paramount+ Streaming Date, Removes “Part One” From Title
• Rachel Zegler Wants to Play Poe Dameron’s Mother in the Star Wars Universe
• The CW’s Logo Is Now “Hot Sauce” and “Icing” Colored
• Lizzie McGuire Would Have Hooked Up with Ethan TWICE in Cancelled Reboot
• Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey Creators Reveal First Teaser Image of Pinocchio: Unstrung
• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Will Be Inspired By ’80s Cartoon Series, Will Let Janine Suit Up
• Hayao Miyazaki Reveals the Identity of Spirited Away’s No Face
• A Chuck E. Cheese Game Show Is Coming Our Way, and It’s A Little Like Squid Game, But Includes Massive Prize Wall
• OREO and Betty Crocker Are Teaming Up to Bring You Oreo Filling in a Tub and More
• The Last of Us’ Young Mazino Teases Horse Riding and Gun Shooting in Season Two
• Ubisoft+ Adds Cheaper Subscription Tier to Offerings

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Sets Paramount+ Streaming Date, Removes “Part One” From Title

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning is finally heading to streaming. It will arrive on Paramount+ on January 25. But although it’s gaining a new home, it’s also losing something. The “Part One” has been removed from the title of the Mission: Impossible movie, originally titled Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Perhaps this was just a story decision, or perhaps the shift has something to do with the plot. We’ll have to wait until “Not Part Two” to find out.

Whatever it was called, this Mission: Impossible movie was one of our favorites of 2023.

Rachel Zegler Wants to Play Poe Dameron’s Mother in the Star Wars Universe

Rumors abound there could be a Star Wars version of What If…? in the works for Disney+. While these rumors are presently only that, they did lead to an excellent discovery. Rachel Zegler would love to join the Star Wars universe and has a character in mind to play. She revealed, “As a fan of the comics, I would like to throw my hat in the ring to voice Shara Bey, mother of Poe Dameron because her ship was an RZ-1 (my initials!) for Green Squadron.” Honestly, that seems like a lot of fun. We’d love to see more Shara Bey, more Poe Dameron, and Rachel Zegler in the Star Wars world.

In the meantime, you can check out our first look at Rachel Zegler as Snow White, below.

The CW’s Logo Is Now “Hot Sauce” and “Icing” Colored

The CW is looking to create a new image for itself. Not only is it dropping the “The” in its new logo, but it’s trying a veritable buffet of flavors on for size. The CW chief marketing officer Chris Spadaccini revealed to Variety that the network has selected a new color for its logo that it is branding “Hot Sauce.” Additionally, Hot Sauce will be surrounded by pink “Icing.” A light green is also in play that the CW calls “Mint.” We must say, hot sauce, icing, and minto are not three flavors we would immediately pair. But maybe The CW can make this weird combination work.

Alas, the end of the DC show era has arrived at The CW.

Lizzie McGuire Would Have Hooked Up with Ethan TWICE in Cancelled Reboot

The Lizzie McGuire reboot was sadly canceled before we could see what was in store for our favorite heroine. But recently, we learned a little more about the show. Writer Jonathan Hurwitz revealed that while Lizzie and Gordo were not endgame, Lizzie does get to fulfill her childhood dreams of hooking up with Ethan Craft… twice. You go girl! That is what dreams are made of.

We love seeing Lizzie wherever we can.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey Creators Reveal First Teaser Image of Pinocchio: Unstrung

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey horrified and delighted us when it first revealed its monstrous Pooh Bear and friends. And now its creators hopes to recreate the magic. We officially have our first teaser art from Pinocchio: Unstrung. Mind you, every version of Pinocchio is kind of creepy, so our expectations are pretty high.

Let’s take a look back at Blood and Honey in the meantime.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Will Be Inspired By ’80s Cartoon Series, Will Let Janine Suit Up

Speaking to Empire, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire director Gil Kenan discussed the inspirations for the new movie. He revealed that the ‘80s animated series The Real Ghostbusters and its “wild, original and weird-as-fuck villains” informed Frozen Empire‘s creatures. Kenan notes, “We wanted to bring that show’s looseness and fearlessness to this movie… I think it’s going to surprise people just how big this film is.” Empire touches on the various strange creations from the series that may come into play, including “a werechicken, a boogeyman, and an alternate reality with ‘Peoplebusters’.” Other inspirations noted for the film are John Hughes and Wes Anderson.

Additionally, Ghostbusters fans may feel excited to know that Janine Melnitz, played by Annie Potts, finally gets to be a Ghostbuster in Frozen Empire. In the original movies, Janine played the role of receptionist and delivered some iconic lines. But now, she’ll suit up and head out to the action. And it’s about time. She’ll even get “a fresh bit of ghostbusting kit.” But we don’t yet know exactly what it will entail.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will also see much of the original team reunite.

Hayao Miyazaki Reveals the Identity of Spirited Away’s No Face

Ever wondered just who No Face is? Well, Hayao Miyazaki has finally revealed the identity of this Spirited Away favorite. He shares, via Comicbook.com, “There are many people like No Face in our midst… it’s the type of person who wants to latch on to others but doesn’t have a sense of themselves. They are everywhere.” It all makes sense now.

Here’s our review of the latest Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and the Heron.

A Chuck E. Cheese Game Show Is Coming Our Way, and It’s A Little Like Squid Game, But Includes Massive Prize Wall

A new game show that takes place in Chuck E. Cheese will soon have adults playing super-sized versions of childhood games, reports The Hollywood Reporter. This may sound like Squid Game, but there’s no murder involved this time… As long as no Five Nights at Freddy’s style animatronics come to life. No, there will only be lots of tickets and a giant prize wall. We only hope all the teams get enough tickets to get that bubble wand or giant bouncing ball.

It looks like a Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel is in the works.

OREO and Betty Crocker Are Teaming Up to Bring You Oreo Filling in a Tub and More

Ever wish you could just eat a tub of Oreo creme filling? Well, now you can, and it’s enhanced by icing. Oreo and Betty Crocker have come together for this dream team-up. In addition to Betty Crocker OREO Creme Flavored Whipped Frosting, you can also get your hands on Betty Crocker OREO Chocolate Cake Mix, White Cake Mix, Lava Cake Mix, and Brownie Mix. Yum!

Just don’t apply Ranch dressing lip balm before you dive into these treats.

The Last of Us’ Young Mazino Teases Horse Riding and Gun Shooting in Season Two

We still don’t know too much about what to expect from The Last of Us season two. But Young Mazino, who was newly cast as the game character Jesse, recently painted us a little bit of a picture. He told Variety that his preparation for filming the series includes “learning ‘how to ride a horse’ and brushing up on his firearm training.” Sounds like we can expect some major action in the upcoming episodes.

The Last of Us season two has cast its Abby.

Ubisoft+ Adds Cheaper Subscription Tier to Offerings

Ubisoft is changing up its subscription offerings. A release shares, “Ubisoft+ Multi-Access and PC Access will now become Ubisoft+ Premium, offering day-one new releases and early access where applicable, alongside premium editions, monthly rewards, and more. Ubisoft is also introducing a new offer: Ubisoft+ Classics on PC, a curated selection of popular back-catalog and live games.” Ubisoft+ Premium will cost $17.99 a month, while Ubisoft+ Classics costs $7.99 per month.

We really enjoyed previewing Ubisoft’s latest release Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

The post A Chuck E. Cheese Game Show Is Coming, Rachel Zegler Wants to Join STAR WARS, and Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

From Harrison Ford posing with an anime chair, to Robert Downey Jr. doing a dramatic reading of Taylor Swift, to Oppenheimer finally heading to streaming, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from recent history.

• Oppenheimer Sets Streaming Date, Heads to Peacock
• Madame Web Suit First-Look Comes From an Unlikely Source
• Lost David Lynch Dune 2 Script Uncovered
• Patrick Stewart Says a Picard Movie Script Is in the Works
• Incredibly Long Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Godzilla RC Figure Has Landed
• Robert Downey Jr. Dramatically Recites a Taylor Swift Song
• Harrison Ford Strikes a Pose with Suzume‘s Chair!Souta
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Promises to Preserve Kevin Conroy’s Final Batman Performance
• Tekken 8 Meets Succession‘s Brian Cox in Hilarious Collaboration

Oppenheimer Sets Streaming Date, Heads to Peacock

Oppenheimer is finally heading to your streaming screens. If you didn’t catch the movie in theaters over the summer, you can find it streaming on Peacock beginning on February 16.

You can check out what we thought of the film, below.

Madame Web Suit First-Look Comes From an Unlikely Source

Sometimes our first looks at movies come from trailers, magazines, or dramatic social media drops. But we were treated to our first look at Madame Web‘s supersuit from the most unlikely of sources, a bottle of Ocean Spray cranberry juice. Absolutely iconic.

Here’s everything we know about the movie so far.

Lost David Lynch Dune 2 Script Uncovered

As we prepare to experience Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two this summer, another Dune 2 has emerged. This extra Dune comes in the form of a recently uncovered script for David Lynch’s Dune 2, Dune Messiah. The script was thought to be lost, but we can finally dive deep into its contents. You can take a look at what adventures the half-finished script holds over at Wired. Spoilers: It involves “a shape-shifting ‘face dancer.’” Yikes.

In the meantime, here’s everything we know about Dune: Part Two.

Patrick Stewart Says a Picard Movie Script Is in the Works

Hold onto your hats because a Picard movie could be coming our way. Patrick Stewart shared with the Happy Sad Confused podcast that a script had been written for him in the role. He notes, via Gizmodo, “I heard only last night about a [movie] script that is being written, but written specifically with the actor, Patrick [Stewart], to play in it… And I’ve been told to expect to receive it within a week or so. I’m so excited because it sounds like the kind of project where the experimentation that I want to do will be essential for this kind of material. It’s good at 83.”

This podcast filmed quite a while ago, so, chances are, Patrick Stewart has already seen a version of the possible Picard movie.

It’s a good thing too, because a Picard movie is exactly the story Patrick Stewart has been hoping for.

Incredibly Long Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Godzilla RC Figure Has Landed

How often can you say a figure is longer than it is tall? Well, this Godzilla RC figure from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire certainly takes the prize for one of the longest figures we’ve seen. It’s got its pink on, it’s ready to blow some heat-ray breath, and it’s 25 inches long. (And only 12.5 inches tall.)

You can also take a look at the first trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire to see Godzilla in action.

Robert Downey Jr. Dramatically Recites a Taylor Swift Song

Who doesn’t need to hear Iron Man dramatically recite a Taylor Swift song? We’re obsessed. At the start of his interview with W Magazine, Robert Downey Jr. took a little time to give us a dramatic reading of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space.” We want for nothing.

Unfortunately, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark will stay dead in the MCU and won’t be able to catch the latest hits from Taylor Swift.

Harrison Ford Strikes a Pose with Suzume‘s Chair!Souta

Another meeting of strange bedfellows included Harrison Ford and… a chair. Yes, Ford struck a pose with Suzume‘s iconic chair at the Golden Globes. This chair, of course, is also one of Suzume‘s main characters, Souta, transformed. We don’t know who is luckier to meet who. But we are seated should they ever want to make a movie together.

We thought Suzume was an absolutely iconic movie.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Promises to Preserve Kevin Conroy’s Final Batman Performance

Kevin Conroy’s final performance as Batman can be found in the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game. Since this is a live-service game, fans worried that if service to the game were ever to be stopped, the performance would be lost. But, as we saw via Comicbook.com, Rocksteady Production has promised to launch an offline version of the game to preserve the performance.

Rocksteady Production Manager Jack Hackett shared, “I completely understand that concern. To be clear, we’ve really heard that, and I understand the concern. Obviously, in the short term, that’s not any kind of risk, but I’m happy to tell you that we will support, post-launch, an offline mode where you can play through the story of this game in perpetuity. We hope to deliver that in 2024. That’s our goal. I won’t promise that under all circumstances. But, I totally get that kind of archival concern about a game like this.”

You can watch a moving tribute to Kevin Conroy’s Batman, here:

Tekken 8 Meets Succession‘s Brian Cox in Hilarious Collaboration

What could you need more in your life than Succession’s Brian Cox explaining the Tekken universe to you? Very little. We particularly love Cox’s emphasis on how the franchise loves fathers that throw their sons off cliffs. It’s poetic. And also informative. Tekken 8 will release on January 26, 2024, so you have a lot of time to review the franchise’s history with Cox.

For more video game fun, check out Dave Bautista recreating a nostalgic Mortal Kombat ad to celebrate Mortal Kombat 1.

The post RDJ Recites Taylor Swift, OPPENHEIMER Heads to Streaming, Lost DUNE Script Uncovered, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Marvel tarot cards? Check. Renewals for some of our favorite shows? Check. A Paddington Bear musical? Check. The Northern Lights for breakfast? Check.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from this week.

Jump to:

• House of the Dragon Seasons 3 and 4 Are Already In Active Discussion
• Twisted Metal Has Been Renewed for Season 2
• Hasbro Announces New X-Men ’97 Inspired Marvel Legends Figures
• A Paddington Bear Musical Is in the Works (And a Game of Thrones Play)
• Foundation Has Been Renewed for Season 3
• A Marvel Tarot Deck Could Be Perfect for the Nerdy Witch in Your Life
• Netflix Finally Releases Some Viewership Numbers
• Max Renews Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake for Season 2
• LetterBoxd Adds Movie Showtimes to Help Get Folks to Theaters
• Build a Festive Cin-Gingerbread House with Cinnamon Toast Crunch Kit
• Robert Pattinson Is an Unhinged Heron in The Boy and the Heron
• Icelandic Provisions Potions Kit Wants You to Turn Skyr Yogurt Into the Northern Lights

House of the Dragon Seasons 3 and 4 Are Already In Active Discussion

House of the Dragon season two hasn’t even arrived yet, but happily for Game of Thrones fans G.R.R. Martin is already discussing seasons three and four of the series with Max series showrunner Ryan Condal. Martin shared in a blog post, “I also spent two days locked in a room with Ryan Condal and his writing staff (Sara Hess, Ti Mikkel, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett) talking about the third and fourth seasons of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. They were lively, fun discussions, and we got some good work done… though two days was not nearly enough. There is so much ground to cover that I am not sure twenty days would have been enough.”

Of course, House of the Dragon has not yet been renewed beyond season two, but we feel confident it will be… and so does Martin. For now, you can check out the teaser trailer for season two of the show.

Twisted Metal Has Been Renewed for Season 2

Everyone’s favorite post-apocalyptic dramedy will return for a season two. Peacock announced their series adaptation of the Twisted Metal game would be back for more end-of-the-world adventures sooner rather than later. Anthony Mackie stars in the live-action TV show based on the iconic PlayStation game. We can’t wait to see him back behind the wheel as John Doe. And, of course, more Sweet Tooth the Clown is exactly what we need in our lives.

Hasbro Announces New X-Men ’97 Inspired Marvel Legends Figures

We’re very excited for Marvel Studio’s upcoming animated series, X-Men ‘97. In celebration of this reboot of X-Men: The Animated Series, Hasbro has launched a new line of X-Men ‘97-inspired Marvel Legends figures. These include figures of Magneto, Nightcrawler, Jean Grey, Goblin Queen, The X-Cutioner, and Cyclops.

Click To View Gallery

Here are some of the stories we’d love to see X-Men ’97 tackle.

A Paddington Bear Musical Is in the Works (And a Game of Thrones Play)

Time to put on your red hat and get ready for adventure. A Paddington Bear musical is officially in the works. According to Variety, it will be released in 2025. Not much is known about Paddington: The Musical yet, but its creative team shares, “We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures and mishaps with the Brown family, and Michael Bond’s other treasured characters to the stage. We hope to inspire audiences of all ages with fun, beauty, joy, and all that Paddington stands for.”

Additionally, a Game of Thrones play is in the works and eyeing a 2024 release. G.R.R. Martin shares in a blog post, “one of the meetings I had in London was with Dominick and Duncan, the director and scriptwriter of our own stage play, the one we have been working on for the past few years. Originally we were calling it HARRENHAL, but we have now settled on THE IRON THRONE as a title… until we think of something better. Regardless, things are coming well, I think, and we are hopeful of being able to open in late 2024.”

As we wait for updates on these, check out what we know about Paddington Bear 3.

Foundation Has Been Renewed for Season 3

‘Tis the season for renewals. The sci-fi epic Foundation will return for a season three. So, we guess the Lee Pace shower battle scene really did the trick. We can’t wait to see more from Foundation‘s epic cast and nuanced world in the near future.

A Marvel Tarot Deck Could Be Perfect for the Nerdy Witch in Your Life

Still trying to fill up a stocking? This Marvel tarot deck could be just the thing for the nerdy witch in your life. This deck features “78 cards with art of characters like She-Hulk, Captain America, Spider-Man, and more” and is available at BoxLunch. We’re already obsessed.

These fantasy cardigans would also make delightful gifts.

Netflix Finally Releases Some Viewership Numbers

It is about time we see some transparency from Netflix. On the heels of gains made during Hollywood’s strikes, the streamer has released concrete viewership numbers for its many shows. The information reflects “what people watched on Netflix over a six-month period.” Coming out on top was The Night Agent, while Nerdist favorite Wednesday landed as the fourth most-watched show in second half of 2023. Fascinatingly enough, the now-canceled series Shadow and Bone also seemed to perform favorably. We guess we’ll have to wait and see how this information transparency shapes the landscape.

We’re crossing our fingers Netflix’s One Piece will land at the top of the charts when Netflix releases its next report. It was one of our best TV shows of 2023.

Max Renews Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake for Season 2

It’s time for more Adventure Time. Max has renewed the Adventure Time spinoff series Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake for a second season. Season one was absolutely adorable, so we can’t wait for more adventures with these alternate universe versions of Finn and Jake.

Here’s season one’s trailer if you haven’t watched it yet.

LetterBoxd Adds Movie Showtimes to Help Get Folks to Theaters

People head to LetterBoxd to get the scoop on what’s good in the world of movies. And now, if something sounds particularly excellent, users can also immediately see when the movie is playing in theaters in the LetterBoxd interface. This update only makes sense. We first saw this news on The Hollywood Reporter.

If you want to know more about what was good in theaters this year, you can also check out our 2023 “Best Of” list.

Build a Festive Cin-Gingerbread House with Cinnamon Toast Crunch Kit

Admit it, gingerbread is like your tenth favorite holiday cookie. It could use an update. And that’s why Cinnamon Toast Crunch has made Gingerbread Toast Crunch. And you can even build a Cin-Gingerbread House instead this Christmas season. You can get this festive kit online now. It includes quite a few things, including an ugly sweater and Gingerbread Toast Crunch, but our favorite pieces are the Cinnamon Toast Crunch icing and Cinnadust. Those things sound like they’d be good on a Cin-Gingerbread house, but also just good. Happy Holidays!

Follow this treat up with some Doritos Nacho Cheese liquor.

Robert Pattinson Is an Unhinged Heron in The Boy and the Heron

When we heard that Robert Pattinson would play the Grey Heron in the latest Studio Ghibli film, we were delighted. And he did not disappoint. But don’t take our word for it. Check out the clip of Pattinson as an unhinged heron above. And then head to theaters to watch the Miyazaki movie.

You can also check out the full English-language dub trailer for the film:

Icelandic Provisions Potions Kit Wants You to Turn Skyr Yogurt Into the Northern Lights

Firstly, why have normal yogurt when you can have Icelandic Skyr from Icelandic Provisions? Skyr is “akin to yogurt but has a different texture thanks to the heirloom Icelandic cultures used to make it. It takes nearly four cups of milk to make one cup of Skyr, making it thicker, and creamier than yogurt.” It’s also just delicious. But if you’re going to have Skyr, why not cast a spell to turn it into the Northern Lights?

Icelandic Provisions has created a kit that brings the majesty of the Northern Lights to your breakfast. And it kind of makes you feel like a witch brewing a potion when you do. Also, there’s glitter. It’s delightful. And it’s just right for the feeling of the Winter Solstice.

A release shares, “The Icelandic Provisions Northern Lights Skyr Kit (retail price: $11) will allow fans to create their own version of this iconic natural phenomenon with wholesome, vibrant ingredients that evoke the stunning colors of the lights and celebrate the earthy elements of the Icelandic landscape.” You can join the waitlist now to know first when the kits go on sale. Fans who register will also be entered into a contents to win a trip to Iceland to see its breathtaking scenery and maybe the Northern Lights in person!

And, if you want one picture that says a thousand words. Here’s what became of my preview kit.

Originally published on December 14, 2023.

The post HOTD Seasons 3 and 4 Underway, Marvel Tarot, a PADDINGTON Musical, and Other News appeared first on Nerdist.

From Nosferatu‘s first images to tantalizing The Last of Us season two teases to incredibly orange Cheez-It nail polishes, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from recent history.

• Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu Reveals First-Look Images and Release Date
• The Last of Us Season 2 Will Release in 2025, Set to Feature Content From Lost Game Levels
• Iman Vellani Reveals Kamala Khan Will Be “Frodo” of Marvel Zombies, Returns to Voice Character and Pen New Comic
• Chris Pine Feels Confident a Dungeons & Dragons 2 Movie Will Happen
• Cheez-It Nail Polish Is coming!
• Hazbin Hotel Sets Release Date
• Twilight Director Would Cast Jenna Ortega and Jacob Elordi as Leads in Movie Today
• Margot Robbie Reveals No Barbie Sequel Is Heading Our Way
• You Can Now Watch the Halo Live-Action Series Free on YouTube

Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu Reveals First-Look Images and Release Date

Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu has been brewing for a while. But we finally have our first looks at the movie and a release date. Nosferatu will officially release on December 25, 2024. That’s one delicious Christmas gift for goths. The vampiric tale stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe.

Learn more about the influence of the original Nosferatu with our article, here.

The Last of Us Season 2 Will Release in 2025, Set to Feature Content From “Lost Levels“

In a recent sizzle reel teasing their upcoming properties, HBO confirmed that The Last of Us season two would arrive on Max in 2025. This release window for more of The Last of Us has been highly hinted at in previous discussions, but now it is finally confirmed. The network did not release any further details on the season.

However, if you’re looking for hints about The Last of Us season two than look no further than the remastered “Lost Levels.” These Lost Levels are playable sequences that were cut from The Last of Us Part II. But they’ll be back in the remastered version of the game that is releasing on January 19, 2024. And Neil Druckmann is teasing that they hold some insights for the HBO series. He notes to Entertainment Weekly, “As a tease, I will say there is at least one element from a cut level that is planned [for] the show… I say that with the caveat that we haven’t started filming the show yet, and all things are subject to change based on what we ultimately feel will be best for the show.”

The Last of Us Part II Remastered and its mysterious Lost Levels will be available to pre-order on December 5.

The Last of Us season two is already off to an ominous start.

Iman Vellani Reveals Kamala Khan Will Be “Frodo” of Marvel Zombies, Returns to Voice Character and Pen New Comic

Iman Vellani has emerged as one of the MCU’s truest heroes. So we couldn’t be more thrilled that she’ll soon be back to voice Ms. Marvel in the Disney+ series Marvel Zombies. In an interview with The Direct Vellani reveals, “We’ve done the whole thing. It was amazing. It was so much fun. And I love—there are a lot of cool characters in the ‘Marvel Zombies‘ show. And Kamala is kind of the center of the show. They described it to me, it’s like, ‘She’s basically the Frodo of the story.’ And I was like, ‘That’s amazing.'” It’s what Ms. Marvel deserves.

Vellani will also be back to pen another Ms. Marvel comic. She and co-writer Sabir Pirzada will write the Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace series, a follow-up to Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant. According to GamesRadar, the pair will be joined by artist Scott Godlewski. The series is set to release in March.

Chris Pine Feels Confident a Dungeons & Dragons 2 Movie Will Happen

Although it was bad news for Star Trek 4, Chris Pine recently gave a positive update about the future of the Dungeons & Dragons movie franchise. He shared the following with GamesRadar about a potential Dungeons & Dragons 2, “I’ve heard some rumors about it… But I don’t know anything yet. But I feel pretty confident that it may happen.” He also added that he’d be “absolutely” happy to return to the universe. And we too would be absolutely happy to see it happen. Roll for Dungeons & Dragons 2.

Unfortunately, Chris Pine wasn’t so optimistic about Star Trek 4.

Cheez-It Nail Polish Is coming!

Enough said, no? Cheez-It and Nails Inc. Polish are collaborating on two cheesy colors, “Orange You Feelin’ the Cheeziest” and “Flexin’ in the Red Zone.” And who doesn’t want their nails to look like a little cheesy? This polish, perfect for mani/cheddiz, will be available for pre-order on Dec. 29 at CheezIt.com.

Hazbin Hotel Sets Release Date

Who doesn’t want an animated musical series about the princess of Hell trying to rehabilitate demons? Hazbin Hotel is created by Vivienne Medrano and is based on “her popular animated pilot released on YouTube in 2019.” Additionally a release shares, “The series blends adult humor, unforgettable characters, and catchy musical numbers creating a wholly original and unique world.” It certainly looks good in its preview. And now it has a release date. Hazbin Hotel will release on January 19, 2024. The series stars Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Kimiko Glenn, Blake Roman, Amir Talai, Christian Borle, and Joel Perez. And it will feature exciting guest stars such as Darren Criss (Saint Peter), Jeremy Jordan (Lucifer Morningstar), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Carmilla Carmine), Patina Miller (Sera), and Jessica Vosk (Lute).

We can’t wait to check in to this hotel.

Twilight Director Would Cast Jenna Ortega and Jacob Elordi as Leads in Movie Today

Twilight just wouldn’t be Twilight without the incredible performances of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. But who doesn’t love a fan-cast for today’s day and age? Speaking to the Watch-a-long podcast, Twilight‘s director Catherine Hardwicke shared her picks for Bella and Edward, should a reboot of the series happen. Her selections? Jenna Ortega and Jacob Elordi. We accept these choices. Ortega could definitely help give Twilight a more horror-focused lean and Elordi really does give off strong vampire vibes.

There is a Twilight series brewing, after all…

Margot Robbie Reveals No Barbie Sequel Is Heading Our Way

Alas, it’s unlikely we’ll say “Hi, Barbie 2.” But that’s most likely for the best. Not everything needs a sequel. Of course, this could all change in a moment, especially since Barbie was so immensely popular. But for now, Margot Robbie shares, “I think we put everything into this one. We didn’t build it to be a trilogy or something… Greta put everything into this movie, so I can’t imagine what would be next.”

We bet Warner Bros. could… But we’ll cross our fingers Barbie gets to stand on her own.

Barbie is now available to stream at home.

You Can Now Watch the Halo Live-Action Series Free on YouTube

In case you’ve been waiting for a sign to watch the live-action adaptation of Halo, here it is. The Halo series is now available on YouTube in its entirety via Paramount+’s official channel. And it’s totally free. So now nothing is stopping you from watching Pablo Schreiber’s hunky Master Chief in all his sci-fi/action glory. We know we’re pressing play.

You can find the Halo playlist here.

We’re also getting a live-action series adaptation of Fallout.

Originally published on December 1, 2023.

The post NOSFERATU Shares Release Date and First Look Images, Plus Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Recently, we heard discussions about the original Avengers returning to the MCU, saw a Mean Girls sequel (kind of), and learned the secrets of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 post-credits scenes and Easter eggs. But in the mix of all of that, there have been some truly exciting announcements and reveals we wouldn’t want you to miss out on.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from this week.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News

Jump to:

• Horror Sequels Galore! The Black Phone 2 Will See Return of Original Cast, Terrifier 3 Sets Release Date and Shares Teaser, and It Follows 2 Is On the Way
• Another John Wick Spinoff Show and an Anime Series Are Apparently In Development
• Poltergeist TV Series Is in Development at Amazon MGM Studios 
• Disney+’s Cancelled Captain Nemo TV Series Nautilus Saved By AMC
• The Fall of the House of Usher Prop Auction Invites You to Purchase Something Haunted and Stylish
• Bratz Dressed Up as Barbie for Halloween, and Rick and Morty Dressed as Five Nights at Freddy’s
• The Boys Will Likely Have More Seasons Than Originally Planned
• Sesame Street Is Changing Its Format to Include “More Peril”
• Fourth Wing TV Series in the Works From Amazon and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society
• Jurassic World LEGO Sets Are Roaring to Life in January 2024

Horror Sequels Galore! The Black Phone 2 Will See Return of Original Cast, Terrifier 3 Sets Release Date and Shares Teaser, and It Follows 2 Is On the Way

Fall may be drawing to a close, but Halloween season never is. And it’s a good thing, too, because a ton of horror sequels are coming our way.

The truly terrifying Universal and Blumhouse movie, The Black Phone, is set for a sequel. The Black Phone 2 will release on June 27, 2025 and, per Variety, it will be the “launch of a sinister new franchise.”

We don’t yet know much about what The Black Phone 2 will entail, but in a fascinating turn of events, The Black Phone‘s original cast will all return for more scary calls. Yes, Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Miguel Mora will all return for the sequel terror.  Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill will also return to write The Black Phone 2. We have chills already.

Terrifier 3 and its terrifying slasher Art the Clown will arrive in theaters on October 25, 2024, for another round of Christmas horror. We can’t wait to see what terrifying naughty-list mayhem will transpire.

To get us into the holiday spirit, Terrifier 3 has shared its first teaser trailer, and it’s certainly festive. Santa who? A release further shares of Terrifier 3, “The upcoming installment will be Christmas-themed, adding an extra layer of anticipation for horror enthusiasts. In the third installment of Damien Leone’s breakout horror film, Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.” We’ll be seeing this Saint Nick in our dreams tonight.

It Follows will also receive a sequel titled They Follow. The writer and director of It Follows, David Robert Mitchell, will return for the sequel alongside star Maika Monroe. It Follows was a movie that encapsulated the terrifying feeling of someone always lurking behind you, and we bet its sequel will double the sensation.

In case you were curious, we’ve broken down the horoscopes of 12 iconic horror villains.

Another John Wick Spinoff TV and an Anime Series Are Apparently In Development

Surprise! Another John Wick spinoff series is apparently in development, according to John Wick director Chad Stahelski. And that’s not all, a John Wick anime is in the works as well. Stahelski noted to Collider, “We’re doing a John Wick TV show, which, again, keeps my head going.” And added, “I would love to do a couple of episodes of the TV show just because I think I’d have fun trying things that we didn’t get to try in the films. I mean, absolutely. There’s some great ideas. And to work with a different cast and a different story structure without John Wick, it would be a fun challenge.”

He also shared with The Discourse podcast, which we saw via IGN, that “Lionsgate is having us develop the John Wick TV show, so we thought we could explore The High Table in that a little bit.” But confirmed this was separate to The Continental. Stahelski noted, “Yeah, I love Donnie [Yen], I love Rina [Sawayama], love the Tracker (Shamier Anderson), and the TV show and the ancillaries will give us a chance to expand the kind of fun world we’ve created… It doesn’t have to be John Wick, the character specific, you know what I mean, so that we can explore all that stuff.” Of course, which, if any of these characters would stare in a new John Wick TV series has not yet been confirmed.

On top of that, Stahelski broke the news that a John Wick anime is also in development. He shared, “We’re doing that and a Japanese anime because I love Japanese anime so much… So to create all the cool stories that anime could achieve better than we could and the TV show to expand our world, we’ll still get our fix, you know what I mean? And we’ll still have all the fun.” We guess we’ll stay tuned to see what develops.

As if that weren’t enough John Wick, John Wick 5 is still on the table.

Poltergeist TV Series Is in Development at Amazon MGM Studios 

You can never be free of some ghosts. Variety reports a series adaptation of the classic ’80s movie Poltergeist is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios. Currently, no plot details or writers are attached to the series. However, we know “Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce on behalf of Amblin Television.” In 1999, Showtime released a four-season series adaptation set in Poltergiest‘s world—but television has come a long way since.

For more horror-based TV, check out what we know about Max’s The Conjuring show.

Disney+’s Cancelled Captain Nemo TV Series Nautilus Saved By AMC

In a worrying streaming trend, shows are being ordered and completed only to be canceled before release. But sometimes, there is good news. Deadline reports that although Disney+ canceled its Nautilus series, a 10-episode TV show based on Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, AMC has now saved the series. Nautilus will air on AMC and AMC+ in 2024 and tell the origin story of the iconic Captain Nemo.

To see what we learned about Nautilus initially, check out our write-up here:

The Fall of the House of Usher Prop Auction Invites You to Purchase Something Haunted and Stylish

Mike Flanagan’s final show with Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher, was filled with horrifying yet beautiful visuals. If you loved the show’s aesthetic, you can now take a part of it home with a special prop auction.

The Fall of the House of Usher auction will take place from November 15-29 with 100% of its proceeds going to charity. Among other items, you can bid on “Verna’s (Carla Gugino) Rave Costume with Red Cloak,” “Napoleon ‘Leo’ Usher’s (Rahul Kohli) Drywall-Covered ‘Thor’ Hammer Replica,” and “Arthur Pym’s (Mark Hamill) Briefcase with Files and Accessories.”

For more about The Fall of the House of Usher‘s aesthetic, take a look at what its use of color really means.

Bratz Dressed Up as Barbie for Halloween, and Rick and Morty Dressed as Five Nights at Freddy’s

Happy Halloween from our favorite franchises. In a bit of a shady move, some Bratz dolls dressed as the unimpressed teens looking at Barbie for Halloween—a truly hilarious spin on a Barbie movie costume which was, admittedly, very popular this year.

Meanwhile, Rick and Morty‘s characters disguised themselves as Five Nights at Freddy’s animatronics, homaging the popular game series that just released its movie adaptation. We love series dressing as series!

If you enjoyed Five Nights at Freddy‘s, you may be wondering what that sound at the end of the credits means.

The Boys Will Likely Have More Seasons Than Originally Planned

The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke originally planned for the series to have a five-season run. But it looks like that number is now defunct, and The Boys will likely have more seasons than that. Kripke shared with Inverse, “I have since realized that literally, no one in history is worse at predicting the amount of seasons of a show, like literally. I have learned my lesson, and I’ve stopped predicting how many seasons these shows go. You will find out in hindsight.” With the popularity of The Boys and its spinoff Gen V, that seems like a fair assessment to us.

Catch up with Gen V‘s most gory and shocking moments, here:

Sesame Street Is Changing Its Format to Include “More Peril”

Sesame Street wants you to know you can reinvent yourself at any age. Recently, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Sesame Street‘s format would be “reimagined” for season 56. The show will drop its “magazine style” format, which has been around for decades, in favor of “two longer, more narrative-driven segments, which will be paired with a new animated series, Tales From 123.”

Wilson Stallings, the executive VP and chief creative development and production officer for Sesame Workshop shared, “Kids love a little bit of peril, they love having emotional stakes, and in nine minutes, it’s kind of hard to really dive into those areas really effectively.” The show hopes to be able to tell a more compelling tale with these changes.

Be that as it may, we have to wonder, does Sesame Street really need more peril?

All we have to say is that Sesame Street had better keep gems like this.

Fourth Wing TV Series in the Works From Amazon and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society

Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society will be bringing to life a TV series based on Rebecca Yarros’ popular fantasy series, Fourth Wing. This overall deal includes all the books from the Fourth Wing universe titled The Empyrean, including its sequel Iron Flame, releasing on November 7, and the three books slated to follow.

Per Variety, the logline for the TV series shares:

Enter the brutal world of Basgiath War College where there is only one rule: Graduate or Die. Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail expected to live a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general― her tough-as-talons mother―has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. If the fire-breathing beasts don’t kill her, one of her fellow riders just might. Suspense, action, romance, and dragons blend together in a propulsive fantasy adventure from NYT bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

In other fantasy novel adaptation news, House of the Dragon season two will release in the summer of 2024.

Jurassic World LEGO Sets Are Roaring to Life in January 2024

Show off your dino love with these two new Jurassic World LEGO sets. First up is a Dinosaur Fossils: T. rex Skull LEGO set, which turns LEGOs into bones. The official description of the set shares, “The first Jurassic World set made for display features a skull with an opening jaw, a stand with an information plaque, a hidden ‘amber’ piece at the back of the model and a ‘fossilized’ footprint.” Honestly, building a T. rex skull out of LEGOS, teeth and all, is pretty cool.

Also available is the “Baby Dinosaur Rescue Center” LEGO set and it comes complete with a bunch of, you guessed it, baby dinos. D’aww. Both Jurrasic World LEGO sets will release on January 1, 2024.

Click To View Gallery

For more creative and nature-focused LEGO fun, check out LEGO’s insect collection.

The post TERRIFIER 3 Shares Teaser, New JOHN WICK TV Series and Anime in the Works, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

A lot is happening in the entertainment world every day, and it can be hard to keep track of. But from a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender concert tour to a Pixar-themed hotel coming soon, here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss.

Recent Odds & Ends in the News:

• Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon
• EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates
• Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes
• NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station
• Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection
• Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel
• Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays
• Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon

In need of some fun geeky outings to attend? Well, two iconic franchises are about to bring you fun in concert form. Avatar: The Last Airbender and Lost are both promising concerts that will transport you.

The official website for Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert shares, “Immerse yourself in an over two-hour show with a live orchestra bringing the show’s iconic musical score to life, in perfect harmony with highlights and favorite moments from the series. Taiko and erhu will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets, while the series’ most beloved scenes play out on screen, bringing viewers into the Avatar world to experience the series’ most memorable moments with Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Zuko and more.”

Four dates were originally announced across Europe and the United States, but now the tour has expanded well beyond that. The Avatar: The Last Airbender concert will be arriving in 100 cities.

Meanwhile, Lost‘s Michael Giacchino offers us a concert poster and little else. We guess it’s the Lost way to be mysterious. We do know we’ll see this Dharma Initiative concert in 2024.

If you need more Avatar: The Last Airbender in your life, check out everything we know about the live-action series.

EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates

Last September, Marvel Entertainment and EA’s Motive Studios announced they were teaming up for a brand new Iron Man game. This “all-new single-player, third-person, action-adventure” will “feature an original narrative that taps into the rich history of Iron Man, channeling the complexity, charisma, and creative genius of Tony Stark and enabling players to feel what it’s like to truly play as Iron Man.”

We haven’t heard too much about it since, but recently, the game received a few exciting updates. First, EA Motive shared that while the game was still in early pre-production, it had selected Unreal Engine 5 as its game engine. Additionally, a Community Council of Iron Man and Marvel fans has been selected to offer feedback on the game’s creation. And finally, Marvel Comics’ own Ryan North has joined the Iron Man game’s writing team, bringing his passion and expertise to the table. All of that sounds incredibly promising.

For more fun Avengers adventures, check out the trailer for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings collection is really something spectacular. And now, its gorgeous offerings continue to expand with four special Tales of Middle-Earth Scene Boxes. These special sets offer fans and collectors “6 foil Borderless cards with art that combine to showcase one of the most epic scenes from The Lord of the Rings” as well as “6 Art Cards featuring the same art without any game text obscuring the view” and three booster packs which contain 12 cards each, “including 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher.”

The four scenes depicted in these special The Lord of the Rings Magic card box sets are Gandalf in Pelennor Fields, The Might of Galadriel, Flight of the Witch-King, and Aragorn at Helm’s Deep. Each set costs around $41, or all four are available for purchase for $144. All of these incredible box sets go on sale on November 3. We first saw these on GameSpot.

To explore more about Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, check out our deep dive into the set, here.

NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station

Catching a glimpse of a rat in NYC is kind of like playing Pokémon Go in real life, right? To help the vision along, an app called Transit, which we first saw on Kotaku, is helping to detect rat-levels across NYC’s many different subway stops. Transit shares, “We enlisted thousands of rodent spotters across the five boroughs to rank the rattiest stations.” And in the end, Transit created the “NYC Subway Rat Detector.” Rats, it turns out, are everywhere, but in some places more than others. Those who actually download the Transit app can get updated reports on the state of their favorite station and check-in regularly on the rat situation. No word yet on what happens if you throw a Poké Ball in the direction of an NYC rat… But we’ll have to suggest that you don’t.

Did you know that rats can play video games too? Take a look at these rats playing Doom II.

Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection

Ready to embrace some extra mischief in your life? BoxLunch’s Loki collection is here to help you celebrate Loki, Sylvie, Mobius, Miss Minutes, and the TVA. Even though Loki and co. are probably going to bring down some multiversal mayhem on us all, it doesn’t mean we can’t look stylish while they do. And what could we possibly need more in our lives than an Alligator Loki plush? Ask yourselves.

Click To View Gallery

The full BoxLunch Loki collection is available here.

To catch up with Loki season two check out our latest write-up.

Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel

Disneyland + Pixar + fully-themed hotel? Sounds like a match made in heaven to us. We honestly can’t believe the United States didn’t have a full Pixar hotel already, but we guess it didn’t. Disneyland Resort recently announced the Pixar Place Hotel, which will give you an excellent new place to stay while celebrating all things Pixar.

Click To View Gallery

A release shares, “Pixar Place Hotel will evoke the inspiration and humor that goes into every Pixar film, while celebrating the artistic process. Showcasing early sketches to finished design, the art and decor will highlight vibrant Pixar stories, revealing some never-before-seen artwork.” From the iconic Pixar Lamp to The Incredibles to Toy Story 3 and beyond this new hotel will have it all. It will even include a Finding Nemo pool complete with “Crush’s Surfin’ Slide, a 186-foot-long water slide inspired by the coolest sea turtle in the ocean.” That’s cool, dude. You can check out more facets and concepts for Pixar Place above.

As if that’s not enough, a Haunted Mansion bar is coming to Disney’s next cruise ship.

Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays

Celebrate this holiday season with something sweet, Buddy the Elf style. In honor of Elf and everyone’s favorite elf, Goldfish is putting on their holiday best and offering us some maple syrup-flavored snacks. The official description of these treats notes, “MAPLE SYRUP FLAVORED GRAHAMS: Inspired by syrup – one of elves’ four main food groups. Enjoy delicious flavors of sweet brown sugar and butter, with the taste of caramel and vanilla. Inspired by Buddy the Elf!” Count us in. We also plan to greatly enjoy the different shapes these treats come in, which include Buddy’s hat, a maple syrup jar, and, of course, the traditional goldfish.

Elf turns 20 this year, and we couldn’t think of a finer way to welcome Buddy and the gang into double digits.

Need something else sweet in your life? Stranger Things‘ Scoops Ahoy ice cream is now available at Walmart.

Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow

Okay, so you can’t actually buy a tiny elf home on Zillow. But who doesn’t love a miniature? And if you get in contact with your elf realtor, you might just take home this little house and $10,000 courtesy of Icelandic Provisions Skyr. All you have to do is make an offering… probably not of your soul. But watch out, the fae folk are tricky. Just keep in mind that heating is wool sweaters, this home has been available for 1,000 years, and the price per square foot is a quarter leg of lamb. Can we please get Netflix on Selling Fairyland, stat?

For more fairies and mythology, check out the Ahsoka series connecton to folklore and myth.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

Let’s face it, the people love to see Spider-Man and Deadpool interacting together in a relationship affectionately known as Spidey-Pool. Maybe someday the stars will align, and we’ll even get to see them on the big screen. But another excellent option would be for Spider-Man and Deadpool to meet up in Marvel’s Spider-Man games series.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 recently released to much praise and love. We bet a Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 will become a reality sooner rather than later. But what will it entail? Well, Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s actor Yuri Lowenthal has an idea. He’d like Peter Parker and Deadpool to meet up.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, Lowenthal shared:

I mean, there are so many ways they could go with a third game. I’m assuming, at this point nobody’s had me sign a contract for a third game, but I’m assuming there will be a third game… Look, here’s something I’ve been pitching for a long time, and I don’t know if they’re going to do it, but I love the Spidey-Pool relationship. I love Deadpool and Spider-Man. As much as I talk about Moon Knight in this universe, and Bryan Intihar is tired of me talking about that, I’ve been hard-pitching, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Nolan North and I got to play in that?” And so I would love to see that. I’d love to see Deadpool and Spidey in this. Is it going to happen? Probably not. Do they listen to me? Mostly not. But that is a relationship I would love to see explored in games.

It would, indeed, be great.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also has its very own artbook. Check out our write-up, here.

The post AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Concert Coming to 100 Cities and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s a lot happening in the entertainment world. The first season of Ahsoka came to a close, the second season of Loki is just beginning, and all kinds of cool creations have made their way into the world. But amidst all of that, there are some other fun (and some not-so-fun) things you should probably know about.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from this week.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• Animal Crossing and LEGO Announce Collaboration
• James Gunn Confirms Peacemaker Season Two Is in His DCU, Currently Writing Season
• Hayao Miyazaki Is Already Working on his Next “Final Movie”
• The Barbie Movie Releases on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 17
• Discovery+ Announces First Price Hike, Raises Cost of Ad-Free Tier
• $400 Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic Collection Comes with Foil Original Starters
• The Boys‘ Spinoff Gen V Creates Its Own In-World Social Network, “V”
• One Piece‘s Monkey D. Luffy Will Become a Float in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Dunkin’ Donuts Releases Inflatable Spider Donut Decoration

Animal Crossing and LEGO Announce Collaboration

Get ready to tend to your LEGO garden! Nintendo has officially teased a collaboration between Animal Crossing and LEGO. Both playing Animal Crossing and building LEGO masterpieces are two extremely calming activities, so we can only imagine how much fun they’ll be when they combine. Rumors of a collaboration have been floating for some time, and we can’t wait to see which official sets we’ll receive.

For more soothing LEGO builds, check out the latest LEGO Ideas set.

James Gunn Confirms Peacemaker Season Two Is in His DCU, Currently Writing Season

Rejoice, Peacemaker fans, Peacemaker season two is not only in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, but it is actively being written. A little while ago, Gunn noted Peacemaker season two would be his next project after Superman: Legacy. This news, of course, heavily implied that Peacemaker season two would be in the new DC Universe, but it’s always nice to hear some confirmation. In response to a fan question on Threads that read, “Will season 2 of Peacemaker take place in the new DCU/ new continuity?” Gunn replied, “Yes and Yes.” We saw this news via IGN.

Additionally, James Gunn revealed he is currently writing season two of Peacemaker and he’s “having so much fun.” We can’t wait to hear more about the future of the series.

To see what else is in store for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, check out our article, here:

Hayao Miyazaki Is Already Working on his Next Movie Despite “Final Movie” Buzz

Soon, Hayao Miyazaki’s latest “final movie,” The Boy and the Heron, will release in the United States. This movie was greatly touted as the last work by the animation genius. However, Hayao Miyazaki has announced many “final movies” before. So we were not very surprised to read that The Boy and the Heron would most likely not hold the title of the last Miyazaki movie.

French publication Libération recently spoke to Studio Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki. And Suzuki said, “He’s constantly thinking about his next project. I can’t stop him, in fact, I’ve given up. Suzuki adds, “He started talking about a new project, so I’m not stopping him. As long as he’s working, I won’t be able to retire.”

This fits in with news that came from the Toronto International Film Festival. Studio Ghibli executive Junichi Nishioka noted to the CBC, “Other people say that this might be his last film, but he doesn’t feel that way at all… He is currently working on ideas for a new film. He comes into his office every day and does that. This time, he’s not going to announce his retirement at all. He’s continuing working just as he has always done.”

To this, we say, bring on the next Miyazaki movie.

You can watch the trailer for Studio Ghibli’s latest movie, The Boy and the Heron, here:

The Barbie Movie Releases on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 17

It is time to say “Hi, Barbie!” once again. After an incredible theatrical run this summer, Barbie headed over to streaming to continue her reign of excellence. But now, she’s driving on back to the physical world. Life in plastic is fantastic! And also life in Blue-ray and DVD. The Barbie movie will release for purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 17. Alongside the movie, purchases of Barbie on physical media will see some special features, six featurettes to be exact. Plus, the 4K UHD, Blu-ray case is so pink and sparkly; how could anyone resist?

To learn more about we thought of the Barbie movie, check out our review, here:

Discovery+ Announces First Price Hike and Raises Cost of Ad-Free Tier, Netflix Rumored to Also See Price Increase

No streaming service is safe right now. From price hikes to ad-tiers to password-sharing crackdowns, streaming is becoming more costly and less welcoming than it used to be. The latest to throw their hat into the fray is Discovery+. Discovery+ recently announced its first price increase ever, focusing on its ad-free tier. In a change that became immediately effective, Discovery+ announced that in the United States, “the price of a new Discovery+ ad-free monthly subscription in the U.S. will increase from $6.99 to $8.99 plus applicable taxes. The ad-lite subscription will not change and remains $4.99/month.” Meanwhile, “Existing subscribers will see their monthly rate increase on their next billing cycle on or after November 2.” As always, the streamer frames the price increase as necessary for continued quality programming.

Elsewhere, The Wall Street Journal reports Netflix is also considering a price hike for its ad-free tier. Seems like basically every streamer wants to push subscribers to ads… Or have them pay the price. Good luck to all subscribers out there.

For more on the latest streamer shenanigans, check out what Disney+ is doing.

$400 Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic Collection Comes with Foil Original Starters

Pokémon Trainers of a certain age will soon be able to get a second chance at owning certain cards they coveted as a child. A brand new Pokémon set titled the Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic collection is on sale, and for $400, it will bring all your Pokémon dreams to life. This collector’s item, which we first saw on GameSpot, includes three 60-card Pokémon decks, comes in snazzy packaging, and promises the three original Pokémon starter cards in foil form. You may not get all the hours you spent hunting for a shiny Charizard back, but you will get the satisfaction of finally having the creature in hand. The Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic collection also features a two-player game board, toolbox case with randomizer, and more.

For even more Pokémon adventures, learn more about the upcoming Pokémon live-action series:

The Boys‘ Spinoff Gen V Creates Its Own In-World Social Network, “V”

Can’t get enough of The Boys‘ spinoff, Gen V? Well, you’re in luck because Gen V and Prime Video have teamed up with gaming browser Opera GX to create a Gen V in-universe social network called V. Obviously, this is a bit of a play on Twitter’s new name—and that’s The Boys‘ universe for you.

A release shares:

Super-powered by Opera GX, V is the new social media arm of the fictional Vought International. V allows users to get to know the supes featured in Gen V, and interact with in-world profiles of their favorite members of The Seven, including characters from The Boys such as Homelander, A-Train, and dozens of other official characters from Gen V and The Boys.

V users can also explore the official in-world  Godolkin University, and catch up with some of its most popular students. Users will be able to keep up with Godolkin University’s latest student rankings as students battle for the top position and the opportunity to join The Seven, as well as access an array of exclusive Gen V content.

V will be continuously updated with new content throughout the season, echoing the hum of a real-world social network.

Sounds like a super fun way to get the most of your Gen V viewing experience. You can learn how to log-on to V, here.

Gen V is now available to watch. Check out our guide to all the new Supes and their powers, here:

One Piece‘s Monkey D. Luffy Will Become a Float in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

You know him, you love him, and now you’ll see him float in a parade. One Piece‘s Monkey D. Luffy is the latest nerdy character to become a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. On November 23, Luffy will set sail on his latest, biggest adventure yet, down the streets of New York City. The One Piece Monkey D. Luffy balloon will be 43-feet long, 39-feet wide and 50-feet tall. We bet this balloon Luffy eats A LOT. And while he won’t have his typical crew with him, we’re told “he will be led the entire way by his own pirate crew of skilled marchers—all honorary Straw Hats for the day.” We bet they’ll wear straw hats, too, and that’s honestly delightful. It’s truly what Luffy deserves.

It’s been a big year for One Piece as the series made the leap into live-action. Check out why we thought the series was truly successful.

Dunkin’ Donuts Releases Inflatable Spider Donut Decoration

 It’s October, the best month. There are many ways to decorate for the season, but Dunkin’ Donuts wants you to consider a new unique piece of Halloween fun. The coffee chain recently released an inflatable version of their iconic spider donut. No, you can’t eat it, but if this is your favorite Halloween treat, why not take it home?

As the description for the Dunkin’ inflatable spider donut aptly shares, “For everyone that’s ever said “Man, my yard could really use a 6-foot-tall, lit up Inflatable Spider Donut to turn my Halloween decor game up a notch,” this is for you*. 

*It’s also for everyone that’s never said that, too.”

Cheers to that! This fun inflatable is available at the Dunkin’ Shop for $99. Happy pumpkin spice season!

Dunkin’ recently released a line of hard iced coffees and teas. Check out what we know about Dunkin’ Spiked, here.

The post ANIMAL CROSSING Comes to LEGO, Streaming Price Hikes, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been an exciting week to say the least. The WGA strike happily came to an end, Pokémon announced its full Van Gogh Museum collaboration, and we even got to see a very exciting familiar face on Ahsoka. But in the mix with all that, there were some other exciting annoucements and releases that might have gotten lost in the shuffle. But never fear, we’re ready to catch you up on it all.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss reading about.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• A Reboot of The Office Is Reportedly in the Works From Greg Daniels
• Newest The Lord of the Rings Release Will Be a Cozy Game Featuring Hobbits and the Shire
• Get Ready for the Holidays with LEGO’s Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar
• A Rick & Morty Movie Could Be Heading Our Way
• Enjoy Magic: The Gathering Themed Pancakes a IHOP
• Spirit Halloween Movie Coming to Stream on Shudder
• Skittles Littles Invites You to Taste a Mini Rainbow

A Reboot of The Office Is Reportedly in the Works From Greg Daniels

That’s right folks, it might be time to head back to work… Or whatever it is they do in The Office. According to The Wrap, The Office series co-creator Greg Daniels is reportedly working on a reboot of the show’s US version. This news is still tenuous for now. It comes from Puck News‘ Matthew Belloni. As the WGA strike came to a close, Belloni shared in his newsletter, “We’re also about to see a firehose of announcements of projects and castings that have been held back for fear of bad optics or violating guild rules. Greg Daniels is set to do a reboot of ‘The Office,’ for instance.”

Of course, we’ve seen conversations surrounding a reboot or spinoff of The Office before. In fact, Parks and Recreation started life as a spinoff of The Office. In this age of media, everything old can become new again. And The Office remains an immensely popular show. So if Greg Daniels really was helming a The Office reboot, it would not surprise us. But we would be equally unsurprised if it did not come to pass. Only time will tell.

Check out news of the latest remake of The Office, here:

Newest The Lord of the Rings Release Will Be a Cozy Game Featuring Hobbits and the Shire

Ready for some truly exciting news for fall? A new The Lord of the Rings video game is coming our way and this one will be a cozy outing dedicated to Hobbits and the Shire. Honestly, we could not imagine a better idea to make into reality. We don’t know too much about the game yet, but a teaser trailer for Tales of the Shire sets up with just the right vibes.

Your cosy Hobbit life awaits in Tales of the Shire, a heart-warming new The Lord of the Rings™ game by Wētā Workshop and Private Division. Coming 2024. pic.twitter.com/CvDnRXyMQN

— talesoftheshire (@talesoftheshire) September 21, 2023

A little watercolor, a little humming, and a few leaves blowing in the wind, you say? That’s a real mood right there. The only explanation we get so far notes, “Your cosy Hobbit life awaits in Tales of the Shire, a heart-warming new The Lord of the Ring game by Wētā Workshop and Private Division. Coming 2024.” In the video, we do see references to the Green Dragon, Ivy Bush, and Bywater. But those are about our only clues.

Wētā Workshop, of course, is known for its gorgeous creations and work on The Lord of the Rings movies. We’re hoping for the best and expecting the best with Tales of the Shire.

Check out some gorgeous The Lord of the Rings collectible items, here:

Get Ready for the Holidays with LEGO’s Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar

If you’re like us, you don’t really want to get ready for the holidays yet. It feels early. But nevertheless, the holiday season is incoming whether we like it or not. But least it’s bringing with it some excellent gifting ideas. High on our list is this LEGO Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar. Whether this is your first LEGO Marvel Advent calendar or your hundredth, opening 24 days of superhero surprises make for a lot of fun.

This year the calendar will bring you LEGO Minifigures of your favorite Avengers like Okoye, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wong, Iron Man, and Black Widow alongside mini builds and accessories. Additionally, “Buildable play experiences include a Quinjet, jetpack, ice hockey kit, the Hydra Train and lots more items inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Basically, you get to create a LEGO Avengers winter wonderland. And what could be better than that? We especially love Okoye playing a game of hockey.

The LEGO Marvel Avengers Advent Calander is available now and costs $44.99.

For more LEGO Marvel fun, check out this advanced Captain America shield set, here:

A Rick and Morty Movie Could Be Heading Our Way

Rick and Morty season season seven premieres in October. But a recent profile with creator Dan Harmon by The Hollywood Reporter indicates even more Rick and Morty could be on the way in movie form. The publication notes “Pre-strike, Harmon even had a serious conversation with executives at Warner Bros. about a Rick and Morty feature. He says they were all aligned on a kind of ‘“’super episode’”’ conceit, the way that Matt Stone and Trey Parker approached the South Park movie years ago. He has plenty more percolating in development, too, including a musical and a multicam.”

Whether these Rick and Morty movie conversations return post-strike remains to be seen. But it feels like one way or another, we’ll get a whole lot more Rick and Morty on our screens sooner rather than later. A “super episode” seems to only make sense.

Check out Rick and Morty‘s full season seven trailer, here:

Enjoy Magic: The Gathering Themed Pancakes a IHOP

Need more Magic: The Gathering in your life? How about in pancake form? Well, if so, you’re in luck. IHOP and Magic: The Gathering are collaborating on a Magic-themed menu that will be available for a limited time. In addition to being able to redeem IHOP loyalty points for Magic: The Gathering Arena in-game rewards, “Guests can also order from a custom Magic: The Gathering Arena menu featuring five specially themed pancakes at participating IHOPs.”

Here’s what the menu consists of:

• Ajani’s Purr-fect Pancakes: Original Buttermilk – classic original buttermilk keeping the Multiverse at peace. 
• Jace’s Illusion-Berry Pancakes: Double Blueberry – double blueberry pancakes conjured specially for magic lovers. 
• Liliana’s Chocolate Corruption Pancakes: Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Chocolate pancakes – chocolate chips & chocolate syrup – irresistible for mere mortals. 
• Chandra’s Pyroblast Pancakes: Strawberry Banana – a delicious combination of banana-filled pancakes topped with fiery red strawberries, more bananas & strawberry syrup. Consume with haste. 
• Vivien’s Heroic Protein Pancakes: Protein Power – protein-packed pancakes that are in tune with nature & in tune with your stomach.

Sounds magical to us!

Check out Magic: The Gathering‘s latest cool collaboration cards, here:

Spirit Halloween Movie Coming to Stream on Shudder

Remember the Spirit Halloween movie? Maybe you do, probably you don’t. But if you want to watch your favorite Halloween store transform into a horror movie you can now do so at any time. The Spirit Halloween movie will start streaming on Shudder beginning on October 2. This movie might not be what you call good, but it could be what you call a good time. Not to mention, according to Variety, it was shot in abandoned Toys R Us location in Georgia.

Relive the magic of the Spirit Halloween movie’s trailer, here:

Skittles Littles Invites You to Taste a Mini Rainbow

Admit it! Things are better when they’re teeny tiny. Just look at mini M&Ms! Well, Skittles wants to get into the fun now with Skittles Littles. These small candies are exactly what they sound like, Skittles but shrunk down to cute-size. We love it. A release shares, “Bursting with the five iconic fruity flavors of SKITTLES fans love, now in a tiny and more poppable form, SKITTLES Littles make it even easier to enjoy SKITTLES on-the-go.”

We can’t wait to taste the tiny rainbow. Skittles Littles are available now in stores and online.

If you’re looking for more adorable treats, take a look at this Girl Scout Cookie collaboration with Skippy P.B. Bites

The post THE OFFICE Reboot in the Works, a Cozy LOTR Game Coming Soon, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

This week we’ve seen exciting new trailers for movies and TV shows like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Ahsoka returned with another intrigue-filled episode. And we even saw My Little Pony Magic cards. But that’s not all that happened. From exciting Baldur’s Gate 3 announcements to DC zombies, and public domain debates, there have been quite a few exciting stories circulating.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss reading about.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Reveals Release Date and 100+ Hours Worth of Content
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Voice Actors Will Play a D&D Game in Character
• DC Comics’ Fables Is and Then Is Not in the Public Domain
• Rogers: The Musical Album Is Now Streaming
• Pokémon Happy Meals Return to McDonald’s
• A Build-a-Bear Documentary Is Coming in October
• You Can Soon Back DCeased – A Zombicide Game on Kickstarter

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Reveals Release Date and 100+ Hours Worth of Content

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the sequel to Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, finally revealed its release date. Fans eagerly anticipating this new Final Fantasy content can rejoice, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will release on February 29, 2024. That’s not so far away now! Alongside a release date, PlayStation revealed a trailer with a ton of new footage from the game. But it’s merely a tease of what’s to come. As GameSpot reports, Naoki Hamaguchi, the game’s director, reveals, “While the main storyline is bigger and more ambitious than the previous game’s narrative, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also embraces the concept of ‘free exploration,’ with compelling stories, fun mini-games, powerful monsters and so much more to find throughout the world map… We hope you will explore this world in great detail, as nearly 100 hours of adventure awaits.”

Check out our review of the Final Fantasy VII Remake, here:

Baldur’s Gate 3 Voice Actors Will Play a D&D Game in Character

Loving the Dungeons & Dragons elements of Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, you’re in luck. The voice actors of Karlach, Gale Dekarios, Shadowheart, Wyll Ravengard, Astarion, and Lae’zel are all getting together to play a tabletop game of D&D.

This Friday at 7pm BST/2pm PDT join us and the cast of Baldurs Gate 3 for a very special live D&D adventure on Twitch! /highrollersdnd @larianstudios #dnd #baldursgate3 #ad pic.twitter.com/889AYParv7

— High Rollers (@HighRollersDnD) September 18, 2023

And they’ll play this special Dungeons & Dragons game as their Baldur’s Gate 3 characters. That’s what we call a full circle. The game will stream on HighRollersDnd’s Twitch channel on 9/22 at 7pm BST/2pm PDT.

Check out how you can add Baldur’s Gate 3 characters to your Dungeons & Dragons game, here:

DC Comics’ Fables Is and Then Is Not in the Public Domain

There was much excitement in the air when Bill Willingham announced that his comic series Fables was in the public domain. He noted on his blog, “As of now, 15 September 2023, the comic book property called Fables, including all related Fables spin-offs and characters, is now in the public domain. What was once wholly owned by Bill Willingham is now owned by everyone, for all time. It’s done, and as most experts will tell you, once done it cannot be undone. Take-backs are neither contemplated nor possible.”

However, in a statement shared with IGN, DC Comics has confirmed this is not the case from its perspective. It notes, “The Fables comic books and graphic novels published by DC, and the storylines, characters, and elements therein, are owned by DC and protected under the copyright laws of the United States and throughout the world in accordance with applicable law and are not in the public domain. DC reserves all rights and will take such action as DC deems necessary or appropriate to protect its intellectual property rights.”

We guess we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.

Rogers: The Musical Album Is Now Streaming

Rogers: The Musical began life as a fun Easter egg on the Disney+ series Hawkeye. And then it actually came to life at Disneyland’s Hyperion Theater. Sadly, this fun MCU musical ended its Disneyland run on August 31. But now it’s available for all to enjoy. As we saw on Gizmodo, Rogers: The Musical is officially streaming on Spotify. You can check out each of its 12 tracks below.

Learn more about Disneyland’s version of Rogers: The Musical with our article, here:

Pokémon Meals Return to McDonald’s

‘Tis the season! Halloween season? Well, that’s true, but it’s also Pokémon season, at least at McDonald’s. While Pumpkin Spice returns to other fast food chains, it’s Pokémon that is making its grand homecoming at the golden arches. Pokémon Happy Meals will be available until October 16. These meals will come in a Pikachu-shaped Happy Meal box.

pika pika pic.twitter.com/89ckh6mkP2

— McDonald's (@McDonalds) September 18, 2023

They will also feature booster packs with four Pokémon cards randomly selected out of the available 15. GameSpot shares that these cards are from Scarlet and Violet TCG. At least one card, either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Cetitan, Pikachu, or Klawf, will be holographic. Well, we have to say it. It’s time to catch ’em all.

For more Pokémon in real life, check out everything we know about Pokémon‘s upcoming live-action series, here:

A Build-a-Bear Documentary Is Coming in October

Eager for more fascinating documentaries about cultural artifacts that you have never bothered to question before?

Well, Unstuffed brings you just that. It’s a documentary that “tells the story of the famed Build-a-Bear workshop. Weaving together stories from when Maxine Clark first conceived the idea, the company’s struggles to stay afloat, and the endless happiness it has provided for children and adults alike.” For once, it doesn’t seem like there’s too much seedy underbelly involved. Just a little bit of niche storytelling.

Check out other upcoming toy-inspired movies, here:

You Can Soon Back DCeased – A Zombicide Game on Kickstarter

“Protect Earth from the Anti-Life Virus and its hosts in this epic DC Universe Zombicide game!” DCeased, DC Comics’ zombie event, will soon live on in game form, hopefully. CMON ” a studio and publisher of great tabletop games,” including Marvel Zombies, has created a Kickstarter page in order to bring the game to undead life.

The Kickstarter isn’t up quite yet, but save it today and be notified on launch. Its zombie Superman certainly looks promising!

If you love zombies, check out a video on which pop-cultural zombie virus is the most realistic, here:

The post BG3 Voice Actors Play D&D, POKÉMON Happy Meals Return, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been an exciting week in the entertainment world. Anakin Skywalker taught Ahsoka an important lesson, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom released a trailer, Daryl Dixon ended up in France, and we even revisited bloopers from Star Trek‘s original series. But a lot of other exciting and interesting things have been in the mix as well.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss reading about.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 Reveals First-Look Images of Pooh and Tigger
• Beyond Fest 2023 Line-Up Announced
• Our Flag Means Death‘s Third Season Will Be Its Last if It’s Renewed
• Celebrity Auction Supports Production Crew Members Whose Healthcare Is at Risk
• Pokémon Teams Up with Van Gogh for Mystery Collaboration
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Will Likely Not See a Switch DLC
• BlackMilk’s 2023 Halloween Collection Is Here
• Lost Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Will Be Up For Auction

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 Reveals First-Look Images of Pooh and Tigger

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey got us excited with its horror spin on a childhood classic. Although the movie itself may not have necessarily wow-ed us, the visuals were good. Now, we have our first look at the sequel movie Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2. Blood-soaked Pooh has returned to our screens, and we also get to see a horrific version of Tigger for the first time courtesy of IGN.

First look at ‘WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD & HONEY 2’.

(Source: https://t.co/LyrXasH89R) pic.twitter.com/3qTicVIzuy

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 8, 2023

IT WASN’T RABBIT!! Here’s your first look at Tigger from ‘WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 2’. 🐯

(Source: @IGN ~ @poohbandh) pic.twitter.com/2pZwiCwLZ4

— CoveredGeekly (@CoveredGeekly) September 11, 2023

Check out the original Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey trailer, here:

Beyond Fest 2023 Line-Up Announced

It’s time again for Beyond Fest! The biggest genre film festival in the US is back for its 11th outing, and it has some excellent movies in store. We’re particularly excited about the new movie from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘s director Gareth Edwards, The Creator, and Legendary Pictures’ The Toxic Avenger remake. A24’s Nicolas Cage movie Dream Scenario and V/H/S/85 also have our attention. 

The full line-up is available here.

Check out some early looks at the movies Beyond Fest will screen, here

Our Flag Means Death‘s Third Season Will Be Its Last if It’s Renewed

Our Flag Means Death season two will arrive this October, but fans are already considering if there will be more of the show. There’s no official renewal for Our Flag Means Death yet, but creator David Jenkins noted in an Instagram comment that he’s aiming for season three. However, should the show get a season three, it will be Our Flag Means Death‘s final season. Still, better a finished show than a canceled one.

Check out Our Flag Means Death‘s season two trailer, here:

Celebrity Auction Supports Production Crew Members Whose Healthcare Is at Risk

The studios’ refusal to compensate and support their creatives fairly has led to difficulties across entertainment-related occupations. In solidarity, many people have come together to help those whose livelihoods are at risk in creative ways. Per Variety, The latest effort is an auction by The Union Solidarity Coalition to “help production crew members whose healthcare benefits are at risk because of the work stoppage.” The auction includes all kinds of fun entertainment-related memorabilia as well as celebrity experiences. Among other items are “Natasha Lyonne Will Help You Solve the New York Times Sunday Crossword” and “The Bear Signed Apron Jeremy Allen White Ebon Moss-Bachrach Ayo Edebiri + More.” The auction runs until September 22.

Check out how to help Hollywood creatives in need, here:

Pokémon Teams Up with Van Gogh for Mystery Collaboration

Who doesn’t love it when Pokémon gets a little creative? The latest fascinating Pokémon project is some kind of collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Could Van Gogh-style Pokémon cards be heading our way soon? We’ll find out on September 28.

For now, we can appreciate Sunflora in full Van Gogh realness.

Check out every Pokémon Squishmallow that’s ever been released or teased, here:

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Will Likely Not See a Switch DLC

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was a highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And when it finally launched, it was incredibly well-received. But don’t hold your breath for the massive, open-world game to evolve any more than it already has. As Polygon shares, the Breath of the Wild development team is moving on to the next thing. While that next thing could be more The Legend of Zelda content, it likely won’t be a Tears of the Kingdom DLC.

Check out some of the gameplay features that Tears of the Kingdom offers, here:

BlackMilk’s 2023 Halloween Collection Is Here

Ready for a little something sleek and scary (in the best way)? Well, BlackMilk’s 2023 Halloween collection has arrived in a whirl of bat wings. BlackMilk’s spooky season selections include more general season favorites like black cats, skeletons, and creepy eyes, but also some iconic favs like everyone’s favorite clown from IT, Annabelle from Annabelle Creation, Friday the 13th‘s Jason Voorhees, and more. We also love BlackMilk’s Beetlejuice and The Corpse Bride patterns, of course! ‘Tis the season to supplement your wardrobe.

The full BlackMilk 2023 Halloween collection is available now on the company’s website.

Check out ways to also ready your pantry for Halloween, here:

Lost Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Will Be Up For Auction

Get your bidding fingers ready, Star Wars fans. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, a piece of Star Wars history, an X-wing fighter miniature from Star Wars, is heading to auction. According to the publication, this Star Wars item was “lost for decades.” The official description for the miniature shares, “Built by the team at Industrial Light & Magic, which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Star Wars, this 1:24 scale filming miniature is one of only four hero filming miniatures created with servo-controlled wings that spread open into ‘Attack Position’.”

Check out where Star Wars starships stack up among the rest, here:

The post POKÉMON Teases Van Gogh, OMFD Season 3 Will Be Its Last, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.