This article contains spoilers for 1923 including the season 2 finale.As consumers of entertainment, its strange to think of how much power the public possesses over programming. No longer are conversations limited to the antiquated watercooler conversations in cubicle-riddled office spaces online forums have taken hold where fans across the globe can share their love of a film or show, and even their theories regarding what might happen in the future. Its also interesting to recognize that stars of these massive properties are not immune to forming their own theories, either. While word of mouth has increased exponentially online, sometimes there are years in between seasons, and even the stars arent sure what might happen.At the moment, Paramount has asked those of the entertainment journalism press who cover 1923 to kindly not refer to season 2 as the final season of this critically successful Yellowstone prequel. Does that mean there could be future seasons? Could there be a made-for-TV film linking the end of this chapter in the Dutton TV legacy and the modern-day generation of Yellowstone? Could it be a completely new series? Some of those options are more likely than others, but truth is, stars of the show Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Aminah Nieves, and Michelle Randolph are in the same horse-pulled buggy as any fan in not knowing whats to come.Those key cast members recently sat down with Den of Geek to discuss the shows heavy and emotional finale, but also got a chance to look ahead and share theories as to what the future could hold for their characters.One of the most anticipated moments of the entire two-season run of 1923 was Spencer (Sklenar) finally returning to the Yellowstone Ranch and reuniting with the rest of the Duttons. Spencer was to play a major part in the war against Westfield (Timothy Dutton) and his bid to eliminate the Duttons so he could simply own their land and build his tourism utopia. Creator Taylor Sheridan didnt disappoint in terms of the highly, highly, highly anticipated final shootout between the forces of Westfield and the Dutton cowboy clan, but it wasnt the only reason Spencer was eager to get home. In what would become the tearful and impassioned morsel of melodrama fans were eagerly waiting to consume, Spencer reunited with his star-crossed wife, Alexandra (Schlaepfer).When the tears and the smoke cleared, the epilogue Sheridan gives us through Elsas (Isabel May) smoky, Southern narration is that, while Alex sadly passed soon after making it to Montana, their child John, premature by three months, survived. Elsa then continues to tell the audience that her little brother Spencer lived to a ripe old age, well into the late 1960s.This was another morsel that fans had been awaiting, as the timeline would indicate this means that Grampa Spencer would have been around not only for the birth of baby John III (who would eventually grow into Kevin Costners John, in his most modern iteration) but for the first decade of Johns life.Sklenar would like to play it off that this theory isnt canon, adding that we cant confirm or deny that the John in question is the John in question but ultimately it has to at least mean that Spencer is the link between all three shows as a child in 1883, as the mustachioed champion of 1923, and as a part of Yellowstones upbringing.Theres a Dutton thing they all have, Sklenar says of what a conversation between an elder Spencer and (likely) grandson John would look like. Theres a certain weight, theres a certain sense of responsibility, theres a certain brand of masculinity thats rooted in very strong principles and morals and a code of ethics, which is ultimately about the love of their family and everything theyve worked for.I think thats also why this family is so universally loved, Sklenar continues. I could be all over the world and people tell me I love Yellowstone. Or shooting a movie in Ireland, and they love it over there. Its so different, culturally, but theres a core value there that is just so universal, that anyone can connect with. And I think that is part of what Spencer is passing down and what he got from his father, and its just this whole ethos that Taylors created.That ethos transcends the Dutton family within the Yellowstone universe to at least one other fan-favorite family, the Rainwaters. In the finale, a beleaguered Teonna (Nieves), now free of the murder charges, sets out on her own. That is, other than the child she carries inside her. Once again, that is a major link to the Yellowstone timeline, but there still remains a substantial gap. In modern times, Thomas Rainwater, (Gil Birmingham), Teonnas grandson, tells stories about his adoption and growing up not knowing his First Nations heritage. Cue the theories as to what happened in just a few decades to the Rainwater family, and why Thomas was in danger of never knowing where he came from. Could it be that Teona, who is justifiably bitter and afraid of the racism shes experienced, goes out of her way to hide from the world and hide who they are?Nieves shares her theory, arguing that even though Teonna could have easily shut herself off emotionally, it isnt likely that anything can kill her heart and spirit. Heartbreak is one of the worst things any person can go through, she says. It feels like you, yourself are dying. But I also think T is still fire hearted like they can never run out of love. [She is] a matriarchal, tenacious-ass woman. She still has to have that love within her, to keep going.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Randolphs Elizabeth went through a very similar set of circumstances to Rainwaters. She too, lost the love of her life when Jack (Darren Mann) was shot in cold blood by Whitakers goons. She too, was left without a partner, and pregnant, and last we see she is off to go back home and leave the hellscape that is Montana.Elizabeth is one of the only characters to actually walk away from the Dutton family and not end up in a casket. Its almost a trope that if youre a part of the family, especially in a prequel chapter, the only way to get out is to be buried six feet down. Even in the modern Yellowstone, family members are literally branded never to escape the ranch completely.Her character, who went through a lot this season, and was perhaps justifiably griping and whining for much of it had always known the Duttons lifestyle was bad news, and brought nothing but death.I think Elizabeths whole arc this season was just learning how to survive, Randolph says. Ultimately, she knew if she stayed on the ranch, it would be like signing a death warrant. And she was correct. Jack dies, her father dies, the nurse dies. Its just continuous. So the end for her was actually more about protecting her baby and wanting her baby to not have the same fate that Jack did.Granted things might be better for Elizabeth away from the Duttons, to raise her child in relative safety, but Randolph believes the ending actually shows that Elizabeth is embracing the Dutton within her. Elizabeth leaves a different person, and theres a lot of strength in that final scene, showing that she really is a Dutton woman, caring about her family. I think one day, love exists again. It has to.The big question is, does anyone truly get a happy ending in a Taylor Sheridan piece? The writer is notorious for his use of death and loss to really nail a memorable conclusion and ensure his characters have a dramatic arc from beginning to end. Despite her character dying, Julia Schlaepfer certainly defends the depth of Sheridans writing, as melancholy as it may be.Taylors a sucker for an incredible love story, she argues. I think he writes love stories so beautifully.Does that mean she ultimately sees her characters ending as happy? It might not be the happy ending that a lot of people wanted. I would have loved to have seen Alex on the ranch with Spencer and the whole family but, when they reunite in that heavenly 1920s ballroom at the end, thats the story that theyre meant to have.Ultimately, Schlaepfer puts it perfectly and succinctly as to why the Yellowstone legacy continues, and why audience members continue to watch (despite all the heartache). I think its just the most beautiful example of how strong and enduring love is.All seven episodes of 1923 season 2 are available to stream on Paramount+ now.

Shinichir Watanabe is a true anime auteur who is responsible for some of the most celebrated titles to come out of the late 90s and 2000s, such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Carole & Tuesday. Watanabes series cover incredibly diverse material, but all his anime successfully connect with audiences because of the meticulous work that Watanabe channels into their characters, universe, and the music that brings them all together. Any new Watanabe project is cause for celebration, but his upcoming Adult Swim project Lazarus is particularly exciting.Lazarus tells an action-packed sci-fi parable in which an elite team of agents are assembled to locate a reclusive scientist, Dr. Skinner, who is responsible for the creation of Hapna, a miracle cure-all drug that was initially viewed as the worlds miracle, but is now killing all of its users three years later. The Lazarus teams mission to locate Dr. Skinner and create a Hapna vaccine is Earths best chance against mass extinction. Lazarus is rich in contemplative questions, compelling characters, and subversive storytelling. Its also a masterpiece when it comes to its action sequences and choreography, which benefit from having John Wicks Chad Stahelski on staff as action supervisor. The show has the potential to be one of the biggest anime of 2025, but also one of the most popular animated series to ever air on Adult Swim and Max.In honor of Lazarus premiere, Shinichir Watanabe goes deep on world-building, the importance of music as a storytelling tool, if Lazarus is set in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop, and whether audiences will ever see more Space Dandy.DEN OF GEEK: Theres such a distinct look to this futuristic world, its architecture, technology, and vehicles. Can you talk a little on developing the design of this futuristic society and if there were any influences there?SHINICHIR WATANABE: The big decision in terms of design was who are we gonna ask to design this for us? We asked the French designer, Stanislas Brunet, to join us for this. Hes part of a team called Studio No Border. French artists have a very different, distinct style from Japanese designers. Thats also why we asked him to join us for our previous project, Carole & Tuesday.They begin their design by thinking about how the buildings should be constructed. Should they be 3D-printed or not, for example? Im a big fan of their aesthetics, which is why I relied on them again. They use a 3D program called SketchUp Terra and a big benefit of this is that they make very detailed 3D models of the buildings. Were able to take those and then use them for our actual art designs.Another rule or policy for design in Lazarus is that while we are in a futuristic city, I wanted to add some contrast and disparity between the richer and the poorer areas. So, its very futuristic and clean in the areas that have a lot of money. However, the poor areas are like slums and very dirty. Another reason why I went this way is that it adds more reality. If everything is very futuristic and very clean then it doesnt seem as grounded in reality.Thats super interesting. I also love how the action and chase sequences have such kinetic movement. The fight choreography is so impressive, too. I know that Chad Stahelski is the series Action Supervisor. Can you talk about his role in Lazarus and what that relationship was like?When we first reached out to Chads team, they were still recording John Wick 4. So, it was a bit difficult at the time. It seemed like they werent going to be able to fully participate, so we were completely fine with just getting some advice from them. However, upon speaking to them, they were very much on board for joining the project and doing as much as possible. They used their stunt team to record some live-action previews, which they sent to us and then we used as the inspiration for the animation. Their participation, since theyre very busy, became dependent on the episode. Chad worked on some episodes and then the animation staff from our end worked on some episodes.It may be a fun challenge for the viewer to figure out which is which. Try to figure out which episodes are Chads and which is our animation staff. Then, you can check your answers by watching the end credits, since Chads name will be there for the episodes that he participated in.Your series do such a great job when it comes to using music as a universal language and a tool to develop themes and characters. How did you figure out Lazarus sound? And can you just expand a little more on whats going on with the series music and sound?Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!This time, unlike previous projects, theres a more electronic, dance music, and EDM-driven sound. Theres also a very jazz musician style, too. Theres another artist, Kamasi Washington, his music is more jazz. So he fills that role for us. The use of jazz music has led to a lot of other people bringing up that this might be similar to a previous project that Ive worked on [Cowboy Bebop]. But lets forget about that series for a little bit and just focus on enjoying this one.I understand those comparisons, but its a totally different sound. Youre doing such different stuff. What you did with the music in Terror in Resonance the whole Norwegian sound is one of my favorite things that youve done. You always put so much thought into what the soundtrack should represent. You can really feel that in Lazarus. Its super cool.Thank you!You create a lived-in universe with Lazarus. Do you see other stories being told in this universe? Once the Dr. Skinner adventure is over, could there be future stories, or even a movie thats with these characters or in this world?Of course, thats a possibility if this is a big hit. We wont know until Lazarus is released. Until then, we just have to keep our fingers crossed.It seems like a lot of your series kind of exist in the same universe. There are subtle references between them, even if its just like the Woolong currency. Are there any Easter eggs like this in Lazarus that fans should maybe look out for? Or something they should pay attention towards?Not so much this time, no. But they do take place in the same universe. So they are connected somewhere.I really loved your work on the Blade Runner Black Out 2022 anime and The Animatrix. Are there any other American properties that you would like to transform into an anime and explore their worlds through that context? You can choose anything here! No restrictions!Im trying to think, but Blade Runner would really be my favorite thing to dream about working on. Ive already been there and done that. I think Im satisfied there.Finally, Im such a huge Space Dandy fan. Its maybe my favorite anime of all time. Im always hoping that a movie might happen one day. Is there one Space Dandy story or detail that nobody knows about that you could share?Youve got some good taste if you like Space Dandy! The secret is, Im always ready to make more seasons of Space Dandy. The same goes for the staff that worked on it as well. However, it wasnt a huge success, so its hard to find financing for it. So maybe some rich oil money will fall our way and it can finally happen.Lazarus premieres April 5 at midnight on Adult Swim, with next-day-streaming on Max.

It may seem obvious to compare Assassins Creed Shadows and Ghost of Tsushima for the simple fact that theyre both triple-A, open-world games set in feudal Japan. But thats not the real story here. The truth is if Assassins Creed Shadows wasnt as good as it is, there would be no comparison. Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most immaculate games of the last generation, and its only rising in fans estimation as time goes on. Its a testament to how great Shadowsthe latest entry in Ubisofts long-running (and sometimes uneven) Assassins Creed franchisethat it can legitimately go head-to-head with Ghost of Tsushima in a face-off.Shadows is a viable contender, but lets see how it stacks up to Ghost of Tsushima category by category to see which game reigns supreme.Game WorldDespite the surface-level similarities between the two games settings, there are several fundamental differences in the games respective game worlds, the most notable one being size. Tsushima takes place exclusively on the titular island and boasts a little over 11 square miles of explorable terrain on its map. By contrast Shadows map looks to be somewhere around 31 square miles at the very least, making it quite a bit larger than Tsushimas, though not as large as some recent AC titles like Odyssey (80 square miles) and Valhalla (59 square miles).A bigger game map doesnt necessarily mean a better game map, of course. Shadows does have a staggeringly big game world, but whats wonderful about it is the environments sheer level of detail. No matter where you look, there are tiny toucheswild animals skittering about, strung up fish at the monger blowing in the wind, intricately engraved pieces of furniturethat make the game world feel like stepping through a time portal to 16th-century Japan more so than Tsushimas highly fictionalized conception of 13th century Japan. Its palpably transportive, and exploring the world aimlessly with no HUD and no objectives to trek toward feels more compelling than some of the games quests.Tsushimas game world isnt nearly as dense, detailed, or geographically diverse. Its sparser but not in a bad way. The greatly romanticized vision of the island of Tsushima in that game is the definition of picturesque. Watching samurai hero Jin Sakai ride his horse through the wheat fields will never get old.Whereas Shadows at times feels overwhelming in its scope and variety, Tsushima feels more distilled, considered, and pure. The smaller, narrower map actually works in the games favor when it comes to the campaign, because working your way North and reclaiming sections of the island from the Mongols is easier to visualize and digest than Shadows larger, two-pronged story. Both game worlds are extraordinary for their own reasons. Shadows is staggering in its fidelity and scope, and Tsushima is ravishing and evocative. In this instance, Ghost of Tsushima ekes out the win.Edge: Ghost of TsushimaVisualsThis is another tough category. The appeal of a games visuals is often a matter of personal preference, particularly when the games youre looking at are both so flabbergastingly pretty.Something important to note here is that, though Ghost of Tsushima released not too long ago in 2020, its still very much a last-gen title. That being said, no handicaps are needed here: Even now, Tsushima is jaw-dropping. Developer Sucker Punch used particle effects in arguably the most effective way theyve ever been used. The blowing leaves, pouring rain, and rising embers add to the games atmosphere in every moment. In a general sense, Tsushima is more painterly and expressionistic than Shadows. Even when certain graphical elements are technically subpar (textures can get muddy at times), the artistic intent prevails and greatly outweighs any technical shortcomings.Shadows is less lyrical and poetic, but theres something touristic about how vivid its environments are. The countless landmarks and vistas across the game world arent just pretty; they feel real. Whats easy to take for granted with a game like this is how organic and lived-in the environments feel compared to other open-world games, most of which look and feel considerably less believable than Shadows Japan.While both games look tremendous by almost every measure, the character models in Shadows do look more stilted, especially when they move their mouths in cutscenes. Naoe and Yasuke look great (that hair tech hits differently), but the characters in Tsushima come across as slightly more expressive in their design and animation. Its another close call, but Tsushima takes this one.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Edge: Ghost of TsushimaCombatTheres a pattern emerging here. Shadows combat is more robust and expansive in its customization options across its two protagonists, and Tsushimas keeps things more pure, though its combat is anything but simple. Both games have a focus on melee with a bit of ranged combat mixed in for flavor, but the core of it is this: which games combat is more fun?Assassins Creed has been developing and refining its melee combat for years, and Shadows melee is the best yet. All of the weapon types feel weighty and enjoyable to wield (even Naoes kusarigama is slick once you master it), and more importantly, both Yasuke and Naoe are fun to fight with. Most players will naturally gravitate to one or the other, but whether youre smashing your way up the floors of Osaka Castle as Yasuke or cutting down larger enemies with Naoes speed and finesse, the combat is one of the games main strengths, which hasnt always been the case for the series.The combat in Tsushima isnt slow by any means, but its more methodical than Shadows. The emphasis on one-on-one fights and the cinematic camerawork makes the battles feel more intimate and dramatic, with some of the one-on-one showdowns later in the game resembling fighting games like Soulcalibur and Bushido Blade. Both games feature parrying, but Tsushimas is more satisfying, likely due to the more deliberate rhythm of most battles. Tsushima does feature a multiplayer mode that is way better than it has any right to be, but the combat mechanics arent as flowy when taking on massive waves of enemies.As balanced and fine-tuned as both games combat systems are, Tsushimas enemy encounters just feel more consequential. Thanks to a showdown feature deliberately evocative of Akira Kurosawa movieswhere players enter into essentially a quickdraw contest with an opposing sword mastereven the most minor of battles can become incredibly intense, and even the lowliest of enemies can pose a serious threat. For that reason, its another one for Tsushima.Edge: Ghost of TsushimaStealthHeres where things get really interesting. Before we get into Shadows stealth mechanics, lets consider Tsushimas. The titular Ghost style of combat is central to both gameplay and story, and it is indeed a lot of fun using Jins blowgun, smoke bombs, and elusive maneuvers to wipe out entire camps of enemies without losing so much as a health point. Stealth is a completely valid and enjoyable approach throughout the game, but is it as fun as combat? Not really. If anything, it plays a supporting role to combat in that it offers an added layer of variety.It should come as no surprise that Shadows stealth is phenomenal. The most notable difference from AC games before is that enemy AI is far more formidable now, detecting disturbances in sound, light, and shadow. They now suggest a general awareness (they can definitely see you up on that roof!) Were all familiar with how stealthing and assassinations feel in Assassins Creed, but what gives Shadows a leg up over its predecessors is its level design. The castles are phenomenally fun to work through, with the environments arranged so that you always have myriad ways to use your surroundings to your advantage.The thing Shadows does far better than Tsushima is the seamless transitioning between stealth and combat. Its a valiant effort by Tsushima, but Shadows sneakily snatches the dub.Edge: Assassins Creed ShadowsTraversalOne of the keys to success for open-world and stealth games is for the movement and traversal to be effortless, responsive, and satisfying, and both games achieve this through different means.Parkour is the foundation of old school Assassins Creed gameplay, and Shadows again benefits from being the latest entry in a long line of iterative refinement. Predictably, parkour is terrific in Shadows, specifically with Naoe, though Yasukes struggles with slinking around are amusing in their own way. Whether youre scaling buildings or climbing up trees in the forest, getting around in Shadows is always as smooth as butter, save for some weirdness climbing some of the more angular buildings and castles in the game.Running around in Tsushima feels pretty great all around, but its simply less complex and aesthetically pleasing than that classic AC movement. The one advantage Tsushima has over Shadows is the horse riding, which improbably is one of the very best things about the game. That being said, getting around in Shadows is better all around.Edge: Assassins Creed ShadowsCharactersTheres a level of sophistication to the character work in both games. Jin, Naoe, and Yasuke all have compelling character arcs with different messaging behind them.Yasuke and Naoes stories become deeply entangled with the eternal Assassins vs. Templar war, and the canon plot is solid AC fare. But its their personal, internal journeys that make them compelling characters, with both of them consumed by revenge, confronted with the tough decision to redefine who they want to be as people moving forward.Yasuke reclaiming his identity and Naoe grappling with forgiveness and finding meaning in the remnants of her parents memories makes for a powerful story, and their characters do come across as multi-dimensional and believable, largely thanks to terrific performances by the lead actors. Their interactions with the allies they amass throughout the game reveal a lot about who they are, and they each find their own way to process grief and purpose, discovering more about themselves as they spill more and more blood.Similarly, Jin grows as a person as he grapples with grief and fights for his people and what they stand for. His internal strife is driven by the dichotomy of fighting with honor as a samurai and without honor as the Ghost.All three characters are memorable and well written, but what it comes down to here is that Naoe and Yasuke feel more fully fleshed out as people.Edge: Assassins Creed ShadowsStoryThe power of Ghost of Tsushimas storytelling lies in its philosophical dilemmas, with Jin cracking the bedrock of who he is by deciding whether the way of the Ghost is a necessary evil. Unlike most games, his final showdown is a genuinely meaningful culmination of everything thats happened in the story leading up to that moment. Sucker Punchs epic stays consistent in tone and quality throughout, and despite its length and scale, Tsushimas story feels ever personal and thematically rich.Shadows deals with similar themes but on a grander scale with more content, characters, and plot developments. There are some riveting story moments throughout the games campaign, but the sheer amount of side stories and minor interactions can bog the game down at times, especially during some of the many drawn-out, somewhat uninspired peripheral quests.The deciding factor is that Tsushimas story is stickier. Shadows is perhaps more cinematically potent and better directed in its cutscenes, but the purity and resonance of Jins tale makes it just a bit more memorable. To be fair to Shadows, it looks as though Naoe and Yasukes journeys are far from over considering the games canon endings, but for now, Tsushima comes out on top.Edge: Ghost of TsushimaOverallAfter comparing Shadows and Tsushima side by side, what becomes apparent is that theyre both great games that cater to different kinds of gamers.Tsushima, like a lot of first-party PlayStation titles, is heavily narrative driven and stylized in its presentation. Shadows has a poignant story at its core as well, but its a more rounded, content-packed experience that offers everything from interactive Japanese history lessons to an endlessly customizable hideout builder.Shadows is by quite a large margin a more fully featured game, even if you include Tsushimas multiplayer mode. But all things considered, the latter leaves a more indelible impression with its brilliantly conceptualized story and painterly imagery. Jins saga is a more potent parable, making it the victor in this battle. With Ghost of Ytei on the horizon, well see if Sucker Punch can recapture the magic.

This article contains spoilers for A Minecraft Movie.There was no joy or creativity at all! Thats how protagonist Steve (Jack Black) describes the Nether, a dark underworld introduced during the mandatory and expository voiceover that opens A Minecraft Movie.Of course, that description also describes A Minecraft Movie itself, a slog of IP-driven nonsense that somehow has the temerity to make its bad guys monsters bent on destroying joy and creativity in their endless search for more money. Granted, A Minecraft Movie isnt the worst bit of IP-driven media released lately, that dishonor still belongs to The Garfield Movie. But it does encapsulate everything wrong with modern Hollywoods focus on intellectual property and brand recognition, for four main reasons.An Over-Minded PlotFull disclosure: Ive never played Minecraft. But my kids have, and they tell me it isnt about action or plot. They enjoy Minecraft because it feels like the worlds biggest LEGO set, an endless play place where they can use blocks to create whatever they imagine. To be sure, director Jared Hess and his gaggle of screenwriters have the characters in the film say the same thing about the Overworld, the magical cube-based place where most of A Minecraft Movie is set. But absolutely nothing on screen reflects that love of imagination, starting with its plot.To prevent the villainous pig monster Malgosha (Rachel House) from leaving the Nether and invading the Overworld, Steve hides a MacGuffin called the Orb of Dominance in the real world. There it comes into the possession of Garrett The Garbage Man Garrison (Jason Momoa), a swaggering man-child whose inability to move on from his past life as an arcade champion has left him with a failing retro game store.Into the store comes pre-teen Henry (Sebastian Hansen), who has moved to town with his caretaker, older sister Natalie (Emma Myers of Wednesday), after the death of their parents. Henry finds the Orb, which guides himalong with Garrett, Natalie, and realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks)into the Overworld.What follows is a series of set pieces designed to present the minutiae of the world in exacerbating detail, thus thrilling viewers who recognize this stuff from the games. However, the absolute lack of care about everything else, including plot mechanics that rely heavily on formula and tropes, will undoubtedly bore everyone elseespecially when they recognize that stuff from a million other movies. As a result, the movie amounts to little more than a pile-up of narrative complications and conveniences, introduced with byzantine rules. Each of these obstacles is then immediately resolved while remaining completely free of tension.Steve begins the movie captured by Malgosha, but is let go when he promises to bring her the Orb, something he never does and she never expects. Late in the film, Henry gets zapped by an Enderman, a dangerous monster who, in Steves words, scrambles minds. But Henry literally shakes it off after 30 seconds of visions, vanquishing this most dangerous of beasts with a few sword swipes.Adults who have never played the game feel absolutely nothing from these beats, but kids who have had their Minecraft sessions ruined by Endermen can fill in the gaps that the movie leaves. At least, thats what filmmakers are counting on: familiarity with the game creating a tension or excitement the film never has time to be bothered with engineering.Characters Youve Seen BeforeEver since he warned us about the dangers of Pitfall! in a 1982 Atari commercial, Jack Black has charmed audiences with his outsized enthusiasm. His role as Steve asks him to do the same, and so he waves his hands to underscore the mystery of the flying boots and swaggers across the screen when blocks appear wherever he points. He enters each new location with a loud, Whoa-ho! demanding that we be just as excited.Black has also been the secret weapon for many terrible IP movies. Consider how he brought energy to later Kung Fu Panda and Jumanji entries, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Borderlands. But the grind seems to have finally caught up with him. Theres sadness in his eyes this time as he does his usual moves. The louder he gets, the more tired he seems.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!To a certain extent, Momoa picks up some of the slack. He too usually plays big, lovable bros, and his loudness can sometimes compensate for Blacks exhaustion. However, hes trying to create a real performance with Garrett, and he really shouldnt. Not only does A Minecraft Movie not warrant actual acting, but Garretts a terrible character to take seriously. Why would kids want to see an adult be sad about video games? Its their dream come true!Outside of Garrett and Steve, A Minecraft Movie fills out its cast with one-note character types. Theres the smart, awkward kid who needs to believe in himself; theres the caretaker who needs to learn to trust her charge; theres a sassy plus-sized woman of color (played by an actor who just earned an Oscar nom for The Color Purple!) to drop one-liners; and theres a big tough baddie who acts like a nice guy.As with the plot, A Minecraft Movie goes for the easy money guaranteed by safety, not for the creativity it claims to celebrate.Millions of PeachesPerhaps the most craven part of A Minecraft Movie involves its many, many songs. Now singing has long been a part of Blacks act, ever since his incredible take on Lets Get it On in High Fidelity. But when the entire movie stops so he can drop a 30-second ditty about eating lava-cooked chicken or an ode to his doggie Dennis, its clear that A Minecraft Movie hopes to have its own Peaches, a la The Super Mario Bros. Movies viral sensation.Songs arent the only thing A Minecraft Movie rips off from other video game adaptations though. The film is also fond of wry asides that comment upon the oddity of the world, with confused reaction shots and one-liners (usually involving Brookss Dawn). This can occur when a bone magically turns an angry wolf into a happy pup, or day turns to night within seconds. Its as if the movie would like you to know that it also thinks the source material is dumb, even though the source material is the only part of the film that isnt generic.Finally, and least surprisingly, A Minecraft Movie features two end-credit scenes, one with a celebrity cameo and the other with a sequel tease. The first appears mid-credits, and pays off a running gag about a villageran NPC from the game who says nothing but looks at things with confusionwho makes it to the real world and goes on a date with Henrys principal.The principal is played by Jennifer Coolidge, best known lately for incessant credit card commercials, which means that shes an air-headed and slightly too sexual older woman who throws herself at the silent villager. But when a former beau arrives and challenges the villager, he speaks in the sonorous tones of Matt Berry. In this case, the joke is funny because its funny, and not just because Matt Berrys funny, and we like him in other things.In the final scene, Steve returns to his old house to find it now occupied by a woman who introduces herself as Alex. I clocked the voice as that of Kate McKinnon, but needed my daughter to explain that Alex is the female counterpart to Steve, a girl-character for players who want to play as a girl. And thats it. But it was enough to get my daughter excited, which I guess is the point.It Doesnt Have to Be This WayA Minecraft Movie is incredibly dull, but in certain moments it shows flashes of originality. That somehow makes the movie worse.Its been a long time since Hess did anything as impactful as Napoleon Dynamite or Nacho Libre, but his droll, late-80s aesthetic brings some character to the few scenes before the heroes go to the Overworld. A sequence involving Henry accidentally sending a rocket pack into the giant potato at the center of town is strangely funny. Even the decision to dress Momoa in a pink frilly jacket and Brooks in a pastel jumpsuit is a choice.Perhaps the most interesting parts are the most upsetting. Although the film retains the blocky designs from the game, it covers them with real textures. Thus the enemy piglins all have flabby, harry skin, complete with hairs and pustules. The villagers have the same uni-brows and massive Squidward-style noses they sport in the game, but here, the unibrows are bushy and full, and the noses look like someone slapped uncanned Spam on their faces.In these moments, A Minecraft Movie threatens be something closer to the original Super Mario Bros. movie of 1993 or Street Fighter (1994), or even Double Dragon (1994), video game adaptations that arent good by any standard and that still exist to pump money from an IP, but at least fail in a way thats interesting. At least they show some imagination.A Minecraft Movie, as much as it says otherwise, is not a movie about imagination. Its a movie about money and nothing else. And it certainly wont be the last.A Minecraft Movie currently exists in theaters worldwide.

CinemaCon, the largest and most important gathering for the worldwide movie theater and exhibition industry, just concluded its nearly week-long festivities in Las Vegas. In that Nevada oasis there were exclusive Hollywood presentations which debuted a slate of upcoming films, premieres and surprise feature screenings, stars, producers, and directorsall there to celebrate the moviegoing experience. CinemaCon offered on-stage reveals, sizzle reels, and extended footage exclusively shown to CinemaCon goers.Among the highlights, attendees got first looks and extended footage reveals of James Gunns Superman, a behind-the-scenes look at Masters of the Universe, an eerie M3GAN 2.0 performance, hilarious Thunderbolts* footage, and more!SUPERMAN DC Studios (Warner Bros. Presentation)DC Studios Chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran hit the CinemaCon stage on Tuesday to introduce new unseen footage from the upcoming Superman. The presentation started with behind the scenes footage and a sizzle reel of the first day of shooting Superman in Norway. The presentation also surprised us with some of the star-studded cast, including David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor).David, dressed as Superman, is flying into the sunset and I felt like I was witnessing the magic of cinema in first-person, in real time, Hoult said about the effect of watching Corenswet don the red cape in-person.CinemaCon was also the launching pad of nearly five minutes of footage. Much of it has been released online, such as the full scene of super-powered dog Krypto rescuing (and jumping on) a badly damaged Superman in the Arctic. The canine then takes Kal-El home to the Fortress of Solitude where robots are waiting for him. However, what we saw at CinemaCon is a bit more extended than even the recent sneak peak. Indeed, we got a better idea about why the reason the Fortress of Solitude is in shambles: Krypto wrecked the place! And after being healed by the suns yellow rays, Superman lightly scolds Krypto for making a mess inside the fortress. Stay, Superman says before flying off.Gunn told the audience that Krypto was largely inspired by his own rescue dog Ozu. The filmmaker also recounted a funny story about bringing him home: He was the worst dog you could ever imagine. He said Ozu chewed up everything he could and that included a new $8,000 laptop. Gunn would have to climb on furniture because Ozu would run around trying to bite his feet. I didnt know if he was playing or he hated my guts.The footage also showed Lois hard at work and giving Clark a hard time during an interview. Also while speaking at the presentation, Brosnahan revealed she went through an intense journalistic boot camp and spoke with reporters about what brought them into the profession. This may be the best Lois Lane yet.The extended look showed a lot of Gunns personality and heart. As described by Gunn, This movie celebrates kindness and human love. Hoult meanwhile added that hes so excited to watch this movie with my son.WICKED (Universal Presentation)Wicked, one of the biggest Broadway adaptations of all time, had its third year of closing out the Universal Pictures presentation. CinemaCon attendees were the first audience in the world to see a glimpse of the second half of the story that captivated theatergoers last year. WERE ABOUT TO BE CHANGED FOR GOOD! Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took the stage with director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt as they introduced an exclusive clip loaded with magical moments.It starts with bubbly Glinda (Grande) who can sense the presence of Erivos Elphaba, telling her to come inside before the monkeys see her. Theres a voiceover of Elphaba saying theres no way back,and Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is leading a charge to find the Wicked Witch as angry villagers march with torches. Musical fans will recognize the music which cuts from No Good Deed to For Good. We even see Glinda and Fiyero having a wedding, and then it cuts to Dorothy and friends meeting the Wizard. Fiyero also is shown eventually declaring his love for Elphaba, the Wicked. The last sizzling clip shows Glinda hug her only friend that mattered.M3GAN 2.0 Blumhouse (Universal Presentation)Blumhouse presented exclusive looks at sequels of some of its biggest hits. As expressed by CEO Jason Blum, October is an extra special month for horror. Universal Pictures revealed an exclusive trailer for the iconic AI doll movie, M3GAN 2.0, and stole the show with CinemaCon goers by having 30 dancing M3GANs bop to Britney Spears and a live-Orchestra performance led by renowned music director, composer, and music producer, Rickey Minor.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The performance was introduced by the films star Violet McGrawCady in the film and the little sister of The Black Phones Madeleine McGraws younger sisterwho is back to reprise her role from the first M3GAN. Violet says My friend Allison Williams is stuck in Atlanta shooting right now, and that she believed she was alone, but M3GAN hates to not be in the spotlight leading to the surprise dance party.The Blumhouse/ Atomic Monster spectacle featured 30 dancing M3GAN dolls performing the iconic Britney Spears hit, OopsI Did it Again, on the Colosseum stage. Violet then had the honors of introducing the trailer. After the dolls performed the exciting dance number, which included the iconic M3GAN dance choreography, the dolls exited down the aisles through exhibitors.Masters of the Universe (Amazon MGM Studios)Amazon MGM Studios showed the earliest of early looks at Jared Letos Skeletor and the long-awaited film adaptation of the legendary toy franchise Masters of the Universe. CinemaCon audiences also caught first looks of the stacked cast, including Nicholas Galitzines He-Man and Camila Mendes Teela (who were also in attendance), as well as Idris Elbas Man-At-Arms and Alison Bries Evil-Lyn.Director, Travis Knight (Bumblebee) showed off a BTS sizzle reel of the cast, the creative team, massive London sets, intricate backdrops and worldbuilding, costumes, swords, weapons, the fictional planet Eternia, and He-Mans iconic Sword of Power and the glorious He-Man himself with his hair blowing in the wind. Knight discussed his love of the toys and beloved 80s animated series, admitting he had a He-Man haircut as a kid. The footage also showed Galitzines workouts, sword-wielding and bench-pressing. By the power of Grayskull!The Running Man (Paramount)CinemaCon Star of the year Glen Powell took the stage with co-stars Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, plus visionary director Edgar Wright, to present the footage in Las Vegas. CinemaCon was the first audience in the world to get a sneak peek at The Running Man. The dystopian film, which finished shooting less than a week ago, gives off a bleaker, darker Hunger Games meets a popular game show competition.Domingo, who plays the intense and eccentric host of a homicidal game show, introduced the first-look to attendees. This dystopian remake of the 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger film follows a desperate man named Ben Richards (Powell) who needs money for his sick daughter. To solve his familys money problem, he joins a popular show titled The Running Man in which teams of killers hunt down the contestants where the longer a contestant survives, the more money that person will make. Wright, who is also a fan of the Stephen King book, was inspired by the literary source materials more serious tone and themes. He said he wanted to make this film more dystopian. From the footage we saw, the opponents are more special opps, ex-military serious. This might be a far cry from the eccentric, wonky personalities from the original film.Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning (Paramount) StuntsParamount saved its biggest blockbuster for last, promising a stunt-filled spectacle and featuring some of Tom Cruises most daring tricks. Christopher McQuarrie was honored with Director of the Year. Meanwhile Chris Aaronson, president of theatrical distribution at Paramount Pictures, introduced the exciting stunt spectacle. The stage was set with ramps, glaring red lights, and lots of smoke. A group of a few professional motor-dirt bikes hyped the crowd with the intense light show and exciting stunts like flipping on the bike!Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning (Paramount) Val Kilmer Moment of SilenceAction legend Tom Cruise took the stage and started the Mission: Impossible presentation by paying tribute to his late Top Gun co-star, Val Kilmer, who died of pneumonia earlier this week.I cant tell you how much I admire his work, Cruise said. The audience took a moment of silence to honor what he contributed to the film industry. Cruise told the audience he was honored to work with Kilmer once again on the 2022 film, Top Gun: Maverick. He closed with I wish you well on your next journey.Thunderbolts* Marvel Studios (Disney Presentation)Marvel Studios showed a hilarious and action-packed look at Thunderbolts* full of witty one-liners, especially from Julia Louis-Dreyfus Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The extended scenes opened with Harbours Red Guardian telling Stans Bucky Barnes, We are same, we are different before revealing the rest of the unconventional team of antiheroesYelena Belova, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker in the back of the van.The next scene shows Valentina poking fun at Congressman Barnes and his promising career of less than half a term. Yikes! She also calls John Walker a JV varsity Captain America. She tells Yelena you look awful, you sure youre ready? with Yelena responding, Eat shit Valentina.After more comedic moments, it gets a little serious with Yelena adding the Avengers are gone, no ones coming to save the day, but we could be the people that are coming. Not heroes, not giving up.Following the casts appearance at CinemaCon, Marvel Studios announced that tickets will go on sale this coming Monday, April 7 for Thunderbolts*.

Some might complain that the sneak peek for Superman doesnt actually let us peek anything new. It begins with Superman crashing into the snow and calling for his dog Krypto, just like the trailer released a few months earlier. It continues with a montage of scenes, including shots of superheroes such as Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and the Green Lantern Guy Gardner. It ends with Superman (David Corenswet) embracing Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), all while a variation of the John Williams theme plays.Yet, there is new footage in this teaser. Well, only new in the sense that we havent seen this particular scene from Superman before. But the ideas in the footage is old in the very best way, proving that James Gunn is going deep into DC and even pulp lore to create something special.The teaser features extended footage of Krypto (perhaps because it debuted in front of the kid-friendly A Minecraft Movie), frolicking and being a normal dog before rescuing Superman. Krypto takes Superman to his Arctic hideaway the Fortress of Solitude, presented here with the crystalline design that John Barry made for the 1978 film.But the most notable addition comes with the figures who tend to Superman, four humanoid machines with capes and shields.Superman and robots may be new to the this films marketing, and indeed, to Superman movies in general. But they have a long history in the comics. In throughout the Silver Age, Superman often employed robot clones of himself, sometimes to throw off people who suspect his secret identity, and sometimes just to mess with Lois Lane. Since Crisis on Infinite Earths rebooted the DC Universe in the mid-1980s, the robots tended to be more insect-like assistants who tended to the Fortress of Solitude. The movie version appears to combine the two approaches, as they appear to be caretakers of the Fortress with more spindly features, but they still sport the shield and capes of their masters.However, the whole idea of robotic assistants and a hidden fortress goes back even further than the Silver Age, even before Superman even started the superhero comic book genre with Action Comics #1 in 1938. They are concepts Superman inherited from pulp novels and magazines, high adventure stories about people with remarkable powers, who sometimes put on costumes and took on alter egos.In particular, they come from the adventures of Doc Savage, created by Henry W. Ralston, John L. Nanovic, and Lester Dent, and debuting in 1933s Doc Savage Magazine #1. Dubbed the Man of Bronze, Doc Savage was a genius mathematician, scientist, and adventurer, who fought evildoers with the help of his team of experts. Savage operated mostly out of his office on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, but also had a secret arctic hideout called the Fortress of Solitude.To be clear, Doc Savage didnt fill his Fortress with robots. But in the 1935 novel The Fantastic Island, Savage employs Robbie the Robot as a synthetic double to confound his enemies, just like Superman would do two decades later. But he did fill it with his assistants and aids, a common trope found in fellow pulp heroes such as Zorro, Tarzan, and the Shadow. Supermans creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster alter that trope for the first adventures of their hero, using Supermans secret identity as Clark Kent and his friendship with Lois Lane as an alternative to the band of experts on which the pulp heroes relied. But the trope soon resurfaced, with Superman not only getting help from his pal Jimmy Olsen and boss Perry White (both additions from the radio show The Adventures of Superman), but also with fellow heroes Batman and the Justice Society of America.More importantly for the James Gunn movie, writer Grant Morrison strengthened the connections between Superman and the pulp heroes. The robots seen in the film come directly from Morrisons All-Star Superman, which features the Man of Steel completing heroic tasks before his death and creating new scientific wonders in his lab, plot points common to the pulp era. Morrisons Superman and the Authority, which features a team-up that Gunns movie will replicate, reimagines Superman as an explicitly in the style of Doc Savage (or even Alan Moores homage Tom Strong), complete with ever-present work gloves and a commitment to scientific exploration. And, of course, the robots are there again to help him.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!As this brief history shows, the robots arent just a cool detail from the comics. They are part of a longer tradition of genre fiction, one that Gunn clearly loves. By situating Superman within this lineage, Gunn shows that hes not just performing another cynical task of IP-mining. Hes celebrating a genre, remembering its past while moving forward.Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025.

A Minecraft Movie has arrived bringing the Overworld to the moviegoing masses. The family friendly romp follows siblings Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers) and their animal-loving realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks). and the video-game-obsessive Garrett The Garbage Man Garrison (Jason Momoa) as theyre sucked into the magical mines of the Overworld and into an adventure that theyll never forget.For here they will meet the legend they call Steve (Jack Black).We chatted to the cast and creators of the film at an awesome event in Los Angeles that threw us directly into the mines, the vegetable gardens, and the terrifying zombies that inhabit the cubed world of the game and movie. Adapting that universe to the screen was no mean feat, especially as what has made the game so successful is the never ending possibilities it presents, something that director Jared Hess is keenly aware of.The cool thing about the game is that it is an open world, and theres no story to it, so everybody that plays it brings their own imagination, their own story to what theyre doing, Hess shares. So we wanted to have that same approach as we developed the film and really everybody involved, from the writers to the producers and the design team, we just wanted to bring what we love about the game to the film and really celebrate it.Torfi Frans lafsson, the senior director of original Minecraft content, agreed: Its been there for people in moments of joy and grief and even bringing people together like families and connecting friends across continents. he says. It is definitely challenging, because to some people, its just a very serious zombie survival game, and it should be approached as such. And to others, its like a colorful free-for-all where you just throw a bunch of blocks.He continues. Thats why its called A Minecraft Movie. This is the Jared Hess vision-version of it. Even Steve is almost like faceless, a blank slate when you play Steve or Alex or any other characters, because they embody kind of what you do as a player. So people are saying, Hey, thats just Jack Black wearing a blue shirt. But this is Jack Blacks Steve taken to 11.While the film is just one of many stories that could take place inside of Minecraft, the crew was still aware that you had to bring the easter eggs, nods, and creatures that fans love so much to the big screen. This includes the terrifying Enderman who star Jack Black was particularly excited to tease. Hes legit the scariest creature in Minecraft, and I think we did a really good job of capturing that thing. You cant look him in the eye, Jack Black says. In our movie you do see what happens when you look an Enderman in the eyeThose terrifying moments make A Minecraft Movie stand out, playing with the fears we have as children, and the ways that films can help us learn our boundaries. For Jason Momoa, the film that scarred him as a kid is still shaping his capacity for horror today.Im terrified, Momoa laughs. I still f*#*ing hate clowns. I should have listened to my mother. Mama was like, Do not watch It. Went and watched it at her friends house. I looked at shower drains [afterward], and I still kind of look at shower drains a little bit weird. At the gutters, my skateboard went down that shit. I was like, its gone.Luckily A Minecraft Movie isnt that kind of scary, but Momoa is already contemplating how this film will change his life and the way that he interacts with fans just like It changed his life as a little kid. Its gonna be crazy too. Like obviously kids come up to you and your movies and things that youve done, like Kung Fu Panda, Momoa says to Black. But its the first time Im experiencing it. I did Aquaman where people were like, Oh my gosh youre a superhero! But this, I dont even know whats gonna happen, because there are going to be three year olds. Everyones gonna see this movie. Its just fun for them to watch, obviously, Im getting my butt kicked. Hes kicking butt. So its great to watch.Black agrees, having a revelation of his own. Its already generational, because kids who started playing it when they were teenagers, like 14 or 15, they could very well have kids of their own now, because its 15 years later. Theyre 29 or 30 years old. There will be Minecraft parents and their kids coming to this movie. Its kind of cool.

This article contains spoilers for The Bad Batch season 3 and the novel Dark Disciple.Ever since Asajj Ventress made her return from the dead in The Bad Batch last year, fans have been eager to see more of the somewhat reformed Sith assassin turned bounty hunter. Thankfully, Star Wars has answered our prayers by announcing Ventress as one of the featured characters in the upcoming Tales of the Underworld animated series. This iteration of the Tales of franchise is set to follow her and fellow bounty hunter Cad Bane in a series of short episodes that give us further insight into their lives at different points in the Star Wars timeline. While we dont know much about what these episodes will show us about these characters, the trailer does seem to confirm a popular Ventress fan theory.When we see Ventress in The Bad Batch, she comes to visit the clone crew after learning from Fennec Shand that theyre asking about M-counts. She warns them of the dangers of asking about such a thing while also doing her best to help Omega tap into her latent Force abilities.Because Ventress came to help Omega rather than collect on the bounty put out by the Empire, fans started theorizing that in the aftermath of Order 66, shes working as a double agent of sorts. Rather than collecting bounties for Force-sensitive people and turning them into the Empire, shes using her network of bounty hunting connections to track them down and help them find safety and refuge along The Path.#TheBadBatch Spoilers......My queen Ventress is 100% working for the Path. This is how I get a meeting between her and Merrin in Jedi 3 and they commiserate about being in love with Jedi men who are in danger of falling to the dark side. Trust! Dr. Danyells About Andor (@danies394) March 27, 2024Weve seen this network in Obi-Wan Kenobi and the video game Star Wars: Jedi Survivor thus far, a story that also features a character named Merrin, who happens to be one of the last living Nightsisters. The Hidden Path, or simply The Path, is a network of safe houses set up across the galaxy to help Force-sensitive people escape the Empire and start a new life. As someone who has witnessed a genocide of her people already, it makes sense that Ventress would want to help other Force-sensitive people avoid a similar fate. In the trailer for Tales of the Underworld, we see her stand off against an Inquisitor while trying to get a young boy, who we see also wield a lightsaber earlier on, to safety aboard her ship.The trailer doesnt explicitly say that Ventress is working for The Path, and she might not be in Tales of the Underworld, but her journey in this series looks to be setting up that path for her as fans predicted. Ventress is a complex, layered character, and its nice to see her get another chance at life after her death in the novel Dark Disciple by Christie Golden. This series is already poised to show us what Ventress has chosen to do with her second chance, hopefully it will also give us insight into how she returned from the dead in the first place.All six episodes of Tales of the Underworld will be available to watch on Disney+ May 4The post Star Wars Just Seemingly Confirmed a Major Bad Batch Fan Theory appeared first on Den of Geek.

You gotta listen to the way people talk, the teenage John Connor instructs the futuristic murder robot sent to protect him. Rejecting words like affirmative, this Connor kid instead points the T-800 to no problemo and hasta la vista, baby.But with its heavy use of Britney Spears Oops! I Did It Again, the M3GAN 2.0 trailer insists that its very own killer robot needs no such teaching. The flashy teaser is all verve and attitude, turning the dance sequence from the first movie that became a viral sensation into the dominant tone.Nonetheless, M3GAN 2.0 appears to follow Terminator 2 in one important way. Like how James Camerons sequel turned Arnold Schwarzeneggers killer from the first movie into a hero, M3GAN 2.0 sees the titular robot (voiced by Jenna Davis and portrayed by Amie Donald) rebuilt to protect child Cady (Violet McGraw) and her inventor aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) from a new threat, a more impressive android named Amelia (portrayed by Ahsokas Ivanna Sakhno).M3GAN 2.0 brings back director Gerard Johnstone, as well as screenwriters Akela Cooper and James Wan. As in the first movie, M3GAN still takes her mandate to protect Cady to murderous extremes, despite the fact that Gemma has trapped her in a cutesy plastic body. Gemma hopes that this new body will keep everyone safe while asks for M3GANs help in stopping Amelia. Good luck with that, Gemma.With that said, the trailer isnt so much about the plot as much as it is the tone. For the first movie, Johnstone and Cooper swerved between character drama, PG-13 Blumhouse violence, and broad humor, not always effectively. Yet the movie became a hit thanks to the studios successful marketing campaign. Videos spread over the internet with a host of identical M3GANs at New York landmarks or appearing in the audience of late night talk shows. The late-movie dance sequence even spread over to TikTok with teens copying the killer dolls moves.Important as hip humor may be to Blumhouses advertising, it actually played a relatively small part in that movie. So its hard to say if the sequel intends to lean right into silliness or if its just another marketing misdirect. Certainly, the first movie had characters like the large bearded man in a M3GAN wig seen in the sequel trailer and certainly lines like hold onto your vaginas arent completely out of place. But will the new movie lean this heavily on self-aware humor?The trailer doesnt give us enough information to know for sure. However, the trailer does completely reveal what the new M3GAN will look like and how shell fight with Amelia. By the end of the trailer, weve seen M3GAN transferred from her plastic body and placed in an upgraded version of her old body, not just taller (Amie Donald has aged, after all), but also stronger and with advanced weaponry. In fact, the trailer appears to show the movies climax in which M3GAN and Amelia put on bright futuristic armor and have a laser battle.Which is, unfortunately, one thing from Terminator 2 that M3GAN 2.0 cannot replicate. For that movies first viewers in 1991, the reveal that the T-800 was pulling out a gun to shoot the T-100 and not John Connor was an incredible surprise. Of course studio Tri-Star quickly spoiled that reveal in its marketing materials, robbing most viewers of that experience.So if not even Jim Cameron could stop a studio from giving away a big twist, we certainly would be shocked if the savvy marketers at Blumhouse could keep the same secret. In fact, it seems the point of the marketing to emphasize that this time there is a bigger, badder robot, and its going to be a Slay Off.M3GAN 2.0 dances into theaters on June 27, 2025.

This article contains spoilers for the season finale of PulsePulses season finale might not be quite as shocking as the season opener its hard to beat the devastation of a hurricane but the conclusion of this Netflix medical drama does a great job of wrapping up a lot of plot threads while leaving things open for a potential second season to pick up on.Heres everything you need to know from the Pulse season finale, and what it means for the future of Maguire Medical Center and its staff.Why Did Xander Leave Kennedy?Xander tells Danny the real reason he left Kennedy was to give her ammo against his parents. Xanders parents, especially his mother, are leading the charge to get her fired from Maguire even though she withdrew her complaint against Xander. Even though it breaks his NDA, Xander tells her that he was responsible for the death of a patient.The ER at Kennedy was slammed, but Xander still tried to help a longtime patient of his, Julio, who came in for a paracentesis. Because he had recently started college, he was overdue for the procedure, which was usually done through his GI doctor. Julio and his mother plead with Xander to relieve the internal pressure hes feeling, Xander agrees, and tries to hide it from his supervisor, Dr. Broussard. When she catches him, she insists he try to finish the procedure as soon as he can to free up the bed for more emergent patients. He asks for an ultrasound, both of which are currently in use, and she insists that under her supervision he can do this basic procedure without one, even though hes never done it before. He completes the procedure and discharges Julio, but later that night Julio returns.His mother is distraught, bringing him to the ER in a panic, saying he collapsed as soon as they got home. Xander rushes to treat him, coming to the conclusion that he did the procedure wrong and Julio bled out into his abdomen. Julio crashes, and despite Xander and the staffs best efforts, they arent able to revive him. Xanders parents swept this under the rug, partially to protect his career, but mostly to not ruin theirs.At the end of the episode, Danny promises Xander that despite not getting Chief, shes not going to reveal what he told her to anyone. Xander tells her that doesnt matter because he decided to go to Maguires hospital board to tell them everything. He doesnt want that mistake hanging over his head anymore, even if that means getting sued or losing his medical license.Does Danny Get Fired From Maguire?After shoving a belligerent patient, Danny is told by Dr. Cruz that shes on thin ice with the hospital. Dr. Cruz is being strongly encouraged by higher ups to let Danny go if she wants to keep control of surgery and the ER. Danny does her best to keep her head down and do her job, which soon includes treating the very man who was threatening her. Danny helps to save him, his wife, and his child, whom he injured by speeding across train tracks, despite the fact that he continues to badger her and almost refuses care entirely.Seeing how compassionate Danny is, even with patients who dont necessarily deserve it, Dr. Cruz stands strong in her decision to keep Danny on, and even tells Danny that shes her choice for Chief Resident.Does Camila Leave Maguire?Sophie is surprised to learn that Camila has put in a request to leave Maguire and transfer to another hospital for her next rotation. Camila tells Sophie that its because she cant stand the way that Tom treats her and doesnt want to suffer the same fate as a surgical intern. This inspires Sophie to finally stand up for herself against Tom, a conversation that Camila happens to overhear.Proud of her friend, and inspired by Dr. Cruzs words of encouragement she hears soon after, Camila decides to stay a fact that she doesnt reveal to Sophie until after Sophies heartfelt plea. It seems like there might be something more between these two friends, until we finally meet Camilas fiance.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Who Becomes Chief Resident?The episode ends with a hospital-wide party meant to usher in the next era of Maguire as the student staff members transition to their next stations. As mentioned previously, Dr. Cruz is being pressured to let Danny go in order to keep the surgery and ER departments both under her control. But because she decides to keep Danny on, she announces at the party that the ER will now be under the management of Dr. Patrick Sanchez (J.R. Ramirez), who has been one of the many people trying to convince Dr. Cruz that Danny shouldnt be Chief Resident.Because of this, instead of announcing Danny as Chief as Dr. Cruz intended, Dr. Sanchez blindsides them and announces that Dannys friend, and competitor, Sam Elijah will be Chief Resident.All 10 episodes of Pulse are available to stream on Netflix now.

Before he was an Oscar winner, and long before he dreamed of being an Asian girl on The White Lotus, Sam Rockwell introduced himself to millions by pushing cigarettes on children. Or at least that is how only his second speaking role in a feature film went during Gen X and Millennial touchstone, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In a sequence which would live rent-free in the imagination of millions of arcade and karate-loving 90s kids, Rockwell acts as grand ambassador for the Foot Clan, a literal army of faceless, fumbling ninjas who work at the behest of the Shredder, the most evil subterranean-dwelling cult leader this side of Bane. The fully radicalized Foot Clan wear green masks and red bandanas in the film, but as the friendly recruitment face, Rockwell attempts to woo runaways in his biggest scene with every vice a teenage boy circa 1989 might supposedly want: Skateboards! Electric guitars!! M.C. Hammer break dancing!!! Free martial arts classes!!! Poker tournaments!!!!!Oh, and of course regular or menthol, as the man who would be Justin Hammer winks at two impressionable youths during his close-up.This is a sequence that no Hollywood studio would dare put in a family movie today. Nor is it one they would have played around with in 1990. But then, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wasnt a Hollywood production. It was a true-blue indie back when New Line Cinema was a New York City counter-programmer to the big studios (a bit like A24 today) and Hong Kong distributor Golden Harvest would make bold plays into the Western market by adapting strange kid-friendly properties like Kevin Eastman and Peter Lairds initially obscure TMNT comic book series. For their efforts they were rewarded with the most successful indie movie ever released as of 1990a record the O.G. Ninja Turtles movie held for nearly a decade until The Blair Witch Project nine years later.The success of this tonal and aesthetic oddity speaks to the fact that we need more indies with the wide, general audience appeal that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enjoyed 35 years ago.Of course the indie market is still alive and even thriving today thanks to innovative and intelligent filmmaking championed by distributors like the aforementioned A24 or Neonwhich between them have collected four of the past nine Best Picture Oscars, including last months Anoraas well as speciality labels attached to larger studios (think of the now Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures or NBC-Universals Focus Features). But by and large indie cinema has increasingly retreated inward and into the space of niche filmmaking. In many ways that is amazing, with these companies filling the void for adult-oriented films with diverse interests largely abandoned by the major Hollywood studios.Yet other than our current and glorious glut of horror movies, be they elevated at the aforementioned distributors or something as twisted as Cineverses Terrifier series, indies have largely followed the path of Hollywood majors and streamers by abandoning the family/teen audience. Now young adult and kid entertainment is either exclusively the province of animation from Disney, Pixar, Illumination, and DreamWorks, or its a streaming series on Netflix.No one is making something as provocativeand sure to rile parents groups up as Golden Harvest and New Lines first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick and its vision of Lost Boys chic.Directed by music video maverick Steve Bannon (the guy who did A-has Take on Me and Michael Jacksons Billie Jean videos), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was not extensively test-screened, focus-grouped, or designed in a committee who wanted to put a locket around Donatellos neck that included the four core branding terms that the marketing department settled on.The film was made for $7 million and with the director getting near carte blanche to tell whatever story he and screenwriters Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck might come up with while adapting Eastman and Lairds strange comic book series. Granted by the time TMNT reached cinemas in 1990, it was a bonafide icon in American households thanks to the even more beloved cartoon series, Hong Kong producers at Golden Harvest secured the film rights to the Turtles before the cartoon became a phenomenon. As the production company behind Bruce Lee films like The Way of the Dragon and Fist of Fury, plus Jackie Chans Police Story series, Golden Harvest knew how to make a martial arts classic and indeed provided much of the choreography and stunt work on TMNT, including the men who wore the Jim Henson Creature Shops still impressive Turtles costumes.But beyond that, they largely left Bannon and the English-speaking creatives to adapt the Turtles iconography of both the comic book and cartoon as how they saw fit. Hence Rockwells Foot Clan scene.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!That sequence contains everything a 90s kid could want (or at least an adults assumption about kids these days). There were the skateboard ramps, the arcade games, and the karate duels; there was also just enough of an edge for families to think there is something dark herelike Rockwells box of menthols and Toshishiro Obata kicking some poor kid in the head when he is performing a bow. To even film the setting, Bannon admitted on the DVD commentary that they commandeered an abandoned warehouse in Wilmington, North Carolina (where most of the film was shot) and bussed in local kids from nearby high schools to do a bit of extra work for the day.There is nothing in these scenes a seven-year-old couldnt handle, but a bit like the Turtles using their weapons to lightly smack around Foot Clan members, or shouting the word damn, it is nothing conservative Hollywood money would let slide into a family product (hence none of the above appearing in the sequels). Yet we would argue the light edge, as goofy as it often can appear to the modern eye, is the charm that helped make TMNT a runaway hit 35 years ago and still the most memorable and successful film version of this property to date.Arthouse is wonderful, but indies like New Line Cinema of the 1980s and 90s, or a particularly hands-off Golden Harvest, created cultural touchstones for generations of young people who were trained to love going to the movies. This was also the era of Hairspray, House Party, Critters, Mr. Nice Guy, Rumble in the Bronx, and The Maskas well as Glengarry Glen Ross, Wag the Dog, and Boogie Nights from the same studio.There is room for all, but getting that middle-brow, kid-friendly movie with more shadow and edge than Disney is a market long since left abandoned.

Looking for more hospital intrigue after Maxs The Pitt? Netflix medical drama Pulse follows the doctors and nurses of Miamis Maguire Medical Center as they deal with an impending hurricane and the explosive relational drama that push the limits of what this staff can handle. But no matter what may hit the hospital from within and without, this staff does the best it can for its patients. The cast of Pulse is stacked with many familiar faces across TV and film. Here are the characters you need to know and the actors who play them.Willa Fitzgerald is Danielle Danny SimmsDanielle Danny Simms is a third-year emergency medicine resident at Miamis Maguire Medical Center. She unexpectedly finds herself promoted to chief resident amidst the fallout of a romantic relationship with one of her coworkers, Xander Phillips. Danny cares deeply about her patients, family, and friends, but also struggles to hold back her brash and self-sabotaging nature, which could put her career in jeopardy. Danny is played by Willa Fitzgerald, who you may recognize from Reacher, The Fall of the House of Usher, Scream: The TV Series, and Dare Me.Colin Woodell is Xander PhillipsXander Phillips held the role of chief resident and Maguire Medical Center up until his explosive fallout with Danny. The twos secret romance is not-so-secret now, and they both must figure out how to move on from this. Xander is confident and charismatic and has the respect of many of the higher ups at Maguire, in part due to his talents, but also because he hails from a highly-regarded and powerful family. Xander is played by Colin Woodell, who has previously starred in The Flight Attendant, The Continental, Fly Me to the Moon, and The Originals.Jack Bannon is Tom ColeJack Bannon plays Tom Cole, a second-year surgical resident. Tom is very aware of how witty and charming he is, and does his best to use that to his advantage. He may have come to Maguire for their renowned trauma program, but that doesnt mean he isnt going to enjoy the fun and luxurious lifestyle that Miami offers. Before Pulse, Bannon starred in Pennyworth, The Imitation Game, Endeavour, and Medici.Jessie T. Usher is Sam ElijahSam Elijah is a third-year emergency medicine resident at Maguire. He and Danny may be friends, but shes also his competition for chief resident. Sam is thoughtful and altruistic, but has a competitive edge despite his calm demeanor. Sam is played by Jessie T. Usher, who youll most likely recognize as A-Train in Prime Videos The Boys. Usher has also appeared in the movies Smile and Dangerous Lies.Justina Machado is Natalie CruzNatalie Cruz is the Chair of Surgery and Emergency Medicine at Maguire Hospital. She oversees both departments in an administrative role while also lending her skills on the floor when needed. She is brilliant and savvy and always tries to do whats best for the hospital and its doctors and patients. Dr. Cruz is played by Justina Machado, who has previously starred in Six Feet Under, One Day at a Time, and The Horror of Dolores Roach.Daniela Nieves is Camila PerezDaniela Nieves plays Camila Perez, a third-year med student starting her rotation at Maguire. Despite the long hours and seemingly never-ending workload, Camila does her best to stay optimistic. Nieves has previously appeared in Vampire Academy, Sex Appeal, Every Witch Way, and WITS Academy.Jessy Yates is Harper SimmsJessy Yates plays Harper Simms, a second-year emergency medicine resident and Dannys younger sibling. Harper has been a wheelchair user ever since an accident in their childhood an accident that Danny refuses to forgive their father for. The two siblings dont always see eye-to-eye when it comes to their jobs or their family, but they do their best to support each other no matter what. Before Pulse, Yates appeared in the TV series Me and Speechless.Jessica Rothe is Cass HimmelsteinJessica Rothe plays Cass Himmelstein, a charismatic and charming senior ER nurse. Cass and Tom have an on-again/off-again relationship (and arent always the most subtle about it), but that doesnt stop Cass from speaking her mind and going after what she wants. Youll most likely recognize Rothe from her role in Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U, but she has also appeared in La La Land, Valley Girl (2020), and Virgin River.Sophie Chan is a surgical intern who works under Tom. She is smart and incredibly capable, even if Tom is often unwilling to see it. She may be a little jaded and burnt-out, but that doesnt stop her from being the best surgeon she can be. Sophie is played by Chelsea Muirhead, who you might recognize from the shows Warrior and Slo Pitch.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Santiago Segura is Gabriel MorenoSantiago Segura plays ER nurse Gabriel Moreno. Gabriel is a highly competent and skilled team player at Maguire, but isnt always easy to impress. You might recognize Segura from Scream: The TV Series and Walker: Independence.Nstor Carbonell is Dr. Ruben SorianoDr. Ruben Soriano is a senior surgeon at Maguire who often puts his job above all else. Dr. Soriano is highly respected, especially by Tom who hopes to learn from the esteemed doctor. Dr. Soriano is played by Nstor Carbonell who has appeared in many projects, though you may recognize him the most from Lost, Bates Motel, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Shgun, and Ringer.Arturo Del Puerto is Luis DominguezArturo Del Puerto plays Luis Dominguez, Maguires beloved ER Charge Nurse. Luis is often unphased by the chaos that comes through his ER, staying steadfast without sacrificing his signature wit. Arturo Del Puerto has previously appeared in shows such as For All Mankind, Big Sky, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Westworld.Ash Santos is Nia WashingtonNia Washington is a confident and scrappy Miami-Dade County EMT who often brings patients through Maguires ER. She and Tom have a bit of a flirty rapport, which may soon blur the lines of their professional relationship. Nia is played by Ash Santos, who you might recognize from Mayor of Kingstown, Night Teeth, and American Horror Story.

This article previews Doctor Who season 2 but is spoiler-free.Last season on Doctor Who, the Doctor and Ruby traveled to Regency England, 1963 London, and a space station run by babies, as well as facing the god of music, a mysterious haunting, white supremacist airheads, and the return of Classic Era enemy Sutekh. As the season two trailer teases, this time Ncuti Gatwas Doctor will be traveling with new companion Belinda (Varada Sethu) whos stranded far from Earth and desperately wants to get home. The first episode of the season The Robot Revolution wastes no time in giving viewers a taste of the worlds beyond Earth. Belinda is a nurse who has seen every possible injury and illness, and who teams up with the Doctor to make her escape from the Robots grasp. She wants to go home and the Doctor has promised her to help her get there. Well bring you our chat with Gatwa and Sethu soon, as they talk Den of Geek through the new TARDIS dynamic and their upcoming adventures.While fans await the start of season two on April 12, the future of Doctor Who is in flux. Neither the BBC or Disney+ have confirmed at this time the status of season three. Theres still five-part Sea Devil and UNIT spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea to come, but after that fittingly for this show is a big question mark.Nonetheless, we find showrunner Russell T. Davies over Zoom in enthusiastic form, and describing the new season as a enormous adventure with the maddest monsters. Hes excited for fans to see the Doctor and Belinda encounter an otherworldly version of the Eurovision Song Contest, an animated movie character coming to life, and wars in other galaxies. Read on for the inside story on why Belinda isnt an outer space thrill seeker, why Davies loves watching Doctor Who weekly, and all about the four other writers whove contributed episodes this time around.DEN OF GEEK: Which scene or episode was the most challenging scene for you to write this season?Russell T Davies: The second episode where the Mr. Ring-a-Ding cartoon character comes to life in 1952 was a great and bold idea. But the challenge is always doing an idea justice. We dont have an unlimited budget, how do you make that work? What do you do with a cartoon character once hes come to life? What does he want? How does the Doctor handle that? Its like every good idea is an awful lot of work. You only need to look at when Steven Moffat invented the Weeping Angels in Blink, which is a world-class idea. As he says himself, he could have made a feature film out of that. By now, wed all be going to the cinema to see Weeping Angels 10 because it would just keep happening. Why didnt we do that? It would just keep being brilliant. What I love about Blink is that every other part of the script is magnificent as well. Because having had a great idea, he then has to make the great idea work, so as to never let down the great idea. Every piece of dialogue with Carey Mulligan on that is the finest stuff weve ever watched because its all aware that its got a great idea behind it.Thats why all writing is hard work, and Doctor Who in particular. Most scripts might be talking about divorce, or a drug problem, or a chase or something, but, actually, in Doctor Who, youre doing it with a big concept, like a cartoons come to life, or were visiting the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest, or Boom Beasts have taken over London. Its huge in its scale. Thats the tricky thing, keeping your standards up, and never letting the show down. Thats why I love working on it.Season one had two episodes by guest writers (Steven Moffats Boom, and Kate Herron & Briony Redmans Rogue) and now season two will have four. Can you tell us more about working with the new screenwriters?Its so very exciting. Theyve actually been with us almost since the beginning, because it takes two years to get scripts to screen sometimes. We are constantly on the lookout for new talent. Juno Dawson is someone Ive known for years in gay land, but her novels are also on the Sunday Times best-selling list. I knew she was a Doctor Who fan as well. She had done a Doctor Who podcast drama called Redacted for the BBC that only aired in Britain, but was very successful. I knew shed be interested in joining this season.Inua Ellams is a magnificent playwright whod never had a piece of television on before so we made that happen. Hes been watching Doctor Who since he was 11 years old, so that was gorgeous. Hes a man, you learn as much off him as he might learn off us.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Pete McTighe is an old hand at Doctor Who and an old friend. Ive known him for at least 10 years and he lives in Wales literally on our studio doorstep. Hes just so busy so hasnt always had the time to work with Doctor Who. Hes actually off to Australia now because hes running his own show over there.Sharma Angel-Wallfall was a great delight because Sharma was a brand new writer to me. Its our job, as a team, to investigate new writers, and ask agents, and read new scripts, and to find talents like that. It turned out wed met when she was 12 years old. I gave a talk at her local theater, The Contact Theatre. I went to give a talk and a workshop for kids with the wonderful poet, Lemn Sissay. It turns out she was one of those kids. How amazing. Isnt that a weird coincidence? I know its just meant to be sometimes. But thats irrelevant, her scripts are what got her the role. And she was just a joy to work with.What new perspectives on the Doctor, his companion Belinda and others did these writers contribute?They all did, simply by being not me, which I recommend for an awful lot of people. In fact, I think most people are not me! Strangely, I want to correct this in the world. They bring their backgrounds, their histories. Inua Ellams just to pick an example, set his episode in Lagos. Hes created a whole history of friendships for the Doctor around a whole new mythology. Theres that lack of fear. Theres not a second of worrying, of him thinking, Have they done this before? Did they do this in 1985? Although hes always watched the show, he was completely free of its shackles. What you get is a completely new take on things you thought you understood in Doctor Who. The episode has the TARDIS doing things its never done before. And thats just exciting, and its bracing. Its exciting, and I hope to God, Im not the kind of producer that sits there going, You cant do that. Im not. Thats why Im good at my job, frankly. I lean in, and go, Oh, great. Weve never done that before. Lets push the story this way.Its the same with every writer who comes in. Its like there are moments in their episodes where you say, Why dont you try pushing the Doctor so hes angrier than hes ever been before. Or, Lets put Belinda in a situation where Theres some stunning stuff coming with Belinda, where you think, What if shes really terrifying? What if shes really dark, and strange, and weird, and mysterious? The story just gets better and better and better and richer and richer. And they write it in their own way. They write it in ways that I wouldnt write it. Thats automatic, and thats what Im here to do, is to release them, and to give them this canvas, which is a worldwide canvas.Its a glorious thing to write on Doctor Who. What I like about it is that everyone loves the opportunity because they know that Disney will sell it to 205 countries. They also know, in fairness, itll be made well and that were a very nice team. Were a script-based production team. Im a writer, obviously. Im a part of it. Julie Gardner, whos our producer, was a script editor. Jane Tranter started out as a script editor. Philip Collinson was a script editor. We have very good script editors ourselves. Were not coming at it from the money mans point of view. That counts in the end, but we all have script experience. We all know when a writers being treated well, or when a writers being treated badly. So I genuinely think they have a great time with us because were writers.How does the Fifteenth Doctors character evolve this season?Its a matter of simply trusting Ncuti Gatwa. Partly its us writers taking the story to new areas, and then asking him what areas do you want to take it to? Its very interesting, Id started work with Inua Ellams on his episode, when Ncuti asked to see me in the office one day. He said, I just want to come and see you because I just want to suggest, Ive come across this writer called Inua Ellams. I think hed write Doctor Who really well. So we were like, Oh my God, this is strange but its just meant to be because we all had the same idea.Id like to think Ncutis always happy to come in for a day at work because hes always got something new to do. I think you should never relax with your lead actor. You should always make your lead actor happy to come into work that day. The goal is to push the plot further, go into the Doctors history more, make something new happen on the spot. He fell in love last year. Now, how does he feel when Ruby falls in love with someone? Whats going to make his anger come out more? What are his friendships? Who does he know across time and space? Which people havent we met before? You keep changing it, keep making the story rich, new and exciting.Youve written several previous companions. How did you distinguish Belindas journey from others?Belindas got a very strong story across the entire arc, which is to get her home. The posters have the Doctor and Belinda standing on an alien planet looking up at the sky and it says, Get her home. That was my suggestion for the tagline for the whole thing. The poster says thats what its all about. I love that. For the first time, weve got a companion who doesnt want to be traveling about in time and space because she knows youre going to get a laser gun pointing at your head. Shes a nurse who works in A&E [the ER]. She knows how things work. She knows that people die. Also, in a story that unfolds over the season, youll get to see she has reasons to want to be home, which you will not be able to guess at. Theres a continued story there. Varada Sethu is one of my favourite actors Ive ever been lucky enough to work with. As you know, she appeared last year in Boom. I literally sat here at this desk thinking, Damn, Ill never get to work with that woman again. And then, ding, this little bell went off in my head, literally a light bulb over my head, and I went, Oh my God, just make her the companion then I can work with her forever. Brilliant. Welcome to the world of Doctor Who.Which episode are you hoping the fans get the most, Oh my God, reaction from?I think therell be big reactions around Episode Six, The Interstellar Song Contest which has got some great surprises in store. I think people will think its a big laugh with a lot of camp and fun. Theres a lot going on in that. If you dont want spoilers, Id stay off the internet before you see that episode to have the full viewing experience.Which episode are you the most nervous about?Oh, thats every single episode. I sit and watch them every single week. In Britain, we get old-fashioned transmission, where it goes, Oh, BBC One on a Saturday night. I would cancel any holiday to be there for that night. I know we live in a streaming world, but I was brought up with Doctor Who on terrestrial transmission, and thats how it is still in my house. Every week at five to seven, Ill be sitting there going, I hope this works. I believe in watching them on transmission because I think you see them differently. I have seen all of those episodes about 60 times by the time they get on air. And, yet, it feels like the first time when it first premieres .I love it, and I wouldnt swap that experience for the world.What do you want viewers to take away from this season as opposed to the previous one?I think, well, not as opposed to the first season, theres joy in both seasons together. Doctor Who is the most exhilarating show in the world. Come and join in, is what I always want to say to people. Come and have fun. Come and enjoy it. Its a rollercoaster. You get the best jokes, and you get the biggest scares, and you get the maddest monsters. Doctor Who is a big, full-hearted show. Its full-blooded, its an enormous adventure. Just relax and come and enjoy it and I promise youll have a great time, absolutely.Doctor Who season two starts on Saturday April 12 at 8am on BBC iPlayer in the UK and at midnight on Disney+ around the world.

Discussions about Nintendos long-awaited full reveal of the Switch 2 are currently being dominated by the topic that has come to define most other aspects of modern life: how expensive everything is.While Nintendo didnt reveal many price points during their Switch 2 Direct presentation, gamers soon discovered the hard numbers behind the hype. The Nintendo Switch 2 console (which is set to launch on June 5) will retail for $449.99. That price point came as quite a shock given that industry analysts previously predicted the Switch 2 likely wouldnt cost more than $399 at launch. While the Switch 2 still costs less than the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 did when they launched for $499 in 2020, the devil is in the details.Its no surprise that the Switch 2 will be less powerful than the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but some of the devices specs feel downright odd from a value standpoint. The Switch 2 will only ship with 256GB of internal storage. Thats far less than the 1TB of storage that is quickly becoming the industry standard and made worse by the fact that the Switch 2 will no longer support MicroSDXC expansion cards (youll instead need to use MicroSDXC Express). So while the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with most Switch games (another instance of ambiguous messaging concerning the consoles functionality), you may not be able to use the cards where your Switch game data is currently stored.The Switch 2s built-in LCD screen is also an odd choice given that Nintendo released an upgraded OLED version of the Switch in 2021. Its undoubtedly a better LCD screen (and the Switch 2 will thankfully support 4K resolutions when its docked), but that LCD screen invites direct comparisons Nintendo would probably rather avoid. Notably, you can currently get a 256 GB Steam Deck device with an LCD screen for $399. For that price, you gain access to thousands of Steam titles, emulation/modification possibilities, and processing power and battery life that is at least comparable to the Switch 2 (based on what we know). While the Steam Deck was previously considered a premium product compared to the Switch, the Switch 2s clearest advantage over the base model of Valves handheld now seems to be its library of exclusive titles.But if the Switchs hardware pricing is raising eyebrows, then the consoles software pricing is simply raising ire. We recently learned that the Switch 2s biggest launch day exclusive (Mario Kart World) will retail for $79.99. You can buy a Switch 2 bundle that includes Mario Kart World for $499.99 (assuming scalpers dont snag them all, of course), but were still talking about an $80 launch game in the already controversial age of $70 new releases. While another upcoming Switch 2 exclusive (Donkey Kong Bananza) will retail for $69.99 when it launches on July 17 (which is still on the high end by Nintendo standards), Nintendo is undoubtedly preparing us for the age of $80 Mario and Zelda titles at the very least.Thats hardly the end of the Switch 2s pricing problems. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (an interactive exploration of the consoles features filled with minigames) looks like a free pack-in title similar to what Astros Playroom was for the PlayStation 5. However, Nintendo revealed it will actually be a paid downloadable launch title. The Switch 2 will offer enhanced versions of certain Nintendo Switch titles, but Nintendo has yet to reveal how much those upgrades will cost. Even the Switch 2s enhanced native voice chat functionality (a feature that the original Switch honestly should have launched with) will only be free until March 31, 2026. After that, it will become part of a premium Nintendo Switch Online membership program.Through all of this, Nintendo is preparing to launch the Switch 2 with one of the weakest lineups of true exclusives weve ever seen from a sheer quantity standpoint. Outside of the $80 Mario Kart World, the premium Welcome Tour, and the upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch titles, the only true exclusive the Switch 2 will receive at launch is Konamis survival title Survival Kids. Additional exciting exclusives are coming later in 2025 and throughout 2026, but if Nintendo is going to bring their console prices closer to their competitors standards without also offering comparable hardware upgrades, perhaps they should also offer more than one truly notable launch game at an inflated price point.While industry analysts and insiders have warned us that the age of the $70 game is inevitable, given the rising costs of development, Nintendo seems ready to blow right past all of that. Like 2K Games before them, Nintendo seems to be selling us on the idea that their premium price comes with a premium product. Its the same argument that has led many to predict that Grand Theft Auto 6 may cost as much as $100 when it launches later this year.Of course GTA 6 reportedly cost an absurd $1 billion+ to develop. Does anyone really believe that Mario Kart World was so much more expensive to develop than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that Nintendo simply had to raise its price by $20? For that matter, does Mario Kart World really look more premium than the $70 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which was released less than two years ago?The fact of the matter is that these Nintendo Switch 2 price points are about familiarity rather than premium products. Nintendo had enough sense not to reveal those prices during their Switch 2 presentation, but make no mistake that they are confident that most people who want a Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World will buy them at these price points. Right now the only standard price point in gaming seems to be what we can get away with.Perhaps this will all blow up in Nintendos face. As the Wii U showed, theyre not exactly above overestimating the desire for a follow-up to one of their most popular consoles. Maybe people will choose to buy two or three indie games instead of one Nintendo title. Maybe theyll consider the versatile Steam Deck as an alternative gift this upcoming holiday season. Maybe gamings biggest studios will have to go back to the drawing board and find a solution other than charge more until you cant at a time when disposable income simply isnt keeping up with rising costs.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!That probably wont happen though. The far more likely scenario is that people will simply choose to buy fewer games in a given year, and one of those games will likely be the $80 Mario Kart World, exclusive to the $450 Nintendo Switch 2.Truth be told, Im as excited to play that game on that console as much as anyone else. But at a time when gamings established, top-end studios are dictating premium prices without much rhyme or reason, you cant help but wonder what will happen to an unbalanced industry that has long been teetering at the tipping point of a collapse.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gone in a bold and bloody new direction with Daredevil: Born Again, and while the Netflix-era Daredevil was known for its gritty nature, thats nothing compared to the violence already displayed in this Disney+ effort. Seven episodes in, and the freshman seasons nine-episode run has already seen the murders of Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), the OG White Tiger (Kamar de los Reyes), and many a crooked cop. Now, Born Agains ever-shrinking cast list has killed off another Marvel heavy-hitter.It was a short but memorable stint in the MCU for the villainous Muse, who was teased at the very start of Born Again and tipped to be the seasons main antagonistic anatomist. Instead, the morbid artist has bowed out in gruesome style just after a big reveal of his true identity. With Wednesdays Hunter Doohan named in the credits of episodes he wasnt even in, it didnt take the intellect of Pedro Pascals Reed Richards to figure out he was probably Muse. Things came to a head in April 1s Art for Arts Sake, when the violent vigilante tried to complete his masterpiece.Viewers clocked that Doohans Bastian Cooper was a little shifty when he met Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) back in episode 2, but it turns out he was seeking the therapists help simply to turn into one of his pieces of art. With Muse being pitched as the perfect antagonist for the MCU, it wouldve been great for him to have some more screen time, but ultimately, it doesnt take away from the twist.A tense final showdown between Glenn, Muse, and Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) goes down in her office, and after Daredevil turns up just at the right time, he pulls off a gnarly grappling hook move that wouldnt look out of place in a Mortal Kombat game. This gives Heather a chance to fire a gun into Muses chest. Hes dragged across his canvas and becomes his own final work of art. Whats even more interesting is that Muse seemed to ironically predict his own demise, with his death pose looking like one of his earlier murals where he depicted himself as a blood-stained Statue of Liberty complete with what looked like bullet holes in his chest.The MCUs Bastian Cooper is a major contrast to the comic book version of Muse who was introduced in 2016s Daredevil (Vol. 5) #11.While comic book Muse was also a macabre artist who liked to make murals with the blood of his victims, we never found out his real identity before he was killed during 2018s Daredevil #600. Daredevil wasnt involved in Muses comic book death at all, with the latter walking into a burning pile of debris following a fight with Blindspot, lamenting his defeat because he had so much beauty left. Comic book Muse is a much more mythical creation, later being confined to Hell to continue creating artwork and then haunting Morgan Whittier. Theres further confusion about whether Muse can be considered an Inhuman, especially as the comics sometimes referred to as the Inhuman artist and others as the Inhuman serial killer. This was addressed by co-creator Charles Soule, who said on X, He seems like the kind of character its better not to explain too much.It makes sense that Born Again gave us a more grounded version of Muse in-keeping with the street-level nature of the series, but with no sign of Muses vortex abilities from the comics, superhuman strength, speed, and endurance, he ended up being a pretty feeble foe that was easily defeated by the Man Without Fear. For those hoping there will be a reprieve for Muse, there could be more to the story thanks to apparent Daredevil: Born Again season 2 set photos potentially spoiling his return. Given the death of Foggy but confirmation that Henson is also coming back for more, there are questions about whether the pair will appear via flashback.Of course, its also possible (but seemingly unlikely) that a copycat version of Muse continues to give DD a headache. While some expected that Muse would have a bigger presence as the de facto endgame villain of Daredevil: Born Again, his bloody rampage should at least give Wilson Fisks Anti-Vigilante Task Force plenty of ammo, and hopefully, bring Big Willy back to his Kingpin best.New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again stream every Tuesday night on Disney+.

At South by Southwest we talked to a Spotify exec and two premiere podcasters about the future of the industry.Put two podcasters in a room with a Spotify exec, and their infectious enthusiasm for long-form and short-form discussion content will quickly have you wondering where the medium is headed in the future. Such was the case at South by Southwest when we were visited in the Den of Geek studio by Spotify Senior Director of Content Partnerships Jordan Newman, who was flanked by two amazing hosts, Rachel Lindsay of Higher Learning and Morgan Absher of Two Hot Takes.Absher and Lindsay talked a bit about how their shows, which air on Spotify in both audio and video format, grew and transformed in the past five years, undeniably influenced by the pandemic and the changing audience preferences. Newman also chimed in with his thoughts about how podcasting has changed since the early days and where things might be going. The trios shared love of the medium is on display throughout the video, and you wont want to miss some of the cool stories that podcasting allows them to explore.Adolescence has managed to become one of Netflixs most popular series of all time in only three weeks on the streamer.The limited series amassed another 30.4M views from March 24 to 30, putting it at 96.7M views since its debut. That was good enough to land at No. 9 on the all-time Most Popular English TV list, bumping Bridgerton Season 2 from the list altogether and pushing Stranger Things 3 to tenth place.Read more atDeadlineThe Housemaid stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried were on hand at CinemaCon to share a scene and the trailer for the thriller.Sydney Sweeney joined director Paul Feig and her fellow The Housemaid stars at CinemaCon to share the tense first footage. Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar also hit the stage for the Lionsgate presentation Tuesday to promote the psychological thriller and reveal its trailer, which has not yet been publicly shared. Hitting theaters on Christmas Day, the movie has a script from Rebecca Sonnenshine that adapts the 2022 best-selling novel from author Freida McFadden.Read more at The Hollywood ReporterKendrick Lamar fans will have to wait until 2026 to see his comedy collaboration with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker.Kendrick Lamars untitled comedy wont debut on Americas birthday after all. Paramount, the studio behind the closely guarded movie from Lamar and South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, has been delayed from July 4, 2025 to March 20, 2026 The change in release plans was announced ahead of CinemaCon, the annual convention of movie theater owners thats unfolding this week in Las Vegas.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Read more at Variety

As a prequel to The Original Series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds squeezes a lot of references to that groundbreaking show in its season three trailer. We get to see Paul Wesleys Kirk toast Martin Quinns Scotty. The teams holodeck mystery feels closer to the gangsters of A Piece of the Action than they do the gumshoe Dixon Hill in The Next Generation. We even see Jess Bushs Chapel and Melissa Navias Ortegas in 1960s style costumes and hairdos.But the most shocking nod appears for just a split second. For one brief moment, Rhys Darby of Flight of the Conchords fame appears on screen and snaps his fingers. And as excited as we are whenever Darby is present, the more notable thing is the way he looks. Darbys character has long sideburns and a Victorian coat. More importantly, he looks like something reality-changing is going to happen when he snaps.Weve known for a while that Darby would join Strange New Worlds in season three. Furthermore, producer Henry Alonso Myers teased at a convention that Darby would play a very familiar character.There had been some speculation that he would play another member of the TOS crew, but the teaser essentially confirms it. Hes playing Trelane, the mischievous godlike being who troubles the Enterprise crew in the classic episode The Squire of Gothos.But is he actually Trelane? Yeah, his clothes and hairstyle are similar to the Trelane we saw there, but Darby doesnt actually look that much like William Campbell, who portrayed the character first. Sure, weve seen some differences in look and style of characters between their original and recent incarnations. Rainn Wilson sported brown hair and more traditional facial hair when he took over for Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd in Discovery, Celia Rose Gooding changes the hairstyle of their Uhura more than Nichelle Nichols ever did, and Martin Quinn is Scottish while James Doohan is not.So, sure, he might be playing Trelane with a slightly different look, something thats not out of the question for someone so powerful. But he might also be playing someone who is similar to Trelane, something that has huge implications for Star Trek in general.Trelane may have only appeared in on TOS episode, but there was a character with the same personality and power set who debuted in TNG. The pilot episode Encounter at Farpoint introduces John de Lancie as Q, a trickster god who tests the Enterprise-D and then returns to annoy Jean-Luc Picard and other captains time and again.Q describes himself as just one manifestation of an entire Q collective, and we do see other members from time to time throughout the franchise. But as much as Q has in common to Trelane, no series has ever made the connection canonically explicit. Sure, there was the delightful Peter David novel Q-Squared from 1994. And sure, a line from Mariner in the Lower Decks/Strange New World crossover episode Those Old Scientists suggested that they were the same. But given that Trelane has never reappeared in canon, the question remains open.Now, Strange New Worlds has a chance to change that. By bringing in the actual Trelane, or at least someone who looks a lot like him, were bound to learn more about him and his species. Add in the fact that season three will also explore the early days of holodeck technology, another Trek standard introduced in TNG, and we can expect to finally learn about this The Original Series and The Next Generation connection.Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three premieres this summer on Paramount+.

Every good stuntman knows that getting knocked down is part of the job. Every time you hit the dirt, youve just got to get back up and keep going. With that in mind, its not too surprising that stuntman Cliff Booth would return for a sequel to Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. What is surprising, however, is how the sequel will come to be.According to Deadline, the makeshift sequelwhich initially began as a screenplay for Tarantinos self-proclaimed final film, which at the time was titled The Film Criticis alive once more after the Pulp Fiction director shelved the project. Furthermore, it still has Brad Pitt attached to star as Booth. And yet, instead of directing it himself, Tarantino is turning the project over to David Fincher.Its an odd twist of fate, but one that at first honestly sounds pretty good. Fincher isnt that similar to Tarantino, but he is an auteur of the same generation and indie 90s background. He will be able to present the material with care, particularly given his decades-long friendship with Pitt. But as Deadline points out, Fincher is currently under exclusive contract with Netflix, which means that the follow-up to Tarantinos love letter to the power of cinema and old New Hollywood will be sandwiched between forgettable Millie Bobby Brown vehicles, watched by people scrolling on their phones and folding their socks. Forever.The project announcement comes just days after Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos pronounced movie theaters dead, the latest in a long line of similar claims. The theatrical box office is down 40 to 50 percent from pre-COVID, and this year is down eight percent already, so the trend is not reversing, said Sarandos. Youve gotta look at that and say, What is the consumer trying to tell you?Theres a logic to Sarandos bean-counting. But five years ago, Once Upon a Time made the exact opposite argument.In one of the movies many transcendent themes, Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) visits a movie house to see herself on screen in the Dean Martin vehicle, The Wrecking Crew (1968). After a delightful prelude in which she gets a ticket taker to snap her photo next to the movies poster, Tate watches the movie with wonder. Its not just that Tate sees herself, revealing a screen talent that shell tragically never fully develop in the real world. Its that shes transported by the magic of cinema, by the gigantic screen, the engrossing music, and the pastel colors.Imagine something similar with a Netflix star. Yeah, this star would still be excited to see her face on a television screen or even her iPhone. But shed have to navigate through the piles of other slush Netflix put out that week. Shed watch herself, at best, on a 55-65 TV, maybe in 4K if her internet connection holds up. But then it would be done. And before the credits could roll, giving her a chance to revel in the experience, trailers would pop up and urge her to choose her next watch, Is It Cake? or Nailed It!The power of the Tate sequences only grow stronger over time, as the movies supporting cast has turned into the next-gen stars of today. Once Upon a Time features early performances from actors who are now household names, including Austin Butler, Sydney Sweeney, Mikey Madison, and Margaret Qualley. While old stars like Bruce Dern huddle under a blanket, these young luminaries move forward, carrying on the cinematic tradition.Once Upon a Time may end in an alternative reality where Cliff and his pal Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) thwart the Manson Family before they can kill Sharon Tate, but the success of these young stars proves that her spirit lives on in talented performers who can continue the magic of the movies.Or at least they could, provided they can still do movies. After all, the primary arc of Once Upon a Time involves Dalton contemplating his future. No longer an A-list talent, Dalton fears that if he lets go of his Hollywood home while making Italian pictures, hell lose his status forever. Instead he makes the transition to TV, playing the heavy who gets beat-up by up-and-comers in series such as Bounty Law.As a sophisticated look at stardom, Once Upon a Time isnt so simplistic that it says that movies are good and TV is bad. After all, Rick gives the best acting young Trudi (played by Julia Butters, another up-and-comer) has ever seen in the pilot for the largely forgotten TV Western, Lancer. Yet the fact that the movie presents a fantasy in which Sharon Tate lives, countering the Mansons claim that movies taught them to kill, the fact that Rick takes an Italian movie role instead of continuing television, suggests that the film has far more respect for the big screen instead of the small screen.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!All of which makes the sequels Netflix fate disappointingespecially after Tarantino railed fairly recently about the death of the theatrical experience Netflix is championing. Fincher and other greats have made fantastic movies released by Netflix: The Irishman from director Martin Scorsese, Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach, Hit Man by Richard Linklater, and Finchers own The Killer. But in each and every one of these cases, Netflix diminished and did not help the film, often getting it buried and, with the exception of The Irishman, deprived of a physical media release.Once Upon a Time In Hollywood believed in the beauty and power of cinema. Netflix believes in the numbers generated by constant distraction. If Once Upon a Times sequel goes to straight to stream, its hard to believe that Netflix isnt right and Tarantinos wrong. The movies are dead, replaced by endless, unremarkable streaming.

What do you think? asks a drunk and sickly Doc Holliday, staring down Johnny Ringo, a man rumored to be the fastest gunslinger in the West. Should I hate him?When Holliday poses that question, a shiver runs through everyone in the saloon. After all, the confrontation occurs in Tombstone, a 1993 Western about an infamous gunfight, and from the very first scene, director George P. Cosmatos starts beating the drum, moving retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and brutal outlaw Curly Bill (Powers Boothe) toward their inevitable, bloody confrontation. So when Ringo (Michael Biehn) begins to challenge Doc in this moment, and Doc refuses to back down, we think were going to see a preview of the big fight. Ringo prepares for the battle by showing off his gun skills, twirling his pistol in an ostentations pattern. Everyone, especially Earp (who holds his own weapon secretly beneath the table), expects Holliday to draw.Instead Doc pulls out his tiny handled shot glass and replicates the routine, widening his eyes to accentuate the mockery of Johnnys mad-eyed glower. With this simpl display, this specific version of Doc Holliday became one of the greatest characters in Western fiction, as well as a signature role for the man who realzied him: Val Kilmer. And we are finding ourselves thinking a lot about Doc, Wyatt, and of course Kilmer, after the actor who passed away on April 1 at the age of 65.Brief But BrilliantTombstone came at the height of an impressive run of fantastic performances from Kilmer. With his tall frame, surfer hairdo, and distinctive lips, Kilmer was a natural at cool, collected heroes, as he personified in his first movie Top Secret! (1984) and his earliest hits. He was Mavericks (Tom Cruse) foil Iceman in 1986s Top Gun and adventurer Madmartigan in the Ron Howard and George Lucas fantasy, Willow (1988).But Kilmer soon showed that he could do much more than look cool and handsome. In 1991, Kilmer played pop icon Jim Morrison for Oliver Stones iconoclastic biopic The Doors. Not only does he embody the charisma that made Morrison a fixture on dorm room walls but he also captured the arrogance and self-destruction that made him a pop culture legend.Yet just as soon as The Doors and Tombstone made him into a Hollywood favorite, Kilmers star began to fall. He repeatedly got overshadowed by his co-stars, even when he was cast in the lead. He was boring as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995), buried by over-the-top takes from Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones. A wacky late-period Marlon Brando made him look like a stuffed shirt in The Island of Doctor Moreau, and even Michael Douglas got to be the fun one in The Ghost in the Darkness, both from 1996.Hes excellent in Michael Manns epic Heat (1995), but no ones paying any attention to him when Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are onscreen. And The Prince of Egypt (1998) has its fans, but the animation and story stands out more than his vocal role. 1997s The Saint made money, but critics hated it. Between these little loved projects and his (by his own admission) tendency to be difficult on set, Kilmers time as Hollywood leading man came to an end.But even in his post-success phase, Kilmer stood out, with notable performances in 2002s The Salton Sea, the 2005 Shane Black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the Saturday Night Live spinoff MacGruber (2010), and Francis Ford Coppolas experimental Twixt (2011), in which he gives an entirely over-dubbed performance due to the throat cancer that would take his voice.By the time he reprised his role as Iceman for 2022s Top Gun: Maverick, his final screen appearance, audiences were glad to have him back. Its not just that he operated as something of a memento mori for Maverick and an ageless Tom Cruise, Its that theres a warmness to his silent performance. Kilmer relates regret, sadness, and gratitude in a few minutes of screen time, reminding us that hes still capable of giving complex performances.Playing it CoolI am in my prime, Doc Holliday declares in Tombstone, a rejoinder to Ringos challenge that hes lost a step. Kilmer delivers the line with the syrupy sophistication of a Southern aristocrat, his confidence unshaken by his pallor and ever-present sweat.None of us would disagree. Despite all the interesting performances that Kilmer gave throughout his lifetime, none topped Doc Holliday. Like the historical Holliday, the Doc of Tombstone came to the territory with his friend Earp, hoping that the climate would ease his tuberculosis. He made his living as a gambler and brought with him a reputation as a fast draw, a reputation that may or may not be rooted in fact.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The part required Kilmer to play two contrasting conditions. First he had to be a man suffering from constant malaisehot spells, chills, shortness of breath. Secondly he had to play a man of complete confidence, able to bluff his opponents and retain perfect control of the way hes perceived. Kilmer displays those qualities in an early scene from Tombstone, in which Doc wins a game of cards. Docs opponent Ed (Frank Stallone) tries to bluff, which Holliday calls with aplomb. Doc reveals his winning hand and coos, Isnt that a daisy?In the hands of a lesser actor, Holliday in this scene would be a disaster. The part allows for so many ticks, so many chances for the actor to show the audience how hard hes working, showing off his charm and his ability to play charming. But Kilmer doesnt give in, doesnt distract from the character. He keeps his Holliday cool and collected, even when Ed stands up and accuses Doc of cheating.You know, Ed, if I didnt think you were my friend, I just dont think I could bear it, he continues, barely moving at allthat is until he pulls two pistols before his opponent even notices. Yet even then Kilmer immediately returns to a calm state, placing the guns onto the table and leaning back. There, he declares. Now we can be friends again.The Tombstone script, written originally by Kevin Jarre, is full of moments such as these. Killer one-liners, acting showcases, exchanges full of meaning. And Kilmer approaches them all with calm control. He never lets the audience forget that Doc is sick and dying. But he also knows that Doc wouldnt let his condition control him, wouldnt let his sickness diminish his gentlemanly charms.Tombstone gives Kilmer a complicated character and instead of showing off, Kilmer plays the truth of the person, making Doc Holliday one of the great figures in the history of movie Westerns.A Legend ForeverLate in Tombstone, Johnny Ringo prepares for what he assumes will be a duel with Wyatt Earp when he hears Doc Holliday instead approaching.Well, I didnt think you had it in you, sneers Ringo, mocking who he believes to be Russells lawman. Im your Huckleberry, snaps back Doc after taking a drag of his cigarette.Again Doc gets an incredible line, one so iconic that it continues to be quoted today. Kilmer even used it as the title of his autobiography. And yet, Kilmer doesnt say the line like hes delivering an iconic movie quote. He delivers it like hes Doc Holliday, a guy who says stuff like this every day.Kilmer modulates his performance to make Doc Holliday a person first and an icon second. Thats why Doc Holliday one of the legendary screen characters. Thats why Val Kilmer will always be our huckleberry.

Tommy Callahan sucks as a salesman. So much so that midway through 1995s Tommy Boy, Tommy and his unwilling sales partner Richard take a break at a diner to drown their miseries in terrible food. Richard orders a shrimp cocktail, but when Tommy requests chicken wings, the waitress shuts him down because the kitchen is closed.What follows is an incredible combination of self-loathing and obnoxious ranting. Comparing himself to a circus boy who inadvertently smothers his beloved pet, and Lenny from Of Mice and Men, Tommy picks up a bread roll that he initially strokes, but soon enough is killing. And kill in this scene he does, with Tommy crushing the roll in his hand while screaming in equal measures of sorrow and terror.At the end of the bit, Tommy looks up at the waitress, his mussed hair and red face contrasting his simultaneous expressions of innocence and excitement. God, youre sick, the waitress chuckles, and proceeds to open the kitchen for his wings.That short bit serves as the turning point in Tommy Boy, the moment when Tommy and Richard finally click as a sales team and succeed enough to save the company. The bit, which was released into theaters 30 years ago, also captures the magic of Chris Farley as a comedian, a fantastic talent who was lost far too soon.A Friendly GiantBy his own admission, Farley wasnt the first energetic big man in Saturday Night Live history. Farley idolized the shows original maniac John Belushi, remembering fondly how his father would lose himself in laughter while watching Belushi perform. When Farley joined SNLs cast in 1990, he initially presented himself in the Belushi mold. Motivational speaker Matt Foley, which he and Bob Odenkirk created while they were both at Second City in Chicago, highlights the Belushi influence. In his introductory sketch, Matt terrorizes the suburban family who hires him, bellowing in their faces about his life in a van down by the river. The sketch ends with the family locking the doors and huddling in fear when Matt threatens to move in with them.Matt has plenty of the boiling rage that marked Odenkirks early work, long before he would snuggle his Little Women. But Farley plays it like the second coming of Belushis diner or samurai characters. Matts also one of Farleys signature characters. But he lacks the later quality that made Farley unique from Belushithat made Farley one of the most beloved actors in SNL history. He lacks Farleys innate sweetness.Later sketches would make use of Farleys guilelessness and Midwestern affability, most notably The Chris Farley Show, in which he shyly asked guests such as Martin Scorsese and Paul McCartney awkward and obvious questions. But no work captured Farleys mixture of manic energy and inherent kindness like Tommy Boy.Chaos Across the MidwestReleased in 1995 and directed by Peter Segal, Tommy Boy stars Farley as Tommy Callahan, scion of successful auto parts manufacturer Callahan Auto, based in Sandusky, Ohio. A party boy who skates by on his charm and family fortune, Tommy earns the ire of Richard (David Spade), who had to work hard to earn a top position at the company.When Tommys dad (Brian Dennehy) drops dead after marrying the duplicitous Beverley (Bo Derek), she and her con partner Paul (Rob Lowe) enact a plan to sell the Callahan company to an unscrupulous rival in Chicago. This would also in effect put most of the workers in Sandusky out of a job. To save the company, Tommy and Richard must therefore go on a tour of the Midwest, doing everything they can to sell Callahans revolutionary new brake pads and thwart Beverleys plan.As you might expect, that setup from screenwriters Bonnie and Terry Turner largely exists as a spine on which to graft comic set pieces. Each places Farleys outsized persona against Spades reserved snark. Thanks to that structure, Tommy Boy has plenty of space to show off all the varieties of Farleys approach.A simple example involves Tommy meeting Paul for the first time, introduced to our big-hearted protagonist as his new step-brother. I have a brother? Tommy asks with wonder. When Paul extends his hands, Tommy responds with affable rejection. Brothers dont shake hands, he gushes. Brothers gotta hug! He envelops Paul in a giant bear hug, dwarfing Lowe in the embrace.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!A later sequence finds Tommy bumbling as he attempts to fuel up Richards fancy car. After accidentally bending the door the wrong way, we watch through a window and over Spades shoulder as Farley struggles to push it back into place. With the same chaotic energy of classic physical comedians such as Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton, Farley throws himself at the door, bumbling back each time. But the kicker is the end of the bit when Richard returns to the vehicle, finding Tommy sitting inside and deliberately not looking at the now-shut car door.After taking a second to gently buff a tiny scratch on the door, Richard pulls the it open, only to have it come off in his hand. Taking one look at the horrified Richard, Tommy asks with exaggerated surprise, Whatd you do!?!Obviously, Tommy knows what he did and what Richard didnt do. But Farley channels his innate likability to sell the line, making it all the funnier.A Legacy of LaughterFarley made a few more movies before his untimely death in 1997 at the age of 33. And each of these movies have their charms, whether its teaming again with Spade for 1996s Black Sheep, going solo for 1997s Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), or swapping Spade for another uptight sidekick via Matthew Perry in Almost Heroes (1998).But none of them so perfectly suit Farleys comic sensibilities like Tommy Boy. Its in Tommy Boy, with its warm-hearted underdog story and space for big set pieces that remind us just how special Farley was.

This article contains light spoilers for Yellowjackets season 3.As Yellowjackets third season winds down, the tension and conflict has only ratcheted up. Due to impulsive decisionmaking, to put it politely, from teen Lottie in episode 7, Croak, the minds behind Yellowjackets have put into motion pivotal and interweaving plot threads with major implications for the past and present timelines.During a promotional stop at SXSW Film & TV festival in Austin in early March, Den of Geek met the producers of Yellowjackets, Jonathan Lisco and Drew Comins, and series creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson inside of Paramount+s The Lodge experience, where the streamer created a nicely wooded photo opp area. No frogs or axes were present during our interview, but we were able to pick their brains about the evolution of their writing process, and how they approached some of the standout characters in season three.The creatives have different approaches when it comes to checking in with fans and engaging with specific fan theories, such as a major character death that was teased in season one. Lyle initially was intrigued by it after the shows buzzy start, but has almost entirely checked out of the discourse. Lisco referenced the feedback loop in television where they see the edits and we can see who is dimensionalizing their character more, which partially led to their decision to give the fans what they wanted: more Mari.Were really just interested in the dimensionality of the characters and people, Lyle says. This season, theyve started to really lose their minds. Theres this darkness that is potentially always hiding in the shadows.Dark, abrupt twists have become the calling card of season three but the team continues to be excited by finding ways to unlock the talented cast theyve assembled in new ways. The show has been balancing ominous themes with comedic relief like that of Warren Koles Jeff Sadecki or this seasons breakout in teenage Mari. Played by actress Alexa Barajas, Mari began the series as a secondary character in the first two seasons and has since grown to become a more prominent character this season.Alexa is a treasure, basically, she started out as a relatively secondary character on the show, Lisco says. And I think we decided that we could give her more, and we gave her more, and she just kept knocking out of the park. So we decided to take her on a real ride this season.Series co-creator Lyle expanded on how gratifying it is to find ways to grow the ensemble and find more screentime for characters who might have been sidelined in past seasons.We knew we couldnt have 12 main characters in a season, but we got very lucky that these secondary characters showed their talent and their abilities as actors. she says. [Maris] rise as a character is evidence of the shows success and increased comfortability in exploring the abilities and complexities of different characters and actors.Comedy has always been an important tool throughout the show, and during the writing process the creative team is always trying to blend the lines of humor, horror-leaning elements, and drama. People dont know what to do with shows that are like, Its a comedy but its a drama, its a horror show, says Lyle.The ability to flesh out the series secondary characters in some ways is linked to the runaway success of the show giving the creative team more latitude to take risks and experiment. For series co-creator Nickerson, the process is familiar, but its undeniable the circumstances have changed when it comes to tuning out the online noise around Yellowjackets and growing as a decision-making unit.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!I feel like, individually and collectively, were always sort of growing in ways we might not be able to fully comprehend, Nickerson says. You sort of like, move differently when the wind is at your back or ahead of you, or like, depending on how the circumstance shifts and changes.For Comins, the feedback and excitement is a motivational boon. I think the ability to be noisy and kind of incite that emotion, again, from people who are new to the hive of Yellowjackets and people whove been there since the beginning, he says. I think that, in of itself, is very exciting and very potent. And I think art is meant to generate discourse, right?

News Talk to Me Directors Explain Why Their Street Fighter Movie Got KOdFresh off the buzzy Talk to Me, Danny and Michael Philippou were briefly attached to a new Street Fighter movie. But they had a good reason to Hadoken it.By Rosie Knight | April 2, 2025 | | Photo: CapcomAfter the massive success of their supernatural teen Talk to Me, it was no surprise when YouTube powerhouses RackaRacka, also known as Danny and Micheal Philippou, were picked up to direct a new Street Fighter movie. Rising to prominence with their gory and gratuitous action and horror videos before moving into studio filmmaking, it seemed like a perfect creative fit, so it was with disappointment that fans learned last year that they were no longer connected to the video game adaptation.Now after a recent event promoting the twins newest film, Bring Her Back in LA, Micheal and Danny spoke about the project and why it didnt happen.When it comes IP stuff, I usually would stay away from it, not because I dont want to do it, Micheal explained, but because I dont want to fuck it up. Theres things of such big, in-built audiences, Id hate to just let a whole bunch of people down, like, The fuck was that? Im so sorry! Thats my nightmare.That didnt stop them from taking on the iconic and beloved Capcom video game though. We were developing a big IP, it wasnt horror, it was Street Fighter, Micheal said. It was clear that it was something that the brothers were really passionate about. We were actually really excited for that, he continued. Developing that was a lot of fun.So why didnt the project happen? Well, it came down to a simple and deeply relatable reason: Timing.Just finding the time for it, it just didnt line up properly for us, he explained. So we decided to focus on the original stuff. I guess, were not opposed to it, but it has to really kind of connect with us in a special way for us to actually do that thing.I think wed fuck it up, Danny added with a laugh.

Danny and Michael Philippou were already well known in the YouTube community when they took Hollywood by storm with their A24 horror hit, Talk to Me. That haunting supernatural horror explored grief and loss through the lens of a wild party game, which saw teens take turns being possessed by a strange artifact.During the trailer launch for and sneak peak of their follow-up, Bring Her Backa film that follows foster kids Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) as they are taken in by an eccentric and possibly dangerous woman (Sally Hawkins)the pair shared that just like their massively successful first feature, Bring Her Back was shaped by a devastating loss in the Australian twins own lives.In the middle of writing Bring Her Back my cousin lost her two year old, Danny Philippou shared. We were in the hospital, and I was just seeing her on the bed, holding this kid, and the family were all around him, and they were holding his feet and his hands and his head and his arms, and eventually, over time, everyone let him go. My cousin was the last one to let him go.The idea of her never being okay ever again after that, that was an inspiration point, He continued. And how far she would go to heal herself from it. The idea of a never-ending grief cycle is terrifying to me.If it seems like Talk to Me and Bring Her Back are atmospherically and thematically connected, thats because they were developed concurrently, both inspired by the same losses, as well as Micheals love for The Exorcist.I think its the greatest film ever made so that makes me lean towards possession automatically, Michael told a group of journalists. Theres something so terrifying [about it], it feels so real to see somebody where something else is inhabiting their bodies. Connecting the stuff that makes you feel uncomfortable or nervous, or freaks you out and then express those things on screen.Danny added, Then leaning into how far youd go to bring someone back that you love. Those deep questions that you wonder and think about. Thats something that we didnt fully get out with Talk to Me, so this is another iteration.As Bring Her Back went into pre-production another tragedy struck as a close family friend died at the age of only 23. Alerted by their mother, the twins were suddenly once again crafting a film while dealing with the death of a loved one.The grief was so raw that in the moment we didnt really have time to properly process it, Danny admitted. We were doing pre-production meetings, then we started shooting, and there was no time to properly sort through those emotions. They sort of poured themselves out in the script and in conversations with Sally, so that bled into the character of Laura and scenes that were meant to be scary suddenly turned sad. So that just becomes part of the process, I think theres a rawness in it that wasnt in Talk to Me.To the brothers, horror offers a lighter way to explore dark themes and experiences like the loss of their cousins child, even becoming fun if they approach it in the right way.From what we sawtwo clips and the recently released first full trailerBring Her Back is a far darker and more somber take on horror than their previous endeavor, which still freaked out audiences around the world. According to Micheal, horror was always in their blood and their unusual childhood meant that the brothers carved a bloody path to adulthood and filmmaking.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Our parents were never home, he said. Our grandfather raised us to a certain point, and he passed away when we were really young. And once he did, there was no parental supervision, and our childhood was Lord of the Flies. Theres footage of us as 10 year olds covered in blood, like actual blood, from backyard wrestling and fucking each other up that way, it just became our love language: violence and psychopathy-ness.Perhaps thats why Bring Her Back centers on three children, Andy, Piper, and Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips) thrown into a world of violence and ritual under the watchfuland potentially malevolenteye of grieving mother Laura. Working with Hawkins was something of a dream come true for the brothers who eagerly gushed about her performance. And it marks a landmark moment for the actress too as she ventures into horror for the very first time.We did not think she would say yes, we sent her the script, and then she got back right away and said she was in love with it, how much it meant to her, how much she connected to it. Danny recalled. Her role was inspired by so-called Psycho-biddy movies like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Lady in a Cage, and Straight Jacket. Thus Bring Her Back promises to show a side of Hawkins audiences have yet to see.Im in awe of her. Shes genuinely incredible. And in certain scenes so terrifying as well, Danny teased.Bring Her Back hits theaters on May 30 2025.

You say you want a revolution? Well, at a Cinema Con event that featured multiple Spider-Men, Prowlers, and superheroes of various mediums, it was striking that the mic drop moment came not from a webslinger or one of his countless variants; it arrived by way of the cast reveal of a four-film cinematic event; it came from the Beatles.Together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history, director Sam Mendes said at the Las Vegas event (via EW). Meanwhile Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman added that this would be the first bingeable theatrical experience.The language Rothman used is intentionally evocative of how streaming content is consumed in the 21st century, however the showmanship of the reveal was defiantly theatrical, albeit of a very specific kind. In a sight that six years ago would not have looked out of place at San Diego Comic-Cons Hall H, and with Kevin Feiges signature baseball cap at center stage, Mendes was joined in front of a cheering crowd by the surprise cast announcement of Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) as John Lennon, Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn (Warfare) as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) as Ringo Starr.Furthermore, it was revealed that all four actors and their four total Beatles films will be released in the same month, April 2028.Theres never been anything quite like this before in the annals of musical biopics or any other ostensible movies for adults genre. But thats the appeal of Mendes and Sony Pictures gambit: they are essentially inventing the shared musical biopic cinematic universe. And there probably isnt a better test run for the concept than the Fab Four who forever changed the trajectory of rock n roll and music writ large. Indeed, the Beatles remain hallowed ground for moviegoers of every generation, but particularly the Baby Boomers who still have ticket-buying power (see: Top Gun: Maverick) and vivid memories of listening to their Beatles LPs on record players, or playing The White Album backwards to confirm that they heard Paul is dead on Revolution 9. Or maybe that was Im So Tired?The mythology around the Beatles remains so rich, so layered, that they are easily the best group ever to attempt doing four films from four different perspectives about the same events. In the process they offer a way to commercially, and perhaps artistically, innovate one of the few still reliably popular Hollywood genres. As last years similarly Boomer-leaning A Complete Unknown reminded with its buzzy casting of Timothe Chalet as Bob Dylan, conventional and often hagiographic biopics about beloved musical icons do reliable business. That film grossed $137 million on a $50 million budget and was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for James Mangold, and Best Actor for Chalamet.Yet that Searchlight release was deliberately a bit understated in its approach, arguably befitting its contrarian subject matter. Conversely, another Boomer icon like Elvis Presley got the splashiest of treatments in the Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis, which grossed almost $290 million three years ago. And the whitewashed Queen love letter, Bohemian Rhapsody, cleared an eye-watering $910 million in the pre-pandemic 2018. It also benefitted from Queens broader international appealan appeal the Beatles share.In other words, musical biopics are a sure bet, but perhaps one of several reasons beyond legal rights we have yet to see one about the Beatles at the height of their popularity (as opposed to movies about individual members before the band broke out, a la Nowhere Boy) is that all four personalities are so big in the pop culture imagination that it is difficult to narrow the story down to a two or three-hour film with a primary perspective.Hence the shrewdness of the four-film event. Now every band member can be the hero of his own story, even as it is also taking a reliable genre aimed at older audiences and essentially Marvel-ifying it. At a time when superhero movies have to struggle increasingly to generate excitement among audiences about yet another one being an event, the inevitable Beatles biopic becoming a backdoor shared universe feels comparable to Marvel Phase One 15 years ago. It offers just enough novelty to convince folks to step away from their actual bingeable content and go to the nearest movie house.Furthermore, if it works, the approach could be implemented with other legendary bands with multiple members of notoriety. Why not a Beach Boys trilogy from the perspective of Brian Wilson (though we already kind of have that), as well as Dennis Wilson, and maybe Mike Love? How about a Nirvana duology that leads right into the Foo Fighters? How about some sequels to Straight Outta Compton that follow up on Ice Cube, Eazy-E , and Dr. Dre individually?If this works, we guarantee other studios will explore the possibilities. Meanwhile it might also allow Mendes some creative latitude to try something uniquelike, say, a four-film version of Rashomon where each film offers a conflicting account for why the band broke up, and perhaps who blamed who after it was all over.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!There is opportunity here when this storyall four volumes of itgets to the cinema in 2028.

Weve seen the MCU Spider-Man have his One More Day. Now its time for his Brand New Day.If those phrases mean nothing to you, its probably because you know Spidey mostly from the movies, particularly of the MCU variety and starring Tom Holland. Most of the time, thats totally fine. The MCU is its own universe with its own history and characters, divorced from the comics. The Spider-Man movies demonstrate this, as they exist in a world in which Peter Parkers primary love interest is Michelle Jones instead of Mary Jane Watson, his best friend is Ned Leeds (a guy who looks a lot like Miles Morales best pal Ganke) instead of Harry Osborn, and no one even mentions ol Uncle Ben.But in the case of the fourth MCU Spider-Man movie, some knowledge of the comics might help. Sony has just revealed the title of Tom Hollands fourth outing as Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That title originally belonged to a 2008 storyline that set a new status quo for Spider-Man, something that the MCU Peter Parker also desperately needs.Before the Brand New DayIts starts here! declares the cover of 2008s Amazing Spider-Man #546, written by Dan Slott and penciled by Steve McNiven. To announce the beginning of the Brand New Day storyline, the cover features Spidey climbing up a wall, his satisfied grin just visible under the mask he pulls over his face, all presented in bright colors by Morry Hollowell and sharp inks by Dexter Vines.Brand New Days inaugural issue really needed to highlight an upbeat tone. Brand New Day came right after two controversial stories, both of which will be familiar to movie watchers, albeit their perceptions might be different if they are not familiar with pre-2008 comics. The first is Civil War, during which Peter willingly revealed his secret identity to the world for discernably no logical reason on the page. The second is One More Day, in which Peter made a deal with the satanic Mephisto to save the life of his beloved Aunt May and to have his secret identity restored. All it cost was his marriage to Mary Jane.Obviously, One More Day was a controversial story, not just because it felt driven by the hand of editorial but also because it killed a beloved part of Spider-Mans backstory (the great Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote a beautiful essay in defense and memoriam of the Parkers marriage). So Brand New Day had to put a positive spin on the whole thing, making people glad that it happened.The MCU Peter is currently in a similar situation, although the execution has been a heck of a lot more satisfying. Spider-Man: No Way Home may have ben a box office hit, but it left Peter in a tough spot. Aunt May died in an attack from the Green Goblin, he lost all the financial backing he had from Tony Stark, and his friends all forgot him. And yet, in the final seconds of No Way Home, we see Peter crafting his own Spidey suit (low-tech, no AI) and triumphantly leaping out of his apartment window.No Way Home ended very much ready for a Brand New Day.Let the Day BeginBut what, exactly, will this cinematic Brand New Day look like? In the comic arc, Peter has been living with Aunt May and planning his next steps. He has stopped being Spider-Man because of the Superhero Registration Act in Civil War, which required him to reveal his identitysomething he hasnt done in this new reality.Peter eventually finds work with Robbie Robertson, who has started a new outlet called the Daily Line after a businessman buys the Daily Bugle and changes it into a trashy gossip rag. But thats not enough to save his relationship with Mary Jane, with whom he once had a serious thing going. but they never married.Peters relationship with MJ gets even more complicated after he returns to action as Spidey, as he soon encounters another masked figure called Jackpot, one who looks a lot like Mary Jane. Worse, he meets a villain called Menace, who shares similarities with Harry Osborn, who once was the Green Goblin.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!But the biggest new villain of them all is Mister Negative, a name familiar to video game players. Born Martin Li, Mister Negative has the powers of light and darkness, allowing him to bring out the worst in others, which he uses to take control of the New York underworld. In his civilian identity and in his heroic alter-ego Mister Positive, Li runs the FEAST charity organization. However, that only creates more problems for Peter, who volunteers for FEAST when Lis Negative personality takes over. As this brief summary indicates, the Brand New Day comics offer a lot of storytelling potential, but which of those will show up in the movie?Marvels New DayIts not hard to imagine that the Brand New Day movie starts in more or less the same place as the comics. Peter is lying low in a crappy apartment, trying to make ends meet. Hes no longer in a relationship with MJ, nor does he have access to the Stark tech he once used. Given Mister Negatives role in the comic book story and in Spider-Man games, it seems plausible that he could be big bad of the movie, especially if Peter initially sees FEAST as a way to do good outside of being Spider-Man. For the record, FEAST previously appeared in No Way Home.But what of the supporting cast? Zendaya has been confirmed to return to the movie, meaning that Michelle Jones will be back. However, shell be joined by Sadie Sink, whose red hair sure seems more in line with the comic book version of MJ, Mary Jane Watson. Some rumors have argued that Sink will indeed be playing Mary Jane Watson, while others have pointed to Jean Grey, mutant telepath of the X-Men. However, the movie may try to replicate the tensions around Jackpot by having Sink play Sara Ehret, the red-headed scientist who takes the Jackpot name. It would also lend credence to the rumor that the film could feature a female villain, or at least antagonist. (Then again, if they go that way, Sink could just dye her hair white or platinum blonde and be the Black CAt.)Leaker Daniel Richtman, who has a spotted history of accuracy, recently claimed that Marvel has released a casting call, looking for actors willing to play a powerful man ages 30 to 50, and actors to play 20-year-old entrepreneur, which could be the long-absent Norman Osborn and Harry Osborn. By introducing the Osborns in a story focused on Mister Negative, Brand New Day could do a bit of the exposition missing from previous movies, bringing the world more in line to the familiar dynamics of the comics.In short, Brand New Day seems like a pretty straightforward adaptation for Marvel, with a few changes to match the movie continuity.Waiting for the DayOf course, all of this is speculation, and Kevin Feige has made a point of frustrating fan expectations more than once (remember all the times we thought Mephisto would appear?).But one thing is clear by the title choice: its time for a radical change in direction for the MCU Spider-ManNo Way Home already teased a return to the status quo. With Brand New Day, that status quo may finally be realized.Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases July 31, 2026.

Sonys presentation at Cinema Con came with good news and bad news. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, the third entry in the incredible animated trilogy, will not hit theaters until June 4, 2027, which is bad news (unless youre one of the overworked animators). However, the good news is that weve got our first looks at the movie, and they are amazing. It appears that Beyond the Spider-Verse will continue the standard set by the first two films, creating dazzling worlds unlike anything seen in comics or movies.The even better news is for fans of the Prowler, a minor villain from Spider-Man comics who continues to be a major character in the Spider-Verse movies. Created by Stan Lee, John Buscema, and Jim Mooney for 1969s the Amazing Spider-Man #78, the Prowler was Hobie Brown, a brilliant engineer who felt that his talents were unappreciated. Instead he used his inventions to become the Prowler and steal the riches he thought he deserved.The depiction of African American Hobie perhaps reflected the relatively centrist politics of Stan Lee (see also early Falcon stories in Captain America at the time, in which the Black Power movement is portrayed as illogical and susceptible to Red Skulls manipulations). Yet Prowler soon found an audience and became a popular anti-hero in Spideys stories, even carrying his own miniseries for a while.Most modern Spidey fans know the Prowler as the alter-ego of Aaron Davis, uncle to Miles Morales and brother to Jefferson Davis. As introduced in the alternate reality Ultimate Universe, Aaron is Jeffersons neer-do-well brother, whose illegal activities clash with Miles adventures as Spidey.The Spider-Verse films, and the recent PlayStation Spider-Man video games, further develop this version of Davis, using Uncle Aaron to represent the dangers posed by Miles new adventure. When Uncle Aaron (voiced by Mahershala Ali) dies in Into the Spider-Verse, Miles learns about the loss that binds all the Spider-People together.Across the Spider-Verse continued that theme in its cliffhanger. After an adventure that paired him with an alternate universe Hobie Brown, now the radical Spider-Punk, Miles landed in yet another reality, one in which Jefferson died, Aaron still lives, and Miles is the Prowler.Looking at the first images from the movie, Beyond the Spider-Verse will certainly carry this story further. The alternate universe Prowler will be a sort of dark mirror of our Miles, showing what he could become should the Spot complete his mission of vengeance and kill Jefferson.Thats quite an upgrade for the Prowler from his humble comics origins, both in the mainline and Ultimate universes. Despite the similarities to their masks, Spider-Man and the Prowler were never foils to one another. Peter never felt the same urge to use his inventions for selfish gain, and thus moralized to Hobie more than he related with him. But Beyond the Spider-Verse will alter that dynamic by making the Prowler as literally another version of Miles Morales, aka Spider-Man. The Prowler is now the manifestation of everything that could go wrong for Miles, the suggestion that maybe he doesnt actually have the ability to continue doing the right thing in the face of tragedy, as Miquel OHara claimed in Across the Spider-Verse. Maybe his leap of faith will result in disaster.Thats a huge upgrade for the Prowler, and a welcome one at that. After years of sitting on the sidelines, the Prowler will finally climb to the top. Well, in two years, that is.Photo: Sony Pictures Animation.Photo: Sony Pictures Animation.Photo: Sony Pictures Animation.Photo: Sony Pictures Animation.Photo: Sony Pictures Animation.Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse releases June 4, 2027.

This review contains The Replacement finale spoilers.Praise be for the three-parter. Even when the narrative wheels come off, as they did in spectacular fashion in The Replacements ludicrously overblown finale, youre still quids-in when it comes to your time investment. A dodgy last hour after two decent instalments is forgivable, especially when its all so bonkers you cant look away.Episode three put pay to all the subtle ambiguity over who was really the crazy one and vindicated our girl Ellen by exposing Paula not only as Kays killer but also as the villain from the Saw films. The blue-eyed monster hatched a plan so complicated that even after watching the episode twice and taking notes each time, I could still use a steer on what actually happened.Heres what I have so far: Paula wanted to save baby Lia from Ellen, so stole the former from a windowsill like a pie in a Yogi Bear cartoon, then sent a cryptic message to the latter inviting her to the place where she died. (Reading she as Paulas daughter Caris, Ellen met her foe at the accident site though if shed done what I did and interpreted she as Kay, it turns out shed have driven straight to baby Lia without any need for all that A-Team nonsense in the garage).If Paula planned to fake Ellens suicide and then take her place as Lias mother, then what about that whopping filing cabinet leaning against the car, or Paulas line about knowing she couldnt have Lia? If she planned to frame Ellen as Lias kidnapper and be the one who marches in with the police and saves the day, then why quietly accept the handcuffs? Was Ellen supposed to wake up from those sleeping pills? Did Paula turn herself in to the police? Forgive me if its all clear to you, but Im genuinely floundering.Kudos to Vicky McClure and Morven Christie, whove gone up in my already high estimation by gamely selling whatever it was that happened in those last ten minutes. Theyre such good actors, they even had me convinced they had a clue as to what on earth was going on. That pair were The Replacements prize; the depth of their performances kept this story of well-dressed unhinged women from venturing too close to soap territory.Until this episode, that is, when it held its nose and took a running both-feet jump into soap-land. Dead Caris being kept alive as a comforting lie? The faked push down the stairs at a chichi party? Paula breaking up Ellen and Ian by telling him Lia isnt his baby? Colour-drained flashbacks to seemingly incriminating dialogue? Is this a BBC psychological thriller or Days Of Our Lives? Georgias child has leukaemia, we learn. And an evil identical twin no doubtIt probably didnt help the accusations of soapishness that the cast was so uniformly good-looking. Everyone, from Ellens sister to the mysterious Georgia to those social workers, looked like Abercrombie and Fitch models. Theres not a pot belly, imperfect smile or pair of eyes you wouldnt want to dive into in the whole joint.In the finale, all the nuanced tension and promised exploration of competitiveness, paranoia and what work and motherhood mean to modern women went out of the window (or should we say through the skylight). With that absurd MacGuyver ending, it blew it. Ultimately, The Replacementturned out to beyour average bereavement-turns-mothers-into-psychopathic-murderers thriller, nothing more complex or original than a posh soap with a partiality for contra-zoom camera tricks.Still, those two were great leads. You have to give it that.The Replacement is streaming now on Netflix UK.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

I Will Find You is an eight-part adaptation of Cobens 2023 novel thats coming to Netflix via Quantum Leap and Alcatraz showrunner Robert Hull. Its cast has just been announced and includes Sam Worthington (Avatar), Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us, Heroes), Britt Lower (Severance), Logan Browning (Dear White People), and Erin Richards (Gotham).Set in New Jersey, the traditional home of Cobens thrillers, I Will Find You is the story of David Burroughs, a man serving a life sentence for the murder of his young son Matthew a crime he says he didnt commit. When a photograph arrives appearing to show Matthew alive several years after his supposed death, David sets about solving the mystery.I Will Find You wont be the very first Harlan Coben adaptation set in its home country of the US, but the first one to stream on Netflix. In 2023, Prime Video aired Shelter, an American-set series revolving around teenager Mickey Bolitar, the nephew of Cobens hit creation Myron Bolitar the rights to whom are owned by Netflix, hence Myron not appearing in Shelter. Netflix is currently developing a Myron Bolitar series, rumoured to be in collaboration with TV producer David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Big Little Lies, The Lincoln Lawyer).The next UK-set Coben thriller Run Away began filming earlier this year in and around Manchester, England, and stars James Nesbitt (Cold Feet), Minnie Driver (Speechless), Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Lucian Msamati (Gangs of London), Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey), Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders) and more. Its the story of a father who discovers his troubled runaway daughter strung out on drugs and tries to bring her home, but who uncovers a web of lies that change his family forever along the way. If Run Away keeps with tradition, then we can expect it to arrive on Netflix on January 1, 2026 for the now-traditional New Years Day binge. In short: our Coben cup runneth over!

This month on Hulu, The Handmaids Tale returns for its sixth and final season. June Osbornes (Elisabeth Moss) journey is coming to an end as her fight against the oppressive regime Gilead gains momentum. Will she be successful in taking them down and reuniting with her daughter? Well have to tune in and find out.All episodes of the FX limited series Dying For Sex arrive on Hulu April 4. Based on a true story, this series follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams), who decides to leave her husband and explore her sexuality for the first time in her life after shes diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. As far as movies go, a lot of incredible films such as Arrival, Interstellar, Black Swan, Gone Girl, and Jurassic Park join Hulus library on the first of the month.Heres everything thats coming to (and leaving)Huluin April.Hulu New Releases April 2025April 1Arrival (2016)Arrival En Espanol (2016)The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)Black Swan (2010)Boys on the Side (1995)Concussion (2015)Concussion En Espanol (2015)Copycat (1995)Enough Said (2013)The Equalizer (2014)The Equalizer En Espanol (2014)Gifted (2017)The Good Thief (2003)Gone Girl (2014)Gullivers Travels (2010)The History of the World Part I (1981)I Heart Huckabees (2004)Interstellar (2014)Interstellar En Espanol (2014)Jumanji (1995)Jumanji En Espanol (1995)Jurassic Park (1993)Jurassic Park III (2001)The Karate Kid (1984)The Karate Kid En Espanol (1984)The Karate Kid Part II (1986)The Karate Kid: Part II En Espanol (1986)The Karate Kid Part III (1989)The Karate Kid Part III En Espanol (1989)Little Man (2006)Little Man En Espanol (2006)The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)Made in America (1993)Me, Myself and Irene (2000)Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)OddityRed Sparrow (2018)The Revenant (2015)Runaway Jury (2003)Sexy Beast (2001)Shark Tale (2004)The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)Superbad (2007)Superbad En Espanol (2007)Tombstone (1993)True Story (2015)21 Jump Street (2012)22 Jump Street (2014)Wall Street (1987)Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)War of the Worlds (2005) (2005)Widows (2018)Wild (2014)The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)The Wolf Of Wall Street En Espanol (2013)Year One (2009)You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (2010)April 2Beyblade X: Complete Season 1BApril 3Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America: Complete Limited SeriesApril 4FXs Dying for Sex: Complete Limited SeriesFire Force: Season 3 Premiere (SUBBED)Classified (2024)The Darjeeling Limited (2007)Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)Rushmore (1999)April 5American Monster: Complete Season 3Bering Sea Gold: Complete Season 3Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Complete Seasons 1-2I Love A Mamas Boy: Complete Season 2The World According to Allee Willis (2024)April 6Witch Watch: Series Premiere (SUBBED & DUBBED)April 8The Handmaids Tale: Sixth & Final Season PremiereSmall Things Like These (2024)Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!April 9Angels & Demons (2009)The Da Vinci Code (2006)April 10Court Cam: Complete Season 7Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life: Complete Season 1Ca$h (2010)Hesher (2010)Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights (2024)Red Dog (2011)So Undercover (2012)Spun (2002)April 11Got to Get Out: Series PremiereGarfield (2004)Garfield: A Tail Of Two Kitties (2006)Magpie (2024)April 12Fixer Upper: Complete Season 5MythBusters: Complete Season 5The Family Chantel: Complete Season 4April 15Lake George (2024)April 16No Mans Land: Complete Season 2Synduality Noir: Complete Season 1 (DUBBED)The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Complete Season 3April 17The Stolen Girl: Series PremiereBible Secrets Revealed: Complete Season 1Gangland Chronicles: Complete Season 1Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath: Complete Seasons 1 and 2Martin Short: Complete Season 1The Girl Who Wasnt Dead (2024)April 18The Order (2024)April 19Breaking Amish: Complete Season 4Disappeared: Complete Season 6Gypsy Sisters: Complete Season 3Moonshiners: Complete Season 13April 21Secrets of the Penguins: Complete Limited SeriesNo Hard Feelings (2023)No Hard Feelings En Espanol (2023)April 22In a Violent Nature (2024)April 24Airline Wars: Complete Season 1Customer Wars: Complete Season 4Tell Me How I Died: Complete Season 1Tiny House World: Complete Season 1Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl StoryApril 25Jessica Kirson: Im the Man: Special PremiereAzrael (2024)April 26Chopped: Complete Season 60Four Weddings: Complete Season 9House Hunters Renovation: Complete Season 16Jessica Chambers: An ID Murder Mystery: Complete Season 1April 29Ernest Cole: Lost and Found (2024)Leaving Hulu April 2025April 6Agnes (2021)April 13She Will (2021)April 16Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)April 20Totally Under Control (2020)April 24The Good Neighbor (2022)April 27Resurrection (2022)April 30After Everything (2018)Code Name Banshee (2022)Stars Fell Again (2023)

The long-awaited return of Andor is finally here, as the series returns for a second and final season on April 22. This season will tell the next chapter of Cassian Andors (Diego Luna) life as we watch him become the rebel spy we meet in Rogue One. The stakes are high as the Empire continues to assert its power across the galaxy and the Rebel Alliance rises to fight their oppression.Doctor Who also returns to Disney+ for another season on April 12. This season, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) meets Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), who really just wants to go home to Earth. However, theres a mysterious force at work keeping them from returning, and the two must learn how to work together to face the dangers and enemies that block their path.Daredevil: Born Again will have its season finale this month as well, with the masked vigilante hanging up his horns (for now) on April 15. This season, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has had to wrestle with a lot this season, both within and without, but when a mysterious new criminal surfaces, he once again feels the call to protect the city as Daredevil.Heres everything coming toDisney+this April.Disney+ New Releases April 2025April 1Lost Treasures of Rome (S2, 6 episodes)National Parks: USA (S1, 5 episodes)RoboGobo (S1, 24 episodes)Marvel Televisions Daredevil: Born Again (Episode 7 at 6pm PT)April 3Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America (S1, 3 episodes)April 4Kindergarten: The Musical (S1, 5 episodes)April 7David Blaine Do Not Attempt (Two New Episodes)Not Just a Goof (Premiere)April 8Marvel Televisions Daredevil: Born Again (Penultimate Episode at 6pm PT)April 9Marvels Spidey and his Amazing Friends (S3, 4 episodes)April 11The Abyss 4KPets (Premiere)Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!April 12Titanic: The Digital ResurrectionTo Catch a Smuggler (S8, 8 episodes)Doctor Who (Season 2 Premiere)April 15Marvel Televisions Daredevil: Born Again (Season Finale at 6pm PT)April 16Big City Greens (S4, 7 episodes)SuperKitties (S2, 3 episodes)April 18Light & Magic (Season 2 Premiere)April 19Doctor Who (Season 2, Episode 2)April 21Secret of the Penguins (S1, 3 episodes)April 22ABC News Live Special: Last Lands (S1, 4 episodes)Andor (Season 2 Three-Episode Premiere at 6pm PT)Sea Lions of the Galapagos (Premiere)Guardians of the Galapagos (Premiere)April 25Megastructures: Real Madrid Super StadiumApril 26Doctor Who (Season 2, Episode 3)April 29Andor (Season 2, Three New Episodes at 6pm PT)April 30Chibi Tiny Tales: Shorts (S5, 7 episodes)Mickey Mouse Funhouse (S3, 5 episodes)