Nerd News

⚡ Quick Take

• Disney announced a brand new animated TV series based on video game series, Kingdom Hearts.
• Developed in partnership with video game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at SQUARE ENIX.
• The series will retell and remix the story of the games, about young hero Sora teaming up with Disney characters.
• NERDIST TAKE: It’s shocking this had taken so long to be a thing.

If you’d have told me it would take until the year 2026 for Disney to announce a TV series based on their popular franchise mashup video game Kingdom Hearts, I’d demand to know who you were. But it also seems very strange it took this long! But here we are, with the announcement at D23 that Disney+ will air a series of Kingdom Hearts. Might have a different title, but for now that’s what we’ll call it.

Disney

From the press release: Developed in partnership with video game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at SQUARE ENIX, the series reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts. The first video game came out in in 2002, a classic Japanese role playing game where the player controls Sora, a young adventurer who teams up with and meets various beloved Disney characters. The third named title came out in 2019 and a fourth game is forthcoming.

“Kingdom Hearts has captivated gamers everywhere with its unique blend of adventure and imagination,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “There’s something really exciting about taking a world fans have spent years exploring through the games and bringing it to life in a completely new way. And with a creative team that is working closely with the legendary Tetsuya Nomura, our new series will be unmistakably ‘Kingdom Hearts,’ while giving fans a whole new way to experience the world they love.”

Though young kids will be the focus of show, we assume Kingdom Hearts will retain its truly absurd and complicated plot. Because it wouldn’t be Kingdom Hearts otherwise.

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

The post Disney Announces KINGDOM HEARTS Animated Series appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• A Lilo & Stich 2 live-action movie is in development with Disney to bring fans more family-friendly joy and dancing.

Lilo & Stitch’s live-action film made a ton of money at the box office and delighted many kids (and kids at heart). Who can resist a blue furry pal and an adorable story about love and family? I certainly cannot. So it is not shocking that Disney announced that Lilo & Stitch 2 is in development. June 26 (626) was the perfect day to reveal this news considering that’s Stitch’s experiment number. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Lilo & Stitch‘s co-creator Chris Sanders will write the script for the next live-action sequel. And we also know that the Lilo & Stitch 2 live-action sequel will arrive in theaters on May 28, 2028.

Nerdist Nerdist

In the meantime, keep watching the adorable Instagram video for the Lilo & Stitch 2 news, which includes our favorite guy zipping around town with the top down. What a vibe. 

We can assume that the cast will return in their respective roles. And we cannot wait for more Ohana joy.

Walt Disney Studios

That’s one thing we need a lot more of these days. 

Originally published on June 26, 2025.

lTai Gooden is the Features Editor for Nerdist, a fictional villain apologist, and a horror aficionado who is forever waiting for her trip in the TARDIS.

The post LILO & STITCH 2 Sets May 2028 Release Date appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Disney shared the first look at The New Simpsons Movie during this year’s D23 Entertainment Showcase. Here’s what we saw.

It’s still hard to think that The Simpsons, one of the least Disney-like animated shows ever, is now part of the Mouse House. But you’d have an easier time accepting that if you attended this year’s D23 event in Anaheim. Everyone’s favorite family from Springfield has a big presence at this year’s expo. And that extended all the way from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Honda Center, where the Disney Entertainment Showcase provided attendees the first glimpse at The New Simpsons Movie. And Nerdist was there to be your very own Kent Brockman. Here’s what we saw in first-look footage from The New Simpsons Movie.

Nerdist

Our first-look at The New Simpsons Movie footage featured an animatic of Homer at a baseball game. He was trying to catch a home run ball, but instead it went in Grandpa Simpson’s mouth. He then spit it out, resulting in Homer chasing the ball throughout the stadium all the way through Moe’s Tavern, then the Bowling Alley, and finally into the Duff Beer Factory…..and right into Bart’s waiting hands.

So, you know, a pretty normal experience for Homer.

RELATED ARTICLE

CRITICAL ROLE Meets THE SIMPSONS to Form Bart the Bard 

While this doesn’t really tell us much about what The New Simpsons Movie‘s plot will look like, it’s still a funny sequence that should get fans excited for the long-running animated sitcom’s long-awaited return to theaters. The original Simpsons Movie released in 2007. It will be 20 years when its sequel arrives. This animatic sequence is indicative that the movie is still a ways away. It will debut on September 3, 2027.

Nerdist

Expect an amazing popcorn bucket when it does. During a panel earlier in the day, the show’s creative team said they probably spent more time pitching buckets that plots. They also promised that The New Simpsons Movie‘s bucket will be more vulgar than the notorious Dune popcorn bucket. And if that’s true, then yes, this will really be a vulgar bucket.

More amazing? Disney will pay to make them.

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

The post We Saw THE NEW SIMPSONS MOVIE’s First-Look Footage appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Incredibles 3 has set a summer 2028 release date and revealed some of its plot. This Incredibles movie will focus on the kids.

Your favorite animated super family is back. At D23, Disney announced that Incredibles 3 has set a release date of the summer 2028. Disney also shared a tease of the plot we can expect. In Incredibles 3, Supers are legal again, and this movie will feature a superhero league. This time the focus will be on the kids, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. We’re excited to see what the beloved franchise will bring us in its third outing. Incredibles 2 fell just a little short of what we were expecting, but hopefully the third time’s the charm. We’re already counting the days until an Incredibles 3 trailer graces our screens.

Nerdist Nerdist Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great love of the anti-hero and is always ready for a new ship to set sail. In her work, she likes to combine fandom passion with journalistic sensibilities. Follow her on Instagram.

The post INCREDIBLES 3 Reveals Summer 2028 Release, Plot appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• X-Men ’97 season two ended with an ominous tease involving Mystique for season three.
• Several iconic Marvel mutants still need to reappear, or even appear for the first time in X-Men ’97.
• Nerdist’s take: We really hope to see mutant teams like Excalibur, and former members like Iceman, in X-Men ’97 season three.

X-Men ’97 season two has come to a close, and unlike last time, we won’t have to wait that long for season three. It’s expected to drop on Disney+ in the summer of 2027. Given the final scene of the season, we know Mystique is going to make trouble under the guise of government operative Valerie Cooper, and that her bigoted son, Graydon Creed, has won the United States presidency. Something that cannot bode well for mutants at large. We expect government-sanctioned Sentinels, more religious Purifiers, and much chaos. But as longtime Marvel mutant fans, we have some requests for the creators of X-Men ’97 year three when it arrives.

1. More Episodes Marvel Television

This is perhaps the most important thing X-Men ’97 needs to do next season, and that is to add more episodes. Even if it’s just one or two more. The stories this past season, while good, all felt rushed and skipped over important emotional beats. We do enjoy some of these stories told in a far more abbreviated form than in the comics. For example, Storm lost her powers for years in the comics; we’re glad they didn’t stretch that storyline out too long in season one. But these plotlines still need more time to develop. Whoever the showrunner is on year three, or maybe it has to be year four, we certainly hope they find a way to add more episodes. If only to allow these plotlines to breathe a little.

2. Cyclops Discovering Havok Is His Brother Marvel Television

X-Factor’s field leader is the plasma energy-wielding Havok, who appeared several times in season two. The Flash’s Teddy Sears voices him. The character actually appeared before, on the original X-Men: The Animated Series. But although the show dropped broad hints, it never confirmed Alex Summers is the brother of Scott Summers, aka Cyclops. We’re now two seasons into X-Men ’97, and these two still don’t know they’re related. Cyclops has already encountered his space pirate dad, Corsair, and his adult cyborg soldier son, Cable. Hopefully, by next season, these two finally realize they are each other’s long-lost sibling.

3. The Arrival of Rachel Summers Marvel Comics

Speaking of the complicated Summers family tree, season two introduced us to yet another Summers. Mother Askani, the powerful psychic who led the fight against Apocalypse 2,000 years in the future. But she never confirmed who she really was to Cyclops or Storm. Even though they both knew there was more to her than she was admitting. Comics fans know that Mother Askani is actually a (much) older version of Rachel Summers. Rachel is the psychic daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey from a dystopian timeline, who sometimes hosts the Phoenix. The teenage version of Rachel traveled to the 20th century and joined the X-Men. Mother Askani implied that version of Rachel is her younger self. So that’s a storyline we need to see play out on X-Men ‘97.

4. Emma Frost Joins the X-Men Marvel Television

So far, Emma Frost, the telepathic White Queen of the Hellfire Club, has made two brief appearances in X-Men ’97. Even though she nearly died in Genosha, that experience has not seemingly made her a better person. We know she’s not suddenly a noble hero thanks to her selling out X-Force this season. Our understanding is that former showrunner Beau DeMayo was not a very big fan of modern “heroic” Emma. But she’s one of the most popular X-Men ever, so she needs to appear at some point.

In the 2000s era New X-Men comics by Grant Morrison, after Apocalypse possessed Cyclops’ body, he had serious PTSD issues. Now a teacher at the Xavier Institute, Emma Frost psychically nursed him back to a more functional state. And this “psychic therapy” did kind of lead to a psychic affair. Well, didn’t Gambit just get possessed by Apocalypse on X-Men ’97? Maybe the Scott/Jean/Emma triangle in the comics becomes Remy/Rogue/Emma for the series. Talk about a soapy twist to a classic storyline.

5. The Return of Iceman Marvel Television

X-Men: The Animated Series brought in Iceman for one episode, titled “Cold Comfort,” establishing Bobby Drake as a founding member of the team. A member who left Xavier’s School under unhappy circumstances. Eventually, Cyclops invited Iceman back, but Bobby chose to turn down the offer. But given that in the years since X-Men: TAS, Iceman has come out as a gay man. And he’s become one of Marvel’s most prominent LGBTQ heroes. Yes, we acknowledge the X-Men ’97 team is a bit overcrowded right now. But we should at least get an episode that focuses on one of the team’s most iconic members.

6. A Proper X-Men History Explained Marvel Comics

When we first met the X-Men in the first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series back in 1992, they were already a well-established team with some history. And over the course of the series, we learned a bit of that history. They eventually showed us how Iceman and Angel were in Xavier’s first class, and eventually Polaris joined too. But we don’t really know the team’s full timeline, and how it does (or doesn’t) match up with Marvel canon. In the comics, after Jean Grey died, Uncanny X-Men #138 featured Cyclops reflecting on the team’s history as he mourned his love. An episode like this, finally clarifying the history of the X-Men, should be produced at some point.

7. The Introduction of Excalibur Marvel Comics

Back in the ’80s and ‘90s, the X-Men got several spin-off teams, starting with X-Factor, and then X-Force. And both appeared in X-Men ’97 season two. But another major X-Men satellite group was established in 1987, and that’s the British team Excalibur. Established after the X-Men were believed dead, Excalibur operated out of a lighthouse off the coast of England. Their expertise was in more trans-dimensional and just weirder adventures, kind of like a mutant Doctor Who team.

The core team of Excalibur, consisting of Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Rachel Summers, Captain Britain, and his girlfriend Meggan, would be a little difficult to pull off right now. Nightcrawler is dead, the younger Rachel Summers has yet to arrive in the ‘90s, and it doesn’t seem like the X-Men ’97 producers are very eager to introduce Kitty Pryde. But we’d like to think somewhere down the line, maybe in season four, we can finally see Excalibur on the series. We all know Nightcrawler is going to get better eventually. That’s just how mutant deaths work.

Marvel Television

X-Men ’97 seasons one and two are currently streaming on Disney+.

Eric Diaz is a staff writer at Nerdist, and a Swiss army knife of fandoms. Eric loves DC, Marvel, horror movies, and even Star Wars and Star Trek equally.

The post 7 Things We’re Hoping to See in X-MEN ’97 Season 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

PayPal is still reportedly negotiating a potential sale to Stripe and private equity firm Advent, as the fintech firm's new CEO attempts to turn the company around.

⚡ Quick Take

• HBO Max has renewed Stuart Fails to Save the Universe for a second season.
• The Big Bang Theory spinoff premiered in July and became the streamer’s second-biggest comedy premiere.
• Stuart Fails to Save the Universe stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and John Ross Bowie.
• Nerdist take: comedy/sci-fi is always a welcome addition to the television landscape.

Let no one ever say the public doesn’t love a loser. Figuratively, of course. Because, while the titular goober of HBO Max’s The Big Bang Theory spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is, to some, the definition of a loser, today he won big. The show has proven popular enough for the Warner Bros.-owned streaming service to warrant ordering a second season. Does this mean he’ll eventually save the universe for real? I guess we’ll find out.

HBO Max

The first season of the series, from creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady, is HBO Max’s second-biggest comedy ever globally. Amy Gravitt, EVP, HBO Programming, and head of HBO and HBO Max Comedy says the following:

“We’re delighted with how this hilarious, genre-bending show from Chuck, Zak, and Bill has connected with the audience, both devotees of The Big Bang Theory and new fans alike. Along with everyone else, we can’t wait to see the worlds they conjure for these beloved characters next season.”

The series stars Kevin Sussman as Stuart David Bloom, the proprietor of a comic book shop, who finds himself on a multiversal adventure along with his girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus) and his friend and employee Bert (Brian Posehn). All-purpose villain Kripke (John Ross Bowie) also partakes. Season one saw pastiches of Mad Max and The Matrix as the characters trip the cosmic nethersphere.

HBO Max

During San Diego Comic-Con 2026 a few weeks ago, we learned that several DC Comics characters also appear in season one, including Mister Freeze. Jim Lee, DC’s president, publisher, and chief creative officer said of the cameos, “Some of the DC characters they have in it, I think, are some of the best versions I’ve seen of those characters.”

Season one of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premiered on July 23 and will have its finale September 24.

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

The post HBO Max Renews STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE for Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI, two companies developing self-driving trucks, have received permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

⚡ Quick Take

• Disney+ has announced the streaming premiere date for The Mandalorian & Grogu.
• In addition, fans will get an official podcast for the movie and a new LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian special.
• All content will debut September 2, 2026.
• Nerdist has dozens of pieces about the movie which you can find here: The Mandalorian and Grogu at Nerdist!

If you didn’t go to the theater to see the newest Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu—and statistically that’s most of you—but you still want to see it, you’re soon to be in luck. Disney has announced the streaming debut of the movie with Din Djarin and the Wee Baby Grog on Disney+. They also have announce two other related titles will debut on the same date.

Lucasfilm

The Mandalorian and Grogu will make its Disney+ debut on Wednesday, September 2, in just a few short weeks. We called it “pure Star Wars fun,” which will seemingly feel right at home amid the previous three seasons of the TV series. In addition to the movie, September 2 will also see the premiere of LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, which will tell the whole adventure of The Mandalorian in LEGO form, complete with gentle ribbing. Check out the trailer below.

And as if that weren’t enough, on September 2, you’ll also get to stream Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Official Podcast. This video interview series will go behind the scenes of all things having to do with the movie. Writer-director Jon Favreau welcomes Lucasfilm head Dave Filoni, star Pedro Pascal, co-star Sigourney Weaver, and even Grogu himself. (How’d they get him?!) No indication on how many episodes we’ll get in total, but the first two episodes will drop on 9/2/2026. Trailer below.

So if you’ve been waiting roughly a few months to check out anything having to do with Mando and the puppet, your patience has paid off. Or if you just want to watch stuff again, plus new things you haven’t seen, then bonus for you.

Catch up with our coverage of The Mandalorian and Grogu and our whole library of Star Wars content.

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

The post THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU Disney+ Premiere Date Announced appeared first on Nerdist.

The AI opportunity is huge but "it would also be a grave error in our minds to let excitement weaken our investment discipline," Kushner warns in his first-ever investment letter.

Over the last couple of weeks, hackers have targeted and broken into the systems of several water plants in the United States. Here’s what we know and don’t know about this wave of attacks allegedly carried out by the Iranian government.

Pocket users have until October 8, 2025, to export their saved articles and other items, including lists, archives, favorites, notes, and highlights.

⚡ Quick Take

• The VisionQuest display on the show floor of D23 2026 depicts a curious painting that may point to the original Human Torch from 1939.
• The original Human Torch was not Johnny Storm, but a superpowered android who took the human form of Officer Jim Hammond.
• In the comics, the Vision’s body was the discarded and lifeless form of the original Human Torch.
• Nerdist Take: While we know where Vision came from in the MCU, Ultron and White Vision may well have a tie to Human Torch.

If you can believe it, WandaVision, the first Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series to air on Disney+, came out five whole years ago. More than a lifetime in the land of humanity, but perhaps six in blockbuster media. We’ve waited all this time to learn anything beyond cursory information regarding VisionQuest, Terry Matalas’ third part in the trilogy which includes WandaVision and Agatha All Along. At this year’s D23, the show floor featured a bit of VisionQuest goodness, with a particularly intriguing painting front and center.

Nerdist

The painting depicts a singular figure standing in the middle of a narrow road with buildings on either side. The man is engulfed in flames and the fire rages outward and up the walls of the buildings. This leads many to speculate that VisionQuest will feature the original Human Torch. No, not an early Johnny Storm, but Jim Hammond.

In the very first issue of Marvel Comics in 1939, writer-artist Carl Burgos introduced an android named Jim Hammond who would burst into flames as the Human Torch. At first, this version of the Torch was a monster, but quickly he became a hero. Marvel Mystery Comics #9 from 1940 depicted the very first comic book crossover, with the Human Torch meeting Namor, the Sub-Mariner.

Marvel Comics

So what does this have to do with the Vision? Well, in the comics, the Vision wasn’t the result of Ultron, Tony Stark, J.A.R.V.I.S., and an Infinity Stone, like in the MCU. As first depicted in Avengers #133-135, the Vision was Jim Hammond’s lifeless robot body which Ultron 5 found. The evil robot suffused the android body with the Wonder Man’s essence. Hammond’s memories erased and powers altered with the coerced help of the Human Torch’s original creator, Phineas Horton.

Now, we’ve learned in the past that Ultron will feature heavily in VisionQuest, though we don’t know exactly how. Could he have become some kind of Human Torch-esque android now. We’ll likely get more info as D23 unfolds.

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

The post D23 VISIONQUEST Booth Teases Original Human Torch appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Nathan Fillion is set to play Guy Gardner in the DCU. Fillion’s Gardner first appears in Superman.
• We share the history of the Green Lantern Corps’ most insufferable member, from first appearance to animation and beyond.
• Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner will appear in several upcoming DCU projects, including Mister Miracle and Lanterns.

When people think of DC Comics hero Green Lantern, they tend to think of one of two characters — Hal Jordan, or John Stewart. But there’s another Lantern from the planet Earth who debuted after Hal, who has his fair share of fans, and has since the mid-‘80s. We’re talking about Guy Gardner, the loud-mouthed insufferable braggart with a power ring. And now, Firefly and Castle actor Nathan Fillion will play Guy Gardner in Superman, and even beyond, according to James Gunn. But who is Guy Gardner, and why do people even like this big jerk?

Warner Bros./DC Table of contents

• Guy Gardner: Earth’s First Backup Green Lantern
• Guy Gardner Becomes the Green Lantern of the ’80s
• Guy Gardner Becomes the Justice League’s Useful Idiot
• Warrior: Guy Gardner’s New Superhero Alias
• Guy Gardner Undergoes His Own Green Lantern: Rebirth
• Guy Gardner Trades a Green Ring For a Red One
• Nathan Fillion Will Play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s DCU — Superman, Lanterns, And Beyond

Guy Gardner: Earth’s First Backup Green Lantern DC Comics

Although he’s thought of as an ‘80s character primarily, Guy Gardner first appeared in 1968’s Green Lantern #59. In that issue, they established that the dying alien Abin Sur, who bequeathed his Green Lantern power ring to pilot Hal Jordan in his famous origin story, only gave it to him due to close proximity. Guy Gardner was Abin’s other choice, but was simply too far away to be eligible for selection. In this early appearance, Guy was a physical education teacher, and also a football player. He’s chosen as Hal’s backup as Green Lantern of Sector 2814 whenever Hal was incapacitated, but his time as Hal’s replacement was short-lived.

DC Comics

Guy Gardner ended up hit by a bus while trying to save one of his students during an earthquake, resulting in a brain injury. Hal’s new backup Lantern then became John Stewart, who was far more popular with readers. Guy only made a handful of appearances for much of the next decade following John’s introduction. He was eventually knocked into the Phantom Zone, home of Kryptonian criminals like General Zod, who tormented him for an undetermined period of time. Although he was eventually rescued by Superman and Hal Jordan, his mind was shattered. He ended up in a deep coma for years.

Guy Gardner Becomes the Green Lantern of the ’80s DC Comics

During the ‘80s, Hal Jordan quit the Green Lantern Corps, and John Stewart became the permanent ring slinger of Sector 2814 (which included Earth). Guy was all but forgotten by DC writers, left to languish in a permanent off-panel coma. But during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Guy awakened finally. The Guardians of the Universe, the Green Lantern Corps’ immortal alien bosses from the planet Oa, offered Guy a permanent power ring at last.

However, Guy’s traumas—his head injury, his time in the Phantom Zone, and his subsequent coma—had left him brain-damaged. He was also not happy to find that Hal Jordan was dating his girlfriend Kari Limbo when he was gone. During this era, they also revealed that he suffered an abusive childhood at the hands of his father while growing up in Michigan. His personality was no longer that of a kindly teacher. He was now brash, antagonist, and rude. They gave Guy a new costume, designed by artist Joe Staton, and he really became a whole new character. One with a fairly ridiculous (yet iconic) new bowl cut to match his new attitude.

Guy Gardner Becomes the Justice League’s Useful Idiot DC Comics

Guy became super jingoistic, a parody of “rah-rah” ‘80s Americanism. He loved to quote Ronald Reagan, and tried to emulate the action movie characters of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The other members of Earth’s Green Lantern Corps all couldn’t stand him, so he joined the newly formed Justice League International in 1987. There, Guy’s popularity soared, mainly as the member readers loved to hate. He constantly rallied to be elected leader of the team, even if no one else wanted it in the slightest.

DC Comics

His braggart, bullying ways constantly got on his fellow Leaguers’ nerves, until finally, Batman sucker punched him. Guy awoke from this latest head injury now a sweet, kindly sap. Irritating his fellow Leaguers in all new ways. But eventually, his “jerk” persona reemerged. Despite this, he began a romance with Ice, the only JLI member who saw Guy’s good side buried underneath the bravado. JLI writers Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis wrote Guy as the butt of the joke, but one that readers grew to love regardless.

Warrior: Guy Gardner’s New Superhero Alias DC Comics

In the ‘90s, Guy underwent several transformations. He decided he was tired of being second and third fiddle to Earth Lanterns like Hal Jordan and John Stewart. He challenged Hal Jordan to a ring-free fistfight over who is the greatest Green Lantern. Hal won, leaving Guy humiliated and defeated. He turned in his power ring, and his role in the Corps. But he was later able to procure the villain Sinestro’s yellow power ring, and became a superhero once more. Finally, wearing the old yellow-powered Sinestro ring, he got his own ongoing series, simply titled Guy Gardner.

Although this iteration of Guy Gardner with the Sinestro ring lasted a few years, even helping Superman fight the monster Doomsday. Passed over to be Earth’s Green Lantern for new kid Kyle Rayner, eventually Guy received yet another makeover in the mid-90s. It was revealed to him that he had alien DNA, passed down from a race called the Vuldarians. These Vuldarians had tampered with mankind’s genetic code, particularly those of Gardner’s ancestors. With the genetic code unlocked, Gardner could now shapeshift his body into literal weapons. The unlocking of his code also cured him of many of his personality disorders, making him far less of a jerk than before. He took on the codename Warrior, and they changed his series to Guy Gardner: Warrior. He also opened a bar for the superhero crowd, appropriately named Warrior’s.

Guy Gardner Undergoes His Own Green Lantern: Rebirth DC Comics

In the early 2000s, writer Geoff Johns reinvigorated the Green Lantern franchise, turning it into one of DC’s biggest sellers, right next to the Batman titles. He brought Hal Jordan back to life in Green Lantern: Rebirth, after ten years of being dead. He also removed all traces of the Vuldarian DNA from Guy Gardner, and returned him to Green Lantern status. This included his classic costume as well. Guy was brash again, but less of an outright jerk and bully. The Guardians of the Universe tasked Guy with training the next generation of Lanterns, and he reluctantly agreed. He fought in several significant battles during this era, like the Sinestro Corps War, the Blackest Night, and others.

Guy Gardner Trades a Green Ring For a Red One DC Comics

During this time, Guy Gardner joined the Red Lantern Corps. Rage fueled the Red Lantern rings, much as pure willpower fueled the Green Lantern rings. Although he was seemingly a member of these anger-fueled ring bearers, he was actually still working undercover for the Green Lantern Corps, under orders from his frenemy Hal Jordan. He was a main character in the series Red Lanterns, where he tried to turn the crimson warriors into a force for good. Not long after, he was able to wield both red and green rings. But eventually, Guy’s Green Lantern ring purges the red energy, and Guy became a true Green Lantern again.

Nathan Fillion Will Play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s DCU—Superman, Lanterns, And Beyond

Guy has had limited exposure in most outside comics media. Hal Jordan was the Green Lantern in the Super Friends cartoon, while John Stewart was the resident Lantern of the Justice League animated series. However, Guy Gardner has made a few appearances over the years, including guest-starring roles in series like Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and the 2011 Green Lantern animated show on Cartoon Network. But now, Guy Gardner has his biggest audience of all time, thanks to the Man of Steel.

Marvel Studios/DC Comics

After many years of fans dream casting Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Hal Jordan, he eventually played the role in animation three times. First in Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, then in Justice League: Doom, and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. But most recently, James Gunn cast his old friend in Superman as Green Lantern Guy Gardner. That made Fillion the first big-screen Green Lantern since the 2011 Ryan Reynolds movie.

DC Comics

Fillion shared of his DCU role:

The reality is that people have flaws. We all have quirks. We all have vulnerabilities. You could have the most wonderful family, but be like, ‘Oh, my God, my dad drives me nuts. He’s got this one thing.’ Everybody’s got something, and I love to lean into those faults and flaws. It’s what makes people real and what allows audiences to relate, because we all know what that is. We all have our own. We witness it in other people. Guy Gardner is 90% flawed and doesn’t care. That’s one of his flaws. I think there’s a real freedom in playing that. So, for a guy who likes to play flaws and flawed people, Guy Gardner is a gold mine.

Additionally, Fillion added the following comments about his take on Gay Gardner in Superman, “He’s a jerk! What’s important to know is, you don’t have to be good to be a Green Lantern; you just have to be fearless. So Guy Gardner is fearless, and he is not very good. He’s not nice, which is very freeing as an actor because you just think to yourself, what is the most selfish, self-serving thing I can do in this moment? And that’s the answer. That’s what you do in that moment. I think if he has a superpower, it might be his overconfidence, in that he thinks he could take on Superman. He can’t!”

DC Studios

Gunn promised that Fillion’s Guy Gardner would continue on in the DCU. Although the upcoming Lanterns series will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Fillion will appear on it once at least once as Guy Gardner. Additionally, Fillion will return to voice Guy Gardner in the DCU’s Mister Miracle animated series.

For someone once viewed as the “third most famous Green Lantern,” Guy Gardner has a bright future ahead.

Originally published on July 13, 2023.

Eric Diaz is a staff writer at Nerdist, and a Swiss army knife of fandoms. Eric loves DC, Marvel, horror movies, and even Star Wars and Star Trek equally.

The post Guy Gardner, DC’s Most Obnoxious Green Lantern, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Cynthia Addai-Robinson teases that Elendil is Míriel’s “partner in crime” in The Rings of Power season 3.
• The relationship between Elendil and Queen Míriel is one that fans are excited to see evolve, and we are excited to hear it will continue to grow.
• Addai-Robinson hints that fans should “keep their eyes peeled for what will happen with the two of them.”

One of the most gorgeous and nuanced relationships that we’ve seen emerge in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is between Elendil and Queen Míriel. Between them lives such a mature and layered blend of admiration, loyalty, desire, and love in its purest forms. But, of course, as with many Rings of Power relationships, the connection is tinged with the feeling of impending tragedy. The whole of Tolkien’s universe is going down a dark road, and Míriel and Elendil’s kingdom of Númenor more than most. But as always with The Lord of the Rings, where there is darkness, there is light. And Míriel actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson is teasing some fun for fans of Elendil and Queen Míriel in The Rings of Power season three.

When asked about what’s in store for Míriel in The Rings of Power season three, Addai-Robinson laughed, “Oh gosh. So many thoughts and feelings and questions [arise for her]. But I will say, Elendil, my lovely partner in crime, Lloyd Owen, he’s definitely still the right-hand man. But now Míriel’s sort of sent Elendil off, if you recall, at the end of The Rings of Power season two, with Narsil for those Eagle Eye observers. And he’s helping to gather that army that’s going to sort of get Queenie back in her rightful place on the throne. So it’s like the revolution has begun. They’re kind of on separate areas of the island because it is a pretty big island. But I would say keep your eye peeled for what will happen with the two of them.”

Prime Video

Big day for fans of well-written yearning! And we fully support getting Míriel back on the throne she deserves… Perhaps while also falling in love with Elendil on the way? We wouldn’t mind it.

Míriel, Elendil, and the rest will return when The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on November 11. The full release schedule can be found here. If you’d like to get yourself ready for this return to Middle-earth, you can pick up The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth or The Silmarillion and read more about Tolkien’s vision of the time when the show takes place.

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Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great lover of the anti-hero and is always ready for a new ship to set sail. In her work, she likes to combine fandom passion with journalistic sensibilities. Follow her on Instagram.

The post Elendil Is ‘Míriel’s Partner in Crime’ in RINGS OF POWER Season 3, Says Cynthia Addai-Robinson appeared first on Nerdist.

Unforgetful, the latest app from longtime indie developer Marco Arment, is designed to make reminders harder to ignore — or accidentally dismiss.

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⚡ Quick Take

• From Widow’s Bay to Wonder Man, these are our favorite TV shows of 2026.
• The year still has many more shows to go, so stay tuned to see what we add next!
• Compare and Contrast: Take a trip down memory lane and check out our Best TV Shows of 2025!

A multitude of great TV series have dropped this year, and now that we’re halfway through 2026, we can start to look at them retrospectively. From comedy horror to superhero animation, we have stayed fed when it comes to content. At Nerdist, we have plenty of strong opinions to go around, so we think these are the best TV shows that have come out this year so far, in no particular order.

Table of contents

• Widow’s Bay
• Invincible (Season 4)
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• The Boys (Season 5 )
• One Piece (Season 22)
• One Piece (Season 2)
• Wonder Man
• Star Wars : Maul – Shadow Lord
• The Vampire Lestat
• The Pitt (Season 2)
• Fallout (Season 2)
• X-Men ’97 (Season 2)
• What TV Shows Will Arrive Next on Our Best of List?

Widow’s Bay Apple TV

This year’s biggest Apple TV success was definitely this small-town comedy horror set on an island off the East Coast. The series follows the mayor of (you guessed it) Widow’s Bay, as he tries to gain respect from the townspeople and increase tourism. The place has plenty of haunting mythology, which the mayor refuses to believe… until he sees it himself.

Comedy and horror are certainly hard to combine, but this show does so masterfully. With lovable, slightly odd characters and disgustingly horrifying monsters, it really does try to do it all, and succeeds.

Widow’s Bay debuted in April this year, and since then, critics and fans alike have praised it. In June, before the premiere of the first season’s finale, Apple TV greenlit the renewal of the show for season 2. There will be plenty more laughs and screams to come, but Apple has yet to reveal the release date. We can’t wait for more of this easy best of 2026 TV contender.

Invincible (Season 4) Prime Video

Based on a comic series containing 114 issues, Invincible has been Prime Video’s geekiest crown jewel since 2021, when season one dropped.

This adult animated series follows a young superhero as he struggles with morality, his complicated (to say the least) relationship with his father, and one potentially world-ending catastrophe after another. Mark Grayson (Invincible) always pulls through, and season 4 was yet another series of those events. It was packed full of the gory action and well-animated fight scenes the series is known for. That said, it also showcased the more emotional side of all of the characters involved.

Invincible has a season 5 on the way, and a season 6 renewal came to the show on June 24. Its popularity definitely gave Prime Video the confirmation it needed to proceed with two more seasons. That, and the comic series it is based on, is not even close to over.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms HBO

If we had to guess, George R. R. Martin is making crazy money this year. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was adapted from his novella, The Hedge Knight, published in 1999. The series follows Dunk, a knight, and his squire Egg. The two exist within the same world as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but the tone of their story is entirely different, focusing much less on royalty and more on the “little guy,” so to speak. According to our very own Michael Walsh, who reviewed the series, the vibe is much more “whimsical,” but it doesn’t take away from the high production value that fans know and love.

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The season only had six episodes, each between 30 and 36 minutes long. Season 2 is expected to come out next year and will be based on Martin’s second novella, “The Sworn Sword.” The series’ director, Owen Harris, told Awards Buzz the next season will be more of a “road movie,” putting his own spin on the source material. We’re excited that this long-awaited Game of Thrones show made it onto our best TV of 2026 list.

The Boys (Season 5) Prime Video

The Boys was popular from the beginning; however, this final season got more attention than ever.

The series is political and social satire disguised as a superhero show. It follows a group of ragtag revolutionaries as they attempt to stand up to what seems to be unyielding, absolute power of Vought and its bad supes. The fifth and final season of the show brought absolutely everything to a head (har har). Without significant spoilers, let’s just say most of the loose ends left from the first four seasons were tied up.

One Piece (Season 22) Toei Animation

If you’ve asked yourself how a show can possibly continue after 1,155 episodes, the answer is having a massive number of manga volumes the show is based on. As of March, the One Piece manga series has over 1,100 individual chapters. And boy, does the anime use the source material.

One Piece seasons have always varied in length, but none have been as short as this one with 12 episodes. One Piece season 5 was the closest in 2002, with only 13.

Season 22 follows the “Elbaph” story arc from the manga. In this storyline, the Straw Hat crew and the giants arrive in Elbaph, the Land of Giants. It focuses, too, on the Holy Knights of God and their plan to take over Elbaph

Monkey D. Luffy sails with his crew of Straw Hat Pirates through the Grand Line to find the treasure One Piece and become the new king of the pirates.

Since the series premiered in 1999, episodes have come out year-round. Now, the schedule has been changed so that only 26 episodes maximum are released each year. Netflix is also making its own The One Piece anime, which will debut in 2027.

One Piece (Season 2) Netflix

One Piece is incredible any way you slice it. And the live-action One Piece continues to do the impossible by being a perfect anime live-action adaptation. It’s a rarity for a series to be adapted with such naunce and depth, but Netflix’s One Piece live-action keeps all the heart of the original, but deftly evolves it into a whole new medium. The found family, earnestness, and true joy of the anime comes to beautiful life. And in season two of One Piece, the series even managed to introduce live-action Chopper and make him a believable, adorable part of the journey. Truly, one Netflix’s One Piece is one of the best TV series of 2026.

Wonder Man Marvel Studios

Marvel’s TV series Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a Hollywood star who gained his fame starring in a movie called Wonder Man. The series focuses on his relationship with fellow actor and comic relief character Trevor Slattery, who masqueraded as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3.

Wonder Man was a long-forgotten seventh Avenger who appeared in Marvel comics starting in the 1960s. Needless to say, this adaptation was long overdue. Even more niche Marvel heroes appeared in this show, such as Doorman, who appeared in the joke series Great Lakes Avengers.

Originally, his backstory included a deep hatred for Iron Man after Stark Industries beat out his family’s company, Williams Innovations. His involvement in the Avengers started merely as a way of getting back at Stark, but during his time there, his mind changed. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t delve into that story, but what is left is still a delightfully fresh take on the day-to-day life of a superhero.

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The series has been renewed for a second season, but Marvel has not yet announced a set release date.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Lucasfilm

Another mature/adult animated series to top our best of 2026 TV series list is Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Expectedly, the series follows the fan-favorite Sith lord, Darth Maul. Identifiable by his double-bladed red lightsaber, Maul spends the show’s first season gathering his bearings, rebuilding his criminal empire, and plotting his revenge against Emperor Palpatine.

The series takes place about a year after the Clone Wars, during the Galactic Empire’s reign. While it is very action-heavy, there are certainly still emotional stakes for Maul. In an interview with StarWars.com, Lucasfilm president and Maul creator Dave Filoni said that the character is “relatable.”

He makes mistakes. He’s not perfect. He desires power, and then he gets toppled. That’s relatable. You know, we all probably feel like that when we have a low moment. He just doesn’t deal with it well. He keeps trying to attack his problems the same way. He can’t ever really let go of his hatred and his anger.

Though definitely more detailed and updated, the animation style is reminiscent of older animated Star Wars content, like Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Even ahead of season one’s debut, Maul was renewed for a second season. Disney has not revealed an official release date.

The Vampire Lestat AMC

Five decades after its publication, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles receives a fresh life on AMC, and we’re so glad. Interview With the Vampire deftly told its tale for two dense, delicious seasons, and now The Vampire Lestat continues the story with a whole new rock and roll energy.

This season, Lestat, played by the exceptional Sam Reid, shatters all your expectations about what you think you know about The Vampire Lestat. The series turns into a whole new kind of art piece, one that, like the diva himself, demands a lot from you. Reid delivers a performance that defies mortal ability, allowing Lestat to possess him, as he’s by turns tragic, hilarious, petty, cutting, devastated, and devastating. It’s a performance we feel lucky to witness. Did we mention The Vampire Lestat also has incredible original songs to set the scene? Fans absolutely adore the way the music underscores of all Lestat’s emotional states and muses. And in a fit of brilliance, Lestat even performed in concert in New York City this June.

Additionally, fans love that the queer elements baked into the original story are made overtly clear—not swept under the rug or written off. All hail, Lestat. Truly, if this were the only series on our best of 2026 TV list, we would not feel sad.

The Pitt (Season 2) HBO Max

There is nothing people love more than a good medical drama. Grey’s Anatomy has run for 22 (soon to be 23) seasons, after all. But The Pitt is something unequivocally fresh and new. This HBO Max series is like Grey’s Anatomy—if it were much darker. It takes place at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, and it shows in great detail the emotional and physical struggle of healthcare workers and their patients. Noah Wyle stars as Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, the center’s Chief of Emergency Medicine.

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The show stays very current and realistic, dealing with real-life issues like ICE detainments and the inaccessibility of healthcare. It also portrayed violence against healthcare staff in a terrifyingly raw way.

The Pitt season one came out last year, becoming an instant hit, and even before the second season premiered, it had been renewed for a third, which can be expected to drop in early 2027. It’s no surprise this one makes it onto the best of 2026 TV series list.

Fallout (Season 2) Prime Video

This apocalyptic sci-fi favorite show is based on a video game series by the same name. After a nuclear apocalypse rocked the world, humans retreated to underground bunkers, where they have lived for decades. Generations later, one “vault dweller” named Lucy, played by Ella Purnell, ventures onto the destroyed surface after her father was kidnapped.

The second season continued to develop Lucy’s story, as she encountered people and creatures on the surface and got closer to uncovering the inner workings of big bad corporations, Vault-Tec and The Enclave. Making its mark as a true best of 2026 TV series, Fallout continued to expertly combine heart, humor, tragedy, camp, and horror. It also confidently added to the video game canon while remaining true to everything that has come before it. Several difficult needles to thread, but Fallout season two threaded them.

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The Biggest Questions After FALLOUT Season 2

The Prime Video series came out in 2024, with its second season dropping this year and a third coming soon. If you love the Fallout story and want to see more, Prime Video is coming out with a reality series based on the vault society aspect of the show, dropping contestants into a bunker environment where they will complete challenges and compete for a cash prize. Fallout Shelter has no set release date.

X-Men ’97 (Season 2) Marvel Television

X-Men ’97 has done it again with another season. After establishing this world to fans both old and new in its first season, the series took things up a notch. We got to meet the X-Force, led by Cable, and the big villain of this season, Apocalypse, who has quite the massive comic book history. There are plenty of nods to comics and previous material for those who love Easter eggs, yet the storytelling always feels fresh. It is such a delight to have an animated series on that takes us back to our cartoons and cereal days. Bring it on, season three!

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The Marvel Comics History of X-MEN ’97’s X-Force What TV Shows Will Arrive Next on Our Best of List?

We are only halfway through the year, and we already have such an extensive list of fantastic TV series. That said, there is much more to come. Elle, a prequel to the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, and Lanterns, focusing on notable Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan, are just two that we are already excited about. Hopefully, this list will continue to grow as the year goes on!

Originally published on June 26, 2026.

Nerdist writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

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⚡ Quick Take

• Lanterns delivers the goods, mainly thanks to the standout performances of leads Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.
• Although more grounded than cosmic, Lanterns honors the legacy and lore of the DC Comics characters.
• Many elements from decades of comics get a reference throughout the series.
• Nerdist’s take: While it might disappoint some comic book fans for how Earthbound it is, Lanterns fully delivers as a compelling character drama.

DC Studios head James Gunn promised that each of the projects released by the studio would have its own flavor and feel. However, the recently released Supergirl felt very much in the Gunn sensibility, leading many to wonder if DC’s third live-action project, HBO’s Lanterns, would be more of the same. We are happy to say it’s very much its own thing, and in fact, it’s some pretty great television, anchored by two absolutely stellar performances from actors Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, as Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively. While it’s not always perfect as a comic book show, it’s pretty close to perfect as a compelling character drama. And usually, that’s enough.

HBO Max/DC Studios

The early descriptions for Lanterns described it as “True Detective with superheroes,” and it turns out, the description was 100% accurate. Actually, “True Detective with aliens” is a more apt description, as there’s not a ton of actually superheroing in this show, although the characters talk about being heroes a whole lot. The basic plot for Lanterns has veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, who has been Earth’s resident Lantern since at least the ‘90s, training his backup Lantern, ex-Marine John Stewart. As Jordan trains the much younger Stewart, the two investigate a mystery in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska.

HBO Max/DC Studios

We won’t get into exactly what the mystery is, but yes, it is otherworldly. So if you were worried that two Green Lanterns would be investigating a crime you’d see on Dateline NBC, you needn’t. This is worthy of superheroes with extraordinary cosmic powers being on the case. Lanterns also fully realizes the tiny town of Rushville and its inhabitants, particularly Kelly Macdonald as the exasperated Sheriff Kerry, and Poorna Jafannathan as Zoe, one of the townsfolk who has secrets of her own. All we’ll say is Zoe has pretty palpable chemistry with John Stewart, and leave it there. Series writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King know their Green Lantern mythos, but also understand how to deliver compelling character drama.

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What makes this show truly stand out is the excellent dynamic between Hal and John. Some were worried that the series made Hal too old. But it turns out, making Hal a grizzled veteran with a chip on his shoulder absolutely works. Chandler plays Hal like the most likeable asshole ever, which is exactly as he should be portrayed. We as the viewers can tell he’s threatened by rookie Lantern John Stewart, but that also deep down he respects the hell out of him. This Hal is a man whose best days are behind him, and he knows it, whether he can admit to that publicly or not.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Meanwhile, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart is simply stellar. He’s stoic but charming, and you constantly feel the burden of his quest to be worthy. There’s an interesting wrinkle to his backstory not from the comics, which we won’t give away. But it adds a ton of unexpected depth to his character. Kyle Chandler is excellent, but it’s Pierre’s John Stewart that is the true standout here. Talk about being born for this particular role. (Although we must say, he’d make a great Blade for Marvel too, now that the position is open).

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For those worried that Lanterns would de-comic book the concept, it both does and doesn’t. All the key aspects of the Green Lantern lore are absolutely canon to the series. A dying Green Lantern named Abin Sur still recruited Hal. The immortal Guardians of the Universe on the planet Oa are his bosses. Sinestro, the former Green Lantern who went rogue, still trained him as a rookie. All of that is canon here. The show even includes comic-booky details like Hal Jordan keeping his power battery in a pocket dimension, and mentions of the alien chipmunk Lantern, Ch’p.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Having said that, there’s a lot of telling and not showing. Lanterns barely shows Hal in uniform. The one scene you see in the trailers is the one time he wears it. Yes, he can conjure constructs with his ring, but he doesn’t do it much for a show called Lanterns. We don’t know if that’s a budget thing. It may just be a deliberate choice to make the show more palatable to the typical Sunday night HBO audience. If you’re a Green Lantern comic book fan as we are, this will no doubt annoy you. No matter how good a dramatic series this is, you want to see these guys in space. The series mostly talks about the comic booky stuff without showing it, which is sometimes grating.  

HBO Max/DC Studios

But what will keep viewers engaged each week are the performances of the two men at the heart of Lanterns. This is a show about what it means in our culture to be past your prime as a man. And also what it means for someone who is not a straight white man to have to fight twice as hard to earn what’s his. All of that character stuff is twice as interesting as the mystery at the heart of the show. But that’s not to say that the X-Files-esque plot isn’t engaging. Although we can’t help but wonder if the references to Green Lantern lore throughout will be confusing to general audiences. Green Lantern isn’t Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man. His mythology isn’t a given to most people. We as nerds know what all the cosmic stuff the characters reference is, but will everyone watching? That remains to be seen.

The tone for Lanterns could not be more different than Gunn’s Superman. Yet it lives comfortably in the DCU that his film set up. And yes, we do get an explanation why Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is the Lantern of Earth in Superman, when there’s only supposed to be one. You just have to be patient. Lanterns may not be what fans were expecting when they announced a Green Lantern series. But it’s nevertheless very good television that’s worth your time. And it couldn’t come at a more necessary time for DC Studios, which has to prove it’s more than just Superman and pals. Green Lantern debuted in DC Comics way back in 1940, before even Wonder Woman. The title (and many characters who’ve used the name) is one of DC’s most storied properties. Lanterns finally gives it the respect on screen fans have been waiting for.

DC Studios/HBO

⭐ (4 of 5)

Eric Diaz is a staff writer at Nerdist, and a Swiss army knife of fandoms. Eric loves DC, Marvel, horror movies, and even Star Wars and Star Trek equally.

The post LANTERNS Is a Welcome Change of Pace for Superhero TV (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• We have an exclusive clip from Season 14, episode four of Futurama, where Leela, Philip, and Bender enter the world of Steamboat Willie.

This season of Futurama has been swinging for the fences and truly delivering on its promise to bring us a “non-stop onslaught of swaggering space pirates, lab-grown meats, sexy scams…” and more. We don’t know about you, but we were absolutely obsessed with Season 14, Episode 3’s spoof of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. But Futurama is just getting started when it comes to the House of Mouse. It’s Nerdist‘s extreme pleasure (and delight) to bring you an exclusive clip from Futurama Season 14, Episode 4 that mashes up Futurama and Steamboat Willie in one incredible musical parody scene. In the August 17 episode of Futurama, “Lords of the Ring,” the crew crash-lands in a world inhabited by intelligent rats… And what better celebration of intelligent rats is there than getting our Steamboat Willie on? You can check out this exclusive Futurama clip below.

Exclusive Clip: Futurama Meets Steamboat Willie in Season 14, Episode 4

Whistle a happy tune! Don your rat ears, nose, and whiskers prosthetics! Then sit back and enjoy this hilarious parody mash-up of Futurama and Steamboat Willie. It’s pure Disney delight… with a few Futurama twists, of course. Steamboat Willie may have wished he could swear in his heart, but he probably wasn’t doing it AS colorfully as Steamboat Leela. We’re also totally obsessed with Philip J. Fry’s whistling abilities, 10/10. And, of course, Bender was born to be a part of the Steamboat Willie ensemble. 10/10. Honestly, that was so much fun; we have to watch it again. Futurama, this Steamboat Willie parody sequence might be your best one ever.

Bill Odenkirk and Crystal Chesney-Thompson Break Down the Futurama x Steamboat Willie Mash-Up

But don’t take our word for it. Futurama writer Bill Odenkirk and director Crystal Chesney-Thompson share with Nerdist how this Steamboat Willie parody came to life. Odenkirk notes, “The idea came from our head writer, the brilliant David X. Cohen. Discussing the story development of the episode, David saw a moment to insert this homage to the classic cartoon. The sequence fit with the story of the Planet Express crew attempting to pass themselves off as rats in the lab-rat world. It fit but was a bit of a stretch given that the rat/mouse disguises the crew put on would probably fool no one. But perhaps the highly intelligent rats are also highly nearsighted as well.” And who doesn’t want to be fooled by a fun musical adventure?

Hulu

Digging deeper into the heart of the Steamboat Willie and Futurama mashup, Odenkirk adds, “We wanted the whole Futurama sequence to immediately “read” as a lighthearted parody of Steamboat Willie, so the design rendered in black and white was an obvious place to start. The steamship’s dancing smokestacks echo the original short as well. We also wanted to mimic the “cycled” movements of the characters as was often the style in these old, animated shorts, so we had the crew stand repeating the same bouncy gestures in unison. Fry at the wheel of the steamship basically repeats Mickey Mouse’s dancing and actions as well… Given all this, if viewers were at all confused by what we were playfully imitating, they were probably asleep or recently born.”

Hulu

Meanwhile, Chesney-Thompson adds, “As a fan of classic animation, I was thrilled to get to pay homage to Steamboat Willie. The design of the steamboat itself was heavily influenced by the stylized simplicity of black-and-white cartoons. We even gave the boat bouncing smokestacks, merrily emitting puffs of smoke in time with the music. We animated the characters with more ‘rubber-hose’ style movement and bouncy cycles that are reminiscent of the old music-driven shorts. Fry’s animation, in particular, very carefully reflects Mickey Mouse’s iconic dance at the helm. To top it all off, the entire sequence is rendered in black and white, to drive home the vintage look.”

The Steamboat Willie parody of it all also let some of Futurama’s characters behave in ways they may not ordinarily… While keep true to the core of them, of course. Odenkirk notes, “Fry at the helm of the ship runs counter to our general understanding that Leela is the ship’s captain and Fry is a seat-filler. About the only character who acts in accord with their personality is Bender, who buries the entire scene in a cloud of cigar smoke at the end. He has a very big personality, as we know.”

Hulu

But, of course, we do get Leela’s iconic angry fist going. Chesney-Thompson notes, “While most of the characters dance together in old-timey, jaunty style. Leela and Fry, play out another homage to classic animated shorts, when his cheerful whistling causes his cute little rat teeth to hit Leela, and she responds with the quintessential angry fist shaking. At the end, Bender, in classic Bender-fashion, puffs smoke in time with the music, eventually cover the entire crew… and the entire scene.”

The scene was also specifically meaningful for Chesney-Thompson because it drew from something close to him. She notes, ” This homage was particularly special to me due to its roots in my personal inspiration as an animation artist.”

But the best part of Futurama‘s take on Steamboat Willie, “The absurdity. The episode is built around a densely layered backstory bordering on the Baroque. The addition of this needless parody of Steamboat Willie, along with a departure from our usual design style, bordered on the Rococo. Or should I say “Ro-coo-coo”? No, I shouldn’t say that.  Please forget I said that.” (Please forget he said that!) “Anyways, I simply love the nonsense of it. We are having fun with the absurd nature of the crew’s adventure and hoping the viewer will welcome this reprieve from the otherwise deadly-serious themes of our show about talking rats in a space ring world.”

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Get an Exclusive Look at THE ART OF FUTURAMA Book’s Concept Art and Sketches Futurama’s Intelligent Rat Concept Art From “Lords of the Ring”

In addition to this exclusive Steamboat Willie parody clip, we have more looks at the creation of the intelligent rats that inhabit the world of Futurama, whose main form of transportation happens to be the Steamboat. Check out this cool Season 14 concept art of Dr. Verminus, a character who meets the cast when they crash-land on his planet. The other rat in this concept art is Dr. Pestia…a colleague of Verminus. We smell a rat! Or two! But salute the name “Verminus.”

Hulu Hulu Hulu

Futurama season 14 airs weekly, Mondays on Hulu. Tune in on August 17 to catch Futurama‘s Steamboat Willie parody fun.

Hulu Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great lover of the anti-hero and is always ready for a new ship to set sail. In her work, she likes to combine fandom passion with journalistic sensibilities. Follow her on Instagram.

The post FUTURAMA Goes STEAMBOAT WILLIE In Our Exclusive Season 14 Clip appeared first on Nerdist.