Nerd News

Lee McIntire, an independent member of Fermi's board, has been hired as CEO, more than three months since the company fired co-founder Toby Neugebauer from the top post.

⚡ Quick Take

• SPAM, the creator of the iconic canned meat popular in World War II, now makes hot dogs. It’s the same meat you know and love in a new shape.
• The upside to this weird food venture is that we at least now know what’s in the hot dogs we’re eating.
• Compared to other food combos of the summer, including but not limited to the KFC Oreos, this one is probably the least odd.

With summertime coming to a slow close, if you’re anything like me, you’re using your grill less and less. However, it’s not over yet, so fire those babies up for SPAM’s newest food-ition, SPAMdogs.

Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. A hotdog, made out of SPAM, the canned mystery meat. Well, it’s not a total mystery what goes into SPAM: at the very least, we know there’s some pork shoulder, also known as “Boston Butt.”

Hormel Foods

This may actually be a good sign for the hot dog industry—now there’s a sentence you’ve never heard, and I’ve never written before. Non-premium “all-beef” or “all-pork” options are generally wieners made from much more dubious odds and ends, including but not limited to pork, beef, turkey, and chicken.

Do I think it will taste any different than your average hot dog? Probably not, but I’m sure SPAM connoisseurs will be able to taste the difference. People already grill SPAM for the classic Hawaiian dish, SPAM Musubi. The only new aspect is the wiener’s shape. Haley Eggum, SPAM’s brand manager, seemed enthused about this addition to the legions of origin-ambiguous hot dog options.

“We’re excited to be rolling out the SPAM® Dog and the opportunity it creates for foodservice operators to offer something both familiar and surprising. It’s a fresh, new take on a hot dog with the unmistakable flavor that SPAM fans know and love.”

It’s been a summer full of weird food combinations. So, honestly, compared to the fried chicken Oreos, this is a pretty natural form for SPAM to take. Meat belongs in hot dogs; KFC fried chicken batter flavoring does not belong between two chocolate cookies, in my humble journalistic opinion. But who cares what I think?

SPAMdogs will be available premade in stadiums and for your own grilling pleasure at your local convenience store.

The post SPAMdogs Have Arrived In Time For The End of Grilling Season appeared first on Nerdist.

The Mission Robotic Vehicle is making the first attempt to attach a new thruster to an aging satellite.

⚡ Quick Take

• After appearing in Superman, and soon, in Lanterns on HBO Max, Nathan Fillion will play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the animated HBO Max series Mister Miracle.
• Guy Gardner is not in the Mister Miracle comic book by Tom King, but he’s bringing him into his adaptation of his own series for animation.
• Nerdist’s take: After his roles in Superman and Lanterns, Fillion’s character might be the connective tissue between DCU projects.

If there was any question that the upcoming Mister Miracle animated series from DC Studios takes place in the DCU, this latest news erases any doubt. According to Entertainment Weekly, it seems Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Green Lantern Guy Gardner in Mister Miracle. His character first appeared in Superman, and pops up soon in Lanterns. Showrunner Tom King, who also wrote the critically acclaimed Mister Miracle comic book the show is based on, had this to say about Fillion joining the cast as the galaxy’s most obnoxious member of the Green Lantern Corps:

We brought Nathan into Mister Miracle’s show, and doing that, it’s just so wonderful. He brings that energy to every aspect of it. And you would think it would be different tonally from [Lanterns], but it blends because that’s who Guy is. He’s that guy who is over the top. We all know that guy who’s a little bit like that.

Is DC Studios positioning Guy Gardner as the DCU equivalent to Nick Fury in the MCU? The one character who dips in and out of different projects, uniting the narrative? It certainly seems to be the case. He is Earth’s resident Green Lantern after all. So if Mister Miracle brings in cosmic elements from the New Gods mythology, it makes sense the Lanterns would be interested. Guy doesn’t appear in the Tom King/Mitch Gerads mini-series that Mister Miracle the animated show is based on. But then again, Lobo didn’t appear in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. And DC Studios added him in for the Supergirl film.

DC Studios

So far, Nathan Fillion remains the only actor confirmed by DC Studios for Mister Miracle. James Gunn has stated that the same voice actors will play major roles from animated projects in live-action. So whoever plays Scott Free/Mister Miracle, his wife Barda, and other New Gods characters like Orion will play their live-action counterparts. Most importantly, DC Comics’ biggest bad, Darkseid, is a big part of Mister Miracle. So the voice actor they cast will be the eventual version of Darkseid in film. Apparently, DC has cast all the voice actors already, we’re just waiting on an announcement from James Gunn. Hopefully, any day now.

The post Nathan Fillion Will Voice Guy Gardner in MISTER MIRACLE appeared first on Nerdist.

"If this was opt-in, nobody would opt in," Twitch CPO Mike Minton said on a livestream responding to user feedback. "That's honestly the answer."

⚡ Quick Take

• Only 41 theaters worldwide were able to screen The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, which is 11 more than Oppenheimer in 2023.
• The locations in the US excluded more than half of the states in America, with theaters only in 14 states.
• IMAX is reportedly a difficult medium to deal with, and mistakes in the film cost time, money, and audience approval.

When Christopher Nolan’s new movie The Odyssey came out (actually, a year before it came out), film geeks everywhere rushed to buy tickets to see the film in IMAX 70 millimeter. It isn’t just IMAX or just 70mm—it’s the combination of the two that makes the format so specific and rare. This format requires special projectors that both run film horizontally, which is different than other forms of film, and project the image onto an enormous IMAX screen.

On average, IMAX screens span about 59 by 79 feet, at least for traditional film. As such, screenings usually occur in larger-than-normal theaters. But which theaters are equipped to show IMAX 70mm?

IMAX

The answer is not many. Digital IMAX screens, which some call “LieMAX,” come a dime a dozen. Hundreds of theaters around the U.S. operate these screens with a different aspect ratio than IMAX’s traditional size. However, IMAX screens built for 70mm are hard to come by, with only 25-30 in the U.S. and a handful of others scattered around the rest of the world. It’s even harder to come by the projectors for the format. Only 41 theaters worldwide were able to play The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, which was an increase from the 30 that played Oppenheimer.

The U.S. locations are scattered across the country. USA Today listed the 25 locations in the country that screened it, with theaters in:

• Arizona: Tempe
• California: Hollywood, Dublin, Irvine, LA, Ontario, Sacramento, San Fransisco, Universal City
• Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver
• Florida: Fort Lauderdale
• Georgia: Buford
• Illinois: Woodridge
• Indiana: Indianapolis
• Michigan: Grand Rapids
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• New York: New York City, Rochester
• Pennsylvania: King of Prussia
• Rhode Island: Providence
• Tennessee: Chattanooga, Nashville
• Texas: Dallas, San Antonio

That only “covers” 14/50 states. Some dedicated movie buffs went out of their way to road trip to other cities and even other states to see The Odyssey this year.

This is clearly an issue, and a big loss of potential revenue for IMAX. However, the chances that the company will go out of its way to increase the number of 70mm IMAX theaters are slim. Unfortunately, “The problem is they haven’t made new IMAX film projectors in about fifty years,” said IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond. In fact, the company doesn’t even have a complete blueprint for the machines anymore, and many of its parts no longer exist.

The projectors themselves are also huge, and the film they take can weigh over 300 pounds. Mistakes cost more, damaged film is a danger, and there is no way to restart or rewind the film efficiently.

After The Odyssey‘s success and the buzz around Dune: Part Three, who knows what the company has in store for the medium?

The post Where Can You Watch Films in IMAX 70mm? appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Absolute Wonder Woman presents a strong yet deeply kind and tender iteration of Diana of the Wild Isle, and she makes the story her own.
• The run solves just about every problem DC has had portraying Diana in the past.
• Absolute Wonder Woman deserves her own animated series, and the magic and color of her world prove that.

Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are DC Comics’ “Big Three.” They are the company’s trio of iconic heroes, superior in strength, smarts, and star power. However, whether or not Wonder Woman is genuinely a part of DC’s holy trinity has become a recent debate. Is Wonder Woman getting the non-comic content she deserves? I (and plenty of fans) think not.

DC Comics

While at one point Diana may have been more prominent in DC’s non-comics content, nowadays, the media created around her character is scarce. The success of Absolute Wonder Woman, her most popular comic run right now, is a good sign, but it has not yet had any payoff on the screen.

The Trouble with Diana

Since she was created in 1941, Wonder Woman has continued to be featured as an essential, founding pillar of the Justice League. Still, she has not quite stolen the spotlight in an actually empowering way. Her two blockbuster movies starring Gal Gadot were definitely steps in the right direction, sure, but they just weren’t enough to make the public call for more Wonder Woman, at least not fully.

If Wonder Woman is such a DC staple, why has she continued to be so under-appreciated in non-comics media? Many fans claim sexism is driving this issue. Batman and Superman, the other two-thirds of the DC holy trinity, have plenty of content coming out. I have found no clear, recent statistics on the readership of DC Comics or comics in general. However, it is safe to say that women are reading comics, too—and more than previously expected. That, and not only women are interested in reading about strong female characters.

If not sexism, or not just sexism, why? Whether it was her shallow characterization in the Injustice series or many other weak portrayals, Diana has had it rough. This has not gone unnoticed on the internet, either.

Despite the clear interest in Wonder Woman, with Absolute Wonder Woman sales going exceedingly well, and not to mention the popularity of the 2017 live-action movie, Diana has never received her own animated series. She has made appearances in plenty of Justice League content and series headlined by other heroes. However, never as anything more than a side character. This is not the treatment Superman nor Batman has received. She got close to tasting glory with a video game announced in 2021, but Warner Bros. killed that project in 2025.

This is not to discount her many popular and well-thought-out comic runs. However, onscreen, Diana faces a lot of issues when she finally does get included in DC content. However, I believe Absolute Wonder Woman answers just about every problem she has experienced so far. Let’s go down the list.

Quality as a Main Character

Almost every significant female character seems to face the trope of becoming nothing but a romantic interest at some point, a crutch for the main male characters. Even Wonder Woman, who is dripping with main-character qualities and potential, is often reduced to a side character. Instead of serving as a worthy teammate to Batman, Superman, and the other Justice League members, writers reduce her to one of the other main characters’ love interest. This also reinforces the fact that, for some reason, not always but often, female characters can’t seem to exist professionally in the same space as male characters without there being romantic undertones.

DC Comics

Of course, not having a love interest shouldn’t become the hallmark of being a strong female character. They should, too, be able to have those relationships. The problem is when those relationships become who these characters are, the only reason they exist. Absolute Wonder Woman may have found a love interest in Steve Trevor, but it doesn’t become the centerpiece of who she is and what makes her powerful.

Steve Trevor has proven to be a… problem in other iterations of Wonder Woman. In Gal Gadot’s 2017 portrayal, he manages to outshine the titular character with, I would venture to guess, more lines than she has. (The less said about WW84‘s weird bodily-possession subplot the better.) The 2009 animated movie, Wonder Woman, managed to introduce possibly the worst-written and most misogynistic character I have ever encountered, and certainly the worst Steve Trevor.

AWW‘s version of Steve Trevor is a love interest, but he is without question a supporting character. That’s all. More than that, he is a supportive friend to Diana throughout the story, but the story itself belongs entirely to her. I could harp on about the fact that it always should have been this way, but I choose to be glad that it is now.

Weak Character

Even in her own live-action movie, portrayed by Gal Gadot, Diana isn’t presented with much personality. She has a backstory detailing cherished loved ones guiding her through her childhood and teenage years, but I found myself caring about and understanding them more than the movie’s namesake.

Every conversation this Diana has with Steve Trevor, who is historically a significant friend, ally, and lover to her, is either overtly romantic or sexual, and doesn’t drive their relationship or her character anywhere. Ryan Syrek from The Reader said it best:

“In the first hour of the first massively-budgeted movie centered on a female superhero, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) brags about his d**k as Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) ogles it before he takes her to buy dowdy clothes because her outfit is too “distracting” to men.”

I won’t continue to waste time trashing the movie, but I will say it is not her best portrayal. That said, there were some saving graces, from badass battle scenes (mediocre CGI aside) to an accurate level of otherworldliness in Diana’s character and her way of moving through the world.

Superheroes tend to have defining attributes, things they fight for. Batman has vengeance. Superman has justice. Wonder Woman has truth and kindness, and AWW portrays these better than any other portrayal I’ve seen. She shows kindness to creatures of all kinds. She is not grim in her strength, but compassionate. Other Diana portrayals have missed the mark somewhat when it comes to this. From her relationship with her mother and how she was raised, both strong and kind, to the wrath she directs toward those who harm the innocent, she is just incredibly interesting.

Wonder Woman’s Physique

Last and definitely least—the other items were definitely much more important—Absolute Wonder Woman having a physique that reflects the warrior she is is such a bonus for me. She is not stick-thin, reflecting modern (Euro-centric) beauty standards; she is unapologetically buff and looks like she could beat your ass, because she could. Sure, she doesn’t need to take up physical space for her powers to work (neither does the ever-yoked Superman), but man, is it cool. Her musculature reflects her hard work, her training, and the comic refuses to size her down.

DC Comics

These comics also bring back her wavy hair from the days of yore, and I think it adds so much to her character. She is wild and untamed, growing up on the Wild Isle in Hell instead of Themyscira. I hate to sound so cliché, but allowing her to have natural-looking hair does reflect that just feels so right.

Absolute Wonder Woman: The Answer to Our Prayers

Not everybody has the time to geek out on comics, but movies and shows can much more easily become mainstream. This is why I believe it is important that Wonder Woman gets more love on the TV/film side of things.

James Gunn has announced that a Wonder Woman movie is in the works. It will be a part of the “new DCU,” Gunn is working on, which also contains Superman, Supergirl, and Lanterns. Matt Reeves’ The Batman is unfortunately set in an alternate universe. Getting a new Wonder Woman on screen from the same director/producer who crafted a comic-accurate Superman with such care definitely sounds promising.

Wonder Woman has had her few standalone movies, but never an animated series. Absolute Wonder Woman is solving every issue the DC fandom has ever had with portrayals of Diana of Themyscira. With DC confirming Absolute Batman will be getting an animated series, why should she not be next in line?

The Absolute series brings about brand new backstory concepts and plenty of badass weapons. Not to mention, the magic and color of her world are perfect for animation. This version of Diana is a sorceress, which is a really cool, rare choice for Wonder Woman. This adds more to her character, especially knowing it was borne from her relationship with her mother, Circe. It was a cool way of turning the classic Circe versus Wonder Woman trope on its head.

DC Comics (Absolute Wonder Woman Issue #1)

Speaking of her weapons, Diana’s traditional Lasso of Truth now takes the form of three individual lassos. One is red, menacing-looking, and called “Nemesis.” It reflects the “pain [one has] wrought on others.” There is nothing more just than that. The second is Thusia, and it has transformational powers, though its use does come with risk. Thirdly is Troika, which uses the secrets of those whom it binds and leaves them changed fundamentally. This one is more mysterious than the other two thus far.

Everything about Absolute Wonder Woman is a sorely needed upgrade, from the creativity of her mythological background to her dark yet emotionally moving adventures. If any version of Wonder Woman deserves an animated series, this is her, DC. The fans are begging to see more, and the comic sales are proving it.

The post ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN Could Solve DC’s Diana Problem appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• A new report says DC Studios is giving the ax to announced HBO series Waller and Paradise Lost.
• Booster Gold is reportedly still in development, but looking for a new writer.
• Further, pitches for Catwoman and Poison Ivy series were rejected.
• NERDIST TAKE: The once robust Gods and Monsters lineup is looking a bit thin.

DC Studios’ Lanterns premieres this weekend, August 16 on HBO and Max. However, fans of DC properties might have to wait a while before more shows find their way to the screen. According to a new report in The Ankler, DC Studios has officially axed development of its Peacemaker spinoff Waller and its Themyscira-set Paradise Lost. We previously reported Booster Gold was gone too, but The Ankler says that show is still in the cards, just looking for a new writer. Also, evidently, two other pitches—both Batman-universe—also didn’t move forward. Yowzer.

Nerdist reached out to DC Studios for comment but did not receive a response at time of publication.

John P. Johnson/HBO

Waller and Paradise Lost were both Chapter 1 announcements in James Gunn’s infamous “Gods and Monsters” docket. The former would have focused on Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller after the fallout of Peacemaker season one. The latter was to be a massive Game of Thrones-style fantasy epic about Wonder Woman’s homeland prior to her birth. Development of both seemingly stagnated as the burgeoning months of the DCU commenced.

Booster Gold has been in development just as long, with writer David Jenkins attached. However, Jenkins recently took to Threads to say his involvement in the project was no more. The Ankler says the show remains in development, however, with James Gunn, Peter Safran, and HBO’s Casey Bloys looking for a new writer.

DC Comics

The final bit of news from the piece is going to be a gut punch to some fans. Evidently, Gunn, Safran, and Bloys also heard pitches for Poison Ivy and Catwoman series, but neither got the greenlight. Presumably (and this is just me speculating) having too many Bat-villain projects going on before we get a DCU Batman would be weird and awkward.

Whatever the reason, that’s two more DC projects that won’t happen. As of right now, we still have the Mister Miracle animated series and the bizarre Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd series. On the movie side, Gunn decided to axe The Authority, while James Mangold’s proposed Swamp Thing movie still remains a “who knows?” Clayface hits theaters in September while Man of Tomorrow will premiere next year.

HBO Max/DC Studios

The future of the DCU may, indeed, depend entirely on the outcome of the Paramount antitrust lawsuit. As it stands, only four of the original Chapter 1 projects—Creature Commandos, Superman, Supergirl, and Lanterns—made it to completion.

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

The post DC Studios Reportedly Ditching WALLER, PARADISE LOST Development appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Netflix shared the first image and synopsis for its animated sequel Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory starring Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka.
• Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory also revealed an all-star cast that includes it Connor as Charlie Paley and Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka, Charithra Chandran, Kate Winslet, and Helena Bonham Carter.
• The movie will also get an extensive theatrical window of 47 days.

Remember when Willy Wonka’s wildly unsafe factory resulted in many kids being maimed during a tour? Netflix does, and it’s turning that child endangerment into a sequel. Its upcoming Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory animated film, starring Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka, will see what happens after the infamous chocolatier gets out of prison for his past crimes. And while that premise might sound like a Mike Teeavee-esque stretch, the first image from the film is absolutely delectable.

Netflix

In addition to Kit Connor as Charlie Paley and Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka, Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory has added some MAJOR names, including Nicola Coughlan, Charithra Chandran, Samson Kayo, Christopher Chung, Kate Winslet, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Netflix also announced some WILD news. Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory will have one LONG theatrical release. Netflix reveals the Willy Wonka movie will have a 47-day exclusive theatrical window for the movie. Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory will release in theaters on November 5, 2027, and arrive on streaming on Netflix on December 22. 

Also of note, Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is not another remake. This is a sequel to Roald Dahl’s story. Tudum provided an official synopsis for the film, which also stars Heartstopper‘s Kit Connor as Charlie Paley. From Netflix:

Willy Wonka has spent the years since the Golden Ticket contest behind bars (not the chocolate kind) for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his time, Wonka returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world. But one thing stands in his way: teenager Charlie Paley and his friends. Facing eviction, this next generation of “rotten” kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes. But like many before them who enter the fantastical world of the factory, these kids are in for a bit more than they can chew…

Oh, okay. More child endangerment. That’s great.* Clearly this film will honor the original’s ethos.

Paramount Pictures

The film comes from directors Jared Stern (The LEGO Batman Movie) and Elaine Bogan (Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Spirit Untamed). If this image feels familiar that’s because Sony Pictures Imageworks ( Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, KPop Demon Hunters) is handling the animation. Decent track record. DECENT.

“Our directors, Jared and Elaine, have a bold vision befitting this new adventure whilst remaining sympathetic to the legacy, and I’m thrilled to play my part in bringing Willy Wonka to life in animated form,” said Waititi in a statement. “He is so special to me, and the opportunity to voice such an iconic, eccentric candy genius — if a little mischievous at times — is hugely exciting.” 

Getting to see Willy Wonka teach a bunch of brats an important lesson is always fun. Watching him do it in animation this good will only make it better.

*Joke

Originally published on April 17, 2026.

The post Netflix’s CHARLIE VS. THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Adds BIG Names… And Major Theatrical Release appeared first on Nerdist.

Checks are being mailed from Grubhub's $23.8 million fine from the FTC after it settled allegations over its business practices.

Cognition may be looking to raise another mega round just a few months after raising $1 billion at a $26 billion valuation.

⚡ Quick Take

• Gayle Rankin plays Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon.
• In season two, it was unclear whether Alys Rivers is a wise woman or a woods witch.
• In House of the Dragon season three, we learned Alys is much older than she appears thanks to an ancient curse dating back to Aegon’s Conquest.

When Daemon Targaryen claimed Harrenhal during House of the Dragon’s second season, he didn’t find peace in that haunted castle. What he found instead was a mysterious woman named Alys Rivers, a strange figure and fan-favorite from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. But who is she really? A bastard of the Riverlands who is nothing more than a wise woman who minds her surroundings? Or something much more magical and sinister? Here’s everything we’ve learned about Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon through season three, when we found out her story is even more important than we ever thought.

Who Plays Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon? HBO

Gayle Rankin (GLOW, Perry Mason) plays Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon. She joined the prequel series during season two. While the character is known to readers of Martin’s Fire & Blood, the in-world history reveals less about her than many other figures in the book.

What We Learned About Alys Rivers During House of the Dragon Season 2 Ollie Upton/HBO

Alys Rivers made her silent on-screen debut in House of the Dragon season two’s third episode. She first appeared in Harrenhal’s dining hall when Daemon Targaryen claimed the castle for Queen Rhaenyra (and himself). Alys was the only person not to kneel to his “Grace.”

Alys truly made her presence felt later in the episode when she showed up during Daemon’s nightmare-turned-waking vision. After dreaming about his wife as a young woman sewing the head of little Prince Jaehaerys back onto his body, Daemon suddenly found himself outside. He was standing near a dying weirwood tree overlooking the sacred Gods Eye lake. A confused Daemons then saw Alys Rivers appear below him. She only said one thing, but it made a major impact. She ominously told him, “You will die in this place,” before walking away.

HBO Alys Rivers: Maester, Owl, or Witch?

Another nightmare once again led Daemon to walk directly to Alys Rivers during House of the Dragon season two’s fourth episode. He found her working late at night.

She explained she was the castle’s de facto maester after the last one fled in the night. Like Daemon, the maester could not rest at Harrenhal. Alys Rivers said the castle is responsible for Daemon’s nightmares on House of the Dragon because Harrenhal is haunted and has been since its first stone was laid. The King who built the massive structure, Harren the Black, felled a grove of sacred weirwood trees for the land. He then tortured his workers who used the wood of the heart trees while building the castle. According to Alys Rivers, the spirits who lived in those ancient trees still roam the castle. She said you can hear them whispering in the night.

HBO

When Daemon asked who she really is, Alys Rivers jokingly said she’s really an owl trapped in a human woman’s body. (At least it sounded like a joke. In a world with wargs that wasn’t totally unbelievable.) Later, Daemon accused her of being a witch because she seemingly knew things she shouldn’t. That included how she seemed to know everything Daemon had left unsaid about his feelings over his wife’s ascension. Alys Rivers didn’t claim witchcraft or other magical powers for her House of the Dragon insights, though. She cited the many clues she observed about why he was unhappy being below Rhaenyra, including how he arrived alone but had yet to send a raven back saying he claimed the castle.

The alluring, wise, mysterious Alys then easily got Daemon to drink an unknown potion just days after he feared someone poisoning him. It was as though she had placed him in a trance and he couldn’t refuse her. Whatever she gave him was powerful. It knocked him out completely. Daemon lost a huge chunk of time after taking her potion. He awoke the next day, in the middle of a meeting, with no idea how he’d gotten there.

Alys Rivers Hears Cries of Anguish in the Wind HBO

In House of the Dragon season two’s “Regentm,” Alys Rivers continued to call out Daemon Targaryen. This time, she chastised him for war crimes Ser Willem Blackwood committed in his name. Daemon had told the knight to do his “worse” to bring House Bracken to heel. Even before the other riverlords confronted Daemon for those atrocities, Alys Rivers knew about them. She told Daemon she heard “strange things” on the “wind.” She spoke of “cries of anguish, children being taken from their mothers, men coming home to find their doors unlatched, their wives carried away.”

Did she mean she heard reports and rumors of those things from others? Or Alys Rivers actually hear the real screams from far away in House of the Dragon? If so, how? In visions? Dreams? Through weirwood trees? Sorcery? No matter how exactly she knew, she was aware of what it meant for the smallfolk. “And once again, in the name of power,” Alys said, “It’s the weak and the women who must endure.”

It was also unclear if Alys Rivers happened to mention Daemon’s late mother by chance, or if that meant she was the one who caused his Oedipal dream. That was a curious topic for Alys to bring up at that exact moment. It raised the possibility that even if she isn’t responsible for Daemon’s nightmares, she somehow knew about them.

Alys Rivers “Predicts” the Death of Lord Grover Tully HBO

With Daemon losing his grip on reality thanks to both his growing frustration in the Riverlands and his own nightmares in House of the Dragon season two, the King Consort was ready to flee Harrenhal before he asked for Alys’ help counsel. She offered him insights into the “mud” men of the region. She said they would rather get bogged down fighting one another than bend an inch. Only the stability of House Tully could bring them all together and give Daemon the army he sought.

With Lord Grover Tully too old and sick to bend the knee, that seemingly left Daemon without any options. But Alys told him while he couldn’t do anything, “in three days time, the winds will shift.” That would offer him a path forward. Sure enough, three days later Grover Tully was dead and his young healthy grandson was the new Lord of Riverrun. And who was with Grover at the end? Alys Rivers, who had gone to help.

HBO

Did Alys Rivers kill Grover Tully in House of the Dragon as Daemon (and possibly Ser Simon Strong) believe? Or did she go there—possibly to ease Grover’s pain, make Daemon think he can trust her, or both—because she somehow knew Lord Tully would die that day no matter what? Either she’s a murderer or a seer, either of which would be of great value to Daemon Targaryen.

Also of value was her insight into what it takes to rule. She cited Daemon’s desire for the crown as reason for him not to be worthy of it. Rhaenyra needed her husband (and his dragon) fighting for her. Alys Rivers was the only one who showed Daemon why the best he might ever be able to hope for is serving as King Consort and not the King.

Alys Rivers Shows Daemon the Prophecy of Ice and Fire in House of the Dragon

Alys Rivers revealed just how much she knows about the future when she showed Daemon a vision of Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy about the White Walkers in House of the Dragon. She brought Daemon to Harrenhal’s weirwood, and when he touched it, he saw the Three-Eyed Raven, the army of the dead, and his descendant Daenerys rising from the ashes with three dragons. It was exactly what Daemon needed to finally fall in line behind his wife, the Queen. Without Alys Rivers and her mysterious knowledge, the Realm might have been doomed forever because Daemon never would have played “his part” in the fight against the Night King.

Is House of the Dragon‘s Alys Rivers Really a Witch? HBO

Season two never answered who exactly Alys Rivers is or even what she is. A witch responsible for Daemon’s nightmares? A wise owl in human form who can hear whispers on the wind because she soars on them? A greenseer with amazing abilities like Bran on Game of Thrones, which was how she knows so much about the past, present, and future? And does that mean she predicted Daemon’s future death at Harrenhal because she sees it, or as a threat?

In season three of House of the Dragon, we found out that we weren’t even asking the right questions about Alys Rivers.

What We Learned About Alys Rivers During House of the Dragon Season 3 HBO

Alys Rivers asked for Harrenhal as reward for the service she provided Rhaenyra in uniting the riverlords and getting Daemon to truly bend the knee. But he said that was not going to happen. Alys was disgusted, but quickly found a new Targaryen prince to get close with. She saved Aemond’s life from a stab wound after he claimed Harrenhal in the early episodes of House of the Dragon season three. She then nursed him back to health, even though she could have won the castle she so believed was rightfully hers by killing him—Rhaenyra had named the castle as the reward for the person who murdered Aemond for her.

Why didn’t Alys Rivers murder Aemond so she could receive Harrenhal? She had even bigger plans.

Alys Rivers Makes a Dragon Egg Offer to Aemond HBO

Even Aemond was confused by Alys’ humane treatment of him/lack of castle-claiming murder until she revealed she had much bigger plans for them both in House of the Dragon. She showed him lost dragon eggs a Targaryen queen had left behind at Harrenhal. Alys wanted the two of them to make the castle a new seat of ruling power, with her as the Lady of the Water and him the dragonlord by her side. But why at Harrenhal and not King’s Landing? Alys Rivers would soon tell Aemond the truth about her sad past and why she was cursed to remain in the Riverlands forever.

Alys Rivers: Harren the Black’s Cursed Wife HBO

Alys is not a witch, an owl, or even just a woman in House of the Dragon. Alys Rivers was Harren the Black’s wife when Aegon the Conqueror all but ended Harren Hoare’s line. One of her sons initially survived his dragon burns, and his mother did everything she could to save him. When maesters could do nothing, Alys turned to old magic, incantations, and ancient knowledge she learned from the Children of the Forest. It failed to save her son, and when she died, Alys Rivers learned she could not follow him in death. The price the former Queen of Harrenhal paid for her attempts was to lose her title, her name, her castle, and her power. Alys Rivers is doomed to live forever in the Riverlands serving every lord who rules in Harrenhal.

Her past, powers, and old age mean she might also be the mother of the Three-Eyed Raven.

Alys Rivers and Aemond Targaryen Are Now Betrothed HBO

For 130 years, “Alys Rivers” has haunted the halls that became her family’s tomb. And after all that time, she has grown lonely. In Aemond, she sees something she didn’t in Daemon: another lost soul desperate for love. He sees the same in her. Alys Rivers and Aemond Targaryen are now betrothed as House of the Dragon season three comes to an end. Whether their union will lead to a new age of Water and Fire is a question for House of the Dragon season four.

Originally published on July 9, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He’s still mad we didn’t get GLOW’s final season. You can follow on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Who Is HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Alys Rivers? appeared first on Nerdist.

At Ai4, three of the world's most respected AI experts—Geoffrey Hinton, Fei-Fei Li, and Andrew Ng—debated regulation, open-source access, and how America can compete as China advances in Asia.

Thrive Holdings has raised $2 billion in new funding at a $12 billion valuation from investors like SoftBank, D1 Capital Partners, and Alitmeter Capital. 

An extortion gang known for targeting transportation companies and private equity firms has taken credit for a breach at Uber Freight.

⚡ Quick Take

• Ellie Farrell is a propmaker from Dublin and has gained virality on social media for her Iron Man suits.
• She has created plenty more impressive builds, from web shooters to shields.
• Farrell says her goal is to positively influence others who are involved or want to be involved with the hobby.

No, you’re not “literally Batman”—but Ellie Farrell might be. Actually, she’s also Iron Man, too. And with a 3D printer and some paint, she could probably become any hero she wants to be. Farrell is a 20-year-old mechanical engineer and a prop designer based in Dublin, Ireland, and her hobby is building suits and gadgets from your favorite superhero comics.

What started as a deep desire to bring small pieces of the immersive worlds she saw onscreen into real life became a complex passion involving robotics, engineering, and design. Farrell is a self-taught propmaker, learning Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and rendering on her own, along with drawing on skills she learned from her dad and at school. Putting together these abilities has allowed Farrell to recreate stunningly realistic (and functional) props from film and TV. Farrell says when she was a kid, things started small.

Ellie Farrell

“When I was a kid, I’d make little costumes for myself,” said Farrell. “I just wanted to replicate movies. I think there was a sense of realism that I couldn’t get just from watching [them], so I wanted to bring it to real life. I’d make little outfits for my stuffed animals.”

Growing up with the urge to bring fantasy into reality was what solidified Farrell’s interest in mechanical engineering. Now, she is majoring in the craft at Technological University Dublin, where she is a 3rd year student.

We became aware of Farrell’s work after she posted her Batman suit build on Instagram. The reel she made detailing the process has 5.1 million views, at the time of this post. The suit’s details are wildly intricate, and it was a great introduction to Farrell’s craftsmanship.

Ellie Farrell

Farrell is not only a propmaker but an influencer, posting short videos of her creative process on social media. Some of Farrell’s well-known builds on the internet include her two Iron Man suit iterations and a Batsuit. She has also made a realistic Captain America shield and functional web-shooters, among many other cool creations.

With 618.6k followers on TikTok and 294k on Instagram, she has grown an audience of like-minded nerds who appreciate seeing their favorite heroes brought into the real world. She says it was her original Iron Man suit build that really boosted her attention on both platforms. After her first Iron Man suit went viral, Farrell took the learned skills to build a second, more detailed version.

Ellie Farrell

“[The second suit is] just much higher quality. Thanks to the internet, I was able to get a better 3D printer, so the quality just went up a lot. I also knew which paints to get, how to layer paints, how to sand better, electronics that I wanted to include, and different moving parts. I wanted to just get a bit more detailed with it. I think [with] the first suit, I was like, ‘Do I really want to do all of that?’ But the second one, I just knew I could, so I decided to go a bit more in depth.”

According to Farrell, she can sometimes bang out a project in a day or two, depending on the size. But suits? Those can take months. Her creative process starts with a sketch and blooms from there.

Farrell cited the first Iron Man suit as her most challenging build. Going in, she only knew how to build the helmet. But she did what she needed to learn: understanding it “by failing first.”

Farrell has big plans for the future, wanting to pursue propmaking either for live theatre or film/TV as a career. However, she says that her most important goal is to positively influence people.

“I think younger people need an outlet now more than ever… I found that [COVID] was a really rough time. You’re very isolated, and I feel like… there’s a lot going on in society where [kids are] not able to communicate really, and I think it can be a great outlet to be able to be in your own space and build things.”

Ellie Farrell

The internet can be harsh. The more people see your work, the more the wrong people will interact with it or leave hateful comments. Farrell said she has struggled with that, but it hardly bothers her anymore.

“[Social media is] an interesting place to be as a girl. I’ve just gotten so used to it now, but it does get annoying, I suppose, when men comment stuff about your abilities as a woman,” said Farrell. “I [barely] look at comments anymore. I’ve put up with it my whole life—I did football for 12 years growing up, and I was on a boys’ team, [the] only girl in the entire league. So I guess I got used to just regulating emotions relating [to] that.”

Farrell said the social media and virality side of her passion felt enjoyably “unreal.” She understands her role as an influencer and the impact she has on other hobbyists. She said she especially wants her content to resonate with young girls. Farrell hopes she can teach them that they can do what she says some people view as “boy stuff.”

“I just want to be a good influence on [young girls] to believe in themselves and believe in their own abilities and develop their own skills, because it is easy to believe that you can only do it if you get a degree… or you’re talented or [a] genius in something,” she affirms. “But I’m not a genius. I’m just a regular person doing something every day and building up those skills… [It] gets me when girls are like, ‘Oh, you, you’re not able to do this,’ because it’s different coming from a girl than a guy, but I hope I’m able to convince girls then that they’re able to do it too. There’s no real restriction other than a mental barrier for most people.”

Surprisingly, Farrell doesn’t see a future in commissioned propmaking. She is currently building a Nightwing suit for a friend, but says it won’t become a regular activity.

“When I’m thinking about someone else seeing my work… I just get very particular about the tiny little details that I know people don’t care about—and they won’t see it, but I see it, and I care about it. I just couldn’t do [commissions] because [I] would get too much in my head. I would not enjoy it.”

In terms of future projects, Farrell is not even close to stopping making awesome props. She mentioned a functioning grappling hook/ web-shooter hybrid, able to hold a person’s weight. In addition, she is working on an ECG scanner that controls lights, mimicking telekinesis. Farrell also mentioned that she’s working on something else “really cool,” so keep an eye on her socials.

You can follow Ellie’s work on her Instagram and TikTok pages.

The post This Propmaker’s Passion Is Becoming Real-Life Superheroes appeared first on Nerdist.

Mesh, an AI-powered contacts app and relationship manager from Automattic is now an Android app.

AI notetaking hardware has taken off over the past couple of years, with credit-card-sized devices, pendants, pins, and even transcribing earbuds all promising to capture your meetings and turn them into summaries and action items. Now, a whole wave of wearables — rings especially — are betting people want to capture stray thoughts and ideas the same way.  One of […]

⚡ Quick Take

• You will never sit on the Iron Throne or on a dragon, but your furry friend can, thanks to these Paw of Thrones’ adorable pet beds. 
• There are two types of beds: the Iron Throne and a dragon
• You can buy single beds or a set of two for a discounted price.

Do you have what it takes to sit upon the Iron Throne? That coveted seat in the Game of Thrones universe has cost countless lives and caused a lot of drama for many, many years. You have to be charismatic, a little ruthless, and a shrewd decision-maker, among other things, to rule in Westeros. If that’s not you, then that’s too bad. You need a dash of Valyrian blood to be a dragonrider, unfortunately. While you may never get to sit on the Iron Throne or on the back of a mythical beast, your dog or cat can do it, thanks to these Paw of Thrones’ adorable pet beds. 

Pawora

There are two different yet equally awesome beds to choose from for your furry friend. First, there’s a plushy replica of the Iron Throne that makes for quite the cute pet bed. Unlike the one in the HBO universe, this one is not sharp enough to pierce the skin. It has a seat that allows your pup or kitty to sink into its cushion and rule the kingdom of your abode. This bed is currently up for pre-order for $119 for one or $229.98 for two if you have multiple rulers. 

Pawora

The second bed is a big ole dragon who, like a dog, is curled up and comfy. The center space is for your dog or cat to hang out in as they keep their human subjects in line. This bed retails for the same prices above. 

Yes, these beds are super cute. But, the only thing that seems to be missing/unclear is the size of the bed. It doesn’t come in a variety of sizes and, although the logo features a big ole German Shepherd, it isn’t clear if a larger animal could fit. As someone who has a Shepherd/Golden mix who weighs over 100 pounds, I am not sure if my dog could fit or not. It is pretty hard to tell based on the pictures. 

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Every dog and cat deserves a dragon, indeed. So make sure that you grab your pre-order and let your pet rule in style. 

The post Your Pet Can Rule the Realm With These GAME OF THRONES Beds appeared first on Nerdist.

Tesla wants to build a massive solar factory in Texas, but first it wants the state to chip in to defray the costs.