THE BOYS Season 5 Premiere SHOCKED Us to the Core
This post contains major spoilers for The Boys season five premiere. Yes, we’ll potentially be talking plot points, deaths, shocking moments, and more. So if you want to outrun this information, you can instead read our non-spoiler season five The Boys review.
The Boys‘ final season didn’t wait long to deliver a shocking death. Reggie Franklin, better known as A-Train, didn’t survive the season five premiere. The fastest Supe in the world saved Hughie’s life during the breakout of Freedom Camp 47. Reggie’s heroism cost him his own life, though, as he died in a truly full-circle moment that showed just how much he had changed over the years. It was a final, redemptive act by someone who once seemed incapable of caring about anyone but himself. A-Train’s death also made clear that The Boys is not holding back.
Prime VideoStarlight’s original plan to get Hughie, Frenchie, and M.M. out of the Vought concentration camp was to have Reggie run each of them out. He initially said he wouldn’t because he knew Homelander would be there. It wasn’t about being afraid, but about staying alive so he could protect his own family. A-Train had reunited with his estranged brother and had been hiding his family in France for the last year. That was until The Deep, who promised not to give up looking for them, tracked them down, and Reggie had to relocate his family.
Prime VideoWhen the camp rescue went awry, though, Reggie—not A-Train, as he wasn’t wearing his famous super suit—was there. He helped save Mother’s Milk before rescuing Hughie from getting a fatal laser-fueled hole in his head via a furious Homelander. After that, the chase was on. Reggie sped off as a flying Homelander followed wildly, firing more lasers at the former member of the Seven.
The world’s fastest man was exactly that, as he outpaced Homelander. But when A-Train avoided a young woman crossing the street at the last possible moment he stumbled and crashed into the woods. Homelander then found him. What he didn’t find was a scared man. Even though he knew he was going to die, Reggie Franklin laughed in Homelander’s face. He called out the world’s most powerful Supe for the loser he is. A-Train called Homelander an empty suit who has nothing but the powers given to him. This enraged Homelander more, but that just made Reggie laugh again. That was until Homelander snapped his neck, killing him. And so, A-Train met his death in The Boys season five’s first episodes.
Prime VideoA-Train’s death isn’t just memorable because of how he faced his final moments or for saving his former enemy’s life. It’s the reason he got caught. The Boys began with Maeve and Homelander acting like true heroes. They stopped a bank robbery and saved the lives of two boys. Viewers only learned the truth about Supes in the next scene, when A-Train, high on Compound V, sped through Robin Ward. The impact turned her into a cloud of blood and bones as her boyfriend Hughie held her hands, the only thing the speedster left intact as he sped away without an apology.
Eventually, A-Train did sincerely apologize for what he’d done. He also saved Marvin’s life, provided the Boys with useful intent, quit Vought, and joined up with Starlight to fight back against Homelander. He went from being a selfish Supe to a more caring person. But his full redemption didn’t come until he instinctively avoided that innocent pedestrian. In that moment, he showed no ego or self-preservation. He was completely selfless. He was a true superhero.
When A-Train’s story began on The Boys that seemed impossible. His final moment showed it’s never too late to change and to do the right thing. But while Reggie’s story is over, the show is not. And A-Train’s death, the death of a major Supe, proved no one is safe during The Boys final season.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He thinks A-Train’s death is an all-timer. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
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Does the Supe Killing Virus Actually Work in THE BOYS?
One of the biggest questions in The Boys season five is whether the supe killing virus really works… and does it work perhaps too well. Sure, we want to see the Boys finally get the best of Homelander and take down Vought for good. But a supe killing virus could possibly kill ALL supes, including those we love like Kimiko and Annie. (We love Butcher sometimes, even if he is a real jerk.) How well does it actually work? We begin to see in season five’s second episode.
After killing A-Train, Homelander wakes Soldier Boy up and sends him on a mission to hunt down Annie and Butcher. Of course, he doesn’t tell his father about Butcher’s supe killing virus, instead promising Soldier Boy that he will have power and a pardon if he does this. For all of his faults, Soldier Boy is a great tracker. Meanwhile, Butcher and friends (including Victoria Neuman’s not-so-dead scientist husband Sameer) are in Erie, PA, where Butcher has an entire lab to work on the virus.
Jasper Savage/Prime VideoThe Boys Test the Supe Killing Virus on Teenage Kix to Deadly ResultsThey decide to do a test run on a local supe with the Teenage Kix, who has become a rocky volcanic version of himself. Butcher, Kimiko, and Hughie are transporting the virus when Soldier Boy intercepts them. Butcher fights Soldier Boy and allows Hughie and Kimiko to escape, but Soldier Boy still ends up on their tail. He goes into the room with the Teenage Kix supe, and Frenchie unleashes the virus.
It’s quite the gamble, even with masks on. Sameer says it is a very unstable virus and they are conducting things in a very uncontrolled environment. It could cause the death of any nearby supe, and could possibly be fatal to humans as well.
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Compound V and Compound V24 in THE BOYS and GEN V, ExplainedThe virus appears to kill Soldier Boy and the other supes, which is devastating to Homelander. However, as he turns to walk away from Soldier Boy, we see him sit up inside his body bag. Welp. Will Soldier Boy be the same again, or more like a zombified/less hot version of himself? We truly don’t know. So it seems the supe killing virus in The Boys does work, but not on every supe.
Why Didn’t the Supe Killing Virus Work on Soldier Boy?It is possible that because Soldier Boy took Compound V-One (or V1), the supe killing virus did not take hold. It did make Thomas Godolkin immortal, and we see that Soldier Boy has never aged at all. So we guess the only thing that can stop him is Marie Moreau popping his noggin. Homelander doesn’t have V1 in his veins and it is not clear if any is still lingering around. Hopefully not! Let’s see what happens as The Boys final season progress, and which supes can survive the supe killing virus.
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How and Why Do THE BOYS Reunite In Season 5?
You don’t have to be Sister Sage to know this post will contain spoilers for The Boys season five premiere. But just in case you’re The Deep and can’t figure it out on your own, we thought we should warn you. If you prefer, check out our non-spoiler season five The Boys review. For now, here’s how The Boys reunite in season five and why the team comes back together.Prime Video
The Boys’ fourth season ended on a bleak note. Butcher killed Vice President-elect Victoria Neuman right after she agreed to work against Homelander. Her death put a patsy in the Oval Office, and that put Homelander in charge of the entire country. The new de facto leader wasted no time rounding up his non-Supe enemies and imprisoning them in concentration camps. That included three of his greatest foes, Hughie, Frenchie, and Mother’s Milk. But in the season five premiere an angry Homelander’s latest gambit helped get the gang back together after a year apart. What took so long? What finally motivated them. Shame played a big role in delaying The Boys’ reunion and loyalty, desperation, and bravery brought the team back together.
Starlight Delays The Boys’ Reunion Because of Her ShameSeason five of The Boys revealed that Hughie, Frenchie, and Marvin all got sent to “Freedom Camp 47” about 20 miles outside of Rochester, New York. (Why camp “47?” This is The Boys. We know. We know.) Other prisoners included Starlighters, former employees of the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Affairs (FBSA) where Hughie had worked, and anyone Homelander personally deemed his enemy. In addition to armed guards, Cindy, the Supe with deadly telekinetic abilities, prevented anyone from escaping.
Starlight had known for a while that the three were there, thanks to her own reconnaissance missions. She even had pictures of the camp. She never attempted to break them out, though. Annie claimed it was because they were safer there, but an old “friend” called her out for her inaction later in the episode. He said it was because she was avoiding letting The Boys reunite because she was ashamed to tell Hughie about all the terrible things she’d done while he was locked up. Starlight didn’t argue with that assessment. She didn’t agree that it was okay, though.
Prime VideoThat old mate thought her dark deeds were justified because it was Billy Butcher, the world’s number one fugitive. After stopping off in London to kill his father, he headed to Manila in the Philippines to recruit Kimiko. Kimiko, who has regenerative healing powers and is nearly invincible, got deported there after Vought got tired of her ripping their guards in half. She initially thought Butcher was there to fight, but he was there to recruit her for a new timely mission.
Why Did The Boys Reunite? Homelander’s Threatens to Kill Hughie, Frenchie, and M.M.Butcher needed her help after Starlight successfully aired the footage from Flight 37 when Homelander let everyone die. The insecure, angry Supe responded with his own plan for vengeance. He would lure both Starlight and Butcher out by announcing the execution of Hughie, Frenchie, and M.M. in 72 hours. Kimiko agreed to go with Butcher. He had his own CIA jet to get around the globe, proving he still has powerful friends helping him.
Prime VideoAnnie wasn’t excited to see Butcher, but she was thrilled to see Kimiko, who revealed she now talks thanks to a lot of therapy and TikTok. The three knew the announcement of the executions was a trap, but with no other way to save their friends, they hatched a breakout plan. Butcher recruited another former Vought Super, the dirt-eating, tunnel-digging screenwriter Worm.
How Did The Boys Reunite? The Team is Back Together But Now Without DisasterStarlight tried to get A-Train in on the plan. She just wanted him run everyone out of the camp quickly, but he initially said no because he had his own family to keep safe. After that, Annie said she would fly everyone away instead. That would be much slower. She also had to agree to Butcher’s plan to get Frenchie out first, since he’s the only one who can strengthen the Super virus so it’s strong enough to kill Homelander. (Homelander knows all about the virus and seems unconcerned.)
Prime VideoIt was a trap. Homelander was waiting for the rescuers with the three Boys bound and gagged. He lazered Kimiko in half, but a timed misdirect left Homelander blinded by Starlight’s blast of light. It wasn’t enough to spring their friends, though. After an all-out battle in the camp, a furious Homelander was about to kill Hughie with his laser eyes when A-Train showed up and saved him. Homelander then flew after the speedy former member of the Seven. And alas, A-Train died in The Boys season five premiere. While A-Train gave his life protecting others, his bravery allowed the Boys to escape and reunite as a team. It wasn’t an entirely happy success, though. Hughie was confused and angry that Starlight left him to get Frenchie (and the top half of Kimiko) out of the camp first.
Will he be mad when he finds out why she let him stay in that Freedom Camp for a year? Hughie talked a lot about the importance of hope in this episode. But in a war against a powerful sociopath sending people to concentration camps, hope means nothing without action. We’ll see where this The Boys reunion takes us as season five unfolds.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He is not interested in reading Worm’s specs. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
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Who Is Daveed Diggs’ Character Oh-Father in THE BOYS?
This is the final season for The Boys, yet we are still somehow getting new characters in the mix. Of course, there are always your random characters who basically show up to die and/or fill the background. But one new face on the scene is Daveed Diggs, who plays Oh-Father in The Boys season five. We meet him in the show’s first episode and, well, he certainly is something else.
Prime VideoDaveed Diggs’ Oh-Father Is a Supe From The Boys Comic SeriesInterestingly, this character was a minor antagonist in The Boys comics. He was a corrupt religious supe who organized an event called Capes for Christ. Oh-Father was also horrific, specifically in his crimes against his child sidekicks. We won’t get into that. Oh-Father was absolutely #TeamHomelander and planned to take over the world with him. He ends up in a fight beside him during an attack on the White House. The military swooped in and quickly dispatched him, quickly ending his act of terror.
Oh-Father in The Boys TV Series: The Suspicious and Religious Husband of AshleyOf course, the show has veered very far away from its source material in the best way. We weren’t sure if he was going to be another supe joining the Seven. That name seems wrong considering the collective has been crumbling for some time. It turns out that Diggs’ Oh-Father is still a hyper religious supe but also married to Ashely, who is back on the scene and the Vice President of the United States. We meet them during an interview with Firecracker, where Ashely says she met him at the National Prayer Breakfast.
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THE BOYS Season 5 Release Schedule Reveals Series Finale DateHe looks like a parody of TD Jakes/Creflo Dollar in a white suit adorned with gold crosses. They talk about being a “match made in Heaven.” We discover that he’s taken Ezekiel’s place as head pastor at Samaritan’s Embrace. In case you forgot, Ezekiel was the head of Capes for Christ and the guy that Butcher killed in Firecracker’s trailer last season. They go on about being anti-DEI and wanting a Christian nation. Oh boy. We don’t know what personal plans are in motion for Oh-Father but he certainly will end up being someone to watch.
The interview gets cut short when Sage interrupts, and her conversation with Ashely reveals that the marriage is for public perception. Interesting. In episode 2, we see more of Oh-Father as he preaches at A-Train’s funeral, using his ability to echo and amplify his voice to get the crowd going. Of course, he blames Starlight for A-Train’s death, and says that Starlighters are “possessed” and evil. Ashley doesn’t look too happy at all, and neither does Homelander. The unraveling of their deeds continues…
Let’s see what Oh-Father blesses us with asThe Boys season five continues.
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All The Big Characters Who Die in THE BOYS Season 5
The Boys is back and things are moving faster than the A-Train, baby. Homelander is essentially the POTUS and in full crash out mode because he has all that power, yet he’s still a sad, angry supe because no one loves him. Boo hoo. Butcher’s back on the scene and the Boys are back together again after a seriously bloody fight at a freedom camp. And with this final season comes another round of unfortunate souls who won’t survive. So, who dies in The Boys season five? There are some shocking names on this list.
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5 BIG Questions That THE BOYS Season 5 Must AnswerNote: We are only counting main and frequently recurring characters on this list. Sorry to all the ancillary humans and supes.
Love SausageMM is surely rejoicing at Love Sausage’s demise. We would feel the same way if this supe put his penis on us more than once, and even knocked us out with it to get us locked up in a “freedom” camp. Gross. We even see him beating a freedom camp detainee with it early in episode one of season five. But MM finally gets the win by fighting Love Sausage and strangling him to death with his own massive penis.
A-Train Prime VideoThe end of episode one shocked the hell out of us, too. After having quite the epic redemption arc, making amends with Hughie, and mending his relationship with his family and community, A-Train’s character arc came full circle. He was a far cry from the brash and braggadocious speedster we met in season one, in the best way. We knew that he would be a part of the resistance after showing up alongside Annie in the Gen V season two finale.
And, the first episode of The Boys season five briefly showed what his life was like on the move. He continued to protect his family from Homelander’s wrath and work with Annie to make America a better place. After Annie asked him to help break MM, Hughie, and Frenchie out of a freedom camp, he refused and said he had to take care of his family. But, we think his confrontation with the Deep, who continued to follow him yet keep his findings from Homelander, could have been a game changer.
A-Train knew that the Boys would need his help to escape the freedom camp. Right now, they are the best chance to take down Homelander. And, A-Train was probably tired of running and fighting. He knew there would be a chance for him to get hurt or worse, but it was worth taking to defeat Homelander. It seemed he would get to be around longer, but Eric Kripke had other plans. He shows up right in time to save Hughie’s life and give them a chance to escape.
Prime VideoA-Train is running from Homelander, who is flying close behind him and lasering everything with rage. A woman is crossing the street and A-Train sees her. Instead of running right through her like he did with Hughie’s girlfriend in the first episode of The Boys, he slows down, causing him to go off track and hit a few trees. Homelander has him and, even in the face of death, A-Train finally tells Homelander exactly what he thinks of him with a smile on his face. His scathing remarks put tears in Homelander’s eyes.
Sadly, Homelander snapped his neck and the A-Train came to his last stop. It’s a sad way for him to go. The funeral is an interesting time for Homelander, who seems to have some anger/remorse for his actions. He even talks to A-Train’s casket after everyone leaves. Hughie also honors A-Train, actually calling him a hero.
Mayyybeeee Black Noir II Isn’t Alive Anymore in The Boys?!Now, this one doesn’t count quite yet, but we personally believe that Black Noir 2.0 is also dead. To find out why, check out our theory.
We will keep you updated on the death toll as it rises in The Boys season five.
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Is Black Noir II Someone We Know Well in THE BOYS Season 5
In the very first scene of The Boys season five, Annie is on a mission. She works with a tech guy to sabotage Homelander’s latest event and show the Flight 37 video to the masses. In case you forgot, that’s the clip where Homelander clearly threatens desperate passengers before leaving them to die. It didn’t quite work the way she thought it would, and things got a little complicated when Black Noir II showed up, too. But, after that scene, Black Noir II was acting strange in The Boys season five. And I think I know why.
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The Zodiac Signs of THE BOYS’ Characters, According to Black NoirWe see Noir and the Deep have a tense meeting with Homelander. He’s upset that Annie was able to get that video out and is also not happy that they haven’t found A-Train. Black Noir II remains silent in front of Homelander, even when questioned. But, as we know, this new Black Noir is actually pretty chatty otherwise, especially with people like the Deep. However, when they are alone in the hallway, Noir doesn’t say a word. Sure, he could’ve been annoyed with the Deep in general. But I don’t think that’s the case. Here’s my theory about Black Noir II, specifically that he’s possibly dead or at least being held hostage.
Annie was certainly not working totally alone in that first scene. Sure, the tech guy was in on it, but there had to be someone else from the resistance as well. We know it wasn’t A-Train, as he was with his family over in France. The Gen V kids are up to their own activities of liberation. Kimiko was in another country and the rest of the Boys, save for Butcher, were locked up at the freedom camp. That only leaves one person for her to work with: Polarity. He survived the events of Gen V season two and promised the group that his work wasn’t done yet.
Prime VideoAnd, thanks to Marie, his powers are sharper than ever. Annie managed to get the upper hand on Black Noir II in that control room, knocking him out. It would have been easy for them to drag Noir II away and either kill him or hold him captive somewhere so Polarity could take his suit. He’s an in shape dude and has the maturity and poise to pull off this dangerous kind of mission. Homelander can sense a person’s nervously beating heart, after all. Annie and the Boys need an inside person close to Homelander whom he still trusts to a degree.
Polarity also has some personal beef with Black Noir II. In Gen V season two, he was driving Doug, a man who had been mind controlled by Thomas Godolkin for decades, to somewhere safe. The duo even have a touching conversation in the car. Unfortunately, Noir II shows up, killing Doug and taking Polarity to be locked up. Polarity escaped after Sage allowed him to for reasons that still aren’t totally clear.
Prime VideoWe know that the Deep is not totally aligned with Homelander because he knew where A-Train was. Sage is also plotting something against Homelander in a sense, too. So why not have Black Noir II turn out to be Polarity in disguise when the time is right? Maybe the resistance runs deeper than what meets the eye…
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THE BOYS Season 5 Brings Back This Major Character
Guess who’s back? No, not Eminem. Ashley is back in The Boys season five, and she’s got a shiny new job title. At the end of season four, Ashley injected herself with Compound V after The Deep suggested to Homelander that they should kill her because of her knowledge of the Seven and Vought’s many crimes. Of course, that went terribly wrong as her body started to morph.Prime Video
Sage mentioned in Gen V’s second season that Ashley was not fit to be the CEO of Vought, so she stepped in. Well, it seems that Ashley found the right chemicals to regulate herself because she’s the Vice President of the United States in The Boys season five.
We see her step in for a press conference as she calls the very real Flight 37 video a “deepfake AI” slander attempt from Starlight. Ashley is also married to Oh-Father, a religious supe, to make herself look better in the public’s eyes. We know that Ashley isn’t 100% devoted to Homelander. She did have that terse alliance with A-Train for a bit after catching him in Homelander’s V stash, and she took some herself. And, before that, she allowed Maeve to leave and find her own quiet life.
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5 BIG Questions That THE BOYS Season 5 Must AnswerHow Ashley was able to mend fences and gain a new position of power remains to be seen. But episode 2 does reveal that Ashley has a psychic tumor and a whole other face on the back on her head. It fuels her internal dialogue and she’s able to read some people’s minds, with the exception of Sage and presumably Homelander. It is not clear if she can be an asset or detriment to the Boys collective. She’s pretty upset at A-Train’s funeral and doesn’t like the path that Homelander and Sage are going on. Ashley also knows that Sage has some ulterior motives. Honestly, Ashley has been such a terrible person that she deserves to die just as much as Homelander. Let’s see if she makes it to the end of The Boys.
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ALICE IN WONDERLAND Gets Stunning 4K Restoration for 75th Anniversary
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Walt Disney’s iconic Alice in Wonderland. How will you celebrate this iconic cartoon classic? A tea party? A round of croquet? Falling into a literal rabbit hole? All good choices! But Disney has a new way for fans to enjoy its legendary animated film that might make you lose your head (metaphorically). It gave Alice in Wonderland a gorgeous 4K restoration that will soon be coming to both digital and Ultra HD Blu-ray.Disney
Disney has announced a very special release. The Walt Disney Film Restoration team spent nine months remastering Alice in Wonderland. They focused on giving fans the version animators originally meant for them to see it. In a press release Disney explained the restoration process:
Artists completed a digital scan of the original nitrate Successive Exposure (SE) negatives, followed by extensive clean-up to address dust, warping, and age-related wear. The team also referenced original production artwork preserved by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library to ensure the restoration remained true to the filmmakers’ original intent, collaborating closely with Walt Disney Animation Studios veteran Michael Giaimo to review every shot and refine color and luminance.
Disney also shared a short reel showing how this version restores the film to its original glory. It’s really incredible to see in comparison. The 4K restoration of Alice in Wonderland adds color, vibrancy, and highlights the artistic vision set forth by Disney legend Mary Blair.
“This milestone restoration brings new depth and dimension to the film’s imaginative world, offering a vibrant presentation for longtime fans and a new generation of audiences alike,” said Kevin Schaeffer, Director of Restoration & Library Management, in a statement about the new Alice in Wonderland release.
Fans will get to see it in its entirety soon enought. This remastered Alice in Wonderland arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and digital on May 5. This restored version will also arrive with what Disney calls a “robust collection of bonus features, offering rare behind-the-scenes and archival material.” That will include: footage with commentary by the voice of Alice, Kathryn Beaumont, companion shorts, deleted scenes, and music videos including “Beware the Jabberwock” and “If You’ll Believe in Me.”
We were leaning toward falling down a big rabbit hole as our preferred 75th-anniversary celebration. But that seems mad compared to watching this remastered version instead.
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HUGE Lugia Pokémon Plush Is HALF Price
Listen, there’s no doubt that times are tough right now. And when times are tough, don’t you want to just snuggle a big legendary Pokémon to feel a little better? We love a soft, iconic diva that can flap its wings and cause a storm, but also gently and powerfully protect its young (you) from harm. Yes, we’re talking about this HUGE Lugia Pokémon plush, which is adorable and fierce… And half price. Snag your Lugia plush and become best buddies today.Jazwares
This Lugia plush is 1 foot tall, with a wingspan that spreads even wider. It’s got an expression on its face we can’t quite read, but at times, we take it in as smiling and as others… a bit of a threat. But never to you. This plush Lugia is super soft. And it probably won’t start a thunderstorm in your living room. But we make no promises.
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These Customizable POKÉMON Wedding Rings Are Just LovelyWhat we do know is that this massive Lugia plush typically costs $ 44.99, and right now it’s available for $22.99. Which means you can have your Pokémon plush cake and eat it too. What’s the point of having adult money if you can spend under $25 of it on the leader of all legendary birds? (Widely known to be some of the coolest Pokémon around?) Plus, it looks like a dragon. Enough said!
JazwaresSpeaking of dragons, in addition to Lugia, we’re also kind of obsessed with this Dragonair plush. (Dragonair is one of our favorite Pokémon, she’s beauty, she’s grace, etc.) We’re also completely obsessed with this Dragonite plush, which is a perfect ten in our book. Bring on the soft dragons!
JazwaresIn any case, if you need us, we’ll be snuggling our huge Lugia plush and hiding behind it in the hopes of escaping all of life’s problems. You can direct all questions to the Pokémon.
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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Steven Soderbergh Is Frustrated Over THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO
A new Star Wars movie which would see the return of Ben Solo was seemingly greenlit… then axed…last year. Unfortunately, thanks to Disney, The Hunt for Ben Solo is a dead dream. Lucasfilm, along with Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh, were totally on board with the spin-off. It made it pretty far up the corporate chain, too, before Disney decided to scrap it since Ben Solo (Kylo Ren) died in The Rise of Skywalker (because that’s totally stopped them before). Following Kathleen Kennedy’s departure from Lucasfilm in January of this year, Soderbergh is once again expressing his frustration in a conversation with BKMAG. After two years of unpaid work on the Ben Solo Star Wars project, he is disappointed. Lucasfilm
“We were all frustrated,” Soderbergh shares in the interview about the process of making the Kylo Ren/Ben Solo Star Wars movie and what happened with The Hunt for Ben Solo. “You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam [Driver] and Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”
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THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO Fan Campaign Gets Times Square BillboardSoderbergh was set to front the Ben Solo project with Rebecca Blunt. Driver is the one who came forward with the idea to Soderbergh some years ago. “I always was interested in doing another Star Wars,” said the actor in an interview with Associated Press. And the dream became very real for the duo. Until Disney put their foot down on The Hunt for Ben Solo. A real slap in the face. According to then-Lucasfilm head honcho Kennedy, this was the first time Disney had straight-up rejected a finished script.
“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,” said Soderbergh, “I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one, where they go, ‘what is this going to cost?’ And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.” And fans are disappointed to, we know many who would have wanted to see The Hunt for Ben Solo become a real movie.
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Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh Pitched STAR WARS Movie, Disney Said No LucasfilmOn the bright side, the turnover, with both Kennedy and Disney CEO Bob Iger stepping down, may lead to greener pastures ahead. Meaning, under new leadership, there’s always a chance for Lucasfilm and Disney to circle back to The Hunt for Ben Solo in the future.
But it sounds like Soderbergh isn’t interested in pursuing that course. He shares, “Nope,” When asked if new leadership might provide a chance to make the Ben Solo Star Wars movie. “As soon as it became apparent, OK, not gonna happen, I sat down and started writing [something else]. It’s like, ‘OK, new scenario, let’s get cracking.’ At a certain point, it’s like complaining about the weather. You just gotta keep moving.” Adding, “Look, if it was gonna happen, it would have happened. It’s that simple.”
And ultimately, he doesn’t even seem to want to do more Star Wars. Soderbergh says “It was strictly Adam saying, ‘I think there’s still somewhere to go with this character.’ That’s how it started. Otherwise, I never in a million years would have found myself in that universe again.”
Well, if it will happen, it will happen; until then, Star Wars‘ focus rests on The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter.
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This Random Jar of Nutella Photobombing Artemis II’s Livestream Unites Us
Space seems to be the top of everyone’s mind right now. In the cinematic world,Project Hail Mary continues to dominate, officially surpassing $420 million in the global box office. Much deserved, might I add. In the real world, and even bigger milestone as the Artemis II space mission successfully completed its lunar flyby on Monday, April 6. It makes history as the first crewed spacecraft to do so in more than half a century. As with most things, the internet has been following along every step of the way. One particular moment caught on the spacecraft’s livestream has everyone talking. Watch as this random jar of Nutella hilariously photobombs the Artemis II livestream.
#NEWS 🚨: Watch as a random jar of Nutella photobombs the Artemis II livestream pic.twitter.com/MpVsHoWmPy
— Latest in space (@latestinspace) April 6, 2026This Nutella moment was caught on the Artemis II livestream and posted on X on April 6. One peek at the comments and you’ll fall into a minefield of memes. Many poke fun at the funny moment being unintentional (or meticulously planned) ad placement for Nutella. Ironically, it kind of is. When the jar appears on camera, it turns perfectly so that its label is directly facing us.
NASAOther comments find it hilarious that the jar of space Nutella isn’t stored away somewhere in special packaging. Hey, maybe that was all intentional. Who are we to judge if the astronauts on board want a sweet PR deal?
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Artemis II Crew Quoted PROJECT HAIL MARY’s RockyThe post has already topped two million views and continues to climb. You would think that the crew attached to the Artemis II space mission would be the ones making history, but no. It’s actually a random jar of Nutella that happened to be in the Artemis II cabin. I can’t imagine the surprise for anyone who caught this moment on the actual livestream rather than X. Even funnier, Nutella has since responded to the bit by resposting the video on Instagram with the text, “Nutella is out of this world.”
Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. I guess the Artemis II mission has also created the first Nutella astronaut to go to space. The flyby took six hours and set the record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans. That record was previously held by Apollo 13 in 1970. You can check out a recorded livestream of the Artemis II lunar flyby here or below. And hey, if you want some Nutella in our orbit, you can snag some right now.
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