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⚡ Quick Take

• The Odyssey marks a historic landmark for both Christopher Nolan and IMAX.
• The film’s run in its “intended format,” IMAX 70mm, has been extended an extra month.
• IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond thinks the film will spearhead the company’s best year yet.

Unsurprising to anybody who watched it, The Odyssey is officially Christopher Nolan’s biggest hit ever. So far, the film has grossed $1.1 billion at the box office. It was also a smash for IMAX, making the company almost $290 million.

Universal Pictures

The film added a month to its run in the highly-coveted IMAX 70mm format, and the new showings are already selling out around the country. Seeing Nolan’s newest movie in its “intended format” has become a status symbol in the moviegoing community.

All of this is even before the film premieres in China on August 14. As the second-biggest moviegoing country, the box office effect is bound to multiply.

Nolan’s effect on the film community, especially the traditionalists, has certainly cemented his place in the director’s hall of fame. From the Dark Knight trilogy to even his more recent work with Oppenheimer, Nolan just keeps selling out theaters.

The Odyssey was also a huge milestone for IMAX, becoming its highest-grossing film of all time. It has made the company $289 million at the time of writing. Another thing that made the film revolutionary was the use of IMAX cameras and equipment. Nolan commissioned special sound-dampening equipment from the company and was able to make The Odyssey the first-ever feature-length film done entirely with IMAX cameras. The company’s CEO, Richard Gelfond, discussed the historic landmark in an interview with Variety.

“We had the very highest of hopes for ‘The Odyssey’ from the start, but it somehow continues to exceed them. Its historic performance is headlining what we expect will be our best year ever at the global box office.”

Though most movies can be seen in IMAX, The Odyssey is on a short list of films this year that were filmed for IMAX, also including Dune: Part Three and The End of Oak Street. Though they may not be entirely filmed using IMAX cameras, who is to say these selections won’t be able to compete and make it a truly historic year for the company?

The post THE ODYSSEY Sets Records For Nolan and IMAX appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Rings of Power season 3’s Jamie Campbell Bower talks Celeborn spoilers. He and the showrunners hint at Celeborn’s story.

Jamie Campbell Bower is joining The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as the Elf Lord Celeborn. Of course, some ideas about Celeborn in the Second Age of Middle-earth are established in Tolkien’s writings. But, by the same token, much of the story of the elf is also not told in great detail in those texts. And that gives Bower and the creators of The Rings of Power season three space to do what they do best: add nuance and depth to some of Middle-earth’s most familiar faces. So what exactly awaits Celeborn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three? Jamie Campbell Bower and The Rings of Power‘s showrunners offered us a few fascinating ideas about Celeborn’s upcoming story during our recent interviews. One point that Bower shares even feels like it verges on something spoilery… Could Celeborn have something dangerous lying in wait deep inside of him? Jamie Campbell Bower shares there’s something inside Celeborn that could betray him.

Prime Video Table of contents

• Jamie Campbell Bower Talks Celeborn’s Concept of Joy
• Jamie Campbell Bower Cautions Celeborn Has ‘Constructed Something That May Be Used Against Him’ in The Rings of Power Season 3
• The Rings of Power Season 3 Showrunners Say Celeborn’s Torture Turns Him Toward the Light
• But Could That Light Be Celeborn’s Undoing?

Jamie Campbell Bower Talks Celeborn’s Concept of Joy

When we speak to Jamie Campbell Bower, we note to him that it sounds like Celeborn has really seen the darkenss of the enemy, trapped as he is in a Middle-earth prison. We wonder how, then, Celeborn views the darkness and its forces in The Rings of Power season three. Is it all black and white for him? Or has he come to see things in shades of grey?

Prime Video

Bower offers us a beautiful answer, bringing it back to one of the most important themes in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He notes, “I mean, to talk about the idea of ‘One cannot know light without having experienced the darkness, right?’ And I think that for Celeborn, he’s chosen to find joy. But I struggled with this concept of joy and what it means. And I looked at many, many writers to do with joy, and actually found something particularly interesting in Nick Cave. Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is choosing hope even in the face of great suffering and great sorrow. And that’s what he’s had to do.”

It sounds as though, in the face of great darkness, Bower’s Celeborn has actually chosen to open his heart to light and hope, instead of succumbing to it, being enraged by it, or being determined to answer it with his own destruction. It’s truly a character arc that we feel excited to experience. But could this determination for joy and optimism actually betray Celeborn in The Rings of Power season three?

Jamie Campbell Bower Cautions Celeborn Has ‘Constructed Something That May Be Used Against Him’ in The Rings of Power Season 3

Jamie Campbell Bower speaks with great confidence about Celeborn’s joy, but then he wavers a little bit as he starts to offer a sentiment that feels like it may get into spoilery territory. Bower notes, “But within that [hope and joy], he’s constructed something of his own… That may or may not be something that could be used against him.”

HRMMM! WHAT could that mean? What could Celeborn have constructed for himself that could later be used against him? Is it an ill-advised friendship with Sauron? A dissociative state that he might slip into? A false recollection of events that have happened to him? We suppose if, in response to trauma, he’s had to block out significant portions of what’s happened to him during his captivity, that MIGHT cause some trouble… Should that wall ever get knocked down. But, like we said, this is all speculation. All we know for sure is that Celeborn has constructed something for himself in The Rings of Power season three and that something might get him into trouble.

RELATED ARTICLE

Celeborn and Sauron ‘Share History’ on RINGS OF POWER, Teases Charlie Vickers The Rings of Power Season 3 Showrunners Say Celeborn’s Torture Turns Him Toward the Light

In addition to Jamie Campbell Bower, The Rings of Power season three showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay had more to share about Celeborn. While they didn’t touch the idea of Celeborn potentially being betrayed by something inside of him/something he’s constructed as Bower did, they did return to the idea of how Celeborn’s dark fate has made him that much more full of light. The pair discusses whether Celeborn’s torment has twisted or corrupted him.

Prime Video

McKay notes, “Only time will tell. I think Gladriel will be worried about that. But Jamie Campbell Bower is a pretty stalwart elf. I would believe in his ability to withstand torture.”

And Payne offered, “Everyone will be affected by that kind of experience, but not everyone would necessarily be twisted to the darkness. And I think what’s interesting about Jamie’s Celeborn, everyone responds definitely to those kinds of experiences. And Celeborn, there are actually scenes where he’s getting to know Galadriel again, and they’re reconnecting in their marriage after having been apart for millennia, talks about the effect that it’s had on him. And actually, you see that it has twisted him, not necessarily towards darkness, but maybe to light.”

But Could That Light Be Celeborn’s Undoing?

It sounds to us like Jamie Campbell Bower’s Celeborn might be one of the purest elves around in The Rings of Power season three, and by that we mean, one of the elves who most wishes to do good. But, Bower’s words of caution still haunt our ears. Will Celeborn’s light end up betraying him. As Bower also tells us, “Sauron uses the things that you love the most to cut you.” Cue some ominous Bear McCreary chords.

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.

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!

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist, she’s still hoping for that Adar ressurection in The Rings of Power season three.

The post Jamie Campbell Bower Says ‘Something Inside Celeborn’ May BETRAY Him in TROP S3 appeared first on Nerdist.

California's Prop 40, would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of the state's billionaires.

⚡ Quick Take

• A new report says Paramount is pledging to produce an outrageous 30 new films per year if the merger with Warner Bros. goes through.

Not even a week after a judge placed a start date for the antitrust trial regarding Paramount’s bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery and we already have more news. The David Ellison-run Paramount-Skydance is evidently trying to sure up their claim that the merger of two of the largest media studios in the world is somehow good for competition. How, you might ask? Well, according to Deadline, Paramount is attempting to strike separate deals with theater chains AMC and Regal, two of the largest in the U.S., with a pledge to release 30 movies per year. THIRTY. Outrageous.

Paramount Skydance

Deadline shares that they’ve learned Paramount made written commitment to Regal for “30 films annually over three years with an exclusive 45-day theatrical window and a 90-day window to streaming.” Buzz is apparently Paramount has offered a similar agreement with AMC, but the exhibitor’s boss Adam Aron said, “AMC has no comment on this story, period. Nor have we ever had any comment on this story.” Touchy.

AMC and Regal have publicly backed the merger, while the rest of Cinema United (formerly National Association of Theatre Owners) remains firmly against. Paramount still has yet to explain how it believes the merger would not result in negative financial outcomes in regards to long-term box office, feature film output, and loss of jobs.

Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery

And what of that output? Had the merger gone through as planned, with Paramount’s 16 film output and WB’s 19, 2027 would have had a total of 35. But for 2028, the planned output for each is only around 22. That output for 2027 is high by the average of the studios, with most years WB doing 10-15 and Paramount with 8-12. To promise at least 30 for the next three years is lofty.

Not least because history is not on their side. Remember how Disney bought 20th Century Fox back in 2016? At the time, the studios separately released 26 new titles. After that merger, in 2025, their “combined output fell to 14 wide releases, a 46% decline. The box office combined went form $4.29 billion in 2016 to $2.4B in 2025, down 44%.”

Basically, when the few control the means of production, they’re less likely to make more product because they simply won’t need to. As always, we’ll see what happens.

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 Paramount Making Outrageous 30-Films-Per-Year Pledge If Merger Goes Through appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Propstore is auctioning Mike Myers’ shockingly creepy suit from his critically and commercially panned The Cat in the Hat movie.
• It is expected to sell for at least $12K, and bidding is happening until August 26.
• Nerdist’s Take: Maybe A24 can buy it and make a horror movie!

In 2003, Mike Myers’ The Cat in the Hat film hit theaters and became a critical and commercial failure. It was panned so terribly that Dr. Seuss’ widow, Audrey Geisel, forbade any further live-action adaptations of her husband’s work. Despite this, the film has somewhat of a cult following with some people really liking Myers’ as the titular character. If you’re one of those people, you are in luck. No, there’s not a sequel coming, but Propstore is auctioning Myers’ shockingly creepy suit from The Cat in the Hat. 

While the film version of this mischievous cat has a kinda cute face that indeed resembles Myers’ mug with fur, this one looks really different. The nose and mouth give off serious Whoville energy and there are two hollow openings for the eyes. I mean… Mike Myers did need to see where he was going. 

Propstore

So, how much will you have to pay for Mike Myers’ very unsettling The Cat in the Hat suit? Propstore estimates that it will sell for between $12,000 and $24,000. That’s actually not too bad considering some film props can sell for six figures or more. Bidding takes place through August 26, when the auction begins at 9:30AM PDT. 

Nerdist’s Take: A24 Should Buy The Cat in the Hat Suit for… Reasons 

If a private collector doesn’t nab this weird suit for whatever reason, then maybe A24 can grab it. Why? Well, to make a horror film, of course. This story doesn’t hit public domain until 2053, so maybe they can 1) hold onto it until then or 2) take away some elements of the costume that make it Seuss adjacent but not exactly. (I am kidding about this… sort of.) 

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Geisel died in 2018, but it is not clear if current rights holders would grant A24 the right to make a horror film with The Cat in the Hat. Money does have quite a loud say and if anyone could do this kind of film right, it would be the creative minds that partner with A24. Otherwise, there will just be some rich bloke letting it collect dust… or a horror nerd with too much money who scares kids this Halloween. Who knows.

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

The post Mike Myers’ THE CAT IN THE HAT Suit Is Up for Auction and VERY Upsetting appeared first on Nerdist.

On Monday, Mark Zuckerberg published a 6,500 word manifesto about personal AI, largely about the possibilities for the "personal superintelligence" systems Meta AI is building.

⚡ Quick Take

• House of the Dragon delivers a sobering moment with Alyn in the season three finale that will likely fracture his life and relationships.
• His choice to kill the High Septon upon Rhaenyra’s request will put him at odds with his brother Addam, father Corlys, and niece/beloved Baela.
• Is Alyn seeking to rise the ranks and find more power, or is he simply moving from a place of self-preservation.

There comes a time in many fictional characters’ lives where they make a choice that deeply changes them. In The Walking Dead, it was Glenn killing another human, which broke his spirit deeply shortly before his demise. And in Stranger Things, it was Steve Harrington’s decision to fight a Demogorgon at the Byers’ house that took him from a self-centered high school jerk to a protective hero. House of the Dragon delivers a sobering moment with Alyn in the season three finale that will likely fracture his life in many ways. 

Ollie Upton/HBO

Throughout the season, we’ve seen Alyn struggle to form a connection with his father Corlys. And, after Corlys and Queen Rhaenyra’s spat over legitimizing him and his brother Addam, Alyn continues to serve her faithfully. He convinces his father to send Velaryon forces per her request, which leads to Corlys’ capture and the loss of his ring finger. Addam even expresses his concern over Rhaenyra’s reaction to Aegon being alive, saying that she’s making dangerous decisions, to which Alyn brushes aside. 

Alyn travels with Rhaenyra to see the High Septon, whom she wants to anoint her. Upon his refusal, she calls the High Septon treasonous and orders Alyn to kill him. At first, Alyn hesitates. He’s certainly no stranger to death and war, but this is completely different for many reasons. First, this is not a battle against another soldier.

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Every Major Character Death in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 3

They are on holy ground and this is a highly regarded religious figure who is not physically aggressive. And, the High Septon is not necessarily wrong for this stance. He anointed Aegon and, considering he’s still alive according to reports, then that means he is still the King. Furthermore, it is said that your soul will be damned if you kill someone like him. 

However, he allows Rhaenyra to get into his head, leaning into the fact that his Valyrian blood means he answers to higher gods. And, we’d also heard him deem himself Corlys’ successor publicly and that he would lead his army. Considering he’s acting as Rhaenyra’s hand and deadly muscle after killing the High Septon, things don’t look good for Alyn’s future. He’s being set up to be a villain but that feels wildly inconsistent with his character as someone who is thoughtful, logical, strong-minded, and makes careful choices.

Ollie Upton/HBO

It’s clear, at least to anyone who isn’t tangled in Rhaenyra’s web, that she’s been an ineffective leader and she’s becoming increasingly unhinged. She will use a person as long as they are willing to give and follow, and if that changes, they are disposable to her. Baela calls her out on this in the finale, saying how she’s been working tirelessly for her cause, yet Rhaenyra won’t send anyone to save her grandfather. Predictably, Rhaenyra’s response is to detain her, a choice that Alyn finds out about via Addam and doesn’t show a real reaction.

This decision will put him at odds with the people who actually love him, like Addam, Baela, and Corlys. Is Alyn starting to feel the intoxication of power and societal elevation? Perhaps. Or maybe he is aware that he’s in too deep and knows opposing Rhaenyra can cost him his own life. It’s possible that he will feel some internal turmoil over his choice to kill a religious figure. No matter where he’s coming from, this moment feels like a shift for Alyn that will change him significantly in season four.

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

The post What Alyn’s Dark Turn in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Means for His Future appeared first on Nerdist.

An OpenClaw agent hacked into a gym's reservation system to bump its human boss higher on a class' waitlist. And the tech industry took notice.

⚡ Quick Take

• Charlie Vickers teases a “shared history” between Celeborn and Sauron in The Rings of Power season 3.
• In Tolkien’s lore, Celeborn and Sauron do not have a rich history before the Second Age of Middle-earth.
• But The Rings of Power sets up ways for Celeborn and Sauron to have a deeper relationship, maybe even a personal one that doesn’t directly involve Galadriel.
• Go Deeper: Learn more about Celeborn with our full explainer, “Who Is Celeborn, Galadriel’s LOTR Husband, and Where Is He on THE RINGS OF POWER?“

Things are heating up in Middle-earth. And we don’t just mean the forge in Mount Doom that Sauron will soon use to create the One Ring. No, as we head into The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, we’re particularly interested in the fiery tangle of relationships that exist between Galadriel, Sauron, and Galadriel’s previously missing husband, Celeborn… What The Rings of Power‘s showrunnes have even called a “love triangle.” Of course, the relationship between Galadriel and Sauron has been a center point of the first seasons of The Rings of Power. And the relationship between Galadriel and Celeborn is complex, but clear. But, it turns out, the last of this trio also has a little bit of a past between them. Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in The Rings of Power season three, tells us that Sauron and Celeborn are no strangers to one another; in fact, they have “their own shared history.”

Prime Video Table of contents

• Celeborn and Sauron Met Before The Rings of Power Season 3, Shares Charlie Vickers
• Celeborn and Sauron’s History in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Writings
• What Does ‘Shared History’ Mean in The Rings of Power Season 3?
• How Well Do Sauron and Celeborn Know One Another in The Rings of Power ?

Celeborn and Sauron Met Before The Rings of Power Season 3, Shares Charlie Vickers

Well, consider us seated. Vickers reveals, “I mean, the thing with Celeborn is… When Sauron meets Celeborn, if Sauron meets Celeborn… Well, let’s face it, they’re going to meet at some point. They have their own shared history. They’ve both been around for hundreds of years. So they have this kind of thing. Vickers indicates with his hands the idea of two people meeting and recognizing one another, “Oh, it’s like, oh. And then there’s also this other added thing of, by the way, I’ve been hanging out with your wife.”

Celeborn and Sauron’s History in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Writings

We note the bit about “hanging out with your wife,” and honor it. But in this piece, we’re more curious about the “shared history” between Celeborn and Sauron in The Rings of Power. So we begin, of course, by looking to the lore.

In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings writings, Celeborn and Sauron do not have a rich history in the time before the Second Age of Middle-earth, a period marked by the end of the War of Wrath with Morgoth. The Second Age of Middle-earth is also, of course, when The Rings of Power begins.

The first known encounter between the pair is in Eregion during the Second Age, when Sauron initially comes to deceive the elves and forge the Rings of Power alongside Celebrimbor. Galadriel and Celeborn are both suspicious of Sauron, even in his Fair Form, but their reservations are not enough to waylay the Dark Lord from his aims. Of course, in The Rings of Power, Celeborn is not at all present for the fall of Eregion, which happens in a different way than in Tolkien’s books.

RELATED ARTICLE

Celebrimbor’s Farewell to Galadriel on THE RINGS OF POWER Captures the Best of Tolkien

There may have been an opportunity for Celeborn and Sauron to encounter one another during the War of Wrath in The Lord of the Rings‘ world, as Sauron fought for Morgoth in that war, battling against the elves. However, Tolkien’s writings do not clearly place Celeborn as having fought in the War of Wrath or any of its component battles, and so this would be at most speculation as far as Tolkien’s texts are concerned.

What Does ‘Shared History’ Mean in The Rings of Power Season 3?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, however, opens a much wider door for a “shared history” between Celeborn and Sauron. For one, in The Rings of Power, we know for a fact that Celeborn fought in the War of Wrath on behalf of the elves. Galadriel tells us in season two that she last saw Celeborn when he went off to war. She reveals, “The war seemed so very far away then. When he went to it, I chided him; his armor didn’t fit properly. I called him a silver clam. I never saw him again after that.” We already know that when Galadriel’s brother, Finrod, went to war in The Rings of Power, he came face to face with Sauron, who marked and murdered him. It’s even possible that Finrod and Celeborn served in the same battalion, given their familial connection to one another. And so it seems quite reasonable that Sauron and Celeborn met in battle at some point.

Prime Video

Additionally, we know that Celeborn was captured and kept prisoner “in the Middle-earth equivalent of sadistic Alcatraz for a thousand years.” That certainly sounds like an operation that Sauron might have been running at some point. We don’t know exactly when during the War of Wrath Celeborn was captured, or what happened to Middle-earth Alcatraz after a) Morgoth was destroyed, B) Adar stabbed Sauron, forcing his temporary absence. But as Vickers notes, “They’ve both been around for hundreds of years.” And so, it seems likely that at some point during the war or after it, Sauron heard of/visited a massive dark prison and perhaps met Celeborn, one of its important prisoners.

How Well Do Sauron and Celeborn Know One Another in The Rings of Power?

But Vickers seems to imply more than just animosity between Celeborn and Sauron in The Rings of Power, but almost a familiarity. How did that come to exist between them? Well, we’re only theorizing here, but Sauron doesn’t seem to have that much respect for his own troops. We know from previous seasons that he doesn’t really have much respect for the Orcs (or Uruk). He sees them as kind of disgusting necessities to wrinkle his nose at, and ultimately a race far beneath him. But Sauron has always had an interest in elves and corrupting them. In The Rings of Power, we see him first try to slither into Galadriel’s mind, and then do the same to Celebrimbor. Often, he destroys his elven objects of interest, but nevertheless is pulled to them.

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Morfydd Clark Dives Into Galadriel & Adar’s Bond, Sauron’s Lasting Hurt, TROP TikTok and All Things THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2

We can see how, if Sauron encountered Celeborn in a prison in the time before The Rings of Power began, he might be similarly fascinated by the elven prisoner. And Celeborn, an elf who sees light and seeks joy, might well have tried his luck reasoning with the Dark Lord… All for Sauron to end up hanging out with his wife! Tut, tut.

We’ll learn more about Sauron and Celeborn 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.

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!

The post Celeborn and Sauron ‘Share History’ on RINGS OF POWER, Teases Charlie Vickers appeared first on Nerdist.

Aptoide has brought its games store back to Google Play after more than a decade, as court-ordered changes open Android to competing app stores.

Platforms like Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Google are facing a long road of litigation.

Creators who want to start earning on the platform will need at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Clicks’ $99 Power Keyboard brings a customizable, slide-out physical keyboard to MagSafe and Qi2 smartphones, but its added heft can make larger phones awkward to use

⚡ Quick Take

• We chatted with House of the Dragon’s Steve Toussaint, who reflected on Corlys’ season 3 journey and what’s possibly ahead for the Sea Snake.

House of the Dragon season three took Corlys Velaryon on quite the ride. He found himself embroiled in a fierce battle against the Triarchy in the season opener, which led to mass destruction at High Tide. It didn’t take long after the Gullet battle for Corlys to grow weary of Rhaenyra, even going so far as to publicly call her sons bastards after she refused to legitimize his. 

This chasm between the two left Rhaenyra without his balanced council, and Corlys eventually captured and imprisoned by Ormund at Tumbleton, giving him a front seat to witness the battle there. Things end on a shaky note with Corlys helping Daemon retreat to presumably head back to King’s Landing. Will he bury the hatchet with Rhaenyra? What will his relationship with Alyn become? What’s next for Corlys in the show’s final season? We mused about these things and more during our interview with Steve Toussaint, who reflected on Corlys’ season three journey and what’s ahead for the Sea Snake. 

Theo Whiteman/HBO

Nerdist: This season brought a major fracture in the relationship between Corlys and Rhaenyra. As an actor, what was it like to parse through his complex emotions as he dealt with his complex emotions? 

Steve Toussaint: It was great! One of the things that you want as a performer is to explore all facets of a character. The basic emotion of Corlys in season one was sort of ambition and anger at what he could perceive to be injustice. And then in season two, it was basically grief and humility with his illegitimate sons. Now here, you do get that sense of betrayal and frustration. The rage comes back along with a real sense of righteous indignation on his part. It was lovely to look at all those colors of Corlys. 

Yeah, and you could feel it deeply in the scenes you shared with Emma D’Arcy and Abubakar Salim, among others. Do you think that season four will show a reconciliation between Rhaenyra and Corlys? Or is that not possible after such harsh words? 

Toussaint: Oh, that’s a good question. I think maybe for practical reasons that they will. After he called her out in public like that, normally there’d be no way back from that. But I think he is still a useful member of the Realm, even if he has lost most of his things, he still has his army. So I think there may be a chance for some kind of rapprochement.

But as long as she doesn’t legitimize his kids, which he thinks is the least she can do considering what he and his family have given up for her, it’s still going to be a very rocky road. I’m as excited to find out what happens between those two as anybody else. And I did talk to [showrunner Ryan Condal], but he, being Ryan, was incredibly tight-lipped.

HBO

It will be interesting to see what happens! I feel like the finale points towards that with Corlys going into Tumbleton and telling Daemon that they have to leave. He still treated Daemon like an ally, even though he could have just left him there and ran away. 

Toussaint: Yes, true. I think that Daemon and Corlys have this very interesting relationship, which has lots of ups and downs. I think for Corlys, Daemon is somebody who is obviously a formidable warrior when he wants to be and a decent strategist, but also a bit of a loose cannon. This season’s slightly different, though. Daemon thinks mainly about himself, but he’s thinking about Rhaenyra, too. 

But Corlys recognizes that the Realm’s cause is much stronger with Daemon on his side. There is a sort of wary respect between the two of them. Corlys is very much about doing the right thing, at whatever cost that is.

He may not find Daemon trustworthy or he may not be comfortable in his company, but it’s the right thing to not leave the man behind. And I think, as you said, I think the way that scene plays out, I really feel, and I’ve not had this discussion with Matt, but I just feel that Daemon is prepared to die. He’s just going to keep on cutting people down until someone cuts him down. And in that sense, he needs to be saved from himself. I think that’s what Corlys does here. 

That’s very true. Another interesting dynamic is Corlys and his relationship with Alyn. They are also in a fraught place where Alys is growing more devoted to Rhaenyra. He makes this really big choice to kill the High Septon, which seems like a dark shift for his character. How do you think their relationship will evolve when they are reunited? 

Toussaint: It’s a difficult one because I think when Corlys hears the news of that act, he’s going to be incredibly disappointed. Again, that’s another sacrifice for the Queen that Coryls thinks has very little reward… The thing with Corlys, and I guess it’s the same with most parents really, is that you try as much as you can to encourage your children to do the right thing and then hope that they do. Of course, Corlys obviously wasn’t in his life for a long time but he still wants to try. But the choices have to be Alyn’s. Even when I saw that scene, I was like “Oh, no, no, no, that’s too much!”

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’S Biggest Changes to the Battle of Tumbleton

It really hurt my heart because I feel like it’s a turning point in a dark direction for him. Now, of course, I know you don’t know what’s going to happen in season four of House of the Dragon. But what is the ending that you dream of for Corlys? 

Toussaint: Well, you’re right. I don’t know because I didn’t read the book, and so I have no idea! [laughs] My wishes for him are going to sound so silly and pathetic compared to what’s been happening. I just want Corlys to be happy, but no one remains happy in this world. So I think for him, if his boys and his granddaughters are safe and secure, I would love that for him. But somehow I have a feeling that that’s not going to happen. But that’s my dream.

Ahhh it would be nice in our hearts, but a TV show has to have all sorts of drama and death and destruction, as the Game of Thrones universe loves to do. I want to see him and his family set sail off towards the sunset and be happy, but I have to brace myself for the alternative.

Toussaint: Exactly! It’s so funny because myself, Clint, Abu, and Bethany had taken a photo after filming for episode two. And when that photo was put out to the public, everyone loved it so much. 

Yes, I know the one you’re talking about! I personally shared it with the hashtag #VelaryonGang because it sparked so much joy. 

Toussaint: I love that.

Blood is thicker than water. #DemDragons pic.twitter.com/nj5KQUfVB6

— House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) July 2, 2026

Which House of the Dragon character are you most like in real life? And which character do you wish you were more like?

Toussaint: Oh, wow. Okay. The second question, that’s a real kicker. In fact, they both are. Let me think. The first one, I was going to say Rhaenys, but actually I’m not that wise. Oh, gosh. I’m probably a bit like Maester Orwyle because a lot of stuff seems to happen to him and somehow he just manages to just scrape through without entirely falling apart. Actually, I’m doing that character a bit of disservice, but that’s how I see him.

And the one I’d like to be like… well, if he didn’t have the foot fetish, Larys Strong is quite smart and always thinking a couple steps ahead. And if he wasn’t so evil, I wouldn’t mind being like Otto. He’s a shrewd plotter, but even he got a bad ending. [laughs] I quite liked the way that Rhys Ifans portrayed him. 

Otto was certainly fun to watch! Last question for you. At Nerdist, we’re all about everything that’s all nerdy and geeky, whether it is comics, gaming, television shows, whatever else makes your nerdy heart happy. So I want to know, Steve, what do you nerd out about?

Toussaint: I often say this, and it sounds so silly. I’m a bit of a nerd for good acting, to be honest. I like a lot of TV. I do watch a lot of TV and I will watch movies again and again. A long, long, long time ago when you used to have to buy games, I used to play some games. And I don’t read books as much as I used to… I like to get lost in somebody else’s world, someone else’s reality, and also have a glimpse into someone else’s life. So I think that’s probably it.

Love it. Do you have a favorite genre? 

Toussaint: I like thrillers. One of my favorite films is North by Northwest, the Hitchcock movie. Do you know that one? 

Yes I do. 

Toussaint: Oh great. That’s the archetypal thing. An innocent man wakes up and suddenly he’s embroiled in something that he has no idea how he got into. I love those kinds of movies. They don’t make them enough.

Tai Gooden is the Features Editor for Nerdist, a fictional villian apologist, and a horror aficionado who is indeed 100% #VelaryonGang, even though Rhaenyra is getting on her nerves.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Steve Toussaint on Corlys’ Journey and Season 4 Hopes appeared first on Nerdist.

Meta’s new open-weight Muse Glimmer model offers a glimpse of Mark Zuckerberg’s personal superintelligence vision, as well as the emerging divide between AI users can own and access.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Royal Shakespeare Company’s first official photos from its Game of Thrones play The Mad King.
• In this play, we finally see the Mad King in all of his madness, unlike how he appeared on Game of Thrones.
• Nerdist Take: This stage show features a truly amazing weirwood tree that we, as fans, enjoy seeing, along with other truly epic Game of Thrones props.
• Go deeper: Learn more about the history behind the Game of Thrones play in “History of Thrones: Aerys II, The Mad King of Westeros.”

House of the Dragon‘s third season came to an end the same weekend a new Game of Thrones story officially kicked off. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s play, The Mad King, officially opened. While fans who saw early previews have shared details about the story, it’s clear those breakdowns couldn’t capture the grandeur of seeing the Seven Kingdoms’ come to life on stage. For that, we needed to see these first official images from the Game of Thrones play, which show how The Mad King brings to life some of the most beloved, notorious, and important figures from the Realm, surrounded by some truly epic sets worthy of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Game of Thrones fans might only know Aerys II, the Mad King himself, from his brief appearances in vision-flashbacks from the show. But this is the true Mad King, a once charming monarch whose descent into madness helped end his family’s nearly three-century reign. But he’s just one of the many famous faces seen here. This batch of first-look images from the Game of Thrones play The Mad King include Ned and Lyanna Stark, Rhaegar Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, Elia Martell, Ashara Dayne, and Shella Whent.

This batch of images from The Mad King also shows the Tourney at Harrenhal that takes place in the Game of Thrones play. That event changed Westeros and the world of the living forever. The Mad King‘s version of that ill-fated gathering even includes the infamous tourney joust. A joust. On stage. My R’hllor!

HBO Nerdist Take: The Mad King Brings to Life Epic Game of Thrones Sets in Play Form, Including the Weirwood Tree and Iron Throne

The first-look images from the Game of Thrones play also feature maybe the best weirwood tree ever. We see Rhaegar alone near the tall, holy weirwood, which has many faces carved into it. How many greenseers were watching him through those eyes at this vital moment in Seven Kingdoms’ history? Maybe as many people who sat in the audience on opening night.

We also love the version of the Iron Throne from The Mad King, which is much taller than the iconic version seen on HBO. Neither is wholly accurate to the description found in George R.R. Martin’s books, but that’s because that giant monstrosity would not be practical for a TV show or a stage play. Plus, this way we get many versions of the most famous chair in Westeros. We ready to see even more angles of this epic set piece as more images from the Game of Thrones play surface.

If only Aerys II could have taken one of the Iron Thrones’ swords to use as a razor. Maybe if he didn’t look so mad he wouldn’t have become the Mad King. But we’re certainly not upset we finally got to see him the way he really looked.

Go Deeper Into the Mad King’s Story

Why are so many notorious figures from Game of Thrones involved in this play? Not sure what to expect from The Mad King? Excited but confused by these first-look images from the Game of Thrones play? We have you covered. Read our pieces about The Mad King, Rhaeghar Targaryen, and his relationship with Lyanna Stark to really get into the meat of this tale.

And, if you can, make sure to snag tickets for The Mad King. The Game of Thrones play is now performing at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK.

The post First Images From GAME OF THRONES Play, THE MAD KING appeared first on Nerdist.

Battery materials startup Sila will use a $1.4 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Defense to scale production at its factory in Washington State.

The two companies were once embroiled in a trade secret theft lawsuit. Now, Wisk is being absorbed into Archer.

⚡ Quick Take

• After years of rumors, Avengers: Doomsday confirmed the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers to the MCU.
• Evans’ Captain America received a teaser trailer all about Steve Rogers to set the scene.
• Recently, Evans teased Doomsday will be brutal for Steve Rogers.

After years of rumors, denials, and more rumors, the first teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday confirms that Chris Evans is indeed returning to the MCU as Steve Rogers, the original Captain America. Not only that, but the teaser shows a scene where Steve, sometime in the past, comes home to his idyllic life in the suburbs to a brand new baby. So it looks like he took Tony’s advice from Age of Ultron very literally and went ahead and got a life. We also see glimpses of Steve in the full Avengers: Doomsday trailer. But it’s not all fun and games for Steve Rogers, Chris Evans warns Doomsday is going to be a “brutal” movie for the beloved character.

Table of contents

• Steve Rogers’ Character Centric Avengers: Doomsday Trailer
• Chris Evans’ Captain America Returns in Avengers: Doomsday Full Trailer
• Chris Evans Warns Avengers: Doomsday Is ‘Brutal’ for Steve Rogers
• Steve Rogers Is Heading Back the the MCU

Steve Rogers’ Character Centric Avengers: Doomsday Trailer

The very brief Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailer shows Steve riding a motorcycle and parking it in front of his (and presumably Peggy’s) home. This all happens as a slowed-down, piano version of Alan Silvestri’s iconic Avengers theme plays. The motorcycle helmet he wears is very similar to his World War II Captain America helmet from The First Avenger.

Marvel Studios

We also catch a glimpse of Steve taking out his old Cap costume before putting it back in a box. He holds his newborn baby, and the teaser ends with “Steve Rogers will return for Avengers: Doomsday.” A countdown timer begins at the end, one set to expire a year from now when Doomsday finally arrives in theaters.

RELATED ARTICLE

Who are the Children of Captain America in Marvel Media? Chris Evans’ Captain America Returns in Avengers: Doomsday Full Trailer

In the full Avengers: Doomsday trailer, we see many MCU teams coming together. And, of course, catch a glimpse of Chris Evans’ return as Steve Rogers. Always the drama queen, Steve snags Mjölnir from Thor as only he can during the final moments of the trailer, showing he is still indeed a worthy ally. Thor looks incredibly surprised to see his friend and one-time teammate. We also see what appears to be Steve walking up to his best friends (or is that his ex-friends), Bucky and Sam. But they don’t seem to happy to see him… And we can’t say we blame them.

Chris Evans Warns Avengers: Doomsday Is ‘Brutal’ for Steve Rogers

But it’s not going to be all kissing babies and friendly reunions for Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday. Evans recently shared at Boston’s Fan Expo, “The Russos love beating up Steve Rogers. Their favorite thing to do is to just beat the crap out of him. To them that’s what makes a hero, and that’s someone who gets punched so many times but still gets up.”

But it’s not all about the physical, the mental is important as well. “They keep finding new ways to kick his butt, but this one was brutal,” Evans revealed, “and a really, really good examination into his nature and his values. I’ll say… it’s probably something you haven’t seen yet, but you will.”

In such a jam-packed movie, we’re interested to see just how much time there is for Steve Rogers as a character. But this certainly sounds like a promising direction.

Steve Rogers Is Heading Back the the MCU Marvel Studios

It seems it will take a massive multiversal incursion that threatens all reality to bring our domesticated Steve Rogers back into action. Baby or no baby, we can’t imagine Cap refusing the call to save the world. Even if it means saving the world from someone who looks (and might be?) his old friend Tony Stark. Will his and Peggy’s child play a big role? There is precedent for a Rogers kid in the comics, after all. Hopefully, this doesn’t mean Sam Wilson as Cap gets totally sidelined, after only one movie to his name. But in the comics, both men have shared the title for years. We’ll have to wait and see how all this pans out when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Originally published December 18, 2025.

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The post Chris Evans Returns as Steve Rogers in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY appeared first on Nerdist.