Nerd News

Investors want founders who understand the financial reality of their business. Messy data, misunderstood metrics, or waiting until you’re nearly out of cash to start fundraising can cost founders leverage, valuation, and even a term sheet. In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannessen sits down with Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle […]

Businesses are willing to flop back and forth as each lab releases new models, volatility that should give both companies' investors pause about how "sticky" enterprise AI spending really is.

Ever wanted someone else to do your texting for you? ChatGPT is being offered up as an automated text scribe via a new Apple Messages integration.

An effort to transform the world of sports through steroid use doesn't exactly seem to be bearing financial fruit.

Jason Kelce joked that people should cool data centers with their pee, rather than potable water -- his suggestion is not completely ludicrous.

⚡ Quick Take

• Walt Disney World is finally bringing Dreamfinder back to EPCOT, as Figment’s ride is getting overhauled.
• While Journey Into Imagination needs a big upgrade, so does the entire out-dated Imagination Pavilion.
• Nerdist’s Take: Imagineers told Nerdist the Figment refurb at EPCOT is “very early” in the progress, which means there’s a great opportunity for Imagineers to build something special.

This year’s D23 Experiences Showcase at the Honda Center ended with Neil Patrick Harris in a purple suit and hat and a dramatic announcement. It’s one Walt Disney World fans have longed to hear: EPCOT is finally bringing back the Dreamfinder. That might not sound like much if you’re unfamiliar with the beloved figure who used to call the theme park home. For anyone who remembers the original, best version of the Journey into Imagination ride it’s all we’ve wanted. The cheerful Dreamfinder was Figment’s best friend. EPCOT’s de facto mascot, who is more popular than ever, has never been the same without his bearded pal. That flying purple dragon’s attraction has also been considerably worse.

The show-closing news is bigger than just one character or even one ride, though. It’s a sign that Disney might finally fix one of its most glaring, most confounding problems. This should finally be the spark to bring some Imagineering magic back to the Imagination Pavilion.

Figment—the lovable fellow with two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, and the horns of a steer—joined EPCOT in 1983 a year after the park opened. His home and ride have always been located inside the Imagination Pavilion. It’s also where visitors could once walk the long-shuttered Rainbow Corridor, a still-missed part of the land.

The pavilion stands out thanks to its two glass pyramids. One has long been closed to most guests while the other is entirely closed to everyone. Visitors also know the area for its nearby jumping water fountains and signature reverse waterfall. Until 1998, it was also home to the dream-chasing Dreamfinder, Figment’s revered story-telling friend. The two took guests on a ride through imagination and all the ways we can tell stories. Visitors then entered the ImageWorks playground, which long ago moved downstairs.

The original Journey Into Imagination was the best. It was one of Walt Disney World’s most fun and creative rides. Dreamfinder and Figment, who often greeted fans in the park, were also perfect symbols for everything EPCOT represented. But when Disney revamped the ride in 1999 as Journey into YOUR Imagination, Dreamfinder was gone. Eric Idle’s Dr. Nigel Channing was part of a team of scientists who took over instead. That version of the attraction was so unpopular it lasted only two years. Since 2002 guests have instead ridden Journey into Imagination with Figment.

It’s…..it’s fine. It’s fine. Figment is such a great character that any ride based on him has a high floor. My toddler certainly likes it, and even I find it has its charms, like when Disney uses burnt coffee to recreate a Figment skunk spray. Buuuuut….it’s just not nearly as good as many other dark rides at Disney parks. It’s not especially innovative or whimsical. It also feels dated. It’s even worse for those of us who know what a Journey Into Imagination could really be. The ride pales in comparison to what it originally was.

Disney has seemingly agreed with that assessment for a long time, too. The Mouse House knows Dreamfinder and Figment are the best. In 2014 the company released an absolutely wild steampunk graphic novel series about the pair. A 2024 Golden Book titled Figment, written by Imagineer Jason Grandt, is also a retelling of the original ride. Dr. Nigel Channing is nowhere to be found in either tale. The same is also true of Eric Idle at EPCOT. He’s never even been on the ride he’s in. He doesn’t even remember filming his role for it. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. That’s not even a broken doorbell endorsement.

In the last few years, as the kids who grew up with the original ride have become some of Disney’s most dedicated paying customers, Figment’s popularity has only grown. His merch is everywhere and it always sells. That’s happened even though most people who love Figment don’t love his ride. So as his presence in EPCOT and Disney World has increased, so have the calls for the company to fix his ride by bringing back Dreamfinder. Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum addressed that directly when he told the Honda Center crowd about the upcoming update. “We know how important this is to you,” he said. “We’ve heard you, and this is one more way we’re putting you in the center of everything we do.”

A new ride can’t be all they do, however. Journey Into Imagination is not a singular problem at EPCOT’s Imagination Pavilion. It’s emblematic of the fact the whole pavilion is a problem. A big one. It’s not “fine.” It’s underwhelming at best and hugely disappointing at worst. The area, in theory, represents creativity, art, imagination, innovation, and storytelling. Instead it’s old and in desperate need of an update. The Imagination Pavilion lacks anything resembling imagination. That’s about as inexplicable as anything you’ll find in any Disney park considering the parks’ greatest asset is its Imagineers.

Disney+

When Disney lets Imagineers run wild they create actual magic. They’re the best at what they do, and no singular location in all of Walt Disney World should better capture what they are capable of—the wonders they can create, the stories they can tell, the rides they can build and design, the feelings they can evoke, the environments they can bring to life, the ideas they can raise and challenge you with—more than a place called the Imagination Pavilion.

It’s so obvious it almost seems silly to even say. If any area, and most especially at EPCOT, should embody the best of Imagineering its the Imagination Pavilion. And that’s why Dreamfinder’s return has to be a big part of an even bigger overhaul. The whole interior needs to be gutted and redone. It needs to not only be updated but re-imagined. There’s no reason one of the glass pyramids should remain closed, why it should feature technology that was old 20 years ago, or why any of it, let alone most of it, should be boring.

Nerdist

It’s not just long past time for Dreamfinder to make his way home. It’s time for that home to live up to its own name. And I hope the it finally will. I asked a head Imagineer at D23 if that was the plan. He told me the Figment revamp is “very early” in the process. Early might not be what Disney World fans eager to get Dreamfinder back might want to hear, but that’s good news. It means plans aren’t even close to finalized. Anything is still possible. And if anyone can make real the infinite possibilities the Imagination Pavilion represents, it’s Imagineers. Disney need to let them do exactly that.

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

The post EPCOT’s Dreamfinder Return Needs More Than Figment Ride appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• There are currently 7 Scream films in the franchise, with an eighth installment in the works.
• In honor of 30 years of Scream, we are ranking all the films from worst to best.
• Nerdist’s Take: There are truly no bad films in the Scream franchise… except one.
• Don’t Stop Readin’: Check out our ranking for the scariest Ghostface calls to see which one takes the top spot.

Somehow, the Scream franchise has three decades of films under its belt. The first film caused a huge shift in the genre and inspired a litany of teen and young adult ensemble slasher flicks to come. We’ve watched Sidney Prescott, whom many see as the quintessential final girl, go from a traumatized teenager to a fierce survivor who is determined to protect her daughter Tatum. As of 2026, there are seven Scream films in the franchise, and an eighth one is in development. We already have our opinion on which Ghostface is the best one of the franchise, but which Scream film takes the #1 spot and who ends up at the bottom? 

7. Scream 7 Paramount Pictures

Scream 7 lands solidly at the bottom of this list for many reasons. The film catches us up with Sidney Prescott Evans in her small town, where she lives with her husband Mark (not Kincaid), teen daughter Tatum, and her two younger kids. Thirty years after the original Ghostface attacks, new killers don that infamous mask and set their sights on Tatum, who desperately wants to know her mother and have her fiery strength. Outside of Neve’s performance as Sidney and a few cool setpieces, there’s nothing that stands out in this film at all. The killers are forgettable with nonsensical motivations, the teen ensemble cast is dreadfully one-note, and its commentary on AI and current media culture was thin at best. 

RELATED ARTICLE

SCREAM 7 Is NOT My Favorite Scary Movie, Sadly (Review) 6. Scream VI Paramount Pictures

The only installment in the franchise to not include Sidney, Scream VI takes the slicing and dicing to New York City. It’s a couple of years after Sam and Tara Carpenter and their crew faced Ghostface in Woodsboro, and everyone is just trying to move on. Well, everyone except Sam, who seems to have some deep rooted draw to homicidal tendencies. Scream VI takes some interesting swings, like revealing someone wearing the Ghostface mask early and having three killers in play.

And this film has some of the best set pieces that we’ve seen in a long time, like the Stab theater shrine, the subway, the bodega, and more. But, a lot of it feels like territory that we’ve tread before, especially in terms of killers’ motivations and a connection to a previous killer. Still, solid performances all around, the return of Kirby Reed, some inventive/brutal kills, and a satisfying ending for the Carpenter sisters make it an enjoyable enough watch. 

5. Scream (2022) Paramount Pictures

Scream (2022) revived the franchise after over a decade of hiatus, passing the primary final girl torch to Sam Carpenter. We also get to see a touch of a new era of Sidney as a mentor and an experienced survivor. This fifth installment delivers on the franchise’s meta vibes and pays homage to the original, down to the boyfriend being the killer and the third act at the Macher house. Packed with mostly well-placed humor and Easter eggs, it certainly sparks up nostalgia.

It ups the brutality but forgoes the emotional impact that made previous films so deeply effective. This film attempts to provide commentary on toxic fandom, yet does very little to build that foundation among its characters to support that belief. There’s little to no cinematic scope that made its predecessors feel more like an expansive and actual world, with most scenes being tightly shot, bland, and a touch too dark. Scream (2022) really gave me the ick with the entire conceit of the Billy Ghost suddenly being a twisted positive guide for Sam, a daughter whom he never met, is incredibly cringe. Let’s not rewrite the history of him being a total psychopath, please. 

4. Scream 3 Dimension Films

Scream 3 was meant to be the concluding chapter of the franchise, and it did indeed end that way with Sidney reconciling with her mom’s past and finding peace. While Scream 4 is a great film, it wouldn’t have been super sad for Ghostface to put his knife away here for good. Scream 3 takes us to Hollywood as a new Ghostface killer starts to cut down people Sid knows IRL as well as the cast of the next Stab movie. The meta commentary and the loose idea of the movie within a movie still feel relatively fresh in this installment.

The film has quite a few unforgettable set pieces, like Roman’s expansive house and the entire recreated world of Woodsboro. Scream 3’s pointed and chillingly accurate commentary about the abusive and exploitative nature of Hollywood and how trauma can manifest in a person is still socially relevant. Where the film does fall short is that it is more of the “Gale, Dewey, and Scooby-Doo Acting Gang” show versus about Sidney’s final chapter, and these two storylines are very different tonally. Sure, this film has some of the best secondary and tertiary characters in the franchise, but still. A lot of glaring plot holes point back to an ever-changing script, even though the final scenes truly deliver the tension, drama, and brutality that we’d expect from this franchise. 

3. Scream IV Paramount Pictures

Scream IV brought the franchise back to life briefly in 2011, introducing a new generation of Woodsboro High Students facing Ghostface killings. It has some of the most interesting commentary on society that was truly ahead of its time and holds up very well through a modern lens. The dangerous thirst for quick Internet fame that can lead to callous actions is extremely present in Jill and Charlie’s motive. Visually, it is not the most appealing film, but it introduces promising new characters like Kirby Reed.

And, in terms of Sidney’s arc, this film doesn’t offer her much room for growth nor to truly be the badass that we know she is. Sidney feels like she’s simply a piece on a chessboard that Ghostface is moving around, and putting that character in the driver’s seat takes away from her story.

2. Scream 2 Dimension Films

These days, you gotta have a sequel! Billy and Stu didn’t make it to the next round, thankfully, but Scream 2 is a sublime follow up to the first film. It takes us to Windsor College and gives us a sweeping viewpoint of Ohio, where Sidney and Randy are in college. The actually surprising twist of Billy’s mother as the killer hiding in plain sight, incredible set pieces, and one of the most intense scenes in the franchise where Sidney and Halle are climbing out of the cop car all make this film worthy of a spot near the top.

Ghostface is more chilling than ever, both over the phone and in person, and the kill count amps up for some bloody fun. The shock of losing Randy and that wild theater opening scene are two cherries on top of this Sunday. Some glaring plot holes, specifically with some incredibly convenient things that work in the killers’ favor, keep this film from outdoing the original. 

1. Scream 

While the overall Scream franchise has better quality than other long-running horror ones, we all know that nothing f**ks with the original. Set in a reality where people are hyper-aware of how these types of terrifying situations work, Scream hits all the big points. Visually, it sticks with those sweeping wide shots that bring true depth and character to Woodsboro, making it feel less like a curation of sets and more like an actual town. The setpieces are all expansive and feel truly lived in. The characters are great, with Sidney balancing palpable fear and dogged determination with ease.

In fact, the casting is pitch perfect all around with characters who feel less like caricatures and more like fully realized people, even when they lean into certain archetypes. While it doesn’t go super big on the kill count, they are all memorable with different types of unique touches. The opening scene is one of the best to ever exist in horror, and continues to influence other films to this day. Scream’s dialogue and deft balance of humor and edge totally knock it out of the park. The film’s soundtrack turned “Red Right Hand” into a cornerstone of the sound of horror, and Roger L. Jackson’s voice helped to birth a villainous icon with a signature look who is a merchandising goldmine, from this adorably sinister Funko! Pop to too many T-Shirts to possibly own. 

REad more

Tori Spelling’s SCREAM Story Is the Franchise’s Funniest Gag Tai Gooden is the Features Editor for Nerdist, a fictional villain apologist, and a horror aficionado who is forever waiting for her trip in the TARDIS.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 Every SCREAM Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best appeared first on Nerdist.

A hacker pretending to work for a leading cryptocurrency news website targeted several cybersecurity professionals using Google Docs as a way to deliver malware.

Mark Zuckerberg just bought a cozy abode somewhat close to Meta’s international headquarters in Ireland.

Google is giving publishers a new button that lets readers make them a preferred source across Search, Discover, and Google News, potentially boosting their traffic as AI search sends fewer clicks to the web.

Runlayer and Rippling have dropped their lawsuits. No money was paid. Rippling celebrated by releasing a competing product.

⚡ Quick Take

• At more than $1.35 billion Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine for the biggest R-rated movie ever.
• Adjusted for gross The Odyssey is the third biggest movie of Christopher Nolan’s filmography.
• Nerdist’s Take: Box office records are fun, but they’re not all that meaningful.

Ithaca’s King just notched another win. Unlike his victory at Troy, though, he can be proud of this achievement. Christopher Nolan’s smash hit The Odyssey just passed $1.35 billion at the global box office. That puts it at #1 all-time for R-rated movies, besting a tale about two modern day heroes with their own flaws, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Universal Pictures

As Variety noted, after a summer of sold-out showings, especially in IMAX theaters, The Odyssey has reached $1.352 billion in ticket sales. That surpassed the previous R-rated record holder set by 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. It ended its theatrical run with a foul-mouthed $1.338 billion. By the time The Odyssey leaves theaters the gap between the two will be even wider.

A Christopher Nolan movie doing gangbusters is not exactly a surprise, especially on the heels of Oppenheimer. He’s as much a guarantee of box office success as any actor or franchise. But a nearly three-hour adaptation of an epic poem from Ancient Greece outperforming Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool and Wolverine is still absolutely stunning. It’s also worth celebrating, which Reynolds did with a very funny social media post mashing up the two films.

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of The Odyssey for becoming the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time. That is one helluva car. pic.twitter.com/s7QzTza21l

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 19, 2026

Nolan’s epic still has some work to do to set another record: his highest grossing film by inflation. When ranked by adjusted gross, as of this writing, The Odyssey still comes in just below The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. It will have to reach $1.563 billion to take that spot.

Can it do it? Or like Odysseus for ten years will it come up short of its goal? It doesn’t really matter. These records are fun, but also meaningless. What matters is that a whole lot of people have gone to see a great movie, one that should hopefully encourage more studios to take big chances on big ideas.

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

The post THE ODYSSEY Takes R-Rated Throne from DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE appeared first on Nerdist.

The $1 billion Series C was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz, Carlyle, and JP Morgan Chase.

⚡ Quick Take

• We have an exclusive track from The Vampire Lestat soundtrack by Daniel Hart that you can listen to right now.
• This piece of music plays during an incredibly important scene in the finale of The Vampire Lestat. In the scene, Lestat has a crucial revelation about his mother, Gabriella.
• On August 21, you can purchase The Vampire Lestat score wherever you get your music.

The Vampire Lestat soundtrack is releasing into the hands of the Beautifully Unwell on August 21. But before that happens, we at Nerdist are thrilled to share an exclusive track from The Vampire Lestat soundtrack a day early. We hope his many admirers appreciate this. You can now hear the track titled “The Witches’ Place” by Daniel Hart without any further delay. And if you, beloveds, like us, have been watching and rewatching The Vampire Lestat, you know that this piece of music accompanies a MASSIVELY important moment in The Vampire Lestat‘s finale episode. You might say it helps the scales fall from Lestat’s eyes when it comes to one person he has not been seeing very clearly. We’ll get into it, but first, take a listen to this exclusive The Vampire Lestat track below, and don’t forget to pre-order/pre-save the entire soundtrack wherever you like to listen to your vampires sing.

This Exclusive The Vampire Lestat Track Marks an IMPORTANT Moment for Lestat in the Series and Soundtrack

The Vampire Lestat is one incredibly nuanced and heartbreaking meditation on love, trauma, and the search for meaning in life and in the self. These themes emerged in different ways throughout the season, but nowhere more intensely than in the complex relationship that existed between Lestat and his mother/creator/lover/fledgling Gabriella this season.

AMC

Throughout The Vampire Lestat, the audience watched with baited breath as Gabriella toyed with Lestat, bringing him closer, shutting him out, and manuvering and manipulating him with soft words, physical affection, approval and, of course, the withholding of all of that, to serve her own aims. But finally, finally in The Vampire Lestat‘s finale, Lestat achieves clarity on just how intensely Gabriella has molded and shaped him into her vision of what he should be; how she has abused him. And this clarity comes accompanied, by yes, the exceptional exclusive The Vampire Lestat soundtrack track from Daniel Hart we share with you today, “The Witches’ Place.”

Lestat Recalls Gabriella with New Eyes as the Soundtrack Underscores This Crescendo AMC

As we watched The Vampire Lestat, we thought a lot about the tremendous work Daniel Hart put into the original songs for the series, but this orchestral soundtrack and score is equally incredible. As we listen to the “The Witches’ Place” for the first time without dialogue, we hear the push and pull of it, the intensity, the way it softens then cuts—a perfect mirror of the scene we see unfold between Gabriella and Lestat as the music plays in The Vampire Lestat finale. There’s a violence to this track and also beauty, the core duality of Lestat’s existence; there’s poetic yearning and vicious anger. It’s a heartbreakingly exquisite track and a testament to Daniel Hart’s genius.

AMC

In this scene, Lestat remembers not only how intensely Gabriella’s abuse affected him throughout his life, from when he was nine watching his friends burn, learning to be afraid, to the present day, as where he’s pressed into a dangerous leadership role he doesn’t want. But Lestat also, with horror, recalls how he transformed into a shade of Gabriella when it came to his own daughter, Claudia. The revelations leave him gutted, looking at the nothingness of existence, but, in a way, stronger. Strong enough to eventually face Gabriella outside of his own mind and stand up to her. And we hear that in every note of this The Vampire Lestat soundtrack track, which flutters fragile, but beats determined. “The Witches’ Place” is another truly beautiful entry by Daniel Hart, one that swells emotions in our throats as it trembles through our veins.

More About The Vampire Lestat Soundtrack and Show AMC/Lakeshore Records

AMC Global Media and Lakeshore Records are releasing The Vampire Lestat Original Series Soundtrack, a new soundtrack album featuring music by composer, songwriter, and co-producer of the series, Daniel Hart. The Vampire Lestat soundtrack is available digitally on August 21, 2026, and the release brings the original score for the hit series in the Anne Rice Vampires universe to its fans. 

The Vampire Lestat soundtrack, including our exclusive track, will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other major streaming platforms. 

RELATED ARTICLE

THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Is Unlike Anything Else on TV (Review)

For those who somehow missed the phenomnen, the synopsis for The Vampire Lestat reads, “Set against the backdrop of a global rock phenomenon, the latest season follows Lestat as he takes his music to audiences around the world while confronting figures from his past that continue to shape his  present. As his fame reaches new heights, his growing influence over both vampires and humans fuels the Great Conversion, dramatically altering the balance of the supernatural world. The Vampire Lestat stars Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles, and Jennifer Ehle, and is executive produced by Mark Johnson, creator, writer, and showrunner Rolin Jones, Hannah Moscovitch, Christopher Rice, and the late Anne Rice.“

In addition to listening to the soundtrack, you can stream The Vampire Lestat now on AMC+. On August 23, you’ll also be able to watch The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only, the concert movie of Sam Reid’s live performance as Lestat in NYC.

The Vampire Lestat Soundtrack Track Listing 

The hungry fledgling can find the track listing for The Vampire Lestat soundtrack below. It’s pretty easy to identify which tracks might be about your favs. Personally, we’re seated for “The Rothko Chapel.”

1. Were You A Stutterer As A Child?
2. What Does The Scalpel Do?
3. She Meant To Kill Me With The Challenge
4. Twenty Thousand Followers
5. We Have A Pact Now
6. Eight People On The Arc
7. Help Him To Be A Man
8. The Greatest Spectacle Of The Boulevard
9. I Remember The Light
10. Can You Get Out Of My Eyeline?
11. You And I Have A Friend In Common
12. Enter The Gremlin
13. On The Devil’s Road Now
14. He Told Himself He Was In Control
15. Hi Dad
16. Blood Marriage
17. They Long For Communion
18. The Rothko Chapel
19. Check Your Phone
20. No Spark
21. Let Me Tell You Something About The Blood
22. I Am The Answer
23. Rest
24. Intersections Of My Many Selves
25. It Isn’t Just One Thing, Louis
26. Wrote In That, Died In This
27. Called By The Livin’
28. Your Sad Sorries
29. Bring Your Malice
30. Could Be Nice
31. I Might Be A Room Without Walls
32. Don’t Write The Obituary Just Yet
33. You Caught Me In A Lonely Hour
34. The Witches’ Place
35. A Love That Will Cradle You
36. The Soul
37. I Let Too MuchSpill Too Often

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is still waiting for Devil’s Minion to fully sail so one of her ships can finally become canon. Follow her on Instagram.

The post Hear Exclusive Track From THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Soundtrack appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Wonder Man is the latest Marvel Studios project with a Black lead actor that has been canceled, and star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has thoughts on the bad optics of it all.
• Disney+ renewed Wonder Man, then two months later, mysteriously reversed its decision.
• Marvel Studios has several Black heroes that now seem nowhere to be found in upcoming projects, like Ironheart, Monica Rambeau, War Machine, and most significantly, Blade.
• Nerdist’s take: Disney’s decision to cancel Wonder Man after its Emmy nominations and early renewal sends a terrible message.

The entire journey of Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man series has been a strange one. Despite a lack of early buzz, the show about two Hollywood actors in different phases of their lives (and one with superpowers) proved to be a hit with critics and fans, garnering star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II an Emmy nomination. And it even got a quick season two renewal. Then, two months later, Disney+ mysteriously canceled Wonder Man. And Marvel fans noticed this was yet another series or movie featuring a Black lead character that Disney canceled, right after Blade. Needless to say, it’s not a good look for the company. Now, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is being candid about the terrible optics of Wonder Man’s early demise, in an interview with Vanity Fair. Here’s what he had to say:

I think the optics are obvious. If I’m a big business, if I’m Disney, if I’m Marvel, I don’t want to be attached to these optics. So it should be a priority to change that narrative and to do what it takes to responsibly change that narrative with quality stories, with quality resources. I felt that our show did have quality story, did have quality resources, did have quality actors and people, and did produce quality results that the viewers responded to positively, that the voters responded to positively. So our show does deserve some study and some real, hard information about why a show like this did not continue forward, because it had all of the ingredients that one would want in a show.

Marvel Studios

Yahya is not the only person shocked by this decision. Wonder Man director and EP Destin Daniel Cretton also seems shocked by the cancelation. And he suggested it was purely a Disney decision, and not one from Marvel Studios. Showrunner Andrew Guest was also perplexed. Rumor has it that Disney has chosen to severely cut back on live-action programming on the streamer for both Marvel and Star Wars. Apparently, they feel the constant flood of new shows has diluted both brands. And in that way, they certainly have a point. But to reverse a decision about a well-reviewed show like Wonder Man, something they’ve never done before? Well, as Yahya Abdul Mateen plainly said, the optics are awful.

Marvel Studios

Blade aside, there seems to be no indication that Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart or Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes are anywhere near Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Perhaps most glaringly, neither is Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, whose The Marvels post-credits scene seemingly leads directly to Doomsday. A movie where almost all the original Fox X-Men have returned, minus Halle Berry’s Storm. Again, this is not a good look. Disney would garner a lot of goodwill if they took the temperature of the room, and re-renewed Wonder Man. It’s not too late to admit you made a massive mistake, and fix it. Maybe there’s still a chance to see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II light up our screens as Simon Williams again.

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

The post Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on Bad Optics of WONDER MAN Cancellation appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The live-action Naruto movie is still in development at Lionsgate. This anime/manga adaptation has even found its screenwriter.

It’s the age of the adaptation. And one particular live-action anime/manga adaptation has been in the zeitgeist for quite a while. We first heard reports of a live-action Naruto movie in 2015. At the time, Lionsgate was in negotiations for the film rights to the franchise. And it was reported that Michael Gracey would helm the live-action Naruto movie, acting as its director. But since that exciting announcement, very little progress has happened with this film. But, here we are, over ten years later, and finally, it looks like momentum is picking up for the Naruto live-action movie. Most recently, we learned that Destin Daniel Cretton will write and direct this anime adaptation. Reports also indicate that Charles Melton may play Kakashi Hatake. Here’s what we know about this adaptation so far.

The Live-Action Naruto Movie Will Be Written and Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton  Viz Media

Destin Daniel Cretton, who was responsible for co-writing and directing the MCU’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will now help the Naruto live-action movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, Cretton will produce alongside Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions.

According to the publication, Destin Daniel Cretton even has the approval of Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Kishimoto notes in a statement, “When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching a blockbuster action film of his, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto. After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naturo. In actually meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input, and felt strongly that we would be able to cooperate together in the production process.”

We’re excited to hear this news about the Naruto live-action film after such a long development.

What Else Do We Know About This Anime/Manga Adaptation? Crunchyroll

Additionally, recent reports indicate that Charles Melton is in final talks to play the important Naruto character, Kakashi Hatake, in the live-action movie. Kakashi Hatake is “the elite ninja mentor figure to the main character and his friends.” He is also an incredibly popular character.

Of course, we don’t know any official casting information for the live-action Naruto yet. But it’s not too early for fans to get their dream casting lists together. Hopefully, we’ll get to hear more about this adaptation soon.

Originally published on Februrary 23, 2024.

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

The post Live-Action NARUTO Movie in the Works, Destin Daniel Cretton to Write and Direct appeared first on Nerdist.

Linkdaze's smart digital calendar stands out for not putting its features behind a paywall, including an AI meal planner tool.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Guild Reunion Movie is the most crowd-funded movie in history, beating out The Veronica Mars Movie’s 2013 Kickstarter campaign.

We were all excited to hear about Felicia Day’s The Guild reunion movie, now called The Guild: Ren Faire’d. As we’ve shared before, “The Guild set out to break down some stereotypes about gamers and show the world that true friendship, cool people, and a whole lot of adventure could be found through fandom. And somehow, 20 years later, it’s time to do it all again.” To make The Guild reunion movie a reality, Felicia Day and friends took to Kickstarter to summon the people to the aid of The Knights of Good. And the people answered The Knights of Good’s call for aid. Not only was The Guild: Ren Faire’d funded, but The Guild reunion movie is now the most crowd-funded movie in history, having raised upward of $5,809,479… That’s nearly FOUR TIMES the amount The Guild reunion movie hoped to crowd-fund.

On her Twitter, Felicia Day wrote, “Omg World record broken. You guys…..thank you. Thank you!” And it is truly astounding. Clearly, the appetite is there for “the most epic ren faire movie of all time!”

Omg World record broken. You guys…..thank you. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/3Qc6DF3ElJ

— Felicia Day🇺🇸 (@feliciaday) August 20, 2026

To become the most crowd-funded movie of all time, The Guild reunion movie had to beat another nerdy fav, The Veronica Mars Movie. The Veronica Mars Movie raised a total of $5,702,153 from over 91,000 backers through its 2013 Kickstarter campaign. Meanwhile, The Guild: Ren Faire’d has made 5,800,000+ from 38,169 backers. Interesting that a third of the backers have helped The Guild reunion movie break this crowdfunding record. But, hey, we guess Ren Faire nerds are generous.

Here is the full list of crowdfunding records that The Guild: Ren Faire’d has broken.

• Biggest Movie Launch Day Kickstarter Has Ever Seen
• Fastest Movie to $2.5M in Kickstarter History
• Most Funds Raised in 24 hours by A Movie on Kickstarter
• Most Funds Raised for A Movie on Kickstarter Ever

The Guild Movie

In addition, The Guild reunion movie and Felicia Day share more about why making this movie and crowdfunding it now was the only way to go:

When I realized the show’s 20th anniversary was coming up in 2027, I knew I needed to do something big to celebrate. My times with the cast during COVID, when we were murdering each other over and over in Among Us, reminded me of all the fun we’d had together. But it wasn’t until someone evoked rage in my heart that I decided to make a reunion movie.

A Hollywood executive called me up at the beginning of 2025 to talk about “The Guild”. Since the show had largely been ignored by the establishment, I was excited. Would someone finally give me a budget and help me make my show?! Then they told me what they envisioned: A show re-tailored for gamers TODAY. With… younger actors.

That’s right! They wanted to recast me in my own show. And in that moment I knew I had to bring the cast together again and make a reunion movie. Fund it by going straight to the community that helped us defy the system over and over for nearly twenty years. So we could laugh together again. Celebrate gamers and geeks again. And do it OUR way.

The Guild: Ren Faire’d‘s Kickstarter only has another day or so to go on it, but that’s plenty of time to support. You can back today and join in any tier, from $20 to $25,000. (Which gets you an Executive Producer credit and a ton more stuff!) You’ll be in some great company if you do.

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

The post THE GUILD REUNION MOVIE Is Most Crowd-Funded Movie in History appeared first on Nerdist.

Affected users told TechCrunch say they were using Grok Lite, and noticed the issues as early as Wednesday morning.

Year after year, investors who've explored the Expo Halls, met founders, and learned from peers have proven why you need to be on the ground at Disrupt this year.