The Nerdist

Late last year, we reported the news that the Nintendo Switch was getting a price hike, something that did not make folks happy in this lean economic era. But we were told that the Switch 2 would stay at the same price, at least for the time being. Well, that sadly only lasted about six months. Via Polygon, we’ve now learned that the Switch 2 is getting a price increase of $50, to $499.99. The price hike will go into effect on Sept. 1. In Europe, the price goes up by €30 to €499.99. And in Canada, the price will increase by CA$50 to CA$679.99. Nintendo

It appears that Japanese Switch users will be hurt in their wallets the most. Starting on May 25, the cost of all models of the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2 will both increase. Also, the price of Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions will increase significantly as well. Nintendo said price increases were occurring “in light of changes in market conditions, and after considering the global business outlook.” A global shortage of computer memory has driven up prices for RAM and storage, which many are saying is another reason. Nothing is getting cheaper these days, and Nintendo is not immune to this.

We don’t expect any of this to really put a dent in Nintendo’s sales, however. The company has apparently sold a whopping 19 million Switch 2 consoles so far. And in its second year, Switch 2 would still be ahead of the original Switch when it comes to sales at the same point during its release timeline. This is the case even with a lower projection of 16.5 million units. In a statement, a Nintendo representative said: “We sincerely apologize for the impact these price revisions may have on our customers and other stakeholders, and we deeply appreciate your understanding.” We’ll see if their apology is good enough that people will shell out more money without complaining too much online. We kind of doubt it.

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It’s been a minute since we’ve heard anything about the Bane/Deathstroke team-up movie from DC Studios. With so many DC Studios projects cancelled or postponed, like The Authority, we were starting to wonder if this was ever happening. But now, via Deadline, we’ve had our first positive signs that it’s actually closer to becoming reality. According to the report, director Greg Mottola (Superbad), is possibly in contention to direct the film, which would team up the two DC Comics villains. Mottola directed several episodes of Peacemaker, so he’s clearly in James Gunn’s orbit. There are still no finished contracts for this film, which is still in very early development.DC Comics

Apparently, there is no finished script for this film either, which currently doesn’t even have a title. We doubt it will be called “Deathstroke/Bane,” but who knows. Matthew Orton, who worked on scripts for Marvel’s Moon Knight, wrote a script in 2024. But it’s unclear if that’s the script that James Gunn is going with. In the comics, these two characters don’t have a ton to do with each other, aside from both being Batman adversaries. Deathstroke the Terminator didn’t even start out as a Batman villain, he originated in The New Teen Titans back in the ’80s, and was the team’s primary bad guy. Bane appeared in The Dark Knight Rises, of course, played by Tom Hardy. But we’ve never had the comics-accurate Latino version of the musclebound villain.

Deathstroke has never appeared in a film, aside from a cameo in Justice League’s post-credits scene, played by Joe Manganiello. This was meant to set up a Ben Affleck Batman movie that ultimately never happened. On television, however, the augmented mercenary, whose real name is Slade Wilson, appeared in both the Arrowverse as well as Titans. If you’re thinking “Slade Wilson sure sounds a lot like Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool,” that’s because Deadpool originated as a spoof character of Deathstroke. Can a movie launch Deathstroke into Deadpool levels of popularity? If they cast the right actor, it’s certainly possible. Now, we wait for the official word from James Gunn on this project.

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Do you love Pokémon? Do you hate Pokémon? Well, as it so happens, there’s a product out right now that’s perfect for you if you answered “yes” in either capacity. In South Korea, the tissue brand Renova has launched a Pokémon toilet paper collaboration featuring 79 distinct characters. This launched via a Korean crowdfunding site. Aside from toilet paper rolls, other Renova Pokémon products include pocket tissues, tissue boxes, and napkins. So if you love yourself some Pikachu or Charmander, or whoever, you have some new, unique merch to collect. And if you’re sick of the darn things, you can now sully them on a daily basis. You can check out images of the Korean Pokémon toilet paper below: Click To View Gallery The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova Renova/The Pokémon Company The Pokémon Company/Renova

Right now, this Renovo Pokémon toilet paper is only available in South Korea. Although, they might extend this product to European markets as well. We imagine some superfan in the U.S. or Canada will find a way to get some on eBay, probably for a ridiculous price. We’ve already found one on sale for a $100 starting price. Is this the strangest Pokémon tie-in merchandise ever released? Honestly, we’re really not sure. There have been some wild ones in the past, like Pokémon wedding rings and mineral waters. But we think that wiping one’s behind with images of Chikorita, Sandshrew, Mew, or Rayquaza probably takes the cake. No pun intended.

Renova/The Pokémon Company

It’s not surprising that merchandising has come to this point for the Pokémon brand. And that’s because Pokémon is literally the highest-grossing media IP in the world, raking in over $15 billion in sales in 30 years. Yes, that’s more than Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princesses, Harry Potter, and over $60 billion more than Star Wars. Maybe if Lucasfilm released some official Star Wars-themed toilet paper, they could catch up to Pikachu and friends. The ball is in your court, Disney Consumer Products. You know what the people want.

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Most of the time, news about streaming services in terms of pricing is not good. It usually involves more ads and/or price hikes that make us really miss the days when it was just cable TV and video rentals. Life certainly felt cheaper and maybe a bit easier back then with less streaming bills and not having a zillion things to try to keep up with. But sometimes there’s news that’s worthy of celebration. Crunchyroll is celebrating “Ani-May” by offering an ad-free $1.99/month subscription. Crunchyroll

This premium membership sale from Crunchyroll starts May 7. There are two different tiers, with the $1.99 per month one called Crunchyroll Fan and a $2.99/month one that’s Crunchyroll Mega Fan. The lower tier is ad-free for one device streaming at a time and offline viewing while Mega Fan is ad-free with up to 4 devices as well as the ability to watch your favorite anime offline. Considering these tiers are normally $9.99 and $13.99 per month, this is a great deal.

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But, like all good things, it will not last. This Crunchyroll Ani-May $1.99/month subscription is only available until May 21 and it is for three months. After that, we assume the rate returns to its norm. This sounds like a good time to get into all the new Spring offerings that Crunchyroll is rolling out.

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LEGO fans, especially the most devoted, all live with one haunting thought. We know there’s a hard cap on how long we can enjoy those little plastic brick sets. To the great amusement of everyone—right up until they approach a century of life—the iconic toy company doesn’t just have a minimum age for when it’s appropriate to use its product. It also lists an age maximum of 99. Or rather it did until one of the best humans on the planet surpassed that limit today. LEGO celebrated Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday by raising its age limit to 100+.

Admirers around the world happily wished one of the very best among us a happy centennial today. But LEGO might have come up with both the most unexpected and funniest way to honor the famed naturalist’s big achievement. The company wrote, “Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough. There’s no age limit for those who never stop playing.” The message appeared on social media alongside a photo of an updated age range on a box of LEGO pieces. It shows “4-100+” rather than the forever weird 99 cutoff that used to mock anyone getting close to surpassing it. Which we imagine is a huge concern when you’re that old. Huge.

LEGO

Does this post indicate the actual printed age range on in-store LEGO products is changing? Or is it simply a delightful social media post honoring a great human? It doesn’t matter, because even if this “updated” message is just an online tribute to David Attenborough we know that absurd “99” was never going to stop us! One of things we’re most looking forward to during are older years is having as much time as we want to build LEGO sets.

If we’re lucky enough to live as long as David Attenborough we’re going to keep piecing together little plastic bricks no matter what.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash about the ten dollar founding father without a father can be yours to own soon. Hamilton made its debut in 2015 to widespread critical and commercial acclaim for its inventive take on American history featuring a stellar cast of predominantly people of color portraying white historical figures. Its popularity grew exponentially with a live film version coming to Disney+ during the pandemic, bringing its unforgettable songs and energy to millions of people. For the first time, Hamilton is getting a Collector’s Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray release with a documentary. 

The all-new documentary Spark into a Flame: Hamilton & Hip-Hop will offer a closer look at the connection between Hamilton and the hip-hop that inspired it as well as “The Hamilton Mixtape” that followed. The documentary features Miranda along with many artists and creatives like Busta Rhymes, Nas, Questlove, Black Thought, Angie Martinez, Common, Dessa, and Residente. 

Disney Home Entertainment

Here’s more information about this Hamilton Collector’s Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray and what is included: 

The Collector’s Edition offers the filmed Broadway production in 4K, plus a sing-along version, the “Reuniting the Revolution” featurette, and the Spark into a Flame: Hamilton & Hip-Hop documentary. Collectors will also enjoy owning memorabilia that includes a fabric poster, a set of collectible art cards, and a booklet of “Alexander Hamilton” lyrics and sheet music for piano.

It will become available on June 16, but you can sign up here to see when pre-orders are open.

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Do you wish you could smell just like Homelander? Uh, why? What’s appealing about smelling like breast milk combined with sweaty self-loathing desperation? Exactly. That’s probably why Dr. Squatch didn’t base its new The Boys scented soap around the sociopathic Supe. It based it on the stuff that gave him his powers, Compound V. But unlike the real stuff, this soap is good for you.Dr. Squatch

Dr. Squatch teamed-up with Vought International for what it calls “the first civilian-approved application of Compound V.” What does it mean exactly to take inspiration from the superhero-creating concoction? All we really know about Compound V is that it’s blue. Well, that’s actually a big part of it. As is the Prime Video show itself. Here’s the official description from Dr. Squatch:

The limited-edition, zero-grit product features an “electric” sensory profile designed for maximum impact: blue raspberry and sour citrus up front, bright and synthetic in all the right ways, grounded by cedarwood for a finish that feels controlled, composed, and just slightly less dangerous than the substance itself.

Dr. Squatch

Blue raspberry, sour citrus, and cedarwood….Okay, yeah, that’s wild enough to actually feel like an appropriate scent for The Boys. That was clearly the intention.

“Vought builds power at scale, and we build products that help guys show up at their best every day. This partnership was about finding the overlap between those two ideas and bringing it to life in a way that feels true to both worlds,” said John Ludeke, Chief Brand Officer at Dr. Squatch, in a statement. “Compound V is one of the most recognizable ‘products’ in modern television, and we just made a version that maintains the identity, the edge, and the cultural weight, but translates it into something practical.”

The Boys Compound V soap is now available at Dr. Squatch. You can grab individual bars for $8 where its sold. You can also get a three-bar pack on sale at the company’s site for $22.80.

If you’re holding out for a Homelander scent instead….uh, maybe keep that to yourself.

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Both Sonic the Hedgehog and Godzilla will be returning to theaters in the not-too-distant future in their own respective movies. But before that happens, they’ll return together to the pages of comic books. This summer, IDW Comics is publishing Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla, a five-issue series from writer Nick Marino, artist Jack Lawrence, and colorist Reggie Graham. In recent years, the King of the Monsters has fought the X-Men, and Sonic has taken on DC Comics’ Darkseid. But is Sonic fast enough to dodge Godzilla’s atomic breath? You can get a sneak peek of the first issue of Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla down below, along with the solicitation for issue one. Click To View Gallery IDW Comics IDW Comics IDW Comics IDW Comics IDW Comics IDW Comics

The Blue Blur’s battle with Dr. Eggman is upended by the arrival of two enormous monsters emerging from a humongous fissure in reality. The magnificent Mothra and the menacing Mechagodzilla carry their vicious battle into Sonic’s world, and its fate now hangs in the balance! Is Sonic, with the help of his loyal friends Amy and Tails, fast enough to halt the city’s frantic destruction? And why is Eggman so happy about this whole big mess?

Wait, is that Eggman now? How can he take over a solici—

From the files of me, Dr. Eggman! That petulant blue pipsqueak is making my existence absolute torture again—interrupting my crucial research on the beasts from the dimensional fissure! I simply MUST unlock the secrets of these giant monsters and use them to create something…eggtastic.

IDW Comics

Not only will Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla feature the titular characters, but many of Sonic’s supporting cast and villains will appear as well. Tails, Amy Rose, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, and Shadow are all set to appear. Godzilla’s fellow kaijus, Mechagodzilla and Mothra, will also pop in to wreak havoc and destroy property. And we wouldn’t be shocked if there are some other surprise characters and monsters who show up to the party.

The first issue of Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla from IDW hits comic book shops on July 15.

The post SONIC X GODZILLA Gives Us Tiny Heroes vs. Big Monsters (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.

The wonderful thing about being a nerd and also having a creative engineering brain is that you can make fictional things come to life in our world. We love to see fans create lightsabers, Xenomorphs, and even an Iron Man suit. So, of course, we were delighted by Kaemen the Creator’s very cool video of his functional Aquaman suit that he took for a rather hilarious test drive. 

The suit mirrors the gold and green scaled style of Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. Then, Kaemen added underwater jetpacks to the back of the suit so he can glide through water with royal grace. Well, as gracefully as one can when your face and eyes are exposed to rapidly moving water. Something about this feels a little dangerous but it is the kind of risk we’d be willing to take for a good time.

Kaemen the Creator/Facebook

This Aquaman suit also has a trident that shoots water, which only adds to its genius. Now, we are just waiting for Kaemen to partner with a real-life moneybags like Bruce Wayne so he can mass produce this suit. We’d like to be the King of the Seven Seas… or maybe just the local pool. And, while you are on his page, check out some of his other awesome engineering projects!

The post This Creator’s Functional Aquaman Suit Is Super Speedy appeared first on Nerdist.

The Office ended over ten years ago in 2013, but the beloved mockumentary series continues to resonate in current pop culture. Its streaming availability and endless amount of meme fodder, largely thanks to Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, makes it a familiar show, even for those who only watched it in passing. But, if you are a big fan of The Office, then this complete Blu-ray and Digital set is for you. The Office: The Complete Series – Superfan Extended Episodes will have all 194 episodes of the show plus more than 25 hours of unaired content. Universal Pictures Home Entertaiment

That’s right, there are many hours of shenanigans at Dunder Mifflin that fans have never seen before, until now. It is an absolute must if you love The Office and want to be able to watch it when you want to. This series is one of the most culturally impactful comedies to ever exist with a fanbase that is continuing to grow with new generations. We all know that shows come and go on streaming services, but physical media will reign forever. It is something that no one can take away from you and it also looks really good on your bookshelf.

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The Office: The Complete Series – Superfan Extended Episodes will be available via Digital and Blu-ray for the first-time ever starting on July 14. But you can go ahead and pre-order it right now so your copy comes in the mail on time. Spend your summer laughing until you cry when you re-watch (or finally watch!) all of The Office, including some sweet unaired content.

The post THE OFFICE’s New Blu-ray Set Has 25 Hours of Unaired Content appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s gearing up to be a powerful summer, with the Masters of the Universe live-action film about to hit theaters in June. It truly feels like all things He-Man are in vogue again. So if you want to roll into opening night of the MOTU movie in style, we suggest wearing something from RSVLTS’ new Masters of the Universe collection. This new collection of apparel features He-Man, Skeletor, and all their allies in vintage ’80s style. You can check out the full collection in our galleries down below:RSVLTS“Faces of the Fight“

This shirt showcases the iconic ’80s Filmation versions of the Masters of the Universe characters, including some deep-cut characters. This one comes in classic (unisex) style/sizing.

Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel “Figures Sold Separately“ Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel

This button-up shirt features the original Mattel Toys Masters of the Universe action figures, just as they appeared back in the day. This one showcases the line’s most iconic heroes and villains, including He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, Stratos, and Evil-Lyn.

“Panels of Power” Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS

For this shirt, they’ve replicated the iconic packaging art from the original 1982 Masters of the Universe packaging and mini-comics. This collage of characters represents the MOTU characters as kids were first introduced to them back in the day.

“Battle for Eternia“ Click To View Gallery Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS

Skeletor riding Panthor tries to take over Castle Grayskull with his minions, Mer-Man and Beast-Man, with only He-Man and his mighty friends standing in his way. This button-up shirt comes in classic (unisex) style/sizing.

“Purrr-fectly Evil” Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS/

He-Man might have his Battle Cat, but his rival Skeletor has his own giant kitty-cat to ride, Panthor. This button-up shirt celebrates the purple feline, showcasing the Lord of Destruction atop his favorite evil pet. Like the other shirts in the collection, this one also comes in classic (unisex) style/sizing. This one also has matching mesh shorts, to complete the look.

“Nyahahaha!” Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel

Skeletor is the perfect cackling villain, and his evil laugh remains iconic to this day. This button-up shirt showcases the Filmation cartoon version of the ruler of Snake Mountain, complete with his Havoc Staff. Like the others, “Nyahahaha!” comes in classic (unisex) style/sizing.

“The Orko” Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS

Every ’80s cartoon needed the comic relief character. And He-Man and the Masters of the Universe had the best one of all of them, with the little wizard Orco. The magician from Trolla’s signature “O” emblem is front and center of this performance hoodie, which is available in (unisex) style/sizing.

“Protectors of Eternia Click To View Gallery Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS

This crewneck tee-shirt features Orko on the back, and classic Eternian lettering on the front.

“Skel Cap” Click To View Gallery RSVLTS/Mattel Mattel/RSVLTS RSVLTS/Mattel

Show everyone that you’re not all about that pesky He-Man, you’re team Skeletor all the way. This Skel-Cap is a 5-panel brimmed hat that shows off your love for Eternia’s greatest bad guy.

Each MOTU button-down shirt retails for $70; $82 for the performance hoodie; $50 for mesh shorts; and $37 for vintage crewneck tee. The brim hat will set you back $30. To order these and more, head on over to RSVLTS’ official site.

The post RSVLTS’ New MOTU Collection Has the Power of Grayskull appeared first on Nerdist.

Though his appearance on the big screen was brief, the iconic Sith apprentice, Darth Maul has built a lasting legacy in the Galaxy Far, Far Away since his introduction back in 1999. From The Phantom Menace to Maul: Shadow Lord, Kyle Anderson is breaking down the complete history of Darth Maul in this Nerdist Timeline!

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Are people just too spoiler-phobic these days when it comes to trailers? Avengers: Endgame and Doomsday director Joe Russo, one-half of the Russo Brothers directing team, sure seems to think so. While speaking with Metro (via Variety), they asked Russo about how a segment of the modern moviegoing audience is terrified of having any part of a movie spoiled for them. Many fans won’t even watch a trailer because they think it will show them something too revealing. So they literally engage with nothing about the film in its promotional lead-up. But isn’t that a tad much? Here’s what Joe Russo had to say about this trend:

On one hand, audiences want to be surprised, and that’s part of what makes the theatrical experience exciting. On the other hand, it can become a little over-policed, where people are anxious about engaging with anything. We design these films to unfold in a certain way, and we want audiences to feel those moments as intended. But at the same time, you can’t control everything. You have to focus on making something that holds up beyond the initial surprise.

Marvel Studios

We actually think he’s right here. The people making these movies know what’s too big a spoiler for marketing and what isn’t, most of the time. There were complaints from some moviegoers that Project Hail Mary shouldn’t have spoiled the existence of the alien Rocky in the film in its marketing. But his existence is a big part of the very premise of the film, and really doesn’t spoil anything. Knowing he’s in the movie is just like reading the synopsis on the back of the DVD or VHS cover back in the day. Yes, occasionally, a trailer gives away too much. But that’s fairly rare. When we finally get that Avengers: Doomsday trailer, folks need to relax and just enjoy. We highly doubt they’re going to show anything that would ruin the movie. Let yourself enjoy a little pre-game hype.

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Another summer moviegoing season is almost upon us, and the Minions are hitting theater screens again. The adorable lil’ yellow guys, who are the breakout icons of the Despicable Me franchise, are returning for another new outing on the big screen in Minions & Monsters. This is yet another prequel, this time set in the 1920s, during the Golden Age of Hollywood. In the trailer, they introduce us to a new sure-to-be-beloved character, who looks like a cute Lovecraftian monster. You can watch the final trailer for Minions & Monsters right here:

And here’s the official synopsis for Minions & Monsters from Illumination Entertainment:

This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world, and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created. 

Illumination/Universal Pictures

On paper, this movie, directed once again by Pierre Coffin and written by Coffin and Brian Lynch, sounds beyond bizarre. The Minions use arcane sorcery to summon a Lovecraftian monster from beyond the depths, and it’s a cute little Cthulhu-looking guy? Sure, why not? After seven installments overall since 2010, you might as well let them summon demons and let wackiness ensue. Pierre Coffin directed the first three Despicable Me films as well as the first Minions, and he returns for Minions & Monsters as well. As usual, he voices them all.

Illumination/Universal Pictures

The voice cast for Minions & Monsters also includes Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, and South Park co-creator Trey Parker. The cast also includes Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan and Phil LaMarr. We’re sure this latest installment will produce many new Minions memes that your grandma will share on Facebook. Minions & Monsters lands in theaters on July 1.

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As the creator of Noirvember, the first few trailers and making-of videos for Spider-Noir, the new live-action series starring Nicolas Cage, made my noir senses immediately start to tingle. Inspired in part by the pulp crime novels of the 1930s by the likes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, series executive producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have also spoken about the heavy influence of 1940s and 1950s film noir on the look and feel of the show.

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Although the show will be released in both “True-Hue,” a riff on Technicolor inspired by the early Dick Tracy comics, and traditional black-and-white, the influence of film noir is apparent any way you decide to watch the show. Here are the classic noir film references I’ve sussed out so far in Spider-Noir. 

The Maltese Falcon (1941) Warner Bros. Pictures/Prime Video

The second adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel of the same name, this San Francisco set John Huston flick starring Humphrey Bogart as the iconic gumshoe Sam Spade is largely considered a bridge between the more action based crime films of the 1930s and the psychologically darker films that would become known film noir. It also was a major influence on the series.

Nicolas Cage told Esquire that his performance as Ben Reilly/The Spider is “70 percent Humphrey Bogart, and 30 percent Bugs Bunny.” Showrunner Oren Uziel also shared that Reilly’s secretary Janet (Karen Rodriguez) was inspired by Spade’s secretary Effie, played by Lee Patrick. Another fun connection: Jack Huston, who plays baddie Flint Marko / Sandman, is director John Huston’s grandson.

Murder, My Sweet (1944) RKO Radio Pictures/Prime Video

Directed by Edward Dmytryk, this 1944 noir is the first film to feature Raymond Chandler’s iconic hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe. The character appeared in seven novels penned by the author. Although many readers may remember Bogart’s performance as the world-weary private eye in Howard Hawks’ 1946 adaptation of The Big Sleep, for many this film’s star, Dick Powell, is the ultimate filmic embodiment of Marlowe. Murder, My Sweet, which is an adaptation of Chandler’s 1940 novel “Farewell, My Lovely,” finds Marlowe mixed up in a convoluted plot that includes eccentric rich people, night clubs, and even a trip to the sanatorium. 

Crime Wave (1954)Warner Bros. Pictures/Prime Video

Although Brendan Gleeson’s Silvermane is an classic Irish mob boss, his character as portrayed in the teasers visually riff on several different kinds of film noir motifs. In this shot he is framed inside a moving car just like Sterling Hayden in Andre de Toth’s Crime Wave (1954). In the film Hayden plays Detective Lieutenant Sims, a hard-nosed detective on the haunt for escaped convicts who have broken out of San Quentin. The film directed by Andre de Toth is notable for its many location shots in and around Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale in Southern California. 

Laura (1944) 20th Century Fox/Prime Video

In one shot of a Spider-Noir teaser, a portrait of Silvermane goes up in flames. The portrait’s gilt frame bares a striking resemblance to the most haunting portrait in all of film noir—Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) in Otto Preminger’s Laura (1944). An adaptation of Vera Caspary’s 1943 novel of the same name, Laura tells the story of a young woman who is presumed murdered. It follows the detective (Dana Andrews) who, while tasked with solving her murder, grows obsessed with her portrait, and the two men (Clifton Webb, Vincent Price) who each think they know her best. Otto Preminger’s film was also a major inspiration for David Lynch and Mark Frost’s landmark television series Twin Peaks. 

Gilda (1946)Columbia Pictures/Prime Video

Describing Spider-Noir‘s requisite femme fatale Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), Uziel has said that Rita Hayworth was a major inspiration, along with Lauren Bacall, Anna May Wong, and Kim Basinger from Curtis Hanson’s  L.A. Confidential. Hayworth played the titular femme fatale in Charles Vidor’s Gilda, one of the silver screen’s greatest bad romances.

In the film, Hayworth plays a sensual chanteuse and wife of a casino owner (George Macready) in Buenos Aires, Argentina whose murky past comes back to haunt her after her husband hires her old lover Johnny (Glenn Ford). Hayworth’s introduction, in which she flips her hair and coyly replies “who me?” when asked if she’s decent took on a whole new level of cultural cache when it was used in a pivotal scene in Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption.

Road House (1948)20th Century Fox/Prime Video

While not mentioned by Uziel, I noticed an homage to another of the era’s great femme fatales: Ida Lupino. Along with being a pioneering filmmaker in her own right (you must watch her 1953 desert noir The Hitch-Hiker), Lupino carved a space as a brassy leading lady in a plethora of noir. Her turn as a torch singer caught in a love triangle between the owner of a bowling alley (Richard Widmark) and his boyhood friend (Cornel Wilde) which escalates towards attempted murder in Jean Negulesco’s melodramatic noir Road House is one of her best, most underrated performances.

The Lady From Shanghai (1947)Columbia Pictures/Prime Video

One of the most overt homages amongst the earlier teaser material is this shot in which the frame itself appears to be broken glass, which is a nod to Orson Welles’ The Lady From Shanghai. In that film, Welles stars opposite his then-wife Rita Hayworth, as an Irish sailor named Michael O’Hara who is hired by her much-older husband Arthur Bannister (Everett Sloane) to man their yacht as they cruise from New York City to San Francisco via the Panama Canal.

O’Hara soon finds himself set up as a patsy when Bannister suggests he help him fake his own death. Like many of Welles’ films made in Hollywood, the film was butchered by the studio before its initial release. However, despite the studio’s interference, it remains one of the bleakest, and most dreamlike films of its era. 

Dark Passage (1947)Warner Bros. Pictures/Prime Video

Getting back into the world of Bogart noir, Spider-Noir is also rife with homages to Delmer Daves’ surreal San Francisco set noir Dark Passage. Adapted from the book of the same name by David Goodis, the first few scenes of the film are from POV of Bogart’s character, Vincent Parry, a convicted wife-killer who has escaped from San Quentin Prison in order to prove his innocence.

After being helped by a wealthy dilettante (Lauren Bacall), Parry makes his way to San Francisco where he undergoes plastic surgery in order to alter his appearance so he can continue to search for his wife’s true killer. 

The Naked City (1948) / The Woman on Pier 13 (1949) / Pickup On South Street (1953)Universal-International/Prime Video

The shot where Reilly waits on a doc had me thinking of several noir films that utilize the waterfront. Jules Dassin’s The Naked City was filmed almost completely on location in and around New York City, including in an evocative early sequence where two men who have just murdered a woman in her bathtub get into a tussle when one of them becomes conscience-stricken while drunk ending with the other throwing him into the East River.

In Robert Stevenson’s The Woman on Pier 13, the docks of San Francisco prove to be the location of a secret Communist headquarters. Lastly, in Samuel Fuller’s Pickup On South Street, small-time crook Skip McCoy (Richard Widmark), who lives out on the docks, finds himself caught up in a Communist plot involving stolen microfilm after he steals a wallet from a woman named Candy (Jean Peters).

Phantom Lady (1944)Universal Pictures/Prime Video

This shot of a horn player is framed almost exactly like an identical shot in Robert Siodmak’s Phantom Lady, which was an adaptation of a novel by prolific writer Cornell Woolrich (published under the pseudonyms William Irish). The film stars Alan Curtis as a man named Scott, who finds himself accused of murdering his wife. When he cannot produce the “phantom lady” he picked up in a bar to prove his alibi, he is sentenced to death.

That’s when his loyal secretary Carol (Ella Raines) sets out to prove his innocence, joined by his buddy Jack (Franchot Tone), who has just returned from South America. Along with including one of the great – and strangest – supporting turns from noir staple Elisha Cook, Jr., this Manhattan set mystery is also notable for being produced by Joan Harrison. She was one of the few female producers working during the classic Hollywood studio era. 

White Heat (1949)Warner Bros Pictures/Prime Video

I don’t know why this character is on fire, but I do know this is most definitely an homage to the final sequence in Raoul Walsh’s White Heat. In the film James Cagney stars as psychotic criminal Arthur “Cody” Jarrett, who is extremely close to his mother (Margaret Wycherly). After evading the law for most of the film, Cody eventually finds himself locked up. While in prison, his mother passes away, his violent outbreak gets him transferred to an asylum, where he soon escapes.

When the law finally catches up with him again, he climbs to the top of a Horton sphere, which is set on fire after being shot by the police. As the flames begin to engulf him, he shouts “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” In 2005, Cagney’s iconic delivery of this line was voted to the 18th spot in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)United Artists/Prime Video

One of the great big bads from all of the classic noir era actually came towards its end: Burt Lancaster as sadistic columnist J. J. Hunsecker in Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success, adapted from a novelette by Ernest Lehman. One of the most powerful men in not just New York City, but the whole United States, Hunsecker wields the power of his column to get whatever it is he wants, controlling the lives of everyone around him, including his kid sister (Susan Harrison) and rat bastard press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis).

Largely shot on location, the neon lights of New York City never looked better than it does when warmed in the warm glow of James Wong Howe’s luminous black-and-white cinematography. 

Sunset Boulevard (1950) Paramount Pictures/Prime Video

Lastly, this image The Spider floating face down in water is a direct reference to the opening sequence of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, in which down-and-out screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) narrates the story of his own death after he’s found face down in the pool of reclusive silent film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). Along with Swanson’s Oscar-nominated performance, the film features cameos from several silent era luminaries, including director Cecil B. DeMille, gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, and actors Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner, and Anna Q. Nilsson.

One of the strangest and most unique entries from the classic noir era, this is a deliciously nasty poison pen letter to an industry (Hollywood) that pulls people in, uses them up, and then spits them back out without any mercy or grace. 

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A few weeks ago, I got to play about two hours of Warner Bros. Games’ long-awaited LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. As a huge fan of the Traveller’s Tales LEGO series, plus a mega-huge fan of Batman, my anticipation was at an all-time high. I was absolutely not disappointed. The game offers something for every variety of Batman fan as it melds together all the most important and memorable characters and moments from comics, movies, TV, and more into a single narrative.

With just about two weeks until the game’s official launch, we got the latest trailer. It showcases moments from movies like Batman (1989), Batman Begins, and The Batman. We see all this set to a remix of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” from Batman Forever. Take a look!

The game simplifies a few elements from the movies to make it all cohere. For example, Jack Napier, the gangster who killed Bruce Wayne’s parents in Burton’s Batman, does go on to become the Joker. However, instead of working for Carl Grissom, like in that movie, Napier works for Carmine Falcone. This Falcone operates out of the Iceberg Lounge from The Batman. Napier becomes the Red Hood before becoming the Joker, like in the comics. Cool, right?

Similarly, instead of a mysterious man who calls himself Henri Ducard recruiting Bruce to join the League of Assassins, it’s straight-up Ra’s al Ghul. That’s who he really was in Batman Begins anyway. I love this kind of narrative blending. In the sections of the game that I got to play, Batman and Commissioner Gordon capture Falcone from the Iceberg Lounge and turn him over to Harvey Dent. Then later, Bruce attends the circus from Batman Forever in which a child Dick Grayson and his parents, the Flying Graysons, must contend with the Tommy Lee Jones-style Two-Face.

WB Games

Bringing together so much Batman lore and iconography along with the LEGO games’ trademark humor and gameplay has me even more excited to see what comes next. I played two hours and that only encompassed three missions. So, surely we’ll get loads and loads more. If you’re a fan of the Arkham games—and who isn’t?—you’ll recognize the combat, traversal, and open world Gotham City from them. And the trailer above even shows a Mr. Freeze boss battle from the oft-derided Gotham Knights game.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will be available May 22 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.

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.

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We’re living in an era when memes based on pop culture find their way back into the very pop culture that inspired them. We suppose the first time this happened was when X-Men: The Last Stand referenced the “I’m the Juggernaut!” meme from X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, it’s happening in video games as well. The new LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight features a ton of references to 85 years of Gotham City lore, including a reference to a viral moment from The Dark Knight actor Michael Caine from two years ago.

Oh my God. pic.twitter.com/ab7hogHG4a

— Marcelo Millicay (@millicay95) May 6, 2026

In 2024, Oscar winner Michael Caine posted a tweet where he quoted his character of Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. The quote was, “Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up. – Batman Begin.” The senior actor forgot to put the ‘s’ at the end of the title. Truly, as anyone who was 91 years old might do. Folks online had a field day with the esteemed actor’s little typo, and it became a whole thing. Now, that viral tweet has found its way into the LEGO Batman game, which an eagle-eyed fan caught.

LEGO/TT Games/Warner Bros. Games/DC Comics

It’s wild to think this silly viral meme has now become canon to an officially licensed Batman product. It’s just another example of the pop culture snake eating its own tail, we suppose. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has a ton of references to many parts of Batman’s history. They are not just from the comics, but also movies, television, and now social media too. But we’re not sure anyone expected some random tweet that nonagenarian Michael Caine made would also get canonized. But we love that it has. The new LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight game arrives on May 22.

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I believe there are legitimate criticisms one can levy against The Boys‘ final season. I also think they’re entirely debatable. For example, I think there’s been a little too much Soldier Boy. The massive importance of Clara/Stormfront’s past involvement in the story feels a little forced, too. Obviously not everyone will agree with either point, and that’s totally fair. But one complaint that makes absolutely no sense to me also makes no sense to showrunner Eric Kripke. He directly addressed fans who think the show’s last season has featured too many “filler” episodes. And he’s right to call them out.Prime Video

Kripke spoke to TV Guide about “a lot of online dissatisfaction” he’s encountered over The Boys’ fifth and final season. He’s seen a lot of viewers upset there haven’t been more giant action scenes. “None of the things that happen in the last few episodes will matter if you don’t flesh out the characters,” said a clearly frustrated Kripke. He also added, “And I’m like, ‘What are you expecting? Are you expecting a huge battle scene every episode?'”

Kripke defended his show’s writing by pointing out they couldn’t afford to do that if even they wanted. Which they definitely didn’t. He said all actions would be “empty and dull,” a show that would “just be about shapes moving without having any import.” Kripke said the writers didn’t “flesh out” its characters the events of the last couple of episodes wouldn’t even matter. He’s obviously right. That doesn’t mean the show is immune from criticism or the The Boys is executing its plan flawlessly, but there’s a reason he’s not addressing that type of criticism. He’s specifically talking about those throwing out the word “filler,” which has become a lazy way to say, “I don’t personally like this.”

Like many other TV terms corrupted by misuse (hello, “bottle episode!”), calling something “filler” has become a dismissive shorthand. What “filler” once meant is not how it’s always used now. During the heyday of 22-25 episode seasons you’d get lots of filler episodes that were entirely about entertainment than moving the plot forward. But it has become a way of accusing people of being lazy and not caring about their art simply because you don’t like what you saw.

That unfair modern use clearly got under Kripke’s skin. He said if people only want “plot” they are “watching the wrong show.” But he didn’t even need to say that! The Boys, for as wild as it is, has never been all about plot or action. It always developed its characters with quieter moments and dialogue heavy scenes. Whether it is doing that as well in season five is very different from saying it shouldn’t do that at all.

Emilia De Leonardis/Prime Video

And what makes this “filler” complaint even more absurd is that The Boys is—and quite literally always has in every single episode—had something important/exciting/wild happen in every season five episode. Three of them have featured major Supe deaths. There have been battles, epic fistfights, a rock guy who spews lava sperm, and more outrageous/important moments every single episode.

“Important stuff happened” is the opposite of “filler.” Maybe you don’t like how the show is executing that important stuff, but that’s fine! That’s an entirely different, entirely fair complaint to levy. You’re just full of it if you say The Boys final season is full of filler.

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Director Matt Shackman is leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe behind and heading to the Planet of the Apes. Via Deadline, we’ve learned that the director behind The Fantastic Four: First Steps and WandaVision will helm a new Planet of the Apes film for Twentieth Century Studios. Writing the script for the sequel is Josh Friedman, who wrote the previous installment Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Other writing credits for him include the two recent Avatar sequels. Interestingly, the report suggests that this new film won’t be a direct continuation of the previous one. It will instead go in a new story direction.20th Century Studios

Planet of the Apes has been a long-running franchise since 1968. The original film was a massive success, leading to four direct sequels and a short-lived television series. A revival languished in development hell for decades before Tim Burton relaunched the franchise with a big-budget remake in 2001. That film was critically reviled but made decent money. Ten years later, a prequel film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, arrived to surprise success. That became the first in a trilogy focusing on Andy Serkis’ talking simian character Caesar. Audiences then followed Caesar in two Matt Reeves-directed sequels, 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes.

2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Wes Ball, took place generations after Caesar’s time. In this era, apes have become the dominant species on Earth. Even though that was a relaunch of sorts, it still took place within the same continuity as the previous trilogy. Even if this new Planet of the Apes film from Matt Shakman features new characters, we suspect it will take place in the same universe. The question becomes, how much further into the future will this new installment take us? Might we see apes utilizing technology in much the same way they did in the original film? We’re curious to find out. Given how long the special effects take for these films, we expect the earliest we’d see this one arrive would be 2028.

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Saturday Night Live UK is taking over across the pond. The sketch series made its debut a couple of months ago and finished its first season in early May. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Saturday Night Live UK is renewed for season two, which will start airing in September 2026 through early 2027. The next season will up the number of episodes from eight to twelve for more sketches and laughs. Sky

“I’m incredibly proud of our team and the show. It keeps getting better every week,” said Lorne Michaels. “I’m grateful to Dana Strong and Sky for believing in and supporting SNL U.K. I’m excited for the season ahead.” 

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Let’s see what other stars will grace the show’s stage in this second round. Season one had some familiar faces including Ncuti Gatwa, Tina Fey, Riz Ahmed, and more. “It’s fair to say people doubted SNL would work in the U.K., but thanks to Lorne Michaels, his longtime Saturday Night Live producing team and UTAS U.K., alongside our brilliant cast and writers, SNL U.K. is Sky’s most talked about show of the year,” said Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director, unscripted originals at Sky. “It’s now firmly part of the cultural conversation, and we’re thrilled the show will be returning.” 

Will SNL UK have the longevity of the flagship US series? We will have to wait 50 more years and see.

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